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HomeMy WebLinkAbout012197-cc_CCv0001.pdf MINUTES of a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redlands held in the Council Chambers, Civic Center, 35 Cajon Street, at 3:00 P.M. on January 21, 1997. PRESENT Swen Larson, Mayor Pat Gilbreath, Mayor Pro Tem William E. Cunningham, Councilmember Gilberto Gil, Councilmember (evening session only) Geni A. S. Banda, Councilmember Gary M. Luebbers, City Manager Daniel J. McHugh, City Attorney Lorrie Poyzer, City Clerk Beatrice Sanchez, Deputy City Clerk Michael Reynolds, City Treasurer Marjie Pettus, Administrative Services Director Jeffrey L. Shaw, Community Development Director Steven M. Chapman, Finance Director Mel Enslow, Fire Chief Don McCue, Acting Library Director (afternoon session only) Gary G. Phelps, Municipal Utilities Director Lewis W. Nelson,Police Chief Ronald C. Mutter, Public Works Director John Andrews, Redlands Daily Facts Alisa Slaughter, San Bernardino County Sun Valorie Godines, Press Enterprise (evening session only) ABSENT None The meeting was opened with an invocation by Mayor Pro Tem Gilbreath followed by the pledge of allegiance. PRESENTATIONS Employee Service - Assisted by the department heads, Mayor Larson presented five year service pins to: Gabrielle Carmell, Greg Holmer, and Arthur LaMothe, Police Department; Joseph Woldruff, Public Works Department; Bruce Diamond, Municipal Utilities Department; and Brenda Sutton, Administration Services Department. Ten year service pins were presented to: Community January 21, 1997 Page 1 Development Director Jeff Shaw; Vera Osuna, Police Department; Alan Griffiths and Terry Mongar, Public Works Department; and Joycelyn Mitchell and Sandra Sanchez, Library. Fifteen year service pins were presented to: Fran Serrao, Police Department; and Dan Crow, Fire Department; A twenty year service pin was presented to Walt Harrison, Fire Department. Twenty-five year service pins were presented to Glenn Crum, Fire Department; and Joe Vallejos, Public Works Department. Employees of the Quarter - City Manager Luebbers introduced the following nominees for the Employees of the Quarter: Category: Field Ken Bolger Public Works Department Parks Division Alan Peterson Municipal Utilities Department Water Division Category: Safety Jim Drabinski Fire Department David Graves Fire Department Jim Kimbrough Fire Department Category: Administration Mary Anderson Police Department Nadine Chaney Administrative Services Department Recreation Division Annette Dawkins Municipal Utilities Department Equipment Maintenance Division Christie Hammond A. K. Smiley Public Library Mary Huntoon Finance Department Laurie Johnson Public Works Department Tony Mackesy Public Works Department Evelyn Pedro Community Development Department Brenda Sutton Administrative Services Department Mayor Larson presented a plaque with the City seal to the Employees of the Quarter as follows: Ken Borer - Public Works Department - Ken Bolger works in the Parks Division. City Manager Luebbers read from the nomination form that Ken is always working, always moving, always giving 100 percent. He is knowledgeable and caring about his work, taking pride in doing a thorough job, and is a pleasure to work with. If ever there was a person deserving of the January 21, 1997 Page 2 award for Field Personnel Employee of the Quarter, that person would be Ken Bolger. David Graves - Fire Department - City Manager Luebbers reported that on a daily basis, David Graves epitomizes the great fire engineers. He is a superb and willing teacher for recruits learning the trade and for firemen learning engineering skills. He is also a heavy rescue specialist and routinely holds classes for his team mates. On duty, he has taken on the responsibility of being the Radio Communications Coordinator which takes up to two to three hours a day to keep it all working at peak efficiency. He is known among Fire Department personnel as the official computer "guru." Off duty, he is just as busy helping others. He is the City's RACES coordinator and is on call to help out in a major disaster. He and his wife Sheila have trained a rescue dog and are always on call to look for missing persons in a variety of locations. He also gives his time to the local Boy Scout troops teaching ropes and knots and taking them on field trips. His fellow employees felt that David had earned the honor of being named Employee of the Quarter. Laurie Johnson - Public Works Department - City Manager Luebbers noted that Laurie Johnson was nominated by three employees this quarter and has been nominated for this award in the past. Whether dealing with fellow employees or the public, Laurie is always cheerful, positive, polite and professional. Her customer service and public relations skills are excellent. From taking phone calls to handling the front counter to contacting field personnel by radio, she has proven time and time again to be versatile and proficient in all she does. When contacted by another department, she is very attentive ad give a person complete assurance that a given situation will be attended to. When she visits other departments, she makes it a point to be courteous and appreciative of their services. She is an asset to the Public Works Department as well as the City as a whole, and is truly deserving of this award. CONSENT CALENDAR Minutes - On motion of Councilmember Gilbreath, seconded by Councilmember Cunningham, the minutes of the regular meeting of January 7, 1997, were approved as submitted by AYE votes of all present. Bills and Salaries - On motion of Councilmember Gilbreath, seconded by Councilmember Cunningham, bills and salaries were ordered paid by AYE votes of all present. January 21, 1997 Page 3 Contract - Recreation Division - On motion of Councilmember Gilbreath, seconded by Councilmember Cunningham, the City Council approved, by AYE votes of all present, a contract agreement between the City of Redlands and Calvin Senechal and authorized the Mayor to execute the document on behalf of the City. Agreement - United States Geological Survey - On motion of Councilmember Gilbreath, seconded by Councilmember Cunningham, the City Council authorized, by AYE votes of all present, the Chief of Water Resources and City Attorney to negotiate an agreement with the United States Geological Survey to grant an easement to drill and access to operate a groundwater monitoring well on City-owned property (APN 167-861-55) located north of Riverview Drive and west of Church Street. Funds - Greenwaste Operations - Following brief discussion, on motion of Councilmember Cunningham, seconded by Councilmember Gilbreath, the City Council authorized, by AYE votes of all present, an additional appropriation in the amount of $55,000.00 from current revenues and a transfer of $59,000.00 from the budget item for landfill tipping fees to provide adequate funds for greenwaste operations and tipping fees for the balance of fiscal year 1996-97. PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Planning Commission Actions - On motion of Councilmember Gilbreath, seconded by Councilmember Cunningham, the report of the Planning Commission meeting held on January 14, 1997, was acknowledged as received. RECESS The City Council meeting recessed at 3:21 P.M. and reconvened at 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance No. 2339 - Citrus Village Sign Standards - Public hearing was advertised for this time and place to consider Ordinance No. 2339, an ordinance of the City of Redlands adopting Amendment No. 1 to Specific Plan No. 41 which concerns standards for signs in the Citrus Village Shopping Center, located at the southwest corner of Cypress Avenue and Redlands Boulevard. Community Development Director Shaw explained that in August, 1996, the applicant applied for a Planning Commission review and approval for a pad building at the corner of Redlands Boulevard and Cypress Avenue, and has proposed that the building house a Blockbuster Video and one more tenant. The applicant has applied to modify the sign program in this Specific Plan because it does not address the possibility (as in this case) that pad buildings could have January 21, 1997 Page 4 more than one tenant. This causes complications with the sign program, prevents each tenant on a multiple-tenant pad from having a main identification sign, limits their available square footage, and limits the number of signs as compared to any other tenant in the shopping center. This public hearing was advertised in the Redlands Daily Facts and a notice of the hearing was mailed to 600 property owners within 1,000 feet of the proposed site. Mr. Shaw reviewed the proposed modifications to the sign program for Specific Plan No. 41 in detail. Mayor Larson declared the meeting open as a public hearing for any questions or comments. On behalf of the Palm Terrace Homeowners Association, Kathleen Callaway felt the standards for lighting in Citrus Village were offensive to nearby residents and that additional night signs would not help. She informed Councilmembers that Music Plus turns their lights off at approximately midnight and the lights at Family Fitness are on all night. The lights shine in the windows of homes in Palm Terrace and are very annoying. She also noted that the parking lot is swept several times a week during the night which is also disturbing the peace of the residential neighborhood. On behalf of the applicant, Pat Meyer thanked staff for their efforts and recognition of the changes needed on the sign standards and urged approval of this amendment as recommended by the Planning Commission. There being no further comments, the public hearing was declared closed. Ordinance No. 2339 was read by title only by City Clerk Poyzer. With the understanding staff would explore options during the next two weeks to address the neighbors' concerns, and if substantive changes were recommended the ordinance text amendment would be referred back to the Planning Commission for their review, Councilmember Gilbreath moved to waive further reading of the ordinance text and to introduce Ordinance No. 2339. Motion seconded by Councilmember Gil and failed with Councilmembers Cunningham, Banda, and Larson voting NO. Councilmember Cunningham moved to table this matter and to direct staff to take all appropriate procedures to add text to the proposed ordinance text amendment which would require signs to be turned off within a specific time period after closure of the shopping center. Motion seconded by Councilmember Banda and carried with Councilmember Gil voting NO. U. S. Conference of Mayors Law Enforcement Block Grant - Public hearing was advertised for this time and place to consider the designation of "purpose areas" for law enforcement funds received from the U. S. Conference of Mayor Law Enforcement Block Grant as follows: $25,000.00 - These funds would allow hiring up to ten study employees for various jobs including investigative assistants, sub-station staffing, records assistants, and evidence/property assistants; January 21, 1997 Page 5 $23,513.00 - These funds would provide overtime for sworn police personnel in the areas of gang and drug proactive intervention/apprehension duties in the newly formed Community Policing Bureau and provide training for the S.W.A.T. Team; $64,600.00 - These funds would provide for stenography services to provide dictation services for field personnel to enhance the officers' ability to complete reports in a timely and accurate way. Police Chief Nelson and Lt. Pat Beaver explained that HR 728 was enacted as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1996. The bill established the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program through the Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance, and provides funding for local agencies to reduce crime and improve public safety. The funds must be used for municipal police services and must supplement, not supplant, existing funding for municipal police services. Thanking Lt. Beaver for his efforts, Mayor Larson declared the meeting open as a public hearing for any questions or comments. None being forthcoming, the public hearing was declared closed. Councilmember Cunningham moved to approve the use of the HR 728 as described above. Motion seconded by Councilmember Banda and carried unanimously. Resolution No. 5324 - Fees - Police Department and Animal Shelter - Public hearing was advertised for this time and place to consider Resolution No. 5324, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redlands establishing fees for the Redlands Police Department and the Redlands Animal Shelter Program and rescinding Resolution Nos. 5131 and 5169. Police Chief Nelson and Finance Director Chapman explained the current fees for the Police Department and the Animal Shelter were established by Resolution Nos. 5131 and 5169. David M. Griffith & Associates (DMG) was engaged by the Finance Department in 1996 to report on costs, fees and revenues for the City of Redlands. DMG conducted a detailed study of the Police Department user fees, services costs and revenues and provided documentation which supports the assignment of general government overhead. Captain Clete Hyman explained after completion of the DMG study, the Police Department began investigating a method to recover the costs involved in a DUI arrest and tow and recommended a DUI administrative fee which will allow for a 96 percent recovery of costs. Mayor Larson declared the meeting open as a public hearing for any questions or comments. None being forthcoming, the public hearing was declared closed. Councilmember Cunningham moved to adopt Resolution No. 5324. Motion seconded by Councilmember Banda and carried unanimously. Resolution No. 5333 - Fees - Fire Department - Public hearing was advertised for this time and place to consider Resolution No. 5333, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redlands establishing fees for the Redlands Fire January 21, 1997 Page 6 Department and rescinding Resolution No. 5188. Fire Chief Enslow, Assistant Fire Marshall Tim Marshbum, and Finance Director Chapman explained that in July, 1996, David M. Griffith & Associates (DMG) completed their reports on Costs, Fees and Revenue, and earlier, in March, 1996, completed the full Cost Allocation Plan. DMG was engaged by the City to conduct a detailed study of Fire Department user fees service costs and revenues and provide a document which supports the assignment of general government overhead. DMG's findings and recommendations are the basis for the fees presented in Resolution No. 5333. Mayor Larson declared the meeting open as a public hearing for any questions or comments. None being forthcoming, the public hearing was declared closed. Councilmember Banda moved to adopt Resolution No. 5333, with the change on page two of Exhibit "A" under "Weed Abatement - Administrative Cost - $167.00 per parcel plus cost." Motion seconded by Councilmember Cunningham and carried unanimously. Resolution No. 5334 - Fees - Community Development and Public Works - Public hearing was advertised for this time and place to consider Resolution No. 5334, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redlands establishing processing fees for the Community Development and Public Works Departments. Community Development Director Shaw, Public Works Director Mutter, and Finance Director Chapman explained that in July, 1996, David M. Griffith and Associates (DMG) completed their report on Costs, Fees and Revenue, and earlier in March, 1996, completed the Full Cost Allocation Plan for the City of Redlands. DMG was engaged by the City to conduct a detailed study of costs and revenues for the Community Development and Public Works Departments and provide a document which supports the assignment of general government overhead. Some new fees not contemplated in the DMG study are also proposed and some fees are recommended to be lowered to be reasonable even though the total cost recovery may not occur. The additional documentation to support fees as recommended in Exhibit "A" of Resolution No. 5334 was attached to the staff report. Mayor Larson declared the meeting open as a public hearing for any questions or comments. On behalf of the Building Industry Association, Brad Mitzelfelt expressed serious reservations, at length, to many of the fees. Bob Roberts stated he was opposed to the fees as proposed and felt the procedure was overdue for review. Citing an occurrence she has recently experienced while assisting a small business owner to open a small used car lot, Judy Miller felt the fees were rather exceptional and urged reconsideration. Councilmembers questioned the "roof recover" fee contained in Exhibit "A" and several other Community Development fees and requested more information showing justification and comparison of the current fees. It was agreed to address the two departments separately. Councilmember Gilbreath moved to amend the proposed resolution and adopt Resolution No. 5334 with the fees as contained in Exhibit "B" as presented at this meeting, and January 21, 1997 Page 7 to continue the processing fees contained in Exhibit A for two weeks. Motion seconded by Councilmember Larson and carried unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS Citrus Plaza Regional Mall - No report from Councilmember Cunningham at this meeting. East Valley High School Annexation - City Manager Luebbers reported he and Community Development Director Shaw have met with P & R Paper and Nightscape to discuss annexation of their properties. Appointment - Public Works Commission - Mayor Larson moved to nominate Fred H. Week to the Public Works Commission for a four-year term to November 16, 2000. Motion seconded by Councilmember Gilbreath and carried unanimously. River Crossings - Councilmember Cunningham felt it was imperative the City move forward with the replacement of the Orange Street bridge but felt we should hold the Alabama Street crossing in abeyance until more information was available about possible crossings at California Street or Mountain View. Noting his goal was to fund both bridges with Federal and State funds, Public Works Director Mutter updated Councilmembers on the status of the application and expressed concern that if we were to eliminate the Alabama Street project at this time, it might jeopardize the application. He suggested we proceed with the qualification package and separate the costs for each crossing. Councilmember Cunningham was adamant that we need to carefully examine what we could do at California Street or Mountain View instead of Alabama Street, and moved to direct staff to proceed as rapidly as possible on the Orange Street bridge and hold the Alabama Street bridge in abeyance. Motion seconded by Councilmember Banda and carried with Councilmembers Gilbreath and Gil voting NO. January 21, 1997 Page 8 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Bid Call - 168 South Eureka Street- Public Works Director Mutter reported that on November 18, 1996, staff presented a status report to the City Council regarding the estimated costs to complete the various phases of improvements to the house located at 168 South Eureka Street. As a reminder, the Phase I construction estimate was $293,000.00 Providing 15 percent for contract administration, another $44,000.00 in costs will be added. The architect will also be due approximately $20,000.00 before the completion of his contract. Therefore, the total estimate for all costs association with the first phase is approximately $357,000.00. The estimate for the entire project with all three phases is $593,000.00. These costs are based on a public works contract with prevailing wages as required by law. The project architect, Richard Frick of the firm Cole and Frick, has reexamined his original cost estimate for the first phase. The costs are still $293,000.00 for construction. A more detailed breakdown was provided and copies were provided to the City Council. Mr. Mutter noted the greatest cost, nearly $100,000.00, is the second floor and roof truss work and framing. This cost related to the desire for a large "open" meeting/assembly room on the second floor. If columns were provided, a significant savings could be realized. However, the design work completed to date would need significant revisions requiring several months. The facility could not be ready for the deadline of the 1997 summer Bowl season. In order to meet this deadline, a bid call should have been made no later than January 13, 1997, with a bid opening on February 13, and award of a contract on March 4. This item was continued from the last meeting; staff continued to recommend that no bid call be made until all necessary funding for the first phase improvement is in hand. With the estimate remaining at $357,000.00 and the City having a total of$250,000.00 available, $107,000.00 needs to be provided. Jon Harrison, Redlands Conservancy, again offered to work with staff to legally work around the prevailing wage requirement but noted they needed to receive a copy of the plans. Mr. Mutter stated he had not yet received the plans from the architect who is not returning his phone calls. Councilmember Cunningham moved to continue this matter for another two weeks. Motion seconded by Councilmember Larson and carried unanimously. Resolution No. 5325 - Fire Department Demonstration Garden - Citing a possible conflict of interest, Mayor Larson left the Council Chambers. Fire Chief Enslow reported the Fire Department has accepted a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the State Office of Emergency Services, through the efforts of Fire Marshal Leonard Temby, specifically for development and maintenance of a Demonstration Garden to provide documentation for public inspection and education regarding the most effective native and various other plant species that create a defensible space around structures in the high fire hazard areas of the City. The original choice for a site was Caroline Park. However, due to January 21, 1997 Page 9 requests from the Friends of Caroline Park that it be kept in its native state and at the direction of the Parks Commission, this site was rejected as a location for the Garden. At this time, the Parks Commission recommends that permission be granted to the Redlands Fire Department for establishment of the Demonstration Garden at Ford Park in Redlands. Staff supported the unanimous Parks Commission recommendation of the Ford Park site if Caroline Park is unavailable due to other factors of concern. Expressing his delight with this choice of location, Councilmember Cunningham moved to adopt Resolution No. 5325, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redlands providing for approval of the implementation of a Hazard Mitigation Grant recently accepted by the Redlands Fire Department from the State Office of Emergency Services through the development of a demonstration garden at Ford Park in Redlands, California. Motion seconded by Councilmember:Banda and carried by AYE votes of all present. NEW BUSINESS Police Badge - Police Chief Nelson reported the personnel of the Redlands Police Department (RPD) has expressed an interest in changing from a generic style police badge to one that more closely identifies them with the community they serve. Under the leadership of Sergeant Fernando Arias, the design. selected by RPD personnel represents the chapel at the University of Redlands as well as including the City seal which was designed by retired RPD Sergeant George Collins. University of Redlands President James Appleton has given both permission and encouragement to use the chapel. The purchase of these new badges for police officers and reserve police officers will be offset by the sale of the existing badges to current and retired RPD officers as well as to current and former reserve police officers. A much lower cost per unit will permit the replacement of all badges with no additional cost to the City. Councilmember Larson moved to authorize the sale of existing Redlands Police Department badges to current and retired RPD officers as well as current and former police reservists and for these funds to be used to purchase the newly designed Redlands Police Department badges from Sun Badge Company, with the understanding there will be no cost to the City for this purchase. Motion seconded by Councilmember Gilbreath and carried unanimously. January 21, 1997 Page 10 CLOSED SESSION The City Council meeting recessed at 9:03 P.M. to a closed session to discuss the following: 1. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(a) - City of Redlands v. County of San Bernardino Case No. SVC 33330 - City of Redlands v. County of San Bernardino Case No. SVC 34737 2. Conference with labor negotiator - Agency negotiator: Gary Luebbers Employees: Redlands Professional Firefighters Association Redlands management employees ADJOURNMENT No report was expected following the closed session. The next regular meeting will be held on February 4, 1997. City Clerk January 21, 1997 Page 11