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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDOC017_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, on October 5, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. PRE'SENT: Pat Gilbreath, Mayor Jerry Bean,Mayor Pro Tem. Jon Harrison, Councilmember Mick Gallagher, Councilmember Pete Aguilar, Councilmember ABSENT: None STAFF: N. Enrique Martinez, City Manager; Dan McHugh, City Attorney; Sam Irwin, City Clerk; Carl Baker, Public Information Officer; Chris Catren, Police Lieutenant; Jeff Frazier, Fire Chief; Philip Mielke, GIS Supervisor; Rosemary Hoerning, Municipal Utilities and Engineering Director; Les Jolly, Interim Quality of Life Director; Tina Kundig, Finance Director/City Treasurer; Oscar W. Orci, Community Development Director; Deborah Scott-Leistra, Human Resources Director The meeting was opened with an invocation by Councilmember Gallagher followed by the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. PRESENTATIONS: Redlands Animal Shelter - Animal Control Officer Bill Miller and Volunteer Lynda Ackerman introduced Emily, a five-year old Labrador/Dachshund mix, who is available for adoption at the Redlands Animal Shelter. Ms. Ackerman informed the Council there are currently 62 dogs and 78 cats at the shelter. Thirty-two dogs and twenty-six cats have been adopted since the last City Council meeting. CONSENT CALENDAR: Minutes - On motion of Mayor Pro Tem Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously approved the minutes of the regular meeting of September 21, 2010 as submitted. Postmaster Commendation - On motion of Mayor Pro Tem Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously approved a commendation of Vanessa Lumpkin for her appointment as Postmaster for the City of Redlands. Proclamation - On motion of Mayor Pro Tern Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously approved a proclamation declaring October 28,2010, as National Immigrants Day. University Contribution - On motion of Mayor Pro Tem Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously agreed to receive a voluntary directed $50,000 contribution from the University of Redlands. The funds are designated to be used in the following manner: $5,000 to the library for the Civil War Sesquicentennial, $5,000 to the library for children's reading programs, $30,000 for maintenance and improvements in Sylvan Park, and $10,000 for student employee/internship positions in the library and the police, recreation and community services departments. Right-of-Way - On motion of Mayor Pro Tem, Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously approved a right-of- way contract and non-exclusive easement between the City of Redlands and the California Department of Water Resources for the purpose of constructing the Yucaipa Connector Pipeline. October 5,2010 26119 COMMUNICATIONS: Sales Tax Measure - Councilmember Aguilar summarized events leading to the derivation of a set of schedules to allocate revenues generated from the one-half of one percent(50%)transaction and use tax proposed to the voters as a general tax measure on the November 2, 2010 ballot. These schedules provide time- phased allocation of revenues among the four categories of Street and Sidewalk Improvement, General Fund Support, Park and Recreation Capital Improvements and a Tree Trimming Contract, and are intended to be used by a Taxpayers' Oversight Committee to monitor the use of measure-generated funds. As public comments, Ken Hunter, regional coordinator for Americans for Prosperity, expressed skepticism of the sales tax measure predicting it is doomed to failure and citing experiences of other cities where taxpayers' oversight committees were ineffective. Bill Cunningham pointed out inconsistencies between prescribed budget cutting goals and the budget passed by the Council. He said he could only support the proposed sales tax increase if a balanced budget was part of the equation. Steve Rogers wanted to know when the tax measure went form being advisory to carrying the full weight of an ordinance. Nancy Ruth White presented the Council with copies of an editorial for the Press Enterprise and stated the measure is the wrong tax at the wrong time. Councilmember Aguilar responded that the idea of a transaction and use tax proposal was generated to provide for needs expressed by residents during the budget deliberations. Councilmember Harrison suggested, and was accommodated, a change to the proposed schedule to transfer tax funds away from General Fund Support earlier in the ten-year life of the measure. In response to his concerns funds were diverted to Park and Recreation Capital Improvements beginning in the third year of the tax. On motion of Councilmember Aguilar, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bean, the City Council voted to approve the agreed to schedules as guiding documents. Mayor Gilbreath voted No on the motion restating her position against the sales tax and the nonbinding nature of any allocations approved by this City Council. City Council Benefits - On motions of Mayor Pro 'rem Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council voted to direct the City Attorney to prepare for the next City Council meeting resolutions eliminating health, dental, vision and life insurance provisions, continuing the City of Redlands policy of no pension benefits for newly elected and newly re-elected City Council members, and limiting reimbursement to $2,000 per councilmember for expenses and use of public resources. As a public comment, Steve Rogers pointed out that compensation and benefits of public officials is an item for investigation by the California Attorney General. The City Manager was directed to modify the FY2010-2011 Budget Resolution to reflect the impact of these changes. Councilmembers Harrison and Aguilar voted No on the motions citing a need for more time to consider the impacts of the proposals. NEW BUSINESS: Commission Appointments - On motion of Mayor Gilbreath, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bean, the City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Judith Ashton, Lorenzo Garbo, Edward P. Gomez, and Bart Stasiuk to serve four-year terms on the Human Relations Commission ending October 5, 2014. Street Light Loan - On motion of Councilmember Harrison, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously approved authorizing the City Manager to sign a California Energy Commission low interest loan application for the City of Redlands energy efficient Light Emitting Diode Street Lighting Initiative. October 5,2010 290 DOJ Grant - On motion of Councilmember Aguilar, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously agreed to accept a cooperative agreement/grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the amount of$473,161 to develop an iPhone-based crime mapping application to assist law enforcement officers with understanding spatial and temporal crime patterns. As a public comment, Steve Rogers cautioned against infringing on the people's right to privacy. Reverse 911 Upgrade - On motion of Mayor Pro Tem Bean, seconded by Councilmember Gallagher, the City Council unanimously approved a license and support agreement between the City of Redlands and Dialogic Communications Corporation, dba Planet CML, to upgrade the currently unusable emergency notification system used by the Redlands Police Department for citizen alerts and employee callouts. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Ordinance No. 2740 - Wireless Facilities Moratorium - Mayor Gilbreath opened the public hearing and called for a report from Oscar Orci, Community Development Director, covering the facts bearing on a proposal to extend a temporary moratorium on the approval of specified permits for the installation of commercial wireless telecommunications facilities. On motion of Councilmember Gallagher, seconded by Councilmember Harrison, the City Council voted to approve the adoption of Ordinance No. 2740, an interim urgency ordinance of the City of Redlands extending the temporary moratorium on the approval of specified permits for the installation of commercial wireless telecommunications facilities until August 20, 2011, Mayor Gilbreath recused herself from the discussion and voting on this item due to her membership in the Redlands Country Club,an organization potentially affected by the ordinance. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Anti-ComVtio - Steve Rogers read from an article published in American City and County Magazine citing the impacts of corrupt government in Boston, Massachusetts, Safety Hazard - Steve Na, representing the Redlands Village Homeowners' Association, appealed to the Council to address the current traffic congestion situation at the intersection of Pioneer Street and Furlow Drive. Sustainability - Susan Finsen, from Greenpeace, along with Harvey the Polar Bear, spoke on the impact of climate change. State Budget Cuts - Renea Wickman described the impacts of budget cuts, instituted at the state level, on our education system and called for an oil extraction fee from companies doing business in California. October 5,2010 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the City of Redlands City Council meeting adjourned at 5:13 KNI. The Council will meet next at their regularly scheduled meeting on October 19, 2010. Mayor of the City of Redlands Attest: Sam AIrwin ity Clerk October 5,2010