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Home My WebLink About1978-06-071 MINUTES Council Chamber, Civic Center Huntington Beach, California Wednesday, June 79 1978 A tape recording of this meeting is on file in the City Clerk's Office Mayor Shenkman called the adjourned regular meeting, of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach to order at. 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Pattinson, Thomas, MacAllister, Bailey, Mandic, Shenkman Siebert (7:30 P.M.) Absent: None EXECUTIVE SESSION CALLED Mayor Shenkman called an Executive Session of'the City Council to discuss personnel and litigation matters. RECESS - RECONVENE The meeting was recessed by Council at 7:00 P.M. The meeting was reconvened at 7:30 P.M. "TEMPORARY CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICE FROM COOPERATING PUBLIC ENTITY" - n nEIr On motion by MacAllister, second Pattinson, Council ratified the Temporary Contract for Legal Services from Cooperating Public Entity. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Shenkman, Pattinson, MacAllister NOES: Bailey, Mandic ABSTAIN: Siebert ABSENT: Thomas SIEBERT VS BONFA - CITY TO BECOME PARTY PLAINTIFF On motion by Bailey, second MacAllister, Council directed'that in the case .of Siebert vs. Bonfa, a taxpayers' class action' suit, the,Council accept the claim and become -party plaintiff in the matter. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES-. MacAllister, Baiely, -1Mandi c, Shenkman NOES: None ABSTAIN: Pattinson, Siebert ABSENT: Thomas Councilman Mandic left the meeting at 8:17. 17S Page #2 - Council Meeting - 6/7/78 FISCAL YEAR 1978/79 PRELIMINARY BUDGET - ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATION The City Administrator presented a budget which would mitigate the effect of the passage of the Jarvis Initiative. He then reported on the anticipated financial future of the City.. Mayor Shenkman stated that he believed in the user fee concept, and spoke regarding a recent state poll which indicated that citizens did not want substantial reduc- tions in Police and Fire. He stated that he would like to see Police and Fire funded to at least 90 to 95 percent. The Mayor stated that he would not like to see Revenue Sharing Funds used for General Fund purposes; however, he did not have such objections to the use of unappropriated surplus funds. He would like users fees for Recreation and Parks services and a refuse collection fee. Councilman Siebert stated that he believed the citizens want government to reduce its size and stated that he believed departments which pay for themselves should not be reduced as this would affect the City's ability to derive new revenue. Siebert stated that he believed reduction should be made in higher level positions which would result in supervisors assuming the responsibility of supervising more employees, rather than the same amount supervising less employees. He also spoke regarding the possibility of reducing employee pay and sick leave pay-off. Councilman MacAllister stated that he strongly believed in the maintenance of equipment and buildings, keeping essential services and employees and preparing a long-term City budget. He also stated he favored users's fees and stated that he believed that the employees retained should receive a fair salary comparable with salaries in the private sector. MacAllister stated that he believed a reseve fund was a must, and that a freeze should be placed on all budgets. Councilwoman Bailey stated that all departments should be looked at on their own merit and that she did not believe in "across the board" cuts. She believed the City's Goals and Objectives should be followed as long as they are self-supporting and that the franchises should be renegotiated. Bailey stated that she believed the cutting of employees should be made from the top down and urged joint use of facilities with other cities and felt volunteer help was available. She stated that the City should dispose of surplus City property. Councilman Pattinson stated that he strongly supported user fees and that he also believed that the City should dispose of City -owned lands. Discussion was held regarding possible meeting dates for budget and the procedure which would be followed in reviewing each department. Gordon Offstein, City resident, addressed Council and suggested that centralizing the moneyhandling functions of the City would effect a savings. Tom Livenwood, City resident, addressed Council and suggested that when contem- plating users fees, a retail budget be prepared showing income and expenditures. Glen Davison, City employee, addressed Council and suggested that with the cooperation of the press, Council solicit citizen input as to the areas in which services could be cut and possibly where the citizens could Perform services in their own areas to save money. She also stated that employees and Ew O'S Page #3 - Council Minutes - 6/7/78 citizens could contribute their suggestions. She stated perhaps savings could be made by eliminating -planter areas in residential.construction which require high maintenance. Councilwoman Bailey requested that the s.ugges- tion box program be implemented as recommended by Mrs. Davison: The Assistant City Administrator Richard Harlow, suggested that the staff investigate the City s plans and specification's to determine acceptable standards rely-tive to landscape aesthetics. Also the developers' park and recreation fees to adquire or develop park lands which have an on -going maintenance cost. Mayor Shenkman stated that he would like to look into diverting user fees. Councilwoman Bailey stated that she believed a small library -user fee should be levied. Councilman MacAllister requested that the press be asked to advertise the Council's desire for suggestions from the community. It was determined that the public hearing on the budget would be scheduled for June 26, 1978. Public input would be solicited at the meetings to be held prior to the public hearing date. The staff was also directed by Coun- cil to place advertisements in local papers requesting public input. JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM The City Administrator informed Council that because of the time schedule, the Director of Harbor and Beaches needed to.know if the Council was amenable to having the Junior Lifeguard fee increased to equal the cost. On motion by Pattinson, second MacAllister, Council authorized the Director of Harbor and Beaches to proceed with steps to increase the Junior Lifeguard Program fee to equal the cost of the program - $36 to $68. The motion car- ried by the following roll call vote: AYES:. Pattinson, MacAllister, Bailey, Siebert, Shenkman NOES: None ABSENT: Thomas, Mandic v COASTAL INTERCEPTOR SEWER The Planning Director informed Council of the Coastal Interceptor Sewer Project which will appear before the Coastal Commission on June 12. He stated that this project had been on. the City's and the Sanitation District's plans for some time and that all of the local sewer systems had been designed to tie into this trunk sewer. He stated that the first reach was from the Sanitation District Plant to Lake Street, the second reach from Lake Street past Goldenwest in the vicinity of the bluffs and the third reach would be either through or around Bolsa Chica up into the.vicinity of Warner Avenue. The Planning Director stated that the Coastal Commission would recommend .. denial of the first reach, previously approved in concept by the City Coun- cil, based on what they believe will be an adverse impact on the Bolsa Chica. Mr. Siebert explained the reasons why the Sanitation.District and the City disagreed and showed a map of the area involved.: He stated that the Sanita- tion District had asked that the City take a position on the matter at the Coastal Commission hearing. Page #4 - Council Minutes - 6/7/78 Following discussion, Councilwoman Bailey stated that she would like to look at the report and attend the Coastal Commission meeting. A motion was made by Pattinson, seconded by MacAllister to support the first reach of the project (from the Sanitation District to Lake Street). The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Pattinson, MacAllister, Bailey, Siebert, Shenkman NOES: None ABSENT: Thomas, Mandic ADJOURNMENT The Mayor adjourned the adjourned regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach to June 12, 1978 at 4:30 F.M. in the Council Chamber. ATTEST: _f City Clerk City Clerk and ex-afficio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California Mayor 1 M