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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-20MINUTES CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Council Chamber, Civic Center Huntington Beach, California Friday, January 20, 1995 A audio tape recording of this meeting is on file in the Office of the City Clerk The Mayor called the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council/Redevelopment Agency to order at 12:00 p.m. CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROLL CALL PRESENT: Bauer, Robitaille, Moulton -Patterson, Winchell, Leipzig, Sullivan, ABSENT: None INTERVIEWS OF CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO FILL THE VACANCY CREATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF JIM SILVA The following material is on file in the Office of the City Clerk relative to this adjourned City Council meeting: Mayor's Memo to the Council dated January 4, 1995, titled - Filling the Council Vacancy, setting forth the five questions given to all applicants for the vacant City Council seat and to be answered orally during the interview. The five questions asked of every candidate were as follows: 1. Why do you want to be on the City Council. 2. What do you perceive as being the primary role of a council member in a Charter City such as Huntington Beach? 3. What do you see as an acceptable balance between city growth and the business/environmental community? 4. Briefly give us your approach to an economic development strategy for the City of Huntington Beach. 5. List your top priorities for City/City Council attention for the coming year and what might be your two year plan. An opportunity was given for each applicant to make a closing statement. Also available at the Council meeting was a communication from each Councilmember setting forth desired qualifications of the person to fill the vacant city council office. 39. Page 2 - Council/Agency Minutes - 01/20/95 The following candidates were interviewed by the City Council: Bud Belsito, Ken Bourguignon, Jack Bowland, Gary Gorman, Tom Harman, Phil Inglee, Tom Livengood, Susie Newman, Roy Richardson, Haydee Tillotson, Phil Zisakis. The following represents a very brief synopsis of the candidate interviews: Ken Bourguignon - stressed fiscal policies as a high priority, need for affordable housing on which he would be able to lend his expertise as his experience in building expensive housing would enable quality to be incorporated into plans for affordable housing. The city should become real tough on zoning -- then let architects build to city requirements. Roy Richardson - believed his work in private enterprise including chief financial officer and his managerial expertise in public and private sector would be valuable. The need to bring businesses into the city which will complement, not compete with each other. Attention to issues such as sewage outfall, water pressure important. Floyd "Bud" Belsito stated that his appointment would bring a diversity of qualifications to the city as he began employment in the city's planning division and City Administrator from 1976-80 - bring administrative, planning and now legal experience as an attorney at law. The need to attract good quality businesses that do not require too many city services. Revitalization of vacant property and balance budget important. Susie Newman stated that she believed she has reached a number of people through the election process at which she was a candidate. She spoke regarding her horizons being opened as a result of her opening a business downtown. She spoke regarding the need for the city to have an array of opportunity offered to the people so that the people's money will be spent locally; the feasibility of high schools being used by kids on weekends for social activities; her efforts which resulted in TV-3's show - Made in Huntington Beach. -- making people feel good about living in the city is most important. Tom Livengood - stated importance of implementing what is best for the entire community, keeping an open mind and setting goals and policies for direction of city. He cited the need for more space for industrial and to develop a strategy for attracting industry; a top priority is financial health of city and to start on next year's budget now. He stated the importance of the city council establishing a positive working relationship with all levels of elected leadership. Mr. Livengood spoke in support of performance based budgeting, privatization, two year budgets and keeping flexibility especially because of state funding. Possibility of a charter revision regarding the issue of elected and non -elected officials and other areas of the Charter Council may want to take a look at. He stated that he would commit the time and energy to serve on the city council will not be for higher office. Tom Harman stated that he would like to become part of the decision making process and that he is committed to community services and that he believes is own views are representative of the average citizen because of his close contact with citizens. He spoke regarding the need to better utilize some of the properties on Beach Boulevard that are becoming dilapidated. He spoke regarding the need to ensure that essential services are provided timely and economically; protecting the city's financial assets, city employee relations, protect high standard of 4 O performance; exploring privatization of government activities. Would like to develop Huntington Page 3 - Council/Agency Minutes - 01/20/95 Central Park as it has been on the back burner too long. He stated he would like the charter to be revised to have City Treasurer, City Attorney and City Clerk appointed. He reviewed his background as a lawyer and independent businessman and his community involvement. RECESS - RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Mayor called a recess of the City Council Redevelopment Agency meeting. He reconvened the regular meeting of the City Council/Redevelopment Agency. Haydee Tillotson stated that the Council has an opportunity to lead and set policy and spoke regarding the need for the environmental and business community to work with each other; the need to build a healthy business environment for Huntington Center, bring tourism to city. She stated that public safety is #1 priority; that whole responsibility cannot be with Police Department, that citizens must be helped by city to fight crime such as the example of the Florida -Utica Task Force Committee. Ms. Tillotson spoke regarding the importance of not allowing older neighborhoods and industrial neighborhoods to deteriorate. She stated the importance of being able to agree to disagree with respect and that she learns more from those who disagree with her. Jack Bowland spoke regarding his involvement in the community and in the General Plan Advisory Committee which is a consortium of every interest group in the city. Mr. Bowland spoke regarding his assistance to the Huntington Beach Company to reach a conflict resolution which was accepted by both sides. Mr. Bowland commented on this service on the Transportation Commission and as a citizen representative member of the Mobilehome Review Committee. He stated he believed it was necessary that a Councilmember have the ability and willingness to listen and to validate the citizens' presence when they appear before Council. He stated that there are three ides to every issue; the proponents, opponents and somewhere in the middle is usually the solution -- not always, but usually. He stated that the city needs to have a better proposal to businesses than surrounding cities do; that we should find out what other cities do to attract business and commercial and do the same. Phil Zisakis stated that he would like to be a voice for the business community as he believes sales tax and business is being lost at an alarming rate. He stated the need to give incentives and encouragement for business to come t the city and to keep businesses from leaving; that the city must maintain and keep what business we have. Mr. Zisakis stated his support for a as Long Beach has with 400-500 people which brings the community together. He spoke in support of speeding the planning process; that it is better than before but there is room for improvement. Gary Gorman spoke regarding the importance of prioritizing revenues for health and safety of citizens and allocating remaining revenue for other services. He believes the city should be run business -like but not as a business. Mr. Gorman stated that the city should charge the fees to cover building services but not make money off them. He spoke regarding long-term revenues to city from businesses and short term from building fees. The City needs to provide major incentives to bring business into the city; modify codes to attract businesses. He stated for planning purposes he would like to see a census of all businesses in town. He spoke regarding possible privatization of services; perhaps tree trimming, street sweeping and maybe contract our city services out such as police dispatch and curb painting, lease of city vehicles. He presented 41 Page 4 - Council/Agency Minutes - 01/20/95 an example of a savings to the City of Long Beach through leasing a fire truck - $2500 down from $5500. Phil Inglee stated that he believes he can do something for the community due to his banking experiences better than some of his contemporaries - wherein they can do other things better.. He spoke regarding a councilmember's duty to ensure that the best interests of the citizens are met; that decisions made by Council will affect our children and grandchildren and possibly beyond. He stated that at times money is spent on things we don't need and not enough on what we do need. Mr. Inglee distributed a document to Council: Recommended City Treasurers Monthly/Quarterly Investment Reports to the City Council which he believed could serve as in informational aid to the city council. Mr. Inglee stated that his goal would be to try and bring the citizens and businesses together to develop a plan. He explained the "smart city" concept he would follow and distributed a document titled America's Smart Cities. Economic Development Strategy - Huntington Beach - America's Bright City ADJOURNMENT - CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Mayor adjourned the regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to Monday, January 23, 1995 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber. ATTEST: i MKIP, M-0 City Clerk/Clerk 42 Clerk of the Redevelopment Agency and City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California Mayor/Chairman