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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-09-08MINUTES CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH 5:00 PM - Room B-8 5:30 PM - Council Chamber Huntington Beach, California Monday, September 8, 1997 A video tape recording of this meeting is on file in the Office of the City Clerk. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pro Tern Dettloff called the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to order at 5:15 p.m. in the Council Chamber. CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROLL CALL Present: Julien, Dettloff, Sullivan, Green, Garofalo, (Harman arrived during closed sessions) Absent: Bauer .. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING STUDY SESSION OR CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS There were no persons present to address Council regarding the study session or closed session items scheduled on the agenda. MOTION TO RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION - APPROVED (120.80) A motion was made by Julien, second Garofalo to recess the City Council to closed session to consider the following item. The motion carried by unanimous vote with Mayor Bauer and Councilmember Harman absent. Closed Session - City Council pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (a) to confer with its attorney regarding pending litigation which has been initiated formally and to which the city is a party. The title of the litigation is City of Huntington Beach v. Montgomery Watson - Orange County Superior Court Case No. 76 59 40. Subject: City of Huntington Beach v. Montgomery Watson. (120.80) 213 Page 2 - Council/Agency Minutes - 09/08/97 RECONVENE Mayor Pro Tern Dettloff reconvened the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency at 5:54 p.m. CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ROLL CALL Present: Julien, Harman, Dettloff, Sullivan, Green, Garofalo Absent: Bauer FLAG CEREMONY AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The flag ceremony and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Councilmember Julien. CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF JOSHUA DEAN HALL Mayor Pro Tern Dettloff, on behalf of the Mayor and City Councilmembers and city staff, expressed condolences to the family of Joshua Dean Hall who died in a surfing accident. LATE COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCED BY THE CITY CLERK Pursuant to the Brown (Open Meetings) Act, the City Clerk announced the following late communications regarding Agenda Items which had been received following distribution of the agenda: Communication from Paul McLeod, North Huntington Beach Football Club, Former Commissioner, AYSO HB Region 143; Former Board Member, HB Girls Softball; Former Youth Coach, Murdy Park; Booster, Marina High School Athletics; and a Founder, Save Our Kids, dated September 8, 1997 in support of the $150,000 annual youth sports funding PUBLIC COMMENTS ELIZABETH GREEN, student, addressed Council regarding the poor condition of the sports fields at schools in Huntington Beach. She stated the need to have improved fields for soccer. MIKE GREEN thanked Council for directing staff to find funds for youth sports. He informed Council that he hopes the funding will not have to come from the Park Acquisition and Development Fund. Mr. Green spoke regarding his disappointment in the analysis of maintaining the $30 annual alarm renewal fee discussed at the last Council meeting due to reasons including that no one had asked how much money is saved by the Police Department due to its deterrent value. He stated that spending money on the youth sports grant fund will not add to the city's beauracracy but according to staff would bring in $3 worth of improvements for every $1 spent. Mr. Green gave reasons why he believed the city's 214 09/08/97 - City Council/Redevelopment Agency Minutes - Page 3 favorable ranking in three areas of the "Child Friendly City" survey had little to do with kids; that there was no category for parks or active play facilities. CHUCK BEAUREGARD, representing Save Our Kids, spoke in support of youth sports funding. He stated that he did not believe the lights should be shut off at Murdy Park as a consequence of the unfortunate incident which had been reported upon at the last meeting. He requested help in finding the persons who vandalized the lighting control boxes at the sports fields. EILEEN MURPHY gave reasons why she opposed giving water to the Koll Company. She questioned if the city has surplus water why is the city still buying water. Ms. Murphy spoke regarding the communication from the City Attorney on this matter. Ms. Murphy questioned why there is an effort to provide water to Koll Company. (CITY COUNCIL) STUDY SESSION - PROPOSED CITY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEARS 1997/98 AND 1998/99 (320.20) Mayor Bauer announced that this was the meeting set for a public hearing to consider the City Budget for Fiscal Years 1997/98 and 1998/99. The proposed budget for Fiscal Year 1997/98 totals $207,344,279 including proposed General Fund expenditures of $102,444,515. The proposed budget for Fiscal Year 1998/99 totals $193,683,262 including General Fund expenditures of $103,897,558. The complete Preliminary, Two -Year Budget proposal can be reviewed by the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday in the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach. Copies of the proposed budget are also available for public review at the City's Central Library located at 7111 Talbert Avenue (Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue) and all branch libraries. Copies of the Preliminary Budget Message and Summaries may be obtained by the public, free of charge, at the aforementioned locations. Legal notice as provided to the City Clerk's Office by staff had been mailed, published and posted. City Clerk Brockway announced that the following communication on this item had been provided to the City Council: Communication from Paul McLeod, North Huntington Beach Football Club, Former Commissioner, AYSO HB Region 143; Former Board Member, HB Girls Softball; Former Youth Coach, Murdy Park; Booster, Marina High School Athletics; and a Founder, Save Our Kids, dated September 8, 1997 in support of the $150,000 annual youth sports funding (City Council) Library Opening on Sunday The City Council considered a communication from Deputy City Administrator - Administrative Services Director Franz submitting alternative methods to finance normal library services for four hours each Sunday. 215 Page 4 - Council/Agency Minutes - 09/08/97 City Administrator Uberuaga presented a staff report. (City Council) Youth Sports Grants Program/Huntington Central Park Urban Forest The City Council considered a communication from Community Services Director Hagan regarding staff's recommendation to reprioritize the proposed Park Acquisition and Development Fund to increase the sports fields grants program from $50,000 per year to $150,000 per year and to delete the acquisition of small lots at the Ellis/Goldenwest neighborhood park site and the Urban Forest area of Huntington Central Park until such time as an alternative funding source can be identified. Community Services Director Hagan presented a staff report. Discussion was held regarding various aspects of the issue such as whether the projected revenues had been figured too conservatively. City Administrator Uberuaga reported on the issue of estimating revenues. Deputy City Administrator -Administrative Services Director Franz reported on revenue estimates including Huntington Beach assessed valuation of property and the fact that the county will not be refunding to property owners as much as in previous years. He reported on sales tax estimates and auto and truck sales. Councilmember Harman stated that he would like to see the youth sports fields taken out of a fund other than the Park Acquisition and Development Fund. He spoke regarding the necessity of the Urban Forest project; that it is a low priority, but at some point it has to be done. He requested that Council authorize it. Councilmember Green presented reasons that he agreed with staff's conservative method of revenue estimates. (City Council/Redevelopment Agency) Downtown Hardscape (Sidewalks) Cleaning Costs The City Council considered a communication from Deputy City Administrator - Administrative Services Director Franz regarding staff's recommendation that if the City Council approves this additional cleaning of public rights -of -way hardscape areas, the recommended method of funding this additional expense is to increase the repayment of debt from the Redevelopment Agency to the City General Fund by $18,000 for 1997/98. Don Noble, Maintenance Operations Manager, presented a staff report. Councilmember Green asked if the equipment that will be used to clean Pier Plaza could be used for the downtown area under consideration. Mr. Noble reported regarding the possibility. (City Council) Fiscal Year 1997/98 City Budget Addendum The City Council considered a communication from Deputy City Administrator -Administrative Services Director Franz transmitting a listing of additional items which need to be added to the 1997/98 budget. These items consist of carry-over of prior year approved projects/expenses, corrections of errors in the preliminary budget, and additional budget requests such as the 216 09/08/97 - City Council/Redevelopment Agency Minutes - Page 5 $1.8 million list of Capital Projects and $250,000 for the Park Acquisition and Development Fund. Deputy City Administrator -Administrative Services Director Franz presented a staff report. He brought Council's attention to an error on Page No. 16 where only one expenditure, not two expenditures, of the carry-over of $250,000 for parks, playground equipment should be reflected. He stated that an additional budget expenditure would be presented at the next meeting relative to the Police Department (matching funds for outside grants). Discussion was held regarding the reasons for the delay in spending the carry-over money for parks, playground equipment. Discussion was held regarding the underground tank removal project and Fire Chief Dolder reported. Police Chief Lowenberg, at the request of Councilmember Harman, reported on a proposed expenditure for the crime lab, particularly in the matter of DNA technology. He stated that DNA is not only to identify guilty individuals but is important to eliminate innocent persons. City Administrator Uberuaga spoke regarding the method used to prioritize the budget. Councilmember Garofalo spoke regarding drainage problems in the city and the need to find a few more dollars to give a shot in the arm to street sweeping and tree trimming. City Administrator Uberuaga stated that to clean streets efficiently, a program instituting mandatory removal of cars on the street is necessary. Daryl Smith, Superintendent, Park, Tree, and Landscape Division, reported on street, tree, and drainage problems and the millions of dollars needed to solve them. Councilmember Harman stated that he believed that the city policy should be reviewed; that perhaps the people should be allowed to remove the trees at their own expense, and at least part of the problem would be solved. Councilmember Julien stated that she believes street sweeping should be tried in the manner previously discussed, and those neighborhoods where people agree to remove cars should have a street sweeping program started. (City Council) Budget Study Session Follow-up Information Items The City Council considered a communication from Deputy City Administrator -Administrative Services Director Franz transmitting additional information on a variety of topics as requested by Council at the August 25, 1997 Study Session. The topics were as follows: 1. Percentage Increases by Department —General. Fund; 2. Percentage Increases —Salary and Benefit Costs —General Fund; 3. Sales Tax and Property Tax Comparisons; 4. Community Services — Program Expenditures vs. Revenues For 5 Years, Fiscal Year 1997/98 Through 2001/02; 5. Projected Fund Balances —October 1, 1997; 6. Alarm Permit and False Alarm Information —Police Department Report; 7. Report on Budget Implications for Southern California Edison Power Plant Sale Issues; 8. Budget Follow-up Report Regarding Municipal Pier Maintenance; 9. Report Regarding South Beach Improvement Project City -Owned Beach Parking Lots, Beach Rest Rooms, Bicycle/Pedestrian Paths, Landscaping, Etc.; 10. Report Regarding Questions Raised by Councilmember Garofalo at the September 2, 1997 Council Meeting Regarding Water Fund Revenue/Sale of Water to County for Park Development/Bolsa Chica. 217 Page 6 - Council/Agency Minutes - 09/08/97 1. Percentage Increases By Department —General Fund Deputy City Administrator -Administrative Services Director Franz reported on workers compensation increases and other items on Exhibit No. 2—Salary and Benefit Cost. City Administrator Uberuaga stated that distribution of sales tax should be made more equitably by the state, and the legislature members should be contacted in this regard. The difficulty in analyzing the drop in property tax revenues from commercial was stated. Discussion was held regarding the overtime budget. Fire Chief Dolder reported that overtime figures had been recently evaluated, and the numbers reflected that it is more cost efficient to have overtime than new hires. Councilmember Julien stated that she would like to see a cost breakdown on overtime salaries to see if the service level is there relative to whether it is the safest thing for the city or the employees even though it may be cost-effective. In response to the City Administrator, Police Chief Lowenberg stated that at some point in time, and he believes the time is now, that staff will have to be added rather than overtime. City Administrator Uberuaga informed Council that this issue can be analyzed. 5. Projected Fund Balances —October 1, 1997 In response to Councilmember Garofalo, staff reported on a projected fund balance. Councilmember Garofalo requested changes in the chart format to show past, present and future figures. Staff responded to Councilmember Garofalo's questions regarding Page No. 48 as it pertains to the sale of water. Daryl Smith, Superintendent, Park, Tree, and Landscape Division, reported on past actions which formed the Sunset Beach Water Department. 6. Alarm Permit and False Alarm Information —Police Department Report Police Captain Gildea referred to the communication in the packet dated September 3, 1997 titled Alarm Permit and False Alarm Information. Discussion was held. Councilmember Julien presented questions relative to charges for repeat false alarms. Considerable discussion was held regarding false alarms. Police Chief Lowenberg reported that false alarms are the fault of both alarm companies and the subscribers. He informed Council that the International Association of the Chiefs of Police is sponsoring a model alarm ordinance project underwritten by the National Institute of Justice, and the Police Department has been invited to participate (a national extensive study). The Police Chief recommended that these minor changes be made now with information from the study to be presented to Council in the near future. Police Captain Gildea reported further on the false alarm issue. Councilmember Green stated that an MSI study should be made as to how much it costs to respond to a false alarm. Councilmember Green spoke regarding the problem of the police having to respond to false alarms when their service is needed elsewhere. Councilmember Garofalo stated that if there is any way the city can be the supplier of this service, he would like the city to be able to do so. 218 09/08/97 - City Council/Redevelopment Agency Minutes - Page 7 7. Report on Budget Implications for Southern California Edison Power Plant Sale Issues Councilmember Green reported on the need for the wild animal rescue center to maintain its integrity at this location. Questions On The Water Fund Raised At The September 2, 1997 Council Meeting At the request Councilmember Sullivan, City Administrator Uberuaga reported as to when the sale of water to the county for the Linear Park would appear on the City Council agenda. He reported on his meetings with Supervisor Silva. Councilmember Sullivan stressed that he wants to know the ownership of the land prior to the water being given by the city. 8. Budget Follow-up Report Regarding Municipal Pier Maintenance Community Services Director Hagan stated that the day-to-day maintenance of the municipal pier is included in the budget; however, certain maintenance is not included. (CITY COUNCIL) CITY ADMINISTRATOR UBERUAGA'S COMMENTS REGARDING POLICE OVERTIME City Administrator Uberuaga reported on police overtime and the need to pay special attention to the Communications Division in the Police Department as these are stressful positions and during his 21 years as a city manager it has always been difficult to recruit for these positions. (CITY COUNCIL) REVENUE DUE FROM PLC LAND COMPANY/REPORT TO BE MADE City Administrator Uberuaga spoke regarding revenue due to the city from PLC Land Company. He stated that a report would be made. (CITY COUNCIL) STRAW VOTES TAKEN BY CITY COUNCIL 1. Library Opening on Sunday A motion was made by Green, second Harman to approve Alternative No.1 which provides for four Sunday library service hours costing $101,449 with financing of $21,580 in Sunday revenue and by reducing the transfers to the retirement supplement fund by $80,000 per year. The motion carried by the following straw vote: AYES: Julien, Harman, Dettloff, Sullivan, Green, Garofalo NOES: None ABSENT: Bauer 219 Page 8 - Council/Agency Minutes - 09/08/97 2. Youth Sports Grants Program/Huntington Central Park Urban Forest A motion was made by Green, second Julien to approve Alternative 1A as modified— reprioritize the Park Acquisition and Development Fund recommended expenditures by decreasing the allocation for acquisition of small lots for Huntington Central Park. The motion carried by the following straw vote: AYES: Julien, Harman, Dettloff, Sullivan, Green, Garofalo NOES: None ABSENT: Bauer 3. Downtown Hardscape (Sidewalks) Cleaning Costs A motion was made by Green, second Garofalo to approve this additional cleaning of public rights -of -way hardscape areas; the recommended method of funding this additional expense is to increase the repayment of debt from the Redevelopment Agency to the City General Fund by $18,000 for 1997/1998. Mayor Pro Tern Dettloff and Councilmember Harman gave reasons why they could not support the motion. The motion made by Green, second Garofalo failed by the following straw vote: AYES: Julien, Green, Garofalo NOES: Harman, Dettloff, Sullivan ABSENT: Bauer Motion To Disapprove Establishment of Police DNA Crime Lab —Failed For Lack of Second A motion was made by Harman to not approve the Police Department's DNA crime lab item. The motion failed for lack of a second. Budget Addendum To Be Incorporated Into The Budget A motion was made by Garofalo, second Green that the Budget Addendum be incorporated into the city budget. The motion carried by the following straw vote: AYES: Julien, Dettloff, Sullivan, Green, Garofalo NOES: Harman ABSENT: Bauer 220 09/08/97 - City Council/Redevelopment Agency Minutes - Page 9 Alarm Permit and False Alarm Information/Reduction of Renewal Fee A motion was made by Sullivan, second Garofalo to direct staff to return with a proposal for Council to consider as follows: to reduce the $30 alarm renewal fee to $20 for those persons who have no false alarms; further to reduce the alarm fee to $15 for low-income persons and senior citizens. The motion carried by the following straw vote: AYES: Julien, Harman, Dettloff, Sullivan, Green, Garofalo NOES: None ABSENT: Bauer Submittal By Fire Chief Of Demographics For Sunset Beach During the meeting Fire Chief Dolder presented to Council a copy of the figures for Sunset Beach. He presented a copy to City Clerk Brockway. ADJOURNMENT - CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Mayor adjourned the adjourned regular meetings of the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach to the regular meetings to be held on Monday, September 15, 1997 at 5:00 p.m. in Room B-8, Civic Center, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, California. City C erk and ex-officio Clerk o the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach and Clerk of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Huntington Beach, California ATTEST: 4�� . 494�:1_04� WAI�K City Clerk/Clerk Mayor/Chairman 221