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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3_18_2003 - Council Minutes - Adjourned Regular MeetingAPPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 8, 2003 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MARCH 18,2003 The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened on March 18, 2003 to an Adjourned Regular Meeting at 5:00 p.m. in the Weimer Room, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California. 5:00 P.M. SESSION 1. OPENING 1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Led by Councilmember Ambriz 1.3 ROLL CALL PRESENT - Ambriz, Alvarez, Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche ABSENT - None (Note Councilmember Alvarez left the meeting at 6:50 p.m.)1.4 PRESENTATIONS/ ANNOUNCEMENTS/ INTRODUCTIONS - None 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS Rick Cryder, 307 S. Wrightwood S1., requested the issue of having a dog park at Y orba Park be agendized for a future Council meeting for a decision.3. CONSENT CALENDAR All items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and are enacted by one motion approving the recommended action listed on the Agenda. Any member of the City Council, staff or the public may request an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion or separate action. Unless otherwise specified in the request to remove an item from the Consent Calendar, all items removed shall be considered immediately following action on the remaining items on the Consent Calendar.3.1 Declaration of City Clerk, Cassandra J. Cathcart, declaring posting of City Council agenda of an adjourned regular meeting of March 18,2003 at Orange Civic Center,Main Library at 101 N. Center Street, Police facility at 1107 North Batavia, Shaffer Park, and summarized on Time-Warner Communications all of said locations being in the City of Orange and freely accessible to members of the public at least 72 hours before commencement of said adjourned regular meeting.ACTION: Accepted Declaration of Agenda Posting and authorized its retention as a public record in the Office of the City Clerk.ACTION:Approved. PAGE 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18,2003 3. CONSENT CALENDAR (Continued) MOTION - Cavecche SECOND - Coontz A YES Ambriz, Alvarez, Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche Item 3. 1 was approved as recommended.END OF CONSENT CALENDAR 4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR MURPHY - None 5. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS - None 6. REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS - None 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - None 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER 8. 1 Proposed Missions, Goals, Service Objectives and Work Plans by City Departments for Fiscal Year 2003-2004.The City Manager reported this study session is the first of a series of three that will provide Council assistance to discern the important budget elements of the Capital Improvement Program and entire Budget for the City. The work plans by the departments have been challenging this year to fully address the needs of the community and the desires of the City Council. The dollar issues are still being formulated. With the State's issues still undecided, that portion has been taken out of what is being presented at this meeting and at following budget study sessions. The City's budget needs to be based on what staff believes can be forecasted and what can be controlled.The City Manager presented the City Council's Work Plans and Goals.Councilmember Coontz commented there are problems going through the entire work plan presentations for all the departments regarding the trails. There are eight items referring to trails and the dates do not coordinate. Councilmember Coontz recommended having a plan similar to what Public Works has that shows where the trail project is in the process. This will ensure that the departments are not working at cross purposes with different dates, programs, attitudes and expectations.The City Manager indicated there are three departments with three different trail projects and they are trying to coordinate these projects. A close look at the dates and the coordination effort will be reviewed and a matrix will be presented with feedback to the Council.PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18, 2003 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued) Councilmember Coontz commented under Council accomplishments it referred to approval of a Master Plan for Yorba Park and Council has only approved the Master Plan of Parks, but not specifically the plan for Yorba Park. Mayor Murphy commented for projects expected to happen this fiscal year, under accomplishments, include a notation that indicates expected by May 03 or June 03 as a clarification. Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented under goals for next year, either in the Council's goals or maybe in Economic Development's work plan, to schedule an educational program for the public on the fiscal crisis the City will be facing over the next year; and use the Orange Progress, work in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce or place an ad in the Orange City News. The City Manager indicated they are crafting an article at this time for the Orange Progress. The Economic Development Director responded in their Executive Summary, Number 10, they will be conducting workshops for the public on community issues and can add the budgetary process. Councilmember Coontz also indicated Council is not addressing the Recreational Vehicle issue at all. It has been before Council for two years. Mayor Murphy indicated the intent is to schedule it to come before Council within the next 2- 3 months and it does not need any identification.The City Manager advised allowing staff to look at work plan Issues III Community Development to see if code enforcement could cover this issue.City Manager Department Presentation The following department Heads gave a briefsummary of their Work Plans.City Attorney City Clerk Community Development Responding to Council questions, the Community Development Director indicated they will change their work plan under Comprehensive/Advanced Planning Section, No. 8 that will address an ordinance for recreational vehicles. The City Manager replied the work plan section could be changed to add, "to include recreational vehicles."Community Services Councilmember Coontz referred to an article in the newspaper regarding cuts to senior citizen services specifically the meal program and it mentioned the City of Orange. She asked how the City would interact with this issue?PAGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18, 2003 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued) The City Manager commented it is two different issues and does not correlate with dialogue he has had with Councilmembers. Apparently, these are federal monies that are cut back. As Council moves forward, they will have decisions to make regarding funding of many different community activities. Councilmember Alvarez asked if Councilmembers could receive an update on the Community Foundation activities, because the intent was to enhance existing programs and not create new ones. The Community Services Director indicated they would schedule briefings with Councilmembers and the Foundation has established a Council Liaison Committee. The City Manager commented the Foundation members recognize they need to meet with each Councilmember to bring them up to date and to receive guidance. The Foundation will provide periodic updates on their current activities and progress. Councilmember Coontz commented the goal was to raise money and the progress needs to be reported to Council on where the money is going. Councilmember Ambriz asked if the staff and foundation members are working together to raise funds. The Community Services Director indicated they were and referred to an opportunity from the County where the City received $1 million dollars. Because of possible cuts, staff is looking to assist enhancing the quality of life in the City through programs and special events. Councilmember Coontz remarked Council has not looked at the mission and goals for the Foundation as well as the legal aspects, noting it is not clear. Councilmember Alvarez felt it needs 10 be a coordinated effort. Economic Development Councilmember Coontz discussed the parking problems occurring at the parking lot north of Wells Fargo Bank. Location signs are not helping, permits are oversold, business employees in the area are parking in the parking lots all day, Police are just giving warnings and not tickets and by 9:00 a.m. there are no parking spaces available in the parking lots. The Presbyterian Church parking lot on Grand Street is leased by Chapman University and students are not parking in the lot, they are parking on the street and in the parking lot north of Wells Fargo. They tend to leave their cars there all day. There is no control over parking permits sold. Also, businesses are considering leaving the City. The Economic Development Director reported there is a City Staff Parking Permit Committee which has been looking into this problem and it is not a quick fix. They are taking a very methodical approach to this issue and will need Council's support to solve these parking problems. Councilmember Ambriz asked which has a better financial interest to the City, the luxury apartments vs affordable housing in the area of West Chapman Avenue - Cinedome. The Economic Development Director commented the property tax dollars for the luxury housing has a much better financial interest 10 the City.PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18, 2003 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANATER (Continued) The Economic Development Director replied to questions regarding the vacancies at The Block and at the Syufy Theatres at Katella and Main Streets indicating staff has had meetings with both groups. The City Manager will discuss this with Councilmembers. Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented she is very excited that this year Economic Development will be actively working on business development as outlined in their work plan; and if there is any political assistance needed by the Council to let them know. It is a great work plan. Fiuance Department Councilmember Ambriz asked how many hits had been recorded on the City's website. The City Manager will provide Council with a report. Mayor Murphy responded to the upgrade of the Finance software on the web site that will provide automatic payment for water billing that could possibly increase the cash flow and payment stream. The City Manager will present Council an incentive payment plan to help the City get paid faster. Fire Department Councilmember Coontz commented on the mass destructionlhome land security/terrorism issues mentioned across the board in the work plans and scheduled to be accomplished in 2004 which seems late. She asked what the time frame was based on? The Fire Chief indicated they do not know how much money is coming. The President just authorized an additional $750,000 for fire grants. The City Manager will provide Council a memo on emergency preparedness and evaluating the City's limited capabilities. The City Manager will approve the over filling of a new sergeant's position to focus on security issues. Both Fire and Police Chiefs are working on whal the City is doing now and what additional tasks will be possible. The City Manager is working regionally. There is a private sector that brings in corporate executives to work on how to protect their malls. Councilmember Coontz felt Council needs to know more about this issue because people are asking if the City is ready. We need to think in the future how to address it publicly. The City Manager indicated the sergeant's position involves public outreach. The City's Public Affairs Manager is also preparing news articles on emergency preparedness. Councilmember Alvarez asked for a report that showed the cost of delivering paramedic services vs what the City collects along with how efficient the program is and if the City needs to raise revenues. The Fire Chief will provide Council with a report on revenues generated from the transportation program as well as the ALS/BLS fees. The City Manager commented the program has been very successful and will also include in the report a methodology that will allow the City to better program in costs for paramedic training. PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18, 2003 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued) Councilmember Ambriz asked if there was a staff person that researched grants? The Fire Chief indicated the personnel perform this task along with their regular duties. They have taken advantage of seminars focusing on grant writing. Library Councilmember Alvarez commented that it is time to begin charging the public for some Library Services to help offset the replacement of computers. The City needs to start collecting today to replace the computers for tomorrow. It was suggested the Library research how to generate new revenue streams, possibly contacting other libraries; also look at the residency issue. The Library Director reported the non-residency borrowing needs to be discussed with Councilmembers. For other cities, such as Santa Ana and Huntington Beach, the result of a non-resident borrower fee does not generate significant revenue, it creates a fence which keeps non-users away from materials that are bought with taxpayers dollars from residents.Mayor pro tern Cavecche explained that the Santa Ana and Huntington Beach Libraries are not in the same system as the City of Orange. The City gets revenue from the State for every non-resident that uses the Library. If the City pulls out of this system and starts charging a residence fee, the income from the State will be lost.The City Manager commented he will work with the Library Director to modify the work plan;staff to start a survey on the non-residency item with a cost benefit analysis for Council review.Personnel Councilman Alvarez referred to the Employee Rideshare Program and Health Fair and encouraged the Personnel Director to plan more of these events which bring city stafftogether.Police Councilmember Coontz commented volunteers have been used in the past very successfully when the City has incurred budget problems, and asked if this will be part of the consideration for not only Police but other City departments. The Police Chief referred to this year' s Citizens Police Academy, and for the first time they all came with the intent to volunteer. There is also another volunteer with the Police Department that has some expertise in the area of weapons of mass destruction.Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented there is no crime analyst in the Police Department and asked if someone in Administration could research a grant program for software that could do the analysis; this is something the City desperately needs. The Police Chief agreed. The City Manager stated they will work on developing a work plan.Mayor pro tern Cavecche commented on the work plan for The Block. This is an area that needs to be seriously looked into because of the amount of dollars the City is spending on personnel at The Block and the possible drain it has on the rest of the City. The Police Chiefrecently CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18, 2003 8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued) submitted a memorandum to the City Manager laying out the Police Department's personnel that are deployed at The Block and he will be looking for a policy decision on this issue. The City Manager remarked he wants to get a better understanding of the deployment, the costs associated with this and the expectation of the quality of service in this area which Councilmember Coontz had asked about the quality of service afforded by employees of The Block. The City Manager will bring a report with recommendations back to Council for a policy decision. Councilmember Alvarez asked for an update on the gang situation in Orange. The Police Chief indicated the gang situation is very well in hand which is attributed to the Police's gang suppression unit. Councilmember Ambriz asked under the Detective Section in the work plan, regarding Megan's Law public access, if the Police Chief has considered any partnership with the Orange County Sheriffs Department. The City Manager indicated Council briefings can be scheduled on this issue. Public Works Mayor pro tern Cavecche indicated she had discussed the new car turnaround time for the Police Department with the Public Works Director who indicated this is a cooperative effort but the Police Department is the lead to determine which vehicles they want and Public Works will meet those needs. Mayor pro tern Cavecche indicated she is keeping up with the NPDES and is concerned about the future unless both Federal and State governments lift all the mandates, will the City's personnel be able to handle all the required inspections? Cities in the San Diego area are hiring multiple employees to work only on NPDES mandates. The Public Works Director indicated the City will inevitably have to hire personnel at some point. Code Enforcement in Public Works has been utilized in this area and there are new personnel that have qualifications in these areas. Once the full scope of this program is known and the time demands, the City will look at one specialized position and possibly more field personnel. In response to the Public Works Director, Councilmember Coontz commented Chapman Avenue widening goes back at least 27 years. 9. LEGAL AFFAIRS - None PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 18, 2003 10. ADJOURNMENT MOTION - Mayor Murphy SECOND - Coontz AYES - Ambriz, Alvarez, Mayor Murphy, Coontz, Cavecche The City Council adjourned at 7:07 p.m.n~CASSAND CATHCART, CMC CITY CLERK PAGE 8