HomeMy WebLinkAbout3_8_2000 - Council Minutes - Adjourned Regular MeetingAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 28, 2000
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING March 8, 2000
The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened on March 8, 2000 at 4:30 p.m. in
An Adjourned Regular Meeting in the Council Chambers, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange,
California.
5:00 P.M. SESSION
1. OPENING
1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Led by Mayor Coontz
1.2 ROLL CALL
PRESENT - Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon ABSENT -
Alvarez (Councilman Alvarez arrived at 5:30 p.m.)2. PUBLIC
COMMENTS - None 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 8, 2000 at Orange Civic Center,Main Library at
101 N. Center Street, Police facility at 1107 North Batavia, the Eisenhower Park Bulletin
Board, 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 ofthe City Clerk.MOTION - Murphy
SECOND - Slater AYES -
Murphy, Slater, Mayor
Coontz, Spurgeon ABSENT - Alvarez Item 3.1
was approved as
recommended.PAGE 1
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 8, 2000
4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR COONTZ - 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 2000-
2001.In the City
Manager's absence, the Finance Director reviewed Council's work plans.Mayor Coontz indicated
the following accomplishments should be added:Opening of the
Eastern Transportation Corridor - Ad Hoc Committee comprised of Mayor Coontz and Councilman Murphy
was formed to provide direction and oversight to coordinate activities related to the
early opening of the ETC to mitigate potential adverse traffic impacts on City streets.Promotion
of the West
Orange Implementation Improvement Plans - Under Council's direction improve the economic and
aesthetic viability of West Orange. A consultant was retained to prepare land use
concepts and economic development strategy for West Chapman Avenue.Plaza Renovation Project and
Plaza
Committee - A Citizens Advisory Committee formed by the City Council and successfully developed
design guidelines and parameters for the Plaza Rennovation Project.Orange County Transit Authority -
The City
Council established an ad hoc committee comprised of Mayor Coontz and Councilman Slater
to oversee the mitigation of construction related impacts associated with freeway widening projects.
OCTA Centerline Project - The City Council through
independent technical analysis and conducting public hearings, comprehensively evaluated the impacts of
the Centerline project in the City and decided that this project
in its proposed form did not serve the best interests of the City of Orange.Promotion of the 22
Freeway Interchange Improvements to
the Governor - Acknowledging the importance of the improvements at the SR-22/
SR-57/The City Drive interchange for the economic vitality of the western part of
the City, the City Council has continuously promoted this project by allocating funds and supporting
it at the regional and State forums.Reconstituted the Design Review Committee - Updated membership
qualifications, purpose and rewrote the design review process and developed
new design guidelines.Councilman Slater commented under No.4 in the
Council's Work Plan, it would be worthwhile to mention Council authorized the Citizens Park Committee.
Mayor Coontz commented the Council may want to
expand the list.PAGE 2
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 8, 2000
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued)
Council comments on the Work Plan:
Mayor Coontz indicated a few years ago Council requested monies be placed in the Library
Budget and asked if the $500,000 is part of this budget? Also, a conceptual sketch was discussed
and it has not been provided. The Director of Community Services indicated they are planning
to do the sketch.
The Department Heads presented their work plans.
City Manager Department
The Finance Director indicated The City Manager added No.7 - Remain active in regional issues through
committees or other direct involvement, EMCC, Jail Committee and County Island Task Force
City Manager Review Committee.Councilman
Murphy commented another area to be considered is to broaden the City's participation
or exposure to State and Federal legislation and programs. There is not enough time
spent in this area, possibly with outside assistance the City would have more presence in this
area.Mayor
Coontz agreed indicating the City Manager was coming forth with information on this Issue.
City
Attorney Department Mayor
Coontz commented a policy addressing fiberoptics and street impacts was proposed in the last
three budget sessions and nothing has been done. The City Attorney indicated there have been
several companies that have proposed placing fiberoptics in the streets but they have disappeared.
Because of the bankruptcy and trash issues, this was placed on the back burner.The
City Attorney decided outside counsel would be retained to draft a telecommunications ordinance.
Councilman
Slater expressed concern relating to code enforcement issues. The City Attorney indicated
in 75% of the cases, a letter from the City Attorney's Office resolves the problems.City
Clerk's Department - No comments.Finance Department/
City Treasurer The Finance
Director explained the new General Accounting Standards Board (GASB 34)accounting regulations
as it relates to the reconfiguration of financial statements, indicating they will hire
a consultant to assist with the implementation by January 2001.Mayor Coontz
expressed interest in the Purchasing Division, their policies and procedures, and will meet
with the Finance Director. Also, the Mayor has heard from companies in Orange that PAGE 3
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 8, 2000
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued)
are not given the opportunity to present their products to the City. The City used to be more pro-
active in soliciting local vendors. The Finance Director commented they can be added to the
bidding list.
Personnel Department - No Comments.Fire
Department - No Comments.Police Department
Mayor pro
tem Spurgeon asked how many sworn police officers are now employed with the City? Chief
Romero answered there are 156 sworn plus 2 trainees which equals 158 positions.Mayor pro
tern Spurgeon asked if The Block is contributing to petty theft? The Police Chief commented it
is, however the Virgin Video Store has an excellent security system which works very well.
Chief Romero indicated from Monday through Thursday there are approximately 16-20,000
people and on the weekend, Friday through Sunday there are 20-40,000 people. Mayor pro
tern Spurgeon commented it is like the City annexed an area into the City in terms of population.
The crime rates are being managed very well. Councilman Murphy commented he is
pleased the petty theft security system is actively being enforced. Mayor Coontz discussed this
issue with a Councilwoman from Brea who indicated they have approximately 37,000 residents
and their businesses brings in over 200,000 people daily to their City.Mayor
Coontz commented the 85th percentile law is only increasing speed on the City's streets and
causing problems and safety concerns. There is a legislative intent on this issue coming forward
to remove the 85th percentile.Public
Works Department Councilman
Slater commented he has received phone calls from residents that the streets are deteriorating
as well as the curbs in Old Towne. Councilman Slater asked where is the City in terms
of being behind in street maintenance issues?The
Public Works Director reported there is a significant maintenance backlog due to a lot of work
that was done in the eighties. That cycle is beginning again and the resources are not the same
now as they were in the eighties. Gas Tax Revenues have been dead flat because of increased
fuel efficiency of vehicles. There are Measure M funds but they are not enough. Some streets
are so bad they need to have the pavement removed and replaced. In some cases the whole
structural section including the base material needs to be rebuilt. There is some backlog in the
curb/gutter program, but is not as bad as the street situation. Contract services are performing the
curb/gutter projects during the past year and have been very active in the Old Towne area.PAGE
4
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 8, 2000
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued)
Mayor Coontz asked what the criteria is and where the street deterioration is located. The Public
Works Director commented the City has not had the resources over the past few years to get a
handle on what these deficiencies are. As they come to the City's attention they are prioritized.
At this time there is not an overall evaluation of curb/gutter and sidewalk maintenance needs.
The General Accounting Standards Board 34 will require Public Works to identify needs and
service levels and the costs to maintain them on an annual basis. Mayor Coontz indicated grants
should be pursued due to high costs.
Councilman Slater asked which traffic signals are added and/or modified? The Public Works
Director reported he will go into more detail in the CIP hearing, however, announced the
following new signals: Lincoln/Canal; MainlPalmyra; Prospect/LaVeta; ProspectlPalmyra; and
SpringIProspect. Modifications (left turn phasing) to signals: Katella/Cambridge; Taft/Batavia;
Glassell/Fletcher; Main/Collins; ChapmanlBatavia; Orange-Olive/Lincoln; and Katella/
Handy.In response to Councilman Slater, some of the left-turn phasing signals may not
meet the warrants, but there are particular issues that need to
be addressed.Councilman Slater commented given the backlog of street improvements, it was hoped
that all signal improvements would at least meet the warrants or could be delayed or put off. This
can be discussed at the Capital Improvement Project budget work study session next month.
The Public Works Director responded this would be a policy decision by the Council to weigh these
kinds of issues for the best use
of funds.Community
Development Department Mayor Coontz indicated Code Enforcement should be one of Council's goals for
next year.Anaheim has done an excellent job of improving Katella Avenue. We can no
longer complain how Anaheim looks because the contrast between the City of Orange and Anaheim on
Katella is very distinct. On Katella A venue between The Pond and Main Street there is a need
for stronger code enforcement and
landscaping enhancement.NOTE: Councilman Alvarez left the meeting at 6:35
p.m.Community
Services Department Mayor Coontz indicated LaVeta Park has a slide in poor condition and should be assessed
by the department for
safety conditions.Mayor Coontz asked if the Library is to be open on Friday will the other City
departments stay open? The Personnel Director reported this would be a bargaining issue and a matter of
meet and confer as well as an issue with the Air Quality Management
District regulations.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 8, 2000
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued)
Mayor pro tern Spurgeon commented this would open a pandora's box and the people that do
business with the City now know the alternate Friday schedule. Councilman Murphy indicated
the extra hours of the Library will go a long way with the public.
Councilman Slater asked if the department was proactive in taking down special promotional
signs that are showing up all over the City. The Director of Community Services reported they
are as aggressive as possible.
Economic Development Department - No Comments.Management
Information Services - No Comments.9. LEGAL
AFFAIRS - None 10. ADJOURNMENT CASSANDRA
J. CATHCART,
CMC CITY CLERK JOANNE
COONTZ MAYOR
PAGE 6