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3/8/2000 - Council Minutes - CC Minutes Adj APPROVED 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. PAGE 5 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