04-19-1999 Council Minutes Adj Regular
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 11, 1999
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING APRIL 19, 1999
The City Council of the City of Orange, California, convened on April 19, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. in
an Adjourned Regular Meeting 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 Mayor Coontz
1.3 ROLL CALL
PRESENT - Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon
ABSENT - Alvarez Note: Councilman Alvarez arrived at 5:15 p.m.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
3.1 Declaration of City Clerk, Cassandra J. Cathcart, declaring posting of City Council
agenda of an Adjourned Regular Meeting of April 19, 1999 at Orange Civic Center,
Taft Branch Library at 740 E. Taft Avenue, 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 of the City Clerk.
MOTION - Spurgeon
SECOND - Slater
AYES - Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon
ABSENT - Alvarez
Item 3.1 was approved as recommended.
4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR COONTZ - None
5. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS - None
6. REPORTS FROM BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS - None
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - None
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
April 19, 1999
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER
8.1 Report on the proposed Fiscal Year 1999/2000 Budget including a summary of
projected revenues and recommended expenditures.
The City Manager reviewed the following highlights of the budget: Balanced Budget, Slightly
More Revenue, Adjustment of Fees, Return of Bankruptcy Proceeds to the General Fund,
Attempting to Meet Service Demands, City-Wide Management Audit Considerations, New Fire
Station Opening, Additional Police Personnel, Improving the Emergency Medical Transport
Program, Public Safety Technology, Enhancing the City's Public Relations, Increasing the Level
of Contracting for Park Maintenance, Enhancing the City's Records Management, Increasing
Code Enforcement and Business Compliance, Addressing Library Needs, Increasing Plaza Area
Maintenance, Enhancing Community and Library Services Department Capabilities, Continuing
Emphasis on Technology, Continuing Emphasis on the Capital Improvement Program, PERS
Credit, and A Word of Warning concerning new programs and services in this budget that do not
reflect full year funding and/or funded partially by grant or special funds that will reduce in
subsequent years.
Council comments:
Public Works
Mayor Coontz inquired about the status of the Measure M competition and our success in
obtaining funds. The Public Works Director reported the City competed in five different
programs under the Measure M umbrella and combined transportation funding programs. The
City received a grant of $4.7 million; most of which will fall in the 2002/03 and 2003/04 fiscal
years depending upon the availability of funds in the program. The most significant funding the
City received was in the Regional Interchange Program for The City Drive and 22 Ramps Project
amounting to $1.6 million dollars for the City's portion. The City received $1.7 million for the
Master Plan of Arterial Highway Program.
General Plan Update
Mayor Coontz asked when was the General Plan Update being scheduled and the costs involved?
The Director of Community Development responded a proposal was presented to the City
Manager outlining a multi-year general plan update process. There will be consultant costs in
later years. All Council issues concerning the general plan will be included in the update.
Capital Improvement Program
The City Manager indicated the Monument Project will be carried over as well as funding for the
Library which is also included in the Capital Improvement Program. The Master Plan of
Lighting is also included in the Capital Improvement Program.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
April 19, 1999
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued)
Mayor Coontz requested information on the potential closure of the Taft Branch Library as well
as a needs assessment study for the entire Library system as well as a study of alternate uses.
The City Manager reported the needs assessment study will help the City to address the alternate
uses and provide information to Council such as using the Taft Branch Library as a community
center, book drop, computers for catalogue system, hot line to main branch, etc. The intent in the
CIP with a recommendation of $100,000 was to make sure the money is there if Council directs
further feasibility studies on the change of use.
Fire Department Services
Concerning Fire Station No.8, Mayor pro tern Spurgeon asked the Fire Chief the following
questions: 1) There are five new personnel proposed in the budget, where are the other four
coming from for a total of nine? The Fire Chief explained the other four positions are currently
staffed under the department's roster, but were not funded until now. 2) Is the City getting the
Seagrave Pumper in time for utilization at Station 8? The Fire Chief indicated they may have to
use reserves for a brief period of time. He did not know exactly when both the apparatus will be
delivered.
Councilman Alvarez asked about the Services Manager position in the EMT Program, if it would
make enough money to pay for the position? The Fire Chief answered in the affirmative.
Police Department Services
The Police Chief was asked by Councilman Spurgeon if he had considered filling the new
Captain position by a civilian which has been done in the cities of Fullerton and Costa Mesa?
The Police Chief responded they did look into this possibility, but have recommended to keep
the position a sworn one.
Community Development Department
Councilman Alvarez commented he is pleased to see Code Enforcement increasing.
Mayor Coontz asked what type of training Code Enforcement personnel would be receiving?
The Director of Community Development commented they are providing the appropriate training
program and are aware of Council's desires and the departments goals for this program.
Finance - General Fund Reserves - Sales Tax
Mayor Coontz asked if additional information would be necessary to assist the City in increasing
sales tax. What could the City do in the future to increase the revenue.
The Finance Director responded every quarter the City's sales tax consultant meets with the
Finance, Economic Development Department and City Manager representatives. They are
proactive in letting the City know where they stand and how the City is compared to other cities
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
April 19, 1999
8. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER (Continued)
in the County. If additional information is requested, they will do an analysis and target certain
areas. Mayor Coontz commented their analysis could fit into any proposed General Plan changes
for the future.
Staffing Changes
Mayor Coontz asked what was the rationale for moving people from 19 to 20 or 30 hour
positions in Personnel and do they have dual positions?
The City Manager indicated in Personnel key positions have been on a part-time basis for the
past few years and these are being increased because they provide an important internal service
level to the entire staff. They do not have dual positions.
Mayor pro tern Spurgeon asked the Fire Chief if the civilian EMS Manager proposed to be hired,
will have trauma nurse experience? The Fire Chief commented he would be looking at a broad
spectrum health care professional that has experience in EMS service delivery, transport and
quality improvement abilities.
Budget Public Hearing Schedule
The City Manager announced the budget public hearing would be scheduled for May 25, 1999.
Councilman Murphy commented he would like the Management Audit presented to Council
before the budget public hearing on May 25th in order for Council to make sure all adjustments
could be made. The City Manager reported staff has spent a great deal of time reviewing the
audit to see what could be handled from a financial standpoint in this budget and future budgets.
Staff will prepare a special draft for Council to review before the budget public hearing.
Questions from the Public
Barbara DeNiro asked the Fire Chief if the medical transport fee would be amended? The Fire
Chief indicated the fee would be more in line with what the County currently charges. The
City's rates are significantly below what the County currently allows. The fees are for transport
services not subscription fees which will come out of the insurance billing, and not the bi-
monthly charges.
Ms. DeNiro asked since the City went to bi-monthly $6.00 billing, are more people subscribing
to the program and is everyone paying enough? The Fire Chief commented the initial
projections are that there is a substantial increase in participation. Exact numbers will be
included in the budget reports. Ms. DeNiro commented since the Emergency Transportation
Manager would be paying for itself, will that come out of the increase from those charges to the
hospital? The Fire Chief indicated it would.
9. LEGAL AFFAIRS-None
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
10. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
The City Council did not recess to a Closed Session.
11. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION - Mayor Coontz
SECOND - Murphy
AYES - Murphy, Slater, Mayor Coontz, Spurgeon, Alvarez
The City Council adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
April 19, 1999
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CASSANDRA J. C THCART, CMC
CITY CLERK
JOANNE COONTZ
MAYOR
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