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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1972/06/21 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Held Wednesday - 3:00 pom. June 21, 1972 An adjourned regular meeting of the City Council of Chula Vista, California, was held on the above date beginning at 3 p.mo in the Council Conference Room, Civic Center, 276 Fourth Avenue, with the following Councilmen present: Councilmen Scott, Hobel, Hyde, Egdahl Absent: Mayor Hamilton Also present: City Manager Thomson, Assistant City Manager Bourcier, City Attorney Lindberg, Director of Finance Grant A>iBULANCE SERVICE Mr. Steve Ballard, owner, Bay Cities Ambulance Service, discussed a recent court modification of the ambulance ordinance regarding other ambulances coming into a city and making pick- ups. Ne stated he received a vote of confi- dence from this Council that his company would be the only one operating in this city; however, another ambulance service is coming in (Gold Cross) and is allowed to make certain pickups. City Attorney's opinion Mr o Lindberg explained that the City's ordinance has not been modified by the court decision - no other ambulance is allowed to come into the City to make pickups for hire° He added that this other ambulance service is making pickups for the Kaiser Foundation~ and the courts have held that this city's ordinance does not apply in this instance. Telephone calls prior to Councilman Egdahl suggested that Kaiser be pickup required to call the Police Department and notify them when Gold Cross will be coming into the City for a pickup. Mr~ Lindberg commented that Kaiser Foundation does not have an extensive contract with Gold Cross Ambulance Service - the Foundation can call on any ambulance service. Other ambulance services Mr. Ballard reported that Monroe Clinic and in the City Fredericka Manor have just purchased ambulances. Councilman Scott commented that Fredericka uses its ambulance (station wagon) for trans- porting their patients from the convalescent home to a hospital - it is not for public hire° City Attorney Lindberg agreed, adding that once you eliminate the public-for-hire con- cept, and recognize that these ambulances are used internally for their own patients, then the City does not have the right to regulate it. Pickups at no cost Mro Ballard discussed the drug traffic patients brought to the two hospitals in this city by the police° These people have been picked up from the border and all parts of the city; and since he operates the only ambulance service, he is obligated to pick up everyone of these people from the two hospitals and transport them to University Hospital at no compensation whatsoever. This accounts for 20 to 40 calls a month. Medical and Medicare The Council held a general discussion re- lating to Medical and Medicare patients, and the responsibility of collecting from these patients. Mr. Ballard remarked that there is a vast amount of bookwork involved here. Three doctors comprise the Emergency Medical Care Board in San Diego. For a person to be transported out of Bay General Hospital to a local nursing home, for instance, just be- cause he is on Medical doesn't mean the am- bulance service will be paid. A call must be put through to one of these doctors on the Board and get verification that the run is a good one and that they will authorize payment for the ambulance service. Councilman Scott questioned what would happen if the ambulance service refuses to take any non-emergency scheduled patients (not emer- gency or indigent). City Attorney Lindberg declared that this policy can be made by the City Council - that the ambulance service in the City is to be used for emergency purposes only without prior check as to the means of payment. Gold Cross Service Councilman Hobel questioned the number of times the police had to check on Gold Cross coming into the City within the last 60 to 90 days. Chief William Winters stated he hasn't seen any report during this last period. Mr. Ballard contended that there is no way to accurately check this - the ambulance service has been known to come into the City with their lights and sirens off, go down side streets, and make its pickups. Suggestion for motion Mayor Pro Tempore Hyde suggested that the staff and City Attorney make arrangements to discuss this further with Mr. Ballard and come up with recommendations to the City Council for action to be taken. Investigation should be made of the Monroe Clinic ambulance and see if this operation is in violation of the ordinance. Also~ the staff should explore the possibility of having the County assume some of the responsibility for the non-paying patients° Motion to refer to staff It was moved by Councilman Egdahl, seconded by Councilman Scott and unanimously carried (Mayor ~amilton absent) that this matter be referred to the staff for investigation of the areas discussed by the Council and to come back with a recormmendation. AZTEC BUS LINES Mr. PatriCk Doogan, Vice President, submitted a financial statement, noting that the general accounting costs in the handling of monies on a recurring basis has rasulted in a nat savings to the City of approximately $1800~00 a year, when this accounting was taken over by Aztec. Ridership record The Council discussed the increase in ridershipo Mr. Doogan declared that the company has carried over one-quarter million riders since its inception; 140~000 people rode the buses during the past year. A greater percentage is expected this year with the extended route to the college. Wayne Carroll~ Auditor Mr. Carroll stated he just received the report; it is an unaudited statement showing an 8.7% return on the cash receipts. There is not a breakdown on the actual costs, so he cannot make any further evaluation of the statement~ Cost of service Discussion ensued as to the cost of the service to the City. Councilman Scott questioned the use of the SB 325 funds. He commented that he talked to Assemblyman Deddeh and Senator Mills and was told that a spot bill would be put on the legislative floor this year as it will be an amendment to SB 325. Jim Klein, Assistant Dean of Mr. Klein spoke in support of the extended Student Activities bus service to Southwestern College. Southwestern College Eleanor Anderson~ Chairman Mrs° Anderson spoke in support of the continoed TASK Force Cormnittee bus service. City subsidized service Councilman Scott discussed the inception of the bus service and the extended time on the agreements° He felt the Council should acknowledge the fact that bus service to the citizens of this city will remain. The question becomes one of subsidy - how much is it worth to the City to subsidize the service. Councilman Hobel felt that with a different contract, as ridership increases, the revenues to the City would be greatar and there would be no need for a total subsidy. The transpor- tation system in this city is here to stay; however, the citizens should be fully aware of the fact that it is a subsidy. If SB 325 allows the use of some of its fund for con- tractural services, this will alleviate the subsidy somewhat; if not, then the City must stand the cost. Councilman Hobel added that with rapid transit five or ten years away, a bus service for the residents of this city is a necessity prior to that time. Mrs. Folsoff Mrs. Folsoff spoke in support of the service Terry's Mobile Home stating she likes the personal service ex- G Street tended by the drivers. Report to be presented City Manager Thomson explained that his staff is working on a study of the transportation system in this city. A status report will be ready on June 27; they are still waiting for the report from San Diego Transit° Mayor Pro Tempore Hyde summarized the discus- sion by stating that the report, as submitted, has been accepted and the staff will have a recommendation to the Council at next Tuesday's meeting (June 27) at which time the Council will make a decision as to the contractual agreement. Motion for College participation It was moved by Councilman Scott, seconded by Councilman Egdahl and unanimously carried (Mayor Hamilton absent) that the staff con- tact Southwestern College concerning parti- cipation in the bus service. Bike spaces Councilman Egdahl suggested some of the seats be removed in the rear of some of the buses so that people who ride bikes can take them on these buses. Transfer slips Mr~ Doogan indicated that tickets will be available for interchanges between bus lines. Recess A recess was called at 4:35 p.m., and the meeting reconvened at 4:45 p.m. SIGN CONTENT AND DESIGN Mr. Bruce Warren, Director of Planning, spoke of the problems his staff is having with sign design and content. His recommendation would be to strengthen and broaden to a greater degree the way the sign requests are reviewed° Mr. Warren declared that a three member Design Review Board should be appointed: one member to be an architect~ one a landscape architect, and the other someone in a design-oriented profession. Advisors to this Board (without vote) would be the Zoning Administrator, a sign maker, a businessman at large and a Building Department official. Design and content would still be made at the Planning Department counter based on more defined standards, but with an automatic referral to the Board, on request. Appeal from the Board would be to the City Council. Mayor Pro Tempore Hyde felt the decision of the Board should be final and no appeal provision should be made to the Council. Recorm~endation accepted It was moved by Councilman Egdahl, seconded by Councilman Hobel and unanimously carried (Mayor Hamilton absent) that the recommenda- tion of the staff be enacted and the basic composition of the Board and its advisory members be as recommended. These members are to draw up the initial criteria and would function as outlined by the Director of Planning. There shall be no provision in this new Board for an appeal to the City Council. 30 days time City Manager Thomson stated the Planning staff would need 30 days to inaugurate this new concept, and will report back to the Council at that time (July 25, 1972). Fran Burger Mro Burger asked the staff to check out the Pacific Sign Company Architectural Control Review Board in the 616 Oaklawn City of La Mesa, for possible suggestions. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Pro Tempore Hyde adjourned the meeting at 5:00 p.m. to the meeting scheduled for Tuesday~ June 27~ 1972, at 7 p.m. /~ City Clerk ~7~ - 4 -