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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 2004/03/25 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA March 25, 2004 4:00 P.M. An Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order at 4:08 p.m. at the Chula Vista Police Department Headquarters, Community Meeting Room, 315 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilrnernbers Davis, McCann, Rindone, Salas, and Mayor Padilla ABSENT: Councilmernbers: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Rowlands, City Attorney Moore, and Deputy City Clerk Bennett 1. PRIORITIZATION OF FUNDING FOR PROJECTS IN THE JOBS HOUSING BALANCE INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM On June 25, 2003, the City received a commitment of grant funds in the amount of $1,662,831 from the California Department of Housing and Community Department under the Jobs Housing Balance Incentive Grant Program (JHBP). Funding for JHBP is made available pursuant to Proposition 46, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund of 2002. Grant funds must be used for capital asset projects such as parks, public facilities and infrastructure improvements that serve to provide public benefit. On January 6, 2004, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the execution of a grant agreement to secure the JHBP grant and requested that a workshop be held to prioritize the funding of projects listed in the agreement. (Community Development) Housing Manager Arroyo presented the grant program and a summary of the following proposed project categories: A. Acquire vacant land in the northwestern part of the City to develop open space/park/recreational/sports facilities and/or development of such facilities. B. Implement new street and sidewalk improvements in the western section of the city, including the removal and replacement of deteriorated curbs, gutters, sidewalks and driveways. C. Acquire land within the southwestern section of the City to be used for open space/recreational use. D. Conduct streetscape improvements within the southwestern section of the City, including landscaping, irrigation and public art within the public right-of-way. E. Purchase a fully equipped graffiti abatement vehicle to be used as part of a citywide graffiti eradication program. ---,._,---, JOBS HOUSING BALANCE INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM (Continued) Councilmember McCann asked why the park facilities indicated in Option A were not included in Option C. Mr. Arroyo replied that Option A included a broader range of potential facilities that could be developed within this particular sector of the community. Planning and Environmental Services Manager Ladiana added that the term "open space/recreational use" would be broad enough to encompass parks. Councilmember McCann requested that parks be included as part of Option C, should the option be selected by the Council. Deputy Mayor Salas asked if there was public input regarding the funding distribution. Ms. Ladiana replied that the public was not involved in the grant application process but did provide input through other components, such as the Castle Park neighborhood revitalization. Deputy Mayor Salas asked if input was received from groups located within the family resource centers or non-profit groups to identify their community needs, since she believed that it was important to incorporate them into the prioritization process. Ms. Ladiana responded that the project categories are broad and that input could be obtained from the groups to identify specific projects within those categories. Councilmember Davis stated that the southwest portion of the City has always been the last on the list for improvements, and she suggested that a project be implemented alongside the Otay Recreation Center to expand the center or to purchase land in the area for a park. City Manager Rowlands asked staff to comment on Option A with regard to the low/moderate income housing fund that was utilized to purchase property for low and moderate housing use. Mr. Arroyo explained that in 1986, the Agency utilized the low/moderate funding to acquire 14 acres of property adjacent to Kampgrounds Of America, planning to use that property as a relocation park for mobile homes. The Agency is now in a situation where the low/moderate fund is required to be reimbursed for affordable housing development elsewhere, which will, in turn, free up that particular parcel for public use. Deputy Mayor Salas asked if the City could use the parcel for a different purpose. Mr. Arroyo responded that the required conditions would be met as long as the property is designated for public use and benefit. Councilmember Rindone spoke in support of Option B, specifically because of the Montgomery area infrastructure needs. He also asked staff to report on the feasibility of providing a jump- start to projects in the downtown area; and questioned how Option E would aid the City's graffiti abatement efforts. Assistant Director of Planning and Building Remp replied that the graffiti abatement vehicle would be equipped for paint matching and would also provide a quick response for graffiti removal, with a focus on improving the quality of the neighborhoods without imposing requirements on the individual property owners. Deputy Mayor Salas spoke about the timing of projects that would be selected, and whether or not they could be accomplished within the required timeframe. Community Development Director Madigan replied that selected projects would have to be completed by June 2006, so the City would need to select projects that could be completed within that tirneframe. Page 2 - Council Minutes March 25, 2004 ------------------- ~----------- -------- JOBS HOUSING BALANCE INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM (Continued) Mayor Padilla asked whether there was a particular timeframe for the Agency's payment obligation to the low/moderate income housing fund. Director Madigan responded that the City is obligated to make payment this fiscal year. Mayor Padilla asked whether such an obligation could be satisfied through another transaction. Director Madigan replied affirmatively. Councilmember McCann favored dividing equally the funding allocation between Options C and D and including an additional park in Option C. Regarding Option A. Councilmember McCann requested a report on the history of the Agency's acquisition of land in the lower Sweetwater Valley area. Councilmember Davis spoke in support of the recommendations made by Councilmember McCann. Mayor Padilla spoke in support of Option B for the entire funding allocation. He believed that placing all the funding in one project where it is most needed would make a significant difference in a neighborhood. Deputy Mayor Salas spoke in favor of Option B, with an emphasis on the southwestern portion of the City. ACTION: Mayor Padilla moved to utilize the funding allocation in its entirety for street and sidewalk improvements, specifically in the southwestern portion of the City, including the removal and replacement of deteriorating curbs, gutters, sidewalks and driveways. Councilmember Rindone seconded the motion, and it carried 5-0. Councilmember Davis expressed the need for a state-of-the-art graffiti abatement vehicle. Mayor Padilla asked if there was an alternative funding source for the purchase of a graffiti vehicle, and City Manager Rowlands responded affirmatively. 2. PRESENTATION OF THE IMAGE CAMPAIGN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS In May 2003, as part of the City's image enhancement efforts, The Right Question, LLC was contracted to help the City develop a messaging and strategic platform for a marketing campaign. This effort included developing a discussion guide and conducting 27 one-on-one and two group interviews, resulting in a total of 40 respondents. The respondents were comprised of both City employees and non-City employees. The Final Positioning Report, prepared by The Right Question LLC, includes an analysis of the information collected and recommendations for a comprehensive marketing program. (Community Development Director) It was the consensus of the Council to continue Item 2 to a future meeting at the request of staff. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none. Page 3 - Council Minutes March 25, 2004 --- 3. MAYOR'S REPORTS Mayor Padilla announced that he would be participating in a taping on KPBS Televisions' Full Focus, which can be viewed on Monday, March 29, 2004. He stated that he would be speaking as part of a panel with Gloria Penner, the host for Full Focus, and Mary Walshot, Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs with the University of California, San Diego, to discuss the City's quality of life issues of mobility, traffic congestion and affordable housing, but with the main focus on results of polling data that illustrates the positive quality of life for Chula Vista residents. ADJOURNMENT At 5:10 p.m., Mayor Padilla adjourned the meeting to an Adjourned Regular Meeting with the Board of Port Commissioners on March 30, 2004, at 4:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, and thence to the Regular Meeting of April 6, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. ~ Lorraine Bennett, Deputy City Clerk Page 4 - Council Minutes March 25, 2004 ~ --- - ~------