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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1985/01/12 MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CNULA VISTA Saturday, January 12, 1985 Council Conference Room 8:30 a.m. City Hall ROLL CALL Councilmembers present: Mayor Cox, Councilmembers Malcolm, McCandliss, Scott, Moore Staff present: City Manager Goss, City Attorney Harron, Assistant City Manager Asmus 1. ORDINANCE 2099 ADOPTING INTERIM ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR MORATORIUM ON THE CONSTRUCTION OR INSTALLATION OF SATELLITE DISH ANTENNAS FOR 90 DAYS - FIRST READING AND ADOPTION City Attorney Harron explained the Council's concern with the installation at various sites throughout the City of dish antennae. The concern is their unsightly appearance and the deleterious effect on appearance of the cormunity and property values. Council asked that an ordinance be prepared. Attorney Harron stated the proposed ordinance would impose a 90-day moratorium while the permanent ordinance is being prepared. MSUC {Malcolm/Moore} to place the ordinance on first reading and adoption, the reading of the text was waived by unanimous consent, passed and approved unanimously. 2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Mayor Cox explained this meeting is a continuation of the one held on December 1 at which the Council proposed various goals and objectives. A list of 30 goals has now been presented to the Council. Mayor Cox suggested the Council look over the goals, see if there are any further ones to add and then have staff tabulate the priorities. Member Malcolm stated he would like to see more emphasis on school programs put into the goal s, specifically having Parkway Gym open on holidays. Councilman Scott commented that the goals session should be one of a brainstorming session noting the last session was really a "pre-budget session" and he wondered whether all the department heads should be here today. The session should be more philosophical than structured. Referring to the goals list, Councilman Scott remarked it was more of a shopping list both for the department heads and politicians. Councilwoman McCandliss stated she would first like to discuss the reserves, determine what the City's reserves are and then discuss the goals list. She agreed a more generalized session should be held. Councilman Moore suggested the Council first determine a list of top priorities and then discuss the reserves. He mentioned ten goals which he felt should be top priority such as neighborhood watch, drainage, sewerage - goals which are of benefit to the community and quality of life. Council Conference - 2 - January 12, 1985 Director of Finance Christopher referred to his memos dated January 8 and November 29 in which he discussed the City's reserve funds. An informal survey of the cities in the County was made concerning their reserves. No city had a set formula for establishing a said amount. The ranges were from 4% to 69%. On July l, 1985, the City's Operating Fund reserves will be $7.3 million and the All Fund balances will be $12.4 million. Council discussion followed regarding the reduction in the balances from the previous year; interest incomes added to the General Fund; whether the reserve fund should be used for capital improvements or operational needs; estimates of the various taxes such as sales tax, property, transit, lodging tax coming into the City; Redevelopment money loans; the fact revenues do not normally keep up with expenditures; the need to retain a certain amount of revenues for short term fiscal emergencies. City Manager Goss commented on the Presidential election and tax reform measures. He declared Federal reductions could impact the City's revenues such as termination of UDAG grants, revenue sharing and block grants. In approaching the reserves, the City Manager stated that it should: l) protect against adverse changes in the economy, 2) for the Council to keep in mind the capital improvement programs, 3) take steps to make the City's operation more efficient; 4) pump priming advancing loans in order to get projects started. In answer to Councilman Scott's question, Assistant City Manager Asmus stated there has not been too much of a slow down in the street improvements and chip seal programs. City Engineer Lippitt explained that Federal Aid Urban Program (FAU) funds were used to improve Fourth Avenue. The City is now accumulating more FAU funds in order to do portions of Broadway, "L", and Moss Streets. Councilman Scott cautioned about on-goin costs of projects such as hiring additional people and programs that need ~unding every year. Moore Councilman noted the risk management reports do not pick up administrative costs - only liability claims. Council discussion followed regarding Oceanside's allocation of nearly $1 million per year. Councilman Scott stated Chula Vista was penalized by the Federal government because it had substantial reserves for "a rainy day" and there should be some attempt to get this legislation changed {allocation formula). City Manager Goss proposed staff, at the budget session, bring back some recommendations which would be over and beyond the normal budget process. Staff will presently evaluate all projects such as sewers, drainage, life saving equipment, staff programs that would be cost-effective and projects that would become more effective as to priorities. Mayor Cox suggested Council come up with some guidelines for staff to work with and perhaps set a figure amount as a goal for maintaining a set reserve. Mayor Cox suggested the amount of 25%. Councilman Scott recommended a dollar amount be set such as $1 to $1-1/2 million. Councilwoman McCandliss declared there would be no be assurance on the part of the Council they would spend Council Conference - 3 - January 12, 1985 that amount for projects submitted by staff. The money spent should be something that Council feels would be critical to spend now and not something that would be budgeted in the next few years anyway. Councilman Malcolm remarked the City's reserves are overly conservative. Councilman Scott stated his preference would be computerization of all traffic signals in the City. Councilman Moore stated he had lO projects: l) to improve the risk management program, 2) deep pocket legislation, 3) community appearance, 4) neighborhood watch, 5) traffic study, Broadway to "L" Street, 6) Chula Vista Shopping Center, 7) light standards, 8) drainage, 9) sewerage, lO) economic development program. All of these projects would improve the quality of life in the City of Chula Vista. Councilwoman McCandliss said she is willing to go into the reserves but not to the tune of $2 million. Councilman Scott explained the expenditures would have to be extraordinary projects, ones that would benefit the entire City in order to cause the Council to deplete the reserves. He added some of the projects listed by Councilman Moore are too important to defer and some should be done now. Councilman Malcolm asked to start the budget sessions earlier this year to allow Council more time to consider departmental requests. City Manager Goss said he will send the Council the budget schedule. MSUC (Scott/Moore) for staff to prepare extraordinary items that are either cost-effective projects or are capital improvement programs in addition to the regular budget - present this to this City Council up to $1 to $1-1/2 million and not to go below 25% of the reserves. This report to be presented to the City Council at the budget session only for review. Councilman Malcolm commented he does not feel there is adequate staff to oversee the entire Bayfront plan. He would like to see an additional person added to Community Development Department to monitor the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), review programs with the Fish and Game and Fish and Wildlife organizations and to coordinate all the plans. Councilman Scott suggested hiring a contract person. Councilwoman McCandliss agreed to the need for an additional person, but suggested having a staff person familiar with the Bayfront plan work on that and the other person fill in the gaps in the office. Director of Community Development Desrochers stated it would be difficult to hire someone new to work on the Bayfront plan. He would prefer assigning it to a staff person knowledgable about the plan and have the new person take over some other jobs in the office. MSUC (Scott/Malcol m} to refer this to staff for a report at the next Redevelopmerit Agency meeting for action. Mayor Cox noted items he would like to see in the goals list: re-entry at "E" Street, a study of the van ous types of sidewalks installed in the City and a legislative program. A recess was called at 10:22 a.m. and the meeting reconvened at 10:40 a.m. Councilwoman McCandliss recommended having another meeting whereby the City Council could discuss quality of life and what they envision for the City in the next 30 years. i | T Council Conference - 4 - January 12, 1985 Councilwoman McCandliss suggested bringing in a facilitator - make it optional for staff to attend and schedule it as soon as possible prior to budget sessions. MSUC (McCandliss/Cox) to hold a special meeting and invite a facilitator to discuss setting a City blueprint for the next 20-30 years. (Councilman Scott was absent during this vote.) MSUC {Cox/McCandliss) to direct the City Manager to communicate with staff and have them come forth with some recommendations with regard to a legislative program which the City of Chula Vista would want to pursue this calendar year. (Councilman Scott was absent during this vote.) MSUC (Cox/Scott) to have each member of the City Council over the next two weeks come up with a list of items that they would like to see at least considered in regard to the regular capital improvement projects budget or the potential usage of current City's reserves - projects that they would want to see pursued and put a cost value on it. This to be referred to the City Manager to compile a list the Council can consider at a later date. 3. SWEETWATER VALLEY TRAFFIC STUDY Councilman Scott stated he had a potential conflict of interest and left the table at this time. Traffic Engineer G1 ass explained the Sweetater Valley Civic Association requested a moratorium in the Sweetwater Valley until such time as a long range traffic study is done for Bonita Road. The Council concurred in concept. Mr. Glass stated the study is an excellent idea; however, he would like to expand i t further to take in the following boundaries: on the west, the boundary west of Flower Street; on the east, the boundary to include Route 25; on the south, the hills on the south side of Donira Road; on the north, to include Route 54. There are three different needs proposed for the study: l) the long range aspect, 2) the immediate needs for some engineering work to be done for the improvements essentially in the Bonita Road/I-805 interchange area, and 3) advance planning stage. The long range study will be a complicated one because it involves three jurisdictions. As to the cost, Mr. Glass stated his "guesstimate" was $50,000. Councilman Moore declared the biggest problem was Plaza Bonita and the traffic study should entail how the traffic has shifted off Plaza Donira Road. He declared National City should be using National City roads for that City's projects and they should be a contributor to the study. Chula Vista should start a joint effort with the Cities of National City, San Diego, Chula Vista and CalTrans. Mr. G1 ass reported 35,000 cars travel on Plaza Bonita Road daily. Councilman Malcolm indicated that developers such as EastLake and Gersten should donate some of the money for the study since their proposed constructions would entail using Bonita Road. He added there may be need to start forming some Council Conference - B - January 12, 1985 type of assessment district for collecting the monies. Further, that as soon as possible, the traffic signals should be synchronized. Traffic Engineer Glass commented that the study should be orchestrated by a technical steering committee working with the consultant. In answer to Councilman Malcolm's question Mr. Glass stated that the traffic signal for Allen School Road/Bonita Road is one that staff will have to look at again - as to the priority list. Councilman Moore suggested staff reevaluate his former suggestion for the lanes going east and west at the 1-80B intersection: having one lane go directly north to Lynwood Drive and another one going west from Plaza Bonita Drive directly onto 1-805. MS (Cox/Malcolm) for staff to communicate with other agencies indicating they should be involved in the study process and to include forming a technical s teeri ng committee. Councilwoman McCandliss noted the RFP's should include the three items listed by Mr. Glass; however, she is concerned it might delay the implementation of improvements in the immediate 1-805/Bonita Road area. Mr. Glass agreed, suggesting it be left out of the RFP's and have the staff immediately undertake some of the improvements in that area. Councilman Moore disagreed stating National City should be involved. Councilman Malcolm stated it would help considerably if the traffic signal lights were synchronized. Mr. George Kost, Vice President Sweetwater Valley Civic Association, suggested the Steering Committee be set up and give it some powers. He asked that Councilman Moore chair the committee and have representatives from the four entities on it. They could meet and discuss the short term plan (as suggested by Councilwoman McCandliss) for immediate improvements in the area along with the 1 ong range plans. The Committee could meet at least once a month and they could ask EastLake, Evergreen, the motel going in, Getsten, McMillin and other developers to contribute toward the study. Mr. Kost suggested that the boundary be extended to "H" Street. Mayor Cox added to his motion that the steering committee be formed and that Councilman Moore chair the committee. The second was agreed by Councilman Malcolm and the motion carried unanimously. MSUC (Cox/McCandliss) authorize staff to begin with preparations of justification for the RFP's and the study and to communicate with the other three agencies: County of San Diego, CalTrans, National City, to urge participation in a technical assistance committee and potential funding; al so to pursue funding from developers that have projects coming into that area, and to authorize Councilman Moore to coordinate this committee (from the Council level). In answer to Traffic Engineer Glass's question, Councilman Malcolm remarked that the Committee should be comprised of both a policy and technical staff. MSUC (McCandliss/Cox) for staff to come up with a report for the three levels -_ (as noted by Traffic Engineer Glass). Council Conference - 6 - January 12, 1985 (Councilman Scott returned to the table at this time.} 4. STREET LIGHTING PROGRAM City Engineer Lippitt explained the street lighting program and the background since it was started back in 1978. At that time, after Prop. 13, 347 City lights were turned out along with 64 San Diego Gas and Electric lights. The policy of the City is to have street lights 600 feet apart plus lights at intersections and "dangerous places." The staff's proposal would be to turn the lights back on using high pressure sodium lights: installation cost $60,000 and energy $40,000 per year. Mr. Lippitt then discussed the lights: 1} equity, old versus new, 2) design standards, 3) new developments, 4) street light districts. Councilman Scott noted the City Engineer is talking about standards. If people want to go beyond the standards, they must pay for it. Mayor Cox remarked National City is discussing whether or not to phase out all of the SDG&E light poles and asked whether the City Engineer has considered this. Mr. Lippitt stated that are 1,100 SDG&E light poles. The City has considered it but has not had the time to do a complete study on it. If the City owns the lights the cost is $5-6 per month, if San Diego Gas and Electric continues to own the lights, $10-11 per month. The City presently owns a little more than 5(3% of the lights in the City. MS (Cox/Moore} for a staff report on whether or not to turn the lights back on and this will be dealt with at budget time. Councilman Scott suggested it be dealt with prior to budget time, that the standards should be set first and brought to the Council. If the Council's action is to turn the lights back on, it should be based on the standards. SUBSTITUTE MOTION MSUC (Cox/Moore) for staff to review the standards and come back with some recommendations and based on what action the Council takes on the standard, to consider the implications at budget time. CLOSED SESSION MSUC (Cox/Malcolm) to recess to Closed Session to discuss the litigation of Chula Vista versus San Diego County (Otay Mesa). The Council recessed to Closed Session at 12:00 noon. The City Clerk was excused, the Mayor reported the.Session ended at 12:lO p.m. ADjOURNMENT at 12:10 p.m. to the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, lg85, at 7:00 p.m. ~M. FULASZ, CMC City C1 erk WPG:0527C FP