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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1997/09/23MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Tuesday, September 23, 1997 6:03 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Council Chambers Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER Conncilmembers: Moot, Padilia (arrived at 6:10 p.m.), Salas, and Mayor Hotton. ABSENT: Councilmembers: Rindone ALSO PRESENT: City Manager, John D. Goss; City Attorney, John M. Kaheny; and City Clerk, Beverly A. Authelet MSC (Padilla/Salas) to excuse Councihnember Rindone who was away on City business. Motion carried 3-0-0-2 (Moot and Rindone abstaining). 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, MOMENT OF SILENCE 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 9, 1997 (regolar meeting), September 11, 1997 (special meeting/worksession), and September 16, 1997 (regnlar meeting) MSC (Salas/Moot) to approved the above listed minutes. Motion carried 3-0-2 (Padilia and Rindone absent). 4. SPECIAL ORDERS OF TIlE DAY: a. Oath of Office: City Clerk Authelet administered the Oath of Office to Bob McAlister, Safety Comrmssion; and David Taboada, Youth Commission (Hilltop High School). b. Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny presented a review of the 1997 State Legislative Session. * * * Councilmember Padilia arrived at 6:10 p.m. * * * CONSENT CALENDAR (Items pulled: 7, 13, 15, and 16) BALANCE OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR OFFERED BY MAYOR HORTON, headings read, texts waived, passed and approved 4-0-1 (Rindone absent). 5. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: a. Letter from the City Attorney stating that the City Council did not meet in Closed Session on 9/16/97. The letter was received and filed. 6. ORDINANCE 2712 MODIFYING SECTION I0.56.040, SCHEDULE XI OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALLOW SHORT-TERM METERED PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 2 BETWEEN CENTER STREET AND MADRONA AVENUE (second readin~ and adnotinn) - The owner of Third Avenue Newsstand located at 335 Third Avenue has requested that two of the metered, two-hour parking spaces located in front of her business be changed to thirty-minntes each to accommodate "quick turn-over customers." The Downtown Business Association and the Town Centre Project Area Committee have reviewed the request. Staff recolnmcnds Council place the ordinance on second reading and adoption. (Director of Community Development) 7. A. ORDINANCE 2713 AMENDING SECTION 2.66.040 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCLUDE NORMAN PARK SENIOR CENTER IN THE DESIGNATED RECREATION FACILITIES WHICH ALLOW THE SERVING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (first readinl~) - During the fiscal year 1996/97 budget process, the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department proposed to enhance revenue by renting Norman Park Senior Center on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The revenue projected was $8,500; actual revenue received was $183. Staff recotnmends Council place the ordinance on first reading and approve the resolution. (Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space) B. RESOLUTION 18777 AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE, CHAFFER 7, SECTION B.1.b. TO REMOVE THE NON-RESIDENT FEE FOR NORMAN PARK SENIOR CENTER FACILITY RENTALS Councilmember Padilla pulled item and stated that he noticed a drastic difference between what we anticipated and what we ended up with. He asked with this change in allowing on-site consumption of alcohol, are we going to get closer to a realistic prqiection of what we can get out of rentals. Sunny Shy, Deputy Director of Recreation, stated that their original intent was to get about $8,000 a year. In allowing alcohol at the Center and bringing it into accordance with the Women's Club, it will make it more competitive for community use. We envision that a lot of the seniors will use it themselves for parties where they will want to have alcohol. They hope they will be able to make the prqjected amount and more this coming year. Councilmember Padilia asked if liability would be an isstte. Ms. Shy replied that we have security deposits and they will be in accordance with any ABC permits that come with alcohol. We will have staff on board at all times as we do at the other facilities to insure that we don't have any problems with damage or misuse of the thcility. Councilmember Padilla asked if there has been a discussion about having funds that are brought in by the rental of the Center being earmarked directly fi>r the Parks and Recreation Department or the programs that specifically work out of the Center, or will these be put into the general fund. Ms. Shy stated that normally proceeds which come in from rentals go directly into the general fund to pay fbr the staff costs and the rental fee. Councilmember Padilla stated that as a matter of policy in the future as we continue to come up with a variety of these creative funding revenues, he wonld like to see these funds go back to the department where they were generate/d out of', especially when it comes to Park and Recreation. John Goss, City Manager, stated that even though revenues go into the general fund, a department like Parks and Recreation has to be subsidized by the general fund. It is not a matter that they are making more money than the expenditure of the programs and that extra money is going someplace else. We are at a point where our revenue Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 3 stream for Parks and Recreation is too slim to support the whole department, so the general fund is subsidizing it. In effect, all the money they make, they are using. Councilmember Padilia stated that li~r future discussions on particular endeavors such as this, he would like to see the Council move in the direction of being able to make those departments that have the availability to administer programs and can generate additional revenue become less and less dependent on general fund subsidy by having, as a matter of policy, the Council set a better and stronger guarantee that the funds that are generated are put hack into their department. This is different than saying simply that eventually they will have to be subsidized by the general fund where there is a shortthll. He further stated that he would like to see this become the pattern~ because eventually you hope to get to that point. Mr. Goss stated that he would agree if they could generate revenues which exceed expenditures that the extra revenue should be utilized in support of additional programs. ORDINANCE 2713 AND RESOLUTION 18777 OFFERED BY COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA, headings read, text waived, passed and apprnved 4-0-1 (Rindone absent). 8. RESOLUTION 18778 REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER 16003 REINSTATING THE CLASSIFICATION OF DEPUTY CITY CLERK/RECORDS MANAGER TO THE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT GROUP AND ESTABLISHING A SALARY RANGE OF $3,314 - $4,028 PER MONTH - On 6/28/96~ the Deputy City Clerk resigned after almost seven years. It became clear in the recruitment to replace her that the pay level was a significant thctor in attracting experienced candidates. Thereti~re, it is being requested that the Deputy City Clerk/Records Manager position be moved to the Middle Management Group. Staff recorrmaends approval of the resolution. (City Clerk) 9. RESOLUTION 18779 APPROVING THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS OF THE CHULA VISTA VETERANS HOME SUPPORT FOUNDATION, AND DIRECTING STAFF TO ASSIST WITH FILING OF THE ARTICLES AND OBTAINING TAX-EXEMPT STATUS FOR THE FOUNDATION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000 TO FINANCE APPLICATION FEES FOR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS - In accordance with Council Policy 110-12 ("Use and Sponsorship of Non-profit Organizations in Relationship to the Boards and Commissions of the City"), the Veterans Advisory Commission enlisted Staff assistance in tbrming the Chula Vista Veterans Home Support Foundation. The articles of incorporation and bylaws lbr the Foundation have been drath~ed and are ready tbr filing. Staff recommends approval of the resolution. ( City Attorney and Director of Hnman Resources) 4/Sth's vote required. 10. RESOLUTION 18780 AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF 1996 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,000 FOR THE HIRING OF A GRANT WRITER, TO BE REALLOCATED TO SUPPORT THE HIRING OF A LIEUTENANT $6,000; GRANT WRITING POLICE OVERTIME $25,000 AND GRANT TEAM TRAINING $2,000 - During the fiscal year 1996/97, Council accepted and appropriated 1996 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant funds in the amount of $257,401 for payment of personnel, overtime, and purchase of equipment. All programs with one exception (hiring of a contractual grant writer) have been implemented or are in the process. The grant disallows the use of funds ti3r contractual services. Staff is requesting Council reprogram these funds tBr overtime and training to supplement the in-house grant writing program. Staff recommends approval of the resolution. (Chief of Police) 4/Sth's vote required. Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 4 1 I. RESOLUTION 18781 ACCEPTING CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY - CALIFORNIA LIBRARY SERVICES ACT, FAMILIES FOR LITERACY GRANT FUNDS AWARDED TO THE CHULA VISTA LITERACY TEAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS, AND AMMENDING FISCAL YEAR 1997/98 BUDGET TO INCLUDE .49 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS - The Chula Vista Literacy Team has been awarded $2I ,000 in California Library Services Act, Families for Literacy Grant funds to develop and offer special family literacy services. This is the seventh year the Chula Vista Literacy Team has received this grant. This program was developed to break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy by providing training for volunteer tutors who then teach learners with young children; special library programming fi3r learners and their hmilies; and a home collection of quality children's books Ii~r each participating family. This program involves partnerships with South Bay Head Start, Chula Vista Elementary School District's Even Start Program, and the Healthy Start Collaborative. Staff recommends approval of the resolution. (Library Director) 4/Sth~s vote required. 12. RESOLUTION 18782 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED PORT DISTRICT FOR RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000, AND AMENDING THE CITY'S EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR PRODUCTION OF THE HARBOR DAYS FESTIVAL TO PROVIDE FOR THE PASS-THROUGH OF $30,000 OF THE PORT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT EVENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR - In June 1997, the City snbmitted a financial assistance request to the San Diego Unified Port District for partial funding of the Chula Vista Harbor Days Festival. The Board of Port Commissioners approved funding of $30~000 at their meeting of 7/29/97, and the Port requires that the City enter into a tbrmal agreement which stipulates conditions and City requirements for receipt of the approved funding. Staff recommends approval of the resolution. (Public lnli3rmation Coordinator) 4/5th's vote required. 13. RESOLUTION 18783 ACCEPTING BIDS, AWARDING PURCHASE ORDER CONTRACT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF ONE SEWER VAN AND PIPELINE INSPECTION SYSTEM On 6/3/97, bids were opened tier the purchase of a Sewer Pipeline Inspection System and van. Twenty- live bid packages were sent out with five bidders responding. None of the bidders were local companies. The lowest responsive bidder was Pearpoint. Inc. in the amount of $144,986 plus applicable sales tax. Staff reconmaends approval of the resolution. (Director of Public Works and Director of Finance) 4/Sth's vote required. Item pulled by the public. Addressing Council were: · Ed Diggs, 110 Leisure Park Circle, Santa Rosa, 95401, representing R.S. Technical Services in Petaluma, stated that in the bid package, there was one "whereas" that R.S. Technical did not meet the "specs" because they were a single conductor and not multi-conductor. They have 1200 systems running currently world-wide. They were the leaders in single conductor, and they have not experienced or had the problems that are related in the staff report. He asked Council to talk to people who do use R.S. Technical Services to see how they feel about the camera and its reliability. · Joe Smith, 2100 Hoover Avenue, National City, 91950, who worked flor National City. He was asked by R.S.T. to come and speak about his camera system. He has had a single conductor camera system for over ten years in National City. and he has been using it every week at least three days a week for the ten years. He has had no problems other than the basic maintenance. Most of the problems, as far as the single conductor, he has been able to repair it himself. He recently upgraded his system to a new R.S.T. system; he simply plugged everything in and with a day's worth of training, he could continue his work. He was sold on the system and was happy to promote it. Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 5 · Rick Lewis, 4904 Mt. Hay Drive. San Diego. 92111, representing 3-T Equipment Co. He stated it was very difficult when a bid comes out and it is a proprietary spec. This was done unintentionally by the City, but when you put a brand name of a manufacturer in a spec, it becomes a proprietary spec. Theretbre, only Pearpoint could meet the spec. Another issue is that once the bids are opened, they become public. To date, they have not been allowed to come in to review the bids. They have put on five demonstrations with the City. He was told by the sewer crew that they had never seen the Pearpoint system. He urged Council to call Pearpoint users. He t~lt that his competitor had misinformed staff. Ifthesmffwouldgo outand lookat the R.S.T. systems, he could prove the R.S.T. system is effective when the system is designed correctly. He requested that Council table this item in order to do more research. David Byers, Director of Public Works/Operations. responded that M r. McRoberts. who is part of the sewer crew, did observe several Pearpoint demonstrations. He is the one who put the specs together. John Coggins. Purchasing Agent, stated that it was not unusual to reference a brand name or a particular manufacturer when putting out bid specifications. It is so comanon that we have a provision called "brand names." What that says is that whenever a brand name ret~rence is made, its intent is to reference the operational and performance reliability standards as determined by the City as being what is acceptable. It is incumbent upon the bidders to bid equal or better if they are going to submit an alternate bid which we encourage. In this particular bid, we had a separate clause in the specifications which encouraged submittal of alternative proposals. This allows bidders to bring to the City's attention systems or technology that are out there which we may not be aware of. We determine whether a system is equal or better by testing. In this particular case. we tested all of the bids received. We went out with twenty-five bid packages and received five viable bids back. All anyone had to do to received bid results was to ask. Mr. Byers stated that when the bids came in, almost every bidder except tier Pearpoint and Lasher Auto which basically bid the same van that Pearpoint did, had several exceptions. He went through all the bids to determine whether those exceptions were material to the bid. At~er reviewing them. he determined that the dit~rence between a single and multi conductor was material. We currently have a single cunductor system and have had it tbr almost ten years. We were not happy with the way it worked and that is why we bid a multi conductor system. Cues that makes our current system makes both multi conductor and single conductor systems. He met with a member of R.S.T. who provided samples of sofiware that they would give us. One they would provide in the bid, the other would cost an additional $15,000. That second system would make 3-T or R.S.T. equivalent in software to both Cues and Pearpoint. The big differenc~ was that it would provide video capture. We also want this information to attach to our GIS and our work management system. The references contacted by Mr. McRoberts all preferred multi-conductor to single conductor because they had problems with the way the single conductor worked. Councilmember Salas stated that she t~lt comfortable tabling the item. · Rick Lewis, 3-T Equipment, stated that they were more than willing to extend their bid beyond 120 days. · Daniel Gregory. 32 Willow Brook Lane, Las Flores, representing Pearpoint stated that they agreed to extend their bid 30 days beyond the 120 days in the bid. Councilmember Moot stated it was pret~rable not to put Council in the position on the dais to have to make these kinds of tectmical decisions. While he would be willing to look at additional int~rmation, he made it clear that Council does rely on staft's technical expertise in these areas. If staff would better address the specific problems you have with the single conductor which causes you to go to a multi-conductor, He did not want to sort out competing debates between different mannhcturers. MSC (Salas/Hnrton) tn table the discussion in nrder to ~et more technical information. Approved 4-0-1 (Rindone absent). Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 6 14. RESOLUTION 18784 ACCEPTING BIDS AND AWARDING CONTRACT FOR THE ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR THE LAUDERBACH RECREATION CENTER - On 7/27/97, staff solicited informal bids fi-om three qualified contractors to provide materials, labor, and asbestos removal for the reroofing of Lauderbach Recreation Center. The City Charter provides tbr Council to approve Public Works contracts without advertising for bids if the contract cost is more than $25,000 but less than $50,000. Staff recmmnends approval of the resolution awarding the contract to Nelson Roofing in the amount of $28,000, (Director of Public Works) 15.A. RESOLUTION 18785 APPROVING FINAL MAPS OF TRACT NUMBER 92-02, SALT CREEK RANCH, NEIGHBORHOOD 2, UNITS 1 THROUGH 5, ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY PUBLIC STREETS AND EASEMENTS GRANTED ON SAID MAPS WITHIN SAID SUBDIVISIONS, REJECTING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY ALL OPEN SPACE LOTS GRANTED ON SAID MAPS WITHIN SAID SUBDIVISIONS, AND APPROVING SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENTS FOR THE COMPLETION OF IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED BY SAID SUBDIVISIONS, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENTS - On I0/6/92, CounciI approved the Tentative Subdivision Map ti:,r Tract 92-02, Salt Creek Ranch (Pacific Bay Homes). On that tentative map, neighborhood boundaries were delineated. The Final Map, Subdivision Improvement Agreements, and Supplemental Subdivision Agreement for Neighborhood 2, Units 1 throngh 5, are now before Council Ii~r consideration and approval. Staff recommends approval of the resolutions. (Director of Pnblic Works) B. RESOLUTION 18786 APPROVING SUPPLEMENTAL SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT FOR TRACT 92-02, SALT CREEK RANCH, NEIGHBORHOOD 2, UNITS 1 THROUGH 5 Item pulled by Councilmember Salas. She stated that it was a concern to her that unless we have SR-125 in place in a reasonable amount of time that our City will not be able to handle any more development. We have several prqiects on line that was approved some time ago. In this particular prqject, this is a portion of the EastLake Development Corporation who had put in millions of dollars of infrastructure bellore they have built out their project. How will these new prqiects affect the EastLake project who has put in all of the int~astrncture. Two years ago, the GMOC emphasized th~ problems that we were beginning to have on the east/west corridors; it was a warning to Council that we had to do something about it. In the most recent GMOC report, it seemed that the traffic problems were underplayed. She pulled this in hopes that we could start having an honest discussion about the traffic problems that we will be facing in the near fireire. She asked if we had such a policy in place to address the fairness issue. Mr. Swanson responded that we do have a policy. We have been working for quite some time with the planning department in making traffic projections, and we have been monitoring the growth every year. We have developed a development impact fee to build the new roads including SR-125 interim fhcilities. If SR-125 doesn't get built, we are constantly looking at alternatives and looking at the amount of growth. We are currently going through baseline traffic studies, m~d those studies predict that at the current rate of growth we have between five and seven years of growth beti~re we become impacted. At the same time we are working on alternatives. Councilmember Salas stated that the traffic studies may say that we have enough capacity on our surface streets, but you talk with people commuting from EastLake trying to reach 805. They spend more time going from their neighborhood to 805 than they do going from 805 to their place of work downtown. She requested that we have a serious discussion about traffic impacts in the upcoming development. Councilmember Padilla added that as we look at these policies which we are constantly monitoring, where in that calculation are considerations given about the map approvals in front of us. Where are we developing the policy Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 7 that we can make a decision that we don't have various applicants who are in a lhrther stage of a development project that are going to be brought to a halt because we are at a position where our existing polices will not allow the issuance of additional permits because we are at full capacity and we have growth management lintits that are set. Looking to the fixture, how are we going to deal with this. Mr. Swanson stated that the planning department working with the engineering division brought a policy fo~-3/ard to the City Council about a year ago on trip deferrals and implementing basis to allow some of these maps to go ahead. In that we created a hierarchy whereby final maps that were already approved would have a priority. Sorne4~ne like EastLake that has put in a lot of infrastructure, did so mostly through assessment districts, and those areas with the assessment districts fur the constructing the street facilities were given a priority within the system. In our baseline study, we have abont five to seven years of growth, that is reserving certain trips lbr places like those subdivisions that have development agreements with reserved traffic rights. Some of the developers who have put in a lot of infrastructure and still have those outstanding have not gotten up to that point with their number of trips still have trips to go. Those trips are built into the model. One of the ways a developer can get a priority tbr a larger area is by putting in those needed thcilities. So we do recognize that. Mr. Goss stated that we could develop a report to indicate what we have done by way existing policy to reserve trips for the developers that have done that. He t~lt, however, that the developers did not want to collectively get into competition fighting each other over trips. That is why they were agreeable to have the DIF for Route 125, and that is why they are talking about serionsly punching through Orange Avenue or Palomar. Councilmember Moot asked that with the report if staff could let Council know the status of SR-125. He had heard that Senator Filner was going to try to pull federal funding lbr the interchange at 1-54 and divert it someplace else. Mr. Goss stated he had talked with Supervisor Cox and he thought that the amount of l~'deral funding if it were pulled would .just basically require more transnet money to be taken from other prqjects in the region. He did not feel it was a real threat. His second point was that he saw the recovering economy in this state as well as some assurances that he had gotten that under ICET, (a) there could be as much as $135 ntillion available to make I-905 an expressway and that (b) over the next five years there would be sufficient money to do 905 anyway. He felt that there would be sufficient money li~r both prc~jects. Mayor Horton stated that we did have some dialog with Filner's Washington D.C. office and that we have forwarded a letter fi'om SANDAG supporting the additional funding for 905 with the understanding that it would not hurt any of the efli~rts that have been made with SR-125. She believed the comments by Mr. Goss were correct and the funding is already available and allocated for SR-125. * * * Councilmember Padilia left the dais at 7:28 p.m. * * * RESOLUTION 18785 OFFERED BY COUNCILMEMBER SALAS, heading read, text waived, passed and approved 3-0-2 (Padilia and Rindone absent). * * * Councihnember Padilia returned to the dais at 7:40 p.m. * * * 16. REPORT SEASONAL SWIMMING POOL CLOSURE - On 9/9/97, Council directed staff to return with a report regarding the scheduled closure of Parkway Pool during the lhll and winter months. The report provides a brief history of pool closures over the past l~w years, identifies the proposed ~hll and winter operations schedule lbr 1997/98, identifies the impacts of the scheduled closure as it relates to existing programming, and identifies the relative costs involved in swimming pool operations during the hll and winter months. Staff Minutes September 23. 1997 Page 8 reconm~ends Council accept the report and direct staff to proceed with one of the options provided within the report. (Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space) Item pulled by the public. Councilmember Salas asked if the school districts were involved in using the pool. What does it cost to operate the pool per hour. Jess Valenzuela, Director of Parks. Recreation, and Open Space, replied that both the elementary and high school districts use the pool at dil't~rent times during the year. We have an agreement with both agencies where we realize $10.50 per hour plus the staff time which we add into the agreement with the school districts. Both agreements were consunrelated many years ago, and we were thinking about amending that. but the school district was concerned about students and their ability to aflbrd any kind of increased fee li,~r pool use. He continued that the cost to operate the pool per hour varies between $80 and $150 and that takes into consideration the staffing time, and utilities to operate the facility. Councilmember Salas stated that we should not be subsidizing the school districts at the expense of our residents. If we are shutting off access to the pool because we cannot aftbrd to keep it open, and yet we have another public entity that has revenues that can pay tBr use of the pool and they are not paying their fair share, she limit we should explore the idea to see if the school districts paid lbr the cost of using the pool, if that would create enough revenue to keep the pool in operation. Those addressing Council opposing the pool closure were: · Ken Carpenter, 2230 Denver Street, San Diego, uses the Parkway pool during his lunch hour. Lenawee Garcia, 621 Gretchen Road, Chula Vista, 91910. speaking in behalf of those needing the therapeutic exercise at the Parkway pool. The water temperature was warmer at Parkway which was better therapeutically t~r the disabled and the seniors. Sharon Voelkle, 242 Glover Avenue, Chula Vista, a health educator and nursing instructor. stated there are many who do not have the transportation to Loma Verde pool. She wondered if there were more available hours, the youth would use the pool after school. She would be happy to pay a higher fee to use the Parkway pool during the winter months. Jon Harms. 3751 Alta Loma Drive, Bonita 91902. a school teacher, urged that Parkway remain open because many seniors carmot get to Loma Verde. Pat Mahoney, 1503-C Apache Drive, Chula Vista, expressed a desire to keep Parkway pool open during the winter months. Dean Zrucky, 4343 Montavo, San Diego, 92107, head varsity water polo coach for Hilltop High School lbr both boys and girls. He stated that while they are in the pool between 3 and 5 p.m., there are lessons going on tier about twenty kids. Whether they were there are not, the pool would still have to be open for the lessons. · Alex Balamonte, 2315 Long Ridge Road, Chula Vista. a daily user of the Parkway pool. Councilmember Moot stated that it would cost each participant who would use the pool approximately $12.00 per month extra. If we had a winter rate of an additional $12.00 per month, would people continue to use the pool Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 9 during the winter. He asked if we were in a position right now to take a gamble to try a winter rate, monitor it for three months, and see whether people still come at the higher price. Mr. Valenzuela felt that some people would pay that fee. But, what we are working on tbr Council are ways of keeping that pool open in the future by trying to assemble sufficient number of programs together so that pool would pay for itself over that 6-month period. One way to keep the pool open would be to assess a t~e; another way would be to couple it with other programs. John Gates, Senior Recreation Supervisor, responded that currently the seniors pay $35 tbr three months and adults pay $45 for three months. If you are looking at a three-month extension, you are increasing the fee by $12 per person. We used to maintain the pools open during the winter months and charged a special fee that was outside our normal annual pass fees. At that time, the three-month fee was $50 per person. Councilmember Padilia felt it was premature to begin examining how we can increase the rate structure before we get an opportunity to meet with the school districts and get those users who are not up to the regular rate to that level first. He would not support enhancing the revenues by raising t~es until that infi~nnation was available. He had a difficult time increasing t~es on the users while we're having a large component of users who aren't even paying the basic rate. He will not vote to do that. Mr. Goss stated that we could make a cmnmitment to open the pool tbr one more month and in the meantime come back with a report atier we have surveyed the users about additional t~es, look at the history of f~es that we have had in the past, and look at the premium rate that we may have had at that time, as well as what other cities charge. MSC (Horton/Moot) to approve an extension for Parkway and leave it open through the month of October and staff will come back within that timeframe and share with us the additional information that has been requested. Motion approved 4-0-1 (Rindone absent). * * * END OF CONSENT CALENI)AR * * * ORAL COMMUNICATIONS · Laura Hunter, 1717 Kettner Blvd., San Diego 92101, representing Environmental Health Coalition, reported on a vote by the Interagency Panel for San Diego Bay. The final comprehensive management plan was approved, and the most significant part was that the conceptual approval of a South Bay National Wildlife Refuge was included in the plan. She was here because Chula Vista was registered as a "no" vote on that item. She wanted to verif}~ that it was CounciFs position and then maybe obtain clarification about the vote. The vote was intended to be a conceptual approval fi~r a South Bay National Wildlife Refuge of some kind. They were concerned because the vote sends a message that the South Bay may not be the safest place fbr ecotourism-type developers to look. She t~lt that an abstention would be a more appropriate position tBr Chula Vista to take on this item at this time. She urged: (1) a letter be sent to the Chair stating that an abstention was a more accurate category fi'~r Chula Vista on this matter, given that we have not taken a position: and (2) that the Council set aside a time fbr the Fish and Wildlife Service and others to ctnne and talk about this proposal. Mayor Horton stated that staff has been looking into this. The City of Coronado abstained, but the Port voted no as well as the County. The reason fbr this is because of the uncertainties in that the environmental assessment is not available tbr public review at this time and the boundaries were not definitive. She expressed that conceptually we could approve this. but at the time our staff 1~11 that they were getting into too many specifics. Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 10 PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RELATED RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES None submitted. BOARD AND COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS None submitted. ACTION ITEMS None snbmitted. ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 7, 13, 15, and 16 were pulled. The mi. utes will rtflect the published agenda order.) OTHER BUSINESS 17. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT(S) Mr. Goss announced that the City was the recipient of two more Helen Putnam awards at the League of California Cities conference in October. One award will be in the Children, Youth, and Family Partnerships in which the City of Chula Vista submitted an application in behalf of our Human Services Council. The other one was in Environmental Quality Partnerships. 18. MAYOR'S REPORT(S) Mayor presented a verbal report on the Ecotourism Summit. Chula Vista was asked to participate along with five other cities. Our presentation was based upon what tire the opportunities that exist throughout the San Diego region as far as ecotourism is concerned. The goal was to hmk at how we can package, market, and develop a program that we could advertise showing tourists what is available in San Diego County as far as bringing them to a natural setting so they could enjoy the environment. One important component to this is not only looking at how to bring the tourists, the commeccial, and recreational aspect, but also a way to preserve the natural environment in perpetuity. There is also the economic benefit component where you bring in more tourists. She believed that SANDAG wvill be carrying this forward. It would be beneficial for the City to include in one of our workshops a session on what is the potential for Chula Vista and South County to participate in promoting ecotourism in our community. What are the barriers and what are the opportunities that exist. We might also want to look at how do we promote this and look at ways that we may want to incorporate in the planning process an ecotourism element as we develop along the water front. 19. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Salas stated that the Taboada and McAllister fanlilies continuing participation in their civic responsibilities is very heartening. David Taboada xvas appointed to the Youth Commission, but his mother has served on the International Friendship Commission for eight years. Her husband has worked along side with her. Sarae with Bob McAlister and his wife, Rosa. Also, she wanted to make the public aware of an event that was going to take place at Southwestern College on October 4 which will be sponsored by UCSD. It is a community outreach information fair. There will be UCSD representatives on the campus where you Minutes September 23, 1997 Page 11 can learn about their admissions int.ormation, employment opportunities, business contracting, educational opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and university events and resources. Councilmember Moot stated that our Charter Review Commission may have already considered the issue raised by Councilmember Rindone a week or so ago with respect to dividing the City up for purposes of election and assigning Council seats to different sections or parts of the City. It oecurred to him that this is actually a pretty serious issue and probably not one to be debated by the Charter Review Commission without some pretty significant input and data on a variety of topics. He ~vould like the opportunity to meet with the Charter Review Commission if this is a serious proposal that is going fiwward. He felt that people needed to understand the different levels of sophistication that this issue wuuld present before it comes to the Council, and it is put ta an election and voted on. He requested that his comments be forwarded to the Chair of the Charter Review Commission. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Respectt.olly submitted, ~Authelet, CMC/AAE City Clerk