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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1996/03/26 RDAMINUTES OF A JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/ CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Tuesday, March 26, 1996 6:35 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building C~LTOORDER 1. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: ALSO PRESENT: Agency/Council Members Alevy, Moot , Padilia, Rindone, and Chair/Mayor Horton John D. Goss, Director/City Manager; Bruce M. Boogaard, Agency/City Attorney; and Beverly A. Authelet, City Clerk 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 19, 1996 MSUC (Aievy/Rindone) to approve the minutes of March 19, 1996 as presented. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RELATED RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES 3. RESOLUTION 1491 and RESOLUTION 18245 APPROVING THE EXEMPTION/WAIVER OF THE SEWER CAPACITY CHARGE RELATED TO THE VETERANS HOME PROJECT AT THE HOSPITAL SCHOOL SITE LOCATION--The Governor's Commission on a Southern California Veterans Home has recommended Chula Vista as the priority site for the development of the next Veterans Home. Staff has been negotiating with the State to consider a deferral of the sewer capacity fee, but the State has rejected the proposal and is requesting the fee be waived in order for the City to maintain its priority status. Staff recommends approval of the resolution. (Community Development Director) Mr. Goss stated he had been contacted by the City's consultant in Sacramento expressing a great deal of concern over the fact that the City had not arrived at any resolution with the State regarding the proposed Veteran's Home over the sewer and water fees. In addition to that call, the City had received letters from Assemblyman Steve Baldwin; Dan Kreyling, Chair, United Veterans Council; and, Stan Standard, Chair, Governor's Commission on a Southern California Veteran's Home expressing their concern that the project, which was number one statewide, would fall by the wayside in light of some of the other competition. They made it clear that when an offer was made of "free" land to entice the Veteran's Home to be built in Chula Vista, that it did not include water or sewer fees. Therefore, he had instructed staff to put an item on the agenda which addressed a waiver of the fees as it appeared that was what was being done in other jurisdictions. He had also instructed staff to confer with other jurisdictions to see what they had proposed. He felt Chula Vista needed to be in the same competitive position with the other cities competing for the Veteran's Home. Staff recommended that the City use low/moderate income housing funds for the sewer fee and water fees. The sewer fee was approximately $56,000 and staff recommended an amount not to exceed $85,000 for the water fee as it would have to be negotiated with the Water District. Staff felt it was an appropriate use of the low/mod housing funds because the Home would be providing low/moderate housing in the City and meeting a need in the City and the region. The low/moderate income housing funds were also being utilized by the competing cities to attract the Home to their cities. The project would bring 200 full time State salaried positions to the City. A general motion by Council would be sufficient in terms of the City's lobbying efforts in Sacramento which would be followed up with a specific resolution at a subsequent meeting. Chair/Mayor Hotton questioned if the City was negotiating with the County regarding the mitigation land that was needed for the 20 acres of Coastal Sage Scrub. Christopher Salomone, Director of Community Development, responded that Supervisor Cox was very optimistic that he could negotiate that deal. Minutes March 26, 1996 Page 2 Member Padilia stated he offer a motion to indicating that the City would be willing to waive the fees in order to get the Veteran's Home in Chula Vista, but he felt there should be direction to staff to look at any and all other potential funding options other than low/moderate income housing funds. Chair/Mayor Herton questioned if staff felt it important that a resolution be adopted to send a strong message to Sacramento. Mr. Salemone replied that Mr. Kreyling could update Council as he had just returned from Sacramento. This being the time and place as advertised, the public heating was declared open. · Dan Kreyling, 9938 Chocolate Summit, El Cajon, CA, representing United Veterans Council, acknowledged the behind the scenes work that had been done by the City to bring the Veteran's Home to Chula Vista. Washington was looking to fully support funding the matching funds. The emergency clause was kept on the Assembly bill and the Senate bill. Lancaster pulled their opposition to the wording in the Senate bill so it was passed without opposition. He felt it look very positive. · Bill Ayers, 44 East Mankate Street, Chula Vista, CA, representing the County Veterans Advisory Committee, commended staff for their efforts in addressing the issue. He requested that Council commit to the elimination of sewer and water fees for the Veteran's Home. Mr. Goss felt staff should return with a report as the sewer fund, general fund, low/moderate income housing fund, were all alternatives. He had talked to the Chair of the Water District and the Chief Engineer and was informed that they did not have a policy for waivers, they did allow deferrals in certain cases. If Council was comfortable with the alternatives he requested that they authorize staff to indicate that the sewer and water fees would not be charged to the State. Staff would then return at the next meeting with funding alternatives. Member Alevy felt Council wanted to move forward and that Council had the opportunity to put another jewel in their crown. MS (Alevy/Rindone) 1) authorize payment of sewer capacity charges and lawfully imposed Otay Water District connection charges (subject to negotiations of a lower fee) from low/moderate income housing funds; 2) appropriate the encumbrance of the same from the low/moderate income housing funds; and, 3) direct staff to report back in three week as to alternate funding sources to supplement these appropriations. Member Padilia requested clarification that the Agency/Council was not authorizing total expenditure at the present time. It was his understanding that all that was needed was a signal from the Council that the State would not be charged the sewer and water fees to they could proceed. At the present time the Agency/Council did not need to decide exactly what mechanisms would be used to pay those fees. Mr. Goss stated that was exactly the feeling he had received when talking to the consultant in Sacramento, i.e. they had the verbal authority to present that those fees would not be charged to the State. He had recommended that the Agency/Council indicated that the fees would not be charged to the State and staff would return with the options on how to do it. Chair/Mayor Herton questioned why the Agency/Council could not approve the resolution as presented. Member Moot questioned why the Agency/Council could not approve the waiver and have staff return with a report as to whether it would be appropriate to reimburse the City for the cost of the waiver from the low/moderate income housing fund. Mr. Boogaard stated staff did not recommend the resolution because of the concerns his office had with the legality of a waiver and the precedent such an action could have. The motion on the floor did not waive the fees, but agreed to pay them from another fund. Minutes March 26, 1996 Page 3 Member Padilia stated he was concerned that the motion identified a funding source. Mr. Boogaard responded that the motion had a provision for staff to return with a report on supplementing the appropriation. Either way a report would be brought back to the Agency/Council. If the motion was approved and payment was required, the motion would permit the Finance Director to issue a check. Member Padilla stated that was the clarification he was seeking and was satisfied with the motion. VOTE ON MOTION: approved unanimously. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None OTHER BUSlNESS 4. DIRECTOR'S/CITY MANAGER'S REPORT(S) - None 5. CHAIR'S/MAYOR'S REPORT(S) · Otay Valley Road Name Change. Chair Horton stated the Council had previously discussed the item in Closed Session but there was no referral for staff to move forward on the item. MS (Horton/Rindone) to direct staff to work on changing the name of Otay Valley Road to Auto Park Drive (or something similar). Member Rindone noted that the name offered was only a suggestion. The name should be representative of the advantage of turning off the freeway. VOTE ON MOTION: approved unanimously. Chris Salomone, Director of Community Development, stated he would forward an informational memorandum to the Agency regarding work that had been done along with a time line. 6. AGENCY/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS Member Rindone · Member Rindone thanked all those candidates running for the two Council Seats for their personal commitment. ADJOURNMENT AT 8:15 P.M. to the Regular Re, development Agency Meeting on April 16, 1996 at 6:00 p.m., immediately following the City Council meeting, in the City Council Chambers. Minutes March 26, 1996 Page 4 CLOSED SESSION Mr. Boogaard stated the Agency would be discussing Negotiations with Real Property Negotiators in Closed Session. The Agency met in Closed Session at 7:10 p.m. 7. SALE AND DISPOSITION OF REAL PROPERTY - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 · Property: School District property next to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center proposed for Veterans Home project. Negotiating Parties: John D. Goss and State Department of Veterans Affairs. Under Negotiations: Price and Terms. 8. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR - Give Instructions to Nelotiators oursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 · Proposed sale of property: 753 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910 Negotiating Party: John D. Goss/Chris Salomone on behalf of the City of Chula Vista Redevelopment Agency and J. P. Gabille, Vice President, Corporate Development, The Loewen Group International, Inc. Under Negotiations: Price and Terms. 9. REPORT OF ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION - No reportable actions were taken in Closed Session. by: Respectfully submitted, BEVERLY A. AUTHELET, CMC/AAE, City Clerk Vicki C. Soderquist, CM~,~puty City Clerk