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Home My WebLink About2009/03/24 Item 21 MEMO [DRAFT Office of Councihnember Pamela Bensoussan ~JiI-It:D 17t'/!7 c::?/ ~\~~ ~ - ~ -- - - -- - Clll' OF CHULA VISTA DATE: Thursday, March 20,2009 Su13JECT: Proposed Outline for Establishment of an Independent Advisory Board aka: Prop A Advisory Committee or (PAAC) Backeround After declaDng the city in a state of fiscal emergency, Chula Vista's City Council decided to conduct a special mail election on May 5, 2009, for voters to decide whether to enact a 1 % ten-year sales tax increase. A unique aspect of the City Council's ballot measure was to install an independent advisory board to oversee that monies resulting from the ta.:" increase would be spent as promised and to issue reports and recommendations to Council. This proposal addresses the purpose and logistics of setting up an Independent Advisory Board, in order to have a vehicle in place to facilitate and expedite its creation, in the event that voters approve the sales tax measure. An open workshop was hosted by Councilwoman Pamela Bensoussan to converse with the public on this outline and to receive comments and suggestions. Note: On March 1 Th, the Chula Vista City Council informally embraced an outline of this proposal. It ",rill be on the March 24th Council Agenda for public comment, discussion, and formal approval. Purpose The Prop A Advisory Committee will be tasked with advising Council on allocation of funds received from the sales tax increase (prop A) a...'"ld to make recommendations and regular reports to City Council. Additionally, the Committee will report annually on the overall effectiveness of Prop A in addressing the following goals in stages throughout the 10-year period of the assessment: .. Maintaining important public services that would otherwise be at risk (such as public safety, libraries, after school programs, park & recreation services, etc. as stated in the ballot measure) .. Addressin.g infrastrucmre deficiencies in Western Chula Vista and other areas where needed. .. Slowly rebuilding the city's budget reserves. .. Recommending validation measures for emergency use of reserves .. Previewing and Reviewing e1:penditures to ensure goals are met II Making specific recommendations for allocating funds Committee Makeup/Appointments In order for the Committee to be truly independent and broadly represent the interests of the people of Chula Vista, the appointment process should be largely "bottom up" as opposed to the political (mayoral! council) "top down" appointment process. Wide representation from interest groups and geographical areas' is desired, as well as some skill sets such as familiarity with city planning, infrastructure, financing and the budget process. To accomplish these goals, it is recommended that delegates to the Committee be nominated from various interests groups, -w-ith the addition of several "at large" members who would be self-nominated. The "interest group" delegates could be drawn from such categories as local business, community, educational., professional, worker organizations, enviro=emal, seniors, youth, public safety and community c?fl/J -/ Proposed ouiline for P AA C - March 18, 2009 (DRAFT) 2 health, geographical areas, etc. to ",-idely reflect the stakeholder interests in the City. A list of interest categories would be determined by publicizing the intent to form the Committee and requesting submittal of applications of interest. It is proposed that a determination of a balanced list of organizations and interest groups ",-ill be made, working from the applications received. Organizations would be invited to appoint a delegate to become a "member" of the Committee. Indi,-iduals representing categories of interest or geographical areas (but not organizations) would be appointed by Council after a public interview process. Additionally, it is proposed that one delegate each be appointed from the follo",-ing volunteer citizen commissions: GMOC, Planning Commission, and Resource Conservation Commission. Members of these commissions would already have familiarity with the city's planning, budget, and infrastructure needs. The proposal would require members to be either residents of Chula Vista, or owners of or workers in a local business. Thus, the Committee could be formed of: . One or more organizational or individual members from each broad category of interest groups . One delegate appointed by each of the three commissions, R.C.C., Planning and G.M.O.C. The goal is to assemble a well diverse group, representing broad interests. The Committee should be large like the Bayfrom CAC or the General Plan Update Steering Committee with 20+ members serving staggered terms. Committee Meetings and Format It is recommended that all meetings be noticed, held in public, and subject to the Brown Act requirements. Meetings should take place often enough in order for the Committee to be able to operate pro-actively and effectively. The Committee would work closely with the office of the City Manager and the Department of Finance and in sync with budget processing cycles. The Committee would pres em quarterly/annual reports to Council summarizing expenditures and whether or not the goals are being met, and making specific recommendations. Termination of Tax Measure At any time, in the event of sufficient economic recovery, whereby the Committee detennines that Prop A funds are no longer critical to' the organization, the Committee could recommend to Council that the Proposition A 1 % sales tax be terminated or the period be shortened. Five Year Study The Committee ",-ill be asked to deliver a comprehensive mid-term report to Council. The specific purpose of this mid-term report is to examine whether or not the tax increase penod should continue, be shortened, or be ended. The date of this report should be timed to allow a measure to be placed on the ballot in 2014 if recommended by the Committee and determined by Council. =?//!-2 276 Fourth Avenue. Chula Vista. CA 91910 www_chulavistaca.eov (619) 691-5044 I Fax (619) 691-5379 JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL Al"J"D THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA URGING THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED PORT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS AND ULTIMATELY CONCLUDE THE EXCHANGE OF PORT DISTRICT ADMINISTERED LAND IN THE HARBOR DISTRICT OF THE CHULA VISTA BA YFRONT FOR PACIFICA COMPANIES-OWNED LAND IN THE SWEETWATER DISTRICT OF THE CHULA VISTA BA YFRONT, AND. URGING THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO DIRECT PORT STAFF TO MAKE NECESSARY REVISIONS TO COMPLETE THE CHULA VISTA BA YFRONT MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR) AND TO THEN TAKE REQUIRED BOARD ACTIONS TO CERTIFY THE FINAL EIR WHEREAS, the Board of Port Commissioners (Board), Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista and Chula Vista City Council (Agency/Council) have been working collaboratively for over four years to develop the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan; and WHEREAS, the Port and City conducted extensive public outreach to determine the public's preferences for development of the Chula Vista Bayfront; and WHEREAS, there is strong public support for locating residential development in the Harbor District of the Bayfront and not in the Sweetwater District because the Sweetwater District parcels border the existing wildlife refuge areas; and WHEREAS, Pacifica Companies owns several of the subject parcels bordering the wildlife refuge areas; and WHEREAS, a land exchange between the Port and Pacifica Companies would be required to allow residential development in the Harbor District and preclude residential development in the Sweetwater District thereby removing potential development adjacent to the wildlife refuge areas; and WHEREAS, the Port has ceased negotiations with Pacifica Companies regarding the land exchange; and WHEREAS, the Port and City have been working collaboratively to complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for developing the-Chula Vista Bayfront as a part of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan; and c?/O-I WHEREAS, the Port and City have made significant financial investments in the EIR; and WHEREAS, the Port is the lead agency for the EIR, and \VHEREAS, the Board has not indicated its intention or schedule for concluding the EIR process and for certifying the EIR; and WHEREAS, the land exchange and the certification of the EIR are critical steps in creating a vibrant, world-class Bayfront in Chula Vista. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council and . Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista hereby urges the San Diego Unified Port District Board of Commissioners to direct Port Staff to make necessary revisions to complete the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan Environmental Impact Report and take the required Board of Commissioners action to certify the Bayfront Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Report. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council and Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista hereby urges the San Diego Unified Port District Board of Commissioners to resume and ultimately conclude the exchange of Port District administered land in the Harbor District of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan for Pacifica Companies-owned land in the Sweetwater District of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan Presented by Approved as to form by ~ C~ FCJJ'- $ctvl Bart C. Miesfelf City Attorney and Agency Counsel Pamela Bensoussan Councilmember ;:;/13 - ';;'H