CITY
COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
DATE OF
MEETING:
June 15, 2004
TIME OF
MEETING:
7:00 P.M.
PLACE OF
MEETING: RED
BLUFF COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
The agenda for this meeting
was posted pursuant to Resolution No. 28-1995
Councilmembers
Present: Forrest Flynn,
Mayor
Larry Stevens Mayor Pro
Tem
Andy
Houghton
Russ
Frey
Gregg
Avilla
Councilmembers
Absent: None
Staff
Present:
Susan Price, City Manager
Richard Crabtree, City Attorney
Gary Antone, Director of Public Works
Charles Hayden, Planning Director
Gloria Shepherd, City
Clerk
Margaret Van Warmerdam,
Director of Finance
Tessa Pritchard, Human
Resources Director
Michael Damon, Fire Chief
Al Shamblin, Police Chief
Robb Gibbs, Director of Parks and Recreation
Venita Philbrick, City Treasurer
Charles Hayden, Planning
Director, led the Pledge of Allegiance at the request of Mayor Flynn and the
assemblage joined in.
CLOSED EXECUTIVE
SESSION
Executive Session in accordance with Government Code Section 54956.8 (Real Property Negotiations) to discuss with Susan Price, City Manager and Gary Antone, Director of Public Works the granting of authority to negotiate title and easements with Tim & Sharnell Chambers, Assessor’s Parcel Number 024-200-67; Cherie & Toby Cooper, Assessor’s Parcel Number 024-040-59; James & Debra Danielsen, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 027-410-05 and 42; Scottsdale Company, Inc., Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 027-410-29 and 31; Wyle Selby and Richard & Charlotte Johnson, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 027-410-03 and 41; Christopher & Patricia Sharp, Assessor’s Parcel Number 024-040-60.
Direction was given to Staff with no decision made.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
Mayor Flynn mentioned receiving a letter from the Hope Chest that discussed speeding traffic issues.
ADD EMERGENCY ITEM TO
AGENDA
ALCOHOL/FIREWORKS RESTRICTIONS IN THE CITY
PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY/CLOSURE OF CITY PARK BOAT LAUNCH FROM 10 P.M.
JULY 3, 2004 TO 10 A.M. JULY 5, 2004
M/S/C Stevens, Houghton to add
item to Agenda as an emergency item that cannot wait until the July 6, 2004 City
Council meeting.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING:
None
PRESENTATION
COLLEEN NELSON, AMERICAN RED CROSS BLUES
FOR THE POOL
Colleen Nelson invited the Community to attend the Wine Tasting Event that also sponsored two Jazz Bands to help raise money for the City Pool and it’s restoration. It will be held on Saturday evening on June 19, 2004.
CONSENT CALENDAR
M/S/C Stevens, Avilla to approve
Consent Calendar with Mayor Flynn abstaining from the Approval of Minutes for
the June 1, 2004 Meeting.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT
VOTING:
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES June 1,
2004
REPORT REGARDING CONTRACT AWARDS – MAY 2004
Approved 5-0-0
RESOLUTION NO. 31-2004;
TEHAMA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-PREVENTION PROJECT BLUE KNIGHTS CA
XVI-DARE FUNDRAISER
RED BLUFF FIRE DEPARTMENT DISPATCH CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION
Approved 5-0-0
ROOF RESTORATION PROJECT, AIRPORT BUILDINGS AND FIRE HALL #2 BID AWARD
Approved 5-0-0
ADOPTION OF CONTINUATION BUDGET EXPENDITURE PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004/2005
Approved 5-0-0
NEW COMPUTER FOR PLANNING DIRECTOR
Approved 5-0-0
STATE MANDATED COST UPDATE
Approved 5-0-0
CURRENT
BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO.
32-2004 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RED BLLUFF ADOPTING AN
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHARLES MULLEN FOR THE POSITION OF PLANNING
DIRECTOR
Susan Price, City Manager,
reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to adopt Resolution
No. 32-2004 adopting an Employment Agreement with Charles P. Mullen for the
Position of Planning Director.
Charlie Mullen introduced
himself and thanked City Staff for the opportunity to serve as Planning Director
as he looks forward to working for the City of Red Bluff.
Mayor Flynn asked for a
10-minute break to offer City Council the opportunity to introduce themselves to
Charlie Mullen and welcome him to the new position.
M/S/C Avilla, Houghton to approve
adopting Resolution No. 32-2004, an Employment Agreement with Charles P. Mullen
for the Position of Planning Director.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT
VOTING:
None
TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
Susan Price, City Manager,
reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to discuss the City’s
Transient Occupancy Tax rate and provide direction to
staff.
Barry Jesrani, Motel Owner,
asked the City Council to wait for Redding or Chico to vote to raise the tax
first in order to encourage people to consider Red Bluff Motels over the larger
communities.
Richard Crabtree, City
Attorney, will inquire what the status of other Cities is on voting to raise
taxes and report back.
M/S/C Stevens, Houghton to table
this item and bring back to next City Council Meeting on July 6, 2004 for
further discussion with additional information from the Chamber of Commerce and
Citizens.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT
VOTING:
None
TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX (SALES TAX)
Susan Price, City Manager, reviewed the staff report
and gave staff’s recommendation to discuss the City’s Transactions and Use Tax
(Sales Tax) rate and provide direction to staff.
The Board of Supervisors met to discuss whether to
send this Tax Measure to the voters with a two or three year sunset clause that
included a General one-half cent sales tax increase requiring a majority
vote. The County has considered
offering to make a binding agreement with the City to split this Tax in terms of
population size.
M/S/C
Houghton, Avilla to table this until the Board of Supervisors make a
decision and bring back to the July 6, 2004 City Council
Meeting.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT AWARD -
$228,574 TOTAL
1) TEHAMA COUNTY INJURY PREVENTION TASK FORCE
PASSENGER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - $20,000
2) RED BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC SAFETY
ENHANCEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM - $178,574
3) HIGH SCHOOL SEAT BELT CHALLENGES (TWO) -
$30,000
This item was pulled at the
request of the District Attorney with more information coming in two
weeks.
Susan Price, City Manager,
reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to consider the
attendance of Mayor Pro Tem Larry Stevens and Councilmember Russ Frey at the
League of California Cities Annual Conference in Long Beach September
17th-19th, 2004 and provide direction to
staff.
The importance of attending
this conference was presented, where the City of Red Bluff has the same voice
and vote as other Cities coming together in a united way to make a difference.
The issue of the costs and
budget concerns were a consideration as to whether to approve this
Conference.
The estimated costs for the
attendance will reduce the current available budget to a minimum for the City
Council.
Concurring conference
meetings required the attendance of more than one Council Member in order to
obtain all the information provided at these conferences.
Having access to making a
difference to the party persuasion was a reason mentioned by Councilmember Frey
for attending the conference.
M/S/C Houghton, Flynn to approve
the request to send Mayor Pro Tem Larry Stevens and Councilmember Russ Frey to
the League of California Cities Annual Conference in Long Beach September 17
-19, 2004.
AYES: Councilmembers: Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
Councilmembers:
Avilla and
Flynn
Margaret Van Warmerdam,
Finance Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to
have City Council consider the request by Applied Development Economics and
provide direction for staff.
Susan Price, City Manager,
explained that the Consultants for the proposed Wal-Mart Expansion are asking
the City for specific names of businesses and their earnings for purposes of
doing an environmental impact report and after using this information for the
purposes of the study the information will then be
destroyed.
The Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) is not a report that is routinely required by the City, for a
retail establishment.
Wal-Mart volunteered to do
this EIR to provide information to the Public and the City Council and this
portion of the report requesting specific information is going to describe the
expected impact on businesses in town if Wal-Mart does
expand.
This kind of reporting by
the City is only required for large projects already determined to have a
significant effect on the environment and economic effects of the community.
A popular reason for
opposing a big business is that it will put small retail businesses out of
business and the impact is now routinely studied when a big retailer comes into
the community. The big retailer
provides the information to the City in order to help make the decision based on
the results of the impact study and protects the big retailer from lawsuits
later if the impact does have adverse effect on local businesses.
M/S/C Stevens, Avilla to deny
request and not supply the additional information
requested.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
INSURANCE QUOTES FOR 2004/2005 FISCAL
YEAR
Margaret Van Warmerdam, Finance Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to have City Council discuss the insurance quotes and provide direction to staff on which two of the Policies to select and whether to consider the terrorists risk insurance this year.
The renewing of the Airport, Property, Inland Marine, and Fire Department Insurance Policy have two proposals to consider with a considerable savings on the second Airport proposal for nearly half the cost at $6,300.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT
VOTING:
None
The earthquake portion of
the two quotes is still outstanding with both of these proposals and the final
decision will be based on these results by the City Manager before the next City
Council Meeting.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
PUBLIC HEARING; RESOLUTION NO. 30-2004; RESOLUTION VACATING A PORTION OF SOUTH MAIN STREET RIGHT OF WAY; ABANDONMENT NO. 2004-04-30; 5.50 ACRES; BEACHHEAD PROPERTIES, PETITIONER
Charles Hayden, Planning Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to:
1) Conduct the Public Hearing.
2) Consider the General Plan consistency findings of the Planning Commission, all public comments, and all other information relating to this project submitted for City Council consideration.
3) Make the findings in the attached document titled Findings Summary –Abandonment No. 2004-04-30; South Main Street; Beachhead Properties.
4) Adopt a Resolution No. 30-2004, with descriptions and conditions, vacating a portion of South Main Street right-of-way and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the deed.
5) Direct Staff to record the Vacation Resolution pursuant to Section 8336 of the Streets and Highways Code.
6) Direct Staff to prepare and record deeds transferring the public right-of-way to Beachhead Properties.
7) Direct staff to file a CEQA Notice of Exemption for this vacation.
Mayor Flynn opened the Public Hearing and hearing no comments he closed the Public Hearing.
In exchange for the value of the abandoned land, Beachhead Properties will construct a third traffic lane on the east side of South Main Street from approximately Sutter Street to Sister Mary Columba Drive. The final alignment may change before the finish of the third lane and will be in compliance with CalTrans.
M/S/C Avilla, Frey to approve item
numbers 2 through 7 as listed above.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
CLASS II BIKEWAYS
Charles Hayden, Planning Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation regarding whether a consultant should be hired to determine the feasibility of designating City-wide Class II bike lanes and which funding account should be utilized to pay for the consultant.
M/S/C Stevens, Frey to take no
action at this time.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
PUBLIC HEARING; MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION; GRANT; SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL; JACKSON HEIGHTS SCHOOL, CITY OF RED
BLUFF
Gary Antone, Public Works Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to:
1) Conduct the Public Hearing
2) Consider all public testimony and all other information relating to this project submitted to the Council
3) Recommend approval the Mitigated Negative Declaration with the attached Mitigation Measures shown in the document titled “Summary of Mitigation Measures & Monitoring Plan, Red Bluff Bike and Pedestrian Project, City of Red Bluff”.
Mayor Flynn opened the Public Hearing and hearing no comments he closed the Public Hearing.
The issue of security and lighting were addressed at the Panning Commission of the access area under the bridge and use of the path. The school has agreed to take on the responsibility of monitoring the security of this area during school hours.
M/S/C Stevens, Houghton to approve the Mitigated Negative Declaration with the attached Mitigation Measures shown in the document titled “Summary of Mitigation Measures & Monitoring Plan, Red Bluff Bike and Pedestrian Project, City of Red Bluff”.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
SO. MAIN STREET/I5 INTERCHANGE
PROJECT
Gary Antone, Public Works Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to discuss the proposed letter to CalTrans in support of the So. Main Street/I-5 Interchange Project and authorize the City Manager to sign and forward the letter to CalTrans.
The City is committed to the completion and funding of this project through a phased approach along with the support of CalTrans.
M/S/C Stevens, Avilla to discuss the proposed letter to CalTrans in support of the So. Main Street/I-5 Interchange Project and authorize the City Manager to sign and forward the letter to CalTrans.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
DOWNTOWN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT UPDATE
Gary Antone, Public Works Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to complete a portion of the planned work of the Walnut Street Beautification Project that includes the Walnut/Washington Streets intersection. The cost estimate is still pending and will be funded through Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding for these improvements. Additionally the businesses along the west side of the 700 block of Washington Street are willing to replace curb, gutter and sidewalks to follow suit.
Information and Discussion as
necessary
JACKSON HEIGHTS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
PROJECT BID AWARD
Gary Antone, Public Works
Director, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to award the
Jackson Heights Safe Routes to School Project to UPDATE Construction of Red
Bluff, California in the amount of $173,119.50.
M/S/C Avilla, Houghton to award the Jackson Heights Safe Routes to School Project to UPDATE Construction of Red Bluff, California in the amount of $173,119.50.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING: None
A PROPOSED REORGANIZATION OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE THE CITY’S SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND ALLOW MORE SERVICES TO OUR LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND DEVELOPERS COMING TO “THE CITY OF RED BLUFF”
Councilmember Frey excused himself due to possible conflicts of interest on this agenda item.
J.D. Ellison, Sr. Building
Dir./Official, reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation to
approve the proposed re-organization of the Building Department effective July
30, 2004.
The recommendations are as
follow:
·
Reclassify the current
Building Inspector to a Senior Building Inspector and maintain the current
Building Inspector salary range.
·
Add a
Building Inspector with the recommended salary range of
$30,946-$40,048.
·
Add a
temporary part-time clerical person.
It is estimated this person will work approximately 20 hours per week,
with the number of hours worked per week to be evaluated after approximately 60
days and adjusted accordingly. This
person would be employed either through the City recruitment process or through
an employment agency.
·
Eliminate the position of
Building/Planning Coordinator.
·
Leave
vacant the position of temporary part-time Building
Inspector.
Councilmember Stevens
requested that the identifiable person who is eliminated from this position
would be considered for another position in the City.
Tessa Pritchard, Human
Resources Director, explained that these kinds of decisions are the hard part of the job and that if
another position becomes available that this person could apply for the position
as well as any other employee who is interested.
M/S/C Avilla, Houghton to approve
the proposed re-organization of the Building Department effective July 30,
2004.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn and Houghton
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT
VOTING:
Councilmembers: Stevens (abstained) and Frey (absent -
excused)
Councilmember Frey returned
to the meeting at this time.
ALCOHOL/FIREWORKS
RESTRICTIONS IN THE CITY PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY/CLOSURE OF CITY PARK
BOAT LAUNCH FROM 10 P.M. JULY 3, 2004 TO 10 A.M. JULY 5,
2004.
Al Shamblin, Police Chief,
reviewed the staff report and gave staff’s recommendation
regarding:
1.
The use
of alcohol in the River City Park between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July
4, 2004.
2.
A
designated area as described in the staff report prohibiting both alcohol and
fireworks.
3.
Closure
of the River Park Boat Launch from July 3, 2004 at 10 PM to July 5, 2004 at 10
AM.
M/S/C Avilla, Stevens to approve
item numbers 1 through 3 as listed above.
AYES: Councilmembers: Avilla, Flynn, Frey, Houghton and Stevens
NOES:
None
ABSENT OR NOT
VOTING:
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCIL
COMMENTS
The County Transportation Commission met today and discussed the projection of needs for changes for application of the Para Trax program. Other business that was discussed was the electing of Ron Warner as Chairperson and Vice Chair Nominee will be Ross Turner.
A reminder that the Antelope Sewer and Water Public Meeting will be held at Berrendos School tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Flynn received a letter in the mail from Governor Schwarzenegger with an enclosed copy of a “Remember Ronald Reagan Calendar Sheet” to be placed in the Ronald Reagan Library and will be available at both Police and City Hall for the Community to sign.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:40 P.M. Mayor Flynn adjourned
the meeting to July 6, 2004 at 7:00 P.M., in the Red Bluff City Council
Chambers.
ATTEST: