Loading...
06/08/2010CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - JUNE 8, 2010 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace was called to order in the Council Chambers, Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California, on June 8, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Ferrd, Mayor Lee Ann Garcia, Mayor Pro Tern Bea Cortes, Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, Councilmember Betsy M. Adams, City Manager Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Bernard Simon, Finance Director Joyce Powers, Community & Economic Development Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director John Harper, City Attorney Rick McClintock, San Bernardino County Fire Department _ Sgt. Espinoza, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department Doug Wilson, Planning Commission, Chairman Matthew Addington, Planning Commission, Vice -Chairman Tom Comstock, Planning Commissioner Darcy McNaboe, Planning Commissioner Robert Bailes, Planning Commissioner ABSENT: None The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz. CONVENE JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION 6.15 P.M. 1. SCAG Compass Blueprint Barton Road Specific Plan Update Community and Economic Development Director Joyce Powers, indicated that they are considering this their third workshop in the process. Hogle-Ireland, Inc. has done an excellent job gathering community input and putting together the recommendations. Staff is seeking comments from the Council, Commission and the Community. Nelson Miller, Hogle-Ireland, complimented the City of Grand Terrace stating that it has been a pleasure to work with the staff. He gave a presentation on the Overall Objectives and Council Minutes 06'08/2030 Page Direction for the Specific Plan. Matthew Addington. Planning Commission, Vice -Chair, indicated that he is very pleased with the presentation. He stated that he has watched the Barton Road Specific Plan from 20 years ago to date. He feels that this is a substantial improvement and he would like to see it move forward. Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, stated that the proposed gathering location is located next to the Senior Assisted Living Facility and questioned if anything has been discussed of what would be done to mitigate noise, lights, etc. Mr. Miller, responded that the thought was that for the type of community that Grand Terrace is, most of the activities would be focused during the day and the early evening. There is currently a block wall around the facility. He stated that this is a concept but there could be other areas to look at. Councilmember Bea Cortes, feels that the City of Grand Terrace is very fortunate to have received this grant. She stated that when the final report is done she would like to see specifics, not just generalities. She would like to know what types of businesses are coming into small communities like Grand Terrace. (I Mr. Miller, responded that all that information will be a part of the final report. Manor Mgaetta Ferre, asked how many people provided input. Mr. Miller, responded that approximately 150. Mayor Pro Tem Lee Ann Garcia, complimented them on the presentation. She feels that they captured Grand Terrace. She stated that the more details provided the better. She feels that it is a wonderful plan and she would like to see a lot of the items become a reality. Dow Wilson. Planning Commission Chairman, he applauds the concept of an institutional anchor. He feels that it is a great thing to look at and feels that medical is a real easy thing for us to look at. He applauds the meeting place concept. He is concerned about the pervasive attitude towards nitch businesses, which he has commented on before. This community is great for service businesses survivability. We received a grant for the bike pathways several years ago and feels that this is why there is so much bike attention in town and why Loma Linda uses our streets and other communities in relation to that. He really likes the entrance way suggestions and the street-scape and theme suggestions about the white bands and trim suggestions. He feels that these suggestions could be introduced in a short term because the cost is not that ridiculous. He feels that they have been good in paying attention to the budget aspect. He appreciates their efforts and is looking forward to Council Minutes 06,'08;"2010 Page 3 the finalization of this. Darcy McNaboe. Planning Commissioner, expressed her satisfaction with what they have suggested. They have received her perspective throughout the process. She is looking forward to hearing community members input this evening and seeing the final plan. Mayor Ferrd. thanked Mr. Miller for the presentation. She felt that it was great and exciting. Denis Kidd, 22874 Pico Street, encouraged the City of Grand Terrace to think Big. He would like to see a bike path and a walking trail down the gage canal that would link Barton Road to Center Street in Highgrove. They are building a new library in Highgrove, and they are going to be placing two high density projects and the community center and fire station is already there. The gage canal is level and would be a nice route. He knows that the Gage Canal company has been against any use of their right-of-way but suggested talking to the City of Riverside, because they own a lot of stock in the Gage Canal Company so maybe they could use their influence to help us. The trail and bike way could be closed at night. Charles Hornsby, 22656 Brentwood Street, stated that it is hard to tell what this would look like. He feels that one of the biggest assets this town has is the nice stretch of wide road between the freeway all the way to Washington Street in Colton. He has heard that there is going to be a median put in. If this is the case, all that would accomplish is that it costs money and it makes the road smaller. On a project of this size, he feels that the tax payers of this town have a right to know what their exact investment would be. This is a big gamble, who knows whether it will pay off. Everyone needs to recognize the possibility, that people don't come to Grand Terrace because people just don't come to Grand Terrace. it may be such that you build all of these places and they still don't come to Grand Terrace. That is one of the things that he likes about this town, there isn't a lot of traffic. There is no real guarantee and no way to tell that this will bring more people to town or make people that are here shop more in town. Linda Bartman, 12220 Reed Avenue, lives on Reed Avenue which is where the entrance is to this facility. She feels that the project is nice except for the ampatheater. She can hear the televisions of the residents that live in the assisted living facility. She feels that the noise level will be high. She suggested placing the entrance and exit off of Barton Road not Reed and to eliminate the ampatheater. She feels that the City needs to consider doing something for the teenagers. Remember why you moved to Grand Terrace, it was a nice quiet little town and she feels that it should stay that way. Jay Bartman, 12220 Reed Avenue, lives at the end of Reed Avenue. Feels that having the entrance to the facility would be too much traffic in their neighborhood. When they moved to Grand Terrace there were empty lots around them and it was nice. They don't want more of their neighborhood destroyed by more development. If it is going to happen they would Council Minutes 06 080010 Page 4 like to see some things mitigated. He feels sorry for the residents that live in the assisted facility. They need quality of life too. Bernardo Sandoval. 22950 DeBerry Street, stated that he is deeply impressed with the plan, it is well put together and feels that it captures the essence of the City overall. He also would like to say that he loves La Jolla and he would love to live in an ocean front property facing the ocean. The only things that he feels is missing from this plan is an effective communication strategy in terms of the cost. If we move forward with these types of plans while we are saying the City is broke, that could be detrimental to the City. We want to be in a place where we pro -actively prevent mis-characterization or confusion in the public regarding this plan and how it is going to be executed from a strictly financial perspective. He understands that there is a grant however, there is also maintenance, liability, and costs that need to be considered and he feels that it is very important that a deliberate decision be made in terms of how we move forward and how these specific costs are communicated to the public so that the confusion is avoided. This Planning Commission works very hard and it is very thankless. He feels that they have done a great job and it is important to hold the organizations that are going to be involved by putting matrix to it and dates by which they will deliver and communicate that to the City so that it is open, visual accountability within the City. We know other cities have gotten into trouble, not because of anything done improperly by the City but because of shady contractors. He would like to see a clear effective communication strategy along with a very clear cost analysis on what it would cost so that we can prevent rumors and other things from occurring in an uproar if we don't provide this type of information. Cynthia Bidney, 12219 Pascal, stated that she has a couple of concerns with this project. One of which is, the elementary school is next to a freeway, which over impacts that school with exhaust and noise. We all know that they are being affected by this. This idea slows down traffic, wants to impact our neighborhoods and our streets with bumper to bumper traffic in the hopes of attracting business. She specifically does not think that would happen and she feels that impacting the school would be wrong. Surrounding them with car noise and smog is not a good idea. Specifically this project as you know backs up to her neighborhood, they have so many children in their neighborhood that ride their bikes and skateboards and they have a safe place to play, they do not have a park in their neighborhood. The age of the kids range from 4 years and up. The teenager don't have a place to go, they are riding their skateboards and setting up ramps, basketball courts and whatever they can in their neighborhoods. This will be destroyed by increasing the traffic. If a parking lot is placed on the backside of the property, she feels that it would totally destroy their neighborhood. If the size of La Paix and the thoroughfare is increased, it will destroy their neighborhood. It will not only increase the traffic, smog and noise but all of the fun for the children. She would like to discourage the size of the project. She does not agree to a 50% cement park, she does not know who that will attract. She certainly loves all of the greenery and the plants but she does not like the islands in the middle of the street. SIowing down Council Minutes 06.;08;'2010 Page 5 traffic is not the idea. It will increase the smog, it will increase the noise and it will lower their standard of life. They are the ones that live there. Vincent Bartman,12220 Reed Avenue, expressed his concern with the entry way. He stated that once Highgrove begins construction on their projects there will be more traffic on Michigan. Once construction picks up in town those projects too will impact the traffic in Grand Terrace. At some point we are going to have massive slow down of traffic in town. He feels that if we plan on creating these gateways, they are going to slow down traffic intentionally. It seems detrimental to the community. He is not particularly against the plan, he feels that the Barton Square Commercial Plan is a catastrophe, he doesn't like the idea of big box stores going in there. He does feel that having something park oriented is preferable to having a lot of commercial space going in against neighborhoods. It gives them a buffer. He would prefer to see that buffer parallel to the neighborhoods. He can't see this project being a popular attraction, he can see people coming through in a passing way but not a place that people migrate to see it. His concern isn't with the potential traffic. He feels that it seems illogical to place an ampatheater next to the assisted living facility. Tom Comstock, Planning Commissioner, questioned how many people they envision in the ampatheater. Mr. Miller, responded that the size of the ampatheater would be something that would accommodate 70 to 85 people. The venue would be for small performances. Bob Bailes, Planning Commissioner, indicated that his concerns would be the lighting that could affect the senior assisted living facility. Vice -Chairman Addington, stated that this will go through revisions of the Barton Road Specific Plan and a lot of these details will be worked out later. Councilmember Cortes, stated that she is sure that all of the concerns that have been brought up will be considered. She concurred that there are a lot of children in this area and requested that they look into this and possibly consider other entrances, etc. Chairman Wilson, he is in favor of Mr. Kidd's suggestion about the linking of the Gage Canal with Regional Parkways. He has been a long proponent to provide a place for teenagers to go. He is for greenery versus concrete. The possibility of the buffer being parallel to Barton Road is a good call and not such a bad idea. He would have like to include the Michigan to Barton Road stretch as well as the Mt. Vernon to the City limits in this study. He is going to assume that we would not be able to pay for it under this grant. He feels that it would be integral to this overall study because these are our major corridors. Community and Economic Development Director Joyce Powers, stated that they will be Council Minutes 06/08/2010 Page 6 including some of those recommendations in the final plan. The contract that the City has with Hogle-Ireland that was funded through SCAG has one more deliverable and that is the final report. Staff will work with them to finalize the report and staff will take it from there. This does not include budgeting of any of the items. What they will probably do with the community gathering place is present a concept in the specific plan and not identify a location. They can take access from the neighborhoods via walking or bicycle path, it wouldn't have to be open to vehicles. Ma or Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia, feels that a lot of ideas have been brought up and is looking forward to see it come to reality. Mayor Ferrd adjourned the Joint Meeting with the City Council and the Planning Commission at 7:20 p.m. CONVENE JOINT MEETING WITH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CITY COUNCIL Cooperation Agreement Between the City and Agency for Administrative Services CC-2010-45 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER STANCKIEWITZ, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, CAR IFD 4-0, to approve the Cooperation Agreement for Administrative Services between the City of Grand Terrace and the Community Redevelopment Agency for Administrative Services. CRA-2010-28 MOTION BY AGENCY MEMBER STANCKIWITZ, SECOND BY VICE- CHAIRMAN GARCIA, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Cooperation Agreement for Administrative Services between the City of Grand Terrace and the Community Redevelopment Agency for Administrative Services. 2. Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Proposed Operating Budget CC-2010-46 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRI ED 4-0, to Receive the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Proposed Operating Budget and Begin the Budget Adoption Process. CRA-2010-29 MOTION BY VICE-CHAIRMAN GARCIA, SECOND BY AGENCY MEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 4-0, to Receive the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Proposed Operating Budget and Begin the Budget Adoption Process. Mayor Ferrd adjourned the Joint Meeting with the Community Redevelopment Agency and the City Council at 7:40 p.m. Council Minutes 06 '08 '2010 Page 7 CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 7:40 P.M. ITEMS TO ADD/DELETE Ci1y Managery M. Adams, indicated that item 9B. City Attorney Compensation GC54957 (b) 1 will be deleted from the Agenda. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS - None CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2010-47 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER STANCKIEWITZ, CARRIED 4-0 to approve the following Consent Calendar Items with the removal of Item 3A.: 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3C. Approval of 05-25-2010 Minutes 3D. Resolution Calling a Municipal Election - November 2, 2010, and Establishing Regulations for Candidate Statements 3E. Jurisdiction Master Agreement with San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, (SANBAG) for the Michigan Street Widening Project ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR 3A. Approve Check Register Dated 06-08-2010 Debra Hurst, 22950 Orangewood Court, indicated that she has some questions regarding items that are on the Check Register and questioned the following check numbers: 65316, 65325, 65335, 65345 and 65350. She would like to know if she can get a spread sheet for the cost for the 2009i2010 expenses. City Managery Adams, stated that she will get an explanation to Ms. Hurst on the check numbers that she requested. She indicated that we use an accounting system and don't do spread sheets so staff will have to get back to her on that as well. CC-2010-48 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER STANCKIEWITZ, CARRIED 4-0, to approve Check Register Dated June 8, 2010. PUBLIC COMMENT Charles Hornsby, 22656 Brentwood Street, what the City Manager described as a fourteen year plan is a little pain for a long time. He feels that it is the wrong move. He feels that it Council Minutes 06.'08:2010 Page 8 would be much better to go through a lot of pain for a couple of years and get it over with. Every year the Council will be presented with what they saw tonight. He feels that we can do a lot better. The simple fact is we owe all this money and we don't owe it to ourselves. He feels that dramatic steps need to be taken and that it would teach people around town priorities. People would find out quickly what they value and what they don't value and they would find out quickly that much of what is provided for them they can provide for themselves. He suggests some dramatic steps. He is sure that people around the room and on t.v. are going to be shocked. He feels that we should close the library for a couple of years if we could save a million dollars to do it. People could get by without a library. He feels that the Child Care Center should be closed. Not try to save money on it, close it. He feels that the City should quit buying land. Many people around this town are amazed at how much dabling the City does in the real estate market. Don't buy any land and sell what you can. Cut back on Police and Fire, 5 to 10 %. Tell them to do the same job for less money. Everyone in the private sector is making less money, they should accept it. Don't ask them, tell them. Discontinue street cleaning, it's the biggest waste of money in this town. End plans for the dog park, everyone uses the school yards. Don't have consultants. If you can't figure it out, don't do it. You pay huge money for consultants. Reduce the City Staff by atrition, don't take peoples j ob away but when they quit don't replace them, or levy the debt. Thelma Winkler Beach, 12570 Mt. Vernon Avenue, stated that while the Council is discussing the City Attorney's contract they might take the consideration that it has been reported that his advice to some councilmembers has been less than helpful and you might want to pursue that in that further discussion and you might share your findings with the residents of the City and the audience. You might want to give them that transparency, but will you. Bernardo Sandoval, 22950 DeBerry Street, stated that he doesn't feel that Mr. Harper is a bad man or any malicious intent. He doesn't feel that he is a man that abuses power or powers of authority. He also feels that he is a really nice guy and he feels the same way about Jim Miller and unfortunately he is in a difficult situation because the protection that should have been afforded to him by the City Attorney in his mind, the responsibilities and performance of the City Attorney is to protect the members of Council. Jim should have never found himself in the position that he was in. We all know in this room what is really going on. He does not believe that it is fair that Bea Cortes find herself in the situation that she finds herself in, in terms of the accusations and the investigation in this. He does not find it fair that the Mayor should find herselfwith accusations within the community regarding different laws. He believes that it was the responsibility of the City Attorney to protect the members of the Council. He does not agree with some of the methods and actions that Councilmember Cortes took, however he still respects her as an individual. He doesn't understand how the Council can consider renewing the Contract with the City Attorney when there hasn't been the protection afforded to the members of this Council. In terms of repayment to the RDA Fund, there have been comments that were made in the public and in Council Minutes 06;'08 2010 Page 9 the press in terms of simply allowing the charter to expire and would not have to pay that money back. He spoke to individuals who are knowledgeable in this matter at the County level and they indicated that a tax payer law suit would blow that away. He would like to settle the rumors in the community and to proactively deal with this issue and get it beyond us. Does this money have to be re -paid, what are the consequences if we don't pay it back and what will actually happen so that things can be clear and we can move on and deal with this debt issue. Debra Hurst, 22950 Orangewood Court, is unsure of the kind of contract with the City Attorney. She feels that before the Council negotiates any type of contract with any agency, they should go to bid. She feels that some of the City Attorney's advice has not been good for this City or Councilmembers. There area lot of legal matters that this City has to contend with and shouldn't the City Attorney keep the City and the Council Members out of trouble, not get them in it. She questioned how much the City has paid for the City Attorney's advice. She strongly urges the Council to obtain bids for City Attorney Services and believes that this City Attorney has cost the City money. COUNCIL REPORTS Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, recognized Commander Lloyd Dodd from the Grand Terrace Citizens Patrol. They are selling water bottles as a fundraiser for the Citizens Patrol. Grand Terrace Community Day will focus on Health and Fitness. She encouraged everyone to plan to beat Richard Rollins Park on June 26, 2010. The Lions Club will hold the car show from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and there will be the kids zone, arts and crafts, and fitness activities. Flyers have gone out through the Schools. Anyone interested in sponsoring or wanting more information should contact Barrie Owens. The RTA Route 25 has been a hot topic. Omnitrans voted on June 2, 2010 to have a service begin before RTA's Route 25 ends. It is going to be a circulator 325. She will be working with the Community and Economic Development Director and City Manager and Omnitrans Staff to be sure that all the details are given to the residents. She recognized Battalion Chief Rick McClintock and asked him to share any information that he had with the upcoming public education and fire prevention aggressive campaign as we get into the July 4' activities. Chief McClinctock, reported that a flyer will be available on the City's website on the do's and don'ts on fireworks. Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, suggested that residents check out the home page under Newsflash for all the upcoming events. Councilmember Stanckiewitz, reported that Wednesday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Wilden Pump is sponsoring a blood drive. On June 11 at 7:30 p.m. and on June 12 at 2:45 p.m. and 4:20 p.m., Azure Hills is running some astronomy presentations with religious overtones. Council Minutes 06 '08/2010 Page 10 Mayor Ferre, reported that Market Night had good attendance last night. She and Mayor Pro Tern Garcia were given a tour of the high school and it was an outstanding explanation of what is happening with the high school and that they are on target with the schedule. They had an opportunity to walk over the site. She feels that it was a very good tour and feels very positive about the school. Walls are going up and there is going to be a Grand Terrace High School. She reported that a summer project that involves, the City, the Library and the Foundation of Grand Terrace is kicking off Kids Community Art Project to benefit the Dog Park on Vista Grande Way. It is a fundraising project that will inspire young people to create pieces of art and donate them to the communities dog park and judges will select pieces to be featured in a 20 X 1 i Calendar. There will also be other pet items and a silent art auction of the children's art work. All proceeds will go to the foundation of Grand Terrace to purchase agility equipment for small and large dogs, doggie water fountains and people benches. More information will be announced at a later date. She also reported that Councilmember Bea Cortes is the representative to SANBAG, this last week she was voted as the Vice -Chair of SANBAG and congratulated her. The budget was well presented and it is very obvious to the Council and the community that we have really cut back on staff. The staff is very lean in City Hall. Council has not cut back on any services, staff has taken a 10% cut in pay so she thinks that she would like, with the consent of the Council to propose that the Council take a 10% cut in the $400.00 stipend. She questioned if there was a consensus of the council to do so. It was the consensus of the Council to place a 10% cut in the Council Stipend on the next agenda. Councilmember Bea Cortes, reported that she attended the new Veterans Building Open House that they have in Colton. It was a very meaningful time to go and visit the Veteran's. She suggested thinking about doing something once a year for the Veterans in Grand Terrace. Anyone that is interested in donating items to the Veterans can receive information from the City. She indicated that it is an honor to represent the City of Grand Terrace on SANBAG. She is hoping that sitting on that position will help bring some kind of support to the City. She will do her very best representing the City of Grand Terrace. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None UNFMSHED BUSINESS -None NEW BUSINESS 8A. Appointments to Planning Commission It was the consensus of the Council to direct Staff to receive applications for the three Planning Commission Vacancies from June 10, 2010 through July 1, 2010 and to set interviews for the July Council Minutes 06.!08;`2010 Page 11 13, 2010 Council Meeting. CLOSED SESSION 9A. Conference with Legal Counsel - Potential Litigation - CG 54956.9 (b)(2) and GC54956.9 (c) Mayor Ferre announced that the Council met in Closed Session to have a conference with Legal Counsel regarding Potential Litigation, CG 54956.9 (b)(2) and GC54956.9 (c) and that there was no reportable action taken. Mayor Ferre adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m., until the next City Council Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. 41 MAYOR the City of Grand Terrace 1 11 Ah /-,Y? ZA-ig') CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace I I