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01/12/2006CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - JANUARY 12 2006 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 January 12, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Ferre, Mayor Bea Cortes, Mayor Pro Tern Herman Hilkey, Councilmember Lee Ann Garcia, Councilmember Jim Miller, Councilmember Tom Schwab, City Manager r Brenda Mesa, City CIerk Larry Ronnow, Finance Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director Gary Koontz, Community Development Director John Harper, City Attorney Lt. Hector Guerra, Sheriff's Department ABSENT: Steve Berry, Assistant City Manager The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Raul Montano, Calvary, The Brook Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Lee Ann Garcia. ITEMS TO DELETE City Attorney John Harper, indicated that item 6A.- in recognition of the comments that were made by residents and the Planning Commission at the Planning Commission Meeting the applicant has decided to dismiss his appeal and submit a revised project taking into account those comments which will be sent back to the Planning Commission and will go through the same hearing process, so therefor, 6A. Appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of Conditional Use Permit No. 05-06 (CUP-05-06) and Environmental Review Case No. 05-19 (E-05-19) to allow for an "Amateur Radio Antenna Structure" with a maximum height of 75 feet and including a "yagi" antenna measuring approximately 32 ft. x 36 ft. will be taken off of the agenda. City Manager Schwab, indicated that there is no need for item 9A. Closed Session - Real Estate Negotiations - 22874 Arliss. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS - None Council Minutes January 12, 2006 , Page 2 CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2006-0I MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following Consent Calendar Items: 3A. Approve Check Register Dated January 12, 2006 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3C. Approval of 12-08-2005 Minutes 3D. Audit Contract Extension (Rogers Anderson Malody & Scott) PUBLIC COMMENT Laura Austin,12356 Michigan, expressed her concern with Mr. Swertfeger's business being a non -conforming business. She indicated that it was stated that at the peak of his business he would have six passenger trucks or cars and six large trucks and that he has more than that in one hour. She also indicated that he states that at the beginning of his business he has fifteen drums that has old oil in it, nine bottles of gas, and eight bottles of propane. He is three times that size now in a residential neighborhood. She reported that last year he had two fires, one was Iarge enough that he put in a claim of fifty thousand dollars. She questioned what the City is going to do about this. She stated that he is suppose to move a telephone pole that is in the street and that he has now placed a mail box next to it. She also indicated that he doesn't keep the hours that he is suppose to as well as the numerous things that he was suppose to do and hasn't. She stated that she has spoken to John Lampe, Steve Berry and Barrie Owens and that she requested a copy of a letter from either one of them where they requested that Mt. Swertfeger do what he is suppose to do. Neither one of them had such letter. She questioned why there is a code enforcement officer if she is not made to do her job. JoAnn Johnson, 12723 Mt. Vernon Avenue, is appreciative of the reflective dots that were installed down the middle of the lanes in the street on Mt. Vernon and Barton Road. She is out a lot at night and it helps to see the lines and thanked whoever is responsible for that. Charles Hornsbv, 22656 Brentwood Street, questioned why the property at 22874 Arliss is always dealt with as a Closed Session item, he feels that the community has a right to know what is being discussed. City Manager Schwab, responded that he will review the information and complaints that Ms. Austin has brought up and will report back on the issues regarding Mr. Swertfeger's business. The dots down Barton Road and Mt. Vernon have made a big difference. This was brought up by Assistant City Manager Berry and was a good investment for the City. The house at 22874 Arliss was purchased by the County of San Bernardino in cooperation with the County of Riverside and was deeded over to a non-profit called Option House. Option Council Minutes January 12, 2006 Page 3 House utilized it as a battered woman's shelter. Option House didn't take very good care of the property and it eventually went into disrepair to the point where Option House itself abandoned it. That house sat empty for almost two years. The City finally got the County of Riverside and San Bernardino to sell the property to us. The City spent $260,000.00 for the rehab of that property. The rehab has been done and the home belongs to the City. It is in closed session because the City is trying to sell the house like any other individual tries to sell a house. We have been negotiating back and forth with buyers. We have secured a buyer and there really isn't a need to have it under closed session this evening. The house has sold for $510,000.00 to another resident here in Grand Terrace. Once escrow has closed staff will report publicly the sale of that house. It would be difficult to negotiate back and forth and discuss their position publicly. ORAL REPORTS 5A. Committee Reports 1. Historical and Cultural Activities Committee a. Minutes of November 7, 2005 CC-2006-02 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the November 7, 2005 Minutes of the Historical and Cultural Activities Committee. 2. Emergency Operations Committee a. Appoint Alternate Member (Neeb) CC-2006-03 MOTION BY COUNCILMEM 3ER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER HIKEY, CARRIED 5-0, to appoint Lewis Neeb as an Alternate Member of the Emergency Operations Committee with a term continuing to June 30, 2006. a. Minutes of November 1, 2005 and December 6, 2005 CC-2006-04 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, SECOND BY MAYOR FERRE, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the November 1, 2005 and December 6, 2005 Minutes of the Emergency Operations Committee. COUNCIL REPORTS Mayor Pro Tern Cortes, reported that at the SANBAG Board of Directors Meeting they approved a Freeway Service Patrol Program. This is a program that offers services to motorists who are stranded on the freeway and it is free. She has placed pamphlets on the Council Minutes January 12, 2006 Page 4 service at City Hall for those who are interested. She requested that the meeting be closed in memory of Edger Darreld Henning who passed away. Councilmember Garcia, reported that the fireworks committee meetings are going well. She stated that our Sheriff's Service Specialist has left and questioned the status of a replacement. Civ Manager Schwab, stated that we were fortunate to have Beth Powell for the short time that she was here, however, she was given the opportunity for a promotion and that Lt. Guerra is currently looking for a replacement. Councilmember Garcia, questioned what will happen in the interim. Lt. Guerra, responded that he and others in the Department will cover those duties. Councilmember Garcia, it is her hope that the new person will have insight into graffiti issues. She commended the Blue Mountain Outlook on the information that they provide to the community. She wished everyone a Happy New Year. Councilmember Miller, wished everyone a happy new year. He praised the staff for the information that was provided to the Council on the Appeal and felt that the Council was prepared. He feels that staff has done well with the removal of graffiti and that it is going away. He mentioned that there are areas that need to be concentrated on and requested that staff look at the area of Highland Apartments in the rear entrance and the Terrace Apartments. He reported that there is a truck on Commerce Ave. that is parked by the skating rink that is full of graffiti. He received a phone call from a resident that was concerned about a house on Merle Court and requested that staff look into it. Mavor Ferre, stated that since the last Council Meeting two members of Grand Terrace and Colton area have passed away, Stanley Cooley and Helen Oberschmidt. She would like to remember these two people at the close of the meeting as well as Mr. Henning. PUBLIC HEARING - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7A. Second Reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Establishing the Non -Owner Occupied/Rental Property Program CC-2006-05 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Second Reading of an Ordinance ofthe City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Establishing the Non -Owner Occupied/Rental Property Program Council Minutes January 12, 2006 Page 5 7B. Second of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Amending Title 4 of the Municipal Code and Establishing User Fees CC-2006-06 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBERHILKEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Second Reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California Amending Title 4 of the Municipal Code and Establishing User Fees. NEW BUSINESS 8A. Accept Resignation of Planning Commissioner Whitley, set the deadline for applications and schedule a meeting date to conduct interviews and possible appointment CC-2006-07 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the resignation ofPlanning Commissioner Brian Whitley, authorize the City Clerk to post the vacancy and accept applications through February 14, 2006 and schedule interviews for February 23, 2006 beginning at 5:00 p.m. to select an individual to fill the current vacancy and an alternate. CLOSED SESSION - None Mayor Ferr6 adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m., in memory of Stanley Cooley, Helen Oberschmidt and Edgar Henning, until the next CRAICity Council Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace MAYO f the City of Grand Terrace