Loading...
05/25/2006CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MAY 25, 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 May 25, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Ferre, Mayor Bea Cortes, Mayor Pro Tem Herman Hilkey, Councilmember Lee Ann Garcia, Councilmember Jim Miller, Councilmember Torn Schwab, City Manager Steve Berry, Assistant City Manager Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Larry Ronnow, Finance Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director Lt. Hector Guerra, Sheriffs Department 0 ABSENT: Gary Koontz, Community Development Director John Harper, City Attorney The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Pastor Salim Elias, Azure Hills Seventh- Day Adventist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Pro Tem Bea Cortes.- CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ITEMS TO DELETE -None SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS A. Water Awareness Poster Contest Winners - Grand Terrace Elementary School Don Hough, Riverside Highland Water Company announced that this is the fourth year that they have adopted Grand Terrace Elementary School. He introduced Mr. Hyder, Principal Grand Terrace Elementary School who announced the winners of the contest to the Council and had them show the Council their posters. CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2006-57 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following Consent Calendar Items with the Council Minutes May 25, 2006 Page 2 removal of Items 3B. And 3F.: 3A. Approve Check Register Dated May 25, 2006 3C. Approval of 05-11-2006 Minutes as amended 3D. Redlining 80 Feet of Berm Curbing in Front of 22182 and 22172 Barton Road 3E. Adopt FY 2006-2007 City of Grand Terrace Budget Resolution (Total Revenues for the City and the Community Redevelopment Agency combined is $17,978,455, total appropriations for both are $18,321,651. There were also off setting transfers in and out between various funds, the Agency and the City in the amount of $1,216,595 and those zero out.) ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3F. First Amendment to the Employment Agreement Between the City of Grand Terrace and the City Manager Patricia Farley, 12513 Michigan, feels that items 3B and 3F have a number of problems. She feels that the Ordinances on the Agenda should be read in detail. She is very concerned with the amendment to the Employment Agreement for the City Manager given all of the public statements, it is absolutely unacceptable. Not only that they are continuing with this City Manager but raising his salary. She feels that the Council should not approve the amendment and that he should be terminated. She feels that the resolution on changing how the meetings are conducted is very involved and feels that people need more time to read and understand what is being changed and feels that it should not be passed. She feels that item 3F and item 8A. should be read in their entirety. CC-2006-58 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM CORTES, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following items that were removed from the Consent Calendar: 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3F. First Amendment to the Employment Agreement Between the City of Grand Terrace and the City Manager PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Hays, 22114 De Berry, indicated that he has been asked to come into the podium tonight by a substantial amount of my fellow citizens. I am not here representing a few. I am tasked Council Minutes May 25, 2006 Page 3 with a chore I take no pleasure in. Some on the Council have forgotten we have a representative form of government. You were elected to represent us. The taxpayers and voters of Grand Terrace, sadly, it turns out, the only people some of you have chosen to represent are the developers. From the on set of the OAC to ESSCO at the last Council meeting, you have ignored hundreds of petition signatures and scores of citizens that have come into this podium seeking redress from their government and at the last council meeting as I mentioned allowed Councilwoman Cortes to force a vote that without a doubt will bring again another lawsuit onto the voters of Grand Terrace. We feel that personal relationships between Council members and City management have clouded the judgement of some of you, to the detriment of the citizens. It therefore has become necessary, as is the right of the voters, to seek the removal from office of Mayor Maryetta Ferre and Councilwoman Garcia, Councilwoman Cortes would also have been included except election law would not allow it because she is up for re-election should she decide to run. I will add that there are candidates that we feel will defeat her in November and will support them. It is unfortunate that I stand here alone in place of many that fear retaliation by you and the City. I suspect I will no longer be welcomed on the traffic ad -hoc committee or will never see my curbs redlined. A small price to bring the voice of the citizen back to Grand Terrace. At this with your permission, Mrs. Ferre I would like to approach the dais and serve you and Councilwoman Garcia with the signed Notice of Intent Petitions to Recall you both in November 2006. ORAL REPORTS 5A. Committee Reports - None COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember HilkeX, questioned if Council was still going to get a report from the Sheriff's Department. City Manager Schwab, responded in the affirmative. It will include the crime rate and possibly make a recommendation on the service level. Staff is hoping to have that the second meeting in June or the first meeting in July. Councilmember Hilkey, questioned if that presentation will allow for dialog on what services we are getting and the services that they would like to see. City Manager Schwab, responded that it will allow Council to have dialog on everything that we pay for in the contract. Councilmember Hilkev, stated that he believes that everyone got a letter from a resident that lives next to the trucking company on Michigan. He is very frustrated trying to find Council Minutes May 25, 2006 Page 4 out what happened and how it got this way. It has been talked about at several meetings and they still seem to be waiting for a response. He feels that what was approved is not happening. Requested staff to put together something to see what has been approved so that we can deal with this issue. City Manager Schwab, responded that he received the same letter and that he has assigned it to the Planning Department to give him an exact accounting of what approvals they have and also on the conditional use permit if there was any time limitations. They will look at what permits they have and what things they are permitted to do under their current license and staff will report back to Council and at that point the Council can direct staff to take action. Councilmember Hilke , questioned if there are time limitations. City Manager Schwab, responded that it is being researched now to see what does it specifically say in their permit and whether there are any restrictions on time. Councilmember Hilke , stated that it was a residence zoned for commercial and now the residence is being used as an office but there was a fire and when the repair was done there were some permits issued. He questioned if people can live on that property. City Manager Schwab, responded that the house that burned is their office. When they came back to make the repairs it can to be done to commercial codes. He stated that they will investigate whether there are any residences on that property. Councilmember Hilke , questioned if his employees can live there. Councilmember Garcia, complimented the Chamber of Commerce and the City on the Taste of the Terrace, it was very nice. She thanked Bobbie Forbes for doing a wonderful job as the Chamber President. She welcomed Sid Baily the incoming Chamber President. She questioned if there is an update on the Valero Gas Station. City Manager Schwab, responded that they have received the Planning approval to build a Valero but that approval is approximately 2 to 3 months old. He noticed today that they are tearing the building down. Councilmember Garcia, reminded everyone about Grand Terrace Days and encouraged everyone to attend and asked staff to give an update. Assistant City Manager Berry_, stated that they are gearing up for Grand Terrace Days that will be held on June 3, 2006. The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Barton and Canal. It is going to be a fun parade with lots of bands, floats and cars. It is going to be a lot of fun Council Minutes May 25, 2006 Page 5 for many things for the entire family to enjoy. Councilmember Miller, requested an update on the graffiti issue here in Grand Terrace. Assistant City Manager Berry, responded that staff has been working with the Terrace Retirement Home to have them maintain the wall. He has sent two work orders to have the wall repainted. There was car keying on Reed. He feels that the rest of the community is under control. With school ending in a few weeks we will probably see a rise in graffiti. The 24 hour video cameras will be installed in both of the parks, which will be helpful. Mayor Pro Tem Cortes, reminded the citizens that it is very important to lock your windows. She thanked the Sheriff `s Department for the quick response to a home burglary. Lt. Hector Guerra, San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department, indicated that there were several residential burglaries last week that were concentrated in the same area. As a result they were able to develop some leads on the suspects. Yesterday, one of the deputies patrolling that specific area located an individual in the process of committing a burglary. They are currently in the process of investing those and working on the leads. He reminded residents to secure their windows and doors. Mayor Ferre, stated that Rollins Park is in full bloom and looks beautiful as well as the Iandscaping on the corner of Mt. Vernon and Grand Terrace. I'd like to respond to the petition. The Grand Terrace that I know may look at this petition and say this is a distraction and simply outrageous. The people who sign this petition are the same people who come to the Council Meeting to attack every project that's brought even for consideration. They attack the City Staff, and they make false accusations and attack the Council and every allegation on this petition is false and I'll address each in the form of a statement if the petition goes that far. Rest assured though, I would be no part of allowing a small group of people to make all of the decisions for the 12,000 people who live here. PUBLIC HEARING - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7A. Second Reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Amending Chapter 8.112 of the Municipal Code and Regulating the Sale and Discharge of Fireworks. CC-2006-59 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM Council Minutes May 25, 2006 Page 6 CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Second Reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Amending Chapter 8.112 of the Municipal Code and Regulating the Sale and Discharge of Fireworks NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution Adopting City Council Procedures The following is a list of items that the Council requested the City Attorney review and comment and for staff to amend the Council Procedures and Policywith Council and the City Attorney's recommendations and bring back to Council for consideration: — Page 3 Section 1.6 - Would like it to be consistent with State Code — Page 4 Section 2.1 Public Comment - Would like it to be consistent with State Code — Page 4 Section 2.2 - Would like the deadline to remain 12:00 noon on the Wednesday of the week preceding the meeting. — Page 6 - Section 2.7 d - Would like other than to answer questions or to rebut new evidence introduced to remain — Page 7 Section 2.9 - clarify whether it should be unanimous consent of the Council — Page 7 Section 2.11 - clarify the changes and additions — Page 8 Section 3.3 - clarify — Page 8 Section 3.4 - take the gender out or use he/she — Page 9 Section 4.2 e - should include Mayor and Councilmembers — Page 10 Section 4.5 - last sentence should be corrected to read before debate on issues. -- Page 11 Section 5.2 - clarification on how further time will be granted if requested — Page 11 Section 5.3 - clarify whether this is permissible if we follow the Roberts Rule of Order — Page 12 & 13 Section 6.3 - clarify, particularly Debatable or Amendable — Clarify that if a motion is made and it's not on the agenda can the Council act on it during that meeting or does it need to be deemed an emergency item. It was the consensus of the Council to consider changing the meeting days from the 2' and 4" Thursday to the 2nd and 4`h Tuesday of each month. CLOSED SESSION - None Mayor Ferre adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m., until the next CRAICity Council Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 8, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. Council Minutes May 25, 2006 Page 7 MAYOR o e City of Grand Terrace I CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace