Loading...
09/11/2007CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 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 September 11, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Fern, Mayor Lee Ann Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Bea Cortes, Councilmember Jim Miller, Councilmember Dan Buchanan, Councilmember Tom Schwab, City Manager Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Larry Ronnow, Finance Director Gary Koontz, Community Development Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director Colin Burns, City Attorney Lt. Hector Guerra, Sheriffs Department ABSENT: Steve Berry, Assistant City Manager John Harper, City Attorney The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Peter Bonilla, Calvary, The Brook Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Dan Buchanan. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:00 P.M. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS A. Proclamation - Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - September 2007 Mayor Pro Tem Garcia read a Proclamation proclaiming September 2007 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Grand Terrace. CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2007-87 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, SECOND BY COUNCILM EMBER CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following Consent Calendar Items: 3A. Approve Check Register Dated September 11, 2007 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3C. Approval of 08-28-2007 Minutes Council MMUIUs September 1 1.2007 Page 2 3D, Award Contract for the Asphalt Crack Sealing to Roadworks, Inc. 3E. Authorize Funds from Undesignated General Fund Balance for Two Projects at the Grand Terrace Child Care Center 3F. Award of the Street Slurry Contract to American Asphalt, Inc. for the 2007- 08 Slurry Seal Program PUBLIC COMMENT Peter Bonilla, 22518 Cardinal Street, mentioned a family in desperate need. Their home burned down in Colton. She is a single mom with three boys ages 15, 14 and 3. They are representing Calvary The Brook and asking that if anyone has the opportunity to donate to the family, food, clothing, etc. The Church has the information and will distribute the donations. Patricia Farley, 12513 Michigan Street, has noticed that, what she calls grading has started oil the Senior Center property on Grand Terrace Road. Just like on the Miguel's project, they are calling it demolition but they are doing way more than that. She would like to remind the Council that the WQMP, NPDES, SWPP, the grading pen -nit and the building pennit are all for projects that were not what they are actually going to build. The grading hasn't even been submitted to the company that is supposed to be reviewing it. She feels very strongly that all movement of dirt and work on that land must stop immediately. City Mina r Schwab, the developer does have a storm water improvement plan, they have -Realso been issued a grading permit, they have a grading plan on file with the City of Grand Terrace, however, they have filed an amendment to the grading plan because as the Council is aware, they did change the plans slightly. They have all the permits that they need and they are going to proceed. REPORTS 5A. Committee Reports l . Emergency Operations Committee a. Minutes of August 7, 2007 CC-2007-88 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the August 7, 2007 Minutes of the Emergency Operations Committee. 513_ Council Reports Mayor Ferre, reported that Council received a thank you note from Cape Terrace Town Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Page 3 Homes for being honored with the Homes of Distinction. In September she attended along with the City Manager and Councilmember Cortes, the League of California Cities Annual Conference in Sacramento. The theme of the conference was Shaping California's Future. Four State Government Officials spoke. Lt. Governor John Garamendi gave a State update. State Attorney General Jerry Brown talked about the environment and green house gases and Bill Leonard, Jr. a member of the State Board of Equalization spoke about how the State effects the local government and Gloria Negrete McCloud Senator and Local Government Chair spoke to a breakfast group. She attended both the general sessions and G of the concurrent sessions. The sessions were on legal and risk management aspects on skate parks. At the Mayors and Councilmembers Department meeting, she attended a session on working with the press on local issues and a session on ways of conducting publ is comment at council meetings. She attended the Inland Empire Division Breakfast and the last session that she attended was the importance of public art in public places. That session was filled. It was very interesting at how much interest there is in art in public places for cities. The leader of the discussion indicated that it really is important to your city, it helps define your community, it brings people together and it records the history and the culture of the community. Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, stated that she loves living and working in Grand Terrace. She looks forward to the special times of tile year, the trees along Mt. Vernon in front of the Highlands change in Autumn and it is lovely. She went to La Pasta Italia and they now have their butter nut squash soup. La Pasta is going for the Inland Empire Magazine's best sandwich under ten dollars award and encouraged everyone to vote for them. She understands that the August 291h Emergency Operations Committee activation went very well. She complimented the staff on how quickly they worked on arranging the joint meeting with the Colton Joint Unified School District Board. It will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at 851 South Mt. Vernon Avenue in Colton. She reported that the entrance sign coming up Barton Road from Washington has graffiti on it. She thanked Deborah Barmack, Executive Director for SANBAG, for sending the letter to the Riverside Transportation Commission. She would ask that they let her know when the strategic planning workshop will be held. Councilmember Cortes, reported that as soon as she knows the date of the Strategic Workshop she will let Council know. Darren Kettle, Director for the freeways has resigned. They will be on hold for a while to see who they are going to replace him with. There are a couple department head vacancies and this is a rough time for Deborah Banrarck. Darren will be leaving the first week of October and will be going to Ventura County Transportation as the Executive Director. She requested that staff get the ages and the sex of the children of the fire victims. Councilmember Miller, reported that they are having problems keeping the restrooms clean at the soccer fields at Rollins Park. The President of the League is asking for a key to the side room so they can have access to a hose so that they can wash out the restrooms. He Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Page 4 stated that there is someone that was hired by the City to take care of the restrooms and also lock up the gates at night. She has refused to lock the gates after 9:00 p.m. He feels that the agreement needs to be reviewed and decide what needs to be done i f that person is not doing what they are suppose to be doing. City Manager Schwab, responded that staff will look into that, however, it is his understanding that the contract with her is to close the parks at dark. Which is always before 9:00 p.m. He also understands that the City is suppose to make arrangements when any of the leagues use the facilities that go late into the evening. Councilmember Miller, questioned how the recently adopted tree trimming ordinance will be enforced. City Manager Schwab, responded that the code will be enforced on a complaint basis and will be handled as a code enforcement issue. Councilmember Buchanan, reported that he had an opportunity to go to the City of Riverside's Peeker Plant Facility near the Riverside Airport. He had a chance to observe what the plant is like at its peak use. He was able to ask questions and discuss some of his concerns. It was a very clean and well run facility. 0 PUBLIC HEARING GA. An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Amending Grand Terrace Municipal Code, Chapter 10, Section 10.08, Establishing Speed Limits for Various Streets in the City of Grand Terrace City Manager Schwab, stated that at the last Council Meeting the question was asked why the reduction in the speed limit on Barton Road. Craig Neustedter explained that the reason for the speed survey is to give the City the ability to use radar for speed control. In order to do that you must do a radar survey every five years. The purpose is so that you don't go out and create a speed trap. It is being proposed that on Barton Road from Michigan Street to Mt. Vernon Avenue that the posted speed limit be 35 mph down from 40 mph due to increased collisions in this area. It is also being proposed from Mt. Vernon Avenue to Preston Street to raise the posted speed limit from 40 mph to 45 mph. He indicated that the Government Code allows that a City may elect to reduce the speed limit by 5 mph if they can demonstrate that there has been additional activity in accidents that can justify it_ Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, questioned if the speed limit can stay at 40 mph on Barton Road from Mt. Vernon Avenue to Preston. City Manager Schwab, responded that back up information would need to be provided to Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Page 5 justify this and that Mr. Neustedter did not provide that information so he is assuming that there is no justification for that. Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, questioned how signage will be handled. Craig Neustedter, Traffic En-gineer, what is being done is acceptable and consistent per the manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the California Vehicle Code. The Manual recommends to evaluate speed zones within half mile segments or greater and for as long as he has been doing this work for the City we have well defined segments that have been used. Mayor_Ferre, questioned i f we keep it 40 mph on Barton Road from Michigan to Mt. Vernon then from Mt. Vernon to Preston it would be 45 mph. She questioned what the limit is from Preston into Colton City limits. Someone indicated that it is 40 mph. Mayor Ferre, requested confirmation that the speed limit in Colton is 50 mph. It was confirmed. Mr. Neustedter, stated that those speed limits are governed by the speed surveys that are done every five years. Counci Imember Buchanan, questioned if we are looking at other areas that were not included in this study. He questioned if there was anything in the Ordinance that we should or should not be talking about this evening. Mr. Neustedter, responded that staff is redoing the entire City. They wanted to do these five zones first because they intersect with the two signals where the red light photo enforcement is being done. The speed zones govern how we have to time the traffic signals and they wanted to have the timing on the traffic signal that was defensible in case any of the citations were challenged. Now we are proceeding with the rest of the City. Councilmember Buchanan, he stated that he knows that we can not do a speed zone survey and set the speed lower than the 851o designation without mitigating circumstances. He questioned if it can be set higher. Mr. Neustedter, responded that the manual and the vehicle code is quite clear that the legally enforceable speed limit is the 85% if you were to post something that is higher than that lie doesn't believe that it would be enforceable. He suggested asking Lt. Guerra and the City Attorney. Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Pale G Councilmember Buchanan, stated that the inconsistencies in what he perceives to be a relatively short stretch seems awkward to him. His observation is that people leave Colton going 50 plus mph and don't slow down to the 40,45 mph when they get into Grand Terrace. It would make sense to him to have it 45 to the City Limits to Mt. Vernon. Mayor Ferre, stated that the signal at Honey Hills does seem to help but agrees that it would make more sense to have it be more consistent. Councilmember Buchanan, stated that he doesn't want to set a speed limit that is legally improper or unsafe. It is just his observation. Mr. Neustedter, stated that there will be variability from segment to segment but there are two factors at play, driver habits and various factors of the street. Councilmember Buchanan, stated that he agrees with the Mayor that the signal has impacted the speeds on Barton Road. Councilmember Miller, stated that lie is opposed to the speed limits being raised on Barton. He feels that drivers go well above 45 mph. He stated that there is an issue with the change of speed limits from one area to another. He suggested keeping a uniform speed limit from Preston all the way down to Michigan of 40 mph. He does know that the 85% between Preston and Mt. Vernon would be affected. He questioned what was the percentage of drivers going 40 mph. Mr.Net.tstedter, responded that it was less than 851.0. Councilmember Miller, stated that he is just throwing that out for the Council to consider. He doesn't know if the speed limit can be kept at one amount but feels that it could work for the community. He stated that the timing on the Redflex is for the traffic going east and west. Mr. Neustedter, responded that they surveyed all approaches and the timing for all approaches to those two signals meets the criteria set in the Manual Uniforir Traffic Control Devices. If you were to proceed with red light photo enforcement on the Barton approaches, at this time you would not have an issue of adjusting the timing on the traffic signal. The traffic signals are in accordance with the speed Iimits and are enforceable from a redlight photo standpoint. Councilmember Miller, questioned at this time right now or with the changes in the ordinance. Mr. Neustedter, responded that it would be covered either way. We are covered for a Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Page ? contingency of 40 or 45 mph on Barton Road for the segment on Preston at this time right now. Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, questioned how the segments are chosen to be studied. Mr. Neustedter, responded that it was established by Ordinance and there didn't seem to be any good reason to make any splits over the last two times it has been done. Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, questioned if the segment from Preston to Colton's City limits will be studied as well. Mr. Neustedter, responded that there will be a report to the Council by the end of the year. There are fifteen segments that are studied every five years. Staff did an advance study of five of those segments because they are connected with the intersections that have the redlight photo enforcement, otherwise, they would have all been done at one time. Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, questioned if there is coordination from one City Limit to another. Mr. Neustedter, responded that from an enforcement standpoint it is jurisdictional. However, in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices, they strongly recommend that you coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions. Councilmember Cortes, questioned if Lt. Guerra has received any comments regarding the different posted speed limits. Lt. Guerra, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, responded that the design of the roadway on Barton Road changes considerably and in his opinion the speed limits that are being recommended, based on the design itself in conjunction with the 85% are appropriate. Mayor Ferre opened the public hearing for discussion, there being none, she returned the discussion to the Council. CC-2007-89 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, SECOND BY MAYOR FERRE, CARRIED 5-0, to approve staff's recommendation to adopt an Ordinance ofthe City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California, Amending Grand Terrace Municipal Code, Chapter 10, Section 10.08, Establishing Speed Limits for Various Streets in the City of Grand Terrace with the amendment that the Speed Limit be 40 mph on Barton Road from Michigan to Mt. Vernon. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7A. Second Reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Page 8 Approving Zone Change No. 07-01(Z-07-O 1) to Add the R3-S Zoning Classification to the City's Zoning Code and to Change the Zoning of the Blue Mountain Senior Villas Site Located at 22627 Grand Terrace Road from R1-7.2 (Single Family Residential ) to R3-S (Multiple Family -Senior Citizen) and Environmental Assessment No. 07-02 (Final Environmental Impact Report) Second Reading of an Ordinance of the City of Grand Terrace Approving Specific Plan No. 07-01 (SP-07-01 - Blue Mountain Senior Villas Specific Plan) and Environmental Assessment No. 07-02 (Final Environmental Impact Report) CC-2007-90 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BUCHANAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the second reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace Approving Zone Change No. 07-01 (Z-07-01) to Add the R3-S Zoning Classification to the City's Zoning Code and to Change the Zoning of the Blue Mountain Senior Villas Site Located at 22627 Grand Terrace Road from R1-7 2 (Single Family Residential ) to R3-S (Multiple Family -Senior Citizen) and Environmental Assessment No. 07-02 (Final Environmental Impact Report) and the second reading of an Ordinance of the City of Grand Terrace Approving Specific Plan No. 07-01 (SP-07-01 - Blue Mountain Senior Villas Specific Plan) and Environmental Assessment No. 07-02 (Final Environmental Impact Report) NEW BUSINESS 8A. Award Street Sweeping contract with Kellar Sweeping, Inc. CC-2007-91 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, CARRIED 5-0, to contract with Kellar Sweeping, Inc. for street sweeping services for a period of three (3) years beginning October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2010 and authorize staff to declare the Tymco Sweeper as surplus and to sell it on the open market. 8B. Measure I Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2007-2010 CC-2007-92 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve a Resolution adopting the Three Year Capital Improvement Program. 8C. Memorandum of Understanding with Grand Terrace Partners LLC CC-2007-93 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BUCHANAN, CARRIED 4-0-0-1 (COUNCILMEMBER MILLER ABSTAINED), 0 Council Minutes September 11, 2007 Page 9 to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Grand Terrace Partners LLC. CLOSED SESSION - None Mayor Ferre adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m., until the next CRAICity Council Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. MAYO f the City of Grand Terrace CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace