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12/09/2008CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - DECEMBER 9, 2008 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 December 9, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Ferrd, Mayor Lee Ann Garcia, Mayor Pro Tern Bea Cortes, Councilmember Jim Miller, Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, Councilmember Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Steve Berry, Acting City Manager Bernard Simon, Finance Director Joyce Powers, Community & Economic Development Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director John Harper, City Attorney Lt. Mike Newcombe, San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department John Salvate, San Bernardino County Fire Department ABSENT: Tom Schwab, City Manager The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Pastor Pat Bower, Calvary, the Brook Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Dan Buchanan. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Special Presentation to Outgoing Council Member Dan Buchanan Acting City Manager Steve Berry stated that Dan Buchanan has been called the luckiest politician in the Inland Empire. In March of 1994 Dan was appointed to fill a vacancy on the City Council. In 1994 Dan ran for City Council unopposed. In 1998 Dan ran for City Council unopposed once again. During this time Dan served as Mayor from 2000-2002. In 2007 Dan was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Council when Maryetta Ferrd was elected as the first directly elected Mayor. He has known Dan and Cindy since 1994 and he feels that Dan always has the true heart of this community in mind. He never had a hidden agenda. Council respected Dan and what he has to say. He feels that he has been a tremendous asset to the City. He stated that when Dan left the last time he got a chair this time he is getting a lamp to match the chair. Mayor Ferrd presented a lamp to outgoing Councilmember Dan Buchanan. Council Minutes 12i9.'2008 Page 2 Outgoing Councilmember Dan Buchanan stated that it is an extraordinary honor to be able to serve the citizens and businesses of Grand Terrace. He appreciates the trust and confidence that the Council had in selecting him to fill an unexpired term on the Council. It really was a distinct privilege to be able to come back and join the Council again and help with some in a challenging period of time. He has very much enjoyed the last two years of serving on the Council. He thanked Steve and John. He stated that he can't imagine that there is another Community in the State that has a more dedicated and professional staff then the City of Grand Terrace enjoys. It really is a very unique community and it is a very special place to live, to raise a family and to have a business and a real honor that comes from being able to contribute a little bit back to that. He thanked the Council for the opportunity and for the beautiful lamp. He is going to enjoy watching Walt take the chair and step into the Council. He feels that he is leaving the Council in very capable hands both with the current Council and new members joining. Mayor Marvetta Ferrd, stated that she has appreciated Dan's presence on the Council. When he speaks it always has real merit and has obviously been well thought out. She stated that he has been a real leader on the Council and that we will miss him and thanked him for his service. Councilmember Jim Miller, stated that it has been a real pleasure to work with Dan for the last couple of years and that he will truly be missed. He has come in and done an outstanding job when we needed it the most. He wished him well in the future. Mayor Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia, stated that Dan and Cindy are a great couple and have appreciated both of them. She stated that she enjoys his intellect and wisdom but it's his sense of humor that she enjoyed the most. She feels that he was a wonderful team player, a credit to the City with the leadership style that he brings and she will miss him very much. The good thing about the City is that we make life long friends. She wished him well in all that he will do in the future. Councilmember Bea Cortes, stated that she did not have the pleasure of working with Dan when he was on the Council before but she believes that what they say about him is correct. He is fair and sincere and his heart is with the City of Grand Terrace and the staff. She has enjoyed sitting next to him. 2. Reciting the Fact of the General Municipal Election Held on November 4, 2008, Declaring the Result and Such Other Matters as Provided By Law CC-2008-103 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Resolution Reciting the Fact of the General Municipal Election Held on November 4, 2008, Declaring the Result and Such Other Matters as Provided By Law. Council Minutes 12 9-2008 Page 3 3. Swear In Newly Elected Council Members Lee Ann Garcia, Jim Miller and Walt Stanckiewi z City Clerk Brenda Mesa Swore in the following Newly Elected Council Members: Lee Ann Garcia Jim Miller Walt Stanckiewitz 4. Election of Mayor Pro Tem CC-2008-104 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER STANCKIEWITZ, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, CARRIED 5-0, to appoint Lee Ann Garcia as Mayor Pro Tem. ITEMS TO DELETE - None SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 0 2A. Foundation of Grand Terrace Presentation of a Check to Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) Darcy .McNaboe. President Foundation of Grand Terrace , gave a brief presentation on the history of the Foundation of Grand Terrace. She presented a check in the amount of $1,500.00 to the Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.). Mayor Ferre, stated that the Foundation is a very important part of this community and expressed her appreciation for the work that Darcy does as the President. 2B. 30" Anniversary Presentation - Historical & Cultural Activities Committee Mayor Ferre announced that this is the last of the 30'" Anniversary Recognition. As you know, the Council has recognized people and groups that have made a difference in our community every month during 2008 in honor of our 30" Anniversary. Tonight we are honoring the very people who provided us with the wonderful Birthday Party. The Historical and Cultural Activities Committee was established by the City Council in January 1979. Members are appointed by the City Council and they meet monthly. They are responsible for preserving the history of Grand Terrace and for facilitating cultural activities for the benefit of all citizens in the City. The committee maintains scrapbooks, which contain articles on Grand Terrace as well as items of historical significance. Annual events coordinated by this committee include the Art Show held in May, the Country Fair in November and the City Birthday Party in December. They are a very busy group. The Council Minutes 12 '9.+2008 Page 4 current members are Pauline Grant, Ann Petta, Colleen Edmundson, Frances Carter, Shelly Rosenkild, Masako Gifford and Gloria Ybarra. She announced that the City is going to dedicate a tree to the Historical and Cultural Activities Committee in the Susan Petta Park with a inscribed granite marker. Ann Petta, thanked the Council very much for the honor and they are delighted to be able help the City. Grand Terrace is a City of volunteers and they feel that they are an important part of that. CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2008-105 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following Consent Calendar Items: 3A. Approve Check Register Dated December 9, 2008 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3 C. Approval of 11-18-2008 Minutes 3 E. Approve Amended Professional Services Consultant Agreement Between the City and the Chambers Group to Complete the General Plan Environmental Impact Report 3F. Internet Usage Policy for the City of Grand Terrace Employees 3G. Measure I Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2008-2010 3I. Approve and Appropriate Homeland Security Expenditures FY 2007 (Correction) ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2008-1 Od MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following items that were removed from the Consent Calendar: 3D. Employee Benefits for FY 2008-2009 3H. State COPs Grant FY 08-09 Expenditure Plan Approval and Budget Amendment PUBLIC COMMENT Dennis Kidd. 22874 Pico Street, thanked the Mayor, City Council and Acting City Manager Steve Berry for helping Highgrove get Mt. Vernon Avenue open to Palmaretto. James A. Eis, 23043 Palm Avenue, thanked the Council for allowing him to speak. He has heard some wonderful reports regarding the progress of Grand Terrace and that is a Council Minutes 12-'9'2008 Page 5 wonderful thing and congratulated them. He stated that he and his wife moved to Grand Terrace in January of 1988. The speed limit on Palm Avenue when they first moved in was 25 mph. It is a residential area in Grand Terrace between Observation and Honey Hill. Major roads are allowed to travel at faster speeds. The City Council changed the speed limit to 35 mph several years ago. Daily speeding is not the norm on Palm Avenue at all times of the day. He feels that this is unacceptable and needs to be taken care of. Acting City Manager Berry, stated that staff will work with Mr. Eis. REPORTS 5A. Committee Reports i . Historical and Cultural Activities Committee a. Minutes of November 3, 2008 CC-2008-107 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the November 3, 2008 Minutes of the Historical & Cultural Activities Committee. 5B. Council Reports Mayor Ferrd, stated that it is time as members of the Council to sign up for various government organizations. She asked each Councilmember to review the list of committees that have been provided and to let her know which committee they would like to be on prior to the first meeting in January. She questioned if the Council was going to receive the first update on the High School. Acting City Manager Berry, stated that they are scheduled for the second meeting in January. Mayor Ferrel, indicated that Council appreciates all of the sponsors and volunteers who have made the activities for the 30" Anniversary very special. She indicated that the year long celebration was the creation of Acting City Manager Berry. The Council expressed their appreciation to Steve Berry by presenting him with a plaque that stated "Presented to Steve Berry In Appreciation Of Your Hard Work and Dedication to Grand Terrace During its Year Long Celebration of 30 Grand Years, dated December 9, 2008" Actin&Qty Manager Berry, stated that this is truly a surprise. Staff worked very hard for the 30" Anniversary along with a number of volunteers. The most important part is the thousands of people that came out to the events. We saw a lot more of Grand Terrace Council Minutes 12r'9'2008 Page 6 residents that came out to the events that were held throughout the year. He feels that it has been a great year. Ma or Pro Tem Garcia, stated that the Council truly appreciates all of the work that he does and the sense of community that he has. Councilmember Miller, thanked Acting City Manager Berry for all of his hard work this past year and feels that he did a great job and is well deserving of the award. Councilmember Cortes, stated that Acting City Manager Berry does a good job and to keep up the good work. Councilmember Stanckiewitz, stated that Acting City Manager Berry and his staff did an excellent job. All of the events were well done. Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, welcomed Councilmember Stanckiewitz and knows that he will be a fabulous addition to the Council and is looking forward to working with him. Questioned if Council will get the quarterly financial report in January. Finance Director Bernie Simon, responded in the affirmative. Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, complimented the Historical and Cultural Activities Committee for the job they always do on the Birthday Party. She reported that the movie Marley and Me will be out in the Movies in December. She wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Councilmember Cortes, announced that Santa Claus is coming to town in December. She stated that the schedule is available in the City News. She congratulated Jim Miller, Lee Ann Garcia and Walt Stanckiewitz on their election to the Council. Councilmember Miller, congratulated Walt Stanckiewitz and Lee Ann Garcia on their election to the City Council. He thanked all of his supporters for voting for him. He stated that he will continue to be the watch dog of the expenditures for those members of the community. He will listen to the members of the community and bring forward any issues that they have to the Council. Councilmember Stanckiewitz, congratulated Lee Ann Garcia and Jim Miller on their re- election. He thanked all of the residents who voted for him. He appreciates their confidence in him and will do his best not to let them down. He gave special thanks to Denise, Dave and Alyssa Hamm, Bob and Elaine Bailes, Ray and Billie Crowe, Margie Miller and the Grand Terrace City News, his daughter Lindsay and her boyfriend Doug, Beth from Accent Printing, Ronnie Salinas and his wife Monique for all their help. He stated that there are some tough times a head of us. Tax revenues, sales taxes and property values are declining. Council Minutes 124-2008 Page 7 4 We have to continue the conservative management of our fiscal budget. He has watched the City Council and Staff and feels that they do a wonderful job of communicating to the residents and hopes to continue that. He encouraged everyone to shop Iocally whenever possible. He feels that we as a community needs to get involved. There have been some programs launched that the more people that get involved the better. He suggested "lend a hand to your neighbor in need" and gave some suggestions. He would like everyone to continue to keep pride in their City and help out whenever you can. PUBLIC HEARING 6A. An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California Rescinding the Traffic Circulation Fee Schedule (4.104) and Replacing it with a New Fee Structure Craig Neustaedter, reported that the City collects fees on new development to fund the cost to construct infrastructure improvements needed to support it. The City has authority to collect development impact fees pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 66000 of the California Government Code. One of the fees collected by the City is to fund arterial improvements needed to complete the Circulation Element of the City General Plan. In October 2005, SANBAG approved its Development Mitigation Nexus Study. The SANBAG Board has established a policy that in order for cities and San Bernardino County to be eligible for Measure I subventions after 2010, they must adopt a development mitigation fee to fund circulation improvements identified in the Development Mitigation Nexus Study. In November 2005, the City was one of the first agencies in the County to comply with this requirement by adopting Ordinance 222, amending the City's arterial improvement fees and adjusted the fees in December of last year in compliance with SANBAG protocol. For the City to continue to be in compliance, the arterial improvement fees must again be updated to account for increasing construction costs. SANBAG has notified the City that our arterial improvement fees must be increased to account for increased construction costs over the past one-year period. The Construction cost factors provided by SANBAG, by which the City fees must be increased are 12.9% for 2007. This adjustment to the City fees must be enacted by the end of 2008. Staff is recommending approving an Ordinance amending Chapter 4.104.060 of the City Municipal Code, increasing the City arterial improvement fees, and updating Table "B" showing the cost of improvements funded by the arterial improvement fees. Mayor Ferre opened the Public Hearing for discussion, there being none she closed the Public Hearing and returned discussion to Council. CC-2008-108 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the first reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace, California Rescinding the Traffic Circulation Council Minutes 12 r9;'2008 Page 8 Fee Schedule (4.104) and Replacing it with a New Fee Structure UNFINISHED BUSINESS -None NEW BUSINESS 8A. Employment Contract - Thomas J. Schwab CC-2008-109 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, CARRIED 4-0-0-1 (COUNCILMEMBER STANCKIEWITZ ABSTAINED), to approve an Employment Contract between the City of Grand Terrace and Thomas J. Schwab. CLOSED SESSION 9A. Conference with Labor Negotiator (GC54957.6) - Steve Berry Representing Unrepresented Employees 9B. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation GC54956.9 (a) Jara Bros. Construction v City of Grand Terrace 0 Mayor Ferrel announced that the Council met in Closed Session to discuss the following items: 9A. Conference with Labor Negotiator (GC54957.6) - Steve Berry Representing Unrepresented Employees 9B. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation GC54956.9 (a) Jara Bros. Construction v City of Grand Terrace There was no reportable action taken on the above items. Mayor Ferrd adjourned the meeting at 9:44 p.m., until the next CRA/City Council Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace MAYOR, f the City of Grand Terrace