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08/25/2009CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - AUGUST 25, 2009 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 August 25, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Ferrd, Mayor Lee Ann Garcia, Mayor Pro Tern Jim Miller, Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, Councilmember Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Bernard Simon, Finance Director."Acting City Manager Joyce Powers, Community & Economic Development Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director Colin Bums, City Attorney's Office Lt. Tony Allen, San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department John Salvate, San Bernardino County Fire Department ABSENT: Bea Cortes, Councilmember John Harper, City Attorney The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Mayor Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia, followed by the PIedge of Allegiance led by Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ITEMS TO ADD/DELETE Colin Burns, City Attorney's Office, indicated that he would like to add an Urgency Closed Session be scheduled for anticipated litigation. CC-2009-109 MOTION TO ADD AN URGENCY CLOSED SESSION ITEM FOR ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, CARRIED 3-0-2-0 (COUNCILMEMBER CORTES AND MILLER WERE ABSENT). SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2A. Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month Sally Mc uire Grand Terrace Area Chamber of Commerce, introduced Joyce lames, owner of Educare Learning Systems which is the business of the month for August 2009. Joyce is Council Minutes 08/25i2009 Page 2 a licensed teacher and owner of Educate Learning Systems. She provides affordable home base child care, tutoring and test preparation for children K-12 grades. Her students are transported between Terrace View, Grand Terrace Elementary, and Cooley Ranch Elementary Schools and Joyce assures her parents that she is their child's bridge between home and school. She reminded everyone that Market Night is held on the third Monday of every month at Azure Hills Church from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. She also reported that their Annual Golf Tournament will be held on September 25, 2009. Joyce James, thanked the Chamber of Commerce. She appreciates the recognition of Business of the Month and for the support of the City of Grand Terrace. CONSENT CALENDAR CC-2009-110 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILN-IFMBER STANCKIEWITZ, CARRIED 4-0-1-0 (COUNCILMEMBER CORTES WAS ABSENT), to approve the following Consent Calendar Items with the Removal of Item 3D. 3A. Approve Check Register Datd 08-25-2009 3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda 3C. Approval of 08-11-2009 Minutes 3E. Street Maintenance Contractor (Roquet Paving) 3F. Measure I Audit - FY 2007-08 ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR 3D. Animal Shelter A eement - City of San Bernardino CC-2009-111 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, C:'UIED 4-0-1-0 (COUNCILMEMBER CORTES WAS ABSENT), to approve Item 3D. Animal Shelter Agreement with the City of San Bernardino with the correction on page 4 of the Agreement to have Notice sent to the City Manager of the City of Grand Terrace. PUBLIC COMMENT RA `Barney" Bamett, 474 Prospect, Highgrove, gave a brief update on the Highgrove Metrolink Station. He stated that it started as a $168,000,000.00 project and it is now up to $220,000,000.00, at least. The plan that is being presented by RCTC includes Federal money. Your Federal tax dollars and his are being involved in this project. RCTC wants to put a station stop when they build and rebuild the railroad on the Perris Valley line between Highgrove and Perris. They want to put a station stop where there are no commuter trains Council Minutes 08/25-2009 Page 3 at either Palmeritto, Marlboro or Columbia. Just a half mile away from this location is where there are commuter trains. There are seven trains going up between Riverside and San Bernardino. Federal dollars would be used to transport people between Riverside and Perris, these same trains go through Grand Terrace and Highgrove between Riverside and San Bernardino would keep right on going and not stop. They have asked for seven and a half years to get this station location to stop where the people are and where they can ride the trains. He stated that in 2001 the City Council passed a Resolution supporting this Highgrove Station. They are looking to reaffirm that the Council still supports this location. He prepared a sample Resolution and is asking for Council's support. Bobbie Forbes, 11850 Bums Avenue, requested that the Council keep in mind when interviewing the applicants for the Planning Commission Vacancy experience, knowledge, the comfort with the people and the importance of having someone that you can talk to. There are more and more vacant homes in Grand Terrace. People leave their animal behind when they vacate their homes. She asked that if anyone notices an animal that has been left behind to contact Animal Control or take them in. She urged residents to contact the City when there is a pool in a vacant home so that they can be emptied. She feels that there are things around town that aren't being tended to and she is unsure who she should contact about these items. She reported that there are coyotes in Grand Terrace everyday all day long and encouraged residents to watch their pets. Bernie Simon, Acting City Manager, stated that he will get Code Enforcement to go out and look at the vacant properties and take care of dangerous situations. He stated that he can be contacted regarding any of the issues that Bobbie Forbes has or any other member of the community may have. He stated that staff has made contact with San Bernardino County regarding the Coyote issues in Grand Terrace. They have a trapper and they are working within the City of Grand Terrace. Information regarding Coyotes is available on Channel 3 and on the website. REPORTS 5A. Committee Reports 1. Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) a. Minutes of July 7, 2009 CC-2009-112 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MILLER, CARRIED 4-0-1-0 (COUNCILMEMBER CORTES WAS ABSENT), to accept the July 7, 2009 Minutes of the Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) 5B. Council Reports Council Minutes 08/25/2009 Page 4 Ma or Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia, reported that the Kung Fu Panda Movie in the park was bigger than ever. She thanked all of the staff for their hard work. She welcomed everyone back to school and happy learning to all of the little ones in town. Councilmember Stanckiewitz, encouraged everyone to support Market Night. He feels that it is a critical activity for the community. He stated that in the Crime Summary there was an armed robbery noted and he wanted to know if there was anyway Citizen's Patrol can set up a phone tree to notify other businesses that this has happened so that all businesses can be on alert. Lt. Ton,, San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department responded in the affirmative. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS 8A. Redflex Financial Update CC-2009-113 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY MAYOR FERRE, CARRIED 3-1-1-0 (COUNCILMEMBER MILLER VOTED NO AND COUNCILMEMBER CORTES WAS ABSENT), to approve a payment in the amount of $87,400.53 to Redflex Traffic Systems that is being held in the trust fund. CC-2009-114 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER STANCKIEWITZ, CARRIED 4-0-1-0 (COUNCILMEMBER CORTES WAS ABSENT), to direct the Acting City Manager/Finance Director to prepare a report outlining the expenditures of the $30,000.00, how the $25,000.00 in the Traffic Safety Fund will be used, a work out plan with Redflex Traffic Systems and an analysis of the Red Light Vehicle Tickets and to bring it to Council at the September 8, 2009 City Council Meeting. 8B. Grand Terrace Road Street Parking Study Dr. Joseph Adeyemo, Principal Terrace -View ElemenIM School, stated that Terrace View has been good neighbors to those on the North, West and East side of the school and they want to be good neighbors to the seniors. He stated that there isn't enough parking at the school so they need every space possible for parents, etc. He feels that it will be a disservice to the students and parents to take away the parking in front of the school. Jaime Ayala, Assistant Superintendent. Colton Joint Unified School District,1212 Valencia Council Minutes 08r25 2009 Page 5 Drive, Colton, stated that staff spoke with Dr. Adeyemo however, no one spoke to the District office regarding this issue. He stated that the District has no concerns or objections with the parking restrictions towards Mt. Vernon nor with the proposed restrictions at the Senior Citizen complex driveway. He feels that it should be limited to thirty feet from the driveway. Their biggest concern is to eliminate parking in front of the school. There is already limited space for parking and if more parking is taken away from them it will greatly impact the school. They would Iike the Council to consider on the street directly west of the schools exit driveway that the City prohibit parking thirty feet from the driveway. He feels that the line of sight will still be there and it will preserve the parking that they greatly need. JoAnn Johnson, 12723 Mt. Vernon Avenue, expressed her concern that doing too much could very easily make a bad situation worse than it already is. She feels that the restrictions on either side of the Senior Center driveway could be very helpful and feels that the thirty feet would be ample. Parents do need to park someplace and she fears severe restrictions without providing an alternative place to park could make the situation even worse than it already is. More strict parking on Grand Terrace Road would probably force even more people to pick the children up on Brentwood and that is already a zoo, to say the least. She requested that the Council consider very carefully before you do something that can make things worse than they already are. Donna Henderson,12719 Sanburg Way, stated that she has a grandchild and great grandchild that attends Terrace View Elementary School. She has extensive experience with schools, she was a teacher in the Colton District for 17 years, Principal in Jurupa for 18, and supervised student teachers. She has been in a lot of schools and it is always a zoo in front of schools. She would say that both of the elementary schools in Grand Terrace have inadequate parking. The idea that it could be a stopping zone, where you could drop kids off is clearly not feasible. Her two that she picks up are in first grade and there is no way that she would stop in front of the school and wait for them to come out to the street. If you don't get there 15 to 20 minutes early you may have to park two blocks away and walk down. She feels that it is not right to not have parking in front of the school. She understands the concern with the driveways, however, parking is a big problem. Mark Roman, 22654 Van Buren Street, stated that he has two children that attend Terrace View. He feels that as a whole everyone has the right idea. He questioned if there are any reports or a log of the violations that have occurred there. Is there an accident record. Is this a concerning problem where there are a lot of accidents. They were very patient with the senior center while it was being built and having trucks block the street at 8:00 a.m. There really isn't anyway that they can block the parking across the street from the school, Brentwood would be a disaster. Mary Jo Ford, 22715 Arliss Drive, stated that her concerns are pretty much the same as everyone else. She questioned where they are suppose to park. She indicated that she Council Minutes 08r'25i2009 Page 6 counted the number of spaces they have at the school. She stated that there are 35 spaces plus 2 handicap in the main parking and 17 in the other. There are 65 staff members and teachers at the school, where are they suppose to park let alone the parents. Darcy Fraser, 4542 Spirit Court, Riverside, stated that she was born and raised in the City of Grand Terrace and is proud to have both of her girls attend school in Grand Terrace thanks to the Magnet Program at Terrace View Elementary. Her children are in 4" grade and kindergarten. She is at the school three times a day. She questioned if the vacant area at the end of the landscaping could be paved for parking. She stated that eliminating parking across the street from the school just would not be feasible. Debi Glaze, 22245 Cardinal Street, stated that she has three children that attend Terrace View Elementary School. Most of her concerns have already been covered. She stated that once again a development was allowed to go on in the City of Grand Terrace without the full study being done on parking. The school has been there. She feels that the parking issue should have been considered before the Senior Center was built. She feels that everyone needs to work together to be good neighbors. Richard Loder,12610 Garden Avenue, stated that he feels that the study is shortsighted. He feels that the Council should put together a committee to discuss this issue in an effort to come up with a compromise. He feels that someone should be held accountable that this issue was not addressed prior to the construction. Dawn Irev, 22780 Grand Terrace Road, stated that she lives directly across from the east parking lot of the school. She has a large field and people park everywhere. She has had people park in her grass and toss their garbage in her yard. She feels that what is being proposed is not a solution. She stated that the only cross walk that is available goes directly into a dirt field. She feels that there are many other issues at this school other than parking that need to be addressed. Shawn Marie Moore, 22537 Grand Terrace Road, stated that she lives on the corner of Grand Terrace Road and Mt. Vernon. Stated that she is upset that she is being told that she can't park in front of her own home. Barney Karger,11668 Bernardo Way, stated that he has been fighting this problem for a long time. He feels that it should be no parking in the turning lane going west on the north side of the street from before the curve going west otherwise you can't turn properly onto Mt. Vernon. He feels that no parking five feet from either side of the driveway approach is appropriate. One of the main problems is on the south side of the road, the yellow line is in the wrong place. On the north side of the street no body parks on the street, they park on the dirt. He suggested moving the yellow line two feet. Council Minutes 08/25-1009 Page 7 CC-2009-115 MOTION BY MAYOR FERRE, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, CARRIED 4-0-1-0 (COUNCILMEMBER CORTES WAS ABSENT), to table this item and direct the City Manager, Community and Economic Development Director and the Traffic Engineer to meet with the Colton Joint Unified School District, Joseph Ayala and his leadership team and his PTA Board to come up with some solutions that will be satisfactory to everyone. 8C. Discussion on Workshop Process for Policy Development and Important Topics Amanda Betten, 22733 Palm Avenue, feels that the workshop idea is an excellent idea. Being involved in the community with the naming of the high school and the community events committee she has noticed from the beginning of spring till now a huge change. In the beginning it seemed like the City and the School weren't working together and it was frustrating to the volunteers in the community. If you get community input you accomplish a lot more. You have much more help much more ideas. If you continue the way that you have been doing it you will continue to have problems. She feels that the left hand and the right hand haven't been working together and they need to work together. Doing workshops and communicating is very important. She feels if you don't communicate the Council is doing an injustice to the citizens. She encouraged the Council to do some type of workshop to improve the City and move away from the old ways. It was the consensus of the Council to leave things the way that they are and that any Councilmember can make a motion to hold a workshop on any item that they feel necessary and if it is the desire of the majority of the Council it will take place. 8D. Interview Applicants for Planning Commission and Consider Appointment to Fill an Unexpired Term Doug Wilson, 12168 Observation Drive, stated that he has an obvious vested interest in the Council's decision tonight. He stated that he does not know Mr. Bailes that well but he does know Mr. McConnell. He feels that Mr. McConnell is a bright, informed and intelligent citizen. He has a record of service within his community and exhibits solid moral character. He has experience with understanding plans. He appreciates both applicants willingness to serve and feels that it is exemplary. The Council has made some excellent informed decisions and he applauds their courage and patience. The following individuals participated in the interview process: Jeffrey McConnell Robert Bailes The Council appointed Robert Bailes by majority vote to fill an unexpired term on the Council Minutes 08i25?2009 Page 8 Planning Commission to continue to June 30, 2010. CLOSED SESSION 9A. Potential Litigation Mayor Ferrd announced that the Council met in Closed Session to discuss Potential Litigation and that there was no reportable action taken. Mayor Ferrd adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m., until the next City Council Meeting which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace MAYOR e City of Grand Terrace 11