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10/08/1992CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 8i. 1992 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 October 8, 1992 at 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Byron Matteson, Mayor Hugh J. Grant, Mayor Pro Tem Gene Carlstrom, Councilmember Ronald Christianson, Councilmember Herman Hilkey, Councilmember Thomas J. Schwab, City Manager Randall Anstine, Assistant City Manager Patrizia Materassi, Planning Director Phil Bush, Finance Director Brenda Stanfill, City Clerk Joe Kicak, City Engineer ABSENT: John Harper, City Attorney The 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 Grant. Mayor Matteson convened City Council meeting at 6:00 P.M. Mayor Matteson reconvened City Council meeting at 6:15 P.M. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Mayor Matteson presented each Boy Scout who attended the City Council Meeting in fulfill of the requirements for a merit badge with a City of Grand Terrace pin. 2A. Mayor Matteson read a Proclamation designating October 24-November 1, 1992 as "Red Ribbon Week." 2B. Community Services officer Korgan requested that Council and the Boy Scouts in attendance sign the Crime Prevention Red Ribbon in observance of Red Ribbon Week. She also invited the public to attend the Red Ribbon Celebration, which will be held on Friday, October 30, 1992 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Terrace Senior Center, 22627 Grand Terrace Road. Council Minutes - 10/08/92 Page 2 2C. Mayor Matteson announced that Mr. and Mrs. Charles Warford of 11821 Arliss received the September 1992 Recycling Family of the Month award and added that they were the recipients of gift certificates for Food Connection, Dominos Pizza, Touch of Country Crafts, Verlee's Fancy Pets and Fish, and True Value Hardware. CONSENT CALENDAR CC-92-152 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CHRISTIANSON, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar with the removal of Item 3D. A. APPROVE CHECK REGISTER NO. 100892 B. RATIFY 10/08/92 CRA ACTION C. WAIVE FULL READING OF ORDINANCES ON AGENDA E. AWARD STREET STRIPING BID ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR 3D. Approve 9 24 92 Minutes CC-92-153 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER CHRISTIANSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, CARRIED 4-0-0-1 (MAYOR PRO TEM GRANT ABSTAINED), to approve the September 24, 1992 City Council Minutes as amended to indicate that Councilmember Hilkey rather than Councilmember Christianson made the statement on page 5 regarding the hiring of a consultant. PUBLIC COMMENT Jim Sinalev, 11996 Paradise, Grand Terrace; announced his candidacy for City Council, expressed regret that Mayor Pro Tem Grant is not seeking re-election, and offered support for the remaining two incumbents. He complimented the City Council and the Staff and expressed appreciation for the support he has received as a candidate. He added that he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve the City as a Councilmember. Barbara Pfenni hausen 22111 Ladera Street, Grand Terrace; indicating that she recently read an article about Grand Terrace in the Press Enterprise, chastised the Sun newspaper for its failure to provide press coverage for the City. She mentioned that she secured a copy of the Grand Terrace Unification Mini -Study from the City and added that the Mini -Study can also be obtained from the Council Minutes - 10/08/92 Page 3 Colton Joint Unified School District. She expressed dissatisfaction with the Mini -Study, which concludes that an additional study will be necessary to resolve the School District issue. She explained that the Mini -Study indicates the necessity of conducting a poll of the residents, but she remarked that the City already completed such a study. She commented that the previous study reveals that 62% of the City's population approved of a City School District and High School but disclosed that fewer than 60% of the residents were willing to finance the proposed School District. She explained that the people must pay for the projects that they desire. Criticizing the Mini -Study further, she commented that the Study only briefly addresses the expense to the homeowner's in Grand Terrace. She added that the Mini - Study indicates that the issue will need to be decided in a district -wide election thereby reducing the chance that the proposed school district will be approved. She remarked further that the Mini -Study reveals that if the City forms its own School District, that District will be funded at the same level as the Colton Joint Unified School District. She surmised that the City would then lose the special Federal and State project funding due schools that support disadvantaged students. Questioning the cost of the project, she indicated that the loss of funding for special programs will hinder the articulation of students into college. She expressed concern for students who rely on athletic scholarships to fund their educations and questioned how the City will finance high school scholarship programs. She warned of potential difficulties that may arise by combining students from the 7th to 12th grades on one campus. Furthermore, she inquired where a new high school will be located if Terrace Hills Junior High School is not utilized for the combined campus and pondered how the City will afford to build and maintain a high school. She also related that all of the issues addressed in the Mini -Study must be approved by 2/3 of the voters. Revealing that 27% of the population, according to the previous Study, are senior citizens, she speculated that the City's non -senior population may be unwilling to sustain the cost of the proposed School District. in addition, she questioned the impact that the increase of student vehicle traffic will have on the area surrounding Terrace Hills Junior High School, adding that the only parking facility available minimally accommodates the teachers' vehicles. Airing her doubt as to the soundness of the final Mini - Study proposal, she explained that the Mini -Study indicates that the City Council will become the School District's Governing Board and the Administrative Council Minutes - 10/08/92 Page 4 Officers of the City will become the Administrative Officers of the School District. J.R. Taylor, 22843 Vista Grande Way, Grand Terrace; suggested that the City hold a potluck to bid farewell to Mayor Pro Tem Grant and expressed his gratitude for the service that Mr. Grant has given to the City. ORAL REPORTS 5A. Committee Reports 1. Historical & Cultural Committee (a) Minutes of 9/8/92 CC-92-154 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HILKEY, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM GRANT, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the September 8, 1992 Historical and Cultural Committee Minutes. 2. Emergency O erations Committee (a) Minutes of 6/15/92 & 8/17/92 CC-92-155 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GRANT, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CARLSTROM, CARRIED 5-0, to accept the June 15, 1992 and August 17, 1992 Emergency Operations Committee Minutes. 5B. Council Reports Mayor Matteson, stated that in the past the City has repeatedly yet unsuccessfully attempted to acquire its own zip code. He revealed, however, that the 92324 code has been exhausted and indicated that the City is now eligible for a new zip code. He questioned Staff regarding the time table for the implementation of the new zip code. City Manager Schwab, replied that the new zip code request will be submitted during the week of October 12. Mayor Matteson, revealed that the City Manager is negotiating to ensure that the new zip code is designated specifically for the City of Grand Terrace. Councilmember Hilkev, thanked Staff for the extra time and effort spent in preparing letters for a Council Minutes - 10/08/92 Page 5 meeting, which was held at 11:00 a.m. on October 8, 1992, regarding the zip code. Mayor Matteson, announced that Saturday, October 10, 1992 is free dump day. He indicated that Citizen Patrol is experiencing mechanical problems with the patrol car and requested that Staff rectify the situation. He asked that City Manager Schwab explain the new radio system. City Manager Schwab, stated that the City relies upon the telephone system to communicate in times of natural disasters but commented that the recent, local earthquake activity revealed the potential inadequacy of that policy. He revealed that although Staff could communicate easily with one another, there was no direct communication between Staff and Council. He indicated that Council requested Staff to establish alternatives to phone communication during disasters and reported that the City developed a radio network that will provide ready communication with Council and will allow Council to listen to several networks that provide emergency information during disasters. He explained that the radio system will be effective since the community is small enough that Council or Staff can easily move to locations where the radios can transmit and receive. Mayor Pro Ten Grant, expressed his thanks to Jim Singley and John Taylor for their appreciation and support. Councilmember Carlstrom, stated that although the property at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Barton Road was recently purchased by Mr. Kohorst, the owner of Mr. T.V. Video, the sign at that location which registers the time and temperature was previously leased and, therefore, not included in the sale of the property. He questioned the disposition of the sign. City Manager Schwab, responded that Staff is working within the sign ordinance to allow Mr. T.V. Video to acquire a sponsor in order to retain and utilize the sign. Councilmember__Hi1_complimented the Recreation Department Staff for the success of the Tour de Terrace, commenting that the Tour was well Council Minutes - 10/08/92 Page 6 organized. He reported that Comcast Cable is re- organizing at the management level, adding that the change will affect the City. He mentioned that a representative from Comcast stated that the residents of the City could access channel 48 for $7.95, adding that the statement was erroneous. Expressing dissatisfaction, he explained that Comcast has failed to switch Channel 48 and Channel 3 and has not provided the City with promised equipment. He emphatically stated that Comcast has never complied with the original commitments established by Teleprompter, which were subsequently adopted by Group W and Comcast. He expressed frustration that the new manager at Comcast has no knowledge of the Agreements between Comcast and the City. Mayor Matteson, expressed optimism for the resolution of the situation due to the recently passed legislation that regulates cable television. Councilmember Hilkev, revealed that all of the receiving and transmitting equipment for Comcast is located within the City limits and pondered whether the City has legal recourse to halt the operations of the company within Grand Terrace. He requested that Staff and the City Attorney investigate legal redress for Comcast's breach of contract. He concurred that the Mini-Study's conclusion that another Study will be necessary to resolve the School District issue is an unwarranted suggestion and clarified that the purpose of the Mini -Study was to address the nine issues that the State Department will consider when the application to establish a new school district is reviewed. He asserted that the Mini -Study indicated that seven of the nine issues are feasible and revealed that a committee is addressing the remaining issues. He stated that any taxes that may be necessary to upgrade Terrace Hills Junior High School will be determined by the citizenry, adding that he will function merely to present information to the County Committee. He advised, however, that anyone over 55 without school -age children will be exempt from special taxes that may be levied to improve the Junior High School site. He implored the public to examine the Mini -Study, commenting that the Study clearly defines the State's requirements for the establishment of a school district. Council Minutes - 10/08/92 Page 7 Councilmember Christianson, applauded the Staff on the success of the Tour de Terrace and requested that the City Attorney research the new Cable Television Bill and ascertain the options that are available to the City regarding Comcast. ORDER OF ADJOURNMENT Mayor Matteson adjourned the City Council Meeting at 6:51 p.m., until the next regular CRA/City Council Meeting, which is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 22, 1992. MAYO# of the City of Grand Terrace �1 fLA�� CITY CLERK of the C ty of Grand Terrace