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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-27-1976MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA April 27, 1976 The meeting was called to order at S:05 P.M. by Mayor John Garthe in the City Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza. The following Council members were present: Gordon Bricken, Oavid F. Ortiz, Harry K. Yamamoto~ David L. Brandt, James E. Ward and Mayor John Garthe. Councilman Vernon S. Evans was absent. Also present were the following members of Staff: City Manager Bruce C. Spragg; Assistant,City.Manager Ronald Wolford; Deputy City Managers G. David Tayco, Manuel Rede and Thomas J..~Andrusky;~Director ef Public Wonks John Stevens; Director of Planning Charles Zimmerman; Police Chief Raymond C. Davis; Executive Director of Redevelopment Richard Goblirsch; and Assistant Clerk of the Council Patricia E. Rice. EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCED Executive Session to at 6:00 P.M. consider salary Following roll Call, the Mayor announced that Council would recess for and wage negotiations INVOCATION PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to the Flag. The Invocation was given by Councilman Bricken, following the Pledge of Allegiance RECESS At 5:06 P.M. Council COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT recessed to convene AGENCY the regular meeting .of the Community Redevelopment Agency; Council reconvened at 6:35.P.M..and immediately recessed, and again reconvened at 6:45 P.M. with the same. Council members present~ ....... CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Yamamoto ITEMS REMOVED & requested removal of DISSENTING VOTES Item 10 from the Con- sent Calendar; there were no dissenting votes registered by Council for the remaining Consent Calendar items. CONSENT CALENDAR On the unanimously STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED carried (6:0) motion of Councilman Ward, seconded by Council- man Yamamoto, Council affirmed the recommended action on the following Consent Calendar items: BID CALLS ment for bids Approved plans and specifications and authorized advertise- on the following: SPEC 76-013 Lease of four passenger vehicles, Police Department. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 157 APRIL 27, 1976 CONSENT CALENDAR STAFF~RECOMMBNDAT. IONS APPROVED - Continued ANNUAL BIDS - Water System Materials: SPEC 767-111 - Asbestos cement pipe. SPEC 767-118 - Cast iron fittings for AC water pipe. SPEC 767-120 - Gate valves. SPEC 767-121 - Butterfly valves, standard. SPEC 767-139 - Resilient wedge gate valves. BID AWARDS Rescinded award made on March 1, 1976, in the amount of $3,221.34, to Hardin Oldsmobile, who had subsequently requested to withdraw their bid; and awarded the following on the basis of lowest responsible and best bidder: .SPEC 75r~022,,~.O~e:.Sub-compact,Sedan;,~awa=ded~ to Santa Ana Honda, Santa Ana, in the amount of $5,258.44. Awarded the following on basis of only responsible bidder: SPEC 75-026 - Four Three-wheel Scooters; awarded to Cushman Motor Sales, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, in the amount of $11,286.88. Rescinded award made on March 1, 1976, in the amount of $4,362.56, to Leo Hoffman Chevrolet, who had subse- quently requested to withdraw their bid, and awarded the following on the basis of lowest responsible and best bidder: SPEC. 75-030 - One Truck 7,500 GVWR Cab & Chassis; awarded to Santa Ana Dodge, Santa Ana, in the amount of $4,572.47. Awarded the following on the basis of lowest respons- ible and best bidder: PROJECT 8061 - Construct Bike Path along PERR Right of Way from Warner Avenue to Chestnut Avenue; and PROJECT 6114 - Con- struct Aloha Bike Path Extension; awarded to Robert L. Baker, dba East Bay Construction, , ~ong. Beach, .in the amoFqg:!o~_$39,607.20., .... CA 89 DEED WITH CASH GRANTOR, CITY sary documents & ESCROW Approved the following deed and authorized Mayor to sign all neces- in connection with the sale: SCOTT, FERRIS H. - Northwest corner Santa Aha Boulevard and Logan Avenue, surplus sale. CA 155 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 158 APRIL 2?, 1976 CONSENT CALENDAR STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED - Continued RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Approved payment of the following: PROJECT 1267 - Seventeenth Street Widening - Payment of $4,643.35 to Martin Lewis as actual moving expense of his business, Sunbeam Appliance Service Company, from 816 West Seven- teenth Street. CA 29.8 * * * * * * ~ * CONSENT CALENDAR FINIS CHANGE ORDER - PROJECT 6098 CABRILLO TENNIS CENTER APPROVED cilman Ort!z, and carried. (4:2), and Brandt dissenting: PROJECT 6098 - Construct courts at Cabrillo Tennis Center (Phase II) at Cabrillo Park Drive and Fruit Street - Change Order #2 increasing in the amount of $2,331.28 for the installation of metal wind screens to match the existing screens. The following Change Order was approved on motion of Councilman Ward, seconded by Coun- with Councilmen Yamamoto CA 89 PUBLIC HEARING The Mayor announced PARADES IN CITY that this was the CONTINUED time and place to consider a policy for the administration of parades, band reviews, and other similar events in the City; and that representatives of organizations previously sponsoring a parade or similar activity in the City were invited to help Council formulate a parade administration policy. Comments of the following parade sponsors were in response to a Staff study dated February 18, 1976, prepared and distributed by Mike Hammer, Administrative Aide, with invitations to attend this meeting. James A. Phillips, Chairman of the Orange County Committee on Constitutional Observance, stated that their annual parade is financed solely by contributions from the various lodges of the Masons and Knights of Columbus; that their purpose is to impress the young people with the values of citizen- ship and patriotism; that their parade is iow budget and entirely financed.~by donations; that they have had their parade for ten years; and that the City would encourage its continuance by keeping the cost of City policemen and restroom facilities at a minimum or free of charge. Richard E. Morton, 12128 Orvillina, representing the Santa Aha Jaycees, stated that they sponsor the oldest parade in Santa Aha; that their Christmas Frolic parade has been held since 1939; that the parade has traditionally been the kick-off for the Christmas shopping season; that it is really a community project and the Jaycees provide the 800 to 1,000 manhours it takes to put it on; that there have been from 75 to 140 units, or approximately 1,000 participants in each parade; and he introduced Gerald A. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 159 APRIL 27, 1976 Wolf, Vice President of the Jaycees, to give financial information. Mr. Wolf stated that the City Council has provided financial assistance annually; that for the past two years ,the Jaycees have received $2,S00 and in 1973 $2,000; that in 1973 they experienced a loss of $3S2.64; that they employ a part time secretary at $2.25 per hour to make phone calls.~.take~minnte.s.of meet~ings, and keep everyone up to date; that in 1974 they were able to return to the City $156..:16, a~d~wh.en ~l.l,-the-,rep~ts, are in for this past year, they hope to break even or return funds to the City; and that most important is the enjoyment of the parade by the people of Santa Ana. Robert Ward, Heliotrope Street, representing the Santa Ana Winds Band Review, stated that they have not asked the City, nor do they intend to ask the City, for financial assistance; that they ~p~ite 45 California public high school bands to come to Santa Ana to compete in five divi- sions; that the Review costs about $8,000 and attracts from 7,000 to 8,000 participant band and drill team members; that this is the fifth year of the Review; that the Review does not get the audience participation that they would hope, but that the general public is general4y unfamiliar with the judging of competitive bands; that they sell ads in programs and re:ceive donations to defray their cost; that any additional cost imposed by the City for services required by the Review would create additional funding problems; and that they would :appreciate support for their Band Review from the City. Acting Fire Chief, Raymond Bachtelle, speaking regarding the annual parade sponsored by the Fire Department, stated that the parade is part of the Department's public educa- tion program and primarily for the benefit of youngsters; that the Department considers this event one of its most important in maintaining Santa Aha as one of the finest Fire Departments in the nation; that no City funds are requested; and that all work done by Firemen is done during off duty hours. Phil Vega, 2001 West Martha Lane, President of A.L.M.A. (Assistance League of Mexican Americans), stated that his organization sponsors Cinco de Mayo and 16th of September parades and fiestas, and that for the last two years the ten members have gone into debt; that their main objective is to help the Santa Ana Police Explorers; that his organi- zation has submitted a request for financial assistance to sponsor the two annual events; and that any City fees would be a hardship. There were no further speakers, and the Mayor closed the public hearing. Following Council discussion, the matter was continued for consideration during fiscal year 1976-77 Budget study sessiQns, on motion Qf Councilman Yamamoto, seconded by Councilman Brandt, and carried (S:l), with Councilman Ortiz dissenting.. Subsequent to Council's action, Jim Cavallo, Santa Ana Junior Chamber of Commerce, commented that it is difficult to. arrange publicity for parades and similar events in the City. Robert Ward agreed; and requested that he be noti- fied of any new Council-imposed regulations for parades within one month, because the invitations for the Winds event to be scheduled for 1976 would have to go out. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 160 APRIL 27, 1976 During Council discussion the following comments were made by Council members: Councilman Yamamoto stated that he would favor putting aside a limited amount of money for use in funding non-profit civic events, and that the various organizations could apply for the funds to be distributed by Staff on an equitable basis. Councilman Brandt stated reluctance to get into funding of non-profit operations, but said that he saw no reason to charge fees for these events; that the fees would not offset the cost of the services provided; and that he is in favor of the present procedure with no change. Councilman Ward said that parades are excellent publicity for the City; and that he would like to promote these activi ties; that the City spends a minimum amount on parades com- pared to other Orange County cities. Councilman Bricken endorsed the suggestion of Gene Moriarty, Santa Ana Bicentennial Committee Chairman, in his letter of April 21, 1976 to Councilman Bricken, that the City provide promotion of civic activities in view of the difficulty that exists in securing coverage by the local newspaper. CA 45.1 CA 65 PUBLIC HEARING - ORD. NS~1303 LOCAL DRAINAGE AREA FEES ADOPTED Ordinance NS-1303 Section 34-193 to provide for later of the Council. The Mayor announced that.~his was. the time and place for the Public Hearing of amending the Santa Ana Municipal Code increase~local drainage area fees and changes therein to be made by resolution Public Works Director John Stevens stated that the proposed increase in drainage assessment fees is based on the construc- tion cost index as published by Engineering News Record; that it is necessitated by an increase in construction costs; that the proposed fees, set forth in his annual report to Council dated February 9, 1976, had been approved by the Planning Commission at its special meeting held on March 23, 1976. There were no proponents nor opponents; the Assistant Clerk reported there were no written communications; and the Mayor closed the Public Hearing. Full reading was waived, the following ordinance was considered by title only, placed on second reading and adopted, on the unanimously carried (6:0) motion of Councilman Ortiz, seconded by Councilman Bricken: ORDINANCE NS-1303 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING SANTA AND MUNICIPAL CODE SEC- T~ON 34-193 TO INCREASE LOCAL DRAINAGE AREA FEES AND PROVIDE FOR LATER CHANGES THEREIN TO BE MADE BY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. CA 70 ORAL COMMUNICATION Councilman Brandt COUNTY PARAMEDIC FUNDING reported that the COUNCILMA. N BRANDT County will approach the League of Cities to ascertain whether or not there is any interest in the County's Paramedic Plan. He suggested that Council await the reaction of th~ League to the Plan before taking a position on the matter. CA 112.22 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 161 APRIL 27, 1976 ORAL COMMUNICATION Councilman Yamamoto's AB 2752 - OCTD motion to reconsider COUNCILMAN YAMAMOTO support for Assembly Bill 2732 (Robinson) which would delete the requirement that the Orange County Transit District purchase an existing transit service or system prior to establishing any transit service or system which may compete with the existing transit service or sys- tem, was seconded by Councilman Bricken, and carried (4:2), with Councilmen Brandt and Ortiz dissenting. The matter had been previously considered by Council at its regular meetings of March 1, when it was continued, and April 19, 1976, when a motion to support AB 2752 failed to carry. Curt Stewart, Governmental Affairs Officer for Orange County Transit District, expanded on Supervisor Clark's letter to Council dated April 26, 1976, asking for support of AB 2752. He stated that the current Act establishes minimum purchase price for competing systems of not less than the three pre- vious years' gross operating revenue; that as it stands the Act places an unfair burden on County taxpayers; that the OCTD Board's policy and practice have been to protect private industry whenever possible; that the Board recommends the following amendments to establish a three-step process in the event of competition with a private company: 1) Negotia- tion between prior existing competing system and District, 2) Arbitration, with arbitrators determined by both parties, and finally, if necessary~ 3) Determination by the courts; that the District is recommending this because the Board believes that damages or compensation based on actual damages or on the fair market value of the system is a much more equitable system to operate under than the buy-out system mandated prior to implementing service that is based on gross operating revenues. Councilman Yamamoto's motion, seconded by Councilman Ward, ~ to support AB 2732, carried (4:2), with Councilmen Brandt and Ortiz dissenting. CA $7 ORAL COMMUNICATION Councilman Ortiz SISTER CITY PROGRAM suggested.~that Council REFERRED initiate a new Sister City Program by send- ing a letter to people who are interested in a Sister City Program at no cost to the City of Santa Ana. Following discussion, a motion by Councilman Brandt, seconded by Councilman Yamamoto, to refer the matter to Staff for report of the history of the City's existing Sister City Program, carried unanimously (6:0). A prior motion by Councilman Yamamoto, Brandt, to implement Councilman Ortiz' drawn by maker and second. seconded by Councilman suggestion, was with- CA 67 RECESS At 7:30 P.M. Council EXECUTIVE SESSION recessed for dinner in Room 831, City Hall; at 8:15 P.M., the meeting reconvened, and was immediately recessed for an Executive Session called for by the City Attorney to discuss a matter in litigation; at 8:30 P.M. the Council meeting again reconvened, with the same Councilmen present. ~'~'CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 162 APRIL 27, 1976 BUDGET STUDY City Manager Bruce FISCAL YEAR 1976-77 Spragg distributed two reports which had been requested by Council: "Major Capital Expenditures Over $5,000 Currently Remaining in the Budget" and "Breakdown of State and Federal Grants Including City Matching Funds,', and pointed out high- lights of each. Police Chief Davis corrected the footnote at the bottom of Page 3 of the Breakdown report to read: "~*Additional Funds anticipated may total $50,000 requiring $2,500 Cash Match", with the other 5% ($2,500) from the State, pertaining to the Command and Control item. Mr. Spragg stated that in the current year the City's share was $307,000 cash match for a total of $9,300,000, most of which is in the gas tax program; and for next year City's Cash Match would be $6.6 million, of which' it is anticipated that $6.5 million would result from sale of Revenue Bonds for Redevelopment, leaving about $100,000 unfunded, to bring in about $14.5 million. He stated that the Budget is a little more than $1.6 million out of balance, and requested an expression of opinion from Council'to give Staff a sense of direction. In response~'to':a question- from"Councilman Britken as to which policy alternative might be most viable from Staff's point of view, Mr. Spragg responded that Council could suggest possible combinations of the Alternatives outlined;that health insurance is a negotiable item; that he does not recommend continuing the hiring freeze, elimination of positions in:the Crime Abatement Program or increased retention level in liability insurance. He pointed out that some of the reasons why the hiring freeze is not a good:option now are that it is not a true budget saving but only a deferment; that it promotes mediocrity of performance within departments4 that cost effectiveness in terms of overtime and contracting out, and inclusion of the CETA Program, tend to mitigate against it. Councilmen Ward and Bricken expressed the opinion that General Revenue Sharing should be separated from operating expenses, and kept for capital improvements only. In response to Councilman Bricken's question about Utility Users Tax revenues, Mr~ Spragg replied that it is difficult to estimate,:bu~ that the utility user tax and~the~26~ tax totally offset the Crime Abatement Program and the Paramedic Program in this Budget. Mr. Spragg suggested that a cut-back on the unallocated con- tingency reserve:might be one viable area; that if a real emergency should arise it would force a re-evaluation of the Program-at that time; and that there is a possib'ility that revenue estimates may also be increased. Councilman Ward stated that capital improvements can be cut in the event of an emergency. Councilman Brandt expressed, his opinion that if the contin- gency reserve were reduced, 2% more cut from the whole Bud- get, a cap put on employee health insurance, and salaries held down to minimum, the result would be a close ballpark figure towards a balanced Budget. Councilman Ward concurred. The City Manager asked Council if it were necessary to make a choice between cutting positions or raising taxes what its position would be. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 1976 Councilman Brandt said it might be necessary to cut positions; Councilman Ward stated that he would prefer consideration of better wages £or fewer employees than the question of wage raises versus increased taxes. Councilman Bricken asked whether a contingency program has been formulated £or the Recreation and Parks Department. Mr. Spragg responded that "all of the frosting was squeezed out last year". He stated that a philosophy has been developed by Staff which includes the "equal sacrifice con- cept'', and that each Department head is being asked to determine~where he would make a 5% to 10% cut, forcing Staff into a contingency framework. Councilman Ward noted that in the Preliminary Capsule Summary it appeared that revenues were over $6 million more than the previous year, or up about 15%~ Mr..Spragg replied that the Revenue Capsule has been revised to indicate that discretion- ary growth revenue is much less than that, or about 7.1%, approximately the inflation rate. At the same time, he said, expenditures without adding anything new tend to go up for many:reasons,~'and~one of.the biggest items is insurance. Councilman Brandt asked about the anticipated growth in property tax revenue; the City Manager stated that the rate in use is a 10% increase in the Assessed Valuation, which, it is hoped, may be a little conservative. Councilman Ward stated that he would like to continue the Crime Program, but not necessarily at the expense: of all other programs; that he doesn't want to see other programs totally sacrificed, such as the Community Centers. Councilman Yamamoto expressed his opinion that the existing west and south Centers have been effective and should be retained, and that recreation programs should be continued in deprived areas. Councilmen Brandt and Ward agreed. Councilman Brandt stated that he is very concerned about reducing the:size of: the: Fire Department. . Councilman Bricken complimented Assistant City Manager Ron Wolford on his successful use of CETA employees in the Public Works Department on sidewalk projects, and suggested development o£ a philosophy for use of CETA employees on "one shot benefit", highly visible work by other City departments, Chief':Davis commenled that 8'0% of the employees in his Crime Prevention Program are CETA. CA 65B RECESS EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT tions. At 9:05' P:.M. Council recessed.for an Executive Session to discuss wage negotia- Councilman Bricken left the meeting at 9:40 P,M. Council reconvened at 10:00 P.M. and the Mayor immediately adjourned the meeting. ASSISTANT CLERK OF THE COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 164 APRIL 27, 1976