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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-1976MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA October 16, 1976 The meeting was called to order at 8:00 A.M. in the Regency Room of the Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, by Mayor John Garthe. The following Council members were present: Gordon Bricken, David F. Ortiz, Vernon S. Evans, David L. Brandt, James E. Ward and Mayor Garthe. Councilman Harry K. Yamamoto was absent. Staff members present were City Mana- ger Bruce C. Spragg, Director of Public Works John E. Stevens, City Attorney Keith L. Gow, Planning Director Charles C. Zimmerman, Police Chief Raymond Davis, Fire Chief B. J. Thompson, Personnel Director Donald Bott, Redevelopment Executive Director Richard Goblirsch, Executive Directors Manuel Rede and G. David Tayco, Public Information Officer Frank Blaszcak, and Clerk of the Council Florence I. Malone. COUNCIL-STAFF RETREAT The City Manager stated that this meeting would provide Council and Staff with the opportunity to review the status of some of their goals and objectives for this fiscal year, as well as some of the City's long range plans. CHARTER CHANGES Mayor Garthe dis- tributed a summary of the City Charter changes recommended by the Charter Review Committee, which had been continued by the Council for possible inclusion on the April Municipal ballot. He stated that Council should be prepared to dis- cuss the proposed amendments at the first or second Council meeting in November. CA 129 LEAGUE OF CITIES The Council reaffirmed NEW BUILDING its action on Septem- ber 20, 1976, and the Mayor stated that he would vote against the League's new building because there had been no response to the City's 'suggestion to change the League's voting process in keeping with the one-man one-vote principle. CA 148.5 WARD BOUNDARIES Councilman Ward suggested that the .hearing to realign the City's Ward Boundaries be held as soon as possible. Councilman Evans stated that it was Council's duty to try in all w~y.s to provide opportunity to the Blacks to nominate and elect a candidate. Councilman Ortiz asked if there had been any input from the Black community regarding Black concentration in a single ward. Executive Director Tayco stated that a report on ward boundary realignment would be on the October 26 Agenda, including a resolution to set the hearing on the realignment for Novem- ber 15. Later during the day, the proposed new boundary alignment map was displayed. CA 108 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 387 OCTOBER 16, 1976 BUILDING DEPARTMENT Councilman Brandt stated that he had received complaints because Building and Planning services were curtailed between 12:00 Noon and 1:00 P.M.; and that he has. been told that a Building Permit disapproved by one employee of the Department was subsequently approved by another, even though the plan had not been altered. CA 87 pLANNING DEPARTMENT Councilman Evans asked the City Manager for a description of the duties of the Planning Director, and suggested that the Director should be more readily accessible to builders and developers, especially those with projects which would potentially impact the City. Councilman Ward suggested that the Planning Department should get some additional help to relieve the Director from the daily short-term items that create time problems for him. He requested some statistics on the number of permits handled by each employee, and pointed out that many buildings can be designed in half the time it takes for them to go through a plan check. CA 78 ONE-STOP COUNTER SERVICE Councilman Bricken suggested that one-stop counter service for building, planning and public works be explored. He also stated that the talent and value of the Planning Director should not be wasted on routine matters. CA ?9.6 TRASH COLLECTION Councilman Ortiz stated that he was happy with the residential trash collection service, but suggested that a businessman should be able to select the best service available on the competitive market. Councilman Brandt stated that Council would have to come to grips with some valid questions; i.e., is trash collection a public utility for residential and business; should commercial trash collection subsidize residential; and why is there such a wide spread between cities' commercial collection rates. The City Attorney stated that trash collection is not a public utility, but that it is subject to the kind of regulation the Council may desire . . rates, service, requirements, etc., including the possibility of an exclusive franchise for residential and commercial collection. Councilman Ward stated that a solid waste recycling program should be encouraged at this time. CA 11.1 CA 145.12 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 388 OCTOBER 16, 1976 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Councilman Bricken reported on the consensus of the City Council-Human Rela- tions Commission Select Committee. He stated that the Committee had tentatively agreed'to recommend that the Human Relations Commission should continue; that the number of members should be reduced to nine; that new functions weuld include the role of housing advisory committee at which time the nine members would expand to eleven; that the Commission be assigned specific functions, such as rumor control, housing advisory commission, hearing body for all federal programs which require public input; and that commission staff should.function along the lines of the Planning Commission and Planning Department. CA 151.1 CITY'S IMAGE Councilman Evans stated that the public needs to be made aware of the services the City provides and how well they are provided. He sug- gested that this could best be accomplished by City employees because of the opportunities for positive public contact behind the counter, behind the wheel,in the field. Councilman Ortiz stated that Council policy must first be formulated by staff for Council consideration and adoption. Councilman Brandt stated that Council's relationship and communication with Boards and Commissions members needs to be strengthened in order to work together to improve the City's image, and that the hiring freeze has served its purpose. Councilman Bricken suggested that a special task force be established to respond to requests for City services on demand to maintain a high level of community response and service. CA 79.6 CA 151 RECESS with the same persons present. At 11:50 A.M. Council and staff recessed for lunch. The meeting reconvened at 1:00 P.M. COMMUNITY SERVICES The Executive Director for Community Services reported on the opera- tions for the Library and Department of Recreation and Parks. He stated that the Library services had been highly rated on a recent survey ~taken by Assemblyman Robinson; that the Library utilizes an employees' suggestion box and a management Council in addi~ tion to a work flow chart, all of which have resulted in tax savings estimated between $7 - $8 thousand. The Stadium use philosophy was described as one of multiple usage, with the City Schools having first priority; and tkat meetings will be scheduled with all the using parties. Mr. Rede stated that the reorganization of the Department of Recreation and Parks is in process, which will reduce the number of employees reporting to the Director from ien to five; ~nd that the following five divisions will be established under each supervisor: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 589 OCTOBER 16, 1976 Park Maintenance, Tree Maintenance, Facilities Management, Recreation Program, plus an Administrative and Planning Division. He also advised that expansion and improvement or-the Prentice Park Zoo, including the Rro~posed acqui§ition of an additional four acr~f land~ is uh~ stUdy by the !Board o£ Re~tion'a~d Parks, and by the Friends of the Zoo~ CA 79.6 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES The Executive Direc- tor for Administrative Services, G. David Tayco, described the activity of his departments as providing input and assistance to other line operating departments. He reviewed the CETA reduction dependency program, stating that from approximately 200 regular full time CETA positions, 60 have been recommended as critical to the operations of their departments by department heads. Mr. Tayco stated that the City expects to receive $1~.1/2 million in revenue.sharing funds during the first nine months of the next calendar year. In recapping the hiring freeze data, the Director stated that the freeze, initiated on January 6, 1976 had affected 54 regu- lar full-time vacancies, 22 of which have been filled, and that 18 of those 22 were in public safety. He further stated that there has been an impact on overtime expenditures; how- ever, he is not sure it is related to the hiring freeze~(75% more than same time last year}. Mr, Tayco stated that staff training programs for visual aids and oral presentations have been arranged for early November. Reporting on liability claims, Mr. Tayco stated that of 57 claims received, 4 had been settled. CA 79.6 RECLASSIFICATION ~ Personnel Director AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Don Bott stated that Council and staff must "close ranks" to better understand each other's position; that representative- ness is not the issue in affirmative action; that it can best be achieved through a management by objective approach; that the affirmative action program in its entirety represents all the personnel processes; that the City has to apply its resources to achieve a legally defensible personnel system; that an ~organizational commitment is necessary to protect ourselves and assure that we are in conformity with the law; that the hiring freeze has been detrimental because appointments utiliz- ing affirmative action recruiting processes have not been possible. He further stated that Char~er Civil Service pro- vision amendments are essential to modernize the program and provide the tool to accomplish the goal. Councilmen and staff agreed there was a need for better communica- tion and understanding regarding procedures and expenditures; and that this could be accomplished by frequent meetings with Council at their convenience, more concise departmental reports and improved presentation by staff at Council meetings. For example, Councilman Brans s~ated that he would need more informa- tion on the reclassification recommendation before he could support it. Councilm6n Bricken and Ward stated that they would need additional information on the estimated cost increases for reclassifications. CA 50 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 390 OCTOBER 16, 1976 POLICE PROGRAMS Police Chief Raymond Davis reported that arrests and crime clearances were up; that the Community Oriented Policing program has been well publicized by bench ads, billboards, radio and TV spots, speeches to major groups and organizations. Chief Davis also reported that the Department has the highest percentage of minority sworn officers and the highest percentage of Mexican-American officers in Orange County; and that the Department is conducting many programs including paralegal, narcotics index, burglary index, traffic drunk driving enforce- ment. In response to Councilman Evans, the Chief stated that Home Inspection Program was conducted with CETA personnel. CA 47 CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Councilman Bricken FUNCTIONS stated that the Depart- ment of the Clerk of the Council should provide more outreach in communicating to Board and Commission members to involve them in more community activity and func- tions in which Council participates; that Council needs maximum support from the Clerk's staff to facilitate its own commit- ments. Councilmen Bricken and Evans suggested that daily delivery of mail to their business offices and regularly assigned secretarial assistance would help them in their role as Councilmen. CA 75 MANAGER'S COMMUNICATIONS The City Manager sug- gested that visual graph workload indicators might replace the lengthy time-consuming monthly reports now provided to Council; and that these would be developed and displayed in the Mana- ger's office or Council Conference Room (Sth Floor and Council Chamber) to keep Council informed on the status of programs and projects. He also stated that he wants to continue to meet individually with the Councilmen as often as their schedule will allow, perhaps over breakfast or lunch. DEPARTURE Councilman Ortiz left the meeting at 2:50 P.M. FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM The Fire Chief, B. J. Thompson, stated that one of his goals is to offer more services for less or gqual cost; and he enumerated the goals of the Department. He pointed out that instead of purchasing new fire engines, old ones were being re-powered; that the Master Plan for the Fire service will include an evaluation of the paramedic program; that a Citizens Committee has been proposed to consider and make recommendations to tke Council for the Master Plan of fire protection for the City. The Chief stated that bilingual recruitment has been good, and is continuing. He further stated that he want~ to develop a program to contact families because loss of life is the greatest in homes; that the program would include home fire alarm installation and citizen education, using non-.sworn personnel for the latter. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 391 OCTOBER 16, 1976 Councilman Evans and Bricken suggested that the Committee be carefully selected to include knowledgeable people who will provide input and to exclude tho~e who have served many times previously. CA 64 REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS The Executive Director for Redevelopment Richard G oblirsch described the Redevelopment Agency's priority programs as the Fashion Square expansion, the 14-acre senior citizen and non-senior citizen housing development and the multi-modal transit terminal. He stated that the Civic Center Parking Study was completed and that the Performing Arts Study is underway. Mr. Goblirsch stated further that the disposition agreement for Fashion Square is in process; that the 14~acre housing site is under negotiation with the developer; that the physi- cal preparation of the site is going well; and that he will start to build in January or February if the Agency can meet the schedule. The Director continued, reporting.that the multi-modal transit -terminal is also progressing with staff working closely with the Developer, OCTD, and the architect; that it is proposed to lease the commercial space in the terminal which will have a SOO-car parking structure garage. Councilman Ward emphasized the need for communication with the residents who will be affected by the Fashion Square expansion and suggested that some pressure be applied to CALTRANS to keep their commitment to the Broadway overpass concept. CA 82 SENIOR CITIZENS SERVICE CENTER The City Manager reported that the dedication will be held during the month of January. CA 151.10 TELEPHONE POLICY In the interest of improving telephone communications with the public, the administrative policy will be to eliminate referrals to other departments; the employee receiving the call will take the message, and relay it to the responsible department for prompt reply and appropriate action. CA 79.6 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 P.M. by Mayor Garthe. [kORENCE I. ,MALONE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 592 OCTOBER 16, 1976