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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 2009-02-03 17 City Council, Regular Meeting Civic Center Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue Redding, California February 3,2009 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Council Member Jones. The Invocation was offered by Police Chaplain Ben Adams. I The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bosetti with the following Council Members present: Dickerson, Jones, McArthur, and Stegall. Also present were City Manager Starman, Assistant City Manager Tippin, City Attorney Duvernay, Development Services Director Hamilton, Transportation and Engineering Director Crane, Electric Utility Director Hauser, Police Chief Hansen, Airports Manager Dinger, City Clerk Strohmayer, Assistant City Clerk Mize, and Executive Assistant Stribley. I PUBLIC COMMENT [E-090-125] Lisa Peterson, Mary Ann Sharp, Jo Vayo, Mark Keys, Alida Adair, Linda Minihane, Kalen Becerra, Karen Ball, Loeta Rhodes, Peggy Simensen, and J een W opat urged the City Council to review Redding Electric Utility (REU) Customer Service policies and procedures and asked that a moratorium be initiated on non-payment abatements until the new Utility Billing Review Committee has an opportunity to make recommendations. They also suggested that additional funds be put in the public benefits program for CARE, SHARE, and Lifeline, to assist those who are having financial difficulty and that REU develop a method of letting customers know the total amount in those benefit funds, when more is needed and how to . donate. They contended that burning candles are not the safety and fire issue as stated by the REU and the Building Department. Mayor Bosetti invited everyone to attend the first meeting of the Utility Billing Review Committee to be held on Friday, February 6,2009, at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at City Hall. I PRESENTATION - ShastaFORWARD [T-I00-375] Dan Wayne, Senior Planner for the Shasta Regional Transportation Planning Agency (R TP A), provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the ShastaFOR WARD program that was developed to provide an opportunity to review and share growth through local agencies, utilize the R TP A as a sounding board for those growth ideas, and generate region-wide consensus on ideas relative to growth. He stated that RTP A will assist local agencies by coordinating methods of compliance on a regional level of various legislative bills, such as required greenhouse reductions. He stated that over the past two years, RTP A conducted surveys on community values and priorities, held community workshops, received feedback from general public and consultation of councils. As a result, RTP A consolidated ideas into three modeling groups which are rural and periphery, distinct community, and urban core and corridors. The modeling groups are used to determine what the effect will be if proposed . ideas were actually implemented. Mr. Wayne stated that the success of the models is increased based on the completeness of ar~a information acquired. Once that data is obtained, he believed that there would be no limit to the types of models that could be processed. In response to Council Member McArthur, Mr. Wayne explained that although on the surface it appears there might be duplication oflocal agencies planning efforts, in fact, the plan for R TP A encompasses 50 years and is regional as opposed to the 10-15 years of most General Plans which are specific to local entities. He added that the project is funded through the state. Council Member McArthur believed the funds being utilized by RTP A to produce ShastaFOR W ARD would be better spent providing additional public safety officers for local agencIes. 2/3/20.09 18 Council Member Dickerson clarified that ShastaFORW ARD is a process to gather as much information as possible over an extended period of time for growth processes and that use ofthe results could be processed by the participating agencies as they saw fit. Mr. Wayne asked that the City Council consider three questions; 1) does the Council support the direction that the ShastaFOR WARD regional blueprint is heading; 2) what improvements to the process would be recommended; and 3) are there specific objectives that the City would like to achieve as a result of the process. He related that a plan will ultimately be developed that will not overlay each agency's General Plan, but rather become an additional tool to assist in development and implementation of each General Plan. In response to Council Member Jones, Mr. Wayne advised that Fix5 is not related to ShastaFORW ARD in any manner except that they are both projects ofRTP A. I Council Members Stegall and Dickerson supported the ShastaFORW ARD concept and hoped it will become a useful tool. They suggested that RTP A quickly address any confusion by agencies or the public to alleviate concerns and misconceptions. Mayor Bosetti hoped that individual community survey results would be included in the overall modeling. No action was required on this informational item. CONSENT CALENDAR The following matters were considered inclusively under the Consent Calendar: Approval of Minutes - Special Meeting of January 20, 2009 Approval of Payroll and Accounts Payable Registers (A-050-100-500) It is recommended that Accounts Payable Register No. 14, check numbers 870364 through 870719 inclusive, in the amount of $15,140,430.22, for the period of January 17, 2009, through January 31, 2009; and Payroll Register No. 15 electronic deposit transaction numbers 248004 through 248868 and check numbers 542702 through 542822 inclusive, in the amount of$2,607,047.04 for the period January 11, 2009, through January 24,2009, be approved. TOTAL: $17,747,477.26 I Treasurer's Report - December 2008 (A-050-100-600) Total Treasurer's Accountability Total City of Redding Funds, Funds Held in Trust, and Funds of Related Entities $133,695,477.85 $271,073,916.97 ACR133 Report and Cash Reconciliation (F -205-095-650) It is the recommendation ofthe Finance Director that the ACR133 Report and the Proof of Cash Reconciliation for December 2008 be accepted. Award of Bid - Bid Schedule No. 4193, 2008-09 Sanitary Sewer and Storm Drain Repair and Replacement [B-050-020/W -020-57 5/S-060-150] It is the recommendation of the Transportation and Engineering Director that Bid Schedule No. 4193 (Job No. 2326), 2008-09 Sanitary Sewer and Storm Drain Repair and Replacement be awarded to N & T Digmore, Inc. in the amount of$128,068, that an additional $34,000 be approved for administration and inspection fees and to obtain outside services for materials testing, and that an additional $25,000 be approved for a construction contingency fund, for a total amount of$187,068. I Stillwater Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Facilities Plan - Expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant [W-OI0-560] It is t~e. recommendation of the Transportation and Engineering Director that the City Councif accept the Stillwater Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Facilities Plan for the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. 2/312009 19 Notice of Completion - Bid Schedule No. 4161, 2008 Overlay Project [B-050-020 & S-070-200] It is the recommendation of the Transportation and Engineering Director that Bid Schedule No. 4161 (Job No. 2303), 2008 Overlay Project awarded to Tullis, Inc. be accepted as satisfactorily completed and that the City Clerk be authorized to file a Notice of Completion with the Shasta County Recorder. The final cost was $952,613.40. I Resolution - Amending the Employment and Benefit Policies for Unrepresented Employees re Standby Duty Compensation for the Municipal Utilities Manager (Water T5/D5 Certification) [P-l 00-050-1 00] It is the recommendation of the Personnel Director that Resolution No. 2009-06 be adopted, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redding, amending the Employment and Benefit Policies for Unrepresented Employees to include standby duty compensation for the Municipal Utilities Manager (Water T5/D5 Certification), effective January 25,2009, and to sunset on June 30, 2009, or when the City hires another full-time employee with a T5/D5 Certificate, whichever comes first MOTION: Made by Council Member Jones, seconde4 by Council Member McArthur, that all the foregoing items on the Consent Calendar be approved and adopted as recommended above. The Vote: AYES: Council Members - Dickerson, Jones, McArthur, Stegall, and Bosetti NOES: Council Members - None ABSTAIN: Council Members - None ABSENT: Council Members - None Resolution No. 2009-06 is on file in the Office of the City Clerk I UPDATE ON MAJOR PROJECTS - Chum Creek Road realignment and widening project [A-050-080 & S-070-l00] Senior Redevelopment Project Coordinator Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation depicting the Chum Creek Road Realignment and Widening Project which was completed on time and under budget. She related that this was a high priority project partly because of numerous traffic accidents in the area, and because it was hoped that completion would launch redevelopment in the area. The project was completed with a final cost of approximately $6 million of which $3 million will be repaid to the Redding Redevelopment Agency as development occurs. She advised that currently a developer, Vitalis, has submitted plans for a retail center at the location. No action was required on this informational item. I REAFFIRM EXISTING FEE STRUCTURE FOR THE CITY'S SOLAR PHOTOVOL TAlC PROGRAM [E-120-200] Electric Utility Director Hauser advised a letter was received from Mr. Greg Washburn requesting that the Redding Electric Utility (REU) modify its metering policy by waiving the meter reading fee (currently $6.86 per month) for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Program customers. He stated that there are 52 customers utilizing the REU system. Mr. Hauser explained that the monthly fee is not only for reading the meter, but also encompasses the equipment and services provided to the residence to ensure the availability of power in the event the customer's PV system does not produce a sufficient supply of electricity. He pointed out that is the PV customers monthly fees were waived, the costs would then be borne by the other ratepayers. Mr. Hauser recommended that the City Council aqcept the report and reaffirm the existing policies related to the Solar Photovoltaic Program. Mr. Greg Washburn, Redding resident, eXplained that he installed a very expensive PV system which sometimes produces excess power which is sent to REU. He believed that the billing policy should be changed for PV customers, allowing a meter read only once per year and a reduction on the monthly fee. . In response to Council Member Stegall, Mr. Washburn acknowledged awareness of the fee when he decided to install a PV system. 2/312009 20 MOTION: Made by Council Member Stegall, seconded by Council Member Dickerson, accepting the report and reaffirming the existing policies related to the Solar Photo voltaic Program. The Vote: Unanimous Ayes SCHEMA TIC DESIGN AGREEMENT - Nichols Melburg & Rossetto; and RETROFIT OPTIONS FOR A NEW POLICE FACILITY [C-050-550] City Manager Starman recalled that at the regular meeting of September 16, 2008, City Council selected Nichols, Melburg, and Rossetto, Architects, (NMR) to provide schematic design services for the proposed new police facility in an amount not-to-exceed $298,000. To date, NMR has been paid $88,320 for work completed through November 2008. He estimated that the City owes NMR approximately $65,000 for work completed from December 2008 to January 2009, leaving a balance of$145,000 of the contracted amount. Mr. Starman advised that the NMR contract was funded from two State grants in the amount of$234,49l and $63,509 from Redding Redevelopment Agency (RRA). He noted that the balance of the grand funds ($88,000) must be expended by June 30, 2010. He related that the contract with NMR may be unilaterally terminated by the City with a 30-day written notice or City Council and NMR may agree to suspend or modify the contract. I Police Chief Hansen recalled a recent visit to southern California with Mayor Bosetti and Council Member McArthur to view two retrofit and one newly constructed policy facilities. The Ontario Police Facility was a retrofit (previously a Fedco store) building with approximately 172,000 square feet on 17 acres completed in 2004 at a cost of $22 million including furniture and equipment. He stated it appeared to be a very functional building. The Montclair Police Facility is a new construction building financed through a .25% sales tax increase and is approximately 38,000 square feet at a cost of$31 million. Chief Hansen opined that it was not as well organized as the Ontario facility. The last building visited was a 66,000 square feet retrofit facility in Riverside completed at a cost of $18 million (previously a Costco building that had been retrofitted as an ice rink and a bank). He pointed out that the City of Riverside decided to help pay debt service by keeping the ice rink active. They plan to convert the ice rink portion of the building when additional police facility space is needed. He believed that the interior of the Riverside facility could have better arrangement. I Charles Menoher, Chair of the Police Facility Review Committee, reminded City Council of the work performed by the Committee, which was appointed by Council. He stated he wanted to alleviate any doubts regarding the diligence, expertise and objectivity of the Committee, as well as NMR. He advised that the Committee was dedicated to delivering a recommendation that would provide a path to funding and building a police facility designed to meet the needs ofthe community for 30-plus years. Dr. Menoher acknowledged that the economy has changed dramatically since the Committee submitted it's recommendation, however, he urged Council to keep all options on the table by allowing NMR to complete the work underway on the new police facility designs. He maintained that Council needs detailed analysis of costs for a new facility when considering alternative options such as a retrofit building. Erin Salazar questioned how the City Council could be sure that the only option for a new police facility was a retrofit building without obtaining the full report on a new building and urged the Council to consider the true costs of a facility before making a final decision. Vi Klaseen contended that this City Council was disrespectful to the actions of a previous Council and she was appalled by the blatant disregard and lost continuity. She maintained that a community will always need a police department, and its facility should be built to last. She recalled that the last building housing the police department was a retrofit and it did not last. She urged that a building be constructed that will be aesthetically pleasing and will last for many years. I Emily Young, a member of the Police Facility Review Committee, believed that the focus should be on how to fund the facility the police department actually needs. At some point, a total project cost needs to be determined and then the focus should shift to determining how much one time funding will be available, and how to make payments on the remainder. She believed that for every $1 million in bonds that are borrowed $70,000 will be required annually for debt service. 2/312009 21 Mike Lusso, of Nichols, Melburg, & Rossetto Architects (NMR), responded to discussion during the January 20, 2009 City Council meeting. He reminded the City Council that NMR has worked on a new police facility project for four years, and added that much of the knowledge gained would be difficult to pass on to a new consultant. I Mr. Lusso pointed out that, counter to claims that NMR lacks expertise in retrofit facilities, Tim Craig (NMR architect) recently designed a 30,000 square feet retrofit building (old Mervyn's store) for the Oakland Police Department's 3rd Precinct. He defended NMR's objectivity and integrity and insisted NMR puts their client's needs and wishes first and that NMR was the best qualified to evaluate possible retrofit building proposals. He related that NMR has already developed site plans at the Civic Center Campus that will not encroach on parklands and hoped there would be an opportunity to present those ideas. He urged that the City Council modify its scope of work in the current Agreement to allow NMR to present scaled back schematic designs for a new facility and evaluate potential retrofit projects. He also urged that the City Council appoint a sub-committee to provide oversight and transparency of the project. Gary Cadd, Redding resident, urged the City Council to determine the amount of funding remaining for design and not to exceed that amount. He expressed concern that when an issue arose regarding use of parklands on the site chosen by the City Council last October, that Council did not direct staff to locate a different parcel before any further work was done by NMR. I Council Member Dickerson asserted that there would be no available funds in the foreseeable future to build a new or retrofit police facility, but he favored obtaining a detailed analysis of the costs of both options. He strongly urged that the agreement with NMR go forward, with modifications, in order to obtain detailed costs of a new building. He maintained that such information would allow Council to make an accurate and informed decision when funds become available for construction. Without competent and informed analysis, he believed the City Council would continue in its current course of guesswork and indecision. While he was not opposed to investigating retrofit proposals, he was adamant that work should continue on both to provide an accurate comparison. Mayor Bosetti opined there are still property owners that would bring proposals to the City Council which could then be evaluated by NMR but believed that work should stop on a new . building. Mr. Lusso suggested that the City Council allow NMR to complete enough of the schematic design for a new building to be able to provide a reliable cost estimate and then NMR would utilize the remaining funds to evaluate retrofit proposals. He stated that the City should require certain engineering and geotechnical information be included in retrofit proposals to reduce evaluation costs. Council Member McArthur indicated that after review of facilities in southern California, she preferred the retrofit in Ontario. In response to Council Member McArthur, James Thiemer, Trilogy Architecture, believed the Police Review Committee did not have as much time as it should have for a task of that magnitude, but the Committee did determine that a new police facility was needed and that funding would always be an issue: He concurred that all options should be explored but the first determination should be how much should be spent, adding that the process should move forward. Council Member McArthur believed that the process should start with identification of available funds followed with site selection. . I Council Member Jones indicated that he always doubted the feasibility ofthe project because he believed the City could not afford a new building. He opined that a retrofit building would be less expensive but in the current economy may not even be feasible. Mr. Jones was only interested in exploring retrofit proposals, and he preferred a structurally sound, efficient building over one that was aesthetically pleasing. City Attorney Duvernay advised that if the City Council conceptually approves modification to the agreement with NMR, staff would prepare an amendment with a revised scope of work for Council's consideration. . 2/312009 22 MOTION: Made by Council Member Stegall, seconded by Council Member Dickerson, conceptually approving modification ofthe Professional Consultant Agreement with Nichols, Melburg, and Rossetto to continue with schematic designs for a new police facility and include a new scope of work for evaluation of retrofit proposals, using only the existing grant funding, and directing staff to determine, during the upcoming budget process, what funding would be available for a new police facility (new construction or retrofit). The Vote: AYES: Council Members - Dickerson, McArthur, Stegall, and Bosetti NOES: Council Members - Jones ABSTAIN: Council Members - None ABSENT: Council Members - None RESOLUTION - Authorizing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant applications for capital improvement projects at Redding Municipal Airport; RESOLUTION - Authorizing FAA grant applications for capital improvement projects at Benton Airpark & matching grant application with the State Division of Aeronautics for Benton Airpark; and RESOLUTION - Appropriating grant funds for same [G-l 00-070-095/^G-l 00-1 70-2001^B-l 30-0701 A-090-1 001 A-090-020] Transportation and Engineering Director Crane stated that the F ederal Aviation Administration (FAA) offers grants for capital improvement projects at airports dependent on the type of airport. He stated that this is the first funding cycle and there will be another funding cycle later this year. Mr. Crane advised that in a normal year the City Council would be asked to authorize prior approval to submit a grant, however, the federal government funded FAA through a continuing resolution, which caused FAA to split its 2009-10 federal fiscal year grant funding cycle into two cycles and only recently notified the City to submit application by February 2, 2009. He assured the City Council that although staff submitted the first cycle request in accordance with this deadline, the application may be withdraw if Council wishes. I Airports Manager Dinger advised that the Redding Municipal Airport is a primary, non-hub airport and as such is entitled to $1 million in grant funds from the FAA annually and is eligible to compete for discretionary funding over and above that. He related that Benton Airpark is a general aviation reliever airport and entitled to $150,000 per year in grants and can compete for additional funds as well. He stated that the proposed capital improvements for the Redding Municipal Airport include: 1) pavement preservation and runway and taxiways design,2) the Airport Electrical Master Plan, 3) airfield signage rehabilitation, and 4) skid mounted Air Rescue and Firefighting unit. The capital improvements planned for Benton Airpark include: 1) runway safety area improvements-design only, 2) runway maintenance management program, and 3) runway safety area improvements-Phase 1. He pointed out that, if successful, the grants for both airport capital improvements will cover almost the full amount needed, with a small amount taken from the Airports Fund for Benton Airpark. I Mr. Dinger recommended that a resolution be adopted authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to FAA through the Entitlement Airport Improvement Program (AlP) in the amount of$486,996 (95%) and authorize a matching amount of$25,631 (5%) from the Passenger Facility Charges for capital improvement projects at the Redding Municipal Airport. He further recommended that a resolution be adopted authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to FAA through the Entitlement Airport Improvement Program in the amount of$1,988,944 and the State of California Division of Aeronautics to provide matching funds for capital improvement projects at Benton Airpark. He further recommended that a resolution be adopted appropriating $909,970 for pavement preservation, airport electrical master plan and signage rehabilitation at the Redding Municipal Airport ($474,140) and runway safety area improvements and runway maintenance management at Benton Airpark ($435,730) for fiscal year 2008-09. . . I MOTION: Made by Council Member McArthur, seconded by Council Member Stegall, adopting Resolution No. 2009-07, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redding, authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application in the amount of$486,996 to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration through the Entitlement Airport Improvement Program and utilizing $25,631 in Passenger Facility Charges for capital improvements at Redding Municipal Airport; adopting Resolution No. 2009-08, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redding, authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application in the amount of$1,988,944 to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal 2/312009 23 I Aviation Administration through the Entitlement Airport Improvement Program and the State of California Division of Aeronautics for matching funds in the amount of$49, 723 for capital improvements at Benton Airpark; and adopting Resolution No. 2009-09, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Redding, approving and adopting the 49th amendment to City Budget Resolution No. 2007-127 appropriating $909,870 for pavement preservation, airport electrical master plan and signage rehabilitation at the Redding Municipal Airport ($474,140) and runway safety area improvements and runway.maintenance management at Benton Airpark ($435,730) for fiscal year 2008-09. The Vote: AYES: Council Members - Dickerson, Jones, McArthur, Stegall, and Bosetti NOES: Council Members - None ABSTAIN: Council Members - None ABSENT: Council Members - None Resolution Nos. 2009-07,2009-08, and 2009-09 are on file in the Office of the City Clerk ORAL REPORT - City Council Member attendance at conferences/meetings reimbursed at City expense (Requirement of Assembly Bi111234) (A-050-060) Council Member Stegall reported attending the Northern California Power Agency meeting in Sacramento on January 21-22,2009. Council Member McArthur reported attending the League of California Cities New Council Members Academy in Sacramento on January 21-23,2009. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at the hour of 10:23 p.m., Mayor Bosetti declared the meeting adjourned. APPROVED I ?~~ Mayor ATTEST: t!-4J~/~ City Clerk I 2/3/2009