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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - unsigned - 1992-06-30 - Special1 06/30/92 City Council, Special Meeting Council Chambers Redding, California June 30, 1992 5:34 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Moss with the following Council Members present: Anderson, Arness, Dahl, Kehoe and Moss. Also present were City Manager Christofferson, Assistant City Manager McMurry, City Attorney Hays, Director of Public Works Galusha, Director of Planning and Community Development Perry, Chief of Police Blankenship, Fire Chief Bailey, Finance Director Downing, Director of Information Systems Kelley, Director of Utilities/Customer Service Vokal, Budget Services Officer Starman, City Clerk Strohmayer, and Secretary to the City Council Rudolph. Mayor Moss explained that due to the large number of individuals present, Council would move the public comment period to the beginning of the agenda and afford the public an opportunity to address Council. City Attorney Hays advised that in accordance with the Brown Act, the public comment period is a period for those individuals in the audience to address the Council on any subject they desire. However, it is not a point in time that Council can discuss, act on, or in any way consider the item. If Council wants to have the item considered in a form where it can be discussed, it would then need to be placed on a subsequent agenda. PUBLIC COMMENT (B-130-070 & A-050-270) Neal Sternberg, 2223 Larkspur Lane, stated that he represents the local group homes, as well as the Rotary Foundation Against Substance Abuse, which funds drug prevention programs in Northern California. He voiced support of the Redding Police Officers' Association and the need for Council to consider maintaining all areas of public safety currently available on City streets. He has witnessed the growth of Redding in the past ten years and the need for public safety, particularly in the area of drug prevention. Because of the concerted efforts of local law enforcement in working with children in the area, any change or reduction in the police force will have a dramatic impact on the Police Department's ability to provide the children with the necessary tools to make positive decisions in their lives. He indicated that it is a privilege to live in a community that has such a safety conscious police force which is not only concerned with the public in general, but children and drug prevention as well. He requested that Council consider these issues when making very difficult decisions concerning public safety. Father Lester L. Westling, Jr., 573 Royal Oaks Drive, stated that he attends professional seminars where police departments throughout the United States and Canada are represented. It is obvious to him that Redding has one of the best police departments in the country. He stated that the officers being laid off are among the "cream of the crop" because of Redding's excellent reputation. He indicated that Council needs to realize that the City's current public safety efforts are just ahead of organized youth gangs and drug activity. However, unlike Sacramento and Portland who can only react to those criminal elements, Redding has not yet lost its initiative. He related that any reduction in the Police Department's human resources will impact the proactive crime analysis unit, professional training, the number of officers on patrol, and the teamwork which is so distinctive of the Redding Police Department. He called Council's attention to the fact that the Police Department has exercised creativity by mobilizing a large volunteer force and soliciting outside gifts from such resources as the McConnell Foundation and the Redding Rotary Club. He stated that public safety must be a primary consideration in Redding. He explained that he frequently rides with these officers and observes their actions, and indicated that the City can be proud of this department and encouraged Council to retain all of these dedicated individuals. As a citizen, he expects Council to exercise creativity, as well as pursuing other alternatives, before laying off any of these dedicated individuals. He made the following suggestions: 1) Implement across-the- board salary reductions in order to maintain the police officers; or 2) When the next tax initiative comes along, viably present the case of public safety. He indicated that if the City does not have a plan in place to ensure its 2 06/30/92 future, it will grow without a plan. He urged Council to view this as an emergency situation and rise to the occasion. Michael Arnold, 2231 Oak Ridge Drive, urged Council to make the Police Department and law enforcement activities a number one community priority, which is the key to the area's economic success and its ability to attract business. He indicated that the services the Police Department provides in educating the young people and servicing as role models is imperative. As a business owner, he is concerned about the safety of his employees. He understands that there are individuals that would rather see the City build more recreational facilities, but the City needs to be able to make them safe places. He explained that the City is currently sending messages that it will not tolerate drunk driving or gang activity and that it supports education. He urged Council to support law enforcement and the leaders within the Police Department who have helped to make it a respected and well organized part of the City. 3 06/30/92 Martin Rauch, 7207 Encina Drive, President of the Redding Police Officers Association, indicated that he, as well as the Association, is confused about the need to lay off officers when they believe there is potential for other funding within the organization, if the City Manager or the Chief of Police were so instructed. He presented Council with petitions containing over 8,500 signatures stating opposition to layoffs within the Police Department. He explained that layoffs within the private sector are due to the lack of work; however, layoffs within the public sector are due to a lack of funding. In fact, the work is actually increasing due to annexations and continued growth. He questioned whether the City Manager and the Chief of Police have the latitude to utilize existing funding within the Police Department to offset the expired grant funding and, if not, requested that Council provide such direction. Mayor Moss stated that Council's agenda on July 7, 1992 will have an item providing Council an opportunity to discuss the comments made this evening. At the hour of 5:55 p.m., Mayor Moss declared the meeting recessed. At the hour of 5:59 p.m., Mayor Moss declared the meeting reconvened to regular session. MEDICAL DISPATCH FEES - Presentation by the Ambulance Groups (C-175-825-100) City Manager Christofferson conveyed that the purpose of this item is simply a place keeper to afford the ambulance operators an opportunity to address Council. All ambulance groups affected by the medical dispatch fees were advised that this would be their last opportunity to speak to Council before the fees became effective July 1, 1992. He noted that there were no individuals present wishing to address Council on this item. CLOSED SESSION - re Real Property Negotiations for the Acquisition of the Lorenz Hotel from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (C-070-010 & H-150-675-300) Mayor Moss stated that Council would adjourn to closed session pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.8 to discuss real property negotiations for the acquisition of the Lorenz Hotel from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. MOTION: Made by Council Member Dahl, seconded by Council Member Arness, to advise the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the City of Redding was not interested in acquiring the Lorenz Hotel on the terms and conditions offered by HUD. The Vote: Unanimous Ayes CLOSED SESSION - re Pending Litigation (L-100 & R-200-600) Mayor Moss advised that Council would adjourn to closed session pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to discuss pending litigation regarding the following matters: 1) Patrick Buckley and Personal Watercraft Industry Association v. City of Redding, Shasta County Superior Court Case No. 110777; 2) City of Redding v. Stardale Corporation, et al., Shasta County Superior Court Case No. 101081; 3) City of Redding, et al., v. City of Anderson, et al., Shasta County Superior Court Case No. 87481. Mayor Moss indicated that it would not be necessary to conduct the closed session regarding a personnel matter. At the hour of 6:02 p.m., Mayor Moss declared the meeting adjourned to closed session. At the hour of 7:00 p.m., Mayor Moss declared the meeting reconvened to regular session. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at the hour of 7:00 p.m., Mayor Moss declared the meeting adjourned. APPROVED: 4 06/30/92 _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ City Clerk