Minutes 2017-08-08ACTION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2017
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 E. BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hill called the City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Members Caren Ray, Barbara Harmon, Mayor Pro Tem Brown,
and Mayor Jim Hill were present. Council Member Kristen Barneich was
absent.
Staff Present: City Manager Jim Bergman, City Attorney Heather Whitham, Director of
Legislative and Information Services/City Clerk Kelly Wetmore, Director of
Administrative Services Debbie Malicoat, Acting Police Chief Beau Pryor,
Utilities Manager Shane Taylor, and Planning Manager Matt Downing.
3. MOMENT OF REFLECTION
4. FLAG SALUTE
Art Dagladillo and Bill Harvey, representing Arroyo Grande Lions Club, led the Flag Salute.
5. AGENDA REVIEW
City Manager Bergman referred to an article in the newspaper regarding an investigation being
conducted on behalf of the City and announced that the report was not on tonight’s agenda, but
that it would be placed on a future meeting agenda for discussion. He noted that any members
of the public wishing to speak could utilize the Community Comments and Suggestions item on
this agenda or wait until the future meeting.
5.a. Closed Session Announcements.
Regular City Council Meeting of July 25, 2017:
a) Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation Pursuant to Government
Code Section 54956.9(d)(1):
Name of Case: Appeal of CalPERS determination dated January 26, 2017,
(CalPERS ID: 4633639204)
City Attorney Whitham announced that the City Council met in closed session at a Regular
Meeting on July 25, 2017 to discuss the above item and that there was no reportable action.
5.b. Ordinances Read in Title Only.
Mayor Pro Tem Brown moved, Council Member Harmon seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read by title only and all
further readings be waived.
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
6.a. Mayor’s Commendations Recognizing Kord Schmidt, Sports Facilities
Coordinator and Kory Brooks, Maintenance Worker.
Mayor Hill presented Mayor’s Commendations to Kord Schmidt and Kory Brooks in
recognition of their outstanding care, maintenance, and preparation of the fields at the Soto
Sports Complex.
6.b. Presentation and Overview of the Annual Report for the 2016 Northern Cities
Management Area.
Shane Taylor, Utilities Manager, gave a presentation of the Annual Report for the 2016
Northern Cities Management Area and responded to questions from Council.
7. CITIZENS’ INPUT, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS
Mayor Hill invited public comment. Speaking from the public were: Sissy Pace, who offered an
invocation; Jeff Brubaker, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) Transportation
Planner, extended his appreciation to the Public Works staff, and also spoke about SLOCOG’s
program to develop a Long Range Transportation Plan to be adopted in June 2019, that public
input on transportation priorities is being gathered to assist in creating the Plan, and encouraged
everyone to submit comments online at www.slocog.org/2019RTP; Gary Brennan, thanked the
Council for recognizing Chief Annibali for his years of service and expressed his appreciation for
the AGPD and their presence at the meeting tonight; Jim DeCecco, Safe Routes Coordinator for
Lucia Mar School District, referred to Kord Schmidt as one of his prior students and was
pleased about his recognition, and he further commented on the Council’s responsibility to
provide bike safety for the citizens on the roadways and making the roads safe for all who use
them; Julie Tacker, spoke regarding the investigation report and noted that the content in certain
documents identified in the report were not confidential and stated she would like the public to
take this into account when reviewing the report; Patty Welsh, commended the Police
Department on a job well done during a recent arrest incident in Arroyo Grande; Richard Waller,
stated that he attended a recent NCMA meeting, acknowledged Shane Taylor and his
knowledge of water, commented on the NCMA report, and stated there is still a serious concern
for water in the future; Shirley Gibson, expressed concern about the investigation, relayed a
conversation that she overheard in public between a South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation
District employee and the Mayor regarding the General Manager, referred to the findings in the
investigation report and stated concern about future litigation; Coleen Kubel, expressed her
support for the Mayor and stated she did not trust the findings in the investigation report, and
expressed concern that the Mayor was not interviewed, and thanked the Mayor for his service;
Mary Lucey, Oceano, expressed appreciation for the NCMA Annual Report presentation,
commented on the status of the groundwater basin, stated the City needs as many water
sources as possible and requested that the Council put reclamation on a future agenda as the
drought is not over; Jim Guthrie, thanked Chief Annibali for his years of service and commented
on his accomplishments; Patricia Price, spoke regarding her attendance at South San Luis
Obispo County Sanitation District meetings, getting involved in learning about District
operations, specifically regarding conflict of interest issues, and spoke in support of Mayor Hill’s
role at the District; and Ron Arnoldson, Grover Beach, agreed with the previous speaker, stated
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
he has been following the District for two years, expressed concern about the past management
of the District, and suggested the Council receive and file the investigation report and move on.
8. CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Bergman stated he had no correspondence or comments to report.
9. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Hill invited public comment on the consent agenda. No public comments were received.
Action: Council Member Harmon moved, and Council Member Ray seconded the motion to
approve Consent Agenda Items 9.a. through 9.h. The motion passed on the following roll-call
vote:
AYES: Harmon, Ray, Brown, Hill
NOES: None
ABSENT: Barneich
9.a. Consideration of Cash Disbursement Ratification
Action: Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period July 16, 2017
through July 31, 2017.
9.b. Consideration of a Resolution Determining that Police Chief Steven Annibali
Suffers from an Industrial Disability
Action: Adopted a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE DETERMINING THAT POLICE CHIEF STEVEN
ANNIBALI SUFFERS FROM AN INDUSTRIAL DISABILITY PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 21156”.
9.c. Consideration of Approval of Minutes
Action: Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of July 25, 2017,
as submitted.
9.d. Consideration to Approve Construction Plans and Specifications and
Environmental Exemption for the 2017 Street Repairs Project, PW 2017-04
Action: 1) Approved the construction plans and specifications for the 2017 Street
Repairs Project, PW 2017-04; 2) Authorized the City Clerk to advertise for
construction bids; 3) Found that the project is categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Guidelines Section
15301(c); and 4) Directed the City Clerk to file a Notice of Exemption.
9.e. Consideration to Approve Construction Plans and Specifications and
Environmental Exemption for the 2017 Street Resurfacing Project, PW 2017-
05.
Action: 1) Approved the construction plans and specifications for the 2017 Street
Resurfacing Project, PW 2017-05; 2) Authorized the City Clerk to advertise for
construction bids; 3) Found that the project is categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Guidelines Section
15301(c); and 4) Directed the City Clerk to file a Notice of Exemption.
9.f. Consideration to Approve Construction Specifications and Environmental
Exemption for the 2017 Concrete Repairs Project, PW 2017-06.
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Action: 1) Approved the specifications for the 2017 Concrete Repairs Project, PW
2017-06; 2) Authorized the City Clerk to advertise for construction bids; 3) Found
that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Guidelines Section 15301(c); 4) Directed the City Clerk to file a
Notice of Exemption; and 5) Appropriated $36,880 from the Water Neutralization
Fund balance for the project.
9.g. Consideration of Approval of Lease Termination Agreement with California-
Pacific Annual Conference of United Methodist Church and Two (2) Release of
Easement Documents and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Same.
Action: Approved a Lease Termination Agreement with the California – Pacific
Annual Conference of United Methodist Church and two (2) Release of Easement
documents and authorized the Mayor to execute same.
9.h. Consideration of Request from Planning Commissioner Lan George for
Consecutive Absences from Planning Commission Meetings.
Action: Consented to three consecutive absences by Planning Commissioner Lan
George.
Mayor Hill thanked Chief Annibali for his years of service, stating that he was so impressed with
his personal dedication to the Police Department, the City, and in holding the highest standards
of the profession.
Chief Annibali thanked all in attendance and spoke of his 40 years of experience in law
enforcement and how fast it went by. He stated that the past 10 years in Arroyo Grande have
been the most rewarding of his career, stated he was looking forward to retirement, reflected on
the City’s challenges and successes, and expressed appreciation for the support of the Council,
staff, and community. He also thanked his wife Deb for her support over the years.
Mayor Hill called for a break at 7:14 p.m. The Council reconvened at 7:32 p.m.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
11. OLD BUSINESS
None.
12. NEW BUSINESS
12.a. Consideration of Staff Project No. 16-003; East Branch Street Streetscaping
Alternatives; Location – East Branch Street between Mason Street and
Paulding Circle; Applicant – City of Arroyo Grande.
Community Development Director McClish introduced the item and Planning Manager
Downing presented the staff report and recommended that the Council review the project
alternatives for the East Branch Street Streetscaping project; select Alternative 2 as the
preferred alternative, and direct staff to begin streetscape improvement project plans and
specifications. Staff responded to questions from Council.
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
In response to a question by Council, Jeff Brubaker, representing SLOCOG, explained that
only a significant change to the plan would require approval from the SLOCOG Board and
he confirmed that both project alternatives currently meet the required policies.
Mayor Hill invited public comment. Speaking from the public were: Jim Guthrie, regarding the
connection of bike routes and how that is being considered; and Terry Fowler-Payne,
commented on the Planning Commission’s review of numerous project alternatives, stated that
the alternatives being proposed met most of the City’s goals; commented that loss of parking
was a big concern; and that there was lots of discussion regarding fencing materials and
maintenance.
Council comments ensued regarding the proposed alternatives, including the proposed fencing
design/material, and proposed sidewalk furniture (bench) placement within the project. Council
Member Ray supported Alternative 1, citing that the protection of kids and pedestrians in the
Village should be considered before businesses and loss of parking and that the General Plan
policies do not address preserving parking, and that kids are not familiar with bike sharrows and
don’t provide a measure of safety. Council Member Harmon supported Alternative 2 as
proposed as the location is in a commercial corridor and Alternative 2 addresses landscaping
and streetscape improvements and promotes pedestrian safety. Mayor Pro Tem Brown
supported Alternative 2 as a safer alternative and spoke of the need for pedestrian crosswalk
signage and installation and enforcement of a No U-Turn sign. Mayor Hill spoke in support of
Safe Routes to Schools; acknowledged that Alternative 2 utilizes bulb-outs and better
pedestrian access to sidewalks and reluctantly supported Alternative 2, stating concerns with
the use of sharrows versus bike lanes. He also noted that the proposed hotel in the Village will
see an increased demand for parking.
Action: Council Member Harmon moved to select Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative,
to address the fencing issue during the design phase, to consider an alternative for the
bench placement, to consider warning signs for the crosswalks and a No U-turn sign to
enhance safety, and to direct staff to begin streetscape improvement project plans and
specifications. Mayor Pro Tem Brown seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll-
call vote:
AYES: Harmon, Brown, Hill
NOES: Ray
ABSENT: Barneich
13. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Harmon announced the upcoming MASH event at the South County Regional
Center that will assist the homeless.
14. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
At this time, Mayor Hill invited community comments and suggestions and public comment on
the closed session item. Speaking from the public was Julie Tacker regarding the investigation
report as it related to Mr. Hubner, Administrator of the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation
District.
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
15. CLOSED SESSION
At 911 p.m., City Attorney Whitham announced that the City Council would adjourn to closed
session to consider the following item:
a) CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR pursuant to Government Code Section
54957.6:
Agency Designated Representative. Debbie Malicoat, Administrative Services Director
Represented Employees: Service Employees International Union, Local 620
Adjourned to closed session.
16. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION:
At 9:25 p.m., the Council reconvened to open session. City Attorney Whitham announced that
there was no reportable action.
17. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hill adjourned the mee ing at 9:26 p.m.
Jim Hill, Mayor
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