Minutes 2018-05-29 SP ACTION MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hill called the Special City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Council Members Barbara Harmon, Kristen Barneich, Tim Brown, Mayor Pro Tem Caren Ray,
and Mayor Jim Hill were 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, Director of Community Development Teresa McClish, Director of Public Works Bill
Robeson, Interim Director of Recreation Services Sheridan Bohlken, Chief of Police Beau Pryor,
and Five Cities Fire Authority Fire Chief Steve Lieberman were also present.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Hill led the flag salute.
4. CITIZENS' INPUT, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS
None.
City Manager Bergman referred to public comments that have been made regarding medical
cannabis delivery in the City and announced that at the June 12, 2018 City Council meeting,
procedures for cannabis delivery permits will be reviewed and discussed and a recommendation
will be made to repeal those permit requirements for delivery within the City but not to change any
current prohibitions of cannabis activity within the City.
5. BUSINESS ITEMS
5.a. Consideration of Approval of Five Cities Fire Authority Memorandum of
Agreement Amending the Five Cities Fire Authority Joint Exercise of Powers
Agreement and General Counsel Conflict Waiver.
City Manager Bergman presented the staff report and recommended that the Council approve
the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and General Counsel Conflict Waiver. Fire Chief
Lieberman provided an additional overview of the key components of the Memorandum of
Agreement and responded to questions from Council. Mr. David Hale, legal counsel for the City
of Grover Beach and the Five Cities Fire Authority, also responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Hill invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Bob Perrault, Grover Beach
resident and former Grover Beach City Manager, commented that he was involved in the drafting
of the original agreement, which was done in an equitable way to serve the needs of all the
communities at the time, acknowledged the need for changes, stated that the MOA provides an
opportunity to look at funding parity and other provisions, and addressed the timeline noting that
an extension may not be necessary; and Patty Welsh, expressed concerns about the proposed
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May 29, 2018
Page 2
Memorandum of Agreement and the proposed conflict waiver. No further public comments were
received.
Action: Council Member Barneich moved to approve a Resolution entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING A MEMORANDUM
OF AGREEMENT AMENDING THE FIVE CITIES FIRE AUTHORITY JOINT EXERCISE OF
POWERS AGREEMENT AND APPROVING A GENERAL COUNSEL CONFLICT WAIVER".
Mayor Hill seconded the motion. Brief discussion and clarification ensued regarding the general
counsel conflict waiver; that the Memorandum of Agreement commits to the City's contribution for
funding the FY 2018-19 Five Cities Fire Authority Budget only. Mayor Hill noted that the Self
Contained Breathing Apparatus' (SBCAs) were budgeted in anticipation of a grant that was not
received and a significant apparatus acquisition was brought forward after the City's budget had
been approved that caused significant impacts to the City's budget. Mayor Hill withdrew his
second. Mayor Pro Tern Ray seconded the original motion, and it was passed on the following
roll-call vote:
AYES: Barneich, Ray, Brown, Harmon
NOES: Hill
ABSENT: None
5.b. Consideration of Preliminary Fiscal Year 2018-19 and 2019-20 Biennial Budget.
Director of Administrative Services Malicoat presented the staff report and recommended that the
Council provide direction on priorities for expenditures for the FY 2018-20 Biennial Budget. Staff
responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Hill invited public comment. Speaking from the public were Robert Olson, stating that a
projected sales tax increase of 1% seems too conservative, referred to the unexpected retirement
in the Recreation Services Department and suggested that the nine impacted employees be
offered the opportunity to apply for that job, and commented that the increase for next year's Five
Cities Fire Authority budget seems very high; Janna Nichols, representing 5Cities Homeless
Coalition, stated that another partner agency has allocated funding to the 5Cities Homeless
Coalition from its Successor Agency Housing Fund and encouraged the Council to consider that
as an option; Jim Guthrie, commented on the City's facilities maintenance plan and lack of a long
range maintenance and replacement plan for bridges, vehicles, and information technology
infrastructure, commented on the capital improvement plan, commented on the CaIPERS
payment and how it could result in deferred maintenance of the City's infrastructure, and
questioned the difference in cost for the park restroom and City Hall roof replacement projects;
and Patrick Ferguson, President, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4403,
encouraged the Council's continued support of the Five Cities Fire Authority(FCFA) and the work
they do on behalf of the City, and commented that with the Strategic Plan, this is the first
opportunity to have a full budget that includes funding for capital improvements, which were not
previously included in the FCFA budget. No further public comments were received.
Council comments ensued regarding the preliminary Fiscal Year 2018-19 and 2019-20 Biennial
Budget, including clarification regarding the increase in the FCFA budget; clarification regarding
the sales tax revenue projections; support for the Five Cities Homeless Coalition's funding request
of$7,500 for the warming shelter; support for the proposed CaIPERS pre-payment over the next
two years; a suggestion to reallocate funding from the proposed Elm Street/Soto Sports Complex
Master Plan to other projects such as the City Hall roof replacement project; a suggestion to
increase funding for sidewalks; acknowledgement that the current FCFA Reserve Firefighter
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May 29, 2018
Page 3
program is not sustainable; support for transitioning to a full-time Firefighter program;
acknowledgement that the FCFA funding formula needs to be changed to achieve parity among
the participating agencies; that the City should explore ideas for future revenue measures, such.
as increasing the transient occupancy tax; concern about elimination of part-time maintenance
workers due to the services they provide in parks and public places and that this should be
monitored and evaluated over time to re-assess the need for maintenance services; and
acknowledgement that the budget is balanced and maintains reserve levels.
No formal action was taken on this item.
6. ADJOURNMENT
____Mayor Hill adjourned the meeting at 9:42 p.m. to the Regular City Council Meeting of June 12,
2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 215 E. Branch Street.
d-2--ThJi Hill, Mayor
AT EST:
Kelly . et sore, City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mtg 6142-20/ )