CC 2018-08-28_09g Adopt Ordinance_Commissions MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES BERGMAN, CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE TO DISBAND THE TRAFFIC
COMMISSION, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AND
HISTORICAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND TRANSFER DUTIES
DATE: AUGUST 28, 2018
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
The Ordinance will disband the Traffic Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission,
and Historical Resources Committee in order to streamline City practices and provide more
time for staff to serve customers.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
The disbandment of specific Advisory Bodies is estimated to reduce a combined total of
approximately 30 hours of staff time per month in the Community Development, Police,
Public Works and Recreation Services Departments. This item is directly related to
adopted reductions in the FY 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Biennial Budget and will
compensate for administrative and professional staff reductions by eliminating the
generation of staff reports, noticing, staffing of public meetings, and productions of meeting
minutes. The 30 hours represents approximately $30,000 annually in salaries and
benefits.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council adopt an Ordinance repealing Chapters 2.21, 2.24 and
2.32 of Title 2 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code to disband the Traffic Commission,
Parks and Recreation Commission, and Historical Resources Committee; amending
Chapter 2.18 of Title 2 relating to the Planning Commission and Historic Designation; and
adding Section 1.04.140 to Title 1 transferring the duties of the Traffic Commission, Parks
and Recreation Commission and Historical Resources Committee.
BACKGROUND:
On August 14, 2018, the City Council introduced an Ordinance, without modification,
repealing Chapters 2.21, 2.24 and 2.32 of Title 2 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code to
disband the Traffic Commission (TC), Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), and
Historical Resources Committee (HRC); amending Chapter 2.18 of Title 2 relating to the
Planning Commission and Historic Designation; and adding Section 1.04.140 to Title 1 to
transfer duties.
Item 9.g. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ARROYO GRANDE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO DISBAND THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION, PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND
TRANSFER DUTIES
AUG UST 28, 2018
PAGE 2
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
The Ordinance is now ready for adoption. The Ordinance will become effective thirty
days after final passage of the Ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council’s consideration:
1. Adopt the Ordinance,
2. Modify and re-introduce the Ordinance,
3. Do not adopt the Ordinance, or
4. Provide direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
The advantages of disbanding the PRC, TC, and HRC include streamlining and simplifying
City business.
DISADVANTAGES:
The disadvantages to disbanding the PRC, TC, and HRC include the loss of additional
opportunities for community comment, the potential loss of transparency, or facilitated
community participation in decision making related to issues surrounding parks and
recreation, traffic concerns and historic resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
A summary of the Ordinance was published in The Tribune on Wednesday, August 22,
2018 pursuant to State law. One letter was received (Attachment 1). The Agenda was
posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with Government Code Section
54954.2.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Correspondence
Item 9.g. - Page 2
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO
GRANDE REPEALING CHAPTERS 2.21, 2.24 AND 2.32 OF TITLE 2 OF
THE ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE TO DISBAND THE
TRAFFIC COMMISSION, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE; AMENDING CHAPTER
2.18 OF TITLE 2 RELATING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND
HISTORIC DESIGNATION; AND ADDING SECTION 1.04.140 TO TITLE
1 TRANSFERRING THE DUTIES OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION,
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AND HISTORICAL
RESOURCES COMMITTEE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapters 2.21, 2.24 and 2.32 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code are
hereby repealed in their entirety.
SECTION 2. Section 1.04.140 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code is hereby added to
read in its entirety as follows:
1.04.140 – Former Duties of Traffic Commission, Historical Resources Committee
and Parks and Recreation Commission.
Any duties previously assigned by the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code to be
performed by the Traffic Commission or Historical Resources Committee will be
performed by the Community Development Director or referred by the Community
Development Director to the Planning Commission or City Council and any duties
assigned to the Parks and Recreation Commission will be performed by the Director of
Recreation Services or Director of Public Works or referred by the Director of Recreation
Services or Director of Public W orks to the Planning Commission or City Council after the
effective date of Ordinance No. ______ adopted on _________, 2018.
SECTION 3. Chapter 2.18 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code is hereby amended to
add Sections 2.18.090 and 2.18.100 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code to read in their
entirety as follows:
2.18.090 – Historic Designation.
The planning commission may nominate places, properties, structures or areas,
which they recommend be considered for local, state or national historical designation or
considered as an important setting or contributing to the historic character of the
surrounding environment.
2.18.100 - Guiding purposes in reviewing projects and Historic Designations.
In reviewing potential designations, the planning commission shall be guided by
the following purposes and intent:
A. To ensure consistency with the general plan and compliance with the provisions
of Title 16 of this code;
Item 9.g. - Page 3
ORDINANCE NO.
PAGE 2
B. Promote the designation, preservation, restoration, safety and use of historic
structures to enrich the lives of future generations, providing opportunities to
enjoy and learn about the community's history;
C. Improve the local economy by attracting tourism and other business to the
community;
D. Foster a sense of community identity and pride;
E. Stabilize and improve the economic value of historic properties and
neighborhoods;
F. Enhance the community's aesthetics, interest, and unique historic character;
G. Encourage and provide incentives to property owners to preserve and restore
historic properties, and to sensitively rehabilitate them for adaptive re-use when
necessary.
SECTION 4. This Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
Section15061(b)(3) which is the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which
have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment and CEQA does not
apply where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may
have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 5. A summary of this Ordinance shall be published in a newspaper published
and circulated in the City of Arroyo Grande at least five (5) days prior to the City Council
meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted. A certified copy of the full text
of the proposed Ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk. Within fifteen
(15) days after adoption of the Ordinance, the summary with the names of those City
Council members voting for and against the Ordinance shall be published again, and the
City Clerk shall post a certified copy of the full text of such adopted Ordinance. This
Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its passage.
SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and effect thirty (30)
days after its passage.
SECTION 7. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is
for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this
Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
On motion by Council Member ______, seconded by Council Member _______, and by
the following roll call vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing Ordinance was adopted this ____ day of _______, 2018.
Item 9.g. - Page 4
ORDINANCE NO.
PAGE 3
___________________________________
JIM HILL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
___________________________________
KELLY WETMORE, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
________________________________
JAMES A. BERGMAN, CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
HEATHER K. WHITHAM, CITY ATTORNEY
Item 9.g. - Page 5
ATTACHMENT 1
Item 9.g. - Page 6
Nan C. Towler 1328 West Grand .Avenue • Grover Beach, C;;t. 93433
August 18, 2018 .
City Manager Jim Bergman
· re: disbanding 3 commissions
Dear Jim,.
Ri:CEIVED
AUG 2 2 2D18
CITYOFARRO
YO GRANDE
(805) 489-7510
Last week I sent all the council members an email about the disbanding of 3 commissions.
Barbara Harman answered it with the statement that the city would save about $30,000 a year
by disbanding the 3 commissions. I find that difficult to understand.
If the 3 commissions met once a month it would be a max of 9 hours., probably less but I am
including set up, walking to the meeting and post meeting activities. So lets assume cost is
$100/hr (I have no idea what staff is paid ) but that would be a total of $900/mo. Or
$10,800/yr. And maybe you figure $200/hr . It is still a long way from $30,000.00. Can you
tell me how you arrived at that figure? And now I read that according to the City Manager
many of these meetings are canceled.
, -
You may argue that staff spends time setting.agenda, doing research etc. However they would
spend that same time for the project, traffic concerns etc. to go before the planning commission
or city council . The issues still remain.• Due diligence must be done even if there is no meeting
with a corrnirissien. · ·
Most importantly, you are losing the input of about fifteen local concerned citizens. How do
you calculate their worth. Where do you get your future planning commissioners and city
council candidates. There is no training ground. No chance to become interested in the city,
what are you gaining? -
Please have the council take a closer look and reconsider the disbanding of these commissions.
Sincerely,
cc all council members and potential council candidates