Minutes 2007-03-13MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor/Chair Ferrara called the Regular City Council/Redevelopment Agency meeting to order at
7:08 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council/RDA: Council/Board Members Chuck Fellows, Jim Guthrie, Jce Costello, Mayor
Pro Tem/Vice Chair Ed Arnold and Mayor/Chair Tony Ferrara were present.
City Staff Present: City Manager Steven Adams, City Attorney Tim Carmel, Director of
Administrative Services/City Clerk Kelly Wetmore, Director of Financial
Services Angela Kraetsch, Director of Public Works Don Spagnolo, Assistant
City Engineer Mike Linn, Director of Community Development Rob Strong,
and Associate Planner Kelly Heffernon.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Members representing the Boy Scout Troop 26 led the Flag Salute.
4. INVOCATION
Pastor Robert Underwood, representing First United Methodist Church, delivered the invocation.
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
5.a. Mayor's Commendation -Walt Cuzick, information Technology Manager.
Mayor Ferrara presented a Mayor's Commendation to Information Technology Manager Walt
Cuzick in recognition of his membership in the City's Platinum Service Club for service above and
beyond the call of duty.
5.b. Honorary Proclamation -American Red Cross Month.
Mayor Ferrara presented an Honorary Proclamation recognizing March 2007 as "American Red
Cross Month". Sally Wise, Health and Safety Director, representing the American Red Cross,
accepted the Proclamation.
5.c. Presentation by San Luis Obispo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District
Zone 3 -Interim Downstream Release Schedule.
Mark Hutchison, Environmental Program Manager, County of San Luis Obispo, gave a PowerPoint
presentation on the Interim Downstream Release Schedule, the purpose of which is to develop a
plan for managing the downsUeam releases between now and final approval of Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP). He noted that the schedule was developed to meet conUactual
responsibilities with South County cities and water purveyors; to have no discernable impacts to
steelhead; to continue to meet agricultural needs; and to generate additional data pertinent to
getting the HCP approved. Following brief discussion, the Council received and filed the
presentation.
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Tuesday, March f3, 2007
6. AGENDA REVIEW
6.a. Ordinances Read in Title Only.
Council Member Costello moved, Mayor Pro Tem Arnold seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously that all ordinances presented at the meeting shall be read in title only and all further
reading be waived.
7. CITIZENS' INPUT. COMMENTS. AND SUGGESTIONS
None.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Ferrara invited members of the public who wished to comment on any Consent Agenda Item
to do so at this time. There were no public comments received.
Council Member Fellows requested that Item 8.b. be pulled for discussion.
Action: Council Member Costello moved, and Council Member Guthrie seconded the motion to
approve Consent Agenda Items 8.a. through 8.i., with the exception of Item 8.b., with the
recommended courses of action. The motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Costello, Guthrie, Fellows, Arnold, Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Fellows (Item S.d. only)
8.a. Cash Disbursement Ratification.
Action: Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period February 16, 2007 through
February 28, 2007.
8.c. Consideration of Acceptance of Audited Annual Financial Report.
Actlon: Receive and file the Audited Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June
30, 2006.
8.d. Consideration of Approval of Minutes.
Action: Approved the minutes of the Regular City Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting
of February 27, 2007, and the Special (Closed Session) City Council Meeting of March 5,
2007, as submitted.
8.e. Consideration of an Agreement with RRM Design Group for the Design of the Village
Green Improvement Project, PW 2007-05.
Action: 1) Approved a consultant services agreement with RRM Design Group in the
amount of $28,555.00 for the design of the Village Green Improvement Project, PW 2007-
05; and 2) Authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement with RRM Design Group; and 3)
Appropriated $25,555 from the Park Improvement Fund.
S.f. Consideration to Accept the Sewer Lift Station No. 1 Upgrade Project, PW 2005-02.
Action: 1) Accepted the project improvements, as constructed by MGE Underground, Inc.,
in accordance with the plans and specifications for the Sewer Lift Station No. 1. Upgrade
Project; 2) Directed staff to file a Notice of Completion; and 3) Authorized release of the
retention of $60,122.73, thirty-five (35) days after the Notice of Completion has been
recorded if no liens have been filed.
Minutes: City Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Page 3
8.g. Consideration to Accept Phase I of the Well No. 10 Project, PW 2004-07.
Action: 1) Accepted the project improvements, as constructed by Floyd V. Welis, Inc., in
accordance with the plans and specifications for the Phase 1 Well No. 10 Project; 2) Directed
staff to file a Notice of Completion; and 3) Authorized release of the retention of $18,412.01
thirty-five (35) days after the Notice of Completion has been recorded if no liens have been
filed.
8.h. Consideration of Public Safety Equipment Sharing Agreement.
Action: Approved the proposed Public Safety Equipment Sharing Agreement.
8.i. Consideration of Resolution Establishing an Automobile Allowance for the Director of
Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Position.
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 4000 as follows: "A RESOLUTION OF THE C/TY
COUNCIL OF THE C/TY OF ARROYO GRANDE ESTABLISHING AN AUTOMOBILE
ALLOWANCE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND FAC/LITlES
POSITION".
8.b. Consideration of Adjustment to Increase the Mileage Reimbursement Rate for
Employees and Volunteers.
[COUNCIURDA]
Recommended Action: Establish 48.5¢ per mile as the employee/volunteer mileage
reimbursement rate for the 2007 calendar year.
CounciUBoard Member Fellows stated he had spoken earlier with the Financial Services Director
about the mileage reimbursement rate. He referred to the recent increase in the cost of gasoline
and stated that the proposed 48.5¢ per mile might already be out of date. He acknowledged that the
rate was provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); however, he believed the proposed rate
should be at least three cents higher. Director Kraetsch replied that historically, the City has used
the IRS rate; however, there is an option to base the rate on actual costs. She recommended that
the Council approve the rate as proposed so that it could be implemented, and she would research
how other cities establish the rate. She noted that the IRS regularly adjusts the rate based on
economic conditions.
CounciUBoard Member Fellows moved to establish the IRS mileage reimbursement rate of 48.5¢
per mile as the employee/volunteer mileage reimbursement rate and to direct staff to research
whether a higher rate could be established by the City based on a determination of actual costs.
Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Arnold seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Costello, Guthrie, Fellows, Arnold, Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. PUBLIC HEARING
9.a. Consideration of Development Code Amendment No. 06-004 to Change the Zoning of
the Subject Property from Residential Rural (RR) to Single Family Residential (SF);
Applicant -City of Arroyo Grande; Location - 12.77 Acres North of East Cherry
Avenue Extension (Subarea 2 of the East Village Neighborhood Plan).
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Tuesday, Mareh 13, 2007
Prior to presentation of the staff report, Associate Planner Heffemon informed the Council that
correspondence had been received by the City with a request by a majority of the property owners
within Subarea 2 to continue this item to a date uncertain. Specifically, she stated the property
owners would like additional time to coordinate with all the affected property owners to review the
issues more thoroughly.
Mayor Ferrara opened the public hearing, and upon hearing no public comments, he closed the
public hearing.
Action: Council Member Guthrie moved to continue consideration of the item to a date uncertain.
Council Member Costello seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Guthrie, Costello, Fellows, Arnoid, Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
10. CONTINUED BUSINESS ITEMS
10.a. Consideration of Adoption of the Five-Year Radar Speed Survey for West Branch
Street and East Grand Avenue.
Assistant City Engineer Linn presented the staff report and recommended the Council adopt a
Resolution certifying the five-year radar speed survey and establishing speed limits on West Branch
Street and East Grand Avenue.
Mayor Ferrara informed the Council that he and Council Member Guthrie had met with staff and
representatives from SLOCOG and Caltrans to discuss circulation strategies and mitigation in
the area of Brisco/Halcyon. He discussed the fact that in the meeting, they were told that hook
ramps similar to the one at Camino Mercado could be a viable alternative. He suggested
waiting until this alternative is identified and approved prior to implementing an increase of the
speed limit on W. Branch Street.
Mayor Ferrara invited comments from those in the audience who wished to be heard on the matter,
and upon hearing no public comments, he closed the public comment period.
Council discussion ensued regarding the length of time associated with approval of the
proposed design alternative; associated costs for implementing a new speed limit, including
signage and pavement markings; implementing enforceable speed limits; and whether or not
there is a traffic enforcement problem on W. Branch Street.
Action: Council Member Costello moved to approve staffs recommendation to keep the speed
limit at 35 mph on East Grand Avenue and to keep the speed limit at 40 mph on W. Branch from
Rancho Parkway to Brisco Road; and that as an interim measure, the City maintain the speed limit
at 40 mph on West Branch between Brisco Road and Vernon and direct staff to research with the
Police Department to see if there is an enforcement or speeding problem at this location and if there
is, that the issue come back to Council to revisit the recommendation to increase the speed limit to
Minutes: City Council/Redevefopment Agency Meeting
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Page 5
45 mph. Mayor Ferrara seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Costello, Ferrara, Fellows
NOES: Guthrie, Amold
ABSENT: None
11. NEW BUSINESS ITEMS
None.
12. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS
a. Request for Feedback Regarding Issues Under Review by Oceano Dunes Task Force
(ARNOLD).
Mayor Pro Tem Arnold stated he had attended two meetings as the City's representative on the
Ocean Dunes Task Force and reported that County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian was looking for
consensus on whether the 5ti4 acre County owned property should be sold to the State in order to
continue operating the off-road vehicle park. He noted that the membership of the Task Force
comprises a diverse group and he felt it was going to be difficult to achieve consensus on the
matter. Mayor Pro Tem Amold sought feedback from the Council on whether the park is an
important tourist attraction and if it is a valuable asset to our community. Extensive discussion
followed, including comments that it is unknown whether there would be a future change in use of
the property; that the park needs to be .better managed overall as it relates to recreational vehice
enforcement issues; that there are minimal impacts to Arroyo Grande's economy; and significant
negative impacts on Arroyo Grande Hospital due to injuries sustained at the park and a lack of
insurance by park users to pay for hospital services. It was determined that not enough information
was available to take a position on the sale of the property at this time; however, Mayor Pro Tem
Arnold was encouraged to share the concerns expressed by the Council with the Task Force.
13. CITY MANAGER ITEMS
None.
14. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Ferrara referred to earlier comments regarding .the meeting with Caltrans and SLOCOG
representatives and expressed optimism for approval of a viable fix for the Brisco/Halcyon project.
15. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
None.
16. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
None.
17. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor/Chair Ferrara adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Minutes: City CounciURedevelopment Agency Meeting
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
` /~
Tony Ferrar. or/Chair
ATTEST: ,,^^
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Kelly Wetmore, ty ClerklAgency Secretary
(Approved at CC Mtg '17-2ba~
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