Minutes 2006-03-28MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2006
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ferrara called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council: Council Members Jim Dickens, Joe Costello, Ed Arnold, Mayor Pro Tem
Jim Guthrie, and Mayor Tony Ferrara were present.
City Staff Present: City Manager Steve Adams, City Attorney Tim Carmel, Director of
Administrative Services/City Clerk Kelly Wetmore, Director of Financial
Services Angela Kraetsch, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Don
Spagnolo, and Director of Community Development Rob Strong.
3. FLAG SALUTE
John Stobbe, representing Knights of Columbus, led the Flag Salute.
4. INVOCATION
Mayor Ferrara delivered the invocation.
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None.
6. AGENDA REVIEW
6.a. Ordinances Read in Title Only
Council Member Dickens moved, Council Men
unanimously that all ordinances presented at the
reading be waived.
ber Arnold seconded, and the motion passed
meeting shall be read in title only and all further
7. CITIZENS' INPUT, COMMENTS. AND SUGGESTIONS
None.
8. CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Dickens requested that Consent Agenda Item 8.f. be pulled for a separate roll
call vote.
Council Member Dickens moved, and Mayor Pro Tem Guthrie seconded the motion to approve
Consent Agenda Items S.a. through S.g., with the exception of 8.f., with the recommended
courses of action. The motion carried on the following roll-call vote:
AYES: Dickens, Guthrie, Costello, Arnold, Ferrara
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
8.a. Cash Disbursement Ratification.
Action: Ratified the listing of cash disbursements for the period March 1, 2006 through
March 15, 2006.
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Page 2
8.b. Statement of Investment Deposits:
Action: Received and filed the report of current investment deposits as of February 28,
2006.
8.c. Consideration of Approval of City Investment Policy.
Action: Approved the City of Arroyo Grande Investment Policy.
8.d. Cost Allocation Plan Update.
Action: Adopted the Fiscal Year 2006-07 Cost Allocation Plan.
8.e. Consideration to Approve a Contract Extension with Mid State Plumbing to
Continue the Plumbing Retrofit Program.
Action: Approved aone-year contract extension with Mid State Plumbing and Drain
Cleaning, Inc. in the amount of $274,493.25.
8.g. Consideration of Authorization to Use City Property and Close City Streets for the
Annual Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival on May 27-28, 2006; Temporary Use
Permit No. 06-002.
Action: Adopt Resolution No. 3909.
8.f. Consideration of Resolution Upholding Appeal 05-006 and Approving Plot Plan
Review 05-008; 230 Station Way.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution.
Council Member Arnold moved to adopt a Resolution as follows: "A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE UPHOLDING APPEAL OS-006 AND
APPROVING PLOT PLAN REVIEW 05-008; 230 STATION WAY". Mayor Pro Tem Guthrie
seconded, and the motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Arnold, Guthrie, Ferrara
NOES: Dickens, Costello
ABSENT: None
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
10. CONTINUED BUSINESS
None.
11. NEW BUSINESS
11.a. Consideration of Presentation on the Arroyo Grande Creek Habitat Conservation
Plan.
Director of Public Works Spagnolo introduced Doug Bird, Hydraulic Operations
Administrator/Utilities Security Coordinator and Mark Hutchinson, Environmental Programs
Manager, from County of San Luis Obispo Public Works Department who gave a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Administrative Services Department) on the Flood Control Zone 3
Lopez Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The presentation included a description of the
HCP boundaries; a brief chronology of the HCP as it relates to the water rights permit status; an
explanation of the purpose of the HCP which involves compliance with the Federal Endangered
Species Act; an explanation of the species of concern, including steelhead trout, red-legged frog,
tidewater goby, and tiger salamander; an overview of permitting and monitoring requirements; an
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
outline of HCP presentations made to various Zone 3 committees and at community outreach
town hall meetings; an overview of reservoir levels without environmental releases; a summary
of other aspects of the preferred alternative; an outline of Resource Agency involvement in the
HCP process; an overview of comments on the draft HCP received by the Resource Agencies;
and an overview of the current action plan. Mr. Bird also noted that the HCP document is
available for public review on the Internet at www.slocounty.info/water/agcreek.
Council discussion followed, during which Mr. Bird and staff responded to questions regarding
the Habitat Conservation Plan.
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.
Discussion and comments on the HCP included:
- If the HCP requires additional downstream releases, how will that impact the Lopez water
supply to contracting agencies (County is working with the resource agencies to determine
the ultimate downstream releases)
- Clarification that the term of the HCP is for 20 years;
- Status of stream gauges along the creek (County monitors and maintains the.stream gauges
and one of the projects in the HCP will remodel the existing stream gauge at the end of
Stanley Avenue);
- HCP has established mitigation accounts which will include funds set aside for mitigation
programs as it relates to agricultural water needs;
- Whether the HCP can be expanded to include Zone 1/1A (Zone 1/1A has a Federal nexus
and falls under the Section 7 process under the Endangered Species Act, whereas Zone 3
falls under the Section 10 process under the Endangered Species Act);
- Whether the City's creek maintenance program could be integrated with the Flood Control
District's channel and facility maintenance of Arroyo Grande Creek;
- There was reference to San Luis Obispo (SLO) Basin in the HCP which should be corrected
to Santa Maria Valley Basin.
Mayor Ferrara noted that this was a presentation item and encouraged Council Members to
provide written comments regarding the HCP to staff so they could be forwarded to the County.
There was no formal action on this item.
12. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
a. MAYOR TONY M. FERRARA:
(1) San Luis Obispo Council of Governments/San Luis Obispo Regional Transit
Authority (SLOCOG/SLORTA). Meeting cancelled. Executive Board Meeting
met and set the agenda for a future meeting.
(2) South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD). Dedicated the
new chlorinator which was a $2 million dollar project. Encouraged Council to tour
the facility.
(3) Other. Attended League of California Cities Channel Counties Division Executive
Board meeting; discussed and set agenda for the April 2151 Division Meeting.
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Page 4
b. MAYOR PRO TEM JIM GUTHRIE:
(1) Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC). Received presentation from the
California Space Authority regarding visitor center being developed at
Vandenberg just outside of the Base which will include an amphitheater to watch
future launches; Received presentation on the latest Dalidio project; Sponsorships
are coming in to the EVC and the financial status of the organization is on more
solid ground.
(2) Other. None.
c. COUNCIL MEMBER JIM DICKENS:
(1) South County Area Transit (SCAT). Approved Budget; will consider purchasing
a hybrid bus which will be a first in the County; Issues regarding extension of
route to Strother Park have been resolved -noted that ridership from the adjacent
mobilehome park is low; however, student and resident ridership has increased.
(2) South County Youth Coalition. No report.
(3) Other. None.
d. COUNCIL MEMBER JOE COSTELLO: (ABSENT)
(1) Zone 3 Water Advisory Board. Received Lopez recreation and activity reports
and recreational use is slightly down from last year; talked with staff about bids for
upgrade of the water treatment plant.
(2) Air Pollution Control District (APCD). No report.
(3) Fire Oversight Committee. The Fire Consolidation Oversight Committee met;
changes in the scope of work were accepted; consensus was reached to
establish an ad-hoc committee to explore joint dispatch opportunities; developed
regular schedule for monthly meetings and will rotate locations; elected Grover
Beach Council Member Steve Lieberman as Chair.
(4) Other. None.
e. COUNCIL MEMBER ED ARNOLD:
(1) Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA). Discussed addition of
household batteries as hazardous waste; will be drafting Ordinance; there was
concern about capacity at landfill.
(2) California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA). No report.
(3) County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC). Primary discussion at
meeting was in regard to the County's Rural Planned Development Ordinance,
and a recommendation was made to ask the Board of Supervisors to stop the
process due to the limited water resources within the County.
(4) Other. None.
13. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS:
None.
14. CITY MANAGER ITEMS:
None.
15. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
Mayor Ferrara reported he would be traveling to Los Angeles on Friday to attend a League of
California Cities Public Safety Policy Committee meeting. He also reported that he and Mayor
Pro Tem Guthrie would be meeting with Public Works, Salmon Enhancement, Resource
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Page 5
Conservation District, and a representative from Congressman Thomas' office regarding the
creek maintenance program, including potential funding.
16. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS:
None.
17. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS:
Steve Ross, Arroyo Grande, commented on projects at the Police Department and adjacent VCA
Animal Hospital as it relates to the existing trees. He expressed concern that the City is taking a
short term view of the site and noted the age and viability of the non-native trees indicates they
are at the end of their usable lifespan. He stated this would be an opportunity to take out those
trees and replace new trees with a treescape that would last into the future.
Joel Couser, Arroyo Grande, referred to the presentation of the Habitat Conservation Plan and
commented that the State and Federal Governments were taking City financed Lopez water and
not replacing it. He said they should be replacing the City's water source.
18. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ferrara adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Tony Ferrar , or
ATTEST: , /~A'•
Try
Kelly Wet ore, i y Clerk
(Approved at C Mtg ~ Z `J CO