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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 06-18-97123 MEETING OF THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting - June 18, 1997 A regular meeting of the Ukiah City Council, the agenda for which was legally noticed and posted, convened at 6:30 p.m. in the Ukiah Civic Center Council Chambers, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. Roll was taken and the following Councilmembers were present: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. Absent: Mayor Malone. Staff present: Public Utilities Director Barnes, Community Services Director DeKnoblough, Finance Director Elton, Assistant City Manager Harris, City Manager Horsley, Public Works Director Kennedy, Planning Director Sawyer, Senior Planner Stump, Executive Assistant Yoast, and City Clerk Henderson. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Chavez led the Pledge of Allegiance. Special Order of Business Environmental Health Department- Jim Harrison -Presentation on Redwood Empire Hazardous Incident Team Jim Harrison, Emergency Response Specialist, Mendocino County Public Health Department, Division of Environmental Health, presented the Council with information regarding the background of the Redwood Empire Hazardous Incident Team (REHIT). He provided observations and statistics pertinent to hazardous material incident responses within Mendocino County. Carol Mordhorst, Director, Mendocino County Public Health Department, asked the Council to consider funding the City's proportionate share of the administrative costs of REHIT. The current funding cost is $76,000, approximately $25,000 of which are recoverable from responsible parties. The City's storage of REHIT equipment would be considered an in-kind contribution. Approval of Minutes Special Meeting -June 3, 1997 MIS ChavezlKelly to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of June 3, 1997, as submitted, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Councilmember Ashiku. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. 4b. Regular Meeting - June 4, 1997 MIS Chavez/Kelly to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 4, 1997, as submitted, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, and Kelly. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Vice Mayor Mastin. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. 4c. Adjourned Regular Meeting - June 11, 1997 MIS Chavez/Kelly to approve the minutes of the Adjourned Regular Meeting of June 11, 1997, as submitted, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. 5. RIGHT TO APPEAL DECISION vice Mayor Mastin reviewed the appeal process. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR Vice Mayor Mastin announced item 6b, Approve Agreement Between Safeway, Inc., and City of Ukiah for the Conveyance of Land in Exchange for Public Improvements, was being removed from the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Kelly requested the removal, and it then became item 10c. Regular Meeting - June 18, 1997 Page 1 124 MIS AshikulChavez to approve Consent Calendar items 6a and 6c as follows: a. Disbursements for the Month of May 1997; and c. Received Report on Installation of 24 Minute Parking Spaces on School Street. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. 7. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No one came forward. As it was not yet 7:00 p.m., the scheduled time for the Public Hearing, item 10a was taken next. 10. NEW BUSINESS 10a. Presentation by Ukiah Chamber of Commerce John Bogner, Immediate Past President of the Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce, noted the close relationship of the Chamber and the City, the Chamber being the public relations arm of the City, and the contact point for most people who want information about Ukiah. Jim Mayfield, President, Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce, noted the varying contributions of the membership, acknowledged Chamber Board members in attendance, and introduced the Chamber's General Manager, Elizabeth Brazil. He mentioned the Chamber is eager to have the Council's input on matters of interest to the City. Mr. Mayfield pointed out the Chamber's request for funding from the City is the same as last year's, $19,000, and outlined the types of services the Chamber provided, namely, answering inquiries regarding the community, providing tourism and business relocation support, promoting community events, and economic development. Val Devitt, First Vice President, Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce, pointed to the growth of large retail stores in Ukiah and the need to welcome those businesses while also supporting smaller, long-established retailers. He recognized the need for strong cooperation between the Chamber and the City. In response to Vice Mayor Mastin's questions, Mr. Mayfield noted the Chamber budget for next year is about $85,000 and any political involvement by the Chamber would be directed at land use issues and other issues of concern to local businesses, rather than any support of particular candidates. Councilmember Kelly inquired about the upgrading of the Chamber signs on Highway 101 at the approaches to the City. Mr. Mayfield noted a Chamber committee was working on improving and updating the signs. Preliminary designs have been completed, commitments have been made for labor and materials, and currently the Chamber was facilitating contact with property owners regarding sign locations. . PUBLIC HEARING -7:00 P,M. Adoption of Resolution Approving Negative Declaration; Adoption of Resolution Amending the City General Plan Land Use Map to Redesignate 49 Parcels of Land; Introduction of Ordinance Rezoning the Parcels Senior Planner Stump noted this General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and Rezoning Project is the result of decisions made by the City Council during the 1996-97 General Plan City-Wide Rezoning Program. At that time, the Council provided direction to staff regarding appropriate land use designations and zoning classifications for 48 parcels. The action proposed formalizes and finalizes that direction. The forty-ninth parcel included in this rezoning was proposed for rezoning by the property owner, Charles Ruelle. The Planning Commission has recommended the rezoning of all parcels. Vice Mayor Mastin opened the Public Hearing at 7:08 p.m.' No one wished to address this matter. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:09 p.m. Regular Meeting - June 18, 1997 Page 2 125 MIS KellylAshiku to adopt Resolution No. 97.80 Adopting a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for General Plan Amendment and Rezoning ProJect 97-16, carded by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. MIS AshikulChavez to adopt Resolution No. 97-81 Amending the City General Plan, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. MIS AshikulChavez to introduce the Ordinance Amending the Official Zoning Map for the City of Ukiah, California, by title only, carded by a voice vote of all AYE. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. City Clerk Henderson read the Ordinance by title only. MIS Chavez/Kelly to introduce the Ordinance Amending the Official Zoning Map for the City of Ukiah, California, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. Sm UNFINISHED BUSINESS Continuation of Budget Goals City Manager Horsley noted, due to time constraints, several departments were unable to present their goals and objectives to the Council at the Budget Goal Setting Workshop of June 3, 1997. Those departments were presenting their goals at this time. Planning Director Sawyer outlined the accomplishments of his department over the past year. He noted the completion of the city-wide rezoning program, General Plan implementation measures, comprehensive landscape guidelines, the Airport Master Plan/Airport Land Use Plan, and the modification and maintenance of the Airport Industrial Park Planned Development Ordinance among the accomplishments of the Planning Department. Future objectives of the Department include continuing to implement the Ukiah Valley General Plan, using in-house staff for specialized work projects, working towards approval and adoption of the Ukiah Valley General Plan by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, and consolidating the positions of Building Official, Plans Examiner, and Code Enforcement Officer into one position, as previously approved by the Council. City Manager Horsley explained Personnel/Risk Management activities were outlined in the packet. A full description of position activities was included. Executive Assistant Yoast listed the installation of the new phOne system, reorganization of the reception area and related personnel duties, and the temporary assumption of City Clerk duties among some of the accomplishments of the Secretarial Pool for 1996-97. Objectives for the coming year include becoming proficient on the document imaging system, scanning Planning Commission and Ukiah Redevelopment Agency agendas and minutes, purchasing three new computers, and Internet proficiency for the secretarial staff. City Clerk Henderson noted accomplishments within her department, both before and after her appointment to the position, and emphasized the goal of completing a major records destruction program so that the Conference Rooms which are now laden with boxes of outdated records may be returned to use as Conference Rooms. She noted the importance of replacing the Council Chamber's recording equipment. 10b. Adoption of Resolution Establishing a Temporary_ Air Quality Mitigation Policy for Development Projects ~ This item had been pulled from the agenda by staff. City Manager Horsley noted the issue would be brought before the Council for discussion in the near future. Councilmember Kelly commented the public should realize the City is working under the strict legal guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act on a matter such as this. Regular Meeting - June 18, 1997 Page 3 126 10c. Approve A.q_reement Between Safeway, Inc., and City of Ukiah for the Conveyance of Land in Exchange for Public Improvements Councilmember Kelly stated she had requested this item be pulled from the Consent Calendar (item 6b) because of her concern the language of the agreement would allow the City Manager to sign the agreement with Safeway pdor to any review or approval of the project by the Planning Commission or the Council. She was agreeable to approving the land conveyance in concept, but wanted to review the project in its entirety before finalizing any agreements. A motion by Councilmember Kelly to approve the agreement in concept, to communicate that to Safeway and to bdng the matter back to the Council for final action once the entire project has been approved by the Planning Commission, was not considered due to lack of a second. Councilmember Kelly's concerns were the Council would be preempting the deliberations of the Planning Commission and the Council should not approve signature of an agreement which could be unilaterally changed by the other party thereto. Public Works Director Kennedy provided a plot map of the subject parcel and explained the land conveyance area to the Council. He noted the land conveyance would be beneficial to both the City and Safeway. City Manager Horsley noted a contingency of when to date the agreement could be a condition of approval. She did not anticipate any major changes in the agreement. Planning Director Sawyer saw no problem with this type of approval. If the Planning Commission does not approve the project, Safeway will not need the agreement. MIS AshikulChavez to approve in concept the Agreement Between Safeway, Inc., and the City of Ukiah for the Conveyance of Land in Exchange for Public Improvement, but not to finalize the agreement until the project has been approved by the Planning Commission or the City Council. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, and Vice Mayor Mastin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Mayor Malone. 11. CITY COUNCIL/REPORTS Councilmember Chavez reported she had attended a meeting of the Main Street Board of Directors and a Ukiah Valley Sanitation District meeting. City Manager Horsley noted the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District would be meeting jointly with the Council for review of their common budget on July 2, 1997, prior to the regular City Council meeting. Councilmember Ashiku reported he met with Jennifer Puser of Assemblywoman Strom- Martin's office and Councilmember Kelly, regarding possible legislative remedies to ease the financial repercussions of deregulation of the Electric Utility Industry. Councilmember Kelly announced Senator Thompson's office was sponsoring a reception for the 1997 California Arts Scholars from Mendocino County on June 22, 1997, here at the Civic Center. Vice Mayor Mastin agreed to attend on behalf of the City Council. The proposed arts and recreation center has been officially named the Ukiah Valley Cultural and Recreation Center. She attended a meeting for the planning of Observatory Park, noted Supervisor Shoemaker had met with the County's legislative advocacy staff in Sacramento regarding the City's Electric Utility deregulation concerns, and also noted a citizen's committee would be making a presentation to the Council regarding the landscaping for the new Safeway. Vice Mayor Mastin announced the acquisition of a trolley by the Mendocino Transit Authority. It will be used around the County for charters. The operators of the Skunk Train have made a bid to take over the operation of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. Congressman Riggs' office has been contacted regarding energy matters and deregulation concerns. 12. CITY MANAGER/DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS City Manager Horsley mentioned the cities of Fort Bragg and Willits will both be considering the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) covenant in the next few weeks. If they do not agree to be a party to it, the Transfer Station may not come about. Regular Meeting - June 18, 1997 Page 4 127 She had a productive meeting with Dennis Wilson and K.C. Meadows of the Ukiah Daily Journal. Councilmember Kelly noted that MSWMA had been successful in its lawsuit regarding the location of the Transfer Station on North State Street near the Forks. 13. CLOSED SESSION There was no Closed Session. 14. ADJOURNMENT City Manager Horsley inquired as to the Council's scheduling preference for the Budget Session. It was the consensus of Council 'to review the larger, more complex departments eady in the process. At 7:53 p.m., Vice Mayor Mastin adjourned the meeting to the Budget Session of June 25, 1997. Regular Meeting - June 18, 1997 Page 5