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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 11-05-97165 MINUTES OF THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting - November 5, 1997 A regular meeting of the Ukiah City Council, the agenda for which was legally noticed and posted, convened at 6:32 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, Mastin, and Mayor Malone. Staff present: Public Utility Director Barnes, Community Services Director DeKnoblough, Assistant City Manager Harris, City Manager Horsley, Public Works Director Kennedy, City Attorney Rapport, and City Clerk Henderson. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Chavez led the Pledge of Allegiance. m Approval/Correction of Minutes Regular Meeting -October 15, 1997 MIS AshikulKelly to approve the Minutes of October 15, 1997, as submitted, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Ashiku, Kelly, Mastin, and Mayor Malone. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: Councilmember Chavez. ABSENT: None. 4. RIGHT TO APPEAL DECISION Mayor Malone reviewed the appeal process. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR MIS MastinlAshiku to approve the Consent Calendar as follows: a. Denied Claims for Damages received from Mendo-Lake Office Products, Layton Inong, Sherri Marizette, and Ken Johnson, and referred to the Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund; b. Adopted Resolution No. 98-15, Accepting Portions of Airport Park Boulevard into the City Street System; c. Received Report Regarding Expenditure for Uniforms for Youth Basketball League in the amount of $6,000; d. Received Report to Council Regarding Emergency Conduit Repair on Oak Manor Drive by Wipf Construction in an amount not to exceed $10,000; e. Approved Budget Amendment for Fire Department Grant to Secure Extraction Device and Ambulance Related Equipment and Supplies; and f. Received Notification to Council Regarding Purchase of 5,000 Ft. of 750 MCM Aluminum, Single Conductor Cable to King Wire, Inc., in the amount of $8,129.55. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, Mastin, and Mayor Malone. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. 6. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No one came forward. o PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS Presentation by Jack Dingman of Real Earth United States Ent., Ltd., on the Bio- Conversion Process for Changing Garbage and Sewage Sludge to Compost City Manager Horsley noted Councilmember Kelly learned of Real Earth United States Enterprises, Ltd., at the recent League of California Cities Annual Conference in San Francisco and requested this presentation. Jack Dingman, Managing General Partner of Real Earth United States EnterpriSes, Ltd., (REUSE), introduced his business associate, Richard Jewett. Mr. Jewett presented an overview of the company which processes and converts garbage and sludge into compost in six days, including the end product, the market therefor, and product quality issues. He also noted the importance of the process to the ecology of the earth. He requested Council form a committee to look into REUSE's process of dealing with garbage and sludge, and defer any decision on the use of its waste stream until REUSE's composting process has been investigated further. Regular Meeting - November 5, 1997 Page I 166 Mr. Dingman presented a 3-minute video on the REUSE plant which once operated in Madisonville, Kentucky. He addressed staff's analysis of a sample of compost, noting it was 15 years old. REUSE's current product would be refined to meet the stricter United States Department of Agriculture standards for compost. Fifteen years ago the process was not economically feasible. He believes, due to the strict recycling mandates now in place, the process is now economically competitive. Councilmember Kelly inquired as to REUSE's ability to provide an ongoing operation. Mr. Dingman responded the company would have no trouble getting financing and it would be able to provide a performance bond. Councilmember Mastin asked the amount of tonnage necessary to make the operation feasible, and what were the available markets for the product. Mr. Dingman responded a minimum of 100 tons per day would be required. He foresees agricultural uses for his compost product in California. In Kentucky, it was used to infill strip mined areas. On questioning by Councilmember Kelly, Mr. Kennedy noted he thought the concept of turning garbage and sludge into compost was possible, however, he had concerns for the time and siting constraints facing the City. Councilmember Ashiku commented he did not think the project was feasible due to siting and timing constraints, excessive capitalization costs, and difficulty in producing a final product free from toxicities. The report was received. ,_ UNFINISHED BUSINESS Presentation of Proposal from Solid Wastes Systems, Inc. for the Construction and Operation of a Solid Waste Disposal Transfer Station at the Taylor Drive Site RECESSED: 7:20 p.m. RECONVENED: 7:27 p.m. City Manager Horsley mentioned to Mr. Dingman the County of Sonoma was looking for a transfer system and, if and when a system such as his were located near Ukiah, the City would consider directing its waste stream to such a facility. City Manager Horsley introduced Mr. Salyers, who had been requested by Council to develop plans for construction of a Disposal Transfer Station at the company's Taylor Drive site. Jim Salyers, Solid Wastes Systems, Inc., presented a video showing its Healdsburg and Guemeville facilities, both of which have features similar to those proposed for the Taylor Drive site. He also showed projections of the proposed Taylor Drive facility, noting the debris separation areas and the truck and rail service loading areas. His proposal at this time only included truck haul. City Manager Horsley asked Mr. Salyers to clarify the transfer station was designed for both truck and rail haul, but the proposal being presented now was for truck haul, as it is more cost effective than rail haul at this time. Mr. Salyers noted rail haul is possible, but presently it is economically unattractive. Dale Solheim, EBA Wastechnologies, in response to a question from the Mayor, responded he did not know how close to the north boundary of the site the Mendocino Transit Authority buildings were located. Mayor Malone called for audience comments. Jack Tremain, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Operations Manager, assured the Council his company would be able to provide efficient rail service to this site. Michael McCartney, QLM Consulting, outlined the proposal he had recently submitted to the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) in response to its Request for Proposal to construct a waste transfer station at its North State Street site. Regular Meeting - November 5, 1997 Page 2 167 Pat McAIlister, North Forks Improvement Group, mentioned his group has filed an appeal to the judgment rendered in the lawsuit against MSWMA to bar the construction of a waste transfer station at its North State Street site. Judy Pruden, 304 S. Hortense, noted her general support for the Taylor Drive site. David Nelson, Board Member, North Coast Rail Authority, urged the Council to take a leadership role by committing to rail haul for this project. John Warren, Accountant for Solid Wastes Systems, Inc., noted rail haul for this project was not feasible at this time without a commitment for the waste stream of the entire County of Mendocino. Solid Waste's proposal did not include a rail haul option at this time. Robert Reich, Ukiah, felt rail haul of garbage was not feasible at this time. He noted the present proposal was beneficial to the City. Mr. Dingman noted the proposal from Solid Wastes Systems did not address the mandates of AB939. Al Beltrami, Executive Director of the Mendocino County Employees Council (MCEC), noted his Board took a position in support of privatization, with an emphasis on cost effectiveness, and against a 20-year contract. The MCEC is supportive of rail haul in the long term, but supports the trucking option of this proposal at this time. Richard Shoemaker, 710 Willow, urged the Council to carefully examine all aspects of this proposal before committing to the proposal. Discussion took place regarding rates, rate increases, and various points of the proposal. Councilmember Kelly noted she expected two full proposals from Solid Wastes Systems, one for truck haul and the other for rail haul. David Gavrich, Waste Solutions Group, stressed his company's abilities to haul garbage by rail. Richard Howland, 1784 Despina, preferred truck haul as a cost effective and secure means of hauling waste. Mayor Malone directed the discussion back to the Council. He strongly favors rail haul for this project. City Manager Horsley noted most commercial shippers in the area use trucks as it is more cost efficient; also, the railroad has been having troubles 'keeping up the tracks and meeting their financial commitments. Staff does not recommend rail haul as an option at this time. Perhaps at a later date, rail haul of our waste stream would become more economically feasible. RECESSED: 9:10 p.m. RECONVENED: 9:18 p.m. City Manager Horsley noted she has had many discussions with Solid Wastes Systems representatives in the past few weeks and she would like to continue to negotiate this matter. MIS AshikulKelly to have, in two weeks, two distinct proposals from Solid Wastes Systems, Inc., one for a transfer station based on rail hauling of waste and one for a transfer station built to haul the waste by truck. The proposals should be based on a 10-year capitalization of the transfer station and a 10-year curbside pick up contract. Discussion took place as to whether or not the proposals should include an operational plan. Councilmembers Ashiku and Kelly agreed to amend their motion to have the'proposals include an operational plan. The inclusion of this amendment in the motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, Mastin, and Mayor Malone. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. The motion, as amended, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, ^shiku, Kelly, Mastin, and Mayor Malone. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. Regular Meeting - November 5, 1997 Page 3 168 8b. Possible Adoption of Resolution Making Airport Park Boulevard or Portions Thereof Part of the City of Ukiah Street System City Attorney Rapport indicated it was not necessary to discuss this matter at this time. MIS AshikulChavez to drop this item from the agenda. The motion carried by a voice vote of all AYE. ABSENT: None. o NEW BUSINESS Adoption of Resolution Approving Composition of, and Making City Councilmember Appointment to, the City of Ukiah Disaster Council City Manager Horsley noted the draft Resolution had been revised to include representation by the Mendocino Transit Authority. Councilmember Ashiku volunteered to serve on the City of Ukiah Disaster Council. MIS Mastin/Chavez to adopt Resolution 98-16, Approving Composition of, and Appointing Councilmember to, the City of Ukiah Disaster Council, and to appoint Councilmember Ashiku to the City of Ukiah Disaster Council, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, Mastin, and Mayor Malone. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. 10. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Chavez gave no report. Councilmember Ashiku reported on the initial meeting of the Committee for the Master Plan of the Courthouse. The City of Ukiah needs to have strong input as long-term plans for the present Courthouse, or a new one, are formulated. Councilmember Kelly mentioned the progress of the Skateboard Park Siting Committee. She participated in interviews for a new Director of the Senior Center. She attended an Economic Development Financing Committee (EDFC) meeting. The EDFC is recruiting for an Executive Director. Councilmember Mastin noted the Mendocino Transit Authority Board of Directors had reviewed several site plans for the Transit Station to be located on the Railroad Station property and had preferred a Transit Station site on the west side of the tracks. He also noted an upcoming Ukiah Community Center fundraising event. Mayor Malone had no report. 11. CITY MANAGER/DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS City Manager Horsley reported she enjoyed the Buddhists' Elders Day celebration and noted the success of the Day of the Dead celebration sponsored by the Grace Hudson Museum. She showed the Council a sketch for a banner which would promote City facilities and be hung over State Street when no other groups were hanging their banners. 12. CLOSED SESSION a. G.C. Section 54957.6 -Conference with Labor Negotiator, Negotiator: Candace Horsley; All Units b. G.C. Section 54956.9 - Conference with Legal Counsel Regarding Existing Litigation, Redwood Business Park v. City of Ukiah, Mendocino County Superior Court, No. 77507 MIS MastinlMalone to convene in Closed Session, carried by a voice vote of all AYE. ABSENT: None. Regular Meeting - November 5, 1997 Page 4 169 The Council went into Closed Session at 9:46 p.m. and reconvened in Open Session at 9:59 p.m. No action was taken. 13. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. C"elleen B. Henderson, City Clerk Regular Meeting - November 5, 1997 Page 5