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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 04-26-946.3 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY _COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH - APRIL 25~ 199,4 The City Council convened in a special meeting, of which the agenda was legally noticed and posted, at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue. Roll was taken and the following Councilmembers were present: Malone, Wattenburger, and Vice-Mayor Shoemaker. Absent: Councilmember Mastin and Mayor Schneiter. Staff present: Director of Community Development Harris, Assistant City Manager Horsley, Warehouse/Purchasing Supervisor Kennedy, Director of Public Works/City Enginee~ Kennedy, Associate Planner Lohse, City Attorney Rapport, City Manager Rough, and Recording Secretary Yoast. 2. INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCF Councilmember Wattenburger delivered the Invocation and Councilmember Malone led the Pledge of Allegiance. PROCLAMATION DECLARING SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL LEI-rER CARRIERS FOOD DRIVE DAY ON MAY 14, 199A Vice-Mayor Shoemaker read the Proclamation regarding this one-day food collection event, and presented the praclamation to Dave Forsberg. Mr. Forsberg, representing the Ukiah Post Office letter carriers, thanked Council for their support in getting the word out regarding the food drive. He advised that 24 letter carriers in 20 different routes will be collecting food which has been placed by mail boxes on May 14, 1994. m SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Presentation by Cultural Arts Advisory Boardmember Jim Mayfield City Manager Rough advised that this item has been continued to the May 4, 1994 meeting, so that the presentation can be made to a full Council. 1 INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEF Dave Lohse, Associate Planner Director of Community Development Harris introduced Mr. Lohse, the new Associate Planner, who will be responsible for current planning duties for the Community Development Department. Mr. Lohse expressed his pleasure to be working with the City of Ukiah. 6. APPROVAL/CORRECTION OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 6, 1994 Councilmember Wattenburger indicated that in the motion for Item 3c, Page 1, it states he seconded the motion, however, he was absent at that meeting. It was determined that Councilmember Mastin was the second. '- M/S Malone/Wattenburger to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 6, 1994, as amended. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmember Malone and Vice-Mayor Shoemaker. ABSTAIN. Councilmember Wattenburger. NOES: None. ABSENT: Councilmember Mastin and Mayor Schneiter. 7. RIGHT TO APPEAL DECISION Vice-Mayor Shoemaker reviewed Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedures regarding the appeal process. 8. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilmember Wattenburger noted that regarding item 8f, City Manager Rough's new contract, he felt 3% was a modest amount considering the excellent job he is doing for 'the City of Ukiah. Also, since it has been several years since he accepted a raise he feels the new contract is very appropriate. 64 Vice-Mayor Shoemaker agreed with Councilmember Wattenburger and added that the raise is well deserved and also feels 3% is a very nominal amount. He indicated that overall, he is very pleased with the many positive 'changes he has seen since Chuck Rough arrived as City Manager. He noted his appreciation to the City Manager for his efforts. . Councilmember Malone commented on item 8e, regarding City Clerk McKay being Included as a designated employee of the City of Uklah since she is elected. City Attorney Rapport advised he does not know of anything under state law that would preclude McKay from being included in the resolution. He added that she is an elected official, but is also an employee of the City. M/S Malone/Wattenburger to approve the Consent Calendar as follows: a. ce Received and accepted March, 1994 disbursements; Awarded the bid for taxiway lighting and improvements at the Ukiah Municipal Airport to Northern Industrial Electric, in the amount of $321,733, Specification No. 94-01, AlP Project No. 3-06-0268-04; Awarded the bid to Rinehart Oil for petroleum products for various locations, in the estimated amount of $57,493; Denied and referred to insurance carrier, the claims for damages for i) Worster/Thompsen, Inc., and ii) Ukiah Ford Lincoln Mercury; Adopted Resolution No. 94-44, Authorizing City Employees to Acquire Federal Surplus Property from the California State Agency for Surplus Property, for City Use Only, and Authorize the City Manager to Sign Assurance of Compliance; and Adopted Resolution No. 94-45 authorizing Mayor to sign Agreement with Charles L. Rough, Jr., for City Manager Services. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Malone, Wattenburger, and Vice-Mayor Shoemaker. NOES: None. ABSENT: Councilmember Mastin and Mayor Schneiter. 9. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No one came forward. 10. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS Receive Petition Concernin,cl Palace Hotel City Manager Rough noted that the City Council is aware that City staff has spent the last several months preparing a safety abatement order for the owners of the Palace Hotel, based on a series of ongoing safety inspections conducted by the Fire Department and Code Enforcement Officer. The abatement order was issued based on the increased concern over the blighted and deteriorating conditions of the Palace Hotel and increasing safety hazards it poses to the surrounding buildings in the downtown. Independently of staff's actions, concerned merchants and property owners in the downtown have submitted a petition to the City Council requesting that the City of Ukiah take action to "condemn and remove the Palace Hotel." They, too, expressed concern with this seriously blighted and hazardous building. He further noted the Downtown Revitalization Master Plan represented the Palace Hotel "as a major example of physical blight and deterioration in the downtown area," and that "all possible private and/or public/private alternatives should be actively explored before any final recommendation for possible demolition is made." Three years later, the same stalemated ownership issues, along with the significant costs of seismically retrofitting and refurbishing the building continue to sober the private market from doing anything to substantially improve the state and condition of this building. In fact, conditions have worsened and the patience of downtown merchants and property owners, as evidenced by the Petition, makes it difficult to continue to tolerate the situation. Staff requested that the petition be received by the City Council, and referred to the City Manager, City Attorney, and staff. Staff has already began extensive exploration of Special Mtg. April 25, 1994 Page 2 65 alternatives to resolve this situation, and will be bringing back to the Council and Uklah Redevelopment Agency a more complete report and series of recommendations in May. Vice-Mayor Shoemaker opened the discussion to the public. Councilmember Wattenburger asked the current status regarding the abatement order. Mr. Rough advised that the owners have hired a contractor and over the last week have been in the process of clearing up some of the safety issues on the list. He will report in more detail when this item is brought back before the City Council. Councilmember Wattenburger expressed the desire to move carefully and do what is right for the public. The owners need to either remodel the building, or it needs to be condemned, but some movement needs to be made one way or the other as it has been stalemated too long. Councilmember Malone indicated the property owners have been given the benefit of the doubt. He envisions a number of scenarios, preserving it, condemning it, or tearing it down and salvaging some of the materials. Any kind of action one way or the other is essential. Vice-Mayor Shoemaker stated that some action is necessary and he personally wants to see a creative effort made to either reuse the existing materials, or utilize the construction techniques being used back east where current facades are shored up and stronger buildings are built inside. The market will tell the ultimate fate of the building. Bob Sandelin, $18 Jones Street, Ukiah, stated he was the operator and manager of the Palace Hotel for 18 years. He spoke not in protest, but to explain a few facts concerning the building. The emphasis placed on the historical and architectural value of the building is debatable since Black Bart left California before the building was built. Architecturally, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is not a beautiful building, but it is made out of soft brick, the mortar is deteriorated. It is construed of three buildings built together and they all work against each other. The roof is leaking. He would hate to see it demolished but it has been well documented and photographed, and a little plaque on the corner would be fine as far as he is concerned. Vice-Mayor Shoemaker closed this item, with the Council receiving and filing the report, and referred it back to staff to continue their evaluation, and bring it back for City Council review at a future meeting. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Set New Date for Council/Staff Goal Settin,q Workshop After discussion, it was determined that 5:30 p.m. on May 3, 1994, would be an acceptable time for all present to hold the Council/Staff Goal Setting Workshop relative to the Fiscal Year 1994/95 Budget. 12. NEW BUSINESS Consideration of Resolution of Support Endorsing County Human Commission Relations Vice-Mayor Shoemaker noted he attended a meeting in which development of a Human Relations Commission was discussed in detail. A group, consisting of 30 individuals met to hear Robert Delgado, a Legislative Assistant to a Councilmen in San Jose and current President Of the California Association of Human Rights Organizations. Their basic idea is to create a County Commission where people with a racial or ethnic problem might be able to voice their issues. The Commission would investigate and make recommendations. It would also work with other organizations to create more awareness of cultural diversity and ensure everyone in the community participates. The group will now set up a steering committee to put together a program which would show a Iow economic impact on the County and how it might be staffed. Mr. Delgado indicated he would work with the Steering Committee to reach thek goals. Special Mtg. April 25, 1994 Page 3 66 Councilmember Wattenburger noted his support. Councilmember Malone questioned whether this Commission would dilute the efforts of another agency hand~ling these types of situations already. Vice-Mayor Shoemaker advised this Commission would create a forum to hopefully handle an Issue before it has to go into a legal arena. There was also a concern raised at the meeting that it was creating another layer of bureaucracy, and discussion was had relative to it being a non-profit, rather than a County Commission. Mr. Delgado, however, was a strong advocate of it being an official Commission. M/S Wattenburger/Malone to adopt Resolution Supporting Mendocino Human Relations Commission. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Malone, Wattenburger, and Vice-Mayor Shoemaker. NOES: None. ABSENT: Councilmember Mastin and Mayor Schneiter. 13. CITY COUNCIL INDIVIDUAL REPORTS ONLY Councilmember Malone had no reports. Councilmember Wattenburger noted that at the first of the month he was in Mexico with a youth group from Ukiah. They met with other youth groups and accomplished their goal of building a small house for a poverty-stricken family. It was a very successful, exciting trip and the young people really drew together as a team. Councilmember Malone added that he is working on a play where half the cast are high school students, and also noted what a pleasure it is working with them. Vice-Mayor Shoemaker advised that he attended a meeting of department heads in social service fields. It is anticipated that, across the board, they will be negatively impacted by 15% - 20% next fiscal year. He further reported attending a Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority meeting. There was a presentation from the Regional Disposal Company who is connected with Southern Pacific Railroad doing rail haul. The discussion opened MSWMA's eyes regarding the waste transfer issue. This Thursday there will be another MSWMA meeting to discuss going out for proposals for a transfer facility and long-distance waste hauling. 14. CITY MANAGER/DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORT_C; City Manager Rough advised that all City Departments are working on their Budgets. He reported on a sales tax initiative now before the legislature which would redistribute sales tax revenues to cities and counties. 15. CLOSED SESSION None. 16. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. to May 3, 1994, at 5:30 p.m. Karen Yoast, Recording Secretary Special Mtg. April 25, 1994 Page 4