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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 02-2-9428 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH - February 2, 1994 The City Council convened in a regular meeting, of which the agenda was legally noticed and posted, at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue. Roll was taken and the following Councilmembers were present: Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, Shoemaker and Mayor Schneiter. Staff present: City Manager Rough, City Attorney Rapport, Public Utility Director Barnes, Community Development Director Harris, City Engineer Beard, City Engineer/Public Works Director Kennedy, Finance Director Burt, Public Works Administrator Goodrich, and Executive Assistant Yoast. INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Community Development Director Harris delivered the Invocation and Mayor Schneiter led the Pledge of Allegiance. PROCLAMATIONS 4a. Declarinq February 1994 as Spay and Neuter Month Mayor Schneiter read and presented the Proclamation to Richard Winkler, President of the Spay and Neuter Assistance Program, who provided a brief report concerning the successful past three years of the organization's existence. 4b. Supportinq St. Mary's Mardi Gras, February 5 and 6, 1994 Mayor Schneiter read and presented the Proclamation to David Brown, Chairman of this Mardi Gras, which celebrates its 25th year in fundraising. 5. Approval/Correction of Minutes of Reqular Meetinq of January 19, 1994 M/S Wattenburger/Shoemaker to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 19, 1994, as submitted. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, Shoemaker and Mayor Schneiter. NOES: None. Absent: None. 6. Riqht to Appeal Decision Mayor Schneiter reviewed Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedures regarding the appeal process. CONSENT CALENDAR M/S Malone/Wattenburger approved the Consent Calendar as follows; 7a. Received the resignation letter from Planning Commissioner Richard Long; authorized the Mayor to send letter of appreciation and to establish dates for Council interviews and/or appointment of Planning Commissioner applicants, and authorized the City Clerk to advertise the vacancy. 7b. Awarded the bid for Sodium Hydroxide to Pressure Vessel Services, Inc. in the amount of $11,453.38, based on per-unit price. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, Shoemaker and Mayor Schneiter. NOES: None. Absent: None. 8. Audience Comments on Non-Aqenda Items None. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 9a. Consideration of Letter Received from Tecy Banta, Proposinq Roundup Utility Payment Fundraisinq for Habitat for Humanity, Inland Mendocino Tecy Banta reported on her proposal for a joint venture with the City of Ukiah Public Utility Department and the Habitat for Humanity local affiliate, to raise funds to build homes in the Ukiah Valley. She requested initiating a new program to take voluntary rounding up of utility payment dollars to generate funds to build one interest-free home each year, which will be paid back and matched with 500 hours of sweat equity of the low-income family receiving this benefit. She provided further information concerning the organization and program. Discussion ensued regarding this proposal, the previous unsuccessful Plus 5 program, and other City funding grants to local nonprofit organizations. Councilmember Mastin commented he would prefer this vehicle for fundraising be used for all organizations and not one specifically . , Councilmember Shoemaker suggested PG&E also develop a County-wide program. Councilmember Wattenburger commented that this seems to be a reasonable program worth pursuing for all organizations. Mayor Schneiter noted that the Ukiah Redevelopment Agency provides a 20% setaside funding for low income housing through different groups in our community, and prefers not to use the electric utility to generate funds as it was not successful in the past. Councilmember Malone indicated the money should be spent in the best way possible, and there are many other long standing non-profit organizations in this community who are doing an outstanding j ob. Frank McMichael, 301 N. State Street, urged City support of this proposal as it is voluntary and encouraged full evaluation of it. ' Councilmember Shoemaker commented possibly a County program could be implemented also, using the rounding up proposal for property tax payments. The City Manager clarified the procedure used for grant funding of non-profit organizations in our community. It was the consensus of Council for staff to further research this proposal keeping Council's input in mind. PUBLIC HEARING 10a. Consideration of General Plan Amendment and Zone Chanqe ADDlication No. 93-24, as filed by Rural Communities Housin9 Development Corporation for Bill Neese, for General Plan lan~ use desiqnation chanqe from Industrial to Medium Hiqh Densit~ Residential and Zone Chanqe from C-2, Hiqhwa¥ Commercial Restricted Industrial, to PD, Planned Development zone, fo~ property located at the southern corner of Main Street and Cleveland Lane, runninq east alonq Cleveland Lane, 2.5 acres, Assessor Parcel Nos. 002-311-01, 002-311-04, and 002-311-15 Councilmember Shoemaker removed himself from the room at this time due to possible conflicts of interest. The Community Development Director reported on the proposed project which was approved by the Planning Commission January 12, 1994. He explained these applications are for a single project which has a potential development of a 13-unit single-family subdivision for low and moderate income housing. He reported on the General plan Amendment process, zone change procedures, access, and surrounding zoning in the neighborhood. He noted both the proposed amendment and zone change are consistent with the Housing Elements of the existing and proposed General Plan in that low and moderate income housing is being provided and the planned Development Zone is being utilized. Reg. Mtg. February 2, 1994 Page 2 30 PUBLIC HEARING OPENED - 7:28 p.m. Duane Hill, representative of Rural Community Housing Development Corporation, 237 E. Gobbi Street, explained they have the money commitments necessary to go forward with this project, the tentative designs are prepared and ready to submit and explained this project will provide housing to people making 80% or less of the mean income in the area. No others came forward. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED - 7:31 p.m. Discussion ensued regarding the project using sweat equity, the environmental assessment and CEQA requirements. The Community Development Director acknowledged receipt of a letter from Willa Woodbury, a copy of which is provided to Council. He indicated her concerns will be considered during site development planning, and are not related to this project, lacking further specifics. i. Find Neqative Declaration Adequate and Complete M/S Malone/Mastin to find the Negative Declaration for General Plan Amendment and Zone Change No. 93-24 adequate and complete. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, and Mayor Schneiter. NOES: None. Absent: Councilmember Shoemaker. ii. Adoption of Resolution Approvinq General Plan Amendment No. 93-24, Rural Communities Housinq Development Corporation M/S Malone/Mastin to adopt Resolution No. 94-35, approving General Plan Amendment No. 93-24. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, and Mayor Schneiter. NOES: None. Absent: Councilmember Shoemaker. iii. Introduction of Ordinance Amendinq Chapter 2, Division 9, of the Ukiah City Code by Rezoninq Property (Zone Chanqe No. 93-24, Rural Communities Housinq Development Corporation M/S Malone/Mastin to read the title only for the first reading of the Ordinance. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of all AYE, with Councilmember Shoemaker absent. Executive Assistant Yoast read the title only of the proposed Ordinance. M/S Wattenburger/Malone to introduce the Ordinance amending Chapter 2, Division 9, of the Ukiah City Code by rezoning property (Zone Change No. 93-24, by Rural Housing Communities Development Corporation). The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, and Mayor Schneiter. NOES: None. Absent: Councilmember Shoemaker. Councilmember Shoemaker returned to the meeting at 7:34 p.m. Councilmember Shoemaker requested moving the New Business items to this time in the meeting, as the item of Unfinished Business is lengthy. Council concurred. NEW BUSINESS 12b. Consideration of Resolution Establishinq a Preferential Parkinq Space for the Disabled on School Street, Abuttinq the County Courthouse Discussion ensued regarding the history of this item and the County's request for disabled parking at the courthouse. Reg. Mtg. February 2, 1994 Page 3 The City Engineer/Public Works Director reported this proposal would create one disabled parking space with re-striping to provide a total of eight parking spaces on School Street. M/S Shoemaker/Malone adopted Resolution No. 94-36, establishing a preferential parking space for the disabled on School Street abutting the County Courthouse. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, Shoemaker and Mayor Schneiter. NOES: None. Absent: None. 12a. Approval of Stipulated Aqreement with Local Enforcement Aqenc¥ (LEA) Reqardinq the City of Ukiah Solid Waste ..Disposal Sit- A summary was provided specifically identifying those efforts since 1975. The Public Works Administrator reported on the City's past and current efforts to obtain a revised landfill operating permit. She explained the California Waste Management Board's reinterpretation of the City's 1979 permit. She noted that the Stipulated Agreement acted as an interim operating permit for the City Landfill, allowing the City to operate under its present conditions, until the revised permit is approved. The Stipulated Agreement was developed in conjunction with the City Manager, City Attorney, Public Works Staff, EIR and legal consultants, the Local Enforcement Agency and the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Mayor Schneiter noted a typo on Page 4, Condition C, change "page 1 and 2" to "Page 2 and 3." Discussion ensued regarding the details of the agreement, handling of Masonite's ash and discontinuance as directed by the Local Enforcement Agency, due to the excessive volumes. The Public Works Administrator explained the Masonite Ash would again, at lesser volumes, be accepted at the landfill, once a handling procedure was established and approved by the LEA. Councilmember Shoemaker stated the wording in the last paragraph of this agreement says it all, in that the City has always and remains committed to work in good faith towards obtaining a permit revision. M/S Wattenburger/Shoemaker approving the Stipulated Agreement and authorized the Mayor and City Manager to sign with amendments included. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mastin, Malone, Wattenburger, Shoemaker and Mayor Schneiter NOES- None Absent: None. ' · · Recess - 8:00 p.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Reconvened - 8:07 p.m. lla. Discussion Reqardinq Mendocino Solid Waste Manaqemen~ Authority Project Reqardinq Transfer Station and Rec¥clin9 Processinq Facility Paul Caylor, Mendocino County Solid Waste Manager, reported on the history and development of this proposed project in conjunction with the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority. Mike Sweeney, Keep Mendocino Beautiful consultant to MSWMA, showed a video to Council regarding operations of a transfer station and recycling processing facility in existence in other areas. The Public Works Administrator reported on the current landfill volumes and gate fees, and how the present gate fee was distributed between regulatory cost, MSWMA surcharge wages and administration costs. ' The Finance Director reported on City funds presently set aside for closure/postclosure costs, and projected set aside amounts, based on an estimated total of 2 million dollars. She 31 Reg. Mtg. February 2, 1994 Page 4 32 showed a chart of the current volume of waste into the landfill site in tons and associated revenues generated, identifying where the tonnage and revenues came from. (City versus County, Commercial versus self-haul) The Director reviewed five options proposed as future scenarios for the Ukiah Landfill as it related to the proposed transfer station/recycling processing facility; 1. County self-haul only/diverted to new transfer/recycling facility, 2. All self haul refuse to new facility, 3. All County and self haul diverted to new recycling/transfer facility/excess returned to Ukiah landfill, 4. All refuse to new facility and excess transferred back to Ukiah landfill, and 5. Landfill used as reserve facility only. The City Manager indicated that any City of Ukiah participation in a transfer station/resource recovery facility for the County should be based upon the condition that the City receive the excess refuse back into the City landfill. Discussion ensued regarding details of the proposed options, landfill gate fees, transfer station fees, revenues, life capacity of landfill, tipping fees outside of Mendocino County, current waste stream totals, and potential County waste flows. County Supervisor Sugawara noted that if this transfer station does not get approved, then options 3 and 4 will not work. He urged Council to consider impact and economic viability of the transfer/recycling station. Discussion ensued regarding the potential of this proposed facility to separate garbage received from residential waste, curbside recycling providing clean recyclables, a dirty MRF is cost and psychologically prohibitive, and analysis of possibilities. Councilmember Shoemaker stated this proposal is an acknowledgement that a County of Mendocino garbage problem exists in and it is his desire to find a solution which will benefit everyone. He indicated the bottom line, best solution for the City of Ukiah is to keep the waste stream volume at our landfill, for all jurisdictions to participate in this transfer station/recycling processing facility, with the excess waste returning to our landfill until it reaches capacity thereby enabling the City to close the landfill with the funds necessary for 30 year postclosure regulatory compliance. Councilmember Malone commented it makes sense to participate in this transfer station with a clean and flexible MRF as long as it provides a benefit to us. He indicated he prefers it be located here in the Ukiah Valley to avoid additional shipping costs. The City Manager expressed concern regarding the possible factor of haulers using cheaper facilities. Mike Sweeney stated if it is an efficient, well-sited facility, there is no way the haulers will be able to process the material for less. He explained the haulers will be very active in the planning process for siting this facility. He indicated a crucial factor County wide, is whether the City of Ukiah is willing to accept the wastestream volumes from the Willits site, after it closes in a few years. Councilmember Shoemaker noted another issue is whether to process wastestream through the transfer facility. Mayor Schneiter expressed concern regarding losing the volumes from our landfill, which provide the funding necessary to cover operational costs. Mike Sweeney noted it is his opinion that Ukiah will not financially lose in this proposal, and these questions can be resolved after Ukiah makes a policy commitment. Reg. Mtg. February 2, 1994 Page 5