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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin 03-17-8275 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH - MARCH 17, 1982 The City Council convened in regular session at 6:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Roll call was taken and the following Councilmembers were present: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers; .Councilmembers absent: Snyder. Staff present: Payne, Orchard, Kruth, Harris, Brosig, Frame, Tillotson, Melvin. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was given by Debbie Hennigan, Ukiah High School student, and Councilmember Hickey led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL/CORRECTION OF MINUTES M/S: Riley/Hickey to approve the minutes of March 3, 1982. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder Hickey, Feibusch, RIGHT TO APPEAL DECISION Mayor Myers reviewed Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure regarding appeal procedure. CONSENT CALENDAR M/S: Hickey/Feibusch to approve Consent Calendar Items 6a-6d as follows: 6a. Payroll Warrants, #18261-18399, $64,896.67; 6b. General Warrants, #19489-19620, $759,941.57; 6c. Approved amended Resolution No. 82-53 establishing bail schedule for parking violations and other vehicle violations; 6d. Approved Report of Administrative Actions & Proposals (R.A.A.P.). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: None ADDITIONS TO AGENDA M/S: Hickey/Riley to add Agenda Item 8a.1, Invitation from Mr. Titlow; Item 9d, Request from REMIF for City to be plaintiff to stay action of AB7X; Item 9e, Waste to Energy Study; Item 9f, Matter of Yokayo Shopping Center (considered at last meeting 3/3/82). Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING 7a. APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION, Planning Director stated VARIANCE APPL. NO. 82-53 FILED BY the Planning Commission at MACK MCKINLEY RE OFF STREET PARKING their February 10, 1982 REQUIREMENTS meeting by 4-3 vote denied applicant's request for variance from the requirement for off street parking. Applicant proposes to enclose one half of the existing garage. He pointed out that it has been recommended, during consideration of revision to the zoning ordinance, that covered parking spaces be eliminated but that recommendation has not been acted upon by Council. He was of the opinion that the revised zoning ordinance should be to Council for its first meeting in May, 1982. PUBLIC HEARING OPENED: Mack McKinley, 835 Maya Way, stated his proposal would make no difference to his current outside parking. He further stated his application was prompted by his unsuccessful attempt to find a larger home due to the housing market. SEE PAGE 85 FOR 2/17/82 MINUTES Reg.Mtg. 3/17/82 Page 1 76 Linda Foster, Gobbi Street, stated applicant should be commended for coming before Council as many convert garages into rooms without going through the proper procedure. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. M/S: Riley/Myers to grant the appeal of Planning Commission's denial of off street parking variance. Council expressed concern with the time frame for the revised zoning ordinance and final action not being taken until midsummer. It was suggested that this particular area dealing with off street parking be considered prior to consideration of the entire revised zoning ordinance. Discussion followed relating to granting of variances due to hardship. Planning Director stated that variances granted due to hardship must not be based on economic hardship but on the physical site. It was suggested that a possible hardship might be based on proposed changes to the zoning ordinance that have not been acted upon. Motion failed by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Myers NOES: Riley ABSENT: Snyder M/S: Riley/Feibusch that consideration of the Zoning Ordinance requirement for off street parking be taken out of sequence and considered at Council's April 7, 1982 meeting. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 8a.1 INVITATION FROM MR. TITLOW Councilmember Riley referred to Vichy Hills Power Company's invitation to Council to view the Coos Bay waste to energy plant; expenses to be paid by Vichy Hills Power Company. M/S: Riley/Myers to turn down the invitation. Councilmember Riley was of the opinion that to accept this invitation from the proponents was inappropriate as it would compromise Council's position and if Council were to go see the Coos Bay operation, they should pay their own expenses. Charles Williams, Ukiah, stated he has plans for a recycling center and asked that councilmembers give him equal time and view the recycling operation in Santa Rosa. Gilbert Ashoff, Masonite, stated that Council could view their burner operation. Motion failed by the following roll call vote: AYES: Riley NOES: Hickey, Feibusch, Myers ABSENT: Snyder 8a. MATTER OF SEWER LINE REQUIREMENTS, The information requested LOHR AND SHAPIRO at the last meeting was provided by the Public Works Director. He also stated that adjacent property owners are not interested at this time in participating in the sewer line project. M/S: Hickey/Riley to grant appeal of Lohr/Shaprio regarding installation of ..... an 11 foot sewer line. ~ Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder Reg.Mtg. 3/17/82 Page 2 77 8b. USE OF GIORNO PRACTICE FIELD to Council's April 7, 1982 meeting. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. M/S: Riley/Hickey to continue subject matter 8c. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF M/S: Hickey/Feibusch to AGREEMENT WITH COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE adopt Resolution No. 82-54 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1981-82 authorizing execution of an agreement with the Mendocino County Chamber of Commerce for the fiscal year 1981-1982 and authorizing Mayor to execute said agreement. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder NEW BUSINESS 9a. INTRODUCTION OF PARK ORDINANCE City Manager stated an ordinance has been prepared by Ukiah High School student committee in an attempt to solve the problems and potential problems within the park system. He commended the students for their work on the ordinance. Stewart Frame, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that the ordinance has been reviewed by staff and approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission. He introduced the Ukiah High School students who worked on the ordinance. It was the consensus of Council that particular areas of concern within the ordinance be redrafted and brought back for Council review. Those sections are: Section 1966, Hours of use; Section 1976, Regulation of dogs and other animals; Section 1979, Throwing projectiles; Section 1980, Possession of hatchets, other cutting devices; Section 1985, Certain metal demonstration equipment prohibited; Section 1986, Certain wooden demonstration equipment prohibited; Section 1989, Climbing trees, walking, sitting on fixtures; Section 1992, Decorations; Section 1993, Alcoholic Beverages. M/S: Riley/Feibusch to continue subject matter thirty days. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Mayor Myers thanked the Ukiah High School Students who worked on the proposed park ordinance: David Roach, Tonya Sparkes, Suzie Shippey and Debbie Hennigan. Ardis Campbell, Ukiah High School Leadership instructor, felt her students, through work on this ordinance, received insight into what government action is like. RECESS: 7:40 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING 7b. PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARKING City Attorney stated, in AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT response to a possible AND BENEFIT ZONE conflict of interest as recently reported in the Ukiah Daily Journal and after review of State law, it is not certain that Councilmember Feibusch is barred from voting nor is it clear he would be in violation of State law. He is of the opinion that Councilmember Feibusch could be determined to be in violation if the matter were presented to the Fair Political Practices Commission or court action were brought; he further pointed out that the intent of the law regarding public Reg.Mtg. 3117182 Page 3 78 officials is that one must not only avoid doing wrong but avoide the appearance of wrong doing as well. The City Attorney's advice to Councilmember Feibusch was that he not participate in voting or other action which might influence the decision. Concern has been expressed that Councilmember Feibusch's vote in setting the proposed improvement district for hearing was a violation of State law. It is his opinion that Councilmember Feibusch acted in good faith and was not in violation. Councilmember Feibusch read the following statement and requested that it be made a part of the record: "An old German proverb says "The most honorable cannot live in peace if it does not please his wicked neighbor." On March 3rd of this year I voted to set a public hearing date to consider the formation of a parking and improvement district, which was requested by the downtown merchants. There is no personal benefit involved for me in giving the public their right to speak. We hear a lot about volunteerism these days coming out of Washington. On March the 14th, while I spent another morning working with the downtown merchants on the volunteer School Street project, Mr. Tony Huegel spewed his venom in the Ukiah Daily Journal, hinting at conflict of interest. My family and I moved to Ukiah 35 years ago, when it was a serene little town, void of evilminded newsmedia bigots. My first participation in a volunteer project was the building of Anton Stadium under the leadership of A1 Anton. In 1967 I spearheaded the building of the Dolphin pool in the City park, donating hundreds of hours of my labor. In 1968 I sold the land for the Vinewood Park to the City at a ridiculous price and paid more than a third of the cost of the Elm Street break through. In 1976 I volunteered my labor supervising the construction of the Gazebo in the City Park, donated to the City by the Redwood Empire Lions Club. In 1977 I donated to the City a perpetual water rights belonging on a piece of property I owned on North State Street. At present day water cost that amounts to $2,620 a year. How many years might perpetuity be? T' paid 1/3 of the closing costs for the acquisition of the parking lot behind the old Penney's building. The current downtown improvement project which I spearheaded for the merchants, represents hundreds of dollars of personal cash outlay and donated labor, and it is only the beginning. I have been engaged in the revitalization of four old, dilapidated downtown buildings and converted them to become assets of downtown. I have in fact been called a one man redevelopment agency. If anybody can ever prove that I have gained personal benefit from my position on the City Council I invite him to come forward with his facts. Let me use a quote from the late Adlai Stevenson: "He who slings mud looses ground" and I think our little reporter is over his head in a great big pile of pomme de cheval." City Manager-stated that several merchants requested that a public hearing be held to determine if a majority of the merchants would like to impose a fee upon themselves that they could use once it is collected for the promotion of the downtown area. Determination must be made at this hearing as to whether Reg.Mtg. 3/17/82 Page 4 79 or not there is a majority protest based on the amount paid in business license fees within subject benefit area. PUBLIC HEARING OPENED: Those who spoke in opposition: James Smith, Cox Motors Richard Hanson, Palace Place Philip Woodard, Blimpies Glen Gonzales, Ukiah Rexall Those who spoke in favor: Gary Engle, The Alternative Mike Kelley, Wine Kip Spencer, Spencer Shoes Clyde Oakes, The Jewelry Store Steve Green, Grapevine Bruce Poma, Poma TV Bransom, Bransom Apparell PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. City Manager determined, based on merchants who spoke in opposition, it would be appropriate for Council to make a no protest finding. M/S: Riley/Hickey to find no valid protest for establishment of a parking and business district and benefit zone. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder M/S: Riley/Hickey to introduce Ordinance No. 777 by title only. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. M/S: Hickey/Riley to introduce Ordinance No. 777 establishing a parking and business district and benefit zone. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder NEW BUSINESS 9b. EXTENSION OF RESIDENTIAL ENERGY M/S: Hickey/Riley to CONSERVATION AGREEMENT authorize City Manager to execute modification to the Ukiah Conservation Program Agreement with NCPA. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder 9c. MATTER OF OPENING SUN HOUSE M/S: Riley/Hickey to DURING ABSENCE OF CURATOR appoint two Sun House volunteers, Billie Smith and Beverly Carter, to be responsible for keeping the Sun House open during the absences of the Sun House Curator. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hickey, Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder City Manager pointed out that the volunteers will be bonded. 9d. REQUEST FROM REMIF FOR CITY TO BE City Manager stated that PLAINTIFF TO STAY ACTION OF AB7X REMIF has requested authorization to name the City as plaintiff in filing a Writ of Mandamus to stay the action of AB7X. He further stated there will be no cost to the City. M/S: Hickey/Feibusch to authorize REMIF to name Ukiah as plaintiff to stay the action of AB7X. Reg.Mtg. 3/17/82 Page 5 8O Motion carried by 3-1 (Riley) voice vote. 9e. WASTE TO ENERGY GRANT APPLICATION M/S: Hickey/Riley to authorize City Manager to pursue a joint project with either the County Agriculture Department or Mendocino Community College to make application for grant funds for waste to energy if action is deemed warranted after consultation with the two agencies. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 9f. APPEAL OF MINOR SUBDIVISION CONDITION- Councilmember Hickey stated, YOKAYO SHOPPING CENTER after conferring with the City Attorney, that he has asked that the subject matter be reconsidered and he would abstain from discussion and voting. Councilmember Hickey left the room. M/S: Riley/Feibusch to uphold appeal of street dedication for minor subdivision in Yokayo Shopping Center and refer Alternative #4, Apple to Gobbi, to Public Works Department for research. City Attorney stated it is his opinion that Councilmember Hickey should abstain from any matter that Mr. Cox has a direct interest in. He pointed out that Council's action tonight is a reaffirmation of the action taken by Council at its March 3, 1982 meeting regarding subject matter. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Feibusch, Riley, Myers NOES: None ABSENT: Snyder ABSTAIN: Hickey Councilmember Hickey returned. COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE Ron Gluckman requested a copy of City Attorney's opinion regarding conflict of interest, Councilmember Feibusch's statement and asked for explanation of the definition of general public as property owners in regarding to the improvement district and benefit zone. City Attorney stated general public refers to property owners as well as all other people residing in the district. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Hickey expressed his appreciation to councilmembers and members of staff for their kind expressions of sympathy during the loss of his mother-in-law. Councilmember Feibusch asked how the trip to Coos Bay would be arranged? City Manager requested that those interested in attending provide him with the dates they would be available to make the trip. Councilmember Riley stated that the material prepared by Linda Wickert for children was very nice. She asked for clarification of Warrant No. 19550, PCB Assay. Councilmember Riley gave each councilmember a letter from Art Kramer, County Parks and Recreation Director regarding recycling. Mayor Myers stated the Citizens Committee to support the bond issue for Lake Mendocino Hydroelectric and Substation projects met March 10 and March 15, 1982 and requested that Councilmembers provide him with the names of any other people who would like to serve on this committee. Mayor Myers pointed out that contained in a communication from State Legislator H. L. Richardson, was a reference to a former Ukiah High student, Miss Grothe. ADJOURNMENT - 9:20 p.m. - to Executive Session. Mary Melvin Deputy City Clerk Reg.Mtg. 3/17/82 Page 6