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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin 04-12-01MINUTES OF THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL Adjourned Regular Meeting Thursday, April 12, 2001 The Ukiah City Council met at an Adjourned Regular Meeting on April 12, 2001, the notice for which had been legally noticed and posted, at 4:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. Roll was taken and the following Councilmembers were present: Larson, Smith, Libby, Baldwin (arrived at 4:05 p.m.), and Mayor Ashiku. Staff present: Community Services Director DeKnoblough, Finance Director Elton, Assistant City Manager Fierro, Risk Manager/Budget Officer Harris, City Manager Horsley, City Attorney Rapport, Public Works Director/City Engineer Steele, Executive Assistant to the City Manager Yoast, and City Clerk Utvila. URGENCY ITEM Mayor Ashiku advised that there is an Urgency Item that needs to be included on the agenda. There is a need to take immediate action and the need for action came to the attention of the City subsequent to the agenda being posted. The Urgency Item concerns authorization of the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a Professional Consulting Services Agreement to provide landscape architectural and arborist services to complete the bid documents for the State Street Tree Project. M/S Smith/Libby to include the urgency item on the Agenda as item 3a, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Larson, Smith, Libby, and Mayor Ashiku. NOES: None. ABSENT: Councilmember Baldwin. ABSTAIN: None. 2. PUBLIC HEARING - Continued from April 4, 2001 a. Adoption of Resolution Approving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application for Ukiah Valley Cultural/Community Center Community Services Director DeKnoblough explained that at the April 4 meeting the City Council continued the Public Hearing regarding the adoption of a resolution approving an application on behalf of the Ukiah Valley Cultural and Recreation Center Committee (UVCRC) for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) General Allocation Funds of $1 million over a two-year funding cycle. The continuance of the Public Hearing also allowed for an extended period to receive public input. The application has been completed, circulated to Council, and has been available for public review. At the previous meeting staff informed Council that there may be some concerns relative to funding for a Homeless Shelter, but no other community facility grants are pending. Should Council prefer that the project funding be allocated for a one-year period of time, the Resolution could be amended accordingly. 4:05 p.m.: Councilmember Baldwin arrived at the meeting. City Manager Horsley stated that it has been a heroic effort for the UVCRC to assemble the grant in approximately two weeks. Many hours have been contributed. Public Hearing Opened: 4:07 p.m. Adjourned Regular Meeting April 12, 2001 Page 1 of 6 Mark Rohloff, Director of the Ford Street Project, expressed concern for the possibility that the Ford Street Project may be shut out of a Homeless Shelter application for two years, as opposed to one year. He expressed his appreciation to City staff for working closely with them to secure the winter shelter site. Their concern is that they may need to apply for CDBG funding for a Homeless Shelter in the next year. He discussed problems associated with operating a shelter, and that no rent can be charged. This is a major issue for them because it means there is no way they can service a debt. They are working to secure other funding sources and noted that CDBG is one of those sources. Laura Golino DeLovato, 1080 Road N, Redwood Valley, Executive Director of Ukiah Community Center (UCC), echoed Mr. Rohloff's concerns regarding the two-year funding cycle that may eliminate their chances of applying for homeless shelter funds next year. She stressed the importance of having a homeless shelter as a community facility. The use of funds toward a multi-faceted homeless services center would be a better use of funds than the expenditures they currently use for motel vouchers, etc. She encouraged Council to leave the door open for an application next year for a multi-faceted homeless service center. Dr. Marvin Trotter, Mendocino County Public Health Department, stated that from working in the emergency room at the hospital, he sympathizes with the need for a homeless shelter. He discussed the School District's plan to begin construction this time next year. It would be difficult to construct the recreation facility after the school is built and it would be approximately 20-30% more costly. The project is a $5 million facility and the CDBG grant will provide 20% of the funding. He discussed the two-year funding cycle and that with Council's approval the homeless facility would only be eliminated from next year's funding cycle. He advised that they should apply for the two-year funding cycle and it would demonstrate a commitment on the part of the City and strengthen the likelihood of the grant being accepted. He discussed the impact the Recreation Center would have on the Ukiah community and the economic impact to the south Ukiah area. Discussion followed concerning the funding cycle, benefits to the community, and reduction in the crime rate and drug use among children. Accommodations in the plans for community outreach workers, probation officers, and nurses to rotate on a regular basis were discussed. Dr. Troffer advised that the project site would be the permanent site for the Boys and Girls Club as the major tenant. They will be providing after school, weekends, and summer programs for the 6-18 year old child. He continued to discuss financing of the project with $1 million in Tobacco funds, $1 million from this CDBG grant, $1 in-kind contribution by the School District, and $2 million that they would need to raise. They are also applying for a California Endowment Grant next week and it is their desire to be able to construct the facility at the same time as construction takes place for the new school next year. If that does not happen, they will be involved in a long-term effort to raise the funds and will attempt to build a gym next summer and attach it to the school and stage area. Adjourned Regular Meeting April 12, 2001 Page 2 of 6 Mr. DeKnoblough explained that during the presentation by Dr. Trotter at the previous meeting, one of the bigger issues concerns the design of the gym, multi-purpose room and stage. During the school hours, the school would have use of this area and after hours the Boys and Girts Club and other programs would be able to use that area. If this project does not go forward in the same timeline as the school construction, then the gym would not be able to be built at that time, and it would change the entire design configuration. According to the architects, it would significantly increase the cost to retrofit it or to design those buildings separately due to the space limitations on the site Deborah Meade explained that TIG refers to Targeted Income Group, and TIG includes all those whose income is 80% or less of the median income in Mendocino County. The lower group is designated as LTIG and includes 50% of less of the median income; non-TIG includes those individuals who income is above 80% of the median income levels. Discussion continued of having youth on probation being in close proximity to elementary school children. There was also discussion concerning Iow-income people needing to rent the 1,600 sq. ft. community room. It was noted that the children will have no income barrier, however, the center will need to raise enough income to operate the facility. Fees were discussed. Ms. DeLovato explained that when the UCC received their CDBG grant, part of the grant prohibited them from charging rent for any part of their community facility for a period of five years. She noted that this might also apply to the Recreation Center. Councilmember Libby inquired if there is a CDBG grant available for a homeless shelter through the County if the UVCRC applied for a two-year grant. Mr. DeKnoblough replied affirmatively and noted that they are separate jurisdictional allocations. He noted that this would also apply to the Recreation Center as well. Councilmember Libby read the Vision Statement for the Ukiah Valley Cultural and Recreation Center. She explained that she sits on the UVCRC Board of Directors, in addition to the Executive Board and Finance Committee and felt it would be a tremendous asset to the entire City for children, families, and for the southern portion of the community. She asked Council's support to approve the proposal. Councilmember Baldwin inquired if there is anything in the grant application that would commit the City to ongoing funding for maintenance, supervision, and staffing. Mr. DeKnoblough explained that it would apply only during the administrative phase of the grant itself. The City has requested 5% of the administrative draw down. If funding were allocated for the full amount City staff would be reimbursed $50,000 for time spent on grant administration. This would not include any maintenance of the facility. He felt it is premature to address the issue of staff's involvement in maintenance and supervision of the facility because it has not been determined as to the amount of time that the City would use the facility. He advised that he and Community Services Supervisor Sangiacomo Adjourned Regular Meeting April 12, 2001 Page 3 of 6 would be sitting on the Program Committee. If the City were a significant user of the facility, it would only be fair that the City pay a portion based on its share of use. Councilmember Libby explained that part of the fund raising for the Recreation Center includes an endowment fund and to fund operation of the facility for two years. Mr. DeKnoblough explained that approximately 10-15% of the City's Recreation staff's time is currently spent on securing facilities and scheduling. If the City were able to have a facility that would support its programs, consideration would need to be made to offset those funds for the cost of the programs. Councilmember Baldwin expressed concern that taxpayers should take a greater interest in the maintenance of the facility in future years. He noted that the Recreation Center group would be in competition with other local groups for funding. He questioned if the facility can be maintained properly over the next 20 years without using a fee structure that excludes the poor people. Public Hearing Opened: 4:44 p.m. Dr. Troffer explained that there are multiple examples in Sonoma County of successful centers that are based on a third (each) coming from fees, fund raising, and foundation or grant funds. He further noted that the UVCRC has engaged the services of a capital campaign consultant and will be establishing a business plan. Public Hearing Closed: 4:45 p.m. Mayor Ashiku stated that both the homeless shelter and the recreation center have merit. Since the Recreation Center project is ready to proceed and is in collaboration with the School District. It was his opinion to pursue a two-year funding program for the recreation center and to look at other funding sources for a homeless shelter. M/S Libby/Smith Adopting Resolution 2001-50, Approving an application for funding from the General/Native American Allocation of the State Community Development Block (CDBG) Program and authorizing the execution of a Grant Agreement and any amendments thereto with the State of California for the purposes of this grant. Councilmember Larson noted that the Ukiah General Plan identifies two neighborhoods that are lacking recreational services; the southern portion of the City and the Wagonseller's neighborhood. He felt this is an excellent project to benefit the greater Ukiah community. He voiced conflicts he has with a two year funding cycle for the project and that he did not want to see the homeless shelter abandoned in order to make the Recreation Center a reality. He expressed concern that the project is $2 million short of funding even if the CDBG grant is approved and it ties up the City's availability of funding for two cycles. He was supportive of a one-year funding cycle for the project. Councilmember Smith explained that he is the City's representative on the homeless Adjourned Regular Meeting April 12, 2001 Page 4 of 6 shelter-planning group. He discussed his experiences as a youth in a Boys and Girls Club and participating in constructing activities. He is taking the view that this center will help prevent the development of some homeless individuals. Many of the participants will come from the lower income targeted group that potentially could become homeless in the future. Through their involvement in the Center, they could development some skills and interests that would lead them away from that path. He is supportive of the project and will continue to make a commitment to the homeless services planning group. City Manager Horsley advised that, unless otherwise directed by Council, there would be no reduction in staff's commitment to the homeless shelter. The County has indicated that they would be interested in working with the City on a CDBG grant for the homeless shelter. Councilmember Baldwin expressed his concern with people living in the project neighborhood that do not have recreational facilities, and assurances to them that they would have as much, or more time than groups from other areas of the City, for recreational space. He inquired if it would be constitutional for a non-profit agency to give priority to individuals that live close by. He recommended more space be allotted to the arts in the facility. He can support the project at the current time but has some concern for ongoing funding in the future. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Larson, Smith, Libby, Baldwin, and Mayor Ashiku. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. 3. URGENCY ITEM 3a. Authorization of the City Manaqer to Negotiate and Enter Into a Professional Consulting Services Agreement to Provide Landscape Architectural and Arborist Services to Complete the Bid Documents for the State Street Tree Project Public Works Director/City Engineer Steele advised that the City of Ukiah was approved for Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA) funding for the State Street Tree Project on June 15, 2000. One of the conditions of the funding is that a construction contract must be awarded within one year of that date. In order to complete the bid documents for competitive bidding, the services of a landscape architect and arborist are required. Recently staff met with Don and Jim MacNair, arborists, to discuss some of the technical questions and to outline the scope of services the City requires. The firm provided a quotation based on time and material reimbursement and estimate their services will total between $12,000 and $17,000. Completion of these tasks necessary to meet the funding deadlines is critical to this project. She recommended Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a consulting service agreement to provide landscape architectural and arborist services necessary to complete the Bid Documents for the State Street Tree Project. Discussion followed concerning the services provided by a landscape architect and arborist with regard to tree selection and planting, soil amendment, and irrigation design, and on site inspection of walkways to determine that power lines, signs, and awning not interfere with the growth of the trees. Adjourned Regular Meeting April 12, 2001 Page 5 of 6 M/S Smith/Larson Authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a professional Consulting Services Agreement to provide landscape architectural and arborist services to complete the Bid Documents for the State Street Tree Project, carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Larson, Smith, Libby, Baldwin, and Mayor Ashiku. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. City Manager Horsley inquired as to which Councilmembers are planning to attend the Redwood Empire Division of the League of California Cities meeting at Benbow Inn. Councilmembers Larson and Baldwin expressed interest in attending. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 25, 2001 for the Fire Subcommittee to meet. Councilmember Baldwin advised that he would be able to attend the meeting. 4. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the City Council meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Marie Ulvila, City Clerk Adjourned Regular Meeting April 12, 2001 Page 6 of 6