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Minutes – January 16, 2008

Minutes – January 16, 2008

CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
January 16, 2008
2:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hack called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:00 p.m.
II. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Pro Tem Ring led the flag salute.
III. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS: PRESENT:   Bouer, Robbins, Ross, Ring, Hack
     ABSENT:    None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Keane; City Attorney McEwen; Assistant City Manager Reilly; City Clerk Condon
IV. PRESENTATIONS
4.1 Pat Krone, Commissioner – Orange County Human Relation Commission – Annual Report
Pat Krone presented the Orange County Human Relations Commission annual report, reported on services provided to residents, and presented a certificate to Mayor Hack and the Council.
V. CITY PROCLAMATIONS
None
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Keane requested that Item 6.8 be removed from the consent calendar.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ring and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar Items 6.1 – 6.7.
6.1 Approved City Council minutes from the regular meeting of December 12, 2007.
6.2 Approved the reading by title of all ordinances and resolutions. Said ordinances and resolutions that appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title only and further reading waived.
6.3 Received and Filed December 2007 monthly Treasurer’s Reports.
6.4 Approved the January 16, 2008 Warrant Register in the amount of $641,978.60.
6.5 Awarded a contract to Elite Bobcat Service, Inc., in the amount of $379,000 plus authorized change orders not to exceed 10% of the base amount; and authorized the City Manager to execute a contract and approve change orders, subject to approval of the contract as to form by the City Attorney.
6.6 Notice of Completion – Traffic Signal Master System and Controller Upgrade
A.     Accepted project completion of a contract with Econolite Control Products, Inc. for the Signal Master System and Controller Upgrade Project.
B.     Released contract retention in the amount of $30,352.23 withheld per government code 35 days following recordation of Notice of Completion with the County of Orange.
C.     Exonerated project posted bonds 35 days following recordation of Notice of Completion with the County of Orange.
6.7 Notice of Completion – City Hall ADA Pathway Project
A.     Accepted project completion of a contract with Environmental Project Services, Inc. for the City Hall ADA Pathway Project.
B.     Released contract retention in the amount of $7,273.46 withheld per government code 35 days following recordation of Notice of Completion with the County of Orange.
C.     Exonerated project posted bonds 35 days following recordation of Notice of Completion with the County of Orange.
City Manager Keane advised that the staff report recommended the mayor sign the contract with the Orange County Fire Authority; however, it was noted that the city manager needed to be authorized to sign the contract rather than the mayor.
Mayor Hack introduced Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Chip Prather who advised Council that he was available to answer any questions.
Moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Bouer and carried unanimously to approve consent calendar item 6.8 as amended.
6.8 Orange County Fire Authority Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Agreement
Approved the First Amendment to the Orange County Fire Authority Joint Powers Agreement, and authorized the City Manager to execute the amendment subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form.
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
VIII. CITY COUNCIL
IX. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
9.1 Fiscal Year 2007-08 Mid-Year budget Review
City Manager Keane reported there were no proposed changes to the grant or transportation funds revenue. Sales tax revenue was expected to be down by $150,000, which would be offset by increases in the state subventions, primarily property tax. It was anticipated that General Fund revenue will be $63,680 under initial projections due to a decrease in red light camera citations revenue and an increase in franchise peg fees revenue.
There were no proposed changes to the grant or transportation fund expenditures. The initial general fund budget was $4.5 million and proposed changes would bring it to $4.9 million. Specific items were prior year carryovers, department adjustments due to vacancy in Community Development, which was covered by a consultant, and sheriff increases in compensation and a reduction in red light camera operations. Two new programs were proposed which would budget the PEG fees from GRF and convert two shared OCSD deputies to a full time traffic deputy, with a car, who would work in the office on the red light camera citations, but also go out into the field. This position would need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors, which would not be approved until July 1, but it was proposed that the position be approved and the position would be covered with overtime work from the sheriff’s department.
With the proposed changes there would still be $9.1 million in the unreserved general fund balance, plus $500,000 in the self-insurance reserve and $295,000 in economic uncertainties reserve.
City Manager Keane advised that after reviewing the state budget situation and possible outcomes related to Proposition 1A, staff believes that the loss in state subventions in Fiscal Year 2008-08 should be less than $200,000 if Proposition 1A is invoked. .
Council had no further recommendations and concurred with the proposed amended budget. City Manager Keane advised the mid-year budget resolutions would be presented at the February meeting.
9.2 County of Orange Regional Recycling and Waste Diversion Grant Program
Assistant City Manager Reilly advised that the County of Orange Integrated Waste Management Department (IWMD) initiated a Regional Recycling and Waste Diversion Grant Program designed to promote and enhance sustainable regional recycling and waste diversion. Based on the city population, $20,000 would be available to Laguna Woods. The proposed projects must establish a new or significantly expand an existing program or activity. The proposed proposal would provide an opportunity to offer “In-Home Clean-Up” days to residents several times each year with contracted workers removing large items from homes. Staff answered questions from Councilmembers.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ring and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 08-01 that outlined the City of Laguna Woods’ intended use of County of Orange Recycling and Waste Diversion grant funds, entitled
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION TO THE COUNTY OF ORANGE INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT FOR A 2007/2008 REGIONAL RECYCLING AND WASTE DIVERSION GRANT
X. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
City Attorney McEwen discussed the Brown Act relating to what functions more than two members of a council could attend.
XI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
11.1 Transportation Corridor Agencies (Mayor Hack)
Mayor Hack provided an update on TCA’s negotiations with the Coastal Commission on the extension of the Foothill south.
11.2 Southern California Water Committee (Mayor Hack)
Mayor Hack advised that the committee was a consortium of eight southern CA counties which educated and lobbied various public and private organizations on water issues.
11.3 Vector Control District (Councilmember Bouer)
Councilmember Bouer briefly discussed the LA Times article on dengue fever and reported there currently was no problem with West Nile Virus in the area.
11.4 Library Board (Councilmember Robbins)
Councilmember Robbins advised that the Board met last week and he was elected chair. He also discussed The Big Read program and advised information would be available at a later date.
11.5 Orange County Fire Authority (Councilmember Ross)
Councilmember Ross reported there was no meeting last month and the next meeting would be next week. She advised the Trauma Intervention Program would have their annual breakfast on January 25, 2008 at Saddleback Hospital
11.6 Laguna Canyon Foundation (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)
Mayor Pro Tem Ring discussed the presentation that showed parcels that had been acquired and possible future acquisition of parcels and advised a new map was available.
11.6 Coastal Greenbelt Authority (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)
Mayor Pro Tem Ring advised there would be a meeting on Thursday.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Marty Rhodes, resident, briefly discussed the presentation shown at the Laguna Canyon Foundation and expressed his concerns with the proposed Foothill extension and loss of parkland.
Karen Wood, President of the Village Cat Club of Laguna Woods expressed her concern regarding a recent incident with the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. City Manager Keane advised that she had discussed the issue with the Laguna Beach Police Captain and there should be no further issues with the employee involved.
Stu Venable, resident, asked some questions regarding water backflow devices and City Manager Keane advised that he would need to contact the El Toro Water District.
XIII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
XIV. CLOSED SESSION
None.
V.   ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m. The next meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on February 20, 2008 at the Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA
__________________________________
SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: February 20, 2008
__________________________________
BERT HACK, Mayor