Minutes – March 19, 2008
Minutes – March 19, 2008
CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
March 19, 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
Councilmember Robbins 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 Award of Excellence 2007 Orange County Food Facility Award
City Manager Keane provided a brief overview of requirements to receive the Orange County Food Facility Award and presented City plaques to representatives from Starbucks located at Town Centre, Subway located at Public Storage Center and Jolanda’s Café. Plaques were delivered to Jack- in-the-Box on Moulton Parkway and Starbucks at Paseo de Valencia.
City Manager Keane then suggested that resident Emil Welden’s request to present a plaque to the City and the Laguna Canyon Foundation presentation on the Coast Wilderness Park be moved forward in the agenda. Council concurred.
Mr. Emil Welden, a resident, presented the City with a scrolled woodwork of the City Seal in honor of the City’s 9th Birthday. Mayor Hack accepted the plaque and thanked Mr. Welden.
Mr. Derek Ostensen, a consultant with the Laguna Canyon Foundation, presented an overview of the properties purchased with state Proposition 12 funding which have been added to the Coast Wilderness Park.
V. CITY PROCLAMATIONS
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ring and carried unanimously to approve City Proclamations 5.1 – 5.3.
5.1 Proclamation – Mission Viejo – 20th Anniversary
5.2 Proclamation – National Clutter Awareness Week – March 17-21, 2008
5.3 Proclamation – National Donate Life Month – April 2008
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Hack requested that Item 6.9 be removed from the consent calendar.
Moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Pro Tem Ring, and carried unanimously to approve the amended Consent Calendar Items 6.1 – 6.10 excluding item 6.9.
6.1 Approved City Council minutes from the regular meeting of February 20, 2008.
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 February 20, 2008 monthly Treasurer’s Report.
6.4 Approved the March 19, 2008 Warrant Register in the amount of $694,206.46.
6.5 Fiscal Year 2007-08 Mid-Year Budget Review
Approved Resolution No. 08-04 modifying the Fiscal Year 2007-08 budget, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION 07-11 AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008 BUDGET
6.6 Employee Compensation Schedule
Approved Resolution No. 08-05 modifying the City’s compensation schedule to correct a typographical error, entitled
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, MODIFYING RESOLUTION NO. 07-14, AND ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION FOR THE PART TIME POSITON OF GENERAL MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
6.7 Water Quality Ordinance Implementation Agreement
Approved an agreement between the Orange County Flood Control District and the City of Laguna Woods for as needed after-hours urban runoff inspection services, and authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form.
6.8 Liability Claim
Denied the claim against the City of Laguna Woods by Valentino R. Birardi.
6.10 Emergency Ambulance Contract Extension
Approved an agreement extending the agreement between the City of Laguna Woods and Doctors Ambulance for the provision of emergency ambulance services within the City of Laguna Woods for five years; and authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form.
Mayor Hack requested an explanation on Item 6.9. Assistant City Manager Reilly advised the proposed resolution requested funding for an improvement to Aliso Creek and El Toro Roads and for a possible golf cart path along Santa Maria. These projects have not yet been designed. Discussion was held regarding the Aliso Creek Road and El Toro Road intersection.
Mike Curtis, resident, expressed his concern regarding traffic through the city; he stated his opposition to the Aliso Creek/El Toro Road project.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ring, seconded by Councilmember Ross and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar Item 6.9.
6.9 Orange County Transportation Authority Combined Transportation Funding Program
Approved Resolution No. 08-06 applying for grant funding from the Orange County Transportation Authority, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF TWO IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE COMBINED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
VIII. CITY COUNCIL
8.1 Citizen Advisory Committee Appointments
City Clerk Condon discussed the proposed nominations to the various committees. Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ring, seconded by Councilmember Robbins and carried unanimously to approve the following nominations to City advisory committees.
Human Relations Advisory Committee
Roslyn Rhodes Hack
Transportation Advisory Committee
Jim Kane Hack
Martin Rhodes Robbins
Water Quality Advisory Committee
Stuart Venable Robbins
8.2 City Council 2008 Meeting Schedule
City Manager Keane discussed the proposed 2008 meeting schedule and advised that the July 19 meeting was a typographical error and should have been noted as July 16. After further discussion the June 27 budget meeting was moved to June 26 and the December 17 meeting was moved to December 10.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ring, seconded by Councilmember Robbins and carried unanimously to approve the 2008 City Council Meeting Schedule as amended.
IX. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Keane reported that Assemblyman DeVore would be using the second floor conference room on Monday and Thursdays and Congressman Campbell will use the downstairs conference room on the third Thursday of the month.
9.1 Dishwasher Replacement Permits
The City’s new building permit fee schedule went into effect on September 1, 2007. There has been a permit requirement for dishwasher replacement since the City incorporated, due to state and local concerns about cross contamination. The current permit fee is $50 and includes permit issuance and inspection costs.
City staff suggested an alternative inspection program for replacement of existing dishwashers (in and outside the Village) if new electrical or plumbing connections are not required. The program would be similar to the program currently in place for replacement water heaters. Reduced fees would only be available to installers who are either licensed contractors or certified by the City’s Building Official.
The City’s Building Official believes that a series of pictures will identify whether or not a replacement dishwasher was correctly installed. A training program will be developed to “certify” installers. The City will schedule a certain number of spot field inspections to
view actual installations of installers. If the spot inspections indicate that an installer is not following proper installation guidelines, that installer would be “decertified” and no longer eligible to participate in the program.
Staff proposed that the fee to applicants for the alternative dishwasher replacement inspection program would be $34.10. The fee would be based on the existing plumbing fee – 2 connections at $8.05 each – and the standard $18 permit issuance fee. It was proposed that the new program be retroactive to February 1st and that it be applied to permits requested by Professional Community Management during the recent amnesty period.
Andrew Brannen, resident and realtor, expressed his concern regarding the cost to residents for city permits. After discussion, City Manger Keane recommended he meet with staff regarding his issues.
Iris Gorin, resident, questioned if a dishwasher installation by the homeowner association required a permit. City Manager Keane replied that it does, but sometimes the Village management company, rather than the individual resident, obtains these permits.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ring and carried unanimously to approve a one year pilot permit inspection and fee calculation program for existing dishwashers that are replaced under certain conditions.
92. Pre-Incorporation Building Permits
While it is the responsibility of the homeowner to retain building permits and associated plans and transfer them to any new owner, often such records are lost when ownership changes. The City has copies of all the permits it has issued and can make copies when requested. The City also has pre-incorporation files that were transferred by the County. However, County files appear to be incomplete and staff is not always able to locate building permits residents claim were issued prior to the City’s incorporation.
On a limited basis, staff has reviewed Laguna Woods Village homeowner association permit documents that list County permit numbers and determined that the work was acceptable. The permit has then been documented in the appropriate address file. However, a permit number does not provide evidence that work was completed in accordance with standards in place at the time or that it was actually inspected and approved. Staff recommended that if Laguna Woods Village homeowner association permit records identify County building permit numbers, this be accepted as evidence of a proper permit. However, staff expressed concern regarding the potential for impact on structural stability as a result of skylight installations and heating and air conditioning units installed in ceilings or attics. Staff suggested that a building inspector conduct inspection in these instances, at no charge to the resident, to verify the structural stability of the work. If the work was satisfactory, the permit would be documented; if not, a correction notice would be written.
Moved by Councilmember Bouer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ring and carried unanimously to authorize City staff to accept Laguna Woods Village homeowner association permit records that identify County building permit numbers as evidence that a County permit was issued, inspected and approved with the exception of skylight and central heating and air-conditioning units. Require that these two types of work be inspected, at no charge to the resident, to verify the structural stability, prior to documenting adequate permits.
X. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
City Attorney McEwen advised there was no report.
XI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
11.1 Transportation Corridor Agencies (Mayor Hack)
Mayor Hack discussed a proposed additional lane on 73 from Aliso Viejo to the Catalina View toll plaza. He also briefly discussed the post office substation proposed for Aliso Viejo.
11.2 Southern California Water Committee (Mayor Hack)
Mayor Hack advised there would be a meeting next Friday.
11.3 Vector Control District (Councilmember Bouer)
Councilmember Bouer reported there currently was no problem with West Nile Virus in the area.
11.4 Library Advisory Board (Councilmember Robbins)
Councilmember Robbins advised that the Board did not meet. The Board of Supervisors approved reorganizations and the OC Library is now a part of the new OC Resources Department. It appears that a new County Librarian would be appointed at the April meeting. He announced there would be a reading of The Mockingbird at City Hall on Thursday, March 27.
11.5 Orange County Fire Authority (Councilmember Ross)
Councilmember Ross advised there would be a meeting next week. She reminded residents that this is National Clutter Week and to remove clutter to prevent falls.
11.6 Laguna Canyon Foundation (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)
Mayor Pro Tem Ring advised that the presentation by Derek Ostensen covered his report.
11.6 Coastal Greenbelt Authority (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)
Mayor Pro Tem Ring advised the meeting was postponed.
Commenting on Councilmember Bouer’s Vector Control report, Stu Venable stated that he recently discovered that the atrium drains in his model do not drain and that pooling water could breed mosquitoes.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
XIII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Pro Tem Ring invited everyone to help the City celebrate its 9th Birthday on Monday, March 24, 2008.
Councilmember Ross discussed preventing falls.
Councilmember Robbins advised the reading of To Kill a Mockingbird is being presented by the Friends of the Laguna Woods Library.
XIV. CLOSED SESSION
None
XV. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m. The next meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on April 2, 2008 at the Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA
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SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: April 16, 2008
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BERT HACK, Mayor
