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HomeMy WebLinkAbout020194 CC Special Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TEMECULA CITY COUNCIL HELD FEBRUARY 1, 1994 A regular meeting of the Temecula City Council was called to order at 7:04 PM at the Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol Street, Temecula, California. Mayor Ron Roberts presiding. PRESENT 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Birdsall, Mu~oz, Parks, Stone, Roberts ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None Also present were City Manager David F. Dixon, City Attorney Scott F. Field, and City Clerk June S. Greek. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Pastor Rick Izman, Temecula Valley Community Church PLFD~F OF A! ! FC-IANC!= The audience was led in the flag salute by Councilmember Parks. PUBLIC COMMIrNTS None given. CITY COUNCIL R!=PORTS Councilmember Mu~oz stated he met with Timothy Vonalt, from Goodhew Ambulance Services, and requested that the matter of contract proposals for county emergency services be placed on a future agenda for recommendations. Mayor Pro Tem Stone also stated he met with the same gentlemen and would like to seek bids from other companies for these services. City Manager Dixon stated this could be placed on the agenda of February 22, 1994. COUNCIL BUSlN!=SS 1. Fconomic Develol;)ment Workshol;) City Manager Dixon presented a report on Economic Development, using a set of overheads to outline various types of funding sources which a City uses to provide needed services. He also showed percentages to illustrate these services are broken- down. Kenneth Dodd, 30097 Via Velez Place, presented an overview of the City's Promotional Program on a national scale. He explained that this has been an awareness campaign, Minutes\2\O 1 \94 - 1 - 11/07/96 _ Ciw Council Minutes Februerv 1. 1994 directed at making the name "Temecula" known throughout the country. He reported that incentives are very important in attracting businesses to the community and read a list of the top 10 incentives. Councilmember Mu~ioz asked if most incentives are State funded. Mr. Dodd answered they are a combined effort of state, county and cities. Mr. Dodd stated the City must be in a position to have a prepared document as to what it can offer to companies, and explained how important attitudes and perceptions are in attracting new companies to an area. Councilmember Parks stated he feels it is important to work with the State and County in putting together a program to attract business. He reported that the City is also competing with other countries. City Manager Dixon reported the City is in negotiations now, competing with the United Kingdom and Germany. Mr. Dodd stated he feels a more "unified front" is needed from the Council to attract business, and the Council needs to be closely aligned with the Economic Development Council and the Chamber of Commerce. Councilmember Mu~oz stated that the main emphasis of the promotion program was to bring employers to the City, not tax dollars. He objected to the campaign being described as an "awareness" campaign, and felt it is a promotional program. City Manager Dixon said he feels the program the Council asked Mr. Dodd to do was an awareness program, not one seeking sales tax revenues or to generate retailers. He explained that one of the things that can be noted is more than $1.3 million a year are generated through tax increment within the RDA and a substantial amount is from industrial facilities. Dennis Chiniaeff, 29321 Via Norte, stated that prior to incorporation, the area developers spent corporate millions to bring new jobs to the community. He explained that this was accomplished because necessary infra-structure was built. He said he believes incentives are: one, monetary which should be looked at as an investment decision and which must bring a return to the City; two, the attitude that the City offers to the business world; three, a fast track program to assist companies through the development process. He stated that when people read of dissention and conflict, it does not reflect a business friendly atmosphere. He stated that every City employee should consider themselves an "ambassador" for City Hall. Derek Thomas, 31820 Via Levantar, Chief Financial Officer of the EDC agreed with the comments of Mr. Chiniaeff that a unified plan must be adopted. He explained it is difficult for the EDC to know what to expect from the City. He asked the City support the EDC in their efforts to hire a full-time Director. Minutes\2\01 \94 -2- 11/07/96 City Council Minutes Februarv 1, 1994. Jeff Minkler, Area Manager for Kemper, 35790 Linda Rosea Road, stated he feels it is important that the City Council adopt a policy on incentives so that no confusion will exist. Mayor Roberts asked how he would feel about the private sector participating in offering incentives to companies wishing to locate in the City. Mr. Minkler stated the easiest way for the private sector to do this would be to offer lower prices on land. Mayor Pro Tem Stone stated he feels the City Council is perceived incorrectly and not all members are against incentives. He stated he is in favor of developing a matrix outlining various incentives that might be offered depending upon the situation. Councilmember Birdsall stated she feels that City needs to operate like a corporate structure and incentives should be viewed as an investment in the community. Carliene Anderson, 41593 Winchester Road, Ste 105, distributed packets to the Council, including the mission statement of the EDC. She suggested the City meet with County and State representatives to put together a plan to attract businesses, and keep them from going out of state. She said that a combined effort is needed when competition is a way of life. She stated that incentives are a very important part of this process, and incentives need not always be financial. Councilmember Mu~oz stated he agrees with the City participating in a combined effort with the State and County. He says he favors incentives that are not financial. Councilmember Parks asked if, based on working with the City over the last year, a point person is needed. Ms. Anderson stated that Mr. Dixon has been an excellent representative, but since he will soon be taking another position, a representative to work with the EDC should be appointed. Mayor Pro Tem Stone asked Ms. Anderson how the EDC can insure jobs will not go to Murrieta. Ms. Anderson stated that jobs in the area will benefit both communities, whether they locate in Temecula or Murrieta. Councilmember Parks stated he feels economic development is important for the entire valley and jobs in the area should be the main emphasis, not whether they locate in Temecula or Murrieta. Councilmember Mu~oz asked if the County has been approached to join the EDC. Ms. Anderson stated they are $500/year members. RFC!=SS Mayor Roberts called a recess at 8:48 PM. The meeting was reconvened at 9:05 PM with all members present. Minutes\2\O 1 \94 -3- 11/07/96 Citv Council Minutes Februarv 1. 1994 Evelyn Harker, 31130-85 So. General Kearny, emphasized the need to increase the number of jobs in this area to increase the quality of life. Joan Sparkman, 30554 San Pasqual Road, stated she feels the City needs to change its attitude toward neighboring cities. She said she feels the City Council needs to become the "Nordstroms" of the area, treating people with respect and giving them the level of service they need and desire. Vivi Wells, 39460 Oakcliff Drive, stated she agrees with incentives as long as the City gets its money back. She asked that a specific point person be appointed to work with the EDC. City Manager Dixon said he understands the Council's direction that the City needs to develop an incentive package that is clearly understandable. He reported the City of Lancaster has a model that it uses to determine the benefits derived from various companies. He stated he has run a model that gives guidelines that Temecula may be able to adopt. He emphasized that each understanding must be separate and distinct. He stated with respect to retail assistance from sales tax, that opportunity no longer exists due to passage of the Eisenburg Bill which prevents such assistance. Councilmember Mu~oz stated he feels that the last item on a list of incentives to be offered should be cash grants. He stated a structured criteria should be developed and other means such as fast-tracking should be used before considering grants. He said has represented clients who were trying to get programs through the City's system and he has had to personally intercede to make things happen. Councilmember Parks stated he would like to see a commitment for an economic development program for this year be made with a specific staff representative assigned to pursue sources of funding. He also recommended a policy on incentives be developed to identify the City's official position. Mayor Pro Tem Stone suggested that projects be assigned a Council liaison to help move projects forward. He supported the need for a matrix listing incentives, based on return for the community. He stated he feels a scaled-down program should be instituted this year with the Assistant City Manager as the point person. He said he feels a special meeting is need to design the matrix, which needs to receive "buy-in" by each member of the Council. Mayor Roberts stated he feels the EDC needs a paid, experienced General Manager and staff. He said he still has problems with Temecula paying $10,000.00 as opposed to Murrieta's $1,000.00. He said he feels a marketing program is still needed for the City, but on a smaller scale. He listed those things that have been brought out such as incentives are acceptable with grants as a last resort and political stability and an undivided City Council is needed to change the perception of the City as being anti- business. Minutos\2\O 1 \94 -~- 11/07/90 Citv Council Minutes February 1. 1994 Councilmember Parks reported that the EDC has been instrumental in putting together a workshop with Rancho California Water District, and have set up a long term program with Eastern Municipal Water District. Mayor Pro Tem Stone asked that Southern California be the focus of future marketing instead of National. City Manager Dixon stated he feels direction has been given to staff to prepare a synopsis of the points agreed upon during the discussions and to place a policy/matrix on a future agenda for consideration and/or action by the Council. Council consensus was given. Councilmember Muhoz asked that subsequent meetings be recorded. It was moved by Councilmember Parks, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stone to extend the meeting until 10:30 PM. The motion carried 4-1 with Councilmember Birdsall in opposition. 2. Position of City Manager City Manager Dixon reported that the position of City Manager will be vacated at the end of February and Council direction needs to be received on how to proceed. He listed various alternatives as follows: one, fill the position from within and appoint the Assistant City Manager as interim City Manager; two, fill the position with an interim City Manager and three, to secure the services of an executive recruitment firm to professionally conduct a recruitment for the position. He explained that an interim City Manager could come from a list of retired City Managers and that the Council should define if the Interim City Manager would conduct the recruitment for a City Manager or whether a consultant should be hired to do this recruitment. Mr. Dixon reported that recruitment for a permanent City Manager should take between 90 to 120 days. Mr. Dixon stated if Council desires to retain an interim City Manager, he would work with the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to put together a list of 8 or 10 applicants for the full Council to interview. He said such an appointment could be for a time certain or until a permanent City Manager is hired. Vivi Wells, 39460 Oakcliff Drive, stated she feels the position of City Manager should be more described than it has been in the past She read a list of suggested qualifications and presented it to the City Clerk for the record. Councilmember Parks stated he is in favor of hiring an interim City Manager because he feels the Assistant City Manager is too busy with current activities. He emphasized that Minutes\2\O 1 \94 -5- 11/O7/96 Citv Council Minutes February 1. 1994 he would like to hire a City Manager of equal or better calibre than the current City Manager and would like to use the services of a professional recruitment team. Councilmember Mu~oz said he is in favor of the Assistant City Manager serving as Interim City Manager, since he is familiar with the community and would provide continuity. He said that he feels the City Council should be directly involved in the hiring of the new City Manager and a consultant should not be used. He stated he would like to examine the compensation level, and establish guidelines in advance. Councilmember Birdsall stated she is in favor of hiring an Interim City Manager, and suggested that the Interim City Manager be used to recruit the permanent City Manager. She stated that a time limit should be placed on this of three months, and if after that time, no decision has been made, a consultant should be brought in. Mayor Pro Tem Stone stated he is also in favor of hiring an Interim City Manager who is not be a candidate. He said he feels this is an important position and should be given to someone with extensive experience. He stated he feels the City Council should be directly involved in the selection of the City Manager. Mayor Roberts stated that he is in favor of hiring an Interim City Manager. City Manager Dixon said a group of retired City Managers who provide this service are available through the League of California Cities. He stated he could contact them tomorrow and ask for a list of 8 or 10 candidates and the Council could collectively choose candidates they would like to interview. It was moved by Councilmember Birdsall, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stone to instruct the City Manager to initiate the process to select an interim City Manager from a group of non-applicant candidates, and to present these to the Council for consideration within the next 30 days. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Birdsall, Parks, Stone, Roberts NOES: I COUNCILMEMBERS: Mu~oz ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None It was moved by Councilmember Birdsall, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stone to direct that criteria, provided by the City Council, be developed for selecting a City Manager. This criteria is to be used by the interim City Manager to conduct a recruitment/selection process which involves the members of the City Council. Further, it was directed that the process be reviewed in 90 days to determine if it is effective. Minutes\2\O 1 \94 -6- 11/07/96 City Council Minutes February 1. 1994 The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: 4 NOES: 1 ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: Birdsall, Mu~oz, Stone, Roberts COUNCILMEMBERS: Parks COUNCILMEMBERS: None Councilmember Parks stated he feels a professional recruiter is needed to effectively recruit for a position such as City Manager and feels that three months will be wasted by not proceeding with a consultant immediately. City Manager Dixon stressed how important confidentiality is to the process. CITY MANAC~!=R R!=PORTS None given. CITY ATTORNIrY R;PORTS None given. ADJOURNMFNT It was moved by Councilmember Mu~oz, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Stone to adjourn at 10:40 PM to a meeting on February 8, 1994, 7:00 PM, Temecula Community Center, 28816 Pujol Street, Temecula, California. The motion was unanimously carried. Ron Roberts, Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk [SEAL] Minutes\2\01 \94 -7- 11/07/g6