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HomeMy WebLinkAbout022198 CC Workshop Minutes MINUTES OF A WORKSHOP OF THE TEMECULA CITY COUNCIL HELD FEBRUARY 21, 1998 A Workshop of the Temecula City Council was called to order at 9:07 AM at the City Council Chambers, 43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula, California. Mayor Roberts presiding. PRESENT 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Comerchero, Ford, Linderoans, Stone, Roberts ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None Also present were City Manager Ronald Bradley and Acting City Clerk Susan W. Jones. P! FD~F OF A! ! FRIANCF The audience was led in the flag salute by Councilmember Comerchero. COUNCIl BUSINFSS Workshol;) Discussion of Overall City Goals and Procedures City Manager Bradley began the workshop by showing a 30 minute video by Lou Holtz, entitled "Do Right." Following the video, City Manager Bradley reviewed the most recent financial statement of the City. RECFSS Mayor Roberts called a recess at 9:53 AM. The meeting was reconvened at 10:09 AM. Councilmember Undemans requested a Closed Session be scheduled before the Redevelopment Agency Board to discuss Bond Capacity. Councilmember Lindemans further expressed his desire to change the City policy of keeping a 30% reserve, to a 20% reserve, and use the funds to improve traffic in Temecula. Mayor Pro Tem Ford asked the following questions? "What is our community? What items have changed? Can we get it back? What are our priorities?" He suggested the Council meet three months from now to insure there is one goal, not individuals with differing goals. Councilmember Comerchero stated he feels the Council is not working together in a cohesive manner at this time. He suggested that priorities should be set as follows: first, public safety; second, intolerable situations; and third, inconvenience. Mayor Roberts listed his top priority as overall better communication. He voiced his desire to have more dialog between the Councilmembers and voiced the need for the Council to work Minutes\O22198 -1 - City Council Minutae February 21. 1998 together as a team. He stated that the City of Temecula and the City of Murrieta have started a dialog and this should improve relations between the two cities. City Manager Bradley outlined the accomplishments of the City since incorporation. He reported that the City has spent 27 million dollars in traffic improvements and 11 million dollars on infrastructure. Mayor Roberts suggested that communication come out of the Manager's Office to the Council, informing them of projects involving specific Councilmembers so work is not duplicated and the Council can be better informed. City Manager Bradley outlined items to be prioritized by the Council. These included park development, facilities, finance, policies, traffic and capital improvement projects. Councilmember Comerchero asked if additional staff would be needed to expedite projects. City Manager Bradley responded that additional staff will be required to accomplish multiple tasks. RFCESS Mayor Roberts called a recess a 11:23 AM. The meeting was reconvened at 11:35 AM. PUB! IC COMMFNTS Jeannie Gillen, 30195 Del Rey Road, asked how the City monitor's priorities, and asked how projects get accomplished. She stated that CIP plans change and projects are sometimes delayed. City Manager Bradley explained that staff does not set priorities. He explained that individual City Councilmembers champion individual projects. Councilmember Comerchero suggested that an update on the number one priority be given at every City Council Meeting. David Micheal, 30300 Churchill Court, suggested a method to get action from a certain agency. He explained he first goes to the City Manager, then the City Council and finally the press if no action is taken. He stated if the City has problems with Caltrans that Bob Buster should be contacted, State Senators and finally the Governor. If stated that if citizens are needed to write letters, please let the public know. Rebecca Weersing, 41775 Yorka, stated she appreciates citizen involvement. She suggested putting the dates of the Capital Improvement Projects meeting in the Recreation Brochure that is mailed to all the citizens of Temecula. She commended the City Council and staff for their fiscal responsibility and stated she feels a certain amount of liquidity is important. She asked that local traffic issues be addressed. Minutes\022198 -2- Citv Council Minutes February 21. 1998 RFCFSS Mayor Roberts called a recess at 12:03 PM. The meeting was reconvened at 12:31 PM. Public Works Director Joe Kicak introduced members of Congressman Packard's Office in Washington: Adam Schwartz, Communications Director, Eric Mondero, Legislative Assistant over Traffic, David Turch and Vic Tambone, of David Turch and Associates. Eric Mondero updated the Council on ISTEA Funding and reported Temecula does have five requests pending. He explained the ISTEA Funding has approximately a 50/50 chance of passing. RFCFSS Mayor Roberts called a recess at 12:55 PM. The meeting was reconvened at 12:59 PM. Councilmember Lindemans addressed concerns regarding the 30% reserve policy previously adopted by the City Council. Councilmember Stone stated the reserve fund was increased to 30% to plan for disasters, such as what occurred in 1993 flooding of Murrieta Creek. Councilmember Lindemans stated he is in favor of a 20% reserve, which would include the current insurance and sinking funds. The following traffic projects were identified as Priorit~ One Projects: Winchester Off Ramp 79S Missing Link Rancho California Off Ramps - Change order of completion of project Rancho California Interchange - early completion Overland Bridge - Cash Advance to Start Now Resurface All City Streets Pala Road Widening Diaz Road Connection to Washington First Street Bridge - Removed from current CIP Signalization Timing Councilmember Lindemans asked if additional staff would be needed to expedite these projects. City Manager Bradley stated that additional engineers would be necessary to complete these projects. Councilmember Stone requested costs associated with each of the priorities. Minutes\022198 -3- Citv Council Minutes Februarv 21. 1998 City Manager Bradley stated that staff will need time to put together a detailed analysis for the Council's review. Ron Varella, local contractor, suggested that the city give incentives to contractors to finish jobs early. RFCFSS Mayor Roberts called a recess at 2:10 PM. The meeting was reconvened at 2:21 PM. Councilmember Lindemans suggested setting aside 1.5 to 2% of the City's budget for community service funding. Mayor Pro Tem Ford stated he feels Temecula is loosing its community volunteers, because of the bureaucracy of City policies. He listed as examples, "The Taste of the Valley" event, the Firebirds Volunteer Group and the CRC Foundation. Mayor Roberts expressed the need for a Temecula Library. He stated libraries have a great deal to do with the quality of life of a community. He stated currently the library has 15,000 square feet and the proposed Temecula library would have 27,000 square feet with the room to expand as necessary. He stated a grant request is pending. John Hunneman, speaking as a citizens and not a member of the press, stated he has been involved with many of the communities volunteer groups, and feels the "Spirit of Temecula" is changing. He said that dealing with the City is very bureaucratic and came to a head with last year's Taste of the Valley event. Jeannie Gillen, suggested that one way to bring people back into the community and volunteerism is through the Commissions. Rebecca Weersing, 41775 Yorka, stated that the events she feels Temecula residents attend are not the URod Run" and UBalloon and Wine Festival", which draw out-of-town spectators, but rather the Wild Animal Shows at the CRC, the parades, the Concert on the Green, and these types of events. The City Council established other priorities (non-traffiC): RDA/EDC/Chamber Funding Sources CS Funding Amount Cultural Arts Center/Library NW Sports Complex (Cooperative Agreement w/Flood Control) Public Facility Deposits Development Impact Fee Deposits Library - Foundation Fire Station No. 4 (French Valley) Minutes\022198 -4- Citv Council Minutes Februarv 21. 1998 Fire Station Training Facility Joint City Council/Temecula Valley Unified School District Funding for Pool Old Town Vision - Market Analysis - Historical Designation Charges for Golf Courses Joint Meetings with all the Commissions. Councilmember Comerchero asked if it is possible to build commercial buildings and put apartments or condos on the upper level, and use RDA Funding. City Manager Bradley answered this is possible and was done in La Mesa. RFCFSS Mayor Roberts called a recess at 4:08 PM. The meeting was reconvened at 4:11 PM. Councilmember Lindemans suggested that the Council consider forgiving monies for Public Facility Fees above the 10,000 deposit. Council consensus was given for this action. City Manager Bradley stated he would bring this action back to the Council on March 10, 1998. Mayor Pro Tem Ford asked if the $611.00 per unit charged to each residential house for parks could be shifted to roads. City Manager Bradley reported that State Law prohibits shifting of funds in this manner. Councilmember Lindemans discussed the negotiations with Mr. Buffman and expressed his desire to keep the project in Temecula. He asked for the Council's support for given up 50% of sales tax and TOT generated by the project. Councilmembers Comerchero, Stone and Mayor Roberts did not agree, but preferred to assist with the building of the Western Bypass from CIP funding. Councilmember Ford and Lindemans did not agree with this manner of funding. Councilmember Ford suggested that the Western Bypass be taken off the ClP list if the Entertainment Center is not built. He suggested that Diaz be extended and widened to four lanes. He also suggested other improvements to take traffic away from Winchester and directly from Margarita Road to I-15. They are as follows: On and off ramps at Santiago. Construction of a "Causeway" design to connect Diaz to Jefferson at Date. Suggested Improvements for second Winchester on/off ramp diamond. Suggested improvements to take Santiago through to Margarita. Jeannie Gillen, supported Councilmember Ford's suggestion of adding another on and off ramp at the Santiago Crossing. Minutes\022198 -5- Citv Council Minutes Februarv 21. 1998 Councilmember Comerchero suggested that expenditures over $10,000 should not be placed on the consent calendar. Council consensus was not obtained. Councilmember Comerchero also stated he feels too many studies are being done and this should be carefully explored. ADJOURNMFNT It was moved by Councilmember Lindemans, seconded by Councilmember Comerchero to adjourn at 4:55 PM to a meeting on March 14, 1998, City Council, RDA and CSD Workshop, 9:00 AM RDA Closed Session and 10:00 General City Council and CSD Session. The motion was unanimously carried. Ron Roberts, Mayor ATTEST: A~g~Cit y Clerk Minutes\022198 -6-