HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/02/2011 53:0144
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Kovacic called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Council/Agency Member Amundson, Chandler, Harbicht, Segal and Kovacic
ABSENT: None
CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENTS — No one appeared.
CLOSED SESSION
a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 to confer with labor negotiators.
City Negotiators: Administrative Services Director Hue Quach, Human Resources
Administrator Michael Casalou and Attorney William Floyd of Best Best & Krieger,
LLP.
Employee Organizations: Arcadia Public Works Employees Association, Arcadia City
Employees Association, Arcadia Police Civilian Employees Association, Arcadia
Police Officers' Association, Arcadia Firefighters' Association and unrepresented
employees: Department Heads, Division Managers, Supervisors, and Part-time
employees.
b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 conference with real property
negotiators:
Property: 35 West Huntington Drive, 21 Morlan Place, 101-111 North Santa Anita
Avenue, 121-159 North Santa Anita Avenue and Assessor Parcel No. 5775-025-025
(South side of Santa Clara Street, West of Santa Anita Avenue)
Agency Negotiators: City Manager/Agency Executive Director Don Penman,
Assistant City Manager/Deputy Executive Director Jason Kruckeberg and Economic
Development Manager Jerry Schwartz
Negotiating Parties: Arcadia Redevelopment Agency and Rusnak/Arcadia (Paul
Rusnak)
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
c. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 regarding Public Appointment.
Title: City Manager
THE CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONVENED TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor/Agency Chair Kovacic called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
INVOCATION — Reverend Elie Elbayadi, Arabic Evangelical Nazarene Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Jerry Selmer, Human Resources Commissioner
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ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEMBERS:
PRESENT: Council/Agency Member Amundson, Chandler, Harbicht, Segal and Kovacic
ABSENT: None
REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY/AGENCY COUNSEL ON STUDY SESSION/CLOSED
SESSION ITEMS
City Attorney Stephen Deitsch announced that prior to the regular meeting, the City Council and
Redevelopment Agency Board met in a Closed Session to consider the three (3) items listed on the
posted agenda, no reportable action was taken.
Mr. Deitsch reported that Item c regarding the appointment of a new City Manager, the City
Manager Don Penman announced his upcoming retirement; the City Council established a sub-
committee comprised of Mayor Kovacic and Mayor Pro Tern Harbicht to search for a firm that would
conduct the recruitment of a new City Manager for the City; and the sub-committee would bring
back a recommendation on the selection of a recruitment firm to City Council.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS
Mr. Penman reported that a revised exhibit regarding Public Hearing item 1.a (Congestion
Management Program) was distributed to the City Council which will be discussed under that item;
and correspondence from the Mayor of the City of Monrovia was received asking Arcadia if they
were interested in participating in sending a "thank you message to Senator Huff, Assembly
Members Portantino and Donnelly; he announced the need to take immediate action on this item is
that Monrovia would like to distribute the message to the media tomorrow; he advised the City
Council that in order to add this item to the agenda and take action, the City Council must first make
two (2) findings (1) that there is a need to take immediate action; and (2) the need to take action
arose after the agenda was posted; he asked the City Council if they would like to make the two
findings and add the item to the agenda for action.
City Attorney Deitsch confirmed that in order to add an item to the agenda the City Council must
make the two (2) findings by a 2/3rd vote (four affirmative votes) based on the findings.
Mayor Kovacic polled the City Council and received four (4) affirmative votes to add the item to the
agenda as City Manager Item 3.b.
MOTION TO READ ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE THE
READING IN FULL
A motion was made by Council/Agency Member Chandler, seconded by Council/Agency Member
Segal to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only and waive the reading in full.
PRESENTATIONS
a. Presentation of the "Believe in Arcadia Volunteer!" Certificate to the Friends of the
Library.
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1. PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS:
a. Adopt Resolution No. 6784 finding the City of Arcadia to be in conformance with the
Congestion Management Program (CMP) and adopting the CMP Local Development
Report, in accordance with California Government Code Section 65089.
Recommended Action: Adopt
Community Development Administrator Jim Kasama reported that every city in the State of
California is required annually to submit a Local Development Report (LDR) and certify by
resolution to the local Congestion Management Agency that it is in compliance with the local
Congestion Management Program (CMP). He explained that the CMP was developed in response
to the passage of Proposition 111 in 1990 which provided an increase in the State Gas Tax to fund
regional transportation improvements and included the CMP to monitor regional transportation
conditions; and that conformance with the CMP assures that local agencies are providing
transportation improvements to offset traffic congestion resulting from new development; and if a
City is not in conformance with the CMP, the City's share of Gas Tax increase provided by
Proposition 111 may be withheld and allocated to the County to use on regional transportation
projects. Mr. Kasama noted a correction on the 2011 CMP Local Development Report which was
distributed to the City Council in advance of the meeting showed that the 43 unit Campus Common
Senior Affordable Housing Project was exempt from Congestion Management requirements and
should not have been included as a new multi-family residential development; and that the
correction reduces the total number of multiple family residential units for Congestion Management
reporting purposes to only nine and makes the net multi-family units zero for this reporting year.
Mayor Kovacic opened the public hearing. No one appeared.
A motion to close the public hearing was made by Council Member Harbicht, seconded by Council
Member Chandler and seeing no further objection, Mayor Kovacic declared the public hearing
closed.
It was moved by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Chandler and carried on roll
call vote to adopt Resolution No. 6784 finding the City of Arcadia to be in conformance with the
Congestion Management Program (CMP) and adopting the CMP Local Development Report in
accordance with California Government Code Section 65089; and
It was moved by Council Member Chandler, seconded by Council Member Harbicht and carried on
roll call vote to direct the City Clerk to transmit a fully executed copy of Resolution No. 6784 and the
Local Development Report to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority by
September 1, 2011.
AYES: Council Member Segal, Harbicht, Chandler, Amundson, and Kovacic
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS — No one appeared.
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REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK
Council Member Amundson mentioned the Gold Line construction and the new Downtown area the
City is working on; he commented on traffic delays on Westbound Huntington Drive due to
construction and encouraged everyone to use alternate routes; he acknowledged a letter received
from a resident thanking the City for the Home Improvement Program and reminded residents that
there is information on the City's website for home improvements; and he announced the Blue Star
Program for families with a family member on active duty oversees and encouraged residents who
have a family member on active duty to contact the City and get a blue star poster.
Mayor Pro Tem Harbicht commented on the City's monthly investment report and noted an overall
decline in tax revenues and low annual yields.
Council Member Chandler announced that he attended the retirement party for former Police Chief
Bob Sanderson and thanked Santa Anita Race Track for a great event; he congratulated Police
Chief Bob Guthrie on his appointment as Police Chief; and commented on Mr. Penman's upcoming
retirement and stated that the City Council will continue using Mr. Penman's expertise until a new
City Manager is appointed.
Council Member Segal congratulated former Police Chief Bob Sanderson on his retirement and
expressed appreciation to the Santa Anita Race Track for a wonderful event and wished Bob well in
his retirement; and he thanked City Manager Don Penman for all his years of service and is looking
forward to his guidance and help in finding a replacement.
City Clerk Barrows reminded everyone of the National Night Out and invited everyone to attend to
help celebrate Arcadia's 108th Birthday on Thursday August 4th.
Mayor Kovacic echoed Council Member Amundson's comments regarding the City's Home
Improvement Program and the letter received, but added that the recipient expressed special
appreciation to Ms. Beatrice Picon for her patience, who skillfully and competently guided them
through the application process; he also mentioned the Blue Star Program and the Operation
Hometown Heroes Program that recognizes Arcadian's who are currently serving in all branches of
the armed forces and provided contact information for anyone who has questions or would like
additional information; he announced the County of Los Angeles Hazardous Waste and E-Waste
Roundup on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the Santa Anita Race Track; and reported that the
construction of the Performing Arts Center at Arcadia High School which was funded with Measure I
money is expected to be completed by the fall of 2012.
In response to a question raised by Mayor Kovacic regarding a joint meeting of the City Council and
Arcadia Unified School Board, Mr. Penman responded that a joint meeting with the School District
has been scheduled for the 5th Tuesday of January 2012 and that no meeting date has been
scheduled with the Sierra Madre City Council.
Mayor Kovacic invited Police Chief Guthrie to provide information regarding the recent hot prowl
burglaries.
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Police Chief Bob Guthrie provided a brief report regarding the hot prowl burglaries in the last 3
weeks; he explained that hot prowl burglaries are when someone breaks into someone's home
while the residents are in the house and in all cases, the resident's were sleeping; that the
burglaries occurred in the late night and early morning hours; he noted that this is not uncommon
during the summer months when doors are left unlocked and windows are left ajar; he provided a
brief description of the suspect and reminded residents to lock their doors and close the windows
and encouraged residents to call 911 if they hear or see anything suspicious.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS:
a. Adopt Resolution No. 6785 for paying and reporting the value of Employer Paid
Member Contributions (Safety Employees).
Recommended Action: Adopt
b. Adopt Ordinance No. 2286 determining it will comply with the Voluntary Alternative
Redevelopment Program pursuant to Part 1.9 of Division 24 of the California Health
and Safety Code in order to permit the continued existence and operation of the
Arcadia Redevelopment Agency.
Recommended Action: Adopt
c. Accept all work performed by Martinez Concrete Inc. for the Sidewalk
Accessibility/Handicap Ramp Improvements on Alice and Lucile Streets as complete
and authorize the final payment to be made in accordance with the contract
documents.
Recommended Action: Approve
d. Authorize the City Manager to execute a three (3) year agreement with Methodist
Hospital of Southern California to provide physicals for City employees.
Recommended Action: Approve
e. Authorize the City Manager to execute a one (1) year contract extension with CLS
Landscape Management, Inc., for Tree Trimming Maintenance Services in the
amount of$278,110.
Recommended Action: Approve
Mayor Kovacic announced that he will abstain from voting on Consent Calendar Item 2.e as he has
done in the past; he explained that his law firm represented CLS Landscape Management in an
unrelated matter several years ago and in the interest of avoiding any appearance of impropriety he
will abstain from voting on Consent Calendar Item 2.e.
It was moved by Council Member Chandler, seconded by Council Member Amundson and carried
on roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar items 2.a through 2.e.
AYES: Council Member Chandler, Amundson, Harbicht, Segal, and Kovacic
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Kovacic (Consent Calendar Item 2.e)
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3. CITY MANAGER/AGENCY DIRECTOR ITEMS:
a. Report, discussion and direction regarding possible use of City property for a
Community Garden.
Recommended Action: Provide direction
Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director reported that a letter
was received from the Arcadia Rotary Club requesting assistance in identifying potential City-owned
property that might be used to develop a community garden; he advised that the idea of promoting
a community garden was raised at several forums during the development of the General Plan and
looked on favorably by those involved in the process; he explained that there are several properties
that may be appropriate for such a use and provided examples of the different types of community
garden uses; he stated that community gardens can range from very large plots where space is
rented through an organization to small temporary plots which can be used for educational
purposes or classes; that for a large community garden, staff identified two potential locations (1)
the abandoned well site located at the northwest corner of Michillinda and Hugo Reid, south of
Hugo Reid Park; and (2) Fairview Park, an unimproved park with mainly grass and trees and a few
benches and runs between Fairview and Arcadia Street east of La Cadena; and that to develop a
garden that is more modest in scale, there are additional options such as the southwestern corner
of the library property, between the public parking lot and the hedge separating the staff parking
area and the shuffleboard court area behind the Community Center. Mr. Kruckeberg added that
once a concept and location are developed, there are many issues to be discussed including start
up costs, maintenance, security, hours of operation, insurance, management, and membership, etc.
and requested City Council direction; he indicated that Arcadia Rotary President Brad Miller and
Los Angeles County Arboretum CEO Richard Schulhof were present to answer questions the City
Council may have regarding the request for a Community Garden.
In response to a question raised by Council Member Chandler regarding the Arboretum's
involvement, Dr. Schulhof responded that the Arboretum is very committed to local food production
and vegetable gardening as a means of education about live science and environmental
sustainability; he felt that this is a great way of reaching out to the community; it provides residents
who do not have access to land to grow vegetables; and noted that community gardens have been
very successful in areas where there are apartments or condominiums and feels that there will be a
lot of public interest in growing vegetables.
Council Member Chandler indicated that he is not in favor of designating City-owned land for a
community garden and expressed concerns regarding maintenance, security and liability issues.
Council Member Segal indicated that there should be feasible studies before the City Council takes
any action on the project; and expressed concern regarding use of staff time at this time when there
is no formal proposal.
In response to a question raised by Mr. Penman, Mr. Kruckeberg indicated that the request is for
the City Council to authorize staff to assist in the search for a site once a concept is developed; that
staff would need to review land use issues around each site including size and what improvements
would need to be made such as removal of concrete or trees.
In response to a question raised by Mayor Kovacic regarding use of the community garden, Dr.
Schulhof responded that individual parcels are assigned to families to grow whatever they want to
grow and are responsible for that parcel.
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In response to a question raised by Council Member Amundson regarding Fairview Park, Mr.
Kruckeberg stated that there is no active equipment at Fairview Park; it is green space that runs
between two streets; that there are only benches there and believes the Park is used by residents.
Sara Somogyi, Director of Recreation and Community Services reported that there are no active
recreation programs at Fairview Park; and the Park is mainly used by individuals who live in the
area who walk their dogs through the Park or sit on the benches.
Mayor Pro Tern Harbicht indicated that he would like to see the City Council consider designating
city owned land for the purpose of a community garden, but would like to see a proposal; that a
garden at Fairview Park might be useful to the residents who live in the surrounding apartments or
condominiums and is willing to designate a portion of Fairview Park on a pilot bases. He indicated
that if the project was approved, he would like it to be clear that the land is on loan and the City
would be able to recall it if it is needed by the City or if the City decides that the project is not
working out; and he asked the City Council for their thoughts on the possibility of designating a
portion of the park for a community garden.
Mayor Kovacic agreed with Mayor Pro Tern Harbicht's comments and suggestions and indicated
that he is open to the possibility.
Council Member Amundson indicated that he does not want to commit the entire park for a
community garden.
Council Member Segal indicated that if Fairview Park is the location for a community garden, he
would like to see those residents in the area surveyed regarding their interest in using a portion of
Fairview Park as a community garden.
It was moved by Mayor Pro tern Harbicht, seconded by Council Member Segal and carried on roll
call vote that the City Council set aside some public land for a community garden; that the applicant
bring back a specific proposal for consideration by the City Council at a future meeting; that
resident's in the area be surveyed regarding the use of Fairview Park as a community garden; and
that no additional staff time be spent on research until a proposal is submitted by the applicant.
AYES: Council Member Harbicht, Segal, Amundson and Kovacic
NOES: Council Member Chandler
ABSENT: None
b. Communication from Mayor and City Council Members of the City of Monrovia
thanking Senator Bob Huff, Assembly Members Anthony Portantino and Tim
Donnelly for supporting local Redevelopment Agencies.
City Manager Penman reported that at the beginning of the meeting the City Council voted to add
this item to the agenda by making two (2) findings required by the law; he stated that the City
received communication from the Mayor of the City of Monrovia asking for City Council support on
sending a message to Senator Bob Huff, Assembly Members Anthony Portantino and Tim Donnelly
thanking them for their support in opposing the elimination of redevelopment; and if the City Council
supports the message, Arcadia's name would appear on a list that would be published through
various media sources.
City Attorney Deitsch confirmed that the letter would not have any impact on any pending litigation.
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It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Harbicht, seconded by Council Member Chandler and carried on
roll call vote to table the request from the Mayor of the City of Monrovia to support a "thank you"
message to Senator Bob Huff, Assembly Members Anthony Portantino and Tim Donnelly for
opposing the elimination of redevelopment.
AYES: Council/Agency Member Harbicht, Chandler, Amundson, Segal, and Kovacic
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council/Redevelopment Agency adjourned this meeting at 8:18 p.m. to Tuesday, August
16, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber located at 240 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia.
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ATTEST:
James H. Barrows, City Clerk
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