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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCTOBER 26,1999 I I I 41 :0245 CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 1. ROLL CALL: (Arcadia) ROlLCALL (Sierra Ma:lre) 2 3. MINUTES CITY OF ARCADIA CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY and the CITY OF SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR JOINT MEETING October 26, 1999 The Adjoumed Regular Joint Meeting of the Arcadia City Council/Redevelopment Agency and the Sierra Madre City Council/Redevelopment Agency convened al 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26, 1999 at the Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, 700 North Sunnyside, Sierra Madre. PRESENT: Council/Agency Members Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall and Chandler ABSENT: Council/Agency Member Roncelli It was MOVED by MayorlAgency Chairman Chandler, seconded by Council/Agency Member Marshall and CARRIED to EXCUSE the absence of Council/Agency Member Roncelli. PRESENT: CouncillAgency Members Hayes, Lambdin, Miller-Fisher, Stockly and Doyle ABSENT: None Others in attendance - Arcadia: William Kelly, City Manager Michael Miller, City Attorney Donald Penman, Director Development Services Patrick Malloy, Director of Public Works Services June D. Alford, City Clerk Sierra Madre: John Davidson, City Manager Charles Martin, City Attorney Bruce Inman, Director of Public Works Nancy Sue Shollenberger, City Clerk SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None. 4a FEDERAL WA1ER Bruce Inman, Sierra Madre Public Works Director, presented a display and explained the GRANT STUDY ~~joint ArcadialSierra Madre and Corps of Engineers Water Syslems Seismic Reliability o (. r.' n(I' study and projects now underway. The stUdy recommended increasing groundwater rI,-, r' storage 10 supplement the above ground storage for both Cities. Mr. Inman noled the 1 1 0/26/99 4b. FEDERAL LOB8YIST IO~-o -"'It) AI:; ,- 41:0246 Cities have received a Section 206 Grant from the Water Resources Development Act. This, with the assistance of the Ferguson Group, a federal lobbyist group. Section 206 I Grants are to be utilized for the repair or replacement of natural habitats. The project site is located in the Santa Anita Canyon below the flood control dam and would create a wetland habitat and also provide a means of increasing groundwater recharge. Spreading water in this way would increase the amount of water ArcadialSierra Madre could pump from the underground basins. The Seismic Reliability Study indicated the yield of the Santa Anita Canyon facility could be increased by more than 3,000 acre-feet per year. This project is one means of approaching that goal. The Corps of Engineers will conduct future studies 10 verify how much water can be spread at Ihe project site and what the actual water rights are to Arcadia and Sierra Madre in regard to this project. Mr. Inman commented that the cost of the preliminary study and a subsequent in-depth sludy of the site would be entirely covered by the Section 206 Grant. If further study indicates there is no substantial benefit to the cities of Sierra Madre or Arcadia the project can be canceled. Matching funds from both cities will be required once the design and construction begins. Patrick Malloy, Director of Public Works Services, presented a brief report on the Seismic Reliability project that Arcadia and Sierra Madre have been working on. Over Ihe last four years the Cilies have received almost $4,000,000 in grant funding form the federal govemment; $600,000 of which went into the Santa Anita Creek restoration project, and $3,400,000 was used to complete Ihe study of a program for Arcadia and Sierra Madre, and complele the design of the projects that came out of the study. The Cities will soon received $2,000,000 in funds for the first phase of the construction of the projects. Mr. Malloy noted that last spring he and former Mayor Kovacic, representing Arcadia, I and Mr. Inman and Mayor Doyle, representing Sierra Madre, met with their representatives in Washington D.C. to enlist their support of the water systems projects. Contacts were also made with olher sources to assist in obtaining funding. They asked for $4,100,000 to fund the various projects in both Cities, including construction of a new water well to be jointly used by Arcadia and Sierra Madre, and restructuring of an inner connection of the water systems between Arcadia and Sierra Madre for mutual support in the event of a power failure. Part of this project is a 12" waterline down Sierra Madre Boulevard to Santa Anita Boulevard. The trip was somewhat successful in that the Cities will receive $2,000,000 of funding from Ihe Environmental Prolection Agency (EPA) towards the proposed construction of the projects. Some of the specifics of the grant have yet to be determined; how much will be matching funds; and the percentage to be contributed by each City. If the projects can be tied to the 'Safe Water Drinking Act" there could be a 65-35 or a 70-30 split. Mr. Malloy noted the EPA may lake approximately 12% of the $2,000,000 grant for administrative costs. At this time City staff does not know who the EPA contact will be in Califomia. It could be Region 9 out of San Francisco... over the nextlwo monlhs staff will conlinue 10 communicate with EPA regarding the development of a work plan which will be presented to the EPA in January 2000. Once the EPA approves the plan the projects will be prioritized to best utilize the funds for the benefit of the ArcadialSierra Madre systems. Mr. Malloy concludes Ihere is a very good possibility that the Cilies will receive additional federal funding next year. Representatives from the two Cities will have to return to Washington D.C. to lobby for these funds. John Davidson, Sierra Madre City Manager, opened the discussion and stated, in part, the two Cities have been working together on this water project and aiso with a lobbyist, the Ferguson Group. This group was instrumental in bringing funds toward the project and could be under a separate contract to lobby in WaShington D.C. for water system I 2 10/26/99 41:0247 funds now under discussion. I Mayor Doyle noted the Ferguson Group has worked with many water agencies, sanitation districts and other agencies in California. Smaller cities have difficulty securing state and federal funds for their projects because Ihey do nol have the ability 10 find out what kinds of funds are available and the contacts to seek out. Sierra Madre looked at restructuring city staff and hiring a person to work on obtaining state and federal grants for various projects. The Sierra Madre City Council is also considering joining Arcadia and entering into a trial relationship wilh the Ferguson Group to lobby at Ihe state and federal government level for various issues and the water system projects in both Cilies. Mayor Doyle spoke very highly of the Ferguson Group and their lobby efforts and professionalism. The Sierra Madre City Council wishes to go forward with Arcadia to obtain funding for the waler systems in both Cities. He noted the Ferguson Group can be retained for $5,000 a month, 20 hours a month, which could be split between the two Cities by some formula. Mayor Doyle added, Sierra Madre spent $28,000 lobbying for the water system projecl and this brought in a relum of almost $4,000,000 in grant funds. I William Kelly, City Manager, noted that Arcadia has a contract with Joe Gonsalves & Son to lobby on behalf of Arcadia in Sacramento. He believes the Ferguson Group is well worth the money to lobby in Washington D.C. Cities are losing opportunities because they do not have informational sources or contacts and are not represented by lobbyists. The Gonsalves have been very successful lobbying for legislative issues, rather than money issues, which is primarily the reason Arcadia hired them. Mr. Kelly feels they are eaming their money... the City pays them $36,000 a year, however, he will explore the possibility of sharing this cost with Sierra Madre if Gonsalves lobby in Sacramento for both Cities. The discussion turned 10 progress reports which would indicate a return on the monies paid to the Ferguson Group and the communication between the lobbyist, Arcadia and Sierra Madre regarding the issues important to both Cities, and the expectations the Cities would have of this lobbyist group. Mayor Pro tem Harbicht asked how the cost would be split. Would this be based on populalion? Staff noted the water sludy indicated a 50-50 split because il was hard to define who gets Ihe benefit on that. After a year the Cities could reassess the results and decide 10 move forward with the lobbyist or not. Council member Kovacic noted Arcadia has the potential of having a former Arcadia Mayor as a State Assemblyman and another former Mayor as a State Senator, do we need more voices than those two in Sacramento? Assemblyman Margell commented if his office knows what the Cities priorities are they would do what they could to help. They would like 10 be considered as a resource. Further, a good lobbyist can really transcend issues and get to know the chairman of commillees and how they operale. The lobbyist relationships are built over many years. If this has been working for Arcadia and Sierra Madre, the City Councils should move ahead with the plan. His office can offer services for certain types of issues, also. With regard to grant funds dispensed from Sacramento, Assemblyman Margett noted much of these funds go out to San Francisco because of democratic partisanship. Further, it is his understanding that the federal govemment is fairer in its distribution of funds than Sacramento. He noled also that it is important that the City knows how to write its request for grant funds. His office could offer help in this area also. I City Manager Kelly commented that both Cities could identify their projects for the Ferguson Group in Washington D.C. and the lobbyist in Sacramento to focus on. The difficulties in Sacramento result from partisan award of grant fund... the Cily's lobbyist 3 10/26/99 ADJOURNMENT (Nov 2, 1999) 41 :0248 contacts both parties. Arcadia might need a different attack process. Council member Marshall commented that monies spent for a lobbyist are a good I investment. The Cities should move fOlward on this. Cily Manager Kelly reviewed the process for obtaining a $100,000 grant loward construction of Arcadia's new museum building. 1\ was a team effort that cost the City less than $5,000 to secure a $100,000 grant. U.S. Congressman Dreier's office was very influential in this effort. He noted also that the Ferguson Group helped City staff move through the bureaucracy to obtain these funds... and they did it pro bono... AI the conclusion of the discussion City Manager Kelly announced that staff will place the matter of retaining the Ferguson Group for federal lobby activity on a future agenda for a formal vote of Ihe City Council. At 7:20 p.m. the Adjourned Regular Joint Meeting of the Arcadia City Council/Redevelopment Agency and the Sierra Madre City Council/Redevelopment Agency ADJOURNED. The Arcadia City Council/Redevelopment Agency to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 2, 1999 in the Conference Room of the City Council Chambers for a regular meeting of the Council and Redevelopment Agency ATTEST: j 4 1 0/26/99 I I