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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/19/2015 Special MeetingARCADIA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 Mayor Kovacic called the Study Session to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Council Member Chandler, Kovacic, Tay and Wuo ABSENT: Council Member Beck A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tern Chandler, seconded by Council Member Tay, to excuse Council Member Beck from this meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS — No one appeared. STUDY SESSION a. Report, discussion, and direction concerning special events in Downtown Arcadia, including a patriotic concert, recurring street market, and Lunar New Year festival. Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director Kruckeberg provided an overview of each proposed events. Matt McSweeney, an Arcadia Improvement Association representative, appeared and provided the City Council with a handout regarding the proposed patriotic and recurring street market events on July 3, 2015, and spoke in support of the events. In response to Mayor Pro Tern Chandler's question regarding who pays for the events, Mr. McSweeney responded that it would be paid from the Arcadia Improvement Association's budget. Dave Gayman, Family Festival Productions, appeared and indicated that their contract with the City of Monrovia ends in June and would like to bring this event to the City of Arcadia beginning July 3, he explained the type of services they provide and feels they can provide Arcadia the type of event they are looking for. In response to an inquiry by Mayor Kovacic, Mr. Gayman responded that they pay Monrovia a franchise fee based on revenue, because they charge the vendors a fee. Mark, an Arcadia resident, appeared and commented on the proposed Arcadia street market event and compared it to the one in Monrovia. Scott Hettrick, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and an Arcadia Improvement Association representative, appeared and expressed his support of the recurring street market event, and commented on some of the variables that still needed to be worked out with Family Festival Productions. Linda Li, EDI representative, appeared and discussed the Lunar New Year Festival proposed for January 31, 2016; she distributed a handout to the City Council and described what the festival represents, the types of vendors, parking issues, and how the event would be promoted. 1 05 -19 -15 Tony, EDI representative, discussed proposed parking in the Bank of America and post office parking lots. April Verlato, President of the Arcadia Improvement Association, appeared and expressed her support of the events in the Downtown area, and feels that the events will help revitalize the downtown area. Mayor Kovacic asked the City Council if they had any objections or comments moving forward with the proposed events. Council Members Tay and Wuo, and Mayor Pro Tern Chandler had no objections or comments with moving forward with the patriotic concert, recurring street market, and Lunar New Year festival. City Manager Lazzaretto asked the City Council about financial benefits to the City for use of parking lot or city streets. Mayor Wuo indicated that the only fee he would definitely be interested in charging would be for Police, Fire and Public Works services. It was the consensus of the City Council that no fees be charged for the use of City streets or parking lots at this time. b. Report, discussion and direction regarding the Proposed 2015 -16 Fiscal Year Budget. (Continued from the May 5, 2015 City Council Study Session Meeting) City Manager Lazzaretto provided a brief overview of the 2015 -16 Fiscal Year Budget which was presented and discussed at the May 5, Special Study Session meeting. City Manager Lazzaretto noted one additional project has been added to the proposed budget. An Asset and Permit Tracking System was included in the FY 2015 -15 budget; however, the project is more expensive be more than originally anticipated, and staff is seeking an additional allocation, and requested Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director Kruckeberg provide a brief description of the project. Assistant City Manager Development Services Director Kruckeberg explained the purpose of the Asset and Permit Tracking System project; he indicated that it is a collaborative project between Public Works Services and Development Services Departments and would allow staff to track and manage the City's infrastructure and assets such as water, sewer, fleet, street trees, street lights, inventory control, process citizen service requests, and track and organize and archive all permits and licenses; he indicated that $300,000 was previously approved in the FY 2014 -15 budget and that after bids were received, the total project cost is $450,000, and explained that funds will be split between the Equipment, Water and Sewer funds. Mayor Kovacic requested, on behalf of what Council Member Beck discussed at that last meeting budget meeting, to increase the new City Hall set -aside budget from $500,000 to $1 million; and would take three votes to add. Mayor Kovacic also proposed to add two police officers to be assigned to the Westfield Mall and explained the reasons for his request at $250,000 per year. Chief Guthrie discussed which malls have police officers, he discussed the crime rate at the mall, and the relief factors including union issues. 05 -19 -15 In response to a question raised by Mayor Kovacic, City Manager Lazzaretto explained that he agrees with the comments made by Chief Guthrie, and explained where monies can be taken to afford the two new police officers to be placed at the mall. In response to a question raised by Mayor Kovacic regarding how long it would take to get officers placed at the mall, Chief Guthrie explained why it would take approximately 18 months to hire two new officers, but that he would place experienced officers at the mall and replace them with new officers. Mayor Kovacic indicated that he would like to start the process of hiring two new officers to be placed at the mall. Mayor Pro Tern Chandler explained the reasons why he thinks hiring two new police officers for mall purposes. Council Member Wuo also explained the reasons why he thinks hiring two new police officers for mall purposes, and agrees with the comments made by Police Chief Guthrie. Mayor Kovacic made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Chandler, to begin the process of hiring two new police officers to be placed at Westfield Mall. AYES: Council Member Kovacic, Chandler, Tay and Wuo NOES: None ABSENT: Council Member Beck Mayor Kovacic asked the City Council if anyone was in support of the proposal to increase the $500,000 for a new City Hall budget to $1 million. Council Member Wuo and Mayor Pro Tem Chandler indicated that the current budget for a new City Hall should remain at the $500,000. City Manager Lazzaretto asked about the additional money requested for the proposed Asset and Permit Tracking System project. The City Council concurred to move forward with this project. City Manager Lazzaretto indicated that adoption of Fiscal Year 2015 -16 budget resolutions will be presented at the regular City Council meeting of June 2, 2015. Mayor Kovacic adjourned this Study Session meeting at 6:45 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk yor owrilietClty of Arcadia 05 -19 -15