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Home My WebLink About06/29/1999 - City Council Special MeetingSPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COSTA MESA JUNE 29, 1999 The City Council; of the City of Costa Mesa, California, met in special session on June 29, 1999, at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Notice of the special meeting was given as required by law. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Mayor Monahan, and a ;moment of silence was observed in memory of the Reverend Kenneth Krause. ROLL CALL Council Members, Present: Mayor Gary Monahan Mayor Pro Tem Libby Cowan Council Member Joe Erickson Council Member Heather Somers Council Member Linda Dixon Council MembersAbsent: None Officials Present:: City Manager Allan Roeder i City Attorney Jerry Scheer Finance Director Marc Puckett Budget and Research Officer Carol Jacobs Budget Analyst James Miller Deputy City Clerk Mary Elliott MINUTES On motion by ;Council Member Erickson, seconded by April 12, 1999 Council Member Dixon, arid carried 5-0, the minutes of the special; joint meeting of the Cit y' Council and Redevelopment Agency of April 12; 1999, were_ approved as distributed. ORDINANCES AND A motion was made by Counc'll Member Erickson, seconded RESOLUTIONS by Council Member Somers, and carried 5-0, to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only. I PUBLIC HEARING The Deputy City Clerk, announced that this was the time and 1999-2000 City place set for the public.I,Qaring to adopt the City Budget for Budget fiscal year 1999-2000, and those issues in connection therewith: (a) Resolution adopting an appropriations limit; (b) Resolution adopting the City budget: (c) Resolution adopting a Statement of Investment Policy; and (d) Resolution adopting the General fund operating reserve. The Affidavit of Publication is on file in the City Clerk's office. No communications were received. Report by the City The City Manager stated that prior to addressing the City's Manager budget he would like; to discuss several policy matters which do not require formal adoption by Council, but are issues which he will be bringing forward over the next several months in preparation for next year's budget. He emphasized the importance of having the budget continue to reflect Council's aspirations for the community over the next decade. The City:, Manager stated that the policies for which he needs Council's involvement are service levels, quality of service; long-range capital improvements, staffing needs for long-range growth of the community, and the revenue structure to support; these efforts. In conclusion, the City 1 1 1 Manager commended the Finance Department staff for their work in preparing the budget. Appropriations Limit The Finance Director reviewed the Agenda Report dated June 11, 1999, concerning the appropriations limit for fiscal year 1999-2000. He explained that the methodology used to determine the appropriations limit is to multiply the inflation and population adjustment factors by the prior year's appropriation limit, which is the standard method used in most municipalities. MOTION On motion by Council Member Erickson, seconded by Mayor Adopted Resolution Pro Tem Cowan, and carried 5-0, Resolution 99-42 was 99-42 adopted: A RESOLUTION .OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING AND ADOPTING AN APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FOR THE 1999- 2000 FISCAL YEAR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE XIII -B OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS AMENDED BY PROPOSITION 111 AND SENATE BILL 88, setting the limit at $102,671,906.00. City Budget The Finance Director reviewed the Agenda Report dated June 15, 1999, concerning the City's budget for fiscal year 1999-2000. In response to questions from Council Member Somers regarding sales tax revenues, the Finance Director referred to his memorandum dated June 28, 1999, which includes information on sales tax revenues by geographic areas. He reported that two geographic classes were added: "Autos and Transportation" and "All Other Locations", noting that the transportation industry generated over $4 million in revenues during fiscal year 1998-1999. He also advised that revenues generated by the "Harbor Boulevard of Cars" were not available at this time. John Feeney, 1154 Dorset Lane, Costa Mesa, spoke in opposition to. a request from the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee to add $3,584.00 to the 1999-2000 City budget for membership in the Orange County Human Relations Council (OCHRC). His opposition was based on five incidents of violence to persons and/or property which were brought to the attention of Rusty Kennedy, Executive Director of OCHRC, of which, four incidents were ignored by Mr. Kennedy. In the fifth case, regarding an incident at Newport Harbor High School, Mr. Feeney felt that the County's Human Relations Council acted inappropriately. Mayor Pro Tem Cowan addressed unfunded Community Objective . No.. 00, D3, "Participate in the 'complete count' effort 'regarding the 2000 U.S. Census", stating that if an accurate count cannot be made, no funds should be allocated. The City Manager reported that the Development Services Department has been involved with the Census Bureau, and are investigating other tools which will help to obtain an accurate count. He added that all information for this objective will be forwarded to Council as it becomes available. Considerable discussion followed, during which the Finance Director and Budget and Research Officer responded to questions from Council Member Somers regarding workers' • 280 I I I compensation and overtime pay for Fire Suppression/Mobile Intensive Care (Page 355 of the Preliminary budget). At the requestof the City Manager, the Finance Director named the departments and , accounts affected by the recent reorganization of City Departments. The Budget. and Research Officer ; answered the remaining questions from Council, Member ;Somers on Proposition 172 funds (Page 355) and Salaries Viand Benefits (Page 199). MOTION/To Adopt A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Cowan, seconded by Resolution 99-43 Council Member Dixon, to adopt Resolution 99-43, adopting Approving the a budget for fiscal year 1999-2000, and to include Council 1999-2000 Budget, Member Dixon's suggestion to add to the budget, Orange and adding Funds County; Human ;Relations Council membership dues of Requested by the $3,584.00. Council Member Somers did not support the Human Relations motion because she was opposed to joining OCHRC at the Committee present time. SUBSTITUTE A substitute motion was made by Mayor Monahan, MOTION seconded by Council Member Somers, to adopt Resolution Adopted Resolution 99-43, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY 99-43, Approving OF COSTA MESA; CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR the Budget as THE FISCAL YEAR' 1999-2000, as presented. During Presented discussion, it was . agreed _ that the issue of OCHRC membership dues: would be discussed as a separate item. The substitute motion carried 5-0. i Motion to Pay Dues Mayor Pro Tem Cowan made a motion that the City of Costa to OCHRC Failed to Mesa step up to! its responsibility to the County effort on Carry human relations, and support it with dues that are identified and supported by, the League of Cities, and by other cities within the community, for OCHRC, a nonprofit organization dependent upon' cities' dues, and donations from corporations such! as Bank of America, PacifiCare, etc. The motion was seconided, by Council Member Dixon. Council Member Dixon announced that Rusty Kennedy, Director of OCHRC, has offered to meet with any member of the City Council' and any member of the public who questions his financial abilities with the County, and his concerns for the community. As the City Council's liaison to the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee, she felt that committee is not experienced enough to recognize a hate crime versus a criminal crime, or whatever else is needed in this diverse community. She wanted the City to join OCHRC in order to take part in that learning process. She invited Mr. Feeney to become a member of the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee :so that he could provide input to that group. i Mayor Pro Tem Cowan emphasized that this City benefits from the efforts of OCHRC, including the use of the hate crimes network, In which the Costa Mesa police are very involved. She reported that the Orange County Human Relations Commission is appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors;, OCHRC is an.arm of that commission, and all programs ;are. designed to address issues of human relations in Orange County. She stated that Mr. Kennedy acts as an unpaid ;executive of OCHRC and that he is paid by the County to be the Executive Director of the Orange 1 1 1 County Human Relations Commission, which are separate bodies. She felt that the City of Costa Mesa should pay its fair share for the nonprofit arm of the human relations effort in Orange County to helpfund programs which are already in our schools and public safety department. Council Member Erickson stated that he has nothing against Mr. Kennedy at all, and has -had the opportunity to speak with him. He commented that he has been on the City Council for eight years, and felt that OCHRC let down the City on several occasions, by not serving in an unbiased manner. He mentioned that he was offended by some of the incidents which have occurred, but OCHRC took no action. Council Member Erickson referred to the fight at Newport Harbor High and contended that this was not racially motivated. He likq�, the Commission's domestic violence hot line; he was disappointed in the service provided by OCHRC; he had difficulty separating different types of crimes; and he did not like using crimes as a publicity -type issue to gain funding. He did support the City's Human Relations Committee. Council Member Somers felt that misstatements have been made by Mr. Kennedy, and whether or not he is at the forefront of OCHRC, it is incumbent upon OCHRC to make sure that the statements issued by them are appropriate, which they have not been. She commented that the incident which occurred at Newport Harbor High School is a perfect example, because the incident was taken out of context and was made much uglier than it actually was. Council Member Somers thought it would be extremely inappropriate for this City to support a Commission and its Director if they step outside their policies and she could not support the motion to join OCHRC until changes are made. The motion to add $3,584.00 to tfe,' budget for dues to join OCHRC failed to carry 3-2, Council Members Monahan, Erickson, and Somers voting no. Statement of Invest- The Finance Director summarized the Agenda Report dated ment Policy June 17, 1999, regarding the Statement of Investment Policy, and pointed out the changes detailed in the report. MOTION A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Cowan, seconded by Adopted Resolution Council Member Erickson, and carried 5-0, adopting 99-44 Resolution 99-44: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE '.1999-2000 STATEMENT_ OF INVESTMENT POLICY, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY TREASURER TO INVEST AND REINVEST IDLE MONIES OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1999-2000 .. STATEMENT OF INVESTMENT POLICY, AND AUTHORIZING THE TREASURER TO DELEGATE TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE THE CARRYING OUT OF ANY SUCH TASKS.. General Fund The Finance Director summarized the Agenda Report dated Operating Reserve June 15, _1999, concerning establishment of the funding level for the 1999-2000 General Fund operating reserve. 2v� Human Relations Council Member Dixon again invited John Feeney to join the Committee Human Relations Committee. "History of Costa Mayor Pro Tem commended Dane Bora, Video Production Mesa" Cable TV Coordinator, for 'his' excellent presentation of "History of Presentation Costa Mesa", recently shown on Cable Television Channel 74. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Mayor of he City of Costa Mesa ATTEST: -k�, of the City of Costa Mesa 1 1 1 i Earlier: in_ the meeting, while discussing the City's budget, the Finance Director' responded to a question from Council Member Somers, by reporting that the recommendation is to again establish the General Fund operating reserve at $14.125. million which is the same amount as fiscal year 1998-1999. MOTION! On motion by Counc'iI Member Erickson, seconded by Mayor Adopted Resolution Pro Tem. Cowan; and carried 5-0, Resolution 99-45 was 99-45 adopted: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA, MESA, CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING AND ADOPTING THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING RESERVE FOR THE 1999-2000' FISCAL YEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 2, CHAPTER V; ARTICLE 6, OF THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE, establishing an operating reserve of $14.12.5 million. Mayor Pro Tem Cowan expressed her support for the City Manager's suggestion of discussing service levels, staffing needs, level of capital improvements, and revenue structure in preparation fornext year's budget. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT/Date of The City Manager reminded everyone that because of the Next Council upcoming holiday;; the next Council meeting will be held on Meeting Tuesday, July 5, 1999. { COUNCIL MEMBERS All Council Members thanked the City Manager and the COMMENTS Finance Department staff for their good work on the City's Staff Commended budget: Human Relations Council Member Dixon again invited John Feeney to join the Committee Human Relations Committee. "History of Costa Mayor Pro Tem commended Dane Bora, Video Production Mesa" Cable TV Coordinator, for 'his' excellent presentation of "History of Presentation Costa Mesa", recently shown on Cable Television Channel 74. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Mayor of he City of Costa Mesa ATTEST: -k�, of the City of Costa Mesa 1 1 1