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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/10/2009 - Adjourned City Council Meeting - Study SessionREGULAR AJOURNED MEETING (STUDY SESSION) OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COSTA MESA February 10, 2009 The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, California met in a Regular Adjourned Meeting (Study Session), on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. in the Conference Room 1A of City Hall, 77, Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor. ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Mayor Allan R. Mansoor Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece Council Member Eric R. Bever Council Member Katrina Foley Council Member Gary Monahan Council Members Absent: None. Officials Present: City Manager Allan Roeder Assistant City Manager Thomas Hatch City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow Development Services Director Don Lamm Finance Director Marc Puckett Assistant Finance Director Colleen O'Donoghue Public Services Director Peter Naghavi Chief of Police Christopher Shawkey Maintenance Service Manager Bruce Hartley Police Sergeant Timothy Starn City Clerk Julie Folcik (Council Member Foley entered at 4:40 p.m.) I. PUBLIC COMMENT 1. David Stiller, Costa Mesa, referring to the possible budget cuts, asked the Council to consider the benefit of the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program to the schools. 2. Judi Berry, Costa Mesa, commented on the reduction in the City's cash reserves over the last couple of years. 3. Nicole Schefineyer, equine trainer at the Orange County Equestrian Center, informed the Council of her many clients such as Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), MICA Youth Development and Orangewood Children's Home and pointed out the benefit that the equestrian center provides to the community. 4. Bridget McMahon, trainer at the Orange County Equestrian Center emphasized the economic impact the Center makes to fairgrounds as well as the community. 5. Mickey Traksell, Executive Director of Pegasus, explained her business's focus of providing equine therapy for mental health issues and also commented on the benefit the equestrian center has on the community. 6. Greg (last name inaudible), a horse -owner at the equestrian center felt that the community would be losing something special if the equestrian center was taken from the fairgrounds. 7. Gaete Riley, a longtime boarder of her horses at the Orange County Equestrian Center, encouraged the Council's support of keeping the center at the fairgrounds. 8. Gene Foster, Costa Mesa, expressed his support of the after school programs and encouraged Council to continue the SRO programs for the benefit of the students as well as the teachers. II. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Sewer System Assistance Program Presentation and Lateral Tree Removal Agreement Thomas Fauth, Assistant Manager of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) presented an overview of the Residential Solid Waste Collection, the District -wide Liquid Waste Transport, highlighted the Sewer Lateral and clean out Financial Assistance Program. that included the application process, causes for the need of. a clean out, the cost, the response from residents to the program and the potential for the expansion to include small businesses. Public Services Director Peter Naghavi and Maintenance Service Manager Bruce Hartley ;addressed the issues of laterals as they intersect the public right-of-way and that of city tree removals. City Arborist Dean Rodia made a presentation regarding the myths and truths about trees and their roots systems. Questions from Council included the policy, approvals and denial process of tree removals, the use of a BioBarrier, replacement of trees, upgrading ,the sewer lines, other tree/root removal programs that are available through neighboring cities, and the notification of the public of such programs. Staff presented a possible program relative to resident assistance. for Sewer .Lateraltree removal. No action was taken by the City Council. The Mayor recessed the meeting at 5:50 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. 2. Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Mid -year Budget Report Finance Director Marc Puckett made a presentation reviewing the status for the current budget year that included a review of the current economic data, comparisons with surrounding communities, review of the city's fund -balance revenue and expenditures for the year-to-date, and year- end projections. Mr. Puckett along with City Manager Allan Roeder, Public Services Director Peter Naghavi, Assistant Finance Director Colleen O' Donoghue and Police Sergeant Timothy Starn responded to questions from Council regarding Utility Users Tax, Transient Occupancy Tax, deferral of capital projects, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) contribution rates, strategies for increasing - revenues, implementing an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) -program, the -costs associated with the Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) program and the reimbursement agreement with neighboring cities, streei._and park improvements, employer and employee contributions for-retirerrent, .-and the possibility of opening discussions with the various labor union's._. No action was taken by City Council. 3. Update from the Orange County Fair & Event Center on Equestrian Center Land Use Environmental Study Steven Beazley, President and CEO of the Orange County Fair and Event Center, gave an overview of what was being proposed for the land use of the Equestrian Center, emphasizing the need for the most effective use of the available land for the events that are regularly held at the grounds. He provided a review of what had been considered as alternatives as well as the efforts to address the increasing demands in traffic and attendance and overall use. He responded to questions and heard comments from the Council relative to alternatives, relocation of the equestrian center, building costs for a parking structure, highest and best use for the community, and the amphitheater. 4. Employee of the Month The City Council reviewed applications for Employee of the Month a preference was indicated, absent any objection. Announcement of the Employee of the Month would, be made at a subsequent. City Council meeting. III. COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORTS, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS There were no comments by the Council. IV. ADJOURNMENT: The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next Regular Meeting will be held February 17, 2009. Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa ATTEST: Cit Clerk o�the City of Costa Mesa 1