HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/10/2009 - Adjourned City Council Meeting - Study SessionREGULAR AJOURNED MEETING (STUDY SESSION) OF THE
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF COSTA MESA
March 10, 2009
The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, California met in a Regular Adjourned
Meeting (Study Session), on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at 4:35 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:
Council Members Absent:
Mayor Allan R. Mansoor
Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece
Council Member Katrina Foley
Council Member Gary Monahan
Council Member Eric R. Bever.
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
Fire Chief Mike Morgan
Legislative and Public Affairs Manager Ann Shultz
Police Captain Les Gogerty
City Clerk Julie Folcik
I. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Sheri Sanders, Costa Mesa, commented on fireworks in her neighborhood on the
fourth of July, describing it " like a warzone", and felt that the money spent on law
enforcement on that date could be put to better use.
2. Mike Berry, Costa Mesa, regarding labor negotiations confirmed with staff that
employee hours could not be changed unless approved by the labor unions.
3. Stephen Mensinger, Costa Mesa, commented that "fireworks are a tradition," that
his family has not experienced or witnessed any mishandling or accidents;
stressed that the importance of the fundraising for the local youth sport groups
and supported curbing the use of illegal fireworks.
II. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Fireworks Options and Enforcement
Mayor Pro Tem Leece gave an overview of the steps taken over the past couple
of years relative to fireworks and the implementation of strategies to educate the
public regarding regulations, Costa Mesa's Zero -Tolerance Policy, and to curb
the use of illegal fireworks She provided additional suggestions for the upcoming
fourth of July celebration such as the issuance of Administrative Citations for the
use of illegal fireworks,to provide continued support levels of Public Safety
(police and fire services), determine the troubled areas and increase
enforcement and to charge an assessment to the organizations selling fireworks
that would offset the administrative costs such as enforcement and clean up of
fireworks. Questions from the Council! included the details of the makeup of the
Public Safety Team, the cost associated with the teams, the policy of the floating
cap relative to the number of stands that would be permitted, signage,
enforcement costs to the City, increase in fines the use of overtime, and the
issuance of the citations. No action was taken by the City Council.
2. Potential Reuse of County Flood Control property at 1100 Bristol Street
Assistant Thomas Hatch made a presentation relative to the 4 -acre site located
at 1100 Bristol Street and introduced Shaheen Sadeghi, The CAMP/The LAB,
who gave an overview of ideas that had been developed for the proposed use
of the site which included playing. fields for the kids and places for multiple
community amenities. Public Services Director Peter Naghavi provided details
of the property and an estimate of the appraisals that are needed, and he
along with City Manager Allan Roeder, responded to questions from Council
regarding possible purchasing of the property, building restrictions on the
property, development costs and the possibility of a public private partnership.
No action was taken by City Council.
3. Meyers-Milias Brown Act — Labor & Management Relations Presentation
City Manager Allan Roeder introduced the discussion item and Peter Brown,
Leibert Cassidy and Whitemore who made a presentation regarding the
regulations of the Meyers-Milias Brown Act and how the basic principles apply to
labor management relations. He explained the Council's role in the collective
bargaining process, and the basic requirements that necessitate the meet and
confer process with the labor unions relative to employee work hours, wages and
benefits, other terms and conditions of employment including the discussion of
layoffs, temporary furloughs, and reduced work hours. He responded to
questions from the Council regarding changes to the Memorandum of
Understanding with the various laboriunions, changes in employee duties and
classifications, contracting out, impasse resolution, layoffs, mandatory work
furlough, overtime, the elimination of positions, and the and holding of closed
sessions. The City Manager stressed the City's economic situation and
explained the necessity and attempt to open discussions with the labor unions
relative to reducing operating expenses, the time factor, the impact of the fourth
quarter retail sales shortfall and the suggestions made from the task force formed
to address creative solutions.
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 7:05 p.m. The next Regular
Meeting will be held March 17, 2009.
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Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
ATTEST:
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C y Clerk. of -the -City -of Costa Mesa
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