SALINAS CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
APRIL 10, 2007 MEETING MINUTES
Mayor Donohue convened the joint City Council and
Redevelopment Agency meeting at 5:05 p.m.
Present:
Mayor/Chairperson Dennis Donohue
Council/Agency member Janet Barnes
Council/Agency member Tony
Barrera
Council/Agency member
Gloria De La Rosa
Council/Agency member Jyl Lutes
Council/Agency member Sergio Sanchez
Council/Agency member Steve Villegas
Also Present:
City Attorney/Agency Counsel Vanessa Vallarta
City Clerk/Secretary Ann Camel
JOINT CITY
COUNCIL/SALINAS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
CITY OF CHAMPIONS
Mayor Donohue commended California Youth in Theatre Finalists Elvia
Jimenez, Andrea Rocha, Ashley Rodriguez, and Amy Twisselman.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Doug Kenyon, Monterey County Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Committee,
invited the City Council to the Memorial Day unveiling of the monument honoring
Monterey County’s Vietnam War casualties.
The Committee continues to seek volunteers and donations to assist with
the cost of establishing and maintaining the Memorial Park.
Hans Jongens objected to the raises received by the Police Officers’ and
Police Management Associations.
Gary Karnes requested regulations addressing grocery carts being taken
offsite.
CONSENT RESOLUTION
Upon motion by Councilmember Sanchez and second by Councilmember
Lutes, Council voted unanimously to adopt the Consent Resolution. Councilmembers Barnes and De La Rosa
abstained on the minutes of the April 3, 2007 meeting from which they were
absent.
SALINAS CITY COUNCIL
1.
Approved minutes of
April 3, 2007 meeting. Councilmembers
Barnes and De La Rosa abstained.
2. Accepted financial claims report.
3. Adopted
RESOLUTION 19181 authorizing the direct purchase of one specialized
crime scene vehicle from SVI Trucks, Loveland, CO.
4. Adopted RESOLUTION 19182 approving plans
and specifications for the 2006-07 Street Rehabilitation, Project 9438, and
2006-07 Parking Lot Resurfacing and Improvements, Project 9106 and authorize
invitation to bid, with bid opening on May 22, 2007.
5. Adopted RESOLUTION 19183 approving payment
plan for the National Steinbeck Center Bond payment due February 1, 2007.
SALINAS
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
1.
Approved minutes of April 3, 2007 meeting.
2.
Approved financial reports.
The Salinas
Redevelopment Agency adjourned at 5:30 p.m..
CONSIDERATION
1. FY
2007-08 Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, and
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Funding.
David Swanson, Planning Manager,
stated that the 2007-08 HUD allocation has been reduced by one percent from the
prior year. This year’s allocation
includes $2,537,808 from CDBG, $925,137 from HOME, and $110,004 from ESG. Program income and reallocated funds brings
the total available funding to $3,240,500 for CDBG and $1.3 million for
HOME. Mr. Swanson outlined the funding
recommendations.
Mr. Swanson stated that the cap
for CDBG public service funding is $415,000 in keeping with HUD
regulations. Public service funding
requests totaled over $1 million.
Council established allocation parameters in 2003, and Councilmembers
Barnes, Lutes and Sanchez served on the Council Committee that developed public
service funding recommendations. After
today’s consideration, staff will prepare a final plan for Council’s
consideration at the May 8, 2007 public hearing.
Councilmember Lutes stated that
the Committee considered Council’s priorities for violence intervention and
prevention programs intended to benefit the most vulnerable populations, including
seniors, children, and families. It is
critical for the City to partner with Partners for Peace, which strengthens
families.
Councilmember Sanchez stated that
the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts will not have the use of the City facility
this fiscal year, and the CDBG funding is a major part of their budget.
Councilmember Barnes stated that
the Committee felt the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) should be financed
also. The Committee considered whether
organizations had other revenue sources that they could access.
The
following persons spoke in support of funding for specified organizations:
Sarah
Tomaselli, Girl Scouts of Monterey Bay
Tina
Del Piero, VNA
Bob
Bennett, VNA
Elva
Perez, VNA
Pat
Overberg, Women’s Crisis Center
Elena
Hernandez, Suicide Prevention Services
Janine
Robinette, Meals on Wheels
Melissa
Hartman, Director of Food Bank for Monterey County
Jeff
Morgan, First Community Housing
Ken
Seen, Partners for Peace
Kathryn
Thoeni, John XXIII AIDS Ministry
Susan
Shiavone, Partners for Peace
Ken
Feske, Partners for Peace
Alicia
Lampley, Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Laura
Tinajero, Cominos Program
Orlando
Castro, Alisal Center for the Fine Arts
Gil
Bacias, PAL
Alma
Almanza, Central Coast for Independent Living
Theresa
Sullivan, Alliance on Aging
Marilyn
Dorman, Housing Advocacy Alliance and Monterey County Housing Alliance
Hilda,
Barrios Unidos’ Gabilan Plaza Apartments After School Program
Unidentified
speaker, Barrios Unidos’ proposal
Unidentified
speaker, Barrios Unidos’ proposal
Patty
Hernandez, Girls Inc. of the Central Coast
Rose
Colon, Director of Prevention for Sun Street Centers
Miliagros
Perez, YMCA Alisal Community Friends
Margaret
Serena, Door to Hope
Jim
Rear, Sunrise House
Robin
McCray, Community Human Services
Diana
Trapani, Interim
Councilmember Villegas spoke of
VNA’s assistance when his father died of Alzheimers and spoke in support of Sun
Street Centers’ services.
Councilmember De La Rosa stated
that she would like to consider whether there is duplication of services,
because there are insufficient funds for all applications. She would like to allocate more funding for
the Food Bank, for example.
Councilmember Barrera spoke in
support of Partners for Peace because of their employment of young people, who
in turn educate their peers, as does Gente Del Sol.
Councilmember Lutes suggested
that the only duplication she sees is the Citizenship Project, from which Sun
Street Centers could be funded.
Councilmember Sanchez suggested
not funding new programs without track records in order to allocate the
recommended funding for these programs to proven programs that have been funded
previously. He would like more
information as to how programs would spend money during their future review.
Councilmember Barnes
suggested reallocating $5,000 from Conflict Resolution, $1,000 from Food Bank,
$1,500 from Second Chance, $1,000 from YMCA Alisal Friends, and $1,500 from
Hebbron Heights to allocate this $10,000 to Sun Street Center.
Councilmember Lutes noted that
$1,500 already was taken from the Second Chance Youth Program to allocate to
Partners for Peace.
Councilmember Barnes suggested
reallocating $5,000 from Conflict Resolution; $1,000 from the Food Bank; $1,500
from PAL; $1,000 for Alisal Friends; and $1,500 from the Hebbron Recreation
Center to Sun Street Centers.
Councilmember Sanchez stated that
he would not support reducing Conflict Resolution Center’s funding. He suggested remaining committed to all of
the currently funded organizations and reallocating from the Franciscans’,
Sunrise House’s, and the Volunteer Center’s proposals, which were not previously funded. He does not like taking $1,000 in funding
from the Food Bank that could feed many people.
Councilmember Lutes stated that
the YMCA may be less vulnerable than PAL.
She wondering about reallocating funding from the Citizenship Project to
the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts.
Councilmember Barnes stated that
the Volunteer Center’s program is a new but would serve up to 400 youth.
Councilmember Lutes asked whether
funding from the Citizenship project could be transferred to Alisal Center for
the Fine Arts.
Mayor Donohue stated that he has
great confidence in the subcommittee’s recommendation. Therefore, he is uncomfortable with the
motion. He would like to have more time
to reconsider the recommendations.
COUNCIL
ACTION
Councilmember Barnes moved to
direct staff to return with a revised Action Plan for Council’s consideration
at the May 8 public hearing that would reallocate $5,000 from the Conflict
Resolution Center, $1,000 from the Food Bank, $1,500 from PAL, $1,000 from the
YMCA Alisal Friends, and $1,500 from the Hebbron Recreation Center and allocate
$10,000 to the Sun Street Centers. The
motion was seconded by Councilmember De La Rosa.
AYES: Councilmember Barnes, Barrera, De La Rosa, Lutes, and
Villegas. NOES: Councilmember Sanchez and Mayor Donohue.
2. Agreement
for Golf Management Services with Sierra Golf Management, Inc.
Councilmember
Sanchez announced that he has a conflict of interest and would abstain on this
item. Councilmember Sanchez left the
meeting room at 7:30 p.m..
Jorge Rifa,
Deputy City Manager, stated that the recommendation is for Fairways to be
maintained by the private firm of Sierra Golf Management Inc.in order to achieve
cost savings. The City would continue
to manage the course. The proposed
agreement includes annual compensation of
$649,000 for the first two years, following an adjustment based on the
Consumer Price Index. The first day of
the contract would be April 30.
There are
eight employees represented by SEIU that would transfer to vacancies in the
park maintenance division. Of these
eight employees, four would transfer laterally from Golf Course Worker
positions to Park Maintenance Worker positions. Two of the Power Mower Operators would be Y-rated as Park
Maintenance Workers. One Power Mower
Operator who was previously Y-rated will be reinstated as a Crew Supervisor in
the Maintenance Services Department to support quality assurance.
The Parks
Division has only one Power Mower Operator position, which is filled. The existing Y-rated staff can be returned
to prior classifications based on business necessity. The SEIU MOU provides for contracting out if no layoffs
result. The City has completed meet and
consult discussions with employees and SEIU.
Unforeseen precedents and impacts would result from any discontinuation
of the existing Y-rate policy.
The Golf
Course Superintendent would transfer to the Maintenance Services Department and
assume the duties of the vacant Parks, Grounds and Forestry Operations Manager
position. The Golf Operations Manager
would continue to oversee the course and would supervise clubhouse temporary
employees. The City has met with
affected staff, SEIU representatives, AMPS representatives, the Recreation and
Parks Commission, the Fairways Golf Club and the Council Committee. The estimated annual savings would be over
$200,000. The General Fund advances to
the golf course to date are $2.8
million, and currently total $900,000 annually.
Mr. Rifa
stated that the City’s current private mowing contract for its other City
facilities is $57,278 annually, and the City has performed contract mowing
since 1996. Staff estimates it would
cost the City $195,25 for two and one half Power Mower Operator positions, not
including operations and maintenance, to assume responsibility for mowing.
The
difference between what SEIU has requested and what the City is offered has
changed over the last few months. The
April 4th letter from the Union requests $47,000 plus benefits for
the lateral transfer of one power mower operator from Fairways, thereby
eliminating the need for contracting for these services. Additionally, they would like Y-rating of
the remaining operator. Mr. Rifa noted
that the City’s recommendation includes a Y-rate of a power mower
operator.
Frank Garden, SEIU, stated that the only real roadblock relates to
the power mower operators. The two
displaced operators should have a place when this is done. There are other mowing services that are not
reflected in the expenditures reflected in the slide.
Ray
Montemayor, SEIU President, passed out photographs of park pictures that
reflected the condition the parks are in with the one power mower
position.
Ms. Estrada
stated that if the existing position is vacated, the two individuals currently
recommended for Y-rating are not the only ones who have held the position. Another employee with higher seniority could
also request consideration.
In response
to Mayor Donohue, Mr. Rifa stated that there are seven vacancies in Park
Maintenance because the positions are being held open for Y-rating, which is
why the maintenance is currently lacking.
Maintenance Director Denise Estrada stated that more mowing could be
performed by either extending the contract, if there is sufficient funding or
by hiring another power mower operator.
Park maintenance workers are her priority right now, because there were
only two people available on Friday to maintain all of the City’s parks.
Councilmember
Barnes noted that no employee would lose his or her job nor receive a reduction
in salary.
MOTION
Councilmember
Barnes moved to adopt a RESOLUTION authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement
with Sierra Golf Management, Inc. for golf management services. The motion was seconded by Councilmember De
La Rosa.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION
Councilmember
Lutes made a substitute motion to 1)adopt a RESOLUTION authorizing the Mayor to
sign an agreement with Sierra Golf Management, Inc. for golf management
services and 2) to continue negotiations with the Union. The substitute motion was seconded by
Councilmember Barrera and failed.
AYES: Councilmember Barrera and
Lutes. NOES: Councilmember Barnes, De La Rosa, Villegas, and Donohue. ABSTAIN:
Councilmember Sanchez.
COUNCIL ACTION
The City
Council voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 19184 authorizing the Mayor to
sign an agreement with Sierra Golf Management, Inc. for golf management
services. AYES: Councilmembers Barnes,
Barrera, De La Rosa, Lutes, Villegas, and Mayor Donohue. ABSTAIN:
Councilmember Sanchez.
MOTION
Councilmember
Lutes made a motion to continue negotiations with SEIU for incorporation of a
second power mower operator. The motion
was seconded by Councilmember Barrera.
Councilmember
Barnes stated that she cannot support the motion because staff has met its meet
and consult requirements.
Councilmember
Villegas stated that he cannot support the motion because it would erode the
contract savings.
Councilmember
De La Rosa noted that no employee would lose his or her job.
Mayor Donohue
expressed concern that the motion provides too much direction to staff that may
have unintended consequences.
Councilmember
Barrera withdrew his second. The motion
died for lack of a second.
Councilmember
Lutes stated that reinstating the position would not cost $200,000 because the
person is already being paid.
COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS/APPOINTMENTS/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember De La Rosa will be conducting a clean up at Natividad Park
on April 28th from
8 a.m. to noon. Neighbors United
will also be cleaning up other areas but not providing dumpsters. She is will have an April 23rd
neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastside Church with Pastor Frank
Gomez..
Councilmember Lutes stated that the crosswalk on Natividad Road by the
cemetery is difficult to see.
In response to Councilmember Barnes, Ms. Vallarta stated that her staff
hopes to bring an ordinance regulating shopping carts to Council in May or
June.
Councilmember Barnes reported a street hole on Riker Street at Geil
Street.
The City
Council recessed to closed session at 8:35 p.m. pursuant to:
a. Government
Code Section 54956.9(c), conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated
litigation (one potential case).
b.
Government Code Section 54957.6 with its designated labor
representatives Dave Mora, City Manager; Vanessa Vallarta, City Attorney; Jorge
Rifa, Deputy City Manager; Finance Director Tom Kever; and Teri Silva, Human
Resources Manager regarding labor relations with Association of Management
Personnel, Firefighters Association, Fire Supervisors Association, Confidential Employees, Confidential
Management Employees, and Department Directors.
c.
Government Code Section 54957.6 with its designated
labor representatives Dave Mora, City Manager; Vanessa Vallarta, City Attorney;
Jorge Rifa, Deputy City Manager; Finance Director Tom Kever; and Teri Silva,
Human Resources Manager regarding labor relations with Service Employees
International Union (SEIU), SEIU Supervisors, and Salinas Municipal Employees
Association/SEIU.
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