SALINAS CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
MARCH 20, 2007 MEETING MINUTES
Mayor Donohue convened the 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
Deputy City Clerk/Secretary Cathy Williams
CITY OF CHAMPIONS
Councilmember Barrera commended Manuel Herrera, Everett
Alvarez High School Student, for his outstanding community service, and noted
the countries he will visit to promote peace.
Alisal Boys Soccer Team Central Coast Section Division I
Soccer Champions and Coach Officer Jesus Sanchez. Continued to April 3, 2007.
Councilmember Villegas, District 5, recognized the Palma
High School Varsity Basketball Team, Central Coast Section Division IV
Champions and Northern California Division IV Semifinalists.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Hans Jongens explained the loss of bee colonies
in the world due to pesticides. He
asked who would pay to build the Desalination Plant, and did not believe the
border with Mexico was very effective.
In response to Al Espindola, Mr. Mora explained that the
paramedics program is currently being reviewed.
CITY
COUNCIL CONSENT RESOLUTION
City Attorney
Vallarta made a correction to the minutes of March 6, 2007, page 4, Councilmember
Report by Mayor Donohue as follows: …return to Council with an analysis and
recommendation regarding prostitution free zone ordinance. The minutes were so amended.
In response
to Hans Jongens, Senior Buyer Manny Cauntay stated that Salinas Valley Ford can
provide the pickup trucks at a lower price than the California State Vehicle
Contract.
In response
to Councilmember Barnes, Senior Civil Engineer Frank Aguayo explained that new
trees will be planted as space allows under a separate contract following the
concrete repairs project.
MOTION
Upon
motion by Councilmember Lutes and second by Councilmember Barnes, the Council
voted unanimously to adopt the Consent Resolution.
1.
Approved minutes of
meetings of March 6, 2007.
2. Accepted financial claims report.
3. Accepted monthly Finance Report for the month of
February 2007.
4. Adopted RESOLUTION 19160 authorizing
the direct purchase of eight pickup trucks from Salinas Valley Ford.
5. Adopted
RESOLUTION 19161 authorizing Request for Proposals for Veterinary
Services for Salinas Animal Shelter.
6. Adopted
RESOLUTION 19162 authorizing direct purchase of two chassis
animal control vehicle transport units from Deerskin Manufacturing, Inc.
7. Adopted
RESOLUTION 19163 finding and declaring the existence of obnoxious
and dangerous weeds on the property at 722 Ashbury Way, Salinas, California to
constitute a public nuisance.
8. Adopted
RESOLUTION 19164 approving the release of a Request for Proposals
for occupational medical service provider services.
9. Adopted
RESOLUTION 19165 authorizing submittal of an application for
grant funds from the California Air Resource Board for low emission
construction equipment.
10. Adopt RESOLUTION
19166 authorizing submittal of grant application to the State Department
of Housing and Community Development for the Workforce Housing Reward Program.
11. Accepted the
Salinas Airport Main Hangar Painting, Project 9119, for maintenance and
responsibility.
12. Accepted Salinas
Municipal Airport Pavement Seal Coat, FAA AIP No. 3-02-0206-11, Project No.
9155-A, for maintenance and responsibility.
13. Adopted RESOLUTION
19167 authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Monterey County
for City’s contribution in the amount of $11,973 for the installation of a new
traffic signal at Van Buren Avenue and Russell Road, and for annual maintenance
costs of said signal.
14. Authorized the
Mayor to sign a letter of support for Senate Bill 286, acceleration of
distribution of Proposition 1B local street funding.
15. Adopted RESOLUTION
19168 authorizing the Mayor to sign the School Readiness Grant application.
16. Adopted RESOLUTION
19169 approving plans and specifications and authorizing bids for the
2007 Concrete Sidewalk Repairs (Measure V), Project 9926.
17. Introduced ORDINANCE
amending Chapter 9, Article IV relating to house numbering to increase number
size/visibility for improved Ambulance, Fire, and Police emergency response.
JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONSENT
RESOLUTION
SALINAS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/COUNCIL ACTION
Upon motion by Agency member Lutes and second by Agency member De La
Rosa, the Agency unanimously adopted the Consent Resolution.
SALINAS REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
1.
Approved minutes.
2.
Approved financial claims
report.
The Redevelopment
Agency adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
CONSIDERATION
1. Allocation of $1 million appropriation for Council’s Goals for
Economic Development, Community Safety, Image, and Communication.
Dave Mora, City Manager, presented his report with the
recommendation that the City Council
approve the creation of an additional Police Commander position
and the creation of a new
management level Economic Development position. In addition, it is
requested that Council
approve specific FY 2006-07 appropriations to the City Manager’s
Department budget of $50,000
for the community safety initiative program and $83,000 for the
economic development initiative
program.
The FY 2006-07 recommended use of funds ($133,000) would be
transferred from the
mid-year General Fund appropriation of $1,000,000 designated for
use in the implementation of the
City Council’s goals.
There would be no additional impact on the City’s General Fund. The
recommended actions are intended to begin specific implementation
of the draft City Council goals
focusing on community safety and economic development.
It is assumed that the position of
Economic Development Coordinator will eventually be “spun-off”
to a local Economic Development
Corporation that will be a partnership inclusive of local
employers, the Chamber of Commerce,
the City, and perhaps the County of Monterey.
The
appropriation for the position is
$25,000, the cost of recruiting using a recruiting firm. In addition, it
is recommend that Council
appropriate fund to partner in the development of an overall economic
development plan and $25,000 in the
sponsorship of a local “Action Summit” focusing on “Urban
Revitalization”. The private sector resources would sponsor a
second summit focusing on “FutureInnovations in Salinas Valley
Agriculture”. The City’s recommended
contribution to the estimated overall economic development plan of $100,000
is a one-third share of $33,000.00 for
a total economic development initiative appropriation at this time of
$83,000.00.
Mayor Donohue appointed
Councilmembers De La Rosa, Sanchez and Villegas to a council sub-
Committee for community safety. The Administration Office’s staff, the two
Neighborhood Service Coordinators, as well
as Recreation-Parks, Library,
Housing and others in the City that have staff and resources that can
assist the Police Commander with
development of the action plan.
Those who spoke in support of the
One million dollar allocation were: Beverly Meamber, Salinas
Chamber of Commerce, Lori Atkinson,
Vice-Chair of Business Development with the Salinas
Chamber of Commerce.
Jose Castaneda, Alisal Union School District, noted Salinas’
crime level and thought business might think twice about locating to
Salinas. He did not feel that the
Police were not doing a good job. He
will attend the Town Hall meeting on March 27, 2007 to ensure that items he is
concerned with are addressed.
Sara Gracias, Salinas resident, felt that more needs to be
done to address the issue of parenting.
She has worked as a Counselor for the Monterey County Juvenile Hall and
stressed that there are not enough programs for the youth of Salinas. She felt that the Police Department needs
more courtesy training on how to work with people and stressed that more people
would talk to the police if they were treated better.
Carl Zalazowski, Chief Financial
Officer of California Coastal Rural Development Corporation,
which provides loan capital and
other financial services to businesses and farms located on the
Central Coast asked council to
approve the matter before them.
Hans Jongens explained that too many businesses have left this county to
find cheaper labor and the City needs to provide more incentives to attract
business to this area. He felt that
unions add in the rising costs of services.
Al Espindola, Recreation-Park Commissioner, stated that he supports
organized labor and when a person is not represented by a Union they can be
taken advantage of.
COUNCIL ACTION
Upon motion by Councilmember Lutes and second by Councilmember Barnes,
the Council unanimously approved the Police Commander position
and Economic Development Coordinator, and the transfer of $133,000 for the two
initiatives to the City Manager’s Department -- $83,000 for economic
development and $50,000 for community safety.
COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND FUTURE
AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Donohue invited all to participate in the Town Hall meeting to
promote Peace in Salinas on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 7 p.m. at the Salinas
Community Center.
Mayor Donohue
asked Councilmember Lutes to replace Councilmember Villegas as the Salinas
Valley Solid Waste Authority’s alternate.
Councilmember Barnes reported on
her trip to Washington D.C. and the National Congress of Cities.
Councilmember Barrera stated that
SUBA will have a mixer on March 22nd, and an evening meeting
on the same day at Jalisco. He and the Police Chief will attend an
evening meeting tomorrow with
the Alisal Board of
Supervisors. Alisal High School will
march, in celebration of Cesar Chavez’s
Birthday to the Cesar Chavez
Library and will coincide with the Town Hall meeting. Some of the
students will attend the Town Hall
meeting to address gang issues. On the
27th, the parents of the
Alisal High students will march
from the Cesar Chavez Elementary School to Closter Park, and on
Sunday, Partners for Peace will
recognize several of the Parents Patrols.
Councilmember Lutes stated that a
press conference will be held to recognize the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding between
McKinnon School and Partners for Peace at 10 a.m. and
invited Councilmembers to
participate.
Councilmember Sanchez asked that
recognition be given to the Salinas High School Broncos
Cheerleaders 1stPlace
2007 USA Jr. Nationals and the Alvarez Titans Cheerleaders Jr. Nationals
Midget Song/Pom Division 1st
Place Champions, of the Monterey Bay Youth Football League. In
addition he would also like to
recognize the students from Monte Vista Christian School who
collected more than 1,624 pounds of
food for Second Harvest Food Bank.
He asked that a letter be sent to
Director Linda Sanchez of Sun Street regarding the workers’
right to choose a union. He appointed Marcella Castro to the
Recreation and Parks Department. He
would like to meet with the Concert
Venue Committee to discuss upcoming
events. He would
like to see Councilmember Reports and Future Agenda
Items move to the beginning of the Council
meeting for the public’s
information. He thanked the Police
Department Mobile Command Unit for
their presence in the community and
would like to see them all the time.
Councilmember De La Rosa noted her
attendance with the Chinatown Committee and thanked Don
Reynolds, Alan Stumpf and the media
for their outreach to the community.
She thanked Hebbron
Heights for their Easter programs
and Juan Mendoza for his newsletter.
She explained that PAL is a
wonderful place for children and
thanked staff for their hard work. She
invited the public and
Council to the March 29th
Neighbors United meeting at the United Methodist Church.
The City Council/Redevelopment
agency recessed to closed session at 6:50 p.m., pursuant to:
a. Government
Code Section 54956.8, conference with real property negotiators City
Manager/Executive Director Dave Mora, City Attorney/Agency Counsel Vanessa
Vallarta, Redevelopment Director Alan Stumpf, and Assistant Redevelopment
Project Manager Maria Orozco to discuss the price and terms of
payment for the purchase of property located at 229 N. Sanborn Road in the
Sunset Redevelopment Project Area with William and Melanie Winchester,
trustees.
b. Government
Code Section 54956.8, conference with real property negotiators City Manager
Dave Mora, City Attorney Vanessa Vallarta, Deputy City Manager Jorge Rifa, and
Planning Manager David Swanson to discuss the price and terms of payment for
the sale or lease of property located at 1081 Buckhorn Drive with Larry Drury,
Executive Director of Go Kids, Inc.
c. Government
Code Section 54956.9(b), conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated
litigation (two potential cases).
d.
Government Code Section 54956.9(a), pending litigation, Morfin-Vargas,
et al v. City of Salinas, California Superior Court Case No. S140911; Sixth
District Case No. H027693.
e.
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, Police
Officers Association, Police Management Association, Confidential Employees, Confidential
Management Employees, and Department Directors. CANCELLED.
f.
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. CANCELLED.
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