SALINAS
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
MAY 16, 2006
The
City Council meeting convened in the Rotunda at 4:07 p.m.
Present:
Councilmember
Gloria De La Rosa
Councilmember
Maria Giuriato
Councilmember
Jyl Lutes
Councilmember
Robert Ocampo
Councilmember
Sergio Sanchez
Also Present:
City
Manager Dave Mora
City
Attorney Vanessa Vallarta
Deputy
City Clerk Cathy Williams
INTRODUCTION
Police Chief Ortega
introduced the newly hired Police Officers to the City Council, which included:
Carlo Calupad, Brain Canaday, David
Dudley, Gabriel Gonzalez, Jeff Munoz, Son Nghiem, Louis Plunkett, Joseph
Pusateri, Raul Rosales, Javier Sanches, Jason Shaw, Jordon White, and Robert
Zuniga.
COMMENDATION
Mayor
Caballero recognized Public Works Week, May 21 – 27, 2006. Deputy City Engineer Carl Niizawa provided a
power point presentation regarding Public Works Week. The Mayor presented Honoree of the Year Commendations to Parking
Operation Manager, Mike Garner; Senior Construction Inspector, Tom Hyun; and
Juan Meza, with Granite Construction.
Patricia
Saenz, Health Technician, El Sausal Middle School, accepted a commendation for
Classified School Employee Week from Mayor Caballero.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Marlys Maher, Salinas resident thanked council for
participating in Bike Week.
Hans Jorgens, Salinas resident, noted that the City of
Walnut Creek has adopted their General Plan, and had over 1000 residents
involved in the process. He stressed
that people who immigrate to America should come here legally.
Debbie Hale, Deputy Director for the Transportation Agency
for Monterey County, encouraged people to bike to school and work. She explained that Hartnell College is
providing breakfast this Saturday at 6:30 a.m. with free coffee and snacks.
Councilmember Lutes stated that Bike to School is
this Thursday at McKinnon School. There
will be a community breakfast and approximately 400 people are expected to
attend.
Joe Vierra, Salinas resident, said that California’s
problems are the result of a democratic legislature.
CONSENT RESOLUTION
Upon
motion by Councilmember De La Rosa and second by Councilmember Lutes, Council
voted unanimously to adopt the Consent Resolution.
1. Approved
minutes of May 9, 2006 meeting.
2.
Accepted financial claims report.
3.
Accepted the Monthly Financial Report for the month of
April.
4.
Authorized the City Manager to sign letters to
California Integrated Waste Management Board in support of Salinas Valley Solid
Waste Authority (SVSWA) grant application.
5.
Adopted RESOLUTION 18977 approving
Issuance Request for proposals to provide for the Development of the “Core
Area: at the Salinas municipal Airport.
6.
Adopted RESOLUTION 18978 authorizing the
Mayor to execute a Subdivision Improvement Agreement by and between the City of
Salinas, a municipal corporation, and Valley Community Homes, a California
Limited Liability company, approving the final map, and accepting the easements
offered for dedication for Monte Bella Subdivision.
7.
Approved letters for submission regarding Cable and
Video Service AB2987 (Nunez).
PUBLIC HEARING
1.
2006-07 Fiscal Year Budget
Mr. Mora explained the significant difference
this year is the focus on the restoration and enhancement of City services
after three (3) years of reductions.
The difference is primarily due to the residents of Salinas who voted
last November to establish a City Transaction and Use Tax of ½ cent – Measure
V. The tax became effective April 1,
2006, and distribution by the State Board of Equalization to the City begins in
July 2006. The tax will be in place for
ten (10) years and will provide estimated revenue of at least $10,000,000 in FY
2006-2007.
The availability of Measure V
revenue required the investment of City staff resources in the development and
presentation of various alternatives for the use of Measure V revenue for the
restoration of vital services to Salinas’ residents. Each City department reviewed its budget needs in detail and
department recommendations describing “essential” and “preferred” services were
presented to the community, the Measure V Oversight Committee, and the City
Council. The last few months have
focused on extraordinary efforts of community engagement and work with the
Oversight Committee. One result is that
there has been more community input into the City’s budget process these last
few months than perhaps at any other time in the City’s history.
As the budget process began in
earnest after the November election, one objective was an early adoption of the
budget so that the service restoration process could begin. This is especially critical for those
services that require the hiring of permanent City staff. The objective of an early identification and
adoption of a budget for the use of Measure V funds was reached with the May 2
City Council adoption of a resolution approving the use of Measure V funds as
recommended by the Measure V Oversight Committee.
Even with the emphasis on Measure
V activities, City staff also worked diligently to develop the “base” City
General Fund budget as well as the budgets for all other City funds. The “base” General Fund budget development
assumed a continuation of all current (FY 2005-2006) services. This assumption was judged valid given the
significant reductions in programs and services that took place during the last
three (3) years. The direction to
departments for the development of the “base” budget was simply to keep current
services intact with an emphasis on augmenting non-personnel expenditure
recommendations (supplies, materials, equipment) that have not kept pace with
actual needs. The result is a
recommended “base” budget, inclusive of the remaining almost $1,500,000 General
Fund structural deficit that maintains all current FY 2005-2006 services and
programs intact for FY 2006-2007. The
recommended General Fund “base” budget is $72,000,100, a 3.8% increase over the
current FY 2005-2006 General Fund budget of $69,352,800.
With the State and local
economies in a modest recovery mode, the at least temporary halt in State raids
on local government revenue (Proposition 1A), the peaking of PERS rates and
more modest health insurance cost increases, City budgeting can become much
more stable. As evidence of a modest
economic recovery, non Measure V General Fund revenue is growing and will allow
the addition of up to $1,000,000 in General Fund services and programs in FY
2006-2007. Recommended additions in the
amount of $748,600 are included in the General Fund recommended budget and were
presented during the May 9 Council review of the budget. The focus of the staff recommended additions
is on “essential” services items not included in the Measure V appropriations
and the restoration of critical non-departmental support items including legal
services, labor relations, legislative advocacy and representation, cable
television franchise negotiations, and restoration of the City newsletter.
The recommended additions of
$748,600 result in all but one City department substantially funded at the
“essential” operating budget services level identified during the Measure V
discussions. The Administration
Department overall budget (inclusive of Measure V) includes one (1)
Neighborhood Services Coordinator rather than the two (2) that were deemed
“essential”. The same budget includes a
½ time clerical support position to be shared with the City Attorney’s Office
rather than the full-time position that had been deemed “essential”.
On May 9, the City Council
discussed a variety of potential uses for the remaining on-going General Fund
revenues ($251,400). Those items are
described in Exhibit B of this report.
It is assumed that City Council will make a final determination
regarding the on-going programs and services to be funded from this General
Fund resource during today’s meeting so that the decisions can be incorporated
into the final budget document. In
anticipation of that City Council action, the recommended resolution adopting
the operating budget includes a $250,000 Non-Departmental “Restoration
Contingency” that will be re-allocated to departments and programs consistent
with the final City Council determination regarding the use of funds.
The
City’s formal, two-year operating budget document will be completed after the
adoption of budget resolutions dealing with the base budget, Measure V
additions, and other General Fund additions.
This will allow for the formatting of a document that is inclusive of
all City services and the appropriate designation and description of Measure V
supported activities. The comprehensive document will be completed
no later than June 30.
A final change taking place this
year will be a separate presentation of the City’s Six (6) Year Capital
Improvement Program. Given the required
multi-year investment plans in the CIP, the City Council is not being asked to
consider the CIP until mid-July. This
will allow sufficient time for a comprehensive document to be presented to the
City Council for review.
Shall the City Council and
Salinas Redevelopment Agency review the City and SRA budgets for FY 2006-2007,
identify specific uses for the remaining $250,000 in annual General Fund
revenue, and adopt resolutions approving the FY 2006-2007 City and
Redevelopment Agency Operating Budgets?
The recommended City
Council and Redevelopment Agency budgets are balanced and include significant
restoration of services to City residents using revenue generated by the ½ cent
Transaction and Use Tax approved by Salinas’ voters in November 2005. The overall City operating budget (inclusive
of Measure V) totals $113,101,000. Very
importantly, the three (3) year forecast for all City budgets is positive and
even includes the ability for modest investments in General Fund Capital
Improvements.
While the City’s overall
timetable and policies for the adoption of budgets provides for an adoption no
later than June 30 of each year, staff believes that the City is uniquely
positioned this year to adopt the FY 2006-2007 annual operating budgets much
earlier. The City’s budget and the
review of programs and services have been constant since the first meeting of
the Measure V Committee. All
recommended restorations have been thoroughly discussed. Almost all “essential” services have been
included for restoration.
Adoption of the budgets today is
recommended so that staff can focus on the hiring processes required for
restoration and so that staff can produce a comprehensive document inclusive of
all budget issues including the appropriation of Measure V funds.
City finances and the FY
2006-2007 budget have been matters of almost constant discussion since the
Measure V item was placed on the ballot.
The last twelve (12) months have included numerous opportunities for
discussion of the City’s finances. The
current FY 2005-2006 budget was the result of years of required scrutiny and
reduction, so that carrying forward the FY 2005-2006 programs and services to
FY 2006-2007 merely continues basic services.
The last few months, with the
Measure V Committee taking the lead, has included extraordinary opportunities
to discuss potential service and program restorations. The Measure V Oversight Committee
recommended and the City Council approved restorations totaling $10,000,000 on
May 2. The approved appropriations
involved previously identified “essential” services. The recommended additions proposed by City staff will result in
all but one (1) City department having substantially all “essential” operating
budget services approved.
One final set of appropriations
decisions have yet to be made and those involve the specific determination for
the use of $250,000 in estimated additional annual General Fund revenue. Staff recommends that Council review the
alternatives included in Exhibit B and determine appropriations so that those
decisions can be incorporated into the final appropriations.
Having satisfied “essential”
service requirements, staff feels that the recommended budget is consistent
with policy direction and reflects community priorities. Staff recommends that City Council adopt the
resolutions approving the FY 2006-2007 City and Redevelopment Agency Operating
Budgets.
RECOMMENDED FOR CONSIDERATION
After School Program – Additional Sites -- $54,000 each
Each after school location established requires an
approximate cost of $54,000. To this
end, any site capacity beyond the currently authorized twelve (12) can be
accommodated with additional revenue.
The management of added after school sites as well as other recreation
centers throughout Salinas, including Closter and Central Parks, can be
achieved with the staff enhancements noted here and provided for with Measure V
funding.
Code Enforcement Officer -- $83,500
Base
budget and Measure V funded staffing resources include one (1) Senior Code
Enforcement Officer, three (3) Code Enforcement Officer positions, and one
Administrative Clerk position. The
addition of one (1) additional Code Enforcement Officer (for a total of four)
will allow the Code Enforcement Team to be structured so two Officers will
address issues in three of the Council Districts. The Senior Officer would manage the team and provide additional
"City-wide" enforcement support, and one Administrative Clerk would
support the team.
The
primary issues on which the new Code Enforcement positions will focus are
illegal garage and building conversions, substandard housing and non-compliant
buildings, abandoned vehicles, dilapidated buildings and properties, illegal
signs in commercial areas, illegal stationary vendors, vehicles storage/parking
on properties, paving of residential yards, and illegal RV storage and
occupancy. The four (4) Code
Enforcement Officers and Senior Officer will allow City resources to switch
from a reactionary to pro-active service in the community.
Neighborhood Services Coordinator / Clerical Support
-- $127,000
A
second neighborhood services coordinator position ($92,000) will add sufficient
capacity to reinvigorate volunteer initiatives and to begin implementation of
the Council approved neighborhood engagement strategy. Addition of the second coordinator will significantly
increase the demand for responses from the community to the extent that it is
recommended that the Council also add a ½ time clerical support position to the
City Manager’s office. The additional ½
time position would require an additional appropriation of $35,000.
Recreation Centers – Breadbox and Hebron Heights -- $117,864
In order to enhance program opportunities at the
Breadbox and Hebron Heights Recreation Centers, a Senior Recreation Assistant
would be assigned to each facility. The
required budget for each facility is $58,932 or $117,864 for both. These staff would be specifically involved
with program development and neighborhood outreach at each center. In addition, in light of the two elementary
schools next door to the Breadbox (Martin Luther King and Jesse Sanchez),
further discussion needs to be held regarding the possibility of housing one of
the 12 funded after school locations at or near the Breadbox. In this way, student youth can be provided
with a safe, healthy and productive learning environment after school and
during holiday periods. Under staff
direction, the program will try to integrate participants into other City
recreation programs, including Swim lessons, sports leagues, sports camps and
instructional courses.
RECOMMENDED FOR CONSIDERATION
Street Tree Replacement -- $21,500
In
prior years, approximately 100 new trees were planted and maintained annually
as part of the Urban Forestry program activities. Now, new planting routinely
occurs only in new subdivisions and is paid for by the developer. The Street
Tree Fee fund has also been able to finance limited replanting of street trees.
As the City’s Sidewalk Repair Crew replaces damaged sidewalks, inevitably, some
removal of trees is necessitated and new opportunities for tree wells may be
created by the project. The Street Tree Fee fund pays the costs of these
plantings by contract.
The
current estimate that the department has from a contractor for the planting of
100 new trees is $15,500. This price includes labor and materials without
follow-up maintenance. Typically, a ninety-day maintenance of new trees is the
minimum maintenance required to assure a level of care to get them established.
Contract planting with a ninety-day maintenance period will cost $21,500.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CONSIDERATION
City Council Support -- $105,500
Members of the City Council represent the City on a
number of regional agencies. It has
been difficult, if not impossible, to provide consistent staff support to
Councilmembers serving on these regional agencies because of City staff
reductions. A significant portion of
the work of the Assistant to the City Manager was dedicated support of
Councilmembers. In order to provide the
level and quality of consistent support required, restoration of a position
similar to the Assistant to the City Manager (estimated annual cost $105,500)
would be required. Staff does not
recommend that a position be restored at this time. It is recommended that a support position be considered at
Mid-Year. The level and title of the
position must also be considered, as an Assistant to the City Manager level may
not be necessary.
Fire Department – Fire Training (Cadet) Program
The Salinas Fire Department is currently researching
establishing a Reserve Firefighter Program.
The intent of this reserve program is to assist and develop local
candidates for future hire and establish a pool of personnel that can be
utilized as emergency callbacks during emergencies; this is only to supplement
operations in a reserve capacity. The
need to augment operations arises from frequent call stacking, extended
incidents, and the lack of readily available personnel from the immediate area
during emergencies.
The Fire Department will be present the concept /
proposal to the City Council during the first quarter of FY2006-2007. The estimated initial cost for each reserve
firefighter is $7600 (background checks, employment exams, equipment, etc.).
The current process the Salinas Fire Department
utilizes to hire firefighters has a disparate affect on local residents; this
is due to many of the applicants coming from social/economical backgrounds that
put them at an advantage over local residents.
A Reserve Firefighter Program would increase the
number of local personnel for emergency callbacks to staff apparatus and/or
response to emergency incidents. This
would create a viable candidate pool locally,
Fire Department –
Public / School Education -- $78,000
A
Public Education Officer would develop fire safety and prevention programs and
materials; presentations to the public and target groups including schools,
teens, businesses, senior citizen, etc. This employee would conduct residential
fire safety and prevention surveys upon the request of the public; prepare and
present media release information as it relates to prevention awareness and
educational opportunities; assist in Fire Department disaster planning;
coordinate the numerous requests for fire department presentations and
tours. The individual would report to
the Fire Marshal and could be utilized on a full time or half time basis. Full time costs for this civilian position
would be approximately $78,000 annually.
Several fire agencies do utilize a half time position. An agency our
size would be able to utilize a full time position.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CONSIDERATION
Police
Department – Police Cadet Program
The
Salinas Police Department currently has an Explorer program that targets high
school age youth and provides an overview of police work, training and volunteer
opportunities. A Cadet program could
expand the opportunities for local youth to work in a paid capacity within the
police department, while obtaining training and first hand exposure to the law
enforcement profession.
This
program could be incorporated within the Community Service Aide (CSA) job,
which employs individuals on a part-time, temporary basis. The department currently employs up to six
(6) CSAs. The CSAs provide a variety of
vital functions (fingerprint applicants, front counter assistance, data entry,
assist in Property room, etc.). By
expanding the opportunities within the agency, additional CSAs could be
utilized to fulfill support functions in the spirit of a Cadet program.
It
is recommended the CSA program be expanded to up to twenty positions. In addition, the pay scale should be updated
and upgraded slightly to remain competitive with the private market and the
goal is to retain youth who enter local colleges with the eventual goal of becoming
a police officer. The estimated annual
cost would be $16,000 per CSA.
Youth Commission
For the period FY00-01 to FY03-04, non-departmental
appropriations ranging from $5,000 to $21,000 were set aside for Youth
Commission programs. The funds were
intended to support Commission activities that would more fully engage younger
residents of the City. The Commission
never utilized its full appropriation so that the amounts were reduced from the
initial $21,000 in FY2000-2001 to $5,000 in FY2003-04.
At the request of the City Council, a joint meeting
with the Youth Commission has been tentatively set for June 13 to discuss the
Commission’s structure, activities, and overall direction. Given the upcoming session, no appropriation
is recommended at this time. If a
modest appropriation for Commission use is deemed necessary later in the fiscal
year, that sum could readily be transferred from the General Fund appropriated
contingency.
Brett Landon, Salinas
resident and City Watch member, stated that the City should attempt to be more
efficient, and suggested that the city is out of money due to high
salaries. He felt that the City should
consider saving more for the future as Measure V funding ends in ten years. He
stressed that if the City allows salaries to continue to increase the City will
be struggling for funding in five years.
He explained that salaries and benefits are growing at an alarming rate.
Joe Vierra, Salinas
resident, noted that the current Councilmembers will be gone in ten years and
the citizens of Salinas will be left with budget problems if this Council
continues to ignore the problems. He stated that the Democrats in state
legislature are the problem and asked Council to “look at big picture”.
Councilmember Sanchez asked
that code enforcement go after landlords rather than making renters
homeless. In addition, he would like to
see the Neighborhood Coordinator worked more closely with code enforcement and
felt that clerical is needed to assist the program. In addition, more trees need to be planted.
Councilmember Giuriato
agreed with the City Manager recommendations.
She would also like to see Public relations added to the Neighborhood
Coordinator duties. She stressed code
enforcement and the legal department should work closely with the Police. Fire and policecadets get grants.
Councilmember Sanchez would
like to see one addition school program, a Code Enforcement Officer, with
clerical assistance.
Councilmember Giuriato
agreed with the addition of a Code Enforcement Officer, and would like to see
the Police and Fire Cadet program returned.
Councilmember Giuriato left
the meeting at 5:48 pm due to a personal matter and asked that Council adjourned today’s
meeting in memory of Joseph Ryan Lopez, and that a letter from the Council be
sent to his family.
Councilmember Barnes could
not support adding another after school program. She would like to see the Breadbox and Hebron Heights
helped. She also wanted to see the
planting of trees, and the addition of clerical staff to help the Neighborhood
Coordinator.
Councilmember Ocampo would
like to see a two Code Enforcement Officers, not one as the City currently has,
and the Breadbox and Hebron Heights need a Recreation Assistant to help with
the programs.
Councilmember De La Rosa
would like to see another Code Enforcement Officer hired, as well as clerical
staff to assist. In addition, she asked
that an additional Neighborhood Coordinator be hired, and money found to help
with the programs at Breadbox and Hebron Heights.
Councilmember Lutes
suggested looking into Monterey County’s program using trailers in the Pajaro
district to assist residents that cannot live in places found to be
unsafe. She would also like to see a
Code Enforcement Officer hired, another after school program provided, and
recreation programs provided to the Breadbox and Hebron Heights.
Mayor Caballero would also
like to see another Code Enforcement Officer hired, and felt that affordable
housing outside of the City limits could be considered for those displaced by
unsafe conditions. She would like to
see a plan provided for the Breadbox and that the center return to programs
that service young people. She
supports planting more trees and hiring clerical staff.
Mr. Mora stated that the
Measure V Committee will be looking at one-time monies available in the 2006-07
budgets at its next meeting and he will bring the matter of planting more trees
to their attention.
MOTION
Motion by Councilmember
Sanchez, second by Councilmember Lutes to adopt the RESOLUTIONS 18979 (N.C.S.) and 838 (S.RA.) approving the
FY 2006-07 City and Redevelopment Agency Operating Budgets and authorize one
additional after-school program, hiring a Code Enforcement Officer and
Neighborhood Coordinator with clerical support staff for a total amount of
$264,000, and ask staff to find additional funding in the budget to cover the
costs. Absent: Councilmember Giuriato.
Deputy City Manager Jorge
Rifa stated that if Council adopted thirteen after school programs, one of the
programs could be held at the Breadbox or Hebron Heights.
Mayor Caballero explained
that the Measure V Committee will be meeting in July and will have
recommendations for Council to consider.
Recreation and Park
Superintended Jim Pia reminded Council that the Carol White Federal Program
approved in 2006-07 that provides for six after school sites. Mayor Caballero explained that the item
needs to come back to council with staff’s proposals. Council is very concern about the Breadbox and Hebron Heights
and federal funding has been provided to help with a neighborhood with critical
needs.
CONSIDERATION
1. Proposed Adjustment to
BFI’s Schedule of Service Fees and Schedule of Approved Rates for Commercial
and Residential Customers
Maintenance Services
Director, Denise Estrada presented her report to Council and introduced Steve
Johnson, Solid Waste Operations Manager, Linda English, Grant and Contractor
Administrator, with Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, and Doug Kenyon,
General Manager, with BFI.
Mr. Johnson noted that the
Salinas Municipal Code, Council would review and set appropriate service fees
and approve an adjustment of the corresponding approved rates annually. The last annual adjustment of rates was July
1, 2005. BFI, City Staff, Salinas
Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA), the contract administrator have met over
the past month to discuss several issues, with respect to the annual review of
the Consumer Price Index (CPI); Contractor Service Fee Annual Adjustment of the
contract; Franchise Fee Increase, Rate Impact Analysis; new rate considerations
to Schedule D; and senior low income.
The authority board will
make final decision on the tipping fee increate their May 18, 2006 board
meeting.
In response to Councilmember
Sanchez, Mr. Doug Kenyon explained that if commercial business would do more
recycling they would reduce they cost of garage affecting. Councilmember Sanchez offered to talk to
SUBA regarding the recycling program.
MOTION
Upon motion by Councilmember
Barnes, second by Councilmember Sanchez, Council adopted RESOLUTION 18980
approving the annual adjustments to BFI’s schedule of Service Fees and schedule
of approved rates for commercial and residential customers. Absent:
Councilmember Giuriato.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. Receive Presentation from
Caltrans on the Airport Boulevard/US 101 Interchange Project, and adopt
RESOLUTION amending cooperative agreement with Caltrans regarding use of funds
for the Airport Boulevard/US 101 Interchange Project.
Robert Russell, Deputy City
Manager/City Engineer presented his report to Council and introduced David
Silverburger who provided a
power point presentation. He explained
that Certification of the project’s EIR was completed and will allow the
project to move forward with the design and right-of-way phases. On December 3, 2002 Resolution 18105
authorized the Mayor to execute a cooperative agreement with Caltrans for
preliminary engineering for the Airport Boulevard and US 101 Interchange
Improvement.
Caltrans is the lead agency
for planning, design, property acquisition, and construction of the project,
and allows Caltrans to process all federal and State authorizations for the use
of funds on behalf of the City. The
agreement expires on June 30 this year and not all funded phases are completed.
MOTION
Motion by Councilmember
Lutes, second by Councilmember De La Rosa, Council voted to adopt RESOLUTION
18981 amending the cooperative agreement with Caltrans regarding use of
funds for the Airport Boulevard/US 101 Interchange Project. Absent: Councilmember Giuriato.
2.
Receive Presentation on the Caltrain Extension of Monterey County Draft
Environmental Impact Report
Christine Watson, Associate
Transportation Planner, provided a power point presentation. Items presented included Caltrain extension
timeline, EIR comment timeline; key impacts to Salinas, Freight Building Option
B and A, the Southern Pacific Freight Building, MST Bus Station and Rail
Station Platform, Option 17 and 18 of the Salinas Layover Conceptual Plan,
Parking, develop and maintain multimodal system, Caltrain Service Route; the
benefits of rail service; Caltrain extension for service; Caltrain extension
regarding capital improvements and Caltrain extension for Salinas;
Ms. Watson explained that
the Caltrain Extension to Monterey County Project Development Team (PDT),
including Salinas City Development and Engineering Services Department and
Redevelopment Agency, met on March 2 to review an administrative draft
environmental document, and their comments on the draft were incorporated into
the public review draft. On April 26,
2006, the TAMC Board of Directors approved the Draft EIR for release for public
and agency review. The public review
period is 45 days, with a due date for comments of June 12, 2006. The final environmental document would be available
in July 2006 for another 15 days of public review, and would go to the TAMC
Board on August 23, 2006 for certification.
Mr. Brian Finnegan, Attorney
for the Molinari Family and owners of the American Supply building, stated that
everyone supports the CalTrain connection and the reuse of the historical crate
building. He explained that this
project removes his clients building, American Supply. The acquisition of his client’s property
includes a new multi-million dollar building that was built within the last few
years and a historical warehouse building that has old as the old SP Grain
Warehouse and is used by his clients.
He noted that TAMC is underestimating the cost of acquisition and
re-location of American Supply and where it will be located. He explained that this will be a matter for
the City Council to consider under the eminent domain policy. Further, his clients are not willing to sell
and there have been no negations The Molinari Family is not looking to
relocate, they are happy with their current location. Their business has been at its current location for many years
and wants to remain at their present address.
The City Council will meet
in closed session pursuant to:
a. Government Code Section 54956.9(a), pending litigation, City of
Salinas v. County of Monterey, et al, Superior Court Case No. M72983
(Rancho San Juan)
b.
Government
Code Section 54956.9(a), pending litigation, Salinas Auto Center Association
and NESTech Management Group, Inc. v. City of Salinas, Tony Sammut Development,
et al, Monterey County Superior Court Case No. M77789.
c.
Government
Code Section 54956.9(a), pending litigation, County of Monterey v. City of
Salinas, T&T Enterprises, dba Tony Sammut Development, et al, Monterey
County Superior Court Case No. M77778.
COUNCILMEMBER
REPORTS/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember
Ocampo – Alisal high school ms. McDowell
Councilmember
Barnes asked that Council provide Gwen Miller of Salinas Builders Exchange with
a commendation for her certificate, Cathy gean. Leadership Salinas commendation
Councilmember
Sanchez appointed Oscar Lopez to the Transportation and Traffic Committee and
asked that Council recognized the outstanding senior high schools at its next
meeting.
Mayor Caballero
appointed Matt Huerta to the Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT -
The meeting
adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
APPROVED:
ATTEST: __________________________________
Mayor
__________________________________
Deputy City Clerk
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