MINUTES
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 23, 2007 - 6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency of the City of Highland was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Mayor Jones at the Donahue Council Chambers, 27215 Base Line, Highland, California.
The invocation was given by Reverend Todd Barnett of Immanuel Baptist Church, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman McCallon.
ROLL CALL
Present: Lilburn, McCallon, Scott, Mayor Jones
Absent: Timmer
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Bob Martin of East Valley Water District gave a presentation on the District budget and operations.
Battalion Chief Mary Stock of the California Department of Forestry reported on the fire situation.
City Manager Hughes added information on a voluntary evacuation instituted for the area east of the 30 freeway, west of Weaver and north of Highland Avenue.
COMMUNITY INPUT
Peter Michas thanked Council for the cameras at Canyon Oaks Park. The problem, however, still exists, having moved from the park to Plumwood. Mr. Michas stated the extra patrols have calmed down. He is requesting to have Summertrail closed, due to the excessive speed problem. He stated cars hit the curve at 50 - 60 m.p.h. He further requested, if the street cannot be closed, placing a 4-way stop at Tiara and Summertrail, and another 2-way stop at Plum Blossom.
Edward Burns stated the cameras have helped but he is concerned that the City is taking them down. Mr. Burns further stated he is concerned about the excessive speed around the curve. He stated there are actually black marks in the street from cars hitting the curve too fast. He agrees Summertrail should be blocked off.
Scot Schmier with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) stated in the last 11 years they have had 496 young adults that are Highland City residents hired into the CCC. Mr. Schmier stated he would like to work more closely with the community. He would like to look for opportunities to do some project work within the City. They have been based at Patton for 27 years. They are currently looking for a new location, preferably in a building of approximately 9,000 to 10,000 square feet.
City Manager Hughes recommended that Mr. Schmier contact Administrative Analyst Morgan who is currently serving as the Public Services Coordinator as well.
Gary Cherms stated he is on a crusade of sorts, visiting all the cities in the Inland Empire over the last three years in an attempt to have the POW/MIA flag flown. Mr. Cherms was very happy to see that Highland does fly this flag. He noticed, however, there is no ordinance or policy approved to keep that flag flying. He had recently spoken with two cities who had originally agreed to fly the flag and some time later had decided to no longer fly the flag. Mr. Cherms stated he is representing 93,000 men and women who fought for our country and have never come home. His goal is to teach people, our youth in particular, what that flag means. He is requesting a proposal, a City policy, to mandate the flag be permanently flown. Mr. Cherms presented a flag to be displayed in Council Chambers. He stated he would send a copy of his proposal to the City Clerk next week and requested to have it put on the next Council agenda.
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR
City Manager Hughes requested an item to be added to the agenda. The item would be a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Highland Proclaiming a Threatened Existence of a Local Emergency.
A MOTION was made by Mayor Jones, seconded by Councilman McCallon, to add the additional item. Motion carried, 4-0, with Councilman Timmer absent.
City Clerk Hughes clarified item number 2, page 11, which is 10 of 20, fourth paragraph from the bottom, states "also divide a CUP and now" - divide should be "deny" and now should be "not."
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn, seconded by Councilman McCallon, to approve the consent calendar as submitted. Motion carried on a roll call vote, 4-0, with Councilwoman Scott abstaining on item numbers 5 and 6, and Councilman Timmer absent.
1. Waive the Reading of All Ordinances
Waived the reading of all Ordinances in their entirety and read by title only.
2. Minutes - September 25, 2007 City Council Regular Meeting
Approved the Minutes as submitted.
3. Minutes - September 25, 2007 RDA Regular Meeting
Approved the Minutes as submitted.
4. Claim Consideration - Sunny Leffler Davis III
Rejected claim.
5. Claim Consideration - Larry Ambrose
Rejected claim.
6. Warrant Register
Approved Warrant Register No. 450 for October 23, 2007, in the amount of $578,548.79 and Payroll of $64,839.95.
7. Treasurer's Report for September 2007
Received and filed Treasurer's Report for September 2007.
8. Agreement with Vacant Property Services, Inc., for Code Enforcement Related Property Securing Services in the City of Highland
Approved the agreement with Vacant Property Services, Inc.
9. Conveyance of a Pipeline Easement to East Valley Water District
1. Approved conveyance of a Pipeline Easement to East Valley Water District; and
2. Authorized the Mayor to sign the conveyance document.
10. Amendment No. 3 to the Waste Disposal Agreement with the County of San Bernardino
Approved and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Waste Disposal Agreement between the City of Highland and the County of San Bernardino, attached hereto as Attachment 1.
Councilwoman Scott stated she thought this had already been done.
Administrative Analyst Morgan stated this is an amendment that was brought before the Public Works Subcommittee.
Councilwoman stated she thought this had been addressed when the state mandates were being discussed.
Administrative Analyst Morgan replied at that time the County was doing a temporary program at the Victorville landfill to estimate what the cost would be to spread the program county wide. They are now going to spread it county wide, including the San Timoteo Landfill which is the landfill we use. This is the cost that came out of the study.
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
11. City of Highland Land Use and Development Code Amendment - Amend Various Code Sections to the Highland Municipal Code Dealing with Provisions for Boarding and Rooming Houses as they Relate to Parolee Housing (MCA 007-002)
Mayor Jones opened the Public Hearing.
Community Development Director Jaquess stated this item is being continued until November 13. We had to place a display ad in the newspapers. This had not been accomplished for tonight's meeting, however, it has now been accomplished for the 13th.
Mayor Jones closed the Public Hearing.
A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilwoman Scott, to continue this item to November 13. Motion carried, 4-0, with Councilman Timmer absent.
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY LEGISLATIVE
12. Prohibition of Sale and Distribution of Novelty Lighters
City Manager Hughes stated this is the second reading of Ordinance No. 317 regarding the sale and distribution of novelty lighters.
A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilwoman Scott, to adopt Ordinance No. 317 adding Chapter 9.20 to the Highland Municipal Code. Motion carried, 4-0, with Councilman Timmer absent.
City Clerk Hughes introduced Ordinance No. 317:
ORDINANCE NO. 317
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING THE HIGHLAND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 9.20 PROHIBITING RETAIL SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF
NOVELTY LIGHTERS, AS DEFINED
13. Appointment of One (1) Vacancy on the Public Nuisance Hearing Board
Councilwoman Scott nominated Ray Cadena to the Public Nuisance Hearing Board.
Ray Cadena received two votes.
Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman McCallon did not vote.
Ray Cadena was appointed to the Public Nuisance Hearing Board with the term ending August, 2010.
14. Funding Alternatives for Public Safety Services - Work Program (Priority HP+)
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller stated the recommendation that the Public Safety Subcommittee discussed was that Council would approve going out and finding a public opinion survey firm to then come back, develop a survey and get the opinion of the public to determine the level of support, if any, for increased funding alternatives for public safety services.
Councilwoman Scott asked do we get to review the questions that will be going out to the public and will it go to the whole city?
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller responded no, they would do a sampling of the city. Typically it is 400 registered voters that they would do as a survey sample, and from that the survey firm would extrapolate what the results are.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn asked will it be in different areas of the city?
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller answered yes. When they get the results back, they can break that down by voter precinct, they can break it down by zip code, almost any type of a geographic boundary that exists in a database.
Councilwoman Scott stated she does not believe 400 out of 52,000 people is a very large sampling. She feels you need to have more than 400 people for 52,000 population. She realizes that out of the 52,000 population there are not that many registered voters, but she feels there should be 10% of the registered voters should be sampled.
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller stated the cost of the survey is based on the amount of time it takes, which is really a combination of the number of people polled and the number of questions asked.
Councilwoman Scott stated she noticed CDF and Sheriff services were being put together.
Mayor Jones stated they are all public safety services.
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller stated that is correct. All public safety would be in one survey. The cost of $20,000 to $30,000 was based on two estimates over the phone provided by two reputable firms. For a 400-person sample, it would take approximately 18-20 minutes to complete.
Councilwoman Scott asked if it would be a phone sample as opposed to a mail-out.
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller responded it would be a telephone survey. Assuming it would cost $20,000 for the length of whatever the survey is for 400 people, if that were increased to 2,000 people the cost would probably be close to $100,000.
Councilwoman Scott asked if Mr. Rissmiller felt they would get enough of a response on a telephone survey.
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller responded yes.
City Manager Hughes stated we have approximately 18,000 registered voters, so that is a very strong sampling.
City Attorney Steele stated most of what you're paying for in the $20,000 to $30,000 is for the statistician at the polling company to tell you how many people they need to sample, and who it is out of the database. That is what the good pollsters do. He stated 400 is a very good sample size, and they can get it to within 2-½% to 3% and tell you whether you have a chance. In Monrovia, they had a poll last year, the same kind of survey, and they predicted the election result within a quarter percent.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn asked how soon the poll could be implemented.
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller stated if it is approved tonight, we would then go out to several polling firms, ask them for firm hard numbers, and bring the proposals back to Council.
Councilwoman Scott feels the pollsters lead you to answer the questions the way they want.
Administrative Analyst Rissmiller stated that is typically referred to as push poll which is not the type of poll we would use.
City Manager Hughes stated the whole purpose of this is to get a true representative sample. We wouldn't want to do a push poll.
A MOTION was made by Councilwoman Scott, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn, to direct staff to obtain bids to have a public opinion survey of residents conducted to determine the level of support, if any, for increased funding alternatives for public safety services. Motion carried, 4-0, with Councilman Timmer absent.
15. Update on SANBAG, SCAG, Omnitrans, Work Program and Regional/Legislative Issues/Development Issues/Subcommittees/AB 1234 Updates
Councilman McCallon stated there was not much to report on SANBAG. SCAG was still going through the formation of the Regional Transportation Plan. We have had four workshops so far and another one coming up this week at OCTA in Orange where we will finally make proposed projects and funding availabilities and start making some hard decisions as to what stays in and what doesn't.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn stated it appears that we have a contract, but we will go ahead and approve it at the next Omnitrans meeting. All in all it looks very good, and Larry is going to fill in for me. He comes to all the meetings as an alternate, so he is updated on everything that goes on there.
16. San Bernardino International Airport Authority and IVDA
The last Airport meeting was canceled. One is scheduled for tomorrow.
17. Threatened Existence of a Local Emergency
City Manager Hughes stated you have before you Resolution Number 2007-059 which is a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Highland, California, Proclaiming a Threatened Existence of a Local Emergency. This is due to the wildfires that are potentially threatening the city.
A MOTION was made by Mayor Jones, seconded by Councilwoman Scott, to approve the Resolution No. 2007-059 proclaiming a threatened existence of a local emergency. Motion carried, 4-0, with Councilman Timmer absent.
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-059
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING THE THREATENED EXISTENCE OF A
LOCAL EMERGENCY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Hughes stated there is a League of California Cities dinner on November 1. Councilwoman Jody Scott has requested that we close the meeting in memory of Lela Thiem.
CLOSED SESSION
None.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m. in memory of Lela Thiem.
Submitted by: Approved by:
___________________________ ________________________________
Betty Hughes, CMC City Clerk Ross B. Jones, Mayor
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