MINUTES
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
JULY 10, 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 6:01 p.m. by Mayor Jones at the Donahue Council Chambers, 27215 Base Line, Highland, California.
The invocation was given by Reverend Wayne Reynolds of Immanuel Baptist Church and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman McCallon.
ROLL CALL
Present: Lilburn, McCallon, Scott, Timmer, Mayor Jones
Absent: None
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
15-Year Employee Service Award
Linda McKeough, Administrative Assistant III, was honored for her fifteen years of dedicated service to the City of Highland.
Certificate of Recognition
Mayor Jones presented the Red Hat Society Club with a Certificate of Recognition
COMMUNITY INPUT
Ms. Deborah Stay stated she constructed a pool in her backyard which took up a greater portion of the yard, therefore, not allowing the children to play in the backyard. She then constructed a wall in her garage to allow her children a play area and now she has been informed by code enforcement to remove the wall.
Mayor Jones stated one of the City of Highland's codes is that every single family residence must have a garage and by constructing a wall in the garage you have eliminated the use of the garage. Mayor Jones suggested Ms. Stay work with Community Development Director Jaquess in trying to find a resolution to the situation.
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR
A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilwoman Scott, to approve the consent calendar as submitted. Motion carried on a roll call vote, 5-0.
1. Waive the Reading of All Ordinances
Waived the reading of all Ordinances in their entirety and read by title only.
2. Warrant Register
Approved Warrant Register No. 443 for July 10, 2007, in the amount of $1,116,294.82 and Payroll of $57,230.11.
3. Resolution No. 2007- 044 Establishing the Annual Special Tax for Community Facilities District No. 2001-1 for Fiscal Year 2007/2008
Adopted Resolution No. 2007-044 establishing the Annual Special Tax for Community Facilities District No. 2001-1 for Fiscal Year 2007/2008 and file with the County Auditor-Controller Resolution No. 2007-044 with the tax roll.
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-044
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL SPECIAL TAX FOR
COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2001-01
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2007/2008
4. Resolution No. 2007- 045 Establishing the Annual Special Tax for Community Facilities District No. 90-1 for Fiscal Year 2007/2008
Adopted Resolution No. 2007-045 establishing the Annual Special Tax for Community Facilities District No. 90-1 for Fiscal Year 2007/2008 and file with the County Auditor-Controller Resolution No. 2007-045 with the tax roll.
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-045
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL SPECIAL TAX FOR
COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 90-1
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2007/2008
5. Authorization to Approve Agreements with Caltrans Relative to Federal and State Funded Projects
Adopted Resolution No. 2007-046 authorizing the Public Works Director/City Engineer to execute all funding agreements with Caltrans relative to Federal and State funded transportation projects.
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-046
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER
TO EXECUTE ALL FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RELATIVE TO FEDERAL AND/OR
STATE FUNDED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY LEGISLATIVE
6. Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference
City Clerk Hughes gave a brief review of the staff report.
A MOTION was made by Councilwoman Scott, seconded by Councilman McCallon, to appoint Mayor Jones as the Voting Delegate and Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn as the Alternate for the Annual Conference to be held September 5-8, 2007, in Sacramento. Motion carried, 5-0.
7. Proposed Revision to Critical Habitat Boundary for the San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat
Community Development Director John Jaquess gave a brief review of the staff report.
A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilwoman Scott, to authorize the Mayor to send a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supporting a revision to the proposed Critical Habitat Boundary for the San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat to remove the Flood Control property located at the northeast corner of State Route 30/210 and Greenspot Road as shown in Exhibit 2 and to include additional parcels to area. Motion carried, 5-0.
8. Contract with Chamber of Commerce
City Manager Hughes gave a brief review of the staff report. The chamber contract was funded through the city budget and the RDA budget at the previous year level. Any increase would require a budget adjustment.
Mayor Jones inquired what the budgeted amount was.
City Manager Hughes responded $13,365 city portion and $13,365 RDA portion.
Mr. Jake Spoor, President of Highland Area Chamber of Commerce, stated Highland Chamber provides services to businesses in the community as a means of maintaining and growing a healthy business/client climate. The Chamber understands a strong business community is an important component to any city and the tax dollars generated by businesses help fund services such as police and fire services for the community. The Highland Chamber believes that businesses are the backbone of the community and the economy. Together our community can continue to flourish and we can enjoy a quality of life that we have come to know and expect. Current Chamber activities include monthly luncheons, quarterly breakfasts, ambassador program, 4th of July parade, Citrus Harvest festival, Discover Highland Night, installation dinner, golf tournament, marketing expo, finance and insurance expo, education expo, state of the community luncheon, Highland Chamber coffee hour, business directory and resource guides, monthly newsletter inserts, annual chamber sponsorships and the flag/banner program. The partnership between the Chamber and the City of Highland is an important one. An account of Chamber activities recently implemented in an effort to increase Chamber revenue included annual due fees, increased fees of monthly luncheons and started additional revenue generating program. The Chamber Board has met with the City of Highland subcommittee to discuss the renewal of the contract and to ask for the continued funding at an increased level to cover at a minimum the increasing facility rental and to reinstate staff and office hours. An increase of $8,000 from the last contract would assist the Chamber with the increased rental fee and would be greatly appreciated.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn inquired when the rent would be increased.
Mr. Jake Spoor responded it could happen at any time but it is guaranteed to take place at the beginning of the new year.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn stated you have budgeted for the fiscal year, so what you are asking for is a full year's worth of increased rent but you would only need to have half of that for the half of the year that it would be increased.
Councilman Timmer asked has the Chamber Board looked into other prospects for facility rentals as the increase is quite a bit?
Mr. Jake Spoor stated yes, the Chamber has researched other alternatives within the city and what the Chamber is paying now is the best price per square foot including the increased rate.
Councilman McCallon stated it seems to him 300 members at $25.00 apiece is not much but it would cover the rent.
Mr. Jake Spoor stated he realizes that but as stated in his presentation the Chamber has already increased the annual membership dues and luncheons.
Councilman McCallon stated he is willing to not reduce the budget and he is not willing to increase it.
Councilwoman Scott stated we would not be a city if it were not for the Highland Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is the second city. She would like to see the Chamber receive the same type of deal as we have given the YMCA with the big beautiful facility for $1 a year. The city has other properties so let us help the Chamber out in that way. If they had their own property, they would not have to pay an outrageous amount of rent, then they could even add more services. She does not think the request for funds in unreasonable.
A MOTION was made by Councilwoman Scott to grant the Chamber of Commerce their increase of $35,000 and to continue to work with them and support them as they are supporting us. Motion failed due to no second being received.
City Manager Hughes stated as a suggestion we could add language into the agreement that the city would fund a proration of the rent. If the rent should increase then it would fund up to a maximum of the prorated monthly amount.
Councilman Timmer stated he has concerns with increasing the amount of allocation. The Chamber did not incorporate the city, the citizens of Highland voted for that. So based on that analogy every citizen who voted for it, we should give them money. He has a concern every time costs go up, the city is expected to pay for those. If there is a rent increase or electricity goes up, why would the city be expected to pay for those increases. Personally, he does not think the city should support the chamber at all. They should be independent. That was the intent years ago when funds were allocated and was supposed to be for a very short duration. He does not have a problem supporting the Chamber at the current level but he certainly cannot support the increase.
Councilwoman Scott stated again, she is going to use the YMCA as a classic example. What really has the YMCA, with all the money that has been poured into the YMCA and then the building given to them for $1 a year and all of the vandalism and expenses we have every month on our warrant register paying for the upkeep. What has the YMCA done for us in relation to what the Chamber of Commerce has done for the City of Highland?
Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn stated we really have given the YMCA a great deal when they are supposed to be non-profit and self-sufficient. The Chamber does serve an important role in the city. The city would not be what it is without the Chamber.
Councilwoman Scott stated City Hall could not handle the calls and the assistance that the Chamber handles for the city. What would it cost for the city to hire three or four new employees for the city that would do basically nothing more than what the Chamber is doing for us? Her motion stands.
Councilman Timmer stated he is probably coming across as a non-supporter of the Chamber and that is right just because he won't give money. However, he probably has been a Chamber member longer than any person in this room. He has been involved in the Chamber for many years. He does not have a problem supporting the Chamber. However, he has a problem with giving the Chamber money every time a costs goes up for the Chamber.
A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilman Timmer, to continue funding at the current level. Motion failed, 2-3, with Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn and Councilwoman Scott dissenting.
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Lilburn, seconded by Mayor Jones, to continue the current funding as is with a prorated amount for the rent increase, if the rent does not increase then the additional prorated amount need not to be paid and also will be based upon a twelve month period and up to a maximum of $8,270.00 on an annual basis. Motion carried, 3-2, with Councilman McCallon and Councilman Timmer dissenting.
9. Update on SANBAG, SCAG, Omnitrans, Work Program and Regional/Legislative Issues/Development Issues/Subcommittees/AB 1234 Updates
None
10. San Bernardino International Airport Authority and IVDA
None
11. Designation of Enforcement Officers and Authorization to Issue Administrative Citations
A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilman Timmer, to adopt Ordinance No. 314 amending Sections 1.20.010 and 2.56.030 of the Highland Municipal Code. Motion carried, 5-0.
City Clerk Hughes introduced Ordinance No. 314:
ORDINANCE NO. 314
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 1.20.010 OF CHAPTER 1.20;
AND AMENDING SECTION 2.56.030 OF CHAPTER 2.56 OF THE
HIGHLAND MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING CITY POSITIONS WITH
CITATION POWERS AND DESIGNATING ADDITIONAL POSITIONS
WITH GENERAL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY
TO ISSUE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS
which title was read.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
July 31, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. Special Council Meeting
August 3, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. Volunteer Recognition Dinner
August 14,15,16,17 at 11:00 a.m. Public Safety Appreciation Week
August 28, 2007 No Council Meeting
CLOSED SESSION
At 6:55 p.m., the City Council and Redevelopment Agency convened into closed session regarding the following:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c):
One case.
At 7:34 p.m., the City Council and Redevelopment Agency convened into open session, with all members present, making no announcements.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m. in memory of Frank Tripp and Sherry Riddell.
Submitted By: Approved By:
___________________________ ________________________________
Betty Hughes, CMC City Clerk Ross B. Jones
Mayor