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RDA MINS 19980407MINUTES RANCHO PALOS VERDES REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGULAR MEETING APRIL 7, 1998 The meeting was called to order at 8:42 PM by Acting Chair Tom Hollingsworth at the Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PRESENT: Lyon, Byrd, McTaggart, Hollingsworth ABSENT: Chair Ferraro Also present were Executive Director Paul Bussey; Agency Attorney Carol Lynch; Assistant Director Carolynn Petru, Acting Planning, Building & Code Enforcement Director Joel Rojas; Director of Public Works Les Evans, Director of Finance Dennis McLean, and Director of Administrative Services /Agency Secretary Jo Purcell. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Byrd moved, Member McTaggart seconded, to approve the Agenda. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, spoke against the use of pesticides and the expense of three councilmembers attending a CMANC meeting in Washington, D.C. Member Byrd moved, seconded by Member McTaggart to approve the Consent Calendar as follows: Minutes (301x1900) Approved the minutes of March 3, 1998 Resol. No, RDA 98 -04 - Register of Demands (602x1900) Adopted RESOLUTION NO. RDA 98 -04 ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AND SPECIFYING FUNDS FROM WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE PAID. The motion to approve the Consent Calendar carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Hollingsworth, Byrd, Lyon, and McTaggart NOES: None ABSENT: Chair Ferraro REGULAR BUSINESS Abalone Cove Sewer Project - Investigation into a combined sewer system (1204x1900) Director Evans introduced the item, indicating that on February 17, the Agency had directed staff to revisit the possibility of a combined gravity and low pressure system and to perform research on the cost, maintenance, and reliability of the grinder pump systems. Senior Engineer Dean Allison presented a report reflecting the results of the research, reporting that the community was in favor of a combination sewer system, maximizing gravity connections. He indicated, on a color coded posted map, 106 out of 179 homes which would be good candidates for a gravity connection, pointing out the homes which would not be as likely to take advantage of the gravity connections because they were in the 1978 landslide area, thereby requiring an overground sewer system. He then pointed out the residences which would need easements over a neighbor's property to take advantage of a gravity connection. He then described the system of pumps needed to make the connection from low lying areas to flow into a gravity connection. In response to the Board's inquiry, staff clarified that the location of the pumps and easements would be carefully analyzed to make sure the gravity system was efficient. Mr. Allison described the procedure he had observed in another community whereby the city representative and the engineer acquired access to the property over which easements might be needed and visited the property owners in these locations to discuss the exact location of the easement. The engineer could provide feasibility of a change of location if a property owner preferred a slightly different location. The Board questioned the adequacy of the funding and asked if it included engineering costs. Staff indicated that it was believed that the estimate of approximately $200,000 was adequate. Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, did not believe the 1978 landslide area was correctly indicated on the posted map. Robert Halderman, 88 Narcissa Drive, remarked that he had been opposed to RDA Minutes April 7, 1998 Page 2 installation of a sewer system in the past but was in favor of it at this time because he believed the current systems in place were aging and become inadequate. He asked about maintenance costs and was informed that City funds would be available. Jack Downhill, 20 Vanderlip, commented on the constructive meetings with Director Evans and the other neighbors and was optimistic about the project. Sharon Nolan, 6 Clovetree, thanked Senior Engineer Allison for his research, as well as Director Evans. She agreed that the septic systems were no longer adequate and that she was eager for the process to come to fruition. Bill Griffin, 5 Gingerroot, asked why sewers always seemed to be the top priority and questioned the City's lack of interest in obtaining grants to ease the financial burden. He also was curious about the initial cost of the sewer system and the cost for maintenance. Chris Haber, stated that he was a Portuguese Bend proper owner and that he appreciated the effort by Staff and Board to improve the sewer situation in the area, especially in light of the heavy rainfall which put a strain on the current arrangement. Jack Monks, stated that he lived in the Ridgecrest area of the city but owned property in the Abalone Cove area and was in favor of proceeding with the combination sewer system. He added that he was pleased that the community seemed to be coming together and he hoped that the project would move along quickly and indicated that a tentative schedule would be helpful. Chris Smith, a property owner on Narcissa said that he was happy with the progress and appreciated the effort. He was pleased with the combined system and hope that it would be implemented before the next rainy season because the dewatering wells were being overburdened. Comments from the Board included making sure the project moved along as quickly as possible and that the maintenance arrangement was efficient and cost effective. Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Member Lyon, to accept all four staff recommendations. Additional Board discussion ensued regarding the fact that a homeowner whose residence could be served by a gravity connection would be allowed a grinder pump as well and the possibility of combining other projects for efficiency and a minimum of disruption to the residents. It was felt that residents should ' be allowed a choice or RDA Minutes April 7, 1998 Page 3 combination of the two systems and that the delay of this project to combine with other similar sewer /drainage concerns in the City was not practical. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Hollingsworth, Byrd, Lyon, and McTaggart NOES: None ABSENT: Chair Ferraro Agreement to Loan Funds to the Portuguese Bend Club Homeowners Association to Assist in the Construction of a Sewer System (1101 x 19 0 0 ) Executive Director Bussey presented the staff report and discussed funding, noting that there were monies available from the 1987 landslide settlement agreement and that the bond was being paid by tax increment. He mentioned the fact that residents in other areas of the City did not want sewers even if part of the cost was borne by the Redevelopment Agency but that in the Portuguese Bend Club, the property owners were willing to pay the entire cost but needed a loan. He explained that the loan, not to exceed $500,000, would be interest free unless payment was not timely. Y Timmi Hallum, attorney for the Portuguese Bend Club, 355 Grand Avenue, Los Angeles announced that she was present to answer questions. Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, expressed her opposition to the City furnishing a loan without interest to the Portuguese Bend Club and noted that the interest lost would be approximately $30,000. Board discussion included the fact that for years the Portuguese Bend Club had paid sewer fees on their property tax bills when they had no sewers so that in a way they Y had already provided some of the funding. Director Bussey estimated that the Portuguese Bend Club had contributed about one - third of the tax increment and, in response to the Board's inquiry, indicated that this was considerably more than the $30,000 which might be considered lost interest. The Board consensus was that the Portuguese Bend Club property owners were taking responsibility to improve their property as well as contributing to public safety and continued tax revenue to the City. Staff reported that the funds would not be advanced in a lump sum but provided as needed. RDA Minutes April 7, 1998 Page 4 Member Byrd moved, seconded by Member McTaggart, to approve the staff recommendation. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: Hollingsworth, Byrd, Lyon, and McTaggart NOES: None ABSENT: Chair Ferraro AUDIENCE COMMENT: Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, commented that she believed that the South Shore landslide was actually the top of the Portuguese Bend Landslide and could not be stopped and that the City should stop wasting money to try to stop it. Bill Griffin, 5 Gingeroot, asked the Board if there was truth to the rumor he had heard that the City and the Redevelopment Agency had a shortfall which would become apparent with the budget for fiscal year 1998 -99. The Board stated that this was untrue. ADJOURNMENT: At 9:40 P.M., the meeting was adjourned on motion of Acting Chair Hollingsworth. C s - Agency Secretary RDA Agenda April 7, 1998 Page 5