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CC MINS 19940425M I N U T E S RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP APRIL 251 1994 The budget workshop of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council was called to order at 7:00 p . m. by Mayor Steven T. Kuykendall at Hesse Park Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, roll call was answered as follows: PRESENT: BROOKS, BYRD, LYON AND MAYOR KUYKENDALL ABSENT: NONE LATE ARRIVAL: McTAGGART AT 7:10 p.m. Also present were City Manager Paul Bussey, Assistant City Manager Pamela Antil, Finance Officer Brent Mattingly, Planning &. Building Director Bret Bernard, Public Works Director Trent Pulliam, and Senior Administrative Analyst'Veronica Dolleschel. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilwoman Lyon, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. CDBG REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT Senior Administrative Analyst Dolleschel presented the staff memorandum of April 25, 1994 recommending that the City Council authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the Community Development Block Grant Reimbursable Contract for FY 1994 -95. There was no public comment. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, to approve the staff recommendation and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the CDBG Reimbursable Contract for FY 1994 -95. Motion carried without objection. FISCAL YEAR 1994 -95 PROPOSED BUDGET City Manager Bussey reported that the proposed budget distributed to Councilmembers was a draft which would be revised based on decisions by the Council on the budget policy issues contained in his memo of March 29, 1994. The smaller document entitled "Budget in Brief, 1994-95, Proposed" was prepared primarily for the public to see how the money is spent without going through the much longer detailed budget. Mayor Kuykendall advised that the task for this evening's meeting was not to pass the budget but to arrive at decisions on the policy issues in the March 29 memo, some of which had already been made. The items were addressed in order. 1. STUDENT & THE LAW City Manager Bussey stated that funding for this program had been discontinued in 1992, but the Regional Law Enforcement Committee recommended reinstating funding on a shared basis with Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. Councilmembers agreed this is a worthwhile program, and discussion centered around whether funding should be reinstated at two class hours per day (Option 1) or one class hour per day (Option 2). Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart, that the City fund its share of the Student & The Law program for two class hours per day, five days per week at Peninsula High and one class hour per day, two days per week at Rancho Del Mar (Option 1) . Motion carried without objection. City Manager Bussey noted that the other cities had not yet decided which option they preferred, so if they should choose Option 2 the RPV City Council may wish to revise their budgeted amount. 2. DUI SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT PROGRAM City Manager Bussey reported that the Council had previously decided to continue to fund the DUI checkpoints out of the Law Enforcement budget. 3. ADDITIONAL TEAM BUILDING SESSIONS City Manager Bussey said that the Council Sub - Committee which recommended the Council team building consultant suggested that the next level of City management might be brought into another team building session with the Council. Councilman McTaggart moved that funds be set aside with the understanding that a decision on the additional team building session would be made later. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, to delete this item from the budget. Motion carried without objection. 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM City Manager Bussey said that since it is not known at this time what kind of programs should be developed and the Council asked the Finance Committee to advise them on economic development programs, City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 2 if funds are approved the Council could wait for the Committee's recommendations on specific programs. Councilmen Byrd and McTaggart objected to voting any funds if it is not known how the money is to be spent. Councilwoman Lyon and Mayor Kuykendall were in favor of spending the necessary funds to create an economic plan to generate revenue for the city. The Mayor pointed out that no one is presently out hustling for a hotel or a golf course, either of which would repay the investment tenfold. Responding to Councilwoman Brooks' inquiry about other cities which have prospered from such a plan, City Manager Bussey said many cities have had commercial redevelopment agency projects that have been very successful. Stating that staff needs to know whether an economic development program is wanted, he stressed that no money would be spent without specific programs being brought to the Council for approval. Mayor Kuykendall strongly urged inclusion of this item in the budget, observing that Rancho Palos Verdes is a bedroom community whose tax base relies on households to pay it through lighting and landscaping districts, utility tax, property tax, sales tax, etc. A long -term, economically viable tax base which will not further burden the residents will require economic development, and he felt some amount of funding should be provided in the budget for this purpose. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, that the item not be included in the budget at this time, but be sent to the Finance Committee with the support of the Council, and ask them to come back with an approach on which a budget allocation would be structured. Motion carried 3 -2, with Councilwoman Lyon and Mayor Kuykendall dissenting. 5. PRIVATEIPUBLIC COMPENSATION STUDY Staff noted that discussion of this matter was continued from a previous Council meeting and that the cost of such a study (not to exceed $5,000) would be shared with other cities in the area. It was suggested that if a study were funded, an ad hoc committee of the City Council might work with the consultants to make sure they are aware of Councilmembers' specific concerns. Councilwoman Lyon objected to funding the study on the basis of cost, since some RPV staffers have been laid off and others have gone without raises due to the City's financial problems. Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd, that a benchmark compensation study be funded including data from both City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 3 public and private agencies. Motion carried 4 -1, with Councilwoman Lyon dissenting. 6. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES (COLA) City Manager Bussey explained that a salary study completed in 1990 indicated that the majority of staff salaries were below the market, and the City Council approved a plan to implement salary increases through the establishment of a six -step salary system. Since that time, because of budget constraints the City has been unable to make the adjustments and employees have gone three years without a general salary increase. The allocation of $80,000 in reserves would allow up to a 4% employee compensation increase for those jobs shown to be below the market by the salary survey. After discussion, Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart, to wait for the results of the salary study and not include the funds in the budget at this time. Motion carried without objection. 7. REACH PROGRAM Mayor Kuykendall reported that this item, has already been dealt with and approved. The funding has been replaced with CDBG funds. 8. FUNDING OF THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND Mayor Kuykendall explained that based on the type of equipment the City currently has, a one -time contribution of $250,000 to the Equipment Replacement Fund is needed to get it to the appropriate level. This shows up as a reserve on the balance sheet. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart, to include appropriate funding to bring the Equipment Replacement Fund to its proper level. Motion carried without objection. 90 UPGRADE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY Finance Director Brent Mattingly explained that the figures of approximately $50,000 to replace the old personal computers and $40,000 for a computer network are based on having someone come in and set up the machines and network right the first time. Councilman Byrd felt the prices which had been quoted to Mr. Mattingly were somewhat high, and that if the package is put out to bid in the South Bay the price would come in lower including two years of in -house service. Councilman McTaggart cautioned that the new equipment should be installed, tested, and running before the old system is removed, to avoid lengthy downtime. The suggestion was made that if a computer network is budgeted, the network should City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 4 be a known and dependable brand. Mayor Kuykendall moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart, that a one -time contribution of $50,000 f or computers and $40,000 f or a computer network be budgeted. Motion carried without objection. RECESS AND RECONVENE At 8:32 p.m. Mayor Kuykendall declared a recess; the meeting reconvened at 8:42 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, spoke against the need for an Economic Development Program, stated her opposition to golf courses on the Peninsula and to a debris basin in McCarrell Canyon, cited the need for a permanent solution to the landslide problem, and expressed her approval of dewatering wells and sewers in the landslide area. City Manager Bus s ey explained that $529,000 i s being transferred to the Redevelopment Agency-budget which deals with the landslide. This will be discussed at the second budget meeting. 10. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM CONSULTANT Director Bernard reported that after the State postponed the due date for a revised Housing Element from 1994 to 1996, some of the $15,000 budgeted this year for .upgrading the City's Housing Element was being used for a housing consultant to work on a citywide affordable housing program, and that additional funds are needed to complete this effort. Also, that this effort would not only give the City a "leg up" toward its adoption when the housing element is reviewed in 1996, but also would have a program in place in the near future by which a number of already approved projects (HMDI, Long Point) which are conditioned to provide affordable housing in conformance and compliance with the established City program. Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd, to budget $10,000 for the supplemental cost of a consultant to complete this program. Motion carried 4 -1 with Councilwoman Brooks objecting on the grounds that it is an unnecessary expenditure. 11. NCCP PROGRAMZVEGETATIVE MAP CONSULTANT Director Bernard explained that the cost of the NCCP program would be proportionally shared with Rolling Hills Estates. The cities of City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 5 Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills have opted not to join at this time. City Manager Bussey said the two reasons for considering this program are: (1) it is a reasonable thing to do and our natural resources are getting smaller all the time so they should be protected; and (2) if the City shows no effort, Federal and State elected officials may not assist us in getting the necessary approvals so we can build the needed coastal protection. Mayor Kuykendall moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd, to include funds in the budget to continue the NCCP program with the assistance of a consultant. Motion carried. 12. VIEW RESTORATION - CONTRACT STAFF VS. IN -HOUSE STAFF Planning Director Bernard advised that the lawsuit which is delaying the View Restoration Ordinance implementation is expected to be decided within the year, so funds need to be budgeted either for a new staff planner (approximately $55,000) or a consultant to review and process View Restoration Permit applications (estimated $25,000). In either case, an additional $6,600 is needed for providing a minute taker. The planning services could be provided by an individual or a firm, but a firm could provide backup when needed. Stating that it is hoped the fees will cover close to all of the costs, City Manager Bussey suggested the fee structure should be examined to see if they should be increased or decreased. Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd, that funds be included in the budget for the retention of a consultant to perform the necessary processing of View Restoration applications. Motion carried with no objection. 13. WESTERN AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN CONSULTANT Director Bernard explained the advantages of having an outside consultant expert at working with businesses, who has design experience in landscaping, design criteria, spatial relationships (urban design), transportation improvements, etc. He hoped the consultant would work with the City of Los Angeles so both sides of the avenue would relate to each other. Councilman McTaggart suggested sharing the cost of the consultant with the City of L.A. by having them contribute the services of an employee to do the study as their in -kind contribution. Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Mayor Kuykendall, to include funds in the budget to retain a consultant to prepare a Western Avenue Corridor Specific Plan, including working cooperatively with the City of Los Angeles (including their City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 6 participation in funding or staffing). Motion carried without objection. 14. GENERAL PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATE CONSULTANT Stating that some sections of the General Plan have been revised over the past several years, Director Bernard said the entire document is almost 20 years old and should be reassessed. This is not required by State law, but would be beneficial as a planning tool. Observing that the present General Plan lacks policies and goals to assist in implementing the document, Director Bernard said that most General Plans now including these and it would be good to look at these as well. He continued that a professional consulting firm is needed to assist staff with the task, which will take at least two years and will probably cost from $175,000 to $200,000,(some large portion of which would be for the necessary environmental assessment) with $100,000 recommended for the 1994 -95 Fiscal Year. Discussion centered around whether the document needs to be completely rewritten or could be revised by staff with citizen input. City Manager Bussey said staff could initially go through the document and point out areas that need updating but that a consultant would eventually be needed. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, that staff come back with a marked up version of the General Plan, and then use the Planning Commission and staff to determine what needs updating and what does not; to be shown in the budget as a line item with a zero balance so it can be funded at the appropriate time. Motion carried with no objection. Noting that adjournment was scheduled for 10:00 p.m., Councilwoman Brooks. requested that due to -the poor lighting in the room, the meeting be ended on time. Mayor Kuykendall briefly summarized the actions taken by Council, and the remaining items in the March 29 memo were reviewed quickly. 15. COASTAL SPECIFIC PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATE CONSULTANT This item will probably be treated the same way as the General Plan review (item 14 ) but delayed until after that effort, with no funds being budgeted at this time. Councilman Byrd suggested showing it in the budget as a zero line item, and City Manager Bussey said staff will look into it. The following items were continued to the next budget meeting: 16. PLANNING PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 7 17. NOISE ORDINANCE CONSULTANT 21. CREST ROAD MEDIAN 23. MAX AND PV TRANSIT FUNDING 24. ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS The following items were previously acted on: 18. L.A. COUNTY TRAILS ACOUISITION AND COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM - Grant Application Approved 19. COUNCIL ELECTRONIC VOTING - Funding Not Approved 20. SILVER SPUR MEDIAN - Approved 22. SILVER SPUR UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING - Approved 25. BUS STOP PAD IMPROVEMENTS - Approved ADJOURNMENT At 10:00 p.m. the meeting adjourned to May 3, 1994 at Hesse Park. 1 ATTEST: � City Council Minutes April 25, 1994 Page 8