1. Service Recognition, Charles “Butch” Hull Items on the Consent
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2008 BLYTHE CITY COUNCIL The December 16, 2008 regular meeting of the Blythe City Council was called to order at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers by Mayor Crain. Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Mays and Council Members DeConinck and Contreras. Councilwoman Covel was absent. Staff attendance included: City Manager Lane, Assistant City Manager Hull, Finance Director Colbert, City Clerk Whitney, Police Chief Smith, Public Works Director Rodkey and Planning Director Wellman. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman DeConinck and the Invocation was offered by Vice Mayor Mays. ADDED STARTER The City Council may add an item to the Agenda after making a finding that there is a need to take immediate action on the item and that the item came to the attention of the City Council and/or staff subsequent to the posting of the Agenda. An action adding an item to the Agenda requires a 2/3 vote of the City Council (4 of 5 Councilmembers). If less than 2/3 of the City Council is present, adding an item to the Agenda requires a unanimous vote. PROCLAMATION: 1. Service Recognition, Charles “Butch” Hull Mayor Crain read for the record the City of Blythe Proclamation honoring Charles “Butch” Hull for his service to the City and the Community since 1973. Mr. Hull thanked Council, staff and family for their support over the years. CONSENT CALENDAR Items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted with one motion of the Council. If any item requires individual consideration, it will be removed from the consent calendar and acted upon separately. 2. Posting of the Agenda: The summary of agenda items was posted on the bulletin boards on the outside of the public entrance to the Council Chamber and near the inside entrance of the Council Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2008 . 3. Approval of Warrant Register, 11/18/08, warrants numbered 49637 through 49648 in the amount of $1,527.69; 11/18/08, warrants numbered 49649 through 49672 in the amount of $4,207.84; 12/04/08, warrants numbered 49636, 49673 through 49677 in the amount of $1,085,759.00; and 12/10/08, warrants numbered 49678 through 49792 in the amount of $899,886.55. 4. Approval of Payroll Register, 11/20/08, warrants numbered 41218 through 41232 in the amount of $23,869.63; 11/21/08, warrants numbered 41184 through 41217 and Direct Deposits numbered 16767 through 16842 in the amount of $367,254.82; 12/05/08, warrants numbered 41268 through 41277 and Direct Deposits numbered 16919 through 16987 in the amount of $36,688.11; and 12/05/08, warrants numbered 41218 through 41232 in the amount of $23,869.63. 5 City of Blythe Community Facilities District 2004-1 Annual Report (Hidden Beaches) FY 2007/08. 6. City of Blythe Redevelopment Agency Audit Report F/Y 2007/08 7. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 829-08. ORDINANCE NO. 829-08. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.64 OF THE BLYTHE MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION 2.64.200. 8. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 27, 2008. 9. Southern California Edison Monthly Breakdown for November 2008. 10. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Incident and Activity Report for November 2008. 11. Development Services Department Building Permits Issued for November 2008. 12. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for October 2008. No public comment. Councilman DeConinck moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice mayor Mays. Absent: Councilwoman Covel. Unanimous aye vote. PUBLIC HEARING: Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund. Finance Director Colbert reported that the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) provides funds to front line law enforcement services. The Government Code Sections 30061 and 30063 require that the City Council of a government entity appropriate existing and anticipated monies exclusively to fund frontline municipal police services in accordance with written requests submitted by the Chief of Police of that City or the Chief Administrator of the law enforcement agency that provides police services for that City. The request to the City Council specifies the personnel, equipment and programs necessary to meet the City’s needs. The Council at a public meeting considers the requests and determines the allocation of funds. This year, as in the past, the City of Blythe Police Department plans to use this source of revenue toward the salary and benefits of two police officer positions. The revenue and expenditure was included in the City’s FY 2008/09 Capital and Operating Budget; therefore it is staff’s recommendation that the City of Blythe hold a public hearing to accept and expend the estimated $100,000 in SLESF funding for FY 2008/09 to be applied towards the salary and benefits of two police officer positions as approved in this fiscal year’s budget. No public comment. Mayor Crain questioned the City Manager’s concurrence. City Manager Lane stated that he accepted the recommendation of the Chief and if there were questions regarding the allocation, he would defer to Chief Smith. Mayor Crain stated his concern of procedure with the new staff report format and the deletion of the City Manager concurrence. City Manager Lane responded that a staff report prepared for the agenda has been approved by him and should he disagree with an issue, it would come out during the meeting. Councilman Contreras questioned receiving $100,000 and expending $197,000 for two police officer positions. Finance Director Colbert responded that any expense over the $100,000 would be transferred from the general fund. Mr. Contreras stated that maybe it would be more beneficial to hire only one position instead of two due to the general fund budget issues and hiring freeze. Ms. Colbert responded that there would not be any hiring, that this will be to help fund current positions as revenue offset to continue to fund what is already in place. Councilman DeConinck moved to accept staff’s recommendation. Seconded by Vice Mayor Mays. Absent: Councilwoman Covel. Unanimous aye vote. Riverside County 2009-2014 Consolidated Plan. Planning Director Wellman reported that the City of Blythe is working with Riverside County to prepare the 2009-2014 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help identify and prioritize community needs, activities and projects to be funded through the Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant and Home Investment Partnership Act. It is recommended that the City Council hold the public hearing to gather public input regarding community needs, review and discuss the General Needs Assessment Survey Results, and to continue this item to the meeting of January 13, 2009, at which time action to approve the Community Development Needs/CDBG Funding Priorities List will be requested. A blank copy of the Consolidated Needs Assessment Survey will be provided to each Council member to fill out and submit the completed document to the Planning Department no later than Monday, January 5, 2009. Subsequent to receipt of Council’s surveys, staff will compile the results separate from the community responses and submit the resulting Community Needs/CDBG Funding Priorities List for approval at the January 13, 2009 meeting. No public comment. Item continued to the meeting of January 13, 2009. 2 RESOLUTIONS: Resolution No. 08-804, Parking Fine Schedule for Traffic Infractions. Chief Smith reported that in an effort to create a moderate environment for the development of growth for the City’s future and to promote a sense of community pride and safety, the Blythe Police Department has been aggressively enforcing parking violations. The fines for these violations have not been updated in approximately twenty years. Council and staff have been working on changing fee schedules throughout the departments within the City; therefore staff recommends Council adopt Resolution No. 08-804 setting certain fees for traffic infractions related to illegal parking. No public comment. Councilman DeConinck confirmed that a comparison survey was completed in determining the increases. Vice Mayor Mays received clarification of the difference between infraction 22500(L) and 22507.8(a-b). Councilman Contreras questioned whether there was a fine for a second offense which would be the same fine for each infraction. Vice Mayor Mays moved to accept staff’s recommendation to adopt Resolution No. 08-804. Seconded by Councilman DeConinck. Absent: Councilwoman Covel. Unanimous aye vote. RESOLUTION NO. 08-804. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA SETTING CERTAIN POLICE SERVICE FEES. Resolution No. 08-805, Recreation Center User Fees and Hours of Operation. Assistant City Manager Hull reported that on November 25, 2008 the Parks and Recreation Committee met to discuss the hours of operation and fees charged at the Blythe Recreation Center. Recreation Department staff has assembled a summary of hours of use for the Recreation Center by adults. There is consistent use from 8:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. during the week, with little use by adults from 6:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. In addition, a review of the fees currently charged at the Recreation Center revealed a need to adjust all daily fees upward, potentially offsetting a portion of the General Fund deficit. Staff is recommending the discounted fee structure (monthly, yearly) be left alone since very few discount cards are sold. While adult fees were increased about two years ago, the children’s rate has not been adjusted since the Center was opened.