HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08/22/1977MINUTES OF MEETING•
OF CITY COUNCIL
PETALUMA CALIFORN >IA
AUGUST 22, 1977
ADJOURNED; MEETING The Adjourned meeting of the Petaluma City Council was
called to ,order by Mayor Helen Putnam at the hour of
4 :08 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Councilmen Balshaw, Bond, Harberson',
Hl-ligoss, Perry and Mayor Putnam
Absent: Councilman Cavanagh
*Councilman Harb:erson arrived at 4:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes. of August 1, 1977 were approved as mailed.
LETTER FROM OFFICE Community Development and:Services Coordinator Frank V- FF
OF HISTORIC PRESERVA - :Gray "explained that an application had been received
TION REGARDING from the Office of Historic Preservation, Department of
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES Parks and Recreation, .to designate two areas in Petaluma
as archeo; logically - significant sites to be placed on
the National Register. The. application has'been made by Thomas King who was an
archeology professor at Sonoma :State and is now working ,in Washington D.C. as,
the Director of the Office of Archeology in the Federal Historic Preservation
Office. Mr. King is very familiar with the area and has explored the two sites
in great depth..
Mr. Gray explained that he could noa.be specific regarding the land that the
proposed sites covered, but he could give the Council an idea of the general
area. One of the sites had been•a major coastal Miwok Indian village and was
in the Lakeville Highway and Petaluma Blvd. area, which includes Linda Del Mar
Subdivision, Lakeville Street and the railroad tracks. The other site had been
a burial mound in the general area of "I" Street and Sunnyslope Road.
Mr. Gray advised that the Council could give the State an affirmative comment
on the application, a negative comment or no comment at .all. Mr. Gray also
mentioned that he has received a phone call from Mrs. Tunstall, a citizen who
is unhappy with the proposed designation. As far as he knew, there
would be no advantage to an individual having their property designated as a
historical site. City Attorney Larry Klose stated, however, that a property
owner may qualify for .a tax break on a State level and possibly on the Federal
level as well.: Mayor Putnam,, stated that she was concerned about the property
owners, and Mr. Gray responded that Mrs. Tunstall had been sent information and
the name of the person in the State Office whom she might contact. Mr. Gray
further stated that the referral was not only sent to the City from the State
but also to the property owners.
After further discussion•, Mr_Gray stated that he would forward comments of the
Council regarding the impacts of designation on the property and.on the property
rights of the land owner and also regarding the fact that the Council believes
that some degree of control is retained through our E..I..R. process.. He also
stated that he would write a letter to the contact person at the State to
obtain more information on the proposed designation. The Mayor further requested
that the property owners be notified as to their responsibility in the matter
of either communicating prior to the commission meeting at Yreka or attending
the meeting to give their comments. ,
PRESENTATION,BY Supervisor George DeLong explained to the Council thatV� �/3
SUPERVISOR,DELONG he wished to clarify any misinformation they may have
REGARDING SOUTHERN had regarding his opinion of the purchase of the Varnhagen
SONOMA.COUNTY property bordered by Western.Avenue and Chileno Valley
REGIONAL. PARK SITE Road. Deciding factors that prompted his action are
the.following: Petaluma is.in the midst of a very E,
serious drought situation, and Supervisor DeLong looked upon the Varnhagen
property as a county liability fire hazar.d.., The.cost of improvements on the
property to.bring it to.a medium level of satisfaction would be $500,000 to be
taken from revenue sharing or the County general fund. The City of Petaluma
was willing to appropriate $50,000.to the development of the property, but
Supervisor DeLong said, as resident and a taxpayer in the City, his family
would benefit much more if that $50,000 were appropriated for the further
development of Lucchesi Park. The.Varnhagen property is currently in an agri-
cultural preserve which is a tax saving -meas:ure. If the land is purchased to
be used as a park site, then it would be taken off the tax rolls and nothing
would be returned to the general fund of Sonoma, County. Supervisor DeLong
ADM
V5
August 22, 1977
PRESENTATION BY explained that when the General Plan is adopted there
SUPERVISOR DELONG is going to be a buyers' market, and the County or the
REGARDING SOUTHERN County.and the City could make some fairly decent buys.
SON.OMA.COUNTY Finally, Supervisor DeLong said that we have more-
REGIONAL PARK SITE breathing room to explore alternative sites. The
(Continued) d) Sonoma County Recreation Department has grown very -much
since 1'9,69, and a great deal of money has`been.spent in
the County although nothing has been spent in Southern Sonoma County. At. this
time, 'Supervisor DeLong said the best possible job should.be done. to purchase
the right property for his constituents so' that the greatest number of people
can take advantage of it.
Councilman Harbe-rs'on.stated that $e wished the Supervisor had made 'his speech
earlier when the Varnhagen property, was initially discussed, and Supervisor
DeLong responded that he ,probably should have said something of that time.
Councilman Harberson stated that two park sites, the Varnhagen prop'er.ty and the
'Gray property, were originally presented to the City Council as 'an either /or
choice. He further said that Supervisor DeLong felt other park�sites are
available ,., but none have been suggested at this time. The Gray ,property is not
available to the City as a park site, and the County says th'at the'Varnhagen
property is riot suitable. Consequently, there is no park site which has been,
suggested and is appropriate, and Councilman Harberson stated that he felt it
was a very uncertain situation. Supervisor DeLong then.gave some background
information on the matter. He�al,so stated that previously he had "walked around
the Gray property, and there were many benefits to the land as well as.many
problems. However;, he stated the Varnhagen property is vertical tip. and down
and there is a ,great deal of land- in Southern Sonoma County that can be con =:..
sidered for a park site. Supervisor DeLong suggested that other °pro:perty be
looked ,at and if it is still thought that the Varnhagen property is the best
land to be used as-the park site, then he.will be satisfied also. Councilman
Hilli'goss stated, that the'Council has looked at a lot of sites and still felt
that the Varnhagen land was the best property for the park. Supervisor DeLong
replied that he hoped Councilman. - Hilligoss has become more familiar with the
topography of the area as he has. He further stated that Mr. Varnhagen has
decided to sue. the County for :$500,000 for inverse condemnation. Mayor Putnam
then inquired about the time phase of the : situation, and Supervisor. DeLong
responded that the 1974 bond money can be saved until 1979. He furtlier'stated'
that if we are. to .change the site :and resubmit a new plan to, the State he hoped
that the State government would not be so unresponsive to a county and city
government,as to allow the money to be spent for exactly the.same purpose
but in a.different geographical area. Councilman H lligoss added that t,does
take approximately two years .to •complete all the paper work when,,a new plan is
resubmitted,, and Supervisor DeLong agreed that it. probably would. take that, 'long
but that things can be 'done to insure no loss of bond money. Supervisor DeLong;
further suggested that a committee be formed to look at more park sites .before
the end of the year. Immedia`te''appointments could be made from the Petaluma
City Council, the .Petaluma .Recreation Commission, and the County Parks and
Recreation, and possibly. within 's'ix weeks a list of potential properties might
be available. City'Manager.Robert Meyer advised that representatives from the
County and City Planning Commissions should also be present on - the Committee.
At the end of the discussion, Supervisor DeLong said that as soon as he receives
a list of committee,members -from the. City he will contact them to schedule a
meeting.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS City Manager Robert H. Meyer stated that "a copy of 'the
letter from the Sonoma County Alliance regarding the
Urban Development Strategy had been distributed for .
them to look over.. A study session could be set up to discuss the-matter, 'but
at the meeting of September 6, the Council will need to comment on it.
AUTHORIZE MAYOR
City Manager Robert Meyer explained that there is a
TO SIGN SUPPLEMENTAL
proposal from the Federal Aviation_ Admini'strati'on to
AGREEMENT Ytl WITH
remove the. underground tables,. City ,Attorney Larry
FEDERAL.AVIATION
Klos.e said that the FAA.would like.to 'enter into a
ADMINISTRATION
supplemental agreement with the City in order to enter
RES #7880 NCS.
on City property to remove the cables. Apparently, the
FAA feels that the,proj,ect is of some magnitude and
does want the permission of the City to enter the
property as is necessary.
Resolution ffT889 "N.C_S.
authorizing Mayor to sign supplemental agreement No. 1
to lease1D0T� FA74WE -; 274'8 with Federal Aviation Administration was adopted by
six affirmative and one
absent votes.
1
a to
August 22, 1977
COMMUNICATION FROM City.Manager reported that he had received a phone call
EDA REGARDING PROJECT. from the-Economic Development Administration that -1t
IN FLOOD PLAIN ZONE would not be "necessary f,or City Engineer David Young to
fly to Seattle.. Although the project is in the Flood
- Plain Zone, the plans, were sent to EDA, and Engineering
passed improvement on the flood control data.
AMEND SECTION 2.12.050 Councilman Balshaw stated that there has been some
OF MUNICIPAL CODE problem with attendance regarding.the Planning Com-
FOUR MEMBERS WILL mission, and he suggested than five members constitute
CONSTITUTE A QUORUM ..:.,,_a ,quor.umt on a-'commission., He feels that there would be
RECREATION COMMISSION 'more pressure on the commissioners to attend the meetings.
ORD #i260'NCS City Attorney Larry Klose responded that other questions'
would have to be researched in that case. For instance,
if five members were designated as a quorum then four out of five votes would
be needed to pass a resolution. After further discussion, Mayor Putnam requested
that Mr: Klose research the matter from all angles and come back to the Council.
Ordinance X61260 N::C.S. amending Section 2.12.050 of 'the Petaluma Code
to designate that four members of the Recreation, Music and Parks Commission
will constitute a quorum was introduced by six affirmative and one absent
votes.
LEVYING RATES OF City Manager Robert-Meyer explained the ordinance
TAXATION FISCAL - YEAR levying rates of taxation for the fiscal July 1, 1977
77 -78 through June 30, 1978 had to be adopted by August 31.
Mr. Meyer further explained that a proposed law is in
Committee which establishes revenue limits rather than tax rate limits. He
explained to the Council that it may be to their advantage to go from $1.25
to $1.20 or possibly go up to $1.30, or $1.35. Mr. Meyer further added that:he
has not received all of the information regarding this matter and is not in a
position to give the Council any alternatives today. After further discussion,
no action was taken, but a meeting'will be set up next week to adopt the
ordinance.
APPLICATION FOR Items 6, 7 and 8 were discussed jointly by Recreation
- GRANT FUNDS- LUCCHESI Director Jim Raymond. Mr. Raymond. explained that to
PARK PROJECT complete the site plan without EDA funding on North
McDowell would cost $ 1,`261.,100. The minimum site plan
with EDA funding on North McDowell would cost $896,400. There are three methods
of funding that could be used for Lucchesi Park. One method is through the
1976 State Park Bond Act which would be 10,0% funding of $108,000. The City
could also submit an application for grant funds under the Roberti- ZBerg Urban
Open-;-.Space and Recreation_Program. The funding for that would 75%/25% match-
ing. The City would receive $350,000 from this program ,and the 1976.State
Park Bond money would be used as the matching amount, The - subtotal then would
be $458,000. The City could also submit an application for the Land and Water
Conservation Program Funds;. This program is 50%/50% matching,. or $100,000 Land
and Water Conservation Funds and $100,000 of our Joc'al funds from Park Develop-
ment.
There was some discussion regarding possibly changing the master plan for
Lucchesi Park; and Mr. Raymond pointed out that if the Council wants to apply
for grant fund monies, the master plan would have to be changed beforehand.
After further discussion, Mr. Meyer suggested that no action be taken at the
meeting today, but that the matter be deferred until a later meeting.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City
Council, the meeting was adj=ourned at 6:32 p.m.
~ Mayor
Attest:
E-
eputy ity Clerk