HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03/11/20021
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March 11, 2002
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2002
Vol. 37, Page 285
ROLL CALL: 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Cader-Thompson, Vice Mayor Healy, Maguire, Moynihan,
O'Brien, Mayor Thompson, Torliatt
PUBLIC COMMENT
Bill Donahue -Spoke regarding the rent increase at Sandalwood Mobile Home Park.
Ruth Rawls -Spoke regarding the rent increase at Sandalwood Mobile Home Park.
COUNCIL COMMENT
Vice Mayor Healy - read a letter from City Manager, Fred Stouder that was written
to the Sandalwood Mobile Home Park owners.
Councilmember Moynihan -
® Workman's Comp Claims - he would like to recommend that the City proceed to
minimize these claims in the future.
® Lease all six-acres of railroad depot site for parking and Visitors Bureau office
location.
® Don't rely on the Draft Central Petaluma Specific Plan because it is not certified.
Councilmember Torliatt -would like an update on the meeting that took place March
6, 2002 between the City Attorney, Mayor and Mr. William Donahue with regard to
the mobile home park.
Councilmember Maguire -Would like to see the residents and park owners sit down
face-to-face and discuss the issues.
Councilmember Cader-Thompson - Took a group of twenty-five people to Shollenberger
Park on a bird tour.
MAYORS' & COUNCILIVIEMBERS
VACANCY LAFCO
Recommend Debra Fudge- continue to support her if there is a second go round.
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Vol. 37, Page 286
March 11, 2002
STREET REINVESTMENT OPTIONS
CAPITAL IIViPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Councilmember Moynihan listed several projects that have either been dropped
from the Capital Improvement Programs list or need to be added. He would like a
more comprehensive list of those projects that have been completed and with those
additions he has suggested.
Council's Top Priorities:
Councilmember Moynihan
Mayor Thompson's
Councilmember Maguire
Councilmember Torliatt
No. 1 Street Reconstruction
No. 2. 5-Year CIP done and improved
No. 3. Circulation upgrade Rainier
No. 1 Street Reconstruction
No. 2 Central Petaluma Specific Plan
No. 3 Parks
No. 4. Recycled Water Line
No. 1 Street Reconstruction
No. 2 Central Petaluma Specific Plan
No. 3 Parks (construct Gatti Park and complete
McNear peninsula.
No. 4 Recycled Water Pipeline
No. 5. River Enhancement Plan
No. 1. E. Washington/McDowell Intersection
No. 2. Sewer Treatment. Facility
No. 3. Street Reconstruction
No. 4. Parks
She would like to see existing projects completed and street reconstruction started as
soon as possible.
Councilmember Cader-Thompson
Vice Mayor Healy
No. 1. E. Washington/McDowell Intersection
No. 2. Street Maintenance
No. 3. Charter Amendment for Utility Tax
No. 4. Central Petaluma Specific Plan
No. 1. Street Reconstruction
No. 2. Central Petaluma Specific Plan
No. 3. Infrastructure
No. 4. Parks
No. 5. Wastewater projects
March 11, 2002
Vol. 37, Page 287
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3 Councilmember Maguire stated that Council is giving direction to staff that will come
4 back with specific information as to particular improvement, cost, manpower,
5 funding sources and pertinent information necessary to complete that project.
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7 Geoff Cartwright, 56 Rocca Drive, a number of projects are well underway He would
8 like to see the channelization project completed. The Wastewater Facility, Central
9 Petaluma Specific Plan, E. Washington/McDowell intersection, River Enhancement
10 Plan.
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12 Councilmember Torliatt would like to see Council follow through on the four phases
13 of the River Enhancement Plan that have been started and blend with part of the
14 Central Petaluma Specific Plan.
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16 Councilmember Cader-Thompson concurs with Councilmember Torliatt. She would
17 also like to see more community outreach to get Parks on board.
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19 City Manager Fred Stouder advised Council that the five projects that are now
20 under construction or slated for construction will be maintained and will stay on
21 track.
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23 Payran Reach Army Corp project,
24 Bodega Avenue Improvements
25 McDowell/E. Washington Intersection Improvements
26 Anima Shelter
27 Wastewater Recycling Facility
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29 A consensus of the Council was taken for Council priorities on new projects.
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31 1. Street Reconstruction and Maintenance
32 2. Central Petaluma Specific Plan
33 3. Recycled Water Pipeline
34 4. Parks
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36 SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
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38 Jim Ryan, Budget/Grants and Project Manager, Public Facilities and Services
39 Department, explained the City's Sidewalk Maintenance Program:
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41 The program is funded with gas tax money.
42 $80,000 is budgeted per year.
43 About 50 sites are fixed each year.
44 Tree roots cause most sidewalk problems.
45 When a problem sidewalk has been identified, City crews install a temporary
46 asphalt patch.
Vol. 37, Page 288
March 11, 2002
1 Sidewalks adjacent to properties are the property owner's responsibility.
2 • If a City street tree caused the problem, the City will reimburse the property
3 owner 50% of the cost of repairing the sidewalk, and provides the services of
4 astate-certified arborist, and any needed curb and gutter work, at no cost to
5 the property owner.
6 ® If the problem is not street tree-related, the burden of repair falls to the
7 property owner.
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9 Mr. Ryan then spoke about ways to improve the program:
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11 Define tripping-hazard levels so that the worst situations can be dealt with
12 first.
13 • Hire a consulting firm or interns to determine which areas of the City have the
14 most pedestrian traffic.
15 The program could be managed by having small portions of the needed
16 repairs done each year.
17 The funding for one year ($80,000) could be used to make a complete
18 assessment of the City's sidewalks. All repairs on the "waiting list" would be
19 moved back one year.
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21 Councilmember Torliatt asked if this program targeted notifying property owners,
22 that there is a potentially liability issue and we're going to try to pull the community
23 into fixing these sidewalks? She feels that the City should just work on the ones
24 that are completely destroyed, and not waste a lot of time on the ones that are
25 messed up but there's no way we're ever going to get to them. She's concerned
26 about spending money and time on stuff we won't ever get to.
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28 Mr. Ryan stated that there is a plan, which he believes limits the City's liability.
29 Progress is being made slowly in fixing the sidewalks; it takes time and money to
30 accomplish this. We want to be a little move proactive about it. If we set standards
31 that would help us get the worst ones fixed first.
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33 Councilmember Torliatt asked that we look into the policy regarding litigation. If
34 there are sidewalk issues that deal with liability SHE would like to see the City
35 pursue steps when we deal those issues we mandate that those sidewalks get
36 repaired. Hopefully, the property owner or their insurance company would
37 participate to a great extent to fix the problem so we don't have a reoccurring
38 situation.
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40 Councilmember Moynihan -the program as currently run is appropriate -funding
41 level probably enough to cover the City from a liability point of view. What he'd like
42 to see us do from anon-compliance point of view - is to send a different letter to
43 the property owner indicating that they've been put on notice, that they've failed to
44 comply, and that the City will hold them liable, should we be sued. We could be of
45 some help in maybe negotiating a per linear foot type of contract with a contractor,
46 and then assist the property owners by saying this is what you can expect as far
March 11, 2002
Vol. 37, Page 289
1 as cost, and here's who to call under the City contract. They could still use their own
2 contractor, but we've given then an alternative.
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4 Vice Mayor Healy -one of those areas very important but not urgent -not anywhere
5 near where we need to be in terms of liability program - to shield us from liability
6 issues. He would like to see us move forward with the proposal and hope it shows
7 up in the budget. Assigning $20K per year for surveys, $40K for repair of survey
8 areas and $20K for field report repairs. He would support Mr. Ryan prioritizing
9 areas of the city -chop the city into whatever quadrants you feel are appropriate
10 and have a three or four year program to survey all those areas and get the notices
11 out to property owners. The fact that we do have 96%-97% compliance with
12 requests going out to property owners, underscores that property owners in
13 community are willing to do their fair share in taking care of the sidewalk in front of
14 property. If we can no longer afford 50% on all tree-related repairs, then we should
15 revisit that number.
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17 Mayor Thompson -The 3% or so that are in non-compliance and the letter that you
18 send to them I would ask them to advise their insurance carrier of the situation. If
19 they don't want to do that, they should let the City know who their insurance carrier
20 is, because the minute the insurance carrier finds out there are cracked sidewalks
21 they'll cancel their policy. Work with Steve Simmons of the Water Department,
22 maybe his water field crew could advise of worst possible situation for a sidewalk
23 and contact you immediately.
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33 ATTEST:
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39 Paulette Lyon, Interim ity Clerk
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ADJOURN 10:05 P.M.
Adjourned the meeting at 10:25 p.m.
E. n, Mayor