HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 06/01/2000June 1, 2000 Vol. 35 Page 1
City of Petaluma, California
z Minutes of a'Special
3 City Council Meeting
4 June 1, 2000
s
6
~ The Petaluma City Council met on date in the Council. Chambers at 7:05 p.m:
a
9 ROLL CALL
to "• ..
~~
u .Present:- Cader-Thompson, Hamilton, Healy, Keller, Maguire, Thompson, Torliatt
lz Absent: None
13 r ~ _
la PLEDGE OP ALLEGIANCE" • •. b
15
•..
16 At the request of Mayor Thompson, Tom Hargis led the Pledge of'Allegiance.,
,~ - .
rs IVIOIVIENT OF SILENCE
19
zo At the request of Mayor Thompson,. a Moment., of Silence was observed.
z1 ..
zz PUBLIC- COMMENT
z3 . ,
z4 Geoff Cartwright 56 Rocca,Drivespoke' regarding a local, watershed association
zs , . _ .
z6 COUNCIL COMMENT ~~
27
zs Council Member Maguire was disappointed by a story he read in the; Press Democrat
z9 that eluded to Council M'emberHamilton having a Conflict ofilnterestpursuant to Fair
3o Political. Practices Commission (FPPC.) regulatons~n light of her employment and
31 'responsibilities' at Advanced Fiber C.ornmunications.`~.
~ 32
33 Council Member Cader-Thompson ~ alsq; spoke unfavorably of the article in the Press
34 Democrat regarding Ms. Hamilton„-..She: stated she .thought- that it was published as .a
3s political ploy in light of the upcoming; election in November: She mentioned her
36 daughter's baseball team won the..and she was an All .Star. She was proud of her
37 daughter's accomplishments.
38
39 Vice Mayor Torliatt attended a poetry° reading at McNear School. She ,..echoed
4o comments by Council Members Maguire and. Cader-Thompson. regarding the article
• al about Council Member Hamilton in the Press pemocraf, and expressed her thoughts
4z about the. article as unfounded.
a3 Mayor Thompson reviewed the schedule for upcoming budget .hearings to take place
4a over the following two weeks.
45
46
Vol. 35, Page 2 June 1, ,2000
r UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
3 1. Fiscal Year 00-01 Budget Hearing. (Stouder/Cornyn)
Mayor Thompson recognized. City Management. for producing the budget. in such a
timely manner and despite the lack of. a Finance Director and new additions to staff.
s Council Member Hamilton recognized City Management for the new formaf of ~°the.
~ budget and the work that had been done to. make' .it easier to read', more user friendly.
io City Manager Fred Stouder presented the Fiscal-Year 20'0.0-2001 Preliminary Budget
r ;based on the. $2$,684.,250 of actual revenues: and`transfers. and proposedexpenditures
rz in the coming year..: The significant changes for the: Fiscal.-Year 20OQ/200"1' ;budget
13 included budgeting format; budget. allocations,,-: reductions or payment of prior
is obligations, and improvements in;the budgeting process.
15 -
~6 He noted the most significant. accomp ishment i_n this year's budget. was. the :addition ,of
17 two reserve~funds established two ;years ago;.that is from .$1,.000,0:00 fo $T, 4'0.0,000` in
is the General Fund, and. in~ the Equipment Replacement Reserve; an increase from
~9 $400_;000 to $600,000.
zo ~~ ~ ,
2~ Other changes noted includedchanges in, forrriat; organization, and financial.
iz organization. The Fiseaf-Year :2000/2001 budget represented the. first full year of the
23 City Departmental reorganization including, the De,parl:ment of Wafer Resources and
_ ._
as Conservation, Department .. of Public. Facilities and °Services,~ 'and the Cornmunify
zs Development Department: ;AIC three Qirectors-of';the D,epartrnents had been appointed,
26 and future budgetary and program refinements were expeetod. By the end o"f July, a
27 _new Finance Director wassched,uled to' be appointed.' ~~~
zs
29 The General .Fund. Preliminary Budget: consisted. of $27;761;,450 ;of expenditures.
30 ($521,850 snore or less,:. than T.% more; thane the: $27,252,600 for Fiscal Year-End
31 1999/2000, and $229,75Oaess than'the FY 1999/2800 adopted'budget of:~$27;991.,200).
32 Revenues to the General Fund in Fiscal-Year 2;000/2001 were conserVatively~ estimated
33 to be $28:;684;250 including $1,2.13','850 in transfers to the General Fund and
34 $25,721,050 in direct revenues from taxes;, fees, .inter-governmental payments, and
3s other services. The 'Fiscal-Year 2000/2001 estimated 'revenues were' $27;.420:;400 or
36 $1,699,350 more. than 'last year's revenues. '
37 ,
3s 1Nhile some revenues or transfers were less than precious years; the single largest
39 source of revenues; property taxes and sales taxes were ten percent more, than year-
ao end revised property and sates tax year=end revenues. The growth in revenues; in
41 recent years had. allowed the City to retire .past obligations; -and _augment the; reserves
4z .and meet one-time obligations; while maintaining a conservative approach to
43 expenditures.
June 1, 2000 Vol. 35, Page 3
1 For Fiscal=Year 1999/2000, property taxes were budgeted for $3,.750,750, revised at
z year-e.nd fo be $3;751,400, and estimated to be $3,999,350 for Fiscal-Year 200072001,
3 a 6.4 percent (6.4%) or $240;950 increase from the revised year-end.
4
s Sales 'tax 1999/2000 revenues were estimated at the beginning of last year 'at
6 $8,350.;000 and were .estimated at year-end "to be $8,808,600, or $458.;600 or 5~.6
~ percent (5.6%) more than the original estimate: For Fiscal-Year 2000/2001; sales tax.
s revenues were estimated to be $9,116,,950 or $308.,350 or 3.5% more than the current
9 year. The City continued to conservatively .forecast future revenues. Property and Sales
to tax revenue do not cover the cost. of public safety.
I1
Iz A review of accomplishments during Fiscal-Year 1.999/2000 included:
13 • Authorization ~of the rehabilitation of the "D" Street Bridge;
14 . Initiated Washington Street/McD:owell Boulevard infersection design improvements;
Is Approved miscellaneous water and sewer line replacements;
16 • Adopted Bicycle Plan;
1~ • .Adopted W.asfewater ..Master Plan and rate. schedule for financing;
Is Approved General Plan 2000-2020 work plan;
19 • Authorized Transit Mall Design Concept Phase I
zo Increased General Fund and Equipment Replacement Reserves;
zl Authorized design of Animal Services Shelter .,Expansion;
zz • Approved expansion of the City's technology and computer utilization;
z3 Completed se..w,er rehabilitation project on '`F" Street;
z4 • Authorized construction of $5.6 million pond influent pump. station improvement;
zs Authorized contract .bid process for $2.7 million Bodega Avenue widening project,,
z6 contract to be awarded in the Summer of 2000.
z~ Completed Lakeville Street widening projecf;
zs Substantially completed $27 million trapezoidal section of the U.S. Army Corps
z9 Fayran Ffood Cortrol Project. ~ '
30 • Continuing improvements. to the Parks and Recreation system including. the
31 synthetic turf field for athletic use at Prince Park.
32
33 A review of format changes noted in the FY 2000/2001 Preliminary Budget included:
3a. Listing revenues acid expenditures on the same page and by Divisions' `and
3s Departments. ~ ~.' '
36 • Further refinement of performance measurements to create measures to actual y
37 measure tar..gets by Schedule or quantitative benchmarks; and
3a Elimination of non_department category in the budget..
39
40 .Due to a strong economy and. growfh in :revenues,,-a balanced budget (also ;known as a
41 cash-in, cash-out budget) was presented, based on actual revenues. and expenditures
az for the fiscal year.. This would continue to be a primary objective of the newly appointed
43 Director of 'Public Facilities and Services and. would help ensure the City had the
44 necessary equipment in the future to meet operational and maintenance demands.
45
Vol. 35, Page 4 ,June 1, 2000
1 Fiscal Year.-End 199.9-.2000 revenues exeee_ ded projections; alternate actions had, been..
. a taken with .those ,revenues to strengthen the City's financial condition by repaying
3 previous `inter-fund loans that. were required over the. past ten years due to weaker
a economic. conditions. Approximately $800;000 in past loans had been retired from
s Fiscal-Year 1999-2000 year-end unbudgeted revenues. An inter-fund. .loan policy wasi
6 recommended `for~C.ity Council review on-;June 19,.2000 to establish. a Council approved
~ policy to address future loans, if necessary.:
9 Mr. Stouder emphasized, that the. ,.budget represented "a major milestone with: General.
to Fund. Reserves proposed at $1,,400,000 or five percent; (5%°a of the. General Fund.; no
~r established; standard existed, five percent (5%) was considered a good rule of ;thumb.
rz Simultaneously with the development of the: General Fund Reserve tw,o years ago _was
13 the creation of ~an 'Equipment Replacement- Fund currently with a balance of "$600,00;0.
la The City's combined reserves totaled $2,,0:00,000, or eight. percent (8%) of ""the G"ene.ral
is Fund.
16
1~ The Fiscal-Year",' 200.0.-200:1: presented two; critical; expensive,,.. projects important for the"
is future of the community,. that is, the replacement of the. $55^ -million plus 1Nast_ewater
i9 Treatment Plant and the. $34 million. U:.S'. Army Corps of Engineers ;Pefalu.ma Flood
ao Control Project. Th"ese two projects and their completion. were two of many multi-year
?~ projects that required the City's vigilance and focus.
Zz
z3 Mr. Stouder outlined future challenges as follows:, .
24 Develop an equipment rep acement fund. program to be on a five-.year basis p an
zs and financed on a "revolving basis major equipment; rolling .stock. needs;;.
26 Complete design and initiate constr"action of` the $6 "million dollar
z~ Washington/IVIcDowell intersection improvements;
as Prepare Central Pe"talurna S`pecifie Plan and Redevelopment Agency
i9 Implementation Plans and set priorities for" implementation with $18: million dollar
3o bond issue proceeds, resulting in major strides in completion of three of the City
31 C'ouncil's goals,. that is; implementation of the River Plan, 'Central... Petaluma_ :Specific
3z Plan,. and the Bicycle Plan.
33 •. ~ Participate;,. in the: implementation of the multi-:million dollar countywide "compufer
3a .aided dispatch and mobile data: ter.minaC.system,
3s • ", .Proceed"with first planning year of the-Petaluma General Plan beginning with." the
3~ "creation 'of .a, vision for the Petaluma o- f tomorrow 'wh'ile pr.~eserving the heritage, and
3~i quality of life~of today and the Petaluma of~yesterday.
".3s Address revenue and expenditure challenges, such a:~ landscape. assessment;
r39 districts, the three-,year schedule ofrate increases "for the wastewater .sysfem; and
ao pending review 'of .traffic mitigation. fund "amo.ng others. 'The, forecast for revenue
al and expenditures indicated that expenditures would continue °to grow at a hig"he;r
as rate than revenues, Expenditures would: "continually have `to be~ reduced along with
a3 services in combination of increasing fees for services and, creating additional
as revenue sources.
45 ""
°Jurie "1, 2000 Vol. 35; Rage 5
~ He acknowledged the efforts,of~ staff .members 'in :producing the ,preliminary budget 'in a
z timely ..manner and ducing_ times of traristiort, namely, Interim Finance Director Paula
3 Cornyn, Senior , Accounfant `'Sue Simmons, " Accountant/Analyst Carol Myers, and
4 Administrative Secretary. ~ Chris Jones:. He expressed his appreciation of their
s achievement, support, and their commitment in working long hours to complete the
6 task. _
s Interim Finance ,Director -Paula- Cornyn preserife:d. a chart that listed General Fund
.,
9 actual revenues an, d .expenditures, ~by type, for the most recent five fiscal years, the
~o estimated revenues and expenditures for the' fiscal year ending June 30, 2000 and a
~~ forecast., for the next five" years. The schedule.,was presented on a cash in/cash out
iz basis, that is, actual revenues received:` Fifty percent (50%) of the transfers into the
r3 General Fund were from the Gas Tax, a special revenue that the City was not allowed
14 to record in the. General Fund. However, since most of the monies from the Gas Tax
~s were spent in the General..Fund for ~street'maintenanee, it was shown as a transfer fo
~6 the. General Fund. Twenty-five percent '(25%) of the transfers into the General Fund..
~~ came from Transient Occupancy Tax:(TOT). The. City was required to collect these
~s monies in its own fund and then transfer a certain portion (in recent years about
~9 $300,000) into the. General Fi:rid. The remaining Transfers into the General Fund came
Zo from miscellaneous amounts that for similar reasons had to be recorded in a different
a~ fund but the City was allowed to move the money later into the General Fund.
zz
23 The forecast included in this budget was based on conservative assumptions of both
za revenues and expenditures. Sonoma County anticipated a six percent. increase in'
is assessed value for property tax but the City of Petaluma's forecasf assumption was at
z6 five and one-half percent. The City's wales tax :revenue had "grown the last two years
z~ from six to ten. percent .spurred by a strong economy.. The largest portion of sales tax
zs revenues were..derived from the Auto Mall; Since changes in the overall economy were
29 not easy fo predict; an annual increase of three and one-half percent had been used as
3o the assumption for the .growth of sales tax revenues for the next five years. The other
31 revenues were estimated to grow slowly or to decrease.
32
33 The expenditure forecast showed. salaries and benefits for employees by the Public
34 Employee Retirement System (PERS) categories of public safety and all others...- The
3s City's public safety employees would- receive an increased retirement benefit, know.,n as
36 three percent at fifty in June of 2001. The increased costs .for the next five years; at the
37 rate known today,, was ihcluded in the projection: All salaries and benefits. had' been
3s presented to match the :Memorandums of Understanding that were in place now or
39 expected to be accepted by the end of the year.
40
41 Services and. supplies had :grown over the past two years at the rate of thirteenpoint
42 nine percent and fifteen point. seven percent but the forecast had been lowered to five"
43 point eight percent for the next fiscal year and lowered to four and one-half percent for
44 the .remaining four years based on the revenue stream.
45 _~ ,
Vol. 35, Page 6 June 1., 2000
1 The. General Plan Budget :was. based. on the worksheets that. the Executive Team had
2 used'. Debt repayments did. not: end in Fiscal-Year 199920;0 as the forecast. may
3 indicate... There was debt for equipment ,financing that. -still had., several.:years of
4 repayment. but the process was changing.. All, debt service payments would be. made
s from;the Debf Se_ruice Fund and the~General Fund would transfer'out.the amounts due.
6 Council, Member Healy echoed prior comments :ins recognition and appreciation of City
~ Management's efforts to produce this- year's, budget docurneri't in a timely fashion-.
s Regarding,ihe Council's scheduled-agenda item for June 1'9 about establishing an mte,r-
9 fund transfer policy,.. he wanted the benefit of`a staff report`to review. in .conjunction with
io Council's review of the budget document. ~ . ' '.
11
12 Ms.. Cornyn ,and Mr. 'Stouder indicatedCouncil would be~provded with the infor_rnation
13 to review in a timely manner. -
:,~ -
14
. ,
is Co
i6 Lev ncil Member' Healy asked for clarification whether there, were any .SCE's (Service
el Enhancements) proposed. '
1~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .,
is Ms. Cornyn replied that none of the SCE's confained ih. the SLE document were
19 proposed.. The d'ocumenf reflected'. requests not budgetetl`;: `~
20: '
zl Mr.. Stoude.r stated the SLE document w,as presented, fo Council. to illustrate; what was
2z what was necessary f.or departments to meet their obligations br than were pending;-'the
23 cost to do business. However, there was no :money' available accomplish this..
24
is Council Member Healy, queried if moving several hundred thousands of dollars from the:
26 General Fund' to Community Facilities was an example to pay off' some old obligations
2~ and would that free ,up money in'the Community Facilities Fund.
Zs
29 Mr. Stouder replied that it depended on the volume: or the cost of thee. Community
3o Facilities needs.. The Council would address on a specific project at the meeting of .June
3l 5 with the Animal SeNices Shelter. There was an increased .opportunity for ;funds for
3z an Animal' Shelter but- there was -not a lot remaining for other future needs. It was the.
33 consensus of City Management fhat.before venturing into othE~r City faciaity ne_ eds it was
34 necessary to take. a com,pre.hensive Kook at what.the. needs were...
35
36 Council Member :Keller ,thanked.. Ms. Cornyn and staff f.or their .great .efforts in producing
3~ . th.e budget.. He asked' City Management to have the budget document available at the
3s City's website. '
39 - ~~4
4o Mr. Stouder had notplanned to: do so this year. ~ ~ ~ .
41 - _
4z Council Member .Keller-wanted to know what would., be required to publish the document
43 at the site. ~ ~ ~ ~ `
44 ~ ~ ~ .
as Vice .Mayor Torliatt requested City Management to ad~rise the Council of the
46 requirements at the next budget .hearing.
June 1, 2000 Vol. 35, P-age 7
z Council Member Keller reiterated he wanted the document posted to the site. He did
3 not think it was: fair to ask the public to come to City Mall. and ask for the volumes of
4 printed material the budget produce.
s
~ Mr. Stouder replied that City Management had requested copies of the budget.
7 document be made available to the public at the library, community center, the Senior'
s Center. The City had not made the effort to make it available online due to the Time
9 and cost to accomplish that. He agreed that publishing the adopted budget was
to something the City should do and would next year. in the mean time, City Management
11 would provide the dollar amount necessary to accomplish the task.
lz
13 Vice Mayor Torliatt recognized City Management for providing for the first time afive-
14 year forecast. She nofed that it was a huge accomplishment and applauded every
Is person who works for the City who hatl worked so hard on this project.
16
17 Police Department
Is
19 Police Chief Pat. Parks reviewed the department's accomplishments during :Fiscal-Year
Zo 1999-2000 and then. the department's Fiscal-Year 2000-2001 budget highlights. as
zl follows:
22
z3 Budget Changes: The change in dollars from the 1.999-2000 revised ,budget was
z4 $701,600., or seven percent (7%), and was primarily due to .salary and cost of .laving.
zs increases, service and supply increases, and an increase in the acquisition of capital.
z6 equipment:
27
za FTE (Full Time Em;ployee(s)) Changes: There was no increase to FTE this year. A
~. 29 full-time fraining Manager equivalent to a .:Community Service Officer position was
3o created buf was' funded by existing Police Department resources.
31
32 Reorganizations:, During Fiscal Year 1999-20.00 several significant job changes had
33 occurred. Included. were assignment of. a Police. Lieutenant to the Services Division to
34 .manage Records Communications, and assign a Patrol Sergeant to the Services
3s Division to assist with the CAD- (Com. plater Aided Dispatch)/RMS (Record"s Management
36 System)/MDC (Mobile Data Computer) Project.
37
3s Chief Packs asked if Council had any questions that he could address.
39
4o Council Member Maguire complimented. Chief Farks for successful Tabor negotiations:
41 He looked forward to the City having a tow service agreement in place.
42
43 Ohief Parks acknowledged the Police personnel that participated during labor
44 negotiations as adding to its success.
45
Vol. 35, Page 8 June 1, 2000
~ Council Member Hamilton recognized Chief Parks for the improved morale within the
z Police Department and attributed to the smooth transition to his;. credit..
3
4 Council Member Caller-Thompson also thanked the department and. noted ".that hear
s mother had gotten a ticket for the first tune in 60 years.
~ Mayor Thompson asked if the five to one ratio was relafed to patrol or administration.
a Chief Parks replied that he would provide an answer.
9
~o Council Member Maguire inquired about access to cell .phones for officers. on patrol.
~~
12 Chief Parks; replied the department had requested cell phones in prior years. Thee costs
13 were deemed exorbitant and were not approved..
14
is Council Member Maguire.: aske the Chief, to investigate the possibility of. donations. to
~~ raise funds.
~~
is Chief Parks :agreed.
19 -
2o Council Member Caller=Thompson inquired if' the County would relocate some: the
z~ services in Pe"taluma that required transporting individuals 'to Santa Rosa in order' to ;
z2 obtain necessary services.
23
2a Chief Parks replied that there was progress made and he was optimistic ,that more
zs would follow. He thanked the Council and the Finance Department for their patience
26 and hard work.
27
zs Fire Department
29
3o Fire Chief Terry Krout pro~ided~ an overview of the department's accornplishmerits, such
31 as the recently imp emented Records .Management System during Fiscal-Year 1;.999-
3z 2000. During the last seven months:, data had been collected and some of the changes
33 in the budget format were based .on: the: statistical data, that would be reeo~ered. The
34 department had worked 'with the :Human ;Resources Department as a. beta :tester for
3s their Knowledge Point Employee. Evaluation Program., The ~ software. package
36 complimented the Fire bepartment 'policies developed owes the past fiscal yea"r
3~ Another major accomplishment was the acceptahce ofi the aerial ladder truck. Training
3s should take place in July and the vehicle. become fully operational: by mid'-August. The
39 department was in: the process of bringing in firefighter/paramedic. recruits. This would
4o change the number of on-duty paramedics and would be accomplished through
41 attrition..
42
a3 Council Member Keller inquired if the numbers in the budget reflected a change in
4a personnel.
45
June 1, 2000 Vol. 35, Page 9
1 Chief Krout replied that. a firefighter position allocated in prior budgets was eliminated
z and a shift of firefighter to.~paramedic was accomplished during FY' 1999-2000. These
s changes were consistent with this year's budget philosophy and consistent with the.
a recommendations of the Fire Department Master Plan, that. is to increase;
s firefighter/paramedic positions through attrition.
6
~ Chief Krout highlighted the following items of the department's Fiscal-Year 200.0-2001..
a budget:
~ • Training Officer
to Emergency .Medical' Service (EMS) Study (underway)
11 Ladder Truck Staffing and Operations
iz Fire Inspector (CIJ.PA)
r3 • Effects of Retirements and Turnover forecasted by July 2001
14 •
is Council Member'Keller asked v~hether' CAL=O~SHA (California Occupational Safety
16 Health Association) "two in, two out" regulation: was addressed within the department.
17
rs Chief Krout replied that the department had developed the. standard currently used.
~~ throughout Sonoma County. He had attended a presentation by the Santa Rosa Fire
Zo Department to the Santa Rosa City Gouneil regarding this subject.
al
zz Council Member Keller requested City Management to bring information back for
z3 Council's review of the "two in, two out" CAL-OSHA regulation.
24 ~ ~..
,.
is Community Development Deparfinent
26 ~ ~ -
z~ Community Development Director Mike Moore provided an overview of the
zs department's accomplishments during_ Fiscal,-Year 1999.-20.00 and highlights of the
z~ department's Fiscal-Year" 2000-20Q1 budget. The strong Bay Area and National
so economy, combined with ,the. attraction of: Petaluma's quality of life,. continue to bring
31 .new land use and building' applications fo the=~Comrnunty Development. Department.
3z Significant growth in the business sector and the resulting 'increase in the number of
33 local jobs also.-placed. greater de_ma_rids on the City'§ ability, through the department's
sa 'Housings.Division; ~to continues to provide, a range of affordable: housing opportunities as
3s required by the City's General Plan: 'Recently, these circumstances had combined with..
36 periodic' .personnel shortages and extended application-processing timelines.. He
sa expected. significant improvements .in the.' coming fiscal. year with the, continued
3s mplem:entation of the ~department's~ reorganization plan:. and the on-going review and.
s9 reuis'ion of internal procedures and: policies. The department was committed to
4o improving ifs level. of `service to the community and fo providing timely, p~rofessioiial
41 information. and services .on: a wide range of issues.
42 ~ ~ -
43 Vice Mayor Torliatt requested a list`,ofahe approximately one hundred projects that M'r;
a4 Moore indicated the department was working on.
45 ~ .
Vol. 35, Page 10
June 1, 2000
1 Council Member Healy encouraged, .M'r. Moore to include , in the: departmen_ is
2 performance measurement timelines for,processing applications: ~~
3 "_
a Council had no questions. •
5
6 Recreation and Parks Department •
7 •
8 Recreation Director Jim Cara provided an, •overview of the departrnenf'
9 accomplishments during Fiscal-Year 1999-2000,, such as the grant received from the
ro Coastal Conservancy for the Marsh Enhancement, Plan, the formation. of the Youth.
11 Commission,. following. the demise of fhe Kenilworth Athletic Field Project immediately.
lz implementing the lighting project at, 'Prince Park, and the approval and start of
13 construction of the, Lucchesi Synthetic: Athletic Field. Mr:.Carr noted he~ had received'
14 numerous :positive comments: during the year regarding. maintenance' of City Parks,. .He
is also provided highlights of the departrnerit"s Fiscal-Year -200:0 2001 budget.:
16 _ ,
17 Council Me"tuber Maguire inquired if the Recreation :Music. and.. Parks Commission had
ra discusse_d a Parks .Initiative.
19
Zo Mr: Carr replied that ~'°they had however they .wanted to concentrate. on the Parks Master
zl, Plan :first. The thought being that what: went into the Master Plan would be presented to
z2 the public as the foundation for a bond to :finance parks.
.q
23
,.,
24 Vice Mayor Torliatt. added that the Recreation Music .and -Parks Commission had
zs discussed was funding in order to put. the infor.rnation together fora .bond measure..
z~ She wanted to know if That was budgeted in, this~`Recreatican'and Parks or was it 'n~
27 Community Enhancement. - .
za. ~ ._
29 Mr. Carr .replied not at this.; time. He :and, Recreation C.ommission~er Bob Kates were ~`in
3o communication -with Senator Lynn. Woolsey's office for, assistance. They ;yhad an
31 appointment to meet with her in .July °to discuss ,funding, .a 'part of wh_ ch was if ~Mr
32 Kates, who was employed by the National Parks: Service, could take. 'a sabbatical and
.._
33 work with the City full time'to develop a_ Parks and-Recreation:Associatiun. that~would be
34 the funding: arm, to go, into •the community,, the business community, and the., general
3s community for this purpose, At this time, .Mr. Kates was Invoking; .to Lynn Woolsey's
3~ office for assistance in that endeavor.
37
3s .Vice Mayor Torliatt understood from _~ attending Recreation, Music and .Parks
39 Commission _meetings that in order for 1VIr. 'Kates'to`-d'eve.lop~~a, Parks and Recreation
ao Association and to implement it would require twenty five ~;fhousand dollars. She
42 ordeatod tetet a coma lished sooneheatherthan later "slhould' there be dela spn ject if in
g P - y working
43 with Lynn Woolsey's office:.
as ~ .
:.....
4s Mr. Carr .replied that he might- be able to pull'sorrie funds frbrn the Parks Division
46 budget as a match, for .example., should something come down the pike.. On another
June 1, 2000 Vol. 35, Page 11
1 subject, community involvement with projects. was very important. He noted that the Old
z Petaluma Rotary Club made a commitment to raise sixty thousand dollars "($60,000)
3 towards the renovation of McNear Park. There was an equal amount in the city's Capital
a Improvement Budget to match their commitment, thaf is sixty thousand dollars plus an
s additional twelve thousand dollars for- trees. There had been a raffle to raise funds for
6 the renovation of the west end of McNear' Park;. A member of the community who
~ missed the raffle donated, three thousand dollars towards the playground renovation:
s He had also met with they Mothers Club and they were involved with the playground
9 selection. This project. was an example of a true community effort.
to
11 Mayor Thompson: noted that the landscaping on the median on Lakeville going East
lz (near the Marina) was beautiful.
13
14 Mr. Carr acknowledged the Engineering Department had. done a fine job on the design,
is selection of the landscaped median.
16
17 Council Member Cader-Thompson expressed that she was sorry that. Karen Green was
is to leave the Recreation, .Music and Parks Commission and noted that Ms. Green was.
19 moving to Utah. She would be missed. On another note, Council Member Cader-
zo Thompson had attended a conference and learned that in Seattle, Washington their
zl Recreation and' Parks Department was established with "Neighborhood Departments."
zz She wanted Cify' Managenent'to get more information about the program an. d hoped.
z3 that the: City would possibly implement a similar program in Petaluma. She wanted
z4 people in the, neighborhoods would take responsibility for the direction of the parks ",in.
Zs their respective. areas, much. like what the Rotary is doing with McNear Park. `She
z6 suggested have the. departrrment head of the Neighborhood Department come to
z~ Petaluma'to address the Council or have City Management go to Seattle to learn more
zs about the program.
z9
so Mr. Stouder had spent a number of years living in that area ,and was familiar with
31 Seattle's Department of Parks .and Recreation., which: was a separate department, and
3z the Office of Neighborhoods. The Office of Neighborhoods was very active in Seattle.
s3 Seattle was an entitlement city in community development block grant funds and that
34 department, if not :solely funded, was substantially by community development block
ss grant or federal funds. The City Council then uses the community development block.
36 .grant money, which is multi-millions of dollars, with the Department 'Director for
s~ neighborhood projects., not dissimilar from what, this Council. had done with 'Housing and
3s other neighborhood improvements. Seattle's program was. on a much larger scale. City
39 Management could obtain the information: A huge source of federal funds was an
4o entitlement; as a large city, Seattle received automatically funds to carry out .the;
41 programs..
42
43 Council Member Cader-Thompson. thanked. .Mr. Stouder. She wanted to get
4a neighborho.ods in Petaluma involved and take responsibility for what was going to
as happen in their areas.
46
Vol. 35, Page 12 June 1,.2000
~ Mr:. .Carr acknowledged That the neighbors of McNear, Park were the lead in the
2 renovation project and that .he may have. misspoke thaf it was ;tf1e Rotary:. Rotary had
3 asked the ::neighbors. to participate in a "hands-on" way .with the renovations; that is, do
4 some of the planting of'the: twenty-nine trees. .
~ Council Member Caller-Thompson referenced thee. Polly Klaas Oen-ter and the
~ Kenilworth Center wanted o know how much work was necessary to get :the :buildings
s fully functional and enable the City to rent the facilities:and generate income. She asked
9 about the possibility of expanding the 'Teen -Center. In the fixture, more facilities were
io necessary for conferences and .other functions.
1~
~z Mr. Carr replied that, funding fore Po11y Klaas was available ire this budget..Ne p.ro~ided
13 some background: on the project and noted that. the Petaluma, Leadership; Program to
14 do a Master Plan and begin renovation this year. Th, e Teen Center was on hold until the
is Teen .Council and the Youth Commission were organized. There had been some
~6 activities of the Teen Center and were faced with problems in the neighborhood due to.
~~ the timing of the events in conjunction, with the neighborhood's concerns over_transients
rs in, the area. There had been so problems with the behavior of participants outside th'e
P9 Center and the organization had no control in that area: As. an .alternative 'use. f_,o_r_ t_he
ao facility, a Resource Center .was being considered.
zi~
z2 Council Member Caller-Thompson concluded her commenfs b.y asking ':Mr. Carr to.
z3 thank Parks Maintenance Supervisor Ed Anchordoguy for his hard work: removing
24 graffiti in the community.
25
26 Council Member Keller followed up regarding neighborhood involvem
ent by
z~ recommending th"'at City Management look..at Lad's :(.Landscape Assessment Districts)
as where they existed. and not as a way of neighborhood funding for neighborhood
z9 improvement projects. He wanted it brought into the f"unding picture. Likewise,, with the
3o uses of the Polly Klaas Performing Arts Center, there needed to be ~a discussion. among
31 Council to define intended uses, and occupancies of building would. be. Before th'e
3z Leadership Group we,nt_ #o far along their path; a v,.ery clear~discussion was.necessary'to
33 define what that facility was designed for and its purpose.
35 M.r. Carr had been: in discussion with members of the Leadership Council and his
36 recommendation to ahem was. that rni'ssion statement _fje developed that' was consistent
37 with :the design and purpose of the facility. T.he enabling ;resolution did not specify youth
3s use yet he thought that was the intent of the Council
39
4o Council Member :Keller agreed. and added `that he wanted the renovation and use of
a~ Polly Klaas Performing _Arts Center brought back on an agenda for Council's discussion
4z and direction as soon as possible.,
43 -
44 Council Member .Caller-Thompson. commented. that in the future; as neighborhoods got
as involved., .all improvement's were for the benefit of the community and not .just the
4s neigh'borhood.
June 1, 2000
Vol. 35, Page 1`3
1 Mr. Carr agreed.
2
3 Vice Mayor Torliatt addressed the "neighborhood philosophy"; that is, :neighbors taking
4 responsibility for improvements in their areas, not just in maintenance but also in a
s public .involvement way with public facilities. She favored the -Parks and Recreation
6 .Department enhancing their outreach programs to neighborhoods in order to
~ accomplish mutual.. goals: For example, the. Sports Community was interested in
s becoming more involved. A better framework needed: to be established to network 'for
9 solutions. Bike Plan implementation and opening waterways to improve, .mobility and
to alleviate traffic problems: She wanted Parks and Recreation to work together with
11 Water Resources and. Conservation, or Public Facilities and Services.
12
r3 Council Member Cader-Thompson asked that City Management have the opportunity to
14 attend some of the conferences that Council Members attended.
is
16 ADJOURN
1~
is At 9:10 p.m., the meeting adjourned
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z3 ATTEST:
E. ~Gla'r hompson, Mayor
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Beverly J. Kline, City Cler
2a
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