HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03/18/2000March 18, 2000
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City of Petaluma, California
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Minutes of a Special
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City Council Meeting
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City Council Workshop
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Vol. 34, Page 321
Saturday,, March 118, 2000 . - -
Petaluma Community Center
12 The Petaluma City Council met on this day at 9:10 A.M. at the Petaluma Community ;
13 Center, 320 North McDowell Boulevard in the Club Room.
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15 ROLL CALL
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17 PRESENT: Council: Members Cader-Thompson (9:15 A.M.), Hamilton, Healy,Keller,
18 Maguire, Mayor Thompson.; and Vice Mayor Torliatt
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20 ABSENT: None '
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22 PUBLIC COMMENTS
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24 None
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26 COUNCIL COMMENTS
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28 None
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30 AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS
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32 None
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34 NEW BUSINESS
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36 1. City Council Workshop to Review City Goals and Priorities.
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38 City Organization Development Consultant Juan. Lopez.reviewed an agenda for the
39 workshop that included a discussion of ground rules, key questions, review of
40 Councils';interviews, identification of core issues, a review and progress update of
41 existing goals, goal setting, prioritization of goals, action planning and next steps.
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43 Mayor Thompson welcomed all present, and turned the meeting back to Mr. Lopez
44 and City Manager Fred Stouder. He noted the importance of Mr. Stouder's input due
45 to his familiarity and understanding as.a representative of City Management to help
46 the Council formulate their goals and assist with the prioriti2atiori process.
Vol. 34, Page 322
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March 18, 2000
2 Vice Mayor Torliatt asked Mr. Stouder to share his administrative insights. .
3 City Manager °Fred Stouder stated there :had been an increase in the number of
4 meetings in order to achieve, -the current.status°of the Councils' priorities, and asked
5 Council if'theywanted to keep the same goals but provide greater clarity, or if they
6 wanted to change the focus of the:goals so he'could manage available resources
7 accordingly_ .
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9 Mr.. Stouder gaveian overview of theworkshop the�City Council's January_ 30, 1999
10 workshop, where the following priorities being established:
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12 Complete 'Budget,, Revenue and Service Level Review.
13: Complete Redevelopment Agency Review.
14 ® Complete Wastewater'Facility Plan Process.
1.5 ~ ® Establish Revenue, Recapture and Regeneration Program.
16 ® Implement,and Revise General Plan.
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18 In,;connecton_vith the General Plan Implementation, he listed the _River Plan, the
19 Central Petaluma Specific. Plan, and the Bicycle Plan. Included as new General
20 Plan items, he listed Economic Development Plan, .Surface Water Management
21 (Drainage) Plan; and Regional and Local Transportation Plan. As he identified'each
22 priority, he provided a status report.
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2.4 Council .Member Mike Healy asked about senior staff and asked about the
25 anticipated impact of the hiring #reeze to the City in the long run.
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27 Mr..Stouder. replied that the new managers coming on board had already made a
28 positive impact on the organization.
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30 RECESS: 9:50 A.M.
31 RECONVENE: 10:10 A.M.
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33 Council discussion identified .the -following ideas, issues, and goals:
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35 • An interchange and cross-town connector.
36 • Redevelopment - ;how °to create the most ;beneficial economic .development.
37 • Water rates.
38 ® Central Petaluma Specific Plan.
39 u Amend _me.nt ll - the; River Plan and Propositions 12/13.
40 ® Fundraising around Parks and Recreation - Shollenberger Park and the McNear
41 Turning Basin.
42 Commercial Facilities.
43 Improving the Mosquito Abatement building.
44 s Condition 53 (Chelsea Appeal).
45 • How -to -,e mploy sustainability throughout the General Plan development process.
March 18, 2000
Vol. 34, Page 323
1 ® Empowering -staff at the lowest level.
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3 Council Member Healy noted that there were more'jobs than housing available. He
4 supported attracting industry that allowed people to live in Petaluma.
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6 Council Member'Keller noted the steps of implementing the General Plan were still
7 current. As for redevelopment, he thought a discussion was in order and an
8 evaluation of available tools to look at, projects such as Petaluma Boulevard North
9 expansion/redevelopment. Regarding revenue recapture and regeneration, he
10 thought the'issues were how to manage grants and outside funding and to actively
11 pursue grants in a way that would fund the staff ing. necessary to go after the funds.
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13 With respect to Parks and Recreation, he, wanted to see a long-term plan
14 coordinated with the School District and"the Open Space District. During the first
15 year he wanted to have restoration of the Polly Klaas Center of Performing Arts. He,
16stated that economic development was parallel to educational development and he
'17 wanted the City to work collaboratively with the School Districts, the Junior College,
18 and the wealth of resources within the community (i.e., A.A.U.W. and the League of
19 Women Voters as forums for discussion) focusing on long-term solutions and
20 defining the City's role. Local transportation issued needed to have the problems,
'21 defined, reviewed, evaluated, and solutions would evolve from the process. Other
2.2 areas he was., interested. in .discussing included the City Attorney's position, risk
23 management, `storm water utility fees,, improving the manner in which the Council
24 functioned.
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26 Vice Mayor Torliatt,stated she was interested. in getting the budget together and the
27 Five -Year Capital Improvement .Program. As for redevelopment, she stated that
28 she was pleased with the progress and supported plans that created economic
29 opportunities. She touched on her interests relative to the wastewater, public
30 . recreation, and .revenue recapture. She wanted the City to become more
31 environmentally friendly in areas such as recycling and. energy efficiency, using less
32 paper by.employing communication tools,such as e-mail and through development
33 of the City's website.
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35 With respect to the General Plan, develop distinct plans that complemented each
36 other such as electric rail, pedestrian, bike, and transportation plan. She was in
37 favor of adding a fourth priority to the General Plan, a Parks and Recreation Master
38 Plan; the existing plans needed to be implemented and a Parks and Recreation
39 Plan should be added. She wanted Pamela Tuft -to focus on the economic section of
40 the General Plan. Zero net fill, water issues, and revenues for Parks and Recreation
41 were also priorities for her.
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43 Council Member Maguire acknowledged the. Council development of cohesiveness
44 and trust and.wanted to see it continue to develop. He expressed his. interest in the
45 City investigating economic resource development; dollars in the door from a private
46 enterprise venture, such as "green dry cleaners" and non wood -base paper
Vol. 34, Page 324
March 18, 2000
1 products. As for improving the way Council functioned, he thought;theCityCouncil
2 needed to learn to say., "no; " and stop putting more things to do on the table. He
3 supported development of a measurement. standard that. addressed whether an
4 item merited being on the agenda or not. For example;; change the focus of
5 approach to issues, such as implementation of the -Central Petaluma Specific Plan,
6 which was reactive, .to proactive issues. With respect to regional transportation and
7 land use issues, refresh, the goal to work with to regional agencies about local
8 issues.
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10 Quality of life issues were priorities for him-. He was happy about community
11 development 'and ,stressed the .importance of education relating to the impacts on
12 the community around sustainability. He too favored the use of less paper and was
13 in favor of re-establishing a local cop program, that is, .a neighborhood, beat cop,
14 traffic enforcement, and' a litter program... Jobs and housing balance were also
15 concerns :and 'his top priorities 'included improving the City's economic stability; -
16 mobility, and ,water/water recycling:
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18 Council Member Hamilton stated that with respect to the Wastewater Treatment'
19 Facility, she was interested in water,circulation and recycling. She sup'ported the
20 General Plan and' expressed concern that the following plans had 'not been
21 implemented: Bicycle Plan, River Enhancement Plan.
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.23 Council Member Cader=Thompson wanted flood plain.management to be of primary
24 focus; she did ,not, support further development in the floodplain and wanted, other
25 uses of the land to be explored. With respect to economic development, she
26 suggested hiring a consultant to help the City develop and .implement a ,plan. She
27 stated the Parks and 'Recreation ,Plan lacked direction and management and
28 wanted improvements. She supported implementation of the River Enhancement
29 Plan and noted that,regarding transportation, there'were informaldiscussions about
30 the November 2000 election; that is, that local ,transportation measures may be
31 moving forward. She supported a General ,Plan based on the principles :of.
32 sustainability and asked if there was a possibility of grant funds'towards for this type
33 of an effort;, she 'believed' it was important to develop measurements .for
34 sustainability. She concluded her comments by. stating the importance of moving
35 forward- with, hiring someone to: look at revenue generation, an Economic
3 6 Development Director and a Finance Director.
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38 Mayor Thompson suggested taking a, closer look at organizations that had the
39 capability of generating their own income rather than. the City assisting with
40 subsidizing their programs, such as -the Petaluma Downtown Association and
41 Petaluma Community Access. He was concerned about the, economic health.of the
42 City; 'h.ewanted to know what the financial condition of'City,was and where the City
43 was going: He supported hiring a Finance. Director,who would be responsible for
44 income generation forthe Redevelopment Agency. He wanted City Management to
45 either allocate existing resources or hire someone to facilitate a comprehensive
46 grant program. He suggested that 'fines for traffic violations be increased and
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March 18, 2000 m
Vol. 34, Page 325
supported establishing more "traps." He ,wanted educational development in the
community to bean area of focus.
Council Member Cader-Thompson stressed that her primary concern was Flood
Plain Management; -she was opposed to development in the floodplain. Economic
development was also importantand she suggested that City Management hire,a
consultant to help the City develop and implement a comprehensive Economic
Development Plan. She expressed concerns regarding the lack of direction and
management in the Parks and Recreation and noted that Parks and Recreation was
of major importance in the community,,. She. wanted City Management to move
forward with the River Enhancement Plan. Transportation was another area of high
importance and she thought there would be a consolidated effort to put a measure
on the ballot for the November 2000 election. Regarding sustainability, she thought
there was grant monies available to fund programs and stressed the importance of
developing measurements standards for sustainability. She wanted City
Management to move forward with hiring -someone to look for funding, whether it
was a Finance Director or an Economic Development Director.
The following ideas were established as the City Council's Priorities for the Year
2000:
1. Complete Budget Revenue and Service Level Review
• Hire a Finance Director
• Timely Budget
• Complete a Five -Year Forecast
• Establish a Written Policy and Procedures for Inter -fund Borrowing
2. Complete the Redevelopment Agency Review
• Create an Economic Infrastructure
o Issue /Sell Bonds
o Maximize Income
o Expenditures: Prioritization of Projects
3. Complete Wastewater Facility Plan Process
• Expand Water` Conservation andSupply
• Adopt Xeriscape Ordinances .
• Complete SCWA (Sonoma County Water Agency) Amendment Process
• Do an RFP (Request for Proposal) for a Rate Study
• Establish Rate Design
®- <E.xpand Toilet Retrofit Program
• Establish Recreational Facilities at the Water Recycling Plant
4. Establish,a Revenue Recapture and Regeneration Program
• Develop a Fundraising Program for'Parks and Recreation
• Review and ,Update User Fees
Vol.,34, Page 326
March .1,8,, 2000
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•. Pursue Revenue G:e.neration Programs
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Identify and Obtain. Grant Funding;
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• Hire Additional Personnel
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• Datermihe Impact Fees from Development Projects
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Organizational Change and Growth. ,
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• Support Reorganization
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• Build Co.uncil'Trust Within Organization
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Integrate Changes
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• Listen to City Personnel
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• Employee Recognition Programs
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Implementation
of Plans
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'Establish a .Parks and Recreation Master Plan
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Park and Recreation Fields
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Open Up Waterways
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The Bicycle Plan
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The River Plan -
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• Acquisition of Properties
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• Implement River Plan in Segments
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• Purchase Open Space
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• Establish Clear Capital Improvement Plan
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New General Plan Items
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Economic Development Plan
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• Quantify Sustainability
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• What are the Goals — Value Added
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• Focus on What. Needed to be Done
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• Further Direction to Look at.$tatistics
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Surface Water Management (Drainage) Plan
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• Revisit and Expand the Zero=Net Fill' Policy
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• Set Direction for City Management.
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• Establish an.Interim Flood Policy
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• Hear Recommendations from .City Mariagemeritfor Generation of Funds
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Regional and Local Transportation Plan
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• Council to take. a Leadership Role in Setting the Tone for a Countywide
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Strategy .
March 18, 2000. Vol. 34, Page 327
1 . Develop and Implement a Marketing Plan for the "D" Street Bridge
2 Renovation
3 • Ride the Trolley
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s-5 PUBLIC COMMENT
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-7 None
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9 ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
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11 Council adjourned to Closed Session 4:30 P.M. to address the following items:
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13 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, Pursuant to Government Code §54957:
1;4 Discussion of City Manager Evaluation. (Stouder)
15 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6: Agency
1.6 Negotiator: City Negotiator Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
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18 ADJOURN
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20 The meeting adjourned at 5:15 P.M.
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2 3 ' ; 5*E. Clark Thompson, Mayor
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26 ATTEST:
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Beverly J. Kline, City �rk
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