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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-07ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL and PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1996 CIVIC CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor/Chairman Snyder convened the meeting at 8:30 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmember/Member Jean M. Benson Councilman/Member Buford A. Crites Councilman/Member Robert A. Spiegel Mayor/Chairman Walter H. Snyder Excused Absence: Mayor Pro-Tem/Vice Chairman Richard S. Kelly Also Present: Ramon A. Diaz, City Manager Carlos L. Ortega, RDA Executive Director Sheila R. Gilligan, City Clerk/Agency Secretary Richard J. Folkers, ACM/Director of Public Works John Wohlmuth, ACM/Director of Administrative Services Pat Conlon, Director of Building and Safety Phil Drell, Director of Community Development Paul Gibson, City Treasurer/Finance Director Evelyn Bridges, Acting Director of Code Compliance Lisa Constande, Environmental Conservation Manager Agnes Flor, Accounting Manager Dennis Coleman, Redevelopment Analyst Ken Weller, Public Safety Manager Steve Buchanan, Supervising Plans Examiner Linda Russell, Secretary to the City Manager Mary P. Gates, Deputy City Clerk Steve Bloomquist, Palm Desert Police Chief Dennis Dawson, Riverside County Fire MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 7, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * M. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None W. NEW BUSINESS A. pISCUSSION OF PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 1996/97 BUDGETS. 1. City Budge/ a) Position Chango Mr. Diaz noted there would be a net addition of one position, a crossing guard, that would be paid for by the School District through the Redevelopment pass -through agreements. The Director of Code Compliance and one Management Analyst II would be retiring, and the Human Resources Manager position would be combined with the Risk Management position. Mr. Wohlmuth distributed a report to the Council outlining these changes. Mr. Diaz noted that a great deal of this personnel reorganization would depend on the future of the Business Support Center and where Council chooses to locate that, either within the City arm or the Redevelopment Agency arm. With regard to combining the Human Resources Manager and Risk Management position, Mr. Diaz stated that some of the major activities of the Human Resources Department related to classification studies and the meet and confer process, both of which would not have to be done again for five years. In addition, some of the problems between management and the employees have been turned around, and the City is now moving in the right direction in terms of reestablishing communication and trust. In the Risk Management area is the need to emphasize in an organized manager our risk management functions. By combining it within the Human Resources Department he said he felt we could have savings and the interrelationship between the two as it relates to employee wellness and workers' compensation, etc. With regard to the Finance Department, he said there was a Grants/Purchasing Technician, which position has been vacant. Rather than fill that position, the functions would be assigned to the Finance Department as an Accounting Assistant position, and one of the Accounting Assistant positions in the department would be reclassified to Senior Office Assistant to give that department the clerical backup it needs. In terms of the Community Affairs Department, he said there was a Senior Office Assistant who should be promoted to Records Technician. He said the 2 MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 7, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * reason it was not part of the reclassification study was that the position was not occupied at the time of the study, and in terms of being able to have someone write what they do and go through the procedures of that study, it could not be done. In terms of what the position does and the responsibility associated with it, staff felt it was a technical position and should be reflected in the title and salary. In Administrative Services, one Senior Office Assistant would be added to that department due to the current backup and the amount of work being produced by the Administrative Services division, which includes Legislative Advocacy, Franchises, Environmental Conservation activities, etc. With regard to the Business Support Center, he reviewed a report to the Council dated May 2, 1996, noting that the activity could be combined with the Economic Development Department within the Redevelopment Agency. He distributed and reviewed the proposed vision statement, mission statement, and goals for this department. He noted that the main goal was to assure that those individuals who have invested in Palm Desert and who are here now and part of the economic quilt of Palm Desert will benefit from growth within the region as well as growth within the City. He said the overall cost of this Center, without redoing the Code Enforcement Area (which would be a one- time cost), was $255,000 to $275,000 per year. Those costs are already there now because the majority of the staff for this Center would be in-house and are already on board. b) Capital Improvements Mr. Diaz stated that this reflected the action given to staff by the Council at the first budget meeting earlier in the year. He said staff was increasing the amount of activity in repairing City streets and repaving those streets, expanding the activity in the parks and recreation facility construction field, etc. Councilman Crites stated that for any projects that come to the Council, he would like to have listed on the staff report the various groups to whom it has gone and what their reactions were, both positive and negative; i.e., Architectural Review Commission, etc. Council discussed the following projects: Traffic signal coordination - Opticom 3 MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 7, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * San Pablo/Highway 111 to El Paseo Councilman Spiegel asked if this had been discussed with the owner of the pharmacy at that corner. Mr. Folkers responded that staff had met with the owner, Mr. Nyman, to explain what would be done at this corner. Mr. Diaz added that he had talked to the pharmacy owner who said if it could be done in October that would be okay with him because he was concerned with the timing of the project. He said the property owner and the pharmacy operator were different people. He spoke with the pharmacy operator last year, and he indicated his only concern was with the timing for the project. He added that the owner of the property did not have a problem with this. He said staff would try to work everything out. Councilman Crites asked how much money Saks was putting into this part of the project, and Mr. Drell responded that it was $70,000. Mr. Diaz stated that this was one intersection which everyone felt needed to be upgraded now, even without Saks going in. - Master sidewalk Hovlev Lane -Kansas to Washington Mr. Diaz stated that staff would not go ahead with this construction until either staff knows where the funds for landscaping are coming from or Council directs staff to proceed. - Wince Water Inlet/Dry Well Program Councilman Crites stated that while he did not have a problem spending money to fix this problem, he felt we should do something about going after those places that are allowing this to happen and causing the City to spend money to fix it. j-Iovlev Park Soccer Complex - Civic Center Roller Hockey Councilman Spiegel suggested after the plan is developed to go to some third party who knows how to put these together so it is done correctly. 4 MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 7, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Councilman Crites stated he felt something should be done for the skateboarders, and he would not vote for the roller hockey project until this issue is tended to. Mr. Drell stated that this would be a multi -purpose facility and that there would be portable equipment that could be pulled out for the skateboarders. Civic Center Fountain Mr. Drell stated that preliminary responses were being received relative to the Aquatics Center. The Parks & Recreation Commission was coming to the conclusion that any more money spent on this facility would be good money after bad. He said the Commission felt the money would be better spent on some other type of summer recreation facility and probably not an interactive fountain. Mr. Diaz added that the project would not proceed without total blessing from the Council. - Ironwood Park - Civic Center Park TQt Lot Fence - Civic Center Park Dog Park Portola Community Center Councilmember Benson asked what was being done with the park benches along El Paseo which the City had promised for the last five years. She said a letter had been received from Mrs. Sonia Campbell relative to putting benches along that street. Mr. Diaz stated that the Department of Community Development would take care of the benches. He said there was some concern relative to the cost. Councilmember Benson stated that they did not all have to be done at once, as long as some are put in along El Paseo. Mr. Diaz stated that staff would set up a meeting with Mrs. Campbell and work that out. Councilman Spiegel asked that a feasibility study be done on the entrance to the Palms to Pines East center from Highway 111. 5 MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 7, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - Councilman Crites asked that staff look at the labeling of the plants growing in the Civic Center Park and the Rose Garden so that people know what they are. In addition, he stated that the public art pieces should have signage placed on them explaining what they are, and this has not yet been done. He also said he had had several people inquire as to why we have Canadian and New Zealand flags, and he asked that some kind of signage be placed explaining the sister cities relationship. He also suggested that perhaps some kind of tasteful, unobtrusive signage be placed at the entrances to the City indicating that we have sister cities relationships with Gisborne and Osoyoos. Mr. Diaz responded that the artwork descriptive signage in the park could be taken from the Parks and Recreation fees. Mrs. Gilligan added that this had been a priority for the previous Community Arts Manager and would be a priority for the new Community Arts Manager for next year. Mr. Diaz stated that Council would be discussing in Closed Session on Thursday the acquisition of more open space for the City, particularly south of the southerly City boundary, more particularly property south of the Big Horn Institute. Councilman Spiegel asked about the paving of the parking lot at The Living Desert. Ms. Constande responded that this had come up at a Living Desert meeting and was a priority for them to do so. Councilman Crites stated he understood The Living Desert wanted to keep its parking lot looking like you've moved out of the City and into a less developed area, and he personally applauded that. He said he felt the City should help them on doing something in the parking lot that would help keep the dust down. Mr. Diaz stated that his understanding was that PM-10 monies could not be used for private property; however, staff would investigate to see if there is a way something could be done. c) Department Budges 4110 - City Council Add $500.00 to Account # 110-4110-410-2190 for production of City birthday cards. 6 MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 7, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4416 - Community Promotions Add $10,000 to 110-4416-414-3892 for the Chamber of Commerce for additional positions. 4418 - Art Committee Councilman Crites suggested that consideration be given to doing something for the community rooms at the Multi Agency Library because the walls are very bare. Mrs. Gilligan responded that staff was working on this with Librarian Barbara Bowie. 4210 - Police Services Councilmember Benson stated that she was in favor of having a second resource officer to be used at Palm Desert Middle School. Mr. Wohlmuth responded that staff would develop a plan for these resource officers and bring it back to the Council prior to school starting in the fall. Redevelopment Agency Member Spiegel noted that the estimated fund balance as shown on page 231 had gone from $81 million to $44 million and asked whether that was primarily because of the Desert Willow project. Mr. Coleman responded that it was due to capital expenditures, and Desert Willow was one of the projects. He added that the Multi Agency was another project. Member Spiegel asked whether the parking structure for Saks would be included in this. Mr. Coleman responded that it would be an expected expenditure for next year. Qoeration Clean Sweep Mr. Ortega reviewed his memorandum relative to this program. Member Benson asked if all of this would be done without any new personnel. Mr. Ortega responded that it would not require new personnel at this time. He added that staff would come back at a later time with a new list of things 7 MINUTES ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL AND PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNK 7, 1996 s s s s * s s * * * s s s s * s s * * s s * *** s s* s s s * s* s s* s when the Economic Development Strategy is brought to the Council for adoption. Chairman Snyder stated that he felt this belongs to the City, not to the Redevelopment Agency. After further discussion, Member Spiegel suggested that this matter be discussed at a time certain and that the issues be resolved at that time. V. ADJOURNMENT With Council/Agency Board concurrence, Mayor/Chairman Snyder adjourned the meeting at 12:55 p.m. ATTEST: - ' SHEILA R. GII:LIGAN, CF* CLERK/ AGENCY SECRETARY ___%443fQ-1-64,44L.) WALTER H. SNYDER, MIOR/CHAIRMAN 8