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Home My WebLink About1996/05/30 - MinutesMay 30, 1996 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MINUTES Adjourned Meetin.q A. CALL TO ORDER An adjourned meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, Redevelopment Agency and Fire Protection District was held on Thursday, May 30, 1996, in the Tri-Communities Conference Room of the Civic Center, located at 10500 CMc Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. The meeting was called to order at 5:38 p.m. by Mayor William J. Alexander. Present were Council/Agency/Boardmembers: Paul Biane, James Curatalo, Rex Gutierrez, Diane Williams, and Mayor William J. Alexander. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Linda D. Daniels, Redevelopment Agency Manager; Bob Dominguez, Administraljve Services Director; Susan Stark, Finance Officer; Sandy Ramirez, Resource Services Supervisor; Chuck Varney, Sr. Business License Technician; Rose Colurn, Accountant; Dan Keebler, Data Processing Manager; Jim Frost, City Treasurer; Deborah Clerk, Library Manager; Rick Gomez, Community Development Director; Joe O'Neil, City Engineer; Shintu Bose, Deputy City Engineer; Dave Blevins, Public Works Maintenance Manager; Joe Stofa, Associate Engineer; Brad Buller, City Planner; Marti Higgins, Disaster Preparedness Manager; Suzanne Ota, Community Services Manager; Captain Ron Bieberdorf and Lieutenant Joe Henry, Rancho Cucamonga Police Department; Chief L. Dennis Michael and Alex Ahumada, Administrative Services Officer, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District; Duane Baker, Assistant to the City Manager; Diane O'Neal, Management Analyst II; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk. Jack Lam, City Manager, presented a City tile to Bob Dominguez, Administrative Services Director, who was going to the City of Los Alamitos to be their new City Manager. He thanked Mr. Dominguez for his service to the community and all of his hard work and dedication. Mayor Alexander presented Mr. Dominguez with a Proclamation recognizing all of his hard work and service to the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Bob Dominguez, Administrative Services Director, thanked the City Council, Jack Lam and City staff for the opportunity to have worked in the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Councilmember Gutierrez also thanked Mr. Dominguez for all of his good work in the City. City Council/Redevelopment/ Fire Protection District Minutes May 30, 1996 Page 2 B. ITEM OF DISCUSSION B1. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996/97 Jack Lam, City Manager, made a presentation of the City, Redevelopment Agency and Fire District budgets. (The overheads used for this presentation are on file in the City Clerk's office.) Councilmember Gutierrez inquired if there has been complaints about the County's animal control service, because if there has been the City should have a say in the staffing for the animal shelter. Duane Baker, Assistant to the City Manager, stated the details are now being discussed and that could be brought up. He stated he would point out that Rancho Cucamonga has a high level of expectation for customer service. He stated they have a lot of volunteers in the City to work on this project also. Councilmember Gutierrez stated he has a petition to submit on behalf of the Rancho Cucamonga Friends of Animals who are in favor of the animal shelter. He further stated he would make copies for the rest of the Council and make this part of the record. Councilmember Williams stated she shared the enthusiasm for the animal shelter and the reduction of the utility tax. Councilmember Curatalo stated he felt it was great news that the budget was balanced. He stated he would like to see an increase in revenues, but knew that would come in future years. Jack Lam, City Manager, pointed out that the utility tax will continue to disappear over the years and that the increase in revenues will help it to disappear sooner. Councilmember Biane stated he noticed that there was not a sales tax revenue increase in the budget and wondered why. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated the concern was how the Mills Stores would affect our revenue, but that hopefully Home Depot and other new stores would help with this. Mayor Alexander stated it was great that Central Park would be getting started. He also mentioned how wonderful it was that the Senior Center would take place. Councilmember Williams mentioned that page 8 of the RDA budget points out the dues for the Chamber, and asked for clarification on the amount. Jack Lam, City Manager, clarified that part of the Chamber dues are paid out of the Redevelopment Agency budget and part from the City's budget, totaling $10,000. Councilmember Williams asked if this could be increased by using marketing money. She stated she would like the Council to consider raising the total amount to $12,000 annually. Mayor Alexander opened the meeting for public comments. Addressing the City Council were: Mr. Lansdale, Sapphire, felt the City should have its own Police Department. He felt the utility tax was killing him and felt it should be cut in half. He felt the City needed someone to bring business into the City. He stated he would like to see the City get rid of the utility tax altogether. He also pointed out he felt the Fire District budget was too high. City Council/Redevelopment/ Fire Protection District Minutes May 30, 1996 Page 3 Emanuel Ramirez of Etiwanda, felt Etjwanda was not connected with some of the programs in the City. He felt some of the programs should be consolidated so that all of the marketing material is paid for and handled by one source, He stated he did not feel the City was getting good quality contract services. He pointed out he did not agree with the utility tax, but would like to see what he is getting for paying it. He stated he did not understand where the different accounts came from, and felt he was in the dark where the budget was concerned. Mayor Alexander stated Mr. Ramirez could come in and sit down with staff to get all of his questions answered. Mr. Ramirez stated he would like someone from the City to come and talk to the people in his neighborhood and explain things. Councilmember Curatalo pointed out the good crime rate the City has. He told that the City's crime rating went from 1 lth safest to 7th safest in the nation. Mayor Alexander stated he would like to sit down with him to explain how things are done in the City and to help answer some of his questions. Mr. Ramirez asked what is the goal for parks per 1000 people. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated it is five acres of park land per 1000 people. He pointed out if residential development picks up then it would help to get more parks built. Mayor Alexander stated the City is also working with the school system for park development. He stated once a park is built, it does cost a lot of money to operate it and maintain it. Councilmember Williams stated a lot of the marketing material is paid for by grants. Valerie Card, President of the Friendship for Animals thanked the Council for their support of this project. Councilmember Biane stated he also supports the opening of the animal shelter. C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC C1, Roger Sperto, Rancho Cucamonga Visitors Bureau, distributed material about what the Visitors Bureau has to offer. He talked abut the POW WOW 1996 Sight Seeing Tour scheduled for June 9, 1996. He stated he hoped the work they do will bring revenue into the City. City Council/Redevelopment/ Fire Protection District Minutes May 30, 1996 Page 4 D. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Moved by Gutierrez, seconded by Williams for the City Council to adjourn to June 5, 1996, 4:00 p.m. in the Tri-Communities Conference Room of the Civic Center, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California, for the purpose of meeting jointly with the Rancho Cucamonga Community Foundation, and for the Redevelopment Agency and Fire Protection District to adjourn to June 6, 1996, 5:30 p.m. in the Td- Communities Conference Room of the Civic Center located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California, for a budget workshop. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Respectfully su itted, City Clerk Approved by City Council: June 19, 1996 Approved by Redevelopment Agency: June 19, 1996 Approved by Fire Protection District: June 19, 1996