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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/07/31 - MinutesJuly 31, 1997 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MINUTES Special Meeting A. CALL TO ORDER A special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, Redevelopment Agency and Fire Protection District was held on Thursday, July 31, 1997, in the Tri Communities Room of the Civic Center, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by Mayor William J. Alexander. Present were members: Paul Biane, James Curatalo, and William J. Alexander. Councilmember Williams arrived at 6:12 p.m. Councilmember Gutierrez arrived at 6:14 p.m. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager; Linda D. Daniels, Redevelopment Agency Manager; Larry Temple, Administrative Services Director; Susan Stark, Finance Officer; Ingrid Blair, GIS Supervisor; Alex Ahumada, Administrative Services Officer; Joe O'Neil, City Engineer; Shintu Bose, Deputy City Engineer; Wait Stickney, Associate Engineer; Brad Buller, City Planner; Bill Makshanoff, Building Official; Deborah Clark, Library Manager; Diane O'Neal, Management Analyst II; Suzanne Ota, Community Services Manager; Chief Dennis Michael, Deputy Chief Bob Corcoran and Battalion Chief Ralph Crane, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District; Marti Higgins, Disaster Preparedness Manager; Captain Rodney Hoops, Rancho Cucamonga Police Department; James C. Frost, City Treasurer; and Kathryn L. Scoff, Deputy City Clerk. B. ITEM OF DISCUSSION B1. DISCUSSION Of PROPOSED BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997/98 Jack Lam, City Manager, gave an overview of the Proposed FY 1997-98 budgets. He explained that the Budget constitutes the City General Fund, which funds the majority of services of the City; the Fire District budget, which is a separate agency and has a separate budget that deals only with fire services; the Library Services budget, which has funds segregated from the transfer of County Library funds to the City for the operations of a City Library; the Redevelopment Agency budget, which contains restrictive revenues for that Agency and a capital improvements program which also consists of restricted funds for infrastructure improvements, the majority of which come from State and Federal agencies. Jack Lam, City Manager, said overall for this next year, the budget and revenues have been stable and we are looking forward to a projected 5.6% increase from the prior year, the increases being a result of sales tax, permit and development fee revenues, franchise fees and motor vehicle license fees. Jack Lam, City Manager, provided the highlights of each department's budget. City Council/Redevelopment Agency/Fire Protection District Minutes July 31, 1997 Page 5 Jack Lam, City Manager, said we could have done more this next year had it not been for the fact that we have to do Day Creek. Council concurred to review this item at the next scheduled workshop. Councilmember Biane said he is concerned about the overall tone of some issues brought up in the summary, mainly regarding planning and building and safety staff and using 1990 numbers as benchmarks. He said a lot of automation has happened at City Hall since that time, and there is a computer on everybody's desk with greater skills and efficiency, and he does not want the public to think we are adding people just to add people because we need to get back to this number we were at in 1990. We've been elected here to ensure that City government is running as efficiently as possible, and he wants to make sure that is what we are doing. Jack Lam, City Manager, said he can reassure him that it was not used for that purpose. He was just showing as a comparison that the level of development has picked up and in order to be able to maintain a higher level of customer service, we need to add a couple more people in that arena, especially since AB 1600 says you have to use development fees for customer service. Councilmember Biane said he would like to consider modifying the pass-thru agreements so that additional tax increment passes to the Fire General Fund. He said in faimess to staff and Jack, it is more of a question because he does not have the numbers to base a decision or to say this is the direction we should go. He would like to take a harder look at it before we reach a final budget agreement. Jack Lam, City Manager, said we need to carefully look at that because there are a lot of other implications to doing that. Councilmember Williams said she concurs with that. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated he would like to recognize the Finance Department. He said this is the 9th year we have received a very prestigious award for accounting and reporting purposes. He said there is no city in this region that has won it nine times consecutively. He said most cites are just now trying to apply for their first award. Susan Start, Finance Officer, was applauded for this achievement. Councilmember Williams stated she would like the Council to sit with staff early on to listen to their concerns about next year's budget. She said we have a real generalization of things and she does not have a clue what most of them represent. She wants to be more informed, and next year she would like to work on that. Councilmember Williams stated regarding the animal shelter, she would like an update on the dog licensing. Jack Lam, City Manager, said we contract with the County for animal control which costs us about $75 to $80 annually. The County handles all the animal licensing. Councilmember Williams said maybe we should sit down and talk to them because the average citizen does not have a clue how to license their animal. Jack Lam, City Manager, said if we take over licensing the cost of the service will go up considerably and the estimate determined in a report generated two or three years ago was about $400,000. Councilmember Williams said we need to have discussions with the County and take a look at the contract. City Council/Redevelopment Agency/Fire Protection District Minutes July 31, 1997 Page 3 Councilmember Gutierrez said he does agree with Bob Lundy that there is a lot to be gained if we have some emphasis on tourism, because there are a lot of people coming to Ontario Mills, which will eventually add to our local economy. He said it is very convenient for people to drive up and see us here, and we would like to attract some dollars here. He said he is grateful to Mr. Lundy as he has tried very hard and is very sincere, and he is always happy to entertain his proposals. Councilmember Biane asked if there is an opportunity for the City to rent a space in his shop to promote what the City feels is nostalgic about the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Mr. Lundy said absolutely. He referred to his ad once again-Exhibit Vl. He said we are the gateway to the Route 66 heritage corddor scenic highway to the west, the birth place of the Cucamonga valley wine region, we have interesting new restaurants and old local favorites along Foothill, and we are adjacent to 3,000 top notch hotel rooms. Councilmember Curatalo asked how we could proceed further with this issue without knowing what your Board wants to do. Mr. Lundy answered that is why we are having a workshop. He said he reports to his Board and follows their direction. He said he is confident that the Board would unanimously applaud the Council's direction. Councilmember Williams, upon Mr. Lundy's request to restate the City's proposal, said the City has more tourism to offer that just Route 66. We have the unique historical items that deserve a mention. She said we have a County museum in the Rains House and the Chaffey Garcia House and she would encourage when there is an event at any of the venues these be given an opportunity for exposure in their shop. She said we might be interested in working with you on some service exchange, such as promoting other areas in our city. She asked that he and his Board put together a proposal and bdng it back to the City. She said we don't just hand out public money, but we buy services. She said we need a philosophy statement from the Board that says we are willing to promote the entire city. Mr. Lundy agreed to take this information back to the Board. Mr. Tim Younger, President of the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce, discussed the Chamber's proposal with regard to a partnership with the City of Rancho Cucamonga as it relates to economic development with respect to marketing the City as a whole. He said the preoposal is designed to not only create a marketing program for the business community, but they really believe that it is time that the City and the business community take these steps together. Councilmember Curatalo said he thinks the Chamber and the City are on the same track and that they are both here to serve people in this community. Councilmember Gutierrez apologized as he has to leave, however, he stated the following remarks about the budget. 1) He is happy about the lowering of the utility tax; 2) He is in favor of the skate park project and would like to see it completed; 3) He supports the lights at Etiwanda Creek Park and hopes that it is not a one-use facility; 4) With reference to Disaster Preparedness, he noticed there was a reduction compared to last year's budget, and he hopes we are not compromising any disaster preparations that have previously been made; 5) He is supportive of Fire Maintenance; 6) He thinks there is a way to be partners with the Chamber and he has nothing against having the Chamber take a few projects from the City, as it relieves the City of some financial obligations; he is not against looking at the possibility of having the Chamber help in the Shopping Center Conference in Las Vegas;