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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-1997 - Special Meeting0 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Special Meeting - Study Session March 24, 1997 - 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: O'Neil, Thomson, Hedges, Glover, Noyes, Mayor Debay Absent: Edwards CURRENT BUSINESS 1. UPDATE ON CITY COUNCIL'S 1997.98 PRIORITIES. Employee Relations/Negotiations Administrative Services Director Danner gave a brief background on the employee negotiation process and explained that seven of the eight associations have reached agreements. He noted that Council established a goal to review alternative negotiating methods that would be less contentious, such as Interest Based Bargaining. He reported that the City's • negotiator, Bill Avery, has been using some form of Interest Based Bargaining since 1980 and he will present information to the City Council in Closed Session on April 14, 1997. Mr. Danner explained that during the first quarter staff gathered information on the Interest Based Bargaining and other alternative bargaining methods and forwarded it to the City Manager. The 2nd quarter objective is to present the information to the City Council and receive authority to begin the process with the various employee associations. He explained that the MOU's for the miscellaneous groups expire on June 30, 1997 and on December 31, 1997 for the safety groups. The Council discussed the length of Mr. Avery's contract, the cost, the negotiating style used, and consultant vs. in -house personnel for negotiations. Airport City Attorney Burnham explained that the objectives of this goal are to develop a second commercial airport in Orange County to complement service at John Wayne Airport (JWA) and to continue to work with Orange County to ensure the maintenance of the proper service levels in compliance with the terms of the 1985 Airport Settlement Agreement. He explained that the Master Plan for the El Toro Airport will take approximately 30 months to prepare and approve, in which time the southern cities will become more aggressive in trying to frustrate the process. He noted that two lawsuits have already been filed and there is the possibility of a legal • challenge to the settlement agreement. In response to Council Member O'Neil, Mr. Burnham explained that during the first 18 months or so the primary objections appeared to be issues related Volume 51 - Page 156 10 11) City Council Goals (33) City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes - Study Session March 24, 1997 • to property values, noise, air pollution and traffic, however since there has been so much misinformation distributed, it is now difficult to pinpoint what the main concerns are at this time. The Council discussed the misinformation that is being distributed, ways to try to address it, possible test flights at El Toro, methods to distribute accurate information and the shuttling of international air passengers from LAX to Phoenix and Las Vegas. Fiscal Forecastine Administrative Services Director Danner explained that in the past the majority of forecasting has been in the 1 -2 year range and the goal has been established to prepare a long term (10 year) financial forecast for the City's various funds including a projection of revenues, expenditures and fund balance. He explained the activities that have taken place in the first quarter as outlined in the staff report and distributed a sample copy of the proposed format. He noted that the objectives for the 2nd quarter are to finalize the forecast, review the forecasts with the City Manger, present the forecasts to the Finance Committee and include the information with the 1997 -95 budget. The Council discussed the need to identify new revenue streams, as well as • the importance of how the land that is left in the City is utilized. Tideland Administration/Manaeement Mre/Marine Chief Riley explained the need to obtain a clear picture of the tideland issue, to obtain an accurate depiction of the boundaries, and to determine what revenues are derived from the tidelands and expenditures required to maintain it. He said the primary goal is to collate all of the required information and process the information through the Harbors, Beaches and Parks Commission. He further stated that the goal for this year is to paint an accurate portrayal of the tideland usage so the Council can analyze the information and provide further direction to staff. He explained that during the first quarter staff has identified the scope of work. He noted that during the second quarter, staffs objective is to review the existing information and update the Patterson Map. Newport Coast Annexation Assistant to the City Manager Ducey explained that staff is finalizing the cost benefit analysis on the annexation proposal and will present it to the Legislative Committee on April 10, 1997. The report will show estimated revenue including property tax, sales tax, transient occupancy tax, and revenue from permits and other fees. The report will also include costs to provide services such as Police, Fire, General Services, Public Works, • overhead and general government expenses. Since the property is still being developed some of the figures will be projected in five -year increments. After the report has gone to the Legislative Committee it will then be taken to the Volume 51 - Page 157 11 IUW4 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes - Study Session March 24, 1997 • Finance Committee and then to Council for direction on applying to I AFCO for annexation. She indicated that at that point negotiations will take place with the County of Orange on revenue split, the Orange County Fire Authority and with The Irvine Company since they have a development agreement with the County of Orange. The Council discussed the timing involved regarding the application and negotiation process and Ms. Ducey indicated that she envisions the process being approved contingent upon an agreement being negotiated in a certain way. She explained that the Newport Coast residents have the ability to protest the annexation and residents of Newport Beach will be allowed to provide input at any time the Council reviews the process. Council Member Glover suggested that the City also look at the Banning property for possible annexation. In response to comments made by Council Member Thomson, City Manager Murphy explained what is happening with the triangular piece of property at Ford Road and MacArthur Boulevard. He explained that the City of Irvine is currently amending their sphere of influence and discussions have been held about amending the boundary to coincide with the corridor boundary. The triangular piece of property is in the City of Irvine, however it is primarily oriented to Newport Beach. The problem that has arisen is • the fact that the property is within the Irvine Unified School District and the City wants the boundaries for the school district to be the same as theirs. The Council discussed the annexation process and it was reported that if 25% of the residents of Newport Coast protest the annexation it will require a special election. It was also pointed out that by statute any development agreements that are in place survive unless the annexing body can make a determination that it would interfere with the public safety and welfare of the City. Economic Development Assistant City Manager Wood explained that the overriding goal is to increase the City's revenue from the business sector and to revitalize the older commercial areas in the City. During the first quarter she reported that the Airport Area market study has commenced, the BPPAC recommendations are under review and Business Improvement Districts for Corona del Mar and Mariners Mile are close to being completed. She noted that a new aspect of the economic development program is to achieve full potential of Newport Coast. She also reported that drafts of the Circulation Element and TPO revisions have been completed and will be sent to the subcommittee for review. During the second quarter staff will present the BPPAC financing program and begin implementation of the community outreach program. She reported that the EDC has finished the project on permit streamlining and now will begin working on how to improve the • posture for future economic development by setting goals for the next phase. Council Member Hedges voiced concerns with the number of businesses Volume 51 - Page 158 hll City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes - Study Session March 24, 1997 INDEX • closing on the end of the peninsula and reiterated the importance of the revitalization of the area. The Council discussed the community outreach program and the ways in which the retail and restaurant world is changing. Crime Prevention Police Chief McDonell stated that the goals for Crime Prevention are to prevent crime, disseminate correct information about criminal activity and prevention of crime, and to enhance the perception of security. He briefly explained the role of the new Crime Prevention Specialist that was just hired and stated that one of the objectives is to rekindle the Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch programs in the City. Council Member Glover said that her goal is that everyone be able to keep their garage doors open in her district without the fear of being burglarized. In response to Council Member Thomson, Chief McDonell explained that since he arrived in the department he has worked toward filling more positions with non -sworn personnel. He reported that the department currently has 134 sworn personnel and the ratio of civilian officers to sworn officers is higher. He said the City probably has a higher ratio of sworn • officers per capita compared to Irvine because of the beach activities. He also explained that he has explored the use of contracting out for jail services, however has not conducted a full scale study of this area. He reported that none of the patrols have two officers per unit and when there are two officers in the patrol units, the second officer is a reserve officer. He also noted that the new Crime Prevention Specialist will begin reviewing the use of a retired senior volunteer program. I Water Service Delivery Public Works Director Webb explained that the Groundwater Development Project is in the home stretch and all but one of the major contracts has been let. He reported that the following portions of the project have been completed: Reach 1, 2 & 3 pipelines, the 3 million gallon reservoir, and the drilling of 4 wells. The pump station project at the utilities yard will be completed within a month. He said work is currently being done on the outfitting of the wells, the Slater Avenue pipeline, and the transmission line at 16th Street. He said that the budget of $23.7 million that was set in August is being met. As far as the Master Plan, he explained that they are working with Boyle Engineering on water modeling and will get a better feel for the improvements that will be needed in the next 15 years in order to project cost and needed revenue. In response to Council Member Glover, Mr. Webb explained that by obtaining public utility easements, as was done in this case, the City has the option of laying in another line with the water line and fiber optics would be compatible. Volume 51 - Page 159 • • • City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes - Study Session March 24, 1997 Assistant to the City Manager Ducey briefly reviewed the history of the dredging of the Upper Newport Bay and explained that the basins were designed to trap the sediment and prevent it from entering San Diego Creek and the Bay. She reported that the Unit 1 basin is 90% full and the Unit 2 basin is 60% full. For the short -term Ms. Ducey explained that approximately $5 million is needed now to proceed with the dredging. She reported on the meetings that have been held in an effort to get a commitment on the funding. For the long -term, she explained that there needs to be a way to maintain the dredging and operation, therefore staff is looking to the federal government to create an annuity so there is an ongoing source of revenue. She reported that permits are ready for the Unit 3 basin which will be dredged deeper to protect the habitat areas, however the permits are expected to expire by the Spring of 1998. Miscellaneous Comments The Council discussed the set -up used for the study session and various suggestions were made on how to schedule them in the future. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT - Closed Session k r k a 4: Y * x t t t * k $ * * • * * * * ■ The agenda for the Special meeting was posted on March 19, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. � d /0. City Clerka , Recording Secretary Mayor Volume 51 - Page 160 II / 1