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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/10/2006 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session October 10, 2006 — 4:00 p.m ROLL CALL Present: Council Member Curry, Council Member Selich, Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky, Mayor Webb, Council Member Ridgeway, Council Member Daigle, Council Member Nichols CURRENT BUS.INES_S 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. In response to Council Member Nichols' question regarding Item 3 (Continued Employment Waiver from PERS for Police Chief), City Manager Bludau reported that this waiver allows the Police Chief to work the first six months of the calendar year. He clarified that the Police Chiefs salary is still the same, the agreement has not changed, and the contract runs until June 30, 2007. 2. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE/BULK ITEM PICKUP OVERVIEW AND OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES. (100 -20061 Administrative Analyst Marearello utilized a PowerPoint presentation to highlight the six categories of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and displayed maps of where residents can currently drop off either 15 gallons or 125 pounds of HHW in the County. He noted that this information is also available on the City's webpage. He discussed the noticing process and that the Universal Waste Regulation has increased the number of violation notices being written. He highlighted the programs that surrounding cities use and the estimated startup costs for each program. He indicated that staff recommends having a recycling collection center at the City yard so residents wouldn't have a limit on how many times they drop off HHW and can drop off HHW during set hours. He reported that the start up cost of $105,000 includes an additional position, the purchase of a vented HHW storage unit, disposal costs, permits and fees, and program supplies. He indicated that, if Council supports this program, staff can pursue grants to help offset the startup costs and will work on the program with the goal of adding it into the General Services budget for the next fiscal year. In response to Council questions, Administrative Analyst Marcarello indicated that the residents would still be required to comply with the 15 gallon or 125 pound HHW limit per visit. He reported that, if the City finds HHW, it is brought to the City yard and taken away by an environmental services company. He indicated that all City facilities have battery boxes so the public can safely dispose of batteries. Council Member Ridgeway suggested that the boxes also be placed in the trash trucks. He discussed potential funding sources through one -time grants to defray the startup costs. He believed that the collection facility could be open 30 hours a week, but staff would also be dealing with cleanup, storage time, and disposal services. Volume 57 — Page 804 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes October 10, 2006 Regarding bulky item pickup, Deputy Director Pisani discussed the types of items they can and cannot collect with the current trash trucks, and noted that there are fee -based hauling services that will take larger items. He indicated that hauling services are not posted on the City's website. He reviewed the programs that surrounding cities use and confirmed that this type of program requires a different truck than what the City uses. He reviewed the proposed Bulky Item Collection Program and reported that the truck Would cost about $45,000 and the annual cost of the program would be about $70,000, which includes one additional refuse worker, disposal costs, and outreach material. He stated that this program can probably be implemented by April 2007. In response to Council questions, Deputy Director Pisani confirmed that the service would be on a reservation basis, similar to how the private companies handle it. Mayor Webb noted that his neighborhood used to get large bins to dispose of bulky items. Deputy Director Pisani indicated that some homeowner associations do this service for their residents; however, the concern is that people would also throw in HHW and not just bulky items. He reported that the City services 28,000 residential units, large apartments and condominiums use commercial services, and Waste Management does refuse collection in Bonita Canyon and Newport Coast and, as part of their contract, collects four bulky items per household twice a year. Council Member Selich calculated that this averages about $5 per household. Council Member Ridgeway questioned whether the City should charge $5 or $10 to help defray the cost. Council Member Daigle indicated that she does not support more fees for the residents. Deputy Director Pisani indicated that staff can bring back a report relative to the new position and the purchase of the truck so it can be ordered. Council Member Curry requested that the report compare this cost versus a private vendor's cost before making a decision. Council Member Ridgeway expressed support for bulky item pickup but suggested that a private hauler provide the City with a bid so a comparison can be done between that price and hiring one new person and buying a truck. He recommended looking at variations of the two programs and noted that all the other surrounding cities already have programs. City Manager Bludau believed that other cities have these programs because they already charge for refuse pickup. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky suggested looking into alternating days for people to drop off HHW and bulky items. Louise Fundenberg believed that even just having HHW drop off on Saturday mornings would alleviate a lot of problems and recommended having bulky item pickup once a week or allowing people to bring it to the yard. She received confirmation that fluorescent light bulbs are considered HHW and indicated that she's going to write something about this and the battery boxes in her community newsletter. 3. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UPDATE. 1100 -20061 Fire Chief Riley noted that concern increased as a result of the tsunami scare last year. He reported that a new disaster preparedness mailer was sent out this week and that a hotline number was set up to field calls generated by the mailer. Community Preparedness Coordinator Brisbois utilized a PowerPoint presentation to discuss his background and indicated that he is responsible for all community outreach programs related to disaster preparedness. He highlighted the information in the mailer and discussed his basic disaster preparedness presentation, neighborhood disaster preparedness course, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He noted that there are eight cities in Orange County with CERT programs. He indicated that his future projects include expanding the CERT program, marketing and teaching the Volume 57 - Page 805 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes October 10, 2006 neighborhood disaster preparedness course, and creating and developing a business disaster preparedness program. Emergency Services Coordinator Freeman utilized a PowerPoint presentation to discuss her background and responsibilities. She highlighted the City's disaster preparedness program and the training that's involved, and further discussed the Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC). She noted that the Emergency Management Plan (EMP) is available on the City's webpage. She reviewed the events that led to the Tsunami Warning on June 14, 2005, and reported on how the City responded to the warning. She reported that each department will be receiving the Tsunami Plan, reviewed what is necessary to be considered a Tsunami Ready City, and noted that the last thing the City needs to do to be Tsunami Ready is put up signs. She indicated that they are proposing putting up Tsunami Hazard Zone signs near the lifeguard towers and Tsunami Evacuation Route signs along Superior Avenue, Newport Boulevard, Jamboree Road, MacArthur Boulevard, Marguerite Avenue, and Newport Coast Drive. She noted that the Tsunami Ready Program has been adopted by all the coastal cities in Orange County. She indicated that they hope to be Tsunami Ready by December 26, 2006. She noted that the 100 foot elevation is a National Weather Service standard and believed that they are concerned about debris and not just water height. She indicated that, when the City is Tsunami Ready, the National Weather Service will come before Council and officially recognize the City as being a Tsunami Ready City. In response to Council questions, Emergency Services Coordinator Freeman indicated that sirens can cost between $250,000 to $1 million. Fire Chief Riley explained that the Newport -Mesa Unified School District needs to develop a plan to evacuate the school children on the Peninsula because the City does not have the capability to do this. He emphasized the need for community education and stated that the City may be able to notify residents if they receive an early Tsunami Warning. He reported that they are looking into redoing their website to be a better community education tool, especially since the City has video streaming capabilities. He noted that they conducted a hazard analysis and tsunamis have a very low probability. He indicated that, due to the tsunami planning, they now want to create an Earthquake Plan and other hazard -spec plans. He noted that the evacuation and inundation areas would be different in a Flood Plan compared to the Tsunami Plan. 4. ISSUES FACING UPPER NEWPORT BAY AND THE BACK BAY SCIENCE CENTER (C- 3460). (381100 -20061 Assistant City Manager Kiff utilized a PowerPoint presentation to discuss the contents of the Upper Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends' ( UNBNF) September 7 letter. He reported that the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve ( UNBER) is 750 acres and highlighted what entities hold its title. He noted that former State Senator Johnson helped create a $200,000 a year appropriation for UNBER that is to be used for major UNBER projects, like restoration, not staffing. He reported on the vacant Reserve Manager position, how the Department of Fish and Game (DF &G) handles their budget, and the need for Scientific Aides. He highlighted the different stakeholders' ideas about what programs to offer at the Back Bay Science Center (BBSC) and who those programs should be targeted toward. He displayed what the BBSC operating agreement states and believed that the City should convene the Teaching Lab Design Team, help facilitate an agreement relative to the curriculum, start working with UNBNF on donor opportunities for Teaching Lab equipment, continue dialogue with DF &G, consider supporting DF &G financially to get a full-time Reserve Manager just for UNBER, and consider some type of Volume 57 - Page 806 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes October 10, 2006 revenue stream to ensure continuity with Scientific Aides. In response to Council questions, Assistant City Manager Kiff indicated that the curriculum consists of marine or underwater activities, and is oriented towards younger children. He confirmed that one of the BBSC wings will be used for water testing, but that hasn't been built yet. He indicated that the intent of having everyone in the same building was to have mutual cooperation. He noted that the DF &G sent a letter today taking issue with the UNBNF's letter. He indicated that he isn't sure if the City can demand the money from DF &G but may be able to sign an agreement to be their contractor. He clarified that, taking over the Reserve from DF &G would require legislation and a level of trust from the environmental community; however, the City may be able to enter into some type of collaboration with DF &G. Dennis Baker, UNBNF, noted that their focus is on restoration, the protection of species, and education about the Bay. He believed that the current programs are not good for high school students and that they should follow the California Coastal Commission curriculum. He indicated that they were not aware that the money goes back if it is not used, especially since it could've been used for restoration. He agreed that there is some lack of trust about the City being able to manage the program, but that the suspicion is based on events that involve The Irvine Company. He hoped that the City would take over the facility, but knows of people who like things the way they are. He noted that DF &G will always have a presence in Upper Newport Bay because they are charged by the State to enforce environmental laws and protect endangered species. He pointed out that UNBNF has been paying for the Scientific Aides. Lori Keisser, Chair of the Sierra Club Task Force for Upper Newport Bay, Board Member for Friends of Harbor, Beaches and Parks, and a UNBNF, stated that the programs at the Muth Center are for K -3rd graders and emphasized the importance of the outreach programs at Shellmaker that are geared for children in the 4th -6th grades. Ray Williams, Professor of Biology at Rio Hondo College, expressed support of the City managing the facility but still have DF &G handle protecting the endangered species. He noted that the City has more money invested in the BBSC project than any other entity. He described the type of DF &G employee that the BBSC needs. He noted that the DF &G's assignments have broadened but their training hasn't and asked Council to become active participants in getting this facility done right. He stated that the volunteers are ready to help the City in any way they can. Irwin Haydock stated that he has been appointed as the UNBNF Scientific Advisor. He discussed a conference he attended in which a new educational program involving Washington, Oregon, and California was discussed. He agreed that the BBSC would be well - served by the City's leadership and added that he feels The Irvine Company has come a long way and does want to do the right thing. Roger Mallett, part -time UNBNF Executive Director, reported that he facilitated the development of a comprehensive cooperative policy for the Management Coalition which also developed a comprehensive matrix so there is no competition with each other's programs. He suggested that people look at the facility's original mission statement. He believed that the DF &G is reluctant to accept assistance in developing the BBSC because they don't want to lose control. He noted that the City needs to protect its investment, commended the City for its interest in a collaborative effort, and requested that the City approach DF &G about getting a full -time Research Manager with the right credentials. Volume 57 - Page 807 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes October 10, 2006 Mayor Pro Tern Rosansky expressed support for convening all the entities. Council Member Ridgeway stated that there has to be a way to come together to create a research and educational facility, along side the DF &G. Mayor Webb emphasized that The Irvine Company is still a valuable resource to the City and has dedicated 37,000 acres as a national landmark, dedicated 50,000 acres within the County, and invested $50 million into programs to maintain those facilities over the years. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None. ADJOURNMENT - 6:00 p.m. The agenda for the Regular Meeting was posted on October 4, 2006, at 3:20 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. / j �'G / / City Clerk Recording Secretary ay Mayor Volume 57 - Page 808