Ballot Measure Advisory Committee

MINUTES BALLOT MEASURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, June 6, 2018 11:30 AM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CONFERENCE ROOM 2354 GARDEN ROAD MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Committee Rick Aldinger, Mike Brassfield, Carol Chorbajian, Michael Dawson, Joseph Members DeRuosi (arrived at 11:40 a.m.), Col. Phil Deppert (departed at 12:30 p.m.), Present: Pam Hansman, Hans Jannasch, David Jones, Jean Rasch, Richard Ruccello Committee Kenneth Gordon Members Absent: City Staff Carol Bouchard (Interim Finance Director), Bill Statler (Consultant), Present: Steve Wittry (Public Works Director), Laurie Huelga (Administrative Analyst), Liza Linsao (Recording Secretary) CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Ruccello called the meeting to order at 11:32 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes On a motion made by Committee Member Aldinger, seconded by Vice Chair Ruccello, and carried by the following vote, the Committee approved the minutes from the May 9, 2018 meeting, based on clarification by City Staff of whether committee discussion of the NIP feasibility study referenced under item 3 referred to installing fiber optics or undergrounding utilities. AYES: 10 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Aldinger, Brassfield, Chorbajian, Dawson, Deppert, Hansman, Jannasch, Jones, Rasch, Ruccello NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: DeRuosi, Gordon ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: None Committee Member DeRuosi arrived at 11:40 a.m. 2. Plan and Costs for Implementing Citywide Signal System Improvements Public Works Director Wittry gave a presentation on safety accessibility needs and traffic signals as requested by the Committee. He stated that the City Attorney confirmed that the infrastructure at individual signals could be funded with the current measure language as the scope of work is within parameters. He further explained congestion relief projects are not considered safety improvements so items such as connecting a network of signals would not be within the scope of Measure P. When asked by Chair Chorbajian, Public Works Director Wittry confirmed that 1% over ten years would complete the project. Committee Member Brassfield asked whether the estimate included work to make Alvarado Street two-way and Wittry stated it  Ballot Measure Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 6, 2018 did not. Committee Member Jannasch stated that his neighbors want to know when their streets would be done and that focus on other areas would be distracting. Vice Chair Ruccello commented that if the ballot language includes purposes other than streets, it will fail. Action: Presentation and Report Received. 3. Results of Public Opinion Research Consultant Statler presented the public opinion survey results shared at the June 5, 2018 City Council Meeting. He confirmed that the final ballot measure is due to the County by August 10, 2018, after review by the State Department of Tax and Fee Administration and City Attorney. For this reason, the recommendation is due to the City Council by July 20, 2018. Interim Finance Director Bouchard commented that the sooner the Committee makes a recommendation, the more time City Council will have to make their decision. Vice Chair Ruccello commented that the reason numbers have not changed since the 2014 survey is because only 30% of the streets were done. Committee Member Rasch asked why undergrounding utilities was not addressed in the survey. Consultant Statler responded that there is a study in process that will not be completed in time for the ballot measure. Chair Chorbajian stated that Measure P in 2014 was the start of the process and that citizens should have been advised that. She also commented that education of the citizens is the key for a successful vote and suggested focusing on phrases such as “Finish the job. Here is the plan…”. Committee members discussed whether the sales tax rate should be 1% or 1.25%. Committee Member Aldinger commented that the survey was well done and that the community has stated what is most important to them. He agrees with a ten year term and recommends that the measure finishes the streets, includes traffic management, and that the project is completed in its entirety. He recommended that Public Works Director Wittry provide a detailed list on how to achieve completion of the project and that there should be an oversight board. Committee Member Brassfield stated that he met with Traffic Engineer Renny and that a traffic signal project is already in the process. Committee Member Brassfield also commented that it will take total credibility to pass the measure and that if the measure fails, the streets will not be fixed. Vice Chair Ruccello commented that if the Committee complicates the measure, it will not pass and mentioned a letter from the Taxpayers Association to the Interim City Manager opposing any additions. He suggested considering a 5-year term based on the results of the opinion poll. Action: Presentation and report received. Information regarding 2014 public opinion survey requested from Interim Finance Director Bouchard. PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC COMMENTS allows you, the public, to speak for a maximum of three minutes on any subject which is within the jurisdiction of the Ballot Measure Advisory Committee which is not on the agenda. Any person or group desiring to bring an item to the attention of the Committee may do so by addressing the Committee during Public Comments or by addressing a letter of explanation to: Finance Director, 735 Pacific Street, Suite A, Monterey, CA 93940. The appropriate staff person will contact the sender concerning the details. 2  Ballot Measure Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 6, 2018 A public comment was made by John Narigi, General Manager at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, also representing the Lighthouse Business Association, the Cannery Row Business Association, and the Monterey County Hospitality Association. He stated that the primary concern from the poll is streets including traffic congestion and how the two are the same. He stated that where the streets end is where the repairs are required therefore they are supportive of a plan to add Del Monte, Fremont, Munras and improved signage. Narigi stated that Traffic Engineer Renny has a plan in place but the City has no commitment for funding. He supported an 8-10 year sunset and has not taken a position on 1% vs. 1.25%. He stated that the tunnel is blocked in the afternoon and could be a public safety issue. He also explained that hotel occupancy has not increased and that transient occupancy has increased only due to increasing hotel average daily rates. Narigi commented how the City is bombarded with day-trippers, affecting traffic congestion along with citizen commute. He also reminded the Committee that now that the Conference Center has reopened, that will bring more visitors to the City. He stated they are pleased with the City’s progress and understands that the roads are in need of repairs. PUBLIC APPEARANCE PUBLIC APPEARANCE items are reports on non-routine issues that might stimulate public discussion, but that do not require formal noticing as public hearings. You are welcome to offer your comments after being recognized by the Chair. The Committee may limit the time each speaker is allocated. 4. Review of Draft Mailer on Measure P Progress Administrative Analyst Huelga distributed copies of the draft mailer. Vice Chair Ruccello commented that the mailer should be informational and not a campaign piece for lobbying. Administrative Analyst Huelga agreed and assured that the City has put a great deal of attention into the language. Committee Member Hansman commented that there should be a better approach and suggested the addition of traffic congestion would be an advantage. In a public comment made by John Narigi, he recommended that graphs on the mailer include the schedule which would explain that the City is completing the work as promised. Committee Member Dawson commented on the continuity of the measure and feels it would be risky to include traffic congestion. Vice Chair Ruccello stated that he agrees with the traffic problems but he does not believe this measure would pass if traffic is included in the measure. He recommended a separate ballot measure for a sales tax increase with a Ballot Measure Advisory Committee. Committee Member Brassfield agreed that residents are unhappy with the traffic congestion and that some blame the tourism industry and auto events on the peninsula. He also stated that those who live on streets which have not been fixed are not concerned with other issues therefore any addition jeopardizes the chance of a successful measure. Due to time constraints, the Committee decided to continue the discussion on the mailer at the next meeting. Action: Requested hand-out showing timeline from Public Works Director Wittry prior to next meeting. Comments and suggestions for the mailer will be collected by Interim Finance Director Bouchard. 5. Continued Committee Discussion of Key Issues 3  Ballot Measure Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 6, 2018 Committee Member Aldinger made, and later retracted, a motion to recommend to Council to continue the current Measure P and include traffic congestion management in the measure and to recommend a 1.25% tax with a 10-year sunset, unless the project is completed sooner. The Committee decided to review and continue the discussion on measure items, tax amount and sunset date at the next meeting. 6. Next Meeting The Committee decided to meet on June 13, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 1:39 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Liza Linsao Carol Chorbajian Recording Secretary Chair 4