Council Adjourned Meeting

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, May 29, 2013 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Downey, Haffa, Sollecito, Della Sala Absent: Councilmember Selfridge City Staff City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Director of Information Present: Resources/City Clerk, City Attorney, Deputy City Manager, Plans & Public Works, Chief of Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Compliance, Finance Director, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Community Services Director CALL TO ORDER Mayor Della Sala called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comments on items not on the agenda. No one came forward, and he closed public comments. STUDY SESSION 1. Receive a Report from the Monterey Institute of International Studies on Planning Efforts (Plans & Public Works - 308-01) Action: Received report City Manager Meurer introduced the item. Chief of Planning Rerig presented a brief history, including an overview of the 2000 Master Plan and its implementation. Dr. Ramaswamy presented the report, including a more detailed history, a summary of the student population, financial information, graduate programs, and an overview of the proposed Master Plan Guiding Principles. On question, Dr. Ramaswamy described the student led "Innovation Incubator," a program to develop business ideas that the students bring forward. Councilmember Downey expressed her appreciation for MIIS. Councilmember Sollecito said that the City wants to be a partner and encourage the students' innovation. Mayor Della Sala asked if the closure of Pierce Street is under consideration, and Dr. Ramaswamy said that, as the geographic center of the campus it would be advantageous and have minimal impact. Mayor Della Sala opened public comment on the item, and having no requests to speak, closed public comment. Mayor Della Sala offered an opportunity for comments on the closed session item. No one came forward, and Council adjourned to closed session at 4:45 p.m. Mayor Della Sala reconvened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Selfridge was absent,  City Council Minutes Wednesday, May 29, 2013 and all other Councilmembers were present. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION Information Resources Director/City Clerk Gawf announced that in a conference with labor negotiators for all employee organizations, the City Council gave confidential direction to their negotiators with three separate roll call votes. Each vote was 4-0-1, with Councilmember Selfridge absent. City Manager Meurer suggested that Item 5 be continued to June 4th, where Councilmember Selfridge will be present for the discussion. On a motion by Councilmember Downey, seconded by Councilmember Haffa, and carried by the following vote, the City Council continued Item 5 to June 4, 2013: AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Downey, Haffa, Sollecito, Della Sala NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 COUNCILMEMBERS: Selfridge ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Della Sala reopened the floor for public comments on items not on the agenda. Erika read a statement regarding a homeless man who is a veteran. Lorna Moffett asked the Council to remove Section 20-85 from the Monterey Municipal Code, which prohibits sleeping in cars. She said that the ordinance is unconstitutional. Ms. Moffett submitted materials to the City Council, asking that they be passed along to Councilmember Haffa. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comments. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. First Review of Recommended Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Projects for FY 2013/14 ***CIP*** (Plans & Public Works - 406-03) Action: Received report City Engineer Reeves presented a combined staff report for the CIP and NIP and answered Councilmembers' questions. City Manager Meurer emphasized that the City's buildings and other infrastructure is wearing out and more money needs to be invested on an annual basis. Rick Heuer, NIP Spokesperson, answered questions regarding proposed restrooms at the Wharf. Councilmember Sollecito said that the City needs new revenue in order to maintain its infrastructure. Mayor Della Sala opened public comment on Items 2 and 3. Nelson Vega said that in the past the City was able to set money aside, but now the costs are unsustainable. He said that a new tax would be a burden on the private sector. He encouraged Council to make the Conference Center upgrade their top priority to raise revenues. He said that the NIP should be sacred. Rick Heuer, NIP Spokesperson, said that the NIP was created when the citizens approved a tax measure on the promise that a portion of that money would go to the NIP. Having no further 2  City Council Minutes Wednesday, May 29, 2013 requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comment on the items. 3. First Review of Recommended Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for FY 2013/14 ***NIP*** (Plans & Public Works - 406-03) Action: Received report 4. Review Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2013/14 (Finance - 406-03) Action: Received report City Manager Meurer introduced the item. Interim Finance Director Lefebvre and Assistant Finance Director Porter presented the staff report. Mayor Della Sala opened public comments on the item. Nelson Vega requested that the budget document be posted to the website. He asked that the City study why the expenditures go up when the number of employees has decreased. He said that employee pensions are much more than the private sector will ever get. Rick Heuer, speaking as an individual, asked what is causing the projected structural deficit in the out-years. He said that the Taxpayers Association has been saying for years that the defined benefit plan is more expensive than the defined contribution plan for retirement. He noted that the fees attached to water bills should be reviewed with regard to increases for specific projects like the desal plant or removal of the dam. With no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comment. City Manager Meurer said that the bulk of the imbalance in the out years comes from attempts to meet current Council policies regarding infrastructure and other reserves as well as pension costs. COUNCIL COMMENTS 5. Request to Agendize Discussion on Taking a Position on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (Selfridge - 701-01) Action: Continued to June 4, 2013 6. Request to Agendize Discussion of Moving the "Council Comments" Section of the Agenda to the First Item of the Evening (Downey - 701-15) Action: Agendized Councilmember Downey said that she has attended other Council meetings where Council Comments are done at the beginning of the meeting. On a motion by Councilmember Downey, seconded by Councilmember Sollecito, and carried by the following vote, the City Council agendized a Discussion of Moving the "Council Comments" Section of the Agenda to the First Item of the Evening: AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Downey, Haffa, Sollecito, Della Sala NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 COUNCILMEMBERS: Selfridge ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None Councilmember Downey reported on an event she attended at Green Waste, a San Jose garbage company. She stated that she attended Monterey High School's moving ceremony for a young pilot who was killed in the Middle East. Ms. Downey asked staff to look at the timer lights and microphones in the Chamber. She said that She would like to consider regulating the 3 City Council Minutes Wednesday, May 29, 2013 time frame for placing political signs on public property, or possibly the ability to place signs at all. She asked for information about the proposal for a gate at Stephen's Place and a report on the most recent rock concert at the Fairgrounds. She wondered if Garden Road should be considered as a location to allow people to sleep in their cars. Councilmember Haffa reported on a recent Casanova Oak Knoll Neighborhood Association meeting that he attended. He reported that the Fairgrounds has suggested that a cover over the events might help lower the noise level. He requested information about an MOU with the Fairgrounds and noise abatement. Councilmember Sollecito suggested that the Fairgrounds should approach potential corporate sponsors. Councilmember Haffa requested information on an agreement regarding off track betting taxes funding mitigation of impacts. Mr. Sollecito asked about the North Fremont Specific Plan concerns regarding two and three story buildings. Councilmember Sollecito also voiced concerns regarding the Stephen’s Place gate. On question by the Mayor, the City Attorney clarified that it might be possible to spend City funds on state property at a state-owned facility. Mayor Della Sala reminded everyone about the upcoming La Merienda in Memory Gardens on Saturday. CITY MANAGER REPORTS City Manager Meurer said that staff is meeting with the Fairgrounds Manager regarding the noise from the last concert. He said that the City receives about $63,000 from the state as a result of off track betting. He said that the North Fremont Plan was contentious from day one, and the commissions have tried to balance the public input on the matter. He suggested that staff should work with the people who live on Bruce Lane, because they are the most impacted. Chief of Planning Rerig said that staff is actively working on the Stephen's Place gate, and reported that not having a gate was part of the conditions of approval for the subdivision. Councilmember Downey reported that the Calamari and Clam Chowder Festival was wonderful. ADJOURNMENT Having no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Della Sala adjourned the meeting at 9:31 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Bonnie Gawf Chuck Della Sala Director of Information Resources / City Clerk Mayor 4