CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
January 21, 2004
2:00 P.M.
Mayor Ring called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:00 p.m.
Councilmember Ross the Flag salute.
III. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Bouer, Hack, Ross, Ring
ABSENT: McLaughlin
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Keane; Deputy City Attorney Wohlenberg; City Clerk Condon; Assistant City Manager Riley; City Engineer Nelson
None.
None.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ross, seconded by Councilmember Hack, and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items 6.1 through 6.9.
6.1 Approved City Council Minutes from the Regular Meeting of December 17, 2003 and Adjourned Regular Meeting of January 8, 2004.
6.2 Approved the reading by title of all ordinances and resolutions. Said ordinances and resolutions that appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title only and further reading waived.
6.3 Received and File December 2003 Monthly Treasurer’s Report.
6.4 Approved the January 21, 2004 Warrant Register in the amount of $706,773.70,
6.5 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
Adopted Resolution No. 04-01 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE FINAL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) PROGRAM AND ESTABLISHED ANNUAL GOAL OF 10% FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2003/2004, FOR ADOPTION AND SUBMISSION TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS)
6.6 Notice of Completion – Pedestrian Push Button System Modification
6.7 Notice of Completion – El Toro Road Traffic Signal Communications System Modification from Aliso Creek Road to Calle Sonora
B Released contract retention in the amount of $4,099.29 withheld per government code 35 days following recordation of Notice of Completion with the County of Orange.
6.8 Notice of Completion – Moulton Parkway Solar-Powered Flashing Beacon Project
6.9 Notice of Completion – El Toro Median Modification and Sidewalk Construction
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
VIII. CITY COUNCIL
8.1 Future Meeting Schedule
City Manager Keane advised the distributed meeting schedule identifies the regular and two proposed budget Council meetings for 2004. Staff is discussing with the Deputy City Attorney the necessity of an additional meeting to certify the election.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ross, seconded by Councilmember Bouer and unanimously carried to approve the 2004 Council Meeting Schedule.
9.1 Moulton Parkway Widening Project
Assistant City Manager Reilly presented a power point presentation and discussed the Moulton Parkway Widening project through Laguna Woods. He advised the County obtained Right of Ways (ROW) necessary for the improvements for the El Toro Road intersection as part of their approval of the EZ Lube, Arco station and car wash before city incorporation. Other impacts on land adjacent to the project include:
* Equestrian Center ? On El Toro Road, the City already owns 9 feet of ROW from curb and requires an additional 9 ? 17 feet. On Moulton Parkway, the City owns only 1? 4 feet of ROW from the curb and requires an additional 14 – 26 feet.
* Golf Course and Garden Center #1 ? The City owns 6 feet of ROW from curb along the length of the golf course and garden center and requires an additional 9 feet.
* West Side of Moulton, Gate 12 Area ? The proposed design will impact existing slopes adjacent to the restaurant pad and the nursery north of Gate 12. The project will incorporate soil nail walls to minimize impact to the restaurant pad and nursery, and reduce the height of the retaining walls. The City expects to acquire ROW adjacent to the restaurant pad and easements for the soil nail walls through the entitlement process for Leisure World Clubhouse 7.
Assistant City Manager Reilly advised the Exhibits (A-C) provided to Council, reflect typical roadway sections for the proposed project that incorporate the dimensions below.
Parkways: 10 feet wide to accommodate
2 ? 4 foot planter area along the curb
Minimum 7 foot sidewalk
Traffic Lanes: 12 feet next to a curb with 1 foot gutter
13 feet next to a curb with 2 foot gutter
11 feet for interior lanes (painted lines on both sides)
11 feet for lanes adjacent to bike/right turn lanes (painted lines on both sides
Bicycle Lanes: 7 – 8 feet (engineering standards: 5 – 8 feet)
Medians: 13 feet (1 foot less than standard 14 feet)
Assistant City Manager Reilly presented an overview of the County Schedule for the project, which is based upon Council approval of the major elements of the proposed conceptual design. He advised that for the schedule to be met, the City Council must:
* Decide on project ROW envelope – January 2004
* Approve parkway and median dimensions to accommodate sidewalks and landscaping ? January 2004
* Authorize City staff to obtain ROW title reports and deeds, secure appraisals and negotiate ROW acquisition – January to March, 2004
* Approve widths of traffic and bicycle lanes ? January to April, 2004
The estimated cost of this project is currently $6.5 million, depending on the cost of ROW acquisition. Funding will come from Moulton Parkway fees collected from development projects that add trips to this roadway. However, there is still a funding shortfall estimated at $500,000 which County staff expects to be collected by the commencement of the bid process.
The City has also secured $650,000 in Measure M GMA 10 funds and $158,220 in federal Transportation Enhancement Activities funds to provide for improvements beyond the scope of the original project design.
Staff answered questions from Marty Rhodes and Maurice Kravitz regarding medians and funding.
Chris Trapp and Scott Soto, consultants to the Golden Rain Foundation, provided Council with a handout and briefly discussed the information presented. Councilmember Hack questioned the excess trips they discussed. City Manager Keane clarified they were not raising any objections to the Moulton Widening project and would return with specific plans as necessary for the GRF property. Chris Trapp concurred they had no objections to the plan. City Manager Keane expressed her appreciation to the GRF consultants for assisting the City in their efforts to preserve the projections and travel trip budgets which are identified in our General Plan as both the Orange County Council of Governments and Southern California Association of Government are projecting lower employment numbers.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember Bouer, and carried unanimously to approve the Right of Way (ROW) envelope for the Moulton Parkway widening project, allowing City and County staff to proceed with preparation of ROW acquisition documents.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember Bouer, and carried unanimously to approve the project conceptual design, including:
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ross, and carried unanimously to authorize the City Manager to obtain ROW title reports and deeds, obtain property appraisals and negotiate ROW acquisition:
9.2 Fiscal Year 2003-04 Mid Year Budget
City Manager Keane briefly discussed the modifications to the City’s initial $8.3 million budget and advised the attachments provided to Council provided detailed information about specific modifications which include:
City Manager Keane advised there was a request to change animal shelters, from the cat owners on the Animal Services Advisory Committee, which is a staff committee. Staff had prepared a Request For Proposal; however, as indications were the cost would increase, the RFP was not distributed. Staff will continue to work with Laguna Beach to improve services. Cat owners were concerned that no shelter would accept animal relinquishments. City Manger Keane reported the Mission Viejo shelter would accept relinquished animals for a $60 fee for cats and $90 for dogs and half the price for spayed animals.
Karen Wood presented Council with a resolution from the Cat Club, requesting the City change animal shelters. Mayor Ring advised Council would take their request into consideration when preparing the next budget.
Fay Karbison requested the contract with Laguna Beach be canceled and a better way to handle animals and save money be found.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember Bouer, and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 04-02 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION 03-17 AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2003-04 BUDGET
Deputy City Attorney Wohlenberg reported everything was fine with the city.
XII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
12.1 El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (Councilmember Hack)
Councilmember Hack advised there was no meeting this month. He advised the Executive Committee approved the balance of the City’s fiscal year dues would be reduced by half, $23,000.
12.2 Orange County Corridor Authorities (Councilmember Hack)
Mayor Hack discussed that the merger between the San Joaquin and Foothill Eastern toll roads.
12.3 Vector Control District (Councilmember Bouer)
Councilmember Bouer advised they are continuing to search for a new General Manager
12.4 Library Board (Councilmember McLaughlin)
City Manager Keane reported the Board had not met during the past several months as they were awaiting the state budget.
12.5 Orange County Fire Authority (Mayor Pro Tem Ross)
Councilmember Ross reported the January meeting will take place at the new OCFA building.
12.6 Laguna Canyon Foundation (Mayor Ring)
Mayor Ring reported the Foundation met last week and discussed Barbers Lake.
12.7 Coastal Greenbelt Authority (Mayor Ring)
Mayor Ring reported they did not have a meeting.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Galal Kernahan discussed the March election and the new technology. He suggested encouraging resident of Laguna Woods to file for Permanent Absent status.
Denis Welch discussed rumors about the taxi voucher program ending. Staff advised the coupon booklets are expected to continue past June 30, 2004. However, the specific destination tickets (John Wayne Airport, Fashion Island, etc) may not continue past June 30, 2004.
XIII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Hack discussed Absent Ballots.
Councilmember Bouer reminded the Transportation Awareness Program was Thursday, January 29, 2004 at Clubhouse 2.
Mayor Ring reported on a Medicare drug discount card, which he advised has been identified as a scam.
City Manager Keane reported Mayor Ring will be speaking at the First Mayor’s Breakfast on January 30, 2004 at 7:30 a.m. at Clubhouse 2. Tickets are available through the South County Chamber. Reservations forms are available at the City Hall counter.
XIV. CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. A Regular Meeting of the City Council will be held at 2:00 p.m. February 18, 2004 at Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92653.
____________________________________________
SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: February 18, 2004
______________________________________________
ROBERT B. RING, Mayor
