CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
September 18, 2002
2:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor McLaughlin called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:05 p.m.
II. FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Ross led the Flag salute.
III. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Bouer, Ring, Ross, Hack, McLaughlin
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Keane; City Attorney Biggs; City Clerk Condon; Assistant City Manager Reilly; Community Director Barr
IV. PRESENTATIONS
Kay Kearney, Director of Business Development for Doctor’s Ambulance offered a donation to the City of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and provided a demonstration of its use. Moved by Councilmember Ring , seconded by Councilmember Bouer and carried unanimously to accept a donation of an Automatic External Defibrillator and training for city staff from Doctor’s Ambulance.
V. CITY PROCLAMATIONS
Moved by Councilmember Ross, seconded by Councilmember Ring and carried unanimously to adopt Proclamations 5.1 through 5.5.
5.1 Certificate of Commendation – Jerry Lederer – 100th Birthday
5.2 Certificate of Commendation – David Ast – 100th Birthday
5.3 Certificate of Commendation – Aquadettes
5.4 Proclamation – Race Equality Week – September 23-29, 2002
5.5 Proclamation – Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October 2002
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
Moved by Councilmember Ring, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hack, and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items 6.1 through 6.7.
6.1 Approved City Council Minutes from the regular meeting of July 17, 2002 and the adjourned regular meeting of September 4, 2002.
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 filed August 2002 monthly Treasurer’s Report.
6.4 Approved the September 18, 2002 Warrant Register in the amount of $956,211/78.
6.5 Approved and authorized the Mayor to execute the Third Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Laguna Woods and the County of Orange for law enforcement services, continuing the existing contract through December 2002.
6.6 Approved the following modifications to the Grant Funding Policy:
A. Dispense grant funds on a quarterly basis, unless otherwise required for program operation.
B. Require quarterly progress reports showing grant expenditures and the status of the funded project or program.
6.7 Resolution No. 02-31 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE adopted
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mayor McLaughlin advised that item 7.2 would be reviewed first.
7.2 Conditional Use Permit Application CUP-53 – Activities Building within the Gate 12 West Development
City Manager Keane introduced Community Development Director, Lauren Barr who presented the staff report and answered questions. Director Barr advised that staff recommended approval subject to the conditions listed.
Mayor McLaughlin opened the Public Hearing.
Kevin Canning spoke on behalf of the applicant, Golden Rain Foundation. He thanked staff for their assistance and advised they concur with the proposed conditions. He reported that the lot line adjustments were underway with the city. The Bridge Club members in the audience raised their hands to show their support of the building.
Don Kornreich thanked both the City and the Golden Rain Foundation for successfully working together.
Ray Barrett thanked everybody for their help in obtaining the CUP approval.
The Public Hearing was closed.
City Clerk Condon advised one letter was received as previously mentioned.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hack, seconded by Councilmember Bouer and unanimously carried 5 – 0 to adopt Resolution No. 02-32 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CUP 53 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN APPROXIMATELY 19,975 SQUARE FOOT ACTIVITIES BUILDING WITHIN THE GATE 12 WEST DEVELOPMENT.
7.1 Golden Rain Foundation Development Agreement 02-01
City Manager Keane presented the staff report and answered questions. She advised there were no changes since the first reading of the Ordinance.
Mayor McLaughlin opened the Public Hearing.
Kevin Canning spoke on behalf of the Golden Rain Foundation and thanked staff for their assistance in the matter.
The Public Hearing was closed.
City Clerk Condon advised there were no written comments received.
Moved by Councilmember Bouer, seconded by Councilmember Ring and unanimously carried 5 – 0 to adopted Ordinance 02-04 entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, ENACTING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE GOLDEN RAIN FOUNDATION OF LAGUNA WOODS
7.3 Laguna Woods General Plan
City Manager Keane provided a brief background on the General Plan process and advised that Council would be asked to approve three resolutions. She advised the General Plan would be the principal policy document guiding the physical development of the City. City Manager Keane introduced Paul Ireland from Hogle-Ireland, the City’s general Plan consultant, to discuss the proposed General Plan. Mr. Ireland presented the background of the General Plan and thanked the General Plan Coordinating Committee for their work.
Mr. Ireland advised that as required by state law, the proposed Laguna Woods General Plan includes all seven mandatory components, or “Elements”: Land Use Element; Housing Element; Circulation Element; Open Space Element; Conservation Element; Safety Element; Noise Element. Each Element is comprised of a Background Technical Report and a Policy Document.
Mr. Ireland advised that implementation of the General Plan would require adoption of revised wording at this meeting. The draft General Plan designates land in a traditional – commercial, open space, residential – manner. The EIR discusses two alternatives to this approach – status quo and urban activity center/specific plan. He also discussed the changes requested by several Councilmember and answered questions. Council expressed support by consensus for the urban activity center concept for the land use element and finalized other changes to the draft document.
City Attorney Biggs expressed concern that there were a significant number of changes and Council was being asked to approve a final document they did not have before them. She recommended that the issue be brought back to Council at the next meeting with a completed document, unless there was a state mandate requiring adoption at this meeting.
City Manager Keane reported there was no state mandate to adopt the General Plan today and she concurred with City Attorney Biggs recommendation.
City Attorney Biggs recommended opening the Public Hearing for public comments, closing the Public Hearing and then bringing this item back at the next regular meeting for action.
Mayor McLaughlin opened the Public Hearing.
Virginia Templeton, Community Services Chair, reported the Committee supported and approved the Plan.
Jerry Werner, Planning Advisory Committee Chair, advised that that the September 6, 2002 PAC meeting, the Committee approved the General Plan as presented.
Kevin Canning, representing GRF, thanked everybody for working to reach a compromise on various issues and states GRF’s support for the plan. He did note that the re-designation of Leisure World Clubhouses as residential did not yet appear in the draft document.
Mr. Lucas, President of the Leisure World Garden Center Club, advised that had submitted a letter objecting to the General Plan, but that they were prepared to withdrawn their objection.
The Public Hearing was closed.
Paul Ireland reported that all the changes recommended would be incorporated into the final General Plan document. City Manager Keane reported the revised General Plan document would be brought back to Council on October 16, 2002 for adoption.
VIII. COUNCIL BUSINESS
8.1 Rossmoor Partners Property
City Manager Keane advised that there was still no name for the Rossmoor Partners Property. Councilmember Ring recommended Wood’s End. Council concurred with the name. City Manager Keane reported that a ribbon cutting ceremony would not be at the end of September, but would be scheduled for sometime in October.
IX. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
9.1 Proposed Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget for the City of Laguna Woods’ Mini Branch library
City Manager Keane discussed the Laguna Woods mini-branch library and the proposed budget for the next year. The amount requested from the County includes momey for an architect to evaluate and design an expansion to the mini-branch on the second floor of City Hall.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hack, seconded by Councilmember Ring and unanimously carried to approve the following:
A. Approved the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget for the City of Laguna Woods’ mini-branch library.
B. Authorized the City Manager to submit the Fiscal Year 2002-2003 budget for the City of Laguna Woods’ Mini-Branch Library to the Orange County Public Library, and to request that the remaining library funds available to the City in FY 02-03 be set aside and carried over into the next fiscal year for the construction of the proposed library expansion.
9.2 Community Development Block Grant Funds.
City Manager Keane advised the City has been part of the County CDBG program since incorporation, but has been unable to design a project that could successfully compete for funding. CDBG grants are designed to assist low and moderate income individuals and until the 2000 census was completed, the City had no statistical date to support a project. She reported that staff is investigating two potential project for submission next month: 1) grants or loans for wheelchair lifts, and 2) interior unit weatherization. A public hearing has been scheduled for October 16, 2002 to prioritize projects and authorize the City’s application; the application is due October 22. By consensus, Council directed staff to proceed with the two proposed projects.
X. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
City Attorney Biggs reported that all was fine.
XI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
11.1 Laguna Canyon Foundation (Councilmember Ring)
Councilmember Ring reported he was unable to attend the last meeting. Councilmember Bouer advised there was nothing to report
11.2 El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) (Mayor Pro Tem Hack)
Mayor Pro Tem Hack provided an update on various lawsuits involving ETRPA.
11.3 San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Authority (SJHTCA) (Mayor Pro Tem Hack)
Mayor Pro Tem Hack reported further regarding the possible merger of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor and Foothill Eastern.
11.4 Vector Control District (Councilmember Bouer)
Mayor Bouer reported the West Nile Virus is in California. He reported that Governor Davis signed a bill to support Vector Control.
11.5 Orange County Library Board (Councilmember Ross)
Councilmember Ross advised the Board meeting was delayed until the governor’s budget was approved and their next meeting would be after the Finance Committee meets.
11.6 Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)(Councilmember Ross)
Councilmember Ross reported the next meeting would be next week.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Richard Edgar discussed the Alzheimer’s Association and reported on the programs and services available to assist residents.
XIII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
City Attorney Biggs advised the following corrections to the Closed Session announcement
The City Council will meet in closed session to give direction to its employee compensation negotiator, Leslie Keane, pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 54957.6 with regard to unrepresented employees.
XIV. CLOSED SESSION
There was no reportable action
XV. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. A Regular Meeting of the City Council will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, California
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SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: October 16, 2002
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JAN MC LAUGHLIN, Mayor
