CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
January 8, 2004
1:30 P.M.
Mayor Ring called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 1:30 p.m.
Councilmember Bouer led the Flag salute.
III. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Bouer, Hack, McLaughlin, Ross, Ring
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Keane; City Attorney Biggs; City Clerk Condon; Assistant City Manager Reilly, Community Services Manager Foley
City Manager Keane noted that Charles Hellmann was appointed to the Human Relations Committee, not Charles McLaughlin as reported in the Leisure World News.
4.1 El Toro Road Tree Relocation Project, Willow Tree Shopping Center to Paseo de Valencia
Assistant City Manager Reilly discussed the El Toro Road Tree Relocation project which is part of the El Toro Road Sidewalk Widening and Landscape Improvement project approved by the City Council last year. The sidewalk widening project will require the establishment of a standard four feet parkway on the north side of El Toro Road. Ten Magnolia trees that will no longer fit within the new parkway area are to be relocated behind the wall in United Laguna Hills Mutual to maintain as much mature landscaped screening in this area as possible.
The landscape architect estimated the cost for relocation at approximately $60,000 based on information from an experienced and reputable tree relocation firm. Two bids were received: Alliance Streetworks – $166,410 and The Landscape Center – $174,307.
Staff is recommending rejection of the bids and is reviewing the project engineering and landscape requirements to modify plans and specifications before re-bidding the project. Councilmembers requested language in the contract to hold the City harmless if the Leisure World wall was damaged. Staff advised this would be done.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember McLaughlin and unanimously carried to reject all bids for the El Toro Road Tree Relocation Project, Willow Tree Shopping Center to Paseo de Valencia, and authorize staff to rebid the project.
ROLL CALL
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER: Bouer, Hack, McLaughlin, Ross, Ring
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER: None
4.2 Woods End Preliminary Design
City Manager Keane reported item 4.2 should read Woods End Entry Way Design. She discussed the proposed entry way design and reported the County of Orange had approved the conceptual design. A $45,000 grant has been received and, therefore, the $75,000 budgeted in the General Fund and approved by Council during the budget process would be reduced to approximately $35,000. She further advised that accessibility was required as part of the agreement with the Coastal Conservancy.
Community Services Manager Foley discussed the proposed plan showing the walkway entry and SCE access. He advised the SCE access would be locked at all times and SCE would have a key for when they require access to service their equipment. City Manager Keane reported the pedestrian gate will be locked only in cases of flooding or fire watch. The City has posted liability signs. Council questioned if there was parking available and City Manager Keane reported staff is investigating installing some parking on the street. She reported any recommendation would be brought back to Council after review by the Transportation Advisory Committee.
Moved by Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ross and unanimously carried to approve the conceptual plans.
ROLL CALL
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER: Bouer, Hack, McLaughlin, Ross, Ring
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER: None
4.3 Mid-Year Budget
City Manager Keane presented Council with the Mid Year Budget. She reported that all the Funds, excluding the General Fund, appear to be on track.
The General Fund currently has a VLF loss as of 12/31/03 of $648,548 and a possible future loss of $1,335.850, which is the backfill loss January-June 2004. There is a $32,000 reduction in investment income due to the lost VLF and a $43,000 reduction in tax revenues apparently due to a downturn in the economy. This would amount to a total revenue loss of approximately $2M. The planned deficit was $835,550. Staff is proposing the following adjustments.
Budgeted COL 7,800
Furlough employees 10,000
Community Grants 35,000
Bus Trip 800
Ticket buy down 1,875
Beach passes 3,750
Events 4,000
Banner Signs 12,000
Park Projects 167,000
Part time salaries 20,000
Travel 10,000
Memberships/Training 1,000
Subtotal 273,225
Councilmember Hack reported that in an ad hoc meeting of ETRPA, it was approved that the balance of the City’s fiscal year dues would be reduced by half, $23,000.
Council consensus was to implement the proposed adjustments plus the $23,000 ETRPA reduction.
City Manager Keane discussed the revenue neutrality payment to the County. Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember Bouer and unanimously carried to defer revenue payment of $405,045 to the County until VLF backfill is received.
ROLL CALL
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER: Bouer, Hack, McLaughlin, Ross, Ring
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER: None
City Manager Keane discussed the Water Quality budget. Council consensus was to reduce the Water Quality budget by $50,000.
City Manager Keane reported the following requests were received from Leisure World:
Council consensus was no new programs or service enhancements.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ross and carried 4-0-1 not to reopen the grant program at this time to award the balance of community service grants of $35,000
ROLL CALL
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER: Hack, McLaughlin, Ross, Ring
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER: Bouer
Councilmember Bouer advised he abstained as the $35,000 for community service grants was approved by Council and that if there were sufficient hardship requests, the money should be granted.
City Manager Keane reported that typically the budget would be brought back for further discussion, however, as there were no public requests to speak and Council provided direction, she requested consensus to place the budget resolutions on the Consent Calendar. Council consensus was received.
City Manager Keane thanked Assistant City Manager Riley for his work on the mid-year budget and dealing with the State Controller’s Office.
Council thanked staff for all their work and support during this uncertain time.
City Attorney Biggs was pleased to report Laguna Woods was still a city and reported the City of Goleta discussed many of the same issues as Laguna Woods.
Don Kornreich recommended an agreement for City Permits to be posted outside residences so residents would be aware that the work had been approved. He reported some United Board Directors were hoping to outsource with local businesses and congratulated Council on being conservative with the budget. He reported Bill Sonka and Kelly George were leaving PCM management.
VII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Hack stated the City needed to take a leadership role with the League of Cities.
Councilmember Bouer stated he appreciated being the old city but didn’t appreciate being the highest leader in loss of money.
Councilmember McLaughlin agreed with the comments of Councilmembers Hack and Bouer and agreed it was time to be prudent.
Mayor Pro Tem Ross reported we are the oldest populated city.
Mayor Ring clarified that when Council adjourned, it would adjourn to a Workshop meeting at 3:00 p.m. on January 9, 2004 at the UCLA Conference Center, 850 Willow Creek Road, Lake Arrowhead, CA. He advised three councilmembers would be attending as representatives of their various interagencies and the cost would be paid by those agencies.
VIII. CLOSED SESSION
The City Council met in closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding one matter of potential litigation, pursuant to the provisions of government code Section 54956.9
There was no reportable action.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. An Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council will be held at 3:00 p.m. on January 9, 2004 at UCLA Conference Center, 850 Willow Creek Road, Lake Arrowhead, CA.
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SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: January 21, 2004
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ROBERT B. RING, Mayor
