Minutes – February 20, 2008

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Mayor Hack called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:00 p.m.

Councilmember Ross led the flag salute.

COUNCILMEMBERS:       PRESENT:         Bouer, Robbins, Ross, Ring, Hack

                                             ABSENT:           None

STAFF PRESENT:              City Manager Keane; City Attorney McEwen; Assistant City Manager Reilly; City Clerk Condon

4.1       American Lung Association Report Card

            Lynne Frimondand Natalie Martinez, from the Orange County Chapter of the American Lung Association of California presented a proclamation to the City in recognition and appreciation of its adoption of a comprehensive outdoor secondhand smoke ordinance.

            Stu Venable, resident, questioned if the City could regulate leaf blowers.

4.2       Southern California Association of Governments – Draft Regional Transportation Plan

            Mayor Hack introduced Sara Catz, who served for 10 years on OCTP and Metrolink Board of Directors, was Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation for California and is currently on a consulting team for the Regional Transportation Plan. She provided a power point presentation and answered questions regarding the draft Regional Transportation Plan.

            Mike Curtis, resident, questioned why the report did not address noise. Patricia Gothard, resident, briefly discussed container transportation from the ports.

Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ring and carried unanimously to approve City Proclamations 5.1 – 5.3.

5.1       Proclamation – Big Read Program – March 2008

5.2       Commendation – Helen Lyon – 100^th Birthday

5.3       Commendation – Theresa Spencer – 100^th Birthday

City Manager Keane requested that Item 6.6 be removed from the consent calendar and advised that it would be on the March agenda.

Mike Curtis, resident, requested that Item 6.5 be removed from the consent calendar and requested an explanation of the item.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ring, seconded by Councilmember Bouer and carried unanimously to approve the amended Consent Calendar Items 6.1 – 6.4 and Items 6.7 and 6.8 and excluding Items 6.5 and 6.6.

6.1       Approved City Council minutes from the regular meeting of January 16, 2008.

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 January 2008 monthly Treasurer’s Report and Fiscal Year 2007-08 Second Quarter Treasurer’s Reports.

6.4            Approved the February 20, 2008 Warrant Register in the amount of $559,781.93.

6.7       California Integrated Waste Management Board Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) Chip Seal Grant Program Application

Adopted Resolution No. 08-02 authorizing an application for RAC funds, entitled:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA INTERGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD RUBBERIZED ASPHALT CONCRETE (RAC) CHIP SEAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR EL TORO ROAD, MOULTON PARKWAY AND SANTA MARIA AVENUE

6.8       Laguna Laurel Annexation

Adopted Resolution No. 08-03 approving a property tax exchange with the County of Orange, entitled:

City Manager Keane provided an explanation of Consent Calendar Item 6.5. Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ring, seconded by Councilmember Ross and carried unanimously to approve consent calendar item 6.5.

6.5       Proposition 42 City Aid Program (County of Orange)

Approved the Proposition 42 City Aid Program Agreement, and authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form.

None.

9.1            Red Light Camera Citation Program

City Manager Keane reported that the City has red-light cameras at two intersections (Moulton/El Toro and Moulton/Gates 12) and provided a breakdown of incidents that were captured by the cameras in 2006. Due to a recent article on red-light cameras in the Orange County Register and questions from Council, staff requested that Lt. Bill Griffin, from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) and Police Chief for the City of Laguna Woods, discuss the red-light camera program.

Lt. Griffin discussed the problems associated with public safety vehicles, government vehicles and confidential plates. He recommended that rather than ticketing government vehicles, notices of violations be sent to the agency that owns the vehicle for investigation and follow-up. He noted that the deputy assigned to the Laguna Woods red-light camera program has investigated and followed up on some confidential plates, but a lack of time prevented the deputy from obtaining all driver information related to confidential and governmental plates. He advised that the deputy could be authorized overtime to allow for greater investigation.

Councilmembers concurred that all incidents captured by the cameras, including government and confidential registrations, should receive notices or citations.

Mike Curtis, resident, expressed his concern regarding opaque covers on license plates. City Manager Keane and Lt. Griffin advised that the opaque covers are now illegal and drivers will be cited.

Marty Rhodes, resident, asked questions regarding yellow light timing. City Manager Keane and Assistant Manager Reilly advised the yellow lights are calibrated according to state standards.

Patricia Gothard, resident, expressed her dissatisfaction with the cameras.

Ruth May, resident, questioned whether out-of-state registered vehicle drivers were cited for red-light camera violations. Lt. Griffin advised that out-of-state registered vehicle violations involved more investigation and would be handled with more time from the deputy.

Kay Margason, resident, questioned if other intersections were being reviewed for the possibility of installing red-light cameras. City Manager Keane reported that the red-light camera company, Redflex, had just recently investigated other intersections in the city and a report would be provided to the Transportation Advisory Committee.

City Attorney McEwen provided an update on a case involving serial meetings, several bills and discussed a power point presentation on the new Brown Act agenda and public records disclosure requirements.

11.1         Transportation Corridor Agencies (Mayor Hack)

Mayor Hack reported that the Coastal Commission rejected the proposed extension of the Foothill south and that TCA filed an appeal.

11.2         Southern California Water Committee (Mayor Hack)

Mayor Hack discussed the serious lack of water in the area, how water was distributed and the source of the water supplied to the area.

11.3     Vector Control District (Councilmember Bouer)

Councilmember Bouer briefly discussed the flea borne vectors in Huntington Beach and reported there currently was no problem with West Nile Virus in the area.

11.4     Library Board (Councilmember Robbins)

Councilmember Robbins advised that the Board did not meet. He discussed programs that were held or being scheduled be the Friends of the Laguna Woods Orange County Library and the Orange County Library Big Read Program. He also advised there is a new head branch librarian for the El Toro and Laguna Woods branches.

11.5     Orange County Fire Authority (Councilmember Ross)

Councilmember Ross discussed the OCFA physical fitness program. Studies discovered that dehydration is a major risk to firefighters.

11.6     Laguna Canyon Foundation (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)

Mayor Pro Tem Ring briefly discussed the pending agreement between the Foundation and Orange County and reported they were recruiting for a new executive director.

11.6     Coastal Greenbelt Authority (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)

Mayor Pro Tem Ring advised there was nothing to report.

Commenting on Mayor Hack’s Water Committee report, Mike Curtis, resident, discussed the City’s General Plan and the Housing Element which is being updated. He stated that the Housing Element should state that the City is built out due to limited water resources. Kay Margason, resident, also questioned how TV news reports could state the draught is over, but there still be limited water resources.

Patricia Gothard, resident, requested clarification on several issues regarding the Standard Pacific building on Paseo de Valencia. City Manager Keane answered questions and advised that the City had not received any request from the builder for a change from condominiums to apartments and that any change request would be brought to Council.

Mike Cutis, resident, expressed his concern regarding the New York Times article on the financial stability of Standard Pacific.

Kay Margason, resident, briefly discussed San Sebastian inspections and requested that she be allowed to view inspection records. City Clerk Condon advised Ms. Margason that she had previously been provided with that information, but that staff would make available requested documents.

Councilmember Ross discussed the Creating Aging Program at the Florence Sylvester Senior Center.

Council recessed at 3:45 p.m. to closed session.

The City Council met in closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding one matter of pending litigation: City of Laguna Woods vs. Raintree Realty LLC. Case No. 05 CC 09350 pursuant to the provisions of government Code Section 54956.9(a).

Council reconvened at 4:22 p.m. and City Attorney McEwen advised there was no reportable action.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m. The next meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on March 19, 2008 at the Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA

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SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk

Adopted: March 19, 2008

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BERT HACK, Mayor