Minutes – June 18, 2008
Minutes – June 18, 2008
CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
June 18, 2008
2:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hack called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:00 p.m.
II. FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Robbins led the flag salute.
III. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS: PRESENT: Bouer, Robbins, Ross, Ring, Hack
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Keane; City Attorney McEwen; Assistant City Manager Reilly; City Clerk Condon
IV. PRESENTATIONS
None.
V. CITY PROCLAMATIONS
None.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ring, seconded by Councilmember Robbins, and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar Items 6.1 – 6.7.
6.1 Approved City Council minutes from the adjourned regular meeting of May 7, 2008 and the regular meeting of May 21, 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 May 2008 monthly Treasurer’s Report.
6.4 Approved the June 18, 2008 Warrant Register in the amount of $382,579.72.
6.5 November 2008 Election
A. Approved Resolution No. 08-08 calling for a general municipal election in November 2008, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008 FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISION OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES
And
B. Approved Resolution No. 08-09 allowing the County or Orange to conduct a general municipal election on behalf of the City of Laguna Woods, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO § 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE
6.6 Liability Claim
Denied the claim against the City of Laguna Woods by Heirs of Ki Sook Kim.
6.7 El Toro Water District – Agreements for Acquisition of Property, Permanent Slope Easement and Temporary Construction Easement
Approved two agreements with El Toro Water District related to the Moulton Smart Street Widening project; and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the agreement documents, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
VIII. CITY COUNCIL
8.1 June Council Meeting Date
The June 26, 2008 City Council meeting was rescheduled to June 25, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
IX. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
9.1 Fiscal Year 208-09 All Funds Budget
City Manager Keane presented the City Manager’s Budget and Work Program for Fiscal Year 2008-09 and answered questions.
Councilmembers stated that it was a very conservative budget, incorporated their prior discussions, and that they had no further requests for modifications. City Manager Keane advised the budget resolutions would be presented at the June 25, 2008 meeting for approval.
9.2 Local California Environmental Quality Act Procedures
City Manager Keane introduced Geralyn Skapik, the city’s environmental legal counsel, who advised that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires all public agencies to review and consider the environmental consequences of project which they carry out of approve. Local agencies are required to adopt local procedures and criteria for the evaluation of projects and the preparation of environmental impact reports and negative declarations.
City Manager Keane provided a power point presentation overview of the proposed City procedures and regulations. She advised that comments were received from the SOS group and the Golden Rain Foundation and the redlined copy on the dais incorporated responses to those comments.
Geralyn Skapik advised that she and City Manager Keane went through GRF comment letter and did make some changes, other items were noted, but changes were not made. She discussed the GRF comments and the changes made and also explained why changes were not made.
City Manager Keane advised that the Planning Advisory Committee discussed the guidelines and they were unanimously approved at its June 5, 2008 meeting.
Cris Trapp, PCM representative, requested additions to Section X Environmental Impact Reports F that “the applicant may further refine its project and project description based upon comments on the NOP” and G that “the applicant may further refine its project and project description based upon comments from the Planning Director or other City staff.” Attorney Geralyn Skapik stated that would not be a problem and could be added.
Mike Curtis, resident, requested a copy of the changes made at the request of the GRF letter and questioned why some projects that would not require environmental review. Attorney Geralyn Skapik advised that there are items that may be exempt from CEQA review and advised there was a listing in the procedures.
Frankie Henry, resident, requested that Council take a serious look at future projects that would impact residents of the City.
Councilmembers briefly discussed the CEQA Procedures and stated that residents need to attend meetings and comment on projects.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Councilmember Bouer and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 08-10 establishing the revised Local California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Procedures, as amended, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING LOCAL PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTING THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
9.3 Moulton Parkway Smart Street Project – Update
Assistant City Manager Reilly provided a power point presentation on the Moulton Parkway Smart Street Widening Project, which included the history and components of the project. Staff indicated that all the property required for the El Toro/Moulton intersection portion of the project must be acquired in time for a contract to be awarded by June 2009, or the City may lose $2.5 million in grant funds allocated for the project. Staff advised Council that the only property yet to be acquired is the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF) properties.
Mike Curtis, resident, expressed his concern regarding the length of time for the property acquisition, questioned the Moulton/Santa Maria intersection and discussed the use of water in landscaping.
Mayor Hack expressed his concern regarding the length of time required to acquire the GRF property and requested that GRF respond to the City’s request to acquire letter as soon as possible. He stated that the acquisition needs to be resolved by the end of the current calendar year.
Cris Trapp, PCM representative, acknowledged that GRF received the offers in March 2007 and due to a change in the plans, the appraisers reviewed the changes and GRF is awaiting the report from their appraisers. She also noted that the City Manager had stated the appraisal amounts were low at a prior meeting.
City Manager Keane stated that the changes to the plans did not affect the amount of land required; that, in fact there has been no change in the amount of land required from GRF since 2002. She advised that neither she nor any staff member has ever stated the appraisals were low. The appraisal is for the land only and the property owner is expected to come back on what impact an acquisition would have on the remainder parcels.
Stu Venable, resident, requested the square footage of the land required. Assistant City Manager Reilly stated it was strips of land and he did not have the total square footage available.
X. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
City Attorney McEwen reminded Council that the biannual ethics training required in AB 1234 is required by June 29, 2008. He suggested a presentation of the training at the June 25, 2008 meeting and noted that councilmembers could also take the training on online. After discussion, the consensus was to schedule the two hour training at the June 25th meeting.
XI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
11.1 Transportation Corridor Agencies (Mayor Hack)
Mayor Hack provided an update on the 241 extension.
11.2 Southern California Water Committee (Mayor Hack)
Mayor Hack discussed the handout available at the back table relating to Governor Schwarzenegger proclaiming a draught and ordering immediate action to address the situation.
11.3 Vector Control District (Councilmember Bouer)
Councilmember Bouer reported there were 44 dead birds collected in Orange County that tested positive for West Nile virus.
11.4 Library Advisory Board (Councilmember Robbins)
Councilmember Robbins advised that there had not been a meeting. He advised the new ad hoc committee on allocation services would be meeting on Thursday to determine if the allocation formula was correct or needed to be revised.
11.5 Orange County Fire Authority (Councilmember Ross)
Councilmember Ross advised that there was a presentation of 911 Heroes, who were children 10 and under, who had called 911 and were able to remain on the line and tell what had happened. The budget was also adopted.
Councilmember Ross advised she had been approached by residents who are hard of hearing and they questioned if Channel 31 could have closed captioning. City Manager Keane advised staff would come back with the cost at a future meeting.
11.6 Laguna Canyon Foundation (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)
Mayor Pro Tem Ring stated the new Executive Director was introduced and advised the Board of Supervisors approved the agreement between the OC Parks and the foundation. A $275,000 private grant was received for an education program for 3rd-4th graders in Santa Ana.
11.7 Coastal Greenbelt Authority (Mayor Pro Tem Ring)
Mayor Pro Tem Ring advised that City Manager Keane, who is the City’s alternate to CGA, attended the meeting.
City Manager Keane reported on the presentation of the Aliso Woods Resource Plan which is available at various locations in the County for public review.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Stu Venable, resident, stated he had the pleasure of working the City table at the El Toro Water District open house
City Manager Keane advised that Stu Venable and Dave Blodgett were in attendance at the El Toro Water District open house representing the City Water Quality Advisory Committee along with two staff members.
XIII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Pro Tem Ring advised he had attended his granddaughter’s high school graduation and was impressed with the quality of speakers.
Councilmember Bouer advised that he has been a member of the City Council since 2000 and he felt that it was an appropriate time to announce that he would not be a candidate for the upcoming City Council election. He thanked staff and stated he expected to remain actively involved in the City.
Councilmember Ross advised there would be a South County Senior Summit on July 25th at Laguna Hills and reservations are required.
Mayor Hack discussed the recent article in the Orange County Register that stated that City Manager Keane was the only woman in a city manager position in Orange County, but that we were not really a city.
XIV. CLOSED SESSION
None.
XV. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hack advised the passing of Charles McLaughlin and noted his many accomplishments on behalf of the residents of Laguna Woods.
The meeting was adjourned in honor of Charles McLaughlin at 3:45 p.m. The next meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on June 25, 2008 at the Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA
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SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: July 16, 2008
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BERT HACK, Mayor
