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20110103 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes (2)MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF VERNON HELD MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY HALL LOCATED AT 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE, VERNON, CALIFORNIA MEMBERS PRESENT: Gonzales, McCormick, Davis, Maisano, Newmire MEMBERS ABSENT: None The meeting was called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Mayor Gonzales. The City Clerk announced the following changes to the agenda: 1.Defer Item 5a of the Consent Calendar to the next meeting. 2. Add a proposal from Steve O'Sullivan for media related consulting services to the Consent Calendar as Item 2g. It was moved by McCormick and seconded by Newmire, to amend the agenda in accordance with the aforementioned changes. Motion carried, 5-0. The City Clerk announced that this was the time allotted for public comments. The Mayor asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to address the City Council. No one responded. MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held June 7, 2010. It was moved by Davis and seconded by Newmire, that the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held June 7, 2010, be approved and adopted as submitted. Motion carried, 5-0. 1. Service Pins The Mayor presented service pins to the following employees and congratulated them on behalf of the entire City Council. Em to ee Name Job Title Years 1.Steven Hartsfield Utilityman II 25 . Rex Hill Sergeant 25 . Gustavo Herrera Police Officer 10 . Nicholas Perez Police Officer 10 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Consider the adoption of Ordinance No. 1175 and a resolution amending the encroachment, license, and franchise fees and deposit schedules pursuant to Chapter 22, Article VI of the Vernon City Code. (Continued from meeting of December 20, 2010.) Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 Director of Community Services & Water Kevin Wilson advised that changes to Ordinance No. 1175 had been drafted and submitted to the City Attorney for final review. He requested the hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 1175 be continued to the next meeting. ORDINANCE NO. 1175 - An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Vernon Establishing a Five -Year Restriction on Cutting of Newly Paved or Resurfaced Streets and Amending the Vernon City Code Regarding Deposits, Surety Bonds and Liability Insurance for Encroachment Permits and Licenses. (First Reading - continued from meeting of December 20, 2010.) It was moved by McCormick and seconded by Newmire, to continue the public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 1175 to the next meeting. Motion carried, 5-0. 2. Appeal of The dataLOK Co. and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company regarding the Vernon Special Parcel Tax. Staff recommends the appeal be denied. (Continued from meeting of December 20, 2010.) Director of Community Services & Water defined the term goods" as something that has an economic utility or satisfies an economic want, pursuant to the most applicable definition of those provided by Andrew Cipes, attorney for dataLOK, at the December 20, 2010 meeting. Wilson maintained that dataLCK's records are goods under the Special Parcel Tax. Cipes concurred that dataLOK's records were goods by definition, but maintained they were not subject to the Special Parcel Tax because they are not introduced into commerce to be sold to the public. The records have no intrinsic value or value to the public; they are of value only to the originator of the records. To apply Wilson's definition would mean taxing all businesses in Vernon since they all store business records. Cipes clarified that the company was not looking for an exemption, but rather to recognize the logic of the language defined in the City Code. Wilson advised that manufacturing companies pay a different tax than the Special Parcel Tax applied to warehouses, and that refrigerator warehouses are exempt. At 9:17 a.m., it was moved by McCormick and seconded by Davis, to close the hearing regarding the dataLOK appeal. Motion carried, 5-0. The City Clerk advised that the Council was not required to issue its determination at this time, and could continue the decision to the next meeting if it wished. The Mayor called for a motion on the matter. It was moved by McCormick and seconded by Newmire, to deny the appeal filed by the dataLOK Co. and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company regarding the Vernon Special Parcel Tax. Motion carried, 5-0. Page 2 of 8 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 CONSENT CALENDAR I.Warrant Registers a. Approval of City Warrant Register No. 1327, totaling $1,533,825.20, which covers the period of December 14 through December 27, 2010, and consists of the following: 1. Ratification of wire transfers totaling $1,151,192.02; 2. Ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $154,745.10; and 3. Authorization to issue pending checks totaling $227,888.08. b. Approval of Federal Funds for Street Improvements warrant Register No. 6, to ratify wire transfers totaling $32,046.18, during the period of November 30 through December 27, 2010. 2. City Administration a. Approval of an agreement with the Vernon Redevelopment Agency and the Vernon Housing Authority relating to the advance of funds for the undertaking of administrative activities by the Housing Authority. b. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-03 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Amending Previously Amended Resolution No. 9639 regarding the Compensation, Costs and Benefits of its Employees ("Salary Resolution") by Amending Schedule No. XXI of the Salary Resolution (Amendment No. 25), to be approved and adopted. c. Pursuant to Government Code Section 995.8, clarification of the City's position with respect to the defense of public employees in lawsuits brought by third parties. d. Approval of an agreement with RP Public Affairs for the 2011 calendar year, and authorization for the City Administrator, or his designee, to make modifications to the agreement, and take whatever actions are deemed necessary to implement and carry out the terms of the agreement. e. Approval of an agreement with Capitol Advocacy, LLC for January 1 through June 30, 2011, and authorization for the City Administrator, or his designee, to make modifications to the agreement, and take whatever actions are deemed necessary to implement and carry out the terms of the agreement. f. Approval of an agreement with Frederic MacFarlane, effective January 3, 2011, and authorization for the City Administrator, or his designee, to make modifications to the agreement, and take whatever actions are deemed necessary to implement and carry out the terms of the agreement. Page 3 of 8 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 g. Authorization to utilize the services of Steve O'Sullivan for media related consulting services per the terms of the proposal dated December 28, 2010. 3. City Clerk a. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-04 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving a Conflict of Interest Code for the Vernon Housing Authority, to be approved and adopted. 4. Community Services & Water Department a. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-05 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Accepting the Bid of SAK Construction, LLC for the Installation of Storm Drain Trenchless Manhole -to -Manhole Pipe Linings and Sectional Linings (Point Repairs) Along Vernon Avenue, to be approved and adopted. b. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-06 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the Execution of Contract Change Order No. 2 to the Traffic Signal Maintenance By and Between the City of Vernon and Republic Intelligent Transportation Services, Inc. for Maintenance of the City's Existing Traffic and Any New Signals Installed by the City During the Contract, to be approved and adopted. c. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-07 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Accepting the Bid of Littlejohn-Reuland Corporation and Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Services Agreement By and Between the City of Vernon and Littlejohn-Reuland Corporation for Annual Emergency Motor Repairs, to be approved and adopted. d. Authorization to purchase confined space equipment from Grainger at a total cost of $13,741.29. e. Approval of a services agreement with Smith -Emery Laboratories for testing and inspection services for the 26th Street Improvements Project. 5. Fire Department a. DEFERRED TO NEXT MEETING b. Activity Report for the period of December 1 through December 15. 2010. to be received and filed. 6. Police Department a. Activity Log and Statistical Summary of Arrest and Activities for the period of December 1 through December 15, 2010, to be received and filed. 7. Risk Management a. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-08 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Pursuant to Government Code Section 21156 Denying an Application for an Page 4 of 8 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 Industrial Disability Retirement By Daniel O'Neil, to be approved and adopted. b. RESOLUTION NO. 2011-09 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Ratifying the Payment of Premiums for Medical -Dental Insurance for Certain Categories of Retired Employees During the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year, to be approved and adopted. It was moved by McCormick and seconded by Davis, that the matters on the Consent Calendar be approved as recommended. Motion carried, 5-0. 1. City Administration/Fire Department: Proposed Joint Powers Communications Center (JPCC) relating to dispatch operations. City Administrator and Fire Chief Mark Whitworth introduced Battalion Chief Mike Wilson as the point person on the proposed JPCC. Wilson introduced City of Downey Battalion Chief Bruce English and Tracy Gonzales, Supervisor for the JPCC. Ms. Gonzales gave a slide presentation on the proposal for services and costs for Vernon to become a partner in the Area E JPCC. The Area E JPCC was established in 1975 between the cities of Downey and Santa Fe Springs, with Montebello and Lynwood joining in 1976, and Compton in 1982. Today, the JPCC dispatches for Compton, Downey, and Santa Fe Springs, and provides operational management of strike team resources for Montebello and La Habra Heights, as well as dispatching for Vernon for large scale incidents. The JPCC is staffed by one Supervisor, eight full-time dispatchers, three part-time dispatchers, one I.T. Administrator, and one intern, with a combined 211 years of dispatcher experience, and 164 years of that time serving on the JPCC. The Area E JPCC takes a "Partner Defined" approach, providing Vernon an equal partner ownership of the center, and emphasizes a cohesive, coordinated, one goal" effort. This includes an established Communications Committee that meets regularly to assess effectiveness and future needs. Member cities of regional centers are placed at the top of the list when applying for federal grant monies. The following are some of the many services that Vernon would receive or have available as an Area E JPCC partner: • 24-hour Fire/Paramedic dispatching and I.T. staff; • Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD), including Pre - Arrival Medical Instructions, which would be new for Vernon citizens; • Mobile Data Computer (MDC) status with mapping; Page 5 of 8 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 • Records management system; • Pre -alert system dispatching for faster response times; and • Robust radio system with extensive redundancy. In closing, Ms. Gonzales thanked the City Council for its time and attention, expressed the Area E JPCC's pride in its high level of service, and looked forward to adding Vernon to the center. Wilson outlined the following benefits to be gained by joining the Area E JPCC: • Reduced liability with dispatch and EMD; • Improved ISO rating, which is currently 6.35 and not as high as Downey's; • Obtaining EMD certification at a lower cost; • Increased quality of service with pre -arrival emergency medical instructions to callers, MDC and INFO trained dispatchers, and mobile data computers; • Better position Vernon for its role in LA RICS and for obtaining grant funding; and • Smooth transition as Vernon currently uses the JPCC for many calls and has compatible equipment; The Mayor opined that joining the Area E JPCC looked to provide a worthwhile cost savings and included the added benefit of grant recipient positioning, since Vernon doesn't qualify for certain grants that require a minimum number of residents. Whitworth stated that the Area E JPCC better meets Vernon's needs, as compared to Verdugo, and would be a smooth transition. Councilman Newmire asked if the Mobile Data Computers would be in each unit. Whitworth explained they will be able to obtain enough to have one per unit through grant funding and that MDCs are similar to iPads, offering real-time information exchange. Wilson added that the MDCs would stay in the rig, but include the portability to be taken out and used for other things. Interim Police Chief Danny Calleros supported the Fire Chief's recommendation to join the Area E JPCC, as Vernon's current dispatch operations cannot support EMD requirements and would require the hiring of three additional positions to do so. ORAL REPORTS 1.City Administrator Reports. City Administrator Mark Whitworth invited Department Heads UP to report on recent activities in their respective departments. Director of Community Services and Water Kevin Wilson reported that United Packing had requested the installation Page 6 of 8 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 of a stop sign at Vernon and Alcoa. An engineering study was performed and, based on observations, engineering staff recommends a stop sign be installed later this week, weather permitting. Newmire asked if a painted crosswalk would be included. Wilson advised that it would not as research has indicated that people sometimes pay less attention to vehicle traffic when crossing in crosswalks. Councilman Davis asked if there is a stop sign at Vernon and Boyle and how far it will be from the new one to be installed. Wilson confirmed there is a stop sign at Vernon and Boyle and that the new one would be a sufficient distance from that one. Wilson also reported on storm drain activities and staff s attempts to repair potholes near the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge. Interim Police Chief Danny Calleros reported as follows: a.December 24, 2010, Canine Officer Stevenson conducted a random walkthrough of the FedEx facility at 2600 28rh Street, and identified two parcels containing approximately five pounds of marijuana each. b.December 28, 2010, patrol officers began pursuit of a stolen vehicle in the area of Atlantic and Bandini Boulevard and continued through local surface streets and freeways into the City of Torrance, where they abandoned their pursuit due to the distance and duration. LAPD air support continued pursuit and Torrance PD used a pit maneuver to bring the pursuit to an end. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody by Torrance PD. c. December 30, 2010, patrol officers conducted a DUI checkpoint funded by the Office of Traffic Safety Grant Program in the area of Alameda and 25°h Street, where they made 2 arrests, impounded 17 vehicles, and issued a total of 21 traffic citations. Police Captain Jim Rodino reported that the department responded to a report of vandalism at sewing Collection, 3116 26rh Street, on December 27, 2010, in which unknown suspects spray painted graffiti on four trailers, one bobtail truck, and the east company wall. The case is being investigated by the Detective Bureau. Mayor Pro Tem McCormick reported graffiti sightings at the northeast corner of Slauson and Alcoa and Boyle and Leonis. Assistant Fire Chief Andy Guth reported that the department had responded to several calls relating to medical aid, traffic, weather, and small fires. Whitworth announced that the next City Council meeting would begin the Tuesday schedule. Page 7 of 8 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes January 3, 2011 The City Clerk announced that there were no further items on the agenda. At 9:50 a.m., it was moved by McCormick and seconded by Davis, that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried. ATT 5T: i and am chi City Clerk Hilario Gonzales Mayor Page 8 of 8