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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-02 - AGENDA REPORTS - COUNCIL CMO BUILDING RETREAT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and Members of the City Counc' FROM: George Caravalho, City Manager DATE: January 2, 1991_ SUBJECT: Council/City Manager Team Building Retreat Follow-up As a result of our team building session of July 27 and 28, 1990, 40 objectives were outlined as priority items . These objectives focused on- various facets of the City and its operation and services. Since that time, staff has been working diligently toward the completion of these objectives.' The following is an update on each objective. Attached for your review you will find a completed report on the objective or a status report and time line for completion. The outcome speaks very well to the efforts of your results -oriented City staff. As the report indicates, each and every item is either completed or well on its way. The City Council will continue to receive updates such as this following each Council/City Manager team building retreat. Should: you have any questions regarding an item or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. TM/sk 1162 Attachment Agenda Item: .42M. -O CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER RETREAT FOLLOW - UP OBJECTIVE 1 Develop a community involvement plan and strategy to involve people early in the process. This will include the development of a policy for citizen involvement. Each department must provide an analysis in anticipating potential interest and concern on the part of different groups and develop some means of contacting, informing and involving those people in the decision making process. STATUS: COMPLETED The Community Involvement Action Plan is drafted and is submitted as attachment A for your review. OBJECTIVE 2 Provide an analysis for the Transportation Committee function. There has been discussion regarding the representation of the joint Chambers of Commerce Committee, and a new committee has been formed by the community. Staff will develop alternatives and provide the City Council with a report. STATUS: COMPLETED An analysis of the Transportation Committee function is complete and submitted as attachment B for your review. OBJECTIVE 3 Study the issue of growth management and provide a report to the City Council with options considered as part of the General Plan process. STATUS: COMPLETED This item has been completed and was submitted to the City Council for review on October 18, 1990. OBJECTIVE 4 Provide more close monitoring of county projects and assign a full time person to this effort. STATUS: COMPLETED Assistant Planner II has been assigned to oversee this effort since August 10, 1990. To date a computerized case monitoring system has been developed and a contact has been made with county regional planning for assistance. In addition four major EIR's, one specific plan conformance report and associated project applications have been reviewed for a variety of projects including: Valencia Commerce Center Hasley Hill Castaic Valencia Industrial Center Expansion G.H. Palmer and associates "Park Sierra" East of Sierra Highway Westridge residential/commercial project, west of I-5 North of McBean City staff regularly go to RPC and. board meetings when valley items are presented. OBJECTIVE 5 • Develop an Internal Development Monitoring System for the City. STATUS: This project could be integrated with requirements of CEgA to monitor progress of implementation and mitigation measures associated with new development. The completion of this project is contingent on completion of. the General Plan and could be a part of the subsequent implementation program. Therefore it is anticipated that staff will be bringing implementation programs to council in late Spring of 1991 for direction. DMS systems need to be evaluated in the context other tools available. OBJECTIVE 6 Continue to work towards the defeat of the City and County of Los Angeles effort to locate a landfill in Elsmere Canyon. STATUS: The City has developed a formal strategy for the Elsmere Canyon Project. On November 13, 1990 the City delivered extensive comments on the recent Elsmere scoping meeting. All information was delivered to each of the Los Angeles County Supervisors as well as our Legislators. The issues paper on this topic is near completion and will be in final form at the end on January. In addition, Rufus Young of Burke Williams Sorensen is continuing his efforts to ensure that the City has received all public records relating to Elsmere. Finally, Envicom has been hired to review the Forest Service EIR once complete as well as track and alert the City to related items. OBJECTIVE 7 Provide the City Council regular reports on the amount of building approvals and completions. STATUS: COMPLETED This item is complete. The Community Development Department has been submitting regular reports to the City Council regarding this item. OBJECTIVE 8 Establish a specific plan for study for the Saugus site Newhall Land and Farm Panhandle area, Bermite property and the City site. STATUS: City staff has met with property owners of each of the areas indicated. To date, the owners have indicated that they are not ready to proceed with the possible exception of a future Bermite buyer. At this time the City is attempting to again bring all parties together to discuss the potential and possibilities for this region of the City. OBJECTIVE 9 Develop an economic development plan and strategy along with a local • development retention program. STATUS: The efforts of staff in developing a Small Business Development program were presented in a progress .report to the City Council on October 30, 1990. In addition, a draft MOU outlining the intent of the program was presented to the City Council on December 11, 1990. The goals of the program are primarily the start up, retention and expansion of small businesses. The Small Business Development center program will: Provide referrals to a group public and private local resource network participants. Provide for the dissemination of information. Provide individual counseling and technical assistance in financial and business planning. Provide business conferences and training workshops for groups of small business owners. State funding is not yet available. The staff will be returning to council with funding agreements between the MOU participants. Program implementation will be scheduled to anticipate and coincide with mall opening. OBJECTIVE 10 Establish a recycling program as soon as possible. • STATUS: COMPLETED This item is complete yet ongoing. The present program which includes newspaper drops at three City parks, two park and rides and one elementary school is underway and has proven quite successful. In addition 3000 homes are serviced by the City recycling program. This is expected to expand with the adoption of Franchise Agreement scheduled for January of 1991. The recycling expansion.will begin on Earth Day 1991. OBJECTIVE 11 Develop a plan for a libraryinCanyon Country. STATUS: COMPLETED This objective has been completed. A report is submitted for your review as attachment C. OBJECTIVE 12 Reassess our lobbying efforts and make appropriate -changes as necessary. STATUS: COMPLETED The City has taken- the opportunity to re-evaluate its lobbying needs. To date, the City has terminated. its contract with the Capital Representation Group and with the approval of the City Council has hired an Intergovernmental Relations Officer to Santa Clarita with a strong legislative program. Mike Murphy has accepted this position and began work for the City -on December 19. OBJECTIVE 13 Reexamine our Senior Citizen's program and services. STATUS: The Parks and Recreation Department has developed a four staged plan which will allow the City to gradually enter into, the area of senior services. The Department has made a tremendous effort to accelerate the rate the.rate at which Parks and Recreation services are provided directly by City employees. It is, however, necessary to re-evaluate our current rate of expansion in order to allow .for the improvement of quality and responsiveness of our current service areas. A report is a submitted outlining the present state of a variety of senior services in our City as attachment D. This list was derived as a result of both Councilmember Jo Anne Darcy's and Mayor Carl Boyer's meetings with seniors. OBJECTIVE 14 Gather social and economic data on the citizens of the City of Santa Clarita. STATUS: COMPLETED This objective is complete and is submitted as attachment E for your review. All information provided will be updated yearly. OBJECTIVE 15 Work on a Youth -in -Government Program. STATUS: COMPLETED The City of Santa Clarita Youth -in -Government Program is designed for the junior and senior high school student to obtain the optimum exposure to the operation of a City government. The program will offer the students an opportunity to serve as department heads, division manager, key staff members as well as participate in a mock council meeting. On January 8, 1991 a meeting will be held to appoint student representatives to City Council positions. On Monday January 21, there will be a meeting to appoint representatives to the staff positions. Youth in Government day will be held on Tuesday March 12, 1991. At this time a mock council meeting will be held in which the students address present issues facing the'City. OBJECTIVE 16 Consider a "shadow council" that could debate on specific issues regarding youth, seniors, and other special interests. STATUS: COMPLETED City Staff has interviewed a variety of cities, as well as the League of California Cities on the use of "Shadow. Councils" to debate specific issues within a community. As a result of this inquiry, it was determined that • shadow councils are typically not established for this purpose. Rather, a variety of cities make use of ad hoc committees or standing committees. - An ad hoc committee is formed and disbanded on an issue by issue basis as needs arise. Standing Committees relate to committees that are established • and remain due to pressing, ongoing issues. These committees may be comprised of either City Councilmembers, Commissioners or Citizens or any combination. Both forms of committees appear to offer the City Council an opportunity to gain additional information on and debate issues. There is, however, the question of the increased demand upon staff time in preparation for .either form of committee meeting. Additional alternatives to shadow council are use of work study sessions for in-depth study and debate of an item, extensive use of commissions, which allows for additional citizen participation and increased reliance on City staff. OBJECTIVE 17 Complete the General Plan draft and submit it to the Planning Commission for review. STATUS: COMPLETED The Planning Commission has been presented with the draft General Plan. The first public hearing is scheduled for January 3, 1991. It is anticipated that public hearings will continue through the month of March. Following all public testimony and a recommendation from the Planning Commission, the General Plan will be presented to the City Council for review. • OBJECTIVE 18 Get a legal opinion on the possible limits in terms of lifestyles versus property rights. STATUS: COMPLETED The City Attorney has rendered an opinion on this matter. This opinion was submitted to the City Council on September 7, 1990. OBJECTIVE 19 Have a list of annexations and a progress report to the City Council. STATUS: COMPLETED This item is complete and is submitted as attachment F for your review. OBJECTIVE .20 Change the map in the City Council Chambers to reflect the changing City boundaries. STATUS: COMPLETED . This item is ongoing. The map will continue to be updated as annexations occur. The Pinetree Timberlane annexation has been added. I OBJECTIVE 21 • Develop a specific pinetree, timberlane annexation strategy. STATUS: COMPLETED The strategy implemented proved successful with the annexation of pinetree timberlane. OBJECTIVE 22 Have a list of needed roads and a map showing these roads within 60 days. STATUS: COMPLETED A listing of needed roads by priority has been submitted as attachment G for your review. This listing also indicates estimated financing,in 1990 dollars. OBJECTIVE 23 Look into the topographical character of the City. Map the ridge lines to be preserved, superimpose the circulation element, and develop a financing plan for these roads. STATUS: COMPLETED This item has been completed in terms of its various components. Both the Circulation Element and the Mapping of significant ridge lines have been completed as part of the General Plan. In addition, financing options for roads have been identified. At this time the circulation element must be superimposed on the mapping of the ridge lines. This will most likely be accomplished through overlays. OBJECTIVE 24 Develop a white paper for public financing incentives that are being used in economic development. STATUS: COMPLETED This item is complete and is attached as item H for your review. OBJECTIVE 25 Discuss with the City Attorney the issue of giving preference to locals in hiring. STATUS: COMPLETED The City Attorney has rendered an opinion on this matter. This opinion was submitted to the City on October 15, 1990. OBJECTIVE 26 iDiscuss with the City Attorney our ability to phase- approved developments in the event of a growth limitation ordinance. a STATUS: COMPLETED • The City Attorney has rendered an opinion on this matter. An advice memo on this issue wassubmittedto the City on August 24, 1990. OBJECTIVE 27 Develop a policy to discourage L -shape corner centers for commercial development. STATUS: COMPLETED This item is complete and is attached as item I for your review. OBJECTIVE 28 Complete negotiations for the financing of the mall. STATUS: COMPLETED Negotiations for the mall complete with the final draft agreement being completed. This draft agreement will be presented to the City Council in January. OBJECTIVE 29 Have a work session between the City Council, Planning Commission and Parks • and Recreation Commission to improve working relationships and communication. STATUS: COMPLETED This item is complete. A joint meeting was held on October 17. The action plan resulting from this meeting is.attached as item J for your review. This form of joint meeting will be held on a regular basis in order to continue to promote strong working relationships and communications. OBJECTIVE 30 Continue discussions with schools and developers on a valley wide school financing fee. STATUS: COMPLETED The .discussions are now complete. The agreement is being drafted by Santa Clarita's and the County of Los Angeles attorney. OBJECTIVE 31 Complete the Developer Impact Fee Study. 40 ► STATUS: • The City of Santa Clarita is currently pursuing the initiation of developer impact fees within the City. On December 11, 1990, staff went before and received approval from the City Council for the appointment of Recht/Hausrath and Associates to conduct such a study. When implemented, development impact fees will require all developers to pay specified fees to the City, in consideration for their projects, to help finance necessary infrastructure in the City. The study will begin in January 1991 and conclude in March.. Public hearings and City Council study sessions will commence at that time. OBJECTIVE 32 Initiate a community -wide disaster plan and training program. STATUS: COMPLETED The City's first edition of the Emergency plan is complete. The Multi -Hazard Functional Plan is under development and targeted for completion in January of 1991. OBJECTIVE 33 Continue the River Study and complete it on schedule. STATUS: COMPLETED This objective is completed and is submitted as attachment K for your review. S Given the length of this report, the full report has not been included at this time. Copies are available at the Parks and Recreation as well as. the City Clerk's office. However, a summary of the planning and design process is included for your information . OBJECTIVE 34 Continue to consider the development of a communitywide strategic plan. STATUS: At their.meeting of October 30, 1990, the City Council approved .the time line for the community based strategic plan. It is anticipated that the format for the strategic plan will be as follows: , A three hour session to familiarize participants with strategic planning. A six hour session to identify key issues trends and goals. A study session with the City.Council to formulate an action plan. Final plan review and adoption. It was decided that staff would conduct this session with the: aid of a consultant. OBJECTIVE 35 • Implement the child care study report and recommendations. t STATUS: COMPLETED A long range plan for the Santa Clarita Valley has been completed. A child care coordinator will be hired to implement the City Council approved recommendations resulting .from the long range plan. This item was brought before the City Council during the meetings of August 14 and August 28 1990. OBJECTIVE 36 Complete the agreement with Castaic Lake Water Agency and Newhall Land and Farm on Newhall Ranch Road alignment and location of the major pipeline. STATUS: Negotiations are continuing with the Castaic Lake Water Agency and Newhall Land and Farm for the placement of the transmission water main in the Newhall Ranch Road/126 alignment. A number of meetings have been held and information has been requested to make a final determination and presentation to -the City Council for consideration. OBJECTIVE 37 Have another City Council Team Building Retreat in the third week of January. STATUS: This item is presently scheduled for February 2, 1991. The City Council will be informed of all the details in terms of time and location. OBJECTIVE 38 Initiate the selection process for the allocation of the $100,000 in social service grants. STATUS: COMPLETED This item was taken to the City Council for. approval of the program and process for distribution of funds on December 11, 1990. Two councilmembers were appointed to serve on the grant committee. It is anticipated that all remaining funds will be allocated to selected agencies by the end of February 1991. A complete funding package is attached as item L for your review. OBJECTIVE 39 Complete the planning, design and financing for San Fernando Road. STATUS: COMPLETED Funding has been acquired for San Fernando Road and the design completed and submitted to Cal Trans for a final check. Design is in progress for the Magic Mountain Parkway bridge near San Fernando Road and state funding is. proposed by the California Commission which will consider. the final funding in its January 23, 1991 meeting. 0 t OBJECTIVE 40 Acquire the corporation yard and staff field 'operations. STATUS: COMPLETED The City Council authorized the purchase of the corporation yard on July 24, 1990. Escrow has closed. The yard is located on Ave. Stanford in the Valencia Industrial Center. Our street maintenance personnel are now working out of this facility and staff is preparing a report to the City Council regarding needed modifications to the site. This report will be taken to the City Council at the last meeting of January. A schedule for fully staffing the facility will be presented at that time as well. 0 E