HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-06-02 - AGENDA REPORTS - SPECIAL (2)City Council Study Session
June 2, 1998
Call To Order: 6:33 p.m.
Roll Call: All Councilmembers were present
Flag Salute: Was led by Captain Don Rodriquez
Item 1 1998/99 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET SESSION
Management Analyst Paul Zaengle gave an overview of the
following items pertaining to the 1998/99 Fiscal Year Budget:
City Manager's Office: $8.2 million which will include media
upgrades; information booth staffing; Council training; and GIS.
Administrative Services: $4.5 million which will include
telephone system; two positions (accountant & clerk typist);
tenant improvements.
Planning & Building Services: $4.1 million which will
include two positions (Asst. Engineer & Engineering Tech.); Ave.
Tibbets Traffic Study; Signage Task Force; Air Quality & Noise
General Plan Updates; Elsmere Efforts.
Transportation & Engineering Services: $13.6 million
which will include five positions (Project Dev. Coordinator, Asst.
Engineer, Assoc. Traffic Engineer, Engineering Aide; Associate
Engineer); Transit Maint. Oversight; Bus Refurbishment;
Update B&T Fees.
Field Services: $6.7 million which will include an increase in
the tree trimming cycle; facilities improvements; three positions
(2 Parks Maint., Facility Maint.); Job Skills Program; Mounted
Vacuum System,
Public Safety: $10.1 million which will include salary & benefit
increase; radar recertification; Team Policing Program.
Parks Recreation & Community Services: $12.7 million
which will include SCSC Programming (Santa Clarita Sports
Complex); four new positions (2 C.S. Coordinators, 2 LMD
Positions); five program, specialists (1 preschool, 4 aquatics);
stake bed truck; cost recoverable programs.
Redevelopment Agency: $196.7 million which will include
$500,000 loan over 3 years.
Steve Stark briefly explained the process that staff is preparing
regarding signature authority by the City Manager and
streamlining the procurement process by increasing his
authority from $20,000 to $75,000.
Some of the concerns of Council included: concern for the City
Manager and not having Council get upset with a decision he
makes; Council wanting to be informed ahead of time; not
micromanaging the City Manager. Upon further discussion,
Council suggested that the amount be increased to $50,000.
Steve further explained the new telephone system that will be in
place, including a voice mail option, and assured Council that
there will still be "live" voices to help the citizens.
Discussion by Council and staff included:
• GIS (Geographic Information System) background data for
each department to accomplish what needs to be done in the
next year — increase this to $150,000, and present Council
with a 2 month update.
• Public Safety of the community -
Economic Development should have a meeting regarding this
issue — what can be done, and ways to implement programs
that the City already has. Important to speak with economic
development and make sure all bases are covered.
• Redevelopment — personnel and marketing of this is very
important. Specialized projects in Newhall, fagade
improvement program.
• Money for Metrolink — for marketing, and a study to
determine what is needed, such as banks; stores, other
businesses.
• Good business sustainability, and the need to bring people
into the community that will use these facilities. Important
to know what other businesses are needed, and revisitation
of the Freedman Plan.
• Keeping the community involved.
• Metrolink — a possible study to determine how many will
take the train to this area for business and entertainment.
• Work with Chamber of Commerce and County to have events
in conjunction with City events such as Cowboy Poetry
Festival. Possible matching funds program.
• Elsmere fund
• Earthquake fund balance
• Office space within the City Hall facility.
• Incentive dollars for future businesses and more aggressive.
1
• Change title of Panhandle area to Central Park area.
• Possible housing authority, rehabilitation for families
• Speaker's Bureau — need for funding for Distinguished
Speakers Program — support of $15,000 for this.
• Matching funds for theater, arts, cultural programs — Council
encouraged staff to act on this now to kickstart the program.
• Possible purchase of property to help the Canyon Theater
Guild.
• Competitive Grant Program — more money needed, more
matching funds needed.
• Golden Valley Ranch Project clarification. Need. for more
annexations. Prioritize list.
• $50,000 into the Sphere of Influence issue, and consideration
of a consultant on board for this,
• Sign ordinance enforcement, subsidies; waiving sign fees;
promote change, possibly pay through another source.
• Request for a "Sign Ordinance Study Session"
• Possible buy-out of larger signs.
• Increase in staff training in Planning in regards to
environmental issues.
• Illegal dumping in canyons, creeks, streams, waterways, and
the City's limited access to these.
• Beautification issues — east side of town and the 14 on/off
ramps. Street signs, pavement, landscape, developer grading
• Funding for "art" in regards to public facilities. Suggestion of
$5,000 to begin with, in conjunction with CalArts. Start a
pilot program — student project.
• COBRA — specialized units; promotion process
• Staff at Sheriff sub -station needs to be informed regarding
Newhall and Redevelopment.
8:50 p.m. At this time public participation was requested. The following
people spoke: Connie Worden-Roberts on theater district;
praising of Sheriffs Department; review of Freedman Plan;
Transit Service. Dwayne Hardin a on Railroad Avenue and
Theater District. Patti Rasmussen on Railroad Avenue
beautification, theater district, matching grant opportunities.
Marsha McLean on theater district, Canyon Theater Guild
Budget, and fund raising plans by the Guild. Kim Kurowski on
the bike trails on Bouquet Canyon.
Further discussion by Council and staff included:
• Study of Sand Canyon area.
• Phase II Sports Complex
• Central Park Phase II
• Joint Partnership with schools regarding gangs, drugs and
alcohol problems.
• After school programs
• Issues regarding "latch -key" children
• Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) — Public Hearing on
June 23, 1998 regarding this. Ballot process.
• Master Plan — beautification program.
It was moved by Jill Majic and second by Laurene Weste to adjourn the
meeting to June 9, 1998 regular City Council meeting. Hearing no objections,
it was so ordered. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
,X,P" aa..�
Sharon L. Dawson, CMC
City Clerk