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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/06/1976nJ CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED MEETING Friday, August 6, 1976 cc: Reel 92, Side 2, Tr. 1 - 001- 597 Mayor Robert Cheney called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 4:25 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall: A. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmen Brown, Grabowski, Proft, Councilwoman Hillestad, Mayor Cheney Staff: City Manager Robert Crowe B. CURRENT BUSINESS: The purpose of the Adjourned Meeting was to continue Budget FY 1976-77 discussions. Councilman Proft felt that Council should discuss how they would like to see the Planning Department operate at this time. Councilman Brown stated that he subscribed to the suggestion presented by the City Manager that the replacement for the Town Planner should be a person with a degree in Civil Engineer and some Planning experience, with two to four years experience in this field. The reason he supported this plan was because the Town would be facing a considerable amount of subdivision development over the next few years, and the Town needed someone who could quickly learn the re- quirements of the Town and correlate those with his engineering experience. He also noted that the present City Engineer would be retiring within the next few years, and it would be well for the person being considered to work with the City Engineer toward the future time when he could take over that position. Councilman Brown suggested the salary range of $19,000-$20,000 for such a position. Councilman Proft concurred with Councilman Brown regarding the qualifications needed by the Town, and suggested that an advertisement be placed as soon as possible. Councilwoman Hillestad also agreed on such qualifications and that this person would be needed as quickly as possible. Mayor Cheney stated he would like to see Council defer any decision on this matter until after the first of the year, since he did not feel the Town needed another person, and also thought that the City Engineer and the City Manager could handle the Planning area. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - August 6, 1976 `,. CURRENT BUSINESS (Cont'd): Councilman Proft noted that, while the Town did not have commercial development, numerous questions needed to be addressed by the Town concerning roads, traffic flow and easements that required time and study by Staff in order to determine what was best for the Town. He felt that the Town should be in control of development and not the developer, and this was the only way that the interests of the people would be served. Council discussion continued relative to what the functions of the Planning Department, Engineering Department should be; how that time was charged to applicant, and whether the Town's expenses for these services were offset by the fee schedule of the Planning and Engineering Departments. Councilman Grabowski agreed with Mayor Cheney that the City Engineer should only do spot checks of plans, and that a subordinate should do the other plan checks. He thought Council should look to internal procedures with the idea of eliminating functions that might not be necessary for Staff to be handling. He suggested that the Planning Commission might be able to handle Building Site Approvals and Site Development without Staff spending as much time on these functions. Councilman Grabowski did not agree that the Planner should be eliminated or the hiring of such person delayed, since he felt that the Town was at a cross-roads right now, and a person with strong "Planning" experience was necessary at this time. The need for a Planner might not be as necessary at some point in the future, but until that point in time were reached, the Town needed an adequate Staff. He urged Council to look at the fees being charged to ensure that the costs for such a person was being defrayed by those utilizing his time. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Council- man Brown and unanimously carried to maintain the services of a full-time City Engineer for FY 1976-77. Councilman Brown suggested that the City Manager apply an equitable salary increase to the City Engineer as had been done with other employees. Mr. Crowe noted that he had already revised the salary range to reflect this increase. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Brown moved, seconded by Councilman Proft to delete Account #1-440.22 to reflect the retention of a full-time City Engineer. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Crowe read to Council the changes which should be reflected in the Planning Budget proposed beginning with page 57. The position of Engineering/ Planner would be added with a salary of $19,050. The Planning Secretary salary would remain the same, for a total amount budgeted for Account # 1-405.01 of $26,886.00. Total salaries, including overtime would be $27,786. The asterisked notation "1/4 charged to Building" should be deleted from this page. -2- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - August 6, 1976 On page 58, the Building and Safety budget, Account #1-430.01, the top line should be deleted. The Building Inspector steps will remain the same, and the total amount for that Account should be $14,256. Total salaries including part-time Secretary will be $20,756, and the double asterisks at the bottom of the page should be deleted. On page 59, Engineering Department, the full-time City Engineer position will be added at the rate of 2 1� months at $2099 and 9P months at $2204, which reflects the approved salary increase. Total for Account #1-440.01 will be $26,186. Total salaries, including the Planning Secretary will be $28,798.00. Charges for Draftsman will be deleted, and the asterisked notation " 1/4 charged to Building" should be deleted from the bottom of the page. Mr. Crowe noted that he would change the other figures regarding salaries as appropriate. Council discussion ensued relative to reimbursement of vehicle expenses since both the Engineer and Planner spent a great deal of time in the field. Because of Council concerns raised over this proposed budgeted item, Mr. Crowe suggested a compromise figure of $75/mo vehicle expense for the City Engineer and Planner. Councilman Brown moved to accept Mr. Crowe's compromise figure of $75/mo. vehicle expense reimbursement for Accounts No. 1-405.17 and 1-440-17 for a total of $900/year in each instance. Councilman Proft seconded the motion, Motion carried unanimously. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: Councilman Brown reminded Council that they had not acted on the Health Insurance benefits proposed by the City Manager. Mr. Crowe stated that the proposal was for the Town to pay 100% of the premium for these benefits, which would increase the costs to the Town to approximately $600/year. Council discussion ensued, questioning Mr. Crowe regarding the amount budgeted last year for health benefits for employees; the increase due to higher premiums this year, and the request that both employees and their dependents be covered by the Town. Councilman Grabowski objected to this proposal, noting that Council had already voted an 8% cost of living increase to all employees which, in some instances, was higher than the amount allocated to employees in other cities. This included normal step increases. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Mayor Cheney moved, seconded by Councilwoman Hillestad to pay 100% of the premium for health benefits for Town employees and their dependents. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: -3- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - August 6, 1976 w EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: (Cont'd) AYE: Councilman Proft, Councilwoman Hillestad, Mayor Cheney NO: Councilman Grabowski ABSTAIN: Councilman Brown ABSENT: NONE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET: Councilman Brown noted that the Minutes of June 14th stated that it was Council's concensus to delete the amount budgeted for Town. Entrance signs. Because he was not present for that meeting, he requested Council re- consideration of this item. He agreed that the amount of $5,000 was too much; however, there were some entrances into the Town totally without signs. Councilman Proft moved, seconded by Councilman Brown to reconsider the Capital Improvements Budget pertaining to the Town's Entrance signs. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Brown, Grabowski, Proft, Mayor Cheney NO: Councilwoman Hillestad Councilman Brown stated that he felt that all entrances into the Town should be marked; however, he was not in favor of spending a lot of money on these items, that a simple, wooden sign should be sufficient. He moved that Council appropriate the sum of $2,000 for such signs and their design. Motion was seconded by Councilman Grabowski. Councilman Brown clarified that the signs he was refering to was the type used at various entrances which were made of redwood, and this would be for only those entrances where there was no sign at the present time. After further discussion, Council agreed that the money appropriated should be for materials and labor and not for the design of Town entrance signs. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Brown, Grabowski, Proft. NO: Councilwoman Hillestad, Mayor Cheney. Noting the extent of the vandalism to Town -owned signs and the $500 reward offered by Council for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons defacing or damaging signs, Councilman Brown suggested that the City Manager have a stencil prepared so that street signs would so indicate, or do whatever State Law would allow to properly notice this fact. Mr. Crowe indicated that such a stencil could be placed on the back of one- sided signs. Council agreed that the City Manager should investigate this matter and take what steps the law permitted in posting the notice of such a reward. kw -4- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - August 6, 1976 `r' OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS: Councilman Brown noted that in the Minutes of June 14th, it was reflected that Council held over consideration of the option to purchase land for open space, Parkside Estates, in the amount of $8,500.00. Councilman Grabowski stated that he favored the purchase of this land provided Council would elect to delete from the Budget the $.04375 on the tax roll allocated to the Park Acquisition Fund. He noted that once this four acres was picked up by the Town, Council will have acquired all the land to which they had been committed. Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Mayor Cheney to reallocate the Park Acquisition fund of $.04375 to the General Fund on the basis that the Town had fulfilled its land acquisition Program for which the funds had been designated. Councilman Brown felt that there had been a "gentlemen's agreement" that these funds would be returned to the General Fund upon the completion of the acquisition Program. However, he reminded Council that Council was also committed to developing an Open Space Acquisition Plan, and they would have to consider the funding of that Program, whatever that is, when completed. He stated he hoped this would be completed in the near future. `� Councilman Proft noted that he would honor the "gentlemen's agreement" of AW the previous Council in returning these funds to the General Fund, but also agreed with Councilman Brown regarding the Acqusition Plan for Open Space. In response to Councilwoman Hillestad, Mr. Crowe noted that improvements and maintenance of park lands came out of the General Fund, with the exception of Anza Corner. In this instance, he noted that he had been instructed by Council to take the costs of improving Anza Corners from the Park Aquisition fund. Councilwoman Hillestad also agreed with Councilmen Brown and Proft on Council's comoittment to an Open Space Acquisition Plan. The question was called, and Councilman Grabowski's motion (above) to delete the amount of $D4375 appropriated for land acquisition and return it to the General Fund carried unanimously by roll call vote. Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Councilwoman Hillestad, to exercise the option to purchase four acres of land on Moody Court (Parkside Estates) to which the previous Council had been committed. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Council also directed the City Manager to investigate the possibility of making building site approvals and site developments Staff functions and to advise Council how this could be accomplished, as well as what the impact of such a move would be. Mr. Crowe was also requested to review the fee structure of the Town for subdivisions of five or more lots and to report back to Council with his recommendations. r CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - August 6, 1976 4W Mr. Crowe said he would try to get his recommendations on the fee structure back to Council by their first meeting in September. DRAINAGE Councilman Proft asked where the Town stood in relation to the Drainage Report done in 1969 by McCandles, Boone and Cook and the recommendations contained therein. Council discussion ensued regarding Drainage Improvements which could be made during the Fiscal Year 1976-77. Of particular concern was the drainage problem at Fremont and Robleda, which Mr. Crowe noted was the result of an under -sized culvert. Councilman Brown moved, seconded by Councilman Grabowski to appropriate the amount of $2,000.00 to install a proper drain on Fremont Road at Robleda. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Cheney noted that action should be taken to have this work done immediately by the Town's Maintenance Department, and to so advise Mr. Kopick, who had written his concerns to Council. C. ADJOURNMENT: 4W Council adjourned at 7:00 P.M. to their next Regular Meeting. Respectfully submitted, Norma J. Hislop City Clerk