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Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2007, 7:30 pm

Page 1

ROLL CALL
On a call of the roll the following Council Members reported present: Steve Olsen, Rae Hanstad, Sue Horgan, Joe DeVito and Carol Smith. Also present were: City Manager, Jere Kersnar; City Attorney, Monte Widders; Chief of Police, Capt. Bruce Norris; Finance Director, Susie Mears; Public Works Director, Doug Breeze; Building Official/Code Enforcement, Brian Meadows; and City Clerk, Carlon Strobel.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Girl Scouts

INVOCATION Moment of Silence

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The following persons addressed Council regarding a proposed detour which would divert Highway 150 traffic onto Gridley Road and Grand Avenue during a proposed reconstruction of the San Antonio Creek Bridge.
Debbie Brooks
Jesse Brooks
Peter Cantle
Henry K. Maynard
Mark Brewer
Heather Benton
Rick Brooks
Cindy Cantle
James Malone
Doug Donath
William Ulrich
Doug Hoff

Concerns expressed:
Bicycle/pedestrian safety on Gridley
No shoulders or sidewalks
Heavy traffic diverted onto quite residential streets
Traffic safety
Damage to Heritage and California Live Oaks
Noise impacts
Length of construction time
Gridley Road not constructed to handle the projected amount of traffic
Excessive vehicle speed

Recommendations:
CalTrans could provide temporary highway access during extended repairs
Have a progressively “staggered” detour so all the streets share the traffic burden
Two lane bridge – work on one lane and keep the other lane open
25 mile per hour speed limit
Temporary speed bumps

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2007, 7:30 pm

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Council Member Horgan asked staff what influence the City had over County and CalTrans projects.
Public Works Director Breeze reported that Council had the authority to utilize its streets however it wished. He reported that the City and the County had had minimum discussions regarding possible routing options and detour amenities which could occur, such as restricting trucks on Highway 150 and Santa Paula and Highway 33 at the 101 Freeway, increased Highway Patrol activities and repair to City streets because of proposed detours.
Mr. Breeze confirmed that it was early in the process so there was time to address the concerns of the citizens.
Nancy Williams, Southern California Edison, updated the Council on how Edison partners with the City of Ojai in areas such as franchise, fees and permits, undergrounding, and contributions through volunteers, and on Edison’s Summer Discount Program.
Leonard Kalif noted the discussion regarding the proposed Gridley Road detour and asked the City Attorney if the discussion was consistent with the Brown Act.

1. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Motion to approve the reading by title only of all ordinances and resolutions. Said ordinances and resolutions which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
b) Warrants for March 8, 2007, and Payroll Warrants for March 15, 2007 in the amount of $197,847.08.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize payment.
c) Minutes of Ojai City Council meeting of February 13, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as submitted.
d) Minutes of Ojai City Council meeting of February 27, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as submitted.
e) Minutes of Ojai City Council meeting of March 13, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as submitted.
f) Minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission meeting of February 12, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
g) Minutes of Ojai Planning Commission meeting of January 17, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
h) Treasurer’s Monthly Report of Investments for the City of Ojai and the Redevelopment Agency

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2007, 7:30 pm

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RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
i) Asphalt Concrete Overlay Project PW 06-03

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Accept PW 06-03 “Asphalt Concrete Overlay Project” as complete per contract documents; and
2. Authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County of Ventura for PW 06-03.
j) Transportation Development Act Funding Application

RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution authorizing the City Manager to file a claim with the Ventura County Transportation Commission for Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds in the amount of $124,720 for public transportation and $70,006 for local streets and roads.
City Manager Kersnar requested that Item j be pulled from the Consent Calendar. Staff needed to double check the numbers and will bring the item back to Council.

MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem DeVito moved and Council Member Olsen seconded to approve Consent Calendar Items a – i.
The result of the vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: DeVito abstained as to Item e only.
ABSENT: None

PUBLIC HEARING
2. Plaza Maintenance Assessment District FY 2007/2008
Public Works Director Breeze presented an overview of the staff report.
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing and seeing that no one wished to speak, Council Member Hanstad moved and Council Member Horgan seconded to close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: Council Member Horgan moved and Council Member Hanstad seconded to adopt Resolution No. 07-12 authorizing the continuation of Plaza Maintenance Assessment District for FY 2007/2008; for the levy and collection of established property assessment without an increase, as identified in the District Diagram and Plan in the City Engineer’s Report; and authorize the City Clerk to transmit the necessary documents to the County of Ventura for the levy and collection of property assessments for Plaza Maintenance Assessment District.
The result of the roll call vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSENT: None

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2007, 7:30 pm

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DISCUSSION
3. Approve the Engineer’s Reports, Mail Ballots, and set a Public Hearing for Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1 and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3.
Public Works Director Breeze presented an overview of the staff report.

MOTION: Council Member Hanstad moved and Council Member Olsen seconded to adopt Resolution No. 07-13 and Resolution No. 07-14 approving the Engineer’s Reports for Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1 and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3, respectively; and declare the Council’s intent to levy and collect assessments for Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1 and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3; and direct staff to prepare and distribute ballots to Assessment District property owners to vote on an increase in assessments for FY 2007/2008, including an annual cost of living adjustment beginning in FY 2008/2009; and set the City Council meeting of June 26, 2007 as the date for a public hearing to receive comments and tabulate ballots.
The result of the roll call vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSENT: None

NOTE: Item 6 taken out or order.
6. Appointments to City Commissions
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem DeVito moved and Council Member Olsen seconded to ratify commission appointment recommendations as follows:
Jill Dolan Historic Preservation Commission
Demitri Corbin Arts Commission
Kai Earthsong Parks and Recreation Youth Commissioner
The result of the roll call vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSENT: None

4. City of Ojai, 2006 Crime/Arrest Statistics Report
In part, Ojai Police Chief, Capt. Norris, reported the following:
Calls for service Decreased
Burglary/theft Increased
Violent crimes Remained low/consistent
Arrests Decreased

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2007, 7:30 pm

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Traffic citations Decreased
Parking citations Decreased
Police response times decreased to 6.2 minutes
Pete LaFollette and Carol Yates commented.

5. Social Host Ordinance Update
Ojai Police Chief, Capt. Norris, reported that for its first year the Ojai Social Host Ordinance had been a success from the perspective of law enforcement. Awareness of underage drinking had increased. Capt. Norris noted that the Ordinance had worked well so far and he sees no need for modifications of any sort.

7. Code Enforcement
City Manager Kersnar gave a power point presentation and an overview of the staff report. He emphasized that the focus was on activities on private property which were regulated through the Ojai Municipal Code.
Council provided policy direction as follows:
Overall philosophy: Voluntary compliance.
Priorities and service level: Complaint-driven – proactive when necessary.
Process for compliance: Maintain softer, more informal approach.
The Ojai City Council then recessed and convened as the Redevelopment Agency. Subsequent to hearing those items before them, the Redevelopment Agency adjourned and reconvened as the Ojai City Council.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

ORAL REPORT(S) FROM CITY MANAGER

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned in memory of Mark Ditchfield and Leslie McDonald.
__________________________
Carol Smith, Mayor
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Carlon Strobel, City Clerk