2009/05/01 City Council Minutes (Special Meeting)ROHNERT PARK CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETINGIWORK SESSION
Tuesday, May 1, 2009
The City Council of the City of Rohnert Park met this date for a Special Meeting/Work Session to
commence at 10:00 a.m. at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, with
Mayor Breeze presiding.
CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park was called to order by Mayor
Breeze at 10:09 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Arnie Breeze, Mayor
Gina Belforte, Vice Mayor
Joe Callinan, Council Member
Jake Mackenzie, Council Member
Pam Stafford, Council Member*
*Council Member Stafford arrived at 10 :17 a.m.
Staff participating in all for part of the special meeting: Daniel Schwarz, Interim City Manager; Michelle
Marchetta Kenyon, City Attorney; Ron Bendorff, Director of Community Development; Darrin Jenkins,
Director of Engineering Services /City Engineer; Sandy Lipitz, Director of Administrative Services; Brian
Masterson, Public Safety Director; John McArthur, Director of Utilities /General Services; Linda
Babonis, Housing and Redevelopment Manager; Guy Miller, Recreation Manager; and Terri Griffin,
Deputy City Clerk.
Development project representatives present for all or part of the special meeting: Ken Blackman,
Redwood Equities, for Southeast Area Specific Plan and Stadium Area Master Plan; Dave Dolter, Project
Manager for Northeast Area Specific Plan; and Craig Harrington for University District.
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Breeze invited members of the public to come forward to speak. No members of the public
responded.
2. GOAL SETTING FOR RESTRUCTURING AND BUDGET
A. Review of City Council Goals
Interim City Manager Schwarz reviewed the outline of items for discussion at the Special
Meeting and provided background information on the Council goals, the findings and
recommendations contained in temporary internal auditor's report, the budget process for
lCity of Rohnert Park City Council Special Meeting Minutes 2 of 4 May 1, 2009
Fiscal Year 2009/2010, and the evaluation of basic, enhanced and optimum service levels by
all departments.
Council discussion ensued regarding the five Council goals:
1. Raise Revenues
2. Infrastructure: Maintain /Increase
3. Increase Safety: "Safest City on the 101"
4. Sustainability
5. Partnerships /Cooperation
Council direction: Following Council discussion regarding the status of these goals and
some of the tactics and strategies related to these goals as identified in the Council Work
Plan, Council CONCURRED to maintain the five goals listed above. Council direction
regarding specific tactics and strategies included:
• Continuing economic development goals through existing partnership with the Chamber
of Commerce and Council liaison to the Chamber;
• Directing staff to explore ways of streamlining planning processes to better enable leases
and sales of commercial property;
• Encouraging business retention through use of signage and, through the Education
Committee, begin dialogue with Rancho Cotati High School and Sonoma State
University regarding potential partnerships to develop signage;
• Utilizing information contained in the corridor study toward achievement of economic
development tactics;
• Considering future strategies toward consolidations and amalgamations under
partnerships and cooperation; and
• Exploring first -time homebuyer program and /or partnerships with non - profits and the
real estate community to address residential vacancies.
B. Development and Redevelopment Goals and Objectives
Interim City Manager Schwarz indicated that discussion regarding Council's infrastructure
and redevelopment priorities will be scheduled for a future workshop. In furtherance of the
Council's development workshop held on April 21, Interim City Manager Schwarz requested
Council's general comments and feedback regarding the Eastside Sewer Trunk Line, the
extension of Dowdell, the Stadium Area Master Plan, and the Westside Fire Station. He
further indicted the need for direction on the inclusion of the Parks, Recreation, and Open
Space (PROS) Committee report within the General Plan and stated that staff will bring an
update to the Public Facilities Financing Plan on a future Council agenda.
City Attorney Kenyon further requested feedback from Council regarding its priorities in
terms of commercial versus residential development to allow staff to move forward in
discussions with developers.
Director of Community Development Bendorff requested Council direction on the Avram
Avenue properties and responded to Council questions regarding the inclusionary housing
program and in -lieu fees.
Director of Engineering Services /City Engineer Jenkins responded to comments raised by
Mr. Blackman regarding the need to include Sonoma Mountain Village in the Public
Facilities Financing Plan and the impacts of regional transportation and commercial linkage
fees on development.
JCity of Rohnert Park City Council Special Meeting Minutes 3 of 4 Mav 1, 2009
Following discussion by Council, staff, and development representatives, Council
CONCURRED to direct staff to convene a working group with developers to discuss fees
and development barriers. Interim City Manager Schwarz indicated that staff will bring a pro
forma plan regarding the use of redevelopment funds to the Community Development
Commission as part of its five year plan.
RECESS: Mayor Breeze called for a recess at 12:10 p.m.
RECONVENE: Mayor Breeze reconvened the City Council meeting at 12:24 p.m. All members were
present.
C. Presentation of Basic/Enhanced /Optimum Service Levels and Restructuring Options
Interim City Manager Schwarz reviewed the recommendation by the City's temporary
internal auditor, Urban Futures, inc. to define basic, enhanced, and optimum levels of service
within each department. He indicated that the department presentations of service levels
would be in order of impact to the General Fund.
Public Safety Department
Director of Public Safety Masterson reviewed the current high level of service provided by
the Public Safety Department and reviewed by PowerPoint presentation the impacts on
staffing and services through potential reductions to basic or enhanced levels of service.
Director Masterson responded to Council questions regarding impacts on staffing, impacts
on crime, and the potential for elimination and /or outsourcing of public safety services,
including services provided by the evidence specialist and Animal Shelter.
Recreation, Performing Arts Center, Finance and Information Systems
Director of Administrative Services Lipitz reviewed by PowerPoint presentation basic,
enhanced and optimal service levels within the Recreation Department, the Performing Arts
Center, the Finance Department, and the Information Systems division and responded to
Council questions. Director Lipitz recommended enhanced service levels in the Recreation
Department with a reduction to three swimming pools. Director Lipitz and Performing Arts
Center Manager McDougall responded to Council questions regarding the potential
outsourcing of the Performing Arts Center to a contract theater agency and questions related
to revenues from the Highway 101 sign. Director Lipitz distributed a list of duties that could
be assigned to a full -time internal auditor.
Public Works
Director of Public Works McArthur reviewed by PowerPoint presentation the current below
basic level of service provided by the Public Works Department and the staffing needed to
provide basic levels of service. Director McArthur responded to Council questions regarding
charging certain services to utility funds as appropriate, staffing and hiring issues,
landscaping issues, park restroom maintenance and options, the use of volunteers for some
services, and potential collaboration with other agencies. Director McArthur recommended
achieving basic service levels with enhanced levels of service for graffiti abatement.
Interim City Manager Schwarz indicated that due to reaching the hour of adjournment, service level
presentations by Planning, Building, and Engineering and a proposal for restructuring within those
departments will be placed on the May 12 City Council agenda. Interim City Manager Schwarz further
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indicated that on May 12 staff will bring forward the cost for basic service levels citywide based on
current salary and benefit costs, along with enhanced and optimal services and their associated costs.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Breeze adjourned the Special Meeting/Work Session of the City
Council at 3:07 p.m.
Terri Griff
Deputy City 1 r
City of Rohnert Park