1997/12/09 City Council MinutesRohnert Park City Council Minutes
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December 9, 1997
The Council of the City of Rohnert Park met this date in regular session
commencing at 6:00 p.m. in the City Offices, 6750 Commerce Boulevard, Rohnert Park,
with Mayor Linda Spiro presiding.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Linda Spiro called the regular session to order at approximately
6:35 p.m. and led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Present: (5) Councilmembers Flores, Mackenzie, Reilly, Vidak- Martinez,
and Mayor Spiro
Absent: (0) None
Staff present for all or part of the meeting: City Manager Netter, City Attorney Flitner,
Assistant City Manager Leivo, City Engineer Gaffney, Planning Director Schulenburg,
Building Official Braun and Finance Director Harrow.
MnMENT 12F SIL .N('F. Mayor Linda Spiro declared a moment of silence in memory of
Louis Yeomans, who passed away last Friday evening. Mr. Yeomans was a volunteer and
was an EMT since October 28, 1978. Memorial services will be held for Mr. Yeomans
at Eggan and Lance Mortuary in Santa Rosa, Thursday, December 11th, at 1:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rohnert Park Peace Officers' Association.
YOUTH CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES from 1997 -98 Youth of the Year Program
Mayor Linda Spiro introduced Youth Representatives, Senior Megan Pulley and Junior
Marisa Eggering, who provided the youth report, which included: congratulations
expressed to the City Council upon the selection of the Mayor and Vice Mayor for 1998; a
meeting last week of the School Faculty to work on WASP; teen meetings with schools for
overall review of needs for next year which includes the process of setting various goals for
tenth through twelfth grades; several members of Rancho Cotate High School enjoyed
attending the recent "Phantom of the Opera" performance at the Performing Arts Center;
extended invitations to attend Rancho Cotate's Winter Concert at the Auditorium at
7:00 p.m., December 10th; referred to their monthly news letter and requested Council to
let them know if interested in being on this mailing list; and welcomed anyone interested to
visit the school campus.
AGENDA ORDER. Mayor Linda Spiro recommended moving the business items forward on the
meeting agenda for handling at this time, prior to the ceremony for the 1998 Council
Officer selections. Council concurred.
1. APPROVAL OF RILLS.
Upon motion by Councilmember Mackenzie, seconded by Vice Mayor Vidak - Martinez,
City bills presented per the attached list in the amount of $1,186,709.86 were
unanimously approved.
2 ADDING INFORMATIONAL NON- AGENDAED MATTERS:
Mayor Linda Spiro asked Councilmembers or staff if there were any non - agendaed
informational items to add to the agenda. Councilmember Reilly signified one item to add.
Councilmember Mackenzie signified one item to add. Councilmember Flores signified two
items to add. He also suggested staff notify the lady, who submitted a speaker card and
intended to return to the Council meeting later for the public hearing scheduled on the
agenda, if the signified public hearing is to be continued to a future agenda.
3. ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY MANA GERICLERK'S REPORT on nostinE, of meeting agenda:
A V ✓ U V
This report on posting of the agenda was acknowledged.
4. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES: Mayor Linda Spiro stated that in compliance with
State Law (The Brown Act), citizens wishing to make a comment may do so at this time
(limited to 3 -5 minutes per appearance with a 30 minute total time limit). No one responded.
S. BUDGET 1997 -98 RECOMMENDED FEESICHARGES INCREASES:
1) Garbage & Rubbish Disposal Rate Increase & Debris Box Rate Increase
2) Wastewater Treatment and Disposal
Mayor Linda Spiro explained the need to continue the public hearings for this item to the
City Council meeting of February 10, 1998 due to a technicality in the notice process.
The rate payers were duly noticed, but not the property owners, and Proposition 218
requires that property owners, as well as rate payers, be notified. City Manager Netter and
City Attorney Flitner responded to Council questions including confirmation that public
notices are not exact times, but signify the starting time of a meeting, or as soon thereafter
as the item is reached on the agenda. A notice of the continued public hearing to
February 10 would be posted on the door at City Hall to advise citizens who might arrive
later this evening, and the extended time period would provide the appropriate time to mail
the required notices to property owners and rate payers. The City Manager also agreed to
wait past 8:30 p.m. to let interested citizens know the public hearings had been continued.
PUBLIC HEARING. Mayor Linda Spiro opened the public hearings for the above - referenced
1997 -98 Budget recommendations at approximately 6:45 p.m. and signified these public
hearings would be continued to the City Council meeting of Tuesday, February 10, 1998
due to reason reviewed herein.
6. COMMUNICATIONS. Communications per the attached outline were brought to the attention
of the City Council. No action was taken unless specifically noted in these minutes.
7 MATTERS FROM/FOR COUNCIL:
1) Cancellation & /or rescheduling of 12/23/97 Council meeting (due to Dec. 25th Holiday)
to Tuesday, December 16th (preferred), or Tuesday, December 30th.
Discussion of this item concluded in Council concurrence with cancellation of the December
23rd Council meeting, and signified the preferred date of December 16th, if a second meeting
in December is necessary. It was left to the discretion of the Mayor and the City Manager to
make this determination.
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2) Community School/Sonoma County Office of Education (Flores/Reilly)
Councilmember Flores reviewed results of the recent Ad Hoc Committee meeting
regarding a location proposal for the Community School to serve Rohnert Park and Cotati.
The Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of Councilmembers Flores and Reilly, met previously
with City Manager Netter and City Engineer Gaffney and reviewed beneficial aspects of the
1400 sq. ft. building across from the Animal Shelter, per December 8, 1997 Ad Hoc
Committee meeting agenda with attached site plan proposal for the Community School.
A contract is being prepared for this proposal by the Sonoma County Office of Education,
which will be reviewed by the Council Committee and the City Manager. The Council
Committee will meet with representatives of the Sonoma County Office of Education for
llirther review of this item in January 1998.
3) Cultural Arts Commission proposal (Flores) -- Councilmember Flores referred to his
report distributed to Council, as Liaison for the Cultural Arts Commission, regarding
results of December 9, 1997 meeting with the Commission to review a project they will be
proposing to the City. They would like to develop a program to purchase major art pieces
to enhance the community. Their first project would be to commission a sculpture for the
fountain at the Spreckels Center for the Performing Arts, with a projected cost of $20,000,
and preliminary task of determining available funding. All aspects of the project will be
discussed with the City Council. Councilmember Flores recommended a joint meeting of
the City Council and the Cultural Arts Commission from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., on
Tuesday, February 24, 1998, prior to the regular City Council meeting, to review this
project proposal, and then schedule a formal Commission presentation of the proposal
to the Council during the regular City Council meeting of Tuesday, March 10, 1998.
Council concurred.
4) U. S. Conference of Mayors 1998 Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C., Jan. 28 -30, 1998
A motion made by Councilmember Mackenzie, seconded by Mayor Linda Spiro, to
approve expenditures for Mayor Spiro to attend this meeting, was approved 4 -1, with
Councilmember Reilly dissenting, as previously signified, that the City should not cover
costs for Councilmembers to attend meetings outside the North Bay area.
5) Miscellaneous item -- Councilmember Reilly advised he would defer his previously
signified miscellaneous item to the next regular City Council meeting.
RECESS Mayor Linda Spiro declared a recess at approximately 6:55 p.m. to proceed with the
Community Development Commission meeting scheduled on the agenda.
RECONVENE Mayor Spiro reconvened the City Council meeting at approximately 6:58 p.m. with
all Councilmembers present.
CEREW vYFOR 1999 CITYCOUNCIL OFMCER SELECTIONS
OPENING COMMENTS. Mayor Linda Spiro expressed appreciation to the audience for the under-
standing signified in changing the order of items listed on this evening's agenda. She
welcomed everyone attending this ceremonial meeting which included several former
C ouncilmembers and spouses_ numerous Citv staff representatives and spouses- and renre-
sentatives of various City Commissions /Committees/Boards, Youth of the Year Program
representatives, and several City Council family members.
RECOGNITION of 1998 CITY COUNCIL OFFICER SELECTIONS. Council acknowledged the
selections of 1998 City Council Officers made at the previous meeting for retention of
Linda Spiro as Mayor and Vicki Vidak- Martinez as Pro - Tempore (Vice Mayor).
REFLECTIONS of 1997 & PERSPECTIVES for 1998: Councilmembers combined the review of
1997 reflections and 1998 perspectives, individually and separately sharing comments on
various memories of the past year and anticipations for the next year. Copies attached to
the original set of these minutes included: (1) written statements shared by Councilmember
Mackenzie on 1997 reflections & 1998 perspectives; and (2) list of 1997 Accomplishments
from which Mayor Spiro reviewed many of the items accomplished throughout the year,
beginning with reading the MI.SS=STATF_MF_NT established in the past year as follows:
The City Council serves the interests of the diverse citizens of
Rohnert Park. We want a safe and healthy environment for
all City residents. We will work to ensure a self - sustaining
community with an admirable level of facilities and services.
Council comments also included extending compliments and expressing appreciation for
the efforts of City staff and assistance to Council.
PRESENTATION to MAYOOR LINDA SPIRO for 1997 YEA{ R asttMAYOR: i Councllmembel r Reply made this preso entatloll to 1`,�ayor Spiro, on behalf of the City Councll,
of a desk pen and clock set, as a token of appreciation for her many efforts as Mayor
throughout the past year of 1997.
ADJOURNMENT. • There being no further business, Mayor Linda Spiro adjourned the meeting at
approximately 7:25 p.m. to refreshments.
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IS36 Gladstone Way • Rohnert Park, CA. • 101 - 584 -1195 • Fu: 707 -584 -2338 e-mail blumacjazz@aol.wm
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE +�
Date: December 9, 1997 - f
Contact: Jake Mackenzie ( w-
707- 584 -1195, Fax: 707 - 584 -2338 e -mail vrd
blumacjazz @aol.com
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Reflections on 1997
Rohnert Park , Californla-
One year ago on Tuesday December 10th , my real political
education started. So with that in mind, I reflect on this past
year. My text this evening is found in the Concise Oxford
Dictionary of Quotations : "Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye even so unto them: for
this is the law and the prophets"
Certainly the use of this evening to re -seat the same two
Council Officers elected by this same council a year ago seems
scarcely worthy of celebration. Now that the city has been spared
a Judgement of Solomon , let's just get on with business. The
evident unfairness of the blunt use of `political power was well
displayed two weeks ago with an unseemly struggle by three
councilmembers to assume the "Ceremonial" mantle of the Mayoralty
of this city. It was clearly the opportunity for these members of
the council to practice what they so frequently preach about
working together and being team players by voting Jim Reilly in
as Mayor;the same Jim Reilly who one year ago clearly honored his
commitment to Council member Spiro by supporting her for mayor.At
that time , in my then- naive frame- of-'mind, I thought I would
have the opportunity to nominate Councilmember Reilly to the post
of Vice - mayor. Clearly that was not on the mind of three other
councilmembers. Hence my text!
If I had any illusions as to how I was to be taught my political
lessons , the month of January 1997 dispelled them for good .
Having voted in a consensual manner to approve Planning
Commission appointees from three councilmembers , including the
recently defeated running mate of two of them, Greg Nordin., I
then had the opportunity to make my nomination , a highly
qualified individual with planning credentials and work
experience , Susan Haydon. As she sat in the body of this
chamber,those same three councilmembers refused to endorse my
nominee . I return to my.text and beg the question , who did unto
others as they would be done unto?
One year later, I see that ,despite these political lessons so
deliberately administered , the work of government can still
progress. Under the beleaguered leadership of our city masnager
Joe Netter and with policy direction from the Council arrived at
through an intensive Strategic Planning process, and despite the
hysterical rhetoric regarding Measure "N" , the city has managed
to avoid bankruptcy,has managed to attract new business and has
managed to avoid closing the doors of the Senior Center.A new
management team is almost completely in place The talent
represented by our new managers will undoubtedly reflect well on
our city over the years to come.
Will pigs fly, will skateboards whiz around, will there ever be a
downtown and uptown in our city - all these questions and others
may well be answered as the Summit task forces report back to the
community in early 1998. It was the Summit itself that showed
some possibility that a general plan update process can be
influenced by community needs expressed through inclusive rather
than exclusive means.
It has been , in fact , a year of some accomplishment.The
council has endorsed the Calthorpe 101 corridor transportation
plan , it has endorsed agricultural re -use of traeted wastewater
as an integral part of any solution to our sub - region's disposal
problem, we've met with our neighbors and partners in Cotati, SSU
and the School District- showing our good faith and interest in
collaborative ventures.So in the spirit of the Summit- NO MORE
"THEY "! Let's move forward and do unto others as we would have
them do unto us. Who knows it may work in reverse also!
1536 Gladstone Way • Rohnert Park, CA. • 107 -584 -1195 -Fax: 101 -584 -2338 a -mail blumacjazz@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 9, 1997
Contact: Jake Mackenzie
707 - 584 -1195, Fax: 707 - 584 -2338 e -mail
blumacjazz @aol.com
A Perspective for 1998
Rohnert Park, CA—
The reality of 1998 is that is is an election year. The Mayor
reminded us of this fact two weeks ago. Hopefully Proposition 208
will remain in effect and put a well deserved dampener on the
excesses perpetrated in this community in the 1996 election.Once
the legal dust from the outcome of the court cases settles , I
plan to introduce a draft ordinance to clarify our city's code on
the subject of "City Elections ".
Work clearly needs to be done to review and consolidate the
entire City Code. Rather than do this in a piecemeal fashion ,I
will propose that a Citizens'Advisory Commission be reconstituted
to work with the city's new management team to conduct this
review; as was evidenced at last week's Party for Dave Eck there
are some distinguished "senior" citizens yet around who could do
this city yet another service by being part of such a work
group.Who knows, maybe they would even suggest an election for
Mayor?
The council should continue to establish Budgetary Priorities as
we did this year.We should insist on meeting regularily with our
partners and neighbors in order that communiction remain a two -
way process.We could even meet with the faculty and students of
SSU to find out what's on their minds.We need to get out in the
neighborhoods and let people know what's going on -every device
needs to be used.Newsletters, town -hall meetings, our own city
Home Page as well as an expansion of use of the Public Access
channel .Planning commission meetings should be carried live just
like our own meetings.
Most important of all in 1998 will be the effort to integrate our
Summit experiences and outcomes into this City's General
Plan.Since 1990 , it has proved impossible to gat a plan in place
with the proper horizon of 15 to 20 years. Maybe we can, "develop
an agreed -upon vision for this city, establish true budgetary
priorities, develop an economic development startegy, review our
community needs and.use the urban growth boundary approach to
plan for the future. " As I advocated.last spring to no avail, we
could save ourselves a lot of grief by' having a workshop with the
County, LAFCO ,SSU,the School District, Santa Rosa and Cotati to
explore the various relationships that exist between the County
General Plan , LAFCO policies and our various desires.I belipve
that the Vice -mayor and I can help make that process happen as we
start the difficult and undoubtedly thankless task of tackling
the Canon Manor issue.
The City of Rohnert Park and its citizens can determine its own
future. This past weekend Dan Curtin reminded us that ," a city
need not go to the legislature every time it has a problem: more
than likely the city has that power in its own hands..... powers
that encompass building, aesthetics,sign abatement, growth
control, and the like ..... this power is a broad , expansive power
.There is NO right to develop in California ; it is a privilege"
So we have a real responsibility as we fashion our General Plan
and as we consider the guidelines for Specific Plan Areas. We can
require a 50:50 ratio between Open Space and Developed land in
our vision for the next century.We can use inclusionary zoning to
help provide affordable housing,.We can create a relationship
between the needs of Education and this Community by creatively
looking at development that is not monotonous but imaginative ,
by making SSU students feel part of our lives and not look at us
as a place to escape from at weekends.
With a new management team in place under City Manager Netter, I
look forward to an interesting 1998 here in Rohnert Park- I'll
continue my independent, strictly non - partisan ways ,always
hoping that fairness will prevail.
- « /Q /s
1997 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
.Established formal youths of the year representation at Council meetings.
.PAC awarded Dean Goodman "Critic's Choice" Award
.City Council developed mission statement and approved goals and
objectives through a strategic planning process
MISSION STATEMENT
The City Council serves the interests of the diverse citizens of
Rohnert Park. We want a safe and healthy environment for
all City residents. We will work to ensure a self - sustaining
community with an admirable level of facilities and services.
.Received two local law enforcement block grants for public safety
equipment and computers
.Developed economic development strategy - expanded contract with
Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce
.City Manager instituted department head team management program
.CDBG Grant ($200,000) for Youth Center and Burbank Housing
Development site search
.Citywide classification and compensation study completed
.Began Century Cable TV rebuild
.Completed storm drain decal program
.Completed joint meetings with: (1) Planning Commission; (2) Parks and
Recreation Commission; (3) City of Cotati; and (4) S.S.U. President's
Cabinet
.Instituted a daytime curfew ordinance
through Dept. Of Public Safety and Youth & Family Services
.Formulated countywide curfew ordinance for cities to review
Completed authomatic handicaapped access in all city facilities
.Started General Plan Technical Update
.Prezoned Creekside Middle School site - 66 acre site
Yormali?ed Community Outreach for Youth & Families (COYF)
Commission
.Completed Memorial Brick Patio at Roberts Lake
.COPS More Grant - Countywide Information System in process. $1.4
million potential to City of Rohnert Park. $9 million total County grant
.Successful Toilet Giveaway Program at high school combined with Toilet
Replacement Program. Replaced approximately 3,000 toilets to date
.City successful in Sime I appeal
.City successful in ssewer plant revisionary clause litigation
.Completed two dept. Head/City Council mixers to enhance communications
.Completed negotiations with two bargaining groups and management group
.Established "Street Beat" televised information program on Public Safety
and other issues - 1 st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month
.Completed city projects and timeline list for Council's information
.Established City Manager monthly newsletter
.Began "M" Park soccer field and tennis courts addition
.Completed a successful 3 -day Community Summit resulting in:
(1) On- going process through CTeneral Plan process
(2) Development of Task Forces /Champions, etc.
Next Level starting Phase II expansion
.Hewlett Packard approved additional expansion
.Council selected long term wastewater alternative
.Completed joint use agreement with School District
.Expanded Child I.D. program at Community Center
.Established a "El Nino" planning committee
.Silt basin project approved by Sonoma County Water Agency
.Installed computer network at Dept. Of Public Safety
RETIREMENTS:
(1) Ron Brust, City Engineer/Director of Public Works
(2) James Baker, Public Safety Lieutenant
(3) Connie Toepp, Secretary to Director of Public Safety
(4) Homer Rail, Supt. Of Public Works
(5) Paul Skanchy, Planning Director
(6) Ron Santero, Maint. Worker III, Dept. Of Public Works
(7) James Pekkain, Recreation Director
(8) Lorraine Roberts, Administrative Secretary