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2001/04/10 City Council MinutesCITY OF ROHNERT PARK CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES for: CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION April 10, 2001 Tuesday The concurrent meetings of the City of Rohnert Park for the City Council and the Community Development Commission met this date in regular session for a regular meeting commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the City Offices, 6750 Commerce Boulevard, Rohnert Park, with Mayor Mackenzie presiding. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Mackenzie called the regular session to order at 7:05 p.m. and led the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: (5) Councilmembers Reilly, Spiro and Vidak- Martinez; Vice Mayor Flores; and Mayor Mackenzie Absent: ( 0 ) None Staff present for all or part of the meeting: City Manager Netter, City Attorney Strauss, Interim Assistant City Manager Stephens, Planning and Community Development Director Kaufman, City Engineer Gaffney, Associate Planner Bendorff, Building Official Braun, and Administrative Secretary Tacata. 1. MAYOR'S REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Mackenzie reported on the closed session which commenced at approximately 6:00 p.m. to discuss matters listed on the agenda attachment, representing an update. LITIGATION MATTERS: 1. Possible litigation - one case: Nothing to report. REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATIONS: 1. Lands around the Stadium: Nothing to report. 2. Rohnert Park Golf Course Property: Nothing to report. City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page (2 ) 2. APPROVAL OF CONCURRENT MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 27, 2001, AND CONCURRENT SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES - APRIL 3, 2001: Upon MOTION by Vice Mayor Flores, seconded by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, the Concurrent Meeting Minutes of March 27, 2001, and Concurrent Special Meeting Minutes of April 3, 2001, were UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AS SUBMITTED. 3. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS, IF ANY (INFORMATIONAL ONLY): Mayor Mackenzie asked the Councilmembers if there were any informational communications to add to the agenda. * Councilmember Vidak- Martinez noted that she had not been given sufficient notice of the signing of the documents for the purchase by Millennium Housing of the Las Casitas Mobilehome Park. She indicated that as a member of the Mobilehome Park Subcommittee, she would have liked to have been present. She expressed her congratulations to the residents of Las Casitas, and she REQUESTED that staff get information to the Councilmembers in a timely manner. Mayor Mackenzie agreed with Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, and he noted that he had attended and had conveyed the Council's congratulations to the Las Casitas residents. *Vice Mayor Flores requested to add two items under "Communications ": (1) The letter from the Town of Windsor to Senator Joe Dunn concerning SB -910; and (2) The letter from a Santa Rosa resident concerning an incident at Roberts Lake involving a goose and a remote- controlled boat. 4. YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM HIGH SCHOOL 2000 -2001 YOUTH OF THE YEAR PROGRAM SELECTIONS: Mayor Mackenzie noted that Youth rep Laura Lively won the Junior Miss Sonoma County Pageant, and Miss Lively indicated that she will be representing Sonoma County in the upcoming Miss California Pageant held in Rohnert Park. 1. Junior Laura Lively was recognized. Seniors Harjit Banwait and Kaitlin Glass were not present. The youth rep shared the contents of the Youth Report. Highlights included the following: *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(3 ) (1) Grand Opening of "The Vision" Teen Center tomorrow evening, April 11, 2001, at 6:00 p.m. 5. SONORA STATE UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC., REPRESENTATIVE: 1. Seann Pridmore, ASU Vice President of University Affairs at SSU, was not present due to Spring Break. 6. SCHEDULED APPEARANCES /PRESENTATIONS: 1. Joe Nation Sixth District Assemblymember, representing Rohnert Park: Mayor Mackenzie ANNOUNCED that Mr. Nation was not present this evening due to a death in his family. The Mayor noted that the presentation will be rescheduled for another Council meeting. 2. Mayor's Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Rancho Cotate Hiqh School Basketball Team: Mayor Mackenzie read the Proclamation congratulating and honoring the Rancho Cotate High School Basketball Team, Winner of the North Bay League Championship, and Coach Rusty McManus. Coach McManus came forward and thanked the team as well as their parents, and he introduced the team members in attendance this evening. 3. Joe Manthey, Director of Kid Culture in the Schools, r_eaarding "Take Our Children to Work Day" on April 19, 2001: Mayor Mackenzie read the Proclamation declaring Thursday, April 19, 2001, "Take Our Children to Work Day." Mr. Manthey came forward and thanked the Council for showing leadership in acknowledging the need to include boys, young and adolescent, in "Take Our Children to Work Day." 4. Sister_ Cities Committee Presentation by Chairperson Rebecca Rishe: Mike Grubler, Vice- Chair, came on behalf of Ms. Rishe who was out of town. Highlights of the report included the following: (1) Thanks to the Councilmembers who were able to go to the Japanese Festival this year; (2) Reminder that a student exchange group is coming from Japan at the end of July this summer to stay with host families, and a REQUEST that the Council consider having a welcome reception for the exchange students; (3) REQUEST for a time frame for the Japanese Garden; (4) Various budget inquiries, including consideration of adding another Sister City; (6) Committee consideration of starting a library in Tagatay, Philippines, and of requesting math and *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(4 ) English book donations from the local schools. S. City Website and ACIS ( "The Anytime Line ") Presentation by Administrative Assistant Eydie Tacata: Assistant Tacata shared the contents of the staff report provided to the Councilmembers in their packets, and she responded to Council questions. She noted that the "Anytime Line" number is 585 -6799. At the suggestion of Councilmember Reilly, Mayor Mackenzie DIRECTED staff to come back with a report in terms of a policy on E- mailing Councilmembers via the City Website. At this time, Mayor Mackenzie ANNOUNCED that Item 10 on the Agenda this evening, "Golf Course Matters," will be brought back at the April 24, 2001, City Council meeting when the resolution is complete. Vice Mayor Flores reported that the Golf Course Subcommittee will be continuing with the preparation of a contract with the potential new management company for the courses. Councilmembers Reilly and Spiro, members of the Golf Course Subcommittee, noted that they had just agreed to meet on Thursday, April 12, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Mackenzie DIRECTED staff to telephonically notify the golf course citizens' committee group as soon as the meeting date and time has been finalized. 7. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES: Mayor Mackenzie 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 limit). 1. Gordon Anderson, 6650 Commerce Boulevard No 15, was recognized and stated that the three - minute limit impinges on his First and Sixth Amendment Rights. He referred the Councilmembers to the documents he shared at the April 4, 2001, Special �Meeting, and he outlined a complete hydrogen operation for the City and discussed ESRI as a management tool. Also, he encouraged the Council to take an active role in creating a more effective transportation system by producing its own power. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(5 ) 2. Jette Littler, Community Services Officer with Rohnert Park Public Safety, was recognized and discussed the "Every 15 Minutes" Program, a two -stage program that takes place at different high schools in the County and addresses the choices that teenagers make in drinking and driving. She thanked the many organizations that helped to put this program together, and she noted the emotional response from the students at Rancho Cotate High School after seeing the first phase of the program today. She INVITED the Councilmembers to attend the second phase of "Every 15 Minutes" tomorrow at Rancho Cotate High School at 10:25 a.m. or 11:10 a.m. 3. Jean Rice, 7177 Adrian Drive, was recognized and expressed her concerns with the use of City funds to pay for an Easter Egg Hunt for children in the City schools. She noted that Easter is a Christian religious holiday and that such an Easter Egg Hunt does not take into account the different religions represented by the people of Rohnert Park. She encouraged the City to find sponsors to pay for the rental of the space to hold an Egg Hunt, and she thanked the City for acknowledging the concerns over the invocation ceremony at the first City Council meeting of the year. 4. Mike Rice, 7177 Adrian Drive, was recognized and expressed his support of the previous speaker's stance on the use of City funds for religious holidays. He noted that his mother is a City Manager and that he appreciates all of the work that goes into running the City. 5. Iry Sutler Camino Colegio, was recognized and applauded the City's efforts to mediate the separation -of- Church - and -State issue that arose after the invocation at the City Council's opening meeting of the year. He expressed his opposition to the Christian invocation, and he discussed the no- preference clause in the California Constitution. He urged the City Council to formally rescind the practice that allows the Mayor to continue this all Christian invocation and to go back to a non - religious, non- sectarian, non - denominational opening ceremony that would be accessible by all residents and all citizens that desire to appear before the City Council. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(6 ) 6. Chip Worthington, 4695 Snyder Lane, was recognized and briefly responded to the previous speaker's comments. As President of the Ministerial Association, he stated that he appreciated Mr. Sutley's comments, and he invited him to the Association's meetings. Secondly, he noted that as a citizen of Rohnert Park, he wanted to thank Jack Shields, Public Safety Officer, and Dave Shuler, Building Inspector, for their service to the City. He indicated that those two men were true public servants who were genuinely concerned for the City of Rohnert Park. *************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** 8. CONSENT CALENDAR: Mayor Mackenzie asked if there were any questions about the matters on the Consent Calendar, which were explained in the City Manager's Council Meeting Memo. The Mayor signified removal of six Consent Calendar items for further discussion as follows: Resolution Nos. 2001 -72 through 2001 -77 per Vice Mayor Flores' recommendation to be read by title; Resolution Nos. 2001 -74 and 2001 -75 per Councilmember Vidak- Martinez' recommendation; and Resolution No. 2001 -77 per Councilmember Reilly's recommendation. ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY MANAGER /CLERK'S REPORT ON THE POSTING OF THE MEETING'S AGENDA APPROVAL OF BILLS /DEMANDS FOR PAYMENT CONCURRENTLY FOR: *CITY OF ROHNERT PARK /CITY COUNCIL IN THE AMOUNT OF $892,551.40 *COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,036.50 Resolutions for Adoption: 2001 -78 CALLING FOR SEALED PROPOSALS, JiaPANESE GARDEN, PROJECT NO. 2000 -14 2001 -79 CALLING FOR SEALED PROPOSALS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS - 2000, PROJECT NO. 2000 -15 2001 -80 AWARDING CONTRACT FOR MISCELLANEOUS SIDEWALK REPAIRS AT VARIOUS CITY SITES 2001 -81 APPROVING A BAIL SCHEDULE FOR OFFENSES IN VIOLATION OF THE ROHNERT PARK MUNICIPAL CODE *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(7 ) 2001 -82 ADOPTING INVESTMENT POLICY FOR IDLE FUNDS 2001 -83 AUTHORIZING THE CLASS SPECIFICATION FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN I /II 2001 -84 REJECTING THE CLAIM OF ROBERT LEE CARPENTER, C/O DANIELE L. MARAVIGLIA, ESQ. (RE ALLEGED INJURY FROM GOLF CART) ITEM D: APPROVAL OF $100.00 CONTRIBUTION FOR TROPHY SPONSORSHIP TO THE WESTERN NATIONAL CLASSIC CHEVY CONVENTION, JULY 4 -8, 2001, TO BE HELD AT THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL IN ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA ITEM E: APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZATION TO NORTHBAY REGIONAL INFORMATION CENTER AT THE SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, AKA SCHULTZ INFORMATION CENTER, TO DIGITIZE FOR WEB -BASED PUBLIC ACCESS, THE CITY'S PUBLICATION BY JOHN H. DECLERCQ, ENTITLED, "A HISTORY OF ROHNERT PARK: FROM SEED TO CITY" Upon MOTION by Vice Mayor Flores, seconded by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, with the exception of Resolution Nos. 2001 -72, 2001 -73, 2001 -74, 2001 -75, 2001 -76, and 2001 -77, the Consent Calendar as otherwise outlined on the meeting's agenda was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. Items for consideration: 2001 -72 HONORING AND RECOGNIZING JACK SHIELDS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT At the request of Vice Mayor Flores, Mayor Mackenzie read by title Resolution No. 2001 -72. Upon MOTION by Councilmember Spiro, seconded by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, Resolution 2001 -72 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 2001 -73 HONORING AND RECOGNIZING DAVE SHULER, BUILDING INSPECTOR, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT At the request of Vice Mayor Flores, Mayor Mackenzie read by title Resolution No. 2001 -73. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(8 ) Upon MOTION by Vice Mayor Flores, seconded by Councilmember Spiro, Resolution 2001 -73 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 2001 -74 ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMMENDING SERGEANT DONALD WAGNER FOR BEING SELECTED BY THE SANTA ROSA EXCHANGE CLUB AS SONOMA COUNTY PEACE OFFICER OF THE YEAR At the request of Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, Mayor Mackenzie read Resolution No. 2001 -74. Councilmember Vidak- Martinez commented that.it was an honor to the community that Sergeant Wagner was selected despite his mixed feelings about being chosen, and she noted that she would have liked to have had the commendation come a little sooner and more in line with the timing of the event. *Councilmember Vidak- Martinez added her comments FOR THE RECORD, indicating that the recognition was not presented in a timely manner or placed appropriately on the Agenda's Consent Calendar. * CORRECTION ABOVE from 4/24/01 City Council meeting: Per Councilmember Vidak - Martinez (addition underlined) Upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, Resolution 2001 -74 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 2001 -75 HONORING AND RECOGNIZING SERGEANT DONALD WAGNER, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS DANIEL MARQUEZ, MICHAEL BATES, AND JOSEPH FRY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHERS KIM CATES, ANGIE MEROSHNEKOFF, AND LORI LUSCOMBE FOR THEIR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DANGER At the request of Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, Mayor Mackenzie read Resolution No. 2001 -74. Council discussion ensued, and Councilmember Spiro REQUESTED that a resolution be brought forward that recognizes all Public Safety Department personnel for performing their jobs everyday in the face of uncertain danger. Councilmember Reilly SUGGESTED that Councilmembers write down and convey to the City Manager or to the Mayor the people, groups, or events that they would like honored in order to facilitate timely recognition. Upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Spiro, Resolution 2001 -75 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(9 ) 2001 -76 OBSERVING THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2001, "DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS" Councilmember Reilly commented on the timing of the "Day of Remembrance of Holocaust Victims" and "Take Our Children to Work Day." He REQUESTED that staff pay closer attention and pick different days as both days are scheduled on April 19, 2001. Upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, Resolution 2001 -76 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 2001 -77 DECLARING THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2001, AS "TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO WORK DAY" Councilmember Reilly inquired as to whether the "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" organization would be asking for another date, and City Manager Netter indicated that he would check into the matter. Councilmember Spiro expressed her concerns for the wording of paragraph 6 of Resolution No. 2001 -77 regarding the performance levels of boys and girls in different academic subjects. Upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, Resolution 2001 -76 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AS SUBMITTED. At this time, Mayor Mackenzie REQUESTED TO AGENDIZE a discussion of how to handle requests for resolutions from organizations whose activities may have international implications. Council CONCURRED. *************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** 9. WATER ISSUES: 1. URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (UWMP) - CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2000 PREPARED BY SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY (SCWA) FOR ALL THEIR PRIME WATER CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK: a. Staff Report: City Manager Netter called forward City Engineer Gaffney, who shared the contents of the staff report provided to the Council in their. packets. At this time, Councilmembers had no questions. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(10) b. PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Mackenzie OPENED the public hearing at 8:35 p.m. Citizens desiring to speak on this item came forward. 1. Charles Kitchen 4457 Hollingsworth Circle, was recognized and asked if all of the environmental impact concerns as raised by the Petaluma City Council had been addressed. He also expressed his feelings that the Sonoma County Water Agency is run by the Santa Rosa City Council. He urged the City to make sure it has addressed all of the aspects of the plan that affect Rohnert Park. Mayor Mackenzie CLOSED the public hearing at 8:37 p.m. c. Council Discussion /Action: City Engineer Gaffney and representatives from the Sonoma County Water Agency responded to Council inquiries. Resolution for Adoption: 2001 -85 ADOPTING THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2000 AS PREPARED BY THE SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY Council discussion concluded, and upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, Resolution 2001 -85 was UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED. 2. SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY (SCWA) BUDGET AND RATES: a. Staff Report: *Budget to be heard at Board of Supervisors Tuesdav, April 17 2001 City Engineer Gaffney briefly recapped his April 10th, 2001, memo as provided to the Council ill their packets. b. Council Discussion /Direction: Mayor Mackenzie asked the Council for their thoughts as to how to represent the City as a contractor at the April 17, 2001, meeting *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(11) Council perspectives and direction included the following: *Councilmember Reilly: Push for the greatest reduction in water rates as possible, and discuss alternative sources of power for the long -term. *Councilmember Vidak- Martinez: Focus on cost versus services and try to get the best deal possible for the ratepayers while ensuring reliable and quality services. *Councilmember Spiro: Include some type of wording in the final document that allows the parties involved to revisit the issues around power - sources, costs, availability, alternatives. *Vice Mayor Flores: Correlate a projection of the cost of per- acre -feet of water and the possible increase in the cost of power in order to create a reasonable structure for the imposition of rates in an incremental manner. Mayor Mackenzie briefly reflected on the budget implications of the water issues, including water meters and increased water rates, and he expressed his support of staggering the impact of increased water and power rates on the ratepayers. 10. GOLF COURSE MATTERS - UPDATE ON MOUNTAIN SHADOWS GOLF COURSES LONG -TERM LEASE /TRANSFER FROM AMERICAN GOLF CORPORATION TO COURSECO:_ 1. Staff Report: and 2. Council Discussion /Direction: Resolution for Adoption: 2001 - APPROVAL OF MOUNTAIN SHADOWS GOLF COURSES LONG -TERM LEASE /TRANSFER OF LEASE AGREEMENT FROM AMERICAN GOLF CORPORATION TO COURSECO Item No. 10, Golf Course Matters, DEFERRED TO APRIL 24, 2001, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(12) 11. CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL CITATION IN ROHNERT PARK: 1. Staff Reports: City Manager Netter referred to Building Official Braun, who shared the contents of the staff report provided to Council in their packets. 2. Council Discussion /Action: Councilmember Spiro SUGGESTED that Building Official Braun consider placing the Civil Citation information on the City's web site to help the citizens research a variety of complaints and gather information. Ordinance for Introduction: No. 665 ADDING CHAPTER 1.25 TO THE ROHNERT PARK MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT Upon MOTION by Councilmember Spiro, seconded by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, reading was waived and Ordinance No. 665 was UNANIMOUSLY INTRODUCED. Resolution for Consideration: 2001 -86 ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY FOR ISSUING CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE ROHNERT PARK MUNICIPAL CODE Upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, Resolution 2001 -86 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. RECESS: Mayor Mackenzie declared a recess at approximately 9:10 p.m. RECONVENE: Mayor Mackenzie reconvened the Council at approximately 9:16 p.m. with all of the Councilmembers present. 12. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTER: FILE NO. PL2001 -006SR - CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATION FROM RHL DESIGN GROUP FOR SITE PLAN AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OF THE REBUILD OF AN EXISTING FAST FOOD RESTAURANT SITE ( "McDONALDS") LOCATED AT 6600 COMMERCE BOULEVARD: *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(13) 1. Staff Report: City Manager Netter referred to Associate Planner Bendorff, who shared the contents of the staff report provided to the Council in their packets. Along with Bob Abbott, Construction Manager for McDonalds Corporation, Associate Planner Bendorff responded to Council questions. 2. Council Discussion / Action: Resolution for Consideration: 2001 -87 APPROVING THE SITE PLAN AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW TO REBUILD AN EXISTING FAST FOOD RESTAURANT SITE ("MCDONALDS") LOCATED AT 6600 COMMERCE BOULEVARD Council discussion concluded, and upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, with the exception of Condition No. 7, "Signs ", Item D regarding the "Playplace" signage, Resolution 2001 -87 was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 13. BUDGET MATTERS: *BUDGET CALENDAR FOR MEETING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL: City Manager Netter ASKED the Councilmembers to look at their calendars and get back to him with possible dates between May 8, 2001, and June 19, 2001. Councilmember Spiro noted that she would be gone from May 23 to June 5, and Councilmember Vidak- Martinez indicated that Wednesdays work best for her schedule. 14. GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM - MATTERS RELATED TO THE GENERAL PLAN PROCESS: 1. Housing Element - Consideration of initiating amendments to the City's Housing Element: a. Staff Report: City Manager Netter referred to Planning and Community Development Director Kaufman, who shared the contents of the staff report provided to Council in their packets. She noted that she DISTRIBUTED an amended draft resolution, initiating amendments to the City's Housing Element, to the Councilmembers this evening. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(14) b. Council Discussion /Action: Planning Director Kaufman and City Attorney Strauss responded to Council questions. Resolution for Consideration: 2001 -88 INITIATING AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY °S HOUSING ELEMENT Upon MOTION by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Flores, Resolution 2001 -88 was APPROVED 4 -1 with Councilmember Spiro dissenting. FOR THE RECORD, Councilmember Spiro noted that she voted in opposition to Resolution 2001 -88 because of the Floor Area Ratios (FARs). She stated that the FARs should be taken out because they are limiting the City as far as what it can do in a community that needs to increase its density. At this time, Mayor Mackenzie NOTED that the General Plan Committee will be meeting on Monday, April 16, 2001, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the Specific Plan Guidelines. 15. JOINT MEETINGS - CONSIDERATION OF SCHEDULING PROCEDURE: 1. SSU President Cabinet Tuesday May 29th 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at the SSU Commons: INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES only. 2. Others, if any - Procedure for Setting Yearly Meeting Dates: Council Discussion /Direction: Councilmembers shared their perspectives on setting yearly meetings and which organizations and municipalities to meet with. Councilmember Reilly SUGGESTED r6guiar meetings with Sonoma State University, the School Board, and the City of Cotati, and Vice Mayor Flores SUGGESTED adding the Board of Supervisors to that list. Council CONCURRED TO DIRECT the City Manager to come back with a memorandum outlining how to put the setting of annual or biannual meetings with different groups into a draft policy. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(15) 16. COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND /OR OTHER REPORTS: 1. Performing Arts Center, March 28 meeting: Vice Mayor Flores and Councilmember Spiro reported that the committee will be coming back next month with a detailed proposal for a liquid electrical diode sign that would have frontage on Highway 101 and would promote the Spreckels Center in an effort to raise revenues and reduce the Center's support from the General Fund of the City. 2. Association Retired Employees City of Rohnert Park (ARECORP), March 29 meeting: Councilmember Vidak- Martinez and Vice Mayor Flores reported on the meeting, which included the following highlights: (1) A review of the costs for health care insurance; (2) The City's efforts in drafting a Retiree Handbook; and (3) The retirees will go back and gather the concerns and interests of other retirees, and they will meet with the Committee again in six months. 3. Canon Manor, March 29 meeting: Councilmember Vidak- Martinez reported on a variety of issues that were discussed at the meeting, including the following: (1) The Coastline Engineering Study is complete; (2) There is a proposal for a $12 million assessment district to bring it up to County standards; (3) 71% of the landmass owners petitioned the Board of Supervisors to form the assessment district; (4) An engineering report is being made to establish that assessment. She noted that much of the meeting centered around reducing the costs of the assessment, and that one of the major issues was the sewer hook -up fee. Other related issues included the need for emergency water hook -up, the point of access to sewer capacity, and maintenance of the sewer system. Mayor Mackenzie commented on the civil engineering problems related to the sewer connection, and Councilmember Vidak- Martinez asked the City Attorney to look into the differential between current homeowners and lot owners in terms of the initial assessment for the hook -up fees. Finally, they reported that they will be meeting again and reporting back to the Council later this summer. 4. Executive Subcommittee April 2 meeting: Mayor Mackenzie highlighted two items that he would like staff to continue working on: (1) The Transportation Traffic Workshop; (2) The Energy Strategy. City *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(16) Manager Netter, working with City Engineer Gaffney, ASKED the Councilmembers to look at the weekend of July 14, 2001, as a possible date for the Transportation Traffic Workshop. Vice Mayor Flores commented on the AT &T Franchise Compliance issues and noted that the subcommittee is working with AT &T to resolve those issues in order to provide the full range of Broadband Services to the citizens of Rohnert Park. Mayor Mackenzie added that the City has exercised the 60 -day trigger in which AT &T must come back with a plan outlining how they will provide the full range of services to the City. 5. Other, if any: 1. AT &T Franchise Fees - Revenue and Taxation: Councilmember Spiro indicated that she went to the Revenue and Taxation meeting two weeks ago. She reported on two topics of discussion: (1) What to do in the event of a bankruptcy by a major utility; and (2) The method in which franchise fees are collected. She noted that City Manager Netter is looking into the contract language defining franchise fees and what makes it collectible or an unsecured loan. EXTEND COUNCIL MEETING: Upon MOTION by Councilmember Reilly, seconded by Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, a motion to extend the meeting past 10:00 p.m. to finish necessary agenda items was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED at approximately 10:00 p.m. 17. TRANSPORTATION MATTERS: 1. Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA), April 9, 2001, meeting: Mayor Mackenzie noted that the widening between Wilfred Avellue and Highway 12 will be starting very shortly. Regarding SCTA matters, he reported on two items: (1) Thanks to the work of City staff, the Rohnert Park to Wilfred Avenue project, which includes the Wilfred Avenue Interchange, has the environmental aspects funded, the design funding in progress, and the possibility of completion of the entire project by 2007; and (2) Regarding the County Transportation Plan, there will be a public hearing prior to the May 14 SCTA meeting, to allow for comments on the funding of various future transportation projects. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park April 10, 2001 18. COMMUNICATIONS: *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES Page(17) Communications per the attached outline were brought to the attention of the City Council: Vice Mayor Flores called attention to Item No. 17, a letter from the Town of Windsor Town Council expressing their opposition to SB -910 as introduced, a punitive financial measure for cities not in compliance with the Housing Element as approved by the State. The Vice Mayor indicated that Windsor is working in good faith to bring their Housing Element into State compliance, and he REQUESTED a letter under the Mayor's signature expressing Rohnert Park's position regarding SB -910. Mayor Mackenzie then SUGGESTED that that letter be sent to Assemblymember Pat Wiggins' office as she chairs the local government committee on the Assembly, as well as another letter asking that SB -910 be heard in the committee and expressing Rohnert Park's opposition to the bill. Councilmember Spiro REQUESTED that the letter expressing the City's opposition to SB -910 be copied to the League of California Cities, and Council CONCURRED. Vice Mayor Flores called attention to Item No. 23, a letter from a Santa Rosa resident about an incident at Roberts Lake involving a goose and a remote - controlled boat. The Vice Mayor commented on the inhumane treatment of the geese at Roberts Lake and SUGGESTED a periodic patrol, especially when remote - controlled boats are in the water. Council discussion concluded with DIRECTION for the City Manager Netter to look into the citywide posting of offenses, such as vandalism and misconduct, and how to report them. Mayor Mackenzie called attention to Item No. 24, a letter from Community Outreach for Youth & Families (COYF) Chairperson Ann Kinsey -Goldy with COYF recommendations for Social Service funding for Youth of the Year. At the suggestion of Mayor Mackenzie, Council CONCURRED to have the COYF liaison, Councilmember Vidak- Martinez, meet with COYF and Youth of the Year in an effort to resolve the impasse between the two groups. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(18) Councilmember Reilly called attention to Item No. 13, a letter from himself about the Rohnert Park Community Fields and Solar Incentive Program. He SUGGESTED that the Council begin to consider partnerships with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District, and Councilmembers discussed a variety of projects. Council discussion concluded with Council CONCURRENCE (1) to write a letter to Andrea Mackenzie, General Manger of the Open Space District, reauestina a formal meeting, and (2) to direct Recreation Director Barry to have the Parks and Recreation Commission begin developing the Open Space and Parks Plans. 19. MATTERS FROM /FOR COUNCIL: 1. National League of Cities - Consideration to continue membership: *Council Discussion /Action: City Manger Netter indicated that he received a bill, and that back in January Councilmember Spiro accepted a position with the National League of Cities. Despite Councilmember Reilly's opposition, Council discussion concluded with Council CONCURRENCE to continue membership in the National League of Cities. 2. Rancho Feliz Mobile Home Park Options: Councilmember Reilly discussed his SUGGESTION to have City staff pull away from their role on the Housing Finance Authority in terms of the Rancho Feliz Mobilehome Park purchase. He expressed an interest in having staff less spread out and more focused on other issues such as investments. City Manager Netter briefly discussed his role on the Board, and at the suggestion on City Attorney Strauss, Council CONCURRED to direct staff to look at the bond documents with the goal of gradually phasing out staff's role on the Board. 20. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: 1. Current Library Operating-Budget vs New Library Budget: City Manger Netter shared the contents of the staff report provided to Council in their packets. He noted the annual cost increase of $1,460,250.00 to the new Library for the Rohnert Park operation. Council discussion concluded with DIRECTION TO STAFF to write a letter to the Sonoma County Library Commission., thanking them for their efforts in staffing the new library. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(19) 2. Extension of Water Outside City Boundaries - Report: City Manager Netter briefly summarized the information provided to Council in their packets, including the following: (1) April 4 letter from Tom Roberts and Family at 4649 Dowdell Avenue; (2) April 4 memo from City Engineer Gaffney concerning Tom Robert's letter from Regional Water Quality; and (3) March 28 memo from City Attorney Strauss concerning new LAFCO legislation. 3. Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund (REMIF) Refunds: City Manager Netter reported on two refunds from REMIF. 4. Vallev Village Mobile Home Park - Status Report regarding sewer gas & pavement concerns: City Manager Netter shared the contents of the staff report from Interim Assistant City Manger Stephens and provided to Council in their packets. He noted that the sewer gas leakage appears to be an isolated incident, while the pavements are in need of repairs which are not within the jurisdiction of the City. 5. Capital Project Updates: *Audible Traffic Signals: that the signals will be Mackenzie REMINDED STAFF to a small ceremony when City Manager Netter reported completed by May, and Mayor to invite Ms. Lillian Gaines the signals are ready. *At -Grade Railroad Crossings: City Manager Netter reported that the signals will be done by the end of this summer. 6. Other informational items, if any: 1. City Manager's Vacation Dates: City Manager Netter indicated that he will be away on vacation from Tuesday, April 17, through Friday, April 20. 2. Junior Miss California Pageant contribution: City Manager Netter indicated that he will AGENDIZE for a full Council discussion a request from the Junior Miss Program for a donation of $6,000 from the City. At this time, Mayor Mackenzie made one final ANNOUNCEMENT concerning the budget: The PG &E franchise figure actual for the year 2000 was $287,000. *City Council /Community Development Commission City of Rohnert Park *CONCURRENT MEETINGS MINUTES April 10, 2001 Page(20) 21. OTHER UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES: At this time, Mayor Mackenzie called forward any citizens wishing to speak. No citizens came forward. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor Mackenzie ADJOURNED the meeting at approximately 10:39 p.m. Katy Leonard, Certified Shorthand Reporter CSR No. 11599 *City Council /Community Development Commission -- armor AirTracc,,,Associates 665a C' piS High Speed Surface Transportation Systems P. 0. Box 584 • Sebastopol, California 95472 Ga) t/ / /O/a/ /g&6" lJ SYSTEMS ( INSERT AT FAGS 47 where Mr. Ahdersons testimony has been llet „ DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT Gentlemen and members of the Board: Mr. Ed. Davidson ( my associate, and a director of AirTrac) and I wish to make our comments part, of the racord for both the bus proposal AND the ferry system, and combine the total time.... ... First: It has come as a surprise to us to find Mr. Spaulding in Europa the last two weeks, at your behest, investigating foreign - operated ACV's. As proponents of long - standing of .ACV's , it occurs to us that a considerable amount of time and money could have been saved by consulting authorities (i.e., AirTrac), who have made a nine -year study of the principles of all existing ACV's . At the close of this statment, we would like to inquire if, in fact, this is true,and at whose expence the trip was made. Now to our prepared statment, a copy of which will be given each member as soon as they become available. We beleive your inta,epretetation of AB 5841 - iworrect. We do not bel- ieve it was intended to enable the Bridge District to venture into the mass transit business. Of the alternate plans under consideration, the two related to trans -bay tubes are only of passing interest, in that they are prohibitively costly and potentially dangerous. 'The plan f or which the District seeks funding, also incorporates other systems which present the folioYaing problems: 1) It will require structural changes to the bridge that we have been told repeatedly will be unsafe; 2) It will create further highway distortions in the land -poor areas of the bridge approach - -- particularly San Francisco. q) It will require another tunnel through the Waldo Grade, and 4) Will be , by far, too costly in comparison to the nllagt,,d benefits to the public. 5) Such a system would only serve to add further congeQticn to the ninety -foot bottle -neck that is already the scene of dangerous and horrendous traffic jams. 6) The plan ignores all the basic tenets of environmental conservation. so, whether correct or not, neither of the proposals before us today shows much imagination, and they show less regard for the future needs of tho com- muting public. They are inefficient, inflexible, prohibitively expensive, in- a r< effective and your figures (profit & loss tstemet',) are blatantly inaccurate. This type of service ( as proposed in the application) is more than a little questionable , end we think an, historic look is indicated. In 1960 the Greyhound Lines carried approximately 25% of the total commute traffic in the Golden Gate Corridor. In 1968, this patronage bad dropped to 15 %. Whereas we should expect an increase in this percentage ,due to an influx of population during this time , the number of bus patrons act- ually decreased. This)is obviously a loss of much more than 10% at this date, and indicates a return to,AND use of , private transportation cf a signif scant number of commuters. We should seek the reasons behind this. POINT: Greyhound vehicles am. not modern, attractive enough, or fast enough, to satisfy current. commuter expectations. Their equipment is as old as 1955, and the newest buses were purchased in 1965. Apparently, we need to call your attention to the fact that the "new equipment" you propose is not more attractive to those prospective commuters than the old Greyhound equipment which is already operating at maximum speeds. Newer equipment might be 'prettier', but unless it is faster and accompanied by lower fares, even more frequent service will not make it appealing to that buying public. You propose to add twelve buses to the 120 now serving Marin county , and thereby change the present situation from havoc to serenity. We must question this kind of investment kou propose, and its compar- ative effectiveness. ine initial NINEE- plus - MILLION DOLLARS for rolling stock -- a net gain of 12 buses- -and the eventual expenditure of TT,=- HUNDRED -plus- MILLION for your 'system' cannot be reconciled wit)4 the minimum gains (if any) evidenced from your own statments. It is our understanding that Greyhound has an operating loss of 479 thousand dollars per year. These experienced operators are delighted to rid themselves of this burden, yet you would have us believe it reasonable - -even profitable-- to embark on a duplication of this kind of deficit system . If new ar_dadditional equipment are the criteria, a subsidy to Greyhound would obviously be the first consideration. If this would solve the problem ; one wonders why they havenit asked for a subsidy. Could it be they have faced the fact that wheel- and -axle, vehicles on the proposed routes cannot solve the problem at any cost ? Evidence shows the total traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge to have al- most doubled between 1960 and•1970 with a marked decline in bus usage. This Is a general trend in most growing urban areas. To go to the taxpayers and ask them to make this kind of investment - -to emulate a failing system -- should cause us all to take long hard looks at such proposals, and at -$hose who stead- fastly insist upon such action. We seriously question the motivation behind your actions. I think it is :sa-*e to say that your application for funds as presently proposed is without merit, aad the sugges:e•j expenditures unsupportable. The only difference we can see between Greyhound and your system is a change in name(managment) and the unreasonable capital investment you seek. We will still have the congestion on San Francisco Streets AND the bottleneck bridge that encourages people to use their own cars and increas- ingly add to the stricture..Commuta. time cannot be lessened nor fares reduced, and you:have, so far, ignored the basic environmental problems. While it is true that diesel fuel, does not contain lead,it is painfully true that it does discharge nitrous oxide in great. quantities. This, combined with hydrocarbons from automobiles and photochemical oxidants from industry, and acted upon by sunshine, produces smog L.A. Style. Wheel- and -aabe systems (in this case, buses)that operate at 70 mph and below are major contributors to this kind of congestion in highly centralized and industrialized urban societies such as ours. We have long since reached the saturation point with air pollution, and now you wish to add bulk -- physical congestion, plus pollution - -of diesel buses. To expect public support for your proposed expenditures (which will only perpetuate this kind of degenerative environment that destroys, our physical. and enot ional health creating super - violent people) is beyond belief. Let us have a look at one of the Public Laws: the Urban ?Mass Transit Act of 3961 (Public Law 88 -365) ammended in 1970 (Public Law 91- 453), section 14: Environmental Protection, Sub- section (c)," The Secretary shall not ap- prove any application for assistance under section three, unless he finds. in writing, after a full and complete review of the application and any hear- ings held before the State and local public agency pursant to 3(d) that 1) adequate opportunity was afforded for the presentation of views of all parties with a significant econmmic, socia]tor environmental interest, and fair consideration has been given to the preservation and enhancement of the environment, and to the interest of communities in which the project is lo- cate d and 2) either no adverse environmental effect is likely to result from such project., or there exists no feasible and prudent alternative to such effect and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize such effect.; (3) due in ton fears from the date of its raking or actual construction, which- 6var is earlier. The Systems, as proposed, will have no funds to repay the loan or even the interest . Your financials tatementshows a large part of your income to be realized from "bay Cruise." T.,his is specifically prohibited under the Mass Transit Act of 1964, section 9 of the general provisions, d(5): "The term Mass Trans Dort ntion means transportation by bus ,rail, or other conveyance, either publicly or privately owned, serving the general public, but not including school buses or charter or sight - seeing service, and moving over prescribed routes." With deletion of the income from this excluded source, the required subsidy must be revised considerably - -to THREE plus MILLION DOLLARS annually- - and eliminates any possibility of repayment within the time allowed. Now to the Ferry System, and the way it proposes to solve the problem: We firmly believe the water -route to be the only practical and logical solution to the interim commute problem, and to the subsequent long -range system for the six counties we defined as the true Golden Gate Corridor. However, in our considered opinion, the nostalgic displacement -type 25 Knot Ferry boat has no place in modern effective transportation. In each case presented (Golden Gate Ferry System) the travel time is substantially greater than the competetive modes for the same destination. The sequence of motorized feeder (for whichrfo provision ,is: made ) dis -,, . - embarking, reloading on the ferry , disembarkimg and reloading again on more buses, proves ineffective when operating in competition with a single convey- ance such as a private car or bus. Assuming the proposed time - schedule to be accurate - -58 minutes (opt.num) from Gallinas Creek, and 30 minutes for Sausalito -- it is easy to see the rapid demise of this system. After a first trip exhibits the inconvenience of no less than three loadings and unloadings, AND the prohibitive time in- volved , the triewt will be worn off whatever attraction this (plant may have initially provided. You propose to use this system until the regional system is in servic.z in 1980. Following your assumption that they will still be in service at that time, we wonder what the :application of these boats will be then. They will not fit into a versatile, flexible, and effective system, so they will have to be scrapped, sold at a loss( if a buyer can be found), or used for another ptirpose . We 'Can find no provision for 'future use or disposal of these beats in any of your literature. If North Bay commuters could (by some miracle) be convinced to use the system more than once, that would only solve a portion 42 the problem; you 1(5) must still address the problem of week -ead traffic. would these boats be capable of attracting the auto drivers and iiasseugers who travel to Scnoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties on week -ends? we tbink.n.ot. You have no provis- ion for a feeder bus syst_ -m in these areas, either. After fully and carefully reading your published documents , we see an expenditure of THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS for openers, and just for a highly questionable ferry system. Further, it is our understanding that these boats will share a common terminal in San Francisco, and that the average boat will carry in excess of 650 commuters. WHERE ARE YOUR TRAFFIC PROVISIONS FOR THE 17 BUSES REQUIRED TO SERVICE v_JEN ONE BOAT? Do you intend to have one boat wait while the one ahead unloads? .If note this means that more than one boat will be unloading at the same time and in close proximity. Where will 17, 34, or 51 buses await their fares? Here again, we feel the proposed system ignores,-in its en- tirety, the first two paragraphs of the mass transit legislation:Sec. 2(a) Says in part: "1)... the welfare and vitality of urban areas, the satisfactory move- of people and goods within these areas, the effectiveness of housing urban renewal, highway, and other federally -aided programs, are be- ing jeopardized by the deterioration or inadequate provisions of urban transportation facilities and services, by the intensif icatinn of traffic congestion, and lack of co-crdinated transportation and other development planning on a comprehensive and continuing basis... (and) ... an effective solution is essential ". "Most people will walk to the ferries," you say. How many of the 650 people per ferry WILL walk to their place of employment from the 'common terminal ?' There is no provision for those people who will work in the bigh- rise office buildirga that are being built at ever - increasing distances from your terminal. it is evident that supplemental mass bus service becomes im- perative, even though you make no mention of any kind of feeder bus service. There are no streets, at the foot of Market street, capable of bandling this additional traffic. At 17 bus loads per ferry -- you say "6500 to 7000 commute passengers " -- the mind boggles at the vision of the unloading area. We believe the proposals before us today, and the material published by the Bridge District to date, are in complete disregard of the best public information available, as it relates to the technology of transportation planning. In addition to the Public Laws quoted , and the vast amount of other pertinent data overlooked, we recommend the following; i 1) The Third Report on high Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, publi3bed by the Department of T:•ansrortation , July 1969. 21 Measurment and Evaluation of Transporta`.idn Systems Effectivness �J=D. Corporation, publication for the Department of Transportation, February, 1969, 3) Public Transit in California,from the California State Senate; a report on the interim hearings by the select committee on rapid transit, Jan. 4, 1971. In your report to the State Assembly committee on Transportation (as required by AB 584) April 3, 1971, entitled "Golden Gate Corridor Transport- ation Plane , we note that Your expenditures for buses and ferry s73 tems to fiscal 1980 as THREE HUNDRED AND ONE MILLION,,F IVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS; further interim subsidies and repairs to the Bridge bring the total to THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY -EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS; for on -going Bridge operation, you add FIFTY -=GHT MILLION OEVEN HUNDRED- THOUSAND' DOLLARS *farm grand- total of FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS . We have shown where this is not financable, as proposed, in the light of present statutes or funding. With the information available to AirTrac, we are able to inform you that there are other systems available NOW , with up -to -date hardware that can be placed in operation within 36 months. These systems comply with the laws on environment; they are financable within the ten year period as required under the law; they are faster , more attractive and less expensive by far; they will provide for the regular commuter and have the capacity to address the problem of the week -end and holiday traffic congestion; they eliminate the need for space for waiting buses , and carry containerized freight in off - peak hours to ensure a financial success. We believe it is incumbent upon you to investigate AirTrac systems. It is our desire to co- one_rate with the Board, and to give a general outline to the Boardts Transportation Committee. We ask that the Bridge Board delay any further action or expenditure on the two proposals now under discussion, until they have had a chance .,to tborou9hl7 1bXplore AirTrac Systems . We suggest we meet with your- Transport-ation Committee as soon as it is mutually agreeable. -------------------------------- Gentlement: We would mow like to have an answer tC+our earlier question about Mr. Spaulding's Trip to Europe. ULTRA HIGH SPEED SURFACE RAPID TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Designed specifically to operate on short -to- medium distance from the population centers and to and from outlying airports, the Transportation system will bring speed, comfort and reliability to communities previously considered too far from things to commute to and from the major population and business centers in the "one hour" acceptable travel time. Approximately the same size as the new delux rail car, with far greater speeds and versatility, have an over -water capacity without bridges or roadbed requirement, and the passenger staying with the same vehicle from station to destination. It will be the first new look in this nations transportation picture that will put the surface traveler into the .jet age at a price he can live with for his daily commute. Distinctive physical features are its' aircraft like appearance, twin jet nacelles for the fan jet engines and the flotations equipment which are detached after the over -water leg of its' route is completed. It is considered that four basic designs or models should be considered and will provide a wide range of designs tailored to maximum efficiency !under various combinations of traffic density, cargo volume and route distance from 50 to 200 miles. Convertible light weight cargo- passenger designs would be included in all series for short range and light traffic. A model for some -what longer and intercity routes could be manufactured and its' larger size would accommodate larger fuel capacity and a galley for on board full meals, continental breakfast and refreshments service comparable to the present day aircraft service. In normal operation the commuter model will have 'stops' no closer than twelve miles in relative proximity with approximately four minutes at each scheduled stop on route. The equipment is so designed as to allow port and starboard load and discharge of passengers. At the point of origination for the flight there will be much more time for the loading nrocess as most passengers will be starting and staying with the unit to its final destination. This will be more the case at the final destination where the greater bulk of the passengers will debark. It is envisioned in operation that most of the "flights" will be "limited" by reason of the fullness from point of origination going straight through to the end of route. Turnabout time at end of route is less than fifteen minutes. This will be substan- tially the same for the waterborn terminus. The cargo would normally be mail on most any run and other revenues could be packaged retail goods, perishables, urgently needed medical supplies, blood and other priority material where time delivery is important during passenger travel hours. The fuselage length would depend on the series ranging from 100.5 feet to 121.5 feet and have seating for 120 passengers plus, and will be powered by twin jets capable of delivering 14,000 lbs of thrust on the land routes. During the overwater leg the engine thrust would be used primarily to drive alternators to supply the onboard electrical needs and drive the fans that provide the air - cushion. Should there be an electrical failure of the external electrical service, the unit is capable of operation independently on the over land as well by internal power source. Interiors and appointments of the units are designed from maximum passenger comfort and convenience. The seats are aircraft type and provide more hip and knee room than first class aircraft accommodations. Reading lights, fresh air vents or earphone music; the attendant call buttons are flush mounted and within easy arms reach. There is overhead storage for hand carried packages and in some series, a flush folding table surface in the back of the passenger seat. Complete temperature controls and air conditioning systems keeps the cabin comfortable and will allow smoking without disturbing the non - smoker. In the "Limited" it is possible to have a reserved section and order a small breakfast and have telephone facilities - all at extra cost. This is designed to accommodate the executive who might desire this service. He may have this service as a regular thing, if he so desires, or by special order on particular date and pre- arranged schedule. Such arrangements for enroute meetings and conferences, reserva- tions can also be had with a dinner. In short, any form of service that is now common on -board aircraft, can be supplied if one wishes to pay for it. For the commuter ticketing will consist of a plastic card which need only be placed into the turnstyle. The billing is monthly or automatically debited to the card holders bank account. C � For the occasional traveler, machine ticketing stations will (live exact fare to the destination requested and will issue a coded ticket that will be accepted by the turnstyle. All ticketing is based on computer records of available space, ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE Wherever possible systems and components are simplified and unitized and are of aircraft standards, the unitized or module components make for standardization and ease of maintenance. This ability to replace parts readily will keep "down time" to a minimum and reduce cost of operations. The cockpit is designed for operations for a single operator except for the over -ureter led when another observer is present to moniter the engineering and radar panels for added safety factor. For ease of handling cargo is loaded in modular fashion. These cargo pods can be ejected from the control panel inside or by keyed control from the exterior hull. All hatches divide and open flush to outside of the hull, and three at a time may pass comfortably through the hatch. Should an emergency occur, explosive bolts can be activated and will jetson the hatches. Should the electrical systems fail, there are manuel release levers. There are four such hatchv.,ays, two forward and two aft, port and starboard. Engine re -start requirements are on -board within the craft so that should an engine re -start of the fan jet be required on route away from external electrical source. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS CREW One operator and two stewardess' on the over land route * *Two operators on the overwater leg CAPACITY (Commuter Model) Passengers 105 to 120 Cargo hold 600 to 900 CuFt, depending on the model series Carry on luggage Overhead racks 400 to 500 CuFt DIMENSIONS Width Fifteen Ft. Length over -all One hundred & twenty -one feet, six inches Height (over -all) Twenty feet, three inches SUSPENSION SYSTEM Duct fan, variable pitch; 36 units a total 200 hp (20,000 watts Effective BHP) CONTROL SYSTEM Land route: Inverted 'IT" rail with beveled base, computer scheduled pre - program for acceleration and deceleration Over Water: Flotation base (catamaran type hull - Hover craft air - cushion) Navigation: Inertial navigation system with on board computer interlocked with master computer for schedule course and speed, radar sonar & infrared back -up systems for spotting possible collision and to give warning for computer decision. BRAYING SYSTEM Land Route Maximum braking force with all systems, reverse thrust, Disc type on inverted 'IT" and shut down all suspension system in excess of 1 G. Over water Reverse of jet thrust, Approx. 4 G. ENGINES Fan Jet /Jet Turbine electric - LP fuel T. 0. THRUST 14,000 lbs. MFG. WT. Empty 59,000 lbs. (without flotation hull) MAX. RAMP 41T. 88,000 lbs. MAX. TRAVEL WT. 90,000 lbs. ZERO FUEL WT. 82,000 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY 1,450 Gal. - LP fuel / RU.I «,., F „o „, (zoi) 82'3” T natural gas A i rT r a c© Associates ' HIGH SPEED SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS STSTEMS•OEVELOPMCNT.MA„AGEM[NT GORDON ANDERSON eu sln ESS MAIL o1R[GTOR Ano P. o. eoA saA OPCRA IIMO OFFIC [R 5[BA STOPOL. CALIF. iSATt Press Democrat. Simla Po -,zi, Calif., Tuesday, A;tgust 24, 19%1 -11 Vehicle AL, shioi �1•®� 0sed or . -e (yio �� ' Friday; August 20, 1971 ^ ?Ini rrtrst`rrry- :f�rttrr uu�e Vf'�a3 ioi By PATRICIA RIDhOIT 'rr:ntsportation Cunmtissinn. 'ferry terminals, loading as a Staff Correspondent ' Ina letter from the NITC dat• unit. with the bus driving onto ed Aug. IF). AirTrac was told the ACV and then debarking as SER.ISTOPOL — The Irans- that the Crmmisston was still in;a unit and dcliyering passengers p o r t a t i o n committee of the . Golden Gale Bridges Highway its formalive stave and that it;lo their place of business with - and. Tr: :Gate rid District. in!wculd be one or two meetings out, at any time. debarking a me; ling last week. rccom -iawa} before the -ac high from the original bus. mended that the Air Cushion: speed s u r f a c e transporlation; The ACV would have a tap Vehicle tACVI be referred to; system could be discussed. ;speed, over water. of 45 knots the..lichcpolifan Trans mtalionl Air.Trac Associates have al -land is considered inexpensive p 'templed for many months totcompared to the system now .Commission for consideration in P' ;its over -all Regional Transpor.,bring Ihcir "system" to the ab being considered by the District Itation Plan. Itention of authorities for consid• in its Interim Bus and Ferry The recommendation will be regional in the development of a;Plans. !considered The c by the Bridge will be regional transportation system. I The speed, greater volume Hof Directors Aug. 27. Lowell' \Ir. Andersons' presentation capacity, economy and efficien jEdington, b r i d g e president,Jncluded such a development.{cy of transportation of both peo- made the motion for the recom•iin steps. with the emphasis, at'ple and freight makes the Air Imendalion. ;this point. on an efficient oyer'Trac system the most practical The ACV concept. as part of'waler vehicle, which would car•Iand profitable in today's tech- The a oral transportation sys -•..ry the initial busses being con- ,nology, according to Mr. Antler- file now being considered. is ;templated for transportation to soil Edinglon pointed out. in (part. of the Air Trac System. His system. in its entirety. the meeting, that it is not the ;which has been developed bytwould eventualiy include a pas - function of the District to en- Air Trac Associates. Gordon An -, see er c r a f 1, resembling a'.gage in research and develop - derson, Sebastopol. is direclorltra n, which would run on alment. that the District's area of of the company. ;guide rail the length of the his- !responsibilit% is only the Golden Mr. Anderson and his asso-!totic Golden Gate Corridor, to Gate Corridor. a portion of the ciates were invited. by the;bet.ond Ukiah. IGrcaler Bay Area Region. lranspdrlation committee, t of lfowevcr, at this time. hisl He suggested that the recently present a report on the Air Trac;presentation included only the! formed MTC, whose function is System and the Air Cushion Ve- lrecomtnendation that [lie Aid lo coordinate regional transpor- hicic. The Cable Ferry Sl'stemICitsuon (over water Vehicle beltation plans. would be the pro- was also on the agenda but can- considered. as more efficicni per agency to consider the fea- ;celled. titan the ones being ccnsidered sibililp of the Air Trac concept. Used in Europe for study by the Bridge Author ; -I The ACV. which 'ivas been M i c h a e l \Vornum, \iarin used with success in Europe. islt) • Concept outlined County, bridge d i r e c t o r, is an above the surface craft !chairman of the Transportation In his presentation. Mr. An- Committee. which would be used for overlderson outlined his concept of al water crossings. Iregional system. taking into) Also present were vice chair- To date. the Bridge District; consideration the needs of the (man Peter Tamaras. city and has been considering two rigid' :population of the varied counties! county of San Francisco: com- side craft, coming from Eng -!of the Bay Area. The systeunlmitleemen Stephan C. Leonou- land for trials, which have al!would handle commuters duringidakis. city and County, San draft of'four feel and a top morning and evening hours: hojrancisco: Board President Ed- ;speed of 35 knots. according toiliday traffic oft non- workingltngton. 'Napa County and N.R. ;Mr. Anderson. days. relieving traffic on over - ((Bill); Lucius. Sonoma County. I 1Ir. Anderson's concept willlworked north county roads; and; Directors Lawrence J. Mazzo- !have to be considered by the;freighl at other times. jla, San Francisco and Carl Dau- ;Bridge Board of Directors be-! His concept envisions busses;beneck. M e n d o c i n o County, fore being recommended for picking up passengers. and in- '.were appointed as committee Is t It If y by the Metropolitan 'stead of debarking them at the men pro tern for the aneeting. A Sebastopol real estate bro- ker's skeleton proposal for a S75 million system of hovercraft ferrying commuter buses and freight across the bay yester- day, won a fainthearted recep• lion from Golden Gate Bridge District directors. The district's transportation committee avoided any en- dorsement of the proposal, in- stead promising to refer it to the district's staff for consider- ation in long -range transit plans due before the, 1973 Legis- lature. The Sebastopol man, Gordon Anderson, insisted that his pro. p o s a 1 was the only one that would be economically feasible, but refused to disclose any en- gineering details to back Ws claim. He said his proposal de- pended on his plans for hover- craft "different than others." Hovercraft float on a trapped - air bubble, freeing them from most surface friction so they can travel at high s p e e d s. Many m o d e l s have been in commercial service around the world for several years, and the bridge district already has ap- plied for federal permission to import two British models for a test between Sausalito and San Francisco. Anderson said his firm, Air 'Trac Associates, had worked out a system of 20 hovercraft ferrying four commuter buses each at 45 knots between Marie and San Francisco. The hover- craft would carry containerized cargo from a freight depot at ),lack Point between commute hours, he said. He said his proposal system would take three years to build, carry 17,600 commuters, and. break even after five years. It would offer commuters al. most door -to -door service with. out having to transfer from one vehicle to another, Anderson said. Without this advantage, transit will not succeed in lur- ing riders out of their automo- belies, he argued. He also proposed a high - speed tracked air cushion train running north to . Mendocino County, but offered no details .on this system. Marin Supervisor Michael Wornum, chairman of the com- mittee, told Anderson that he had "done a lot of talk, but so L "far nothing has moved. We can. not spend publ_ic money on a system before it's proved;' Wornum said. The committee also suggested that Anderson take his proposal to the Metropolitan Transporta- tion Commission. The committee's scheduled hearing on another transit pro- posal, this one envisioning fer- ries pulled across the bay by an underwater cable, was canceled because the proponents could not attend. 9:nA^v,,1 C..;4- n..w FOR IMDIATE RELEASE AIR CUSHION CUMMUTE? SEBASTOPOL: "They do it in England. They do it in France and Germany. They have been doing it in the USSR for more than seven years. Why can't we do it here ?" "It" is a system of high speed transportation, using a guide rail elevated on concrete bases or piers, which would eliminate interference with road traffic. The passenger craft accomodating up to 120 passengers, cargo and luggage, would be 15 feet wide, 121 feet long, and 20 feet high and would "ride" on a cushion of air four to eight inches in depth. The air cushion, based on the proven theory of conventional Hovercraft, would in this case be generated and controlled by 36 duct fans with variable pitch, and are controlled electronically by computers to avoid fluctuation in any given direction, including pitch and yaw. Sound like an airplane? No, but it does convert for over -water transportation in under 60 seconds, by means of the well known flotation collar. Yes, aero space research and development is bringing some innovations to the planet earth. Gordon Anderson, developer of AirTrac, and his associates, plan to activate the Golden Gate Corridor as originally designated in 1880. At that time -- be Fore the days of the Bridge -- the corridor extended from Sausalito and Point San Quentin north to Ukiah. Recently the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District has proposed a "transportation" system, borrowing the Golden Gate Corridor name, which terminates at Novato. The "system" proposed included six alternates, the last of which is "do nothing" (perhaps the best), as "something" would involve a second deck on the bridge for busses. The AirTrac system uses non- polluting fuel; LP or natural gas. It would also be eligible for two thirds federal funding, as it meets Department of Transportation criteria. The balance would be funded by revenue bonds. Unlike existing proposed public systems, AirTrac is designed to operate in the black, at 3t per mile average fare and not to be a Continuous tax burden to the property owner. Mr. Anderson, Director of AirTrac, has spent nearly 10 years in a study of public transportation which could be applied to the spreading Bay Area. He said the goal is to provide fast, safe, and frequent comnutor service, which with its over water capacity would take southbound passengers to Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, and to the airports. His concept is based upon the need for a true regional transportation system. He also stated the censt.iuction of the system would create an estimated pay roll of 1.8 million dollars per month and close to 20,000 jobs. This would include the manufacture of passenger crafts which would incorporate all the creature comforts of modern aircraft. . On the express limited it would be possible to order breakfast and have telephone facili- ties (all at extra cost) for the busy executive. Tuesday, April 13, the Golden Gate Bridge representatives presented a revised plan to the State Assembly Transportation Committee, in compliance with AB 584, which calls for a transportation plan for the Golden Gate Corridor. The well known Golden Gate Bridge Authority has somehow become "The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District" with passage of AB 584. We may well ask, "why ?' At the Santa Rosa Hearings (Dec. 1970) Mr. Anderson called wheel- and -axle plans obsolete and ineffective. In response to his request to present a syllabus calling for air- cushion rapid transit systems that can be used for both land and water, he was gaveled down and the meetinq was immediately adjourned. At subsequent public hearings the same general rulinas applied to AirTrac as well as to others' plans. AirTrac associates attended the first hearings of the Assembly Transportation Committee on April 13 in Sacramento, and will attend the next hearing on April 20, when they plan to be heard. In the meantime, Mr. Anderson is stressinq "private industry and clean environment" as two factors his system has over the busses and second deck. i .fit r. ii Ur Wlllils .•w[ � si r.•, `�'" ' � PFFI /GI "'� f•r:Pn :If: /rr/ 1 G H / DG s1a RnS�lenA r f v e Po Rohnerl, • �. �. " , 1 n 6 {, "Peplum _ A ,,.„ ;,,, NOVAT S. ' Slnµd nsel .... ......w1 .r. eow Mil l SAN FRANCISCO 1 f r)C Book IJC GOLDEN GATE Bile, HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DISTO TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE August 27, 1971 (Meeting held Aug. 19) Honorable Board of Directors Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Gentlemen: A meeting of the Transportation Committee was held in the District Offices, Administration Building, San Francisco, on Thursday, August 19, 1971, at 9 :30 a.m. There were present: Chairman Wornum; Vice Chairman Tamaras; President Edington; Committeemen Leonoudakis and Lucius. President Edington appointed Directors Mazzola and Daubeneck as Committeemen Pro Tem for this meeting only. There were also present: the General Manager, Attorney Stromberg, the Auditor- Controller and the Secretary Pro Tem. AirTrac Associates: Mr. Gordon Anderson, assisted by Mr. Edward Davidson and Mrs. Sealy, made a chart presentation to the Committee on the merits of the AirTrac System Concept for solving the commuter problem in the Bay Area region, as followas Mr. Anderson's concept is a regional transportation system, responsive to the socio- economic conditions of the people in the various counties of the bay area. The system will handle commuters during morning and evening hours, holiday traffic on non - working days, and freight in between. The concept envisions a bus picking lip passengers, and instead of debarking them at the ferry terminal, loading as a unit (bus) onto the ferry; transporting them across the bay; debarking as a unit (same bus) from the ferry; and delivering the passengers to their place of business without ever leaving original bus. Speed of the AirTrac water vehicle can reach 115 knots an hour; and with such speed the system, as now envisioned, can move 17,500 peor)le during any commute period. The vehicle described is the I Air Cushion Vehicle ( ACV); and it is considered inexpensive compared to the system now being contemplated by the District in their Interim Bus and Ferry Plans. The speed, greater volume capacity, economy and efficiency of transportation of both people and freight makes the AirTrac system by far the most practical and profitable in today's technology. Transportation Committee -2- August 27, 1971 President Edington pointed out that it is not the function of the District to engage in Research and Development per se; that this District's area of responsibility is the Golden Gate Corridor, which is only a portion of the Greater Bay Area Region; and that the Hetropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), a recently created entity for coordinating regional transportation plans it, the Bay Area, might be the appropriate agency to consider the feasibility and practicability of the AirTrac Concept. The Committee recorrimends that the Board refer the AirTrac System Concept to mrre for consideration in their overall regional. transportation plan. Action by Board - Motion. This letter from the Bridge serving pol i tical letter • 1 alcoholic and drunk at the of the District to engage in Respectfully, Michael Wornum, Chairman Transportation Conunittee Board dated Rugust %?,i97i� J e.4-a boldest self can remeaber. sic,-President 'Edington (an hearing) pointed out that its.not the function research and developaent per, see - -"