1991/07/02 City Council MinutesRohnert Park City Council Minutes
July 2, 1991
The Council of the City of Rohnert Park met this date in
adjourned regular session in the City Offices, 6750 Commerce
Blvd., Rohnert Park, CA with Mayor Eck presiding.
Call to Order The adjourned regular session was called to order at
approximately 4:00 p.m. by Mayor Eck.
Roll Call Present: (3) Councilmembers Hopkins, Spiro and Eck
Late: (1) Councilmember Reilly (arrived at 5:35 p.m.)
Absent: (1) Councilmember Hollingsworth (business trip)
Staff present for all or part of the meeting: City Manager
Netter, Finance Director Harrow, and Assistant to the City
Manager Leivo.
1991 -92 Budget The Council continued a work session on the proposed City
Budget as presented by City Manager Netter.
City Manager Netter referenced Page 21 of the budget and
referred to the Community Outreach for Youths and Families
Program, Dept. No. 1920. He indicated that additional
funding of $5,000 was requested for a needs assessment. City
Manager Netter indicated he had a brief discussion with
Councilmember Spiro, the Council liaison member to the COYF
Committee, who indicated they would like to see an additional
$5,000 set aside for a needs assessment. Mr. Netter
indicated that he would attempt to add the requested amount
to the budget for Council's review, but unfortunately the
budget pages were already typed and being reproduced. It was
the consensus of the Council to add $5,000 under
Miscellaneous 6910 in Dept. 1920 for the needs assessment.
City Manager Netter then indicated that the next item on the
agenda was finalization of funding for local groups. He
briefly reviewed the amounts requested, amounts proposed, and
amounts approved up to this date. The following items were
listed and discussed for approval by the Council:
Sister Cities Relations Committee - There was discussion
about the comments made by the committee in referencing their
presentation and $20,000 request. There was a motion by
Councilmember Hopkins, seconded by Councilmember Spiro, and
unanimously approved to approve $8,000 funding, which
represents $6,000 over the budget given last year. The
additional $6,000 would assist the committee in traveling to
Japan next year.
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Sonoma County Visitors
general discussion on
Convention Bureau and
extensive discussion, Co
approve $50,000 funding,
unanimously approved.
and Convention Bureau - There was
the Sonoma County Visitors and
the Wine Tourist Center. After
uncilmember Hopkins made a motion to
seconded by Councilmember Spiro, and
Wine Center Tourist Facility - After discussion, a motion was
made by Councilmember Hopkins, seconded by Councilmember
Spiro, and unanimously approved to allocate $100,000 to a
reserve account for the proposed Wine Center /Tourist
Facility.
Sonoma State University Athletic Association - It was moved
by Councilmember Hopkins, seconded by Councilmember Spiro,
and unanimously approved to contribute $1,000 to the Sonoma
State University Athletic Association Fund Drive.
It was moved by Councilmember Hopkins, seconded by
Councilmember Spiro, and unanimously approved, to fund the
following agencies:
Family Service Agency
Family Education Center
Sonoma County Association for
Youth Development
YWCA Battered Womens Shelter
Christmas Toy Distribution Prog.
$3,500
$1,000
$10,000
$5,000
$500
In addition, the other amounts listed under Community
Promotions detail which had been previously authorized, would
remain. They include:
City Annual Report $20,000
Billboard $10,000
City Newsletters (3) $6,000
Maps & Misc. Printing $1,000
Cultural Arts Council of
Sonoma County $3,000
RP Founders Days Committee $5.000
Rancho Cotate Awards Program $250
Various Sports Teams $8,000
The Council then continued a discussion on the review of
possible fee increases as follows:
A) Transient Occupancy Tax - The Council continued its
discussion on the possibility of increasing the
Transient Occupancy Tax by one or two percent.
Councilmember Hopkins agreed that an increase in tax
may be necessary, but he was more interested in what
offsetting benefits may accrue. There was also
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general discussion on what occupancy percentages
were currently being attained by the local hotels
and motels. City Manager Netter indicated that he
could provide that information, hopefully before
next Tuesday night's meeting. Discussion continued
on the issue of raising the tax and the impacts it
may have on the local motels. It was agreed that
the Council did not want to raise the tax and, as a
result, net the same revenues because of the loss of
patrons due to the tax increase.
B) A review of the proposed Real Property Transfer Tax
continued, on which City Manager Netter gave a staff
report which outlined the various rates throughout
the county. There was general discussion by several
members of the public (representing local realtors)
who had attended this budget work session. They
were opposed to this tax as they felt it would have
an affect on first time homebuyers. City Manager
Netter indicated he had a brief discussion with City
Attorney Flitner, who indicated there may be a way
to mandate that this fee be paid by the seller.
This provision could be included in the ordinance.
In addition, there was discussion on several other
options which included a graduated rate which would
allow the lower rate for homes sold up to $180,000,
possibly exempting first time homebuyers, or even
exempting homeowners. There was also a general
discussion on the residential sales versus business
sales, during which Finance Director Harrow
indicated that a larger portion of the Transfer Tax
was received by sales in the commercial sector.
Councilmember Spiro indicated she would like to see
the program phased in. There was general discussion
regarding a phase -in type program.
City Manager Netter informed that the two items
scheduled for public hearing at the July 9, 1991
meeting are the Transient Occupancy Tax and the Real
Property Transfer Tax. He indicated that the
Business License Fee was not urgent, as the
recommended effective date would not be until
January 1, 1992. He indicated that the Chamber of
Commerce was currently studying the proposed rates
and would be forwarding a proposal to the City
Council at a later date.
C) Animal License and Impound Fees - City Manager
Netter outlined the animal license and impound fees.
It was recommended by Council to increase the animal
license fee for spayed or neutered animals from
$5.00 to $8.00, the unspayed animals from $10.00 to
$20.00, and the late fee from $10.00 to $15.00.
There was general discussion that the same fee
structure should be included for cats, which is an
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item scheduled for discussion at the City Council
meeting of July 9, 1991. For the animal impound
fees, the Council agreed to impose increases for a
first offense from $10.00 to $20.00, second offense
from $40.00 to $50.00, and third offense from $60.00
to $100.00, with the boarding fee being increased
from $5.00 per day to remain at $5.00 for the first
day, and then $9.00 per day for the second or any
additional day thereafter. For the animal placement
fee, the Council recommended the fees be increased
from $10.00 to $15.00 for a dog, and for cats from
$10.00 to $15.00.
D) City Manager Netter then outlined and discussed each
item as shown on the green sheet provided to the
Council on building, subdivision, development, and
capital outlay fees. (Copy attached to the original
set of these minutes.) The Council indicated
approval for each one of the listed fees. City
Manager Netter indicated this item would be
scheduled for public hearing at the City Council
meeting of July 23, 1991 to solicit public input.
In addition, he indicated that the Per Acre for
Development Fee, Special Water Connection Fee, and
Sewer Service Connection Fee, would also be
scheduled for citizen input at the July 23rd City
Council meeting.
E) City Manager Netter then referenced a copy of a June
21st memorandum from Finance Director Harrow
regarding a lighting maintenance /landscaping
district proposal. There was extensive discussion
in regards to this type of approach to raising
revenues during which it was the general consensus
of the Council that this may be a proper method of
collecting fees from the citizens in order to pay
for services such as street lighting operations as
well as maintaining the many public parks and
landscaped strips throughout the city. Mr. Netter
indicated that this item would be scheduled for a
public hearing to allow for public participation to
see if there is major opposition to this approach.
The Council indicated that with the amenities the
City offers its citizens, for approximately $50 a
year, representing $4.00 per month, it may be a
small amount to pay for maintaining the existing
amenities and providing the quality of life to its
citizens as the residents have experienced for the
past many, many years in Rohnert Park.
Finally, City Manager Netter referenced a copy of the
information provided on review of the Community Development
Agency priorities for capital project funding. He indicated
that most of the projects have been completed that were set
for the top priorities and that Council should review the
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projects that were listed in the second phase program. In
addition, Mr. Netter indicated he had provided the Council
with a full copy of the Rohnert Park Redevelopment Plan which
lists all the projects and infrastructure improvements that
are listed and allowed in the Redevelopment Plan. Mr. Netter
indicated that the Council should spend some time on this and
establish their funding priorities, as the possibility of the
proposed Animal Shelter on the west side had previously been
discussed.
Based on this discussion, the Council indicated they would
like to set a Community Development Agency work session for
5:00 p.m. just prior to the regular City Council /Agency
meeting to be held on July 23, 1991.
Adjournment: The adjourned regular session was adjourned at approximately 6:15
p.m. to the regularly scheduled meeting of July 9, 1991 at 6:00 p.m.
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