HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - MINUTES - 9/22/2004 STUDY SESSIONSTUDY SESSION
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
September 22, 2004
CONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
A. Call to Order-Large Conference Room-All Present.
B. Flag Salute
C. City Attorney Report on Matters Discussed in Closed Session-See Page 2 of
Agenda this date.
D. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Lynne Juniper, Southern California Edison, reviewed a handout, copy on file in
Office of the City Clerk.
Charles Sachs, Palm Springs, read letter on behalf of Roxanne Ploss regarding
signage approved for City entryway.
Alfredo Hueso, Palm Springs, stated that the Spa Casino owners do not pay
State or Federal taxes due to soverign nation status; that health care benefits are
being reduced by the Tribe and that the employees can not speak out due to fear
of being fired.
E. COUNCIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/REPORTS
Councilmembers commented on various civic functions attended.
Councilmember Foat requested an item on an upcoming agenda to discuss
workshop information gleaned at the League of California cities conference; and
questioned if the entryway sign currently used will be sold or auctioned.
Councilmember Pougnet requested a report on the strategic plan of the Friends
of the Animal Shelter on funds raised and added that the report should be given
quarterly.
Councilmember Mills requested a subcommittee be added to the next agenda
concerning possible western site for College of the Desert; and requested that
the street lights on Alejo Road are out; and that the frontage road on Sunrise and
Ramon is being a used car lot.
F. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS - None
G. STUDY SESSION
1. OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT ORDINANCE
Public Information Officer reviewed the proposed ordinance, copy
attached.
Foat stated that the formation is a fluid process; that most cities
have some form of citizen’s involvement.
Mills stated that the neighborhoods have expressed concerns and
departments have been responsive in things such as earlier
notification; but that an Ordinance will set out the requirements
formally; that any comments by the Council could be added to the
Ordinance and referred back to the neighborhood groups for
review; and that this is the first draft of the ordinance.
Pougnet stated that the boundaries should be discussed with the
realtors group; that funding issues need to be addressed; that the
decertification process does seem weak; but overall the ordinance
is a good start for getting people involved.
Mills stated that the decert process was initially outlined, but
created a potential for internal strife in the neighborhood groups;
that the City should review the boundaries so that no one group is
too large.
McCulloch stated that the Ordinance should help communication
between the council and the residents, but not create another layer
of bureaucracy and requested the Ordinance be presented to the
PSEDC.
Mayor concurred with Pougnet on the decertification process; that
there is some concern with the formation of a neighborhood group
only being 10%; that it should be a higher level of involvement; that
the Movie Colony as a group expressed concern on an issue and
the Council responded with the Hot Spot Program; that there could
be a non-profit component added in the ordinance to assist
neighbors are they fall on hard times; that there should be inclusion
in the ordinance for code enforcement types of issues could be
addressed first by the neighborhood group; that some type of
funding does need to be provided so the neighborhoods can form
an identity; that the City should take an active role in establishing
boundaries; that inclusion of the mobile city hall could respond
within those defined boundaries; and that the Code Enforcement
Supervisor, Dirk Voss, should be contacted to provide additional in
on Neighborhood Organizations and formation.
Foat stated that the 10% issue is for certification of a neighborhood,
but that the bylaws would require 100% notification on any issue.
2. FISCAL YEAR 2004-05 CONTINGENCY BUDGET PLAN
City Manager stated that the City overall has had an increase in all
types of service calls, but has not had any increase in the level of
service; that in the future the State is promising to return revenues
that are due back to the Cities; that the Convention Center is on
line to increase the economic growth of TOT; that the biggest
problem is bridging the gap of revenue versus expenditures over
the next three years; that the Utility User Tax increase of 3% is on
the November, 2004 ballot; that there have been personnel cuts of
21 positions within the last two years; that all have been in non-
safety; that at this point is the UUT fails, there will be no other
choice but to cut safety services; that the recommendation is to
adopt a contingency budget in the event the UUT fails so that the
employees and the citizens understand the impact of the failure;
that the Department Heads were charged with the
recommendations and the recommendations are solely from the
Department Heads; that there are major impacts that will directly
impact the citizens, but without the revenue to support services,
there is no alternative but to cut the services.
Pougnet questioned even with the increase of the UUT there will be
a gap in the budget and how would that gap be addressed.
Director of Finance stated that reserves would be drawn on for
about $900,000 for this fiscal year.
Pougnet stated that a subcommittee of the Council should be
formed to address issues such as pension participation; police take
home cars, health benefits participation for the employees.
Fire Chief stated that it is recommended to have rolling station
closures; that there would be 6 personnel cut; that Station 5 does in
fact have the fewest calls averaging 9% of the call load overall.
Police Chief stated that the police cuts will result in a 20 – 25%
reduction in police services.
Mills question the elimination of the planner in Strategic Planning.
City Manager stated that the position was withdrawn from
consideration.
Foat stated that there is a Finance Standing Committee for the City
comprised of the Mayor and one member of the City Council and
that the Committee should be activated to pursue the budget issues
on an ongoing basis; and that one of the cuts recommended is the
receptionist for City Hall; that the position should not be cut; that
City Hall does not have any sort of security measures in place and
that position services as the first line of defense.
3. STUDY SESSION DOCKET REVIEW
Pougnet recommended that the Visioning Sessions be noticed as
Strategic Planning for the City.
Foat stated that the Council needs to determine where it will be in 5
years; that the working document will be fluid; that the Council is
now in a reactive mode; that the sessions will place the Council in a
proactive place; that an aggressive schedule of the Council may
help to eliminate the mass meetings being held; and that the
meetings will assist the Council in working on infrastructure
problems as a whole, rather than piecemeal.
Mills stated that the Council does need to be careful not to overlap
the General Plan Steering Committee.
Pougnet stated that the strategic plan is different from the General
Plan; that the Strategic Plan will help set the blueprint of the City
and that the General Plan Steering Committee would be welcome
to attend.
ADJOURN