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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 - MINUTES - 1/8/2003 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 8, 2003 ' An Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, was called to order by Mayor Kleindienst, in the Council Chamber, 3200 Tahquitz Canyon Way, on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Mills, Oden, Reller-Spurgin, and Mayor Kleindienst Absent: Councilmember Hodges The meeting was opened with the Salute to the Flag. REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: City Clerk reported that the agenda was posted in accordance with Council procedures on January 3, 2001 PRESENTATIONS: None. HOUSING AUTHORITY: COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: FINANCING AUTHORITY: No Business PUBLIC COMMENTS: None CONSENT AGENDA: None COUNCIL COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/INTERAGENCY REPORTS: Councilmember Oden stated that a tour of the Greyhound Bus Station appeared to have no direct Code violations; however, the facility is not representative of the community; and that improvements do need to be made in the parking lot and enhancement to the exterior and interior of the building. LEGISLATIVE ACTION: 1. BOARD & COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS Recommendation: That the Council direct staff regarding the Board and Commission process to be implemented for the 2003 annual recruitment and current vacancies. City Manager requested the item be continued per Councilmember Hodges telephone request. Motion to continue the item to January 15, 2003 was presented; after which, it was moved by Oden, seconded by Reller-Spurgin and unanimously carried, Hodges absent, that the Motion be adopted- 2- CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION -- PHASE I ' Recommendation: That the Council approve an agreement with Forward Services, Inc. for Trade Bid #4, concrete, for the Convention Center Expansion Phase I project for$210,636.00. CP02-19 A4620. 1 Council Minutes 1-8-03, Page 2 Director of Procurement & Contracting reviewed the staff report and provided additional scheduling information contained on a spreadsheet, copy on file in Office of the City Clerk. Minute Order 7238 as recommended was presented; after which, it was moved by Mills, seconded by Reller-Spurgin and unanimously carried, Hodges absent, that MO7238 be adopted. ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE ITEMS: None ADDED STARTERS: Councilmember Oden stated that at the January 2, 2003 meeting a discussion was held regarding a Town Hall meeting; that additional information has been received subsequent to the posting of this agenda and requested the item be added for discussion. City Attorney questioned the issue to be discussed at the meeting and when and where the meeting would be held. It was moved by Oden, seconded by Reller-Spurgin and carried unanimously, Hodges absent, to add the item to the agenda. 3. DISCUSSION CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL MEMBER MEETINGS Councilmember Oden stated that a reporting of a proposed Town Hall meeting should be given to the Body; that it was the consensus of the Council at the January 2, 2003 meeting that the City Council would not have a Town Hall meeting. Mayor stated that at the last meeting the members were queried if there were any interest in holding an informal meeting on the proposed Homeless Center and it was indicated at that time that the majority did not want to host a meeting. Councilmember Reller-Spurgin stated that the context was that the City Council should allow the issue to proceed through the process without intervention of the City Council. Councilmember Oden questioned the purpose of the Town Hall Meeting. Mayor stated that a number of calls had been received regarding the issue; that Community frustration is rising over the issue that no one can speak to the City Council; that a number of residents have raised the issue during public comments; that the City Council did say it did not want to host an additional meeting; that with so many concerned regarding the issue, a Town Hall meeting was scheduled to listen to the concerns of the residents and to take notes concerning the project; that the developer would be on hand to give a presentation to the citizens and that the citizens that have been contacted are ' appreciative of the venue; that the process is long and the citizens are wanting to be heard. Councilmember Reller-Spurgin questioned the time, date, and location of the meeting. Council Minutes 1-8-03, Page 3 Mayor stated Katherine Finchy School, Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 6 p.m. Councilmember Oden stated that this is of concern; that in the past eight years ' there have been other controversial issues and never has the Council stepped out of the process; that the Council has always followed the legally sanctioned process and to go outside of that established procedure creates a biased setting prior to the Hearing that is required by the process; that the Council must proceed in a uniform manner; that if the consensus of the Council says it does not want to do a meeting, that should be respected; that a personal need to respond is not the issue; that what is best for the Community should always be foremost; that once a procedure moves outside the legal public hearing process, this type of procedure will be expected in the future; that if each Member decided to host a meeting the result would be divisive; that in the past when a Councilmember took this same type of action, it was viewed as wrong; that to individually set a meeting up, after the majority says not to may be legal, but is not ethical. Mayor stated that this is simply in response to the citizens; that at the last meeting it was offered to each member to attend the meeting. Councilmember Oden stated that the entire issue is one of leadership; that the head should be leading in cooperation with the rest of the members; that it is not clear what is prompting this concern; that this particular issue is minor in comparison to other issues the Council has faced, and that it may be this issue is within an election year. ' Councilmember Reller-Spurgin stated that her absence at the upcoming meeting does not mean there is no concern, but that the meeting is not the venue that should be used. Councilmember Oden stated that the process should proceed through the Planning Commission and then be heard at the Council; that it is the right procedure and the correct way for the issue to progress. Mayor stated that the process is not in jeopardy, but the meeting does allow viewpoints to be expressed; that it does not matter whether it is called a town hall meeting or whatever, the issue is that the Community wants the Council to listen; that a meeting was requested, but the Council stated it did not want to participate. City Attorney stated that staff is not involved in the issue; that there will be a hearing process; but that the City would not want a potential claim of secret information or information that has not been shared and that it recommended that the meeting be televised or recorded. Councilmember Oden stated that the use of staff time cannot be justified; that this is a private meeting and City resources should not be used. City Attorney stated that the Council could direct City staff not to attend the , meeting, but that there could be a potential legal problem created; that if the decision makers do not all have the same information, the issue could be brought up; that this was discussed with the Mayor and the pros and cons were given; that if the event is held a recording should be made, then the people who are not at the event could see the information on the recording and that it is the legal Council Minutes 1-8-03, Page 4 recommendation that the event be televised; that the Mayor is calling the ' Meeting; that the Meeting will be viewed as sanctioned by the City; that the televising or recording would only require a limited amount of staff time; that if anyone protests at the Hearing that all members are not privy to the same information, it would protect the City; and that under the circumstances the recommendation is the best way to proceed. Councilmember Oden sated that the recommendation is not supported and that there should be no allocation of staff resources. Councilmember Mills and Reller-Spurgin concurred with Councilmember Oden. REPORTS & REQUESTS: None CITY COUNCIL reports or requests PUBLIC reports or requests STAFF reports or requests ADJOURNMENT: There being no further bM;Z= adjourned. PATRICIA A. SANDERS City Clerk