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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 - MINUTES - 5/25/1994 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 25, 1994 Au Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, was called to order by Mayor Maryanov, in the Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 Tahquitz Canyon Way, on Wednesday, May 25, 1994, at 6:30 p.m., at which time, the City Attorney announced items to be discussed in Closed Session, and at 7:30 p.m., the meeting was convened in open session. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Hodges, Reller-Spurgin, Schlendborf and Mayor Maryanov , Absent: Councilmember Lyons REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: City Clerk reported that the agenda was posted in accordance with Council procedures on May 20, 1994. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION(All Entities)- See items on Page 2 of agenda this date, no actions taken. PUBLIC COMMENTS: a) Comments on matters not related to an agenda item. John Booth, P.S. Police Officers Association, distributed statistics on major crimes occurring in Southern California cities, indicating Palm Springs percentage increases in certain categories, and that there is nothing to preclude the association members from talking about safety to its citizens, and it was not all attempt to scare the public when members distributed flyers over the previous weekend. He staled that Palm Springs has reduced the number of officers by 5 within the past year. Fred Ebeling commented on police officer's distribution of flyers, and he would like to see the police more user friendly, and not threaten totifists. LEGISLATIVE ACTION: 1. TAXICAB REGULATION On May 18, 1994, the Council continued directed that reconunendation concerning the composition of a task force to review and recormnend various options for taxicab regulations, be presented at this time. Councilmember Schlendorf stated that the purpose in bringing this before the Council was to go over die peer review report (a copy of which is attached to the memorandum of the Director of Aviation, dated 5-18-94, and is on file with the City Clerk); that the job of the regulatory agency is to protect the public, and it is the public and not the taxi operator who is its customer; that meeting with taxicab owners is advisory and not a requirement; that the JPA is looking at rates and the short-trip charges, and will be considering changes; that the Authority currently has no effective enforcement power because it has no ability to adjudicate or impound, and hence no "teeth"; that the Agency's legal fees have increased and it is in a situation of debt because some of the taxi owners are not in compliance with some things that are in the safety interest of the public; that the JPA never recommended that Palm Springs take 14�'- over the taxi regulation; that it could be an independent function, with its own staff, under the 002 policing authority of the City; that until its authority base is changed, the City is still a member of the JPA and its authority must be enforced, which should be through a reinforced dedication to the current Agency; that the Agency will come back with a model ordinance; and that all taxicab regulations have been agreed upon, but not included in the city code for enforcement. She asked that the Council reinforce its membership and dedication to making the JPA work; move forward with the model ordinance to establish policing authority; and allow the JPA to continue to work toward implementing the fees and changes. , City Manager stated that he met with Sunline a few weeks ago to look at a process to follow to develop a recommendation; that a task force is recommended comprised of representatives of Sunline, the Airport Commission, taxi operators and two selected by the task force, and to address the entire spectrum of recommendations of the Peer Review Committee, for the Council to then decide how to carry it out. g124 Council Minutes 5-25-94, Page 2 1. TAXI (Continued) Discussion followed as to the "board" which is currently regulating the taxicabs - with two perceptions that it is the Sunline Board and that it is a separate JPA Board which is in part members of the Sunline Board; that it possibly should be an elected bond; that staff efforts should not be duplicated; that all cities need to be involved; that the system has not worked so far; that the task force should not just include financial advisors; and that another system may work better than for each city to regulate the industry. City Manager stated that there are seventeen issues that need to reviewed, and staff was not prepared to make recommendations on them; that if the Council wished staff to take on the task, and take a hard look at those issues, and come back with recommendations on how to address those issues, then it should charge the staff to do so; after which, a task force would be set up that would embody other cities. Councilmember Schlendorf stated that she felt the message she brought was clear that the other cities are not interested. City Attorney stated that the JPA was set up to accommodate a lot of services that might be provided in the future, and not just to address taxi service. Councilmember Schlendorf was of the opinion that there is a separate JPA to operate the taxi regulation; and that the Peer Review group provided an independent study. Mayor stated that lie would like to separate the issue from Sunline;that it is time to take a look front the view of an independent study, and not just order the use of police power; and that the task force needs to be without Sunline in charge of it. Councilmember Hodges stated that perhaps the task force should be opened to anyone who wants to participate in it; and that CVAG was not interested in taking over as the regulatory body last year when the question was asked of it. ' It was the consensus of the Council to proceed with the development of a task force. Additional discussion followed as to continued cornrnitment to Sunline to enforce the taxicab regulations; and it was the consensus of the Council that as long as it was a member of the JPA it would support the JPA. 2. BOARDS & COMMISSIONS - TERM LIMITS Consideration of reducing initial terns of appointees to city boards and commissions from four years to three years, with option for a second 3-year term. City Clerk reviewed the current criteria and term limitation provisions of the Municipal Code. Councilmember Hodges stated she was opposed to the change; that prior to the previous Council, the City had people serving on the same commissions for 20 to 30 years; that the ordinance was changed to encourage new people and new ideas; that since then, there have (103- been large numbers of people who apply to serve on the commissions; that it is better to 001) spread the commission appointments out among the people; and she considered it possible that the current city problems may be due to having the same people doing the same thing year after year. Mayor stated that he was not suggesting that the appointments be for nine years or thirty years, rather a three year appointment with the possibility of an additional term, for a maximum of six years, which would be ,m increase of two years over the current four year term, with a maximum of seven years if a person were appointed to in initial term of less than 12 months that in the case of some commissions, it takes time to come up to speed when one serves on a commission; and that a reappointment would not be automatic. Councilmember Hodges stated that if it takes more than four years to learn The job, the wrong person is in the position; that it should not take more than six or eight months to learn the job; and that there have been highly qualified people appointed. 01 2 ) Council Minutes 5-25-94, Page 3 2. BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Councilmember Schlendorf stated that the more variety there is in those who serve, the more ownership there is in the community; that it frequently happens when someone gets involved in a commission, the interest level rises in other community functions; that the City needs more community participation; and that in her opinion, the current regulations are food. Motion by Maryanov to continue in order to have a full Council present; failed for lack of a ' second. It was moved by Hodges, seconded by Schlendorf, and carried, 1vlaryanov No, and Lyons absent, that there be no changes to the current provisions. City Clerk asked if there were changes to the current application form, to let her know, as the annual recruitment was underway; that advertising would be extensive, as in the past year; and that applications would be accepted until the positions are filled. Councilmember Hodges stated that the Council should consider changing appointment times to October; that appointments are not generally made until that time anyway; that there has been feedback from some commissioners that they do not know what direction the Council wants for the commission; that decisions by the commissions are sometimes overturned by the Council; and that perhaps the appointment structure should be changed to a process whereby each Councilmember would appoint a commissioner to a Commission so that the appointee could then follow the directives of the Council. 3. ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIViE ITEMS: (Satisfies agenda posting requirements; materials at meeting) - None ADJOURNED There was no further business, and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. i JUDITH SUMICH City Clerk