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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-23 CC MINUTES Measure J Joint MeetingThursday, May 23, 2019 Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs and Measure J Oversight Commission CALL TO ORDER: A Special Joint Meeting of the Palm Springs City Council and Measure J Oversight Commission was called to order by Mayor Moon on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, City Hall, located at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Moon led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Christy Holstege, Lisa Middleton, J.R. Roberts; Mayor Pro Tem Geoff Kors; and Mayor Robert Moon. Absent: None. Present: Commissioners Jeffrey Bernstein, Alaina Bixon, David Gray, Brian Robin, Naomi Soto; Vice Chair Sid Craig; and Chair Jim Gazan. Absent: Commissioner Dan Lass. City Staff Present: David H. Ready, City Manager; Jeffrey Ballinger, City Attorney; Marcus Fuller, Assistant City Manager; and Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk, were present at Roll Call. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes. PRESENTATIONS: The City Council presented a Proclamation to Cindy Berardi, Chief Deputy City Clerk, declaring May 23, 2019, as “Cindy Berardi Day” in recognition of her 28 years of service with the City of Palm Springs. PUBLIC COMMENT: Christine Hammond, spoke on her experience serving on the Measure J Oversight Commission, noting the importance of allowing for Community Projects. Charles LaMorte, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, urged the City Council to prioritize the renovation of park bathrooms. Les Young, Chair of Parks and Recreation Commission, spoke on the need for pickleball courts at Sunrise Park; urged the City Council to move forward with renovating park bathrooms, noting that Desert Highland Park, Francis Stevens Park, and the Dog Park do not have bathrooms readily available. City Council Minutes May 23, 2019 City of Palm Springs Page 2 A. BUDGET DISCUSSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-19 AND 2019-20 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: Assistant City Manager Fuller narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to inquiries. Chair Gazan summarized the elements of each recommended capital project, noting that the projects were prioritized based on life/safety issues, technology needs, park restoration, and emergency responsiveness. In response to City Council inquiries, Assistant City Manager Fuller advised that the proposed $1.6 million for park restrooms would provide for an architect to develop a project scope and proceed with upgrades at existing park restroom, noting that remaining funds could be used to install a modular restroom at a park without restrooms; advised that the Library funding would be set aside until a decision is made regarding whether the Library will be relocated or renovated; noted that the City has funded approximately $27 million in the past four years for street repairs and that the backlog of street repairs has reduced to $36 million. In response to City Council inquiry, Director of Information Technology Brown opined that the budget estimate for the Police Department’s CAD System is accurate, noting that the cities of Indio, Corona, and Murrieta completed similar projects. In response to City Council inquiry, Chair Gazan advised that the future Community Project funding will be held pending completion of the Downtown Park; advised that the Commission will work with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss potential park projects if the funding is not used for the Downtown Park. Mayor Pro Tem Kors opined that the design of recreation field LED lights should only proceed if staff intends to proceed with implementation of the project; questioned whether combining two years of street improvements would result in additional savings due to economy of scale. Mayor Moon expressed concern that Fire Station No. 1 needs to accommodate ladder trucks due to building heights in the Downtown, suggesting that the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Gritt Development be contacted regarding funding support; noted that the Measure J Oversight Commission expressed concern regarding pickleball courts at Sunrise Park and the potential impacts if the City Council chooses to expand the Library in the future. Councilmember Roberts expressed concern that funding would be prioritized for pickleball courts over restrooms for parks without restrooms, suggesting that pickleball supporters should help fundraise for the project; noted that the Ruth Hardy Park restroom has unique architectural features and attention should be given to preservation of those features. Councilmember Holstege expressed concern that 16 pickleball courts at Sunrise Park might appear to take over the park; requested that cost estimates and alternative configurations for pickleball courts at Victoria Park, Demuth Park, Desert Highland Park versus Sunrise Park be presented for the City Council’s consideration. City Council Minutes May 23, 2019 City of Palm Springs Page 3 Councilmember Middleton recommended that staff evaluate best practices for restroom fixtures that are less vulnerable to vandalism; noted that the City Council gave the impression that pickleball courts would be installed at Sunrise Park; suggested that another discussion regarding the location of pickleball should be agendized for a future City Council meeting. Vice Chair Craig spoke on the need to move forward with improvements to park restrooms; opined that pickleball is not a trend, but a fast growing sport. Commissioner Bixon opined that it is more logical to expand pickleball courts at Demuth Park or Ruth Hardy Park than introduce new courts at Sunrise Park. Commissioner Soto recommended that Sunrise Park be preserved pending a decision about the future of the Library. Chair Gazan noted that pickleball courts were not recommended for Measure J funding because the project did not meet the funding criteria. Mayor Pro Tem Kors recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission and Measure J Oversight Commission discuss alternative locations for pickleball courts. By consensus, the City Council agreed to fund $10,000 for marketing of Measure J Projects; expressed support for continuing to fund Community Projects. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MIDDLETON, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTS, CARRIED 5-0, to support the Measure J Oversight Commission recommendations of capital projects to be programmed, utilizing unscheduled Measure J Fund capital budget from the 2018-19 Fiscal Year, and Measure J Fund capital budget proposed in the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Anthony J. Mejia, MMC City Clerk APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL: 06/19/2019