HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/19/2001 - STAFF REPORTS (19) DATE: December 19, 2001
TO: City Council
FROM: Safety, Special Programs & Enforcement Manager
WAVIER OF FEES FOR UAW-GM CONFERENCE TRAINING EVENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council waive fees for the rental of closed Taxiway"A"at Palm
Springs International Airport, in the amount of $4,000.00, for certain dates during the period
January 7, 2002 through February 1, 2002,
SUMMARY:
The requested action would relieve United Auto Workers - General Motors (UAW-GM) of the
financial responsibility for the rental of certain Airport facilities in consideration of their
commitment to the City of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
BACKGROUND:
For the past four years UAW-GM has conducted their national leadership conference at the
Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs. One of the workshops for conference attendees has been a
behind-the-wheel course of instruction in accident avoidance techniques that has been held on
a section of decommissioned taxiway at the airport. When slots were available, City personnel
were allowed to participate in the training. To date, approximately 250 staff members have
received this very valuable instruction at no cost to the City. Students from local high schools
have also participated. The training they received is not available anywhere else in the valley
at any cost. During past years, members of the media have spent several hours filming and
participating in training. The event has received considerable airtime and publicity for the City.
Two years ago, training was expanded to include skid control and off-road recovery methods.
General Motors contributed $10,925.00 toward the improvements that were required for these
exercises. During that year's conference, eight City employees completed the General Motors
Advanced Driver Training Instructor Course and now utilize these facilities to provide training
for other City employees and volunteers during the remainder of the year. In coordinating these
events, I have worked closely with the GM staff, which has allowed me the opportunity to
receive numerous hours of additional training in instructing skid control techniques. Again, at
no cost to the City.
This year, GM has offered to expand the time available for training City personnel and will be
conducting two additional full days of training for the spouses and children of City employees.
Additional time has also been set aside this year for the training of local high school students
with special classes for students involved in the D.A.R.E. program. Volunteers from the City's
Citizen on Patrol (COP) program and soldiers from the National Guard unit providing service
to the airport have been invited to participate.
For the past two years UAW-GM has conducted an infant car seat inspection program at City
Hall. Local residents have been invited to bring their children, or grandchildren, to learn the
proper method of securing their car seats.Those car seats found to be inadequate or otherwise
inappropriate were replaced with new car seats free of charge.There has always been a strong
media presence during these events. An expanded car seat inspection program will be
conducted again this year.
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Wavier of Fees for UAW-GM Conference Training Event
December 19, 2001
Page Two
When the skid pad was constructed, a material was used that, unfortunately, did not hold up
well. A local paving specialist was consulted to find a better solution and the skid pad was
resurfaced at a cost of$2,600.00 to General Motors. Even this improved surface did not stand
up to the elements here in the desert and a better solution for skid control training was found
in a device called the"Skid Monster".The City currently leases one of these devices and I have
recently completed the instructor certification program for this equipment. During this year's
training, GM will be providing two more "Skid Monsters" and seven vehicles.
Although this year's conference is scheduled for the period January 7, 2002 through February
1,2002,the taxiway will not be utilized for the conference the entire time. UAW-GM will conduct
training for their personnel on January 7" through the 91h, January 141h through the 161h and
January 241h through the 251h. Training for City personnel, COPs and National Guard will be
conducted on January 11"and 12`h,training for spouses/children will be conducted on January
17`h and 18th and training for local high school/D.A.R.E. students will be conducted on January
22°d and 23rd.
Rental for the eight days that UAW-GM will be using the taxiway for their own personnel would
amount to $4,000.00, or $500 per day. It is recommended that, in light of the considerable
community benefit provided by this conference and the commitment to providing the City with
an excellent training facility, fees for the rental of this property be waived.
Lawrence D. Wedekind " �% /'Barry Griffith
Safety, Special Programs & Enforcement Manager As istan irector of Aviation
APPROVED:
City Manager
Attachment:
1. Minute Order
��g1
MINUTE ORDER NO.
APPROVING THE RELIEF OF FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO UNITED AUTO
WORKERS/GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE
RENTAL OF CERTAIN AIRPORT FACILITIES, FOR
THE PERIOD JANUARY 7, 2002 THROUGH
FEBRUARY 1, 2002, IN CONSIDERATION OF
THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS AND THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, approving the relief of financial responsibility to United
Auto Workers/General Motors for the rental of certain airport facilities, for the period January 7,
2002 through February 1, 2002, in consideration of their commitment to the City of Palm Springs
and the Coachella Valley,was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, in a meeting
thereof held on the 19th day of December, 2001.
PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk
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