2000 06 27 CC Minutes LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
JUNE 27, 2000
An adjourned regular meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at the
hour of 1:00 p.m. by Mayor Pe~a.
PRESENT: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pefia
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS - None
CLOSED SESSION
1. Public Employment - City Attorney - pursuant to Government Code Section
54957.
2. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation - pursuant to Government
Code Section 54956.9(a), CVWD.
Council recessed to the Redevelopment Agency meeting and to Closed Session to and
until the hour of 2:00 p.m.
2:00 P.M.
Mayor Pe~a led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Perkins presented a copy of a citizen recognition program being
instituted in Culver City and requested the City Manager make copies of this program
available to the Mayor and members of the City Council
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment offered at this time.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed
PRESENTATIONS - None
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE - None
City Council Minutes 2 June 27, 2000
CONSENT CALENDAR - None
BUSINESS SESSION
1. CONSIDERATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001 PRELIMINARY BUDGET.
City Manager Tom Genovese introduced the staff report, outlining the two
additional documents distributed to the City Council; the Executive Summary
and Revised Budget Pages, marked and filed as exhibits one and two. Finance
Director John Falconer presented the staff report and the budget document.
Director Falconer pointed out the new columns included in the budget summary
showing "advances to" and "advances from" by fund.
Council Member Adolph recommended amending Exhibit B-1 (the organizational
chart) to show the proper reporting responsibility of the City Attorney to the
City Council through the City Manager.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Elaine Reynolds, 49-294 Avenida Vista Bonita, spoke in favor of funding the
request of the La Quinta Arts Association.
Mayor Pro Tern Sniff suggested that "Council Requests" be considered first.
The Council agreed by unanimous consensus to consider the Council Requests
at this time with Mayor Pe~a and Council Member Adolph abstaining on the
request of the La Quinta Arts Foundation.
Council Member Henderson questioned whether or not a conflict of interest
exists as a result of Council Member Adolph's wife having held a position on
the Board of Directors of the Historical Society. City Attorney Jenson
responded that a conflict of interest does not exist as long as Mrs. Adolph's
position was not a salaried one.
Mayor Pro Tem Sniff presided over the discussion of the funding request for the
La Quinta Arts Foundation.
Council Member Henderson stated she was disappointed to see an increase in
this year's funding request from the Arts Foundation. She stated she had hoped
to see a reduced request from last year's funding level.
Council Member Perkins recommended a line item allocation for the Arts
Foundation in the amount of 875,000.
City Council Minutes 3 June 27, 2000
Mayor Pro Tern Sniff stated he could support the request for funding at the
amount requested by the Foundation.
MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Perkins/Henderson to approve a
line-item allocation to the La Quinta Arts Foundation in the amount of $75,000
for FY 2000-2001. The motion carried with Mayor Pe~a and Council Member
Adolph ABSTAINING. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2000-122.
Mayor Pefia and Council Member Adolph resumed their positions on the dias
and the Council considered the request of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce.
Finance Director Falconer outlined the request from the Chamber of Commerce
in the amount of $150,000 which is $5,000 less than last year's request.
MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to approve a line-
item allocation to the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce in the amount of
$150,000 for FY 2000-2001. The motion was unanimously carried. MINUTE
ORDER NO. 2000-123.
The City Council considered the request of the La Quinta Historical Society for
funding. Council Member Henderson stated she could support a request in a
lower amount.
Elaine Reynolds, representing the Arts Association explained the increase in the
request this year is basically to pay for advertising as well as help with the
gallery operations.
Council Member Sniff suggested a $4,000 line item allocation to cover
insurance and some modest advertising for the year.
Mayor Pe~a suggested and Council Member Henderson agreed the Arts
Association should look into the City's Community Services Grant funding
process as a more appropriate source of funding.
Council Member Perkins commented that originally the Arts Association's
request for funding was for "seed money." He felt the current request is more
appropriate for a Community Services Grant.
It was agreed by unanimous consensus to direct the Arts Association to apply
for operating funds through the Community Services Grant funding process.
Council Member Perkins complimented the staff on the preparation of the
budget document and the easy to follow exhibits and staff report.
City Council Minutes 4 June 27, 2000
Council Member Henderson said she would like to see the $8,000 allocation for
school programs reallocated to the City Council contingency fund. She felt this
should be done pending resolution as to the need to make such an allocation
during the next Fiscal Year.
Mayor Pro Tem Sniff agreed with Council Member Henderson's suggestion and
also felt the ~27,000 surplus should be allocated to the City Council
contingency fund.
Council Member Henderson discussed the possible need for the City to look at
hiring a part-time lobbyist to specifically address measures of importance to the
City as they are going through the State Legislature.
Mayor Pefia stated CVAG has a "governmental advocate" for regional issues
but if a member city has a special interest that all of the members of CVAG do
not agree on, having a set-aside for this purpose would be a good idea. Council
Member Henderson cited the matter of tax sharing as a perfect example of this
kind of individual interest by a community,
Mayor Pro Tem Sniff questioned if a lobbyist can do very much. He said he felt
the local State Senator and Assemblyman are the best representatives of the
City of La Quinta in the state legislature. He also suggested staff should
investigate the cost of retaining a lobbyist before anything is decided.
Mayor Pefia said it is his understanding this kind of service costs between
~2,000 to 95,000 per month. Mayor Pro Tem Sniff responded that perhaps the
Council should set aside $25,000 tentatively, pending investigation of the costs
by the staff.
Council Member Perkins requested permission to be excused due to a prior
commitment and left the chambers at 3:05 p.m.
MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to excuse
Council Member Perkins. The motion was unanimously carried with Council
Member Perkins absent.
Mayor Pro Tem Sniff stated the staff continues to do an outstanding job
preparing the annual budget and he is happy with the City's financial position.
Council Member Adolph said he feels the budget takes a conservative approach
to the anticipated revenues. He outlined some concerns that he has had in the
past, such as the installation of a traffic signal at Calle Tampico and Avenida
City Council Minutes 5 June 27, 2000
Bermudas, the seasonal sign program, and the obelisk program but overall he
feels the budget is excellent.
Mayor Pe~a expressed his pleasure with the increased funds available for
projects this year that directly benefit the residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Sniff commented he is very pleased with the new additions to
the Police Force and he would like to see merchant vandalism, which is
becoming more prevalent, made a real priority in the upcoming year.
MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to adopt the
Fiscal Year 2000-2001 Preliminary Budget as amended. The motion was
unanimously carried with Council Member Perkins ABSENT. MINUTE ORDER
NO. 2000-124.
2. CONSIDERATION OF AN URGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14.16
(ENCROACHMENTS) OF THE LA QUINTA CHARTER AND MUNICIPAL CODE
BY ADDING SECTION 14.16.540 (DIRECTIONAL SIGNS).
Planning Manager Christi di Iorio presented the staff report. Ms. di Iorio
advised of a change in Section 1, adding the word "combined" before ...
maximum size of 32 square feet . . . and adding a sentence to the paragraph
to read, "The proposed sign locations shall be subject to the Community
Development Department's approval."
City Manager Tom Genovese clarified the purpose of this proposed urgency
ordinance is to address the needs of developers to identify their project
locations during the construction period. He advised the Council the City will
also be placing signs with additional directional information to notify drivers of
detours and construction information.
MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Adolph to take up an
Ordinance by title and number only and waive further reading. The motion was
unanimously carried with Council Member Perkins ABSENT.
MOTION - It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Henderson to introduce
Ordinance No. 345, as amended, as an Urgency Ordinance. The motion was
unanimously carried with Council Member Perkins ABSENT.
City Council Minutes 6 June 27, 2000
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Acting City Attorney Katherine Jenson announced, pursuant to Government Code
Section 54957.1 of the Government Code (Brown Act), the City Council had reached
agreement in Closed Session on a Termination of Services Agreement with Dawn
Honeywell. She also announced the Council approved entering into an agreement for
contract services with the firm of Rutan and Tucker to provide City Attorney services.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved by Council Members Henderson/Sniff
to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously with Council Member Perkins ABSENT.
Respectfully submitted,
JUNES.~REEK~~
City of La Quinta, California