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1993 06 22 CC Minutes LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 22, 1993 Special Meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 7:00P.M. by Mayor Pena followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Council Members Bangerter, McCartney, Perkins, Sniff, Mayor Pena ABSENT None CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA Confirmed WRITIEN CORRESPONDENCE All correspondence pertained to Landscape and Lighting District No.89-i and is on file in the City Clerk's Office. BUSINESS SESSION 1. CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE WHITEWATERWASHINGTON STREET BRIDGE WIDENING. Mr. Reynolds, Public Works Director, advised that bids for the Whitewater/Washington Street Bridge Widening were received June 18th. There were seven bids received with the lowest being submitted by Granite Construction in the amount of $2,104,104. The Engineer' S estimate was $3,451,000. MOTION It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Bangerter that the bid for the Whitewater?Washington Street Bridge Widening Project be awarded to Granite Construction Co. in the amount of $2,104,104. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE? ORDER NO.93-151. Council Member Sniff asked if the savings can be allocated toward the Westward Ho street improvements and Mr. Genovese advised that it can. Council concurred on asking staff to report back on the possible use of these savings. BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02 City Council Minutes 2 June 22, 1993 2. CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE EISENHOWER DRIVE AND AVENUE 50 STREET IMPROVEMENTS.. Mr. Reynolds, Public Works Director, advised that there were four bids received for the Eisenhower?Avenue 50 Street improvement project with the lowest bid being submitted by Granite Construction Co. in the amount of $658,653.00. The Engineer's estimate was $897,846.00. The project will be funded by Redevelopment Agency Project Area No.1 and SB-300 funds. MOTION It was moved by Council Members Sniff/Bangerter that the bid for the Eisenhower Drive and Avenue 50 Street Improvement project be awarded to Granite Construction Co. in the amount of $658,658.00. Motion carried with Council Member McCartney voting NO. MINUTE: ORDER NO.93-152. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. ANNUAL REPORT AND LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO.89-i AND PLACEMENT OF ASSESSMENT ON 1992- 93 TAX ROLLS. Mr. Reynolds, Public Works Director, advised that staff has prepared two different resolutions one approves the original Engineer's Report and the other approves the Modified Engineer's Report which adds landscaping of the frontage road along Washington Street and the median in Washington Street. Pursuant to State law, staff mailed out more than 13,000 notices to property owners. To date, the City has received 108 protests which amounts to 08%. The Mayor declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN. Gertrude Cheney, 54-255 Avenida Carranza, advised that she is speaking for a resident of PGA West and Santa Rosa Cove and asked that the City not adopt the Engineer's Report which includes the additional construction. Thomas Bassler, 53-850 Avenida Villa, advised that he administers the landscaping for the City of Palm Desert and spoke to the economic advantages of installing desert landscaping. He also stated that they have found that you can effectively remove 40% 50% of landscaping. Mr. Reynolds advised that the City has found that desert landscaping is labor intensive. BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02 City Council Minutes 3 June 22, 1993 Dwight Robb, 44-155 Villeta Drive, advised that his assessment last year was $41 and this year it's increased to $58 and questioned the reason why, and why the different zones have such varied assessments, and why has the basic assessment increased. Mr. Reynolds explained that each zone has a specific benefit assessment attached to it based on the landscaping in the immediate vicinity. One of the reasons for the increase was due to an increase in the area to be maintained. Louis L. Glick, 44-270 Villeta Drive, asked how much money this Assessment District will bring in and Mayor Pena advised $877,703 with the additional construction projects and $539,790 without those improvements. Mr. Glick didn't believe that he should be paying for improvements in other areas. Sayed Safavian, 46-800 Highland Palms, questioned the responsibility of Washington Square relative to the street improvements. Mr. Reynolds advised that if Washington Square properties are not developed, then the street remains the same. If they develop, the street will be widened, the median constructed and the developer will have to pay one-half the cost of the medians and the landscaping in the median. The only responsibility the developer has relative to the frontage road is construction of the sound wall which has been done. There being no one else wishing to speak, the PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. Council Member Bangerter asked if we put some type of very low-maintenance landscaping in the medians, is that something the City could do without this assessment. Mr. Reynolds advised that the landscaping being proposed is very low maintenance. The maintenance of it can be handled by the 1993194 budget. Council Member Sniff had a serious concern about adding $14.00 to the assessments. He didn't believed this is the appropriate time to be adding assessments and couldn't support it at this time. He wished to see very low maintenance landscaping since labor is the most significant cost item. Mayor Pena surfaced the possibility of putting the issue to the voterS and questioned the cost of an election and Ms. Juhola advised that a stand-alone election would cost about $25,000 and if it's consolidated, it would depend upon how many other agencies we would be consolidating with. BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02 City Council Minutes 4 June 22, 1993 Council Member Bangerter stated that she would have a difficult time supporting an additional assessment. Even though it's only $14.00, that could make a big difference to some families. We're at a time when we just can't have everything we want. Council Member Perkins felt that something has to be done with Washington Street and that there must be ways to landscape it without an additional assessment. Council Member McCartney agreed with all of the comments made, but noted that the $14.00 means only $1.18 per month. However, he felt that the principal here is more important than the cost. We have to spend our money wisely and make sure that any landscaping that goes in the best value for the dollar. He could not support the additional assessment at this time. Council Member Sniff asked if we could use some General Funds for landscaping and Mr. Hunt, City Manager, advised that we can; however, he noted that we are currently looking at a $240,000 budget deficit. Mayor Pena agreed with Council Member Perkins, that Washington Street is important, it's the entrance to the City so we need to decide what we want to project out to the visitors and to our own citizens. RESOLUTION NO.93-52 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, CONFIRMING TIlE DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1993-94- ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO.89-i. it was moved by Council Members Sniff/McCartney that Resolution No. 93-52 be adopted. Motion carried uanimously. STUDY SESSION REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF FISCAL YEAR 1993/94 BUDGET. Discussion re: Chamber of Commerce Mayor Pena noted that the Chamber of Commerce is requesting the same level of flinding as in the previous year which includes the newsletter and economic development functions. BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02 City Council Minutes 5 June 22, 1993 Council Member Sniff supported their request for $125,000 and wished to make sure that they retain the right to come back before the Council during the year with special projects In response to Council Member McCartney, Ms. Dallas, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, advised that the newsletter costs about $5,600 per issue. Mr. Hunt noted that the Chamber of Commerce funding is being transferred to the RDA budget. Contingency Council Member Sniff supported increasing it in the 4110 Account to $15,000 or $20,000. Council Member Bangerter agreed with Council Member McCartney disagreeing. Council concurred on $15,000. Grants Mayor Pena suggested reducing the Community Services Grants by $5,000 Council concurred on leaving grant funding at $25,000. City Attorney Council Member McCartney comrnented on the City Attorney's budget with Ms. Honeywell advising that steps are being taken in conjunction with staff to reduce the cost She also noted that the escalation in costs this past year can be attributed to the Wymer litigation Police Services Council Member Sniff preferred to stay with a Deputy rather than have a CSO. Mayor Pena felt that use of a CSO should be given a chance. Council Member Perkins felt that CSO's can be a tremendous service there are a great many things they can do. Council Member Sniff believed that we should ask for an audit as to what services we are getting for our money. Council concurred. BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02 City Council Minutes 6 June 22, 1993 Continencv Following a brief discussion, Council concurred on no contingency in the 1993/94 fiscal year. Plannin? and Develoi)ment Council Member Sniff wished to see the Historical Commission separated from the Planning Commission. Council concurred. Fritz Burns Park Council Member Sniff wished to proceed with construction drawings for the Fritz Burns Park. Council concurred. Low-Mod Sewer Hook?Uu Pro?am Mr. Genovese, Ass't. City Manager, advised that last year, about 70 families were assisted. VilIa2e Status Mr. Herman advised that a review of The Village Plan will be brought before the Council/Board in September. Airlines Task Force Reuuest for Fundin? Mayor Pena advised that this group from the CVB) is attempting to negotiate rates and more scheduled stops in Coachella Valley and to attract more flights to Palm Springs. Mrs. LiCalsi advised that they are also looking at private monies. The funds will be used to hire a consultant. Child Care Consortium Reuuest for Fundin? Council Member McCartney advised that the Consortium is developing parental workshops; developing a list of child-care facilities and working to establish in-home providers in the City, among other services. BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02 City Council Minutes 7 June 22, 1993 MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER MS Council Member Perkins advised that he has been informed that the contractor of the Civic Center has placed a brass plate in front of the Council Chamber with their name on it and felt that the Council should consider having it removed. No discussion or decision was made. CLOSED SESSION a. Discussion of on-going litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) Bank Audi Avenue 52 Litigation Indio Case No.63888 b. Discussion of personnel pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 Meet and Confer Issues Personnel Schedule Council reconvened with no action being taken. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. R sp ctfully submitted 7. SAUNDRA JUHOLA?LA City Clerk City of La Quinta California BIB] 01-22-96-U01 04:54:10PM-U01 CCMIN062293-U02