Loading...
1992 06 29 CC MinutesS LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 29, 1992 Special meeting of the La Quinta City Council was called to order at 7:00 by Mayor Pena. PRESENT: Council Members Bohnenberger 7:40 P.M.), Rushworth, Sniff, Mayor Pena ABSENT: Council Member Franklin 1. CONSIDERATION OF FORMATION OF ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 92-1. Mayor Pena advised that he will be abstaining as his residence is within proposed Assessment District 92-1. Mr. Genovese, Ass't. City Manager, advised that the Phase V of the Cove Improvement Project was initiated in October 1991 with Council adopting the necessary resolutions of intention to form Assessment District No. 92-1 on May 26, 1992. Based upon those actions, it was staff's intent to have bids received prior to this hearing. The purpose of having the bids received, is to have actual costs associated with the improvements prior to the formation of the District and confirming the Assessments. When the project was put to bid, it was anticipated that all of the other public agencies involved would produce completed plans in biddable form in adequate time in advance of the bid date. However, this has not occurred, so the Engineer of Work has extended the bid receipt date to a time uncertain. Therefore, any confirmation of assessments would have to be based on the Engineer's estimate of the total cost of the work. The City has not previously confirmed assessments based on estimates because of the uncertainty of the actual cost of the work, and the related complications with the Assessor's Roll. Also, the property owners will not know the true amount of their assessment at the time of the hearing. In order to have sufficient funds available to cover the costs of the work, the assessments would have to be higher than they should be to cover the cost of the work. If the higher assessments are levied, it would be necessary to modify the assessments at a later date and also to reimburse cash to the property owners that paid in cash. Because, the City Staff is uncomfortable with proceeding with the confirmation of assessments based upon estimates, they recommend that the hearing be continued to January 11, 1993. Continuance will allow the following to occur: 1) Extension of the bid date to allow complete bid package to be bid on by all interested contractors. 2) Allow for the confirmation of assessments on actual bid amounts. BIB] 01-29-96-U01 04:49:30PM-U01 CCMIN-U02 06-U02 29-U02 1992-U02 SCity Council Minutes 2 June 29, 1992 3) Complete review of the financing for the project. Mr. Reynolds, City Engineer, expressed concern about confirming assessments based on estimates. The estimates the residents received are quite high because staff didn't wish to duplicate the situation which occurred last year in the Indian springs area, wherein the bids came in higher than the estimates. He noted that he just received the plans and specifications this date from Imperial Irrigation District for the undergrounding of utilities. He supported the continuance as he would rather move forward with solid figures. Fritz stradling, City Attorney with Stradling, Yocca, Carlson, advised that this is a Combined Hearing under the Majority Protest Act of 1931 and the 1913 Act. He briefly reviewed the legal procedures of the Acts. Joe Kicak, Engineer of Work, Kicak & Associates, described the proposed boundaries, advising that there are basically three areas involved: Area 1 consists of Indian Springs Country Club; Areas 2 consists of Sagebrush, Bottlebrush and saguaro; Area 3 consists of the south end of the Cove, bordered by Avenida Bermudas and Eisenhower on the east; Montezuma on the west; Durango on the south and North of Tampico on the north including the area known as Yucatan peninsula. Mr. Kicak then reviewed the work to be done in each area as follows: Area 1 Street Improvements, storm drains, water system improvements, sanitary sewer and undergrounding of utilities. Area 2 Street Improvements, storm drains, and sanitary sewer. Area 3 Street Improvements, storm drains, water system improvements and sanitary sewer and undergrounding of utilities in the Yucatan Peninsula Area. Council recessed at this time. Council Member Bohnenberger joined the meeting at this time. PUBLIC HEARING OPEN Audrey Ostrowsky, P.O. Box 351, La Quinta, believed that the work should start at the time the assessments are levied so that the BIB] 01-29-96-U01 04:49:30PM-U01 CCMIN-U02 06-U02 29-U02 1992-U02 SCity Council Minutes 3 June 29, 1992 property owners aren?t paying an assessment a year in advance of the benefit of the work. She asked why she wasn?t given the opportunity to have her utilities undergrounded. Mr. Kicak responded to the concern about timing and explained that the City is handicapped with determining when the work will begin as the process is dictated by State law and is very specific as to what happens and when it happens. In response to Mrs. ostrowsky's question regarding the status of Phase IV, Mr. Reynolds advised that Phase IV should be complete in 4-6 weeks. Wally Reynolds, 79-860 Fiesta, expressed concern over the cost of undergrounding of utilities within Indian Springs and asked if the cost for Roudel Street is for complete rebuilding. Mr. Kicak explained that the costs were calculated and estimated from the property line to the meter panel. Regarding Roudel Street, Mr. Reynolds stated that the intent is to perform reconstruction on any street impacted by underground construction so that there will be uniformity in appearance. Leslie Daniel, 51-315 Juarez, understood that there is a procedure in which the assessments can be placed on the tax rolls after the deadline. Mr. Stradling advised that he knows of no procedure in which assessments can be placed on the tax rolls for FY 92-93 after the August deadline. John McManus, 79-340 orseshoe, asked why he should be assessed for undergrounding of utilities, when his street is already undergrounded. He also questioned the interest rate on the bonds and the cost to hook-up to the sewer. Mr. Kicak advised that the property owners in areas with undergrounding are being assessed at ten percent of what the others are being assessed, as there is a philosophy that all properties derive a benefit in terms of visual aesthetics. Regarding hook-up costs, he advised that no one will be required to hook-up, but for those who wish to, the cost varies depending on the location of the house to the sewer line, and he noted that there is about a $1,700 treatment plant fee charged by the CVWD. Additionally, the city will require the septic tank be pumped. Regarding the interest rate, Mr. Stradling advised that is established at the time the bonds are sold. BIB] 01-29-96-U01 04:49:30PM-U01 CCMIN-U02 06-U02 29-U02 1992-U02 SCity Council Minutes 4 June 29, 1992 Paul Quill, Avenida Rubjo, advised that he had property in Phase J and wondered why his costs were so much higher in Phase V. Mr. Kicak explained the process and what happened with Indian Springs last year, which was the reason for the estimates being higher than usual. However, staff fully expects the actual construction costs to be lower than the estimates. Joan Coodie, Roadrunner, stated that she was in favor of the project, but felt that the cost of the electrical was too high. She also felt that the property owners should be given the correct cost figures. Kathy Laubsch, Horseshoe, advised that her tax base is going to increase significantly $1,500) per year based on these costs. Mr. Kicak again explained that the actual costs will be based upon the actual bids received. Mr. Stradling also noted that there will be a 12% discount to anyone paying in cash. Cristal Spidell, 51-860 Vallejo, questioned when the bids and specifications were put to bid and asked if the Redevelopment Agency will have the funds available to do the work. Mr. Kicak advised that the bids were due on June 24th. However, about one week prior to the bid date, staff realized that the remainder of the information necessary for plan holders to bid would not be available. Therefore, the bid date was postponed indefinitely. Mr. Genovese advised that in Project Area 2 north of Ave. 50), the City would have to advance funds to perform that work. In Project Area No. 1, the funds will be available. Wally Reynolds, suggested that the City go to each house and make sure that each property owner has the correct assessment. Joe Daniel, stated that he was shocked by this development. He was promised a year ago that the street work would begin in his area July 1992. Now, he learns that the City is proposing to wait until January 1993. Audrey Ostrowsky, questioned the status of the work if the city has to return the $10 million Wymer investments). Mayor Pro Tem Sniff advised that this project will not be affected. Mayor Pro Tem Sniff advised that all property owners will be renoticed for the meeting in January. BIB] 01-29-96-U01 04:49:30PM-U01 CCMIN-U02 06-U02 29-U02 1992-U02 S City Council Minutes 5 June 29, 1992 MOTION It was moved by Council Members ohnenberger/Rushworth that the public hearing on Assessment District 92-1 be continued to January 11, 1993 at 7:00 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTE ORDER NO. 92-141. Council adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.7 to discuss labor negotiations. Council reconvened with no action being taken. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Re?ectfu?l? submitted, R??CityCl e rk City of La Quinta, California BIB] 01-29-96-U01 04:49:30PM-U01 CCMIN-U02 06-U02 29-U02 1992-U02