HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Min 2002-05-13
5-13-02
Seal Beach, California
May 13, 2002
The May 13, 2002 regular adjourned meeting of the City
Council was canceled due to the lack of Closed Session items
re u'ring consideration.
I
t Clerk an
the City of
clerk
Seal Beach, California
May 13, 2002
The City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in regular
session at 7:02 p.m. with Mayor Doane calling the meeting to
order with the Salute to the Flag.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Doane
Councilmembers Boyd, Campbell, Larson, Yost
Absent:
None
Also present: Mr. Bahorski, City Manager
Mr. Barrow, City Attorney
Mr. Whittenberg, Director of Development
Services
Mr. Dancs, Director of Public Works/City
Engineer
Chief Sellers, Police Department
Ms. Arends-King, Director of Administrative
Services
Ms. Yeo, City Clerk
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APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Boyd moved, second by Larson, to approve the order of the
agenda as presented.
AYES:
NOES:
Boyd, Campbell, Doane, Larson, Yost
None Motion carried
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Campbell stated she wished to pass along some
information relating to redevelop issues. To the question as
to why one would put a piece of property in a redevelopment
project area, if it is blighted you then realize the tax
increment money which in most cases can be used for
upgrading. She noted that the City has an assessed valuation
of $2 billion of that the return to the City is only a little
more than $2.8 million in property tax, the reason the City
does not get back a higher amount is because there is such a
high number of pre-Proposition 13 residences, in comparison,
properties in the Redevelopment Agency have a return of most
all of the property taxes, at present that number is $1.38
million from the Riverfront Project Area, that is thirty-
seven percent of the property tax the City receives, if that
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property were not in the Redevelopment Agency instead of
receiving $1 million the return would only be $159,000, that
a loss of $869,000 per year, the City could never get grants
to cover that, also, grants are one time issues, the City
needs on-going sources of revenue, therefore dissolution of
the Redevelopment Agency solves no problems. Councilmember
Campbell explained that the bond payments on the Agency debt
runs between $740,000 to $750,000 per year for the thirty
year bonds, if the land were taken out of the Agency the debt
could not be serviced with $169,000 per' year, in addition,
that would not negate the mandate to have low to moderate
income housing, the statement made that if the Agency is
dissolved then the low/moderate housing need would no longer
exist, that is not true. She mentioned that since the City
did not spend its low to moderate income housing monies on
time the City had to assess itself a penalty of $668,000
which is fifty percent of the surplus of the low/mod monies,
also, the penalty can not be paid from low to mod sources, it
must come from excess tax increment or the General Fund, the
plan was that the excess revenue would go towards paying the
$668,000 penalty, if the Redevelopment Agency is disbanded
that source of money no longer exists yet the penalty still
must be paid, so it would then come from General Fund plus
servicing the debt of about $750,000, with the penalty the
total would be about $811,800 per year, the question is then
where does the City come up with that kind of money. As to
where Redevelopment monies have been spent in the past,
Counci1member Campbell explained that the Mary Wilson Library
was built, the property for the Public Works Yard was
purchased, etc., this year a new pump station will be built
behind the Trailer Park, that pump station will keep Old Town
from flooding, that is a $2 to $3 million project, if that
money came from the General Fund the residents could then
forget about street and alley improvements for years to come,
consideration can not be given to dissolving the Agency, if
there was a disaster such as a break in the main sewer line
that could create big problems, not only would it need to be
repaired or replaced the City would be faced with penalties
just as a result of the break, and the reserves of the City
are not what they should be. Councilmember Campbell
acknowledged that Old Town has some of the most expensive
property inasmuch as it is near the beach yet the area also
has some blight, the thought was that by using the low and
moderate funds those areas could be improved. To the
previous comment that owners are more responsible than
tenants, she would differ with the comment as it is easier to
get rid of a bad tenant than a bad owner, to the statement
that the City pay the penalty and be done with the housing
issue the answer is no because the State will come after the
City until it fulfills the mandate, again, the Agency can not
be dissolved, and if it is necessary to adhere to the mandate
then it needs to be done the smart way, and there is such a
way. Councilmember Campbell recalled the City receiving a
letter recently from a fifteen year resident, single mother
with a small child, the landlord informed her that he had
sold the building in which she lived therefore she had to
move, this person approached the City to determine if, with
her low salary, she would qualify for a subsidy, and this
person would have if rental assistance had been kept in the
1290 Plan, this is what low to moderate income housing should
be used for, to help the City's residents. She said again
that the Agency can not be dissolved, and the people need to
know the facts. Councilman Yost said he hoped that that
subject would be on a future Agency meeting.
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Councilman Larson noted a conflict with Memorial Day
programs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Seal Beach
American Legion Post are at 11:00 a.m. on May 27th at
Eisenhower Park, at the same time the Los Angeles Chapter of
Diesel Boaters is hosting their program at the Naval Weapons
Station, to which he suggested that a determination be made
as to who is going to attend which program so that the
Council is represented. Councilmembers Campbell and Larson
stated they would attend the Boaters program at the Weapons
Station, Mayor Doane and Councilman Yost indicated their
attendance at the Eisenhower Park program. Mayor Doane read
the announcement and particulars of the VFW/American Legion
program at Eisenhower Park. Mayor Doane noted that this
would be his last opportunity as the Mayor to present the
'Friends Helping Friends Succeed' pins and in turn presented
a pin to Mr. Bill Ayres, recognizing his work on various
community committees as well as years spent with the 10K Run.
Mayor Doane said in an effort to set the record straight,
because of some very poorly worded journalism, he has been
accused of being part of a plot to remove the City Manager.
To that Mayor Doane stated that is absolutely ludicrous, the
Manager has supported him the entire year, without him he
could not have had even modest success, the Manager is doing
an excellent job, he is in no way looking 'to be part of
anything to remove him. He again criticized the journalistic
effort. Councilman Yost admitted having had differences of
opinion with the Manager, yet Mr. Bahorski is the City
Manager, he intends to continue working with him and going
forward in a positive way, he is making no effort to
undermine his ability to do his job, and offered that he has
done an excellent job in some respects, especially with water
quality.
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PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Doane read in full the proclamation of the month of
May, 2002 as "Arthritis Awareness Month." Ms. Suzanne Hoehl,
Executive Director of Orange County/Long Beach Branch of the
Arthritis Foundation, stated the Foundation has a big jOb in
Orange County and throughout the nation as this is a disease
that is more prevalent than almost any other disease, it is
quite certain that residents of Seal Beach too are affected.
She expressed appreciation for the recognition.
Mayor Doane read the proclamation in recognition of May 13th,
2002 as "National Peace Officers' Memorial Day" which he
presented to Chief Sellers. The Chief extended appreciation
on behalf of the staff of the Police Department for
recognition of the police officers and the work they do every
day, and introduced officers Al Cabrera, Jerry Ellison, Tim
Olson, Eric Tittle, and Lynda Sue MacDonald, and
representatives of the volunteer corp, which he said is the
combination of what gets things done in Seal Beach, including
the civilian force. The Chief explained that there are about
three quarters of a million peace officers in the United
States serving the citizens as the guardians of peace, on
average more than sixty-two thousand police officers are
assaulted each year, twenty-one thousand are injured,
although the communities are felt to be safe, however
unfortunate there are those that go into offices or
government buildings and challenge peace officers, the one
out of nine assaults on police officers results in nearly two
out of every four thousand officers being killed in the
United States each year. The Chief noted that on May 15th
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more than fifteen thousand police officers will be convening
in Washington, D. C. for the National Peace Officers
Memorial, there will be four members of the Seal Beach Police
Association, traveling at their own expense, to pay tribute
to the fallen officers across the United States. The
responsibility for protecting communities has taken its toll
since the first recorded death in 1792, there have been more
than fifteen thousand police officers killed including Seal
Beach Officer Ed Clavell whose life was tragically taken on
August 23, 1988 while working traffic enforcement on
Westminster Boulevard. Looking back at the officers lost,
personal friends, it takes a considerable toll when one looks
at the hard work the officers do day to day, and this year
more officers were lost as a result of the911 incident. The
Chief expressed appreciation for the recognition of the Seal
Beach officers and those across the United States.
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PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Doane declared the Public Comment period to be open.
Mr. Jim Caviola, Seal Beach, expressed appreciation to
Councilman Boyd for the four years of service he gave to this
town, stated he has always been accessible to him,
cooperative, informed, well read, he is saddened that he was
not re-elected and extended good luck to Councilman Boyd in
the future. Mr. Caviola said he hoped that Councilmember
Campbell did not believe the representations she made
regarding the Redevelopment Agency. He stated that
Redevelopment Agency money is nothing more than a debt, the
Agency is a legal fiction, a corporation that is in debt,
refinancing bonds is just incurring future problems for the
City, indebting the City similar to what a credit card does,
with regard to the welfare program to help everyone he stated
the Country has been weaning off of those types of programs,
the federal government has now gotten forty percent of the
people off of the welfare roles. To the reference to Old
Town as a blighted area Mr. Caviola said he found that
interesting, the lll9 Ocean property sold for $800,000, if
one thinks that a twenty-five by one hundred ten foot lot
selling for $800,000 is blighted that is interesting, but the
Redevelopment Agency has to put in low income housing with
twenty percent of the money it receives, if there is no
Agency there is no requirement to provide low income housing
unless there is development, so when the Target area was
developed and the area behind the Police Station is developed
with housing, twenty percent of that should have been or
should be for low income housing, that is the problem, it is
only based upon future development, in his opinion the
Redevelopment Agency has to go, he is not interested in the
redevelopment of anything. Mr. Caviola said as is probably
known, seventy-seven percent of the world's wealth is going
to transfer in the next ten years because of death because
people over sixty-eight years old are in possession of the
wealth, he personally does not pay Prop 13, he pays retail,
the current standard, he realizes that there is a Prop 13
inequality but that is going to change in ten years, however
if the City continues to borrow money on the Redevelopment
Agency and obligates the next generation they will be left
with a debt that is not wanted.
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Ms. Pat Clark, Trailer Park, expressed appreciation to the
City Clerk for her assistance as observer at the Park
election last year, also the Council, staff, and Agency for
their help in securing the homes of those in the Trailer
Park, there are many residents of the Park that are happy and
grateful for what has been done for them, and appreciation to
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Councilmembers Campbell and Yost for their efforts with the
bond counsel, insurers, and others who were involved in the
complex purchase of the Seal Beach Trailer Park, both
attending all of the meetings to make this transaction
happen, the Park residents were allowed to attend all of the
meetings as well even though they were only third party
beneficiaries. She noted that a contingent of City and
Trailer Park representatives and others went to Sacramento to
make a presentation before the MPROP board in an effort to
obtain an up to $1 million loan to help reduce the purchase
price of the Park, to that she asked how many Mayors and
Managers in how many cities in California would do that to
help trailer park residents in their cities. She thanked the
City for lending $1 million to the Park for the Bridge Loan
to help make the purchase possible. People should be made
aware of how much the Redevelopment Agency is appreciated for
the two rental assistance programs that are in place, one is
a three year step-up fund for every resident in the Park
except renters, the second is for very low income residents
who would likely have had to move because the rents were too
high unless this assistance was available. Ms. Clark stated
that the Trailer Park purchase was the first of its kind in
California, basically the Seal Beach Redevelopment Agency,
the non-profit Linc Housing, and the MPROP Board of the State
of California worked together to facilitate the purchase, the
City not only backed the $6.4 million with tax exempt bonds,
they also loaned $1 million to meet the $7.4 million purchase
price, the $1 million will be paid back to the City from the
money pledged by the MPROP Board, the residents of the
Trailer Park will be asked within sixty to ninety days to
once again assure the MPROP Board that they are indeed
supportive of this transaction, the hope is that all of the
residents will do that, if they do not then the City will be
paid back over the next thirty-five years instead of now,
within thirty to thirty-five years if two-thirds of the Park
residents at that time vote for the removal of the three Linc
Housing board members from the Seal Beach Affordable Housing
Corporation, three directors will then be selected by the
remaining four directors. Ms. Clark stated again that there
are many in the Trailer Park that are very grateful for what
has been accomplished on their behalf, and requested that
they not be judged by the actions of those who have different
agendas.
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Ms. Laura Brecht, 6th Street, read an editorial from a Long
Beach newspaper as of this date entitled 'Small Town
Election' which focused on the similarities and differences
between District One candidates Mr. Antos and Ms. Pearce.
Ms. Brecht stated she is a member of the Seal Beach
Republican Women Federated, expressed her support for the
election of Ms. Pearce even though the Republican Womens Club
endorsed Mr. Antos, which is unusual and she is against that,
her desire is that the voters choose the best candidate which
is Ms. Pearce. Mr. Bill Ayres, Seal Beach, stated that he
meets a number of people while doing volunteer work in this
community, many people have come to him and asked that he
express their desire that the Recreation Department be
relocated back to City Hall, that that is where they belong,
these people have stated they are uncomfortable going to the
Police Station for recreation functions, he would have to
agree, however understands that the Recreation Department was
moved due to budget constraints, there is also a very capable
Captain acting in the capacity of community services officer,
that might be well suited to be situated in City Hall, also
by returning Recreation to City Hall he would anticipate an
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increased participation in recreation. Ms. Joyce Parque, 6th
Street, expressed appreciation to Councilman Boyd for his
four years of service, he always returned her calls, educated
her, has done a good job, and said she was pleased that he
did not vote on the final resolution for the Trailer Park.
Ms. parque inquired as to the whereabouts of the twenty low
income lots that were given up, said they should not be
located in Old Town or Surfside, a staff report even states
that there are too many senior citizens living in Seal Beach,
what is needed is housing for families. Ms. parque made
reference as well to an editorial in an Orange County
newspaper that endorsed candidate Pearce, the only issue
cited was special events that interfere with a stroll down
Main Street, to that said she advised the editor that he
should be writing about the issue of Section 8 housing. Ms.
parque then read a response from candidate Pearce to
questions she had posed to her relating to rent control and
Section 8 housing. Ms. parque said she is telling everyone
to vote for Mr. Antos, this City does not need another
housing relocation program, a staff report said it needs to
be families, and again, where are the twenty low income units
going to be. Councilmember Campbell noted that they were
merely reclassified. Ms. parque stated that there is still a
problem with Ruby's, when their lease expires it will take up
to $200,000 to redo the building, everyone should walk around
it, the building is falling apart and the taxpayers will have
to pay for this. She asked again for a resolution to end the
contract of the Development Services Director, the people of
Old Town need to know who is for them and who is not. Dr.
David Rosenman, Seal Beach, mentioned that several months ago
he had pointed out to staff that there were street lights on
Pacific Coast Highway between Bo1sa and 12th Street that were
out, said they are still out, first it is a safety problem
and it makes the town look as if it is not being taken care
of, he is mentioning this again so that it may get fixed.
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Mr. Don McGee, Huntington Beach, stated that several months
ago the mobile home park owners aligned themselves with some
large moneyed outside interests that hamstrung the City
Council in Huntington Beach with a proposal identical to the
proposal now being considered, although no one on the
Huntington Council supported rent control the voters denied
the right of present and future Councils of entertaining any
thought of controlling rents, there is already federal,
State, county, and numerous bureaucratic conglomerates
dictating what can and can not be done, so to further cripple
existing legislative powers would seem to be somewhat self-
defeating, unless the same outside interests are behind it.
Mr. McGee noted that ten percent of new development is
supposed to be mandated to be affordable housing, so who are
the communities and councils that do not want affordable
housing as was reported in the press despite the mandate,
common sense and decency, it is as if there is some scheme
afoot to project those deemed to be undesirable out of a
community, until someone makes this workable it would seem to
behoove these communities and councils to make room for these
people instead of treating them with disdain, in his views a
community cherishes all who contribute to its wellbeing no
matter their working status or that they make less than
$400,000 per year. As more cities ignore the mandate they
continue to construct businesses that overwhelmingly rely of
those that they do not want in their midst after working
hours, the shortage is exacerbated and will perpetuate into
an ever increasing lack of will and foresight and deteriorate
into an unmitigated disaster, at some point in the near
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future the State will likely force all to obey their dictates
or lose funding.
Mr. Paul Jeffers, Trailer Park, said he too has been before
the Council numerous times to express his gratitude for what
the Council did to help what he understood was to purchase
the Park, now the only thing that the people who think as he
does, about eighty-five that they represent, is what they
were promised, that the people would own the Park when the
bonds were paid, there is still nothing in writing to that
effect, they have requested numerous times to work with Linc
Housing and the Affordable Housing Committee but there is
still nothing in writing. While the purchase transaction was
being put together he was merely trying to get questions
answered, he got very few answers before votes were taken.
He again said that the people just want something in writing
that their homes will be secure some thirty years hence, they
do not have that now. Mr. Jeffers made reference to a staff
report relating to the joint public hearing and resolution
approving the bond issuance for the Trailer Park acquisition,
this is a projection over the thirty-five years for repayment
of the bonds, payments are supposed to start at $525 as the
average rent yet for the first few years because of a
$340,000 subsidy from the City for the low income people it
starts at $519, the first year subsidy is $225,423 so that
the rental payments for the low income people will stay in
the $520 area, the second year subsidy is $112,715, in the
third year there is no subsidy and the rent stays that high,
some elderly people in the Park speak as he does and are
afraid that they are going to lose their subsidies, the fear
is that there will be no more subsidies.
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Ms. Beverly Pearce, Seal Beach, reminded everyone in District
One to vote the following day, stating that it is an
important election, especially to her, having fought against
critical people all of her life, lies and distortions are the
work of bullies and desperate people, luckily there are
editors who investigate the truth, reporters of some
newspapers who give candidates a chance to tell the truth.
Ms. Pearce stated that she is not for building low income
housing in Old Town, not aligned with developers to build
development in Old Town, she is not a candidate that took
donations from a local developer, she will never lie to the
people, nor does she have a conflict of interest with Mr.
Lansdale, in the end she believes that the integrity and
honesty and the knowledge of the voters will prevail, she
would like to see this election finally be the end of the
typical District One lies and distortion, she would like
everyone to take a high road together, her belief is that the
budget issues and management experience are important issues
and that they will prevail over all the distortions, in the
end the facts will overcome distortions if everyone votes and
everyone cares, she would like to see every registered voter
in District One vote tomorrow. Mr. Glen Clark, Trailer Park,
stated he has been involved in the development, purchase, and
various negotiations to obtain the Park from Mr. Hall from
the beginning. There were two things that were done with the
assistance of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency, one
is to provide what he would term to be a step rental
assistance program so that the average rent would be $527,
that assistance was available to everyone in the Park for a
period of three years, a second rental assistance program is
available for anyone who has the need, the people only have
to go to the Park office, fill out some easily completed
forms to request rental assistance, this is available to
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anyone who does not have the money to meet the $527, or
whatever figure, monthly rent, and to say that someone can
not afford $527 in Orange County for their home is wrong
because the average rent in mobile home parks throughout the
County is somewhat over $800 and up to $1600. Mr. Clark
expressed his feeling that the City has been more than
generous with their time, effort, and Redevelopment funds for
the Trailer Park, for which he offered his appreciation. Ms.
Dorothy Whyte, College Park East, said she would hope that
the kind of campaigning that is going on will stop in all of
Seal Beach, there are ads that attack candidate Pearce yet
there is no identification as to who submitted them,
anonymous is cowardous, they put out trash, something like
the Target and hotel in her area, that is there because the
people were told the candidate was anti-development, College
Park East has had some good candidates, the people have tried
hard to get good things in their area but they can not
because of the same type of political trash. With regard to
the Redevelopment Agency said she sought out the State Codes
governing redevelopment, candidate Pearce was right in that
the city is legally bound. Ms. Whyte continued to speak to
election issues, ads, campaign literature, candidate
supporters, said she too is a member of the Republican Women
Federated and was taken back when they supported candidate
Antos, and called on everyone to stop the election rhetoric.
Ms. Ellery Deaton, 4th Street, said she believed that she
just heard what the speaker was fighting against, and offered
that everything that was slammed at candidate Antos was
campaigning over television instead of on paper. Ms. Deaton
stated she has been a resident of Seal Beach for the entire
of ten years, when it came to light that District One would
probably not have the incumbent working for the people in
this election she did not know who to vote for, she was then
open to either side, first of all she e-mailed the candidate
that she thought she would most likely support, that was a
woman running for office because she believes and knows that
women can do the job, but the issue is which woman and can
that woman do the job, the answer she received was to read
her literature, a second e-mail requested the exact position
on low income housing, there was no response, then there was
a response to a real estate agent that was very pro low
income housing, elections should stick to issues. She too
spoke in support of identified literature, yet noted that she
also received unidentified literature slamming Antos, then
suggested that everyone read the literature, make some
informed decisions, then vote for candidate Antos.
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Mr. Frank Boychuck, Trailer Park, said he too has noticed the
newspaper ads, fairly large ads but with no representation as
to who is putting them in, the ads cost considerable money
and if they are over a certain amount the people and group
have to be registered as a political committee, if they have
not registered then a law has been broken. Given what has
happened with regard to the Trailer Park over the past couple
of years he would stress electing someone who represents
ethics and honesty, he recognizes that the Council has a
difficult job, yet members Doane and Yost ran unopposed, why,
that is because there is no interest because people are not
willing to endure what the Council goes through. Again with
regard to the Trailer Park, he said some of the
representations have been erroneous, especially with
reference to the assistance program, $1500, that is the
amount residents are paying for space rent in a park a few
miles down the street and the owners of that park want to
raise the rent another $500 or $800, those in the Seal Beach
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Park tried to keep the average space rent around $500 at the
time the Park was purchased, that was done, and thanks to the
generosity of the City the initial payments are subsidized
for three years, there are many people in the Park that are
on very low incomes, and for those people the City has
provided an additional assistance program that will be
ongoing for a number of years as long as there is money in
the Redevelopment Agency, that is another reason the
residents should support the MPROP fund so that the $1
million can be returned to the Agency as one sum, this is the
level at which the City has supported the residents of the
Park, anyone of this low income category can merely apply to
obtain the assistance on a yearly basis, this is much better
than being under the prior Covenants program. Mr. Boychuck
said again that there are many misrepresentations that are
going on in the Park by a small minority, the majority of the
people in the Park thank Seal Beach for coming forward and
saving their homes at the last moment before the prior owner
turned the Park into another use. He also extended
appreciation to the Development Services Director, having
always been supportive of the Trailer Park and its residents,
and said he personally feels he is doing a good job. Mr.
Boychuck suggested that certain residents of the Park get
their facts straight before they announce to the public what
they think is going on, possibly they should know what is
going on, this has been said to the residents numerous times
over the past three or four years, there is a complete
representation of erroneous facts that these certain
residents are trying to put out, not the truth, the truth is
that the residents are very happy with what the City has
done, and there is assistance available for any resident that
can not afford the current rents. Ms. Sue Corbin, Seal
Beach, stated that people should not be staged to politic for
election in District One, the people of District One can do
that themselves. Ms. Corbin asked if it is fact that the
Grand Jury is investigating the Trailer Park, possibly the
glowing words as to how wonderfully the project went should
be taken to the Jury, they will decide the fate, what the
Council did in the Trailer Park was unethical and immoral,
also claimed that Councilman Yost should not have voted on
the Trailer Park issue in that he lives within one hundred
fifty feet. Ms. Corbin spoke as well of election campaign
issues, distortions, and failures of candidate Pearce, etc.
Ms. Reva Olson, Seal Beach, made reference to a book entitled
'Redevelopment the Unknown Government' which she said was
written by municipal officials that want to reform
redevelopment abuse, from which she read a brief excerpt.
Ms. Olson said in Seal Beach the Agency makes decisions
without televising the meetings, unlike other governments it
can incur bonded indebtedness without voter approval, this
government provides no public services, education of
children, maintenance of streets, protection from crime, or
stock the libraries, it is supported by a powerful Sacramento
lobby backed by an army of lawyers, bond brokers, and land
developers, it claims to eliminate blight, there is no blight
in Seal Beach, there are those officials who would have you
believe that the tax increment from redevelopment agencies
funds city coffers, but that is not true, when a
redevelopment area is created the assessed value of the
property is frozen and the tax increment from the
improvements on that property goes exclusively into the
redevelopment agency, the agency has the power to give public
money to developers and other private businesses without
consulting the taxpayer, and as was recently learned, the
taxpayers have no rights to appeal. She said this may
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explain why the City finances are so low and the City has to
charge such a high utility tax because the tax increment of
the redevelopment areas goes to the agency not to the City,
claimed that the Agency is a slush fund to benefit lawyers,
consultants, bond brokers, and land developers, in essence
everyone but the taxpayer. She claimed also that
redevelopment agencies divert funds from needed services that
are funded by City coffers, that the California debt is $47
billion for redevelopment agencies, doubling every eight
years, the tax payers, the next generation of children will
have to pay for that. Ms. Olson stated that Seal Beach
officials should join with other officials that are trying to
educate the public and reform the abuse of redevelopment
agencies, and noted that an investigative reporter that
recently located to Seal Beach has done a piece on this issue
that is worth reading. Mr. Doug Korthoff, Seal Beach, said
there are some things with redevelopment agencies that are
not good, sometimes things are done that are not right, in
Huntington Beach as an example they gave away twenty-two
acres of land in fee simple to the hotels in order to get
them built which would eventually become a housing project,
then they gave the low income housing money to the hotels
under the theory that low income people would obtain jobs in
the hotels, to him that is not what redevelopment should be
doing. Mr. Korthoff said however that the Trailer Park is
what people should be doing, the Park should not only be kept
as it is, it should be expanded, a community that is this
close to the ocean should be devoting a larger percentage of
its area to low income housing even though there is the Navy
housing and Leisure World, and said in most cases the City
Council is doing good. With regard to the Orange County
Sanitation District, Mr. Korthoff suggested that everyone
obtain a bumper sticker opposing the waiver, it is the
biggest waiver in the entire United States. Mr. Norm
Schutzberger, 13th Street, expressed concern about there
being a rush to judgment, noting that there'was considerable
anger expressed at this meeting about candidates,
redevelopment, etc. Mr. Schutzberger stated redevelopment is
a large part of what made Old Town what it is today, there
would not be the library, greenbelt, and many other
improvements without the Agency, he would ask that people not
be mislead by single interests and distortions, whether it is
redevelopment or electing the officials it is important that
people be informed, one becomes informed by reading factual
documentation, not by advertisements, often in newspapers or
in front of a television, an informed electorate will make
the proper choice, if a voter would only take a little time
to research the history and background they can make the
right choice. Mr. Charles Antos, 14th Street, that there has
been a grass roots effort in the campaign thus far, it is
hoped it will continue, the polls are open from 7:00 a.m.
until 8:00 p.m., his hope is that the people vote, and vote
for him. There being no further comments, Mayor Doane
declared Public Comments to be closed.
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CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEMS "D" thru "M"
Boyd moved, second by Larson, to approve the recommended
action for items on the Consent Calendar as presented.
D. Approved the waiver of the reading in full
of all ordinances and resolutions and that
consent to the waiver of reading shall be
deemed to be given by all Councilmembers
after the reading of the title unless
specific request is made at that time for
5-l3-02
the reading of such ordinance or resolution.
E.
Approved regular demands numbered 37166
through 37515 in the amount of $1,l36,311.37,
payroll demands numbered l5806 through 15950
and 927722 in the amount of $166,092.40, and
authorized warrants to be drawn on the Treasury
for same.
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F. Received and filed the Monthly Investment
Report for February, 2002.
G. Adopted Resolution Number 5003 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A
BUDGET AMENDMENT REVISING CITY's
PERSONNEL RULES." By unanimous consent,
full reading of Resolution Number 5003
was waived.
H. Adopted Resolution Number 5004 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A
BUDGET AMENDMENT, NO. 02-25, FOR POLICE
VEHICLE PURCHASE." By unanimous consent,
full reading of Resolution Number 5004 was
waived.
I.
Adopted Resolution Number 5005 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH SUPPORTING THE U.S. ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS WATERSHED FEASIBILITY
STUDIES OF WESTMINSTER AND COYOTE/CARBON CREEK
WATERSHEDS." By unanimous consent, full
reading of Resolution Number 5005 was waived.
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J. Approved the plans and specifications for
the purchase of two sedan hybrid vehicles and
one medium duty CNG pickup truck, and
authorized staff to initiate the public bidding
process.
K. with regard to the City's Risk Management
Insurance Program -
Adopted Resolution Number 5006 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH, COUNTY OF ORANGE, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING EXECUTION OF THE JOINT POWERS
AGREEMENT CREATING THE CALIFORNIA JOINT POWERS
INSURANCE AUTHORITY, AND FURTHER APPROVING
PARTICIPATION IN ITS JOINT PROTECTION PROGRAM
PROVIDING LIABILITY COVERAGE THROUGH SELF-
INSURANCE, LOSS POOLING AND EXCESS INSURANCE;"
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Adopted Resolution Number 5007 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH, COUNTY OF ORANGE, CALIFORNIA,
TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE SELF-INSURANCE OF
WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR ITS EMPLOYEES
THROUGH THE SELF-INSURANCE AND LOSS POOLING
PROGRAM OF CALIFORNIA JOINT POWERS INSURANCE
AUTHORITY; "
5-13-02
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Adopted Resolution Number 5008 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE' CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE
DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, FOR A CERTIFICATE OF CONSENT TO
SELF-INSURE WORKERS COMPENSATION LIABILITIES;"
and
Adopted Resolution Number 5009 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH, COUNTY OF ORANGE, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION
COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN CITY VOLUNTEERS PURSUANT
TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECION 3363.5 OF THE
LABOR CODE."
By unanimous consent, full reading of Resolutions
numbered 5006, 5007, 5008, and 5009 was waived.
L. Denied the claim for personal injuries and auto
damages of Jayne Wonder and referred same to the
City's liability counsel and adjuster.
M.
Adopted Resolution Number 5010 entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A
BUDGET AMENDMENT, NO. 02-26, FOR STRUCTURAL
IMPROVEMENTS ON CITY BUILDINGS THAT WILL BE
FINANCED AS PART OF THE FINANCE CORPORATION"
(mechanical retrofit and energy management
project, Police Department'and Old City Hall).
By unanimous consent, full reading of
Resolution Number 5010 was waived.
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AYES:
NOES:
Boyd, Campbell, Doane, Larson, Yost
None Motion carried
CHARTER AMENDMENT CONSIDERATION - PROHIBIT RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY RENT CONTROL
The City Attorney presented the staff report, explained that
this matter is in response to a request of the Council at
last meeting for staff to prepare a proposed amendment to the
City Charter to prohibit residential property rent control,
some research was done, State law reviewed, from which
certain language was prepared. He said if the language is
acceptable to the Council the next step would be to prepare
documentation to place the amendment on the November ballot,
and noted that the precise language of the ballot question
will be seen at the time the required ordinance and
resolutions are prepared for consideration.
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Councilman Larson pointed out that an election is still to be
held, the person elected may have a different philosophy on
this issue, suggested that possibly this could be held over
until the newly elected is seated, and so moved. Councilman
Boyd seconded the motion.
AYES:
NOES:
Boyd, Campbell, Doane, Larson, Yost
None Motion carried
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
There was no report presented.
5-l3-02 / 5-21-02
CITY MANAGER REPORT
The City Manager mentioned that there has been a considerable
amount of concrete repair on Main Street, explained that what
is being seen next to the new blocks of concrete is a strip
of asphalt fill which is temporary until the paver project
commences, the reason for the strip is that the new concrete
is laid at the correct grade, the old concrete was not poured
correctly, and the paver portion of the project will be done
as rapidly as possible in order to remove the asphalt.
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COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilman Yost noted that May is melanoma month, and
requested that a presentation and proclamation be scheduled
for the next agenda. Mayor Doane reminded again of the
election the following day, the results of which will be
tabulated in Council Chambers after the close of the polls at
8:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
It was the order of the Chair, with consent, of the Council,
to adjourn the meeting until Tuesday, May 2lst at 7:00 p.m.
By unanimous consent, the meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
Approved:
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Attest:
Seal Beach, California
May 21, 2002
The City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in regular
adjourned session at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Doane calling the
meeting to order with the Salute to the Flag.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Doane
Councilmembers Boyd, Campbell, Larson, Yost
Absent: None
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Also present: Mr. Bahorski, City Manager
Mr. Barrow, City Attorney
Ms. Yeo, City Clerk
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Doane requested that the provision for Announcements be
added to the agenda as well as an Item "D" for the
appointment of an interim representative to the Sanitation