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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Min 1991-11-26 . . 11-25-91/11-26-91 I Councilmember Hastings said although she would be unable to attend the meeting, Mr. Kredell and Mr. Lyon would be in attendance. Councilman Doane said he found the number of boards, commissions, and committees in the City to be confusing, including the membership and their responsibilities. He suggested that the Council should aware of what the committees are doing, work with them, be provided with copies of the minutes, attend their meetings, and if a committee is no longer necessary it should be disbanded. He commended the city Manager for developing a policy manual in which the duties and responsibilities, meeting times, etc. of the various boards, commissions, and committees will be addressed. r~ ~ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no Oral Communications. CLOSED SESSION No Closed Session was held. ADJOURNMENT Hastings moved, second by Forsythe, to adjourn the meeting to the following day, November 26th, at 10:00 a.m. to meet with Senator Bergeson. AYES: NOES: Doane, Forsythe, Hastings, Laszlo, Wilson None Motion carried It was the order of the Chair, with consent of the Council, to adjourn the meeting' at 11:18 p.m. Approved: C lerk and ex-o C of Seal Beach -/~ ~JLl. of the I - Attest: Seal Beach, California November 26, 1991 I The City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in regular adjourned session at 10:10 a.m. with Mayor Laszlo calling the meeting to order with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Mayor Laszlo Councilmembers Doane, Wilson councilmembers Forsythe, Hastings Wilson moved, second by Doane, to excuse the absence of Councilmembers Forsythe and Hastings from this meeting. 11-26-91 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Doane, Laszlo, Wilson None Forsythe, Hastings Motion carried Also present: Mr. Bankston, City Manager Mrs. Yeo, City Clerk INFORMAL DISCUSSION - SENATOR BERGESON I Mayor Laszlo and the members of the Council welcomed Senator Bergeson. Senator Bergeson expressed appreciation for the opportunity for an informal discussion, citing the - importance of a good relationship between the cities and the State, and invited input from the Council to assist her efforts on behalf of the City'S interests. The Senator made reference to the financial crisis of the State in the past year, a $14.3 billion deficit, services exceeding revenues, m~ny of those services outside the control of the legislature, where health and welfare matters, as an example, the federal government has considerable influence on the State, and prison population, increased school population and priorities for education being just a few of the critical areas where change is needed. She noted the need to work with local communities to achieve more flexibility, elimination of mandates, etc., stated it is necessary to make it easier for business where they are now leaving the St~te as a result of over-regulation, workers compensation and the cost of health insurance, mentioning also the need for restructuring land use planning. Senator Bergeson said the projection for this fiscal year is not improved, tax revenues are down approximately $500 million at this point and a potential of $3 billion deficit, which will necessitate further reduction of services from the current budget, those cuts likely in the area of health and I welfare and possibly education. She stated the realignment program, where revenues and responsibilities are given to the counties, should help the cities in some regards, and through greater inter-agency cooperation it is hoped that there will be better control and more flexibility in providing certain services. with regard to workers compensation, the Senator acknowledged that stress related claims have increased seven hundred percent in the past two years, that ten percent of the stress claimed must be attributed to the workplace, noted the workers comp reform that was recently attempted was not successful, however said she believed there will be some progress in the next legislative session. She suggested that the City could, by Resolution, set forth the impact and problems associated with workers comp, and make a demand on the legislature to take some action. with regard to the local community controlling its own growth, the Senator noted that she does not support the regional government concept nor State controlled planning as is the process in some states, where approval of projects must receive State approval. She stated she has proposed legislation that would require voluntary cooperation among existing local agencies, or areas of regional planning, with regard to transportation, water, air quality, habitats, etc. where the impacts and I concerns of a project go beyond a particular city, and in turn provide a means of funding infrastructure with the likes of developer fees, etc. She reported the Governor has an inter-agency cabinet that is studying growth management in the State, the economy dependent on planning and growth, and if there is no investment for infrastructure with an incentive for private capitalization there would be an inability to create or maintain economic activity within the State. She noted that there is a need to establish economic and environmental goals, and again stressed her viewpoint that there is a need for communication and cooperation between local jurisdictions and agencies, the local and . , 11-26-91 I state League organizations as well, which will also serve to reserve local powers with regard to planning issues. Regarding the need for and powers of the Coastal Commission, the Senator explained that the Commission was to be a temporary body pending the adoption of Coastal Plans and thereafter the cities were to maintain their controls, she reported the Governor is looking at duplication of efforts by the various governmental agencies and possibly developing a single standard for permits, etc. She said the bureaucracy of the system at this time has served to stymie economic growth, and that small business can not survive with the ever changing legislation. She cited a potential problem with municipal bonds that are issued under a certain project buildout where there is a possibility of default should there be a reverse of approval requlations. Once again with regard to the Coastal Commission, Senator Bergeson concurred that there is need for coastal protection, yet the original intent was for that to be left to the local governments once their Plans were approved, and pointed out that a problem of the Commission is that it has no accountability, and it has been found that they have issued unfair decisions. I Mr. Ron Kredell, Seal Way, expressed his feeling that this most westerly portion of Orange County has been neglected by the County and the State, specifically with regard to sand erosion and replenishment, the result of the federal government construction of the breakwater and jetties. He explained that approximately thirty-five years ago the city relinquished its right to periodic sand replenishment in lieu of the groin, therefore the responsibility for annual replenishment of the east beach fell on the city, yet the -- city has been financially unable to do so. He noted that the Moffatt & Nichol study cited the federal government as the cause of the erosion, approximately seven thousand cubic yards of sand annually, and in order to protect the adjacent properties a sand berm has been built for approximately twenty-six years, in place from October until spring. Mr. Kredell reported the Moffatt & Nichol study cited extension of the groin and replenishment of the sand as an erosion corrective measure as well as a submerged breakwater to totally arrest the problem, yet the cost was approximately $3 million. He noted that the currents transport the sand from around the jetty and the east beach to the west beach, however said that sand is too fine for replenishment purposes and a coarser sand is necessary, proposed that to tie into the federal government Surfs ide sand dredging/replenishment program would be a means to alleviate the erosion problem, yet he had been informed by Congressman Rohrabacher that even if a study were initiated immediately, the earliest that sand could be realized would be five years. Senator Bergeson inquired as to what extent the city has pursued the erosion problem through involvement with the county, Corps of Engineers, etc., in pursuit of grants or ~ tie into other programs, suggesting that there is need to establish a broad political and financial base to accomplish the goal. Mr. Kredell noted that the corps surveys this beach about every two years, however said a resident/surveyor has kept on-going records of the erosion and associated problems. Mr. Robert Montgomery, Surfside, concurred that construction of the jetties have caused the erosion problems, said that even before the 1940's Seal Beach was the first feeder beach for Orange County, and that the severe erosion problem in Surfside is known to have been caused by the Navy Weapons station jetty, and it is likewise known that the sand from Surfs ide feeds the entire south coast to Newport. He reported that the Corps surveys the Surfs ide beach periodically, yet their concern is not with I 11-26-91 the closeness of the sand to the homes, rather the average amount of sand on ~he beaches overall to the south, and if deemed necessary the sand has been-replenished about every five to six years, and offered the willingness of Surfs ide to support the City's participation in their program in order to obtain sand to replenish the east beach and reduce the related costs, noting that the easterly portion of the main beach is in need of about one million cubic yards. Senator Bergeson offered to look at the options that could be considered, noting that local and state funding is an ._ unlikely option at this time, however encouraged the City to work with or through the various agencies or entities that are looking at the sand erosion problem and to identify any sources of funding. Mr. Kredell pointed out again that to go through the Corps would take at least five years, for the city to attempt replenishment the cost would be about $10 per cubic yard of sand, the funds for which are not available, and suggested that the best resolution would be to again be tied into the federal program with Surfside. He also knowledged having given thought to taking down the berm, allowing the ocean to damage the homes, as a means of calling attention to the problem. The Senator said although the State may not be a lead agency in this situ~tion, there could be requests for involvement of the State Lands Commission, Harbors, Beaches and Parks, Orange and San Diego Counties, the Fish and Game, that support should be sought from the local federal representatives, and that project mitigation may be another option. She stressed the importance of having a plan with overall impact which will in turn enhance the opportunity for funding, also suggested that a meeting of all of the City'S representatives be called to discuss such plan and seek a commitment, and it was her opinion that until such a meeting and commitment a solution would not be forthcoming. She recommended that in the interim the City continue to contact the various agencies regarding projects that are in place or upcoming in order to be prepared to report the City'S efforts to the various representatives. I I The City Manager noted discussion at a recent League Conference on Legislation relating to the financial shortfalls and potential revenue sources at the State level, and suggested that rather than the state granting additional authorities for cities to raise taxes, if the workers compensation issue could be revised there would likely not be a need for new revenue sources. He mentioned that upon reviewing the workers camp claims over recent years they have for the mostpart been generated from one doctor/clinic and one attorney, in most cases they have been settled because of the extreme expense to defend. Senator Bergeson cited the issue of workers compensation as the real loss during the recent State budget negotiations, yet as a result there was a more stringent fraud bill proposed. She recommended that if there are any suspicions of fraud they should be challenged. Brief discussion continued regarding the workers compensation issue in general. Mayor Laszlo thanked 'Senator Bergeson for attending the meeting and listening to the various,concerns. The Senator expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet with the City, and offered to follow up on the issues that were brought forward. I ADJOURNMENT It was the order of the Chair, with consent of the Council, to adjourn until Monday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m. to meet in Closed Session. The meeting was adjourned at 11:21 a.m. , 11-26-91/12-9-91 I Approved: C~ Ci Attest: fJ-~.llL.r u c~ty Cll!rk Seal Beach, California December 9, 1991 The City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in reqular adjourned session at 6:01 p.m. with Mayor Laszlo calling the meeting to order with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Laszlo Councilmembers Doane, Forsythe, Hastings, Wilson Absent: None I Also present: Mr. Bankston, city Manager Mr. Barrow, Assistant city Attorney Mrs. Yea, City Clerk CLOSED SESSION The Assistant City Attorney announced that the Council would meet in Closed Session pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9{a) to discuss personnel matters, and threatened litigation pursuant to subsection (b). It was the order of the Chair, with consent of the Council, to adjourn to Closed Session at 6:03 p.m. The Council reconvened at 7:03 p.m. with Mayor Laszlo calling the meeting to order. The Assistant City Attorney reported the Council had discussed the matters previously announced, the Council also received an update regarding the Franchesi versus Seal Beach case, and no other matters were discussed. ADJOURNMENT Doane moved, 7:04 p.m. AYES: NOES: second by Hastings, to adjourn the meeting at Doane, Forsythe, Hastings, Laszlo, Wilson None Motion carried Attest: the I APproved~