City Council Minutes
January 11, 1999

REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL

MAYOR  DIANE HOWARD
VICE MAYOR  IRA RUSKIN

 COUNCILMEMBER RICHARD S. CLAIRE
COUNCILMEMBER JIM HARTNETT
COUNCILMEMBER JEFF IRA
COUNCILMEMBER COLLEEN JORDAN
COUNCILMEMBER MATT LEIPZIG

A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AS PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(b) REGARDING ANTICIPATED LITIGATION

As Advised, Naming the Party Could Jeopardize Settlement Negotiations

City Manager

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

REGULAR MEETING

January 11, 1999

CALL TO ORDER - 7:33 p.m., Mayor Howard presiding

ROLL CALL

Council Members Present: Claire, Hartnett, Ira, Jordan, Leipzig, Ruskin and Mayor Howard

Staff Present : City Manager Everett, Interim City Clerk McKay, City Attorney Schricker, Fire Battalion Chief Varner, Fire Marshall Vella, Senior Planner Passanisi, Traffic Engineer Haygood, Community Development Services Manager Patterson, Parks Recreation and Community Services Superintendent Centeno and Council Volunteer Balsamo.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by Vice Mayor Ruskin

INVOCATION: Rev. Jacqueline Clark, Peninsula Covenant Church

1. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

A. Proclamation - Cañada College 30th Anniversary (207)

Mayor Howard read and presented the proclamation to Tom Constanino, Board Member, who expressed appreciation from the Board for Redwood City's continued support, and President Marie Rosenwasser who distributed the Canada College 1999 Calendars to Council and City staff.

B. Proclamation - Carlita Alexander for Responsible Citizenship (207)

Mayor Howard introduced Battalion Chief Varner who summarized the October 23, 1998 fire call from Ms. Alexander and response. Mayor Howard then read and presented the Proclamation to Carlita Alexander, 13 years old, for her extraordinary maturity and outstanding action in facing a neighbor's danger.

Ms. Alexander introduced her friend Crystal, who assisted her in this effort and indicated she wished to share the accolades and award with her.

2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS -

Stacey Wagner, 4149 B El Camino Way, introduced herself as Assemblyman Ted Lempert's district representative, and offered her assistance to Redwood City staff and its citizens.

Ron Guglielmone, 2425 Jefferson, noted he is a plumbing contractor and expressed concern for Redwood City's policy to grandfather out of date plumbing code provisions for replacing water heaters, stating UBC and State laws should take priority over local ordinances, to protect citizens while reducing contractors liability and confusion.

City Manager Everett stated he will have City staff look into this matter and advise Council at a later date.

Alyn Beals, Chamber of Commerce representative, Economic Development Committee member of San Mateo County Chamber, reported on the Committee's process, procedures, meeting dates and times, mission and current membership drive.

3. CONSENT CALENDAR

M/S Hartnett/Ira to pull Item J. Resolution Approving Job Specifications for the Position of Senior Building Maintenance Worker, from the agenda; waived the reading of the Consent Calendar in entirety, adopted the Resolutions and approved other items as follows;

A. Council minutes of January 4, 1999 Special and January 4, 1999 Regular Meetings (301)

MINUTE ORDER 99-005

B. Accepted in Partial the 1998-99 Speed Hump Installation Project, and Authorized the Release of Retention for Work Completed Under Contract Proposal Schedule A, Items No. 2 and 3., for 13 Speed Humps in the Redwood Oaks Neighborhood (Royal Seal) (304)

MINUTE ORDER 99-006

C. Accepted Redwood Oaks Neighborhood Signing and Striping Installation Project as Final and Authorized the Release of Retention (Weatherly Striping) (304)

MINUTE ORDER 99-007

D. Accepted Improvements by S.G. Barber Company in the Amount of $868,150.21 for Sewage Pump Station Rehabilitation and Replacement Project and Authorized Release of Bonds (304) MINUTE ORDER 99-008

E. Accepted Asphalt Rubber Chip Seal Project 1998, by Western States Resurfacing Inc. in the Amount of $303,444.98, as Final and Authorized Release of Bonds and Retention (304) MINUTE ORDER 99-009

F. Resolution 13536 Rejecting All Bids for "Roof Repair and Alterations at Fair Oaks Community Center & Infant Care Center" Project, Directed Return of Bid Security and Authorize Readvertisement for Bids (304)

G. Resolution 13537 Approving Contract Documents for Goodwin Sewer Main Replacement Project; and Authorizing and Directing Advertisement for Bids Therefor (304)

H. Resolution 13538 Establishing and Declaring Designated Entrances as Specified Intersections to be Stop Entrances at North/South Approaches at Virginia Avenue and Redwood Avenue (304)

I. Approved Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Redwood City and the Redwood City Police Sergeants Association for the period September 1, 1998 through August 31, 2001 MINUTE ORDER 99-010; and Adopted Resolution 13539 Amending Salary and Wage Plan to Increase Top Step Monthly Salary of Police Sergeant by 5.93% up to $6,210 effective on or after September 1, 1998, and Rescinding Resolution No. 12621 and Any and All Amendments Pertaining Thereto (905)

K. Approved warrants and usual and necessary payments through January 25, 1999;

The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

4. PUBLIC HEARING

A. Ordinance Further Extending Urgency Interim Ordinance Prohibiting Development of Property with the Tidal Plan Zoning District Classification of Properties Located Between the Lido Neighborhood Specific Plan Area and Bay Slough and Properties with "Area H" in the Redwood Shores Area of the City of Redwood City

Affidavit of Publication and Posting of Public Hearing Notice on File in Planning Division

Senior Planner Passanisi presented the staff report to Council and noted public comments received since Council received the agenda packet.

Discussion ensued regarding notification procedures, ordinance wording pertaining to government code wording, extension timeframes needed for different areas, legal requirements of this extension, suggestion for a joint study session with the Planning Commission, application process during moratorium, sub-committee timeframes for finalization, and the environmental review and rezoning process for general plan.

Public Hearing Opened - 7:12 p.m.

Eddy Peebles, 22399 Cupertino Road, representing Far East Broadcasting, stated he is an owner of property located in this moratorium area and he requested faster processing as he has a buyer that has waited over one year and would like to see this process expedited so they do not loose a buyer.

Ralph Nobles, 3720 Country Club Drive, recommended adopting this Ordinance as some of these lands are environmentally sensitive with wetlands supporting wildlife, and urged care in planning.

Don Warren-125 Stoneybrook Road, Los Gatos, noted he is a member of the task force, and is representing several property owners in this area. He complimented City staff for their efforts in conducting fruitful meetings with a committee and property owners with different opinions, yet who are all concerned of the sensitive area they live in. He urged Council to adopt a shorter period of time than the proposed one-year, in order to finish the plan and therefore rescind the moratorium.

No others came forward.

Closed Public Hearing – 8:23 p.m.

Further Council discussion ensued regarding the environmental impact report process, rezoning, and possible moratorium split for sensitive and less sensitive properties with rewording of proposed Ordinance.

M/S Claire/Ira to introduce the proposed Ordinance by reading title only for the first reading, with the correction of date on last page to 1999 instead of 1998.

The City Attorney read the title of the proposed Ordinance.

Discussion ensued regarding different possibilities for fast tracking the removal of the moratorium.

The City Attorney provided Ordinance wording changes where Area H on Exhibit A current moratorium be extended one year with the remaining areas extended for six months.

M/S Claire/Ira approved the amended proposed Ordinance wording modifications and to introduce the amended Ordinance by reading title only for the first reading, with the correction of date on last page to 1999 instead of 1998. The motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

The City Attorney read the amended title of the amended Ordinance, as follows; Further Extending Urgency Interim Ordinance Prohibiting Development Of Property Within The "Tp" (Tidal Plain) Zoning District Classification Of Properties Located Between The Lido Neighborhood Specific Plan Area And Bay Slough For Six Months, And Further Extending Said Ordinance For Properties Within "Area H" In The Redwood Shores Area Of The City Of Redwood City For One Year, Respectively

5. BOARDS/COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS

A. Resolution Regarding Health Care System

Leo Walsh, 936 Sterleson Road, expressed his appreciation for Council's support and indicated more cities need to take action to assist the voice of their seniors. He outlined the Senior Affairs Commissions efforts and reviewed situations that our senior citizens are finding themselves when Medicare supplemental insurance companies drop plans and continued reductions by HMO's

Betty Moran, explained her recent experiences when her husband was in the hospital three time recently and how she did not know whether she had coverage or not.

Marie Walsh, provided copies of two letters from her HMO, one referred her to a doctor in Van Nuys California.

Marvin Goldman, San Mateo Commission on Council for Aging, noted he is a Highkamp Insurance Counselor, reported that San Mateo County has lost five HMO's as of January 1st and only five remain. He urged action now for protection of our senior citizens.

Mayor Howard stated her office has seen first hand the insurance problems in addition to doctor's abandonment, and noted this current disaster will only get worse and a complete overhaul of the system is needed now.

Marquerite Ford, told the story of how her much needed eye surgery almost did not occur due to her HMO and doctor's indecision.

Ethel Robinson, 1253 Virginia Avenue, stated she is glad she got out of AETNA two years ago and it is a major impact to seniors who are stressed to stay informed of what is happening in elderly health care dilemmas.

M/S Claire/Ruskin to adopt Resolution 13540 Expressing Concern Regarding Abrupt Termination of Service by Major Managed Health Care Insurance Provider and Urging Appropriate Legislative Protection From Destructive Economic Practices in the Health Care Industry. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

It was the consensus of Council, as suggested by Councilmember Hartnett, to also send a copy of this Resolution to Governor Grey Davis, President Clinton, the San Mateo County Medical Society and the Commission on Aging.

6. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS -

Council Member Hartnett – Updated Council on the City Clerk Recruitment process and urged their participation in the assessment center to be held on February 19^th.

Mayor Howard reported the Mayor/Vice Mayor State of the City address to the Chamber of Commerce will be on January 22, 1999 7:45 a.m. morning meeting, and invited all to attend.

7. CLOSED SESSION

A. Conference with Legal Council as per Government Code Section 54956.9 (a) Regarding Pending Litigation

Mayor Howard announced the following;

1) Carlsmith v. Redwood City, San Mateo Superior Court No. 401591

M/S Hartnett/Ira to adjourn into Closed Session. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council entered Closed Session at 9:05 p.m.

Reconvened in Open Session - 10:20 p.m.

The City Attorney noted no action was taken.

8. ADJOURNMENT 10:21 p.m.

M/S Hartnett/Ruskin the meeting was adjourned in memoriam of Fred B. Walker and Sherman Spiller Jr.; and to cancel the regular Council meeting of January 18, 1999 due to Martin Luther King Holiday and adjourn to the Council Priority Study Session on January 23, 1999, 8:00 a.m. at Sandpiper Park Community Center, 797 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood City

Respectfully Submitted,

 

___________________________

Cathleen A. McKay CMC/AAE

Interim City Clerk