REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL AND
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD
October 14, 2002
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:03 p.m.

2. ROLL CALL

Council Members Present: Hartnett, Howard, Jordan, Pierce, Ruskin, and Vice Mayor Ira
Council Members Absent: Mayor Claire

Staff Present: City Manager Everett, Financial Services Director/Assistant City Manager Ponty, City Clerk Howe, Deputy City Clerk Ponte, City Attorney Yamamoto, Public Works Services Director Ingram, Assistant City Attorney Brower, Senior Civil Engineer Chang, Volunteer Balsamo

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Jeff Ira, Vice-Mayor

4. INVOCATION - Father Vern Jones

5. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY - None

6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

Rudy Luca speaking on the subject of the Cinema proposal as approved by Council is being revised and he is asking why the City is still supporting the project.

Ray Wang expressed his delight in terms of the PACT program. He stated that it is very well run, creative, intuitive, interactive and shows energy among City staff and departments.

Christina Lai stated that the previous week she e-mailed Council Members additional information regarding health issues on recycled water. She submitted a copy of the transmittal for the record. She referred to the endocrine disruptors report and asked that Council not consider recycled water in the residential areas. She encouraged Council to continue to seek out the health issues.

Public Works Services Director Peter Ingram shared good news with the City Council. He presented a Certificate of Distinction from the International City Manager Association to Redwood City for an award recently won at the International Conference. Redwood City was recognized as one of only twelve cities nationwide to receive this certificate in recognition of collective, analysis and use of Performance Measurement information in the management of local government. He thanked Council for their interest and leadership in Performance Measures and supporting that by making it a part of the integrated budget process.

7. CONSENT CALENDAR

Items on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion and one vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member or Citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

M/S Hartnett/Howard to waive reading of the Consent Calendar except the ordinances by title, adopt the resolutions and the ordinances, and approve other items. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote by those present.

7.1 Section – Motions

A. Motion to approve the Minutes of the meeting of September 23, 2002; MINUTE ORDER 02-290

B. Motion to approve and authorize execution of an Agreement between the San Mateo County Human Services Office of Housing and the City of Redwood City Fair Oaks Community Center to provide emergency/direct services and information/referrals for Fiscal Year 2002-2003; MINUTE ORDER 02-291

C. Motion to approve and authorize an Encroachment Agreement with Level 3 Communications, LLC, to install a new fiber optic cable through Redwood City; MINUTE ORDER 02-292

D. Motion to accept the Mezes and Dolphin Parks Tennis Court Resurfacing Project as completed by First Serve Productions and release payment of $14,000 as payment in full; MINUTE ORDER 02-293

E. Motion to approve by five (5) affirmative votes the suspension of Article VII - Purchasing of the Municipal Code, and approve payment after-the-fact for emergency expenditure which exceeded the administrative limit of $10,000 to Republic Electric of Novato, CA in the amount of $19,298.00 (item continued from 10/07/02); MINUTE ORDER 02-294

7.2 Section – Resolutions - None

7.3 Section – Claims and Warrants

A. Reject the claim of Rebecca Agostini, claim no. 2056A and the claim of Permanente Group/Athens claim no. 2056B as submitted; MINUTE ORDER 02-295

B. Approve warrants dated through October 14, 2002 and usual and necessary payments through October 28, 2002; MINUTE ORDER 02-296

7.4 Section – Ordinances (2nd Reading) - None

8. STAFF REPORTS - None

9. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None

10. PUBLIC HEARING

A. A Public Hearing on the Amendment of Sewer Service Charges (item continued from 10/7/02 meeting);

Public Works Services Director Ingram stated that there are two public hearings, one to consider the increase to sewer basic service charge and one for the water basic service charge. Both are the fixed components of the utility bills that directly pay for the operation and maintenance of the distribution and collection systems. The combined bill for both water and sewer at the 22 unit average water use level in Redwood City results in a recommended increase of 2.54% per month equal to $1.14.

The total revenue demands for the Sewer Enterprise this year are jumping from $8.2M to $8.9M, driven primarily by two or three large factors. Last year, we did not increase rates because of electricity spikes during the energy crisis and instead chose to allow things to settle and catch up when a firm sense of the cost increases was known. Council also asked that those costs be absorbed into last year’s budget, but that needs to be adjusted upward now to reflect true costs.
The treatment costs from SBSA have also gone up about 5%, most of which is driven by regulatory changes in the wastewater and discharge environment. There are also some program changes. The staff recommendation is for a 4% monthly increase in the basic charge from $19.57 to $20.35, effective November 28, 2002.

Vice Mayor Ira opened the public hearing.

Public Comment:
Rudy Luca stated that although the report was good, he still feels that the timing is not good due to the economy and unemployment in the city. He stated that he does not believe the residents of Redwood City can afford to pay the increase.

M/S Hartnett/Howard to close the public hearing. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote by those present.

M/S Hartnett/Pierce to INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 27.100 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY RELATING TO SANITARY SEWERAGE SERVICE CHARGES;

The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote by those present.
MINUTE ORDER 02-297

B. A Public Hearing on the Amendment of Water Basic Service Charge and confirmation of existing water conservation usage rates (item continued from 10/7/02 meeting);

Public Works Services Director Ingram stated for clarification that the Utilities Committee asked that staff highlight the fact that a fairly aggressive tiered block rate structure for water exists on the commodity side, which is not being changed tonight. Those rates range from $.88 currently for what is termed lifeline, the first ten units of water that is critical for humans, all the way up to a current rate of $2.50 per unit for usage above 76 units per billing period. Sometime in late October or early November, staff will present a package of several action items related to conservation program elements that have finally come together and are ready to bring forward for approval. Staff is recommending that the increase be 3-1/2% to adjust for increase in costs, taking the monthly cost from $10.44 to $10.80 per month with no increases in water usage rates recommended at this time. The increase would be effective on November 28, 2002. The overall effect on a water bill at 15 units of use is a $.36 increase per month or 1.87% for the average user putting Redwood City 14% below median and 21% below average.

Vice Mayor Ira opened the public hearing.

Public Comment:
Rudy Luca stated it is not the proper time for an increase and the City should be able to maintain the current level of service and review the issue at a later date.

M/S Hartnett/Pierce to close the public hearing. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote by those present.

M/S Hartnett/Pierce to INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 38.5 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY RELATING TO WATER SERVICE CHARGES AND FEES;

The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote by those present.
MINUTE ORDER 02-298

CONVENE TO THE JOINT MEETING OF THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL

C. A public hearing on the GID 1-64 Development Agreement Temporary Extension;

Senior Civil Engineer Chang gave the background on the agreement.

Vice Mayor Ira opened the public hearing.

M/S Hartnett/Ruskin to close the public hearing. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote by those present.

M/S Howard/Ruskin to INTRODUCE OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF SIXTH AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH REDWOOD SHORES PROPERTIES [GID 1-64];

The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote by those present.
MINUTE ORDER 02-299

ADJOURN THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD MEETING

RECONVENE THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

11. BOARDS, COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – None

12. MATTERS OF COUNCIL INTEREST

12. A. Legislation (information only) - This sub-section involves possible discussion of City Position on Proposed Legislation Described in the League of California Cities Priority Focus Bulletin. At this time no new version has been published since the last Council Meeting. Council may direct staff to act on positions taken by Council. (Copies of previous League of California Cities Priority Focus available in City Clerk’s Department).

12.B. Council Member Pierce – The Peninsula Symphony is performing on Sunday, October 20 at the Fox Theatre at 4:00 p.m. Two well known pianists will be performing.

12.C. Council Member Jordan – Questioned why there were not minutes or a transcript of the Information Forum on September 16. City Clerk Howe responded that the questions and answers as well as a video tape are available in the City Clerk Department or Public Works Services. The final version of all available materials will be posted on the City website on October 21.

12.D. Council Member Howard – Stated that on Saturday, November 2 at 1:30 p.m., Habitat for Humanity and the City of Redwood City will be dedicating Buildings 9 and 10 on Rollison Road for seven families. She also stated that the new synthetic turf at Hoover School where the Mid-Peninsula Soccer League opened its season was very encouraging with a wonderful turnout and show of partnership with the school and City in maintaining the fields.

12.E. Council Member Ruskin – Stated that regarding the Hetch Hetchy system, the Governor has recently signed all three bills and all 29 Bay Area agencies that receive water from Hetch Hetchy can feel very good about. The State now has mandated fixes to the system, will monitor it, a new water district will be set up in January to advance the interests of the suburban water agency, and a funding mechanism will be begun to finance the fixing of the Hetch Hetchy system.

13. CLOSED SESSION – No action to report.

14. ADJOURNMENT - 7:55 p.m.

M/S Hartnett/Howard to adjourn until the next regular meeting of October 28, 2002. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote by those present.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia S. Howe, CMC
City Clerk