Ripon City Council Minutes

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2007 - 7:00 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The meeting was called to order as indicated at 7:00 p.m. with Council Member Nutt leading in the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

INVOCATION: Tom Terpstra gave the invocation.

ROLL CALL: Council Members Elden R. Nutt, Dean Uecker, Mike Restuccia, Vice-Mayor Chuck Winn, Mayor Curt Pernice

OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Leon Compton, City Engineer Matt Machado, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, City Clerk Lynette Van Laar, Deputy City Clerk Jeanne D. Hall, Director of Public Works Ted Johnston, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Danielle Pierce, Navid Fardanesh, Harry Dedini, Dana Cowell, Michael Swearingen, Anthony Zepeda, Chris Brady, Anne Lovecchio, Bill Long, Kim Long, Ginger Eskes, Brigitte & Stuart Long.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION: Bill Long, Ripon, said the City Council should be careful about what they say to the Ripon Record. He said the county has no interest in building a Wal-Mart, so the council members should not put that out there. He said that the River Road location has a lot of issues in that traffic should be thought out and that a hotel is needed there. He said a super store would not be good there. Long said there is a perception that this is a 3-2 Council and that everyone should pull together.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR RIPON CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 2, 2007.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS POSTED (OR AMENDED):

Vice Mayor Winn requested that Items 4D and 4E be pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

Discussion on Item 4D.

Vice Mayor Winn said that this is a large amount of construction management fees. He asked how the amount was determined.

City Engineer Machado said that the original proposal was for more than was approved because the higher amount did not seem justified. Machado said that he hoped we could get by with less, but now the extra assistance is needed. He said the total cost for management fees will be only 9% of the total project costs, which is less than the normal 12%. Machado said that he looked at the annual cost of work completed, and projected the costs for the next nine months, and determined that the additional cost of $100,000.000 is reasonable.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN TASK NO. 4 FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FEES PROVIDED BY RRM DESIGN GROUP FOR THE CITY HALL/POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPANSION.

Discussion on Item 4E.

City Engineer Machado said that this is a substantial project that will take two years to complete. He said that this is a revitalization project to increase parking, widen roads, install sidewalks, and create a transition from the older downtown to the modern downtown. He said the project will cost about $7 million. We have $3.7 million in federal funds, so it will take time to put the funding together.

Council Member Restuccia said the project could need price adjustments over time.

Machado said the design will be done this year, and the project will go out to bid.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (WINN, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT WITH MID-VALLEY ENGINEERING, INC. FOR THE STOCKTON AVENUE/MAIN STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT.

Recreation Director Stevens said that the dog park originally was to be built at the Mistlin Sports Park. As the usage of the park has increased, he has received a lot of comments about the suitability of that location. The Recreation Commission voted to move it away from the sports area.

Council Member Restuccia suggested that the community could use more than one location.

Stevens said that any location needs fencing and a water source.

Council Member Uecker asked about ease of access at Oak Grove.

Stevens said the area has good access and parking is available.

Vice Mayor Winn asked if any other locations have been considered.

Stevens said that most neighborhood parks are not big enough. There are only three locations: the sports park, Stouffer park, and Oak Grove park. Dog parks need from 1/2 to a full acre.

Mayor Pernice opened the floor for public discussion.

Harry Dedini, Ripon, said that the Stouffer park location does not provide good access for the disabled. Dog parks need water, fencing, seating, and restrooms. He said that Mistlin park has parking, restrooms, and enough room for a larger dog park. He said that people think that parks are just recreational facilities.

Stevens said that every Saturday, there are 2,000 people playing soccer at Mistlin Park. Bringing in dogs is not the best idea.

Dedini said that people use the park on weekends, and dogs can use the park during the week.

Mayor Pernice asked if anyone has considered the Corps of Engineers park. It has a parking lot and restrooms.

Stevens said they had not considered it, but it is another option.

Vice Mayor Winn said there would be some restrictions on using the Corps park.

Stevens said there would be restrictions at Oak Grove also. He said the Recreation Commission is trying to secure a location, and then they can design it. Sevens said the Commission has considered all of Dedini’s suggestions.

DISCUSSION ITEMS, continued:

Restuccia said he would like to expedite the project and get a park done by this summer.

City Engineer Machado said that the county owns Oak Grove park and the Corps of Engineers owns the Corps park. We will need permission to do anything.

Pernice said that it would probably be cheaper to build one at the Corps park because the parking lot and restrooms are already there.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO SEND LETTERS TO SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY REGARDING OAK GROVE PARK, AND TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS REGARDING THE CORPS PARK TO GAIN PERMISSION TO INSTALL DOG PARKS ON BOTH OR EITHER OF THESE LOCATIONS.

Michael Swearingen, San Joaquin Council of Governments, gave a PowerPoint presentation called the “Blueprint Overview.” The plan is for all the incorporated cities in San Joaquin County, the Regional Transit District, Caltrans (District 10), and the Port of Stockton. COG projects that the population in the valley will be 1.7 million in the year 2050. He said the first workshop will be held here in Ripon on March 1, 6:30 p.m. When the plan is completed, it will be brought to each agency for approval.

Mayor Pernice said that the plan recommends more compact development. He asked what if we do not like compact development.

Swearingen said that each city will use the Blueprint Plan differently.

DISCUSSION ITEMS, continued:

Director of Planning Zuidervaart presented his report, stating that we will get an additional affordable home with this amendment.

Mayor Pernice opened the floor for public discussion.

No one from the public wished to speak at this time.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (NUTT, RESTUCCIA) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PALM GROVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE TO WAIVE THE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 746

AYES:              Restuccia, Nutt, Uecker, Winn, Pernice

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

ABSTAIN:      None

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (NUTT, RESTUCCIA) AND CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE TO WAIVE THE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 747.

AYES:              Nutt, Restuccia, Uecker, Winn, Pernice

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

ABSTAIN:      None

REPORTS

City Administrator: No Report

City Attorney: No Report

City Engineer: No Report

Planning Director: Zuidervaart said the Department gave another tour of our affordable homes – this time for the City of Stockton. He said they were impressed, and he said we will continue to give tours.

Chief of Police: Absent

Recreation Director: No Report

Director of Public Works: No Report

City Council: Nutt said he will be attending the first 2 by 2 committee meeting with the Fire District next week. Uecker said he attended the League of California Cities conference last week and came back with a lot of information. Pernice said he has finalized the appointments to the Standing Committees and Task Forces.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY:

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

Ripon Community Redevelopment Agency Minutes

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2007

AFTER COUNCIL MEETING

ROLL CALL: Directors Elden R. Nutt, Dean Uecker, Michael P. Restuccia, Vice-Chairman Chuck Winn, Chairman Curt Pernice.

OTHERS PRESENT: Executive Director Leon Compton, City Engineer Matt Machado, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, Secretary Ken Zuidervaart, City Clerk Lynette Van Laar, Deputy City Clerk Jeanne D. Hall, Director of Public Works Ted Johnston, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Danielle Pierce, Navid Fardanesh, Harry Dedini, Dana Cowell, Michael Swearingen, Anthony Zepeda, Chris Brady, Anne Lovecchio, Bill Long, Kim Long, Ginger Eskes, Brigitte & Stuart Long.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION: No one from the public wished to speak at this time.\

CONSENT CALENDAR

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

End of Consent Calendar

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:13 P.M.