Ripon City Council Minutes

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2007 - 7:00 P.M.

CLOSED SESSION:    6:00 p.m.           Council Members’ Conference Room

                          1)         Conference with Legal Counsel pursuant to § 54956. of the California Government Code - Ripon Farm Service 

                          2)         Conference with real property negotiator- pursuant to § 54956. of the California Government Code - Jack Tone Golf Course Lease 

REGULAR MEETING:

The meeting was called to order as indicated at 7:00 p.m. with Council Member Uecker 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 Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, City Clerk Lynette Van Laar, Deputy City Clerk Jeanne D. Hall, Information Systems Technician Dan Brannon, Director of Public Works Ted Johnston, Police Chief Richard Bull, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Gary P. Louis, Stephanie Hobbs, Bryan White, Michael Locke, Kim Anderson, Ginger Eskes, Navid Fardanesh, Lisa Suender.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION: Bryan White, Ripon, said he was here to discuss the public nuisance of dog droppings on sidewalks. He said that he knows people need to walk their dogs for exercise, but people are not obeying the law. He said he is tired of people letting their dogs foul his property and refusing to do anything about it even if he confronts the person. Chief Bull agreed to meet with Mr. White to discuss a resolution.

Stephanie Hobbs, Ripon, said she meet with Congressman McNerney who seemed very interested in a project that would benefit the whole region. She said that McNerney is willing to send the project to Washington D.C.; however, we need to show local commitment, and a letter from the City would help. She said she wants the Council to look for funds. She said the City has set a precedent by paying for the swimming pool. She also said that this project would complement the Mistlin Sports Park. Hobbs said the school has already paid for the architectural design. She said she will also carry this project to Leroy

Ornelas at the county level. Hobbs said she would like a workshop with the Council to continue the discussions.

Gary Louis, Ripon, read “A Christmas Poem” by Michael Marks honoring our service men and women.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (WINN, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 3-0 (RESTUCCIA, PERNICE ABSTAINING) TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 28, 2007.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, WINN) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 4-0 (UECKER ABSTAINING) TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR RIPON CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 4, 2007.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS POSTED (OR AMENDED):

Mayor Pernice requested that Item 4D be tabled and brought back at a later date.

Council Member Nutt requested that Items 4C and 4G be pulled from the agenda for discussion.

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

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

CONSENT CALENDAR, continued:

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

Discussion on Item 4C.

Council Member Nutt asked about the cost of the study, and if it includes the clock tower.

City Engineer Werner said that this is for the landscape drawings, and it includes all the elements.

Nutt said he objected to spending this much money on this project.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, UECKER) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 4-1 (NUTT- NO) TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH OMNI-MEANS TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS, ALL CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND LANDSCAPE PLANS FOR THE WILMA ROUNDABOUT

Discussion on Item 4G.

Council Member Nutt asked City Engineer Werner if the problem with standing water on the edge of the road has been corrected. Werner said it has been taken care of. Werner added that the Geological Technics Engineers designed a road base and standing water should not be a problem in the future.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (NUTT, RESTUCCIA) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 9 FOR THE JACK TONE ROAD CLASS I BIKEWAY (GEORGE REED CONSTRUCTION).

Mayor Pernice asked if a sidewalk will be installed at the Wilma Roundabout to the overpass.

City Engineer Werner said the sidewalk will be extended to the overpass.

Council Member Nutt asked if the landscaping will cause Wilma Avenue to be closed a second time.

Werner said the construction and landscaping will be done at the same time.

Planning Director Zuidervaart said the staff report was prepared by SJCOG staff, and the fees will be lower than in 2007.

Kim Anderson, San Joaquin Habitat Program said she is here to answer questions.

Council Member Restuccia asked how often the fees are reviewed. Anderson said the fees will be reviewed and adjusted annually.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED

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

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT FEE AMENDMENT FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY MULTI-SPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 07-76.

Mike Locke, President, CEO for the San Joaquin Partnership, and they are asking for a $1,000 increase. He said they have had a loss of $130,000.00 in revenues, so the Board decided to ask cities to provide 30% of the needed revenue. He said the other 70% is funded by the private sector.

Council Member Restuccia asked about the loss.

Locke said that members come and go, and they lost two major members.

Vice Mayor Winn said that Ripon has benefitted. The Partnership brings manufacturing businesses into the county.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE INCREASE OF ANNUAL FUNDING TO $6,000.00.

Discussion before the vote:

Mayor Pernice said he appreciates the Partnership; however, he noted that Ripon is still not on the list.

Locke said that Ripon has absorbed its industrial property, but they are looking for opportunities. He said that Calply Distribution will bring sales tax to Ripon.

REPORTS

City Administrator: No Report

City Attorney: Terpstra reported on the 6:00 p.m. Closed Session: in the matter of Ripon Farm Service, direction was given to Counsel; and in the matter of the Jack Tone Golf Course, direction was given to the negotiator and this item will be brought to Council at a future date.

City Engineer: Werner said that letters were sent out regarding the Wilma overpass closing, and it will be closed the second week of January.

Planning Director: Zuidervaart said that regarding the BMR homes, he received 5 applications. Three were rejected because they did not meet the criteria. The two acceptable applications are in the next step where the homes will be inspected. These two applications will use $372,000 of the $500,000 set aside.

Chief of Police: Bull said he appreciated the Council’s support in the past year.

Recreation Director: No Report

Director of Public Works: No Report

City Council: Uecker said it is good to be back. He said he is a Navy Veteran, and he appreciated the Christmas Poem.

Winn said he was in the Marine Corps, and he said the poem puts this meeting in perspective, and he thanked Mr. Louis for recognizing the soldiers. Winn said he will remember his words.

Winn said that at the COG meeting last week, they passed the Regional Congestion Management Plan. Any developments over 125 units will need a Regional Congestion Management Plan. This will not have much affect on Ripon because most of our developments are smaller.

Winn said the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint raises some concerns. He said it is a laudable goal, but it needs to develop a good process for quality of life; i.e., reduce air pollution, clean water, etc. He said he is concerned because the plan is strongly directed to transit – not single occupancy vehicles. They want taller building, smaller lots, and overall increase in density. This may eventually be mandated and we will lose the ability to decide what is best for our residents.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY:

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Ripon Community Redevelopment Agency Minutes

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 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 Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, Secretary Ken Zuidervaart, City Clerk Lynette Van Laar, Deputy City Clerk Jeanne D. Hall, Information Systems Technician Dan Brannon, Director of Public Works Ted Johnston, Police Chief Richard Bull, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Gary P. Louis, Stephanie Hobbs, Bryan White, Michael Locke, Kim Anderson, Ginger Eskes, Navid Fardanesh, Lisa Suender.

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

APPROVE THE MINUTES

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING OF DECEMBER 4, 2007.

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.

Discussion on Item 1C.

Council Member Nutt asked what we have stored and if this stuff can be used by the Library or the Museum.

Chief Bull said that as the renovation is completed, staff will look at the stuff and see what is still needed.

Mayor Pernice said some things may go to public auction.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (NUTT, UECKER) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE THE INVOICE FOR BEKINS STORAGE.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.