RIPON CITY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

June 15, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 a.m. with Mayor Pernice leading in the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

ROLL CALL: Council Members Elden “Red” Nutt, Michael P. Restuccia, Dean Uecker, Vice Mayor Chuck Winn, Mayor Curt Pernice

OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Leon Compton, Chief Richard A. Bull, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, City Clerk Lynette Van Laar, Deputy City Clerk Jeanne Hall, Information Systems Technician Dan Brannon, City Engineer Kevin Werner, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Public Works Director Ted Johnston, Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, Danielle Pierce, Dorothy Booth, Navid Fardanesh, Kim Anderson, Leonard Enserink, Letha Enserink, Bob Imfeld.

Rick Hanks, McRoy-Wilbur Communities, Inc., said that he is still waiting for quotes from the electrician and the asphalt contractor. He said he lined out the costs for four courts (drainage, base, artificial turf) and for lighting, fencing, flatwork, shade structures, benches, and scoreboards. The cost would be $150,000 for the four courts – half for the courts and half for the appurtenances. Hanks said that eliminating two courts only reduces the cost by 1/4th. He said he looked at different parks in the City and two parks have possibilities. Lan Park has an area on top that is flat, but there are no restrooms available. Harvest Park has an appropriate area south of the playground, but the restrooms are across the street. The one downside of the Feichtmeir Park site, is that there are a lot of features already in that area, so it may be too crowded.

Mayor Pernice said he has taken many groups to Stouffer Park, and everything is a long walk from the parking area. In the Feichtmeir Park, there are no bar-b-que pits, but there are bathrooms and two horseshoe pits.

Council Member Nutt said the area could get congested, so this may not be the best location. We are holding up the completion of the park while we consider where to put the courts, but we should finish the Feichtmeir Park and look for another location for the Bocce Ball courts.

DISCUSSION ITEMS, continued:

Vice Mayor Winn said that with just grass in that area, people could play croquet. Winn asked about the cost of putting the courts in Harvest Park versus building it at Feichtmeir Park.

Hanks said they would have to remove some irrigation at Harvest Park, but getting the electricity for lights might be an issue.

Council Member Uecker said the Feichtmeir Park is for special needs individuals, and the play equipment needs to be expanded. There is not enough there. Anything new needs to be low maintenance because we are short on staff, not put more on them.

Council Member Restuccia said he went to Del Web and talked to them about their focus groups. He said the Bocci Ball courts were at the top of people’s lists. This is what people want.

Pernice said that Bocci Ball is a special-needs activity.

Mayor Pernice adjourned the meeting at 7:20 a.m. stating that the remaining items will be continued to a future meeting.

General Discussion

Mayor Pernice reconvened the meeting at 7:22 a.m.

City Attorney Terpstra said that this may be a gift of public funds because it would be going to benefit private businesses. He said that if a public benefit could be identified, that the donation might be acceptable.

Council Member Nutt said that this could encourage small businesses to come to Ripon.

Council Member Restuccia said he knows the participants in this project, and that there are good people behind this. The money would be for operations and not for investments. He said the project has been called the Greater Stockton Angel Fund, but if the name is not finalized, he would recommend calling it the San Joaquin County Angel Fund. He said he would personally be an investor, but not while he is on the Council.

Vice Mayor Winn said that even if businesses grow in another area of the county, it would still benefit Ripon.

DISCUSSION ITEMS, continued:

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (UECKER, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE A CONTRIBUTION OF $10,000 TO THE ANGEL CAPITAL PROJECT.

Mayor Pernice said the main question is do we do this in-house, or do we hire a consultant.

City Engineer Werner, said he talked to Omni-Means, who is doing the work on Main Street, and they can tie this job in with the Main Street job. He recommends that we go with Omni-Means, and they are preparing a cost estimate for us.

MOTION: MOVED, SECONDED (RESTUCCIA, NUTT) AND CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 5-0 TO APPROVE GETTING THE COST ESTIMATE FROM OMNI-MEANS ENGINEERING.

Mayor Pernice said that no action needs to be taken on this item, but it needs to be kept on the agenda to keep the project moving along, or the City will lose $3.5 million in funds for this project.

Council Member Uecker said that City Engineer Werner will have more support information later today.

City Engineer Werner said that Omni-Means is doing an alternative analysis of the three different scenarios.

Council Member Nutt said he is impressed with Werner and that he showed a lot of concern for the reactions at the public meeting.

Mayor Pernice asked for comments from the public.

DISCUSSION ITEMS, continued:

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

Pernice said this item will be back on the June 19 regular agenda.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:32 a.m.