City of Petaluma, California Minutes of a Regular City Council Meeting. Monday, August 6, 2001 Council Chambers. ROLL CALL 7:00 p.m.

Transcription

1 August, 00 Vol., Page 0 0 City of Petaluma, California Minutes of a Regular City Council Meeting Monday, August, 00 Council Chambers ROLL CALL :00 p.m. PRESENT: O Brien, Healy, Torliatt, Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance. MOMENT OF SILENCE PUBLIC COMMENT Andy Rodgers, Debbie Hill Road, advised Council that he was appointed by Supervisor Mike Kerns to represent District in the County General Plan update effort as well as Rick Savel and Don Marquardt. He stated that the process is moving quickly. Public input is being taken on the General Scope Elements. There is a public meeting tomorrow in Sebastopol, a meeting next Thursday in Guerneville and August th at :00 p.m. in Petaluma at the Veterans Building, Petaluma Boulevard South. You can reach the web site at Andy s phone number is -0. Richard Brawn, Grevillia Drive, spoke regarding the County Assessor s office declaring Petaluma is worth $ billion dollars. There is a need for Economic Planning and Sustainable Growth. Bill Phillips, Blossom Court, spoke regarding the gravel mining in the Russian River. He would like clearer wording on the agenda so the layperson can better understand it. Geoff Cartwright, Rocca Drive, spoke regarding the Traditions Subdivision (Ryder Homes) located off of Corona Road and Sonoma Mountain Parkway. The project proposes changes to the General Plan and the Corona Reach Specific Plan, one being the splitting of a park resulting in two postage stamp parks. The second change being the plan for Sonoma Mountain Parkway, which was designed to change direction to facilitate circulation of traffic within Petaluma. The Ryder Homes project changes the direction to the west and instead puts into place the infrastructure for development into the Urban Separator.

2 Vol., Page August, Rick Savel, Adobe Road, Penngrove, gave the Council an overhead presentation regarding the Traditions Subdivision. He is concerned with the realignment of Sonoma Mountain Parkway. Another concern is the overlapping of boundaries. Mr. Savel feels that any proposal that comes into this area is going to be extremely problematic. Wes Sutliff, David Inden and Justin, approached the Council to endorse their program called What s For Breakfast that is shown on PCA. They also stated that there wasn t adequate affordable housing for people their age in Petaluma. Clare Monteschio, 0 F Street, spoke regarding the demolition work being done at McNear Park. She and the neighbors are against anyone coming into to the park to do work without first obtaining the necessary permits. COUNCIL COMMENT Councilmember O Brien announced that the Police Department is having a Safety Faire and Car Show at the Plaza North Shopping Center, Saturday, August, 00, Councilmember Healy spoke regarding a memo from the City Manager with respect to a potential public opinion survey around a possible ballot measure on the street issue. He would like this agendized for next Monday s meeting. The Sonoma County Transportation Authority has just sent out a request for proposals for a project study report to be completed by the end of this year for potential widening of Highway 0 from Old Redwood Highway to Rohnert Park Expressway in conjunction with the use of Garvey Bonds. Councilmember Torliatt, at the MTC meeting the allocation to the City of Petaluma for $,0,0.00 in TDA funds for the FY Transit and Paratransit Capital and Operating Expenses was approved. They also approved $0,000 for the Downtown Petaluma River Projects under the Transportation for Livable Communities Grants. There is a low-income housing project in Santa Monica and Irvine that will be generating most of its own energy. It is attaching Solar PV Panels that will generate about a third of the buildings electricity. An on-site micro turbine generator that runs on natural gas will supply the rest with % being provided by utilities. She would like to see retiring Commission/Committee members recognized for their long hours and hard work that they have contributed. She attended the Water Advisory Committee meeting where they discussed public input sessions for the new Master Agreement. The first public input meeting will be September 0 th at 00 p.m. at Finley Center, Santa Rosa. The

3 August, 00 Vol., Page 0 0 second meeting will be December th in Sonoma at a place to be determined. In February it will be in Petaluma. More information will be provided at a later date. Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, asked for an update on the McNear Park project. Jim Carr, Parks and Recreation Director stated that it is the American Legion Ball that has been working to freshen up the ball field at McNear Park. A permit has been obtained and the work is primarily on the dugouts and backstop. He doesn t anticipate a lot of tournaments being held because of the impact it would have on the neighborhood. The coach has suggested having a neighborhood meeting in which city staff will participate. Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson attended a League of California Cities conference in Monterey. She visited the Elk Horn slough. She encouraged Council and the public to visit the area when in Monterey. Monterey also has a walkway from Seaside to Pacific Grove, which engulfs several miles, and it is open for public access. She would like to see something like this in Petaluma. On August nd she will be attending a meeting sponsored by Caltrans to discuss the widening of Highway 0 between Petaluma and Novato. The meeting is being held at the Petaluma Community Center, 0 N. McDowell, Petaluma, CA., at : p.m. She met with the developers of Ryder Homes and has concerns about the continuation of Sonoma Mountain Parkway onto Corona Road. That was a stipulation in the past. She is not pleased that Ryder Homes is going to go ahead and supercede the Planning Commission s recommendations and appeal to the City Council. Councilmember O Brien, Liaison to the Planning Commission felt that the developers of Ryder Homes was not given the opportunity to respond to the Planning Commission s comments. He feels that the City owes Ryder Homes an apology for the attitude that was displayed toward them. He feels it is a viable project and the city should work with the developers. MINUTES The minutes of July, 00 were approved as corrected. Page Line, change that the meeting was in violation of the Brown Act to the vote that was taken to provide a taping of the meeting was not in violation of the Brown Act. Page, Line under Completion of General Plan, remove Economic Vision/Public Input Committee

4 Vol., Page August, Councilmember Torliatt made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections, seconded by Councilmember Healy. AYES: O Brien, Healy, Torliatt, Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson. PRESENTATIONS Lillian Hames, Projector Director for Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) gave an update with regards to the commuter rail. The SMART Commission (five commissioners from Marin County/five commissioners from Sonoma County) developed a Rail Implementation Plan that looked at the cost of a commuter rail system that involves a -mile corridor between Cloverdale and San Rafael. It is unique in the United States in that the right-of-way is held in public ownership. It s owned jointly by Marin County, NCRA, Golden Gate Transit District and it s run by a Joint Powers agreement and the North Western Pacific Rail Authority oversees it. Eleven stations are planned between Cloverdale and San Rafael. Three of those stations are in Marin County and the remaining eight are in Sonoma County. Initial service as recommended in the Rail Implementation Plan was ten trains per day running at -minute headways. By the year 0 the amount of trains per day is expected to increase. Preliminary costs are $ million for infrastructure to upgrade the tracks, stations, etc. The cost of rolling stock is approximately $-$ million dollars and the upgrades of service about $0-$ million dollars for other maintenance requirements. The total estimate about $ million. Annual operating subsidy about $ million, the assumption is between -% of that could be covered in fares. Initial opening of this service at this level of service is projected to be about,000 passengers a day increasing to approximately,000 passengers a day with greater service improvements. The goal for opening the system is 00. The type of vehicle to be used is still being researched. The choices are a conventional diesel locomotive with a passenger rail car, or diesel multiple units. Community outreach is starting in September. Public Hearings will be held to discuss the vehicle selection. Public Hearings will also be held near the northern terminus of the line in the Cloverdale area to address the issue of the maintenance facility. Some of the key issues that will be looked at with regard to the project over the next several years are the development of scope and services, the vehicle selection,

5 August, 00 Vol., Page 0 0 developing the environmental work, public input, developing a sound program for safety and environmental mitigations, developing the track upgrades to full standards, who should operate the train, should it be a private provider or another agency. The North/South Bicycle Corridor has been added to this project to be studied as part of it, and we will be looking at the environmental and safety issues of having a parallel bike and pedestrian corridor paralleling the alignment of the train operation. There are some key issues in downtown San Rafael/Santa Rosa related to traffic and rail interface because of the small blocks and development. There is currently $ million dollars that has been set aside for the project in the Governor s budget. They do not have the full funding for the project, but we have some plans as to how to acquire some of that money both from Federal and State sources, but one of the key elements to this in addition to the Proposition money, which we currently have is that the sales tax in both counties is currently proposed as a major capital and operating contributor to the commuter rail project. Both counties have set up some committees that are studying how to proceed on this for upcoming general elections. Councilmember Torliatt wanted to know if there was a time frame in which we need to use the Proposition funds, and are we going to be able to meet that time frame in order to utilize those funds? Ms. Hames, we can meet the time frame if we can move into final engineering, obtain some minor right-of-way acquisition and vehicle procurement. If it s postponed beyond 00 and there isn t an extension by the legislature then there is a problem. Councilmember Torliatt what is the status for the proposed 00 Ballot Measure and how is SMART working with the Board of Supervisors and the Transportation Authority? Ms. Hames, there are two board members from both counties, both of which are working through a special subcommittee set up by the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. The subcommittee is reviewing how to proceed and they have not made a final recommendation as yet which is due by the end of this calendar year. SMART works with the subcommittee, giving them information on the costs and capital costs and they work daily with Susanne Wilford, Executive Director of Sonoma County Transportation Authority, and daily with her counterpart in Marin County. Councilmember Healy a member of the SCTA ad hoc subcommittee stated that there is a meeting next week with the focus on public out reach. Sonoma County is looking at potentially going to the voters in November 00.

6 Vol., Page August, Ms. Hames stated that some jurisdictions have inquired about more stations, but the more stations you have the more access but the slower the travel time. You also increase the capital cost and the operating cost of the project because a longer schedule requires more trained crews because of set requirements for operations. The commission will be making those decisions as part of the preliminary engineering and final environmental assessment. WATER SAVING VIDEO Luis Hernandez presented the Council with a showing of his Water Saving Video. The Council thanked him for the viewing. CONSENT CALENDAR The following items, which are noncontroversial and have been reviewed by the City Council and staff, were enacted by one motion, which was introduced by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember O Brien. AYES: O Brien, Healy, Torliatt, Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson NOES: None PAYRAN FLOOD PROJECT Status Report Regarding Payran Flood Management Project Financing and Budget. This week the City received a check for $,,. from the State. This is 0% of the costs submitted. The additional amount of approximately $0,000 may be received at final project close out. RESO. 00- NCS MC NEAR PARK RENOVATION Resolution 00- NCS accepting bid and awarding contract to Ross Recreation Equipment for McNear Park Playground Renovation. RESO. 00- NCS ANNUAL ASSESSMENT RATES Resolution 00- NCS Setting Annual Assessment Rates for Assessment Districts. INTERIM CITY CLERK Appointing Interim City Clerk was rescheduled to Monday, August, 00.

7 August, 00 Vol., Page 0 0 RESO. 00- NCS GARY BROAD RESIGNATION Resolution 00- NCS Accepting resignation of Gary Board from the Planning Commission and the Board of Building Review and Appeals. PROPOSED AGENDA Approved Proposed Agenda for August 0, 00. * * End Consent * * * Public Hearing Opened. RESO. 00- NCS WEED ABATEMENT COST Kip Spragens, 0 Bodega Avenue, addressed the Council with concerns of a delinquent invoice regarding the growth of weeds on his property that were cut down due to the city s Weed Abatement Program. The invoice was in the amount of $. He stated he would work with Fire Marshal Michael Ginn regarding the procedural process in which bills are received and declared delinquent. Public Hearing Closed Resolution 00- NCS Confirming the Cost of Abatement of Weeds. Introduced by Councilmember Healy, seconded by Councilmember O Brien. AYES: O Brien, Healy, Torliatt, Cader-Thompson NOES: None RESO. 00- NCS PETALUMA BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Clare Monteschio feels the Bicycle Committee serves and invaluable service. Bill Phillips supports the Bicycle Committee although there are some streets in Petaluma that are not safe to ride on a bicycle on. Beth Meredith, 0 Fifth Street, stated that the Bicycle Committee s focus encompasses what she calls the public realm. They are looking at Petaluma through the eyes of the walkers and bicyclists not from the vantage point of an

8 Vol., Page August, automobile. She commended Patricia Tuttle Brown for attending most of the SPARC and Planning Commission meetings to see what development are planned for the city and where pedestrian and bike paths could be better placed. Barry Bussewitz, Sixth Street, supports the Bicycle Committee. Ned Orrett, 0 Second Street supports the Bicycle Committee. Geoff Cartwright, Rocca Drive, supports the Bicycle Committee. Elizabeth Mori, Melvin Street, The committee is dedicated to improve bicycle and pedestrian access for all citizens in the city. They continue to improve crosstown travel for those who don t have access to cars or who choose not to use their cars. They have also initiated working sessions with the California Rails to Trails Conservancy to foster greenways and connect communities. Patricia Tuttle Brown, Petaluma Boulevard South, she would like to see the composition of the committee include members that live outside the city limits. She would also like to see the name of the committee changed. There are many projects where a bike/pedestrian path could be included in the process linking much of Petaluma together. Andy Henning, Prospect Street, the Bicycle Committee is an unofficial committee on sustainability and clean air. He supports the committee. Communities should be built with pedestrians and cyclists in mind. Chris Lynch, 0 Walnut Street, SPARC member, supports the Bicycle Committee and recognizes the amount of hours they put into projects. Victor Chechanover Marylyn Circle, it is obvious the Bicycle Committee is valuable. He would like the Council to vote on the item and get on with more serious business. Sharon McConnell, 0 B Street is new to Petaluma and bike s everywhere. She finds Petaluma Bicycle unfriendly. There are certain streets that are not safe. She would like to join the committee. Natalie Peck, Keokuk supports the Bicycle Committee. The Lynch Creek Trail has made it possible for her to bike to work from the West side to the East side of Petaluma. Petaluma Boulevard North is not safe nor is Washington Street. Scott Egide, Walnut Street, he supports the Bicycle Committee. Biking and walking is a quality of life in Petaluma. Joe Durney, Second Street, supports the Bicycle Committee.

9 August, 00 Vol., Page 0 0 COUNCIL COMMENT Councilmember Torliatt, stated that the Bicycle Committee had a lot of input in the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center where a bike/pedestrian path was put directly through the parking lot to link the Americana Subdivision to Gatti Park when it is developed, which will then connect to Santa Rosa Junior College. The Bicycle Committee is very diverse and every member is working 0%. The Chairman, Dusty Resneck, splits the projects and the committee members in turn reviews the project site comes back to the committee and the entire committee works out the best solution possible. From a bicyclists vantage point the road conditions are abominable in this community. Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, is looking forward to the continuation of the Lynch Creek Trail to get to downtown. Councilmember Healy made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Torliatt to approve the recommendations of the Bicycle Committee as follows:. The Composition of the Bicycle Committee shall be made up of Seven Pedestrians/bicyclists, One Parks, Music, and Recreation Commission member, one Planning Commission member and One City Council Liaison.. Change the Residency allowing two of the Seven Pedestrian/Bicycle Committee Members may live outside the city limits.. Change the name of the committee from Petaluma Bicycle Advisory Committee to Petaluma Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. AYES: O Brien, Healy, Torliatt, Vice Mayor Torliatt NOES: None ADJOURN Meeting adjourned at : p.m. Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson ATTEST: Paulette Lyon, Interim City Clerk * * * * * *