HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - June 4, 2002 SMLODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2002
A. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
The Special City Council meeting of June 4, 2002 was called to order by Mayor Pennino at
7:03 a.m.
Present: Council Members — Hitchcock, Howard, Land, Nakanishi, and Mayor Pennino
Absent: Council Members — None
Also Present: City Manager Flynn, Deputy City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Blackston
B. REGULAR CALENDAR
B-1 "Prioritization of capital projects"
City Manager Flynn distributed the following reports (all filed):
A. Four pages of statistical reports related to sales tax
B. Three page capital project timeline report prepared by Mayor Pennino
C. Four page Capital Projects cost estimate report
D. Three page report with the following headings: Capital Projects -- 1) Funding,
2) Near Term, and 3) Utilities and General Fund Future Projects
Referencing report A, City Manager Flynn pointed out that Lodi's overall sales tax
revenues increased by 14.8%. He explained that staff would not be asking Council to
make a decision on prioritization of capital projects at this morning's meeting. As
indicated on report B, he reported that since June 30, 2001 the $39.4 million capital
budget has now grown to $56.2 million.
Public Works Director Prima reviewed report C and explained that it represents one
approach that might be used to bring all the short term projects forward.
Mr. Flynn reported that based upon averages and trends, staff estimates the City will
accumulate approximately $1 million a year in impact fees.
Mr. Prima reviewed report D noting that per capita money allocated to the City under
Propositions 12 and 40 amount to $1.1 million. It is anticipated that there will be a certain
amount of police grants and miscellaneous funds that the Police Department will have
available for capital projects through federal programs. He explained that block grant
money cannot be used for general government facilities, with the exception of doing ADA
retrofits. "Public donations" of $3.6 million represents 10% of the indoor sports facility,
aquatics center, DeBenedetti Park, and animal shelter.
Mr. Flynn added that part of the "public donations' strategy is to design projects at two
levels, i.e., basic and enhanced. If advocates of the projects were willing to raise funds
the enhanced project could be built; without donations, the basic project would be
constructed.
In response to Mr. Flynn, Mayor Pennino stated that the issue of adopting a Council policy
wherein projects would be initially designed at two levels (with the intent of seeking
donations for the 10% enhanced version) would need to be brought back for
consideration at a future meeting. For the projects listed on the reports that are already in
the design stage, it is assumed that 10% of what has already been designed could be
considered "enhanced".
Mr. Prima noted that the 10% could also represent changes in the scope of the projects.
Value engineering could also represent cost reductions. Referring to report D, he stated
that the 2003 COP for $20.1 million was an assumption and represents what the debt
service could support. Report D also includes an assumption regarding future payment of
impact fees.
Continued June 4, 2002
In reply to questions by Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock regarding a 2003 COP, Mr. Prima
stated that the report does not assume refinancing the existing COP. Finance Director
McAthie reported that the City does have remaining assets to leverage and stated that
she would research the matter and supply Council with this information.
In reference to report D, Capital Projects Near Term, page 2, Mr. Prima explained that the
graph area indicated in red delineates the construction timeframe. The increased budget
for the new police building was due in part to the expansion of the second floor to
accommodate either a court or county offices, and relocation costs of over $100,000.
Mayor Pennino pointed out that the report does not indicate revenue coming in from the
county.
City Manager Flynn reported that the $600,000 estimate for remodeling City Hall and the
Carnegie Forum basement is due to the potential of relocating the Finance Department
into City Hall, moving the departments of Public Works and Community Development to
space at the parking structure, and moving the Information Systems Division to the
basement of the Carnegie Forum. He estimated that by 2005 remodeling of the old
public safety building would be complete and Public Works and Community Development
could then relocate to that building.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock suggested that as a temporary solution staff consider
moving the Finance Department to space at the parking structure, and leave Public
Works and Community Development in their current location until the old public safety
building is completed.
Mr. Prima stated that the outdoor shooting range for the Police Department is being
considered for property at White Slough.
Council Member Howard suggested that staff consider a joint partnership arrangement for
a private and public shooting range, with the incorporation of a training field for SWAT
teams in Lodi and throughout California.
Mayor Pennino added that it may be possible to use asset seizure funds for the shooting
range.
Mr. Flynn reported that he and Chief Adams met with the Sheriff of Sacramento last week
regarding their shooting range, which they were able to fund with grant money. He
assured Council that staff will be looking at possibilities of other sources of funding for the
Lodi Police Department shooting range.
Mr. Prima noted that Report D, Capital Projects Near Term, represents a schedule that
could be done if $50 million was earmarked for the projects, i.e. the indoor sports facility,
aquatics center, and Phase 1 and 2 of DeBenedetti Park. The animal shelter is
scheduled for construction in 2003. Phase 3 of DeBenedetti Park would be completed
some time after 2005.
Council Member Howard pointed out that the City already has the property for
DeBenedetti Park and she preferred that it be completed within 2003-05.
Mayor Pennino and Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock concurred with Ms. Howard's
comment.
Mr. Flynn explained that the delay in DeBenedetti Park was purposely done as a cost
saving measure to extend the amount of time to remove dirt from the site.
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Continued June 4, 2002
Mr. Prima reported that the library needs remodeling and HVAC improvements estimated
at $1.6 million. Projects listed to be deferred on report D, page 3, include the civic center
parking structure, DeBenedetti Park Phase 3, library expansion and remodel, Parks and
Recreation campus, Grape Bowl renovations, and the Lodi Lake central area
improvements.
In reply to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Mr. Prima reported that negotiations with the
railroad are ongoing regarding removal of the tracks on Lodi Avenue. He hoped that the
tracks could be paved in 2002, and renovation of Lodi Avenue begun by 2004.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock reminded staff that part of the development impact fee
plan calls for an annual review. With the substantial increase in project costs, another
major revision will be necessary.
Mayor Pennino suggested that staff review the impact fees and how they correlate to the
capital projects, and bring the matter back to Council for consideration.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
• Daunis Bradshaw announced that fundraising is planned for the new animal shelter.
Supporters hope to raise money to finance the dog park at the new shelter and a
donor wall has been included in the design. Ms. Bradshaw complained that the
current shelter has no storage space and animals have nose to nose contact which
spreads disease. Today there are 24 kennels and 41 dogs. Thirty five years ago
when the shelter was built there were two fire stations in Lodi. Today there are four,
plus an administration building. Animal Services Officers serve the same population,
but there have been no changes to the animal shelter during this time.
• Terri Arbuckle, Animal Services Officer, showed a video of the current animal shelter
conditions.
• Bob Johnson stated that if value engineering is good enough for the animal shelter, it
should be good enough for the new police building.
Council Member Howard emphasized that the City has a core responsibility to ensure
that fundamental things such as safety, water, electricity, etc., are in place before
non -essentials are considered; however, that does not diminish the various project's
value. The concept discussed today of encouraging donations for an enhanced
project has been presented previously.
Mr. Johnson asked that if "value engineering", and "basic and enhanced" projects are
to be considered, it should be done so equally on every project, not selectively.
• Tony Alegre urged Council to "put kids first when prioritizing".
• Tim Greenmyer, Vice President of BOBS, stated that the Woodbridge Country Club
and several wineries have a need for some of the dirt at DeBenedetti Park. He also
suggested that the City use some of the dirt to build a 50 foot berm at White Slough
for the Police Department shooting range. In conclusion, he asked Council to put
people before animals.
Council Member Howard noted that there has been some discussion regarding planning
of the library expansion and asked that staff include it in timeline report for construction in
2006-07. In addition she asked that cost estimates for operations and maintenance of the
projects be included for planning purposes.
Council Member Land stated that the new police building is the number one priority. He
felt that next two priorities should be the indoor sports complex and the animal shelter.
Continued June 4, 2002
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock believed that improvements to the existing public safety
building should be the highest priority. She reiterated her request to have the
development impact fees revised to correlate with the increased project costs.
Mayor Pennino estimated that using a realistic time schedule for the projects, another
COP would probably not be necessary until 2004. He believed that various interest
groups could raise 10% of the project costs. He suggested that module trailers be
considered as temporary living quarters for fire personnel in the existing public safety
building.
Parks and Recreation Director Baltz noted that Council has given approval for the master
plan concept for the indoor sports facility, aquatics center, and DeBenedetti Park. The
work that the engineering firms are doing is based on those approvals and any changes
may result in change orders and additional cost to the City.
C. CLOSED SESSION
At 8:48 a.m., Mayor Pennino adjourned the City Council meeting to a Closed Session to discuss
the following matter.
C-1 Prospective sale of real property located at 610 S. Guild Avenue (5 acres ±), owned by
City of Lodi, California; Government Code §54956.8
D. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION / DISCLOSURE OF ACTION
At 8:58 a.m., Mayor Pennino reconvened the City Council meeting, and Deputy City Attorney
Schwabauer disclosed the following action.
In regard to Item C-1, staff received direction on the subject matter.
E. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at
8:58 a.m.
ATTEST:
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
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