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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 1988-01-04SRCC MINUTES (Regular 1/4/88 Page 1 IN CONFERENCE ROOM 201 OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1988 AT 7:00 PM. Regular Meeting: CLOSED SESSION CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL - File 1.4.1.a No. 88-1 - (#6). No reportable action taken. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1988 AT 8:00 PM. Regular Meeting: San Rafael City Council: Present: Lawrence E. Mulryan, Mayor Albert J. Boro, Councilmember Dorothy L. Breiner, Councilmember Gary R. Frugoli, Councilmember Joan Thayer, Councilmember Absent: None Also Present: Pamela J. Nicolai, City Manager; Gary T. Ragghianti, City Attorney; Jeanne M. Leoncini, City Clerk CONSENT CALENDAR RECOMMENDED ACTION Councilmember Frugoli moved and Councilmember Thayer seconded, to approve the recommended action on the following Consent Calendar items: 2. Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting of December 21, 1987 (CC) 3. Approval of Agreement Regarding Advance Life Support (ALS) Emergency Ambulance Service (with CSA 13, 19 and Marinwood Through June 30, 1991) (FD) - File 4-13-56 x 9-3-31 4. 5. Request for $2,800 Funding from Park & Recreation Facilities Fund for Topographic Survey of Pickleweed Park Area I as Part of Pickleweed Park Master Plan Update (Rec) - File 2-1-55 x 9-3-66 x 9-3-65 x 12-15 Approved as submitted. RESOLUTION NO. 7666 - APPROVING THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AND COUNTY SERVICE AREAS 13, 19 AND MARINWOOD (for Advance Life Support and basic Life Support Services (Paramedic Services) not to exceed $25 per dwelling unit through June 30, 1991). RESOLUTION NO. 7667 - TO PROVIDE $2,800.00 FUNDING FROM THE PARK & RECREATION FACILITIES FUND FOR TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF PICKLE - WEED PARK AREA I AS PART OF PICKLEWEED PARK MASTERPLAN UPDATE (with John Hill & Associates). AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boro, Breiner, Frugoli, Thayer & Mayor Mulryan NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None PUBLIC HEARING - APPEAL OF HANDICAPPED ACCESS REQUIREMENTS - 9 VIVIAN WAY (NEW GEORGE'S CHECK CASHING CO.) (PW) - File 13-1-1 Mayor Mulryan declared the public hearing opened. Associate Civil Engineer -Traffic Rumsey stated Mr. Don Swartz, owner of New George's at 9 Vivian Way, was proposing minor remodeling to accommodate his check cashing service. He indicated the total estimated cost is $2,000 and under State law the owner would be required to bring his office up to full handicapped accessibility. The space does not provide access for handicapped toilet rooms and the access cannot be easily provided. The estimated cost to modify the existing toilet rooms is $10,000. SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 1 Al 7. SRCC MINUTES (Regular, 1/4/88 Paget There being no one who wished to speak, Mayor Mulryan closed the public hearing. Councilmember Breiner moved and Councilmember Frugoli seconded, that the City Council, sitting as the Board of Appeals, determined after hearing all testimony, that in this particular case the provison of Handicapped Accessible toilet rooms would represent an unreasonable hardship, and directed staff to prepare an appropriate Resolution with Findings and bring said Resolution back for adoption at the next meeting. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boro, Breiner, Frugoli, Thayer & Mayor Mulryan NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None UPDATE REPORT ON ELIMINATION OF TIME LIMITS ON "G" STREET PARKING (PW) - File 11-8 Associate Civil Engineer -Traffic Rumsey stated staff investigated the status of residential units on "G" Street with the Code Enforcment Officer from the Planning Department. He indicated the first compre- hensive parking standards were adopted by the City in 1951 and that the buildings along "G" Street were constructed prior to that time and therefore do not follow the current parking standards. Mr. Rumsey pointed out if any of the buildings were to be built today they would be required to meet the parking standards and provide more parking, and noted this falls into the classification of "legal nonconforming units". Mr. Rumsey stated the investigation showed there is no evidence of illegal second or third units along "G" Street, indicating that several of the units have more than one living space. Staff continues to recommend that parking remain as is to allow the shorter time limit parking during the day which is oriented toward business, and in the evening when the time limits are off, it would be available for residential units. Councilmember Frugoli moved and Councilmember Breiner seconded, to accept staff's recommendation. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boro, Breiner, Frugoli, Thayer & Mayor Mulryan NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None CONSIDERATION OF SAN RAFAEL DEL CORAZON SISTER CITY PROJECT, NICARAGUA (CM) - File 128 City Manager Nicolai stated that in May, 1986, a request was made to establish a Sister City with Nicaragua and at that time, the Council reviewed it but took no specific action. Mayor Mulryan called upon anyone wanting to speak on behalf of the project. Ms. Joan Runyeon, San Rafael resident and representative of the San Rafael Del Corazon Sister City Project, urged Council to adopt the Resolution. In response to Mayor Mulryan's question if the organization was San Rafael based, Ms. Runyeon stated most of the people on the Steering Committee are from San Rafael but that some donations come from other communities in Marin. Mayor Mulryan stated that it has never been the Council's intent to solve the Sandinista problem, and strongly stated that if the Council were to endorse the project, it would not be determined as a vote with respect to the internal politics of Nicaragua. Ms. Runyeon replied the committee is asking to send aid to a school that needs medical supplies indicating this in no way is meant to be political. SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 2 SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 3 In response to Councilmember Thayer's question as to the reason for having a Resolution, Ms. Runyeon stated the Resolution would give the project more status. Councilmember Thayer stated she would prefer that the Resolution clearly state that it is totally for non-political purposes, and is to foster better relations with Central American cities and to help the needy with items such as clothing. Ms. Runyeon agreed with Councilmember Thayer's suggestion. Councilmembers Frugoli and Boro agreed with Councilmember Thayer's suggestion regarding the revision of the Resolution. Mayor Mulryan called upon anyone wishing to speak on this item. Mr. Tim Jeffreys, owner of an electrical contracting firm in Fairfax; Reverend Norm Pott of 1836 Fifth Avenue and Pastor of the First Presby- terian Church and Mr. Roger Olstead, resident and licensed general contractor in San Rafael spoke on behalf of a Sister City relationship with San Rafael Del Corazon. Dr. William Finn, chiropractor at 714 "C" Street and resident of San Rafael, stated he is concerned about what the Council does because it has a direct effect on him. He stated he has a teenage son and there is a possibility that within the next few years his son may be drafted to fight in Central America. Dr. Finn indicated that before that day came he hoped he would have done everything in his power to stop that day from coming. He urged the Council to stop this from happening no matter how trivial it may seem. He asked Council to support the Resolution for the San Rafael Del Corazon Sister City Project. Councilmember Breiner agreed that the Resolution be revised having wording inserted stating this is non-political and added that this project seems to be a group of people helping people. Councilmember Frugoli voiced his concern about Council adopting a Resolution, noting while the group's intentions were fine, because of so much unrest, the City should not take action and that he probably would vote against the resolution. Councilmember Boro stated he had put an addendum together but indicated that at this stage he was not certain he would be able to support the Resolution. He felt that after hearing the last speaker, that this is a political issue and he questioned the responsibility of the Council on this issue. He added whether Council passed the Resolu- tion or not the project would continue and he did not see the benefit of having the Resolution but the exploitation of having one. After further discussion, Councilmember Thayer moved and Councilmember Breiner seconded, to have wording added to the proposed Resolution as presented by Councilmember Boro as follows: "AND WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael when adopting this Resolution, does so in the spirit of building friendly relations between the people of San Rafael, California and San Rafael Del Norte, not as a political statement between the two cities or any members of the San Rafael City Council." Staff was directed to have this item continued to the meeting of January 19, 1988, with wording to be added to the proposed Resolu- tion, as presented by Councilmember Boro, for further discussion. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boro, Breiner, Frugoli, Thayer & Mayor Mulryan NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None 8. REPORT ON FREEWAY ACCESS DOORS (PW) - File 11-16 Associate Civil Engineer -Traffic Rumsey stated the original concept of the freeway access doors was to provide a greater margin of safety for CalTrans' maintenance personnel who park their cars behind the SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 3 a SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 4 wall out of the freeway environment or perform some of the work behind the wall. After conversations with the Public Safety department, they realized that in certain cases a better response could be provided by allowing the Public Safety departments access through these walls. CalTrans' policy along the freeway is to totally control access and only allow it at freeway ramps and that outside the soundwall area their policy is to use a chainlink fence as a means to control access. In speaking with the California Highway Patrol, Mr. Rumsey stated that Puerto Suello Hill is probably the most heavily patrolled area in Marin County. He noted that if a car should break down they advise the motorist to stay with their car because in a short time one of their officers would come along to assist them. Mr. Rumsey indicated that the base of the wall has a few footholds in it but its function is to redirect a vehicle back into the freeway, and the footholds are for the public safety people who are trained to climb it. For these reasons, the two State Departments having control over the freeway do not recommend that the access doors be opened to the public. Councilmember Breiner agreed there should be control of access but with the proper type of "crashbar doors" that close after someone has exited the freeway. Ms. Breiner's concern is that the soundwall is essentially a tunnel and if a gasoline truck spill caused a fire a tragedy could take place and that it should be averted. Fire Chief Marcucci stated when the soundwall was first built there were no openings in the wall, indicating the Fire Department asked CalTrans to have openings because of their concern of fire on the freeway and the need to have access for water. He added the doors would be used to take people through on stretchers if necessary, noting the access doors are not easily opened and would take someone with a great deal of strength to open it. In response to Mayor Mulryan's concerns, as Chief Fire Safety Officer, Fire Chief Marcucci stated there are enough Fire and City vehicles and Highway Patrol vehicles going up and down that roadway who, when spotting someone in distress would assist them until proper help came. After further discussion, Council accepted the staff report and directed staff to have further dialogue with CalTrans regarding the escape valve to avert a tragedy and that Council be kept informed. REPORT ON FEDERAL AID URBAN (FAU) FUNDS (PW) - File 4-10-66 Associate Civil Engineer -Traffic Rumsey stated staff has been success- ful on the first phase of the Federal Aid Urban Fund, noting there are two City projects on the recommended list: 1) Downtown Signal Upgrading and Interconnection ($565,000), and 2) Extension of Left -Turn Lane at Andersen Drive and East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard ($250,000). Mr. Rumsey indicated this will be brought forward from the Urban System Sub -Committee of the Marin Public Works Association and will be before the full Public Works Association in early January for their vote and brought back for the endorsements of all Councils in Marin and then on to the County Supervisors. After further discussion, Councilmember Frugoli requested staff look into illuminating Andersen Drive/East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard intersection for safety. 10. REPORT ON ABANDONMENT OF CARS ON CITY STREETS (PD) - File 13-9 Police Chief Ingwersen stated last year the Police Department experi- enced between 200/250 cars as a backlog in the City and a delay of one to two months to have cars removed. This year, approximately 2,400 abandoned vehicles have been taken care of with 95 percent actually removed either with the cooperation of the owners and/or the towing of the vehicles. Chief Ingwersen indicated the Police Department now has about 75-100 vehicles in backlog. SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 4 SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 5 Police Chief Ingwersen stated they are currently working with the Marin Auto Body Company on a contract to be brought back to Council at the next meeting of January 19, 1988. He indicated that the Aban- doned Vehicle Removal Program will continue to more quickly rid the streets of these abandoned vehicles. In response to some of Councilmember Thayer's questions, Police Chief Ingwersen responded the cost to remove an abandoned car is $2.50 per car; that there is an Ordinance on Abandoned Cars and the fine for abandoned cars of $52 is not limited by State law. After further discussion, Council authorized Mayor Mulryan to contact State Senator Marks and State Assemblyman Filante to urge legislation to further address the problems associated with the timely removal of abandoned vehicles and the costs associated with their removal. Councilmember Thayer asked for a report back on upping the City's fines for removal of vehicles. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 1 G JEA E M. LEONCIN1\, City Clerk APPROVED THIS DAY OF 1988 MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL SRCC MINUTES (Regular) 1/4/88 Page 5