HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPCC Minutes 2009-07-24SRCC MINUTES (Special) 07/24/2009 Page 1
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL, FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2009 AT 1:05 PM
Special Meeting: Present: Albert J. Boro, Mayor
San Rafael City Council Barbara Heller, Vice -Mayor
Greg Brockbank, Councilmember
Damon Connolly, Councilmember
Cyr N. Miller, Councilmember
Absent: None
Also Present: Ken Nordhoff, City Manager
Lisa Goldfien, Deputy City Attorney
Esther C. Beirne, City Clerk
a) RESOLUTION DETERMINING THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NECESSITY DEMAND THE
ACQUISITION. CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND THEIR
FINANCING THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS (CA/CM)
b) FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
RAFAEL CALLING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND ORDERING THE SUBMISSION OF A
PROPOSITION OF INCURRING BONDED DEBT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ACQUISITION.
CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF
THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3.
2009 (CA/CM)
(Public Hearina Scheduled for Reaular Citv Council Meetina of Auaust 3. 2009) — File 9-4
Ken Nordhoff, City Manager, noted that for several years dating back to 2003, when the City Council had
commenced some work through Group 4 Architects Programmatic studies had been carried out of various
facility needs including the City's Fire Stations, Police Station, Library and Community Centers and staff had
been working meticulously for several years trying to come up with some recommendations and solutions.
Integral to that process was the City Council's appointment of two different committees that had been tasked
with looking at a number of recommendations. The current committee finished their work as of this past
Tuesday and staff would be presenting their final report at the August 3`d, 2009 City Council meeting.
Mr. Nordhoff reported that the Critical Facilities Committee spent extensive time working with staff and
consultants and had some very important and prudent recommendations to present to the City Council. As part
of that effort the last few months had been spent working through a series of public opinion polling, a feasibility
phase and an education effort, including putting out mailers, walking door-to-door, trying to raise awareness
among citizens about the needs for these facilities. Because of those studies there was awareness that many
of these buildings were built 40-100 years ago and, therefore, were not seismically safe, had not been
modernized and did not meet current building codes. Mr. Nordhoff stated that the work of the last month,
rooted in public polling, had demonstrated a willingness of the City's voters to consider putting a public safety
measure for the full community's consideration on the ballot in November, 2009. The first part of the process
was a resolution, which initiates the methods for determining how the acquisition, construction and completion
would occur. The second part was the related ordinance, which identified the ballot language to be presented
to the voters in November, demonstrating the maximum sizing of the indebtedness ($88 million), together with
specific language that delineated how the funds would be used, including citizen oversight, committees which
would be established, making it abundantly clear that none of the funds would be used for administrative
purposes.
Mr. Nordhoff stated that staff was requesting adoption of the resolution and first reading of the ordinance by the
City Council today. The ordinance if passed to print today, would return for final approval at the regular City
Council meeting on August 3, 2009. He offered Deputy City Attorney, Lisa Goldfien, an opportunity to comment
on the ballot language, due to information received from the Registrar of Voter's office, which would not
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substantively change to -day's action.
Ms. Goldfien noted that the ballot language in the abbreviated measure was limited to 75 words. There was
some discussion between the Clerk's office and the Registrar of Voters as to whether there were a little more
than 75 words; therefore, staff wished to ensure that the City Council in making its action today authorized the
City Manager to continue to make minor adjustments to the wording that would not be substantive prior to
finalizing the ordinance for second reading to ensure that the final ballot wording was consistent with the
County's requirements.
Mr. Nordhoff confirmed that the City Council would see the ordinance and final ballot language at the public
hearing on August 3, 2009..
Albert Barr, resident of San Rafael, felt that Fire Station #5 in Peacock Gap serves as a garage for two large
fire vehicles that were more often used in other parts of San Rafael, rather than East San Rafael. On the other
hand, Fire Station #2, opposite Montecito Plaza, was too small for its functional use. He noted there was a
training facility behind, which also sat on valuable property. He suggested that in the future, Fire Station #5 be
closed and the land sold to partially finance a renovation and rebuilding of Fire Station #2, providing it was used
to house a paramedic truck. He noted currently a paramedic truck for East San Rafael had to come from
Central San Rafael. He understood that this would be a contentious issue, but felt that Station #5 did not fully
serve the neighborhood as a paramedic truck would at the Montecito location.
Mr. Barr noted the question of rebuilding of the library was not part of this effort. While he could understand
this he hoped that the City would undertake an effort to not only rebuild the library, rather build a completely
new library, as the current library was inadequate for a city as large as San Rafael. He hoped this issue would
be explored by the City Council at some future date.
David Maver, resident of San Rafael, addressed the timing of the proposed ballot measure. Noting the country
was in a deep economic slump he stated that taxpayers in California recently voted to deny further tax
increases because they felt that the temporary was enough; however, he questioned how temporary they were
given the ongoing economy and the state's budget. He questioned the timing of putting a measure on the
ballot currently. Mr. Mayer calculated that a $500,000 property would be subject to an increase of $200 per
year, which when added to the laundry list of a quarter percent income tax, the one percent sales tax and the
ever-changing gasoline prices, consumers were squeezed and before long, the average household would see
$1,000 annually in new taxes.
Mr. Mayer fully realized that these facilities needed to be replaced. As a public safety advocate he had
addressed the need for DUI checkpoints. He supported the Police and Fire Departments and was working
with the Fire Chief regarding the recent issue of a response time to a call. The Chief's initial response was "we
have moved that out of this building." He suggested updating this information in the brochure.
Mr. Mayer questioned the language: "seismic upgrades being needed." If a building was built forty or fifty
years ago, codes were in place at that time. Subsequent to 1989, it was learned that a lot of structures were
not safe; therefore, he questioned why it took until 2007 to form a committee when after 1989, many town's
communities begin work immediately. Questioning why this situation was allowed to go so long, he believed it
to be a lack of leadership in prior City Councils in not addressing the issue sooner. He believed there needed
to be more strategic thinking and long-term planning going forward. Wishing the City luck in passing the
measure, Mr. Mayer believed it would be an uphill battle, despite the poll results.
Robert Dobrin, resident of Santa Venetia, referenced the Marin Independent Journal's mention of how the
proceeds of the ballot measure would go in part to house the Police and Fire headquarters in a new public
safety building. He pointed out that the County of Marin was also planning a public safety building to be located
at the Civic Center campus, which he understood to be within the boundaries of the City of San Rafael. He
inquired as to whether that building could house the headquarters of the San Rafael Police Department and the
San Rafael Fire Department. He believed such cost savings should be explored in these times of budgetary
constraints.
Responding to Mr. Barr's comment, Ken Nordhoff stated that funds were available to improve, renovate or
replace all of the fire stations in the $88 million bond; therefore, final determinations regarding the size of the
buildings and potentially considering consolidation would be explored if the bonds were approved.
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With respect to Mr. Dobrin, Mr. Nordhoff stated that staff had been working extensively with the Fire
Department for more than a year to explore where shared use could be garnered at the Civic Center's Fire
Station. Staff had also been working diligently with the County staff regarding relocating Fire Station #7,
creating some efficiencies in terms of shared space and shared use adjacent to the emergency operations
facility. Moving forward, he indicated that staff would have formal recommendations to the City Council this fall,
and believed there was a way between the County Service Area, City of San Rafael and the County itself to
collaborate to generate a shared use that would make sense. He added that the County had done fairly
extensive outreach within their organization and had communicated with the City concerning programmatic
needs; however, there was a limitation as to how many things could be placed in that building.
Councilmember Brockbank moved and Councilmember Heller seconded, to adopt the resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 12796 — RESOLUTION DETERMINING THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND
NECESSITY DEMAND THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND
COMPLETION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND THEIR FINANCING
THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Brockbank, Connolly, Heller, Miller & Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
The title of the ordinance was read:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL CALLING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND
ORDERING THE SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSITION OF INCURRING BONDED DEBT FOR THE PURPOSE OF
THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION OF PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES TO THE
QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD
ON NOVEMBER 3,2009"
Councilmember Miller moved and Councilmember Connolly seconded, to dispense with the reading of the
ordinance in its entirety and refer to it by title only, and pass Charter Ordinance No. 1876 to print by the
following vote, to wit, with the proviso with respect to the wording on the ballot measure:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Brockbank, Connolly, Heller, Miller & Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
There being no further business, Mayor Boro adjourned the Special City Council meeting at 1:20 PM.
ESTHER C. BEIRNE , CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS DAY OF
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
2009
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