Highlights of the Meeting:
Completion of Bicycle Loop street marking announced;
City’s legislative guidelines updated and language added about maintaining and protecting the Silver Strand Scenic Highway;
Dispute with Port concerning fees to be charged for handling the Dock C reconstruction (Port Master Plan Amendment continues under discussion but contract with Port approved);
Water rates for Coronado going up as of February 1st;
City policy for crosswalks liberalized;
New channel 19 programming to be developed;
New Arts Administrator Kelly Purvis and new Active Transportation Planner Mariah VanZerr introduced;
City’s financial projections through FY 2018-19 show continued growth of General Fund revenues exceeding expenses and growth of reserves;
City’s lawsuit against the State concerning the City’s loans to the former CDA to be heard in June;
Wastewater Fund reported to be running an ongoing operating deficit; Special Council meeting scheduled for March 18th to discuss;
Council authorized agreement with the County for the next generation Regional Communication System for emergencies; and
Discussion of the City’s Plans to Conduct a Citizen Satisfaction Survey was postposed until next month.
Consent Calendar
There were no ceremonial presentations so the meeting started right in with the “Consent Calendar” of items the Staff has thought to be so uncontroversial that they could be approved with no discussion: however, if anyone, either Council member or resident objects, an item will be removed from the consent calendar. As a result of this process, 6 of the 13 matters on the consent calendar were removed for discussion. The remaining matters were approved, with Council member Denny abstaining on approval of the warrants listing City bills paid because she objects to the City’s procedure for bill paying prior to Council approval. She also objected to extension of the City’s contracts with Psomas and Harris &Associates for civil engineering services on an as needed basis because she is concerned about costs.
Bicycle Advisory Committee Report
The report, showing many meetings, initiatives and events, was pulled from the consent calendar because Council member Ovrom wanted to ask about educational events. BAC Chairman Dan Orr said that there was an educational event and a bike fair and the BAC is working on additional educational events with the School District.
Legislative Policy Guidelines
Each year the Council reviews its legislative policy guidelines which are intended to guide the focus and actions of the City’s lobbyists in Sacramento and Staff throughout the year. The Staff proposed four additions to support the following:
1) changes in CALPERS rules to permit voluntary prepayment of pension liabilities for the City’s Safety Workers in a way that the prepayment would reduce the City’s liabilities and not accrue to the benefit of other participating cities;
2) establishing a State-wide earthquake early warning system;
3) development of a long range regional water re-use plan (toilet to tap?); and
4) legislation for a smaller secondary equivalency wastewater treatment plant at Point Loma rather than upgrade to full secondary treatment as long as no harm to environment.
The legislative policy matter was pulled from the consent calendar at the request of former Council member Phil Monroe who suggested adding to the City’s legislative policies seeking funds for maintaining and preserving the Silver Strand Scenic Highway and opposing any changes which would negatively affect the highway. The Council unanimously approved a motion approving Mr. Monroe’s suggestions but there was some doubt whether the language of the proposed motion fully captured Mr. Monroe’s concerns and some additional concerns of Council member Denny so the Staff was directed to consider additional language to the policies to deal with these concerns.
“ROPS”
“ROPS” means the schedule of payments of debts of the former CDA which the City must periodically submit to the State requesting that the State pay such debts as required under the State law which dissolved the redevelopment agencies.
The City is requesting $11.1 million in payments by the State and expects about $9 million of that amount to be paid, including all the bond debt service. Also included in the $11.1 million is a request that the State reimburse the City for its administrative expenses as permitted by the law. City Staff expects the administrative expenses to be paid eventually but not immediately.
As to the CDA’s debt to the City, the City filed a lawsuit against the State last year to compel such repayment and that lawsuit is scheduled to be heard in June.
Port Fee Dispute
The City Council recently approved a project to reconstruct the City’s Dock C which is on an area of water owned by the Port and leased by the City. In order to proceed with the project an Environmental Impact Report and a Port Master Plan Amendment, including Coastal Commission approval, is required. This work will be done by the Port and last year the Port adopted a new policy requiring the entity seeking a Master Plan Amendment and environmental review to reimburse the Port for its administrative costs of such work.
The Port has asked the City to sign a contract agreeing to pay such costs before the Port begins its work. The Port is proposing to charge Coronado $187,000 for this work.
City Manager Blair King said the City had objected to both the concept that the Port would apply its charge policy to a member city government as distinct from commercial enterprises and also objected to the amount of the proposed fee. This is the first time the Port is imposing this fee on Coronado and Mr. King stated that the Council’s and Port’s actions would set a precedent for the City’s future transactions with the Port.
However, Mr. King recommended that the Council approve the contract with the Port which is necessary to get the project started but also approve a letter to the Port objecting to the charges.
The City’s Port Commissioner Gary Bonelli was present at the Council meeting and introduced Randa Coniglio, Executive Vice President of the Port for Operations, to respond the the Council’s concerns. She said that the Port would like to work with the City to find a way to resolve the issue, possibly by changing the project so that a Port Master Plan Amendment would not be required or by charging the Port fee in a different manner. She seemed anxious not to set a precedent that the Port could not charge the same fees to member cities as they would charge to a commercial enterprise.
It was not clear why Mr. King and the Council felt the project was so time sensitive that it was necessary to move ahead with the agreement which committed to a fee. Mr. Woiwode felt the City should sign the agreement and send the letter to the Port objecting to the fee and the Mayor agreed but, after Ms. Coniglio again expressed the desire of the Port to continue discussions with the City before the City took a position on the Port’s policy, the Council unanimously decided to sign the contract but not to send the letter at this time pending further discussions with the Port.
Water Rate Increase
During the general public comment period, Mr. Brian Bredo representing California American Water Company announced that there would be a water rate increase for Coronado effective February 1st. California American buys water from San Diego and sells it to Coronado. The increase passes through to Coronado an increase in San Diego’s water rate. The rate will increase the cost of water by about $.37/day or about $11.12/month for the average residential customer. There will be a public meeting in Coronado to discuss the new charges and answer questions from the public.
Crosswalk Policy
At a recent Council meeting it was proposed that the City add a marked crosswalk at Orange Avenue and Second Street; however, City Staff said that the intersection did not qualify for a crosswalk under the City’s written policies on crosswalks.
The Council asked the Staff to review the City’s crosswalk policy and report to Council whether any changes to this policy may be desirable. City Engineer Ed Walton made a report with some surprising conclusions: traffic studies have shown that adding crosswalks alone does not improve pedestrian safety and may even make it worse in some circumstances unless other features are added to improve pedestrian visibility or other safety devices.
The Staff presented a proposal which would liberalize the City’s crosswalk policy and also suggested other safety enhancements. The new policy would even permit mid-block crosswalks for certain long blocks.
There were two speakers supporting this policy. Mr. Dave Spatafore said he had witnessed numerous near accidents in the commercial district involving pedestrians. He urged the City to add more crosswalks and asked the City to establish a Committee to recommend which intersections should be given crosswalks. In addition, Maya Rosas of the organization “Walk San Diego” spoke in favor of more crosswalks and urged zebra strip or ladder stripe crosswalk markings.
The Council unanimously approved the crosswalk policy but specified that mid-block crosswalks could be considered for blocks longer than 600 feet (rather than the 800′ standard in the Staff recommendation).
There was discussion about requiring the use of ladder or zebra striped crosswalks but the Staff said they wanted flexibility to use the most appropriate markings. Council member Denny said that she supports the new policy but would like it to be administered in a way that is not limiting if residents would like to add a crosswalk.
Channel 19 Programming
Under the public comment period, Mr. Rich Brody, Vice President of COSA, spoke about COSA’s work in developing new programming for local TV channel 19 pursuant to the School District’s partnership with the City to improve channel 19. They have hired Mr. Tony Perry as Executive Producer. New programming will be rolled out in February and March. This is being done as a student enrichment program.
Fiscal Forecast
City Treasurer Leslie Suelter presented a multi-year fiscal forecast for fiscal years through 2018-19. She went through the many assumptions she had made in an effort to look into the City’s financial future and how she had made conservative assumptions. She also discussed her assumptions for CALPERS pension costs and her assumption that the City may wish to continue its practice of prepaying some of its pension obligations. Her forecast showed the City’s General Fund revenues exceeding expenses and reserves strengthening for the entire period, ending with a surplus of about $50 million.
Council member Ovrom asked for a discussion at some future time of how the City plans to use the surpluses being generated.
Ms. Suelter also said current fiscal year 2013-14 projections were stronger than anticipated with an ending balance now projected of $38.6 million rather than the $35.8 million originally forecast. At the next Council meeting Ms. Suelter will present an in-depth look at the 2013-14 budget.
The City’s separate Wastewater Enterprise Fund is another matter. This fund is running an ongoing operating deficit. Rates have not been raised since the early 90s. A Special City Council Meeting will be scheduled for March 18th at 3:00 to focus on the Wastewater Fund and how to address this issue.
2014-15 Budget Preparations
Mr. King described the extensive planning process for the fiscal year 2014-15 budget which will take place in the next several months. He read a list of 21 principles that would guide the Staff in preparing the budget.
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