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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - November 25, 2002 UB (i--;4110* !AZUSA CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2002 - 6:30 P.M. The Utility Board Members of the City of Azusa met in regular session,at the above date and time in the Azusa Light and Water Department Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. '"hairperson Chagnon called the meeting to order. Call to Order DLL CALL Roll Call PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, STANFORD, ROCHA, CHAGNON, MADRID ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Also Present ALSO PRESENT: City Attorney Carvalho, City Manager Cole, Assistant City Manager Person, Director of Utilities Hsu, Assistant to the Director of Utilities Kalscheuer, Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, Assistant Director of Customer Care and Solutions Vanca, Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang,Assistant Director of Electric Operations Ramirez, Deputy City Clerk Toscano, City Clerk Mendoza. Public Participation Pub Part Mr.Art Morales addressed Council/Utility Board members expressing concerns regarding crime in A. Morales the City and what is being done about it. Comments City Manager Cole and Councilmember Rocha responded stating that meetings are being set up in City Mgr & certain areas of town to address problems and also door to door inquiries are being made by Cncl luman Relations Commission members as well as certain Councilmembers. response reverend Murray Flagg also responded to the issue stating that he and APU students will be M. Flagg participating in the outreach to the community. Comments Item re: Proposed Ballot Measure regarding Utility Tax, was brought forward for discussion. UT Issue brt City Manager Cole provided a detailed history of the Utility Tax, i.e. when it was first adopted, City Mgr court decisions, and the need to take the issue and it's requirements to the voters. He also Comments noted the need for additional revenues for Police, Library and Recreation services. He proposed a reduction of the residential Utility Tax from 5%to 4%and an increase to commercial Utility Tax from 5% to 8%. He talked about meetings that were held with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Azusa Business Association and their suggestions of seeking other alternatives -egarding the issue and opposition to taxing telephones and wireless devices. He stated that -There is support from the business leaders to actively participate in the community"Tax Review Task Force" which will be appointed by Council to work with them and staff on a broader tax reform plan to be put before voters in November 2003. He recommended that the Utility Tax issue be placed before the voters in March, 2003,without the telephone and wireless devices. He then asked Councilmembers for direction with regard to Exemptions on Utility Tax. Lengthy discussion was held between Councilmembers and staff regarding the exemptions for Discussion Utility Tax which are currently as follows: 1) Individuals over the age of 61, 2) Individuals certified Exemptions as handicapped by the city's light and water department, 3) Individuals certified as low-income UT tax using standards developed by the City's Light&Water department, and organizations classified as exempt from taxation under chapter 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. Each Councilmember expressed his/her view on the issue. It was consensus that this issue would not be considered at this time but will be discussed by Tax Review Task Force. The following persons expressed their concern regarding the Utility Tax Measure: Art Morales, Public John Moore, Joan Singleton, and Murray Flagg. Comments After additional Council discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Rocha, seconded by Place a ballot Councilmember Hardison and unanimously carried that a ballot measure be placed on the March, Measure 2003,ballot that would: reduce the rate for residential electric,water and gas from 5%to 4%and Re: UT 'icrease the rate for commercial electric, water and gas from 5%to 8%. (telephone and wireless On March evices were eliminated from the recommendation). Further, that the Tax Review Task Force be 4th ballot stablished, and discuss the non-profit and over 61 year exemptions during the review. Councilmember Rocha offered a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, ORDERING THE Res. 02-C 136 SUBMISSION OF A MEASURE TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY TO AFFIRM AND Ordering AMEND THE UTILITY USER TAX WITHIN THE CITY OF AZUSA ON MARCH 4, 2003. Submission Measure Moved by Councilmember Rocha, seconded by Councilmember Stanford to waive further reading Utility User and adopt. Resolution passed and adopted by the following vote of the Council: 3/4/03 ballot AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON,STANFORD, ROCHA, CHAGNON,MADRID NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE The CONSENT CALENDAR consisting of Items II-A through II-F, were approved by motion of Consent Councilmember Rocha,seconded by Councilmember Stanford, and unanimously carried with the Calendar exception of item II-C, which was considered under the Special Call portion of the Agenda. II-C Spec A. The minutes of the regular meeting of October 28, 2002, were approved as written. Min appvd . Approval was given to amend the blanket purchase order issued to Civiltec Engineering, Inc., Amend PO in the amount of$50,000, for fiscal year 2002-03 to cover engineering costs related to the Civiltec Northern Transmission Line. Engr C. SPECIAL CALL ITEM. Spec Call 11/25/02 PAGE TWO D. Approval was given to award bid and authorize purchase Light and Water trucks as follows: Purchase (3) 2003 one ton gasoline powered service trucks from Wondries Fleet Group in the amount Of Trucks of$71,214.45, (1) 2003 GVRW 15,000 lb. Payload, diesel powered welding truck also from Light & Wondries Fleet Group in the amount of$42,627.77 and (I) 2003 5-6 yard diesel powered Water Dump Truck from Peck Road Truck Center in the amount of $53,851.12. . Authorization was given to the City's Investment Committee to engage E.J. De La Rosa & E.J. De La Company to proceed with refunding of the 1993 Revenue Bond that was used to acquire Rosa &Co Azusa Valley Water Company. Rev Bond F. A RESOLUTION OF THE UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, TO USE Res. 02-C137 THE DIRECT PAYMENT PROCESS FOR RECEIVING LIHEAP PAYMENTS FROM THE STATE OF LIHEAP CALIFORNIA. Payments Special Call Items Spec Call Items Councilmember Rocha questioned item II-C, regarding the$300,000.00 budget amendment for Rocha vehicle/equipment purchases. question Director of Utilities Hsu responded stating that during the preparation of the 2002-03 CIP budget, Dir of Util the Water Division listed the amount for anticipated purchases of necessary vehicles or equipment Response and the Finance Department opted to have future vehicle purchases listed as line items in the Operations Budget and these amounts were subsequently removed from the CIP budget but never transferred to the Division's Operations Budget. Moved by Councilmember Rocha, seconded by Chairperson Chagnon and unanimously carried to Budget authorize a Budget Amendment in the amount of$300,000.00 for Vehicle/Equipment purchases. Amend :heduled Items Sched Items Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang, addressed the Boardmembers regarding the B. Tang request for proposal for Long-Term Firm Power. In an effort to lessen the reliance on one unit Comments contingent resource staff has recommended exploring opportunities to assign or exchange part of the City's San Juan entitlement with other entities and replace with an optimal amount of either a power resource (ownership) or a long-term power purchase contract. Discussions have been initiated with the County of Los Alamos (LAC) of a San Juan assignment arrangement. Staff is seeking the authority to issue an RFP to solicit proposals for off-peak and on-peak energy to meet portions of its power requirement in the event San Juan Assignment arrangement is successful. The contracting of power under the RFP will be contingent upon the successful San Juan assignment arrangement with Los Alamos and the Utility Board approval. Moved by Councilmember Stanford, seconded by Chairperson Chagnon and unanimously to RFP for authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek offers for long-term firm power. Long Term Firm Pwr Staff Reports/Communications Staff Rpts Director of Utilities Hsu referred to the West Coast Arborists, Inc. annual Tree Maintenance Dir of Util Highlight Report, which featured City of Azusa Utility Department and its tree program. Tree Maint Director of Utilities Hsu advised that the Substation award and the reimbursement agreement for Dir of Util e Azusa Substation will be brought to the next meeting for consideration. Substation -,i this time discussion was held regarding the proposed meeting of December 23, 2002. It was Discussion consensus that the meeting be held as scheduled. 11/25/02 PAGE THREE Director of Utilities Hsu provided an update regarding the Electric Office stating that they have Update on exhausted effort to obtain the property at 10th and Todd and asked if they could go forward with Electric the property on 10d'and Vernon. Discussion was held regarding the issue. Office building Director of Utilities announced that one of the City's Meter Readers, Fernando Vasquez, was Proc for second runner up in a National Meter Reader contest and requested that the Board recognize him F. Vasquez for his efforts. Director of Utilities announced that SCAPPA will be having an annual luncheon and invited all to Updates attend on December 19"' at 11 a.m. Follow up on customer complaint, Mr. and Mrs. Cabrera SCAPPA was settled and he noted the update on business hours. Complaint &Bus Hours Discussion was held regarding proposed Holiday Hours for all City employees and it was Dis Holiday consensus of Councilmembers that the City be kept open on December 26th and January 2nd with Hours minimum skeleton crews. The Monthly Power Resources Update was presented. Directors' Comments Directors' Comments Assistant to the Director of Utilities Kalscheuer provided an update on the green barrel recycling Update on program stating that the program is going fairly smooth and there have only been a couple of Green complaints. City Manager Cole advised that some residents have asked for two barrels. Barrels Councilmember Stanford asked that the regular Council meeting be adjourned in memory of Ward Stanford Munson who recently passed away. Comments it was consensus of Councilmembers to recess to Closed Session to discuss the following: Closed Sess tEAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS (Gov. Code Sec. 54956.8). Real Prop roperty: Ground water rights within the boundaries of the real property commonly known Negotiations as Monrovia Nursery in the City of Azusa. Negotiators: Miles Rosedale, Property Owner Rick Cole and Joe Hsu, City representatives Under Negotiations: Price and terms of acquisition - CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL(Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9 (a). Conference Res. Care, Inc. v. City of Azusa W/Legal Case No. KC040062. Counsel The City Council recessed at 8:13 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 9:35 p.m. Rec/Rcvne City Attorney Carvalho advised that with regard to Res Care claim, staff was authorized to file a Rpts cross complaint against L.A. County Fire It was consensus of Councilmembers to adjourn. Adjourn TIME OF ADJOU• ` • • 9:36 P.M. 411, RETARY .....EXT RESOLUTION NO. 02-C138. 11/25/02 PAGE FOUR