HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 11/27/2006 GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL
GOAL SETTING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT
NOVEMBER 27, 2006
PRESENT: Mayor Scruggs, Vice Mayor Eggleston,
Councilmembers Clark, Frate, Goulet, Lieberman,
and Martinez.
Councilmember Elect: Yvonne Knaack, Observer
ALSO PRESENT: Ed Beasley, City Manager; Craig Tindall, City
Attorney; Pam Kavanaugh, Assistant City Manager;
Pamela Hanna, City Clerk and Carol Nalbandian,
Facilitator
Mayor Scruggs opened the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
INTRODUCTIONS AND OVERVIEW OF SESSION
Ms. Nalbandian said City Council was here to reconfirm their Strategic Goals; to
review key objectives; to get an overview of the "big picture" while keeping focus
on the future; and to add new items, if needed, then to reprioritize.
Ms. Nalbandian asked the Councilmembers and Administrative Staff 'What was
the best thing that happened in 2006, both to the city and to them personally?
Each person answered this question. The city related responses were: rapid
development along Hwy. 101; settlement of Target controversy, Westgate
development and stadium opening; Glendale becoming a national and
international destination; opening of the Foothills Recreation Center; Bell Road
reinventing itself; how much people like living in Glendale; completion of the hotel
and conference center; achieving accomplishments that we were told couldn't be
done, and continuing excellent day to day services to citizens while achieving
major accomplishments.
A video of "Glendale 2006 — Year of Community" was presented to City Council.
The video review of 2006 was discussed and some suggestions made by City
Councilmembers for changes or additions. City Council was very complimentary
of the video in general. Some constructive comments made by City Council were:
needs to include the Foothills Recreation Center, should be used at District
meetings, the stadium needs to be included, and some of the neighborhoods had
trash on the streets.
City Manager, Ed Beasley presented and commented on the City Manager's
Update, 2006 in Review as follows:
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• Impact of Council Goals: guides prioritization, departmental business
plans, emphasizes goals and performance and requires continuous
evaluation of projects;
• Neighborhood Revitalization: community improvement in housing
rehabilitation, community and emergency housing, improvements for non-
profits i.e. public and human service programs, encourages self-
sufficiency programs;
• Economic Development Projects: Wells Fargo Regional Training Center,
AAA, Delta Dental, Downey Savings & Loan, Arizona School Furnishings,
Coca-Cola, Target Redevelopment, Northern Crossing, Cabela's, Zanjero,
and Westgate.
• Downtown Redevelopment Fund: Appraisals — DES & ADOT property,
parcels adjacent to ADOT, Dining District — Michelle & Gerald's Southern
Cuisine, and two other applications pending;
• Downtown Improvements: Dining District, Blighted Structures, Habitat for
Humanity Homes, Infill Housing Rebate Program, Catlin Court
Streetscape, Pedestrian Enhancements, Underground Utility Project;
• Downtown Parking Structure: Selected design consultant Spring 06, RFQ
for CMAR and Architect complete, Contract award recommendations
scheduled for presentation to Council in December 06; Tentative date to
begin construction early in 2007, Interim parking management plan
underway;
• Public Safety/Court Headquarters: Design funding for City Court moved
forward to FY 2006/07, Construction in the first five years of the CIP for
City Court facilities;
• Luke Air Force Base: Designated Contract, Northern Parkway, Kachina
Gate Signal, Litchfield Road Underpass, Pay-day lending, Regulatory
takings, Luke Contract;
• Code Compliance Improvements: Neighborhood Meetings, Modified
Inspection Areas, Improved Marketing Materials, Internal Improvements,
Training and Development, Neighborhood Focus Program;
• Fiscal Responsibility: Monthly CIP snapshots, Cross-departmental review
& coordination; Council Communications, Education & Training.
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City Councilmembers commented about the items in the update and related
items such as: downtown redevelopment, downtown parking structure, Municipal
Court and Public Safety facilities and staffing; Capital Improvement Plan
budgeting, Bond Committee recommendations, pending Police and Fire
Department Needs Assessments, impacts to Operating Budget, protection of
Luke Air Force Base, and expansion of Code Compliance hours of operation.
The City Council Retreat recessed for lunch at 12:30 p.m. and reconvened at
1:30 p.m.
Mayor Scruggs noted that at the last retreat City Council remained until
consensus was reached. She asked Ms. Nalbandian, if the same procedure
would be used this afternoon. Nalbandian stated she'd heard a great deal of
agreement this morning but we need to know where there is disagreement.
Ms. Nalbandian began the discussion by requesting the City Council's thoughts
on the "One Community with Strong Neighborhoods" Objective.
Councilmember Goulet commented we need to look beyond favoring infill, and
continue property acquisition, plus incenting projects. He noted at the same time
we need to remain open to new ideas. Mayor Scruggs expressed her opinion that
the city was already doing these things but noted we are not developers. Council
discussed various possibilities for redevelopment in the downtown.
Councilmember Goulet explained the city should be the conduit to make
development happen. Mayor Scruggs agreed the city could be a conduit.
Councilmember Martinez stated that we needed more public housing. Mayor
Scruggs asked wouldn't funds for public housing more appropriately come from
the Federal Government. Mr. Beasley explained that funds are drying up and that
cities usually facilitate others to do these projects. Councilmember Clark noted
she didn't favor the City doing more public housing. Councilmember Martinez
stated our present public housing is well run. Councilmember Frate said we don't
have enough affordable senior housing. Councilmember Frate noted the
possibility of partnering with St. John Lutheran Church on affordable senior
housing. Councilmember Frate said this type of facility would fit into the
downtown,
Councilmember Martinez said City Council didn't state last year in the Strategic
Goals that Public Safety was their number one priority. Ms. Nalbandian said
Public Safety is a piece of each of the goals identified. Councilmember Martinez
stated Public Safety should be highlighted as a separate category. Several City
Councilmembers voiced their agreement.
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Councilmember Clark said our goal is one community with strong neighborhoods
and Public Safety's presence makes them stronger. Mayor Scruggs read an
excerpt from a newspaper article, which stated citizens' primary interest was
safety in their neighborhoods. Councilmember Martinez said people like police
presence in their neighborhoods and they feel it deters crime. Councilmember
Clark stated we need to make increased police presence part of our goals then it
is up to the police to implement it. Councilmember Lieberman said police
presence in all neighborhoods is drastically imbalanced. He wanted equal police
presence in all the neighborhoods. Mayor Scruggs referred to a "beat map" and
noted we don't want uniformity. After a brief discussion, Councilmember
Lieberman agreed that uniformity isn't the end result we want but safety. The City
Councilmembers continued to discuss police deployment and crime statistics.
Council agreed that Public Safety be a separate objective to include Municipal
Court, Fire, and Police needs; safety in neighborhoods, and accessible citizen
information.
Councilmember Goulet said the replacement of infrastructure needs to be
increased; there are a lot of corners that need attention. Mayor Scruggs clarified
these are non-arterial streets. Councilmember Frate stated streetlights aren't
being replaced. Mr. Beasley noted that their goal was to replace the streetlights
promptly. Mayor Scruggs commented that she heard the yellow street lights
weren't being replaced because the street light units were being changed.
Councilmember Martinez said a citizen told him that when a yellow streetlight
was reported out, it wouldn't be replaced because the entire units were
scheduled for replacement. Mayor Scruggs asked if the yellow lights were
available. Mr. Beasley responded he believed so that staff may have been trying
to be conservative, but he would address it.
Councilmember Frate said there is vacant and debilitated property in the
downtown. Councilmember Goulet agreed and noted the city should have
incentives so property owners come to us then redevelopment can occur. Mayor
Scruggs said we have been focusing on larger parcels. She noted that the City
has considered a business park but doubted whether this could be done in the
near term since there are so many other projects. Councilmember Goulet stated
a business park is realistic within two years. The City Councilmembers
continued to discuss the possibility of a business park feasibility study.
Councilmember Frate stated that incentives to encourage development of the
dinning district downtown weren't sufficient. Mayor Scruggs noted you couldn't
predict success. She noted impact fees were on the up-coming agenda maybe
we need to discuss it with regard to the downtown. Councilmember Lieberman
noted we already have the VIP Program. Mr. Beasley commented the focus of
the dinning district is to bring restaurants with different cuisines downtown. City
Council briefly discussed the progress being made on the downtown parking
structure and compiling a parking facility plan.
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Mayor Scruggs commented three businesses in the Catlin Court/downtown were
closing. She wanted to add under Vibrant City Center that there be increased
communication/meetings with business owners. Councilmember Eggleston
agreed that would be a good strategy.
Ms. Nalbandian stated the City Council had identified the city's leadership role
with regard to supporting Luke Air Force Base. Mayor Scruggs added "and
enhancing lobbying efforts". The City Councilmembers discussed how the city
meets and in some cases expedites the bases needs as well as concerns
regarding the level of communication with base command.
Councilmember Lieberman said he wanted to add completion of second floor of
the Adult Center under "High Quality Services for Citizens". Councilmember
Clark suggested a study to determine if the present space is used to capacity.
Mayor Scruggs commented we should wait a few months until we know the
impact of the Foothills Recreation Center. Councilmember Clark suggested
waiting six months from the opening of the Foothills Center. Councilmember
Lieberman noted that the number of people utilizing the Adult Center might go
down by 15% or 20% due to the Foothills Recreation Center but it would grow
back.
Councilmember Clark commented the Code Compliance Department needs to
provide a greater level of service on weekends and holidays. Mayor Scruggs
said on weekends and holidays, we need staff for the full day and more than one
person. Councilmember Goulet said he wanted to eliminate illegal activities.
Councilmember Frate said we need 7-day week coverage. Mayor Scruggs
asked Mr. Beasley if he would schedule 7-day week coverage. Mr. Beasley said
he could address it but it would mean that the cost of this change would come off
the top of the budget. Mayor Scruggs said our goal is 7-day week coverage.
Councilmember Martinez agreed. Ms. Nalbandian said she understood there
were choices to be made maybe staff could prepare options. The City Council
continued to discuss needs for increased Code Compliance. Mr. Tindall noted
that increased code Compliance would impact the prosecutor's office.
Councilmember Martinez noted under "High Quality Services for Citizens", we
should add continue the high level of service offered by water, sewer and
sanitation. Mayor Scruggs suggested we could say maintain high level of service
as population and visitors increase.
Mayor Scruggs said we need to continue the repair and replacement of older
infrastructure. Councilmember Clark said not just water and sewer but
sidewalks, streets and gutters. Councilmember Goulet added also alleyways.
Mayor Scruggs said streets shouldn't be included; it is a different budget source.
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Ms. Nalbandian introduced the discussion on the city being fiscally sound.
Councilmember Clark noted the Council had just heard the recommendations of
the Bond Committee and there were many unanswered questions. Mayor
Scruggs noted the Council has not approved a 10-year plan nor talked about
many of the projects in the second five years. Mayor Scruggs said revised
recommendations would come back to Workshop.
Mayor Scruggs said she wanted the budget process to continue with full
disclosure, true costs, and realistic analysis. Several Councilmembers voiced
their agreement with the Mayor. Councilmember Martinez stated that we are
coming into the FY07/08 Budget process. We need to be sure that we have
sufficient revenue streams to meet our obligations. Mayor Scruggs agreed.
Mayor Scruggs said staff has been providing more complete information on
projects as well as accurate information on the budget.
The City Councilmembers, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney,
reviewed and approved the changes to objectives, as compiled on poster sheets,
of the day's discussions.
The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
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