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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 4/17/1990MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP SESSION OF THECITYCOUNCILOFTHECITYOFGLENDALE, MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1990 AT 3:15 P.M. Mayor Renner called the Workshop Session of the GlendaleCityCounciltoorderintheWorkshopRoom, B-3, in theGlendaleCouncilChambers. Council members present were: Bellah, Huffman, Hugh, McAllister, Scruggs and Tolby. Members Absent: None. Also present were Martin Vanacour, City Manager; GordonL. Pedrow, Assistant City Manager; Peter Van Haren, City Attorney and Linda Ginn, Deputy City Clerk. WORKSHOP SESSION 1. ADOT 1991-95 CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM Assistant City Manager Gordon Pedrow and Rosendo Guiterrez and Larry Langer, representatives from ADOT, briefed Council on the progress of the state freeway system. Mr. Pedrow stated that on April 27, the Transportation Board will conduct it's final public hearing on the tentative construction program for the next five year period. He stated that the slowed economy over the past several years has reduced the funds available for construction and slowed progress on completing the MAG freeway system which is primarily financed by the half -cent sales tax. Staff explained that costs had escalated in some locations because of having to design the system through urbanized areas instead of open, vacant areas. Mr. Pedrow presented Council a graph showing the projected revenues; 6 billion dollars (circa 1985) and the 1990 projections of only 4 billion from the half -cent sales tax, illustrating an approximate 2.9 billion shortfall. He then stated the governmental entities in the MAG region have spent many hours crafting a compromise program which continues progress on the major sections of the system while recognizing the realities of reduced revenue. He stated that their plan covering 1990-94 consisted of compromises to the Agua Fria and Pima systems. He explained the proposed alterations to the plan as they pertain to the Outer Loop and westside area. He said it was the committee's feeling that ADOT stretch out their current five year plan to seven years. He said this would encompass the Agua Fria completion to I-17 but would not allow for any more right -of way acquisition from I-10 to Glendale nor for the design and construction of the interchange at I-10. The overpass on 158- Grand Avenue at Camelback would also not be constructed butsometrafficservicemanagementimprovementswouldbemade. He further stated that no advance right-of-way acquisitionfortheParadiseCorridorwouldbemade. Mayor Renner thanked Assistant City Manager GordonPedrowforalltheworkandtimehehasputintothefreewayissue. This item is for information only. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY/COURT PROJECT Staff briefed Council stating that on March 24, 1990, bids were opened for the Public Safety/Courts Complex. Seven companies submitted bids and all but one was below the project's construction budget. The apparent low bidder was the Sundt Corporation with a total bid of $10,775,750. This total includes the 8 optional bid items recommended by the project team. All of the options except alternate #4 were items requested for separate bidding to allow the architect and city staff to analyze minor technical variations in construction materials or equipment. Bid alternate #4 was included at the request of the City Council in August, 1989, when design development drawings were approved. At that time, the architect was directed to complete construction drawings with the base bid including a planter in the plaza area. As an alternate bid, a water feature was to be designed and the water feature reviewed by the City Council prior to bid award. The Sundt Corporation's bids for alternate #4 is $66,000. The project team supports the construction of the water feature. The project architect presented drawings of the planter as designed in the base bid as well as the water feature which is in the alternate bid items. He explained the mechanics of the fountain stating that it is a dry pump system with a pre -manufactured shell and a timer which will require a minimum of maintenance. He further stated that the loss of water from evaporation would be approximately 23 gallons which figures out to be less than one-half of what a normal swimming pool loses in one day. Vice Mayor Tolby registered concern about the maintenance problems that have been encountered with other fountains at other city facilities. Staff and the architect replied that the pump that is proposed is a dry pump as opposed to a submersible one and has been more successful in reducing maintenance. Vice Mayor Tolby also registered his concern that the City would not be projecting a very good image of water 159- conservation if they decided to include the water fountain. Staff replied they felt the water loss was minimal and theaestheticqualitythatthefountainwouldlendtothePlazaareaoutweighedanynegativeperceptions. Councilmember Bellah asked about the feasibility of afountainliketheoneatthePhoenixCivicCenterwhichactuallyservestwopurposesofbeingpleasingaetheticallybutalsocoolingthearea. Staff responded that that kind ofafountainwashighwateruseandthatwaswhytheyhadnotrecommendedthatparticulartypeoffountain. CouncilmemberBellahrepliedthathesupportedafountainconceptbutwouldliketosuggestamorepracticaltypeoffountainlikethe Civic Center; more of a mister system. Staff stated that this could be investigated but it would involve a redesign and change order. Discussion ensued on exploring a different type of fountain with the general feeling being that they had bid the type of fountain presented to keep water loss to a minimum and considerable cost would be involved to refigure for a different fountain. This item will be placed on the April 24, City Council agenda for formal consideration. 3. LANDFILL OPERATIONAL AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE Staff summarized this issue by stating that an updated draft of the Public Works "Landfill Five -Year Operational and Fiscal Management Plan" is presented by Public Works following review and concurrence by the Utilities Committee in its April 2, 1990 meeting. The updated Plan recommends a re -confirmation of the previously approved Five -Year Landfill Rate Schedule effective July 1, 1988. The recommended rate schedule adjustment is an additional $2.00 per ton charge to 20 per ton for commercial users, and a 50 cent increase for City departments and residents to $7.50 per ton to become effective July 1, 1990. The rate adjustment is needed to continue to stabilize landfill revenue needed for implementation of EPA mandated environmental regulations now being written, and other major capital needs, such as land, landscaping, and equipment purchases for 1990-91. Council concurred with the plan and recommended placing this item on a future Council agenda for formal consideration. 4. STATUS OF TRANSPORTATION PLAN DEVELOPMENT 0X:IIZ Staff briefed Council by stating on July 25, 1989, Council directed staff to begin a series of communitymeetingstogatherpublicinputontransportationproblemsanddesiredsolutions. This was to be a "grassroots" efforttodevelopalocaltransportationplan. The other valleycitieshavefollowedasimilarcourseandaredevelopingtheirlocalplans, as well. As each city finalizes its localplan, they will be integrated into a regional plan. Thelegislaturewillbeaskedforapprovaltotaketheregionalplantothevotersforapproval. Mr. Budlong, Transit Director, continued that since lastSeptember, 18 public meetings plus two cable television shows have been conducted in an effort to gather input from citizens and develop this grassroots transportation plan. A total of 322 people attended the 18 meetings, an average of 18 per meeting. They represented all areas of Glendale and all age groups. Twelve of the meetings were for the general public and six were for special interest groups. Meetings were divided into three groups. The first sought public input on the transportation problems requiring public attention. The second group sought input on the various solutions to be pursued. The third and final group asked for public opinion on which of the many possible solutions would be the preferred actions, i.e., to narrow the choices to a few preferred options. As a result, the citizens of Glendale produced the content of the "Draft Transportation Plan". The draft Plan is currently being reviewed by the Transportation Commission. The final stage of the draft plan includes an opinion survey to determine if there is general support for the recommendations. The Commission will hold a public hearing on the Plan at its May 16 regular meeting and then will forward the Plan to the Council with its recommendations. Mr. Budlong said that some of the more interesting recommendations received were to reduce the amount of parking offered in developments and to spread the peak traffic hours i.e. different hours of employment, program hours, etc. He also said that some suggestions had been received for disincentives for the automobile along with expansion of the mass transit so there would be alternatives to the auto. He said that some of the disincentives would be a higher gas tax, higher license plate tax and higher charge for parking. This item will be brought back to Workshop for further discussion and review. 161- Mayor Renner complimented Mr. Budlong and theTransportationCommissionfortheirexcellentworkonthedraftplanwhichisbeingusedbyothercommunitiesintheareatoformulatetheirplans. 5. PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FOR1990/91Staffbriefed Council by stating during the past severalmonthstheCommunityDevelopmentAdvisoryCommittee, CitystaffandthecitizensofGlendalehaveworkedtogetherinordertodevelopalistofproposedactivitiesandfundinglevelsforthe1990/91 Community Development Block Grant Program. A public hearing was held before the Advisory Committee on February 22, 1990, to receive citizen participation in the application process. A "Proposed Statement of Community Development Objectives and Projected Use of Funds" will be published on April 25, 1990. A second public hearing before the City Council is scheduled for May 8, 1990. The complete application must be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development on or before May 31, 1990. Mr. Vern Crow, Chairman of the Community Development Advisory Committee, stated that the Committee voted not to lend their suppport to the downtown triangle redevelopment project and have stated that they prefer the funds be designated for low -moderate benefit activities. Mayor Renner asked staff for a clarification on what the request for funds for the CAP project entailed. Staff responded that the funds would be used to rehabilitate or remodel the CAP facility and would give them a lobby on the street side of the block as opposed to the alley side. However, staff is currently pursuing moving the CAP office into the current City Hall in the Human Services department which would invalidate their request for CDBG funds. Discussion ensued about what some of the funds requested for in the contingency fund would be used for. Staff replied that there were four areas that might need some contingency funds. They would be the street lighting project, the Senior Home Repair program, boys and girls club and the Resolution Trust fund. Discussion ensued regarding expansion at the Glendale Youth Center and the use of the requested funds. A spokesperson for the Youth Center said the money would be used for both expansion of the facility and programs offered. Mayor Renner suggested that staff prepare a recommendation that has monies that have been discussed with the broadest flexibility for the Youth Center, some money for 162- the Downtown Triangle and balanced off between thecontingencyfundsothatthetimeframepresentedbystaffcanbemetalongwithallowingfortheCommunityDevelopmentAdvisoryCommitteetimetomeetanddiscusssomeoftheitemsdiscussedtodaybyCouncil. This item will be placed on a future Council agenda forformalconsideration. 6. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REPORTMarionPorch, the Intergovernmental Liaison, briefed theCityCouncilonstateandfederallegislativeissuesand related matters. This item is for information only. COUNCIL COZO ENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Mayor Renner announced that Glenn Rabinowitz, reporter for the Glendale Star, is leaving and going to Los Angeles. Mayor Renner wished him well in his endeavors. fc • ). I I Y There being no further items to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. XJ . Deputy City Clerk 163-