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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. SA1BMINUTES REGULAR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 31315 CRABBY STREET LAKE ELSINORBv CALIFORNIA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1993 RAAAARil AA# A## RiAAit!l iiiARl RRRRt#• ti !lRii!!liRRRR # # #! #! # # #R #RtitR! The Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting was called to order by Chairman Winkler at 8:01 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: BOARDMEMBERS: CHERVENY, D6MINGUE2, WASHBURN, WINKLER ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: ALONGI Also present were: Executive Director Molendyk, City Attorney Harper, Administrative Services Director Boone, Community Development Manager Shear, City Planner Leslie, Public Services Director Tecca, Manager of Special Projects Watenpaugh, City Treasurer Pape and Clerk of the Board Kasad. PUBLIC COMMENTS - AGENDI88D ITEMB None Requested. CONSENT CALENDAR MOVED BY WINKLER, SECONDED BY 'CHERVENY AND CARRIED BY 'UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. 1. The following Minutes were approved: a. Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting - September 28, 1993. b. Adjourned Regular Redevelopment Agency Meeting - September 30, 1993. 2. Ratified Warrant List of September 30,1993. 3. Approved Contract Amendment for Construction Management on the San Jacinto River Channel Project for Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates in an amount of $44,990. UELIC COMMENTS - NON- AGEBDI88 Leon.,Strigotte, 216 Chaney Street, commented on Code Enforcement and congratulated the Council for recent efforts on the lake shore. He noted the ongoing problems with fishing, trespassing, littering, etc. He further noted that most improvements which occur on this property occurs over the weekend when inspections would not be available and the City has limited staff.on duty. He stressed the importance of maintaining high standards for the Community and encouraged further efforts in this area. SECUTIVE DIRECTOR Executive Director Molendyk reminded the Council of the Study AGENDA ITEM NO. P42,£�L OF�+ PAGE TWO - REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES - OCTOBER 12# 1993 Session scheduled for 3:OO p.m. on Thursday, October 14, 1993, with Western Development Company. Mr. Molendyk commented on the recent Inland Empire Economic Conference and the good responses received. He further commented that the Outlet Center is on schedule with the next 20 stores; Walmart is on schedule and the EXPO store will be coming to the Council for approval in the near future. He also commented that the theater project is scheduled for Council consideration at the next meeting. Chairman /Councilman Winkler inquired whether the Study Session on October 14th could be postponed to 5:00 p.m. or the following Directdihursday. Executive Molendyk suggested a separate meeting for Chaney Street on the following Thursday at 5:00 p.m., however the developer has prepared for this Thursday. He further suggested that the meeting could be moved from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Concurrence was obtained to hold the Study Session on October 14, 1993, at 4:00 p.m. Councilwoman /Boardmember Cherveny commented on the following: 1) Announced that there will be a safe Halloween celebration on October 31, at the Community Center to provide an alternative to the children being on the streets. She stated that she would have all of the information regarding this event, at the next Council Meeting. 2) Stated that she supported Red Ribbon Week and encouraged all the residents of Lake Elsinore to attend the festival for Red Ribbon Week in City Park on Saturday, October 16, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. 3) Advised that she agreed with Mr.. Strigotte regarding the need for more assistance with Law Enforcement. She commented in regard to Captain Daniel's report and stated that rape is rape and homicide is homicide. She indicated that if it happens in you own family, then it has a powerful effect on you. She stated that there is no discount between a regular. rape and a date rape. Councilwoman Cherveny stated that she would like to see the City hold a workshop on different approaches to law enforcement and although the statistics can be bent, they will also be bent in every other city as well and it does not alter the fact that it must be addressed. She explained that the City of Lake Elsinore is not the worst place in the world to live, it is a great place to live but the City does have crime. She explained that she lives at Townsend and Sumner and it is common to hear gunshots and there are problems that' she would like Council to take aggressive steps to resolve. 4) Asked about the 1/2 cent sales tax and asked if any would be passed through to the City. Mayor Washburn explained that the City would receive $108,000. City Manager Molendyk explained that it is revenue but if spent on public safety it would amount to only one police officer. Councilwoman Cherveny stated that one is more than none and is a beginning to adding more to meet the needs of lu A !,End WO. • PAGE THREE - REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES - OCTOBER 12v 1993 the City which is'growing. is a plus to the department, and more is needed. 'She stated that crime watch but is still only a band aid Mayor Pro Tem /Boardmember Dominguez commented on the following: 1) Gave a reminder from CR & R Disposal Service, that the old trash cans can be placed out and the service will pick them up. Do not place trash in them, just set them out empty. Mayor /Boardmember Washburn commented on the following: 1) Stated that there were 3,000 reserve officer hours that were donated "for different gyents and services. 2) Submitted a letter received from Jo Helmes to Engineering Department which requests a four way stop sign at West Heald and Townsend Street. 3) Commented that he had received a letter from Kenneth Weise and Jim Magill; and the gentlemen were responsible for doing lots of promotional work for the lake and City and were part of the group responsible for the fill of the Lake in the early sixties. They were also responsible for founding and directing the Elsinore Soo and 215 endurance races which are again being considered. He explained that there are two steps which have to be taken, establish control of the Lake which has already happened and the clean up the lake. 4) Asked Captain Daniel to give a report about "Together We Can Make A Difference" program as follows: Captain Daniel explained that in July the School District held a seminar which addressed school issues and the persons who attended became part of the Community Action Plan which discussed problems the City faces and found that self- esteem impacts our ability to-be productive in the community. Services were also discussed as well as media relations for a more positive input. The first project was to make -a difference in the community and to encourage people to clean up their yards and they formed a committee which recruited youth groups and .service organizations to go out and cleaned up the area between Ortega and Grand to four corners which is a main corridor of the valley. The different organizations and the members of the committee and their families will meet at Machado Park on October 23, at 7:00 a.m. and with Cal - Trans assistance of vests and hats they will be cleaning up the weeds, painting out graffiti and picking up trash. It is their aim to make the area more beautiful. He stated that "Make A Difference Day" is tied.in.with the Red Ribbon Week activities. 5). Commented on the crime in the City and stated that this community is no different than others. He explained that it takes community involvement and any crime is unacceptable to himself and most people in the City. He stated that in actual numbers the City is probably no different than Palm Springs' in crime numbers, but that doesn't make it better or any easier. He pointed out !. E+;.u;.. ITEM NU. F"A.k: _2_ OF J&_ PAGE FOUR - AGENCY MINUTES - OCTOBER 12p 1993 that every time the community has been asked to participate in the dollars and cents to make it possible they have rejected the idea. Mayor Washburn explained that Bonds cannot buy more police, it must be funded through the General Fund and as positive projects generate more dollars for the City General Fund it will go toward more public safety services. Councilman /Chairman Winkler commented on the following: 1) Stated that there are crime pockets in the City and hey working with the Crime Watch is trying to help make a difference. He stated that he does believe in community involvement and he feels that the government should not be expected to do everything and there needs to be citizen involvement as a joint effort. Chairman Winkler cited the cards sent out and received by Mayor Washburn when he was running for Council, with responses that Law Enforcement was one of the primary interests. Since then the level of service for law enforcement has been increased repeatedly. He stressed the necessity of becoming involved and stated that when Councilwoman Cherveny was City Treasurer there was discussion in regard to police other than what the budget addressed, and the possibility of an assessment for more police was discussed. He indicated that he asked at that time if Mrs. Cherveny would support a proposed assessment without going to a vote in a public election and she stated yes, and then withdrew support at the next, election period when the candidates were running for office. Councilwoman Cherveny stated that this statement was a lie. She stated that she had never supported an assessment of the people for police because she felt that it was a number one responsibility to provide fire and police in this community without an assessment. Mr. Winkler stated that he admired the people who went before the voters during that election period to discuss anpY assessment and they suffered for their efforts. Councilwoman Cherveny stated that she felt that Chairman Winkler had led the people to believe that the only way they would get more police was to form an assessment district and that she does not believe that. Chairman Winkler stated that he felt that the people in this community had lived here long enough to understand the .problems and the reality of the situation. He further explained that after the last election, he had encouraged the appointment of Councilwoman Cherveny as Chairman of the Redevelopment Agency which would place her on the Finance Committee to give her input in regard to the " budget and there was an increase in police protection in that budget. The budget was passed with.a 5 -0 vote with Councilwoman Cherveny's support. The increase in police was the same as the increases done by past Council's. He further stated that if this Council has been incompetent in providing police, it is based on the budget which Councilwoman Cherveny supported along with the entire Council. 2) He stated that he had asked the City Clerk to bring the tape of the March 30, 1993, Council Meeting and stated that Christine Hyland had brought up the Walmart law suit. The City Council approved the project three or AGENDA ITEM NO eY PAGE FIVE - REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES - OCTOBER 12, 1993 four weeks before the recall election. He stated that the first time that he was aware of a lawsuit was the day before the Recall Election. There was a special City Council Meeting on March 30, 1993 which was to approve the transfer of the Lake from the State to the City of Lake Elsinore. He then asked City Clerk Kasad to play the last part of the meeting tape. The tape was played. Chairman Winkler stated that the gentleman in the audience yelling "Councilman Winkler, Councilman Washburn" was the attorney for Williams in.the Lawsuit and the person yelling "just serve them, just serve them, just serve, them ", was Councilman Alongi. He was directing the Attorney for the plaintiff, Mr. Williamsjto serve the rest of the Council for the Lawsuit. One of the defendants in the lawsuit was the City of Lake Elsinore. He noted that there was a Councilman who had obviously met with the attorney of the opposition prior to the service and then at the meeting was directing the attorney to make service on the Council. He stated that he felt that it was improper of Mr. Alongi to do so, but it was, in the heat. of the Recall Election. After the Recall Election proved to be unsuccessful the lawsuit was dormant for a period of time. The plaintiff did eventually take action to activate the lawsuit after a major portion of the grading had been done on site and a considerable amount of money had been spent. He stated that the City Attorney handled the lawsuit and on September 23, 1993, it was dismissed. He stated that he felt that the suit never had a chance. After the last City Council Meeting, in closed session it was decided that the City Attorney should pursue the Attorney's Fees for this case, and Councilwoman Cherveny was in that Closed Session. After that meeting, he stated that he had found that on September 1, 1993, Councilwoman Cherveny had done a Declaration of Tere Cherveny, Petition for Writ of Mandate had been filed with the court. The document had been prepared by the attorney for Mr. Williams against the City of Lake Elsinore. He explained that the City Attorney expressed surprise that Councilwoman Cherveny had filed a declaration in support of Mr. Williams against the City of Lake Elsinore. Chairman Winkler stated that Councilwoman Cherveny had never contacted the City Attorney in regard to this matter. He stated that if a Councilperson is going to give a declaration in support of a petition where the City is a defendant then that Councilperson should be accountable. Part of the pursuit of the City Attorney for the cost of Attorney's Fees in regard to this case were in response to that declaration and he felt that it was not appropriate for Mrs. Cherveny to remain in that closed session due to the fact that she had signed a declaration in support of the plaintiff against the City and violated her fiduciary duty to give a declaration and not inform the City Attorney of her action and is an embarrassment to the City to -take this action. 3) He chastised Councilwoman Cherveny'for directing Code Enforcement to cite a neighbor with whom there is a personal and political problem and instructing the Code Enforcement Officer not to reveal that she had asked her to take that action. After the Recall Election the policy committee met to set policy that no Councilmember PAO -5— OF PAGE SIX - REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES - OCTOBER 12# 1993 may direct staff to take any action directly. All disputes must go to the City Manager and will be handled at that level. This does not mean that the City Manager nor Department Heads should Act jump through hoops at City Taxpayers expense to settle personal disputes. Chairman Winkler stated that this is a misuse of staff time and taxpayers money. He stated that if any of the previously mentioned situations had occurred in any other City the newspapers would have been on the situation and that Councilperson would have been called to account for their actions in the papers. 'He stated that he could not understand why this was not the case in this City. CLOSED SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY WINKLER, SECONDED BY WASHBURN AND CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING AT 8:35 P.M. ATTEST: VICKI KASAD, CLERK OF THE BOARD JIM WINKLER, CHAIRMAN REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AGE4:^vA ITEM i+C PAOE --6- OF-(AL-