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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-26-1998 - Special MeetingCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Special Meeting May 26, 1998 - 4:00 p.m. W113 ! ROLL CALL Present: Debay, Glover, Noyes, Mayor Edwards Absent: Thomson, O'Neil, Hedges CURRENT BUSINESS 1. PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR THE 1998 -99 FISCAL YEAR. City Manager Murphy stated that this meeting represents the second study session of the 1998 -99 City budget, and announced that today's meeting would provide an overview of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). City Manager Murphy reminded the City Council that if they wanted to review any items in more detail, to identify the item for the Budget Checklist, staff would do additional research on the item and it would be discussed at the City Council's second meeting in June, 1998. • Public Works Director Webb acknowledged Public Works Administrative Manager Romero - Serlet for the creation of the Capital Improvement Program document. Public Works Director Webb stated that the 1997 -98 Capital Improvement Program totaled approximately $23.8 million, and that the 1998 -99 program is expected to be $23.4 million. He explained that not all requests submitted by the departments, which totaled over $31.5 million, were approved for the 1998 -99 Capital Improvement Program. Public Works Director Webb stated that the largest program being included in the CIP, that was not included in prior years', is the Pavement Rehabilitation Program, and explained that pavement rehabilitation is divided into three categories: slurry seal, overlay and reconstruction. Public Works Director Webb stated that the Pavement Rehabilitation Program for the 1998 -99 CIP totals approximately $4.5 million, with $1 million for slurry seal, $1.4 million for overlay and the remainder for pavement reconstruction projects. Public Works Director Webb discussed the technical differences in repairing concrete streets versus asphalt streets. The cost difference is $4-5 million a mile to reconstruct a concrete street, whereas reconstruction of an asphalt street is $600,000 per mile. Council Member Glover stated that she felt that concrete streets were cooler and quieter than asphalt streets. Public Works Director Webb agreed that Volume 52 - Page 35 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes . May 26, 1998 INDEX the debate exists, because concrete streets are more expensive to construct but need less repair. In the long run, Public Works Director Webb feels that concrete streets still cost a little more. City Manager Murphy added that the Pavement Management Program identifies the long -term program for asphalt and that the Public Works Director plans to put together a similar program for concrete streets. Mayor Edwards requested that a schedule for when repairs are to take place be provided to the council members so that their districts can be appropriately informed. Public Works Director Webb stated that the rest of the Capital Improvement Program is broken down into a couple other major projects, and highlighted the need to make some storm drain improvements and prepare a master plan. Mayor Edwards asked how dependent the CIP is on the improved economy. City Manager Murphy stated that, in past years when additional money was available in the General Fund, an increase in CIP spending was made in facilities maintenance, and to additional road work, park maintenance and streetlights. • Council Member Glover asked if the 1998.99 budget took into account the possible loss of the Vehicle License Fee (VLF) money, being considered by the State. City Manager Murphy stated that, at the time the budget was drafted, it did not appear that the issue would have an impact. Since that time, the City Manager has asked the departments to draft a plan assuming the loss of the VLF money. Public Works Director Webb continued listing some of the other major projects in the 1998 -99. CIP, including the streetlight conversion program and master plan, street tree program, the 800 MHz system, the strategic information system, upgrading the software and hardware for the Building Department, the document imaging system, and the Bonita Creek and Freeway Reservation parks. Public Works Director Webb mentioned that the majority of the money in the Community Development Block Grant Fund is going towards Peninsula Revitalization programs, and that money in the Water and Wastewater funds was primarily going towards master plan projects. Council Member Glover asked if the opening of the beach at the Rhine Channel was included in the 1998 -99 CIP. Public Works Director Webb stated that money for the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) could be applied towards the problem at the Rhine Channel, but that the cause of the pollution at that end of the bay has not • been determined. Volume 52 - Page 36 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes • May 26, 1998 li�i7�:1 Public Works Director Webb discussed some of the projects listed in the Cooperative Projects section of the CIP. Mayor Edwards opened the matter for questions from the City Council. City Manager Murphy and Public Works Director Webb confirmed for Council Member Glover that the City Hall Electrical Upgrade project would need to be done regardless of what is recommended in the City Hall needs assessment study. City Manager Murphy, responding to Council Member Glover's question, answered that the Jamboree Road / Bayview Way Landscaping project includes the trees on Jamboree and Bayview and that there is not a specific plan yet. City Manager Murphy explained that the Lower Big Canyon/Fletcher Jones Mitigation and Lower Big Canyon Exotic Plant Removal projects are both obligations of the City. Public Works Director Webb responded to Council Member Glover's question regarding the Freeway Reservation Park project and defined a par course as a fitness course. • Council Member Glover asked what the Parking Management Implementation/BPPAC project accomplished. City Manager Murphy stated that the study is already underway and that this project allows the recommendations to be implemented in the 1998 -99 Fiscal year, subject to Council approval. In response to Council Member Glover's question, Public Works Director Webb said that a study is being conducted to provide direction on what can be done to improve oil development in the area, and that the Oil Field Improvement Program project will allow the City to improve its production once that study is completed. Council Member Glover requested that the language in the Gas Remediation Program project description be changed to include areas other than just West Newport. City Manager Murphy confirmed for Council Member Glover that the money allocated to the Fire Department Office Centralization project would not be spent until the City Hall needs assessment study is completed. Community Services Director Kienitz, responding to Council Member Glover's question about the Library Improvements project, stated that a detailed listing of what the project includes is available through Community Services but that approximately half of the money will go to the Mariners • Branch Library. Volume 52 - Page 37 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes • May 26, 1998 INDEX Public Works Director Webb stated that the City Council would set the priorities for the Traffic Signal Installation and Upgrade project, and that the recommendations would include new signals as well as upgrades. Council Member Glover confirmed with Public Works Director Webb that developers would pay for part of new signal installations. Council Member Glover stated her support for the Pavement Management Program Preventive Maintenance Citywide Slurry Program project. Mayor Edwards asked about the $50,000 being allocated to the Beach Replenishment Program project, and Public Works Director Webb stated that this amount is part of an on -going program. Mayor Edwards stated that he has received complaints about North Bay on Balboa Island and Morning Canyon in the Shorecliffs area. Public Works Director Webb stated that Morning Canyon is a private beach. Council Member Debay stated that she has also received complaints about the beaches in Newport Shores, and the sand at the street ends. Public Works Director Webb stated that the City does maintain the street ends. Council Member Noyes asked if the City Hall Corporation Yard and Beach Restrooms project included the additional money set aside last year for the • cleaning of the beach restrooms. City Manager Murphy explained that the cleaning and the supplemental cleaning of the restrooms are part of the General Services budget, and not the CIP. Council Member Noyes confirmed with Public Works Director Webb that the City is budgeting $67,500 for the Newport Theatre Arts Center project, and that the remaining $90,000 is coming in as a contribution from the Friends of the Theatre Arts Center. Council Member Noyes stated that he felt that the Street Light Replacement Program was being funded at too low a level. City Manager Murphy confirmed that the $250,000 being budgeted is well below the $750,000 recommended annually in a plan developed in the early 1990's. Council Member Noyes stated his concern about the Balboa Pier Parking Lot and Main Street Pedestrian Access project, and suggested that a better project could maybe be done with the money from the Off - Street Parking fund. He thought the money should be budgeted more generally, and requested that this item be placed on the Budget Checklist. Council Member Noyes also requested that the Street Light Replacement Program be placed on the Budget Checklist. Council Member Noyes requested that the money spent in 1997 -98 for the Back Bay Dredging be included in the summary of the 1998 -99 budget, to • show what was spent the prior year. Volume 52 - Page 38 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes • May 26, 1998 INDEX City Manager Murphy confirmed for Council Member Noyes that money is not being budgeted in the CIP for Marine Yacht Basin deferred maintenance. Council Member Noyes requested that this be placed on the Budget Checklist. Council Member Noyes requested that the proposal from Irvine Terrace for the beautification of Bayside Drive be placed on the Budget Checklist, per the request of Mayor Pro Tem O'Neil. Council Member Debay asked if money could be budgeted to improve water quality at the beach at the end of River Street. Public Works Director Webb stated that there is a problem with the water quality in that area, but that it has not been determined why the problem exists and that the County Health Department is the appropriate agency to check the problem. Council Member Glover agrees that the West Newport Channel area needs to be improved. Council Member Debay commended staff for setting aside money in the 1999 -2000 budget for the Caltrans West Park project. City Manager Murphy provided additional information to Council Member Noyes about the Marine Yacht Basin, by stating that the minimal ongoing • cost of maintaining the Yacht Basin is included in the budget detail. Council Member Glover requested four items be placed on the Budget Checklist: 1) education program and enforcement for all closed beaches, including West Newport; 2) median improvements at Coast Highway and Dover, and Irvine Avenue from 17kh Street to Costa Mesa; 3) flag holders on the new Arches Bridge and on the Bay Bridge; and 4) Newport Boulevard/Hoag Hospital Retaining Wall Panel Treatment. City Manager Murphy recommended that staff provide the City Council with alternatives for the retaining wall, and that the City Council provide guidance. PUBLIC COMMENTS Val Skoro, 1601 Bayadere Terrace, President of the Irvine Terrace Homeowners Association, urged the City Council to include the Bayside Drive Beautification/Enhancement project in the 1998 -99 budget. Mr. Skoro provided pictures of the site. He feels that the site should be improved for several reasons, including 1) a retaining wall would provide a buffer for dirt entering the street during storms; and 2) landscaping could enhance the entrance to Balboa Island, which could increase tourism. ADJOURNMENT - 5:30 p.m. Volume 52 - Page 39 City of Newport Beach City Council Minutes • May 26, 1998 • L The agenda for the Special Meeting was posted on May 21, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. Recording SecretAry Mayor Pro Tern � 19 f� City Clerk Volume 52 - Page 40 INDEX