HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-1993 Adopted CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING - April 12, 1993
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Dublin was held
on Monday, April 12, 1993, in the Council Chambers of the Dublin Civic
Center. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m., by Mayor
Snyder.
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ROLL CALL
PRESENT'.
ABSENT:
Councilmembers Burton, Houston, Howard and .Mayor Snyder
Councilmember Moffatt
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (610-20)
Mayor Snyder led the Council, Staff and those present in the pledge of
allegiance to the flag.
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PROCLAMATION (610-50)
Mayor Snyder read a proclamation declaring the week of April 18-24,
1993 as National Library Week and encouraged all residents to use
their library for the purpose of improving their lives.
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PROCLAMATION (610-50)
Mayor Snyder read a proclamation declaring April 1993 as Earthquake
Preparedness Month and encouraged all citizens to enhance their
knowledge and awareness of proper safety measures to follow before,
during, and after an earthquake.
The proclamation was presented to Rose Macias, Community Safety
AsSistant. Ms. Macias stated it is important for neighborhoods to get
organized, because in the event of a major earthquake or disaster, it
may be necessary for people to take care of themselves for the first
24 hours or so.
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Budget Cuts (330-20)
Frank Ruskey addressed the Council and stated he wanted to talk about
parity of government costs compared to private industry. He stated he
was sure that the Council knew about the crunch all across California.
He discussed the history of what has happened to wages for crane
operators and mechanics; they have taken a 20% drop in wages. Things
are getting worse rather than better. California's wages are on a
decline, but government wages are not on a decline.
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The City has not made any corrective action to come back in line with
parity. It is time for the City Council to take a look at reducing
costs to run the City. He did not feel that it was unreasonable to
decrease the City Manager's salary by 5%. He explained that this had
nothing to do with individuality, but questioned how much the
taxpayers can keep affording to pay. He knew this was a tough
decision, but private industry has had to do it. He asked the City
Council to seriously study a 5% cut for all employees of the City.
This would include the Police and Fire Departments. He has been
involved with contract negotiations and knew there were ways to get
around the City's contract situation. There are services that have
been cut that the people must live with, so he felt it was only right
that salaries be cut so that everybody is the same.
Mr. Ruskey explained that this was not just him talking; people are
discussing it everywhere.
CONSENT CALENDAR
On motion of Cm. Houston, seconded by Cm. Howard, and by unanimous
vote (Cm. Moffatt absent), the Council took the following actions:
Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 22; Adjourned Regular
Meeting of March 23; and Adjourned Regular Meeting of March 30, 1993;
Authorized the Mayor to execute a termination agreement with Jones
Hall Hill & White and a substitution agreement with Ernst & Young
related to Rebate Calculation Services for the 1988 Certificates of
Participation (340-70 & 600-30);
Received the City Treasurer's Investment Report as of March 31, 1993
(320-30);
Authorized Staff to solicit bids for two marked Police patrol vehicles
and solicit bids for transfer/replacement of emergency equipment and
detailing (350-20);
Adopted
RESOLUTION NO. 38 - 93
AWARDING CONTRACT 93-05 STREET SUBDRAINS ($72,378) TO
BETCHART'AND NORWOOD, INC. (600-30)
and authorized Staff to increase the Scope of Work to include work
that was tentatively programmed for 1993-94, not to exceed the 1992-93
Budget;
Approved Warrant Register in the amount of $592,318.61 (300-40);
Received the March 1993 Financial Report (330-50).
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IMAGES HOMES DIRECTIONAL SIGN COMPLAINT TRACT 5074 (400-30)
City Attorney Silver advised that at the March 22, 1993 City Council
meeting, Mr. Peter Baldo complained regarding the Images Directional
Tract Sign that was placed in his single-family neighborhood at 7753
Barn Hollow Court.
Ms. Silver discussed the background of the placement of this sign, and
advised that after researching the issue, it does not appear that
there are any viable options for the City council to remove the sign
at this time. The CUP is valid until February 27, 1995, or until the
last lot or home is sold, whichever occurs first. The Sign Ordinance
does provide for summary removal of illegal signs, but this sign does
not fit within any of the definitions of an illegal sign at this time.
Also, amending the Sign Ordinance would not affect this particular
sign.
Cm. Burton clarified that there is no indication in the present
Ordinance that the notice has to show where the sign is; it only gives
an address. He asked if Staff could make it a point in the future to
put exactly where the Sign is going to be, with some kind of a
diagram.
Planning Director Tong advised that a complete application was
submitted indicating the location of where the sign was to be located
on the site. With regard to a diagram, this would involve a
considerable amount of posting. Notices are mailed to people within
300', it is posted on the site, Plus notice is published in the
newspaper. A diagram would probably be more costly to applicants.
Mayor Snyder stated he is sympathetic with Mr. Baldo, and suggested
that in the future, some type of location description be provided to
the property owners.
Cm. Burton stated while he did feel the builders need to have signs,
perhaps Staff could take steps to avoid this type of a situation in
the future. If a sign has a location different than the address
indicated, this is important.
The Council received the report, but took no action.
SIDEWALK REPAIR POLICY - FISCAL YEAR 1992-93 (820-40)
Public Works Director Thompson presented the Staff Report and advised
that the bid opening for the Sidewalk Repair Program fOr Fiscal Year
1992-93 has been delayed until April 19th so that the City Council may
determine whether the 1992-93 project will be funded by the City or by
property owners.
Mr. Thompson stated the Street Improvement Act of 1911 provides that
adjacent property owners are responsible for the upkeep of the
sidewalk which fronts their properties. The City has had a Sidewalk
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Regular Meeting April 12, 1993
Repair Program since 1983 which has funded approximately $40,000
annually in repairs. The policy has been renewed on an annual basis
at the time that the sidewalk repair project was advertised for bids.
Staff requested direction as to whether the change in the policy will
commence in 1992-93 or in 1993-94. Staff recommended that the change
in policy be made effective for 1993-94. An article could be placed
in the upcoming issue of the City Newsletter and press releases for
local publication could also be generated in order to inform the
public of this change.
Cm. Burton felt that because the citY has been doing this annuallY,
there must be a reduced number that need to be repaired.
Mr. Thompson advised that the City has done this program since 1983
and it usually runs about $50,000 per year for the repairs. We still
get a lot of offsets.
Cm. Burton asked when the property owners have to do it, if the City
will still instigate it. He questioned how the process will work.
Mr. Thompson stated City Staff gets reports from people calling in,
and once a year, the City goes around and does a survey. These
locations are then put on the program for repair.
Mr. Ambrose clarified that it would still be up to the City to notify
people,of a deficient condition with their sidewalk.
Cm. Burton asked what the time period would be between notification
and when repairs have to be done.
Mr. Thompson advised that Staff had reviewed some other cities and the
average time is 14 days. We could give a longer period of time, and
it may be cheaper for residents if they go through the City for the
work.
Cm. Burton asked how the City will collect the money.
Mr. Thompson advised that a policy will be set up. We will either
take the money up front or bill the property owner and then if the
City doesn't get paid, we will have to put a lien on the property.
Cm. Burton asked if there is a fine process for not making needed
repairs.
Mr. Thompson stated there was not; it just increases the liability for
everyone.
Jerry Kekos asked if an individual has to repair their sidewalk, will
they have to get a permit?
Mr. Thompson responded yes, they will need a permit.
Mr. Kekos suggested waiving thee permit.
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Regular Meeting April 12, 1993
Mr. Thompson stated this is part of what the overall policy will deal
with.
Mr. Kekos stated he objected to this.
Frank Ruskey stated he has a tree in front of his house which was
planted years ago, back during planting days and he prunes it every
year and pays for it. He also repaired his sidewalk last year and
paid for it. He had a bill for about $60 and asked if he could submit
it to the City for reimbursement, since the City repaired other
people's sidewalks.
Mayor Snyder adVised that the City was never responsible, and for the
City to go back and pay bills for things he voluntarily did would be
inapprOpriate.
Mr. Ambrose stated it had to be identified through the inspection
program as hazardous.
Mr. Ruskey stated this made sense.
On motion.of Cm. Burton, seconded by cm. Howard, and by unanimous vote
(Cm. Moffatt absent), the Council adopted
RESOLUTION NO. 39 - 93
ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR THE REPAIR OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
DEEMED TO BE PEDESTRIAN HAZARDS
The Council also directed Staff to prepare a policy for Fiscal Year
1993-94 requiring property owners to repair their own frontage
sidewalk improvements in conformance with the State Streets and
Highways Code.
Cm. Burton asked that Staff make sure to let people know about this.
Mr. Thompson stated an article will be put in the City's Newsletter.
ANNUAL TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORT &
DOWNTOWN INTERSECTION MONITORING REPORT (590-80)
Carl Springer with TJKM presented a summary of the information
contained in TJKM's report, A tOtal of 232 reported accidents
occurred in 1992, 18 of Which were injury accidents. The total number
of accidents in 1992 is slightly higher than the 1991 total, but about
7% lower than the average of the 3 previous years. Property damage
accidents are 9% higher than the 3-year average, but recorded injury
accidents are 67% lower.~ A change in the definition of and recording
of injury accidents may haVe contributed to the apparent decrease.
Previously, if the person(s) involved in an accident complained of
pain, the accident was termed an "injury" accident by Dublin Police
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Regular Meeting April 12, 1993
Services. The terminology has been changed so that if persons did not
receive medical attention, they were not considered to be "injured".
Intersections and street segments were analyzed which had accident
rates exceeding the State average. The Dublin Boulevard/San Ramon
Road intersection had 11 accidents in 1992, and 61,125 vehicles per
day entering the intersection. The accident rate at this intersection
is lower than the State of California accident rate. The Amador
Valley BoUlevard/Dougherty Road intersectiOn had 6 accidents in 1992,
but only 14,200 vehicles per day entered the intersection. Nine other
intersections were reviewed in the report. A recommendation was made
to trim the bushes on the northwest corner of the Dougherty Road/
Amador Valley Boulevard intersection to improve sight distance and
then to continue to monitor this intersection. The work was to have
been completed prior to the Council meeting.
With regard to the Downtown Intersection Monitoring Report, 5
intersections have been monitored annually since 1987. The Level of
Service (LOS) at San Ramon Road/Amador Valley Boulevard stayed the
same as the previous year. The LOS at Dublin Boulevard/Dougherty Road
was improved over the previous year, possibly due to motorists trying
to avoid this intersection due to construction. The 3 other
intersections monitored became more congested from the previous year,
which could be due to normal areawide development.
Of the 5 intersections studied, only 1 of them, San Ramon Road/Dublin
Boulevard, is operating below the City's LOS standard of
acceptability. The Dublin Boulevard widening project which is
included in the City's Five-Year Capital Improvement Program,. would
increase capacity at this intersection and thereby improve its LOS.
Cm. Burton asked if there were any intersections that Police action
could improve, such as the Dougherty Road/Dublin Boulevard right turn
on red from the far right lane.
Mr. Springer stated the accidents are mostly due to people being
inattentive. He did not feel it was a Police enforcement issue.
Janet Lockhart stated she noted that qUite often when you're stopped
at the light at San Ramon Road/Dublin Boulevard headed west, people
coming over the overpass are going so fast they will go right through
the intersection. An Officer sitting near the Chevron Station could
probably do very well.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:20 p.m., the Council recessed to a closed executive session to
discuss Pending Litigation (640-30), City of Dublin vs. County of
Alameda (Measure D), in accordance with Government Code Section
54956.9(a) .
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the
meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
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