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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-18MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 18, 2005 CALLED TO ORDER Council Chambers 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, California 6:03 P.M. ATTENDANCE Councilmembers Present MIGUEL PULIDO, Mayor CLAUDIA ALVAREZ LISA BIST CARLOS BUSTAMANTE MIKE GARCIA JOSE SOLORIO Councilmembers Absent: ALBERTA CHRISTY STAFF Present: DAVE N. REAM, City Manager JOSEPH W. FLETCHER, City Attorney PATRICIA E. HEALY, Clerk of the Council PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MAYOR PULIDO 1. 4th DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL The Mayor announced that Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez was in the audience and wished to speak on this matter. Congresswoman Sanchez addressed the Council in support of the 4th District Court of Appeal remaining in the City of Santa Ana. She noted that it is extremely important to keep the courthouse in the County seat. Every county in the state has their courthouse in the County seat and it would be precedent setting for the court to locate in another city. All the necessary facilities including parking lots and other amenities are here in Santa Ana City Manager David Ream, City Attorney Joseph Fletcher, and Jim Ross, Executive Director, Public Works Agency presented the staff report. Highlights of this report are as follows: • The Court has been located in Santa Ana for twenty three years; currently located at 10`h Street and Spurgeon • In 2000, state allocated money to develop new court building because the Court has outgrown its current location CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 59 FEBRUARY 18, 2005 REVISED 03/04/05 • The State asked the General Services Agency (GSA) to do a site search • GSA looked at sites and came up with 10 sites, 9 in Santa Ana; all ten sites rejected by the judges of the Court due to need for institutional site • Santa Ana proposed site at Ross and Civic Center due to its proximity to other government buildings, courts, and law library. • In July, 2001 the City received a letter from presiding justice David Sills noting that all the judges supported a Civic Center location • In October, 2001 the GSA and the Administrative Office of the Courts contacted the City to begin negotiations on that site In February, 2002, proposal was presented to the State's Public Works Board which has final say in the selection; voted unanimously to approve Santa Ana Site Final agreement was negotiated; City cancelled lease with County on Juvenile Hall facility In October 2002, revised cost estimate was released and City asked to provide more parking spaces; judges felt the parking needed to be more secure In December, 2003, State sought new proposals Santa Ana proposal included a 2 acre site • Site provides sufficient area for two future expansions of new court building • Property sale price is $2.3 million • Construction would be completed by July 2007 300 vehicle, 3 level parking facility • 70 secured spaces on ground floor designated for Appellate Court Staff • 230 spaces on the two remaining elevated levels for general Civic Center parking • Construction cost of the parking structure is $5.3 million and the schedule is 13 months dependent on City Council and State Public Works Board action on purchase /sale agreement • City will demolish the existing Juvenile Hall Building at its own expense ($125,000) • City to provide State with excavated soil from garage construction to "fill" portion of Court site. State responsible for all other site costs including additional fill • City shall relocate the existing transformer that services the sump pump in the parking lot at the corner of Santa Ana Boulevard and Ross Street ($40,000) • City to preserve or replace trees on State parcel City to grant the State exclusive use of the .6 acre ground floor containing 70 spaces valued at approximately $840,000, plus option to lease up to 35 additional spaces in the parking structure at prevailing lease rates Garage design must comply with State security City to pay the first $90,000 for the security measures for the first floor parking, and State to pay any additional security costs • City to pay for the maintenance cost of the first floor of the parking structure ($17,500 annually) CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 60 FEBRUARY 18, 2005 • City and State Shall grant: reciprocal easement for vehicular, pedestrian and emergency access to the Civic Center parking lot from Santa Ana Boulevard; pedestrian and emergency access from Ross Street to the Civic Center parking lot; and, a fire lane between the proposed parking structure and the Court Building Following the staff presentation, the Mayor provided an opportunity for members of the public to address the Council. Orange County Supervisor Lou Correa noted that this is not just about the Court of Appeals moving; this represents the first movement of Santa Ana losing the center of government in Orange County. He further noted that the situation is urgent; the quality of life of Santa Ana and Central Orange County is at stake. Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member Audrey Yamagata -Nogi noted that it is vital to keep the Court in Santa Ana because of accessibility and opportunity. The Court will be located in the center of the Civic Center and will be near the transportation center. The opportunity for students and employment is also greater in Santa Ana. The following individuals also addressed the Council in support of the 4th Court of Appeal remaining in the City of Santa Ana and relocating to the proposed site: Harold Laflamme, Vincent Sarmiento, Tim Whitacre, Pat McGuigan, Rancho Santiago Community College District Boardmember Alfredo Amezcua, Tim Rush, and Steve McGuigan. Speakers emphasized the need to keep the Court in the County seat and suggested that the University of California, Irvine (UCI) should consider locating a law school in Santa Ana. Following public testimony, Council discussion ensued. Councilmembers expressed concern that the proposal process was not an open process and that the proposal from UCI had come late in the process. It was noted that the City's proposal was open and public, but the details of the UCI proposal have not been publicized. Santa Ana's proposal was submitted within the deadline; the UCI proposal was not. Members questioned whether the move to UCI would strengthen the college's position to build a law school on campus and suggested that Santa Ana would be a better location for a law school because of the location of all other courthouses in Santa Ana, the County seat. All members stressed the importance of keeping the 4'h District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana, which is the official seat of government for Orange County. Justice Kathleen O'Leary, Fourth Appellate District addressed the Council and explained the State's process of approval for location on the Court. She noted that she is on the advisory team. She also noted that the ultimate decision would be made by the Judicial Council of California. Additional concerns and comments by Councilmembers include: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 61 FEBRUARY 18, 2005 Councilmember Garcia • Numerous local organizations and civic leaders and citizens support City position • UCI usually leases land and does not normally sell land; proposal from UCI includes the sale of land • Supports idea of law school in Santa Ana • Asked city staff to prepare a chronological deal point summary of the history of the City's proposal to be presented to the State Mayor Pro Tern Bist • Need to make statement that we want the Court in Santa Ana and that we submitted proposal within the stated deadline; there was no timely proposal from UCI • Issues coming from politics not good public policy • Costs will increase if negotiations are delayed • Expressed concern that State Senator Joe Dunn has not supported the City's proposal Councilmember Solorio • Encouraged residents to sign petition supporting City's proposal and also encouraged residents to call State legislators • Need support of Senator Dunn; court would be in his district • Suggested that the Grand Jury might look at the selection process • Asked City staff to make video copies of the Special meeting and send to Senator Dunn and Assemblyman Tom Umberg Council member Alvarez • Process is very political; twice selected as site for the Court; there have been several delays in process • Emphasized that it is imperative that Senator Dunn commit to the City's proposal and declare his support Councilmember Bustamante • City has negotiated in good faith; proposal has been open • City has not been allowed to see the UCI proposals • City has lost revenue due to belief that the we would retain the Court of Appeal • South County should not be allowed to pick and choose where projects located Mayor Pulido • Santa Ana is County seat; moving Court of Appeal would be devastating because it undermines the integrity of what the Civic Center stands for • Court rooms should be located where they can serve the public • Unfair to pit the City against UCI • Invited members of the public to volunteer to serve on a committee to help lobby on behalf of the city on this issue CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 62 FEBRUARY 18, 2005 Motion: Direct staff to take all steps necessary to ensure that the Court of Appeal remains in the City of Santa Ana including preparation of a letter to the jurisdictions responsible for making the final determination in the selection process MOTION: Alvarez VOTE: AYES: SECOND: Bist Alvarez, Bist, Bustamante, Garcia, Solorio, Pulido (6) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT ADJOURNMENT: 7:36 P.M. Patricia E. Healy Clerk of the Council Christy (1) Note: A DVD copy of the Special Meeting in its entirely is included as part of the meeting record maintained by the Clerk of the Council CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 63 FEBRUARY 18, 2005