HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-05-1986 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANAt CALIFORNIA
April 5, 1986
The meeting was convened at 12:23 p.m., in the Newport Room of the
Grand Plaza Hotel, 2726 S. Grand Avenue, Santa Aha. Councilmembers
present were John Acosta, Wilson B. Hart, P. Lee Johnson, Patricia A.
McGuigan, Dan Young and Mayor Daniel E. Griset. Also present were
City Manager Robert C. Bobb, City Attorney Edward J. Cooper, Clerk of
the Council Janice C. Guy, members of the City Manager's Executive
Management staff, and the facilitator for the meeting, Dr. Robert
Jensen, Chancellor, Rancho Santiago Community College. Councilmember
Luxembourger joined the meeting at 12:37 p.m.
Council Workshop
Dr. Jensen previewed the meeting's objectives, indicating two primary
areas for discussion: (1) The setting of FY 86-87 goals to be
reflected in the City's upcoming budget, and (2) providing direction
to staff concerning the processes to be used in meeting those goals.
He indicated discussion would entail political, fiscal, and public
policy programs.
Councilmembers prioritized discussion order of objectives as follows:
1. Neighborhoods/Housing
2. Crime Prevention
3. Transportation
4. Redevelopment
5. Educational Liaisons
6. Community Events
7. Marketing the city
8. Management Issues
Neighborhoods/Housing
The City Manager explained staff's primary objectives in the area of
Neighborhoods/Housing for 1986-87 were to enhance the neighborhood
planning process, to continue the Code Enforcement Program with its
current emphasis, and to introduce a Business Safety Program.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 130 APRIL 5, 1986
Councilmembers expressed concerns regarding the Neighborhood
Improvement Program, including but not limited to the following: the
effectiveness of the current program, whether the program should be
continued, the process of selecting neighborhoods for improvement,
negative reactions by the residents in some areas to the entryway
portals, the need to tailor plans to specific neighborhoods,
infrastructure improvements versus "frills," the possibility of
allowing neighborhood consensus to emerge rather than to have
improvements forced upon them, and the responsible party for deciding
areas to be improved. Councilmembers discussed the components of a
"good" neighborhood, including such items as percentage of rentals,
schools, intrusion of traffic, and neighborhood shopping.
Councilmember Acosta suggested an all-out marketing program of
low-interest loans; Councilme~ber Johnson, a door-to-door canvass to
identify structures in poor condition and to inform residents of
availability of funding.
The City Manager indicated he would provide a revised Neighborhood
Improvement Program to the Council in thirty days which would
incorporate elements suggested by the Council.
By unanimous informal consent, the Council agreed to discuss the Code
Enforcement Program at its April 7 meeting.
Crime Prevention
Assistant City Manager Ray Davis outlined the Police Department's
objectives with regard to crime prevention, indicating a return to
"basics" with the Community Oriented Policing Program, development of
a combined fire/crime prevention inspection program for the coming
fiscal year and continuation of the SWAT/HYPES program at a 50%
staffing level.
The Mayor left the meeting at 1:52 p.m.
Councilmembers discussed concerns relative to crime prevention,
including but not limited to, the West Coast's becoming a main drug
distribution center, the ranking of Santa Ana in Orange County with
regard to narcotics traffic, the source of funding for the
Neighborhood and Downtown Foot Patrol Programs, whether Foot Patrol
would be a line item in the Budget, traffic enforcement of speeding
violations on arterial streets, and Police involvement in traffic
planning.
Councilmember Johnson suggested staff think of expanding the Foot
patrol Program. Councilmembers Hart and Young expressed concern that
tax increment funds were being used for operations purposes.
The City Manager explained expenditure of tax increment funds
required Council approval. He indicated he would provide information
to the Council relative to the funding of the various Police crime
prevention programs.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 131 APRIL 5, 1986
The Council recessed at 2:27 p.m. and reconvened at 2:38 p.m. with
all members present except the Mayor.
Transportation
The City Manager indicated staff would be proceeding with
transportation improvements in the Fashion Square area in the coming
fiscal year, as well as in other redevelopment project areas.
Assistant City Manager Swanson explained that staff had already
maximized the number of traffic improvements that could be made to
the City's arterials, and that arterial widening was the next logical
step to improving traffic flow.
Councilmembers discussed such concerns as the need for additional
left-hand turn intersection signals, the impact of lane width on
traffic flow, driveway cuts of sufficient flatness and width so as
not to impede traffic flow, the need for additional bus bays, the
effectiveness of the City's computerized traffic control system, the
widening of Bristol Street, and development of the Pacific Electric
right-of-way.
The City Manager confirmed that the Council had no interest in public
transportation at this point, and indicated he would provide the
Council with reports relative to traffic accidents, long-range
traffic plans and left-hand turn pockets within the coming week.
Councilmember Johnson suggested the City Manager provide "mini"
reports and address the Council orally during the Council Informal
Discussion period.
Redevelopment
Assistant City Manager Swanson reported that staff had prepared an
updated strategy plan for the City's five redevelopment areas which
had been reviewed by the Redevelopment and Planning Commissions, and
that the completed report would be provided to the Council in
approximately 60 days.
Councilmember Young noted that he and Councilmember Johnson sitting
as the Council Economic Development Committee had met with neighbors
in the North Central area for the purpose of discussing ways of
improving the Bristol/17th Street/Honer Plaza area.
He inquired as to whether the Council would be interested in
establishing an additional redevelopment project area for an area
along the Bristol Street corridor, beginning at Warner running
northward to 17th Street where it would form a "T," and to include
the Riverview golf course.
Following discussion, the Councilmembers agreed that if broad
neighborhood support existed for the establishment of such an area,
the Council might consider such an option, especially in light of the
advantage of more flexible funding allowed through a redevelopment
project as opposed to an assessment district.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 132 APRIL 5, 1986
Councilmembers requested specifics with regard to the $98 million
bond issued for redevelopment projects. The City Manager agreed to
review the bond proceeds first for the Economic Development
Committee, then the Finance Committee, with a final report to the
full Council.
Educational Liaisons
Councilmember Johnson inquired as to the procedure for annexing the
portion of the Garden Grove School District in Santa Ana into the
Santa Ana Unified School District. The City Attorney indicated such
an action would require a vote of the people. Councilmembers agreed
this was an area for individual involvement as opposed to staff.
Since the City had already committed to providing ~8 million in
funding to the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Council agreed
no further discussion was required on this subject at the present
time.
Community/Cultural Facilities/Programs
The City Manager explained that the Community Events Calendar had
been resolved in Council com~ittee which obviated the need for
discussion of this subject. He also indicated staff was pursuing the
possibility of relocating the Zoo to Centennial Park.
Councilmember Johnson suggested staff investigate improving the
appearance of the City's recreation centers. Councilmember McGuigan
urged expanded recreation programming to assist in meeting the needs
of the Santa Ana School District's virtually year-round school
program year.
Councilmember Johnson expressed concern that the School District
planned to locate temporary classrooms in the City's parks.
By the unanimous informal consent of the Council, the remainder of
the discussion items were deferred to the afternoon session of the
April 21 agenda.
Councilmember McGuigan expressed the Council's appreciation to Dr.
Jensen for his services.
At 4:05 p.m. the meeting was adjourned.
//s~a~ice C. Gtty /-- ~/
--Clerk of the Co~fncil ~
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 133 APRIL 5, 1986