MINUTES

REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

FEBRUARY 26, 2008 - 6:00 p.m.

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

The regular meeting of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency of the City of Highland was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Mayor Lilburn at the Donahue Council Chambers, 27215 Base Line, Highland, California.

 

The invocation was given by Reverend Mark Rush of Immanuel Baptist Church and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman McCallon.

 

ROLL CALL

 

            Present:          Jones, McCallon, Scott, Timmer, Mayor Lilburn

            Absent:           None

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Mayor Lilburn presented Tom Neely with a Proclamation proclaiming City Council’s congratulations on his promotion to Captain and for his dedicated work to the City of Highland.

 

COMMUNITY INPUT

 

Ms. Ursula Walsh stated she is present this evening to recognize staff for their efforts.  Dennis Barton, Vince Moreno, Melissa Morgan and Mayor Lilburn are to be credited for making the Highland Run 2008 event a success. 

 

Mr. Jack Jennings stated he resides on Royce Lane and his issue started in December of 2007.  The family who resides across the street from him has parked an unregistered motorhome in front of their home.  Another family has continuously used garbage bags instead of cans for removal of trash.  Mr. Jaquess should be recognized for his efforts in the city.

 

Ms. Pat Coffee stated she is going to recite a letter in which Council also has copies of.  Frustration has stemmed from school district eminent domain threat to current zoning issues.  However, the ongoing concern is the lack of information available to Council Members regarding the challenges posed to the Coffee Family.  She is the trustee of 8.3 acres which is rapidly declining from lack of use.   Another concern is the commercial portion of the land was not addressed in the General Plan update, only residential use was considered. 

 

 

 

CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR

 

A MOTION was made by Councilman Timmer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, to approve the consent calendar as submitted.  Motion carried on a roll call vote, 5-0, with Councilwoman Scott abstaining from Item #2.

 

1.         Waive the Reading of All Ordinances

Waived the reading of all Ordinances in their entirety and read by title only.

 

2.            Minutes - January 22, 2008 City Council Regular Meeting

Approved Minutes as submitted. 

 

3.         Claim Consideration - Eric Vinson

Rejected claim. 

 

4.            Warrant Register

Approved Warrant Register No. 457 for February 26, 2008, in the amount of $1,946,929.63 and Payroll of $68,981.28. 

 

5.            Treasurer’s Report for January 2008

Received and filed Treasurer’s Report for January 2008. 

 

6.         Award of Bid Number 2007-20 “Themed Puppet Performance and Memory Game Unit” for the Highland Sam Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center to Universal Exhibits

Awarded Bid Number 2007-20 “Themed Puppet Performance and Memory Game Unit” for the Highland Sam Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center to Universal Exhibits.

 

7.            Easement Acceptance/9th Street - East Valley Water District

1. Accepted the Grant of Easement for Road and Drainage purposes from East Valley Water District; and

2. Directed the City Clerk to record the Grant of Easement.

 

8.            Easement Acceptance/Hillview Street Sidewalk Project

1. Accepted the Grants of Easement for Road and Drainage purposes from B. Dunn, Jose Plascencia, Jose Cervacio, Faustino Villegas and Silvia Solano; and

2. Directed the City Clerk to record the Grants of Easement. 

 

9.            Easement Acceptance/Bruce Street Sidewalk Project

1. Accepted the Grant of Easement for Road and Drainage purposes from Efren Ochoa; and

2. Directed the City Clerk to record the Grants of Easement.

 

 

 

 

10.            Amendment to Engineering Contract with Engineering Resources of Southern California

Approved Addendum No. 8 with Engineering Resources of Southern California to reflect a change in the fee schedule. 

 

11.       2008 Highland Community Trails Day Event

Approved Saturday, April 19, 2008, (with a rain date of April 26, 2008) as the date for the Fourteenth Annual Highland Community Trails Day Event and the use of the East Highlands Ranch Master Homeowners Association’s “Spring Lake” as the staging area for the event. 

 

12.            Preparation of Annual Engineer’s Reports for 2008/2009 Assessments

1. Adopted Resolution No. 2008-003 order the preparation of an Engineer’s Report for Consolidated Landscape and Lighting District No. 96-1; and

2. Adopted Resolution No. 2008-004 ordering the preparation of an Engineer’s Report for Street and Drainage Maintenance District 96-1. 

 

13.            Resolution No. 2008-005, a Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of Grant Applications to the California Integrated Waste Management Board

Adopted Resolution No. 2008-005 authorizing the submittal of applicable Grant Applications to the California Integrated Waste Management Board that the City is eligible for and authorize the City Manager or his/her designee to execute Grant Documents on its behalf.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2008-005

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

HIGHLAND AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS TO

THE CALIFORNIA INTERGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD

 

CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING

 

14.       Public Hearing on the Allocation of the City of Highland’s Community Development Block Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2008-2009

 

Mayor Lilburn stated she would be able to participate in the city portion of this item but not the public services portion as she would have an conflict of interest because she is the Executive Director of the Highland Senior Center and is applying for funds. 

 

A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilman Timmer, to separate the items from the Community Development Block Grant projects to City projects and public services projects. Motion carried, 5-0.

 

Mayor Lilburn opened the public hearing.

 

Economic Development Specialist Stater stated the city’s allocation for the next fiscal year for the County of San Bernardino is going to be $425,294.   It is a slight decrease from last year.  Really what that means, as the Council is well aware of, is the maximum amount that can be allocated towards public service is 15%.  Not to say you have to use that 15% for public service but should you use the maximum, it will be $63,794 which will leave the remaining amount for construction which is $361,500.  The city received nineteen applications, 16 were for public service and the other 3 were for construction.  All three were city projects.  The city’s projects are listed on page two of the staff report.  Code Enforcement continuation of funding for a Code Compliance Officer and part time clerk, neighborhood revitalization for the Economic Development position and street improvements for the streets of Fisher, Elm, Bryon, Newberry, Jane and Millar.  Included in the staff report are a few tables which could be of use.  On page 23 and 24 are the last 11 years of CDBG allocations showing what the Council has allocated to which projects and then also on page 26 and 27 are tables which show all of the eligible funding projects for this fiscal year and they are broken into construction projects on page 26 and public service on page 27. 

 

Mayor Lilburn closed the public hearing and opened the floor for Council discussion.

 

Councilman Timmer stated these are projects we have been funding for a long time and are important to the city.  He would recommend Council continue funding for three projects.  For the record we should give the numbers.  34024 which is the revitalization for $25,000, we fund that at the full amount and the 34025 code enforcement inspection for the target areas be funded at the full amount of $84,933 and the street improvements, obviously we don’t have enough funding to do the full amount so the balance would be 34023 in the amount of $251,514 which gives a total of $361,500.00.  This would be his motion.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated on the revitalization and the improvements, would they have to go under the non-public service.

 

Economic Development Specialist Stater stated that is how they are categorized by HUD.

 

Councilman McCallon stated for clarification, if you assume that we are going to do the 15% of the $63,000 for a round number, subtracting that from the $425,294, leaves $358,974.

 

Councilman Timmer stated he was going with staff’s numbers on page 26.  It talks about funding.  It states available funding for construction project $361,500.

 

Mayor Lilburn inquired if there is a typo in the numbers.

 

Economic Development Specialist Stater stated she will confirm right now.  She is showing 15% of the $425,294 is $63,794 for public service. 

 

Councilman McCallon stated he just took $63,000 and subtracted the $358,794.

 

Economic Development Specialist Stater stated the total allocation is $425,294. 

 

A MOTION was made by Councilman Timmer, seconded by Councilwoman Scott, to allocate the City of Highland’s Community Development Block Grant funds in the following manner, item #34024 Neighborhood Revitalization Program in the amount of $25,053, item #34025 Code Enforcement in Target Areas in the amount of $84,933 and item #34023 Street Improvements on Fisher, Elm, Bryon, Newberry, Jane and Millar streets in the amount of $251,514, for a grand total of $361,500.00. Motion carried, 5-0.

 

Mayor Lilburn left the dais due to a conflict of interest.

 

Mayor Pro Tem Jones opened the public hearing.

 

Mr. Marty Steinbrecher stated he is the President of the Highland Senior Center.  As Board President he wanted to take this opportunity to update the Council and staff on the center’s current and ongoing activities.  Historically, the City Council has continued to financially support the center with CDBG funds.  As you know, the Highland Senior Center receives no funding through the city’s general budget, therefore, making these funds extremely vital to the center.  With that being said the center continues to be recognized as the largest most active senior center around.  This is due to the many quality of life programs the center continues to offer.  Said programs include quality of life programs, physical fitness and social.  As you know, this year we were able to add a senior water aerobics program.  This has been really popular with some days up to 30 participants in the pool.  Daily exercise classes including yoga, aerobics, tai chi and many others.  We also have transportation assistance where we provide transportation for seniors to doctor appointments, pharmacies, hair appointments, grocery shopping and other vital appointments.  Also, a senior nutritional daily lunch program and senior university classes which are filled.  During this past year, the center has over 87,000 senior participants in as many activities between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  Those numbers do not include all the nightly activities and service groups that use the facility on a regular basis.  Each Council Member is mailed our monthly newsletter and hope they take the opportunity to read about what’s going on with our wonderful programs and activities we have to offer.  Although there are newer senior centers in the surrounding communities, our center remains to be the most active and largest participating senior center in the Inland Empire and the only senior center who offers transportation assistance, visitors program and phone pal program.  Again, he would like to thank Council for their continued support of the senior center and ask to please continue the much needed funds requested.


Ms. Linda Brian stated she attends the Highland Senior Center on a regular basis.  Her husband has passed away and because of the Highland Senior Center and their support it has helped a great deal.  Her son is grateful for the senior center as he knows she is being taken care of and that she has a place to go.  Without the Center, people like her wouldn’t have a place to go and she appreciates it.

 

Ms. Karen Kieckhafer stated she is the Literary Specialist at the San Bernardino County Highland Branch Library.  The Highland Branch Library provides free literacy services to those in need including one on one tutoring.  The mission of the Highland library literacy program is to provide free individualized literacy services and materials to our patrons, community members and their families in a non- threatening confidential center environment.  Our literacy programs trains our volunteers to work with the adult learners, we assess the adult learners that are seeking help and we devise a plan to help them meet their goals.  We then match the learner with a tutor and the tutor and learner then meet once a week, usually for about an hour to work on the learners goals.  We provide on-going support for our tutors and learners and we continue to educate our tutors’ to help their students.  The various literacy materials that we have available at the library includes reading, writing, math and spelling workbooks that are especially geared for adults.  We do not use children materials.  We use materials that are geared for adults.  We also have English language improvement material, US Citizenship, GED and career materials.  Recent statistics estimate that there are over 10 million adults in California who cannot read or write.  For San Bernardino County, it is estimated that there are 325,000 adults.  Again, that’s not children, it is adults that cannot read or write.  The estimate shows that nearly half those adults with the low literacy skills live in poverty.  So, this program at the library has successfully enriched those lives of those that participate in it while helping them become self sufficient and active participants in their community.  Because of the literacy program learners have been able to get new jobs with higher pay by using the literacy skills acquired from the free tutoring.  In just the past year alone, we have been able to help 16 adults and currently have 8 adults on our waiting list so we already met our goals for this fiscal year.  Once we move to the new building, she is expecting those numbers to greatly increase since we will have a literacy office and a dedicated literacy lab with computers and also study rooms.  This will greatly enhance the tutoring experience. This year marks our 23rd year in providing literacy services thanks in part to the continued support from the City of Highland.  This program has been providing and will continue to provide a viable community service to the City of Highland.  Our program is making a difference in the lives of our community members and we hope to continue to make an impact in the years to come. 


Ms. Michelle Williamson stated she is President of the new season for Central Little League.  Central Little League is starting its 4th season at the new field.  With the CDBG fund that we have received the last few years, it has brought many new children to our league that otherwise would not have been able to play because of the lower income that we are in.  Central Little League is based on the corner of Central and Hibiscus which, of course, through Little League boundaries, we do have the lower income children in our area which we would never turn them away due to funds.  However, with the fee waiver, with the CDBG fund she is glad to say we have a lot of children playing.  Parents sometimes just won’t come because they don’t think they can afford it.  We do advertise it and this year she thinks they did a better job of advertising it.  The children are very, very grateful for our funds that we are able to do for the registration.  Again, she wants to thank Council for considering us and honoring them for the last four seasons here.  Central Little League has been here since 1953 and it means a lot to her.  She takes pride in Central Little League as Ms. Lilburn does in her Senior Center.  She does appreciate it because she loves seeing those little kids out there playing ball.  If they’re not on our fields, they are somewhere else and, if for three months of the season we can keep them out of trouble, it is worth it to her.

 

Ms. Ursula Walsh stated she is here to tell the Council about what the YMCA has been doing.  Although we have been receiving CDBG funds for quite a few years, in the past year we have made a lot of changes.  As you know, our full facility opened up which has allowed some new collaborations with the Highland Senior Center and with Central Little League.  She thinks that’s where their focus and purpose is starting to grow to.  They definitely see themselves as a community resource but she thinks this is the first year they have been able to get out and start seeing what the community needs.  This fall they presented a Halloween at the YMCA where they had community members come in.  We had over 500 kids and families show up so that was a good thing and a bad thing.  We had a good time but we were a little nervous.  We also collaborated with different local community service agents like the Kiwanis with the Breakfast with Santa or local kids at the school as well as Patton State Hospital with low income children coming in for breakfast with Santa and, of course, motorcycles and all kinds of fun and exciting things. Our next big event is going to be happening in March with the kickoff of Central Little League and their events will be doing an Easter Egg Hunt for the community.  Certainly we are providing swim lessons and youth sport activities from preschool all the way through seniors as well.  She is really seeing them moving into a direction to get involved more with the community.  Certainly get the marketing out there and let people know that we really are there and we are a resource but also a big plan for us.  Most importantly we are putting a big emphasis on our teen involvement.  We do have a lot of teens that try to come into the YMCA but haven’t joined the YMCA so, were putting a big emphasis on putting in a teen center this spring and that’s going to be probably one of our main advocates for what we’re going to be doing.  We think the middle school aged through High School is a huge need especially the middle school.  With having the teen center and some homework and some leadership opportunities as well as the other activities programs, it’s going to really make a big influence on that particular area as well as our community. 

 

Ms. Paula Rae Espinoza stated she is a Board Member with San Bernardino Housing Neighborhood Housing Services and the proposal they have before you tonight is for the provision of foreclosure prevention counseling.  As we all know foreclosure, the country is in a foreclosure crisis and we were asked by HUD to become a housing certified foreclosure center.  So, we sent our staff and some Board Members to get this training and now we are serving San Bernardino County with foreclosure counseling.  In terms of the City of Highland, we currently have 13 families from the City of Highland that are in our foreclosure counseling as of today. We have enjoyed working with Kim Stater and with the City of Highland through our first time homebuyer program.  In 2007, in terms of the City of Highland, Neighborhood Housing Services educated 52 families, in which 6 became first time homebuyers.  If we are allocated any CDBG funds, it will be used strictly for operating costs because we have to buy books and pamphlets.  With our first time homebuyer program, we are going to incorporate foreclosure counseling.  All of our families that we’ve worked with, when we ask them when they bought their home, did they ever have any type of homebuyer education and none of them have.  We feel had the families had some homebuyer education, they could have been taught and they would have learned how to avoid going into foreclosure, if you get behind in a payment or how to call your lender.  As a result of the foreclosure crisis, we are going to create a foreclosure class in addition to the homebuyer education.  We have direct line with many of the various financial institutions through the Hope Line that the government has established and we have direct lines to work with their loss mitigation departments.  A lot of families, when they call their lenders they get customer service.  Well, customer service is different from working with loss mitigation or home preservation divisions of the companies.  We have direct line with these financial institutions and we are working with all the families to help either freeze their interest rate or do a loan modification.  Sometimes, it’s just too late to help the family and save their home so we have to do short sales or deed in lieu’s. 

 

Ms. Joset Mason stated she is the Museum Director of A Special Place Children’s Museum.  We are located in the city of San Bernardino probably about four miles from City Hall.  We are really close neighbors to Highland.  We are right there at Perris Hill Park and we’ve been there for 22 years.  The founder of the museum, Terry Fields had a mission and her mission was to dispel the myth between abled and disabled children.  The Children’s Museum was set up for children that had special needs and able children to have a place to come and play together.  The CDBG funds that we are requesting are for a wheel chair obstacle course that we are putting together inside of the museum.  We have 1,000 square foot enclosed patio space and we would like to put together a wheel chair obstacle course making it an interactive maze for children.  Whether they are in a wheel chair or not, we want all children to learn tolerance for those who have differing abilities.  What we are looking to do with these funds is use it for the illiteracy program that we are having that is going to be in the maze.  So, what we want to do is use these funds to provide books and materials, arts and crafts, music, so these children can enjoy this portion of the museum.  They will learn about tolerance, learn about disabilities and learn about education.  We have a lot of City of Highland visitors.  The reason being is because a lot of parents who live here are looking for activities for their children and we are there.  We’ve been there for 22 years.  She has taken over as director for the past three years.  We produce a children’s television show now and it’s called “It’s Poppin.”  It’s on the local public access channel in San Bernardino.  We are starting a child care center and we are breathing new life into our children’s museum.  We would like to use these funds because we have a lot of residents that come here from Highland.  A lot of people think we are in Highland because we are on Highland Avenue and we are so close to you all.

 

Ms. Gwen Hill stated she has a transitional living facility for women who are depressed, homeless, struggling with separation anxiety from their children and she works for Department of Behavior Health.  She is asking for assistance to run Hill Country.  Right now she has exactly one person with a couple more in line but she has to complete a background check.  It is basically a facility for depressed women or women who have mental issues. A lot of women are from the Highland/Redlands area as well as San Bernardino.  This is a place where the women can be nurtured and bring them back to their normal state.  They offer case management, mental health services, medication services and they are going to network with DBH Housing, the Homeless Department and Community Services because she has access to these programs.  She sees these women everyday and feels for them.  She wants to reach out and help these people.  The way the program works is for one year, on a rotating basis.  After one year, the women are returned to society with a place to stay.  They will make sure the women are self-sufficient and can provide with themselves and will have jobs. 

 

Mr. Bernardino Castaneda stated he is reading a lot of stories in the media about the Council Members.  If the community doesn’t have the time to attend the meetings, then they shouldn’t gripe about the City Council and staff.  He is also congratulating Councilwoman Scott for receiving Citizen of the Year and Mayor Lilburn for being elected Mayor.  He is greatly involved in the Central Little League and volunteers a great deal of his time. 

 

Councilman McCallon stated we always have more requests than we have money and this year the amount of money we have has been reduced.  He would propose to fund at the same level and to the same organizations we did last year.  He would propose to fund the San Bernardino County Library at $10,000, the Highland District Council on Aging, which has three, one in the amount of $10,000, on for $8,000 and one for $5,000, the Family YMCA for $20,794 and the Central Little League in the amount of $10,000.  He believes that adds up to $63,794.00.


Councilwoman Scott stated she proposes $10,000 for the Central Little League, $12,000 for the Library, $10,000 for the Senior Visitation Program, $8,000 for the Senior Transportation, $5,000 for Senior Enrichment and the $5,000 for the Senior Nutrition which was not one of ours.  That was San Bernardino.  It was from the County offices and would be strictly designated for Highland.  That would leave $13,794 for the YMCA, which is short of what they requested, but we are paying the lease on all the equipment.  We are really putting a lot of money into the YMCA.  This totals $63,794.00

 

Councilman McCallon stated his figures are different from Councilwoman Scott’s only for the amounts to the YMCA.  He feels Council should fund them the same as last year.  He doesn’t see any reason to do it any other way.

 

Councilman Timmer stated he is pretty close to Councilman McCallon’s figures.  His feelings are with funds dwindling it’s hard for him to justify a new program that we haven’t supported in the past even though it’s probably a wonderful project. 

 

Councilwoman Scott stated all of her proposed allocations are old projects.

 

Councilman Timmer stated no, the senior nutritional program is new.  Again, it’s a new program and that means we are going to have to cut out a program that we’ve been funding in the past.  He had a little different numbers from Councilman McCallon’s but he can support his proposed allocations.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated if we took the $5,000 off it would make $18,794 for the YMCA.

 

Councilman Timmer stated Councilman McCallon stated $10,000 for the library, for the three senior projects as $10,000, $8,000 and $5,000, the funding as requested, the YMCA $20,794 and then the Little League was the full funding amount of $10,000 which comes up to $63,794.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated okay, then you’re cutting the literacy program.

 

Councilman Timmer stated yes, we funded them last year at $10,000 as well so we’re doing the same funding as last year.  They requested $12,000 we only gave them $10,000 last year.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated in 2005 they requested $15,000 and got it. 

 

Councilman Timmer stated based on page 23, if you look at the overall funding, in fact since 2001-2002 they have been steady at $10,000.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated she is partial to the literacy program as she used to be a tutor and the program is needed.


Councilman Timmer stated he doesn’t disagree and that’s why it’s been supported all these years.  It’s just a matter of do we have enough money to support what they are asking for.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated she has a problem giving the YMCA so much when if you look at our warrant register we’re giving the YMCA, well the YMCA facilities for our citizens every month huge amounts in the rental of the equipment.  They basically don’t have any rent other there, $1 a year.  They’re getting a lot of benefits. They’re getting more than our youth is getting.  They’re getting more than our seniors are getting.  It’s a monthly thing so you don’t see it. 

 

Councilman Timmer stated again, he is going with Councilman McCallon’s proposal because if you look at last year, it’s less than last year funding.  It’s $5,000 less than the year before.  It’s pretty consistent what we’ve been supporting at the YMCA.  Again, he thinks we all support these programs, it’s just a matter of fine tuning and how many dollars are available. 

 

Councilwoman Scott stated she still thinks we should give something to Senior Nutrition.  The seniors have to eat too.

 

Councilman McCallon stated the thing is the Senior Center didn’t request the funds, the County did.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated it says it will only benefit the Highland Senior Center.  She looked at it closely because she believes in supporting our own. 

 

Councilman Timmer stated when we fund the three programs; he knows that money is going directly to them because it’s a program they asked to be funded.   For us to give CDBG monies, which are administered by the County, to the County, there’s a little trust issue there. 

 

A MOTION was made by Councilman McCallon, seconded by Councilman Timmer, to allocate the City of Highland’s Community Development Block Grant funds in the following manner, item #34045 San Bernardino County Library in the amount of $10,000, item #34062 Highland District Council on Aging, Inc. in the amount of $10,000, item #34063 Highland District on Aging, Inc. in the amount of $8,000, item #34064 Highland District on Aging, Inc. in the amount of $5,000, item #34222 Central Little League in the amount of $10,000 and item #34162 Highland Family YMCA in the amount of $20,794 for a grand total of $63,794.  Motion carried, 4-1, with Mayor Lilburn abstaining.


CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY LEGISLATIVE

 

15.            Presentation by Central Little League Regarding their Activities at Highland Community Park

 

Ms. Michelle Williamson gave a brief presentation on Central Little League’s activities.  The little league is in their fourth season with 230 children with 18 teams and a possibility of 2 more teams. 

 

16.       Mailing of Warrants (checks) Prior to City Council Approving the Warrant Register

 

           Director of Administrative Services Dantuono gave a brief review of the staff report.

 

Director of Administrative Services Dantuono stated most invoices are sent out as pre-pays.  On page 4 of the current warrant register, it will show how many checks have been held back in this cycle and there are only five checks listed.

 

Councilwoman Scott stated what if a check is mailed out and then the Council does not approve payment of the check for whatever reason.

 

Director of Administrative Services Dantuono stated he would have to request the check back but in the past 15 years, this has never happened.

 

Councilman Timmer stated when this came before the Finance Subcommittee, it was recommended it come before Council.  The invoice goes through a process in which it goes to staff who reviews it to ensure it is correct and if the goods have been delivered.  Plus it will make it easier for staff to process the cycle.

 

A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, seconded by Councilman McCallon, to authorize staff to mail warrants prior to City Council approving the warrant register.  Motion carried, 4-1, with Councilwoman Scott abstaining.

 

17.            Second Reading of Ordinance No. 321 to Amend Chapter 5.20 of Title 5 of the Highland Municipal Code to Implement the Provisions of AB 2987 (State Vide Franchises)

 

            City Manager Hughes gave a brief review of the staff report.

 

A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, seconded by Councilman Timmer, to approve Ordinance No. 321 amending Chapter 5.20 of the Highland Municipal Code.  Motion carried, 5-0.


18.            Update on SANBAG, SCAG, Omnitrans, Work Program and Regional/Legislative Issues/Development Issues/Subcommittees/AB 1234 Updates

 

Councilman McCallon stated the opening of SR210, the travel pattern of the traffic volume has changed dramatically.  SANBAG is evaluating the impact of this through traffic counts taken several months prior and several months following.  Visual observation of the traffic congestion seems to indicate significant congestion regularly occurs.  Highland Council has a high priority project to widen the SR210 through Highland and San Bernardino.  SANBAG has acknowledged the problem and has gotten Caltrans involved.  SANBAG has taken the lead in implementing a monitoring data system.  Another important project SANBAG has been working on is the State Transportation Improvement Program submittal to the California Transportation Commission.  

 

Councilman Timmer asked will the monitoring system on the SR210 be installed from the 5 to Highland?

 

Councilman McCallon stated no, only on the new extension, primarily from the area of the 215 to 10.

 

Mayor Pro Tem Jones asked what the cost will be for installation?

 

Councilman McCallon stated the cost for installation should not exceed $175,000.

 

City Manager Hughes stated Councilwoman Scott has requested a letter of support in the possible location of a Marine Corps recruit station, if they so choose to, in the City of Highland.  Apparently the City of Berkley has taken a stand in opposition of having a Marine Corps recruiting station in their city. 

 

Councilman Timmer stated when San Francisco had their issues, we had a resolution drawn up stating the City of Highland would no longer attend functions or spend money in their city if they can’t support our military.  He would like to see a similar Resolution for Berkeley. 

 

A MOTION was made by Councilwoman Scott, seconded by Councilman McCallon, to direct staff to prepare a letter addressed to the Pentagon stating the City of Highland’s support in having a Marine Corps recruiting station with the option of a Resolution directed to the City of Berkley.  Motion carried, 5-0.

 

Community Development Director Jaquess stated the City of Highland has received a letter from airport attorney, Barbara Lichman, and she has advised us that the FAA is proposing some amendments to the laws governing Clean Air Act and reducing the circumstances under which they would need to comply with the Clear Air Act on where airport construction projects or activities around the airport.  Examples she refers to are it allows facility wide emissions, general conformity regulations.  General conformity regulations have previously been used to argue court cases by Ms. Lichman and others to force them to comply with the Clean Air Act.  It also exempts air traffic control procedures above 3,000 feet above ground level and she’s proposing to prepare a letter to the FAA and they have until March 10, 2008, to submit comments, which means the comments are due before the next Council meeting.  We just received this letter last Thursday so we couldn’t add it to the agenda as a regular discussion item.  Her request is if the Council is interested in being a part of the response that she will prepare.  She is going to prepare a single response for all of her interested clients.  There would be a cost of her hourly fee that she charges to write the letter and the letter will be distributed among all of her clients.  Ms. Lichman is asking for the City of Highland is interested in taking a position of support of her opposition these changes.

 

Councilman McCallon inquired if this is separate from the AB 318.

 

City Manager Hughes stated this is separate.

 

Community Development Director Jaquess stated Ms. Lichman is referring to a conformity rule change that came out.  Ms. Lichman is concerned about this and is suggesting a letter be prepared to oppose this change.

 

A MOTION was made by Councilwoman Scott, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, to direct staff to advise airport attorney, Barbara Lichman, to create a letter stating City of Highland’s position of support in the opposition of stated changes regarding the Clean Air Act and to have City Attorney, Craig Steele, review the letter before final Council approval.  Motion carried, 5-0.

 

19.       San Bernardino International Airport Authority and IVDA

 

None

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Thursday, March 6, 2008 League of California Cities  Dinner Meeting

            Thursday, April 3, 2008               State of the County of San Bernardino

           

CLOSED SESSION

 

            None


ADJOURN

 

            There being no further business, Mayor Lilburn adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m.                 

 

 

Submitted by:                                                            Approved by:

 

 

 

____________________________                       _________________________________

Betty Hughes, CMC                                                   Penny Lilburn

City Clerk                                                                   Mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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