BLYTHE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
* Blythe *
* *
ESTABITSHED 1916
AGENDA
AUGUST 28, 2023
4:30 P.M.
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
Johnny Z. Rodriguez, Vice Mayor
Jale S. Reynolds, Council Member
Joseph Halby, IlI, Council Member
MEETINGS ARE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 235 NORTH BROADWAY, BLYTHE, CA
BLYTHE CITY COUNCIL
Blythe SPECIAL MEETING AND SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
Special Meeting and Special Closed Session Notice and Agenda Vlonday, August 28, 2023
4:30pm
Council Chambers at City Hall
235 N. Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
Mayor DeConinck Interim City Manager/City Clerk Crecelius Police Chief Dale Vice Mayor Rodriguez City Attorney Roberto Fire Chief Hasler Councilman Reynolds Treasurer/Finance Director Elms
Councilman Halby Public Works Director McLaughlin
Councilman Burton Chief Building Official Brown
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SPECIAL MEETING ITEMS:
1. Posting of the Agenda.
The summary of agenda items were posted on the bulletin boards on the outside of the public entrance to the Council Chamber and near the inside entrance of the Council Chamber on Friday, August 25, 2023.
2. Extension of the Service Fee Collected on Behalf of the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2023-021:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-021. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA
AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE FEE COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT SERVICE AUTHORITY UNTIL MAY 2034.
Public comments will be allowed on the Special Meeting items during consideration of the items) described. Comments shall be limited to 3 minutes in duration.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION: Members of the public may address the City Council on the Special Closed Session item only. Comments shall be limited to 3 minutes in duration.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION:
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION ITEM:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6. Agency Designated Representative: Mallory Crecelius. Unrepresented Employee: Fire Chief.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION:
ADJOURNMENT The next meeting will be held on September 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 235 N. Broadway, Blythe, California.
NOTE TO THE PUBLIC:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact City Clerk Mallory Crecelius at (760) 922-6161 ext. 1237. Notification at least 24 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, 235 N. Broadway, Blythe, California during normal business hours.
In addition, such writings and documents will be posted on the City's website: www.cityofblythe.ca.gov.
TRAT'S FIRST
CITY OF BLYTHE
Blythe CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SABLISHE STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 29, 2023
SUBJECT: Extension of the Service Fee Collected on Behalf of the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority
PRESENTED BY: Garth Dale, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Kelly Thomas, Community Service Officer
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2023-021:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-021. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA
AUTHORIZING THE EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE FEE COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT SERVICE AUTHORITY UNTIL MAY 2034.
FISCAL IMPACT: An estimated $120,000 could be reimbursed to the City for the abatement of abandoned vehicles over the next 10-year period.
BACKGROUND: In 1990, the California State Legislature enacted legislation allowing for the creation of county-based vehicle service authorities, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9250.7 and 22710 of the California Vehicle Code. In June 1994, the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (AVA) Service Authority was formed and imposed a one-dollar annual vehicle registration fee on vehicles registered to an owner with an address in the County of Riverside. The City of Blythe has been a participating agency since the AVA Service Authority's inception. The AVA Program provides funding that reimburses the City for towing costs, personnel time and other expenses incurred while removing vehicles that have become a blight or health and safety hazard from City streets and rights-of-way. The abatement of these vehicles is performed at no cost to the owner. In May 2004, the Authority was extended for another ten years by all participating cities.
STAFF REPORT: The current program is set to expire in May 2024. This program has proven to be a valuable resource for all member cities and it is the desire of the Authority to continue the program. Section 9250.7 of the California Vehicle Code allows the local service authorities to extend the program every 10 years with the approval of the county and a majority of the cities comprising a majority of the population of the incorporated areas. Adoption of a resolution is the first step towards the extension of this important program.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution 2023-021
-1-
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-021
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE
EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE FEE COLLECTED ON
BEHALF OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY ABANDONED
VEHICLE ABATEMENT SERVICE AUTHORITY UNTIL
MAY 2034
The City Council of the City of Blythe hereby finds and declares as follows:
WHEREAS, the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority was formed on or about June 1, 1994, pursuant to the provisions of California Vehicle Code §§ 9250.7 and 22710 enacted by the Legislature in 1990 which authorize the establishment of a service authority and imposition of a service fee on all registered motor vehicles located within a county; and
WHEREAS, beginning in June 1994 and continuing to the present, the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority has been the recipient of service fees collected on its behalf by the California Department of Motor Vehicles; and WHEREAS, the service fees received by the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority are used to reimburse local governmental agencies for a portion of their costs incurred as a result of the abatement, removal and disposal as public nuisances of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof; and
WHEREAS, the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority apportions and distributes service fee proceeds to each member agency according to the formula set forth in California Vehicle Code § 22710; and WHEREAS, since the establishment of the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program in June 1994, it has disbursed $35,128,331 in service fee proceeds to member agencies and caused the abatement of approximately 189,776 abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles located in various cities and the unincorporated area of Riverside County; and
WHEREAS, the service fee collected as part of the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority program is set to expire in May 2024; and WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code § 9250.7 allows for an extension of the service fee collected as part of the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program in increments of up to 10 years each if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two- thirds vote, and a majority of the cities comprising a majority of the population of the -2-
incorporated areas within the county adopt resolutions providing for the extension of the service fee; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable to the City of Blythe to have the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program continue beyond its current termination date of May 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby approves the extension of the service fee collected on behalf of the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority until May 31, 2034.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 28th day of August, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk
(SEAL)
-3-
PUBLIC
COMMENT
- 4
CLOSED
SESSION
ADJOURN
-9-