Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
MINUTES
JOINT SAND CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR
AGENCY OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 20, 2022
5:30 PM
As allowed per Assembly Bill (AB361), this meeting was conducted in person and by teleconference
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM 1, ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Mary Ann Carbone
Vice Mayor Blackwelder
Councilmember Cruz (virtual attendance)
Councilmember Hawthorne
Councilmember Sofer
Staff: Vibeke Norgaard, Acting City Manager
Connie Horca, City Clerk
Brian Ferrante, Chief of Police
AGENDA ITEM 2, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Blackwelder.
AGENDA ITEM 3, INVOCATION
The invocation was led by Reverend Robert Hellam.
AGENDA ITEM 4, ANNOUNCEMENT BY MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY, AND CITY MANAGER Mayor Carbone reported on her attendance at the 3CE budget meeting and their proposal to reduce electricity costs for calendar year 2023, League of California Cities Conference and various sessions held, appointment as the Monterey Bay Division President, and results of the Monterey One Water meeting. She further announced the Shuman Heart House Fundraiser/Concert, Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on October 15, 2022, and the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Luncheon to be held on September 26th.
City Manager Norgaard provided an update on the status of the South of Tioga Project, the project’s commencement to demolition of the last remaining building, current city staffing and conduction of the audit, commended Devon on her hard work, receipt of short term rental applications, and slurry seal for Ortiz Avenue. She commended Public Works Supervisor Mark Parker for building a storage shed at the Art Park and Chief Ferrante’s assistance with electrical Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
upgrades, and reported on the possible cancellation of the second November meeting and holding a Council CIP workshop on November 29th.
Interim City Attorney Adam Lindgren reported on sessions he attended at the League of California Cities Conference, to include EV Infrastructure Funding and Strategy, CEQA Tribal Consultations, and regular City Attorney sessions.
AGENDA ITEM 5, COMMUNICATIONS
5:45 P.M. Floor opened for Public Comment.
Sand City resident Michael Morris requested that the Council consider holding a Public Hearing to discuss the desalination plant, proposed increase of water rates by 40%, and possible expansion of the desalination plant.
Mr. Morris was encouraged to attend a water meeting within Sand City’s jurisdiction. 5:56 P.M. Floor closed to Public Comment.
AGENDA ITEM 6, CONSENT CALENDAR
5:57 P.M. The Mayor opened the floor for public comment, and seeing none, closed the floor for public comment.
6A. There was no discussion of the Council Meeting Minutes for August 16, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes; August 16, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes, and September 6, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
6B. There was no discussion of the City/Successor Agency Financial Report, June 2022.
6C. There was no discussion of the City Resolution amending Appendix "A" to the City of Sand City's Conflict of Interest Code Set Forth in Chapter 2.20 of the Sand City Municipal Code.
6D. There was no discussion of the City Resolution authorizing a City Surveying Services Agreement with Polaris Land Surveying Inc.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar was made by Council Member Blackwelder, seconded by Council Member Hawthorne. Roll call Vote AYES: Council Members Blackwelder, Carbone, Cruz, Hawthorne, Sofer. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None. Motion carried.
AGENDA ITEM 7 CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR There were no items pulled from the Consent Calendar.
AGENDA ITEM 8, PRESENTATIONS
Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
8A. Presentation by Jacqueline Simon, Chair of the Inclusion & Diversity Committee and Dr. Gene Holloway regarding Re-Imagining Policing (10 minutes)
Jacqueline Simon Chair of the Inclusion & Diversity Committee presented her organizations efforts in educating the public and shared information with the Council regarding reimagining policing, that involved extensive recruitment, hiring, and training processes that would involve cultural awareness.
Ms. Rene Palover read a tenant on a new model of policing to include individuals that suffer from mental health, drug abuse, and homelessness.
Ms. Monica Kim noted that as a daughter of refugees, she has helped 1,000 patients and mentioned on-going training.
Dr. Gene Holloway expressed his gratefulness to be here, the importance of partnering with local agencies, and their commitment to help cities ensure that every office has adequate training and are always funded to protect citizens.
The Council held a question-and-answer period with the presenters.
Council Member Hawthorne commented that Sand City’s police department is well trained and they know the neighborhood.
Council Member Sofer added she is impressed with the police department, that they have always expressed kindness and understanding, and would like to see them walk through the city more often.
Vice Mayor Blackwelder agreed that for a small-town, Sand City has an excellent group of individuals in the department.
8B. Presentation and Discussion: Recap of (1) West End Festival, 2022; (2) We.mural Festival 2022; (3) Bicycle Criterium Race and thoughts for 2023 West End Event Coordinator Stephen Vagnini reported on the details of the event, attendance of 16,000 people over the course of two days, 150 vendor spaces and overflow into the Art Park, sponsorships received, safety of the event footprint, and noted that it takes 6-7 months to prepare the logistics. He thanked City staff, the police department, volunteers, and Mayor Carbone for manning the City booth.
We.mural Festival coordinator Pat Milbery reported on the success of the we.mural festival, the participation of international artists this year as well as local artists, the synergy and style of the public art gallery, that there were no lift injuries, the great attendance of the public during the creation of the murals, and that 8 murals were installed this year. He expressed his appreciation of the internationally renowned artist who made themselves available to create art, thanked the property owners, Fisk Paints, Reliable Plumbing, and DKI specialist.
Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
A short video presentation was provided to the Council of the we.mural festival.
Mr. Milbery thanked the Council for their support and for the opportunity to create more murals. He mentioned that Sand City should be known as the smallest City with the most amount of Art.
Mr. Tom McCullough coordinator of the Bicycle Criterium Race reported on the statistics of the event that involved only 4 minor crashes, mentioned the ages of participants, and that the racers loved the course in the city. He mentioned that one car was towed, indicted that there were 4-5 resident issues, and that attendees took a lot of pictures in front of various murals.
The Council received information regarding who sponsored the event, that it was well received by the community and well organized.
Mr. McCullough presented a short video clip of the race course. 7:09 P.M. Floor opened for Public Comment.
Sand City resident and business owner Michele Djokic expressed her discouragement that so many events were held in succession as it directly impacted her business. She commented that artist had to park 4 blocks away, suggested that the organizer create another route through the city, and that notice of road closures be distributed months in advance.
Mr. McCullough addressed Ms. Djokic’s concerns.
City Manager Norgaard mentioned that the Bike Criterium was a first-time event for the City.
Mr. Milbery suggested a documentary on how art can bring different events together. 7:20 P.M. Floor closed to Public Comment.
The Mayor thanked the coordinators for the updates.
AGENDA ITEM 9, NEW BUSINESS
{Interim City Attorney Adam Lindgren recused from the virtual/ in-person meeting} 9A. Approval of City RESOLUTION Amending Resolution SC 22-30 to Approve an Additional Contract amount of $112,500 for Meyers, Nave City Manager Norgaard represented the Staff report, indicated that the attached resolution is an extension of the Interim City Attorney’s contract, amends the previously adopted resolution, approves an additional contract amount of $112,500, and is also in the budget. She noted that line items can be transferred to meet the additional contract amount.
Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
There was Council discussion of why the contract extension was only until January 2023, the work performed by Meyers Nave that encompassed two fiscal year budgets, and the possibility that the Council may want to consider a permanent city attorney. City Manager Norgaard addressed Council’s questions and concerns. 7:33 P.M. Floor opened for Public Comment.
Public Member Adam Lindgren thanked the Council for the opportunity to work with the city, and that the contract extension to January 2023 is a logical time to have a conversation for the potential recruitment for a city attorney. 7:36 P.M. Floor closed to Public Comment.
Motion to approve the City Resolution amending Resolution SC 22-30 to approve an additional Contract amount of $112,500 for Meyers, Nave was made by Council Member Blackwelder, seconded by Council Member Hawthorne. Roll call Vote AYES: Council Members Blackwelder, Carbone, Cruz, Hawthorne, Sofer. NOES:
None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion carried.
{Interim City Attorney returned to the virtual/ in-person meeting} {Council Members Carbone and Cruz recused from the meeting due to a possible conflict of interest by residing within 500 feet of the subject property} {Vice Mayor Blackwelder presided over the meeting}
9B. Consideration of City RESOLUTION Rejecting all Bids for the Calabrese Park, Pendergrass Way and City Hall Improvement Project, and Authorizing Staff to Rebid the Project with a Reduced Scope of Work
City Manager Norgaard presented the resolution, reported on the amounts received through grant funds, that the lowest bid received was $1,148 million, that the overall project cost would exceed that amount. Staff recommended to rescope the project, reject all the bids, move forward to separate the park portion of the project and rebid the Calabrese Park portion of the project, and to construct the street portion in another fiscal year.
City Engineer Leon Gomez reported that the bid came in high at approximately $300K over the engineers estimate, that Sand City is not the only agency that has considered rejecting all bids, and noted that the unit cost for concrete is high due to inflationary increases.
City Manager Norgaard responded to Council Member Blackwelder’s inquiry regarding any funding sources that may be available and that maintenance of effort is extremely high.
Council Member Hawthorne suggested to move forward with Staff’s recommendations.
Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
7:49 P.M. Floor opened for Public Comment.
There were no comments from the Public in person, via writing or through telecommunications.
7:49 P.M. Floor closed to Public Comment.
Motion to approve the City Resolution rejecting all Bids for the Calabrese Park, Pendergrass Way and City Hall Improvement Project, and authorizing Staff to Rebid the Project with a Reduced Scope of Work was made by Council Member Hawthorne, seconded by Council Member Blackwelder. Roll call Vote AYES:
Council Members Blackwelder, Hawthorne, Sofer. NOES: None. ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: Carbone, Cruz. Motion carried.
{Council Members Carbone and Cruz returned to the meeting} {Mayor Carbone presided over the meeting}
9C. Consideration and Approval of City RESOLUTION Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Paul DeRouen City Manager Norgaard announced that the current IT consultant, Dave Jansen has served Sand City since 2001, and will discontinue his services beginning in October 2022, and has reached out to the City of Pacific Grove, who has recommended Paul DeRouen as a good candidate to replace Mr. Jansen. Mr. DeRouen comes highly recommended and will perform IT consulting services at the same rate as Mr. Jansen. Staff recommends approval of the attached resolution.
Ms. Norgaard responded to Council’s inquiries regarding how long Mr. DeRouen will perform IT services, and rate of his hourly fee.
7:58 P.M. Floor opened for Public Comment.
There were no comments from the Public in person, via writing or through telecommunications.
7:58 P.M. Floor closed to Public Comment.
Motion to approve the City Resolution authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Paul DeRouen was made by Council Member Sofer, seconded by Council Member Hawthorne. Roll call Vote AYES: Council Members Blackwelder, Carbone, Cruz, Hawthorne, Sofer. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None. Motion carried.
9D. Comments by Council Members on Items of Interest to Sand City There were no comments by Council Members.
Joint Sand City Council and Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency Minutes 09.20.22 Regular Meeting
9E. Upcoming Meetings/Events
The Mayor announced the Leadership Luncheon to be held on September 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and benefit fundraiser on October 2, 2022 for the new Shuman Heart House.
AGENDA ITEM 10, ADJOURNMENT
The Mayor called the meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled Council meeting on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
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Connie Horca, City Clerk