08-1110_ORANGE,COUNTY OF_Minutes ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:
G1. CITY MANAGER
STAFF DIRECTED TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL A PROPOSAL FOR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY CUSTOMIZED FOR THE CITY WITH
TOWNSEND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, INC. (600.30)
Cindy Russell,.Assistant City manager, responded to questions.
Public Comment:
is Chris Townsend and Heather Dion, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., provided
and overview of their scope of work on current projects and responded to
questions from the City Council.
Council Comment:
■ Content with services provided by Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
■ Should look into receiving a proposal for customized federal advocacy
services from Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
■ Concern with lack of communication from Patton Boggs.
G2, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
a. STATUS REPORT OF THE CITY'S CONTRACT WITH DEREK OSTENSEN &
ASSOCIATES FOR GRANT WRITING AND OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION
SERVICES, RECEIVED AND FILED (600.30)
William Ramsey, Principal Planner, responded to questions.
Public Comment:
■ Heather Dion, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., provided clarifications regarding
Proposition 84 Grant Program applications.
Council Comment.
■ Preference in increasing the compensation amount of the contract.
■ City should look into funding a position though grant applications for an
Open Space Manager.
■ Staff to bring Contract back to Council together with Townsend Public Affairs
proposal.
G3. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
a. MEMORANDUMOF UNDERSTANDING WITH ORANGE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP RAILROAD-
RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, APPROVED (600.50)
Nasser Abbaszadeh, responded to questions. (moi
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Public Comments:
■ Clint Worthington, City resident, spoke in opposition of converting the existing
private railroad crossing to a public railroad crossing for liability reasons.
■ Richard Gardner, Capistrano Beach resident, encouraged the Council to
move forward with approving converting the railroad crossing from private to
public, as the opportunity is very rare.
■ Ryan Curry, Continuing Life Communities (CLC), agreed to provide the City
with any necessary documentation stating that CLC will be responsible for all
costs associated with the process.
Council Comment:
■ Continuing Life Communities (CLC) needs to be responsible to pay any
expense for the public railroad crossing process to go through.
■ There will be a public railroad crossing only if there's a public benefit and a
need for public access.
■ Project should be approved before going through the process.
■ CLC can make the decision if they want to invest in going through the
process.
■ Having an improved four lane public railroad crossing with modern upgraded
safety equipment would be a public benefit.
■ Need public railroad crossing for any future projects in that area.
■ The Option Agreement should be brought back as a public hearing before
going forward with the Memorandum of Understanding with the
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Nielsen, seconded by Council
Member Hribar, and carried 3-2 with Mayor pro tem Freese and Mayor Uso
opposed to approve the revised Memorandum of Understanding with Orange
County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in anticipation of the City filing an
Application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) with a request
to convert the existing at-grade private railroad crossing at Rancho Capistrano to
a public crossing; City Manager authorized to execute the agreement subject to
Continuing Life Communities (CLC) taking on the responsibility for all costs
associated with the process by establishing a deposit account and any necessary
agreement required by the City Attorney to insure that tax payers are not at risk
for any costs associated with moving forward with the Memorandum of
Understanding.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBER: Allevato, Hribar and Nielsen
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER: Freese and Mayor Uso
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER: None
8 1/5/2010