94-0308_CRA_Minutes_Regular Meeting263
MARCH 8, 1994
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the City of San Juan Capistrano Redevelopment
Agency was called to order by Mayor Campbell at 9:07 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, to conduct a joint
priority -setting session with the City Council.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Carolyn Nash, Chairman
Collene Campbell, Vice Chairman
Gary L. Hausdorfer, Director
Gil Jones, Director
Jeff Vasquez, Director (arrived at 9:15 a.m.)
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: George Scarborough, Executive Director; Richard K. Denhalter, Agency Counsel; Cynthia L.
Pendleton, Finance Officer; Cheryl Johnson, Agency Secretary; Lt. Paul Sullivan, Orange County Sheriffs Department;
Dick Bobertz, Planning Manager; William Huber, Director of Engineering and Building Services; Ron Sievers, Director
of Public Lands and Facilities.
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The meeting was set to allow Board of Directors the opportunity to provide policy direction to staff for future
priorities.
Written CQ� catiQns:
Report dated March 8, 1994, from the City Manager, advising that based on the direction provided, staff will
develop a draft work plan for the corning year. The report noted that a series of worksheets had been provided
to Council under separate cover and those worksheets would provide the format for conducting the meeting.
CoUncil Discussion:
Council discussed the worksheet containing the Overall Service Categories. The categories included
community events and activities, customer service and information, human services, preservation of natural
and historical environments, public facilities, support to the business community, and public safety. Council
Member Nash felt the community would list preservation of natural and historical environments as the number
one priority, followed by public safety, human services, community activities and events, and support of the
business community.
Council Member Hausdorfer felt there were two parallel tracks to be dealt with. One was the ideological
standpoint of preserving natural resources, open space and agriculture; the other was the reality standpoint of
human services and economics. He felt that preservation of the natural and historical resources should always
be what the City was about; further, that preservation of natural resources and public safety were both givens.
Council Member Jones felt human services and public safety were dual number one priorities, followed by
support to the business community and preservation of natural resources. He felt there should be staff person
responsible for the historic aspects of the community, citing concerns regarding the current condition of the
Mission wall along Ortega Highway and condition of the historic town center property.
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Council Member Vasquez felt the number one priority was economics, followed by human services. He
suggested finding a way to pay off the long-term debt. He felt there was a need for a liaison within the City
of ethnic, bi-lingual background, to be involved in understanding problems that exist in certain areas of the
City.
Mayor Campbell felt public safety was the number one priority and that the City was on the right track in this _
area. She felt Human Services were important and related to public safety. She felt it was important to keep
the community aware of the City's positive accomplishments, possibly on monthly basis. She agreed with
Council Member Jones regarding the condition of the Mission wall and the historic town center property.
Discussion ensued regarding the Mission wall and the City Manager offered to contact Jerry Miller of the
Mission for a status report.
Staff Comments:
Dick Bobertz commented on a trend toward fiscal land planning wherein development was being driven by
dollars.
Bill Huber stated that the Engineering and Building Department was a service department and was balancing
various issues such as signs, neighborhood preservation, capital improvements, trees, and grading.
Cynthia Pendleton advised that Administrative Services provided services to other departments. She felt their
challenge was to meet the City's goals at a time when general revenue was changing and to identify new ways
to create revenue.
Lt. Sullivan noted that phone calls he received indicated the community's main concerns centered on violence
and gangs. He noted the City's pro -active stance and the use of the Specialized Enforcement Team, the General
Police Patrol, Gang Prevention and Suppression. He noted a new pool of investigators and deputies, the
Directed Enforcement Team, had been developed to assist in specialized enforcement. Discussion ensued
regarding the Sheriffs dispatch, with the City Manager noting that a Sheriffs proposal to improve
communication and dispatch will be part of the budget discussion.
At King advised the Community Services Department faced challenges dealing with resource management,
changing demographic and social issues and ways to balance the past and present.
Ron Sievers noted that the Public Lands and Facilities Department faced increasing demands for maintenance
and needed to find alternative ways and methods to provide the same level of services without relying on
traditional funding sources.
Richard Denhalter, City Attorney, felt it was necessary to find ways to bring diverse citizens together so that
resources were not wasted in litigation.
Council Member Jones noted that the community and businesses are concerned about illegal immigration. He
cited concerns with INS activities at the Depot. The City Manager noted his intent for the City Attorney and
Lt. Sullivan needed to meet with the INS regarding the City's concerns.
Council Member Hausdorfer felt that the areas appearing to be of major concern included: (1) the historic
town center parking & the business community; (2) processing/user friendly/speed and cost; (3) gangs, etc.;
(4) deterioration of older neighborhoods; (5) management, cost and use of open space and parks; and, (6)
fiscal management and budget of City. He noted the need to balance services with economic concerns; the
challenge was to maintain the level of services, and while generating economic activity. Council Member Nash
stated the funds and services need to be re -allocated to the best use for the community. Council Member
Vasquez suggested that before the City committed to helping business community with dollars an action plan
needed to be developed. He felt the City should continue to focus on cutting costs and maintaining efficiency.
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Discussion Re ding Specific Categories of Services:
Council Member Nash felt it was difficult to evaluate specific community events and activities without
knowing who was being served, who was involved, what was involved, who was being reached and how the
community was benefitting.
Mayor Campbell requested an explanations of the public safety services before setting priorities. Council
Member Vasquez requested more feedback about the various gang prevention and suppression programs were
doing, perhaps with presentations at City Council meetings. The City Manager concurred that the Community
Service Program - Gang Prevention and Suppression group should make presentations on a regular basis; and,
that the other enforcement teams could make presentations from time to time on prevention and suppression.
Council Member Nash suggested the there was a need to improve and expand public relations and media
releases. Council Member Nash noted the number of projects that needed to be handled by the City Council.
The City Manager advised he would meet with staff and prepare a report for future consideration.
CLOSED SESSIOIN - None
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:17 a.m. to the next regular meeting
date of Tuesday, March 15, 1994, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.
Respectfully submitted,
C RYL JOHN N,TXGENCY SECRETARY
ATTEST:
i'
CAROLYN SH, CHAIRMAN
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