71-0622_CC_Minutes_Adjourned Regular Meeting4441
June 22, 1971
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING - CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
The City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano, California,
met for an adjourned regular meeting on Tuesday, June 22 at 7:04 PM in
the Council Chambers of the City, with Mayor pro tem William Bathgate
presiding. In view of a Planning Commission meeting scheduled in the
Chambers that evening, the Council meeting adjourned immediately to the
Director of Public Works conference room.
Councilmen present: Bathgate, Chermak, Gammel and Thorpe
Councilmen absent: Mayor Forster
Mayor pro tem Bathgate said that while the meeting was intended
to be a budget study session, he would ask Council to receive and act
on Russell Cook's resignation from the Planning Commission. Moved by
Councilman Chermak, seconded by Councilman Gammell, that Mr. Cook's
resignation be accepted, effective immediately. During discussion of
the motion, Councilman Chermak mentioned Council's expressed intent
to review all appointments to the Planning Commission on a yearly
basis. The motion on Commissioner Cook's resignation carried unanim-
ously, with Mayor Forster absent.
Mayor Pro tem Bathgate moved that the resolution of apprecia-
tion for Mr. Cook's long service as an original member of the Planning
Commission be prepared by the City Attorney. Councilman Chermak
seconded. Following the vote on the resolution, discussion took place
on the need for a ceremonial plaque or certificate recognizing service
of Commission members in addition to a resolution of appreciation.
Mayor pro tem Bathgate then introduced a proposed application
form to be used by citizens who are interested in serving on City
commissions or special study groups. After brief study and discus-
sion, it was moved by Councilman Thorpe, seconded by Councilman Gammell,
that the form and cover letter as presented by Mayor pro tem Bathgate
be printed and distributed. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Forster
absent. The City Council directed staff to distribute copies of the
application form to Council members, service clubs, Chamber of Com-
merce, Fiesta Association, San Juan Beautiful Committee, Historical
Society, homeowner's associations and various commercial establishments,
as well as others who may be interested.
Council attention then turned to the proposed 1971-72 fiscal
budget. Mayor pro tem Bathgate brought up the subject of the Chamber
of Commerce budget request and recognized Richard Dickey, a member of
the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Mr. Dickey presented and
explained the Chamber's request to the City Council for a $9,000 con-
tribution to the Chamber's budget. Mr. Dickey said that their request
and total operating budget of $18,000 were based on three years' exper-
ience and projections of future programs in the Chamber. He explained
that the Board of Directors wished to improve Chamber activities and
put them on a business -like basis. He asked for Council to make sug-
gestions on what kind of Chamber operations and programs should be
provided and suggested that a contractural relationship between the
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City and Chamber for specified services and activities be created. He
also stated that the Chamber felt a definite need for more management
service and had proposed a $500 a month salary figure for an office
manager.
Mayor Forster arrived at 7:35 PM and assumed the chair from
Mayor pro tem William Bathgate.
A period of questioning on various Chamber budget items includ-
ing salaries, dinner and dance expenditures and a walking tour -guide
publication were answered by Mr. Dickey. He explained that many of
the activities, while appearing to have large budgets, actually pro-
duced small profits and the incomes from these activities were listed
on the revenue side of the budget. It was also pointed out that the
tour guide expense had been reduced from $10,000 to $1,000. Discus-
sion took place on the Council's concerns about subsidizing any private
committee group with public monies. The Chamber's specific activities
were explored. Mr. Dickey felt that the Chamber's proposed budget
and request to the City Council for a $9,000 contribution would make
it more effective in the areas discussed. He again stated that the
Chamber would prefer a contractural relationship with the City for
specified services in place of an annual subsidy. Council informed
Mr. Dickey that there was $3,000 tentatively placed in the City's
proposed budget for community promotions and that $2,000 of this amount
was committed to carry over expenses for the promotional brochure the
Chamber was printing. Of the $1,000 left, $100 was committed to the
Fiesta Association, leaving a balance of $900 available to the Chamber.
Mr. Dickey said that the Chamber was asking for Council direction and
suggestions on how it should operate, and felt that philosophies should
be compared in order to reach some agreement. The subject was left
open for further discussion at the public hearing on June 28th.
Council recessed at 8:18 PM and reconvened at 8:26 PM.
Public Works Capital Improvement Projects were taken up by Council.
The Director of Public Works briefly described the projects contained
in his general fund and gas tax budgets. Some projects which have been
completed and were included in the budget for information purposes were
deleted. Considerable Council discussion then ensued on the need for
a proposed $30,000 improvement project on Ganado Road from Ortega High-
way to the La Novia bridge. The repair of existing sub -standard pave-
ment versus a reconstruction project in conformance with State standards
and specifications was discussed. At this point, Councilman Bathgate
expressed a desire to see efforts made for precise alignment of various
arterial highways in advance of immediate needs so that the City did
not have to depend on or react to land developers' plans. He mentioned
as examples Trabuco Road, Alipaz, and the extension of La Novia which
would be appropriate for precise alignment in advance of development.
Councilman Thorpe said there was a need for an official capital improve-
ments program so that advance fiscal planning and establishment of
priorities could be accomplished. The Mayor suggested Mr. Meadows
obtain engineering cost estimates for precise alignment of selected
arteries that would be improved in the future. Council then explored
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the question of the proposed chip sealing program for various city
streets. Concern was expressed that the City may be over -maintaining
streets that had been built to high standards. Discussion concluded
with leaving the proposed $15,000 chip sealing program unchanged.
Council then discussed projects proposed under the State Gas
Tax Fund. Plans for the rehabilitation of Del Avion were discussed
in detail and overlays versus reconstruction were debated. The Dir-
ector of Public Works explained there would be need for both because
some portions of the street were in reasonably good shape and other
parts deteriorated to the point of needing reconstruction.
Council then reviewed traffic signalization of Ortega Highway
and Del Obispo at various intersections and left the proposed $60,000
project tentatively unchanged. The subject of the City's $58,000
commitment to the State of California for the Las Ramblas freeway
interchange was brought up. After some discussion Council directed
staff to utilize the projected $43,000 surplus in State Gas Tax
Funds for fiscal 1971-72 and $15,000 from the traffic signal project
to meet this commitment. This direction was in the form of a motion
by Councilman Thorpe, seconded by Councilman Bathgate and unanimously
approved. The Director of Public Works then explained the reconstru-
ction and widening projects on Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo.
At the conclusion of the study of capital street projects Council
took up the proposed rearrangement of office space in the temporary
City offices. The City Administrator explained staff attempts to gain
office space for a City Council conference room. It was shown that
to utilize existing office space for this purpose would require a
sequence of moves by various staff requiring additional partitioning,
electrical, heating and air conditioning work for the approximate
cost of $5,000. At the conclusion of Council discussion on this topic,
a suggestion was made that sound conditioned folding curtain walls be
investigated wherever feasible in the office modifications. The pro-
posed $10,000 figure for office modifications was left unchanged.
The City Administrator then requested Council for a determin-
ation on which fund or funds should be charged for the City's commit-
ment to pay for the cost of street paving on Via Del Rey abutting
Troy Homes Park. After some debate, Councilman Bathgate moved and
Councilman Chermak seconded, that the general fund advance the necessary
amounts for the street improvements to be reimbursed by Parks and Re--
creation monies when available. Ayes: Councilmen Chermak and
Bathgate. Noes; Councilmen Thorpe and Gammell. Mayor Forster
abstained. The motion failed. The Mayor explained his reason for
abstaining was to gain additional time and give more thought to the
matter and also to have certain budget accounting procedures and book-
keeping methods explained by staff.
Council then briefly discussed the priority of the general fund
being reimbursed by Parks funds for $60,000 expenditure made on Four
Oaks Park as well as the estimated $30,000 street improvements on Via
Del Rey. Councilman Chermak suggested that in the future each park
district should be charged and required to fund its own development
612 2.171
commitments. The Mayor asked staff to bring corrected budget sheets
to the June 28th public hearing and requested the City Administrator
to be prepared to make a public presentation on the budget at that
time.
The meeting adjourned at 11;40 PM to a regular City Council
meeting on Monday, June 28 „ 1971.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald G. Weidner
City Clerk
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June 28, 1971
REGULAR MEETING - CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
The regular meeting of the City Council of San Juan Capistrano
was called to order at 7:18 PM by Mayor Thomas A. Forster.
The pledge of allegiance was recited. Invocation was given by
Mr. T. J. Meadows.
The Deputy City Clerk called the roll. Councilmen present:
William A. Bathgate, Edward S. Chermak, Josh Gammell, James F. Thorpe
and Thomas A. Forster.
MINUTES
The minutes of the regular meeting of June 14, 1971 and the ad-
journed regular meeting of June 22, 1971 were approved as presented.
Director of Finance, by Memo, requested correction of minutes of
May 10, 1971, under section entitled, Warrants, to read as follows:
"Councilman Bathgate moved to approve Warrant Nos. 5926 through 6006,
also to include a warrant in the amount of $51,238.70 for a total
amount of $189,466.18. Motion seconded by Councilman Gammell and
carried by unanimous vote. So ordered." Councilman Bathgate then
moved that minutes of May 10, 1971 stand as corrected. Seconded by
Councilman Gammell and carried unanimously.
Councilman Thorpe moved to have all ordinances and resolutions
for this meeting read by title only. This motion was seconded by
Councilman Gammell and carried unanimously.
The question then arose as to the technical correctness of the
manner in which Council presents and adopts its resolutions and ordi-
nances. City Attorney recommended following procedure:
Resolutions: A councilman should move the adoption of a resolu-
tion which should be seconded and put to a vote upon call for
the question.
Ordinances: A councilman should first move for the introduction
of an ordinance and call for its being read by title only; this
motion is seconded and put to a vote. After the lapse of the
statutory five-day period, a councilman can move for the adoption
of the ordinance and call for its reading by title only, etc.
Motion was then made by Councilman Gammell to uphold recommenda-
tion of City Attorney. Seconded by Councilman Bathgate and carried by
4 to 1 vote, Councilman Thorpe voting "No".
Mayor Forster at this time stated for the record that the reason
for the late start of this meeting was that it followed a meeting of
the Water Board.
PTTRT.Tr. MRARTW.R-
1. City Administrator presented a general summary of the pro-
posed Fiscal 1971-72 budget to bring Council and the public up to date
on subject matter. Mayor Forster asked him to further comment regard-
ing proposed cost of living increase to municipal employees.
The Mayor opened public hearing stating that it was the intent
of this hearing to provoke comments of citizens of the community. He
then asked if anyone wished to speak in favor of this budget. Mr.
Dickey, on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, took the floor reiter-