City of Hermosa Beach -- 06-03-97


MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Hermosa Beach, California, held on Tuesday, June 3, 1997, at the hour of 7:17 P.M.


PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Betty Martin, resident


ROLL CALL:

Present: Benz, Bowler, Edgerton, Mayor Reviczky

Absent: Oakes


ANNOUNCEMENTS


Councilmember Edgerton commented on the new palm trees that had been planted on lower Pier Avenue earlier today.


PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - None


City Manager Burrell requested that Council add to the agenda further consideration of Council's contingent approval of the request by the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) to conduct a volleyball tournament in Hermosa Beach June 12-15, 1997, noting that a unanimous vote by the four members present was required to place the item on tonight's agenda as an urgency item. He said the item had initially been considered at the meeting of Thursday, May 29, 1997, at which time it was approved contingent upon the City Manager and City Attorney resolving any potential liability problems with the downtown Pier Avenue contractor; and was continued to tonight's meeting for a report back from staff. He said the continuance arose after tonight's agenda had been posted and that there was an immediate need to take action.


Action: To add to the agenda, as a Municipal Matter, the above-noted item as an urgency item based on the findings that the matter arose after the agenda was posted and there was an immediate need for action.

Motion Bowler, second Benz. The motion carried, noting the absence of Oakes.


MUNICIPAL MATTER


FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL'S CONTINGENT APPROVAL OF THE AVP REQUEST TO CONDUCT A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT IN HERMOSA BEACH JUNE 12-15, 1997


City Manager Burrell reported that the volleyball event would take place on the south side of the Pier, thereby eliminating any potential conflicts with the downtown streetscape project. He said a revised contract had been prepared for signature.


Community Resources Director Rooney said there would be no AVP activities on the street and no street closure during the event.


Coming forward to address the Council on this item was:

John Stevenson - representing the AVP, thanked the Council for considering the matter on such short notice; said AVP's executive director had expressed a preference to call the event the Hermosa Beach Grand Slam rather than the Hermosa Open for marketing reasons, since the event may not take place here in future years but rather may return to Manhattan Beach as the Manhattan Open; said whatever the title, it would definitely include the City's name.


Proposed Action: To approve the Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament for June 13-15, 1997.

Motion Benz, second Bowler. The second was subsequently withdrawn and the motion died for lack of a second.


Action: To approve the AVP volleyball tournament subject to the condition that the event title include the City's name.

Motion Mayor Reviczky, second Benz. The motion carried, noting the dissenting vote of Edgerton and the absence of Oakes.


REVIEW OF PRELIMINARY 1997-98 BUDGET


(a) Overview of Budget Changes - City Manager Burrell cited legislation at the State level that would begin to return to cities the funds taken by the State since 1991, noting last week's passage of AB107 which begins the shift of property taxes back to cities, counties and special districts. He said compared to the $3 billion taken by the State, the approved $380 million figure is not a lot, but it is a start. He said the City's proposed FY 97-98 budget for the first time in several years starts to put back and address some of the City's service needs in terms of adding personnel. He said in addition to the staffing levels already included in the budget, there were certain departments that he wanted to review in terms of work flow, which he planned to do after the budget is approved, and that funds were earmarked in prospective expenditures to cover any personnel changes in those areas.


He said overall, revenues in the City were up more than 3 percent, and inflation was less than that. He said the hotel which is currently under construction should be open in January or February of next year, and said there is currently a lot of building activity taking place with new homes and commercial developments, tear-downs and rebuilds. He said revenues from all sources totaled $30 million, and the General Fund totals $11.818,042, which is about 4 percent higher than last year. He noted that all employee contracts are up June 30, 1997 and that negotiations are currently underway, noting that funds to cover those costs have been placed in prospective expenditures.


He said Council would receive a memo on the user fee study, noting that the study, which needs to be done periodically, was last done 5 or 6 years ago and needed to be done again.


(b) Overview of Revenue Changes - The Council reviewed the revenue worksheets page by page (beginning on page 12 of the preliminary budget). Finance Director Copeland and City Manager Burrell responded to Council questions related to those worksheets). Community Resources Director Rooney responded to questions relating to facility-rental revenues and the roller hockey rink (pages 13 and 14). City Manager Burrell noted that a report on revenues and expenditures for the Community Center and the roller hockey rink had been previously requested and would be coming back to Council.


(c) Review of Department Expenditures - The Council reviewed the individual City department budgets page by page (beginning on page 39 of the preliminary budget). City Manager Burrell responded to Council questions. City Clerk Doerfling, Community Resources Director Rooney, Finance Director Copeland, Fire Chief Bonano, Police Chief Straser and Public Works Director Amirani responded to Council questions specifically related to their departments.


The meeting recessed at the hour of 8:35 P.M.

The meeting reconvened at the hour of 8:53 P.M.


Council review of the individual City department budgets resumed (beginning on page 57).


Community Development - Planning Division - Dial-A-Ride - In response to a Council question concerning the high ridership cost of this program, City Manager Burrell said staff would come back with some alternatives including the use of taxicabs and the entire program would be reviewed.


Community Development - Downtown Business Area Enhancement District Commission - In response to Council direction, City Manager Burrell said he would agendize, for one of the July Council meetings, a discussion concerning the future of this commission. He noted that there would be a need to increase maintenance in the downtown area due to the streetscape project and the increased usage of the area.


Public Works Department - Administration and Engineering/ Parks Division - In response to Council comments and concerns related to park maintenance, City Manager Burrell said staff would look at the whole issue and needed to set up standards which must then be maintained to keep the parks in good condition.


MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS


Mayor Reviczky said Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe had expressed an interest in meeting with the City Council and that Hermosa Beach was one of the few cities with which he has not yet met. He suggested inviting Mr. Knabe to meet with the Council at a work session Thursday, June 12, 1997, noting that the budget meeting originally scheduled for that date is no longer needed. He also suggested inviting an Edison representative to meet with the Council that evening as well to discuss the Edison department restructuring.


City Manager Burrell said he would check on that possibility and if the meeting is scheduled, Council would adjourn from the next regular meeting of Tuesday, June 10, to the Thursday meeting.


City Manager Burrell announced that a letter was given to him during the recess earlier this evening from Donley Falkenstein, executive director of the South Bay Coastal Defense Alliance, asking that Council not approve the June AVP, noting that the item had been acted on by Council prior to the recess.


CITIZEN COMMENTS - None


ADJOURNMENT - The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach adjourned on Thursday, May 23, 1996 at the hour of 10:10 P.M. to the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, June 10, 1997 at the hour of 7:10 P.M.


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