HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 112602 - 730PM
CITY OF ATASCADERO
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
TUESDAY, November 26, 2002
7:30 P.M.
REGULAR SESSION: 7:30 P.M.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Council Members Clay, Luna, O’Malley, Pacas and Mayor Pro Tem
Scalise
Absent: None
Others Present: City Clerk Marcia McClure Torgerson and City Treasurer Joseph
Modica
Staff Present: City Manager Wade McKinney, Assistant City Manager Brady
Cherry, Administrative Services Director Rachelle Rickard,
Community Development Director Warren Frace, Public Works
Director Steve Kahn, Planning Services Manager Steve McHarris,
Police Chief Dennis Hegwood, Fire Chief Kurt Stone and City
Attorney Roy Hanley.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION: By Council Member Luna and seconded by Council Member
Clay to approve the agenda.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll-call vote.
PRESENTATIONS:
1. Recognition of outgoing Council Members Ray Johnson and Mike Arrambide
2. Recognition of outgoing City Treasurer David Graham
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise and Council Members expressed their appreciation to outgoing
Council Members Johnson and Arrambide.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise presented the outgoing officials with an obelisk commemorating
their service to Atascadero.
COMMUNITY FORUM:
Daphne Fashing congratulated the two new Council Members on their election. She
explained to the Council her concern that statements handed in at Council meetings by
the public and listed as attachments in the Minutes, are not available for review in any
location other than the City Clerk’s office. She asked that this policy be reviewed by the
new Council. (Exhibit A)
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise closed the Community Forum period.
CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION:
1. Council Appointment of Mayor – The City Clerk will accept nominations from
the Council Members
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise asked the City Clerk to explain the nomination procedure. City
Clerk Marcia McClure Torgerson reviewed the procedure.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Eric Greening, 7365 Valle Avenue, asked the Council to elect Council Member Luna to
the position of Mayor. He also suggested that Council Member Luna be appointed to
the SLOCOG and SLORTA vacancies.
Rick Mathews, 6950 Navarette Avenue, told the Council that Council Member Luna
should be elected to the position of Mayor.
Ellen Beraud, expressed her support for the election of Council Member Luna to the
position of Mayor.
Steve Good, 8830 San Gabriel, asked the Council to vote for Council Member Luna for
the position of Mayor.
Leon Korba stated his support for Council Member Luna to be elected to the position of
Mayor.
Fred Frank, 3650 Ardilla, urged the Council to elect Council Member Luna to the
position of Mayor.
Daphne Fashing, supported the previous speakers with her support for Council Member
Luna for the position of Mayor.
Steve LaSalle reminded the Council of the systematic rotation of Mayor as it was done
in the past. Mr. LaSalle felt this would be a preferable method of selection, as it would
tone down the dissention within the Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise closed the Public Comment period.
NOMINATION: By Council Member Pacas and seconded by Council
Member Luna to appoint Council Member Luna to the
position of Mayor.
NOMINATION: By Council Member O’Malley and seconded by Council
Member Clay to nominate Council Member Clay to the
position of Mayor.
There was Council discussion regarding both nominations as well as the process for
selection of Mayor. City Clerk Torgerson explained that she would call each Council
Member's name and ask for their vote.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Pacas: Council Member Luna
Council Member O’Malley: Council Member Clay
Council Member Luna: Council Member Luna
Council Member Clay: Council Member Clay
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise: Abstained.
Both nominations were nullified by a 2:2 vote.
Council Member Clay suggested the Council continue this item to the next meeting.
Council Member O’Malley stated the Council could discuss this issue at strategic
planning in January 2003.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise indicated that as there was not a majority vote for any of the
nominees, she would chair the Council meetings until the Council agrees on a
procedure to elect a new mayor.
2. Council Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem – The new Mayor will accept
nominations from the Council Members
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise announced that since a new mayor was not elected, this item
would be continued until such time as a mayor is selected.
3. SLOCOG Representative - The new Mayor will appoint Council representative
for the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise appointed Council Member Clay to the SLOCOG board.
Council Member Clay asked that Mayor Pro Tem Scalise take the position. She agreed.
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS:
Council Member Pacas suggested the Council consider in two years at the next
election, placing the election of Mayor on the ballot.
A. CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. October Disbursements – October 2002 Accounts Payable & Payroll
Fiscal impact: $2,294,603.14.
Staff recommendation: City Council approve certified City accounts payable, payroll
and payroll vendor checks for October 2002. [Administrative Services]
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
MOTION: By Council member Luna and seconded by Council Member
Pacas to approve Item #A-1.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll-call vote.
B. MANAGEMENT REPORTS:
1. Agreement for Services With the Zoological Society – In Support of
the Charles Paddock Zoo
Fiscal impact: Potential $79,000 annual revenue.
Staff recommendation: Council authorize the City Manager to execute the
Agreement for Services between the City of Atascadero and the Zoological Society of
San Luis Obispo County in support of the Charles Paddock Zoo. [Community
Services]
Assistant City Manager Brady Cherry gave the staff report and answered questions of
Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry Bowman, 8750 San Gregorio, President of the Zoological Society, stated he feels
the community has benefited greatly from the partnership between the City, the Zoo and
the Society. Mr. Bowman explained the role of the Zoological Society.
George Highland, San Luis Obispo, stated he has worked for many years with the
Charles Paddock Zoo and feels the agreement with the Zoological Society will be very
helpful to the Zoo and the City.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise closed the Public Comment period.
MOTION: By Council Member Luna and seconded by Council Member
O’Malley to authorize the City Manager to execute the
Agreement for Services between the City of Atascadero and
the Zoological Society of San Luis Obispo County in support
of the Charles Paddock Zoo.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll-call vote. (Contract No. 2002-029)
2. Atascadero Fire Safe Council Chipping Program
Fiscal impact: None. This program is funded through a grant awarded by the Fire
Safe Council.
Information item only: [Fire]
Fire Chief Kurt Stone gave the staff report and answered questions of Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Eric Greening stated he has heard many good comments about this program and he
gives it his support. Mr. Greening discussed the use of the term “fuel reduction” and
indicated in the staff report it appears to be used as a synonym for the word “clearance.”
He feels the word clearance can be very misleading in terms of the behavior it triggers,
and prefers the term fuel reduction.
Rick Mathews stated this sounds like a great program. He suggested the City sell some
of the mulch produced through this program.
Daphne Fashing, asked if the program will continue and return to the same areas
already affected. Fire Chief Stone indicated that it is their hope to do so, but it will
depend on the Bureau of Land Management and the availability of funds.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise closed the Public Comment period.
C. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Air Pollution Control District (APCD): Council Member Clay reported that there
will be a map coming out which will affect builders regarding rock containing
asbestos; this type of rock does exist in the west side of Atascadero.
Economic Vitality Corporation, Board of Directors (EVC): Mayor Pro Tem Scalise
reported that the EVC would be hosting a training session for all new Board
Members.
Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA): Council Member Luna stated
that the IWMA has implemented a program for towel racks for bathrooms. To
date Atascadero has not participated in this program. City Manager McKinney
stated that the Facilities Department was following up on this and the racks were
to be installed at City Hall.
D. INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION AND/OR ACTION:
City Council
Council Member O’Malley asked if the issue brought up by a member of the
public about minutes and their attachments could be agendized. Also, he asked
that the election of Mayor be placed on the next agenda.
Council Member Luna suggested selecting a Mayor tonight.
MOTION: By Council Member O’Malley and seconded by Council
Member Luna that the discussion of the selection of
Mayor be reopened.
Motion passed 5:0 by a roll-call vote.
MOTION: By Council Member O’Malley and seconded by Council
Member Clay to nominate Council Member Clay to the
position of Mayor and Council Member Luna to the position
of Mayor Pro Tem.
Council Member Clay stated that he does not take a back seat to anyone on the
Council; he has lived in Atascadero for 62 years and served his community well. He
stated that he would do a good job and would be honored to be Mayor.
Council Member Luna indicated that by any measure—the number of terms he has
been elected (3), the number of votes he received over Council Member Clay—he has a
certain constituency which he feels represents the majority of Atascadero residents and
for that reason he feels he deserves the position of Mayor.
Council Member Clay stated that 72% of the votes in the recent election went to
candidates that supported moving the City forward. He takes pride in the fact that he
spent significantly less than Council Member Luna in his election bid and therefore may
be less well known and have received fewer votes.
Council Member Pacas commented that the last time a Mayor was selected, Council
Member Luna was passed over as the majority of the Council felt he did not represent
the public because the Council majority did not hold his same views. She stated that
the Mayor selected at that time was not reelected and she feels this suggests the
people do support Council Member Luna’s position. She does not feel Council Member
Luna would be a threat to any of the goals other members wish to accomplish, as he is
diplomatic and fair.
MOTION: By Council Member O’Malley and seconded by Council Member
Clay to nominate Council Member Clay to the position of Mayor
and Council Member Luna to the position of Mayor Pro Tem.
Motion failed 2:3 by a roll-call vote. (Luna, Pacas, Scalise
opposed.)
Council Member O’Malley asked for Council consensus to bring back the issue of Mayor
selection on the next agenda.
There was Council consensus to bring the issue of the Mayor selection process
to the next Council agenda.
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise stated that the position of Mayor is an important one and she
cast her votes tonight as she did because she has witnessed divisiveness and
stubbornness within the Council, which she feels places it in a stagnated position and is
a loss for the community. She feels Atascadero needs a mayor who can draw both
sides in.
E. ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Scalise adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. to the next regularly
scheduled meeting on December 10, 2002.
MEETING RECORDED AND MINUTES PREPARED BY:
_____________________________________________
Marcia McClure Torgerson, City Clerk
The following exhibits are available for review in the City Clerk’s office:
Exhibit A – Daphne Fahsing