CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LA HABRA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL

 

JULY 23, 2001

 

 

OPENING CEREMONIES

 

1.         CALL MEETING TO ORDER

 

            The special meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council was called to order by Mayor Engelhardt at 6:10 P.M. on Monday, July 23, 2001 in the multi-purpose room at 1245 North Hacienda Road, La Habra Heights, California.

 

2.         ROLL CALL

 

            Council members present: Borrowe, Carroll, Engelhardt, Klein and Millsap. Also present were City Manager Lindsey, City Engineer Milano, Fire Chief Nelson, Planning Director Sanderson, Deputy City Clerk Coulter and Sheriff Captain Binkley.

 

3.         FLAG SALUTE

 

            Engineer Milano led the flag salute.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS ON THE AGENDA

 

            No comments.

 

SCHEDULED MATTERS

 

4.         LA HABRA HEIGHTS PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON

 

            Mayor Engelhardt explained that this was to select a substitute Chairman to replace the resigned Chairman, Russ Burgess. It was indicated that William Moon was willing to accept the position of Chairperson.

 

            Councilmember Millsap offered a motion to accept William Moon as the temporary Parks

and Recreation Chairman, seconded by Councilmember Carroll and approved as follows:

 

            AYES:      Borrowe, Carroll, Engelhardt, Klein and Millsap

            NOES:     None

            ABSENT:         None

 

5.         A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS ADOPTING AN OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR SAID CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2001, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2002, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR PURPOSES THEREIN SET FORTH.

 

            It was noted that Councilmember Millsap and Borrowe had met twice as a sub committee.            Councilmember Borrowe reported that one time was with the City Manager and once with the Budget Committee. This was very helpful and many of their questions were answered.

 

            Councilmember Carroll reported that he had also met with the City Manager.

 

            Councilmember Millsap reported that a meeting was scheduled tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. with the sub committee and the Budget Committee.

 

            City Manager Lindsey stated that she had revised page 4 of the budget to make it more understandable.

 

            Councilmember Borrowe asked the City Manager to research 9013-Computer Supplies, which had more than doubled, on page 14.

 

            Councilmember Borrowe noted that he felt the dues and membership items should be continuously evaluated to see if the City is getting sufficient benefit from these expenditures.

 

            Councilmember Klein asked for a list of other companies that might offer liability insurance for the City.

 

            Mayor Engelhardt asked the City Manager if all cities and fire departments had been raised an equal amount, and if not, what had caused the City's increase.

 

            Mayor Engelhardt agreed to give further questions on the budget to the sub committee for tomorrow's meeting. She also noted that the City needs an accurate report on the balance for Roads District I.

 

            The City Council discussed the Hacienda Road project, the funds needed and where the money will be coming from.

 

            The City Council asked City Engineer Milano to provide an accounting of Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three costs for contract chip seal, slurry, engineering, administration and change orders.

 

            City Manager Lindsey offered to amend page 27 to show the application changes being made by the City Engineer from the Proposition “C” funds. It will still have the same total.

 

            The City Manager reported a General Fund balance of $1,960,428 and that some of the funding needs to be invested into the community.

 

           

The City Council continued on to discuss the Fire Department Budget.

 

            Fire Chief Nelson reported that in addition to the fire budget, at the end of the last meeting the City Council had been supplied with breakdowns for capital improvement projects, breakdown for the income for the class programs, and for the college program. He also provided a sample breakdown on how the Fire Department bills for such charges.

 

            The City Manager stated that a spreadsheet had been provided showing the general fire operations budget covering items that just showed up this year.

 

            The Fire Chief explained that if grants were received, things would go down a different path as compared to status quo. The Department would be able to buy engines more easily with grants.

 

            The City Council could raise the fire fee a maximum of 6.2% due to not raising the fee for more than one year.

 

            Councilmember Klein mentioned the need to have a fund for capital improvements in the Fire Department. He did not feel the rate should be raised more then approximately 3% at a time.

 

            The City Manager noted that five-year estimated capital improvement costs for apparatus and station improvements would cost $1.7million.

 

            Councilmember Carroll was not inclined to increase the tax rate since the City was asking for Roads District III funding.

 

            The Fire Chief discussed the approximate cost difference to repair the Department's dormitory or to build a new one.

 

            Councilmember Carroll stated he agreed with Councilmember Borrowe that before continuing to set more money aside for Capital Improvements, there should be a specific project picked for completion and then the fire fee would not need to be raised at this time.

 

            The City Manager explained at the last City Council meeting it was determined that the last date the Council could vote about the Fire tax or the District 3 tax was August 9, 2001.

 

            Councilmember Carroll offered a motion to not raise the Fire tax, seconded by Councilmember Borrowe and defeated as follows:

 

            AYES:      Borrowe and Carroll

            NOES:     Engelhardt, Klein and Millsap

            ABSENT:         None

 

            Councilmember Klein offered a motion that the Fire Department tax be increased by 3% and set aside for capital improvements. The motion died for lack of a second.

 

            The Council returned to the Fire Budget to see if more cuts can be found so they will not need to raise the Fire tax.

 

            Councilmember Carroll offered a motion to approve the Department Fire budget as presented. This died for lack of a second.

 

            Councilmember Klein offered a motion to place $60,000 or more into a capital improvement fund (9085), seconded by Councilmember Carroll and approved as follows:

 

            AYES:      Carroll, Engelhardt, Klein and Millsap

            NOES:     Borrowe

            ABSENT:         None

 

            The consensus of the City Council was to bring the budget back to the next Council meeting on August 9, 2001.

           

            Fire Chief Nelson stated that he would like to redo page 28 and 29 of the Fire budget with just the Fire operating budget and a separate budget for special projects.

 

            The City Manager noted that the special projects would have no other backup columns. They would be starting from scratch. She stated that it would have a new number.

 

6.         A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS SETTING THE CITY’S SPECIAL FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION SERVICES TAX LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2001-02

 

            (Continued from the July 12, 2001 Council meeting).

 

            RECOMMENDATION:           ADOPT RESOLUTION

 

            The consensus of the Council was to carry the discussion over to the August 9, 2001 Council meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

            Mayor Engelhardt adjourned the City Council meeting at 9:05 P.M.

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_______________________

INTERIM CITY CLERK DIAZ