CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

MINUTES OF A TOWN HALL MEETING

 

LA HABRA HEIGHTS

 

MARCH 23, 2006

 

OPENING CEREMONIES

 

1.              CALL MEETING TO ORDER –

City Manager, Ronald Bates called the Town Hall Meeting to Order at 7:05 P.M.

 

2.              ROLL CALL

 

INDIVIDUALS PRESENT: Fire Chief, John Nielsen; Community Development Director, Justin Powers; City Manager, Ronald Bates; Consultant, Kelley Needham (WLC Architects) and Deputy City Clerk, Victoria Lee

 

3.              FLAG SALUTE – Led by Councilmember Brian Bergman.

 

AFTER PRESENTATIONS BY KELLEY NEEDHAM (WLC) ON DESIGN AND RONALD BATES ON FINANCING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS ON THE AGENDA began at 7:30 P.M.

 

 

Vince Gomez

West Road

 

What percentage of Change Orders eat into the (Conversion ?) numbers? How much saving will we have?

 

REPLY: Change Orders        2% of total allowed in budgeting numbers $141,000. Revenue for property taxes has been increasing at 6% rather than the 3% estimate in the Fire Station/City Hall revenue projection.

Future reserves are between 20-30%

We should have good figures after bids are submitted based on the final bid package.

 

 

Katie Martin

Reposado Dr

 

The firemen need a good place to live and work. How many bays with the Fire Station actually have? What if we had to tax?

Concerns are: What might be the impact to potential taxes, there does not appear to be enough parking and may therefore need shuttles for meetings?

 

REPLY: 3 bays are recommended. Taxing, while not recommended is being addressed. Parking is almost double that currently available at City Hall.

 

 

Stan Quaid

Encanada

 

We need better government not more government. Projects never come in on time. He donated the podium and his taxes have increased from $13 to $947 over the time he has been here. No one has mentioned landscaping. He doesn’t want to see a lot of landscaping around the Fire Station and it should be drought tolerant. How will the cost escalate? Doesn’t like how the City is run. NO NEW TAXES!!! Too many City Managers, they are always changing.

 

REPLY: The new Fire Station/City Hall complex can be financed without a tax increase.

 

 

Bob Harrencame

East Road

 

Probably 9 million by the time we are done. What will be the final turn key cost? Property tax will top out at property values top out.

 

La Habra Heights and Sierra Madre are the only 2 cities which have volunteer fire departments. How long will the volunteer fire department last?

 

REPLY: City expects to maintain volunteer Fire Department. Property Tax Values are continuing to escalate – Property Tax Revenue has been increasing at about 6% per year.

 

 

Jerry Shipman

Dorthea Road

 

Why are we building the new Fire Station/City Hall up the road instead of using the existing property?

 

He has not heard of a commitment from anyone to build low cost housing.

 

REPLY: Staff has two proposals to build senior affordable housing on the current City Hall site.

 

 

Norm Zezula

Canonita

 

What did the assessor appraise this property at?

Maybe we should build a Fire Station first then the City Hall later when we are sure we have the money. In previous evaluations the property is described as valuable and no one mentioned a tear down. While we are here the property is not valuable once we leave the property is valuable.

 

Why is the City Hall not safe but it is OK to have the kids in the Christian School exposed to the same asbestos hazards. Both the school and City Hall were built at the same time and are of school design.

 

REPLY: The Project will be bid to provide Council with options if costs are too high. Problem maintaining the current site were noted.

 

 

Katie Martin

Reposado

 

Can we structure the payments so we build the fire station first and maybe the City Hall later when we have more money? Phasing payments.

 

REPLY: Yes, the project will be bid and the bidding will allow for phasing.

 

 

Kathy Sauble

Hacienda Road

 

What are the maintenance costs of current facility? What would long term maintenance be on the new facility? She believes the continuation of maintenance costs should be a little lower.

 

REPLY: Low costs on the new facility slowly increasing over time.

 

 

Ginger Skinner

Kanola Road

 

Geological studies - Are we running test for foundation and liquefaction since this was an old dumping ground?

 

REPLY: A consultant has completed testing with “Cone Penetration” and “Auger Borings” and the results are expected in the next two weeks. The new facility will be on the sewer system.

 

 

Michelle Harencame

East Road

 

Works in the City of Buena Park. Is this a way for the City to avoid taking this to the people for a vote since it looks like we can pay for this out of our reserves. Most cities fund in this fashion – then tax us later. The old “Bait and Switch.”

 

REPLY: Project to be funded from reserves, current site and new financing.

 

 

Julie Edwards

Citron

 

How come we have no safety facilities on the East side?

 

REPLY: Response time to the east side is under 5 minutes and the county provides two additional stations to respond.

 

 

John Beau

Caselero

 

NO MORE TAXES. Build ½ of project. New site better for Fire Station – safer entry and exit. We have a good City Manager. What would the cost be to refurbish what we have here? Why is this an unsuitable site here?

 

REPLY: Problems maintaining the current site were noted. Also noted was the need for funds from the current site and meeting City RHNA numbers.

 

 

George Edwards

Fullerton Road

 

What are the chances of having an additional fire station on the East side of the City? Would it save lives to have a fire station on the east side of the city?

 

REPLY: Fire Chief said he felt no lives would be saved with the additional fire station on the east side.

 

 

Roy Cummings

Canonita

 

Does not see any emergency storage at the new facility for the staff of City Hall. There should be 3 days worth of food and water for 10-20 people.

 

REPLY: Staff agreed indicating that more storage space may need to be planned into the facility.

 

 

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Input to Deputy City Clerk after the meeting.

 

 

Bob Harencame

East Road

Wants to know the Total Value of the project.

-       Value of land

-       Financing costs

-       Construction costs

 

REPLY: City bought the site for $480,000 and construction and financing is expected to cost $7,500,000.

 

 

Jobie Townshend-Zellner

Likes Option 2

 

Leila Langston

Likes Spanish Style

We were originally called Rancho La Habra in 1839 and we should continue to follow our heritage.

 

 

Unidentified individuals voted as follows:

 

4 votes for Spanish style

1 vote for Craftsman

 

 

Meeting concluded at 9:00 PM.