CITY OF ESCONDIDO SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Escondido City Hall 201 North Broadway Escondido, CA 92025 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009 11:30 A.M. CITY MANAGER S CONFERENCE ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of the Escondido City Council and Community Development Commission was called to order on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. in the City Manager s Conference Room with Mayor Pfeiler presiding. ATTENDANCE The following members were present: Abed, Daniels, Diaz, Waldron, and Pfeiler. Quorum present. AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING CLOSED SESSION: (COUNCIL/CDC/RRB) MOTION: Moved by Councilmember Daniels and seconded by Councilmember Abed to recess to Closed Session. Motion carried unanimously. A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Government Code 54957.6) a. Agency negotiator: Sheryl Bennett, Clay Phillips Employee organization: Escondido Firefighters Association b. Agency negotiator: Sheryl Bennett, Clay Phillips Employee organization: Non-Sworn Fire c. Agency negotiator: Sheryl Bennett, Clay Phillips Employee organization: Escondido Police Officers Association d. Agency negotiator: Sheryl Bennett, Clay Phillips Employee organization: Non-Sworn Police ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None February 3, 2009 Escondido City Council Minutes Book 52 Page 291
ADJOURNMENT Mayor Pfeiler adjourned the meeting at 12:20 p.m. MAYOR CITY CLERK February 3, 2009 Escondido City Council Minutes Book 52 Page 292
CITY OF ESCONDIDO SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Escondido City Hall 201 North Broadway Escondido, CA 92025 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009 12:30 P.M. MITCHELL ROOM CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of the Escondido City Council and Community Development Commission was called to order at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 in the Mitchell Room with Mayor Pfeiler presiding. ATTENDANCE The following members were present: Abed, Daniels, Diaz, Waldron, and Pfeiler. Quorum present. Also present were: Clay Phillips, City Manager; Jeffrey Epp, City Attorney; Dr. Trudy Sopp, Co-Executive Director of The Centre for Organization Effectiveness and facilitator of the work session; City staff and members of the public and press. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None CITY COUNCIL/CDC WORKSHOP Facilitator Trudy Sopp presented the agenda discussion points and reviewed the City Council interview data, which identified the 2009-2010 general priority areas. There was agreement on the process issues and discussion guidelines. The themes and general priority areas brought forward by Council members during the individual presession interviews were outlined as follows: General Plan Review o Length of time 2-3 years o Need for community involvement o Budgetary issues Ways to engage the public for relatively little cost Need for a community engagement strategy February 3, 2009 Escondido City Council Minutes Book 52 Page 293
Timeline to be developed Focus on urban core doesn t need to be a big process Plans should be aired in the community; bring the community around its blueprint Review the old General Plan and what s already been developed or changes since its adoption Conduct a discussion on the need to create a Council subcommittee Financial Stability o Need to understand pension options, regional issues, local contributions, and choices available o Not willing to cut unless there are efficiencies realized within departments first o Need to consolidate facilities o Consider more narrowly focusing funding given to groups o Look at Council and City policies regarding reserves Infrastructure/Public Facilities o Core operations Provide Council a map or assessment of streets/roadway repair needs Sidewalks, undergrounding power lines Water/sewer, storm water issues Public safety Difference of opinion about continuing policies as they are ACT Quality of Life standard provide a definition to Council Not a sacred cow Need measurements Look at efficiencies in the budget for all departments; streamline operations Don t embark on new programs unless they save money Capital Improvements o Sewer o Several projects (e.g. bridge, realignment, HARRF) Economic Development o Need to work on business retention efforts More proactive, simplify, utilize stimulus package if possible o Find ways to diversity our economic base Move forward on office development Leverage properties we own Public/private partnerships o Find ways to be more business friendly Ascertain what we are hindering and how; do our rules hinder business? Discuss at City Council and Subcommittee level how to be more business-friendly o How can we take the temperature of both downtown and other employers? Visits; talking with them o Marketing Use elected officials and the Economic Development Subcommittee to bring business to Escondido Take initiatives to City Management/staff o General Plan should focus on possibilities for economic development o Consider a policy of live here, consume here; provide an incentive, especially for first responders or new employees February 3, 2009 Escondido City Council Minutes Book 52 Page 294
Library o Continue CIP efforts o Consider options for a new library Consolidation with museum Public/private partnership Joint use; out in community/schools Importance of computers/technology Process Issues: Arrange ride-alongs, field visits for Council members Conduct public forums specifically on public safety and budget; be proactive Update the Work Plan/milestones twice a year If staff is talking with the media about current issues, give Council a heads-up in case they are contacted More study/workshop sessions throughout the year Following discussion with all members of the Council, five priorities were identified as those to be included in the 2009-2010 Council Action Plan, and the Plan was subsequently adopted by the Council on June 24, 2009. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Review existing business incentives and develop new ones to help stimulate quality development in Escondido; be more proactive in seeking new businesses and retaining existing businesses Continue to promote development efforts in the downtown area that implement existing goals including the addition of residential and office use within walking distance of the core retail area Encourage citizens, employees and outside residents to live and shop in Escondido Expand efforts to increase high paying jobs and high-tech business FINANCIAL STABILITY & EFFICIENCIES IN SERVICE DELIVERY Formalize a Reserve Policy and specify appropriate uses. Develop priorities in long-term financial planning Evaluate pension costs Develop a policy on contributing to non-profit organizations Invest in technology GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Complete initial public outreach efforts Staff identification of issues Preparation of draft General Plan document Prepare EIR and technical studies Draft General Plan revisions Conduct public hearings Prepare ballot measure for inclusion on next available regularly scheduled municipal election INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Complete an analysis and pricing of maintenance/refurbishment needs at major City facilities Prepare a plan to improve all City streets to baseline standards (curbs, gutters and sidewalks) Establish the plan for a new public library based on the quality of life standards in the new General Plan UTILITIES Complete updated Master Plans for both water and wastewater and implement a Repair Replacement Plan for utilities infrastructure Develop a comprehensive solution for the HARRF capacity challenge February 3, 2009 Escondido City Council Minutes Book 52 Page 295
Develop and implement a long range Water Resources Plan Develop a financing plan to ensure adequate reserves and funding for reliable water, wastewater and storm water services Ensure environmental stewardship through regulatory compliance and a regional approach to water, wastewater and storm water issues. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ADJOURNMENT Mayor Pfeiler adjourned the meeting at 4:35 p.m. MAYOR CITY CLERK February 3, 2009 Escondido City Council Minutes Book 52 Page 296
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