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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Min 1996-08-07 ~ -- " TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Mayor Wolf called the regular meeting of the Tiburon Town Council to order at 7:30 P.M., Wednesday, August 7, 1996, in Council Chambers, 1101 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, California. A. ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNClLMEMBERS: EX OFFICIO: Gina1ski, Hennessy, Thompson, Wolf Thayer Town Manager Kleinert, Town Attorney Danforth, Chief of Police Her1ey, Planning Director Anderson, Town Clerk Crane B. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTION (If any) Mayor Wolf announced that no action had been taken in closed session. C. PUBLIC OUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Henry Herold, Marsh Road, resident for 20 years, called for correction to a staff report concerning a tree-cutting incident at Pt. Tiburon three years ago. He said he would send a letter to Council concerning his request. -- Karen Nygren, 2 Paseo Mirasol, commented that five out of six of the newly-appointed Downtown Task Force members were not from Tiburon and suggested that a majority should be. D. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS. COMMISSIONS & COMMITTEES MOTION: To appoint Priscilla Miller to Heritage & Arts Commission Moved: Hennessy, Seconded by Ginalski Vote: AYES: Gina1ski, Hennessy, Wolf ABSTAIN: Thompson [had not read letter concerning appointment] ABSENT: Thayer E. COUNCIL. COMMISSION & COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Tiburon's Internet Website. Councilmember Thompson and Town Clerk Crane spoke about the new website being sponsored by The Digital Foundry, a business at Point Tiburon. Town Clerk Crane said that Town Council Minutes and Agendas, and other information, would soon be available on-line. Councilmember Thompson noted the generosity of The Digital Foundry in sponsoring the Town. 2. Blackie's Brigade Progress Report. Larry Smith said the estimated completion date for improvements to the pasture was November 1. He said the fence would be brought to curve around the road and separate the areas for cars and people. Smith also said that Master Gardeners were installing an irrigation system and plants near Brunini Way. He asked Council to -- Town Council Minutes # 1094 August 7, 1996 1 ,..... approve the proposal for placement of plaques honoring the people involved in the project. Mayor Wolf said Council would wait for Heritage & Arts Commission's written recommendations. 3. Ayala Day Progress Report. Councilmember Hennessy gave a brief overview of the upcoming event scheduled for October 19. She said it would be a great opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate and support each other. 4. Sister City Program - Kinsale, Ireland. Councilmember Hennessy showed a tape segment from The Today Show about the city and listed the benefits of cultural exchange with the scenic port city with many similarities to Tiburon. Further action on item continued to August 21. 5. Police Services and Town Budget Committees. Councilmember Thompson led off the discussion with a proposal to change the make-up of the "blue ribbon" committee. He said he had met with representatives of the "Don't Mess with the Law Committee" at his home and sensed that everyone wanted to get behind a common agenda for the best possible [Town]services and a balanced budget. Thompson said the challenge was to find the best way to go about achieving those goals. Thompson said that as far as he was concerned, abolition of the Police Department was never on the table, but if the Council did nothing to address the budget situation, there would be a future problem. A past example, according to Thompson, was the deterioration of the streets, the repairs of which were now underfunded. ,..... Thompson proposed the following: 1) adding two citizen members to the committee; and 2) changing the focus of the committee to study the entire budget, not just the Police Department. He said past examples of successful budget reviews which created greater efficiencies of service were the consolidation of the Design Review Board and the Board of Adjustments & Review, and the creation of Southern Marin Dispatch. Thompson said something had to be done, which was the point of studying the delivery of police services in the first place, in order to get a jump on the budget. He said he was looking to the community to pull together behind the program. Councilmember Gina1ski asked if the restructured Committee would include a representative from the County [Sheriff], and Councilmember Hennessy wanted to know if the Committee would consider the possibility of contracting for Tiburon police services with the County Sheriff's Department. Thompson said he had discussed a kind of reverse contract for some services [between the County and the Town] with the Chief of Police in the past and felt that the Committee's hands should not be tied. However, he also said that he did not think contracting with the County for ,..... [all] police services in Tiburon was an option. Town Council Minutes # 1094 August 7. 1996 2 "......, A member of the audience said that option should be eliminated in order to bring people together. Mayor Wolf opened the public hearing. Brian Swift, Meadowhill Road, member of "Don't Mess with the Law Committee," said Thompson was on the right track with combining the committees, but said he had looked at the Town Budget and did not think there was a financial crisis. Sally Higgins, 25 Venado, said Councilmember Thompson had taken steps to understand the concerns of the citizens, but his proposal was too vague. She said if the Town made the Police Department a priority, there would be a way to subsidize it. She further suggesting increasing the officers' salaries. Larry Smith, 90 Lyford Drive, said it was important to have experts in the field on the committee, but suggested getting the police salary negotiations out of the way first. Carrie Harscha11, 21S Ned's Way, told Council to stop wasting time on whether or not to have a committee and to concentrate on revenue building. AI Burnham, 42 Meadowhill, said everyone would feel a whole lot better if they knew the Sheriff would not be patrolling Tiburon. He said it was "bad faith" to be discussing the issue during [police] contract negotiations. r" Karen Nygren, 2 Paseo Mirasol, said the budget problems were long-term and should not be blamed on the police. She said the discussion was a "set-up for a tax." Nygren said that in 1992 the Council came up with a utility tax: which would have raised $100,000 per year. She suggested addressing the idea again. Dave Stollmeyer, 2332 Mar East, commended Councilmembers Ginalski and Hennessy for understanding the concerns of the community, and said he would like a clearer delineation of Councilmember Thompson's proposal. Paul Haddad, 31 Dee Circle Drive, said that Sheriff s [slow] response time would give time for criminals to get away, and that police services were as important as "educating our children." Hearing returned to Council. Councilmember Thompson said he was disappointed that no action could be taken on the item, and hoped that the dialog could continue about the proposed study and make-up of the committee. Mayor Wolf proposed waiting until Vice Mayor Thayer was present before taking further action. r" Councilmembers Ginalski and Hennessy called for immediate action because the delay was testing Town Council Minutes # 1094 August 7. 1996 3 -- the patience of the community. Paul Haddad spoke up to say that buying time was not in the people's best interest. Another audience member asked how the Council thought the police were feeling right now [being kept in limbo]. Mayor Wolf said she would like Councilmember Thompson's proposal agendized. Councilmember Heneessy said she was still unclear as to what was being proposed, i.e. whether the original motion to form a committee and study police services was being reconsidered, or whether the committee was being reconfigured. However, she said she would agree to table the issue until the next meeting. Councilmember Ginalski said a decision should be made now. Councilmember Thompson said he would like more time to reflect on the situation. Mayor Wolf said she would like to talk more about the idea. Town Manager Kleinert suggested tabling the issue to a date certain, after the completion of the police contract negotiations. r Mayor Wolf concurred with Councilmembers Thompson and Hennessy to put consideration of a motion to table the issue on the next Council agenda. F. CONSENT CALENDAR 6. Town Council Minutes - July 3 and July 19, 1996. 7. MontWy Investment Summary - June 30, 1996. 8. Resolution for Pollution Prevention Week - September 16-22, 1996. 9) Amicus Curiae Request - Kavanau v. Santa Monica Rent Control Board; Ti/y B. v. City of Newport; Suter et al. v. City of Lafayette. MOTION: Moved: Vote: Absent: To Adopt Consent Calendar Thompson, Seconded by Hennessy Unanimous Thayer G. PUBLIC HEARING 10. Request for Encroachment Permit - End of Taylor Road. Planning Director Anderson said the property owner (AP No. 38-421-05, Mui Ho) through their attorney, Kathryn Cotton, had applied for a permit to relocate an existing gate further down Taylor Road onto Town-owned public access easement. He said the request came from the neighbors because the vacant parcel was being used as a parking lot and party area. Anderson recommended approval. r- Town Council Minutes # 1094 August 7. 1996 4 ~ I r-. L --' L- : , Councilmember Ginalski said it was contrary to Town policy to allow encroachment on Town- owned property. Councilmember Thompson questioned why that was so, and said he would support Staff's recommendations. Mayor Wolf and Councilmember Hennessy concurred. There was no public comment. MOTION: To approve the encroachment permit and direct the Town Engineer to issue the permit subject to appropriate conditions, including a revocation clause and recordation in the County Recorder's office. Moved: Vote: Hennessy, Seconded by Thompson AYES: Hennessy, Thompson, Wolf NOES: Ginalski ABSENT: Thayer H. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. I. COMMUNICATIONS None. J. STAFF & TOWN MANAGER REPORTS II. Annexation Issues - Paradise Drive Service Area. Town Manager Kleinert said a meeting had been called by Supervisor Rose to talk with Town Officials, County Counsel, and Sewer District Officials regarding the future proposed annexation of the Paradise Drive area. Kleinert said the issue was "heating up" and suggested agendizing the matter for further Council discussion in order to define the Town's position on the matter, as well as the proposed changes to LAFCO's Dual Annexation policy. K. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Town Council of the Town ofTiburon, Mayor Wolf adjourned the meeting at 9:39 p.m., sine die. ~~ ~h4L /NI Y WOLF, MAYOR ATTEJ2&, DIANE L. CRANE, TOWN CLERK Town Council Minutes # 1094 August 7. 1996 5 .~