HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/19/17 CC AGENDA HIGHLIGHTSAGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
� July 19, 2017 COUNCIL MEETING
I�',' -;a REGULAR MEETING - 3:30 p.m.
NOTE: A separate meeting will be called to order at 3:30 p.m., followed by Public
Statements that will encourage comments pertaining to the Closed Session matters
only. The Council will recess into Closed Session. Upon conclusion of the Closed Session,
any Closed Session action will be announced prior to adjournment of the meeting. At
5:15 p.m., the Regular Meeting will be called to order to address the remainder of the
agenda items.
CLOSED SESSION
There will be a conference with legal counsel regarding two items of pending litigation
and two items of existing litigation.
REGULAR MEETING - 5:15 p.m.
WORKSHOPS
Item 6a. and 6b. Proposed Water Rate Increases. Due to an upcoming State mandate
through the Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, the City will be
required to mitigate wells within our domestic water system for a substance known as
1,2,3- Trichloropropane (TCP). We currently estimate the initial capital costs alone for this
mandatory remediation project will be approximately $55 million. While the water
enterprise has a modest fund balance that has allowed us to order some of the items
with longer lead times, the City domestic water enterprise will need to finance the
remainder of the project. As a result, the City will be required to borrow funds, which will
increase water rates by approximately 41 percent by July 2019 to comply with the new
State requirements. The agenda item before the Council recommends approval of a
Proposition 218 notice to be mailed to customers of the domestic water system, which is
one of the first steps to increase water rates. In addition, representatives from the
California Water Service Company (Cal Water) will be on hand to provide the Council
with an update regarding Cal Water's project to ensure compliance with their wells.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Resolutions
Item 8i. CDBG and HOME programs. On May 23, 2017, the White House released its
proposed budget for the federal fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017. Included in the
proposal was the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and
HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs. These programs provide the City with
$4.3 million annually for projects, programs, and services that benefit low and
moderate - income residents of the City. Elimination of these programs and the related
funding will greatly impact a large segment of the City's population. Impacts will
include the Bakersfield Senior Center and fair housing services, as well as park projects
and basic infrastructure in eligible areas. At the request of Council, staff has prepared a
resolution supporting the continual federal funding of these programs. Staff is requesting
the approval of the resolution, which will subsequently be sent to the appropriate
congressional representatives.
CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS
Items 9c. -9i. Resolutions of Necessity for 24th Street and Centennial Corridor proiects.
The City is down to partial acquisitions and temporary construction easements on the
24th Street and Centennial Corridor projects. Resolutions of Necessity (RON), the first step
in condemnation, are sometimes necessary at this stage to get owners to act on what
in the majority of instances are minor impact acquisitions. Staff recommends adoption
of these seven RONs; however, throughout the process, staff will continue to work with
the property owners to attempt to negotiate and finalize an agreement reflecting fair
and equitable compensation for their properties.
HEARINGS
Item 10a. PACE pro__ rq ams. The State previously approved legislation that enables
counties and cities to allow for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, which
provides a mechanism for property owners to fund energy efficiency, water efficiency,
and other renewable energy projects. The City allows for the operation of five Property
Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program providers in Bakersfield. Due to various reasons,
the County Board of Supervisors recently moved to terminate the PACE programs in
Kern County outside of the City limits. In addition, the Budget and Finance Committee
held a lengthy hearing on this matter on May 30, 2017. The Committee sent this item to
the full City Council without a recommendation. Staff recommends terminating the
PACE programs in Bakersfield. The Chamber of Commerce, Association of Realtors, and
the Kern County Taxpayers Association support terminating the PACE programs as well.
Item 10b. Proposed Changes to Master Fee Schedule. The fee schedule is the Council
authorized listing of all general and development related fees and charges designed to
recover the cost of providing services. Although the schedule is amended every two
years, the last comprehensive examination occurred in 2008. Some of the proposed fee
adjustments are substantial due to various factors that have increased the recovery
costs over the years. Staff estimates the adoption of the fee schedule will generate
$435,000 of additional revenues for the General Fund and Development Services Fund.
A public hearing was held at the June 7, 2017, City Council meeting recommending the
approval of the cost recovery resolution. During that hearing, representatives of the
Home Builders Association of Kern County (HBA) came forward requesting the resolution
not be approved and that additional time be provided to review the changes to the
fee schedule. Staff met twice with members of the HBA along with other individuals
within the industry to discuss applicable increases and the City's cost recovery
methodology. The HBA indicated they would provide staff with written comments or
objections after our 2nd meeting. We have not received any comments at this moment.
Staff is recommending adoption of the resolution.
Agenda Highlights - July 19, 2017, Council Meeting
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Item 10c. East Hills Mall Zone Change. The Council will be considering whether to
approve a zone change requested by the owner of the new City Lights project (the
existing East Hills Mall). The developer requested the zone be changed from Planned
Commercial Development (PCD) to C -2 to allow more flexibility in development. The
Planning Commission recommended the Council approve a hybrid zone (C -2 /PCD)
that still provides the flexibility desired by the developer and allows the City to approve
the aesthetics and layout of the project. Protect CEQA, an organization from northern
California, has appealed the Planning Commission's recommendation, specifically
questioning the project's CEQA analysis.
Approved: Alan Tandy, City Manager
cc: Department Heads
City Manager's File
City Clerk's File
News Media File
Agenda Highlights - July 19, 2017, Council Meeting
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