An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday,
January 8, 2002 commencing at 7:02 a.m.

Present: Council Members – Hitchcock, Howard, Land, Nakanishi, and Mayor Pennino

Absent: Council Members – None

Also Present: Deputy City Manager Keeter, City Attorney Hays, and City Clerk Blackston

Mayor Pennino announced that Tony Gora, Mayor of Galt, passed away yesterday. Council observed a moment of silence in his memory.

Mayor Pennino also announced that Victor Mow was elected Chair of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and Jack Sieglock as Vice Chair.

City Clerk Blackston reviewed the weekly calendar (filed).

C-1 "Legislative and Priority Projects for State and Federal Advocacy"

Deputy City Manager Keeter explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential issues and projects for State and Federal advocacy. The results will be forwarded to the San Joaquin Council of Governments (COG) for the third annual San Joaquin "One Voice" visit to Washington, D.C. and the first annual San Joaquin "One Voice" to Sacramento. The purpose of both efforts is to meet with legislators to advocate for regional and local projects. An item will be placed on the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting to adopt a resolution supporting the legislative priorities.

STATE:

Vehicle License Fee Backfill

Finance Director McAthie outlined the history of vehicle license fees. She stated that the City is currently supposed to be getting 18.75% of any taxes collected on vehicles registered in Lodi, which amounts to $3.3 million annually. A decision was made by the Governor to backfill 67.5% of the license fees from the general fund of the State. For Lodi, the backfill amounts to $2 million. Due to State budget deficits there is a likelihood that the backfill to cities will be terminated.

Ms. Keeter stated that the League of California Cities has encouraged all cities to send letters to the Governor supporting his commitment not to take the vehicle license fee from cities.

Caltrans Environmental Requirements for Lodi Lake Grant Funds

Ms. Keeter stated that the City received a Federal Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA) grant in the amount of $163,000, which was to be used toward Phase 2 of the Lodi Lake bike trail project. Caltrans required that the City do a hazardous waste study on the 13-acre parcel, a visual impact study on the bike path east of the levee, a natural environmental study, an archaeological study, and a cultural resources study. Staff calculated that it would cost over $100,000 to conduct these studies.

Public Works Director Prima stated that staff will be recommending that Council approve the transfer of this grant money to the Kettleman Lane project. He suggested that Council might want to advocate a threshold amount on grants, whereby local agencies can use its own processes rather than Federal regulations.

Support Caltrans Having More Flexible Streets and Highways Design Standards

Mr. Prima stated that many cities have complained that Caltrans has an inordinate amount of requirements that impede cities where a State highway runs through the downtown area.

Ms. Keeter suggested that the Animal Shelter be considered for State legislative advocacy, as well as Federal. She commented that there are unfunded State mandates requiring Animal Shelters to keep animals for a longer period of time.

Council Member Nakanishi asked for a list of unfunded State mandates and what the projected cost is to the City. Ms. McAthie replied that she would provide this information.

Mayor Pennino asked why the Woodbridge Irrigation District restoration project was not included on the list of legislative projects.

Mr. Prima indicated that it was overlooked when the list was prepared. He reported that the District submitted its final application for construction funding in September. A CALFED decision is due in late spring or early summer.

Council Member Land requested that the following items be added to the State legislative advocacy list:

Create Housing Solutions – Providing decent, affordable housing, multi- and single-family. Addressing the live-work housing issue and agricultural worker housing.

Leave municipal power companies alone.

Water – Supporting our effort in searching for additional water rights and storage.

Council Member Nakanishi voiced support for the issues of maintaining the vehicle license fee backfill to cities, restoration of ERAF to cities, and local control of municipally owned utilities.

 

Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock chose the issues of local control of municipally owned utilities and the animal shelter as priorities.

Council Member Howard stated that maintaining the vehicle license fee backfill to cities, the Woodbridge Irrigation District restoration project, and the animal shelter were her highest priorities on the list. She noted that the issue of maintaining local control of municipally owned utilities could effectively be advocated on many levels.

FEDERAL:

Railroad Track Safety Improvements

Ms. Keeter stated that this would be for street work on Lockeford Street and Guild Avenue as a result of the Kentucky line being put in so that the tracks can be removed.

Animal Shelter Project

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

Ms. Keeter noted that the upgrade is necessary as a result of requirements for discharge.

Highway 12 Improvements for Operations and Safety

Ms. Keeter commented that this issue was advocated in Washington D.C. last year.

Transit Maintenance Facility

Ms. Keeter stated that it typically takes two years to get funds for these types of facilities.

Mr. Prima noted that the transit maintenance facility was built in the 1960s and the number and sizes of vehicles has increased substantially since that time.

 

Fire Chief Pretz reported that the following Federal legislation is being proposed:

To provide Federal resources to protect firefighters from the effects of chemical and biological agents.

Increase funding to the Assistance to Firefighters Program.

Federal program being established to hire additional 75,000 firefighters across the country. This is a grant that would pay for firefighters salaries for the first three years of employment.

Increase the capability and responsiveness of the urban search and rescue task forces and the metropolitan medical response system.

Define Federal leadership for the fire service.

Improve communication infrastructure for emergency responders.

Enact legislation to make the Federal Emergency Management Agency office of natural preparedness as the single point of contact for terrorism preparedness.

Increase funds for counter terrorism programs.

Fund Operation Respond to improve the response to hazardous materials incidents.

Direct the formation of terrorism early warning groups.

Augment local and Federal fire emergency service departments to protect critical installations, particularly under heightened security.

Mayor Pennino requested that Chief Pretz prioritize these issues according to what would best meet the needs of the City. Addressing Ms. Keeter he noted that the issue of maintaining local control of municipally owned utilities should be placed under both the State and Federal lists.

Council Member Land requested that ‘Creating Housing Solutions’ be added to the list.

Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock requested the addition of infrastructure financing and the Indoor Sports Center.

Mayor Pennino pointed out that the Indoor Sports Center could be placed on both the State and Federal lists.

Council Member Howard and Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock expressed an interest in attending the San Joaquin "One Voice" trip to Sacramento.

COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

None.

No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 a.m.

ATTEST:

Susan J. Blackston

City Clerk