| City Commission Work Session | Mayor Joan Bennett presiding |
CALL TO ORDER: 5:45 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Bennett, Commissioners Beecher, Downer, Gray, and Rosenbaum. Also present were City Manager, City Attorney, Directors of Community Development, Acting Director of the Fairgrounds, Park & Recreation, Fiscal Control, Management Information Services, Library, Public Works, Fire Chief, and City Clerk.
Mr. and Mrs. Harbert, owners of the property located at 2720 Evergreen, requested a variance to OCCGF 17.57.010. The variance requested would reduce the required front yard setback from 30' to 22'. The applicants intend on building a garage/shop extensions.
The Board of Adjustment heard the variance request at a meeting held January 22, 1998. The Board voted unanimously to recommend approval the variance request. The Board stated that the existence of numerous similar variance demonstrated that the area's topography and this lot's particular configuration created exceptional circumstances that supported the approval of the variance request.
After a brief discussion, the City Commission concurred with the Board's recommendation for approval.
Tim Magee, Budget/MIS Director and Jim Rearden, Public Works Director, reviewed the Staff proposal to raise water rates 4% and sewer rates 3%. The City Commission has set a public hearing on the proposed rate increases for February 17, 1998.
Mike Jacobsen, Water Plant supervisor, gave an update on the savings at the Water Plant. He reminded the City Commission that Staff prepared a request for proposals for the operation of the plant two years ago. The current employees submitted a proposal which demonstrated an annual operation savings of over $100,000. The City Commission awarded the "contract" to the current employees. Mr. Jacobsen stated that the FY 1994/95 budgeted amount was just under $1,500,000 while the actual expenditures were slightly over $1,350,000. He added that currently the projected budget for FY 97/98 is slightly over $1,300,000. Mr. Jacobsen stated that Staff was better able to budget closer to the actual expenditure.
Mr. Jacobsen added that through some staff rescheduling and electrical upgrades, the staff at the water plant has been able to realize a cost savings of over $100,000 per year.
Jerry Sepich, Park and Recreation Director, reviewed the history of bidding the installation of an irrigation system at Anaconda Hills Golf Course. He added that the City bid the project twice and both times the bids came in significantly higher than the architects estimate and well above the budget. Mr. Sepich proposed that Staff act as general contractor for the project and complete it in-house. Mr. Sepich reviewed the proposed budget and listed the Staff who would be responsible for this project and their experience with golf course irrigation systems.
Chief Hirose reported to the City Commission that all three ambulance companies had signed the agreement stipulating the conditions of the ambulance dispatch fees. Additionally, that all three ambulance companies have submitted payment for dispatch services through the end of FY 1997/98. He stated that the City Commission was asked to formally approve these agreements at their regular meeting immediately following the work session.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular work session on February 3, 1998, adjourned at 6:55 p.m.