MINUTES OF A MEETING OF
THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL, LEMON GROVE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND LEMON GROVE SANITATION DISTRICT BOARD
April 7, 2009
Call to Order
A meeting of the Lemon Grove City Council was called to order by Mayor Sessom at
6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at the Lemon Grove Community Center, located at
3146 School Lane, Lemon Grove.
City Council, Community Development Agency Board and Sanitation Board present: Mary
Sessom, Mary England, George Gastil, Jerry Jones, and Jerry Selby.
City Staff present: Captain Chambers, Sheriff’s Department; Carol Dick, Community
Development Director; Susan Garcia, City Clerk; Barbara Kraber, Management Analyst;
Mike Hale, Recreation Services Director; Betty Hofman, Finance Director; Tim Laff, Fire
Chief; Jim Lough, City Attorney; and Pat Lund, Public Works Director/City Engineer.
Changes to the Agenda
None.
Presentation
Mark Weston, Helix Water District General Manager, provided a presentation regarding
the water supply shortage, new water rates, and a proposed capacity fee.
The City Council discussed the possible impacts that could be created by the proposed
capacity fee and the setting of a special meeting to discuss the issue in depth.
Public Comment
John L. Wood commented on construction and storage containers at the Toyota
dealership and waste disposal trucks that frequent Federal Boulevard.
Mike Richards expressed appreciation for the repaving of Lemon Grove Avenue and
commented on water conservation efforts.
Council Remarks and Announcements
Councilmember England attended the Miss Lemon Grove Pageant.
Councilmember Selby attended the SANDAG Regional Planning meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Jones attended a Metro Wastewater meeting.
1. Consent Calendar
Mayor Sessom requested that item 1.C be removed from the Consent Calendar for
discussion.
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A. Approval of City Council Minutes
March 17, 2009 Regular Meeting
B. Ratification of Payment Demands
Action: Motion by Councilmember England, support Councilmember Selby, to
move item 1.C to end the agenda as item 8.A and to approve the balance of the
Consent Calendar to passed, by the following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
2. Pavement Cut Ordinance
Pat Lund stated that on February 17, 2009, the City Council introduced and conducted a
first reading of Ordinance No. 381, amending the Lemon Grove Municipal Code (LGMC)
Section 12.04.380. By amending LGMC Section 12.04.380, the City will have the ability
to implement a pavement cut policy with the intent of minimizing excavations into newly
paved road surfaces.
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, support Councilmember Selby, to waive
further reading and adopt an ordinance amending Section 12.04.380 of Chapter
12.04 of Title 12 of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code by adding language
regarding resurfacing highways passed, by the following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
Ordinance No. 381: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lemon Grove
Amending Section 12.04.380 of Chapter 12.04 of Title 12 of the Lemon Grove Municipal
Code by Adding Language Regarding Resurfacing Highways
3. Smoke-Free Park Ordinance
Pat Lund stated that on March 17, 2009, the City Council introduced an ordinance that
prohibits smoking activities at City parks. The ordinance proposes the following
language as Section 12.20.355 of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code (LGMC): It is
unlawful to possess a lighted or burning tobacco product or tobacco-related product at
any time within the boundaries of any park, including designated parking areas of any
City park.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Gastil, support Councilmember England, to
waive further reading and adopt an ordinance adding Section 12.20.355, which
prohibits smoking in public parks, to Chapter 12.20 “Parks and Facilities” of the
Lemon Grove Municipal Code passed, by the following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
Ordinance No. 383: An Ordinance of the Lemon Grove City Council Adding Section
12.20.355, Which Prohibits Smoking in Public Parks, to Chapter 12.20 “Parks and
Facilities” of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code
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4. Five Year Capital Improvement Program Update
Pat Lund explained that staff took into account current economic conditions when
preparing the updated Five Year CIP and noted that there are key areas in which
Council can reprioritize the proposed CIP.
Federal Boulevard Sewer Upgrade: In keeping with the original project goal of providing
capacity relief for the existing 12-inch pipe in Federal Boulevard, the project is currently
at 90 percent design completion. The project consultant is completing the final design
details and should complete the plans by May 2009. This project will be carried over into
the FY 2009 and FY 2010 CIP. The total project expenditure is intended to be shared
between the City of San Diego and the City of La Mesa proportionately because the
District receives flow from these City’s sanitary sewer systems.
Lemon Grove Avenue Sewer Upgrade: The project is currently under construction and
is expected to be completed by June 2009. Staff has diligently worked with the City of
San Diego as well as multiple utility districts to maintain forward progress on the project.
As initially promised, this project will provide capacity relief to the existing 12-inch sewer
main that services a major portion of the City. While the initial allocation for this project
was $2,300,000, the costs for design and construction are expected not to exceed
$2,000,000.
Federal Boulevard Sewer Upgrade: As described in the FY 2008 CIP, construction
project drawings are expected to be completed by May 2009 with construction in FY
2010.
Sewer Main Rehabilitation, FY 2009: This project was postponed in the FY 2009 CIP
because additional funds were needed for the Federal Boulevard Sewer Upgrade and
the Geographic Information System (GIS) Development and Implementation project.
Staff expects to begin the Sewer Main Rehabilitation project again in the FY 2010 CIP.
GIS Development and Implementation Project: As a major step in improving the
standard process of performing work within the Sanitation District, staff contracted with
Psomas to develop and implement a GIS program. This program will be tailored to the
special needs of the Sanitation District. By incorporating new computer software and
technology, staff will have access to scanned as-built maps, specific parcel details, and
maintenance records of each asset owned by the District. This project is approximately
18 percent complete with a completion date of July 2009.
Storm Drain Maintenance: This annual project continues to improve or repair multiple
storm drain facilities with spot repairs to existing pipes, berm installation or other
diversion devices. Special attention will still focus upon Chollas Creek in accordance
with the requirements of the NPDES permit which includes debris removal, vegetation
control, and/or habitat restoration.
Storm Drain Improvements: This project continues to evaluate, prioritize, and implement
improvements to the City’s storm drain system, perform risk assessments to prioritize
each need, and perform the necessary construction repairs or replacements to avoid
roadway flooding. At this time, possible project locations include the intersections of
Longdale Drive at Myra Street, Olive Street at Pacific Avenue, San Miguel Avenue at
MacArthur Drive, and San Miguel Avenue at New Jersey Avenue. Also included are
point repair locations on Bakersfield Street, Colfax Drive, Dennis Lane, Drew Lane,
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Darryl Street, Elkhorn Street, Ensenada Street, North Avenue, and San Altos Place.
Staff recently completed a conceptual design for two of the project locations: San
Miguel Avenue at New Jersey Avenue and Darryl Street with an estimated construction
cost of $421,000. Staff intends to award a final design contract and a construction
contract for this project in FY 2010.
Lemon Grove Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation: The northbound lanes of Lemon Grove
Avenue were paved in March 2009. Staff adjusted the timing and limits of this project
because it was intended to be completed after the Lemon Grove Avenue Sewer Project.
However, due to expenditure time limits related to the supporting grant funds, staff
moved forward with paving portions of the northbound and southbound lanes of Lemon
Grove Avenue.
Lemon Grove Avenue Realignment Project: A key project in the redevelopment of the
City’s Downtown Village Specific Plan, this project improves access to and from SR-94,
reducing motorist delays and emissions, while greatly enhancing the visual appeal of the
block adjacent to the trolley station. This project utilizes funds from multiple revenue
sources including SDG&E 20A Undergrounding Funds, Prop 1B, TransNet, and
redevelopment funds. The construction drawings are 60 percent complete and staff is
awaiting plan review comments from impacted agencies. It is expected this project will
bid for construction in late 2009 pending availability of Prop 1B monies.
Pavement Management System: This is an annual program updating the list of streets
needing paving improvements within the City. The process to update the list includes a
survey of each City street, assigning an objective score based upon the observed
conditions, and finally creating a priority list of streets. No work was completed in the FY
2009 CIP because staff is still working on the previous priority list of streets. Staff
intends to combine the funds from the FY 2009 CIP and FY 2010 CIP to create an
updated pavement management system, which should last for 3 to 5 years.
Pavement Rehabilitation: This project involves the annual roadway rehabilitation of
grinding or overlay or new structural pavement, or new overlay at least one inch thick for
several streets within the City. The pavement management system dictates the priority
of work on all streets rehabilitated. Streets programmed for paving in FY 2009 include:
69th Street south of Madera Street, and
San Altos Place.
Pavement Rehabilitation: Similar to the Citywide pavement rehabilitation program, this
project differs because of the funding source. The Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to
address a wide range of unique community development programs such as benefiting
low and moderate income persons, preventing or eliminating blight, or addressing
community development needs (i.e. pavement management). Staff is currently
preparing a consolidated paving project that will utilize all CDBG and TransNet funds by
the end of the FY 2009 CIP. The approved list of streets the City intends to pave with
CDBG funds are:
Circle Drive (in its entirety),
Drexel Court (Drexel Drive to east end),
Edgerton Drive (Mount Vernon Street to south end),
Hardy Street (Mount Vernon Street to Palm Street),
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Loma Drive (in its entirety),
Olive Street (Pacific Avenue to San Miguel Avenue), and
Roosevelt Avenue (New Jersey Avenue to Buena Vista Avenue).
Safe Routes to School Project: By May 2009, staff expects to receive authorization to
begin work on this project and select a firm to design this project. This project is
expected to begin construction in late Fall 2009, but the construction schedule may be
modified to best fit the Palm Middle School vacation schedule.
Traffic Improvements: Citywide traffic improvements are scheduled throughout the year
and focus on maintaining the operational readiness of the street system. Improvements
include: traffic loop replacements, traffic signal upgrades, street striping improvements,
traffic calming studies, and the repair or replacement of street signs.
Traffic Signal Upgrades: This project is expected to design, construct, and install a new
traffic signal. Locations previously identified as project sites include intersections along
Broadway Avenue, Sweetwater Way, and Skyline Drive. Due to the high cost to design
and construct a new traffic signal, staff expects to postpone this project from the FY
2009 CIP, increase the allocation, and construct in the FY 2010 CIP.
Bus Shelter Improvements: Staff continues to receive multiple complaints regarding the
comfort level and condition of bus shelters in the City. After evaluating each shelter,
staff determined that improvements at each facility are needed, with some of the shelters
requiring replacement.
Lemon Grove Recreation Center Rehabilitation Project: The improvement plans are 100
percent complete. However, both funding sources for this project were frozen by the
State. A special request to release the funds was submitted to the Department of Parks
and Recreation. Other than an acknowledgement of receipt, no status on the availability
of the funds has been received. Until that acknowledgement is received, staff will not
move forward with advertising this project for construction. This project will be continued
into the FY 2010 CIP until the funds are released or cancelled by the State. It should be
noted that $30,146 was spent to complete the design plans. However, those funds were
previously allocated from the General Reserve Funds.
Mayor Sessom commented on the present status with the State’s budget and the
possible impacts locally. She suggested that the projects presented by Mr. Lund be
included in the Council Priorities Work Plan timeline.
Mr. Lund stated that the original construction estimate for the slope stabilization project
along Federal Boulevard was $1,200,000 and funded through the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). After soil testing and civil design, the results from the
tests of the soil, as well as the entire project area, required addition physical
improvements, which increased the estimated construction to $4,200,000.
Staff submitted a request to the Caltrans Local Assistance Engineer to increase the
funding allocation for his project. Because of the delay associated with receiving a
response from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), staff reallocated the
$380,000 matching funds to other projects within the CIP.
In 2003, Public Works contracted with Infrastructure Management Services (IMS) to
establish a Pavement Management Program that could be used to prioritize street
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repairs and rehabilitations. The IMS analysis included use of a Laser Road Surface
Tester to determine each public street’s strength, surface condition, roughness, and
environmental influences. The report concluded that the City’s overall pavement
condition warranted an annual expenditure of $700,000 in order to maintain the
pavement condition that existed in 2003. Using an annual construction cost escalation of
three percent, that annual expenditure in 2009 dollars would equate to $840,000.
Mr. Lund stated that staff will revise the Five Year CIP and return on April 21, 2009 for
adoption by resolution. With the resolution, staff will update the Regional Transportation
Improvement Program.
5. Authorization to Notice a Public Hearing Regarding Refuse Disposal Rates
Barbara Kraber explained that staff recently met with EDCO regarding its request to
increase commercial and residential refuse and recycling rates beginning July 1, 2009.
Proposed rate adjustments include a 2.1 percent increase in commercial rates and 1.2
percent in residential rates.
Ms. Kraber noted that to consider a rate adjustment, the City Council is required to
conduct a public hearing. California Proposition 218 requires that the City mail a public
notice of the hearing to every property owner within the City 45 days prior to the hearing.
James Lough requested that the notice be amended in the second to last paragraph to
read: In addition, the City Council will consider a schedule of annual refuse rate
adjustments according to the Consumer Price Index for the San Diego Area for
subsequent fiscal years as allowed by law.
Action: Motion by Councilmember England, support Councilmember Gastil, to
authorize staff to proceed with notification as amended regarding a public hearing
to address a proposed increase to the City’s refuse disposal rates passed, by the
following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
6. 2009 City Council Priorities Work Plan
At the March 17, 2009 City Council meeting, staff presented a draft work plan reflecting
the 2009 City Council priorities identified at the February 27, 2009 priority setting
workshop. The work plan included nine sub-priorities and 44 specific tasks related to
accomplishing priorities set by the City Council.
Priority #1 Changes: The “Understanding the City’s Long-Term Financial Condition” sub-
priority includes a new task to present data from previous community surveys. The task
to present strategies to gather community feedback builds on the previous surveys to
focus on key issues that require more refined responses. The sub-priority entitled
“Engage Residents” was modified to “Community Engagement.” In this sub-priority, staff
removed two of the three town hall update meetings.
Priority #2 Changes: Under the “General Plan Updates” sub-priority, the task of
conducting a STA III “visioning” workshop was included—to occur in December 2009.
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Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, support Councilmember Selby, to
approve the 2009 City Council Priorities Work Plan passed, by the following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
7. Safe Routes to School Grant Application
Pat Lund stated that staff continues to focus on applying for and receiving grant funds to
improve the City’s infrastructure and create safe zones around the Lemon Grove School
District schools. On July 15, 2008, staff described three locations to the City Council as
potential future projects for Safe Routes to School (SR2S) grant funds based on their
possible enhancements to pedestrian safety. The three locations and a brief summary
of the potential improvements include:
o Golden Avenue Elementary School: Install sidewalks, curb, and gutter along
Golden Avenue north of the school.
o San Miguel Elementary School: Install sidewalks, curb, and gutter along the
north side of San Miguel Avenue.
o San Altos Elementary School: Install a center median on Madera Street south of
the school.
Mr. Lund noted that after staff analyzed each project site, it was determined that San
Altos Elementary School would be the most likely project site to receive an award from
the 8th cycle of the SR2S Grant program. While Golden Avenue Elementary School and
San Miguel Elementary School both have viable needs for infrastructure improvements,
both sites have a draw back. Both schools, after initial assessment, would require right-
of-way acquisition to construct sidewalks. Any right-of-way acquisition is highly
discouraged by the State due to the time involved and would likely prevent the City’s
application from being awarded.
The proposed improvements at San Altos Elementary School will promote the safety of
students by installing a raised in-pavement lighted crosswalk on Madera Street. The
paved width of Madera Street is wider than needed to accommodate parallel parking and
two lanes of traffic, and this “openness” can be conducive to speeding between
Massachusetts Avenue and 69th Street. During the last speed survey completed on
Madera Street, between Massachusetts Avenue and 69th Street, the 85th percentile of all
vehicles traveling the roadway was 41 miles per hour.
The total cost of the project improvements is $152,031. Included in the estimate are
inspection fees and a 10 percent contingency cost. Staff proposes to use TransNet
funds for the required 10 percent matching should the application be awarded.
Action: Motion by Councilmember England, support Mayor Sessom, to adopt the
resolution approving submittal of a Safe Routes to School Grant Application
passed, by the following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
Resolution No. 2858: Resolution of the Lemon Grove City Council Approving the
Submittal of a Safe Routes to School Grant Application
8. Planning Commission Interview
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At its March 17, 2009 meeting, the City Council agreed to fill a vacant Planning
Commission position by using the pool of applicants from the Fall 2008 Planning
Commission recruitment.
The City Council interviewed three candidates: Moises Aguirre, Jose Cuevas, and Cesar
Minaca.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Selby, support Mayor Pro Tem Jones, to
appoint Moises Aguirre to the Planning Commission passed, by the following
vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
8. A Amendment to Heartland Communications Joint Powers Agreement
Chief Laff explained that the Heartland Communications Facility Authority
Commissioners unanimously approved a new member agency assessment formula.
The new assessment formula results in an increase to the City’s contribution by
$7,867—a 7.08 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2009. He added that of the eleven
member agencies in the authority, four special districts and one city saw a decrease in
charges, while the remaining six cities saw an increase.
This increase will take effect on July 1, 2009. The new assessment formula eliminates
the 25 percent weight per mobile radio and adjusts the cost per incident from 50 percent
to 75 percent. The 25 percent weight for the number of personnel remains the same.
Action: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Jones, support Councilmember Selby, to adopt
the resolution approving an amendment to Heartland Communications Joint Powers
Agreement passed, by the following vote:
Ayes: Sessom, England, Gastil, Jones, Selby
Resolution No. 2857: Resolution of the Lemon Grove City Council Approving an
Amendment to Heartland Communications Joint Powers Agreement
Continued Public Comment
John L. Wood commented on a previous City Council meeting discussion, water
conservation efforts and the location of a fire hydrant near his residence.
City Manager/Department Director Reports
There were no Department Director Reports.
Closed Session
Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Subdivision (b) of Government Code
Section 54956.9
Russell Haight v The City of Lemon Grove
At the end of the Closed Session, James Lough reported that direction was given to
Counsel, and no reportable action was taken.
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There being no further business to come before the City Council, Community Development
Agency Board and Sanitation Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Susan Garcia, City Clerk
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