City Council recap for Feb. 1, 2010
Among items discussed at Monday’s Barstow City Council meeting:
Associate engineer position • The Barstow City Council unanimously approved the creation of an at-will associate engineer position.
Assistant City Manager Martin Piñon said the city getting ready to undertake a $12 million street repair project that involves 16 streets. Staff can’t do the project on their own, he said, even though the city contracted with Merrell-Johnson engineering to complete the streets on the capital improvement project list.
The cost for the position will be about $97,000 including benefits. For the remainder of the fiscal year, the cost will be about $40,000 if the city is able to hire someone by March, Piñon said.
Stipend removed for Park, Recreation and Cultural Commission • The Council voted 3-2 to change the Park, Recreation and Cultural Commission to a committee and eliminate the $100 stipend its members received. Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez and Councilman Willie Hailey Sr. dissented.
The City Council also decided to establish a four-member committee. Two City Councilmembers will also serve on the committee. On Monday, city staff had requested the Council replace former commissioner Anthony Yslas, who was removed from board in December following a harassment complaint by a city employee.
Hailey, who is the councilman assigned to the PRCC, said it is the only city board that is coming up with any ideas. Hailey said he’d rather leave the commission as-is.
Rules of conduct • The City Council unanimously voted to change its rules of conduct to address when meetings are held on holidays and the deadline by which city staff must submit agenda items. According to City Attorney Yvette Abich-Garcia, city staff must submit their staff reports by Monday. The agenda must be finished by Wednesday.
Another issue involved the invocation. Abich-Garcia said the invocation has been held prior to the meeting being called to order to prevent complaints about the separation of church and state.
If city staff violates the rules of conduct, Abich-Garcia said disciplinary action will be taken. If a member of the City Council violates the rules of conduct, the Council may censure him or her.
City’s state and federal funding requests • The Council unanimously approved the city’s state and federal funding requests and political support for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The city is asking state and federal elected representatives to offer their political support the casino project proposed by the Los Coyotes and Chemehuevi Tribes. State and federal representatives are also asked to support the Marine Corps Logistics Base and Fort Irwin National Training Center.
Funding assistance requests from the city to elected officials include support for street repair projects such as the Lenwood Road project from Serrano Drive to Commerce Parkway. Other requests include funding for upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility and creating a veteran’s memorial park.
High school tennis team, Riffian wrestling club • The Barstow City Council voted four-to-one in favor of awarding a $200 donation to the Barstow High School boy’s tennis team and a $500 donation to the Barstow Riffian Wrestling Club. The money would come out of the city’s Community Pomotional Fund. Councilmember Tim Saenz dissented on both items.
In August, City Manager Richard Rowe asked the Council to adopt a policy that would require organizations to submit their requests at once. So far, the Council has considered fund requests individually.
Saenz said he’d like to see a policy established and followed.
Gomez said the Council already set a practice and the applicant isn’t at fault if there is no policy. The Council should continue as it has during this fiscal year. Gomez directed Rowe to get input from the Barstow Youth Advisory Council and Barstow Association of Governments for a new policy.
Al Vigil renovation resolution • The Barstow City Council unanimously approved the resolution to submit a grant application for a $5 million state parks grant to renovate the Al Vigil Swim Center.
Barstow Community Services Director Jeanette Hayhurst and Jack Panichapan, an architect with Costa Mesa firm, Gillis-Panichapan, presented designs for a multi-purpose facility at a public meeting Wednesday. Rowe said a match for the grant isn’t required.
The city must submit the application by March 1. Hayhurst said she would present the facility plans at the Council’s Feb. 16 meeting.
National League of Cities participation • The Barstow City Council unanimously approved spending about $24,000 for membership in the National League of Cities and to attend its Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C. in March.
Rowe said the cost would cover conference attendance for all five City Council members and himself. Citing his mother’s illness, Hailey said he didn’t want to go and asked that another member of city staff take his place.
Women’s History Month • The Council unanimously approved to co-sponsor a Women’s History Month celebration with the Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce, March 19. As a co-sponsor the city will not charge the chamber the usual $1,000 fee to use the Cora Harper Fitness Center. The $27 temporary event permit fee will also be waived.
Chamber president Mark Sielski said the event would be a dinner that would partner high school senior girls with local business women and women educators. The event’s proceeds will fund scholarships.
Hayhurst said city staff is recommending partnering with the chamber because of a request from the PRCC that the city promote culture in the community.
