AVALON CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008
7:00 P.M. - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
410 AVALON CANYON ROAD, AVALON
A G E N D A

CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / INVOCATION
ROLL CALL
ANNOUNCEMENTS / WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS 
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Members of the public may address the City Council at this time.  No action will be taken on non-agenda items at this meeting.  Speakers should limit comments to three (3) minutes each.

PUBLIC HEARING
1. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is required to present a public hearing on the community's unmet public transit needs in accordance with the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 8. TDA Article 8 funds are currently being used by the City of Avalon to fund Avalon's Consolidated Jitney Program which includes ART, DAR, and ACT.
Recommended Action
1) Open the Public Hearing and accept comments from the public.
2) Close the Public Hearing.

CONSENT CALENDAR - None

GENERAL BUSINESS
2. A resolution reciting the facts of the April 8, 2008 General Municipal  Election.
Recommended Action
Adopt the resolution.

3. Seating of the newly elected officials. The City Clerk will administer the  Oath of Office to the newly elected Mayor, City Councilmembers and  City Treasurer.

4. The City Clerk will call for nominations for Mayor Pro Tem. If there is more  than one nomination, voting for those nominated will be done by a paper  ballot. The person receiving the most votes will be declared the Mayor Pro Tem.

5. Appointment of an Audit Committee.
Recommended Action
Appoint two members of the City Council to serve as the Audit Committee.

6. Appointment of members of the City Council to serve as the Avalon  Community Improvement Agency (ACIA) Board of Directors.
Recommended Action
Appoint the City Council to serve as the ACIA Board of Directors.

7. Appointment of members of the City Council to the Hospital Board of  Trustees.
Recommended Action
Appoint the City Council to serve as the Avalon Municipal Hospital Board  of Trustees.

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
 
MAYOR'S REPORT
 
COUNCILMEMBER'S REPORT

ADJOURN
 
NOTICE OF POSTING
I, Denise Radde, declare that the City Council Agenda for April 15, 2008, was posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008, at the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, located on the Pleasure Pier, at City Hall, 410 Avalon Canyon Road, and on the City's website www.cityofavalon.com. Copies of agendas and staff reports are available to the public at City Hall. 

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CALL TO ORDER: 7:01 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Present- Mayor Kennedy and Council Members Ponce, Nelson, O'Connor, and Winslow. Also present: City Manager Pete Woolson, City Attorney Pam Albers, and City Clerk Denise Radde. Newly elected Councilmember Rikalo joined after she was sworn in.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 
The annual Health Fair will be this Thursday, April 17, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Casino Ballroom. There will be over 40 Health Screenings and Information Stations.

As part of its on-going effort to provide safe and secure opportunities for Avalon youth, CHOICES is having an open mike and concert event this Saturday, April 19th at Avalon Schools Gymnasium.

Councilmember O'Connor reminded the public to file their tax returns for 2007 in order to receive the tax rebate check under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

PUBLIC HEARING - 7:15-7:38 p.m.
1. Vanessa Ward and Susan Richan, Program Manager, of Metro (formerly the Metropolitan Transit Authority or MTA), described the purpose of the public hearing, which is to hear testimony regarding the City's allocation of Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 8 funds and whether there are unmet transportation needs in Avalon. The California Transportation Development Act, enacted in 1972 (Senate Bill 325) provides the major source of state funds to support public transit services. Article 8 of the TDA requires that a proportional share of the sales tax revenue be allocated to those areas in Los Angeles County that do not have Metro bus service because they are located outside Metro's service area, as is the case with Catalina Island. The City of Avalon will receive approximately $120,000 from the TDA Article 8 fund.   These monies are determined by a formula based on population counts.

Karen Hague, operator of Catalina Transportation Services (CTS) which contracts with the City to provide public transportation services, stated that the TDA 8 monies are very important to the City as they fund the Dial a Ride program for seniors (60 years old and more) and disabled persons, as well as ART and ACT, the City's other public transportation programs.  Councilmember Nelson inquired of Ms. Hague whether the money received was enough or should the City ask for more. Ms. Hague replied that we could always use more, however the TDA Article 8 funds are population based.  Ms. Hague noted that additional monies would enable CTS to replace the current trams with greener and more sustainable vehicles.

Sue Perkins, a resident, stated that in her view the City does have a lot of unmet transportation needs. She feels that visitors don't know they are going to be required to do a lot of walking and that the trolleys are great, however they need to run more often.  She also asked whether assistance could be given to Islanders for transportation needs while on the mainland.

Sue Rikalo thought the programs the City has are wonderful and suggested that the City could work on having some bike routes.

City Councilmembers made the following comments as part of the public hearing:
Councilmember Winslow asked if they take into account the high number of visitors we have on the Island and Ms. Richan replied no because Article 8 is based on full-time population. There are funds that are not based on population, and Supervisor Knabe is a great source for the City on those funds.

Councilmember Ponce inquired what Lancaster used their money on because they are similar to us. Ms. Richan replied that their funds are used for transportation.

Councilmember Nelson asked how they arrived at a population of 3,500. Susan answered that it based on the federal Census that is conducted every 10 years.
 
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
 
PRESENTATION
City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Dan O'Connor was presented a proclamation for his dedication and years of service to the City of Avalon. Dan made parting remarks thanking the City Staff, Harbor, Fire and Sheriff's Departments, all the committees and volunteers. He emphasized that it had been a pleasure serving in his capacity.

CONSENT CALENDAR - None
 
GENERAL BUSINESS 
2. Motion to adopt Resolution 08-03, reciting the fact of the General Municipal Election held on April 8, 2008, and declaring the results, made by Michael Ponce, seconded by Scott Nelson. (All Ayes)

3. Seating of the newly elected officials- The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected City Treasurer, Christy Lins, City Councilmembers Sue Rikalo and Tim Winslow, and Mayor, Bob Kennedy.

4. Nominations for Mayor Pro Tem- Two nominations were made for Mayor Pro Tem, Scott Nelson nominated Sue Rikalo and Michael Ponce nominated Tim Winslow. A paper ballot was conducted and Sue Rikalo received the majority votes, 3-2.

5. Audit Committee- Councilmember Winslow and Ponce volunteered to serve on the Audit Committee. They were appointed by consensus. (All Ayes)   

6. Avalon Community Improvement Agency- Motion by Scott Nelson and seconded by Michael Ponce to appoint the City Council to serve as the Avalon Community Improvement Agency (ACIA). (All Ayes)

7. Avalon Municipal Hospital Board of Trustees - Motion by Scott Nelson and seconded by Michael Ponce to appoint the City Council as the Avalon Municipal Hospital Board of Trustees. (All Ayes)

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Pete Woolson announced that Southern California Edison (SCE) advised him of their intention to sell their Catalina Island water and gas operations.  Pete and Keith LeFever will attend a meeting organized by SCE on April 24, 2008 to learn more about the plan and Mr. Woolson will report back at the May 6, 2008 City Council meeting.
 
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Kennedy reported that here had been a recent rash of graffiti around town. He asked the community to be vigilant in reporting anything suspicious.

Mayor Kennedy wanted to know what was happening with the vacancy on the Planning Commission since Sue Rikalo is now on the City Council. The City Attorney stated that past practice has been to leave the seat vacant until June, when other seats will be filled.  She noted that a newspaper notice asking for applications from interested persons for Ms. Rikalo and three other seats that are up July 1, 2008 will be placed in May.  In response to questioning, the City Council indicated that they will continue this practice, which means that the Planning Commission will be short one commissioner for the next two meetings.   

COUNCILMEMBER REPORT 
Councilmember Nelson asked what the process is for reporting graffiti.  He asked that a notice or ad be placed in the local newspapers to advise the community on the proper protocol. The City Manger replied he could do that. 

Councilmember Nelson asked when street sweeping will recommence since k-rails and sandbags are being removed and what type of notification will be given to residents.  Pete Woolson said the Planning Director has already arranged to have a letter sent to residents in the Flats and also prepared an ad to be placed in the local newspapers.

Councilmember Winslow thanked the voters who entrusted him and gave him their votes.

ADJOURN: 7:57 p.m.

I, Denise Radde, City Clerk of the City of Avalon, do hereby certify that the DVD videotape of the City Council Meeting of April 15, 2008, is the official record of that Council Meeting and is on file and maintained in City Hall.

_____________________________                                            
Denise A. Radde, City Clerk/Secretary to the City Manager