City Employee Benefits, $150K Skate Park Fence on Council Agenda

The City Council will discuss city employee benefits, seek additional funds for a sand replenishment project, and consider major changes for the skate park at its 6 p.m. meeting Wednesday, Aug. 3.

There will also be an update on a project and a progress report on several redevelopment agency projects as the council votes on an ordinance to participate in California's new redevelopment agency plan.

Regarding employee benefits, City Manager Gary Brown is recommending the city enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and the city's Miscellaneous Classified Service/Service Employees International Union Local 221, CTW, CLC.

The 2009-11 MOU expired June 30. After negotiations, the tentative agreement includes proposals on yearly stipends for full-time employees, retirement benefits, health insurance, hours of work, part-time employee retirement, holiday and vacation benefits and accrual of sick leave policies. This is agenda item 2.3.

A resolution for pay and benefit changes for department heads, mid-management and confidential employees is agenda item 2.6.

Bids are in for the Sports Park and Recreation Center Skate Park perimeter fence, with Harris Steel Fence Company presenting the lowest qualified bid at $131,420. Total estimated cost on design, construction and administration is $155,000. Monies for this project, transferred to the city's general fund through a cooperative agreement with the Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency, will fund the fence. Staff recommends adoption of the resolution—agenda item 6.4—and to approve a purchase order with the Harris Steel Fence Company.

New skate park rules and regulations come before the council after numerous complaints from neighboring residents. With a perimeter fence to be completed by the end of the year, a change in hours of operation, allowing Razor scooter usage for skaters younger than 16, enforcement of rules, a community-based rewards and recognition system and community involvement are up for discussion. This is agenda item 6.3.

With the federally funded sand replenishment project between the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard on hold due to a lack of federal funding, council is considering a resolution that requests a transfer of funds from the California Coastal Commission's Beach Sand Replenishment/Mitigation Fund administered by SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments).

Transfer of this money to the Regional Beach Sand Project (RBSP) II, expected to begin April 2012, allows up to 2,291 cubic yards of additional sand, bringing total cubic yards of sand to the current project up to 650,000. Staff recommends requesting the use of all available funds in the California Coastal Commission's Beach Sand Replenishment/Mitigation Fund for SANDAG's Regional Beach Sand Project II. This is agenda item 2.4.

After a first reading at the July 20 council meeting, council will cast a final vote on an ordinance for the city of Imperial Beach to participate in the Alternative Voluntary Redevelopment Program, subject to certain conditions and reservations. With the California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities filing lawsuits challenging new rules for redevelopment agencies, City Attorney Jennifer Lyon added the following language to the ordinance: "The City reserves all rights to withhold any remittance payments in the event that a court issues a stay to suspend and/or prohibit enforcement of any provisions of AB 26 and AB27." This is agenda item 4.1.

The Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency annual update and project report from the 2009-10 fiscal year to be presented includes the following projects.

• Ninth and Palm redevelopment project
• Facade improvement program
• Community Development Block Grants (recovery, energy efficiency)
• Business Improvement District and Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce Business Expo
• Palm/SR75
• Seacoast Drive and Old Palm Avenue banner program
• Port of San Diego urban tree projects (Marina Vista Center and Dahlia Street End)
• Seacoast Inn
• American Legion mixed-use affordable housing project
• Clean & Green Program

This is agenda item 6.2.

Staff is returning to council with plans for the Veterans Park History Walk design with a maximum of 10 concrete bands in the walkway displaying unique historical events in Imperial Beach and the region. The map of History Walk is on page 126 of the agenda packet. Staff recommendations to council are to receive the report and presentation of sign images and provide staff direction on signage historical text and for city staff to return with final design before awarding the contract or purchase order for this project. Maximum cost allowance for this project is $20,000. This is agenda item 6.5.

Review of 13th Street right-of-way proposals including bike path, sidewalk, traveled way and parking for a yet-to-be-built Bikeway Village. This is agenda item 6.1.

Street Improvements of Imperial Beach's Bicycle Transportation Plan (BTP) and the Eco Bikeroute include a striping plan for a class 3 bicycle route on Seacoast Drive from Palm Avenue to Imperial Beach Boulevard and Palm Avenue from Third Street to Seacoast Drive. Added cost is less than $5,000. Total cost of the Street Improvements RDA Phase 3B puts the estimates at $2 million. Staff recommendations are to receive the report, discuss pros and cons, and direct staff to add the Eco Bikeway striping to the Phase 3B project or defer to a future project. This is agenda item 6.6.

The city's fire inspector determined cooking hoods used by the Imperial Beach Little League and Imperial Beach Girl's Softball are not suitable for use. Cost of new cooking hoods at the park for serving foods during events is $8,700. All maintenance and repair costs rest with the two leagues. This is agenda item 2.5.

Council will also approve the city's expenses from July 14 to July 22 in the Warrant Register.

• San Diego County Sheriff's services, $453,081.34.
• City payroll ending July 14, $182,554.77.
• Total $1,059,930.51.

This is agenda item 2.2.