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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-10-31 City Council Summary MinutesNow _ A Ce POSSIBLE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION mEETTNrwrTH Si PERVISOR STEINBERG OCTOBER 3l L I j . Planning policy and ABAG in the cammunity. . County animal control program. What approach for Palo Alto? Merger or reim- bursement by the county? . County paramedic program. Where does Palo Alto's program fit? . Page Mill/E1 Camino left turn lanes. When? . County parks and open space fund. What plans are for the Borth County? . Distribution of sales tax to cities. . Santa Clara County Transit District. Explanation of problems and when reach a level of service satisfactory to County. Operation and effectiveness of manage- ment. October 31, 1977 Special Meeting The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in a special Pleting in the Council Conferen.0 Room of City Hal'__ for a discussion session with Geraldine Steinberg of the Santa Clara. County Board of Supervisors, at 7:40 p.m., with Mayor Sher presiding. PRESENT: Brenner, Carer, Eyerly, Faszino, Fletcher, Henderson, Sher, Witherspoon Corrected see page ABSENT: Clay 350 ALSO PRESENT: Geraldine (Gerry) Steinberg, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Charles Walker, Assistant City Manager Mayor Sher noted that the meeting would ade.reas itself to matters of concern between thg City and the County, with: iota. Steinberg as the Board representative of North County. Supervisor Steinberg observed that from selected quotes she had read in the paper about Councilmembers' views of County services her image was somewhat tarnished, and she was pleased to have the opportunity to address her comments to some of the City's discontents. She said she hoped "to take the mystery out of County government," and to leave Councilmembers feeling, instead, fortunate to be a part of Santa. Clara County. She would give, she said, an overview of County government, and then specifically list :,ervices available to Palo Alto residents. She acknowledged that the County form of government was not understood by many, yet the annual budget had been over one-half billion dollars, and there were over 11,000 employees. County residents numbered 1,200,000 -- the fourth largest county in the state. She acknowledged that bigness in government was not something to boast about, and budgetary need as well es other considerations meant that the County Board of Supervisors was constantly reevaluating county services to see if cutbacks could be cede. She said most people were coo cious that the county collected their property tax —there was little puzzlement about that. Often, however, they were unaware that their property taxes paid for much more than county services. She presented a drawing of a fiscal "pie" shoving that the county itself received for its specific services just 22.6 percent of the tax dollar. The average for education vas 62.4, cities 10.5, special districts 4.5 percents, respectively. She vas "responsible," as a County Supervisor, for the 22.6 percent. People also commonly believed, she said, that th♦, county got moot of its revenue from the property tax. On the contrary, 29.4 percent (she exhibited another fiscal "pie") derived from property tax; 47.5 percent from state and federal government; 11.3 percent freer the fund balance of the year before, and other revenues. Councilmeaber Carey commented that Palo Alto's tax rate was substantially less than other cities, which incraas$d the county's share. Ma. Steinberg said the tax rata for Palo Alto was 8.2 percent (ehe had obtained the figure from Maya Bernardo, County Analyst) , and that Councilmmmber Carey was correct in his belief that more of Palo Alto's share vast to the co iety then the balance of the cities' average. The revenue that came to the county, gds. Steinberg said, amounted to about $435 million. Of t, 35.7 percent went to Public Assistance. The next largest category was Public Protection, 19.5 percent: followed 287 10/31;77 by general Go'iernment, hospital : are, roads, and so on. The largest category, Public ►iiesietaace, was not "just welfare" and most of the money went to people who were classed as "unemployable." These people were either physically or mentally handicapped, such as non -ambulatory, aged, mothers with small children. Fifteen percent of recipients were acteally "employabi " Until this year, she said, employable people qualified for $107 each per month. The policy now was that no one could receive money from the county unless he or she was working or in a work - oriented training program, The county finds the jobs --in the parks, other county departments, or the county asks the cities and private, non-profit agencies if they can employ some employables. Since that policy had been in action, about one-third of the recipients had pre- ferred to drop off of the Bounty portion of general assistance rather than bacons part of the work -training program. The county ;:ark -training program followed the spirit of President Carter's welfare reform program. Another large financial area was the justice syertem: jails, juvenile halls, boys' rind girls' reaches, children's shelters, staff for courts, probation department, diversionary programs, end those buildings. The Board of Supervisors, she said, had very little control over mandated programs which they carried out. She asked herself, she said, why' the county budget had grown so much, and one explanation lay is the fact shown by the --Judicial department, that last year they had added three new judges; this year they had added six new judges. Every time a new judge was added the county received $60,000 from the state, but the cost to the county for each was approximately $100,000 in support costs. Another large financial area was health care. By statute, she said, the county hod to provide health care for those who could not afford to pay. The high cost of today's medical care made many people "medically indigent," for MediCare and MediCal often did not pay the full cost, leaving the county to pick up the difference. The county hospital, Valley Medical Center, had an annual budget of $55 million, not wholly paid by the county. The hospital ;gas open to any resident irrespective of ability to pay. The yearly uncoliectible portion of the bill amounts to $3 million. The county also paid a 0 million balance left after MediCal and MediCare had paid their share. Supervisor Steinberg turned her attention to the services that were available to Palo Alto: Palo Alto had its own Special Services office at 636 Ramona, That office worked on eligibility assessment, it-1'ome supportive service, nursing home service, adult protective services, child protective services, and foster care. Also Palo Alto had its own food stamp outlet, at the Co-op on California Avenue. Lees'. year there had been pressure to combine the 4buntain View and Palo Alto offices, but the county had insisted that Palo Alto have its own outlet for it would have been difficult for many older people to get to a combined - with -Mountain -View outlet; Palo Alto also had La Comida, a senior nutrition program, serving 130 !eels a day, with a total t 4get of $66,840, of which the county paid $65,000 and to which Palo Alto contributed $1,300. The county had many contracts with organizations in the City of Palo Alto: Palo Altos Community Child Care (PACCC), $47,000 in 1976; Emergency Treatment Center (ETC), a 24 -hour mobile crisis center for adolescents and their families, up to 95 percent of total costs; the Peninsula Children's Center (FCC), about $74,000 in 1976, for special services for emotionally disturbed childrau; Palo Alto Area Information send Referral Service (PAAIRS), 67 percent of total cost. In the area of Public Protection the North County Courthouse was in Palo Alto, which included a Municipal Court, a Superior Court judge, and jail facilities (which had both merit and disadvantage in Palo. Altana' points -of -view) to help the Police Department in bringing people into custody. She would give coot figures later. Another county program was a court -referral program for first offenders, a program for convicted offenders who an not _ fin `or neat to jail but, tn'tead placed with a ..- 288 ' 10/31/77 community organization to work out their sentences. Also in Palo Alto was the District Attorney's laboratory for criminalistics, as wall as offices for juvenile and adult probation. Health services had a North County district office which provides public health nursing, child health guidance, multiphasio screening, pregnancy testing, family planning, service for seniorp, as well as maintenance of a contract with a private group, "Our Health Center," giving up to 55 percent of tho funds needed for operation. Along with health services provided by the county ware mental health see*ices, providing comprehensive mental health service with 24 -hour outpatient service, partial daycare community services and a Methadone maintenance program. The county contracted vitk_ Miramonte Health Service, contributing 54 percent of their annual bueget, $255,000 for the year 1976-77; the county contracted with the Children's Health Council, at a cost of $104,000, and the county gave alcohol services as well. -For some time there had been discussion about why the count!, was spending woney__in the __drug___area, particularly since PaloAlto-closed its drug program —the county had Just authorized $47,000 for a special drug program in Palo Alto Which would begin operation the first of the year. In the matter of communications, Palo Alto had decided emergency communi- cations should be offered on a countywide basis, rather than city -by - city. She cited an example showing how advantageous it was to have one number to call, in the case of fire, for instance. Palo Ali;Alio had decided during the past year, she said, to join in the North County Joint Powers Agreement for communications, and in the Palo Alto Police Department there was a North County communications center, a new cost to the county this year of $180,000. In July of thin year Palo Alto had joined the South Bay Cooperative Library system, which provided reciprocal assistance between Palo Alto and the Santa Clara county system. Other county services included the Board of Registration, Board of Consumer Affairs, Weights and Measures, which checked public restaurants, public water and milk supplies. There was also an Agricultural Commission available county -wide. Mayor Sher interjected that Palo Alto still had its own library system. Supervisor Steinberg agresd, adding that now all the books in the County were available to all Palo Alto subscribers. In the mattor of parks, the county had spent $660,00 on the Palo Alto Techt Rv.:-bor in the period following the lease -armament moment in 1967 between it and Palo Alto. Operation and maintenance by idle county included dredging, road grading, and construction. The county was now waiting for the Eaylands Master Plan consultants to present their plan to the City, which would in turn tell the county the direction it wanted to take in further operations. The County Parks aneitecreatiot Director bad told her that the cost to the county over the 20 -year period had been $2,600,065 for operation and maintenance; $735,000 for capital improvements. Maintenance and operation costs would come from the general fund. The county had an agreement with Palo Alto about the Palo Alto Airport. If Cowncilmesaers were interested, she would go into more da:,:ail later in the meeting. She referred to the matter of the exchange of the county land near the court house, and the land owned by the City of Palo Alto. The county not been interested in the lend until the City had approached ' the county about three years ago to acquire it. The appraisal had been donee by Charles Dougherty, tits real property agent at that time for the City of Palo Alto, who had wanted to make the swap. "WO thought we were doing your a favor by that," she said. 289 10/31/77 7 .. Former Mayor Norton had pressed her fot some county resolution on the matter of the left-hand turn lanes at the Page Mill/E1 Camino intersection, she said, and she had an Environmental lmp::ct Report (EIR) and the dravinas with her- At 9:30 a.m. that morning (October 31, 1977) those left-hand turn lanes had been 5rre. ,rod, The Transportation Agency had been authorizers, to proceed, she was pleased :o say. e Regarding transit, the Co-aty Board of Supervisors were also directors of. the Transit District, so co atituted by the 3nabling legislation that had created the district. Next year's budget of $80.4 million was to be divided with $30 million to go for salaries and operating costs; ,43.2 million was to go for ctpital improvements; 22.3 percent way to be reserved for a fixed guideway if the county was to have such. She could tell Councilmembers where the revenues were derived. The projection for 1977-78 vas that $3.3 million veuldi come from che fare box; $11.7 million from the Mills -August "deta" fund, that is, ono -quarter cent from the sales tax. One year ago in March voters had agreed to a one-half cent increase in sales tax, which wculd bring in $22.8 million in 1978. The interest would be $500,000; some money from the Urban Mass Transportation Agency (UMTA), a federal agency, about $11 million, would also be forth- coming. Soma money cant from the State Gas Tax, about $700,000, and 55.7 million came from Section Three of UMTA. She emphasized that many of the county services went directly to residents, of which Councilmsmbera might not have been aware. She invited their questions. Mayor Sher expressed gratification of the county's commencement on construction of the left -turn lar,as, as v,-11 as the drug program to begin next year. Councilmember Fazzino asked for some specifics of the drug program which the Board of Supervisors had approved. Supervisor Steinberg said the Board had worked closely with Carleen Bedwell, Palo Alco's Director of Social and Community Services, Ms. Steinberg said she had herself attended two meetings with the County Drug Ccordinatot, Bob Gardner, and Ms. Bedwell. Councilmember Fazzino asked if Palo Alto would be required to help with funding. Counciimember Witherspoon asked if the program were going to be for maintenance or rehabilitation. Ms. Steinberg replied that she did not have the e -.;t answers. Soma of the money would come from either state or federal funds--shewould trend the information to Councilmembers. The money would pins through the -county, and would leave the county free to choose how the money would be used. She introduced Betey Bechtel, her field representative and the person who worked with city staffs. Cauncilesmber Henderson asked for information on the management situ- ation of the transit district ---be recalled the negative points of view among those who had experienced the Dial -a -Ride program; he also asked about the vavdaliem which had taken pltce with the Santa Clara Transit System buses. Supervisor Stei rg replied, "We're conscious of a very serious problem," and she added that though exact plans were not yet known, they were now in the format+ on stage. She said she ,gas not at liberty to say what was going to bs acre, but it was being handled. She expressed serious concern. She said she hed not been a Supervisor Rhein' Dial -s- ids was conceived. When she became a Supervisor, she asked that • special consultart come in and evaluate the program, and subsequent to receiving that evaluation, she called for a termination of Dial -a -Rids. 290 10/31/77 2 Mayor Sher said, spe.king from his own involvement with the transit system, that there was a lot of unhappiness in Palo Alto regarding the transit system, There had b`.;.n a good feeling in Palo Alto when it had its own transit system, though the system hi3 been snail and isolated. He himself had supported public transit, hoping it would be more effi- cient, but such had not been the case. He vas concerned about the vay the Transportation omission had operated as an advisory bo4y. At tames the Board of Supervisors sat as the transit Board of Directors, bypassing the one agency the City had for input into the system, which had not worked very well. He wondered, frankly, if the Board of Supervisors, with all its rolitical pressures, should be sitting as the Board of Directors of the Transit District. Should not that basic problem be one of the concerns in the consideration of reorganisction? San Mateo, in setting up its transit system, had chocegn not to go in that direction. Greyhound Bus service, he noted, had beer dropped from both Santa Clara and San ftteo Counties. San Mateo County had taken over that operation, which cases to Industrial Park of Palo Alto, so, while it was difficult and time-consuming, it was possible to get to San Francisco. Councilunaber Clay arrived at 8:20 p.m. Councilmember Witherspoon asked if San Mateo County had its own transit board. Mayor Sher sa{d that it had its separate board, with two of ;L:d super- visors servaag on it. He was not sure how members were designated. Supervi or Steinberg said that the Santa Clara Transit District Board of Directors was set up as a part.of enabling legislation --to change that meant that they would have to return to the state. Some supervisors, she said, thought the present Board of Supervisors should retain the function as Board of Directors of the Transit District because trans- portation and land planning were interwoven, with decision about land plaanird also involving decisions about transit. Mayor. Sher answered that much land planning now had bgsa assumed by the Aseociatios . of Say Area Goverment' (AZ) and Metropolitan Transit Commission MC) corridor study; also cities did much of their own planning. He repeated he thought the setter of the Board of Supervisors sitting as Board of Directors of the transit system in Santa Clara County should be evaluated. Couociltserebsr Bys ly asked how many buses had bean ordered and when delivery could be expected. Supervisor Stsiabets replied that the Board of Supervisors had presented a plan to the, voters one year ago in Mereb-that within five years 300 additioual . buses would have 'Deem ordered and delivered. Lt that time Santa Clara County bad 236 bases, shush meant that at the end of five years the county could have over 500 buses. Though the program was still on target, they bad found that the grants were forthcoming very slowly. The comity could not go forward umti.l 1BltA, the foal agency, . approved the grates. ti!!A paid 80 percent of all of the -Capital improvements. There were still three and one-half years to go an the program. Couoctlnermber Bysrly said that riders of the system complained abc .. criteria for service being too Lew, add yet the full fleet of buses would not be in service for quite a Ails. He asked if the tatter Aid not have to return to voters at the end of five year.. Supesvieor Steinberg said the supervisors were also endows to have 'improvpd service; buses reed be put into service 100 at a time. A grant for 100 buses bad been approved; there would be $ public hsarias for the toceeit-mrsat December 12, 1977, and them the third ,applicattem rid be 291 10/31177 Cnuncilmembcr Carey asked if Ms. Steinberg was saying that out of every dollar Palo Alto paid in property taxes, roughly $.03 came back to the City, aad about $.25 went directly to the county. MS. Steinberg agreed. Councilmember Carey said it was correct to assume about 25 percent of Palo Alto's tax dollar went to the county, Re said he looked at cost versus benefit, calculating that 25 percent of what Palo Alto paid in real property tax went to the county. Supervisor Steinberg said that the total tax revenue from Palo Alto was $8,839,000; and 7.6 percent of the county property tax levy revenue comes from Palo Alto. Councilmember Carey said that he bad never held the position that Palo Alto should get all the money back; he recognised it was Palo Alto's obligation to contribute to county -wide services. Some county services could be measured in dollars, as Supervisor Steinberg had none. Be said that in the matter of the central communications Palo Alto certainly did not get the total benefit, but he did not think dollars could beadded up to measure benefits to Palo Alto. Re asked what amount the county paid on PAAIRS. Supervisor Steinberg said it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000. She agreed that it was "very misleading" to put figures down and start adding them up ---there were many areas the county 1:..iped in which she had not mentioned. Councilmember Carey agreed, adding he thought, however, it was important for Council to know that Palo Alto paid about $9 million to the county. Councilmember Carey asked Supervisor Steinberg if she thought the county would be willing to join the assessment district for parking in the courthouse area. Supervisor Steinberg said she had been approached on that matter. The answer was "no, we would not." Councilissaber Carey asked if the county understood it was getting the benefits of the proposed assessment district. Supervisor Steinberg said she would be glad to talk when the matter had been raised before, it had been the county would not benefit. Shs would go through Cozen \lmeabers wished. about it, though, the conclusion that the reasons again if Couaciimiembes Carey said he raised the question again because he thought there was some misunderstanding between what he understood the county's position to be and also that of the California Merchants' Association. That related to the history of bringin the courthouse to that location. Council's position was that there was never any intent to provide parking for the county, yet, without the cot ty'e having joined the assessment district, that was the affect. He thought perhaps that issue should be further xplored: what was the original Agreement and understanding when tea courthouse was located in its present site? Supervisor. Steinberg said she had en opca mind on the issue, and she would be glad to have another look at it. Council -sorbet Carey asked about the ietel Aid program in North County; * week or so ago Council had passed a resolution that the facility should remain in Palo Alto. hie rnderstood that the funding of the program was federal —OW. Did the county have way influence cvsr the allocation of those funds? If so, in what ways had the county exercised its Influence? 2 9 2 10/31/77 Cotncilmnember Witherspoon said she had received a call that morning from Crystal Gamage asking that Mayor Sher be told to whom the letter and resolution should be directed. Mayor Sher said the letter was going to the Board of Directors of the San Jose Legal Services. Councilmember Witherspoon said that the Board of Supervisors had no say- so on how the money was spent; it went directly to Community Legal Services. Supervisor Steinberg said that contrary to what might be thought, the county did not gat all the money from,the Palo Alto property tax. Based on assessed valuation of county property the county had to turn over to the state a proportion of the mousy for MediCal and MediCare, and on a county -wide basis the county paid $18.5 million. On Palo Alto's assessed valuation $1,5 was paid. The county was forced, by a formula, to pay the assessment by a fair market value. The county had a bill with the. state attorney, at the present time, asking that the formula be changed. Councilmeeber Eyerly observed that the county was getting into more c.operative programs and that it was working also on programs for para- medics, solid waste and ,.nimel control. He thought it would be well for the county to give the City of Palo Alto the money which the county was going to provide, and let the City administer the programs. Supervisor Steinberg said she agreed with that outlook. The county in the past had offered programs and than found that it could not maintain a high level of service ---the fire marshal service was a case in point, in which it had been fvind that the sharing amon3 three or four cities was fine, but that when more cities wanted to participate the county could not distribute the service equitably. At present it was thought that the county would be divided into so many tones, for it had been found to be much more cost-effective not to have a zone for each city. The county was forming its emergency medical committee, which had met for some time, and had designated such zones. The county had committed itself to pay $2 million a year to the various zones. The North County zone would include Palo Alto, part of Los Altos and part of Mountain View. The county, through the Joint Powers Agree- ment (JPA)°would give that zone the $200,000 to see how it could best be used. Councilmeober Eyerly asked about animal control services. Ma. Steinberg replied that the --county had offered animal control services to all of the fifteen cities in the county. Palo Alto had its own animal control services before it was offered by the county, but,the county service is still available to Palo Alto. Councils her Eyerly said he realised that county services had been offered. Be wondered if Supervisor Steinberg could steer Palo Alto some iubeidisad money even though Palo Alto preferred its own level of service to that of the county. Mayor Shur:added that if Palo Alto did not join the county program there would be savings to the county which'he thought should coma back to PaloAlto to help on its own program.' Supervisor Steinberg said the county did not have a formula by which Palo Alto would receive gooey on animal control services. Councilmember Eyerly said he thought Council liras interested in receiving some money from the county when it was duplicating county services. 293 10/31/77 i.1 Councilmember Clay said Palo Alto had a budget for child care of about $220,000. There was the undsrstnding that money raised by the facilities over that amount of $220,000 would go toward defraying costs to the City. Council had been told that there was a chance to get some county money, as well as some private fui:ds. County money had come, but there had been the condition on it that it could not be used to defray City costs --he wondered why that condition had been placed on the money. Supervisor Steinberg said that the county was not in the child care business and did not provide any funds anywhere for child care. The county Office of Education was going to receive a three-year grant for $5 million for a pilot program fi child cane services. There was some child care for welfare mothers, permitting them to work: and for those reasons it was very unusual !..hat the cour..ty vas giving $47,000 for that purpose. Councilmember Clay said the City had had the concern that if the City put its own money out first other sources might hold back --that had been the case with animal control. The City was placed in a difficult posi- tion when it tried to be innovative, es with child care. The City wanted to initiate programs, but it also wanted support for the programs. Mayor Sher said there would have been no additional cost to the county, and'that one county placing the condition on the money it gave to the child care program had defeated Pala Alto's intent that the Board of the child care program go out to raise 'money elsewhere, though the City was grateful for the money. Supervisor Steinberg said she had not known of the condition placed on the county money until that evening. She had not been on the Board :f Supervisors when that money was allocated. She waul# follow up on finding out more about the why's and wherefore's of the condition. Councilmember Eyerly said Palo Alto Child their budget because the county would not aseced {_f there was any way the City could they could count on it. Care had a yearly problem with commit itsel.f in advance. He tie that money down so that Ms. Steinberg replied that she thought the reason for the matter of granting funds to be kept pending up until the last minute was that the funds came out of revenue -sharing money, and that continuance of revenue - sharing itself was in question. She thought that last year the funds for Palo Alto Community Child Care had been taken out of revenue sharing and put into the general fund. Charles Walker, Palo Alto Assistant City Manager, said Supervisor Steinberg's recollection was correct, for the first year funding for child care.by the a:ounty.wae frou'-a special revenue-s'baring fund, and he thought it had been for quite a bit more than the $47,000, for it had covered almost half the program —the funding.now was from general revenue sources, and it had not been known if that would be granted until late into the budget process. Ms. Steinberg said that all contract agencies were in question, for the county feared it bad lore than it could afford. She said thart last year the county had lowered the tan rata 25$. The percent of the county's increase from the property tax was 3.6 percent, well below the cost -of - living. She was rather placed aboi:t that, she said. Councilmenber Bremner said she thought one avenue for possible equali- sation had to do with areas in which the county "goes into" urban services. She said it had been her impression that the `county was not going into urban services, "nod yet, that's what's happening." The 294 10/31/77 county goes into urban services, which may be a great benefit to a very small community, but over the years Palo Alto had not thought those services were a benefit to Palo Alto, for it costs Palo Alto money but "doesn't give us what we're after," without the City having to push to get county benefits. Years ago it had seemed economic for the ce;anty too eliminate the local county assessor's office, yet many people had since thought it was a mistake, for Palo Alto had had a double --check when it had its own assessor's office. There was concern about the City's animal control center losing its identity if it were to be melded with that of the county. Child cesre was apart from the two foregoing concerns, for welfare was strictly a county service. She recalled discussions of about fifteen years ago when some merging of the county and Palo Alto library systems was offered as a possibility, and that Palo Alto had been adamant about not wanting such a merger. The county had indeed been going further and further into 'rrban services ---a benefit to some cities but specifically not such a benefit to Palo Alto. She thought, therefore, that when Palo Alto did want to pioneer, as in the case of child care, it behooved the county to view it with the foregoing logic in mind ---a program tailored for Morgan Hill, for example, did not necessarily suit the specific needs of Palo Alto. She did not think Palo Alto should have to accept, for example, in order to get its share of the money, an over -developed road or something else not truly wanted by the City. Supervisor Steinberg replied, "The county says, over and over again, that we are not in the urban service business." Since 1967, she said, the county had followed the policy that urban development should take place within cities, not in unincorporated areas. Santa Clara County had one of the outstanding records within the state on that policy. With only one exception; the county had not approved anything that had not been "gnandfathered" in before the policy had been adopted. The county approved no development that required eewerag.--it was that aspect of urban services that the county did not radertake. Couneilmember Brenner, she thought, was speaking of consolidation of service county -arid.. The county held somewhat to the point of view that county -wide services were more cost-effective. About one and one-half years ago a committee had been appointed to look at all the services the cities were giving to see if those services could perhaps be more economically delivered county- wide. Purchasing had been one such servfce, with the county then having the capability of buying things in bulk rather than having each city dotn4 its own purchasing. It had been thought that fire services would he another, but there had been many political problems involved in that. She understood Coum ilmeeber Brenner's seeming, h sever ---since Palo Alto had such a high level of service already, consol{..lotion did not provide as ouch benefit as it did to cities which did not have such high level of services. Corrected Councilmeibsr Brenner said the county had a good record of services, and see page in paramedics and fire services there wire benefits in consolidation; 380 Los Altos Bills was a`comm nity that wild benefit considerably by consolidation, Mayor Sher referred back to Councilmislier tyerly'a statwat about Palo Alto's desire to obtain county money tohelp via programs which Palo Alto initiated. The City's "Project Mobility" for transportation for the elderly wee ass such 'moires which the City had presented to the Board of Supervisors and the Transportation System for some financial help. Project Nobility's users could not use the county transportation. Mayor Sher said there was something in state '-w that provides for community transportation to be uoderuritten by funds from those provided by county -wide projects like Project Nobility. The Transportation key's respoes. to Palo Alto's request for financial help had been, "Well, which biases do you went us to cut off in your city?" That "knaejsrk response was designed to appeal to the other cities, but 444 not attempt to respond to the state lase which says there ought to be rum available for this caamwmity traeeportatioa." It wee bellevd that Project nobility . ti 24S 10/31/77 2 41 provided more for the transportation dollar than the service provided by the county transit district, and so any financial supplement the county made would be money well spent. He thought Project Mobility was a model project, and he hoped it received favorable consideration frost the transit district. C Supervisor Steinberg said Palo Alto's Prod the Board once before, and that she triad foster a esiailar service that Los Altos Supervisors' response had been that if all the cities should receive it as we asked for the ote-half cent sales tax had been presented. Since that time that program had been allocated. ect Mobility had come to to champion it, and also was inquiring about. The Palo Alto got financial help 11. When the voters had been a plan with a five-year projection all of the money coming from Mayor Sher said that in fact a bigger reserve than was needed was being built. Re said irks. Steinberg had another chance to push for acceptance of Palo Alto's idea. Other cities had been interested in Palo Alto's program, and had encouraged them to put it forward again. There had been some recognition that it did not have to be put on an autocratic per capita basis, and that it would be a good use of trans- portation funds, which it was known case from various sources. Supervisor Steinberg said s and she would try to be mo the help it wants. Councilmeember Carey said with "light rail" which numbers seemed to ge g county had made the p a cent, it had been go to the light rai Palo Alto had cent faction about tha he agreed with Palo Alto's point of view re persuasive to see that Palo Alto gets he understood "fixed guideways" to be synonymous was also synonymous with "streetcars." Me rowing beyond what had been expected. When the resentation about increasing the sales tax one-half made clear that a substantial amount of money would system. ributed to that money, and there was some disaatis- t, which still existed. Supervisor Steinberg said she had realised when she was here before the May Council election the feelings Palo Alto had about light rail. She said that the county had madeno decision on whether or not it would have light rail. ABAG/?fTC were waking a joint study on the smatter and the county vas awaiting results on which corridor had the heaviest use. It was not known if the county would have just buses, or buses along with Southern Pacific (SP), or SP, buses, and light rail. Before a decision was made ebe would come to the cities and have input also from the Transportation Commission. Mayor Sher asked if there was anything new regarding the second runway at the airport. Supervisor Stsinberg said the natter of the second runway was in limbo at the present time. The county had leased the Palo Alto Airport for fifty years. —the lease would end in 2617. The county had to know if the airport was in conformance with the Master Plan. The adopted Master Plan showed two runways. She understood that in April, 1977, the Palo Alto City Council indicated they night reevaluate the second runway. Mayor Sher said Palo Alto bed dsf iaitsly rem je ctrA the idea of a second runway, though there was some difference of opinion among Palo A.itans and memmbsrz of the Council. That Palo Alto did not have unilateral control sees recognised, for there vas a lease with the county. $s. Steinberg said she thought the county would recognise that that was the directive (toward one runway only) that the City wanted to go, and look at the possibility of renegotiating the lease. She read g passage from a letter Written by Jaws Pots, Director of the County Tramsportatio n eecy, saying "T just mat to coon= my telephone mosso. Wilds t left 296 10/31/77 for you ... about wtat I now as convinced was a sericus eieunderstanding between the City of Pala Alto and others concerning tha intentions of the Palo Alto Airport. . . .j have asseured the City of Palo Alto that we have absolutely no intention at this tins of installing a second runway; our only concern for existing activities in Palo Alto is to mike sure that the moves we are saki.ig now are in conformance with the contract. . . " Mr. Pott also said there was no money for a second runway. Councilmember Carey asked if Ms. Steinberg did not understand Mr. Pott to be saying that while there were no plans at present to build a second runway the county wanted to retain all its ruts under the lease. Supervisor Steinberg acknowledged that that sight be so, but that as Palo Alto's Supervisor, she got her direction from the City Council, and if the Council felt it vented to renegotiate the lease. . . . Councilmember Carey asked if that applied to Jim Pott as well. Supervisor Steinberg said that stab* of sffairs.existed with hiss as well. Councilmember Peazino said be understood the County Manager had funded a relatively new intergovernmental relations department. Supervisor Steinberg said butt had not been the County Manager. Last year the county had revised the County Charter. The new department, an Intergovernmental Council, had been approved in the new charter Councilmember Fazzino asked if there were not an intergovernmental staff for the Intergovernmental Council. Mayor Sher said that even before its formation Ma. Stevenson had been hired by the county to fill the role of working on intergovernmental relations. On A temporary basis, and until the Intergovarramental Council decided otherwise, she was the cnuay staff parson for that Council. There had originally bean talk about hiring someone in the transportation district but what emerged was Libby Stevenson in this new job. There had been talk about getting someone for. Mr. Pott, but he and Ms. Stevenson were working in quite different erste. Supervisor Steinberg said she had appropriated money for a position in the county executive office for a transit analyst, Several of the other supervisors had decided to split that one slot into two poeitiona--Libby Stevenson was one, and someone else was hired to be a transit analyst at a such lower salary, which diluted the impact of that position. Me. Stevenson'', job; however; arose from that : circumstance. Mayor Sher added that it was completely independent of the charter amendment. 'tae _ Intergovernmental Council bad been established and ell the cities were represented; San .Jose was entitled to sand two repre- sentatives, with special districts and school districts also being represented. That Board of Supervisors bad a hard in it because the charter amendment gave the Board the power to pees an ordinance which said bow the Intergovernmental Council would be constituted, and some other things. The executive committee bad weighted voting, but that. f -. was not weighted voting on the fall body. So far they bad not done, anything, and ao they wise not moving "too fast." Councilmember Famine said he was interested in learning what kinds of things the staff people were %olved with. Mayor Shur said Libby Stevenson bed been working for the county on matters concerning the comity's relations to other Levels of ge veru■swst, both high's and lower. 297 10!31/77 Supervisor Steinberg said that for example Ms. Stevenson would ratify the lobbyist in Washington of the Board's position on what it thought was important and should be followed through on. Ms. Stevenson was also the contact person with lobbyists in Sacramento --a great deal of money could revert back to the county is there is an active spokesperson in tceosa key spots. She also was the yeaaon to talk to about intergovern- mental problems among the fifteen cities. She analyzed the legislation that came in, and made presentations to the Board on its significance. Mayor Sher said that the position filled by Ms. Stevenson was temporary -- one of the first things the Intergovernmental Council would be talking Corrected about was staff. Ma. Stevennsoh •had Made: it' clear' that'•ahs-waefp6atb have see pege the position, if a position were to be created. 380 Councilmember Henderson said the question had arisen about the County Parka and Recreation fund, Palo Alto and all of North County "received so little," and that little was all related to the Yacht Harbor ac:J that general area. Re asked Supervisor Steinberg if she had any figures or - that, and also, what kind of Open Space funding the county provided, and if Palo Alto received any. Ms. Steinberg said she could say exactly what had been spent r,y the county on the Yacht Harbor. It received $35,500 for berthing and launch fees; operating costs were about $62,000 par year. Mayor Sher said he thought he had heard her say that the amount the county had put into and would put into the Yacht Harbor came from the general fund. Ms. Steinberg replied that maintenance and general operation costs came from the general fund: Councilmember Fletcher asked what part of the Yacht Harbor maintenance costs "ame from the slush fund, Supervisor Steinberg said that Capital Improvements money paid for the dredging. Betsy Bechtel said she had talked to Parks end Recreation that afterr noon.` The two dredging. that had been done had been paid for out of the special California State Bond Act -funds; Parks paid only for acquisitions, up to at least half ---son of the cost of landscaping could come from that funs, and also the new roadway, Coumcilesmbsr Henderson observed that the -Yacht Harbor did not serve all Palo Alton.. He asked what other things the county had helped on with regard to Parka end Recreation. Supervisor Steinberg anawe sd that $1.2 million wonid be,going into Mountain View's Shoreline park, and upper and Lower Stevens Creek park. She said that former Mayor Norton had pushed very bard for the county to find a park space for Palo Alto, and that she, Betsy Bechtel, Herb Grench free the Mid -Peninsula Open Space District and someone from the Palo Alto staff had tried to find an appropriate place,•k!'t "the right parcel" could not be found in the Fifth District. She thought, however, that the St. Joseph parcel at Highway 280 and Foothill Boulevard was very acceptable to Palo Alto residenus. The county had bought it in conjunction with the Open Space District. The total cost van about $3 million. The County had bought the flat laud; the Open Space District had bought about 200 acres in a more billy area. Total acreage was 700 beautiful acres of park and recreation area. )Isoey paid for the aereake had care from the $1.2 million. -2 S 10/31;77 Councilmember heuderson asked how much money "came from Palo Alto on the ten cents." He said that whatever money had been available had been "strictly Yacht Harbor, I guess, and nothing in Palo Alto, and people tend to raise that. . . .and that's a valid point." Supervisor Steinberg said "Our tea cent program has certain policies atta..ued to .t,..that the park must be a regional park." The term "regional" meant certain criteria. She could not urge the county to buy land within a particular city unless she could show that the land was regional. That hail been why, when she was approached about putting county money in the ITT purchase she had replied that she could not defend the regional aspect of the purchase, for it was completely surrounded by the City of Palo Alto. Councilmember Eyerly said that Supervisor Steinberg and the Board worked closely with the Midpeninrula Regional Open Space District, and that would also be the case wars there properties abutting those Open Space acquisitions --"we've got some properties we'd like to show you," and he voiced surprise that former Mayor Norton had not pointed that out to the Board. Mayor Sher observed chat it was not intended to ask for nor make any final commitments that evening. He thanked Supervisor Steinberg for meeting with the City Council. He said he thought Palo Alto was getting excellent supervision from the Fifth District, and that the present Board of Supervisors had a praiseworthy quality of openness. Supervisor Steinberg replied that she would be glad to attend Council meetings during a regular agenda i.f it was thought she could be of help. She hoped to meet with Council sometime before the next budget was formulated h EXECUTIVE SESSION Ccuncil:aember Eyerly said he had a.ked the City Attorney to rule on whether or not the meeting of Councilmembers with Gerry Steinberg was a regular meeting. The City Attorney had ruled that it as a special Council meeting. When Council had left the last Executive Session, giving Mayor Sher their comments to give to members of the staff, he had telephoned Cou nci ,.msmbsrs back after a couple of days, explaining what had been said by one of the staff members he had been directed to talk to. He saw no reason to "pussyfoot" the staff member was George Sipel, who, Mayor Sher had .aid, had put a new contingency on hie leave. Mr. Sipel had said in a letter marked "confidential" to Councilmembers, that he teas leaving for Atlanta on the past Thursday, October 27, 1977, and tiCouncilm+e mbar Eyerly said he saw no reason for the letter eto be marked "confidential" for it weeen open wetter if a City ages went to an International City Management Association conference. Since Mr. Sipel had already left, Councilmember Eyerly had been enable to i.slk with him. He had hoped that he would have been there that evening so that he could have talked to his before Council went ahead with what it had originally set up. MOTION: Ceun ilmeeber . Eyerly moved, seconded by Carey, that the Executive Session on personnel be delayed for one week, or until Council could talk to George Sipel. Mayor Sher said he also had talked to the City Attorney and he wai somewhat uncertain about the nature of the meeting, but he was willing to deal with the motion. According to --t he City Attorney it wets a meeting in which the City Council mould conduct buusinese. Though be did not want to disclose too much, for the matter was to have bean handled in gaacutivs 299 10/31/77 Seasion, he was not sure that the matter Mr. Sipal had mentioned was exactly a contingency as described by tcuncilmeuher Eyerly. CouLcila giber Henderson said he thought Council would have to meet again when Mr. Sipel was available. So far as the imme'liate question, he did not think it required Mr. Sipel's presence; further r?'elay would be "even .acre disastrous than what had happened so far." Re hoped the matter could be remelved that evening, and if not there could be other meetings. He urged Cot silmembsrs to oppose the motion. Courcilmember Fazzino said he thought he understood the intent of the motion. He was willing, however, to go ahead and discuss the matter scheduled for Executive Session that evening. If Council had not reached a decision within a couple of hours he was willing to hold it off until the following week. He said he assumed the decipion would have been made a weak ago if Jay Thorwaldson had not bean so successful in finding out what had taken place the previous week in Executive Session. Ha was himself concerned about the effect the delay was having on the City organiation. Couacilmssdber Carey favored the action. Delay was caused not by the City Council but by the City Manner. As he himself understood it, through the Mayor's comments, there was a condition tc the selection process, or that there might be a condition, which, he said, meant that Council could rot debate and analyze about whet action would be appropriate for the consequences could not be foreseen without knowing the condition. Councilmember Clay ascertained that Mr. Sipel would return on Thursday. He sad he thought Mr. Sipel perhaps wanted to talk to them and Council could perhaps talk with him before the Monday meeting, Mayor Sher said there was no mystery about what Mr. Sipe! hai said, for it was as he had told each Councilmember. There was nothing further. for Mr. Sipel to say until the Council acted He would have preferred that all the discussion would have been in Executive Session, for their talk was merely raising the curiosity of the public and the press. Councilmember Carey said he was bothered by the process about what was to be and not be said with respect to Executive Sessions. He had not seen the guidelines that had been put together several years ego on the topic of what was applicable to Executive Sessions. Mayor Sher said he had not felt free to discuss with others what the Councilmsmbers had told his to relay to staff members or what staff =ambers' response. ba3 been. it had been his own constraint, and not what Mr. Sipel hod said, that led him to confidentiality. Councils:ember Eyerly said that the Council bad spent.a great deal of time to work out terms of George Sipel's six-month leave. Mr. Sim had agreed to these term.. Now, an he understood, Mt. Sipel bed • contra- dicted one of the terms which be bad formerly accepted. H3 did not want to go *heed until that was straightened out with Mr. Sipel. Councilma.ber Eyerly said that what be wanted to talk about in yublic was whether or not Council needed to go into Executive Session about personnel. He thought it wee wise for Council to be as open as possible. Hs said he also would like to see the guidelines about Executive `sessions that Councl.imseber Carey bad referred to. If a meeting could be arranped with Mr. Sipel be would be glad to arrange it earlier than one week. Mayor Sher said he had no personal wishes —be had merely followed Council instructions. He would be willing to conduct the session in public. 300 10/31/77 MOTION FAIL: The motion that the Executive Session on personnel be delayed for one week, or until Council Lould talk to George Sipel, failed on the following vote: AYES: Carey, Clay, Ey.ri,y, Witherspoon NOE*: Brenner, Faessine, Fletcher, Henderson, Sher MOTION: Co3mciimembe= Headerson moved, seconded by Pletcher. that that evening's discuseiose on Pramual be conducted in public.+ Couucilaembar Bassin said be thought sensitive personnel issues, in his opinion, should be discussed in prime*,. He would oppose the motion. Re thought the press, public, and City staff would fine a public discussion laughable. Council, under the Brora Act, had the right to discuss it in private. Coaarilmember B.ndersen said that shiie Council had the right, the Brown Act did not require that it be done. -information cams out even though Council had basin in Executive Session. He Fre.:erred it to be open, then it would be reported iteesvetely. Mayor Sher asked if the motion intended that Council's discussion only, or the Council's discussion and the interview scheduled with Assistant City Manager Chitties Walker be open. Councilmamber Henderson said ha thought the entire Executive Session should be open, Mayor Sher said that before he voted on the motion he wanted to hear snow Mr. Walker felt about it. Councilsemter Clay agreed. `_'e did not mind Council's discussion being open, but hat'+.ould like to know if the situation would be comfortable for Mr. Walker. Councilmsmber Brenner said the Brown Act specifically protected employees frog public discussions —she thought that a necessary protection and she wanted to edhsre to one method of interviewing until the conclusion had beau roadbed. She did not want to change the procedure in midstream. Charles Maiksre Assistant City Manager, said he tows willing to talk in public or in Executive Session --neither use less caaf rtable. Counciissmbsr Eyerly said be thought the idea of continuing one method of interviewing for the duration of that particular interview we. worth- while; he mold vets against the imotion on the floor. however, for he thought it would protract the time. Councilnember Clay suggested dividing the metios--t s first part to . be on bolding the personnel iutsrri.ser with Charles Welker in public, the second pert to be on boldis' Council's discussion of the interview and their d.liberati us, in public. Mayor Sher agreed to do that; he vas willies to discuss in public, yet, in accord with Co ellaaeber Bremer': vise, be felt the personnel matters would revar agate cued vruld be better disemessd in Executive Session. Couocilmenbar "Casey said be bid only "raised tie question about whether as not Mr. lipsl's statement Amid be confidential, not if the entire setter was coefidentiel. Hs thought Cou cii eight defer the discussion 301 10/31/77 (:.: 1 "just to cool oif a little bit." Council had the obligation to select a six-month interim City Manager, and he ?tit Council was not delaying, but in.taad taking tiro -J, to make a wise decision. He would oppose the motion. FIRST FART OF MOTION FAILED: The motion that the personnel interview with Charles Walker b conducted in public failed on the following vote: AYES: Fletcher, Henderson NOES: Brenner', Carey, Clay, Eyerly, Fazzino, Sher, Witherspoon SECOND PART OF MOTION FAILED: The second part of the motion, that the Council discussion following the interview with Charles Walker be held in public, failed on the following vote: AYES: Clay, Fletcher, Henderson NOES: Brenner, Carey, Eyerly, Faxseino, Sher, Witherspoon ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Council adjourned to Executive Session at 10:10 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned at 11:30 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor 302 70/31;77