ON THE AGENDA Here are a few...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are a few of the items the council will consider tonight.

SANITATION

FRANCHISE FEE

The council will again consider a law imposing a franchise fee on

most of the city’s trash haulers that it first approved on Nov. 1.

The law would impose a 12% fee on the gross sales of waste haulers,

except the Costa Mesa Sanitary District’s exclusive residential waste

hauler, CR&R.; Such franchise fees are paid to cities for use of city

streets.

The revenue from the new fee is expected to help the city close

its recurring budget gap. Franchises would be granted for seven-year

terms. Haulers serving commercial, industrial and multifamily

properties, like condominium complexes, would make an annual minimum

payment of $10,000 for a permit to operate in the city. Haulers that

handle Dumpsters for construction and demolition sites would pay

$1,500 for their permits.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council will likely give final approval to the law.

RESIDENT-ONLY PARKING

The council will consider ways to add more parking to crowded

areas in and around the College Park neighborhood. One suggestion by

staff members is to remove the bicycle lanes on Wilson Street,

between Fairview Road and College Avenue, adding 50 parking spaces.

Another is to add 41 parking spaces on the west side of Vanguard Way

between Clearbrook Lane and Newport Boulevard.

Adding parking in these two areas would cost a total of $9,000.

These ideas are being considered after homeowners in the area said

their streets were being overrun with parked cars, affecting their

quality of life and creating safety hazards. They suggested

resident-only parking restrictions. Other residents in the area, such

as apartment renters and condominium owners, opposed any parking

restrictions.

Staff members would monitor the results of these two measures --

if they are approved -- after three months. If parking problems

persist, the council would then consider more options.

There will be an informational meeting on this issue in the

council chambers at 5:30 p.m. today, so residents can see designs of

the various options.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council directed staff members to “think outside the box” in

coming up with a solution agreeable to all parties. Hopefully, this

is it. Or at least a start.

APPEALS BOARD CHANGES

The council will consider reducing the membership of the Access,

Building, Fire and Housing Board of Appeals. This board handles

appeals of decisions made by a city building official or fire

marshal.

The current board has 10 members and the council will consider

reducing the membership to five. Staff members suggest the board be

made up of two physically handicapped members, two people with

construction experience and one member of the public. They also

suggest appointing a completely new board, so the members meet these

requirements.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is likely to follow the advice of staff members.

PENSION BOOSTING

The council will consider giving Assistant City Atty. Tom Wood and

paralegal secretary Marilyn Robinson credit for two extra years of

work to boost their pensions.

Both received six-month layoff notices in September, because the

city is now using an outside legal firm instead of an in-house city

attorney’s office.

State law allows cities to provide additional work credit for

employees who are laid off.

Staff members estimate the most it could cost the city is about

$135,000.

Mayor Gary Monahan said adding years of service to retirement

benefits is common practice in the corporate world. He said the cost

will more likely be about $60,000 since both are expected to retire

before the end of the six-month period, and their salaries are

included in the staff members’ estimate.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members will have to consider if they can afford to spend

up to $135,000, when they are also considering increasing the

salaries of city employees.