MINUTES
REGULAR
MEETING
WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 31, 2007
ROBERT
LIVERMORE COMMUNITY CENTER
4444 EAST
AVENUE, LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA
7:00 P.M.
CRESTA
BLANCA BALLROOM
DIRECTORS PRESENT: Director
Faltings, Director Furst, Director Goodman, Director Kamena and President
Turner (5)
DIRECTORS
ABSENT: None (0)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Jim
Brandenburg, Lora Cohen, Michael Kyle, Gretchen Sommers, Maureen Gandara
Swinbank
Meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by
President Turner. Roll was taken and all Directors were present.
President Turner recognized Julie Bright of
TV30, who will no longer be at the board meetings as she is returning to
school.
2. PUBLIC FORUM
President Turner asked for public comment. No
public comment was received.
3. CONSENT AGENDA:
3.1 BOARD
MINUTES
3.1.1 Meeting of January 10, 2007.
3.2 COMMUNICATIONS: None.
On a motion by Director Faltings, seconded by
Director Goodman, approved the Consent Agenda, passing 5-0.
4. CONSENT AGENDA: RESOLUTIONS:
4.1 Resolution No. 2041, a resolution approving
the lease extension agreement with the Charter Learning Corporation and the
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District for use of space at the Charter
School.
President Turner thanked the School District and the Charter School.
Director Kamena also expressed his appreciation to the two groups.
The Board of Directors approved the Consent Agenda Resolution
by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Director Faltings,
Director Furst, Director Kamena, Director Goodman and President Turner (5)
NOES: None
(0)
ABSTENTIONS: None
(0)
ABSENT: None (0)
5. BIDS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
6. OLD BUSINESS:
6.1 FRIENDSHIP CENTER
RELOCATION STATUS
President Turner explained that the Board will
receive a status report on the search for a new location for the Friendship
Center and consider the funding source and site selection for the project.
General Manager Barry stated that staff has no
recommendation this evening on the site selection as there is not enough
information available at this time. He said that the Board will take no action
on the site selection tonight, but staff will ask for approval of the CDGB
grant application for the Friendship Center relocation project. General Manager
Barry asked that this agenda item be moved to later in the agenda as the consultant
was not there yet. Other agenda items were addressed until the consultant
arrived.
Bob Deiss of ATI stated that firm was asked to
look at another potential site for the relocation of the Friendship Center. He
showed slides of an aerial view of the City-owned site on Pacific Avenue. He
listed the physical requirements of the Friendship Center, including space,
parking, drop off, etc. He reported that ATI was asked to consider a second
user for the site as well. Mr. Deiss said that he was asked to visit the site
and study and evaluate a number of items. He has completed that work and
prepared a cost estimate and written report. He said that his opinion is that
this is an excellent site for the Friendship Center. He said the location is quiet,
yet there is enough activity to interest the clients; the site is about the
right size, and is large enough to provide room for expansion; it is a relatively
flat piece of land with no drainage or geotechnical issues; utilities are
readily accessible; there are no native species of trees that would be
disrupted by development; and there is no apparent objection from the City regarding
neighbors of the site. Mr. Deiss
reported on many details of the attributes of the site He estimated that, not including
escalation, change orders, etc., construction of a new facility would cost
approximately $5.6 million cost. He reiterated that the site would be for two
users. He said that construction of a facility is not achievable in one year, that
it would be more like an 18-month or 2-year project.
Directors, staff and the consultant discussed
various items, including: distance between the skate park and the site; about how
the future bike stunt course might affect the program; size of the current Friendship
Center; what the cost would be for a 4,000 sq. ft. building, as opposed to the
proposed 10,000 sq. ft. facility; what client capacity staff were planning for;
the reason for including a second user; concern about whether the District can
afford such an expense, etc.
Jean Prasher, Human Services Program Manager for
the City of Livermore, said that the recommendation for a second tenant was
developed in committee meetings and other meetings that Mr. Deiss he had had
with city staff, who feel that bringing another user in could help with extra
revenue. President Turner asked if the City has agreed to give or sell this
land to LARPD. Ms. Prasher responded that this is under discussion at this time.
She said that a letter will be requested from LARPD to the City if it is
determined that the District wishes to pursue this site. She said she thinks
the City would be amenable to such a request, as the City Council recognizes
the importance of the Friendship Center program. President Turner said he feels the Board needs more information
in order to make any type of decision. General Manager Barry responded that he
looks forward to providing Directors with a report containing all the pieces,
and that staff requires more time to do so. Tonight’s presentation has been
informational. However, he said, the deadline for the CDGB grant application is
right now. He said he feels there is a good chance that the District would
receive this.
President Turner opened public comment.
1)
Dennis
Gambs of the Tri-Valley Adult Day Care Program (TVADCP) Board said he would
like to address Director Furst’s question about why there is a desire to expand
the program. He said that the program could tap into funding from a development
impact fee, that expansion will be a funding source. He said he feels that the
element of an additional user could help with costs as well.
President Turner closed public comment.
Mr. Deiss of ATI said he would be happy to
adjust the cost estimate if the Board would like to consider a lower capacity
site. He said that he is responsible for adjusting it to a higher capacity, not
LARPD. He said that he felt that if the District was spending this kind of
money and building this kind of site, it needs to consider the future.
President Turner agreed that you must plan for expansion. He said that the Board
needs to be convinced that the District can afford this. General Manager Barry
clarified that the block grant does not require the District to specify a site
for the program.
Director Furst made a motion, seconded by
Director Kamena, to approve the District’s application for CDBG grants from the
cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, for $125,000 each.
President Turner asked for Director comment. No
Director comment was received.
President Turner called the motion. The motion
to approve the District’s application for CDBG grants from the cities of
Livermore and Pleasanton, for $125,000 passed 5-0. Mr. Barry stated that a full
report will be brought to the Board on at its meeting on February 14. Director Furst
requested that timelines be included in the report.
7. NEW
BUSINESS:
7.1
DISTRICT AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR
2005/2006
President Turner explained that the
Board will conduct a review of the District’s Audit Report for 2005/2006 and
consider acceptance. General Manager Barry stated that the District Fiscal
Supervisor and a representative from the auditors are present to answer any questions.
Fiscal Supervisor Cohen said that the District had a clean audit this year,
with only two minor recommendations on the ESS audit. Se expressed appreciation
to Maze and Associates for the thorough job they did. Director Faltings requested
that a management letter be included in future audits.
President Turner asked for public
comment. No public comment was received.
Director Faltings made a motion, seconded
by Director Furst, to accept the District Audit for Fiscal Year 2005/2006.
President Turner asked for Director
comment. No comment was received from Directors.
President Turner called the motion. The
motion to accept the District Audit for Fiscal Year 2005/2006 passed 5-0.
7.2
EXTENDED STUDENT SERVICES
PROGRAM AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005/2006
The Directors had no questions.
President Turner asked for public
comment. No public comment was received.
Director Kamena, made a motion, seconded
by Director Faltings, to accept the Extended Student Services Program Audit for
fiscal year 2005/2006.
President Turner asked for Director
comment. President Turner commended Superintendent of Youth Services Kraybill
on the program.
President Turner called the motion. The motion to accept the Extended Student
Services Program Audit for fiscal year 2005/2006 passed 5-0.
7.3
CHANGE IN JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION
President Turner explained that the
Board will consider approving a change in the job description for the Administrative
Assistant position. General Manager Barry explained that he intends to request
reclassification of the current Administrative Aide, Carolyn Ulrich, who works
in human resources, to the position of Administrative Assistant. He said that he
saw that modification of the current Administrative Assistant job description would
make the job description fit the function that Ms. Ulrich currently fulfills. He
said that the job description was broken down into three classifications: human
resources, finance and administration. He requested that the Board approve
changing the job description for the position of Administrative Assistant, as
detailed in the staff report.
Director Kamena asked the General
Manager for clarification on several items, including: the pay rate of both
positions; the finance portion of the job description; whether current
employees in this position perform the duties in the new job description;
whether the current incumbent has any training in human resources. Mr. Barry
stated that there are similar requirements in each of the three departments and
a set of duties that all persons in this position do, as well as a set of
duties that are specific to each department. He explained that this would
provide flexibility in the future if positions needed to be moved around.
Director Furst stated that, as a member
of the Personnel Committee, he is very supportive of this job change. Director
Goodman stated that from what he has observed, the person in question has been
working out of her job classification. President Turner asked whether the
question of regarding human resources training is really relevant tonight. He
asked if the General Manager has the power to appoint someone to a position. Mr.
Barry replied that the Board does not approve personnel hiring; however, the
board approves reclassifications. Mr. Turner asked what the salary difference
is between the positions of Administrative Aide and Administrative Assistant.
Ms. Cohen responded that the difference is approximately $3,500 a year at the
top range. Director Kamena asked if when someone gets reclassified, the salary
range within the new position changes. Mr. Barry responded that the salary
changes by 5%. He said that if the employee’s
current salary is within the range of the new position the employee would receive
a 5%increase within the range; if the employee’s current salary is below the
minimum range, the employee’s salary would increase to the minimum of the
range.
President Turner opened public comment.
No public comment was received.
Director Furst made a motion, seconded
by Director by Goodman, to approve the change in job description for the
position of Administrative Assistant that is recommended by the General Manager
and the Personnel Committee.
President Turner asked for comment from
the Directors. Director Kamena said that he was concerned that the District has
done reclassifications a lot over the past year, where job descriptions have
been changed to fit what a person is doing. He said the effect is that someone
gets a raise, but his job does not change. He said that this takes staff time,
etc. and the end effect is that someone gets a raise and they are doing the
same job. He said he sees a pattern and is concerned.
Director Faltings said that,
historically, specific job descriptions having been a pet peeve of hers. She
said she sees this job description change achieving a broad category of Administrative
Assistant, divided into categories. She said she sees this as a move away from
narrow job descriptions, achieving a more general job description for this
position, with some further particulars depending upon the particular functions
of the department that the employee works in. She noted that the District
currently has this type of division in a job description within the parks
division. She said it is the same job description with special skills/duties
depending upon the department.
Director Kamena said he sees it as
narrowly defining the job description. President Turner said he feels this type
of reclassification is important to the General Manager because people like to
be recognized for working outside of their classification and making
extraordinary effort in their jobs. Director Goodman said that the layoffs that
the Districts experienced in 2004 necessitated changes in what duties employees
were performing. He said that the proposed changes in the job description seem
to be a reflection of what the incumbent is currently doing.
General Manager Barry said he stated
that he agrees with Director Goodman, that the District went through a layoff
two years ago and has not filled some of the positions that were lost. He said
that he would prefer to reclassify the position rather than hiring new people. Thus,
it still saves the District money. He said that the duties of the laid off employees
did not go away when the layoffs occurred. He said that the current employee is
indeed performing the duties of the higher level position of Assistant to the
General Manager, which was laid off. Director Kamena responded that he had been
unaware of that.
President Turner called the motion. The
motion to approve the change in job description for the position of
Administrative Assistant that is recommended by the General Manager and the
Personnel Committee, passed 4-1, with Director Kamena dissenting.
8. MATTERS INITIATED/ANNOUNCEMENTS BY
THE DIRECTORS
1) Director Kamena invited the public to attend the Super
bowl Party on Sunday at the RLCC, and said that it is a fundraiser for the Livermore
Youth Football League.
2) Director Furst asked about the Sycamore Grove Recovery
Plan report. He asked what the status is and when the District will receive it.
3) Director Furst asked about the status of the
Master Plan and if the District is on schedule.
4) Director Faltings invited the public to come
and look at the new shade structures that have been put up on the pool deck at
the RLCC.
5) Director Goodman mentioned that it was a year
ago that LARPD was asked to keep the pool open year round. His understanding is
that people are indeed using it year round and he thanked them.
6) Director Goodman announced that this year
marks the 60th anniversary of LARPD and there will be activities throughout
the year. He asked any people with ideas or memorabilia about the District to
contact Community Center Director Rich Lange.
1)
General Manager Barry reminded the Directors that there is a Board retreat at
6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 5, 2007.
Meeting
adjourned to Executive Session at 8:20 p.m.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
10.1
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL–ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
Pursuant to subdivision (b) of
Section 54956.9 of the Government Code.
Number of Cases: 1
Claimant: Joshua Wright
10.2 REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant
to Section 54956.8 of the Government Code
Property: Sycamore Grove Park, 1051 Wetmore Road,
Livermore, CA
Agency
Negotiator: District Staff and/or Legal Counsel
Negotiating
Parties: Chevron Pipe Line Company
Under
Negotiation: Easement agreement
11. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Meeting reconvened
to Open Session at 9:00 p.m.
12. REPORT
OF ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
No
action to report.
13. OTHER NEW BUSINESS:
13.3 CLAIM AGAINST THE DISTRICT
A claim against the District has been
filed on behalf of Joshua Wright. Staff recommends rejection. (Motion)
On a motion by Director Faltings, seconded by
Director Goodman, approved the staff recommendation to reject the claim on
behalf of Joshua Wright and forward the claim to the District’s insurance
carrier, passing 5-0.
14. ADJOURNMENT
APPROVED,
_______________________________
Dale Turner
President, Board of
Directors
ATTEST:
__________________________
General
Manager and ex-officio
Clerk
to the Board of Director