Present-

Council Members Murphy, Vander Borght and Ramos.

Absent - - - -

Council Members Campbell and Golonski.

Also Present -

Ms. Alvord, City Manager; Mr. Barlow, City Attorney; and, Mrs. Campos, City Clerk.

Oral

Communications

There was no response to the Mayor�s invitation for oral communications on Closed Session matters at this time.

4:42 P.M.

Recess

The Council recessed at this time to the City Hall Basement Lunch Room/Conference Room to hold a Closed Session on the following:

a.    Conference with Legal Counsel � Existing Litigation:

Pursuant to Govt. Code �54956.9(a)

Name of Case:  City of Burbank, a public entity vs. Southern California Edison, a California Corporation; Parr Electric and Does 1 through 100, inclusive.

Case No.:  EC038100

Brief description and nature of case:  City seeks reimbursement for underground damages during construction.

b.    Conference with Legal Counsel � Existing Litigation:

Pursuant to Govt. Code �54956.9(a)

Name of Case:  Nolan v. Alvord.

Case No.:  LASC Case No. BS092136

Brief description and nature of case:  Taxpayer suit seeking injunction against paying legal fees from special airport counsel.

STUDY SESSION

Present-

Council Members Golonski, Vander Borght and Ramos.

Absent - - - -

Council Members Campbell and Murphy.

Also Present -

Ms. Alvord, City Manager; Mr. Barlow, City Attorney; and, Mrs. Campos, City Clerk.

5:16 P.M.

Initial Overview

of Fiscal Year

2005-06 Budget

and Five-Year

Forecast

Mr. Hanway, Financial Services Director, presented a report on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 budget; review of the Five-Year Financial Forecast; departmental reductions summary; and, the five-year budget balancing plan.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, he described the projected recurring General Fund balance; with a recommendation that the recurring deficit be balanced by use of the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) stabilization fund.  He also discussed the projected non-recurring General Fund balance and stated that staff anticipated an Undesignated Fund Balance of $32,861.

Mr. Hanway then discussed the General Fund major revenue sources, including: Sales Tax; Property Tax; Utility Users Tax (UUT) and Motor Vehicle In Lieu, and elaborated on the General Fund expenditures by department.  He noted that the major appropriation drivers include Memorandum of Understanding and PERS rates increases.  He also noted the departmental budget reductions summary and discussed the reserve balances for the Fifteen Percent Working Capital Reserve; Five Percent Emergency Reserve; Burbank Water and Power UUT/In Lieu Set Aside Fund; PERS Stabilization Fund; and, Budget Stabilization Fund.

With regard to the Five Year Financial Forecast, Mr. Hanway noted that the key assumptions included increases in:  Property Tax revenues; Sales Tax revenues; Transient Occupancy Tax revenues; the Transient Parking Tax (TPT) rate from 11 to 12 percent; and, a decrease in UUT and In Lieu Tax revenues due to electric rate reductions.  He noted the financial forecast recurring expenditures which include MOU projected costs and the Central Library ramp-up costs; and, the non-recurring appropriations which include the Magnolia Park funding, Central Library Construction Holding Account and the Infrastructure Replacement Reserve both predicated upon annual budget savings, purchase of fire helmets and Central Library opening costs.  He also noted that the Working Capital Emergency Reserves and Compensated Absences Reserves are being funded on an annual basis.

Mr. Hanway then discussed staff�s five-year budget balancing plan and other balancing options available to the Council, and informed the Council that the upcoming budget study sessions would be incorporated into regular Council meetings.

Mr. Golonski was not supportive of eliminating the GAP Officer position and requested that the Council consider reinstating the Perform Arts grants and adjusting the TPT from 11 percent to 12 percent at the beginning of FY 2005-06.

Mr. Vander Borght and Mrs. Ramos were also supportive of maintaining the GAP Officer position.

Regular Meeting

Reconvened in

Council Chambers

The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Burbank was reconvened at 6:39 p.m. by Mrs. Ramos, Mayor.

Invocation

The invocation was given by Father Khoren Habeshian.

Flag Salute

ROLL CALL

The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Catherine Kestenian.

Present-

Council Members Golonski, Vander Borght and Ramos.

Absent - - - -

Council Members Campbell and Murphy.

Also Present -

Ms. Alvord, City Manager; Mr. Barlow, City Attorney; and, Mrs. Campos, City Clerk.

301-1

Books for

Burbank

Mayor Ramos presented Certificates of Recognition to the following individuals for their dedicated involvement in the Books for Burbank Campaign, which collected more than 1000 books to help the Burbank Public Library better serve the Armenian community:  Daniel Aghassian; Lusine Akopian; Nazar Armenian; Armine Kazarian; Paul Krekorian; Tamar Krekorian, Chair; Elina Mardres; Armen Martin; Arlsi Ohanian; Lara Peltekian; and, Vahe Shahinian.

301-1

Armenian

Genocide

Remembrance

Mayor Ramos presented a proclamation in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day to Tamar Krekorian, representing the Armenian National Committee.  Also, a poem entitled �What I can tell you,� describing a genocide survivor�s reflections after returning to his homeland was read by James Massey, ninth grade student at Burbank High School.  Paul Krekorian, Vice President of the Board of Education, made comments depicting life in an Armenian village prior to and after the Armenian Genocide.

406

Airport Authority

Meeting Report

Commissioner Wiggins reported on the Airport Authority meeting of April 18, 2005.  He stated that the Authority adopted Resolution 403 regarding the Airport revenue bond offering and approved an increase in the noise violation fines for Rules 8 and 9 by 3.6 percent.  He also noted that the Authority would hold a special meeting on Monday, April 25, 2005.

The Council noted and filed the report.

Mr. Golonski inquired as to whether the Authority has considered the establishment of a second Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station potentially in cooperation with the City. Commissioner Wiggins responded that the Legal and Environmental Committee considered the matter and directed staff to retain the services of a firm that would review the entire fleet and the hybrid demonstration project.

Ms. Alvord, City Manager, also responded that City staff is in the process of locating a second CNG fueling station preferably in cooperation with the Airport Authority and that the matter has been placed on the Airport Noise Working Group�s agenda.

7:18 P.M.

Hearing

ZTA No. 2004-161

Late Night Hours

Mrs. Ramos acknowledged a request from Council Member Campbell who was not able to attend the meeting that the public hearing pertaining to the Zone Text Amendment amending regulations for residentially-adjacent late night hours/operations be postponed to a future date due to his desire to participate.

It was the Council�s consensus to postpone the hearing to May 3, 2005.

Reporting on

Closed Session

Mr. Barlow reported on the items considered by the City Council during the Closed Session meeting.

Initial Open

Public Comment

Period of Oral

Communications

Mrs. Ramos called for speakers for the initial open public comment period of oral communications at this time.

Citizen

Comment

Appearing to comment were:  Cerita Bichelman and Sasha Lippman, announcing John Burroughs High School�s presentation of Les Miserables; Gary Garrison, on plumbing issues; Ann MacLeod, on the foster kitten program at the Burbank Animal Shelter; Tim McHugh, on runaway production; Mark Barton, on the Burbank Civic Plaza; Paul Dyson, distributing a copy of Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 18 pertaining to rail transportation and a copy of a memorandum to the California Legislature from California�s Intercity Rail Corridors in support of AJR 18, and requesting the Council�s support of the same; Bill Augustyn, in support of BUILD Rehabilitation�s Community Development Block Grant funding application; Don Elsmore, on Airport matters; Dr. David Gordon, on traffic impacts created by proposed fast-food restaurants on Hollywood Way; David Piroli, on the speed limit on Scott Road between San Fernando Boulevard and Glenoaks Boulevard; Eden Rosen, in opposition to the Burbank Water and Power public art pieces and commenting on noise issues at public parks; Rose Prouser, on the Burbank Local Transit service expansion and Airport matters; Sam Ashegian, announcing the Magnolia Park School garden grand opening and commenting on shopping carts; Howard Rothenbach, on the use of Compressed Natural Gas buses for Burbank Local Transit and on safety personnel response; Esther Espinoza, on low-income rent subsidies; Irma Loose, on noise violation penalties; and, Mike Nolan, in support of hiring additional Police Officers.

Staff

Response

Members of the Council and staff responded to questions raised.

Agenda Item

Oral Communications

Mrs. Ramos called for speakers for the agenda item oral communications at this time.

Citizen

Comment

Appearing to comment were: Mark Barton, on the Airport bus logo; David Gordon, on the proposed fast-food restaurant project on the A-1 North site; Esther Espinoza, on the approval of the Fiscal Year 2005-06 Annual Plan; Rose Prouser and Don Elsmore, on Airport issues; Irma Loose, on violation of the noise ordinance by a residentially-adjacent business; Paul Dyson, on the Burbank Local Transit service expansion; Eden Rosen, on Airport matters; David Piroli, on Airport matters and requesting a status on the Noise Working Group; and, Mike Nolan, on the Burbank Local Transit service expansion and Airport matters.

Staff

Response

Members of the Council and staff responded to questions raised.

Motion

It was moved by Mr. Vander Borght and seconded by Mr. Golonski that "the following items on the consent calendar be approved as recommended.�

103

Update on FY

2004-05 Insurance Program

A report was received from the Management Services Department on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 insurance program.  The report indicated that due to the significant rise in insurance premiums and deductibles over the past few years, staff implemented two major changes, self-insurance and pooled insurance, to the FY 2004-05 insurance program which will also be maintained for the FY 2005-06 insurance program. 

The report stated that staff was able to reduce the FY 2004-05 overall insurance cost by $395,179 over the FY 2003-04 program by self-insuring certain coverages and joining pools for the City�s largest exposures.  It was noted that coverages that were fully self-insured included Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) at a cost of $100,000 and Earthquake at a cost of $500,000.  The report indicated that while staff expected the AD&D cost to remain constant at $100,000, the Earthquake fund would have an annual deposit of $500,000 until a $5,000,000 reserve is established.  It was stated that additions to this fund will then be re-evaluated to determine an appropriate fund reserve at that time.

The report further stated that for the City�s liability coverage, the City joined the Authority for California Cities Excess Liability (ACCEL); a risk sharing pool which the City was previously a member of from 1986-1998.  The City also joined a Workers� Compensation pool, California Public Entity Insurance Authority (CPEIA), for the first time and has experienced significant premium savings.  It was also reported that staff recommended that the FY 2005-06 insurance program be maintained substantially as the current program and that it was anticipated that the premium costs would remain at or near current levels.

The Council noted and filed this report and approved of staff�s participation and continued participation in the Authority for California Cities Excess Liability and California Public Entity Insurance Authority.

702-2

Senior Citizen

Nutrition and

Supportive Services Grant

RESOLUTION NO. 26,949:

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AUTHORIZING THE PARK, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN NUTRITION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANT FROM THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICES AND THE AGENCY ON AGING.

1411-1

Reso. of Intent

For Vacation

(V-369 � Crown

725 Associates)

RESOLUTION NO. 26,950:

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO CONSIDER THE CONDITIONAL VACATION OF A PORTION OF AN ALLEY ADJACENT TO ELMWOOD STREET; AND ELMWOOD STREET, LOCATED WEST OF SAN FERNANDO BOULEVARD AND SOUTH OF CEDAR AVENUE (V-369).

Adopted

The consent calendar was adopted by the following vote:

Ayes:      Council Members Golonski, Vander Borght and

              Ramos.

Noes:      Council Members None.

Absent:   Council Members Campbell and Murphy.

1502

Burbank Local

Transit Service

Expansion

Mr. Herrmann, Assistant Community Development Director/Transportation, reported that on January 25, 2005, the Council approved a three-phase service expansion of the Burbank Local Transit (BLT) program including: the recently-implemented Media District route or No-Ho Line; converting on-demand services in the Downtown and Golden State areas to fixed routes beginning late May 2005; and, the final phase scheduled for August 2005 which will implement a new fixed route service between the Metro Rail Red Line station in North Hollywood and the Golden State area. 

Mr. Herrmann then gave a brief update on the No-Ho Line south, including:  ridership figures; overall marketing, branding alternatives and signage; information programs and promotion materials; options for acquiring the transit vehicles for the service expansions and the associated costs; and, funding and budget update. 

Mr. Carrasco, Social Services Programs Supervisor, discussed the vehicles available for lease and purchase for use in the service expansions, noting that alternative fuel vehicles are very hard to obtain.

It was the Council�s consensus to: move forward with Design A for the bus logo; obtain the free diesel buses; and, proceed with leasing diesel vehicles for the short-term.

Final Open

Public Comment

Period of Oral

Communications

There was no response to the Mayor�s invitation for speakers for the final open public comment period of oral communications at this time.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07 p.m. to Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. for a Proposed New Multiple Family Residential Development Standards Study Session.

                                                    Margarita Campos, CMC

                                                               City Clerk