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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-03-10TOWN OF TRUCKEE TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES March 10, 2020, 6:00 p.m. -1863 3""—'"`- Town Hall - Administrative Center 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Polivy called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Council Members; Abrams, Tirman, Commendatore, Vice Mayor Klovstad, and Mayor Polivy. Staff Present: Becky Bucar, Engineering Manager; Hilary Hobbs, Management Analyst; Rob Womack, Emergency Services Coordinator; Carissa Binkley, Administrative Technician; Todd Landry, Senior Civil Engineer; Rob Leftwich, Chief of Police; Andy Morris, Town Attorney; Denyelle Nishimori, Community Development Director; Jeff Loux, Town Manager; Christina Earnhardt, Administrative Services Manager; and Judy Price, Communications Director/Town Clerk. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – led by Carolyn Wallace Dee. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT – none. 5. PRESENTATIONS 5.1 Introduction of Carissa Binkley, Community Development Administrative Technician. Mayor Polivy opened the presentation items to public comment. Ted Owens congratulated Carissa Binkley his former Tahoe Forest Foundation staff member. Mayor Polivy closed public comment. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR It was moved by Council Member Abrams, and seconded by Council Member Commendatore, to approve the Consent Calendar Items as follows: 6.1 Authorize the Public Works Director/Town Engineer to file a Notice of Completion with the Nevada County Recorder's Office for McCuen Construction, Inc. for the Stockrest Springs Road Roundabout Project (Capital Improvement Project C1612) for a total construction contract cost of $3,159,586. 6.2 1) Authorize the submittal of a Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) grant application for the Fiscal Year 2019/2020 LCTOP grant cycle; 2) Adopt Resolution 2020-14 authorizing the Town Manager or designee to execute documents associated with the LCTOP grant. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 1 6.3 Approve an upgrade to the Office Assistant position to an Administrative Technician position for the Public Works Department. The Consent Calendar carried with the following vote: Ayes: Council Member Abrams, Council Member Commendatore, Council Member Tirman, Vice Mayor Klovstad and Mayor Polivy. Noes: none. Absent: none. Abstained: none. The motion passed unanimously. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7.1 STAFF REPORT — Revenue Measure for Housing Committee recommendations for ballot measure. Recommended Action: Consider the recommendations of the Revenue Measure for Housing Committee and provide staff direction regarding development of a revenue measure. Hilary Hobbs, Management Analyst, presented from the staff report (presentation on file with the Town Clerk). Hilary Hobbs introduced Charles Heath, Partner, TBWB Strategies. Charles Heath presented (on file with the Town Clerk). Revenue Bond for Housing Committee members Carolyn Wallace Dee, Joan deRyk Jones, Stefanie Olivieri, and Ted Owens presented the recommendations from the committee. Council Discussion: • The Town's current bond rating AA+. o There are other higher ratings available. It is based on the bond issuance as well as the Town's finances. o Audit results are unmodified or clean audit. o The Town received budget awards and annual financial report award. • Typically, we have reserves in line with Council Goals: o The goal is 25% of annual operating revenues. o Informal reserve $5 million in general fund cash. • There is a $2 million set aside for workforce and affordable housing. • Town has funded a housing coordinator out of the General Fund. • The bond measure sunset of 20 years or more will allow the Town to bond against the income. Charles Heath in response to Council Questions: • Additional polling is recommended to re -test the question as recommended by the committee. • There is other contextual polling support for a housing measure. • End of the survey those still against was about 15%. • Small percentage of those polled feel the Town did poor or very poor job (8%). • The majority of those polled believe the Town is fiscally healthy and trust Town. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 2 Stefanie Olivieri in response to Council Questions: • The committee felt that a 10 -year sunset is too short to get projects through and to allow for bonding potential. • It is important to use the funding to leverage projects (such as Artist Lofts). Council Discussion: • Programs starting with the Housing Program Manager would continue. • State qualified affordable housing income levels are between 30% to 80% below median income. • Town should widen for the workforce to up to 120%, this will still be challenging to purchase housing in Truckee. • Oversight Committee recommendations would be in the ballot language. • General taxes are favored in most ballot measures. • Most of the transient occupancy tax proposals are structured as general taxes. o It is dependent on what the motivation is for the tax at the time. • Special taxes fail at a higher rate. Mayor Polivy opened the item for public comment. Written public comment received from (on file with the Town Clerk): Heather Renkow, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe Valarie Brinker, Vice Chair, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe Paco Lindsey stated: • The Committee was divided on the special versus general tax decision. o Others feel there are issues that may be equal to housing. • Housing is a big issue today, but will it be an issue in five to ten years. A lot can change in five years. • Regulations on short term rentals could unlock housing. • What is the number of houses that could be unlocked from cannabis industry? • Urged Council to include more areas to spend in a special tax funds. Suzie Tarnay stated: • No opinion on this. • Presentation from Planning. Christa Finn stated: • Support for a general tax. • Trust Town Council to spend the money appropriately. Patti Baird stated: • Was in the minority tax on the committee. • It should be a general tax. • At this time, governments are supportive of business and looking for tax concessions not tax increases. o Consider tabling this right now. It may not be the right time to increase taxes. • Her hotel sustained a major hit in two days of mass cancellation. • It might expose many people if one of her staff members gets ill with Covid-19. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 3 Steven Frish, Sierra Business Council (SBC), stated: • Supports a general tax. • Re -poling should be performed. • Any serious disruption could affect the polling. • Re -poling for a couple months could impact. • SBC is working with 32 jurisdictions in the Sierra Nevada and this is the best managed jurisdiction within the Sierra Nevada region: o Incredibly accountable. o Tremendous amount of transparency. • If we are experiencing recession, it will be a good time to build affordable housing. • Recommended the sunset at 25 years. Jan Zabriskie stated: • Strong local demand for local housing is a long term issue. • Polling shows we have a cushion. The higher threshold shows a community commitment to housing. • Affirmation of what we believe. • Confirmation and confidence to builders. • Re -poling is important. • Anyone who pays less than $30 to employees will want to support this measure. • Provide the confidence that we have funds for housing. • Lodging is connected to housing. o Lodging generates the need for staffing. • Supported an indefinite bond sunset. • Jan Holan, Truckee River Co -housing Project, stated: • Trying to create housing for locals against some economic headwinds. • Supporter of the tax. • $700,000 per year is not enough to make an impact. o We are looking at other ways to support this. • Support general tax and other visitor impacts as needs change. • Increase the local housing stock, not just affordable housing. • People rather see special tax based on trust, run for town Council. Jim Winterberger, Committee Member, stated: • It is important to get this right. • Town is missing the boat on a flat tax. o It is more stable. o Consider $40 versus a percentage. • Housing is top priority. • Polling is also supportive of the environment. • Another issue can come up, things change. • Recommended Town re -visit a special tax with more opportunity or general tax. • Recommended Town table this item for a couple weeks. Valerie Brinker, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (GATT) read from written comment (on file with the Town Clerk). Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 4 Heather Renkow, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (CATT) read from written comment (on file with the Town Clerk). Joan deRyk Jones, Committee Member, stated • She is lobbying for a special tax. • Housing is an issue and has been since the 1970's and 1980's. • We have not asked for a general tax. Ten percent of TOT currently goes to general fund. • Measure V passed at 80%, and Measure R passed at 77%. o The community understands what it's for and how it will be spent. • There are other sources of funds for other needs. Stefanie Oliveiri, Committee Member, stated: • Living with people you work with is what is beautiful about Truckee as a community. • Fifty percent of the working community commute in. • Without housing in our community we can't be great. • It's important to have a specific tax $700,000 a year. This would become "budget dust" in the general fund. • We can't count on new Councils to support housing the way you do. o When it is not their money it is different. • Support the additional surveying. • Provided anecdotal information on Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP) success with developers based on taxing others.. Stacey Caldwell, CEO Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and Strategist behind the Mountain Housing Council (MHC), stated: • November 2020 needs to be an opportunity for our community to speak up for housing. • The region is showing coordination. • The Institutional leaders supporting the MHC are working together. • MHC can help position that vote. MHC will not be advocating as Council members will. o MHC can create products and educational material for citizens regarding housing. • Encourage you to explore a sustainable funding for achievable local housing. Ted Owens, Committee Member, stated: • Housing is important to everyone in Town. • Don't lead with one issue if the use of the funding may change. • The community values this Council's transparency. • Taxing visitors will have the hospitality industry dealing with the taxpayer. • Think carefully — if the goal is for housing. Mayor Polivy adjourned for a brief recess at 9:58 p.m. Mayor Polivy closed public comment. Charles Heath in response to Council questions: • To refresh the polling initially was $25,000. o Don't need to retest just components of the actual ballot measure. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 5 o Allow some normalization. o Draft survey for May 1. o Results beginning of June to inform decision. o They can dig deeper on a parcel tax question. o Specifics on what the polling is to determine. Council Discussion: • Continue to progress this issue with care and caution. • Applaud the past Council Members, as Town gets to enjoy our positive standing in the community. • Appreciate the reports and committee's work. • Look at the best chance of success to serve the greatest need of our community. Council Direction: Election Timing: • November 3, 2020 if we still have the political will. • Sensitive to our lodging community. • Refresh polling. o Have the right questions to poll. Tax Rate: • Agreed to the 2% increase to Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Duration: • 15 — 20 years. General or Special Tax to be determined after additional polling: • To insure success general tax makes sense. • Town has a responsibility when it comes to taxing. • Based on the language of the survey, as narrow to a special tax it should be polled as that. • Don't want to lose the opportunity. • General tax has to go on a general election. • Special tax could go in March of 2021. • Focused on success — aligned on the general tax. • Polling will better inform that going forward. • Bold on this priority — until there is another priority in the community. • Want to be responsive we need the funding flexibility. • Meeting starting off today this puts a stake in the ground and use this funding for what it is for. • We can end the tax if we do not need the funding for housing. • Special tax, assuming the polling is sustainable. • Housing is the community's number one issue, this is a matter of integrity and transparency. • If the polling does not support a special tax Council Member Commendatore would not support a general tax. • Council Member Abrams stated support for a general tax based on polling results. • This effort is to generate sustainable source of funding for housing. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 6 7.2 • Council Member Tirman stated support for a general tax based on polling results. • Concerns that we don't have the person or group of supporters for a special tax. • The challenge will be growth versus no growth. o Love the idea of housing but not projects in their neighborhood. • A special tax has a higher burden to pass at the polls. o General tax provides flexibility and a path to success with hard work. • Believe the flexibility over time brings a broader level of support. • Mayor Polivy stated he will not stand in the way of pursuing a 2% special tax. Jeff Loux, Town Manager, Public trust, comes from doing a good job with funding. Council is creating a five-year plan that is much larger than this $700,000 funding budget. Primary purpose of polling: • Primary look at special tax. • If vulnerable fall back to a general tax. Seek champions from the community that will move forward. o Having a leader or group will be important. STAFF REPORT — Tahoe Donner Roadway Vegetation Removal Project and Budget Amendment. Recommended Action: Create a new "Tahoe Donner right-of-way vegetation removal" Capital Improvement Project (CIP) in the amount of $1,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 2019/2020 budget. Becky Bucar, Engineering Manager; presented from the staff report (presentation on file with the Town Clerk). Council Discussion: • The funding has a $5 million balance. • What difference will the four additional feet make in safety? o Benefits to the right-of-way use as a fire break. o The six foot was a compromise done for aesthetics and roadway width. Mayor Polivy opened the item for public comment. Bill Seline, Truckee Fire Protection District (TFD), Fire Chief, stated: • There are a number of things will reduce the risk, including this project. • TFD has supported this effort in the past through CalFire grant to reduce fuels along evacuation routes. • Reducing vegetation will reduce heat in a fire, roads can be a fuel break widening the break makes sense, since 95% of fire caused by people on roadsides. Anne Rosenthal, functional General Manager, Tahoe Donner Homeowner Associations (HOA). The Tahoe Donner board has not discussed this project. o Their number one priority for the board is to reduce fire risk. o Board has been supportive of this type of scoping of project. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 7 o This project sends a message to the community and visitors, to continue maintenance. o Prioritization of funding for fire mitigation. It is good to hear Council's resolve benefit of the community. This project will test your resolve. ■ It is at the intersection between right-of-way and people's property. o They have an email distribution of 9,000 and can help with messaging. o The funding proposed 100% Town Special Service Area (TSSA) funds. Tahoe Donner HOA is asking that if funds become available from alternative sources, the funds be applying to this project to refund to the TSSA fund if possible. o The membership understand that the TSSA funds are at Council's discretion and appreciate the opportunity to provide input on the expenditure plans. o Requested tree rounds not be left on the properties. They become a fire hazard if they are not picked up. Doug Koulter, started: • He would have liked it to start in Glenshire. • The right-of-way is 60 feet and in 50 feet in Glenshire. Ten additional feet is more than adequate. • Stated 100% in favor of this glad to see the project. Brian Farrell, Cal Fire, stated: • Validation, seen in Oakland hills with no ingress they used a bulldozer to get vehicles out of the way to get residents out. • This is a proactive measure to provide egress for fire evaluation. • There is a visual impact but there is nothing detrimental aside from this. Mayor Polivy closed public comment. Council Discussion: This could reduce issues related to insuring homes in Truckee. Suggest an informational item before the Tahoe Donner HOA board. Town should be looking for grant payback if possible. The staff recommendation was moved by Council Member Tirman, seconded by Vice Mayor Klovstad, and adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Council Member Tirman, Vice Mayor Klovstad, Council Member Abrams, Council Member Commendatore, and Mayor Polivy. Noes: none. Absent: none. Abstained: none. The motion passed unanimously. 7.3 STAFF REPORT — General Plan Update Status Check -In. Recommended Action: Accept staff's presentation on the General Plan Update status and provide comments to staff as desired. In particular, Council may want to provide comments on the Draft Vision, Guiding Principles and Goals, which the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) has spent considerable time refining. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 8 Denyelle Nishimori, Community Development Director, presented from the staff report (presentation on file with the Town Clerk). Jeff Loux, Town Manager; added thanks to General Plan Advisory Committee members. Recognized Council Member Tirman and Vice Mayor Klovstad for attending these meetings. Council Discussion: GPAC very engaged. With no further attrition. Historic Preservation Advisory Commission (HPAC) services as the recommending body on the Downtown Specific Plan. o Status of vacancy for Small business is on the radar but not complete. Expanded process. o More survey's and more on line. o What does that priority look like? o Behind the scenes, Planning has cut counter hours: ■ Allowing for blocks of time for all planners to work on general plan ■ A new staff member speaks Spanish and can help with outreach. ■ Focus on public engagement to right the policies. Mayor Polivy opened the item for public comment. Written public comment received from: (on file with the Town Clerk) Pat Davison, Government Affairs Manager, of the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (CATT). Heather Rankow, CATT member: • Requested key meetings not be stacked. • Expressed concerns over the disbanding of the Affordable Housing Sub - Committee. • Request GPAC meeting be noted on Town Calendar. • Requested a cancellation policy. Pat Davison, Government Affairs Manager, CATT, read from written comment (on file with the Town Clerk). Jake Hudson, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (CATT): • Requested effort to have more public evolvement in the process. • Requested a cancellation procedure be implemented. Jan Zabriskie, stated: • There is section on page 20 that says what has changed and what is missing. • Recommended the focus be on what has changed and how to address that. o Truckee is becoming segmented by planned communities. o Increasing percentage of second homes in the community. o Vacation rental of neighborhood homes. o Relate to what is missing: community health, housing, transportation and climate change. We do need the community outreach that will require change among community Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 9 members. o Get the buy in — reduce traffic and use of a trolley. o Donner lake people will have to lead the charge. o Dense infill housing downtown will need downtown support. Mayor Polivy closed public comment. Council Discussion: • There are members on GPAC that are small business owners. • Interested in seeing the next six-month work plan. Mayor Polivy adjourned for a brief recess at 10:08 p.m. 7.4 STAFF REPORT — West River Site (01817) design contract amendment and streetscape design update. Recommended Action: 1) Authorize the Town Manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of $44,330 with Melton Design Group, Inc. to complete a park design and permitting scope of work for West River Site Phase 1 park design; and 2) Accept an update regarding streetscape and circulation design option, direct staff to continue stakeholder engagement and return to Council with an updated recommendation in April 2020. Hilary Hobbs, Management Analyst, presented from the staff report (presentation on file with the Town Clerk). Mayor Polivy opened the item for public comment. Written public comment received from (on file with the Town Clerk): Leland Tarnay (2) Lisa Holan Mike Wolf Rolf Godon Suzie Tarnay Suzie Tarnay, stated she agrees with the Truckee Trails Foundation. Mayor Polivy closed public comment. Council Direction: Updated scope of work for the park design in the amount of $45,491 amendment. April 14th design for the streetscape update. The staff recommendation was moved by Council Member Tirman, seconded by Council Member Commendatore and adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Council Member Tirman, Council Member Commendatore, Council Member Abrams, Vice Mayor Klovstad and Mayor Polivy. Noes: none. Absent: none. Abstained: none. The motion passed unanimously. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 10 7.5 STAFF REPORT — Possible letter of support for AB 2066 regarding residential solar panel exemption. Recommended Action: Authorize Town staff to prepare, for the Mayor's signature, a letter to Assembly Member Dahle supporting AB 2066 and expressing the Town's willingness to sponsor the bill, which will create an exemption in areas with significant snowfall to the State solar panel mandate for new residential construction. Jeff Loux, Town Manager, presented from the staff report (presentation on file with the Town Clerk). Council Discussion: Letter dated January 3011 from Dan West. Six different jurisdictions signed onto this issue. There is no timeline on their response. Pursue both the regulatory and a legislative fix. Mayor Polivy opened the item for public comment. Written public comment received from (on file with the Town Clerk): Jan Zabriskie Lisa Holan Steven Sheldrup Pat Davison, Government Affairs Manager, of the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (CATT) Paul Laudenslager, representing the Tahoe Truckee Engineers Association: • Wrote recommendations that are the basis for Dan West's Letter. (Read his recommendations aloud). • The higher and westerly sides of Tahoe Donner and Donner Lake areas will be exempt (most are built out already). • The past two heavy winters caused destruction of the solar systems. o Provided detailed example of failure analysis. • Recommend supporting a letter supporting AB 2066 and support in the writing and continue working with the CBSC regulations. Brandon Strong, Solar installation companies: • The company has designs that will accommodate the snow load. • Both the structure and solar installation can be designed for snow load. Jan Zabriskie, stated: • Get it right and do it right. • Recommended Town go back to the agencies that adopted the regulation. o Go to the purpose to reduce Green House Gasses for these homes. • Provided a detailed outline of the process to implement and change this regulation. • These are regulations not statuses. State utilities were involved, building industry was involved. The State legislature was not involved. AB 2066 doesn't provide anything but Town should not be sponsoring unless the assembly member shows that this complies with the Town's goals. Suzie Tarnay, requested if Town is exempting on solar panel, then provide an alternative equivalent to offset the GHG. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 11 Pat Davison, Government Affairs Manager, of the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (GATT): • Supported drafting the letter. • Value in discussing the exemption. • Requesting the ability to participate in writing the letter. • Understand they are not off the hook for the GHG reduction. Mayor Polivy closed public comment. Council Discussion: • The letter of support including an equivalent alternative. • Legislative route removes the "at their discretion" of the regulatory agency. • Rule follower. Don't want legislation overriding the rules. • Solar on top of renewable. Support of the equivalent alternative. • Prefer to see the path to California building code commission. • Ideally work with the regulatory agencies. • There are benefits to having both sides working on this. Council Direction: • Bring the letter back to the legislative committee. • Push for resolution with the California Energy Commission. The staff recommendation was moved by Council Member Tirman, seconded by Council Member Commendatore, and adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Council Member Tirman, Council Member Commendatore, Council Member Abrams, Vice Mayor Klovstad and Mayor Polivy. Noes: none. Absent: none. Abstained: none. The motion passed unanimous. 8. COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Commendatore • Attended cocktail bingo. Vice Member Klovstad • Attended Truckee Springs Committee meeting. • Attended General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting. Council Member Tirman • Attending GPAC meeting. • Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District meeting. Mayor Polivy • Attended Truckee Tourism Based Improvement District (TTBID) meeting. • Met with Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (CATT) and representatives. Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 12 9. ADJOURNMENT — 11:00 p.m. To the regular meeting of the Truckee Town Council March 24, 2020, 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall, 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA. Respectfully submitted by: JudyFSKJe, C, Town Clerk Approved: David Polivy, Mayor Town of Truckee March 10, 2020, Town Council Regular Page 13