2021 09-07CITY OF POWAY
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
September 7, 2021
City Council Chambers
13325 Civic Center Drive, Poway, California
(Per Government Code 54953)
(Meeting Called to Order as City Council/City of Poway Planning Commission/Poway Housing Authority/Public Financing
Authority and Successor Agency to the Poway Redevelopment Agency)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Vaus called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Caylin Frank, Dave Grosch, Barry Leonard, Steve Vaus
Absent: John Mullin
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
City Manager Chris Hazeltine; City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher; City Clerk Carrie Gallagher;
Development Services Director Bob Manis; Finance Director Aaron Beanan; Human Resources
and Risk Management Director Jodene Dunphy; Interim Fire Chief Scott Post; Captain Dave
Schaller, Sheriff's Department
(Note: Hereinafter the titles Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councilmember, City Manager, Assistant City
Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and Director of Finance shall be used to indicate Mayor/Chair,
Deputy Mayor/Vice Chair, Councilmember/Director, City Manager/Executive Director, Assistant
City Manager/Assistant Executive Director, City Attorney/Counsel, City Clerk/Secretary and
Director of Finance/Finance Officer.)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Mayor Leonard led the Pledge of Allegiance.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Vaus led a moment of silence in honor of our nation and US military. He paid tribute to our
recently fallen soldiers and noted the 20-year anniversary of 9-11.
PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation in Memory and Honor of Vernard Leroy Marston.
Deputy Mayor Leonard recognized the contributions to the City of Poway by Vern Marston and
presented a proclamation in his memory and honor to his daughter, Lisa Anderson.
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City of Poway — Minutes — September 7, 2021
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris Olps served Mayor Vaus with a Notice of Intention to Recall.
Carolyn Treibel, exercise instructor at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center, (MCCC) spoke
regarding MCCC staffing and her request for an organizational chart.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motioned by Deputy Mayor Leonard, seconded by Councilmember Frank to approve
Consent Calendar Items 1 through 3. Motion carried by the following roll -call vote:
Ayes: Frank, Grosch, Leonard, Vaus
Noes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mullin
Disqualified: None
1. Approval of Reading by Title Only and Waiver of Reading in Full of Ordinances on this Agenda
2. Approval of the August 3, 2021 and August 17, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
and August 26, Special City Council Meeting Minutes
3. Adoption of Resolution No. 21-072 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of
Poway, California, Finding and Declaring the Continued Existence of an Emergency within
the City due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Pandemic"
ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION
None.
ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. Conditional Use Permit 20-008 and Minor Development Review Application 20-020; a request
to combine an existing restaurant and retail space and convert it to a coffee shop with a drive -
through located at 13432 Poway Road in the Poway Town and Country Center
Mayor Vaus opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m.
Assistant Planner, Hector Salgado, presented the item along with a PowerPoint presentation.
He provided the location and current use of the development under review, he shared
proposed site modifications and drive thru access as well as additional employee parking
spaces.
No speakers.
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City of Poway — Minutes — September 7, 2021
Mayor Vaus closed the public hearing at 7:19 p.m.
In response to Council inquiry, applicant and owner of Poway Town and Country Center, Brad
Becker stated that a Starbucks would occupy the location and explained that grading will occur
to allow the existing concrete swale to be covered by an ADA cross over and to include 8" or
10" drainage pipes.
In response to Council inquiry, Mr. Salgado explained that additional customer parking is
located behind Kahoots.
Motioned by Deputy Mayor Leonard seconded by Councilmember Grosch to adopt
Resolution No. 21-073 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway,
California, Approving Conditional Use Permit 20-008 and Minor Development Review
Application 20-020 to Combine an Existing Restaurant and Retail Space and Convert it
to a Coffee Shop with a Drive Through Located at 13432 Poway Road in the Poway
Town and Country Shopping Center. Assessor's Parcel Number 317-130-63.
assessor's parcel number 317-130-63." Motion carried 4/0/1, with Councilmember
Mullin absent.
5. Environmental Assessment, Specific Plan Amendment 19-002, and Conditional Use Permit
19-002 for a proposed wireless communication facility at 13875 Kirkham Way
Mayor Vaus opened the public hearing at 7:25 p.m.
Senior Planner Austin Silva presented the report along with a PowerPoint presentation. Mr.
Silva explained that the current standard is a 35-foot maximum height for building/structures
in the South Poway Specific Plan (SPSP) and the proposed amendment would allow wireless
communication facilities to have a maximum height of up to 90 feet with a Conditional Use
Permit. Location and current use of the development location was provided as well as
proposed site modifications. The applicant hosted a neighborhood meeting where concerns
over the design was raised, prompting the tower design change from a faux pine tree to a
metal pole design.
Darrel Dougherty, Project Manager from PlanCom Inc., spoke regarding aesthetics, he
presented a brief PowerPoint presentation identifying the site locations.
Yuri Bohlen commented regarding height discrepancies as permitted in various structures
throughout Poway.
Mayor Vaus closed the public hearing at 7:38 p.m.
In response to Council inquiry, Senior Planner Austin Silva provided the criteria needed to
deny a 90-foot maximum height pole in other areas and stated that an environmental
document would likely be required.
In response to Council inquiry, Economic Development Administrator Craig Ruiz, provided
information about typical cell site leases revenue in the City, he noted that the negotiated rate
is based on the use of the land only.
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City of Poway — Minutes — September 7, 2021
City Attorney Fenstermacher noted that the land use issue was before Council this evening
and that the lease will return to Council in the future.
In response to Council inquiry, PlanCom Inc., Project Manager Darrel Dougherty explained
that T-Mobile is the primary customer but may add three additional cell carriers; he explained
that the existing antennas are overloaded and this proposal will offset capacity issues by
adding 5G coverage.
Discussion ensued by City Council regarding tower height, network saturation, coverage and
capacity and the number of possible future applicants.
Council discussed continuing the item to a future meeting to allow for a full Council vote.
Motioned by Deputy Mayor Leonard, seconded by Councilmember Frank to continue
the public hearing to the October 5, 2021 Regular City Council meeting. Motion carried
unanimously with Councilmember Mullin absent.
STAFF REPORTS:
6. Set Public Hearing for Proposed Four -Year Water, Recycled Water, and Wastewater Rates
Director of Finance Aaron Beanan presented the report along with a PowerPoint presentation.
Mr. Beanan explained that the year one proposed water rates would be seven percent without
the projects and associated proposed debt financing and are being proposed at 10 percent
with the debt financing, or approximately three percent more. Without debt financing, the year
one rate increase would be 45 percent which would unduly burden rate payers. Mr. Beanan
explained three series of debt would support the Water Infrastructure Improvement Program
(Water Program) and went on to explain the proposed financing was the reason staff was
proposing four-year rate increases. In addition, Mr. Beanan further explained that the Water
Program debt financing will help minimize ratepayer impacts and promote intergenerational
equity and added that even with the proposed 10 percent increase in year one, Poway is still
less than the county average for water costs to the average residential customer. He also
noted the rates could be reduced if grant funding was received or debt issuance costs were
lower than anticipated. It was also noted that imported water costs and Capital Improvement
Projects were driving the non -debt portions of the rate increase. Imported water costs alone,
which account for almost 60 percent of operating costs, were increasing by almost 7 percent.
Mr. Beanan explained the fixed/variable ratio was increasing by about 1 percent each year
consistent with Council direction to slowly increase the ratio. This helps increase the financial
sustainability of the water system while minimizing ratepayer impacts.
Year one for wastewater rates are being proposed at four percent. This increase balances the
increasing costs of the San Diego Pure Water Program with reserve drawdowns. It was noted
treatment costs and Capital Improvement Projects were driving the wastewater rate increase.
Mr. Beanan noted Poway's wastewater rates are still some of the lowest in the County.
Mr. Beanan indicated this meeting set the Public Hearing for November 2, 2021 and that
Proposition 218 notices would need to be mailed out on or before September 18, 2021 to
ensure compliance with the 45-day minimum noticing period. He also indicated staff would be
returning to Council on October 19, 2021 for Council consideration of the Water Program's
first series of debt issuance.
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City of Poway — Minutes — September 7, 2021
Yuri Bohlen spoke in opposition to rate increases.
Ada Bauman (via teleconference) spoke in opposition to rate increase.
Jack Russ, P.E. (via teleconference) spoke in opposition to rate increase.
The following submitted email correspondence in Opposition to staff's recommendation:
Steven E. Bauman, Joe St. Lucas, Juliet Vasel-Phillips, Jack Russ, P. E.
City Clerk Gallagher read Councilmember Mullin's prepared statement into the record.
Council discussion ensued regarding the need for Capital Improvement Projects, the benefits
outweighing the cost and Council's support for staff's recommendation.
In response to Council inquiry, Mr. Beanan explained that the City anticipates hearing later in
the calendar year whether it will receive grant money and if so, it will be included in the
financing matrix providing an overall benefit to rate payers; regarding reserves, in the new
rate structures, waste water rates are not being set sufficient to cover expenses so each year
reserves will be used to make up the difference, regarding water, the difference won't be as
extreme however reserves will need to be used to keep rate increases more consistent.
Motioned by Councilmember Frank, seconded by Mayor Vaus, to direct staff to set the
public hearing for November 2, 2021 and proceed with the Proposition 218 process
which includes mailing the notice of public hearing to ratepayers pursuant to California
law. Motion carried 4/0/1, with Councilmember Mullin absent.
7. Tentative Agreement for a Successor Memorandum of Understanding between the City of
Poway and the Poway Firefighters' Association
Human Resources and Risk Management Director Jodene Dunphy presented the item. She
stated that City representatives have reached a tentative agreement with the Poway
Firefighters Association (PFA) on a successor Memorandum of Understanding; she added
that the prior contract expired on June 30, 2021, included in the tentative agreement are a
six year term, a 10 percent salary increase in year one retroactive to July 1, 2021 and
subsequent salary increases of 3.5 percent each July 1 of the remaining years in the
agreement, and a provision for a reopener by the Poway Firefighters Association, after July
1, 2024. The total estimated cost of the six -year agreement is just under $7.75 million.
Yuri Bohlen spoke in favor of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Council expressed appreciation to the City's first responders and the continuity and long-term
benefits of a six -year plan were discussed. Staff was commended for their hard work and PFA
was commended for their willingness to come to the table.
Motioned by Councilmember Frank, seconded by Mayor Vaus, to adopt Resolution No.
21-076 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California,
Authorizing the Terms of the Tentative Agreement and Authorizing the Execution of a
Six- Year Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Poway and the Poway
Firefighters' Association for the Period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2027." Motion
carried 4/0/1, with Councilmember Mullin absent.
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City of Poway — Minutes — September 7, 2021
Motioned by Councilmember Frank, seconded by Mayor Vaus, to adopt Resolution No.
21-077 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California,
Approving the Salary Schedule for the Employees Represented by the Poway
Firefighters' Association Effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022." Motion carried
4/0/1, with Councilmember Mullin absent.
Motioned by Councilmember Frank, seconded by Mayor Vaus, to adopt Resolution No.
21-078 entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Poway, California,
Appropriating Funds in Fiscal Year 2021-22 to Implement the Financial Terms of the
Tentative Agreement with the Poway Firefighters' Association." Motion carried 4/0/1,
with Councilmember Mullin absent.
WORKSHOPS:
None.
COUNCIL -INITIATED ITEMS:
None.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pursuant to AB1234 - (G.C.
53232(d))
Deputy Mayor Leonard announced having attended the Poway Chamber Street Fair, Americana
Festival adding that events of this nature are good for the community and stated that a good time
was had by all.
CITY MANAGER ITEMS:
None.
CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS: (Including any public report of any action taken in closed session)
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m. in honor of Vernard Leroy Marston.
Carrie Gallagher
City Clerk
City of Poway, California
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