Deputy City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn (center) and Mayor Edward Wilson (right) introduce a new part-time communications specialist Cristina Bond (left, at podium) at the Signal Hill City Council meeting on Nov. 14.
It also approved ordinances amending the fire code and prohibiting all commercial marijuana activity in the city.
Finally, it authorized consolidating the City’s information technology (IT) contracts, approved no-parking zone and street-sweeping changes for the California Crown district and considered the impact of potential federal tax legislation on the City’s bond refinancing plan.
Salary increases
The council approved an MOU covering terms of employment for three years beginning July 2017 between the City and SHEA following successful negotiations.
As part of that approval, the council approved salary increases for City Manager Charlie Honeycutt and management personnel in order to reflect performance and equity adjustments based on an independent compensation study.
Deputy City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn explained to the council that the city manager’s salary was found to be about 12-percent below the market median.
The council approved an amendment that includes 5-percent increases each year for the next two years for that position, amounting to about $22,000 total, with the total fiscal impact of all management salary adjustments amounting to about $45,000.
In addition, the council approved a resolution establishing salary ranges for hourly employees to comply with the California Fair Wage Act of 2016, and the addition of some additional position and wage classifications. Shin-Heydorn reported that the increases would result in a $30,000 fiscal impact to the City.
As a final step to its pay amendments, the council approved adopting a City-wide pay schedule as required by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), reflecting City MOU terms with the Police Officers’ Association, SHEA and City management.
Mayor Edward Wilson affirmed the efforts of the negotiating teams and the importance of these changes.
“It is a process, and it takes some time,” he said. “We’re trying to do what is right, not just for the City, but for the employees as well. It is a long-term prospect. We want to always make sure that the compensation is appropriate for each of the positions.”
Ordinance approvals
The council conducted two public hearings, one for an ordinance amending the fire code and another regarding commercial marijuana activity and cultivation for personal use.
Finance Director Scott Williams explained to the council that an ordinance the council had approved on Oct. 10 updating the City’s fire code to the 2017 County of Los Angeles Fire Code had not included adding penalties and fees to the City’s municipal code, which is required by state law.
The council approved introduction of this new fire code ordinance and directed staff to notice a second public hearing in December.
The council also approved two ordinances related to marijuana activity allowed by Proposition 64 — The Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.
Senior Planner Colleen Doan reminded the council that the City currently prohibits activities related to the medical use of marijuana.
The new ordinances prohibit all commercial marijuana activities, including selling, manufacturing, cultivating, testing, distributing and delivering.
The ordinances also prohibit outdoor cultivation of marijuana for personal use (as allowed by state law unless otherwise regulated by local governments) and limits indoor cultivation for personal use.
Indoor cultivation is limited to six plants at any one time, and the ordinance includes such restrictions as a resident family cannot employ outside help for cultivation and it can only occupy one room of the home.
The only public comment during the hearing was from a former member of the Los Angeles Police Department supporting the marijuana restrictions based on her experience.
“The [marijuana] dispensaries did not bring a single redeeming benefit to the community, but they did a criminal element that resulted in robberies, burglaries and [in] at least one case [!] a homicide,” she said. “If there were a way to have fees, registration [or] other things to make it difficult to grow it in one’s home, that would be my recommendation.”
Map discussed at the Nov. 14 Signal Hill City Council meeting showing amended California Crown street-sweeping route and schedule
The council approved consolidating its two information technology contracts to one service provider, Total Network Solutions (TNS).
Total Network Solutions will now perform all support and maintenance services for both the police department and City Hall. Another firm, Brea I.T., had been covering services for City Hall.
Police Chief Christopher Nunley shared with the council that TNS has been heavily involved in the police station’s technology infrastructure since the station opened three years ago.
The server will be housed in the police station rather than City Hall, and servicing hours provided by TNS will increase to 24 hours per week rather than the former firm’s 16 hours per month servicing City Hall.
Despite the increase in service, Nunley stated that consolidation will result in savings of $54,000 in the first year and $165,000 the second year.
James Bunnell, TNS president and CEO, was on hand to assure the council of his firm’s commitment and capability.
“We have 30 people on the team based here in Long Beach,” Bunnell said. “We are a true 24/7 shop. We support 13 global shipping companies in North America, including two in Canada, so we literally don’t ever close.”
Street sweeping
The council approved a change to the street-sweeping schedule for the California Crown neighborhood that would also affect its no-parking zones during that time.
Street sweeping will change from Mondays 8am to 10am to Mondays 8am to noon on the west and south sides of the neighborhood’s streets, and Tuesdays from 8am to noon on the east and north sides of its streets.
The change will be implemented in December, after parking signs are changed, and there will be warnings issued during a grace period as residents adjust to the new schedule.
Bond refinancing
The City’s financial advisor, Suzanne Harrell, explained to the council that a recent federal tax reform proposal could affect regulations of municipal bonds, interfering with the City’s plan to refinance its 2009 tax-allocation bonds.
Harrell therefore recommended that the City change the sale method of those bonds to a “negotiated sale” in order for the City to still benefit from existing tax provisions that may be eliminated Jan. 1, 2018.
The council agreed to authorize a negotiated sale of the bonds to Piper Jaffray, an investment bank and asset management company.
Presentations
Wilson, along with Shin-Heydorn, introduced new part-time communications specialist Cristina Bond.
“Cristina’s background includes digital marketing, public relations and social-media management for the private sector,” Wilson said.
City Manager Charlie Honeycutt then made a presentation on “Shop Signal Hill” in anticipation of the holiday season, highlighting several Signal Hill-based companies.
“Besides our great shopping options such as Costco, Home Depot, Target, Best Buy and the Signal Hill Auto Center, Signal Hill has a number of other businesses that provide unique options for the holidays,” Honeycutt said, listing such businesses as Hangar 18 Indoor Climbing Gym, Ten Mile Brewing Co. and Rossmoor Pastries.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7pm in the council chamber at 2175 Cherry Ave.
