Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, December 07, 2021
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER AN UPDATE ON CITY AD HOC COMMITTEES AND CONSIDER ELIMINATING CERTAIN AD HOC COMMITTEES (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
This item provides an informational update to the City Council on the recent and planned activities of the City’s Ad Hoc Committees.
Most of the City Ad Hoc Committees are active and continue to address their assigned topic areas. However, there are a few that have completed their specific business task, as explained below. Staff recommends the City Council consider eliminating those particular Ad Hoc Committees by minute order as part of this item.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. ELIMINATE by minute order the Commissions, Committees, and Boards Consolidation Ad Hoc Committee.
2. ELIMINATE by minute order the City Clerk Vacancy Ad Hoc Committee.
3. ELIMINATE by minute order the Hero Pay Ad Hoc Committee.
4. RECEIVE and FILE the informational updates provided in this report.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate and that is consistent with applicable laws.
IV. BACKGROUND
Updates on the recent activities of the City Ad Hoc Committees are included below.
Bingo/Fireworks/Refuse Ad Hoc Committee
One of the focus areas for this Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro-Tempore Dear, is addressing the use and possession of illegal fireworks in the City of Carson as related to the July 4 holiday. The Ad Hoc Committee most recently met on November 17, 2021 to discuss planning for the 2022 July 4 holiday, including the enforcement process and possible resident engagement on how to address individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder who may be impacted by the fireworks, reporting of illegal fireworks through the City website, and hosting a future community meeting to receive input on current fireworks policies. The Ad Hoc Committee also reviewed a breakdown of the number of citations issued and revenues collected.
Staff was also able to provide clarification and confirmation regarding CMC 3101.07 Liability of Resident Where an Illegal Use of Fireworks Occurs. This Carson Municipal Code section provides the Sheriff the ability to cite any resident found on a property on which illegal fireworks are found or from which fireworks are illegally discharged or sold on the premises by the resident’s invitation or consent. Additional recommendations are under consideration by the Ad Hoc Committee with the potential of being brought to the City Council for approval after the New Year.
Legislative Ad Hoc Committee
The focus of this Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Councilmember Hicks, is to make recommendations to the City Council regarding the City’s state and federal legislative advocacy program and positions on legislation that may impact the City.
The State of California 2021 Legislative Session ended in October 2021 and the 2022 Legislative Session will begin in January 2022. The City Council took positions on several bills during 2021 that were recommended by the Legislative Ad Hoc Committee.
City Hall/Community Center Renovation Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Councilmember Hilton, has been reviewing the progress of various improvement projects related to City Hall and the Community Center. At the time of this writing, Public Works staff is preparing a Request for Proposals for addressing needed improvements to the Community Center coiling walls and other needed upgrades in the main halls. It is anticipated that the project will be advertised for construction in January 2022, and a construction contract will be awarded in February 2022. A contract for renovating the Community Center bathrooms was awarded on Oct. 19, 2021, and it is anticipated that construction will begin January 2022. Later this month, the Ad Hoc Committee will receive updates from staff regarding the tile roof selection for City Hall and a proposal for drought tolerate landscaping for City Hall, as well as a presentation on potential electric vehicle charging locations at City Hall and the Community Center.
Commissions, Committees and Boards Consolidation Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro-Tempore Dear, was created to oversee the consolidation process of the City’s Commissions, Committees and Boards (the “CCBs”) that occurred in spring 2021. The recommendations, including the relevant ordinance updates, were introduced to the City Council for adoption and the consolidation process for the CCBs is complete.
Staff proposes the City Council consider eliminating this Ad Hoc Committee by minute order as noted in the Recommendation section of this staff report.
Economic Development/E-Commerce Ad Hoc Committee
The Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee was formed in January 2021 and is comprised of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Council Member Hicks. The Ad Hoc Committee has conducted two meetings with representatives of commercial, retail, residential, industrial, tourism/attractions, and the University to discuss overall goals of the Committee and the City’s economic development efforts. One outcome is the City’s Request for Proposals to engage a firm to undertake an Economic Development Strategic Plan process, developing a comprehensive plan. Interviews of the short-listed firms will be in December.
Short Term Rentals Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Councilmember Hicks and Councilmember Hilton, has focused on several aspects of short-term rentals in the City. These efforts include developing a working definition of a short-term rental for the City, setting notification requirements for neighbors, identifying how to control parking around short-term rentals, developing a process for issuing permits to owners of the rentals, and exploring how to enforce short-term rental rules. The Ad Hoc has directed staff to explore the establishment of a “college district” wherein the short-term rental restrictions would not apply and also to study what kind of relevant parking restrictions should apply.
Utility Users Tax Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Councilmember Hilton, last met on May 13, 2021. At that time, the Ad Hoc committee provided direction for staff to develop a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) seeking consulting services to conduct a community survey, provide strategic communication and public education services regarding the forthcoming ballot initiative to continue the City’s Utility Users Tax that is currently scheduled to sunset in 2023 and considering other revenue measures. The RFP has been finalized and staff plans to release it in December 2021. Once the bids are received, the Ad Hoc Committee will review the submissions and make a recommendation to the City Council for selecting a consultant.
The results of the community survey will help the Ad Hoc Committee make a recommendation to the City Council on what to include in the ballot measure and in determining the appropriate timing for when the ballot measure should go to the voters for consideration (such as the June 2022 or November 2022 election). The consultant will also consider historical voting patterns in Carson along with the community survey.
Housing Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro Tempore Dear, has focused on reviewing various housing proposals in the City and balancing the need for nearby commercial space for services and offices. The direction provided was to incorporate any such changes into the project Specific Plan. The Ad Hoc Committee has also studied accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) in the City and has begun preliminary discussion on developing an ordinance to help control overnight parking as related to potential increases in ADUs. The Ad Hoc Committee plans to discuss this topic further.
City Council Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro-Tempore Dear, met with the two short-listed demographers in May 2021 to select the firm recommended for approval by the City Council. In addition, they have had a follow-up briefing from the City’s Demographer, Bear Demographics, on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census and potential impacts on the current Council districting maps, and the proposed schedule of public workshops and the adoption of a new map by April 17, 2022.
City Clerk Vacancy Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro-Tempore Dear, was created to identify candidates that could have been appointed to fill the remaining term of the elected City Clerk seat that was vacated by the resignation of the previous City Clerk. A Special Election for this position occurred on November 2, 2021, and Myla Rahman was elected and will be inaugurated on December 7, 2021.
The business of this Ad Hoc is complete at this time and staff proposes the City Council consider eliminating this Ad Hoc Committee by minute order as noted in the Recommendation section of this staff report.
Hero Pay Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Councilmember Hilton and Councilmember Hicks, recommended the City Council consider adopting a Resolution that would have established a Hero Pay program in the City of Carson whereby large grocery stores and other establishments selling groceries and retail pharmacies with more than 300 employees nationally and 10 or more employees at a site in Carson could voluntarily provide for Hero Pay for their essential workers. The Hero Pay would consist of $4 per hour in addition to an employee’s base pay and be applicable retroactively during the surge of COVID-19 cases in the City of Carson, which occurred between December 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021. The Resolution was adopted and then later rescinded.
The business of this Ad Hoc Committee is complete at this time and staff proposes the City Council consider eliminating this Ad Hoc Committee by minute order as noted in the Recommendation section of this staff report.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee
This Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Mayor Davis-Holmes and Councilmember Hilton, was created to address diversity, equity, and inclusion matters in the City. The plan and next steps for this Ad Hoc Committee are still being developed.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this staff report. Any needs for funding that arise from the Ad Hoc Committees would be addressed separately from this staff report.
VI. EXHIBITS
None.
Prepared by: City Manager's Office