Condo Conversion, Ambulance Services and Beach Sand at City Council Meeting Wednesday

Four resolutions will go before City Council Wednesday evening for approval of continued emergency medical response services to IB.

The Public Safety Department recommends the city continue the First Responder Fire Paramedic Engine Company Program and Basic and Advanced Life Support Transport Services in Imperial Beach.

Imperial Beach is part of an American Medical Response (AMR) operating area that includes the City of Chula Vista and the Bonita Sunnyside Fire Protection District.

AMR has been the exclusive provider of ambulance services for the city since 1979 and have leased space at the Imperial Beach Fire Station since 2002.

The revised agreement will allow Imperial Beach to jointly fund and administer service contracts and develop common requirements for AMR to meet a larger service area of coverage.

The prior agreement expired May 31.

The agreement allows client cities to collect additional user fees in order to recover costs associated with paramedic services, fire department paramedic first responder and paramedic specialty pay. Firefighters and engineers trained as paramedics receive this extra pay for additional higher levels of medical training, biological hazards and duties.

Chula Vista is the lead agency and completed negotiations with AMR. Ratification of the contract by the city completes the EOA agreement.

AMR agreed to a rent increase from $2,200 t o $2,500 with a three percent annual escalator over the next two years. The city will receive $30,000 in rent for the first year of the agreement. Since 1979, AMR has been the exclusive provider of ambulance services for the city. The prior agreement expired May 31.

This is agenda item 6.1.

With the state's reorganization of and new rules for redevelopment agencies, City Council will be asked to approve city expenses detailed in the warrant register with $1.9 million in accounts payable that includes $1.6 million for redevelopment agency pass through funds for fiscal years 2009-2011.

The payment would refund property tax to the County of San Diego, South Bay Union School District, Southwestern College, Sweetwater Union High School District, the City of San Diego, and the San Diego County Water Authority.

This is agenda item 2.1.

Implemented in 1991, the San Diego Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority (AVASA), added registration fees of $1 for vehicles and $2 for commercial vehicles in San Diego County. Senate Bill 106, passed in August of this year, allows extensions of these fees in increments of up to 10 years.

Used by the city since 1991 for the abatement, removal and disposal of discarded, wrecked, dismantled or inoperable vehicles as part of its Neighborhood Revitalization efforts.

With the program, the city will be able tto recover a considerable portion of the cost of abating nuisance vehicles. City staff recommends adopting the 10-year extension of vehicle registration fees.

This is agenda item 2.3.

In June, staff sent a Request for Proposal for brokers to review the city's insurance programs, benefit administrations and maintaining compliance with state and federal laws pertaining to employee benefits. Four proposals received with one firm opting to withdraw. City staff determined a new contract with Keenan & Associates are in the city's best interest. City Manager's recommendations are to execute an agreement beginning Oct. 19 through Dec. 31, 2012 that is extendable for three additional years.

There is no additional fiscal impact at this time, but an emphasis to review insurance product alternatives and duplication of coverage for can result in additional cost savings.

This is agenda item 6.2.

An amendment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the city focuses on additional contribution of funding to the Regional Beach Sand Project II Project (RBSP II Project).

Staff recommends adoption of the resolution authorizing the amendment between SANDAG and the City providing for the $5.2 million contribution to the construction of Alternative 2 of RBSP II. All available funding allows placement of 416,000 cubic yards of sand on the city's beach in 2012.

This is agenda item 6.3.

A public hearing is scheduled to adopt a resolution to convert two existing residential units into condominiums at 253 and 255 Elm Avenue. City Manager Gary Brown recommends considering public testimony and adopting the resolution approving the Administrative Coastal Permit, the Tentative Parcel Map and Variance that defines conditions of approval. The existing structure, finalized in 2008 constitutes extreme hardship, requiring the property owner to demolish the existing structure to correct a 1.7-foot deviation. The two new residential units started construction in 2006 receiving final approval from the Building Department in April 2008.

Staff supports that the rear yards meet the intent of yard regulations and determined there are exceptional circumstances for a variance that does not interfere with the health, safety or convenience of the public or occupants.

This is agenda item 5.1.

Public Works is asking to transfer $40,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Reserve Funds to street improvements for the construction and installation of up to 10 new sewer manholes within the 9th Street and Elm Avenue portions of the Street Improvement RDA Phase 4/5 Capital Improvement Program.

This is agenda item 6.4.

City staff submitted a proposal for the Bayshore Bikeway Access Improvement project for a grant. Under a Proposition 84 Urban Greening Grand Program.

Submission date is Nov. 17. Project's cost estimated at $590,000 and the grant is $396,002. Earmarked for the project is $290,000 from the Redevelopment Agency, enough to cover the difference.

This is agenda item 6.5.