Reduce 13th Street Lanes, Border Security Cameras on Beach and Firefighter Pay Raise

The Imperial Beach City Council will convene 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall to discuss and decide on several matters key to the city's future. 

Issues on the agenda include hiring an outside provider to run the Sports Park, redevelopment bond debt, South Bay economy and plans to install cameras along the beach, on the pier and in a lifeguard tower for border security surveillance. 

In presentations to the Imperial Beach City Council before the start of the meeting, new San Diego County Library bookmarks that feature Imperial Beach lifeguards will make their debut and a regional growth forecast will be reviewed by SANDAG Research Analyst Kirby Brady.

South County Economic Development Council (SCEDC), which the city of Imperial Beach, will also make a presentation for the Visioning project. 

The SCEDC will host its annual elected officials reception at Pier South Hotel Sept. 26, the first official event at the hotel scheduled to open Nov. 1.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday for members of the public to share their opinions and city council to discuss whether the city should reduce 13th Street from two lanes traveling north and south to one lane in each direction with a center turning lane in order to install a bike path.

The bike path would run from Iris Avenue and Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NOLF IB) to the Bayshore Bikeway north of Palm Avenue.

The change is part of the city's Bicycle Transportation Plan, which was compiled in 2008 and adopted by city council in 2009. 

Despite concern about safety shown by some city councilmembers, grant funds to pay for the bike path received unanimous approval at a city council meeting held last month.

Studies of traffic flow and volume in the area found no indication that a reduction in lanes will increase congestion on the street, city staff said. 

This is agenda item 5.1.

A draft document to solicit proposals from outside entities to manage the city's Sports Park will be presented to the Imperial Beach City Council Wednesday. The document was created by the Sports Park Task Force and Councilmembers Brian Pat Bilbray and Bobby Patton.

Should plans stay on track to find a manager for the facility that includes a skate park, gymnasium, music studio and baseball and softball fields, local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club employees may run the Sports Park Complex by Jan. 1, 2014.

Some details of the request for proposals:

- The city will seek to sign a five-year deal to pay $50,000 a year to said business to operate the Sports Park. An additional $10,000 a year to offset membership costs until 2015 when the city will reconsider its financial situation.

- The Imperial Beach Little League and Imperial Beach Girls Softball League will receive priority use of the fields and will not be charged for usage.

- Access to the playground will not be impacted by the deal.

- A citizens group will be formed to advise the operator of the Sports Park.

- The Sports Park will be leased to the operator for five years with options to extend the lease in 2017.

- People may be charged for using Sports Park facilities but membership will not be a requirement of utilizing Sports Park amenities. 

- The skate park will continue to be a public facility but skaters may be charged to use the park. However, sports park members skate for free.

- Skate Park use will be free to Imperial Beach residents under the age of 18 during certain hours of operation.

- The city will pay to improve the gymnasium roof, wood floor and surface at the playground.

This is agenda item 6.2.

The Imperial Beach City Council acting in its capacity as the Imperial Beach Public Financing Authority and Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency will consider the adoption of a resolution to refund and refinance near $18 million in bond debt. Paying the debt and avoiding years of interest could save local taxing entities than $1 million.

This is agenda item 7.1.

City council will be asked Wednesday to approve a pay and benefits agreement between the city of Imperial Beach and Imperial Beach Firefighters' Association. 

"In exchange for the agreeing to the additional 3 percent pension contribution at the beginning of the new MOU, the firefighters will receive a 3 percent cost of living adjustment towards the end of the two-year MOU on Jan. 1, 2015," a staff report said. 

A pay increase for municipal employees was approved by the Service Employees International Union Local 221 last month and the Imperial Beach City Council at a Aug. 21 meeting.

See agenda item 6.4 to learn more.

On the consent calendar, issues to be approved with a single vote, include:

- Approve a resolution to install cameras on the pier, in the main lifeguard tower and on light poles at the end of Palm Avenue and South Seacoast Drive to monitor border activity. The cameras will operate 24 hours a day and be paid by for with a $125,000 Department of Homeland Security grant. This is agenda item 2.5.

- Approve agreement with Utility Cost Management to review city utility bills and ensure no overcharges took place and identify cost-saving opportunities. This is agenda item 2.3.

- Approve a two-year agreement with Lance, Soll and Lunghard to audit city finances. This is agenda item 2.4. The firm has audited city finances since 2003. City staff will also request city council approve a contract for the firm to audit redevelopment agency and redevelopment agency successor agency finances. This is agenda item 2.6. 

- Approve city expenses and payroll from Aug. 9-22 of about $930,000. This is agenda item 2.2.