HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 2003 1031 CC SPCMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Moorpark, California October 31, 2003
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Moorpark
was held on October 31, 2003, in the Community Center of said
City located at 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, California.
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Hunter called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilmembers Mikos, Millhouse, Parvin, and
Mayor Hunter.
Absent: Councilmember Harper
Staff Present: Steven Kueny, City Manager; Joseph Montes,
City Attorney; Kenneth Gilbert, Public Works
Director; Mary Lindley, Community Services
Director; Barry Hogan, Community Development
Director; Captain Richard Diaz, Sheriff's
Department; Kim Chudoba, Senior Management
Analyst; Allen Walter, Maintenance and
Operations Supervisor; Deborah Traffenstedt,
Assistant to City Manager /City Clerk; and
Maureen Benson, Deputy City Clerk.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
4. PRESENTATION /ACTION /DISCUSSION:
A. Consider Resolution Confirming Resolution No. 2003-
2136 a Resolution of the Director of Emergency
Services of the City of Moorpark Proclaiming the
Existence of a Local Emergency. Staff Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2003 -2137.
Ms. Traffenstedt gave the staff report and indicated
the Moorpark Municipal Code chapter and section
referenced in the Resolution would need to be
corrected.
Minutes of the City Council
Moorpark, California Paqe 2 October 31, 2003
MOTION: Councilmember Millhouse moved and Councilmember
Parvin seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2003 -2137,
as amended. The motion carried by voice vote 4 -0, with
Councilmember Harper absent.
B. Tour of the Fire Damaged Areas of the City of
Moorpark. (Tour will depart from the Moorpark
Community Center parking lot.)
Fire Chief, Bob Roper, Ventura County Fire Protection
District, gave an overview of the Piru, Verdale, and
Simi Fire Incidents and path of the fire through the
city of Moorpark. He attributed the minimal
structural damage to improved building code
requirements and the skill of the fire fighters.
In response to Councilmember Mikos, Chief Roper stated
the final damage assessment from the fire will
probably be available in one to two weeks.
In response to Councilmember Parvin, Chief Roper
stated that with a normal brush fire, there would
typically be coordination between agencies such as
Southern California Edison, Animal Control and the
City; however, this fire was too fast to allow time
for such coordination. He also stated Southern
California Edison was only able to concentrate on
keeping the main lines operational.
In response to Councilmember Millhouse, Chief Roper
stated cities can help prevent future fires with
building construction such as non - combustible roofing
and stucco exteriors, and that the 100 -foot weed
abatement was not entirely effective with this fire
due to the accompanying 60 -70 mph winds.
In response to Mr. Kueny, Chief Roper stated that
installing a sprinkler system within the fingers of
native vegetation between housing developments would
not necessarily inhibit fires; areas of native
vegetation on private property need to be maintained
by the property owner; the Fire Protection District,
using a special grinding dozer can grind up native
vegetation on public land rather than putting using
controlled burns; and he hopes any future County Open
Space District would allow the Fire District to
Minutes of the City Council
Moorpark, California Paqe 3
October 31, 2003
participate in preparing a Fire Management Plan for
future open space areas.
Mr. Kueny stated the City will meet with the Fire
District to discuss any changes that should be
implemented to protect the City. He also stated
follow -up was needed on gate requirements for private
streets. He announced Chief Roper would be making a
presentation at the November 5, 2003, City Council
meeting.
AT THIS POINT in the meeting, a recess was declared to
depart on the tour. The time was 9:20 a.m. The special
meeting reconvened at 9:35 a.m. at the top of Marine View
Lane (Stop 1) where the view revealed the fire damage to
the surrounding canyons below.
The tour departed Stop 1 at 9:40 a.m. and continued on
to Stop 2 near Walnut Canyon School on Casey Road
where the incursion of the fire could be seen in this
location.
The tour continued to Stop 3 at the northern extension
of Gabbert Road where structures and fields damaged by
the fire were visible. The tour departed this location
at 10:00 a.m.
The tour reached Stop 4 at 10:14 a.m. at Avenida
Colonia, south of the railroad tracks in Virginia
Colony Park where the blackened terrain approached the
edges of residential property and Moorpark Community
High School.
The tour traveled to the northeastern portion of the
City to Stop 5 and reached the Moorpark College
Observatory at 10:25 a.m. where fire damage to the
surrounding hillsides and blackened areas at the edges
of the campus were viewed.
AT THIS POINT in the meeting Ms. Traffenstedt left the
tour. The time was 10:30 a.m.
The tour reached Stop 6, the final destination, at
10:40 a.m. at the north eastern edge of College
Heights Drive where the fire encroached upon Specific
Plan No. 2 (Pardee).
Minutes of the City Council
Moorpark, California Paqe 4 October 31, 2003
5. ADJOURNMENT:
CONSENSUS: It was the consensus of the Council to adjourn the
special meeting at Stop 6.
Mayor Hunter adjourned the
ATTEST:
G. T!
Deborah S. Traffenste
City Clerk