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10-01-1962 - Regular Meeting - Minutes• MINUTES OF ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA October 1, 1962 The adjourned meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Barnes at 8:10 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the West Covina City Hall. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Barnes, Councilmen Jett, Towner, Snyder Others Present: Mr. George Aiassa, City Manager Mr. Robert Flotten, City Clerk Mr. Thomas Dosh, Public Services Director Absent:. Councilman Heath Mr. Harry C. Williams, City Attorney Mr. Harold Joseph, Planning Director CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS WALNUT CREEK PARKWAY EXTENSION Mr. Aiassa: We now have an appraisal from Mr. Verne Cox on this property owned by the Japanese and we would like to have from the Council authorization for the City Manager to nego- tiate with the Japanese School to see if we can acquire enough prop- erty to at least open this Walnut Creek Parkway to Service and con- nect with Sunset. (Presented map.) Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Jett: This appraisal covers only the half street portion and leaves the balance of it for later de- velopment? Right. What position would this put us in later on? Mr. Aiassa: We have already taken one section of their property when we put in r the Service Avenue Bridge so we already set a prececent as far as value is concerned and I think this is in line with the first appraisal. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder, and car- ried, to authorize the City Manager to negotiate with the San Gabriel Valley Japanese -American Association for acquisition of right of way for Walnut Creek Parkway. REPORT ON AZUSA AVENUE PROPERTY OWNERS (Marshall & Jackson) Mr. Aiassa: I met with both property owners and we are making a new study to see what minimum land we really require without disturbing his water system. Mr. Marshall is very.amiable.. We are making cost studies for the curbs and gutters. This is just a report to the Council; there is no action needed. -1- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 AZUSA AVENUE PROPERTY OWNERS REPORT - Continued Mr. Aiassa - Continued: Page Two We had a meeting with Mrs. Jackson • and Mrs. Jackson's son and he is in accord with this idea that we should make a study of the possibility of moving both buildings back -far enough to permit the widening of Azusa Avenue as it is notJconstructed to the south, and also set the houses far enough back so they will not be-dis-' turbed if we go to the ultra right of way we may require. I need author- ization from the Council to make studies to see, first, if the buildings can be moved and secondly, we want some cost figures as to what it -will take to move those houses back because the City would bear the expense, and also figures as to what would take care of the curb and gutter. This would not affect her backyard setback because she still has a large re- maining part of the land for an orange orchard. This will not incur as great a cost to the City as it would if we would have to take the buil- dings, and actually destroy them. The Building Department will make the first inspection of the house and they will get bids from house movers and we will make designs as to where we would relocate the house after we move it back. Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: • Councilman Tonwer: Isn't there an ordinance that requires a house that is moved to be brought up to current standards? This is one of the problems that we are faced with. That is why we want to make a study of that. It is probable that these buildings don't meet our present building stan- dards. However, if we are moving them on the same lot the ordinance may not apply. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder, that the City Manager be authorized to spend up to $500.00 to determine the cost of relocating the buildings on the Jackson property in acquisition of the right of way. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Towner, Snyder, Mayor Barnes Noes: None Absent: Councilman Heath MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL CITY OF WEST COVINA AGREEMENT (Peck -Norman) Mr. Aiassa: and this is taining to the City of One is that ment and we Attorney. This is a second agreement. You approved the agreement between the City of West Covina and. Moritz Pick the obligation of setting in the various requirements per - the actual installations between Minneapolis -Honeywell and West Covina and Peck -Norman. They have made two minor changes. they only wanted to develop the first part of the main develop - listed the whole part. This has been approved by the City Mayor Barnes: Do.;you'any difficulty in. develo- ping the rest of this as'shown on the precise plan? -2- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL AGREEMENT - Continued Mr, Aiassa: • on Badilloo The County doing the whole street, get this negotiated and way.. Page Three There is only one item we may have to rediscuss and that is pertaining to r,:;vc.—_ r-; the seve'Iadditional feet Road Commissioner has come out with the idea of but that is a minor adjustment. I would like -`-to go back and re -negotiate for the extra right of Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder, and car- ried, that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to execute the agreement set forth on the letterhead of Peck and Norman dated August 17, 1962, regarding Precise,Plan No. 328. WEED ABATEMENT REPORT (Azusa Avenue to Montezuma in Wash Area) AREA PHOTO Mr. Aiassa: The Council received a petition from the property owners. (Placed map on the board.) The Engineering Depart- ment met with these property owners and they have a mosquito problem here. I need authorization to authorize the Fire Chief to work with these prop- erty owners to grant them wherever possible burning permits subject to fire breaks on smog -free days. That is the only way we are ever going to get rid of this. (Read report from the Fire Chief re this matter,) The County said with the combination of the debris and the foliage it is making it a natural haven for -the mosquitoes. This would reduce it but it wouldn't rid the area of the mosquito problem. Accept the Fire Chief's report of September 28, 1962 and proceed with the abatement. The only thing we can do about the poison oak is not burn large amounts of it. This Wash is entirely on private property. I think first we should get rid of the debris and then go back and study it and see what we can do about better drainage control. Councilman Towner: Isn't there some way that the people who own this property could be re- quired to clean up their own property? Mr; Aiassa: This is what we are doing. Councilman Towner: We are doing it but at City expense, Mr.. Aiassa: The only sound thing we can say is the recommendation for using our crew is to get it clean and we will put it on our regular fire prevention program and abate it. This is in our plan of flood control for the City. This area is probably the most costly drain we have yet to build. Councilman Towner: As far as our long-term captial im- provement program goes this will not be included in present bond issue funds and would have to be financed at some time after approximately 1965. Mr. Aiassa: And probably another bond issue. Councilman Towner: The only problem I can see is the poison oak smoke. I think we should give this more study, -3- n LJ Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 WEED ABATEMENT REPORT - Continued Councilman Snyder: Mayor Barnes: Councilman Towner: Page Four Everyone isn't allergic to it. I think the property owners should be appraised of the danger of poison oak.smoke. I have some very strong reservations about this and I would like, if pos- sible, to take a look at the area. Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Towner, and carried, that this matter be held over until the meeting of October 8, 1962. TRAFFIC STUDY CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Mr. Aiassa: The Council has received eight pro- posals in the report of September 17 and there are recommendations from the staff. I would recommend to the Council that before we incur any obligation to any of these individuals that we interview them as we did for the architects for the Center. You will have an opportunity to question them on the type of work they will do, the extent of their work and what they will accomplish. Councilman Jett: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Jett: and traffic control of the Center. in other areas, too. We would invite only those that were recommended or we would invite all of them? I would invite them all. We would invite as many as we could do in one evening. I think this is a little embiguous to what we want to accomplish. I think we want more than a land use I think we are interested in getting Councilman Snyder: I would agree that all these other streets need studying but I think we have limited funds. I would cer- tainly include all the streets that feed into this area. I don't think we should go into the feeder streets all the way to their end, but as they are coming into and nearing the Center. Councilman Towner: I think the primary problem is in the central business district and this is the one we are trying to alleviate at the moment. I also think we should do as much as we can with the funds we have to work with. Does the Council want to screen some of these candidates before we actually interview them? Mr. Aiassa: Each one has submitted a proposal to you and you can look them over and see which ones you want to screen. At the next meeting we will have the list and each Councilman can delete the ones he does not want to interview. -4- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Five -VINCENT AVENUE SIDEWALK REPORT Mr. Aiassa: (Presented maps and explained same.) • I would like to have the City'Clerk read this report from the City En- gineer dated September 28, 1962 pertaining to this matter and I would like it spread in the Minutes: "This office has reviewed the request of the 'Vincent Avenue School P.T.A. ' for the City of West Covina to construct sidewalks on the east and west sides of Vincent Avenue from Workman to Puente Avenues. "Attached to this report are pictures of the existing conditions in the parkways of the pro- posed construction area. Due to the absence of sidewalks and the existing growth of shrubs, plants and trees, children walking to and from the school are forced to walk in the streets. "Also attached is an aerial print of the area surrounding the school designated as the 'Vincent Avenue School Attendance Zone'. The existing sidewalks and the proposed'.by Master Plan sidewalks are indicated thereon. "In May of.1960, a similar request for sidewalks was reviewed by this office. The City did, in 1960, construct sidewalk returns on the three corners of Workman Avenue not occupied by the school in order that children waiting for school buses would not have to wait in the street. The City also installed stop signs and street lights at that intersection in order to min- imize traffic hazards experienced by pedestrians. "Sidewalk construction, as requested by the Vincent Avenue School P.T.A., is estimated to cost approxi- mately $7,000.00. The request is that the City expend this sum from the City's general fund, as they feel it would be a proper public expense. "This office is aware of the City's needs for sidewalks and encourages their installation, where pos- sible. However, this problem is not unique at the Vincent School, as the areas adjacent to most schools are without sidewalks. The 1911 Act procedure does increase the over-all cost by approximately 20% but it does not require an immediate cash outlay by the par- ticipating citizens. "It is therefore the recommenda- tion of this office that the P.T.Ae's request for City construction of sidewalks on Vincent Avenue be denied, and that said organiza- tion be advised of the 1911 Act procedure of financing public street improvements. This office will prepare the proper petition forms at the P.T.A.'s request." Mayor Barnes: I believe there are people present who would like to speak regarding this matter so I will open the hearing. Mrs. Phyllis Cravens In your report you failed to give 1017 West Marbury Street the amount of traffic on Vincent. West Covina In a 24-hour period it is 16,000 cars and on Workman Avenue the traf- fic count is 4,000 cars. This is dangerous to pedestrians as well as children. -5- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Six VINCENT AVENUE SIDEWALK REPORT - Continued Mr. Aiassa: Back in 1960 we made -a report and we gave a cheaper procedure. I' • think the City Engineer's estimate was $2,140.00 and this was the cost of constructing blacktop walk. A permanent measure would be considerably higher, Councilman Towner: Is it possible to have a 1911 Act procedure and spread the cost over a larger area? Mr. Aiassa: I'll talk to the City Attorney about that. Mr. Robert C. Brown I am a member of the Vincent P.T.A. 148 North Morada Avenue I would like to invite your atten- West Covina tion to the fact that when you say 1911 Act in connection with sidewalk, you create an ambiguity. There is a special section of the 1911 Act, Section 5870, Streets and Highways Code, that has to do with the establishment of a district after 50% or more of the owners of the property on a given block have established sidewalks or after 60% of the people in a block indicate a desire to have sidewalks. In Section 5872 they specifically mention that this is a separate and alternative procedure. The section I think the Coun- cil would probably find more interesting is Section 5100, in particu- lar Section 5101 which lists the kinds of work which may be authorized under a general assessment district and which includes specifically the sidewalks as the second item of those numerated. This is all the Streets and Highways Code. In Chapter VI, which.refers.to creating an assessment district, Section 5180 says that the legislative body may determine the breadth and scope of the area benefiting from any such district and may create an assessment district in accordance with that determination. This Council could determine that the school area served by Vincent Avenue where most of the children walk would benefit as a whole from an assessment for the establishment of these sidewalks and could pay for the cost of the assessment on the tax roll. I would like to invite your attention to a rather unusual provision in this same Code. It is Section 2810 which is an exception to Division IV of this particular Code. Division IV is the special assessment investigation and limitation of the majority protest act of 1941. Section 2810 makes specific reference to a situa- tion where a safety hazard is created on a major thoroughfare due to the construction of a school where children are obliged to walk in heavy traffic and particularly exception all the provisions of the Act -of 1931 after the determination of a Council that such a hazard exists. The figure of $8,000.00 is probably high for prompt correction of this. All you have to do is clear away some of the shrubbery there and that would help a little bit. I also bring to your attention Sec- tion 43420 of the Government Code which gives the City the right to do this kind of work, to establish a revolving fund. The.situation is not going to improve; it is going to get worse and ultimately you are going to have to do some- thing about installing sidewalks there. You have a.prompt and immediate way of resolving this question and I think you should do something about it. No Adj, C. Co 10-1-62 Page Seven VINCENT AVENUE SIDEWALK REPORT - Continued Councilman Snyder: Am I to understand that the Council can initiate a 1911 Act in this • area? Mr, Aiassa: I think Mr. Brown summarized "these facts rather quickly. There are s- lot of legal factors that the Coun- cil is still involved with and what we would like to do is check every possible act that we can actually process with the minimum of legal pro- cedure. You could initiate it if there is 60% or more sidewalks in. Mr. Williams would have to rule on this. Councilman Snyder: If we were to put a 1911 Act over that whole area then only the people who are required sidewalks by our present ordinance under the master plan would be required to put them in. They would be the only ones to pay for them, is that correct? • 40 Mr. Aiassa: No. If.you put an act that covered larger than the area than you are planning to approve then you are going to spread costs for those improvements beyond the area that is being improved. The question that now comes up is whether these people have a right to a hearing and a protest. If it is a lien against their. property, I believe the law specifies that they have a right to protest. Mr. Robert Ca Brown: Mayor Barnes: Councilman Snyder: That's the reason I mentioned Sec- tion 2810. If you determine that it is necessary for safety reasons that sidewalks be installed there, the Act of 1931 does not apply. I think we should take action on this and I am wondering if the Coun- cil agrees on Wednesday Mr. Williams could summarize this and give us a report for next Monday night so we could act. Could we also have an opinion of Mr. Brown's statements? Mr. Aiassa: Yes. We will give you a summary of all the directions in which you can travel to determine this. We need an expression from the Council as to whether or not you want to put side- walks in. Councilman Snyder: I think this poses a much greater safety hazard than the problem we had for the bridges and I think the safety hazard there was minute compared to the safety hazard of this street because it is heavily travelled. Councilman Towner: I don't think there is any question about the safety problem involved here. The question is determining how to solve it and do so without discrimination against other areas of the City that have similar problems. It is possible.that the boundaries in the attendance district might also be the boundaries of the assessment district. There are some latent questions involved here as;to whether or -7- Adj. Co C. 10-1-62 VINCENT AVENUE SIDEWALK REPORT - Continued Page Eight Councilman Towner.- Continued: not we should also put other side- walks in the district according to our master plan requirements. The . question here is serious enough to require more study and serious Ienough to look into some possible interim measures such as eliminating parking along Vincent Avenue on the West side and eliminating the shrubbery or other hinderances to the progress of the children inside the curb. Councilman Jett: I think this pretty well points up the opinion of the Council and I think it is pretty clear -out instruc- tion to the City Manager to go forward with this project and come up with what would be the most rapid and efficient way of accomplishing what we want to do and get sidewalks for those people in there. Mr, Robert Brown: character if.you limit the district problem, Mrs. Phyllis Cravens: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Jett: Mr. Dash: Mr. Aiassa: get the wrath of this so I want because what you are going to do people's property. There is a provision whereby you may have non-contiguous district for a special assessment of this to a solution of a particular safety Do we have to wait until Monday night to get the shrubbery cleared? If the Council directs us, we will go ahead and proceed and remove all the shrubbery from -the right of way. How much of that is City property? We have 10" feet. The moment you go down there and start tearing out these people's yards I think the Council will to be sure the whole case is open now is destroy the side yards of these Councilman Towner: I think my suggestion was intended not to be immediate and drastic. I think if we can eliminate the parking forthwith, whatever the shortest procedure is, that this probably will eliminate the greatest hazard and provide some reasonable means for access for the school children on the property instead of out in the street or paint a temporary sidewalk on the street, but I don't think we can drastically go in there and bulldoze out these yards and I don't intend that to be the action taken by this Council, Mayor Barnes: Mr. Aiassa: Mayor Barnes: I am wondering that if, for the time being, with this situation existing, if we might put an extra crossing guard or someone from the'Police De- partment to watch these children. They have a crossing guard now. I think they need one more on a temporary basis. we Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Nine VINCENT AVENUE SIDEWALK REPORT - Continued Mr, Aiassa: The only thing I could suggest is -that a meeting be called of all the people affected by this and bring the problem • to them and if they don't show any interest or desire to help us with this problem you can use one of these mandatory acts which would make it com- pulsory. I think the quickest thing to do to correct this is to go in there with the City crew and clear out the parkway. 0 Councilman Snyder: Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: We can pass an emergency ordinance limiting parking on this site. Would it be possible to have the City Attorney bring in such an emergency ordinance? Yes Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder, and carried, that the City staff be -directed to proceed forthwith to determine means of interim travel pending sidewalk study down the east and west side of Vincent Avenue north of the Freeway and that an emergency parking ordi- nance be drafted with reference to both east and west sides of the street insofar as necessary for presentation at the next. Council meeting for elim- inating parking on.that area only and that further study be given to the methods of financing construction of sidewalks. Mr. Aiassa: Mayor Barnes: Mr, Robert C. Brown: cut back it would be unnecessary of the street. Mrs. Main: Mayor Barnes: We might try this on a temporary basis and we will give this thing a trial run. All right On the east side there is only the front of one house that has shrubs growing out. If those shrubs were to limit the parking on that whole side That is my house and we have trimmed it back and you can walk on the curb. Would you object to having the front part of this trimmed back? Mrs. Main: We will trim more. We have trimmed it back and we will trim it back a little bit more. Mayor Barnes: Mr, Aiassa, could someone go out and talk with these people and have a report ready for our next Monday night meeting? . Mr, Aiassa: We will do everything we can. We will immediately remove the parking in there, then we will remove more of the major obstruction after we report out finding to the City Council I think the third thing to do is Mr. Williams will make a recommendation as to which of the acts will be the most advantageous for us to go into. Mayor Barnes: I think this is all we can do tonight until we get out report. Im Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Ten STANDARD OF SIDEWALKS IN RELATION- SHIP TO RIGHT OF WAY AND PARKING Mr. Aiassa: The standard we now accept is curb, • (approximately fivefeet) and side- walk. f areas the In a lot o y have eliminated the parkway and made it sidewalk right directly against -the curb. Normally we save one foot in this area for utilities. The ad- vantage of the first one is if you put in trees it gives you"a nice looking boulevard. On the other the trees would be on the man':s prop- erty and you couldn't regulate the trees. In the areas You don't have sidewalks the utilities are in boxes into the form of the concrete and they put the lid on it and use it as a portion of the sidewalk. Along Vincent Avenue it might be better to put curb -sidewalk and only take 15 feet of these people's property. Councilman Jett: Personally, I feel that the advantages of building the sidewalk out even with the curb certainly warrants a lot of thought. 0 i Mr. Aiassa: I want the Council to realize that we are dealing in a kind of vacuum as far as standards are concerned because you have part of your City built with curb, parkway, sidewalk; yet, in certain areas it would be better to have curb, sidewalk and leave the parkway beyond so the person could at least landscape and give them some protection. Councilman Snyder: to variations to individual needs the City Engineer and his staff. Councilman Towner: I move that the Planning Commission be directed to develop sidewalk stan- dards with the particular attention in different localities and work with Second. Mr. Aiassa: Let's send it directly to the Engin- eering Department because they have all the maps and show all the records and they can give you a report much quicker. Make it through the City Manager to the Engineering Department. _ Councilman Snyder: I change my motion to send it to the Public Service Department. Councilman Towner: You are having parkway planting in- volved and I think this comes under the Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Aiassa: Once this report is made to the Coun- cil and then we can turn' it to: the Planning Commission and ask for their recommendation. Councilman Towner: My preference would be a recommenda- tion to go to the Engineering staff for a report and recommendations which will be considered by the Commission, Parks and Recreation or Planning, one or the other, whichever you choose, and from there to the Council. Councilman Snyder: I will withdraw my motion. am Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 STANDARD OF SIDEWALKS - Continued Councilman Towner: Page Eleven. I will withdraw my second. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder, and carried, that this matter go to the Engineering staff for report and recommenda- tions which will be considered either by the Parks and Recreation Com- mission or the Planning Commission. NEPTUNE & THOMAS PAYMENT Mr. Aiassa: This is according to our contract. This is for $2,680.00. Councilman Towner: I think it is about time they got some money. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder, that Neptune and Thomas be paid for their services to date in the sum of $2,680.00. Invoice No. 62-5A. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Noes: None Absent: Councilman Heath Towner, Snyder, Mayor Barnes ECONOMIC STUDY CHAMBER 'OF COMMERCE • Mr. Aiassa: We held this off twice because we didn't have a full Council. You have a letter from John L. Gunn, President of the Chamber of Commerce, dated August 31, 1962, and I would like this spread in the Minutes: "Almost three years have passed since Wilbur McCann conducted the economic survey which resulted in the publication 'West Covina, the Trade and Service Center of the San Gabriel Valley Region'. This booklet has enjoyed wide- spread circulation over the past few years. However, in consi- deration of the rapid growth of our city and the many statisti- cal changes that have taken place, it is our judgement that the time has come to conduct a new survey to bring our information up-to-date, "We would request of your Hon- orable Council that you proceed to negotiate a contract for the services of Wilbur McCann as per his letter of April 30, 1962. The initial cost.to the City will amount to $1,800.00 as payment for the services of Mr. McCann. Upon completion of the research and investigation, our Chamber of Commerce staff will work jointly with the City staff in providing secretarial time, layout of bro- chures, coordination of production and distribution. We have placed the estimated value of our staff participation at $1,500.00. • "Realizing that prospective de- velopers and,businesses.are constantly seeking factual- informa-tion regarding our city, we are hopeful this undertaking can be accomplished with all haste. We look forward to your early con- sideration of this request." Mr, Aiassa: I will have to check with Mr. McCann, but I think the offer still stands. -11- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Twelve ECONOMIC STUDY - CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.- continued Mayor Barnes: I think that the McCann report was one of the most beneficial ' to 'the City than any report we have ever received. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Snyder; and carried, that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate a contract for -the services of Wilbur McCann as pursuant to his letter of April 30, 1962 for a sum not to exceed $1,800.00. Mr. Aiassa: I will provide a rough finish and the Chamber of Commerce will take it and polish it up and put it in a distri bution form. This will have to be a joint venture. We will".make them do all the typing and all the long paper work. BOARD OF APPEALS Mr. Aiassa: all the cities within our perimeter Councilman Snyder: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Towner: Mayor Barnes: I would like to hold this over be- cause the Building Department has not completed the field survey of as far as appeals are concerned. Has the need for this type of thing arisen? No, but I think the need for it is arising. It would also be for public relations reasons. There are no specifications in there for the appointments other than they be familiar with building tracts and and such? That's right. You would probably appoint outside people such as a building contractor or people like that. Does that ordinance provide that our own Chief Building Inspector sit on the Board and have a vote? No, he is ex officio. I wonder if the method of appointment is the same as that used for the Planning Commission and the Personnel Board and like that. I.think we should stick to that. Councilman Snyder: If anything, I think this is one board that should not be political at all so I would include some qual- ifications for members of this Board. They have to be a licensed con- tractor of some sort,.a journeyman electrician or a journeyman carpenter. They shouldn't be just anybody; they should have the qualifications. Councilman Jett: I agree. -12- • • • Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 BOARD OF APPEALS - Continued Councilman Towner: Mayor Barnes: USER TAX INCREASE Page Thirteen I think the ordinance is good and re- view of what other cities are doing would be helpful. We will hold this over until the report is available. Mr. Aiassa: Before the Council takes "a' stand- on this, I think it is important that.. we consider the amount of deficiencies in highways that we now have. The only thing that the League wants is -a polling of the Council as to whether or not you want this additional money and that the method of adding this one cent on gas tax would do the trick. With the demand for good highways in California this is one way they feel they can finance some of these projects. Councilman Towner: Yes, but there are some shortcomings, one of which is that this one cent would be earmarked back to the City and has to include new construction only but it can't be used in some cities who don't need it for new construction. Also there is the ques- tion of whether or not this is sufficient. Nobdy denies that we need the money and a way has.to be found to get it, but if you are going to add the tax onto the excess cost on gasoline you might as well get enough and one cent is not enough. Mayor Barnes: I think once you put on a tax you never seem to get rid of the tax. I think this would behoove everyone of us to work this much harder for Proposition 23 to see that the southern part of California got their fair share of the gas tax now being allocated to streets and highways. Councilman Towner: would be willing to go along with is distributed equally. I think at one time we rejected this because we were not satisfied that this was the ultimate solution. I this one cent tax increase provided it Mr. Aiassa: This you can put in your action when it is adopted. The only thing that the League staff want is that they have to go to'Sacramento and propose a plan of some type to finance these deficiencies in our present highways system that are all over California. Your resolution will spell out only the conditions under which you are for it. Councilman Towner: Councilman Snyder: I would insist that this money be redistributed back to the City di" rectly and not go through the County. I agree. (Read report by Marshall Julian.) -13- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Fourteen USER TAX INCREASE - Continued Councilman Jett: I am not in favor of it as it now stands. I certainly would want to see some changes made and I would be against going in with a resolution that we are for it and listing the things that we would be for;: provided this was passed because something of this magnitude, with what little request we would have, I'm afraid, would be lost in the over-all picture and presentation in Sacramento amd we would be listed as being for it, so I would want to see something tied down where we knew exactly what we are going to receive and how we were going to get it before I would want to take a stand on it. Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Snyder needs a directive from the Council to find out what he can bring forth from our meeting on the 8th and I think the better the Council is informed on this the easier it will be for you to decide. Councilman Snyder: 1-think if I can say that we do think some method should be found to -raise this money but if some way could be found that it would come directly to the cities and if we were sure there would be equitable distribution that we would be interested. Mayor Barnes: All right. VINCENT AVENUE EXTENSION GLENDORA (Riding) • Mr. Aiassa.presented a map, explained same, and read a report from Thomas J. Dosh, dated September 28, 1962 relating to Project C-60-1, Vincent Avenue Extension. Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Towner: Mr.Dosh: If we waited until he improved the property, at that time he would be required to dedicate and put in curb and gutter and we would still put in the paving? Yes, we would just put in a portion of the paving. To put it in today it would cost us $1,000.00 and if we put it off we save that? Yes. The whole thing is how long can we wait? If we can afford to wait, then we should, but we have a traffic problem there, Councilman Jett: In view of the importance of this street to the City, I would reluc_ tantly go along with this because I feel we do need it badly. When Mr. Riding gets ready to develop his land he is going to have to take his chances with the Planning Commission on the zoning and precise planning. Councilman Towner: It is certainly true that Vincent Avenue is one of our major problems traffic -wise and I think Mr. Riding is certainly getting a benefit that has not been accorded to other people and he is in a position where he can force it on us. I am not happy about this at all. -14- • Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Fifteen VINCENT AVENUE EXTENSION GLENDORA - Continued Councilman Snyder: Mayor Barnes: highways and it is also beneficial fic better in this area. I would agree. I feel very reluctant to pay out this extra money; however, it is in our plan of major streets and - to us in that we can control traf- Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate with Mr. Riding for a Vincent Avenue Extension or agreement in which the City would put the full improvement of street pavement, curb and gutter and that Mr. Riding dedicate the necessary right of way free of charge to the City. FIRE STATION Mr. Aiassa: Chief Wetherbee gave you a report about the wood shingles on the fire station. I have a sample of asbestos shingles which the architect is recommending. It will be about $200 to $300 more and these will come out in color. This will conform to the residential area. Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by'Councilman Towner, and carried, to accept the report of Chief Wetherbee and recommend the use of asbestos shingles on the fire station. REQUEST FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES Mr. Aiassa: I have a request from Dr. Gordon to send Dr. J. W. Kermer, Radiologist, back east on October 15 to the 19th. I have contacted the County and I can't get any participation and the man is going to spend approximately $294.00,.' The money is not in the budget for this expenditure. Councilman Snyder: or a quasi official appointee and I this. Mr. Aiassa: I would object to this. This man isn't even an official appointee of the City; he is only a volunteer don't think the City should pay for I think we might make a part offer of participation of a third or a half on the condition that he pre- sents the written material and matters that we now have collected here. Mayor Barnes: I don't agree with this. This, I feel, might be important enough but only if it is_ in the budget of the Civil Defense for travel. I don't think we should take it out of capi- tal or out of the general fund to pay this type of expenses. Councilman Jett: I don't think I could go along with this. I don't see how we could justify it. -15- Adj. C. Co 10-1-62 Page Sixteen REQUEST FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES - Continued Councilman Towner: I think unquestionably our medical' defense is an essential part -of "our civil defense program. The question is not whether or not we need this medical information, it is how'to get it. Since we don't have any physicians as employees of'the City and we' have to have a volunteer go, it seems to me that if we put conditions'on- it the same as we do on the travel of any other City official,'that there be an adequate report of the results of the conference, that we could then justify expenses up.to the same amount that we would authorize for any City employee or official to travel, but no more. Mr. Aiassa: This would also be subject to the City Attorney's approval. Mayor Barnes: I don't think I would be in favor of this. Councilman Jett: I still wouldn't be in favor of this. Councilman Snyder: I would not object to paying up to $175.00 with a report. Councilman Towner: Because we can't decide, I think you will have to tell him that it isn't authorized. Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Towner, and carried, that the request be denied, Councilman Snyder: It is not that we are not for it, it is just that we are stepping outside of our regular policy. SIGN MODIFICATI 1� ( Moore) P- Z?J, Mr, Moore: (Drew map on board and explained same.) I have a sign authorized and says it must face Pacific. This sign that I have on my building points directly out to the freeway and a tremendous large volume of empty land. This sign is not visible from the underpass. We would like to extend the sign out to here (indicating). This is over the phone booth. Mr. Aiassa: The Planning Commission's and Harry William's interpretation was that the way the building is situated on that lot it makes a difficult situa- tion.to.determine,the front. City Planning Commission reviewed this but no outright recommendation, Councilman Towner: In this case the sign provisions were specifically put in there in order to protect the home owners back on Pacific Lane and the intent was that they not have any signs that would be visible from their area. I am pretty sure that we intended that no signs be out in this particular triangle. It may be that that can be interpreted differently. I don't know, but I have some doubt about it. -16- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 SIGN MODIFICATION - Continued Page Seventeen Mayor Barnes: Mr.' Moore at the present -time has'96 square feet of sign and -in a C-1 zone I think'he would be allowed 1200' It is true that at the end of this building you can't tell that it -is any- thing other than offices. We have about 24 feet yet available and I -am wondering if by some design and without a variance that this would -comply if Mr. Williams would rule on this particular corner because you don't know that there is anything other than office buildings in there." It is very plain from the side. I think if we could bring it down to the 24 square feet and place it on the building so that it would be out'away from the residential, more towards the front, I think that something might be worked out because the sign that he presently has is a non -glaring sign and isn't at all obnoxious. Councilman Towner: I would have no objection:to it. There are two problems, what the sign ordinance itself provides and what the precise plan provides and he has to get over those humps. It - may be that he might have to file some formal petition or it may be that it can be worked out within the precise plan and the ordinance. Councilman Snyder: I am against doing these.things this way unless he is within the precise plan by doing this. Mayor Barnes: Maybe we can get Mr. Aiassa to work with the Planning Department and if • they feel that the interpretation is such that it would have to go before the Planning Commission as a vari- ance type sign then I think this is the only way we could do it. Councilman Towner: If he doesn't have any more than the total sign ordinance permitted and he wants a'parallel sign attached to what I think is probably the side of the building, but could otherwise be, I would see no tremendous objection to it. If the City Attorney says it is possible and Mayor Barnes is familiar with the neighborhood and agrees that it is reasonable, I would go along with that. Councilman Jett: I would go along with it. Have him get together with the Planning De- partment and work out something that would be satisfactory to everyone involved. Mr. Aiassa: Mr. Moore and I will get together and see if we can come out.with an agree- able sign. Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that the staff be authorized to work out some method of possibly allowing a sign on the west side of this building if the City Attorney rules that it is within the precise plan and ordinance. CITY CLERK'S REPORTS SUIT FOR DAMAGE Mr. Flotten: This is a suit for damages filed by Miss Hoffland with respect to an accident she was involved in up on San Bernardino Road. -17- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 SUIT FOR DAMAGE - Continued Page Eighteen Mr. Flotten:- Continued: She is suing the City,of West Covina, all of the Councilmena and'the'City • Clerk for $60,000.00. I would like to have permission to'refer this to the City Attorney who will give us a report on it. You will have time to deny the charges at your next meeting on the 8th. Councilman Snyder: It should be in the Minutes that this did not come by registered mail. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that the Hoffland claim be referred to the City Attorney for report and recommendation. REQUEST FOR CARNIVALS Mr. Flotten: School P.T.A., Vine School P.T.A. all for the 27th of October. We have requests to hold carnivals from Coronado School P.T.A., Del Norte School P.T.A., Grove Center and Wescove School P.T.A. They are Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Towner, and carried, that these schools be granted their request for carnivals on October 27, 1962. • PLAZA CARNIVAL Mr. Flotten: I have a request from the West Covina Plaza Merchants Association,for per- mission -to conduct a carnival on October 17, 18, 19 and 20. This is for their anniversary. Councilman Towner: This is one of those mechanical ride outfits? Mr. Flotten: Yes. Councilman Snyder: Do we require State Industrial Safety Certificate on all these carnivals? Mr. Aiassa: You can make it part of your conditions, Councilman Towner: I think we should. I think it is too much of a burden on our City Staff to go out and inspect these things. Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that the request of the West Covina Plaza Merchants Association for per- mission to,conduct a carnival on October 17, 18, 19 and 20 be approved subject to inspection and report by all the committees and that they have a recent inspection by the State Department of Industrial Safety • within not less than four months. (Councilman Towner voted "No!'.) SM Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 Page Nineteen TEEN DANCE Mr. Flotten: We have a request for permission to conduct a teenage dance". They want • to select the location Iafter they get their permission. However, I pointed out that there are possibly only two places where he could have 'a dance and that would be either the VFW Hall or the American Legion Hallo They would like to'get permission for one teenage dance and if it is a success they would like to make it a regular thing. n LJ i Mr — Richard Tibbitts 451 East Rowland Covina Mr. Flotten: Mayor Barnes: I am an interested party. This will be a commercial project. I think we should refer it to the Park. and Recreation Department. Councilman Towner: I have no objection to a commercial venture such as this provided it is properly rune The children now are going out of town to similar things and it would be better if we could keep them within the City of West Covina provided they are clean and orderly and decently run pending such time as the City has the facilities where it can operate these things. Mr. Richard Tibbitts: For several years I conducted dances for the Y.W.C.A. We had chaperones and a deputy that we paid for. I agree that it.should be properly supervised. Councilman Towner: Maybe one reasonable requirement of such a venture would be that it have some local sponsorship, some local service group could join with them and sponsor it and that maybe the assurance that we.have.the type of dance that we want. Mayor Barnes: I feel that this applicant has probably ventured into this before. I think it is a money -making idea and a business with him and I would wonder very seriously if we want to get involved in this type of operation without sponsorship of some club or the schools or our own Parks and Recreation Department. I think we should just deny this request because this is all the information that we have. Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that the request from Mr. Rappe for teenage dance be denied. Councilman Towner: Mr. Richard.Tibbitts: Councilman Towner: The man might be perfectly all right, but we don't know that. We are in communication with Dr. Rosen who created the original place. in Los Angeles called the Pepper- mint Stick and he is very interested in coming out in this area. I would like to see Mr. Tibbitts get in touch with the Parks and Recreation. -19- • 0 Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 PLANNING DEPARTMENT MEMO Mr. Flotten: Councilman Towner: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Towner: Page Twenty I have a memo from the Planning Commission to the'City Council dated September 24,'1962 reques- ting additional help for the Plan- ning Department. They have no budget for help at the present time? No. They don't specify what they want. Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Towner, and carried, that this matter be referred to the City Manager. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS UNITED NATIONS Councilman Snyder: I received a letter on the United Nation problem. Although I am wil- ling to take a stand on it I don't think it is a proper controversy to take up the Council's time. I don't think we are necessarily qualified to determine one way or the other. I would prefer to lay off of it. Mr. REINER'S LETTER Councilman Jett: What about some of these letters from Mr. Reiner. Has this been taken care of or does it come to the Council to do something about it? This is A. Teichert and Sons, Incorporated who owe him money. (Read letter.) Mr. Aiassa: We are investigating this. This is under flood control. Mr. Williams knows about this. We are going to try to do everything we can but we are not in power be- cause we are not the ones holding the contract. PALM TREES Councilman Jett: Mayor Barnes: COUNCIL BUSINESS CARDS Councilman Jett: What about these palm trees on Pacific Avenue? We will take this up at a study session' I am not very happy with these busi- ness cards; I don't like them. I think we should have a nicer card and I think we should all have the same kind of card. -20- Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 COUNCIL BUSINESS CARDS - Continued Mr. Aiassa: • Councilman Towner: Councilman Jett: MAYOR'S REPORTS Water Study Mayor Barnes: • there was a meeting with Mr. anyone make that meeting? Councilman Towner Councilman Jett: Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Towner: Councilman Jett: PLANNING COMMISSION Page Twenty -One The Council can submit to us the kind -of cards you like and we will order them for you. I would just as soon use the cards I have. I'll submit recommendation to Mr. Aiassa. We have already received a report from Councilman Heath on the water study. Mr. Aiassa told me today Montgomery on the 8th at ? o'clock. Can May I have some notice of that? I can probably make it. Give us all notice of it. All right. I think Councilman Heath's memo is the type of memo I like from the City Council Committees and it keeps us up to date. I have a copy of a report for each of you on this water problem. Mayor Barnes: One of our Planning Commissioners is leaving us and I think he is one of the finest Commissioners we have ever. had. I have a letter of resignation addressed to me by Ed Thompson. The resignation is caused by the recent transfer to Long Beach which will necessitate them moving. I feel that he is one of the outstanding Commissioners. He has a very forward thinking of what our progress should be in the City and I am very sorry to see him go. I talked to him on the phone the other day and tried to get him to put it off for a few months and he said perhaps that he would be here a little longer than November lst, but he thought the Council should be considering a''new Commissioner and if he is in town he would be glad to serve. We are going to have to have a meeting and get a new Planning Commissioner as soon as we possibly can. I will try and set up a meeting. 0 Mr. Aiassa: Mayor Barnes: May we have a resolution set up for his services? I don't think there is any rush be- cause he will be here for a little while yet. -21- • 1] Adj. C. C. 10-1-62 MAYOR'S REPORTS - Continued DANCING PERMITS Mayor Barnes: Councilman Snyder: Mayor Barnes: Councilman Towner: WATER RATE INCREASE Mayor Barnes: Mr, Aiassa: Page Twenty -Two We all received a report on dancing permits submitted by Sgt, Miller" through Chief Sill, I think -this should be considered at a study meeting. I am a little surprised that we don't have a license fee. I think we should have. I agree. I think we ought'to review the people who get a license and I think we are en- titled to some revenue from it. We had a notice from the Valencia Heights Water Company for an in- crease in water rates. Mr. Aiassa, would you explain this? The only thing I received is the same notice you have and Mr. Williams and I are going to dis- cuss it Wednesday and I will have a report for you. NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS FOR AZUSA Mayor Barnes: On October 14, Azusa is going to have their dedication ceremonies for their new Fire Department Head- quarters. All the Councilmen are invited and the open house is from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Anyone who can go, they would appreciate having you. COORDINATING COUNCIL Mayor Barnes: Just recently we had a letter from the Coordinating. Council to ask for a Council representative to attend one of their meetings, which was on September 27th. I didn't receive this letter until that date; therefore, I couldn't make it. I am wondering if we shouldn't have a representative to the Coordinating Council, Is there anyone who would like to volunteer? Councilman Snyder: I don't think it should be on a standing basis. Councilman Towner: I agree. Mayor Barnes: Mr. Aiassa, would you notify Joe Bloom that we would like to have letters on an invitation basis for all meetings? Not for all meetings, just major meetings,.' Mr. Aiassa: All right. -22- :7 0 • Adj. C. C. 1Q-1-62 MAYOR'S REPORTS.- Continued POST OFFICE Mayor Barnes: and I would like to have him bring Page Twenty -Three I am going to ask Mr. Jett to give us a report on the meeting he had with Mr. Maddox of the Post Office up what he discussed. Councilman Jett: We discussed the problem that is confronting them now, namely;- par- king, and also their future prob- lems. We discussed the different areas in which they might be inter ested in locating the post office and we came up with three locations, the civic center area, the City here or down by the library; or just south of Walnut Creek Wash on Vincent Avenue,(that vacant area there across from Shell Oil); and another was over in the old West Covina Center. We also discussed the possibility of having additional Federal offices. There are other branches of the government that are looking in- to this area for office space. Mr. Maddox has to be very careful that something doesn't get out that would indicate that he was trying to pin- point an area where it might appear that he, was trying to favor somebody. Another point that came up was the new Pickering subdivision that we have just brought into the City. There will be a thousand homes going into that area in a very short time and Walnut would like very much to acquire that for Walnut. He would like to keep this in this area which will lend weight to our effort in getting a larger post office plus the fact that we felt that those people living in that area are in West Covina and they are entitled to be identified with West Covina. When their mail comes to them it would come to West Covina and not Walnut. Mayor Barnes: Mr. Aiassa: STORM DRAIN PROJECT I would like to continue along with this. I think perhaps some of our men who are running for office could possibly give us some help in regards to a larger postal site. We have just one month. Mayor Barnes: Mr. Aiassa is moving along very well with our storm drain project and the engineering and plan will be ready this winter some time to be let next spring. I think the Engineering Department should be commended for continuing'this program. There being no further business, motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that this meeting be adjourned at 11:30PM ATTEST: 1WW Mayor Ci. y Clerk -23-