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03-02-1964 - Regular Meeting - Minutes11 • MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA March 2, 1964 The adjourned regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Barnes at 8:30 P.M. Councilman Heath led the Pledge of Alle- giance. The invocation was given by Councilman Jett. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Barnes, Councilmen Towner, Jett, Heath Snyder Others Present: Mr. George Aiassa, City Manager Mr. Robert Flotten, City Clerk & Administrative Assistant Mr. Thomas J. Dosh, Public Services Director Mr. Harold Joseph, Planning Director (from 9:05 P.M.) Mr. James Kay, Director of Finance Mr. Allen Sill, Chief of Police Absent: Mr. Harry C. Williams, City Attorney CITY CLERK'S REPORTS TEMPORARY USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS OF EASTLAND BUSINESSMEN'S ASSOCIATION EASTER FARM Mr. Flotten: This is a request to conduct the annual Easter Farm at the Eastland Shopping Center. (Read application). This will be from March 18 to March 29 from 9:30 in the morning to 9:30 at night. Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Towner, and car- ried,.,that_the request of the Eastland Businessmen's Association for an Easter Farm from March 18 to March 29 from 9:30 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. be approved subject to our regular control. LADY'S FAIR Mr. Flotten: (Read application). This is from May 20 to May 23, 1964, from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Towner, and car- ried, that the request of the Eastland Businessmen's Association for a Lady,'s Fair from May 20 to May 23, 1964 from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. be approved subject to our regular control. -1- C, C, 3/2/64 Page Two MAYOR°S REPORTS PROCLAMATION 0 MARCH AS RED CROSS MONTH Mayor Barnes: If there are no objections, I will proclaim March as Red Cross Month, (There were no objections voiced.) I so proclaim. REQUEST OF E, H, BERGE FOR $100.00 REFUND OF FILING FEE FOR UNCLASSIFIED USE PERMIT City Clerk, Mr, Flotten: The Council has copies of this letter, This has been referred to the staff and we will have a report for the Council at the next meeting, 1 CITY MANAGER REPORTS LEASE -PURCHASE City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: You have a copy of the folder Mr. Kay prepared for the Council, Mr, Bulot represents Stone and Youngberg's firm, Tonight he wants to go over this proposed agreement to start this lease -option to purchase program if the Council wants to, Mr, Robert Bulot: We have over the past months been talking about the passibility of lease -back financing for public improvements for the City, During these discussions many ways of financing the proposed projects have been discussed, As a method of financing the proposed public improvements, the public buildings can be done through the lease -back method of financing. The lease -back financing generally is where the City will lease from a nonprofit corporation a -particular facility they wish to build and this facility will be built by the non-profit corporation and leased to the City for a period of time, normally 20 or 25 years, and this facility at the time the complete lease generally is retired through the lease of facility then the particular building or public facility is reversed to the City and is their property, The non-profit organization is set up in such a way that its only obligation and reason for existence is the obligation owed by the City through its lease, We have tried to make lease -back financing a method of financing that would be . something that would not be too costly to the City, We use the firm of O'Melveng and Meyers for the bond opinion on the non -corporation bonds, We also try to take competitive bids on the non-profit ®2m S • C,, C,, 3/2/64 LEASE -PURCHASE Continued Page Three corporation bonds from all underwrites so all the advantages of competitive financing to the City is taken into consideration,, We have been able to bring this cost down so that the non-profit corporation bonds will amount to an amount in interest, half to maybe three-quarters percent higher than a general obligation bond,, We have been working on this with 0°Melveny and Meyers and with the S.C.C. to get these com- petitive bids on the bonds so we can produce a financing plan that is acceptable to the courts in the State, that will actually approach regular voted bond financing,, In our discussions with the City staff, we feel we have reduced these costs to the point where the City in its semi-annual lease payments would be able to support a bond issue of this type within reason and within the realm of a voted bond,, We feel we have accomplished this fact using legitimate bond outlet channels, using a standard bond opinion and putting these bonds out under standard merchandising channels. Your bond rate will be guaranteed and offered by the competitive bids and if these bids are not acceptable to the Council you have the prerogative -of turning down the bids,, You are not obligated to go forward with this program,, We will take this program entirely contingent upon acceptable bond bids to the Council. If the Council wishes to turn down these bond bids for any reason, then the project is cancelled and there is no obligation whatsoever on the City°s part,, We are willing to go this far with it,, 0°MelvenV and,Meyers are also willing to go along to this point where we can get bids on these bonds,, Mayor Barnes: In the event the Council turned this down what would the cost be to the City at that time? Mr,, Robert Bulot: Nothing,, This is a new type of financing program we are trying to put together,, Eventually when it is worked out, we will not work on a contingent basis,, Right now this is still a 100o contingency operation,, Mayor Barnes: When you go into four and a quarter percent on one hundred thousand dollars assessed for six million dollar bond, it would amount to something like two hundred fifty-five thousand in interest each year,, Mr,, Robert Bulot: Councilman Snyder: That's correct,, Under Step 2 of the report, after the contract is signed it states that you will analyze the improvement needs of the City proposed to be acquired, consider the financing, legal and engineering and economic data,, How complete an analysis and report is this? Mr,, Robert Bulot: This will then be quite complete except it would be a policy of the Council as to what they wanted to accomplish in this first step,, This would be your decision,, -3- Ca C, 3/2/64 Page Four LEASE -PURCHASE Continued Councilman Heath- When I suggested the Council look into this program I knew it had merits because it had worked in other places and I know that it is an advantage to the City to help them progress and get things now which they might not have for many years to come,, I feel we have talked about the procedures and the steps and the sequence of events for quite some time and we have -gotten nowhere,, I feel instead of the Council sitting down and doing this type of work that a citizens, committee should be organized along with the Chamber of Commerce to act as an advisory group on what they think is important in a priority form and in a magnitude form and then present this to the Council for the final decision and the final answer,, A few years back we had a citizens, committee that worked up a good report; unfortunately, it wasn't used and I think that this is the time when the citizens, com- mittee should step forward again and work with our Chamber of Commerce and make up this priority list within a limit that the Council sets and then take it from there. I think this program should be pursued diligently because it has many benefits for the City,, Councilman Snyder- Don,t you think we should go ahead with the contract now as an indication of the Council's intentions to pursue it? I agree with you but I think we have to show some intention here; too, or we are not likely to get much out of the citizens' group,, Mayor Barnes- We asked Mr,, Williams to make his opinion known and even though we have a citizens' committee I hesitate to try to pass a bond without the vote of the people even though we believe in what we are doing- I think this might be the answer if we could get a bid competitive to a bond bid, but I would hate to see us subject the citizens to even one-half percent more than they could get,, If this was done now, if the City wished to float a bond, they could pay this off after a reasonable amount of time, Mr,, Robert Bulot- I am not trying to infer that lease -back is a less expensive way of financing,, It is a way of accomplishing a method of financing for needed public improvements,, However,, you do have this fact in your favor; you can put this together at no cost to the City. True, we would want a contract with the City that would give you an escape clause up to the time you took bids on the bond,, You would have an example to the City, our considered opinions on the bonds. involved and the financing involved as to the costs of this type of financing versus general obligation bonds,, We are working with a citizens' committee in Santa Cruz,, If you have a citizens' committee you would like to work with us we would be happy to work with.them and your architects and City staff to put together a financing package based upon the things the committee feels the City needs, based upon the things the City staff feels they can afford and they can . put together and come back to you and ask you whether or not you like it,, Councilman Heath; My theory would be in back of this plan that every year we are putting "x" dollars aside to put away to acquire land sites and we can't work on it until we have the property completely paid for,, This money, this "x" number of dollars we put away each year, instead of waiting until we accumulate all this amount, we use the lease -purchase arrangement to purchase the thing right now and let the -4- C, C, 3/2/64 Page Five 'LEASE -PURCHASE m Continued citizens of the City get the use of it starting immediately and what we would be putting away each year we would pay off on this lease - purchase deals In this arrangement it does not raise the taxes; it means we get the facilities for the benefit of the people who live here right now who are paying the taxes and should get the benefit of this and we have ten years of use of it and pay it off, Councilman Towner: That assumes that amounts used to pay on the lease -purchase would not exceed the amounts that we have been setting aside, Mr, Robert Bulot: There is no obligation to con- tinue with any of the answers arrived at in this type of financing, I am not trying to sell you on lease -back, I am trying to say that there is an amount of money you have to work with and this amount of money can be spread among different projects depending upon what your committee feels that the City needs most, modified by the Council's wishes and then you put them together and find out what your amount of capital improvement money you have to put aside will support and secondly, supporting what you want to ultimately do, what will that cost, Mayor Barnes: I would like to see the recom- mendation on the lease -back versus the general obligation bond, �- Councilman Snyder: It says right here in the contract that it is part of their contract that if they feel you are better off going for a bond issue they will tell you so and you are not out a cent, Councilman Towner: We have gone over this before and this was all explained before, I think it is about time the Council made up its mind and took action, We can go ahead with this program but we shouldn't commit ourselves to go ahead with it and sign this contract unless we do have some reasonable expectation that at least a portion of our future capital improvements program will be lease- back. Mr, Robert Bulot: I think it might be an idea to get the run-down to show the difference in costs and the methods of repayment general obligation bonds versus lease -back and the type of financing involved, Councilman Towner: I think it should be clear now what they have in mind. The only thing hanging fire is action from the Council, Councilman Snyder: I think we should show our good faith or intention of going ahead by authorizing this contract tonight, and, secondly, setting up the citizens' committee within the next two weeks, Councilman Heath: If we sign the contract or work out this contract and sign it, all we have then is an indication to this gentleman that we would possibly like to go a little further along the program. I don't see how we can sign a contract until we know exactly what we are going to go for and until the citizens' committee has reproted to us, Mr, M•18 Mr, Robert Bulot: Mr, Williams has misconstrued our ideas, We may come back to the City and say you shouldn't go lease -back on this thing, We would be the first to tell you if you cannot afford to go lease -back on one or more or all projects, sm • C, C, ' 3/2/64 LEASE -PURCHASE Continued Page Six Bulot doesn't know if we are talking about a lease -purchase of a. $500 item or a $60500,000 item, I think before we sign a contract we should indicate to him the magnitude of it and the only way we can determine this is with what the citizens' committee brings back, Mr, Robert Bulot- To go ahead with the program and the research we would have to have the contract with the City because we would want to have it signed, We would have to have a contract to go ahead. You have right of cancellation right up to the point where you get bids on the non -corporation bonds. It is true you don't know what you want but part of our service is saying whether or not you should do it. This is one of our functions to say that lease back in this particular field is or is not advisable. Working with the committee we will get the idea what the fields are, Councilman Towner- I am a little bit concerned about this idea for a citizens' committee, We have already progressed to a considerable extent with our architects in our civic center master plan and I think the plans of the architects are becoming pretty firm. They know what our needs are going to be; they have projected those needs into the future, We know to a certain extent where our priorties lie, I have some concern that a citizens' committee set up at this late date is probably not going to do us too much good, I do think we need a citizens' committee at the time we perhaps go into the programs particularly if some phases of it are general obligation bonds, Councilman Snyder- I think the citizens' committee is important right now, although I agree that the architects have progressed to a point in the civic center, This is not so much to deem the type of architecture for the City but where we go on a civic centers fire stations, parks, decide which area we will proceed with, I think the citizens° committee should understand they will not do the designing, Councilman Towner- This proposed contract refers to construction of civic buildings on land now owned by the City and you are talking about proposed parks and improvements, Mr, Robert Bulot- I will be able to tell you a little bit more about this after tomorrow, on non City owned land, By the time you get this far along the problem will be well solved. They have required so far that the land be owned by the City, Councilman Towner- I was under the impression that the City could, and your firm would make recomendations, on us using this type of funding for financing for such things as park improvements, Mr, Robert Bulot- Councilman Towner: contract as presented, and he has approved it to go ahead with it we Council, Yess improving the property, Before we move into this, I am willing to go along with the It has been presented to our City Attorney as to form, However, I think if we are going should have an unanimous agreement among the so Co C11 3/2/64 LEASE -PURCHASE - Continued Page Seven Councilman Jett: I am convinced'. that we have to move forward.; we can't stand' still any longer, However, I cannot go along with this program and I have stated this all the way along because I don't think this is the way to build the facilities we need. I think we can do it for less money by building it with the general obligation bond and I firmly believe that if the proper program is prepared and presented to the voters outlining and explaining what is necessary and what we proposed to dog I am sure that they will vote us the money to go ahead and do this, I can't believe we could go along and finance this without raising our taxes, I am convinced we are going to have to expand our police facilities, I am convinced we are going to have to build a building to house our police officers, a jail, and the facilities needed, (Mr, Joseph entered the chambers at 9:05 P,M,) Director of Finance, Mr, Kaye We have a fair amount of dollar value left because there are items within our dollar that arm not subject to the vote of the people, Councilman Jett: This is contrary to what I have been led to believe in the past, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: You can't charge these out until you reach your dollar limit, Councilman Jett: What you are saying is that we could go ahead and raise taxes another 56� or so without going to another general obligation bond? City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: That's right, Until you exceed that dollar limits Councilman Heath: I think it is possible to buy something and -pay for'it on time, which is exactly what this lease -purchase is, The reason I like it is this: We are collecting taxes from people who live in the City today and those taxes may not be put to use until five years from .now until we accumulate the money and I think this is very wrong, I think the people paying the taxes today are entitled to a return today, If we go ahead into this lease -purchase deal, if a man pays taxes today and we can put up an improved park tomorrow, he9 then, is getting the benefit, The people paying the taxes now are giving a benefit to the people five years from now, I feel we should go ahead with this, Councilman Snyder: I think we shouldh t go ahead with it.unless we have a uniformity of the Council, I don't think this is anything that will succeed if we have a split. I feel at least signing this contract that we are indicating that we intend to go ahead and if the future shows that a bond issue is best, we can still do it that way. This contract does not take it out of the people's hands, Councilman Heath: If it is the.intent of the Council to raise taxes, I am not in favor of it, I feel in my own mind that this program can be successfully completed without a raise in taxes, -7- • Ca C, 3/2/64 LEASE -PURCHASE m Continued Councilman Snyder. Page Eight I think if there is any raise in taxes at all'it would be a modest one. Mr, Robert Bulot-. Our report would show this, what raise in taxes, if any, would be necessary and what our sources of revenue the City could use for this program, Councilman Jett-. We don°t have any income to supplant approving a program of this nature other than our tax program and there is only one way we can do it and that is to raise taxes, Mayor Barnes-. After we get these facilities, we have to man these different buildings, Our least worry today is our capital improvement, We have to have the answers on where we raise the money for the personnel for these accomodations and also for the 30®year lease -back or the bond that we are going to use, how much are we going to raise the property tax and other means of'taxation from the people. I think it is most important that the citizens' committee, if they approve this, have a meeting to study all phases and make their recommendations to us, Councilman Snyder-. There is another advantage to this contract, We have been procrastinating a little bit and by having these people on the job it will sort of start prodding us to keep things moving along, Mr, Robert Bulot-. It is well and good to sit down and say maybe it is going to use this much, et cetera, but let's find out what the cost is going to be and how you're going to pay for it, That is what we are proposing to do for you and you will make the final decision without any obligation on your part, Councilman Jett-. I feel very strongly that if this is the way we intend to acquire our civic center, then let's make up our mind and don't procrastinate but move forward, Mr. Williams sent us a letter saying-. "It would appear to me that the City would not care to make this commitment unless and until it has definitely determined that it intends to proceed under the lease -purchase method rather than by the simply cheaper, less complicated and more democratic method of general obligation bond financing," If this is the way the Council intends to go I would say sign the contract and get going. A majority can do it, If you are just playing along with these people and getting them to do a lot of work and to go to a lot of expense, and it is going to mean our City staff will devote a lot of time and this will cost the City money, then I say either go one way or the other and let's let this gentleman know how we feel, Mr, Robert Bulot. Mr, Williams has misconstrued our ideas, We may come back to the City and say you shouldn't go leaseback on this thing, We would be the first to tell you if you cannot afford to go lease -back on one or more or all projects, W:le C1 [7 C, C, 3/2/64 'LEASE -PURCHASE - Continued Page Nine Councilman Towner-, At this state of the proceeding all we are authorizing is a financial consultant and his recommendation. Councilman Snyder-, We might all change our minds when we see the report, I would agree with everything in the quote of Mr. Williams' letter and I have said I wouldn't go for lease -purchase in preference to a bond issue unless I had some indication the people were for us, but the one adjective I would disagree with in that sentence is "less complicated". It is sometimes easier not to go to a general obligation bond. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Snyder, that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign a contract with Stone and Youngberg Company for the beginning of a lease -purchase or lease -back program with the full understanding that this program may be cancelled at any time by the City up to the point of the issuing of bonds and that we proceed at all speed and that reports be made to the Council at regular intervals on the progress being made; that the contract me amended that the fee ordinance in the contract at 3% is now 2 -, that this is subject to review by the City Manager and the City Attorneys Motion passed on roll call as follows; Ayes-, Councilmen Towner, Heath, Snyder, Mayor Barnes Noes-, Councilman Jett Absent„ None Councilman Snyder-, I think we should have recom- mendations as to the make-up of the citizens' committee but I think possibly it should wait, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa-, You have to appoint a seven -man con- sulting committee on this plan if you proceed beyond the point outlined by Mr, Buloto You might.be in conflict i you.have to create a citizens' committee and then g® back and pick these seven. Councilman Snyder-, I think the staff should give us recommendations, not who but how a citizens' committee should be formed. Councilman Heath-, I think we can do that on our owno I think this should come from the Council, I think we also should include with this the Chamber of Commerce who should have a representative on it, Councilman Towner-, Obviously we don't want to make 1. up this kind of commission off the cuff, I would like to review and determine what the commissions in the past have been, how they were made up and what their com- position was, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa-, I have this information in my- files, Councilman Snyder-, You have to select people not only to be representative of the citizens but also you have to have some experts in the make-up of your committee. 11 is C, C, 3/2/64 Page Ten LEASE -PURCHASE - Continued City Manager, Mr, Aiassa-. I found out Friday that the City of Anaheim is building an auditorium and their bond sold for 3,06%. Oakland and Alameda are going together on a sports arena on lease -option purchase, There are seven other cities going under lease -option so you will have a follow-up report, PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS GLENDORA AVENUE NAME CHANGE Mayor Barnes-. We have a petition submitted to Mr, Aiassa of the meeting held by the Glendora property owners and Businessmen's Assocationo There are six pages of signatures, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa-. We have been holding this action until we received a letter and petition from Mr,DBAmelio, Also we have a communication from the Chamber dated February 28 and signed by John Gardner re this matter, City Clerk, Mr, Flotten-. (Read letter re this matter from John Gardner, president, Chamber of Commerce, dated February 28, 1964 directed to the City Council,)' Mayor Barnes-. Mrs, Raee Meyers 205 South Glendora Avenue West Covina dealing in politics, We are for the don't believe this is the story here, Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak on this? I don't believe our Chamber has any right to interfere in this. I am a member of the Board of Directors, I believe we are good of all businesses and I Mr, W, Beam This petition we got together One -Stop Party Shop took us time, I think'if you go Glendora Avenue through all the paragraphs you West Covina will find it is quite costly to change the name alone as'far as street signs, City maps, County maps, not to even consider how much it is going to cost the individual merchants in their advanced advertise- ments, This new proposal sent from the Chamber of Commerce, I am opposed to this, One basic reason is just what we have put in our petition, the expense. Running it up Vincent will cost more than the original proposal of just changing Glendora. There are merchants who have.signed this proposal south of Vincent on Glendora Avenue, The Chamber of Commerce has interest in the City as the Chamber should; however, a good many of those merchants belonging to the Chamber of Commerce are not on Glendora Avenue and their business is not going to be affected quite as much as our business will be, I think if there is any one in the City who should have any kind of voice in this matter at all it should be the merchants and land owners on Glendora Avenue, Mr, Floyd Schneider As a businessman and a landowner 142 South Glendora Avenue I think we have an investment in West Covina, the name "Glendora Avenue", I _10- L is C, Ca 3/2/64 GLENDORA NAME CHANGE - Continued Page Eleven think all the people up and down that boulevard should have something to say about this. I don't think it is as simple as just changing the name, Mr, Buck Burton In addition to the points brought Glendora Avenue up here, I think it goes deeper, West Covina I can't understand all the com- motion about changing the name. I read what the press said you gentlemen stated as your reason for changing, I think the petition with the reasons for not changing certainly overcomes the reasons given up to this point for changing it. I think it goes a lot deeper than even some of the reasons given in that petition, Glendora Avenue is one of the few streets in this City that people can.,call to a shop and know where it is. It is one of the oldest streets in West Covina, This was instigated from outside of the City; secondlyq the Chamber of Commerce has been drawn into this, Whether they were invited to participate or whether they volunteered, I don't know, but I do know that they misrepresented this situation in their Board of Directors' Meeting because some of the comments that came out of that meeting was that it was a predestined thing and you can take it or leave it and they are going to change it up to Vincent Avenue and turn it up Vincent and if the City doesn't do it the County will take over and do it, You gentlemen know that isn't so, We feel this is strictly between the City and the people in - involved in it, The Chamber of Commerce can serve a good function sofaras the participation in a citizens' committee in something for the over-all City, We don't feel the Chamber has any business judging this, The Chamber is not very well represented on Glendora Avenue, We resent the predomination of opinions from the Eastland and Plaza areas making a decision for Glendora. I think to change the name is to steal the identity of the street and,I think it will take five years for the merchants in that area to overcome it, It will take longer than that to get it off the legal records, I think the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of leaving that street alone, Mr, Steve Ricco Glendora Avenue West Covina Mr, Vince Manno VM Television 119'South Glendora West Covina Mr, Frank Bandy Glendora Avenue West Covina Mr, Gordon Gilliland Covina Paint Center I am near Von's Market, I oppose this change, I agree with these gentlemen who have spoken 1000, All the merchants over there have signed the petition opposing that, I am a businessman and a land owner and I feel the same as these other gentlemen, I think it is all wrong if you change the name, Glendora Avenue has become well- known through the years, I think it should remain as Glendora Avenue, I am in accord with what the previous gentlemen and lady have said. I am against the change, Co C,, 3/2/64 'GLENDORA NAME CHANGE m Continued Mro Dick Hodson Hodson°s Liquor Glendora Avenue West Covina Page Twelve I agree with the other men,, think to change the name, it should be Glendora down the way and not Hacienda coming our way, I other up Councilman Heath-. The Council has always in the past felt that if there was something to be decided related to the merchants that it was decided to send it to the Chamber of Commerce for their recommendationq for the Chamber to contact the merchants and represent them and come back and give us an answer,, This change of name, and I am not arguing one way or the other, this problem was presented to the Chamber, They received a poor response the first time,, It came back to the Council with the recommendation; the Council reviewed it and decided to send it back to the Chamber again for another review, We hoped that they would contact the merchants,, As far as this problem being predestined before it went into the Board of Directors of the Chamber, this is erroneous. This was presented without bias. There was concern about whether this idea had ;originated with the Council or with the Chamber or where it had originateda I'think this is beside the point,, They were there discussing the merits, This Council was trying to get your desires through the Chamber of Commerce to find out how you people felt before we could make up our minds,, We were not trying to drive anything down your throats. If that were so, we would not have waited for this petition, We have held this off for two months waiting for this petition, The Chamber was trying to do a service for you people and I think they came back with an unbiased recom- mendation, Councilman Snyder-. I, originally liked the name of Hacienda Boulevard better and I still doo We obviously can't go ahead with the.,name change at this time or any time until the people want it, They just don°t want it so lets for get it, I think the Chamber was only trying to help and I don't think they should be blamed, Councilman Heath-. When this was presented to the Directors,, it was stated that the channelization was something that was fixed and we passed that ourselves but as far as the naming of the street was concerned, that was not presented as being fixed. The channelization of that inter- section is something we passed here in the Council. Mayor Barnes-. In my own opinion I think the name P°Glendora Avenue" has as much right on this street as the name "Hacienda". After seeing this petition and the desire of the people in that area, I would hesitate to change it, Councilman Jett-. I thought the Chamber had a good solution until I read the petition and how the people felt and the reasons for it,, I cannot help but go along with that thinking,, -12® • Cc Ca 3/2/64 GLENDORA NAME CHANGE m Continued Page Thirteen Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Snyder, that Glendora Avenue remain as Glendora Avenue and no,change be made;', Councilman Towner-, There seems to be misunderstanding about the origin of this, This is one of the many streets in the East San Gabriel Valley that was under study by the East San Gabriel Planning Committee and its committee of engineers and its committee of planners. The County, in an effort to provide a uniformity of street naming throughout the East San Gabriel Valley so .people know where they are and to aid people in finding businesses so they don't get off on the wrong street, and this is one of the many streets that had this same consideration. This has been around for about three years and it wasn°t until just this recent year that LaPuente took action on this particular recom- mendation and they asked us to go along with it, too. It was at this point that we seriously got into the act and started considering it. Secondly, I would like to compliment the Chamber of Commerce for their effort to try and work this thing out. I think they came up with a very statesmanlike proposal and one that appeared to me to be a very satisfactory solution. Apparently the feeling against this is so strong that it appears that this is the voice of the people and we might just as well go along with it, Action on Councilman Jett°s motion-, Motion carried unanimously, PROJECT C-150 (Park site/Drain plan) City Manager, Mr. Aiassa-, Regarding this matter, we have received a memo from Robert S. Gingrich, Director Recreation and Parks, dated February 28, 1964. I would like this included in the Minutes-, "In accordance with your request we are outlining the action taken by the Recreation and Park Commission at the regular meeting held on January 28, 1964. 10Commission investigated the land on the north side of Cameron, west of Hollenbeck and recommended to the City Council that they consider this further for park acquisition,, P City Manager, Mr,, Aiassa-, We also have a memo from R. E. Pontow regarding this. This is directed to the City Manager and the City Council and dated February 3, 1964. I would like a portion of this included in the Minutes-, "c . . Of the area that the drain traverses between Hollenbeck and Azusa Avenues, the westerly properties have been developed around the drain, We have heard from certain property owners abutting this drain that they find it to be desirable and have spent considerable funds improving it as a portion of their rear yard, They have'indicated that they would be in opposition to a permanent drain being constructed and backfilled to surrounding grade. The easterly portion of the drain traverses a piece of. property of approximately seven acres. This parcel is generally undeveloped because existing conditions were such -13- C, C, 3/2/64 Page Fourteen PROJECT C-150 m Continued that the property would not readily lend itself to subdivision, For an owner to develop the property,, he must accomplish it in one of three ways. "1. He has the alternative of waiting until some governmental agency constructs a storm drain thereon, which could be several years into the future, This of course requires that he have funds invested in the property for that period of time and pay taxes on it, This certainly tends to depreciate the property, "2, He could construct a storm drain and fill the property to grade, This alternative would not be economically conceivable, "3, He could attempt to develop around the existing natural wash, This alternative is also not conceivable because of the large amount of property which would be wasted and in general would be very unsatisfactory to the City of West Covina, "These essentially are the reasons that the property is a problem piece of property and has gone undeveloped all these years, "We have attempted to establish a price for the property as it currently exists and it would appear that the value would be in the neighborhood of approximately $11,000.00 per acre or $779000,00 for the seven acres, These property values must of course be confirmed by a qualified appraiser but for .discussion purposes we feel they are realistic, "Because of this fairly reasonable property cost and in light of a City Council request, we asked the Recreation and Parks.. Department if in their opinion this was a suitable park site, They felt that it was not only suitable but desirable, and this feeling was borne out by the Recreation and Parks Commission, If the City Council were to deem it advisable to purchase this property as a park site, the property could immediately become usable for that purpose, The site would ;of course have to be adequately fenced and closed at times of rains, that is, until a storm drain is constructed, If the storm drain is to be aligned across this property, as we think will ultimately be borne out9 there will be a further saving to the City of several thousand dollars in no longer required right of way costs, This would tend to further reduce the cost to the City, "RECOMMENDATION If the City Council feels that a park in this general area would be desirable, it would appear wise for the City to consider the purchase of the 7-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Hollenbeck and Cameron Avenues, the Ig anticipated cost of which must be determined by a qualified appraiser, "It also seems advisable to construct the E1 Dorado Drain through easements along the general alignment of the existing wash. The cost of constructing a drain along this alignment as compared to the cost of constructing the drain in Cameron and Azusa Avenues is socomparable that right of way costs could be the determining factor. If the 7-acre parcel is to be purchased as a park site, this would make a considerable difference, If it is not, then it would seem necessary that we receive an appraisal for the easement costs across properties westerly to Azusa Ave," -14- C, C, 3/2/64 PROJECT C-150 - Continued Page Fifteen Mr, Don Ming About three -fourths of our back- 712 Terryann Drive yard is included in this property and its use as a park would be difficult, This is a natural drainage ravine, I bought my property because I liked the looks of it, I back up into the ravine, Mayor Barnes: The main part of the land is to the southeast. I don't think you are considered in the park. The vacant property is what they are speaking of, Yours is private property, Mr, Don Ming: being proposed as a future park, Mayor Barnes: My understanding was this area would include my area and was It is only that area north of Cameron between Azusa and Hollenbeck, Public Services Director, Mr, Dosh: (Placed map on board and explained same,) Councilman Jett: Coming from the east on the east side of Hollenbecks that is a real deep ditch, If we continued with the drain down here with a pipe it would still have to be maintained at that depths wouldn't it? Public Services Directors Mr, Dosh: We are going to have to lower the grade anyhow because the ditch is so full of dirt, We have to excavate and replace that entire structure with a good storm drain some day. Mr, Don Ming: I would object to any type of drainage pipe running down through my property. We bought this property because it is a natural picturesque site and we feel this is a majority of our backyard, You can't bury a pipe deep enough without destroying everything that has been there for years, There is no flood problem there at all. I will leave the ditch open. The natural water that has come down there through the years has gone down that ditch, Councilman Snyder: The water coming down now will be off of asphalt streets, Mr, Don Mingo When you have to put in a storm drain elsewhere in the City you use the property you already have easements on or rights of way without going on people's private property, Dr, Floyd Burson I bought my property because of 711.Terri Ann this natural ravine. I have West Covina developeds planted and landscaped it and anything like this proposed project would not only ruin my own backyard but would take out 15 trees, I bought this because I like the natural beauty, If you slide something like this through you are going to destroy all this on all the properties on either side of Terri Ann, There isn't any water that drains into this, The flow of water hasn't increased at all since they have put in these houses up above Cameron, The m15- Ca C, 3/2/64 Page Sixteen 'PROJECT C-150 m Continued water doesn't drain north; it drains east from between Azusa and Hollenbeck and west towards Cameron. The water that falls on the cul-de-sac at Terri Ann drains north to harkwood. Councilman Jett: I think since you have lived there; doctor, we have had no water problems in West Covina but I have seen, years ago, water up over the top of that ditch and clear back up into the backyards. If we go into a wet cycle you're going to be amazed at the amount of water coming down that drain. Public Services Director, Mr. Dosho We propose in our master plan to tie the one through the school and the one at Azusa together with additional box culvert and those will take all the water coming through the natural drainage course that these people live on and all the water coming down Azusa, This is'one of the largest drainage areas in the City.. We haven't had a. capital storm in the.City for at least eight or nine years. Councilman Snyder: The problem is engineers have to design drains for the biggest year they can think of. This is not our problem tonight. The problem is whether you want pipe in your backyard, no matter what the size, Dr, Floyd Burson: If you do put a pipe through this ravine you.will not only destroy my property but all the property along the ravine and this is why we bought the property, for this natural beauty, Mayor Barnes: We have to consider the cost of putting this in and the cost of acquiring these easements from these people to go through their property versus the drain out in the street, or if we could keep this as a natural flow and put a park in, how much additional money would we have to expend for this park other than buying private property, and what -have -you. This is the report I would like to hear, City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: That is in Mr, Pontow's report, Councilman Jett: I think this is one piece of ground we should seriously consider acquiring as a park, We are going to have to do something about the corner there and we will have to take a portion of this land in any case, We have our easement problem coming down there, I think we should make a park site of it. It is a problem any way we look at it, I believe by acquiring this peice of property.we will be in a better position of doing something with it than otherwise, Councilman Snyder: Actually, this would be a lot easier to develop as a park and leave it sort of natural than it would ever be to subdivide it. Councilman Towner: Our General Plan indicates a. need for a park in this area, and I think because of the cost problems pointed out by Mr. Jett, whether we putithe drain through or not, we still have to improve the street and condemn property for that because I don't think this -property is going to subdivide, at least not in the near future. It sieems like a reasonable place to buy a park site. I think as far as the ..drainage channel is concerned, there are a number of natural -16- C, C, 3/2/64 PROJECT C-150 - Continued Page Seventeen drainage channels in the City similar to this and just about all of theme particularly the major ones like this, are destined.to be improved at some time in the futurea I don't know if any of them that don't run down somebody's backyards,, We have put the improvements in in other areas and I think the concern of these people is under- standable, I don't think what might happen will -happen very soon but I don't see how you can avoid it from a cost standpoint unless our engineer can come up with some solution that is not known to us now, Public Services Directors Mr, Dosh: We must improve this intersection, This is one of the worst in the City, If we do this we will have to design a drain to cross this intersection, We have to know where the drain will be so we can design the intersection, Councilman Snyder: I think we should accept the Park and Recreation's recom- mendation that this is a good park site and do something about it. It seems to me we can at the same time acquire land for curb and gutter and right of way,, Mayor Barnes: What is the difference in cost? Public Services Director, Mr, Dosh: It is about $808000,00, It is more expensive to go in the .- street, The right of way costs are included in here buts of courses we haven't had this appraised yet, This is just an estimate, At the intersection we can design something in case you change your minds and decide to go down Cameron, Councilman Heath: I think that is the safest way to do it, Public Services Directors Mr, Dosh: It will cost more, Mr, Marvin Kathbo When you are talking about buying 706 Donna Beth new property for Cameron to widen it, it also occurs to me that sooner or later isn't Cameron going to have storm drains of some sort because there is a flow of water there? Has it been computed that there is going to be a storm drain there some time in the future? That seems the logical place because Cameron does need a storm drain, Councilman Jett: I think that is in the Master Plan but you have to take these a step at a time, Motion by Councilman Jett9 seconded by Councilman Towner, and carried, that the staff investigate the possibility of buying this property for acquistion as a park site as per the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Councilman Towner: I think in connection with con- sidering the purchase of this property for a park site we will begin to get some actual idea of the valuation of the property in this area which will give us a clue as to how to go on this, 5*0 Ca Co 3/2/64 PROJECT C-150 Continued Page Eighteen Councilman Snyder-, Most pf this prgperty isn't buildable until it is filledo Councilman Towner-, It may prove to be to our advantage to go down Cameron. Mrs. Frances Ming. We have an investment, emotional commitment to our City and to this propertyo We think we.live in a City of beautiful homes and we would like to retain the beauty of our property, PERSONNEL SESSION WITH CITY COUNCIL ON DISABILITY CASES Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to adjourn to a personnel session. WEED ABATEMENT Mayor Barnes-, We have all had the benefit of the City Engineer's recom- mendation. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and award the contract to Weed Control Contractors in the amount of $89036.25. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes-, Councilmen Towner, Jett, Heath, Snyder, Mayor Barnes Noes: None Absents None Councilman Snyder: You only clean a lot once a year? Public Services Director, Mr. Dosh: We will do it about twice a year. We change our schedule depending upon when the weeds come up. .AZUSA AVENUE EXTENSION PROPOSAL City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: We had a meeting with the County Road Commissioner and he has worked out some cost figures. (Read report re this matter.) I would like this report included in the Minutes: "AZUSA AVENUE FRANCISQUITO AVENUE TO RENAULT AVENUE F.A.S. ROUTE #634 JANUARY 23, 1964 "RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENT (FASUE Standards): "STAGE 1 Francisquito Avenue to Pass and Covina Road ®-1.5 miles: • t C, Ca 3/2/64 Page Nineteen AZUSA AVENUE EXTENSION PROPOSAL - Continued "Construct 6-lane highway with raised median and exterior curbs at 90 feet on 110 feet of right of way, "Install signals at Francisquito Avenue and Pass and Covina Road. "'STAGE 2 ® Pass and Covina Road to Renault Street 0 1.1 miles: "Reconstruct and widen 6-lane highway with raised median and exterior curbs at 90 feet on 110 feet of right of way, "Install signals at Temple Avenue, "COST ESTIMATE BY JURISDICTION - STAGE lA 2 "Item County West Covina Industry La Puente Total "Prel,Eng, $ 359000 $ 509000 $ 159000 $ 0 $ 1009000 "Const,Cost 515,000 7909000 1909000 259000 195209000 "Right/Way 0 0 0 0 0., "Total $5509000 $8409000 $2059000 $ 259000 $196209000 "The amounts shown in the above table for Preliminary Engineering and Construction Costifor the Cities.and the County are based on a proration of the area within the respective sections of Azusa Avenue from Francisquito Avenue to Pass and Covina Road and from Pass and Covina Road to Renault Street, The right of way has been assumed to be acquired gratis. "COST ESTIMATE BASED ON FASUE FINANCING: "STAGE 1 - Francisquito Avenue to Pass and Covina Roads "Item State "Prel.Enga $ 359000 "Const.Cost 5409000 "Total $5759000 -County West Covina Total $ 229000 $ 139000 $ 709000 3539000 1879000 190800000 $3759000 $2009000 $191509000 "STAGE 2 m Pass and Covina Road to Renault Streets "Item State *County W. Covina Industry La Puente Total "Prel. $ 159000 $ 109000 $ 0 $ 59000 $ 0 $ 309000 Eng, "Const. 220,000 1609000 109000 459000 59000 4409000 Cost "Total $2359000 $1709000 $109000 $509000 $59000 $4709000 "NOTE: County°s cost includes all prelim. engineering and 1/2.city°s constr. cost." _19m 6 • C, Ca 3/2/64 Page Twenty AZUSA AVENUE EXTENSION PROPOSAL - Continued City Managers Mr, Aiassa-, Mr,, Templin said they want to start the preliminary plans on this but he would like a little overture from the City of West Covina to advance a sum of approximately $15,000 for this project. Motion by Councilman Heaths seconded by Councilman Snyder, to appropriate $159000,,00 out of the 344 Funds or any other appropriated funds toward the expense of the preliminary planning for Azusa Avenue,, Motion passed on roll call as follows,, Ayes: Councilmen Towner, Jett, Heath, Snyder, Mayor Barnes Noes: None Absent-, None SANITARY SEWER DISTRICT A-11-62-1 LOCATION-, Nora and other streets,, ACCEPT SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS City Construction Co,, Accept Sanitary Sewer Improve APPROVED ments and authorize the release of United Pacific Insurance Co,, performance Bond No,, B 417294 in the amount of $139,995.00 subject to Notice of Completion procedure and the posting of a one year $109000,,00 Faithful Performance Bond,, Inspector's final report filed,, Staff recommends acceptance,, Motion by Councilman Heaths seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to accept sanitary sewer improvements in Sanitary Sewer District A-11-62-1 and authorize the release of United Pacific Insurance Company performance Bond No,, B 417294 in the amount of $139,995000 subject to Notice of Completion procedure and the posting of a one year $109000,,00 Faithful Performance Bond, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES LETTER RE BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARIES Councilman Heath-, I think this is a good suggestion, Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to accept the recommendation of Mr. Geller and instruct the staff to come up with a recommendation of 2-proposed locations for branch libraries, RESOLUTION NO, 2877 The City Manager presented: ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA CLARIFYING AND DEFINING THE CONTRIBUTION BY THE CITY TO EMPLOYEES' HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN" City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: The only change is Item 4, Some of the people don't want Kaiser,, They have been paying Blue Cross all along, -20- is 0 • Ca C, 3/2/64 RESOLUTION NO, 2877 - Continued Councilman Heath: Councilman Snyder: problem administratively to servicing the City? Page Twenty -One This means we pay a certain amount regardless of what plan they go into,, With our limited number of employees has that posed any have two different insurance groups City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: We are depriving certain employees who prefer Blue Cross or Blue Shield that have been with them for some time. Councilman Snyder: I think next year they should pick one only. I think they will get better coverage, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: Some of these people have had a long record of experience with health plans and it pays off for them to continue with these, Councilman Heath: Councilman Jett: Councilman Snyder: join any other group because they get This would have to be a majority, Mayor Barnes: I think we should give a stipulated amount regardless of what plan it is, The way this paragraph is stated here they can join any medical group they want to, The only problem with it is they would make a mistake to benefits by being in a group, Hearing no objections, we will waive further reading of the body of the resolution. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, that said resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Towner, Jett, Heath, Snyder, Mayor Barnes Noes: None Absent: None Said resolution was given No, 2877, GLENDORA PALM TREE REMOVAL City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: The Council authorized these trees to be removed on the basis they go out on competitive bids and put on a bid basis and not the City crew doing the work, Mr. Gingrich says the cost of private bids are excessive, He showed a figure of $5,000,00, -21- • Cc C, 3/2/64 Page Twenty -Two GLENDORA PALM TREE REMOVAL — Continued Councilman Heath: I can't see where the City figures that they can do this job for $1,500 that an outside concern says they want just a shade under $59000.and the only difference is in the depreciation or over- head on equipment, I can't see $19500 against $5,000. I think some- one is wrong in their number somewhere, Councilman Snyder: Mayor Barnes; Public Services Directors Mr, it, This would drag it out a out in a short time, That is are right there in the area, If you have that much difference it won't hurt to gamble, We can't even take care of trees that people call us about, Dosh: Mr, Gingrich would do it piece- meal when he..could get to . long time, We couldn't knock them all part of the difference in cost, We Councilman Jett: I think we are going to have to get another lane down Glendora Avenue, I think we should go ahead and move these trees out. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, that the bid for removing the palm trees on Glendora Avenue be given to the Johnson Tree Service in the amount of $4,796,00, Councilman Towner: I was under the impression that these were rejected as being out of line, Do they have to take them out to six feet? Public Services Director: Councilman Jett: Councilman Towner: Public Services Directors Mr, Dosh: The contractors didn't bid that way; they bid 12 to 15 inches, I would say this would be subject to the engineer's recommendation and to fill the holes, The bids are not made on that basis, It will be more costly City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: We will .hold this off to the next meeting and we will give you a report, Councilman Heath: I think you should check with the County and other agencies regarding this, I will withdraw my motion, Councilman Jett: I will withdraw my second, -22- Cc Cc 3/2/64 CITY.MANAGER REPORTS - Continued. PLANNING DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL City Manager, Mr, Aiassa; Page Twenty -Three The Council wanted quick action regarding the extra personnel in the Planning Department, Councilman Heath: I have a question concerning a man right out of college with no experience with a salary range from five something to seven hundred and something a month, Councilman Towner: Councilman Heath: Councilman Towner: The Planning Assistant range is Range 24, $677 to $753, And there is no experience required, That's right, It is a college graduate, Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: This is exactly what the speci- fications are right now, We haven't changed that, Councilman Heath: In related experience where the • man can have a degree, he can be a college graduate in landscaping architecture, and he is a planning expert? Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: The reason that we have left that is that we haven't changed anything from what there is right now, The reason this is put down is this was prepared with the help of the Personnel Office a-nd this is a standard procedure in recruiting.people for planning offices, to give a wide scope in the backgrounds they would bring to the position, During a recruiting program we would attempt to get the best person we could for this salary. If we get several people applying and they go through an oral board and eligibility list is created and we would get the top people from there, Councilman Heath: Public Services Director, Mr, Dosh: Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: and the Planning Associate level, this, Councilman Heath: Mayor Barnes: What do the civil engineers get? It is the same pay scale. Those are the two men I want, the Planning Assistant level We have used the benchmarks for I think your salary range is a little bit too high, I think so, too, Councilman Towner: They are required to know about city planning as part of their college training and as far as the salary classification, this is the alignment indicated by the Letterman Study on classifications, We have Mr, Weeks' memorandum on that, He indicates this is where they fall according to the Lader:mann Btudy-:�, ,. -23- C, C, 3/2/64 PLANNING DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL - Continued 0 Mayor Barnes: Planning Director. Mr. Joseph: Councilman Towner: Councilman Snyder:. to overcome the problem of trained men and get by with than lesser trained men if Page Twenty -Four Do we have a classification as a Planning Associate? This would be a new one. The comparisons are from the Engineering Department. I think the problem is actually we need more men than this but needing more men we have to pick better less hoping they will be more productive you get more, Councilman Heath: These men you are going to hire have a responsible position because some of their information or decisions or advice is fooling around with a piece of property and they have to advise these people so they get the best.out of their property and what is best for the City, They have'to be pretty sharp people and they have to be pretty fair, Motion by Councilman Towner, seconded by Councilman Heath, to authorize the job classifications for the Planning Assistant and the Planning Associate as presented and that the staff be authorized to commence recruitment and that the salary schedule be as indicated. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Towner, Heath, Snyder Noes: Councilman Jett, Mayor Barnes Absent: None Councilman Jett: There is nobody yet who has convinced me that these positions are justified. I don't think they are needed. Just to put on employees and pay them big salaries to sit around and.draw pictures I don't think is justified, Mayor Barnes: I don't think the Planning Associate at that rate is needed, I think we need the working people, such as the.Planning Assistants, Councilman Snyder: I think this is one place where you are going to have to hire with care to get what you want, CITY COUNCIL SECRETARY Mayor Barnes: Wednesday at five o'clock. What to do interviewing? Perhaps we know a date. How about Tuesday Check it out and let Mr. Aiassa I know that Mr, Weeks will not interview the last girl until would be suitable for everybody could all call Mr. Aiassa and let him the loth, starting at ten o'clock? know. -24- • C, Co 3/2/64 Page Twenty -Five CITY MANAGER -REPORTS - Continued SACRAMENTO TRIP Councilman Heaths Chris Tambe made an announcement at the Chamber meeting of a meeting held in Sacramento on the 31st, I would like him to tell you more about it, Mr, Chris Tambe: This is a special charter flight under the sponsorship of the El Monte Chamber of Commerce, an all -day event in Sacramento leaving Ontario at 8:00 A,Mo and leaving Sacramento at 6:30 P,M, The group on the charter flight will be briefed on current events in the Legislature by the lobbiest of the Los Angeles Chamber followed by attending the Assembly Committee hearing on school financing followed by a meeting with Harvey Johnson and Phil Soto and a luncheon meeting followed by presentation by Senator Reese on the rapid transit problem, followed by a visit to the floor of the . Assembly and a tour of the Capitol and a meeting with Mr. Flournoy and then dinner, The cost of the flight is $28,00 per person, Councilman Heaths Would the City Council sponsor a trip for me to attend this? I think it is needed as long as we are going to talk to.our Assemblymen. I think it could be nothing but a help to the City. The cost_to the City would be $28,00. I will pay for my own meals, Perhaps some of the other Councilmen would like to go along, Councilman Jett: Move that Councilman Heath be authorized to attend this meeting in Sacramento with the expenses paid by the City, Councilman Towner: What specific information would be gained from this? Councilman Heath: Reese°s latest thinking on M,T,A, the present bills before the Legislature, meeting with the Assemblymen representing the area, There will be six members going from the Chamber, Councilman Towner, This is not representational; it is lust informational. We are not authorizing anybody to go up there and take any action or request any action or find out any specific information? Councilman Heath: This is representative and this is typical where West Covina has fallen down all the time, Mayor Barnes: I would specifically like to ask Mr. Heath in the visit with Mr, Reese to find out if he has changed his bill or is trying to change it to conform with Mayor Faul and his committee in the voting power of the rapid transit authority, Councilman Heath: This is sponsored by the E1 Monte Chamber and I bet you will have representatives from every city government in the area, -25- Co Co 3/2/64 SACRAMENTO TRIP - Continued Page Twenty -Six Councilman Snyder,. There is something like this you could be going to every week and I think you have to pick the ones you feel are most productive. I am not saying this would not be productive but by productive I mean in benefits to the City. I think mostly it is informational and I think it is something you don't have to go to Sacramento to get answers to. Councilman Jett. At the M.T.A. meeting that was held with Reese and his committee in Los Angeles, Councilman Heath and I attended that meeting and we met with several representatives from the different cities around here and our names were taken and I have received three letters from Senator Reese briefing me on steps he is taking in regards to this rapid transit things If some one of us shows up at one of these meetings in Sacramento I am sure that with your name being up there that we will start getting more information that will help us out in the future on our transportation problems. This is just one of the areas I think it is important that we cover it. Councilman Heath,. I.will second Councilman Jett's motion. Councilman Snyder. I think the information, including letters that ensue from this thing, should be made available to the Council. Councilman Towner. I have this other reservation. If such a trip is authorized, I think it should be limited to information gathering and I don't think any position should be taken.by the man who takes the trip unless there is express authorization from the Council. Action on Councilman Jett's motion. Motion passed on roll call as follows. Ayes,. Councilmen Towner, Jett, Heath, Snyder, Mayor Barnes Noes, None Absent. None STREET NUMBERING Councilman Heath.- (Stepped to board and explained map he drew.) On Donna Beth and Glen Allen the street numbers are in the thirteen hundred area. On Heath Terrace, the numbers are in the nineteen hundred area. There are two houses fronting and facing onto Heath Terrace and their addresses are 1343 and 1345. There have been a lot of people looking at these houses and they think the numbering Iis foolish. Public Services Director, Mr, Dosh. When we give out house numbers to the corner lots we assign the number to the lots because the lots are lined tip with the others. After we assign the numbers the architect decided to put the houses., on the lot .in a different way. Councilman Snyder. Is there any problem to change it? • J CQ Co 3/2/64 STREET NUMBERING - Continued Public Services Director, Mr. Dosh; Mayor Barnes: WATER. REPORT Page Twenty -Seven It is up to you. I am sure who- ever lives there would have a bit of work to do. We can let Mr. Aiassa check this out and see what they can do. Councilman Jett: The option period was under - subscribed by about 80,000 acre feet so they came back with a second opportunity. They went out and asked for second options. It was over -subscribed by 288,000 acre feet. This means within the next two months they will make a determination on enlarging the.. aqueduct to carry the additional water. The first bond issue has been sold for $200,000,000. The.!interest rate was considerably less than what they had anticipated. They have been talking about 4% and it is 3.55%. It is a real good bond issue. Mayor Barnes: Mr. Jett mentioned the fact that the San Gabriel Valley Water District made application for the water that would be reclaimed in the area for three different locations. This was brought up at the Sanitation Board meeting last Wednesday. Mr. Parkhurst gave a report and it was left that Mr. Parkhurst should make his findings and report at the next board meeting as to whether he should recommend this but the letter was read from the San Gabriel Valley Water District. There will be a recommendation forthcoming. Councilman Jett: I think you all received copies of the letter where they want to meet with the cities to determine this amount of water that we might be needing for this interim period from 1966 to 1972 so Mr. Aiassa and I have written a letter to our suppliers and sent them a copy of that letter and requested that they give us this information what they estimate their needs might be so we hope to have this information for you in the near future. LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES REPRESENTATION Councilman Snyder: The League downtown hasnBt got the word yet that Mr. Heath is the Director and not me and they have put me on a committee. I would like to ask the City Clerk to write them a letter and state that Mr. Heath is the Director now and that he should be on the committee and not me. MULTI -PURPOSE AUDITORIUM Councilman Towner: The East San Gabriel Valley Planning Committee met and considered the resolution asking the County to undertake a study of the feasibility and need for a multi -purpose cultural auditorium in the East San Gabriel Valley. This turned out to be one of these local tug-of-wars and the people on the other side of the hill want -27- Co. Ca 3/2/64 Page Twenty -Eight MULTI' ®PURPOSE AUDITORIUM m Continued it in the Pomona Fair Grounds and they were afraid of this resolution because they don't already have one there,, They tried to kill it by various.means and eventually took a vote on it and it turned out a seven to six vote against the resolution,, Baldwin Park cast the deciding vote,, I think it demonstrates that there is a very felt need for this type of facility somewhere in this area and what is happening is not we don't think we need it.but everybody knows we need it and there is a contest now going on as to who is going to get it,, I bring this message back to you with the idea in mind that we have.already demonstrated the need and I think it is time for us to move ahead with our own West Covina study. - Councilman Snyder- I agree, I think we are going to have to take the leadership and go ahead with studies for an auditorium but I am a little dis- appointed that the San Gabriel Valley Planning Committee, whose main - purpose is to plan for the whole Valleys should let provincialism enter into their decision like this,, Councilman Jetta I think we should get going on that,, Councilman Towner- It is going to be a race,, Councilman Snyder- We have already instructed our • civic center planners to start planning for this auditorium,, The way to do it is to plan one and then we have ' something to sell and if we have something to sell quicker than the other cities then we have a better.chance to get it. Mayor Barnes- Who seems to be behind us?'.'._. Councilman Towner- The study was just a request for the need in the East San Gabriel Valley,, I think we already have demonstrated a need,, The question is whether we should have'a lot of local municipal auditoriums of small size and maybe a major one in one location or maybe we could support.. more than one major one. It is certainly possible that either Citrus or Mount Sac will come up with a major facility,, They both want to, It is also possible that a County Fair Association will put one in out there which we want to do,, Councilman Heath- If such a program should cul- minate, is it the thinking of this Council that they would be willing to make land available in the civic center for such a project? Councilman Jett- This would be my thinking, Councilman Snyder- Providing the architects say that we have land available,, I think we could go further in that and say if we can find_a way we can make land available in West Covina, preferably in the civic center, Councilman Towner- This is my thinking, I think one of the things we should do and which we have already authorized is to have a study of the regional facilities within the civic center and if the architect says we can put it in feasibly, then we should have economic studies on it,, C C, C, 3/2/64 Page Twenty -Nine MULTI -PURPOSE AUDITORIUM e Continued Councilman Heath: I would like to get a definite idea from the Council.exactly where we stand. If you want to start laying the groundwork, we should start tomorrow, I am trying to bring forth the Council°s thinking on whether they would or would not donate the land for the installation of such an auditorium, Councilman Towner: We own the land and we would build the auditorium as a City function, The only question is whether we have enough land to provide the parking and building area, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa; This has been given to Neptune and Thomas that the Council is thinking of a regional auditorium, Mayor Barnes: I think we should be willing if at all feasible to go ahead, Councilman Snyder: A regional auditorium is exactly that, it is going to serve several cities and actually the proper way for it to be done, I think, would be the same way our County Library is run, under County districts$ with cooperation of cities working together, but there is no mechanism for this right now, Councilman Heath: On a regional auditorium, I think you are going to have to give something to get it, Councilman Snyder: What I am talking about is you have to subsidize it; you have to have a taxing district and if it is a regional auditorium without a mechanism from subsidizing from other cities, the people in West Covina are going to pay the subsidy so what you have to have is a County district, If the auditorium doesn't make money then the money has to be made up, If it is a regional auditorium with people using it from outside of the City then rightfully they should help pay for it in tax money, If we just build an auditorium and offer it to the people of the Valley as a regional auditorium, our own tax- payers are going to be the only ones paying for it, making up the difference and there should be some means, some mechanism to make up a taxing district with no regards to city boundaries such as the libraries, Councilman Towner: This could indicate other avenues of approach. Councilman Heath: I think a reasonable cost would be a donation of the land if we could get somebody to build the building and if they built the building it would be up to the builder to assume any deficit that came along, We have to give something to get this because other cities are going to make offers and the best offer is the one that is going to take it, Councilman Snyder: I think the proper agency to really run a regional auditorium is the County, They are losing some of their other functions with the cities coming in.and this is a new one they could assume, -29- C. C. 3/2/64 MULTI -PURPOSE AUDITORIUM - Continued Page Thirty Councilman Jett: I think any way we can get 'i't,- let's get it. Mayor Barnes: I -think the feeling of"the Council is -'to 'get moving and see what Mr. Aiassa can come up with from the.architects. Councilman Towner: Once you get the answer from the architects on the feasibility and on the physical facilities then you make a'studv on the. -feasibility; on the economic possibility but we haven't gotten through the first step yet. Councilman. Snyder: Are there any possible foundation funds for cultural research that might do this feasibility study? Mr. Aiassa: There was a branch of the Ford Foundation, I'll look into this for you. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS Mr. Aiassa: You have two reports from the Planning Commission; one oneaislthe ZonefChange1No.as1292, Arthur James, e regarding p part of t City and the other eas t end study. "City Council February 26, 1964 Planning Commission Park Facilities in the Eastern Part of West Covina The Planning Commission is aware of the zoning activity located south of the San Bernardino Freeway at the eastern end of the City. The Commission has recently approved an unclassified use permit for the Covina Valley Unified School District for a proposed school site located between Garvey and Holt Avenues easterly of Grand Avenue. There is a dis- tinct possibility, based on recent City Council action, that an increase in density may be expected in this general area. This increased density will reflect itself in the demands for a great number of municipal services, one of which is the requirement for additional park land facilities. At its meeting of February 19, 1964 upon motion by Commissioner Gleckman, seconded by Commissioner Travis and unanimously carried, the Planning Commission did recommend to the City Council that immediate planning and action be commenced regarding the acquisition of additional park facilities in the generally described eastern portion of West Cov.ina and that the park location be reviewed for consideration of .development in conjunction with the proposed school site." -30- is LJ C. C. 3/2/64 PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS - Continued "City Council Planning Commission Zone Change'No. 292 (Arthur James) East End Study Page Thirty -One February 27, 1964 For the third time'the Planning Commission has" -been asked to consider a change of zone in`the area generally located easterly of the Walnut Creek Channel southerly'of the'San Bernardino Freeway. A great deal of energy has been ex- pended by the Planning Commission'in this regard and yet. the Commission realized -that there may be areas of still further study to be accomplished. For Zone'Change No; 292 Arthur James) the applicant has provided_the city with a report which attempts to justify a rezoning to'a less restrictive density for the property located -with- in the subject study area. The Planning Commission'ap- preciates the effort on the part of the applicant,_how- ever it believes that the report submitted by -the appli- cant for this case falls short- of ' justifying a"rezoning. Yet the Planning Commission shares with the City Council a definite concern regarding the future development of this eastern portion of West Covina. At its meeting of February 19, 1964 upon motion by Commissioner Fast, . seconded by Commissioner Travis, the Commission recom- mends to the City Council that the Council give-considera- tion to obtaining a committment-from Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall to -study this economic report*"of'Economic Research Associates submitted by Arthur James'iegardirig Zone Change:No.292 as it applies to the east end of the City of West Covina and'that in addition thereto any further elaborations or extensions of this study should be submitted by DMJM so that the City may be better able to plan for the development of this section of West Covina. The reason DMJM is being suggested as a possible consul- ting firm is that they have already concluded a great amount of research on -the East San Gabriel Valley and West Covina with regard to the study now being under- taken by that firm on South Glendora Avenue. The Plan- ning Commission feels quite strongly about this matter and encourages the serious consideration by the Council as to the continuance of research for this local." There being no further business, Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Snyder, and carried, that this meeting be adjourned at 12:45 A.M. ATTEST: APPROVED MAYOR City Clerk -31-