05-24-1964 - Regular Meeting - MinutesI f
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
May 25, 1964
•
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor
Snyder at 7:40 P.M. in the West Covina City Hall. Councilman Heath
led the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Rev. Robert
Bergman of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Snyder, Councilmen Krieger, Heath
Others Present: Mr. George Aiassa, City Manager
Mrs, Lela Preston, Deputy City Clerk
Mr. Harry C. Williams, City Attorney (from 7:50 P.M.)
Mr. John Q. Adams, Public Services Director
Mr, Harold Joseph, Planning Director (from 8:00 P.M.)
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
YOUTH BENEFIT WEEK
Councilman Heath: I think it would be fitting if
• the Council would pay respects
to the son of one of.our Councilman who has left us within the past
few days, (So done).
Mayor Snyder: I have a proclamation to make
next week as Youth Benefit Week.
This is done in memoriam for Dale Nichols and the family has asked
that the funds contributed to the Dale Nichols Memorial Fund should
go to the Teen -Kan -Teen Foundation in memoriam for him.
If there are no objections, I will so proclaim. (There were none.)
So proclaimed.
PRESENTATION OF GAVEL
Mayor Snyder: It is now my pleasure to
present to the man who served
on the Council for some eight years and as Mayor of this City for
two years, this gavel. I would like to ask Claude Barnes to step.
up here with us. (Presented gavel to Mr. Barnes);
Mr. Claude Barnes: Thank you very much. This
gavel is most gratifying to
me and I will long remember all of the wonderful people that I
met here in the City Council. Thank you very much, Doctor, and
my thanks to the rest of the Council,
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• APPROVAL OF MINUTES
April 21, 1964
April 27, 1964 )
May 4, 1964 )
May 119* 1964 )
Page Two
Held over,
Approved as presented as follows:
Councilman Krieger: We do not have a quorum of the
Council present that sat at
the meeting of April 21, 1964, Those should be held over,
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and -
carried, that the Minutes of April 271 1964, May 4, 1964, and May 11,
1964 be approved as presented,
I
CITY CLERK'S REPORTS
PRECISE PLAN NO, 293 LOCATION: North side of San
ACCEPT STREET IMPROVEMENTS Bernardino Road, east
Paul W, Thorsen of Azusa Canyon Road,
APPROVED
Accept street improvements
• and authorize release of Pacific Employers Insurance Co, bond
No, 01-B-88779 in the amount of $2,100,00, Staff recommends approval,
• Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger,and
carried, to accept street improvements in Precise Plan No,293
and authorize.release of Pacific Employers Insurance Company bond
No, 01-B-88779 in the amount of $2,100,00.
METES 6 BOUNDS SUBDIVISION NO, 135-204 LOCATION: .North Garvey Avenue,
REQUEST TO EXTEND TIME TO east of Mockingbird
FILE -FINAL MAP. Lane.,
Mrs, Hel-tn Raymond
APPROVED Review request - Engineer's
report - instruct City Engineer
as to procedure, Staff recommends approval,
City Manager, Mr; Aiassa:
(Read report re this ratter,)
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried, to extend the time to file the.final map in Metes and
Bounds. Subdivision No, 135-204 from February,ll, 1964 to February 11, 1965
subject to such:Gonditions as may exist at this time.
isRESOLUTION NO, 2929
ADOPTED
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ACCEPT-
ING A CERTAIN'WRITTEN INSTRUMENT
AND DIRECTING THE RECORDATION
THEREOF" (Bing T, Wong and Boy J.
Wong)
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RESOLUTION NO, 2929 - Continued
Mayor Snyder:
Page Three
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger,,: Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absents Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No. 2929,
(Mr, Williams entered the chambers at 7:50 P,M.)
RESOLUTION NO, 2930
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The Deputy City Clerk presented. -
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST.
COVINA ACCEPTING A CERTAIN
WRITTEN INSTRUMENT AND DIRECTING
THE RECORDATION THEREOF" (PP 1579
Covina Valley Unified School
District - Vincent School Site)
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the'
body of the resolution..
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
resolution'be adopted. Motion passed on'roll call as follows. -
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2930,
RESOLUTION N0, 2931
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
ACCEPTING A CERTAIN WRITTEN
INSTRUMENT AND DIRECTING THE
RECORDATION THEREOF" (Zone
Variance No, 1949 Covina Valley
Unified School District -
Sunkist School Site)
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution,
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RESOLUTION NO, 2931 - Continued
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2931,
RESOLUTION NO, 2932
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
ACCEPTING A CERTAIN WRITTEN
INSTRUMENT AND DIRECTING THE
RECORDATION THEREOF" (Zone
Variance No, 167 - Covina
Valley Unified School District -
Grovecenter School Site)
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call- as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2932,
RESOLUTION N0, 2933
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
ACCEPTING A CERTAIN WRITTEN
INSTRUMENT AND DIRECTING THE
RECORDATION THEREOF" (Precise
Plan No, 339 - Covina Valley
Unified School District - South
Hills High School Site)
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution.
0 Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said
resolution be adopted,' Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2933,
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CITY CLERK'S REPORTS - Continued
RESOLUTION NO, 2934
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
Page Five
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
ACCEPTING A CERTAIN WRITTEN
INSTRUMENT AND DIRECTING THE
RECORDATION THEREOF" (Precise
Plan No. 339, Covina Valley
Unified School District - South
Hills High School Site)
Hearing no objections; we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2.934,
1.
RESOLUTION NO, 2935
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ..
ADOPTING AND SUBMITTING A BUDGET
FOR EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS
ALLOCATED FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY
FUNDS TO CITIES"
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution.
Motion by ,Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No. 2935,
RESOLUTION.NO, 2936
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
GRANTING ITS CONSENT TO THE
ANNEXATION OF A CERTAIN PORTION
OF SAID CITY TO COUNTY SANITATION
DISTRICT NO, 21 OF LOS ANGELES
COUNTY"
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution,
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Page Six
RESOLUTION NO, 2936 - Continued
• Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Barnes
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2936,
REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT NO, 41 LOCATION: Northeast of Center
Tract Nos, 27665, 27666 6 27416 Street and Valley,
Pickering Enterprises
APPROVED Request for approval of
Reimbursement Agreement No, 41
for sanitary sewers, Staff recommends acceptance,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to enter into the Reimbursement Agreement No, 41 in Tract
Nos, 27665, 27666 and 27416,
LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 64-66 LOCATION.: South of San Bernardino
STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS freeway, west of Lark
Ellen Avenue
Review preliminary report of City Engineer, Accept report and adopt
resolution authorizing City Engineer to proceed with preparation of
final plans and'specifications. Staff recommends acceptance and
adoption of resolution,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to accept the report of the City Engineer and adopt the
resolution authorizing the Engineer to prepare the final plans and
specifications for Lighting District 64-66,
RESOLUTION NO, 2937
ADOPTED
The Deputy City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY.COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
ORDERING THE CITY ENGINEER TO
PREPARE ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM,
PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, ESTIMATE
AND REPORT FOR LIGHTING DISTRICT
NO, 64-B6 PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF DIVISION 149 PART
ONE OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.
CODE, STREET LIGHTING ACT OF
1919 AS AMENDED FOR THE
INSTALLATION, FURNISHING OF
ELECTRIC CURRENT AND FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN LIGHTING
FIXTURES AND APPLIANCES IN•.SAID
CITY.FOR A:FIXED PERIOD OF
MONTHS ENDING JUNE 309 1966"
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RESOLUTION N0, 2937 - Continued
Mayor Snyder:
Page Seven
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution,
Motion by Councilman Krieger$ seconded by Councilman Heath$ that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows;
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath$ Mayor Barnes
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2937,
(Mr, Joseph entered the chambers at 8:00 P,M,)
HEARINGS
ZONE CHANGE NOa 278 LOCATION: Northeast corner of
C, C, Cheesebrough Holt and Grande
DENIED between Holt and'San
Bernardino Freeway,
Request to reclassify from Zone R-A to Zone C-1 and R-3 or. R-4'denied
by Planning Commission Resolution No, 1513, Appealed by applicant on:
December 26, 1964, and at applicant's request hearing held over to
May 11, 1964, Hearing continued to May 25, 1964,
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston: (Read Planning Commission
Resolution No, 1513,)
Mayor Snyder: This is the time and place for
the public hearing,
IN FAVOR
Mr, Graham Ritchie I represent several applicants,
1117 Wilshire Boulevard Mr, Cheesebrough, Mr, and Mrs,
Los Angeles Hobbs, Mr, and Mrs, Morris,,and
Mr, Kuny, Together, they make
up the ownership of the parcel. It is bounded on one side by the San
Bernardino Freeway and on another, its full width, with Grand and by
Holt Avenue on the south, On the east is a proposed new school site,,
It finds itself in the unique position of having traffic going by it
on Holt Avenue which is really in effect an off -ramp of the freeway,
on Grand Avenue, which is underpass for the freeway, and the top part
fronts on the San Bernardino Freeway, Because of the unique terrain.
of the property it does present unique problems to a developer, the
major problem being that although it abuts the San Bernardino Freeway
on the north it drops down to the south end of the property where it
comes to the level of Holt Avenue, This is not a gentle slope by any
means and it makes it extremely difficult to develop the property
the way it is presently zoned. At the southerly end of the property
it is traversed by the Kellogg Drain,
The existing zoning on the
property is R-1 209000, It is at the present time being occupied by
three or four private homes, The property owners have gotten together
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ZONE CHANGE NO, 278 - Continued
Page Eight
and because they feel this is the gateway to a residential area rather
than in the middle of one it is felt that they should have relief from
the existing zoning on the property. With this kind of traffic pattern
and being located this close to the freeway, the building of R-1 20,000
houses is not economically feasible. The problems of solving the
drain problem and the fact the property drops sharply would require
the marketing of a house that would be so far out of range for market-
ability for this area that it doesn't seem feasible to the present
owners and they would like to do something with the property and they
don't feel it can be done under R-1 20,000 zoning, They make appli-
cation for C-1, R-4 and R-3, At the time they did that they didn't
include specifically the request for R-2. They wanted the highest and
best use the Council and the Planning Commission would find reasonable
for the property and made some suggestions but didn't bind themselves
for those suggestions, What they suggested to the Planning Commission
was that the property fronting on Holts particularly starting at the
corner of Grand, would lend itself to some type of commercial develop-
ment providing neighborhood services at the edge or beginning of a
residential area, They felt that portion of the property severed.
by the Kellogg Drain was not conceivably able to be developed as
residential and they felt that portion of the property could deserve
consideration for commercial, Behind the Kellogg Drain toward the.
freeway they felt the property would best be served by some type of
unified multiple development and they aren't particularly committed
to high rise or anything; they just felt that if they can develop
some kind of reasonable multiple development they could get the
financing to:make it possible to plan the area and develop the land.
They are prepared to'develop it within whatever kind of multiple
zoning the Council should see fit to grant them.
In the Planning -Commission
resolution they point out that in denying this application the
Planning Commission does not foreclose the possibility of some less
restrictive residential on some part of the property. However,
until an amended application is committed for low density multiple
they denied the application. I had been advised that the City
was making some kind of a traffic study of Grand Avenue and although
I didn't know whether or not it would have any impact on this property
I felt it would be wise to wait until the results of that property study
were available and we took the matter off calendar and requested it
to be set after the study was completed, The study has not been
completed, Actually, the most it could ever do is indicate some
interference on the west side of this Droperty by some expansion or
change in the use of Grand Avenue but the basic use of the property
will never change,
We are faced with a piece of
property here which isn't today as it was a few years ago, It has
deteriorated in value as single family because of the fact that the
freeway has become more and more active, because Grand Avenue has
been put there and is extremely busy, because Holt Avenue carries
more traffic. We are bounded by three streets carrying a tremendous
amount of traffic in the City, The other three corners on Grand
and Holt are vacant, I feel some type of commercial development
could be considered for Holt and some type of multiple development,
at least R-2, and possibly R-3 at least at the top portion. of the
property; that this would be a reasonable solution for the property,
I think the Council should give consideration as to where a line -
should be drawn and how much relief this property.should be given,
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ZONE CHANGE NO, 278 - Continued
• Mr, C, C. Cheesebrough We are inside the traffic
3424 East Garvey pattern of an off -ramp, We -
West Covina are within a traffic circle,
I believe one of the statements
made by Mayor Snyder during his campaign was he said along the freeway
was where the multiple development should be, This property borders
the freeway. There was a study made sometime ago that the population
center of the San Gabriel Valley is at Vincent. In 1970 that same
population center will be moving east to Citrus, Therefore9 I think
there is no time like the present to upgrade this particular property,
IN OPPOSITION
Mr, Hal Marron I would like to know exactly
3142 East Virginia where the drain.on the property
West Covina is?
Mr, Joseph: (So indicated on map,) It is
in the lower quarter of the
property.
Mr, George McCormick Four gentlemen have been asked
421 Manington Place by the East Hills Home Owners
West Covina Association to appear opposing
• the rezoning of the Cheesebrough
property, We would specifically
• like to point out that this is the second time the Council has been
asked to rule on this particular piece of property, Secondly, this
is not in the General Plan for multiple, The higher density they are
asking for is located in many other places in our City and has yet
to be developed, We believe this is the typical example of vested
interests requesting spot zoning within our City,
Mr, Melvin Krauss, We believe West Covina should
321 South Charvers Avenue be kept a City of homes and
West Covina not a City of gas stations
and apartment houses, In the
Times it says that the object of zoning restrictions is to protect
the rights of each individual to light, air, open space, and a
man -made -environment for all, We have no objections to commercial
and high rise zoning in certain parts of the City, There are
already too many gas stations in this particular area of the City
and we feel there is no need for other liquor stores, small businesses
and such things in, this part of our City,' Therefore, we urge you
to turn down this request,
Mr, Burkman We live on the corner of Mesa
3005 Mesa Drive and Barranca. We are on the
West Covina main traffic pattern to Mount
Sac and we get a lot of
traffic, We feel still this is very desirable residential property,
We don't feel as though our property value has been run down and I
can't see much difference between the traffic pattern and the
similarity between the Cheesebrough property and our own as regards
to traffic, Secondly, there are many other areas both in our City
and in other cities where the traffic pattern is fairly heavy and
where the residential qualities still remain very high,
Regarding the waters this
particular area is already short of water, The lines that have been
laid in there by the Valencia Water Companyg and the original purpose
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ZONE CHANGE NO, 278 - Continued
Page Ten
• of these lines and the supply available to this area is for single
family, The zoning along the freeway such as the James property
or the commercial zoning up along Eastland are already putting a
heavy load on the availability of water. This area cannot stand
multiple zoning or commercial zoning which will use considerably
more water than single family usage,
Mr, Hal Marron As you are aware, the density
we are speaking of in this
area even though we are talking of lesser densities of children
per apartment dwelling I believe it was developed that something
like 1,2 children per apartment unit while in the balance of the
area in the single family residential we have something like 2,5 to
3 children per residential unit. The point we are trying to make
here is that this extremely high density where it is presently zoned
for two units to the acres and we are talking to some place around
30 to 40 if we get into R-3 or R-4, would make high density and we
are quite concerned that it will overtax our schools which were
designed and located for the purposes of actually setting out in these
areas the area of land we need in order to handle the present zoning,
We are quite concerned because of the possibility of double sessions
for our children that this extremely high density and the added load
it will put on our schools, in addition our other facilities,
•
The other
thing I
am concerned
•
about is when they talk about this being a unique
they talk about the cross fall, I that
piece
of property,
the
would say
generally
hilliness
of this area considering the development of that
as you
go further
south is minor in todays engineering practices and
could
be easily
overcome, I believe we could grant some relief,
smaller
lots, perhaps,
but I don't think we should go to this higher zone
of.10
units to the
acre, That is extremely too high,,
Mr, George McCormick: As far as the proximity to the
freeway, I would like to point
out we have several miles of R-1 houses immediately adjacent to the
freeway. The development of smaller parcels of C-1 zoning merely
detracts from the smaller specialty shops that tend to develop in
our large shopping centers if allowed to, We'feel this is an
undesirable place to have anything but R-1 development, The grade
which has been mentioned is�very condusive to the development of the
very exclusive split-level homes which require a minimum of grading
and engineering work, We feel this is an ideal and suitable place
for single fancily dwellings.
I would like all of those
opposed to this:'.zoning to please stand to show our opposition,
(So indicated,)
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston: I have a letter from Robert
H, Stone addressed to the
41 City Council in opposition to this zone change, (Read said letter,)
I have another letter addressed to the City Council from Mr, and
Mrs, Elmer McCallister in opposition to this matter,
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ZONE CHANGE NO, 278 - Continued
Page Eleven
Mr, Cc C, Cheesebroughe I would like to take exception
to the statement about the water,
At the meeting of the Valencia Heights Water Company serving that
particular area they are using less than 75% of their capacity today,
They have one well that is completely shut down,. The water company
originally did not put the mains into the area to serve single family
residential; they put them in to serve groves,
When we submitted this appli-
cation we had to present a 300-foot radius map and all those people
have to be notified, What particular reason is that? Are those
people more concerned than anybody else, would you say?
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: This is designed to especially
notify those closest concerned,
Mr, C, C, Cheesebrough:
You would say they were mostly
concerned within the 300-foot
radius?
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: That is the average presumption
in giving this notice,, There
could be geographical situations where it would be otherwise.,
Mr, C, C, Cheesebroughe I would like to call your
attention to the fact that in
all the protests tonight there was just the one letter from the
McCallisters, the only people objecting within the 300-foot radius.
The people most vitally effected are not objecting,
Mr, Graham Ritchie: The people who are down here
although they are interested
property owners, they represent.a group of people with an
organized philosophy of how to develop an area, and are entitled
to their view and entitled to come down here and present it, but
there is nobody that we are aware of who is here and protesting
who is close enough to this property to be directly effected by.it,
If they were concerned about it, they would -have been here or would
have made their complaints known to the Council,.
In all'fairness, I think you
can only judge this property by going out there and looking at it.
It does present a unique problem, There are practical economic
problems, You have an isolated parcel that does justify.being
considered by itself. You would not buy an expensive 40, 50 thousand
dollar home in such a busy area when you could have just as nice a
home in a much quieter area,
I don°t think cutting it up into
smaller residential lots is going to solve anything for anybody,
I do feel that some kind of planned multiple development on a parcel
located geographically as this is is not incompatable with what is
around it, gives the property owner the degree of relief he is
entitled to, He isn't going to be able to build expensive homes on
it, He is entitled to the type of:zoning that will enable.him to
build something on it, I have heard no one who has said they will
be personally effected or personally injured by this type of zoning,
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was cloged,
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ZONE CHANGE NO, 278 o Continued
• Mayor Snyder-,
was quoting me
campaign about
representation
and although I
multiple along
of what I said.
Page Twelve
The accuracy of the statement
in the paper depends on who
may have made some statement in my
the freeway, this is not a fair
Councilman Krieger-, A statement made at the League
of California Cities this last
weekend comes to mind, This speaker said the function of a Councilman
is to satisfy the irritated without irritating the satisfied,, As
we hear these various land use matters before the Council it certainly
brings that particular description of our function to mind.
In fairness to the resolution
of the Planning Commission, I think the Council should take in mind
the statement that in denying the applicant that the Planning Com-
mission did not foreclose the possibility of some less restrictive
residential zoning on some part of the property,, In any event, we
should take cognizance of the fact that they did not foreclose nor
did they pass on,, In fairness, I think we should take this into
consideration,,
When we are asked to draw
these lines the question always comes to mind as where you draw the
lines that have some consistency to them,, We have before us a
proposal for rezoning and I have heard precious little on this subject
• of C®l,, Mr,, Ritchie is quite right when he states we can consider
more restrictive zoning,, At this juncture I would not have the
beginnings of an idea in the developmental phase of this property
how to consider more restrictive zoning,, The proposals before us
tonight have to do with C-1, R-3 and R-4, and although the Council
may consider more restrictive zoning we do not have much evidence
to proceed on unless we are to treat the property as a unit. My own
inclination is to deny the zone change inasmuch as I do not believe
consistent with the Planning Commission that this.is appropriate land
use in this particular area. I believe this Council is continually
being asked to draw lines but the lines we are being asked to draw
are subjective in nature in terms of the point of view of the appli-
cant,, I would tend to hope that the Council would keep in mind the
entire balance of the City on any of these zone changes, zone
questions, what is for the benefit of the City,,
Councilman Heath-, It wasn't long ago that we had
a hearing before us on the
multiple zoning on the Ruppert property which was directly in the
center of residential areas,, I voted against that at that time
because I felt the multiple dwellings should be kept out of the
residential area. I still feel that it should be,, However, in this
case, this is removed from the residential areas in my estimation,,
This piece of property is a problem piece of property; it has a large
drain across the southerly part of it,, I think you will find that
there is a tremendous ravine along the easterly side,, I don't think
Mr,, Cheesebrough realizes or has had an engineer on the property to
tell him what a problem he has because when he starts putting in
drains for this he is going to find out the amount of money it will
cost,, The previous Council instituted the R®2 zone specifically
for problem pieces or property, problem properties that would be
at many places throughout the City,, If you look at the Minutes you
will find that this is how it is stated, that this R®2 will be
reserved for these problem properties to allow a man to develop his
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ZONE CHANGE NO,, 278 m Continued
Page Thirteen
property when he has a handicap,, I believe this property would satisfy
a variance on the basis of its handicap.
As far as the water is
concerned, I have heard nothing from the Fire Department stating
there is not enough water and I think this would be in a report if there
was,,
As far as the increase in the
load on the schools is concerned, we had a meeting with the Covina
School District,, If you look at the record you will find that they
have bought additional sites with the expectations of some more
multiple dwellings in this area,, I believe they are prepared to
take care of this increase in dwellings,,
I do feel that the commercial
is out of line If it once starts, you will never stop it,, I feel
going to R®4 is quite possibly out of line,, I feel that if you read
the Minutes of the Planning Commission and attended the hearing before
the Commission you would find they were searching for a way to grant
Rm2 on this property but were mislead from an attorney who was not
familiar with our ordinance. In reading the resolution of the Planning
Commission you will see that they attempted to zone this Rm2'as a
recommendation to us,, On the basis of this and what I have said
before, I think we could justify R-2 on this property,, I do not think
we could justify R®4 on it and definitely we cannot justify commercial,,
Mayor Snyder-,
Can the Council grant anything
except what is asked for in
this application?
City Attorney, Mr,, Williams,, Yes,, You can grant any totally
included zone in one of the
zones asked for,, For example, if the R-3 includes every use permitted
in R®2 then Rm2 is an included zone,, You can give less than asked
for but not more than asked for,,
Mayor Snyder. -
Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph-,
Is there a Planning staff
report on this area, particularly
this property?
There was a report some time
back,,
Mayor Snyder-, I would agree with the opponents
that this is against the General
Plan,, It would tend to set the pattern of changing the whole character
of this area if we were to grant anything in excess of R-2,, I would
also agree that R®2 might be feasible on at least a portion of this
property,, However, to outline which should be R®2 tonight and which
should be R®1 would be difficult,, I don't see how we could do this
without the applicant's help and the staff's help in outlining the
areas,, I think further things which speak against higher density
is the amount of services we are able to offer in this area, including
water, schools, streets, parks, et cetera,, It is obvious we are
rather devoid in all these services to even service the R®1 and how
could we service Rm3 or Rm4? 'It has also been demonstrated that
you can build high quality residential next tomajor highways and
even freeways,, There has definitely been no community or neighborhood
need shown for commercial and the applicant is pursuing this very
m13®
LJ
C, Co 5/25/64
ZONE CHANGE NO, 278 m Continued
Page Fourteen
cautiously because he was unable to develop any need,, It seems to me
you have to show the same need for high density multiple,, You have -..
to show a community and neighborhood need as well as an economic need,
I don°t think that has been shown, I would go along with denying it
tonight because I could see putting R®2 on part of it but I don't see
how we can sit here tonight and outline which part since we have no
testimony saying which part,,
Councilman Heath-, Would it be appropriate to
hold this until there is a
precise plan approved?
Councilman Krieger-, With reference to that matter,
I always assume a zoning quesiton
should be
.judged on its merits and not on the basis of a precise plan,
The City Attorney has commented in times past that a precise plan is
evidentiary only,
City Attorney, Mr,, Williams-, Yes,
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Mayor
Snyder,
and carried,
that Zone Change No, 278 be denied,, (Councilman
Heath
voted "No",)
ZONE CHANGE N0,, 283 LOCATION-,
Leslie Sugar
Azusa
side)
Avenue (west
between Rowland
DELETED
and Workman
Avenues,
Request to reclassify from Zone.C-1 and Rml to Rm3 denied by
Planning Commission Resolution No, 1525, Appealed by applicant on
January 22, 1964, with the request for hearing to be scheduled on
May 25, 1964,, Letter received from Graham.A,, Ritchie, attorney for
applicant, stating that applicant withdraws his appeal in this case,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to accept the letter of withdrawal for Zone Change No, 293,
ZONE CHANGE NO, 284
Fern Merry, et al,
APPROVED (Rm3)
LOCATION-, Glendora Avenue
between Service and
St, Christopher,
Request to reclassify from Zone R®A to Zone R-P denied by Planning
Commission Resolution No, 1575, Called up by Council on April 27, 1964,
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston-,
Mayor Snyder-,
'IN FAVOR
Mr,, Francis-J, Garvey
281 East Workman Avenue
Covina
(Read Planning Commission
Resolution No, 1575,)
This is the time and place for
the public hearing,
I represent the applicants in
this matter, As you may have
noted from the Planning Com-
mission resolution, this case
m14®
C,, Co 5/25/64
ZONE CHANGE NO,, 284 - Continued
Page Fifteen
• was not denied upon its merits but upon the rather specious reason
• that a study of Glendora Avenue was under consideration and it would
not be in the best interests of the City to consider an individual
zoning change,, This is not an application for an individual zone change;
this is a request made pursuant to a request of this body for those
persons who have had a potential zoning upon their property since 1955
to firm that zoning or lose it. To grant anything other than the
potential zoning seems to be a denying of that already existing.and
since this is City initiated it seems that the burden should be upon
the City to establish why the zoning which was there potentially
for period of eight years ought not to be confirmed rather than
the other way® It seems to me a backwards way of doing things to
issue what in terms of the law courts an order to show cause that
which you do have unless you can comein and show why you should retain
This property is located along
Glendora immediately south of St,, Christopher's Church,, It comprises
nearly eight acres and is just a little north of the westerly extension
of Service Avenue,, At the corner of Service and Glendora is commercial
zoning and the commercial zoning is approved for a two or three-story
office building and the ground has recently been cleared so the building
can go ahead,, We are directly across from this on the diagonal and
next to the church. Across the street is a 15-acre R-3 zone, the
• Towne House development,, We have to the north of it an area in brown
which I believe is commercial but which bears R-3 designation on the
General Plan,, Immediately above it we have a solid commercial
extension which is an extension of the main central business district
of the City and by looking at Cameron Avenue development and Glendora
to make a triangle we see this area constitutes the most logical
expansion of multiple, commercial, or heavier than single family
residential use as the City grows,,
The criteria for multiple zoning
is, as laid down in your General Plana sketchy,, Neither the Council
nor the Planning Commission nor the technical staff has as yet devised
a "ten commandments" whereby you recognize a piece of ground to have
one label or another. It is a little difficult to look at a piece
of property and say it should be one thing or another,, Past history
gave this R-P zoning,, We have adequate traffic arteries, We have
adequate room to develop internal streets if this was developed as
a single piece of property in a multiple family use. We have the
amenities which are so desirable,, We have churches and schools in
relatively easy access to the property,, We have major commercial 'up
here,, We have a hospital within relatively easy access of the
property. We have a large neighborhood Von's development nearby and
coming further south we have additional heavy commercial,, We may
be a little deficient in recreational facilities but this is a problem
that the City has not as yet solved in terms of what to provide where.
I will paraphrase your D,,M,,J,,M,,
report who in their study of South Glendora Avenue reocmmended this
for at least R-3 zoning and in addition to that in discussing the
school situation pointed out that the average passage of school
children through the school system with all of the units which they
proposed along this street would not seriously overburden the school
system in the area because the accretion of school children would be
less than three per.year if I understood that report correctly,,
-15-
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C, C, 5/25/64
ZONE CHANGE NO, 284 - Continued
Page Sixteen
We do not have a precise plan
because we are here at the request of the City to ask that the zoning
already given be affirmed, It is requested that you firm up the zoning.
so the owners of the property, whose taxes during the past eight years
have increased from $550 a year to over $29100 a year because of the
zoning it carries, have a marketable facility commensurate with the
tax value which you have given to it. The street would not be overly
burdened by a development on this property. Glendora has already
been proposed to be widened. We can't say that traffic should be
a reason for denying that which you already have given, We cannot
say that the facilities necessary to support it are not there because
as we can see from the map there are schools, adequate shopping and
there are places for business. We have hospitals, doctors' offices
and attorneys' offices. We have churches, We have all of the criteria
mentioned in the General Plan,
We are asking for R-P but
the Council in its wisdom since it requested us to firm this up has
also seen fit to change the category of its ordinances, R-P now
no longer is what R-P was at the time this general request was made
by the Council, We have a compartmentation or a division of R-P
now into the residential multiple and into the professional category.
The precise wording of this application is for R-P because R-P is
• the potential label which it carried but as included uses in that I
believe we are entitled to either professional office or high density
multiple, High density multiple would be the R-4 classification
which I think is a lesser included use than the old R-Po
The Planning Commission has
denied this but not denied it upon the basis of any finding of fact
which relate the criteria established in the General Plan, They
have denied it solely because they would not like to rezone
piecemeal and yet, gentlemen, that is exactly what they are going to
have to do because if you have read the proceedings of the first
hearing at Wescove School you find that you have nothing except
objections from the people whose property is proposed to be rezoned
and I am sure each one is going to insist upon a separate considera-
tion of his property, In effect, when you attempt to take a total
street rezoning without relating it to the entire City to see what
effect it has you are. going to create an unnatural bulge.
It is not unreasonable to say
that this piece of property should be considered on the basis of the
case which is before you tonight and not be tied in with other cases
in one large package where it would not, unless you intended to
hold six months of continuous hearings to- balance out every equity
of every individual contained in that general study to determine
what zoning should be placed upon it and to look at all contending
interests, I suggest by the action of the City Council eight years
ago you have quadrupled the taxes on this property and the --City of
West Covina has benefited from the extent that'the City has a tax
rate which is included in that, .
The history of this was that
to firm up the potential all one had to do was to present a precise
plan and the zoning was firmed up, This meets all of the criteria,
sketchy as they may be, as provided in the General Plan with respect
to this type of zoning, The present zone study by D,M,J,M, recommends
at least a R-3 development for this property,
-16-
Co Co 5/25/64
ZONE CHANGE NO, 284 - Continued
• lished a valid
I request that
the property,
IN OPPOSITION
case for multiple zoning
the City Council so firm
Page Seventeen
I submit that we have estab-
of this property at this time,
up the existing zoning upon
Mr, Chuck Dowding I am chairman of the West
1605 South Belmont Covina Home Owners Federation,
West Covina We have some criteria we would
like you to consider in this -
matter, There is R-1 adjacent to this property and across the street,
If we are going to try to protect the existing uses it would seem to
me anything less restrictive than R-2 on this particular piece of
property would be out of the question. Further, in connection with
property adjacent to major highways, it points out in the General
Plan -that the function of the highway is to carry the traffic and it
is not good City planning normally to introduce more traffic. If
you have shielded R-1 against a major highway you have the ideal
setup as far as the flow of traffic is concerned.
As far as the reference to the
D,M,J,M0 report and their projection of what this pidce of property
• developed in high density would do or -might reflect, I would make
plain that their inference is invalid and has no basis, This is
• regarding the schools,
The General Plan originally
had this all for single family, This would be in opposition with the
General Plan, I think it is unfortunate that we are forced to consider
this matter tonight before we have had an opportunity to consider all
the development along here,
In summary, if we are going
to keep a balance in multiple as opposed to single family development
we have to look at these multiple proposals very carefully and see
we are not going to unbalance the scales. We already exceed the
recommendation for multiple developments in the General Plan at the
669000 population level and at this time we are only at the 61,000
population level,
REBUTTAL
Mr, Francis.J, Garvey: We have here a buffer -- Service
Avenue and Glendora Avenue,
The Supreme Court of California has from time to time said that streets
constitute an adequate buffer for zoning. Against the two houses
which project against this property across Glendora, the two separate
R-1 parcels, we have this large span of existing multiple which is
already in being. We have a street running back here, Service,
which can protect the residential and we have one row of single family
homes on St, Malo which might be effected but I believe the Planning
Commission has developed buffering techniques which will provide
for this if developed as a single unit an adequate place which would
give protection to this, If you were to cut this into R-1 you could
get quite a few houses which would generate traffic, With respect
to traffic, the traffic he wants to protect is mostly generated
outside of West Covina,
-17-
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•
•
i
co CA 5/28/64 Page Eighteen
zONE CHANGE NO, 284 m Continued
t
When you place a classification
of zoning on it you write into the general ordinance that there would
be certain setbacks and these setbacks as a matter of general law
are deemed to be adequate, If note they should be changed generally
and not specifically, Setbacks along here would also constitute
buffering which would protect these,
I believe I read it somewhere
that there is presently existing in West Covina and the surrounding
communities a tendency in multiples to flow up, In other words,
families that had the smaller units are looking for better units
but still looking for rental units, Over the past three or four
years I know of three families moving out of West Covina into
Glendora having sold large homes and now living in expensive
apartments in Glendora because they could not find the type of
apartment they wanted in West Covina, I am only indicating trend.
I think the more we look the more we will see that there is a growing
desire for multiple use, Not everybody wants it, Not everybody
wants single family, either,
To support the growing
commercial district you have you are going to find them looking
for places which are not as expensive or difficult to maintain. I
think you will continue to find a pressure for multiple, It may
be that theoretically desireable place to have multiple families
would be in the middle of a large ranch totally segregated from
single family residential or from traffic but I am afraid that if
you were to examine the City of Los Angeles or Pasadena or any other
major city, San Francisco, certainly, you will find that the bulk of
multiple is located on your more heavily travelled arteries and I
don't think this historic pattern is going to be reversed because
people wanting single family homes are still going to look to the
side streets'and.back streets rather than the main arteries,
I request that you firm up
the zoning which has been on this property since 1955,
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,
Councilman Krieger: As I understand the:zone
change application before us
is to R-P, is it not?
Planning Director, Mr, Joseph:
It is to R®P or any more
restrictive zone. The
application is for R-P,
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: It would be possible to
zone this from anything from
R-1 up to and including R-P and all the R zones are included and
are considered to be more restrictive than R-P,
Mayor Snyder:
City Attorney, Mr, Williams:
or any more restricted zoning,
The R-P referred to the old
R®P which we split really
includes either way,
It really doesn't make any
difference, It says to R-P
m18®
Ca C. 5/25/64
Page Nineteen
ZONE CHANGE NO, 284 - Continued
•
Councilman Krieger:
It is
my recollection that in
the zoning was asked to be firmed up
each
and it
of these matters where
concerned Glendora
Avenue that the Planning Commission
based on
the preparation and
the expenditure, consideration, hearings
on
this D,M,J.M, report
have held the matters over. What is
the request
made in this
particular instance?
Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: That is not quite correct,
The Planning staff brought
up the idea we should perhaps hold it over, The Planning Com-
mission rather than holding it over has been denying these appli-
cations in lieu of an overall rezoning which they themselves have
instituted on Glendora Avenue, The individual cases have not been
held over as there is presently pending before the Planning Com-'
mission hearings on zones on South Glendora,
Councilman Krieger:
Would you explain to me something
of the history of this firming
up of potential zones?
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: In 1954 or 1955 when the zoning
ordinance was drawn and
originally adopted, on certain parcels of property there wasa circle
• drawn and although the parcel was zoned according to one of the
zones in the ordinance, within this circle was the designation of
another zone, The ordinance had a provision in it that said that
this property can be rezoned from the zoning presently zoned to
the one shown within the circle by the filing and approval of a
precise plan, No more circles were ever drawn from the time of the
first zoning map. This device has not been used since, For a
period of about two years after the adoption of the ordinance
I believe it was customary by filing the request to consider
that the new zoning would automatically be zoning but that has
not been true since 1956 since I have been here. There is no such
method of rezoning under State law and it violates the State law
to change from one zone to another by filing a precise plan, The
State law tells you how you rezone, There was never an R-A potential
R-P zone, There is no such zone,
Councilman Krieger: Would you disagree with the
applicant's attorney's
conclusion that the onus is then.on the Council in this instance?
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: Yes, I disagree with the
statement that this was ever
an R-P zone, It wasn't ever an R-P zone
Mayor Snyder: Wouldn't it in the minds of
the public be reasonable to
expect that although this R-P zoning did not.constitute legal right
to obtain it it did constitute in effect a general plan; that since
the City did not take a.further step and remove the potential
zoning from the map until recently isn't it reasonable to.expect
that the people to a certain extent felt that this constituted
what in effect was a general plan or an indication that it.might go
this way?
City Attorney# Mr, Williams:
Not only was it reasonable to
expect it, the' ordinance
affirmatively said so,
-19-
Co C. 5/25/64
ZONE CHANGE NO, 284 - Continued
Page Twenty
• Councilman Heath: I think we should also bring
before Councilman Krieger
that about six or eight months ago the City Council decided to remove
these potential zones and came up with a conclusion that if the
people who owned these properties would file with the City by a
certain date that the City would initiate the procedures for rezoning
this property and it was the indication at that time that these
properties would be handled the same way that previous properties
of potential zoning was handled and that was that if they wanted to
firm up their potential zoning all they had to do was apply and put
in a precise plan or at least apply, When the previous Council
wanted to get rid of these potential zones they asked the people to
apply, the City would initiate it, and I think a good many of them
thought and were led to believe that this zoning would be finalized,
City Attorney, Mr, Williams-. In the last seven years that I
know of no potential zone
has been firmed up except by the application for a change of zone
in the fashion that any other request for zone change has been
presented,
Mayor Snyder: In my mind, I felt it was
reasonable for these people
• to expect that the potential zoning carried at least the weight
that the General plan carried in saying what should be on the
property. It was the City's fault that this had not been removed
long before that, The new Council just two weeks ago adopted
a policy of not holding applications over for more favorable climate
for the applicant, I think it has to work both ways, We cannot
hold the application over because the applicant might have a less
favorable climate, If we are going to be fair in this policy it
has to work both ways, I think this is before us and we have to
discuss it in the light of existing conditions,
Councilman Heath: I think R-4 is stretching it
a little too far for this
property, l think the R-3 would be more reasonable,
Move that Zone Change No, 284
be approved as to a R-3 zone,
Mayor Snyder: I think in counter distinction
to what Mr, Garvey says.in a
growing trend to multiple, the recent election in West Covina showed
a growing trend away from multiple, It would not be realistic to
take this 100%, Obviously there are certain areas that could go
nothing but R-3, I still feel that the'.potential zoning allowed
to remain on here carries the same weight as the General Plan, I
think this request has to be evaluated on the basis of existing
factors, The existing factors are commercial to the south, multiple
across the street and the multiple to the north, There are major
streets on two sides, I think we expect too much of the D,M,J,M,
report if we expect a master plan out.of it. I will oppose a master
plan as any solution for the D,M.,J,M, report, I think'in looking
at it that although this possibly could be R-1. I don't think it is
good R-1. I think it is doubtful that it would develop as R-1, I
don't think also that multiple is divergent from the General Plan.
here, The General Plan shows multiple bordering this and has been
stated time and time .again the General Plan is not definite as to
boundary which means by expansion of the brown would include this
-20-
C.; C, 5/25/64
. ZONE CHANGE NO, 284 - Continued
Page Twenty -One
• area, The potential carried the wj�lght of a general plan, it seems
to me, This is not the type of property if you were to consider R-2
instead of R-3 for which the R-2 ordinance was developed,, It is
near commercial; it is near the downtown area and in considering
multiple, I can't find a better parcel that fits all the criteria
for multiple than this does,, This does hot mean I agree with multiple
further down Glendora, even some that is existing. I don°t see how
in the light of existing facts we could deny this request.
I will second the motion,,
Councilman Krieger- In opposition to the motion,
I am struck particularly by
the incongruity of the situation where we have on the one hand a
General Plan on which the people are supposed to rely and potentials
upon which they are supposed to rely; we have a study we go to a
great City expense to get, we go through the process of holding
open and public hearings where people come down to express their
views on this very subject matter; on one hand we have this report
characterized and on the other hand we hear we can't use it; we
hear the Planning Commission reasoning is spurious and on the other
hand certain comments extracted from the Planning Commission report,
I would like to see some consistencies, some rationales some reason
applied to these things and not proceed in all directions at the
same time, I must look at this property in just that way if we
are holding public hearings on a report at this very time, That
was a study of this very area, of the very questions that are before
this Council at this time, That is the basis of my objection,
Mayor Snyder- I do not think this is in-
consistent with the General
Plan,
Action on Councilman Heath's motion- Motion passed on roll call as
follows-
Ayes- Councilman Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes- Councilman Krieger
Absent- Councilmen Jett, Nichols
ZONE CHANGE NO, 299
Ben and Martha Hepner
APPROVED
LOCATION- 2340 East Garvey
between Meadow Road
and Mockingbird Lane,
Request to reclassify form Zone R-A to Zone R-3 approved,by Planning
Commission Resolution No,, 1588,
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston-
Mayor Snyder -
(Read Planning Commission
Resolution No, 1588,)
This is the time and place for
the public hearing,
J -21-
1�1
0
C�
Co Ca 5/25/64 Page Twenty -Two
ZONE CHANGE NO,, 299 - Continued
IN FAVOR
Mr, Ben Hepner This is a City initiated hearing.
2340 East Garvey I am confronted with this
West Covina problem: There is R-3 zoning
on either side of me extending
somewhat deeper than my propertyo This property has drainage rights
out through Rml property to the rear,, I have in reserve draining
rights out there,, Having subdivided this property, they bought this
property understanding there wog to be R-3 zoning in this location.
I will be happy to answer any questions you might haven
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,,
Councilman Krieger: Mr. Hepner, has there been any
change in your plans since you
appeared before the Planning Commission on May 6 with reference to
the development of that property?
Mr, Ben Hepnerg I have no plans for developing
it at the present.time. When
I do bring in a precise plan it will be subject to your approval.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried, that Zone Chagne No. 299 be approved as to R-3,,
ZONE CHANGE NOo 300
Jerry and Dorothy Croaff
APPROVED
LOCATION: 1925 Pacific Avenue
between Garvey and
Pacific Lane.
Request to reclassify from Zone R-A to Zone R®3 approved by Planning
Commission Resolution No,,, 1589,
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs,, Preston: (Read Planning Commission
Resolution No, 1589,,)
Mayor Snyder:
IN FAVOR
This is the time and place for
the public hearing.
Mr, Jerry Croaff, We built out here 25 years ago
1925 Pacific Avenue and this was zoned potential
West Covina C-1. The Planning Commission
recommended we be granted R-3.
We hope you will go along with their decision.
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried, that'Zone Change No. 300 be approved as to R-3.
-22-
r�
•
•
C., C, 5/25/64
HEARINGS ® Continued
VARIANCE NO, 499
South Shore Company
APPROVED
Page.Twenty®Three
LOCATION: 1803 ® 1837 Badillo
between Orange and
Morris Avenues;
Request for non -conforming sign in C®I zone approved by Planning
Commission Resolution No,' 1595, Appealed by applicant on May 89 1964.
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs. Preston:
Mayor Snyder:
IN FAVOR
(Read Planning Commission
Resolution No. 1595.)
This is the time and place for
the public hearing,
Mr. Howard Marks Our firm is the owner of the
Vice President property at the corner of
South Shore Company Badillo and Orange, The
633 Shadow Place public hearing and the matter
Los Angeles in which the Planning Commission
held their hearing was closed
before the deliberations of the Commission took place, We were not
permitted to make further comment after the deliberations started
so our only recourse is to bring the matter to you, We don't oppose
in principle some of the considerations that several Commissioner's
brought forward on this but we don't feel they considered the facts
in this particular case sufficiently in arriving at their final
decision. There is past history to this center and things being
done there now. Our company applied for a variance to erect a sign
for the purpose of creating identification for this center, The
center consists of a good sized markets six retail stores and
service station, The owners of the retail establishments approached
us to create identification to use in their advertising, The original
signs we believe conform to the first three of the conditions out
forth in the resolution,, In making our request we added one particular
individual business as A separate sign and since that was ruled out
in Condition No. 4 we are quite willing to accept that, I have a new
sketch eliminating the individual sign and also eliminating the word
"market'. We are willing to change it to "Esko Center" for
identification purposes,
In the matter of any
special privileges, we checked other siges in West Covina and what
we are asking is not unusual, The market building has a sign which
is perpendicular to Orange and the.Owl Drug Store has a vertical
perpendicular sign to Badillo, Both of these signs were erected.
almost nine years ago.
The place we propose to put
this identifieation.sign is right at this triangle (indicating) to
we will not lose parking spaces and we will conform to the precise
plan, It would give us identification on Badillo, Orange we don't
think any sign should be closer to Orange because there is residential
on the other side,of the street, On the other side of Badillo is
C-2, There were no remarks in opposition when we presented our
request to the Planning,Commisson. On the matter of whether or not
it is a special privileges I have some photographs of centers to
submit to you, (Presented photographs and explained same,)
-23®
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C,, C, 5/25/64
VARIANCE NO, 499 - Continued
Page Twenty -Four
The crux of the problem relates
to Condition 4, We are willing to delete the Liquor Barrel identifi-
cation but on -the matter of removing the'Owl Drug Store sign and
the original sign which is part of the market building, we do not
agree with this, The Owl sign is about 55 feet back from Badillo.
It isn't apparent to any residential property in any direction for
about 700 feet, We are asking that Condition No, 4 of the Planning
Commission Resolution No, 1595 be withdrawn, that we be permitted
to erect a shopping center sign with or without this special
identification and without the requirement of eliminating the
perpendicular signs which have been in existence for over eight
years and are not located so as to be objectionable to any residential
property,, We don't think we are asking anything that grants us a
special privilege or which isn't in existence in at least one or
two neighborhood shopping centers,
Mr, Darrel Skinner.- I own the Owl Drug Store,
The sign you propose to take
down cost me $49750, I can't understand how you can now make a barter
to take down my sign to put up another sign, We know every center
has to have identification, I send out 5,000 circulars every month,
There isn't a month that goes by that I have people call me asking
where we are located, This particular center draws people out of
Baldwin Park, Covina, Irwindale, which in my way of thinking can only
help you and the businessmen in the center, We have to have
identification, You wouldn't ask J, C, Penny to take down their
sign for the sake of the Plaza Center.
Mr, James E, Graves Prior to presenting this
Sign Contractor for a variance application,
.the Planning Department
suggested we make a survey of several of the shopping centers in the
area as to what would be acceptable to the Planning Commission and
we came up with a general outline that approximately 170 square feet
of sign identifying the shopping center itself with the possibility
of a directory board underneath would probably be acceptable to the
Planning Commission, On that basis, we went ahead and designed that
and it was submitted for a variance application, At the Planning
Commission meeting the Planning Department actually did recommend
it with a couple of variations, that the overall height and the
possibility that the smaller sign underneath be removed® I don't
think this would be granting any special privilege and I think this
should be approved,
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,
Councilman Krieger.- I was present at the Planning
Commission during the time of
the hearing and I somehow felt that the comments that Mr, Marks has
given us the benefit of were taken into consideration by the
Planning Commission, As I understood the factors influencing the
conditions on this, they had to do with perpendicular signs. The
question is whether or not there is a special privilege to be created
in this instance, If I may, I would like to direct a question that
I had at that hearing to the Planning Director and that refers to
the Commission's policy of approving such shopping center signs but
limiting such approval on certain conditions, Are the conditions
referred to in the report those conditions having to do with not
more than one identifying sign per center in a perpendicular form?
-24-
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C, C, 5/25/64 Page Twenty -Five
'VARIANCE NO, 499 - Continued
Planning Director, Mr, Joseph- Yes,
Councilman Krieger: In reviewing the evidence the
proponent has brought to us
this evening, I somehow find lack in that material for a perpendicular
sign, It is not my recollection that the Planning Commission took
exception to it,
Mayor Snyder:
center identification sign hac
store is presently existing,
rejuvenated by Esko coming in,
fication sign is in order, I
It seems to me this might
be different if the shopping
come first but certainly the drug
The shopping center has certainly been
Certainly a shopping center identi-
think if the situation had been
reversed regarding the drug store sign that it might not be allowed
but I don't quite see how it is fair when you look at the fact that
there are shopping centers in -the City which have both an identi-
fication sign plus perpendicular signs within the shopping center,
Councilman Krieger: The only additional comment
I would like to make is the
fact that the Planning Commission appears to live continuously with
this sign problem in our City and it is my understanding whether
or not they are taking responsibility for action of the past Planning
Commissions or not, is to implement a Somewhat standard policy in
these matters throughout the City and I -think they are seriously
concerned with, and I share this concern, with an abundance of signs
within our City of this nature particularly within shopping centers
such as this, If this constitutes not a special privilege then
there are innumerable instances in the past and I am sure in the
future in front of the Planning Commission where this criteria will
break down, Based on the comments and consideration given to this
matter before the Planning Commission and the evidence before us
tonight, it would still be my point of view that it is a special
privilege,
Mayor Snyder- I personally think the circum-
stances here have met'the
conditions of a variance, I agree with you, however, that the
problem of administering the sign ordinance has been very difficult.
It has been difficult to draw an ordinance that was enforceable
throughout the City,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Mayor Snyder, and carried,
that Variance No, 499 be approved subject to Planning Commission
Conditions Nos, 1 through 3 and that Condition No,,4 be that the
sign shall conform to the plan presented to the City Council on
May 25,, 1964; that the Council feels that to remove the other signs
would create a hardship, (Councilman Krieger voted "No",)
SUNDAY CLOSING OF BARBER SHOPS
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston,
Petitions of barbers opposing
and approving, Consideration
by Council,
(Read opinion of Attorney General
Mosk regarding this matter,)
-25-
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Co C, 5/25/64
SUNDAY CLOSING OF BARBER SHOPS - Continued
Mayor Snyder:
IN FAVOR (Repealing ordinance)
Page Twenty -Six
This is the time and place for
the public hearing.
Mr. Richard Carlson I submitted the letter from the
1448 West Puente Avenue Attorney General and .that the
West Covina brief consensus of his opinion
was that the remarks made to
the degree of sanitation in the barber shops that there is no
sanitation governing shops on Sunday is covered by him. He said that
this was covered by the State Board of Barber Examiners and any
statement that would say these shops were unsanitary on. Sunday while
being open the other days, that this would be implying that the
State Board of Barber Examiners are not doing their job. As the
Attorney General states, the city councils in the different townships
need not worry about the general health of the public in their cities
because due to the fact that he has full confidence in the State
Board of Barber Examiners in the State of California. .-
Mr. Nobel Jones I wrote the original letter
133 West Badillo regarding the legality of our
West Covina closing, I would like to state
that I am for closing.,Sunday
and Monday State-wide but I don't like to be discriminated against.
My barber shop is two blocks from a Baldwin Park and Covina barber
shop which are open seven days a week 'and I merely wrote the letter
asking that I be allowed to compete with these barber shops, I think
the closing of the barber shops in one small locality is against
any State or Federal Constitutional law,
IN FAVOR (Retaining ordinance)
Mr. Ken Goller I maintain that the letter from
668 South Sunset Stanley Mosk's office is an
West Covina opinion and it certainly isn't.
a ruling.., I feel we have many
many ordinances on the City books that if the Attorney, General.was
asked his opinion, they might be illegal but if they are for the
good of the people and the protection of the public health and welfare
then I think these hearings are valid, I would.lik.e to give each
member of the Council a summation of the brief of the Santa Fe hearings,
Our contention is that these barber shops opening on Sunday operate
very loosely; they know there will not be any inspectors in. We
are governed partially by the Bureau of Business and -Professional
Standards. We don't prefer to call ourselves professional men; we
think we, -have a trade,, I have a letter written to.the Los Angeles
Barbers Associations requested by a Mr. Hugh H, Carter, regarding
their telephone conversation regarding barber inspectors working on
Sunday. They have been informed that barber inspectors do not work
on Sunday. This letter is from James Decanos, Secretary of the State
Board of Barber Examiners;. These are the people governing us,
I have Mr, Nobel Jones'
petition. He has 16 signatures on it; three of them are not in West
Covina, Mr, Richard Carlson lists four barbers here and I have been.
in his shop and I have never seen more than three licenses displayed,
This gives them 14 signatures, I have a petition with 33 signatures.
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C, C. 5/25/64 Page Twenty -Seven
'SUNDAY CLOSING OF BARBER SHOPS - Continued
As to the legality, in Ganley
vs, Clay, this was heard by.the Supreme Court in 1935. This is
almost 30 years ago and this law was strictly a Sunday closing law.
There was no basis for no health and sanitation whatever, I am
referring to the Lynch Meat Case where the butchers in Oakland, the
City Council passed an ordinance closing'buteher shops. This
was carried to the Supreme Court and it is my estimation that the
court ruled there that the City had the right to pass ordinances
restricting the openings and closings of their places as long as
it did not violate any existing State law,
We feel we are not pre-empted
by the State as far as the health and sanitation of any individual
city goes, When we came before the Council a few years ago and
asked for this ordinance we went out on our own and on Sunday shops
we found violations, where apprentices were working without the
supervision of a journeyman; we found shops where barbers were
working without licenses, We know that most of these shops that
are open Sunday will work two or three barbers through the week and
as many as six and eight on Sundays. They have to come from somewhere,
Our State Board is trying to compensate, trying to-do something to
change the situation; they have just passed a ruling that now all
barbers will display a picture adjacent to the license, We found
barbers working on dead men's licences, people that were dead,
We feel that on Sunday there
are many unlicensed barbers, men who shouldn't have a licensee We
feel that someof these Sunday shops, and I know of cases where
they are dope addicts, I ask you to consider very carefully about
this matter and uphold our position,
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was.closed.
�rrsir.r�rr��
Councilman Heath: I have been through one of these
barber "mills" on a Sunday and.
it was an event for me, both from the sanitation aspect and the fact
that I got clipped, I can't blaine the barbers for trying to uphold
their profession and make it a quality business, I do know that
some of these facts are true where they are bringing in people from
outside on Sunday and railroading people through as fast as they
can get them in and out of a chair, I think this isn't conducive
to making the people respect the profession,
Mayor Snyder: With all due respects to both
sides of this controversy, I
do feel that the Sunday closing law as applied to barbers only is
unconstitutional, I do recognize the problems regarding Sunday
opening but it seems to me the best approach to this would be
through your State Barber Board and perhaps they had better put some
people on Sunday because I honestly feel, although I am sympathetic
with your purpose, that the best way to approach this is within your
own organization and within your own State board, I think we made
a mistake when we passed this ordinance., I think we are putting
ourselves.way out by passing an ordinance like this. We have no
other ordinance like this regarding any other profession dr business
within the City and I don't see how we can logically apply such an
ordinance to just one group, If the City Attorney has any comments
to make on.the legal briefs submitted here, I wish you would do so
now,
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C. C, 5/25/64 Page Twenty -Eight
'SUNDAY CLOSING OF BARBER SHOPS - Continued
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: I think the matter is still
debatable. I doubt if there
is any legitimate debate on this subject that if the purpose of
closing has nothing to do with peace, health and safety and is only
for the observance of the sabbath it would not be upheld, But, if.
you have a feeling that this ordinance has a bearing on the public
peace, health, safety and general welfare and is within the police
power of the City then I think that the condition of law is
inconclusive, The Attorney General certainly indicates that in his
opinion it would not be a valid ordinance because the State has
occupied the field, The Superior Court in Santa Fe Springs did
not think so, I understand there has been another;Superior Court
decision since this decision which upheld the validity of such an
ordinance,
The Supreme Court and District
Courts of this State Within the last couple of years have been
extremely prone to hold in favor of the occupation of the field by
the State and to hold this, that an ordinance may conflict with
State law although there is no direct conflict, that if the State
has intended to.prescribe all the relations that shall apply and
this was the Carol Lane case, then a city cannot impose any more
even though they are not in direct conflict with those the State
has imposed,
I think it is more or less
a toss-up, If I had to choose my guess would be that the appellate
courts would say that the ordinance was invalid,
Councilman Heath;. I think if we feel the health
and welfare of the City is
being neglected that we have a right to step in,
Mayor Snyder; You are putting an undue
burden on the City, The
State Board should require their inspectors to work on Sunday,
This seems to me to remove any threat to the health, safety -and
welfare within reasonable limits,
Councilman Krieger; If this was before us for
the first time I might think
differently about it, Inasmuch as we do have this ordinance on our
books I would be in favor of retaining it,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger' and
carried, to take no further action at this time regarding the
ordinance re barber shops closing on Sunday,,
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY OF STRUCTURE
LOCATED IN THE 3400 BLOCK ON VIRGINIA
AVENUE, WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa;
You have all.received copies
of our report on this, (Read
said report,)
-28-
•
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UNSAFE BUILDING - Continued:
Page Twenty -Nine
Report from William Fowler, Chief Building Inspector, dated May
22, 1964 as follows:
"Attached are copies of Police Department, Fire Department,
and Building Department reports on the subject property.
Also a resume of the actions of this Department to abate
or repair the property and structure as per the City of
West Covina Ordinance. This department has followed the
procedures chart, and has made the required inspections
and notified the owners of the City Council action.in
setting a hearing for 5-25-64.
The City Council shall at this hearing determine if the
hazard exists, and if the structure shall be repaired or
demolished, and time limit to accomplish the City Council
action be set.."
Mr. Francis J. Garvey
281 East Workman
Covina
City Attorney, Mr. Williams:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
City Attorney, Mr. Williams:
Mayor Snyder:
I assume I have the right to cross
examine any adverse witnesses since
this is a public hearing.
I presume you are representing
somebody in interest.
I am representing the owners of
the property.
I think you have right for
cross examination.
As a matter of procedure, when
the public testimony occurs, who
goes first and who has the right of
rebuttal?
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: There is nothing described in law.
I think ordinarily you listen to the
Building Inspector as to what are the alleged deficiencies and defects
in this building. There should be an opportunity, I presume, to cross
examination if Mr. Garvey feels disposed to and them, of course, Mr.
Building Inspector can cross examine Mr. Garvey. The owner may be heard
as to why these defects are not code violations that need remedy. You
then determine whether under Section 203 of the Building Code this is
what is called an unsafe building. If it is, you have the power to have
it abated. The abatement is in the discretion of the_owner as to whether
he demolished the building or repairs it.
Mayor Snyder: Could we now have the report from
Mr. Fowler?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: We do not consider this building as
structurally unsound except for one
portion of -the building which, in my opinion, is structurally unsound,
which is a room off the living room area. It was built structurally un-
sound and has since in a period of years become quite sagging and is in
bad condition. I said in my report that the building is substandard and
dilapidated. Due to the vandalism, more than anything else, it has be-
come dilapidated. It constitutes a major hazard, I have listed fire and
health more than anything else, fire especially. It is an area of some
six acres. This is very tinder -dry with a lot of dead vegetation over-
grown and the weeds in the pasture area are roughly waist -high in spots.
All the major plumbing fixtures have been broken out. This is by vanda-
lism, I am sure. The electrical system is completely gone. They have
torn apart the electrical panels, stolen the fixtures. Those are the
parts we condidered to make this a substandard structure. I sent each
Councilman on the 22nd a copy of the police report on the number of appre-
hensions and the fire department report. I believe this is all I have to
say. I would be happy to answer an�9questions.
UNSAFE BUILDING - Continued:
Mayor Snyder:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Page Thirty.
Mr-. Garvey, you have the right of
cross examination at this time.
Thank you. I would like to ask
Mr. Fowler. -some questions: Have
you inspected the building yourself?
Yes.
What type of construction is it?
I would assume wood frame stucco.
Was the stucco in such condition -that
you could see through it in any place?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: I would say it is in good shape;
the exterior of the building is
in good shape with the exception of the fact that all the windows
and some of the casings have been removed or torn out.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey: In your report you say that the
general condition is bad. By that
you mean that the windows are broken. out and some plumbing fixtures are
missing?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: Yes. I think the pictures will
bear this out. There are large
• walk-in ice boxes with.the doors askew and torn apart.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey: Isn't that walk-in refrigerator,
it is a large refrigerator against
the wall, an old type butcher's case or something you would find in
the supermarket?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
0 Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
I don't know. It is not a
structural part of the building.
Removal of that might repair
that particular item?
It might.
That in itself is not a menace
in terms of structure?
No.
It may be an eyesore but it is not
a structural problem and not a
fire hazard?
Well, - -
You did not include a weed abatement
procedure under the ordinance with
respect to weed abatement, did you?
No; that doesn't come up under our
department.
-30-
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C, C. 5/25/64
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
Mr, Francis J. Garvey:
Page Thirty -One
In the file is there anything
with respect to weed abatement?
Councilman Heath:` Isn't there a City-wide.
program on weed abatement and
haven't we declared lately that there is a fire menace wherever
there are weeds?
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: I don't know if this was
posted or not. If it wasn't,
let's post it,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey: Did you inspect the electrical
wiring, Mr, Fowler?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler: You can't inspect something
you can't see. All you see
are ends of wires sticking out of the holes; fixtures removed.; et
cetera,
Mr, Francis J. Garvey: Does your department have the
original building plans on this?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler: There weren't any plans in
existence on this,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey: Do you know whether or not
the interior .of this may be
conduit or B, or some other approved wiring method at the present
time, only the determination that the fixtures have been.removed;
is that correct?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
Mr, Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
Yes,
Is the electricity itself
connected from themain power
plant?
It is disconnected,
Mr, Francis J. Garvey: In its present condition
the wiring does not
constitute a fire hazard as it presently exists, is that right?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
Mr, Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr; Fowler:
Mr, Francis J, Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
That's correct,
You say that the sink is
vented and trapped but the
condition is bad. How many
sinks are there in the house?
I don't know; they are all
over the place.
Are all of them in bad condition?
All of them are in bad condition
sanitarywise,
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C, C, 5/25/64
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
Mr, Francis J, Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
Mr, Francis J, Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr,' Fowler:
,Page Thirty -Two
They need washing and cleaning
out?
Yes and a lot are broken and
laying on the floor,
Is this.structure being occupied
by any persons at the present
time?
No,
°`Mr, Francis J. Garvey: In itself at this point
this is not a menace as to
health, It might be the reason for denying a certificate of
occupancy but the condition of the sinks only makes it reasonably
unfit for sanitation?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
Mr, Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
unsanitary reasons, chipped and broken,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey:
Yes,
The tubs -- what tubs are
in bad condition?
If I did say that it would be
for the very same reason, for
It says under "Other" "vented
trap and condition bad". What
is included in "Other"?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler: This would be all of your
kitchen sinks, your garbage
disposals, your lavatories, broken off at the walls, et cetera,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey:
In other words, there is need
for some plumbing repairs?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler: Considerably,
Mr, Francis J. Garvey:
You
did not
plumb those
or
run a rod
through them to
test the condition, waste lines,
"material
unknown",
"condition
unknown"?
`
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler:
We
have no way
of knowing,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey:
You
say the
sewerage disposal
has
a septic
tank and cesspool.
You say it is unsanitary, Why is
it unsanitary?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler: I couldn't very well be sure
of that, .
Mr, Francis J, Garvey: You make a recommendation for
destruction, Why? So far
all you have indicated is that there are lighting fixtures missing
and plumbing needing repairing and the glass needing to be done over
and the structure itself is sound and the roof is good. Why should
the building be demolished?
-32-
C. C. 5/25/64 Page Thirty -Three
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler; The general building is the -
type which I would say could
be at this time repaired at a great expense, or it could be demolished.
My recommendation should have been repair or demolish.
Mr. Francis J.. Garvey: You are proceeding under
Ordinance No, 854?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: Yes.
Mr, Francis J. Garvey: Is that an effective ordinance
in the City of West Covina at
this time? I notice it is dated May 119 1964,
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: We are not proceeding under
that ordinance, We are
proceeding under Section 203 of the Building Code.
Mr, Francis J. Garvey:
City Attorney, Mr,, Williams:
This is the latest amendment?
We are proceeding without the
amendment.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey: Under Section 203 of the
Building Code what constitutes
an unsafe -condition? How is it defined?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: The Building Code doesn't
make this definition of what
is a term of unsafe.
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: I don't think that is proper
to ask Mr. Fowler. If you
want to read the Building Code, read it.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey: As a professional building
inspector we assume you are
qualified and work under the framework of the ordinance and have
cognizance of the terms of those ordinances..
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: Right.
Mr, Francis J. Garvey: Taking into account the
knowledge of the Uniform
Building Code as enforced in West Covina, what elements in that code
did you apply in order to determine if this was an unsafe building?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: Visual examination and pictures.
You yourself made the remark
that there was one room you wouldn't walk in.. You just stuck your
head in it.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey: This happened to be.:the room
which you recommended for
demolition, specifically, that access bar?'
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: Yes,
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C, C, 5/25/64 Page Thirty -Four
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
0 Mr, Francis J, Garvey. In the house itself other
than its.possible exposure
to vandalism, is there any particular fire hazard per se?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler: In the house itself? I would
say very much so. If you
will,notice there is considerable writing done on the walls and
this writing wasn't done with a.crayon or a spray can of paint; this
was done by candle, They take a candle and hold'it to the ceiling
and the smoke from the flame they would write their names on the
ceiling with candles so I would say this is a fire hazard. This is
on wood,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey.
There is no evidence that any
part of it caught fire?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler.
Not this time,
Mr, Francis J, Garvey.
There are no candles about
the premises were there?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler.
I didn't look,
•
Mr, Francis J, Garvey.
You say there was no writing
the
on walls except with this,
•
Did you see on the patio wall the names "Woody and Linda", "Skip
Paula", "Ralph "Kim"?
and and Judy"
With what were they written?
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler; There were writings on the
wall and that was crayon and
spray cans, There was writing all over the walls but the ones I
particularly mentioned, I gave you a particular answer for a fire
hazarda
Mr, Francis J, Garvey. Wasn't the use of candles
which are not a pertinent
part of the premises? If I held a candle.to this building and
started to write on the building, there would be the same fire
hazard,
Building Inspector, Mr, Fowler; It would be the application
of the flame which might
have sufficient heat to ignite the wood,
Councilman Heath. This is very educational, but
what is the point you are trying.
to get across? What is it you would like to have, Mr, Garvey?
Mr, Francis J, Garvey; .:I would like to have this
order to show cause abated,
I am not certain that as yet this has been proved to be in an unsafe
condition merely because the windows are out,
City Attorney, Mr, Williams Does the owner intend to leave
it the way it is?
Mr, Francis J, Garvey: We haven't come to that, We
will put.the owner on in a
minute, You have an official I know is compete,nt and I have a great
respect for his work but the question is whether or not in making
-34
11
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C. Ca 5/25/64 Page Thirty -Five
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
this inspection he or persons under him have taken into agdount'.the
actual condition and arrived at a conclusion that any reasonable
person would say that the building was unsafe so as to bear a
recommendation for demolition.
Councilman Heath: I think that we should assure
Mr. Garvey that we are willing
to work with his client in every way we can and if his client would
specify what he would like to do I think we can come to a conclusion.
Mr, Francis J. Garvey: What my client would like to
do would be to have the Police
Department catch some of the vandals that have been destroying
his property and prosecute them and continue to keep a watch to
prevent further vandalism.
City Attorney, Mr. Williams:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Councilman Krieger:
Mr,, Francis J. Garvey:
He wants to leave the building
the way it is)
He will answer that when'we
get a chance to respond.
If cross. examination is
legitimate, let's stick to
legitimate cross examination.
Mr. Fowler, does the roof seem
to be in good condition?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: Yes, I would say fairly well.
It is'Spanish tile. You can't
tell,, There are parts of the structure that are not visible.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
tu •lding Inspector, Mr,, Fowler:
The interior walls are plastered?
J
Some. Some are wood panel. -
Mr, Francis J. Garvey: Generally, does the building
other than the things which
you have described meet the standards of the. Building Code?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler: I am sure they did at the
time. I wouldn't say they
meet our Building Code standards now.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey: As an existing building
subject to possibility of
repair, it is not in such a dilapidated condition in its present
form to constitute a menace to health.and safety,without occupants?
In its present condition it is not in such condition of itself to
constitute a menace to health and safety without occupants?
Building Inspector, Mro Fowler:
Mayor Snyder:
I don't understand the question.
Would it be healthy for anybody
to habitate it under its
present condition?
Building Inspector, Mro Fowler:
-35-
Absolutely not.
C. C. 5/25/64
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
Page Thirty -Six
Mr. Williams: I think it may be helpful if the
Council knew what is trying to be
proved or disapproved. Section 203 of the Building Code states what
buildings may be abated. All buildings or structures which are struc-
turally unsafe or not provided with adequate maintenance or which consti-
tute a fire hazard or are otherwise dangerous'to human life or which in
relation to existing use constitute a hazard to safety or welfare or health
by reason of inadequate maintenance, delapidated, obsolescence or abandon-
ment as specified in this code or any other effective ordinance or for the
Purpose of this section unsafe buildings. We are trying to determine
whether this is an unsafe building.
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
Mr. Francis J. Garvey:
Does this building, per se -- how
close is this building per se to any
other building not on its own grounds?
I'd guess the closest point would be
a couple hundred feet, anyhow.
I think that is all.
Mayor Snyder: Would you say that in your opinion
this building falls under at least
two of those items that Mr. Williams mentioned, delapidation and fire
hazard?
Building Inspector, Mr. Fowler:
• City Manger, Mr. Aiassa:
I would say it falls under delapida-
tion and abandonment. It.would fall in
there very definitely.
(Read report re this matter from the
Police Department dated 3/23/64 as
follows:
"Referring to your request concerning the number of complaints
received on the house known as the 'Ruppert Property', located
at 3306 Virginia Ave., we have referred to our Station Logs and
found that since December 1, 1963 we have had 29 complaints of
various kinds about this place. There have been numerous juven-
iles brought to the station and eventually turned over to their
parents.
As you can see by the attached pictures, there has been a great
amount of vandalism at this house.
It is a difficult problem for the police as there is no way to
patrol this house. It is more than 100 yards from Virginia Ave.,
and the gate is locked. The vandals are entering the property
from the east side by way of Charvers Ave. The back property
line of the houses on the west side of Charvers falls sharply
into a small ravine, which makes it impossible to get a car
through that way. We cannot tell if these kids are there un-
less we get a call to the location.
This property is an attractive nuisance. The young vandals
refer to it as the "Haunted House", and they have played havoc
with what used to be a very nice residence.
I would like to recommend that this house be boarded up,
burned, or lived in. If the front gate were open it would'
help us get up to it in order to patrol, but this then would
allow thieves in trucks to go up and haul some of the stuff
away."
Mayor Snyder: Does the owner wish to say anything?
-36-
C. C. 5/25/64 Page Thirty -Seven
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
Mr. George Adams We are the owners of the property.
• Gemite Company Our original plan for developing this
Montebello property was for a higher density than
the R-1. We were turned down on our
zoning application. We decided that the only alternate action we had was
to sell the property because we do not develop R-1 property.as such. We
immediately put the property up for sale. We have mailed out over 300
mailings to R-1 developers and real estate people who might be interested
in purchasing the property as R-1 single family residential for subdivi-
sion. When we bought the property approximately two years ago the house
had been lived in very recently by the Ruppert family.and was in excellant
condition. We did not remove any of the lighting fixtures or remove or
damage any of the fixtures. We are in a quandry as to how to maintain the
property short of having an armed guard on the property. If we repaired
it it would deteriorate through vandalism in a very short time. All of
this vandalism has occurred in the last 18 months. We have made two sep-
arate efforts, the last in November, 1963, whereby we went in with a crew
of four men and worked for two days to clean up all the damage in and
around the house.
The actual value of the home as it is
now or the replacement cost of that home, which is in excellent condition
structurally, would be between thirty-five and forty -thousand dollars.
The cost of repairing it would be between twenty and twenty-two thousand
dollars. There is a solid value in the existing building and now for us
to recover economically on the project, we do want to sell it as a single
family residence and gain as much value there for the existing building as
. we possibly can.
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: If you feel it is an unsafe building
you should direct a resolution be drawn.
so declaring and indicating the length of time you will give to the abate-
ment. You cannot specify whether it is to be torn down or repaired. That
choice is to the owner. If they do not abate within the length of time
declared, the City can go in with its own forces, abate,it, and put the
cost on the tax bill.
Councilman Heath: Mr. Adams, if I understand you cor-
rectly, what you are waiting for is to
sell this piece of property and you don't want to put any more money into
it?
Mr. George Adams: That's correct. If we are to put
money into it, I don't see any way we
can do any fixings up as it were. It would be a short time before it would
be completely vandalized again. This happens to be an unusal situation by.
virture of its location and the fact that there is a lot of shrubbery
around there.
Mayor Snyder:
Has there been any consideration of
giving the Police Department a key to
the lock so they could at least get
in there?
Mr. George Adams: We would be happy to do that. Mr.
Fowler mentioned that to me in his
41 last correspondence. We have put up "No Trespassing"signs three different
times and nailed them in a manner we thought would be impossible to tear
off. Where the house is located, boarding it up I don't think would do
any good.
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: This has been done in other cases where
we have had abatements like this. If
you think it is valuable and don't want it destroyed, put somebody in it;
let somebody live in it. That is my opinion.
Mr. George Adams:
We have done everything we
can to protect our property.
-37-
C. C. 5/25/64
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
City Attorney; Mr.
0 Mr. . George :Adams:
0 Mr. Williams:
E
Page Thirty -Eight
Williams: Have you put somebody on it?
We not only asked for police protec-
tion, we have letters written to the
Council.
You want the City•to take care of it?
Mr. George Adams:
You are making a personal issue on
this matter.
Mayor Snyder:
Mr. Williams is right. Secondly, the
City cannot put 24-hour police protec-
tion on this and it is not reasonable
to expect us to.
If there is no further public testi-
mony, I will declare the hearing
closed.
Councilman Krieger:
With reference to the property loca-
ted at 3400 Virginia Avenue, City of
West Covina, I move that the City
Attorney be directed to prepare an
appropriate resolution pursuant
to the Uniform Building Code, 1961 edition,
Section 203-A declaring that the
property in question is a hazard to the
public welfare by reason of inadequate
maintenance, delapidation and aban-
donment and that the property be
abated within a period of ninety (90) days
from the date of the adoption of
the resolution.
Councilman Heath:
In saying to the owner that he has to
either repair it or tear it down, is
that what the motion means?
City Attorney, Mr. Williams:
Yes.
Councilman Heath:
It gives him a choice?
City Attorney, Mr. Williams:
To remove the condition.
Councilman Heath:
On the other hand, if he removes
any dangerous condition from the
building such as falling off doors, et cetera, and gives the key to
the Police Department, does he have
this alternate, too?
Mr. Williams: If he could remove the features
that make it unsafe or a detri-
ment to the public welfare or to the public health and safety, that
would be true. It can be abandoned as long as there is no feature of
health hazard, unsafeness, or detriment to the public welfare.
Mayor Snyder: There is an alternate and that
is to repair just enough of it
to allow somebody to live in it. Further running down would not be
as likely to occur if this happened. I am not saying repair the
whole thing but would this not also be an alternative?
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: It could be.
Councilman Heath: He doesn't want to put any
more money in it and, on the
other hand, he doesn't want to tear it down.
City Attorney, Mr. Williams:
I don't care to argue the case.
He is in a rough spot because
he put himself there.
ago
C, C, 5/25/64 Page Thirty -Nine
UNSAFE BUILDING HEARING - Continued
L�
_0 Mr, Francis J, Garvey: If a permanent resident were
put there in a trailer and the
immediate nuisance as indicated by Mr. Fowler cleaned up so there
would be a permanent watchman there, would it still be necessary to
put this house back into first-class condition before it was sold?
•
is
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: It doesn't have to be in first-
class condition if you remove
the unsafe conditions. It would
be proper if they have a proposal to submit, submit it after the
resolution has been adopted, You don't want to decide it here. It
would have to go to the Building Inspector, It is a matter as to
whether or not there is an abatement,
Mayor Snyder:
It would be reasona.ble to.'submit
that as an alternative.
Action on Councilman Krieger's motion: Seconded by Councilman Heath,
Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
PLANNING COMMISSION
REVIEW PLANNING COMMISSION
ACTION OF MAY 6 AND 20, 1964
Variance No, 498
Precise'Plan No, 46 (3)
Sun Fran
Approved
Variance -No.- 505
First Baptist Church
Approved
Variance No, 503
Pickering Enterprises
Approved
41 ''RECREATION AND PARKS
JOINT MEETING
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
Commission on May 27, 1964 at eight
later date for Mr, Montgomery,
So indicated by Mrs, Preston,
Comments as follows:
These matters were called
up by Councilman Krieger,.,,
This matter was called
up by Councilman Heath,
This matter was called
up by Councilman Krieger
We have a joint meeting with
the Recreation and Parks
o'clock, We are setting up a
-39-
•
Is
I
C. C. 5/25/64
Page Forty
JOINT MEETING (RECREATION,AND PARKS COMMISSION) - Continued
Mayor Snyder: That is the second hearing
night for D.M.J.M. and Mr.
Krieger has to attend that meeting and Mr. Nichols and Mr. Jett will
still be gone, How about Thursday night?
Councilman Krieger:
Mayor Snyder:
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa:
Mayor Snyder:
also a Recreation and Parks meeting.
Councilman Heath:
GENERAL MATTERS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
LETTER FROM WEST COVINA MINISTERIAL
ASSOCIATION REQUESTING ESTABLISHMENT
OF A HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Deputy City Clerk' Mrs,, Preston:
I have an East San Gabriel Valley
Planning Committee meeting.
Try them for June 4; that is
a Thursday.
I'll try to set it up for
that date.
There is a Mayor's meeting
tomorrow night and there is
Can you go for me?
I think so.
I believe you all have copies
of this letter.
Councilman Heath: I think this is a good suggestion
to a solution to some of the
problems we are having. I would like to ask the City Attorney a few
questions. I believe that the plan or the request is that the Council
appoint a commission to act as a unit to smooth over or to work on
integration. If this committee was organized or instituted by the
City$ would it have any police power in the form of subpoena or would
it have any power of making determinations that could be followed
or would have to be followed? Is this anything more than an
arbitrary board? Would the people appearing before this commission
appear only arbitrarily or could they be summoned?
City Attorney, Mr. Williams: I think that such a committee
would be investigatory and
advisory and conciliatory only. It doesn't occur to me that the
committee could have any governmental powers but would have the
powers of investigation, recommendation, concilliation.
Councilman Heath: Suppose that a problem came up in
the City and this commission
-40-
C, C, 5/25/64 Page Forty -One
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - Continued
wanted to bring two together to talk this over
people g r and see if
they could come to an understandings would there be any power of
subpoena?
City Attorneys Mre Williams. I don't think so. I don't
think you could create a
committee that would have any power of force either to compel
attendance or adherence to its recommendation;
Mayor Snyder: There are several sample
ordinances suggested to us
in the League of California.Cities bulletin regarding Human Relation
Commissions, how they are set ups et cetera. This would have to
be decided after deliberations on the best way of setting up this
ordinance, I think the main purpose of such a commission would be i
to air many of the rumors that are going around town and to �- Z
investigate such rumors, to educate the public as to the problem.
The best solution to this problem is to air the problem and it isn't
being aired at the present time; it is being shoved aside or covered
upo I believe there is somebody here from the Ministerial Association
who would like to speak on this matter,
Councilman Heath: Would a commission of this
• type be overlapping or
interfering with the Council of Human Relations which I believe
• has been working and I feel has been doing a pretty good job? Would
it be an overlaps a replacement, or could we have this Human
Relations Council carry this program?
Mayor Snyder: I think the one thing such
a commission would do that
the Human relations Council cannot do is it would have more official
statureo I think it could also have a power to recommend that
certain State agencies or Federal agencies who do have power of
subpoena be called in if they felt they were not getting the
cooperation that they could expect out of law-abiding citizens.
If the Council does not objects I would like to hear from Mr.
Bergman at this time speaking to this question,
Rev; Robert Bergman. The letter essentially is
self-explanatory. The
background I am sure the Council has some knowledge of the factors
involved,, There are two parts to the letter. One is that the
investigation which these booklets you have would give you some
background informations set this into motion, and then resolve to
set up a Human Relations Commission, On the matter of the Human
Relations Councils this is a grass roots or citizens movement which
has its own intent, The City can set up a commission and this would
be its entity, I think there is need and it would be very helpful
for this City to be on record and to establish such lines of communi-
cation so that things which might come to attention which now have
to go through some of the ministers or leaders of the community and
then on an informal basis try to channel these could come to a
responsible groups not that others aren't responsible, but in the
sense that they are responsible to someone specifics the City Council$
and then preventative and helpful measures be taken to offset any.
possibility or if we do get into an explosive situations to quell it,
There are several patterns to be followed and there is probably more
information that what you have at hand as to what is to be done, .
03
-41-
•
•
C, Ca 5/25/64 Page Forty -Two
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - Continued
Councilman Heath: If this Council appointed a
commission, what could this
commission do that the Human Relations Council could not do? If
the Council appointed a commission, what could that commission do
that the ministerial group could not do? I think you people are
well qualified to smooth this thing out and I think you have done
a remarkable thing on it,
Mayor Snyders This problem needs not only
somebody interested in working
at it but also somebody who at the policy making level who indicates
the policy making level that they are concerned about this problem
and establishment of such a commission would show all parties
involved that this Council and this City is concerned about this
problem and is willing to do within our power and leadership
ability whatever we can to help solve it, The first thing where
I think we have failed is to consistently say we don't have such
a problem here and I think although it hasn't been brought out in
this letter or the statement by Mr, Bergman, I have come in contact
with several problems which indicate to me that if we do not have
it here now we have a very dangerous potential problem, We have
already had one cross burning; we have a great area of conflict in
one area of our town, and I think to go further and say that this
problem does not exist, we are hiding our head in the sand, I
think in the past we might not necessarily be criticized too much
for the attitude we took because I myself was not aware the problem
was as severe as it was and I also felt that this was the kind of
thing that took the capability of an Abraham Lincoln to solve
and feeling that our capabilities were a little less than that it
was much easier to not do anything and I think we are in a position
where we have to do something and if we don't we might find State
and Federal agencies in here doing it and we might prevent that by
doing something now. I think there is no doubt that the situation
is no longer minor if you wish to investigate all that is going on,
Councilman Heath:
I had n
far, I
there should be a commission, I think we all
problem, The question now is where does this
and I think that it would be more appropriate
ministerial level because I think those people
is respected much more than City government,
o idea it had gone this
think we all agree
agree there is a
commission come from
coming at the
have an approach that
Mayor Snyder: I have been doing a lot of
thinking about under what
authority we could act and I didn't recall until I took the oath
of office that we take an oath to uphold the Constitution and it
seems to me that in upholding the Constitution we have not only
the right to act but the duty to act not so much to act in the
conflict between black and white but there is some indication here
that there is an injustice being done to a certain portion of our
population and it seems to me that our duty under our oath is to
at least expose that injustice and I think that is the greatest
damage you can do to the kind of conflict that is arising here,
expose it, and that is exactly what such a commission would do,
-42-
C, C, 5/25/64 Page'Forty-Three
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - Continued
Councilman Krieger: In returning from the League
of California Cities this last
weekend I was particularly impressed with the fact that this is not
a unique situation confronting our City Council, Each of the city
councils throughout the State of California are confronting this
particular situation, We are being called upon to exercise some
leadership, some initiative, some imagination in this field. The
late President Kennedy called a mayors' conference as I remember not
so many years ago and challenged the mayors to take a more affirmative
positive stand in this particular field of human endeavor and human
rights, So, I think with respect to whether responsibility is ours
from the highest level of government I believe it has been passed on
to us to take an active and aggressive position in these matters.
Whether or not we have the legal right to is in an opinion of the
Attorney General which I noted in the League's material that says
that the cities and counties are authorized to establish and create
local agencies with purely advisory functions frequently known as
human relation commissions for the purpose of advising local
agencies on the problems involving inter -group relations, I believe
turning to the activities of some of our sister cities in the State
we find that there have been ordinances and resolutions of other
city councils in this particular field, I am particularly impressed
with the action of the City of Oakersfield in this particular matter.
It established an inter -group relations board and looking at the
comments of their mayor as to the history of this, it was not a
matter of unanimity; it was a question of dJ.scuss:i_on and give and
take but the first action of the Council was.to appoint a special
committee on human.relations for the purpose of formulating a
proposed resolution for.the creation of such a commission. I think
that might be the most appropriate step at this point, for this
Council to appoint a Human Relations Committee to look to the
drafting and submission of an appropriate resolution in coordination
with the City Attorney to accomplish some -of the tasks which are
called out so well in the resolution of Bakersfield,
do take the initiative we will lose it
will fall into the scope of activities
will not do justice to the purpose and
program. I think it is incumbant upon
positive position,
Mayor Snyder:
I suggest that unless we
by forfeit, and perhaps it
within our community that
to the intent of this whole
the Council to take a
I would like to see us go
furthers in setting up this
commission, Setting up this commission, that it is the policy
of this commission to, acting under our oath to uphold the
Constitution, we will not tolerate, we will frown upon any attempts
by any group to repress other minority 'groups; that as a matter
of policy the City Council of West Covina beld.eves that.the
Constitution grants equal rights to everybody and the rights should
not be abridged in effect, Secondly, I think as a City Council
that hires and fires, we should state we will not tolerate dis-
crimination in matters of hiring.Men shall be hired on the basis
of merit only, not color or religion, et cetera. I am sure we
follow that right now but it should be restated as a matter of
policy. I would like to see a motion to authorize the appointment
of a Human Relations Commission and to direct the City Attorney
to investigate or recommend ordinances under which a commission
could operate. He could work with the appointed commission in
drawing up such an ordinance,
and
,Z4
-43-
•
C. C, 5/25/64 Page Forty -Four
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - Continued
Councilman Krieger: Move that the Mayor appoint
A special committee from the
Council on human relations to consult with and to prepare in
conjunction with the City Attorney an,appropriate resolution setting
up a Human Relations Commission setting forth specifically the
duties and responsibilities of such a Commission and that this
resolution be prepared and returned to the next regular meeting of
this Council,
Councilman Heath: I think to establish a
commission by the Council, which
would be ordinary citizens without police power, I think we,would be
wasting time, I think it could be done much more effectively at the
ministerial level and I would like to propose that we send a
request to the Ministerial Association and ask them if they would
accept such.a responsibility,
Mayor Snyder:
Councilman Heath:
Mayor Snyder:
We have a motion on the floor.
In light of my feelings, I
can't second the motion.
I will second the motion.
Action on Councilman Krieger's motion: Motion passed on roll call
as follows:
Ayes: Councilman
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen
Krieger, Mayor Snyder
Jett, Nichols
Mayor Snyder: At this time I would appoint
myself and Mr. Krieger to
discuss this matter with the City Attorney, I would like to propose
that this be drawn up with the full Council, make an affirmative
policy statement regarding the position of this City on these
matters,
I think to say that this can
be repressed forever is not realistic. The time to prevent the
big catastrophy is while it is still a small problem. I believe
the airing of these problems will do much more to solve them than
anything and that is about the most that such a commission can do.
I don't think anybody should fear such an action, I think there
may be difficulties in carrying it out but that in the end it is
going to work for the good of the whole City and the community at
large,
CITY ATTORNEY
ORDINANCE NO, 856 The City .Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO
INCREASE THE FEE FOR THE FILING
OF AN APPLICATION FOR A VARIANCE"
-44-
11
C. C, 5/25/64
ORDINANCE NO, 856 - Continued
Page Forty -Five
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Heath, Seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
ordinance be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said ordinance was given No, 856,
ORDINANCE NO, 857 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
AMENDING THE WEST COVINA
MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS TO CHANGE
THE NAME OF THE RESIDENTIAL -
PROFESSIONAL TO THE RESTRICTED -
PROFESSIONAL ZONE"
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and carried,
to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
ordinance be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said ordinance was given No, 857,
ORDINANCE NO, 858
ADOPTED
The City Attorney presented:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA
MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS TO REZONE
CERTAIN PREMISES" (ZC 2959
Sherman)
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that said
ordinance be adopted,. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said ordinance was given No, 858,
-45-
6
Co C, 5/25/64
CITY ATTORNEY - Continued
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
Page Forty -Six
The City Attorney presented:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING SECTION 2117
OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO VOTING BY
THE CITY COUNCILMEN"
Motion by Councilman Heathy seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that said ordinance be Introduced,
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
The City Attorney presented:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING THE WEST
COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS
TO REZONE CERTAIN PREMISES"
(ZC 296, Sindell 6 Kreedman)
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that said ordinance be introduced,
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
The City Attorney presented:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING SECTION 2332
OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO THE
COMPENSATION OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION"
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman -Krieger, and
carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that said ordinance be introduced,
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
The City Attorney presented:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA
MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE ADDITION
THERETO OF A SECTION 2322,1
RELATING TO THZ COMPENSATION
OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS
COMMISSION"
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance,
-46-
•
�7
C. C, 5/25/64 Page Forty -Seven
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION - Continued
Motion.by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that said ordinance be introduced,
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
The City Attorney presented:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING THE WEST
COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE
ADDITION THERETO OF A SECTION
2403,1 RELATING TO THE COM-
PENSATION OF THE PERSONNEL
BOARD"
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that said ordinance be introduced,
RESOLUTION NO, 2938
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The City Attorney presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA APPROVING PRECISE PLAN
OF DESIGN N0, 3929 REVISION 1"
(Sindell 8 Kreedman)
Hearing no objections, we
will waive further reading
of, the body of the resolution.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Mayor Snyder, that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Heath9 Mayor Snyder
Noes: Councilman Krieger
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2938,
RESOLUTION N0, 2939 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA DENYING A REQUEST FOR.
A CHANGE OF ZONE" (ZC 2989
Wilson 8 Fuesler)
Mayor Snyder: Hearing no objections, we
will waive further reading of
the body of the resolution,
-47-
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Ca C. 5/25/64
RESOLUTION NO. 2939 - Continued
Page Forty -Eight
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Mayor Snyder, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes„ Councilman Krieger, Mayor Snyder
Noesg Councilman Heath
Absentv Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No,.2939,
FOREST LAWN CASE.
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: I have prepared an appeal and
it is ready to file in the
Forest Lawn case, Mr. Yaunt called and indicated that he was
perfectly willing to stipulate, to set aside this second
judgment that has been signed and to'simply hold the matter without
a judgment in the Superior Court until we see if we can arrive at
a settlement, Mr, Blalock' representing Forest Lawn would not agree
to a stipulation setting aside the judgment so we have no recourse
but to appeal, Our time to appeal is sixty days from April 2, which
leaves very little time. It is my purpose to file this tomorrow
if you have no objections,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that the City Attorney be instructed to file the notice
of appeal on the Forest Lawn case, on the 114 acres,
CITY CLERK
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT APPLICATION
OF ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, POST 1679
FOR THREE FIREWORKS STANDS
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that permission be given to the Royal Canadian Legion,
Post.167, for three fireworks stands subject to staff approval and
subject further to the deposit of $75,00,
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT APPLICATION OF
HUDGENS CARPET AND HOME FURNISHINGS,
1001 SOUTH GLENDORA AVENUE, FOR
MERRY-GO-ROUND, PONY AND CART, AND
TWO CLOWNS, JUNE 6 AND 79 1964
NO PROCEEDS
Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: I think this is a violation
of the zoning ordinance,
Temporary uses may be approved finding first of all that..the request
is for a shopping center and if it is for a shopping center then the
City Council has the authority to grant this, Hudgens is one store
in the shopping center, You can get into trouble if you let one
store have outdoor rides,
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C, Co 5/25/64
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT REQUEST (HUDGENS) ®Continued
Mayor Snyder:
Councilman Krieger:
City Attorney, Mr, Williams:
Page Forty -Nine
I think it was probably just
an error in procedure.
Could we grant it subject to
Von's joining in the application?
I think so.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried,.that the temporary use permit request of Hudgens Carpet
and Home Furnishings for a merry-go-round, pony and cart, and two
clowns for June 6 and 7, 1964 be -granted subject to the condition
that Von's Market join in the application,.
VEHICLE SAFETY CHECK WEEK
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston:
Mayor Snyder:
JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH
Mayor Snyder.:
This is for the weeks of
May 24 to June 6, 1964.
If there are no objections, I
will so proclaim,
(There were none,)
So proclaimed,
If there are no objections,
I will so proclaim,
(There were none,)
So proclaimed,
PROPOSED SOUTHERLY ANNEXATION DISTRICT
N0, 66 TO THE CITY OF GLENDORA
DELETION OF LESS THAN 5% OF THE LAND USE
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston:
NOTICE OF HEARINGS BEFORE THE
LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION
This is for your information,
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston: I have three notices. We
received a notice from the
local Agency Formation Commission of these notices, Northerly
Annexation No, 61 and 62 to the City of Covina,
Councilman Heath:
Shouldn't the Planning Director
get a copy of these and know
what they are?
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C. C. 5/25/64
'PENDING ANNEXATIONS - Continued
City Manager; Mr. Aiassa:
Page Fifty
The Planning Department and
Commission are notified of
anything on our perimeter.
Mayor Snyder: Since they are important enough
to tell us about, I think the
Planning Department should get all of them. Obviously they won't
have any comment on them.
As a matter of procedure, I
would just as soon delete all those except those affecting us.
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston: The County consolidated
Fire Protection District and
County Lighting and Maintenance District No, 18669,their petition
No. 3224, This is for your information,
WATER PROBLEM
Deputy City Clerk, Mrs, Preston: I have a request from Robert
Ebiner, President$ Municipal
Voters League, addressed to the City Council regarding the water
problem. (Read said letter.)
Councilman Krieger: There was the initial forma-
tion of a citizens committee
some months back with Councilman Jett and Mr. A.iassa sitting in.
.They met at,C,offee Dan's, if I remember correctly. I suggest
that this is a matter currently before the Council and we might
better devote ourselves immediately to the problem on a Council
level before we activate any citizens committees with reference to
that.
Mayor Snyder: I would agree. I suggest
we reply to this letter
asking them to submit names for possible future committee members
to -choose from. Acknowledge the letter to that effect.
CHAMBER CONTRACT
Mr,, John Gardner: I am president of the West
Covina Chamber of Commerce.
We are pleased to submit a contract for our services. The contract
this year is a little different than it has been in the past
although it is made up actually in two contracts; one, to implement
the other. We have our standard service agreement which is almost
identical to what we have had in the past in the amount of $11,500
and supplementing that we have the headquarter city contract in the
amount of $7,500, I am here to answer any questions you may have
in regard to our contract,
M1111M
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C, C. 5/25/64
CHAMBER CONTRACT - Continued
Mayor Snyder.*
City Attorney, Mr,, Williams-.
Page Fifty -One
Has the City Attorney and the
City Manager reviewed this
contract?
I have read the contracts;
Councilman Krieger: You appointed Councilman
Nichols and myself to meet
with the Chamber representatives on this matter and in the company
of Councilman Nichols I met with President Gardner, Treasurer Carr
and Chris Tambe of the Chamber at a luncheon meeting at which time
we did a preliminary review of the budget with particular emphasis
on the difference between the budgetary requirements for the year
63-63 and the requirements for 64-65 and discussing in some length
the item having to do with the headquarter city which was originally
submitted in one contract form and one budget request of $19,OOO,
At our request the Chamber broke these contracts down into two
separate contracts, one referring to their normal budgetary require-
ments and the second having to do solely and exclusively with the
headquarter city concepts The final document submitted to the
Council is the result of that luncheon and a subsequent luncheon,
These meetings gave us the opportunity to review at some length
the differences in the budgetary request between fiscal year
63-64 and 64-65 as well as to elicit more information from the
Chamber on the contract having to do with the headquarter city ..
concepts
I would suggest to the Council
that in dealing with the headquarter city concept we are in a
preliminary stage as is the Chamber and in all probability firm
and fair committments cannot be made in advance on certain of these
allocations inasmuch as the program is at its inception. However,
as a member of the committee, although I do not speak for Councilman
Nichols, I am satisfied that the Chamber has used their best efforts
to present to us a budget that is both practical and feasible;
they are taking into consideration both their items of income and
expense. I have the sense rather than the facts to suggest that
the headquarter city budget is likewise merited. This is a matter
particularly that is going to require continuing review not only
by the Council but by the Chamber,, There is the necessity for
quarterly reports in the headquarter city budget as well as in their
regular budget and I think the Council can, by virtue of these
agreements, be made fully aware and continually aware of the program
of the Chamber in both of these activities,,
It would therefore be my
recommendation as one member of the committee that the.budgetary
request of $11$00, which is $1,500 more than the budget Authori-
zation of last year, be approved upon the consideration that the
expenses of the Chamber during the ensuing fiscal year are anticipated
and I believe justifiably so to be greater than they were during
the last fiscal year by reason of some internal changes. With
respect to the headquarter city budget, I believe an authorization
of $7,500 is justified during the preliminary stages of this
program and will give the Council a better idea at budget time next
year as to whether or not this is a satisfactory implimentation of
the program as the Council conceived it and also by virtue of the
quarterly reports to be submitted to the Council,,
Co C, 5/25/64 Page Fifty -Two
CHAMBER CONTRACT- Continued
The only other comments that
I had has to do with our budgetary sessions, I am only concerned
iwith the fact that these budgets are being taken into consideration
or will be taken into consideration as well during the budgetary
sessions of the Council for fiscal year 64-65,
Mayor Snyder:
In the past we have approved
a Chamber budget in advance
of our budget session?
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: That is hard to answer. You
are supposed to have your
budget hearings within the next two or three weeks, I think if it
is the decision of the Council that budgetary requirements of the
entire City are going to be a focal point,..that you should review
the entire proposed budget first.
Mayor Snyder: Could we not indicate that
in principle we agree with
this budget and if we can fit it into our overall budget we would
most likely approve the entire budget? The headquarter city concept
as a joint project of the City and the Chamber?
Councilman Heath: I think it behooves us to
make sure this is in the
Is budget, I think we should make the commitment' tonight so we will
dfinitely put this money aside in the budget,
Is Mayor Snyder: I have no objection to that
if the rest of the Council
agrees, I am only saying you have to fit every item to the whole
budget,
Councilman Heath, I think this should have
priority,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
Councilman Krieger:
Do we have a written budget
or contract on the $7,500,
a written proposal?
Yes,
City.Attorney, Mr, Williams: I think the -most important
thing in it is the money.
I have some slight objections to some of this, It is unconstitu-
tional to commit next year's budget in this fiscal year,
Councilman Heath:
Can v�e authorize the signing
of the contract?
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: I don't see any objections.
You can sign a lease for an
ensuing year under the theory that a lease does not incur the
indebtedness until you have had the use of the property and then
you pay for it. Although it doesn't specifically say so, this
agreement doesn't incur the obligation to make these payments
until you have received the services, As to the first one, if'we
are down so low we can't make that quarterly payment out of the 63-64
funds, I would be surprised,
-52-
C, C, 5/25/64 Page Fifty -Three
CHAMBER CONTRACT - Continued
n
LJ
Councilman Krieger: Under the circumstances
0 indicated by the City Attorney,
it may be more appropriate to propose a motion to table this until
the time of the budget considerations; I believe each member of the
Council this evening has stated their position regarding this matter,
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Mayor Snyder, and carried,
that the matter of the Chamber contract be tabled until the budget
considerations of the Council for the fiscal year 1964-65,-
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
GASOLINE REQUIREMENTS FOR 1964-65
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: We need authorization to
continue this gas purchase
through the County, (Read
report,)
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
. carried, to authorize the City Manager and the City Finance Officer
to commit the City's gasoline requirements as we did last year
to the Los Angeles County Purchasing Agent,
WATER PROBLEM
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: You have an invitation from
the Suburban Water Company
for a joint meeting. I have not acknowledged any of the letters,
Mayor Snyder: I would like to see the letter
acknowledged and say we
possibly in'the future would like to have this joint meeting; that
our present business right now prevents an immediate meeting,
Councilman Krieger: I think it would be'more
advisable to have our meeting
with Mr, Montgomery take place b6fore our meeting with Suburban,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
YOUNT ANNEXATION
Councilman Krieger:
does involve a pending litigation,
at this time .to defer this,.
Mayor Snyder:
I will take care of this.
There is a report in each
Councilman's jacket, This
It may be more appropriate
I think it should be deferred
to a personnel session in the
near future,
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C. Co ' 5/25/64 Page Fifty -Four
YOUNT ANNEXATION - Continued
•
City Attorney, Mr, Williams: You can discuss this with the
City Attorney because the
attorney -client privilege supercedes the Brown Act,
Mayor Snyder; We will hold this for a
personnel session,
RENTAL OF XEROX FOR POLICE
DEPARTMENT REPORT
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: We would like to rent a Xerox
machine, The work in the
Police Department is of sufficient magnitude that we would like to
rent one for a year to see how it works out. This would be a
rental and I would like to keep statistical -records on the use of
this,. We have a master setup where we can centralize the
duplicating operations in the new building of -future City where
we have access -to everybody.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried, that the City Manager be authorized to enter into a lease
• agreement with Xerox for the leasing of a 1,14 Xerox machine for
the use of the Police Department,
PERSONNEL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATE
PLANNING DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa. I have an arrangement to
propose. We have been trying
to get a Planning Associate and a. Planning Assistant, The Planning
Associate is the assistant to the Director and the range is 26
and the starting salary is 692 to 842. The Planning Assistant
is range 24, $627 to $753. We have come up with one Planning
Assistant but we have not been able to formulate a decision on the
Planning Associate because there are about a dozen other cities
looking for the same key position. We had a new recommendation
to the Planning Commission and I would like to recommend the
possibility of having two Planning Assistants and -leave the
Planning Associate's position open and not filling it until we have
full approval from my office and the Planning Commission and the
City Council, In the meantime we will provide the Planning Depart-
ment with two men and create three positions for Assistants and they
,can compete for the Planning Department Associate position. We
can eventually eliminate one of these positions because it will be
an internal promotion. This inodification has to be -done by resolution.
RESOLUTION NO, 2940 The City Manager presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA AMENDING RESOLUTION
NO, 1277 RELATING TO CLASSES'
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C. C. 5/25/64
RESOLUTION NO, 2940 - Continued
Mayor Snyder:
Page Fifty -Five
Hearing no objections, we
will waive further reading of
the body of the resolution.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Mayor Snyder, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Krieger, Mayor Snyder
Noes: Councilman Heath
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
Said resolution was given No, 2940,
CHAMBER CONTRACT (Continued)
Mr, John Gardner: Would the Council authorize the
Mayor to sign this contract
come July 1st? We have a particular problem in the Chamber and
that is in the headquarter city concept we have been expending money
since the first of this year which does put us in a very rough situation
financially which we are trying to overcome. Last year the contract
wasn't signed until the latter part of August which under this
particular arrangement we would have to halt the work of about 60
volunteer workers in the Chamber because we don't have the funds
to carry it on,
Mayor Snyder:
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
Councilman Krieger:
You are asking that we
authorize signing it as of
July lst?
We are executing a contract
for next year's money.
The request as it is presented
I don't believe would raise
any legal difficulties.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Mayor Snyder, and carried,
to'reconsider the previous motion to table this matter,
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried, that the Mayor be authorized to execute on July 1, 19649
two agreements with the West Covina Chamber of Commerce submitted
to the West Covina City Council on May 25, 1964 for budgetary
appropriations for $11,500 and $7,500 in substantially the form
submitted,
Mr, John Gardner: Thank you, It is the intention
of the Chamber to give you
more of a comprehensive report. We will show you what you got for
your money,
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C. C. 5/26/64
'CITY MANAGER REPORTS - Continued
PAYMENT FOR APPRAISALS
Harrison Baker, Jr,
(Japanese property - $19000)
(Del Norte Park additions - $850)
Page Fifty -Six
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger. to authorize
the payment to Harrison Baker, Jr. of $1,000 for his appraisal on
the Japanese property and $850 for his appraisal of the Del Norte
Park additions, ;making a total of $1,850.00. Motion passed on roll
call as follows:
Ayes; Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
SATURDAY HOLIDAYS ACTION
Personnel Board Report
City Manager, Mr. Aiassae (Read report re this matter.)
Normally we would have half of
the crew off on one Friday and half of the crew on the next Friday
and the public safety would have their equivelent on their vacation.
If you close the whole City Hall, I feel this might lead to a
problem.
Mayor Snyder:
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa°
Why not kef-') the full staff
here and add it to their
vacation time?
You will need extra personnel
if you carry it over for any
seng;;h of time.
Motion by Councilman Heath. seconded by Mayor Snyder, and carried,
that when the holiday falls on Saturday that half of the staff
has the previous day off and the other half has the following
Monday off, and the public safety employees get an extra day on
their vacation, and this is for Memorial Day and the 4th of July
for the year 1964. (Councilman Krieger voted "No".)
CITY TREASURER
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to accept the Treasurer's report for April, 1964, and
place it on file.
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C. Ca 5/25/64
MAYOR'S REPORTS
CHAMBER MEETINGS
Page Fifty -Seven
Mayor Sndyer: The Chamber has asked we appoint
a delegate to each general
meeting in the executive sessions, I thought it would work best if
we appointed somebody on a three-month rotating basis. This is for
liaisom,
Councilman Heath:
Mayor Snyder:
TEEN-KAN-TEEN
I think it is a good idea,
If there are no objections,
I will appoint Mr. Heath for
the first three months,
Mayor Snyder: I have a request from the Teen -
Kan -Teen for a joint meeting
with the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission,
Councilman Krieger: I think that is a good idea,
Mayor Snyder: We could suggest they be given
a portion of the session the
night we have the meeting with the arks and Recreation Commission,
Councilman Heath:
Mayor Snyder:
DEMANDS
That is a good idea.
I will take care of that.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, to approve
demands totalling $343,174.56 as lis-ced on demand sheets B164,
C386 through C389, This total includes time deposits of $25,000
and fund transfers of $20389729,00, Motion passed on roll call as
follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilmen Jett, Nichols
LA PUENTE WATER COMPANY
STOCK SALE
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: The La Puente Water Company
is in the process Of buying
and selling stock. I would like to have authorization to see if we
can pick up some extra stock in this company because today I had
a meeting with Camille's sister and there seems to be something
going on there, The La Puente Cooperative has five wells and if
we are going into the water business this might be the one we want
to take over,
-57-
C. C. 5/25/64 Page Fifty -Eight
LA PUENTE WATER COMPANY ® Corftinued
Motion by Councilman Heath' seconded�by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, that the City Manager be instructed to report back to
the Council how much he can buy this stock for and how many shares
are available.
There being no further business, Motion by Councilman Heath,.seconded
by Councilman Krieger, and carried, that this meeting be adjourned
to next Monday night, June 1, 1964 at eight o'clock. The meeting
was adjourned at 2:15 A.M.
• ATTEST:
• -
CITY CLERK
APPROVED
MAYOR