10-05-1964 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
October 5, 1964
The adjourned regular.meeting of the City Council was called to order
by Mayor Snyder at 8:30 P.M. in the West Covina City Hall.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Snyder, Councilmen Krieger, Nichols, Heath
Others Present: Mr. George Aiassa, City Manager
Mr:. Robert Flotten, City Clerk & Admin. Assistant
Mr: John Q. Adams; Public Services Director
Mr: Harold Joseph, Planning Director'(from 8:40 P.M.)
Mr. Ray Windsor, Administrative Analyst
Absent: Councilman Jett
Mr. Harry C. Williams, City Attorney
JOINT MEETING - CITY COUNCIL
S. G. V. M.W. D.
Councilman Heath: We have just had a very enjoyable
meeting with the San Gabriel
Valley Metropolitan Water District. There were quite`a few explana-
tions given, some of which I don't agree with and some I do but I
would like to have the record show that in the`past I have tried to
ask the Council to look at both sides of this question because I am
not convinced that the State is the right way to go. I have been
accused of siding with M.W.D. because I was promised a directorship
in M.W.D. Thisis the damndest thing that has come.out of the City
Hall. I have not been promised a directorship;,,have not talked with
Metropolitan except as noted in the Minutes. I have not been approached
for a directorship; I have not applied for a directorship. There is no
indication given in any way that I am getting a directorship. I will
say this: I trust that a Councilman will be able to express his opinion
from here on out as long as we have a United States and if it differs
with someone else's opinion I wish they would not use it as trying to
say someone is out for profitable gains in their own behalf.
Mayor Snyder: I have never heard this accusa-
tion from anybody. I had heard
not an accusation but a rumor that you wanted to go the other way be-
cause of a possible directorship, with San Gabriel Valley, but that
was some time ago.
Councilman Heath:' I will change the statement to
say either district. I have
not applied for, have no desire, and did not ever consider a direc-
torship and have not been approached.
Mayor Snyder: Mr.Aiassa, the two new Council-
men feel they would like to hear
for their own ears and the Council's ears a meeting with the Upper San
Gabriel Water District or a representative from Metropolitan. Could
we set up a joint meeting between the Council and the Board of the Up-
per San Gabriel Valley Water District as soon as possible?
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i
C, C, 10/5/64
MEETING WITH S,G,V,M,W,D, - Continued
City Manager, Mr, Massa:
Page Two
Yes, Do you want a dinner
meeting like tonight?
Mayor Snyder: All right,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: Would the Burgundy Room be all
right?
Mayor Snyder: That would be fine,
BARRANCA AND CORTEZ TRAFFIC HAZARD
City.Manager, Mr, Aiassa:.,.. Mr, Heath sent me a letter and
I think the staff has acknowledged
this letter and you have all received copies of this, This item was
on the agenda of the last meeting pertaining.to a complaint on the
traffic hazard at the corner of Barranca and Cortez, (Read report re
this matter,) We are dealing with the County and we have to use every
possible medium to insure their cooperation in this,
Councilman Heath: Is it possible to put a four-
way stop in there at least
temporarily? Sometimes there are conditions where the situation might
not meet up to a.survey requirement; however, there could still be''
a tremendous danger hazard there,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa.: This.would be.up to the County,
Public Services Director,.Mr, Adams: I talked.with the gentleman
who actually:has charge of
this area as,far as their investigation, They do take into account
such things as accidents; however, this.has been relatively free of
accidents even though there is a potential there for accidents; I
know we will get.a good survey. I hope.it will be such that they
can install four-way stops, We will know by the end of this week,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: Mr, Templin.indicated he would
go back to the staff to see
if they could make some type'of .installation there to control the..
traffic,
UNITED NATIONS DAY
Mayor Snyder: We have a request from the League
of Women Voters to consider
proclaiming United Nations Day and I don't think in all honesty we
can not consider it. This is for October 24,
Councilman Krieger:,
Mayor Snyder:
I would suggest we take it up,
at our next regular meeting,
Should.we.have floor discussion
or should we take this up only
with the Council?
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C, Ca 10/5/64
UNITED NATIONS DAY - Continued
Page Three
• Councilman Heath: I don't think any participation
from the audience.will change my
views; What they are going to say I have heard many times,. I think in
all fairness you should permit both sides two or,three minutes but to
drag it out beyond that I think is a waste of time,
n
I
City Clerks Mr, Flotten:
Mayor Snyder:
SISTER CITY FOUNDATION
We will put it on the agenda for
the 13th, Do you want it under
Written Communications?
Yes,
Councilman Krieger: Some months back each Councilman
was asked to make an appointment
to the Sister City Commission and I am sure each one of us did and
I have had the occasion to speak to my appointee. who is Mrs, Lolly
Bergman~ and I am seriously concerned about the.functioning of this
Sister City group and I would like to see the Council direct the staff
to prepare and submit to us a report as to the activities of this
organization and in what direction they are going and what their
accomplishments are to date,
City Managers Mr, Aiassa:. This was created by the Council
and I think any information
forthcoming should be directly through the Mayor's office and Mr.
Windsor and I will do the legwork,
Councilman Heath: If .you do review that~ I am not
sure whether the Council just
endorsed this or the Council initiated it, I think the intent was
for the Council to endorse it and not initiate the action,
(Mr. Joseph entered the chambers at 8:40 P.M,)
Councilman Krieger: The appointments to the Board
of Directors includes one
appointee by each Councilman and I assume from the appointment alone
it has some official. status,
Councilman Heath:
City Manager' Mr, Aiassa:
Mayor Snyder:
Councilman Krieger:
I think it would be good for us
to review the record on it,
We will prepare the letter for
the Mayor's signature.,
Before we budget any more funds
we should have a provision that
they give us a report,
I wasnIt speaking about the.
finances; I want a report,
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C,'C, 10/5/64
Page Four
HOUSE BURNINGS
• Councilman Heath' If we are g g oin to burn more
houses there are two on Sunset
that will be ready for.burning in 30 days and if the Chief wants it
and the Council wants to approve it, it is the two houses on Sein's
property and they will be knocked down in a few days and I think the
man would be happy to have you burn them,
City Manager$ Mr, Aiassa' We have had a few problems with
this,, I would like to take it
easy on this until we get a definite clearances You might have the
owner write us:a letter and request this service,,
FEES AND CHARGES STUDY
City Manager$ Mr, Aiassa' At your next meeting of the League
there are two items coming up
for discussion$ the. gross receipts tax and the telephone tax versus
the franchise, I think it might be advisable that the Council take
time to go through this but hold off until we have our meeting with
the League of California Cities because they may come back with some
answers that might resolve some of the questions we now have, In
• summary$ I think the whole thing hinges on the policy of the City
Council to determine whether or not we are going into gross receipt
taxes,
Councilman Heath' I understand these fees are for
defraying expenses only and is
not considered a profit-making,venture,,
Planning Director$ Mr, Joseph' That's right,
City Manager$ Mr, Aiassa: The proposed changes in the
City Ordinance fees are the
ones listed in the Public Works Divisions,
(The Council went through
the report section by section. Comments are as follows,)
Councilman Nichols'
In.this grading permit.fee;'
this is any type of movement
of dirt?'
}
City Manager$ Mr, Aiassa'
I think there is a specification
as to the quantity of the dirt
moved,
Public Services Directors Mr, Adams' This is where they have to take
out a grading permit and is
primarily for the hillside developments,
Councilman Heath'
You have a grading permit fee
and,on the top of the second
page it says$ "No present rate",
What is the difference between
that and the one on.the preceding
page?
City Manager; Mr, Aiassa'
One should be "Grading Plan
Check Fee"s the second one,
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C, C, 10/5/64
FEES AND CHARGES STUDY - Continued
• Councilman Nichols:
Public Services Director, Mr, Adams:
Councilman Nichols:
Public Services Directors Mr,, Adams:
Councilman Heath:
have to get a permit to build a sign,
Planning Directors.Mr, Joseph:
Councilman Heath:
Councilman Nichols:
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
Councilman Krieger:
instead of from zero to 20 feet,
Councilman Nichols:
Page Five
You show a charge for moving -from
nothing on up.
Actually it.would be .from one to
50;
This is an academic suggestion.
It should be from one on ups
not from nothing on up,
We will change that,
What do you mean by a "Sign
Building Permit"? You don't
To install it, when the inspector
goes out'to check on the sign.
I think the wording should be
changed.
It should be "Sign Permit",
We will strike out the word
"building".
On the Building Moving Permit,
it should be from one to 20 feet
This correction should be made
throughout this report,.
On the street tree deposits
what does the record keeping and general expense of maintenance on
street trees involve?
City Managers Mr, Aiassa: We keep a file on most trees of com-
plaints, pruning, spraying. You have
to,: -justify some of this money of the developer.which you are spending.
Mayor Snyder: I.think we should go over this
business license fee so we can
decide if there is any position we are going to take,
Councilman Heath: This is based on revenue: What
do you do, estimate the revenue
you are going to have for the year and charge your license accordingly
or go.by the revenue you have had the previous year?
City Clerk, Mr, Flotten: It is actual; we check the actual
gross receipts and on that basis
we go on the next year;
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C. C. 10/5/64 Page Six
.PEES AND CHARGES STUDY - Continued:
Councilman Heath- This doesn't allow for any..inckease
in gross receipts? We know that
every business isn't going to stay the same every year.
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa This is handled in'tho same'mAhier
_ _As industrial State Comp. does where
we pay a base fee, subject to an annual audit.
Councilman Krieger: You pay your estimated Federal re-
turn the same way.
Councilman Heath: Suppose the'chargo is $60 f®r a
license because last'year-'he did
$50,000 worth of business. He finds out he did $60,000 worth of busi-
ness or $70,000 worth of business. There is no book work to go back
and make a change.
Councilman Krieger-
As
I understand'-it9-
on January-"lst
of
the following year
when he-apOlies
for his license his license
is based on.the
business he
did last year.
Councilman Heath:
There
are very few
businesses where
the
gross receipts
don't increase
every year. You,are basing
his license
this year on what
he did last
year.
Councilman Krieger:
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa:
Otherwise you have'to run a con-
tinuing accounting.
On Page 11-4 it gives you the
breakdown.
Mayor Snyder: For.the business that is growing he
will always be behind in his fee.
Is it too cumbersome to charge an estimated rate and audit it at the end
of the year? I
Councilman Heath,-,
it would cost you too much money
to do it.
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: in every city except West Covina they
have had gross receipts. After a
series of two years operating under gross receipts you could almost call
the shots by their volume of business also sales tax returns could be
checked.'
Councilman Heath: i don°t care what you do to process
this readjustment, i don't think you
can put it through your books for less than $15.00 and if it is going to
post you $15.00 to process the paper work and adjustment lower than $15.00
is a waste of money.
isCity Clerk, Mr. Flotten- We have the highest minimum checked
with, $36.00 plus $3.00 for each
employee over three in number; We figure by this adjustment to gross
receipts we would give the little fellow a little better break.
Mayor Snyder: The only way you can put a gross
receipts tags on the telephone
company is to put it_on all of your businesses.
ME
I
Councilman Heath: Let's hold this off until after
the League meeting,
.Councilman Krieger: I would agree but I would.also
think that this might be
something that we could well use the comments of the Chamber of
Commerce -.on,
.City Manager,:Mra Aiassa: I want'to recommend this after,we
see what the Utgue ' doe*§ . on, tele-
phone Franchise question and then . seridi its to, the -Chamber for their recom-
mendation,
Councilman..Nicholso I would like some estimated
statistics as to the differences,
the practical differences that this..would make to various businesses,
Councilman Heath: I would like to question this
solicitorl.s license, There
is only one thing you have to be careful of, If you put this.too
steep,you are.going to drive these people to telephone solicitations,
I am against the motel occupancy
tax, A while ago we talked about a bed tax of 4% and.I would think
anything you have a motel occupancy tax on, the only reason they go
there is to use the bed and this i`s another way of saying.a bed tax,
.I am opposed to a bed tax and I would be:opposed to this motel
occupancy tax .because it is the,same thing only worded differently,
I think.`the motel pays a business license tax and.it.should be
adjusted as a business license tax,
Councilman Nichols.. I agree with you,
Mayor Snyder. I agree, I don't think they
should have to pay both,
Councilman Krieger. What is the philosophical
objection to a motel tax?
These people get the services of our City; they are not residents
of our City; they are passing through,;
Councilman Heath: They pay so much to occupy a
motel -and this goes toward
paying,the license for the man owning the motel and he is paying for
a license to run his.businesso That is where the tax should come
from and not onto a bed tax,
Councilman Krieger: What is the objection to a
motel tax? I.noticein the
notes in this report the League has suggested that if the cities don't
adopt it the State will probably step in to get more revenues for
them,
Councilman Heath.. This. bed tax started out, from
my way of thinking, started
out as ,another new way to get some money.they didn't need and I feel
that if you keep on taxing and taxing you are going too far:6--
C, C, 10/5/64 Page Eight
FEES AND CHARGES STUDY Continued
Councilman Krieger. I would agree if we don't need
the money that is fine but
this is the first I have heard that we don't need revenue,
Councilman Heath:
I said that.before on the bed
tax; I don't think they need it,
Mayor Snyder: Los Angeles has adopted it and
it is very.;likely that the
cities around us will adopt it and what do -we gain by not adopting.
it? We are not going to increase our motel business,
Councilman Krieger:.$100000 to me represents one
cent on our tax rate,
Councilman Heath-: Let's have a motor vehicle use
tax to put on here, too,
Anybody using a motor vehicle in the.City gets a tax, We could go
on and make any number of taxes if you wanted 'to add and that is what
I consider the bed'tax to be,
Councilman Nichols! Garbage. disposal tax,
Councilman Krieger; This isn't anything unique
that we are considering in
West Covina that they.haven't done in other cities,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa- This is something we can discuss
at the League meeting next week,
Councilman Heath- What about the vehicle.use tax
in the City, commercial vehicle
tax?
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: The State .occupies the field,
Councilman Heath- I am talking about vending trucks,
City.Manager, Mro Aiassa- It is in your business license
under solicitorso
Councilman Krieger- I'll agree with you on that
if you'll.agree with me on a
motel tax,.
Councilman Nichols- I.am opposed to the motel.tax
but my basis for the opposition
is this. To place a tax on motels would.be exactly the same if you
went out and placed a tax on people's overnight parking in the streets
or if you set up any other tax on the presence`of a person in your
community, West Covina is not. a transient City., There are probably
,relatively few people coming into Los Angreles who stop in West
Covina on the way in or out, The more people who will come to West
Covina and spend their money here with.a better feeling toward this
City I think the better off we are going to be and relative to these
people what amount we will.achieve by taxing them 4% I think we will
lose in good will, I would much rather see every city all around us
charging 4% and West Covina saying no tax on your presence in West
Covina, This is my philosophy. My philosophy is where we are going
to get the most money over a period of time,
®g®
Ce.Ce. 10/5/6.4
p. Page Mine
FEES AND CHARGES STUDY
Continued
Councilman Krieger;
If we had a_4% bed tax or a
motel tax..I doubt whether our
motels.along the route would indicate.unde'r their, vacancy:sign.I!Plus..
4$ Motel. Tax" o This` is .a `' ervice the Citg.. offers to transientso
Mayon Snyder.
I .think,, this is an eau,itable
tax, and not an exorbitant
tax and one of the few that: we can levye We have o iive within. a
budget,,
Councilman:Heath�..
What`: services are the City
supplying if a man uses a bed
that they done t furnish someone
e1's.e who doesn a t'use a bed?
Mayor Snyder:
Motels. are, really not a.
desirable type of business
you go„ out and seek :for `the
type of city we have; 'We have to . have
so many,., but that is alto
Councilman Heatho
I would.like to go, back to the
use; of the commercial vehicle
tare
City C erk, Mro Flotteno
We.,. are doi ng. that nowe.
•
Councilman' Heathy
On Page. 11-6 you have $2540
per.truck® et cetera o Where
° ,.
is.,that.shown.on.Iage 3.9
city Manager,Mr.e, Massa;
It'doesnet show because that
is not on gross.receiptsa This
fs . flat" rates
Councilman Heath:
Where is it shown on: Page 2?.
City Manager, Mre Aiassa:
It doesnet,have to�beshown on.,
page 2�
Mayor Snyder°
Are we; prepared ,to recommend an
ordinance change as: to the
'Public Works Division and
:to hold the Off ice.of:the. City Clerk until
after the Leaguo,meetin g
ust to. make a statement in prineI.ple ve
think the 'gross receipts -fee
is.�ood?
City Manager' Mra Aiassa r
I. tili.ik after "#$e League. meeting
we, .can get:down to.:a definite'
' conc�:us�.onQ,
Counc lmz}Cr ee+:
In : the: flat fee'schedule on
45 a ,11 � 6 and-. 11-4 '0 are there
any changes from -.what we
presently Have?.
Mayor Snyder:
I think the indication ,is. that
theyhave studiect.,.Ifts and,
recommend no.chgnges,o
City'Cler,,k, Mr,.FlQtten`a
There arechangao
C, Co 10/5/64: Page Ten
FEES.AND CHARGES STUDY Continued
• Councilman Krieger:. Could we have this redefined'
as to what the proposed changes.
are?.
'City. Clerk o Mr q .. F,lotten; All right o
..Motion by Councilman Krieger seconded by Councilman Heath, and carriedq
that .the.proposed`changes in the. City Ordinance'Fees with reference to
the Public .Works Division as recommended in the.report of Fees and
Charges of September$'19649 that..the City Attorney be directed to
prepare an ordinance in accordance 'therewith,
CouncilmanKrieger: Before we reach a consensus of
our own should we refer it to
1:
.,the Chamber?
City:.May.tagerg :Mr. Aiasea I agree o
Mayor'Snyder: We will ,:discuss this .with .the
Chamber'soono
HEADQUARTER .CITY
Mr, Chris Tambe: I am sure you have read. about
the plan to move,the.State
Employment Office from El Monte to West Covina, Someone is working
on. behalf of the .City of. West -Covina on this project and we have
been -working on `the project quite hard, We have been very. ;successfu1
in .another area dealing with our Headquarter City..Program and you will.
be. reading a published .report of this.n the newspapers very shortly;
Within 60 days we will have in the City of West Covina the"senior
branch representative from Bank.of America serving ;the San,Gabriel�
Antelope and Owens Valleysq All branches in these three valleys"
will report to and through.tbis branch; This will be.in one of .
the office buildings here:'in town,
MT, SAC"PINNER MEETING
Adm�,:ntrative Analyst, Mr.. Windsor: There is a dinner meeting
tomorrow night at Mt. 'Sac
at 600 P.M. This is a"reminder f.or those who plan to goo
STREET IMPROVEMENT
COST SHARING
City Managers Mr. Aiassat
We will hold.this overo
-10
C, C, `10/5/6.4
Page Eleven
RESOLUTION.NO.a 30201The
City Clerk presented:
•
ADOPTED
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
EXPRESSING ITS APPRECIATION TO
MARY.A, VAN DAME FOR HER FINE
CITIZENSHIP AND FOR HER INTEREST
IN THE WELFARE OF THE CITY OF
WEST . COVINArr
Mayor Snyder:
Hearing ,no objections, we will
waive further reading of.the
body of. the resolution,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded
by Councilman Krieger, that said
rO.solution be adopted, Motion passed
on roll.call as follows:
Ayes:- Councilmen Krieger, Nichols,
Heathy Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: Councilman.Jett
Said resolution was given -No, 30200
EMPLOY THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WEEK
City Clerk,.Mr, Flotten:
This.` s.a.request from the Board
of Supervisors to proclaim the
week of October 4'to October 10 as "Employ
the Physically Handicapped
Week, ll
Mayor Snyder:
If there are no objections, I
will so proclaim,.
(There were none,)
so Proclaimed,.
There being no further business, Motion
by Councilman Heaths seconded
by Councilman Krieger, and carried,
that this meeting be adjourned
at-10:10 P.M.
APPROVED
MAYOR