02-01-1965 - Regular Meeting - Minutes•
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
February .1, 1965
The adjourned regular meeting of the City Council was called to order
by Mayor Snyder at 7:35 P.M. in the West Covina City Hallo Councilman
Jett led the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Robert
Flotten, City Clerk.
ROT.T. rAT.T. '
Present: Mayor Snyder, Councilmen Jett, 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
Absent: Mr, Harry Co Williams, City Attorney
Councilman Nichols: I was in attendance at the services
of the wife of the Chairman of the
Parks and Recreation Commission. Gene Johnson had given many years of
service to this community. She passed away Saturday evening after a
very brief illness and I am sure that all Councilmen join me in recog-
nizing this is a real loss to our community.
SCHEDULED MATTERS
MR. AR T'NfL.R
AMENDMENT NO. 66
City Initiated
HELD OVER
Planning Commission Resolution No.
1965 with the hearing held open.
Request to amend the sign pro-
visions set forth in Chapters
two and four of the Municipal
Code. Approval recommended by
1726. Held over from January 1.1,
Councilman Krieger: We have a memo dated January
27 from the Planning Commission
calling our attention to the fact that the Council may wish to con-
sider certain information brought to their attention from the mem-
bers of the sign industry that were not available to the Planning
Commission during its deliberations. I think in all fairness to
the Planning Commission this should be referred back to the Planning
Commission for the purpose of taking such additional testimony they
may wish to take on this matter to determine whether or not the pro-
posed changes to the sign ordinance do in fact represent their opinion
• after hearing whatever additional views might be presented to them.
Councilman Jett: I have spent considerable time
on this sign ordinance. I
wonder if it might not be a good idea if we would open the hearing
and maybe discuss some of these points and then refer the entire
matter back to the Planning Commission so they will have the benefit
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AMENDMENT NO, 66 m Continued
Page Two
p6ssibly of our thinking so when they review this they can come back
to us with a recommendation with some of these things we have discussed,
too, I think the Planning Commission should have the benefit of this
thinking they didn't have before,
Planning Directors Mr, Joseph: (Read Planning Commission
Resolution No, 1726 and gave
a'brief summary of this matter,)
Mayor Snyder:
California Electric Sign Association,
who will comment on this,
Mr, Ed Cronan
4461 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles
This is the time and place for
the public hearing,
We have a letter from the
I think there is someone here
I am the Executive Director
of the California Electric
Sign Association,
Without commenting further on
the gratitude on behalf of the Electric Sign Association as expressed
by their resolution to this Council for the consideration given for
us being heard on our recommendations to this Councils the City of
West Covina, I would like to add to it the quite personal gratitude
in the ability of working with the members of your staff in a very
objective sense to work out what we feel are sincere problems not
only on behalf of the Sign Industry but perhaps from the City of
West Covina, This is our main objective, to arrive at good, workable
ordinances that are restrictive and yet understandable,
We are in concurrence that
the majority of our recommendations are primarily administrative
interpretations and we believe we can work them out,, There are a
few areas where we disagree and I submit that perhaps we can take
care of them with the Planning Commission and then come back to you
with sound recommendations for -what we believe will be a good sign
ordinance,
Mr, Russ Grunawald
Sign Contractor
Neon Products Signs
for the benefit of the City
would like to go back to the
further recommendations,
Mr, James Charter
433 South Meadow Road
West Covina
I haven't too much to add to
what Mr, Cronan has already
said, We feel the review of
the sign ordinance will be
of West Covina and the merchants, We
Planning Commission to discuss our
The action on this ordinance
has been dragging and dragging,
Is this something that is going
back and remain there another
three months and then.come back here and be dragged out again or is
some action going to be taken on this? I am very happy, with the
ordinance as it was presented by your staff and approved by the
Planning Commission, I would like to see that passed..
There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,
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AMENDMENT N0, 66 - Continued
Page Three
Councilman Heath: If this is going back before
the Planning Commission and
there is other evidence I believe they will have to.hold a public
hearing and they would have to readvertise,
Councilman Krieger: This is in no way different than
what we did with Home Savings
and Loan when we referred certain matters that were brought to our
attention back to the Commission and asked for their comments,.and they
made.their.comments,
Councilman Heaths I feel this should go back to
' the Planning Commission, It is
a technicality here whether or not you have to have a public hearing,
I would be in favor of sending,it back for report but I would like an
opinion from the City Attorney;
Councilman Krieger: I thought we had an opinion from
him on the Home Savings and
Loan matters because the very same issue was brought up, I believe he .
said once the matter is before the City Council the jurisdiction is
strictly within the Council and we are asking for their comments in
their.capacity as an advisory group,
Councilman Jett: I have a few recommendations on
this ordinance. I feel it would
be.more equitable to say in the number of signs permitted that it shall
be limited to two. The reason is that if we have a lot of signs that
would be facing a major street or freeway then perhaps they would
like.to have their main sign but at the same time they would want
the entrance to the building or the face of the building identified,
Councilman Krieger:
Councilman Jett:
How would Item 6 tie in with
your suggestion?
I think this in some cases
would probably do what I am
suggesting here,
There was another question
that I have and that is the height of the sign not to extend above
the height of the building, There are cases where your store
buildings will not exceed 12 or 15 feet, This is a free-standing
sign, I feel there are occasions where this would.work a hardship
because the reason for the free-standing sign is usually for some
purpose* either the business is behind other buildings or, some other
reason and I think this should be given a grreater'heighto What the
height limit might be, I don't know,
I have another question
regarding flashing signs, According to our ordinance at the present
time it is absolutely forbidden that they move. This means that
time and temperature signs, for example, are not permitted. Another
sign not permitted would be a barber polo I think instead of having
such an absolute ordinance it should be written to accomplish what
we want to do but yet would permit something of this nature. In
going through the variances I find that some of these are the
things we have had the most trouble with,
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AMENDMENT NOa 66 - Continued
Page Four
Councilman Krieger-. I believe, Mr,, Joseph, in your
statement of introduction you
indicated that certain items in this memo from the California Electric
Sign Association may have been deleted through your conversations,, What
numbers are those?
Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph-. The ones they continued to
object to that cant be settled
by interpretation is the number of signs permitted per building
frontage,, They would like'the number of signs to be increased
On No,, 3, which relates to
Item 4 on Page 3, they want to delete the same stipulation as Mr,,
Jett and have a maximum height of 45 feet,, They want to delete
everything after "Planning Department,,", which is the fifth line down.
And on No,, 6, the third
.paragraph, which has to do with the height of the free-standing
signs_ there is an objection,,
On No,, 8, which has to do
with.the movement of the signs, we couldn't resolve this one way or
the other,,
I believe with these exceptions
we have settled the rest of their objections through interpretation,,
Mr,, Ed Cronan-. I would like to extend an
invitation to this Council
and to the entire staff of the City of West Covina at a date certain
to be determined to review a modern manufacturing sign industry.
I feel it will give you a comprehensive picture of the entire industry,,
Mayor Snyder-.
Thank you,, We will consider
this and give you an answer,,
Councilman Jett-. I think if these things are
discussed by the Planning
Commission they will come up with something everyone can live with.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
that Amendment No,, 66 be held over to the regular Council meeting of
February 23, 1965 with the hearing closed for additional report from
the Planning Commission at their meeting of February 17, 1965 restricted
-to the following questions-. (1) Regarding the number of identification
signs on building faces not including walls containing a public entrance;
(2) Height limitations on free-standing signs; (3) The question as
to signs containing flashing or rotating symbols or in any way
simulating motion; and (4) With respect to the. letter received from
the California Electric Sign Association dated January 22, 19659
Items.No,, 2, 4, 6(c), and 8, except as otherwise contained in a
specific request as previously noted (Mayor Snyder voted "No",,)
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HEARINGS Continued
Page Five
AMENDMENT NO, 67 Request to amend Section 9219,12
City Initiated of the West Covina Municipal
APPROVED Code as ,it relates to outdoor
display and sale of merchandise
and temporary signs relating thereto during special promotional events,
Approval recommended by Planning Commission Resolution No, 1727,
Hearing closed on January 11, 1965, and held over for decision to
February 1, 1965,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: On Item 2, it is suggested to
retain the remainder of the
text except that the Office of the City Clerk should approve the uses
in l(a) through 1(e) rather than requiring the City Council to approve
such uses, -It says the City Clerk can authorize all these activities,
I think we should create an administrative committee of the departments
involved -- Mr, Flotten, Mr, Fowler, and Mr. Joseph; the Police and
Fire Departments, when involved. This review board will review these
applications and'if.they approve it the person will not have to
come before the Council and if they disapprove it the person has the
privilege to come to the Council and request a re-evaluation of the
request,
There is one provision in C
• on Promotional Events on educational or civic or cultural nature,
et cetera, and it should be "from this Committee" instead of "from
the Planning Department," All applications must be made in advance
of 15 days from the date they want their event so we can check them
out.
Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried,
that Amendment No, 67 be approved as recommended by the Planning
Commission in their Resolution No, 1727 and as further amended by the
City Manager in the foregoing discussion,
GENERAL MATTERS
ORAL.COMMUNICATIONS
POLICE CHIEF REPORT
Police Chief Sill:
I would like to bring the news
to this Council that the two
men involved in this shooting scrape have been captured in Oklahoma
by.the Oklahoma Highway Patrol so we are awaiting extradition,
RESOLUTION NO, 3090
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The City Clerk presented:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
COMMENDING ,B-ENNET L, BA.TEMAN
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO
THE CITY"
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the
body of the resolution,
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RESCLUTh071 NO, 3090 - Continued
Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows;
Ayes-. Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes.- None
Absent-, None
Said resolution was given No. 3090.
RESOLUTION<:NO. 3091 The City Clerk presented.
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST1COVINA
COMMENDING RONALD J. DIEZSI
FOR -HIS OUTSTANDINGISERVICE
TO THE CITY"
Mayor Snyder;-... Hearing no objections,, -.we will
waive further_ reading of the
body of the resolution.
Motion by -Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said
resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes-. Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder.
Noes. None
Absent-. None
Said resolution was given No. 3091,
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
SCHLANGER,SIGN
City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten: We have a letter from Mr.
Shapiro of Gendel, Roskoff,
Shapiro and Quittner, attorneys for J. J. Schlanger requesting
rehearing of application for extension of time for non -conforming
sign. This is Variance No,, 425, Revision 1. You also have a memo
from the City Manager on this matter.
Councilman Heath. I feel there has been ample
notification. The hearing
has been closed and I don't see how we could reopen it again at this
late date and I feel it is very unfortunate that the applicants could
not see fit to be here when this was before us but,I feel we would
have to go on as we are proceeding now and I don't see how we can
go back to another hearing.
Move that the City Clerk write
a letter to Mra Schlanger advising him that we have taken due procedures
as..set up in our ordinance, the public hearing has been held, proper
notification has been given, and we are unable now to reopen the,hearing
or set it for a new hearing unless he reapplies.
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'SCHLANGER SIGN ® Continued
Councilman Jett:
Page Seven
I assume copies would be sent to
Mr. Shapiro and also Mrs,, Curtis?
Councilman Heath: I will so amend my motion.
Action on Councilman Heath's motion: Seconded by Councilman Jett, and
carried.
WATER WHEEL RESTAURANT
City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten:
Cianchetti* Jr, regarding the Water
status of ABC application.
Councilman Heath:
Mr,, Sam Cianchetti
1502 Service Avenue
West Covina
You have a letter dated
January 25, 1965 from Sam
Wheel'Restaurant relative to
I would like to hear from the
writer of this letter,
I would like to explain the
background not only of the
subject matter of the letter
but the letter itself so in
light of that perhaps you can appreciate some of the problems
Mr. Lotito is having,
The dance permit was operating
on for the -calendar year 1964 expired on December 319 1964, Business
licenses for the City of West Covina expire on the 31st of January.
It was Mr. Lotito's understanding, though wrong and incorrect, that
the dance permit would be in effect until the 31st of January. As
a matter of fact, apparently that has created somewhat of a problem
in the past. Chief Sill told me that both expiration dates now
coincide so there would be no problems like this in the future.
On January 22, 1965 Mr, Lotito
wa.s contacted by Chief Sill and informed that his permit had expired
and he was in violation of the City code. Immediately then he ceased
the dancing and on the 25th wrote a letter to the Council and the
Council considered the.letter that evening and extended or granted an
interim dance permit effective to this evening, At the same time there
was being conducted a hearing by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage
Control on the 25th and 26th of January, The hearing was concluded on
January 260 Mr, Flynn, who was the attorney representing Mr, Lotito
at that hearing* informs me that it will be six to eight weeks before
there is a finding which is rendered by the Hearing Officer, that
finding coming from Sacramento and some order made by the Department
of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
It would appear to me the
City has perhaps three alternatives, The City could deny the
request for any.extensiori of the interim permit he is operating on
now. Secondly*,after receiving the call from Chief Sill on the 22nd
of January l immediately contacted Mr, Flotten in the City Clerk's
Office and he informed me at that time by virtue of the very heavy
agenda you had for your last meeting that it would be impossible to
have a formal hearing before the City Council pursuant to the require-
ments of 4111,1 of the new code, He informed me the first hearing
we could get would be February 8, I think the second alternative
would be to extend the present interim license until February 8 and
have a formal hearing before the Council at that time,
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WATER "WHI'EL RESTAURANT Continued
Page Eight
The third alternative would
be to continue the interim license to a date approximately, around the
first of April when there would,be a set of findings rendered by the
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control presumably and those findings
could be made available to the City along with testimony of both the
parties involved and the City make a decision on that basis,
With respect to the latter
I think that is the best choice because it is my understanding that
the allegations made before the Department of A,B,C, are exactly the same
as those -reasons why Chief Sill denied the renewal of the dance
permit..and I think since there has been an -extensive amount of
...testimony taken over a two-day period it might shorten.considerably,
the length of the hearing before the City Council,
I would gladly answer any
questions that you might have at this time,
Councilman Jett: Will Mr, Lotito be permitted
to continue doing business
during this period he is waiting for an.answer from the A,B.C,?
Mr, Sam Cianchetti:
Councilman Heath:
April 1st that it be conditioned to the
withdraw this permission at any time'in
from the.Chief of Police, I think this
Yes.
I would feel that if this
extension is granted until
extent that the Council may
the case of a recommendation
is only fair,
Mr, Sam Cianchetti: Mr, Lotito was granted a
business license and with
respect to the dance permit itself there are two basic sections,
Section .41120 which spells out all the requirements that an applicant
must meet"at the -time he is applying for a dance permit, and Section
4113, which spells out all of the kinds of conduct which are prohibited
once the dance permit is granted, I donut think there is one single
violation,
Councilman Heath: You would have no objection
to having this dance license
issued on the condition that it can be withdrawn any time up until
April 1st on the recommendation of the Chief of'Police?
Mr, Sam Cianchetti: I would to this extent. I would
like the opportunity at the
time there is a recommendation by the Chief to provide at least some
notice so we can come.before the Council and air our grievance at
that time,
Councilman Krieger: We vest the initial authority
in our Police Chief to make
the determination whether or not such a permit will be granted and
then we give to the agrieved party, if he is an agrieved party, the
right to appeal to the City Council from an adverse determination of
the Police Chief, I am assuming that the Police Chief had substantive
grounds upon which to deny the permit, Therefore, I don't see where
our decision is predicated in the slightest upon the ultimate
determination of the A,B,C, Board, We are certainly not bound by
their decision as it may pertain to the license of this establishment,
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;ATER WHEEL RESTAURANT Continued
I assume we have our own criteria'set forth in the code as to when
a permit will be granted and when it may be revoked,, I am assuming
the Police Chief had full cognizance of these two sections when he
decided not to renew the permit,, Therefore, it seems to me that if
this is an appeal from an adverse decision'from the determination
made by the Police Chief it should be based on the merits as they
were presented and are within the knowledge of the -Police Chief and
not based upon the merits or lack of merits of the revocation of the
license as it may pertain to the A',,B,,C, Board,
Mayor Snyder: I would agree with you,,
Councilman Heath: What are the grounds that the
Chief of Police would withdraw
this dance permit?
Police Chief Sill: (Read Section 4111,1 of the
Code,) I had specific reasons
for not renewing this license and they have been set forth in my
memorandums to this City Council,, I have not changed my mind. At
the last Council meeting I agreed to an extension of the operation
of the dance permit because of this differentiation between the
expiration of the business license and the dance license,, I have no
objections to readjusting the expiration date of the dance license
and we have done so and they will, in the future, expire on
January 31st,,
I stand before you unalterably
opposed to the issuance of a cabaret dance permit at this location
because it has been and if a hearing is required we will show that
this -place -has been a.police problem and so great a police problem
that the A,B,C,, initiated this action to revoke their A,BoC,, license,,
There is no connection between the issuance of a cabaret license and
..the.revocation of an A.B.C. license,, They are two separate items
entirely. I am perfectly willing to come before you again with
witnesses on a hearing if Mr. Cianchetti and Mr. Lotito would care,
to but as of now I am opposed to the continuation of their license,,
Councilman Heath: The license has been reinstated
for a short period of time up
until last night,, During this time have you had any police calls
or trouble in that spot?
Police Chief Sill: No.
Councilman Heath: I can then assume that this man
can and may very well readily
run a business which.can be an asset to the community and not a
problem to.the community. I.feel sometimes all of us do something
we shouldn't and I don't think we should be penalized "forever. I
made the suggestion before that this license be reinstated with the
condition that should this establishment end up the way'it was before
that this license be revoked immediately at that time,,
Councilman Jett: I can't help but to go along
with your thinking on this,
I think Mr, Lotito is sincerely making an effort to conduct a
business in accordance with our rules and regulations and I think
it is the duty and responsibility of the City Council to try to
determine these things based on not only rigid rule but what we
feel might be to the best interest to the City and to the inhabitants
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WATERWHEEL RESTAURANT ®Continued
• of the City, There is another establishment in the City that has
been brought to my attention that I understand is probably in
violation4 if not even more than what this establishment has been and
they are still doing business and I don't know if they have had any
trouble with the law but I do think to single this one person out and
try to cause him all this trouble, try to'put him out of business, I
just cannot go along with it, I realize we must support our Chief of
Police and accept his decisions in just about every cases However,
there are times when the Council has to make its own decision, This
is.one of those.times, I feel,
.Mayor Snyder: I think the issue boils down to
this: Chief Sill has decided
..not -to reissue the dance permit, If these people apply for a hearing
on this matter,. the adverse decision of the Chief, can we continue
their dance permit until that hearing? I'personally think we should
do this but I do feel we are going to have to hear both .sides of the
.argument and the evidence at a proper hearing before we can make
a _final decision,
Mr, Sam Cianchetti: An application for a hearing
has been made and it has been
.scheduled for the 8th of February, The only reason I raised the issue
• with.respect.to the A,B,C, is that I would estimate conservatively -®
Chief Sill has indicated in the complaint that was filed there are
some 20 separate instances in which testimony would have to be taken.
I presume he will use basically the same testimony, That nearing took
two days before the A,B,C,
Councilman Krieger: I don't think if we decide
this off the top of our hat
this way we are either supporting or not supporting the Chief, All
we are doing is making a mockery of those whole system, If the Chief
has facts to support his decision the time and place will be set for
him to present those facts. If the appellant feels they have been
denied a right then let's give them the hearing but if we are going
to approach this simply that' -they have been a good boy for the last
week and give them a permit, let's not set up an appeal system, let's
say any time you disagree with the decision below come to us and we
will slap you on the wrist and let you go on your way,
Mayor Snyder: I think we have to decide
whether or not we are going
to let them operate this week, Should they be able to_produce
evdence.to show they are entitled -to a dance permit then you could
do them quite a bit of damage by not allowing them to.operate this,
week and I don't see any harm in allowing one more week until the
hearing,
Councilman Heath: In reading the ordinance it says
the Chief of Police issues
the permit for operation and it does not say the Chief of Police can
withdraw this permit,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: The permit is good for one year,
Then it has to be renewed and
it is then a new permit,
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WATER WHEEL RESTAURANT m Continued
Page Eleven
Councilman Heath: I would interpret this as
saying the Chief can give a
permit and it should not be revoked until the City Council revokes it
and before it can be revoked there should be a public hearingo
Councilman Krieger. We amended ,this very ordinance
about a month ago in which we
gave the aggrieved party the right to appeal to the City Council a
decision given by the Chief of Police,
Councilman -Nichols: It would be my strong recommenda-
tion that.this.Council reschedule
the hearing as set to an evening when that hearing may be the exclusive
business of this Council. To add that hearing into a full schedule
on a regular Council meeting night makes a travesty of any effort to
hold a hearing and makes a mockery of the other items scheduled for
the Council.
Mayor Snyder:
Does Mr,, Sill have to bring
in witnesses? His report is
our information, isn't it?
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: I believe the Chief of Police
can deny a permit and the
applicant has the right to appeal. The right to appeal is the
applicant has to prove the point that he is being treated unjustly
or he was not given a square evaluation and it is his responsibility
to prove.that-to the Councilo
Mayor Snyder: The burden of the evidence
is on the applicant.
Councilman Heath: I would take a different stand
on it. You are saying he is
guilty until he is proven innocento I think the proof would be the
burden of the objecting force in this case.
Mayor Snyder:
I think we should follow Mr.
Nichols' suggestion and set
this for another night,,
Councilman Nichols: It seems to me that in a
matter of this nature that
where government.exerts a restrictive authority over a citizen and
the exercise of that authority works an economic hardship or any
.manner of hardship upon the citizen the government has a clear
responsibility to protect the rights of'that citizen at the same time
they may be instituting procedures'to so restrict that citizen and
certainly I think when a permit is,withdrawn or there is a refusal
to issue a permit that this, in effect, is an accusation by the
.government that this citizen is in some form or another guilty of
some type of conduct that is not a normal or acceptable type of
conduct. I think it is like an accusation against that citizen
and I react that when there is an appeal to an administrative decision
I have to accept the thesis that the citizen is entitled to be
considered to be acting in a proper manner until such time as it
is demonstrated conclusively to me in that hearing that he is not
so acting and I think to refuse to allow him to operate his business
until the time of that hearing is punishing him before a determination
of wrong -doing.
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11ATER WHEEL RESTAURANT Continued.
• Councilman Krieger: The fact remains that this is
an economic hardship at best
upon the applicant. Every time we get a zoning matter before us it
represents an economic hardship; an unclassified use permit represents
an economic hardship; a variance, the same. This is not criminal;
this isn't quasi -criminal; this is strictly within our function and
the function of the Police Department administratively.
As far as the -hearing itself
....is concerned, we have..people appeal all the"time from the decisions
of the Planning Commission and they come before us and the law says
it..is a hearing de novo,'meaning you start all over again. That is
.....all.we-are doing here. The Police Department in this instance is
in.the same position that the Planning Commission would have been
in.the.instance where we are talking about zoning,,variances, et
cetera.. The appellant here is the same as the appellant when he
brings a matter before us from the.Planning Commission.
Councilman, --,.'Heath,,,. I think there is a.diff.erence.
The application for.; ac; zone
change and unclassified use permit is an application to do,something.
In this case we are talking.about-a hearing to deny something that
has already.been established.
• Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
to hold a hearing on this matter on Tuesday, February 16, 1965 at
eight o'clock in the Council chambers,,
I
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
that James Lotito, representing Jim's Water Wheel Inn be permitted
to operate under a temporary dance permit until a decision from this
Council at the outcome of the hearing to be held on February 16, 1965.
(Councilman Krieger voted "No",,)
JOINT SESSION WITH HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Present-. Chairman Shrader, Commissioners Solder, Macsurak,
Goldstein, Beem
Others Present: Mr. Raymond Windsor, Administrative.Analyst
Mayor Snyder: I think we are about due to have
a progress report from the
Commission. Secondly, any suggestions you might have..for bettering
the functions and the purposes of the Commission and any questions
the Council might have will also be discussed tonight.
Chairman Shrader:
I hadn't expected to give
progress report but I will
try to recall as much as I
n-
can.
Our first order of business
was a list of concerns brought to us by citizens of West Covina and
we designated these Areas I and II, concerning housing. We had a
great deal of discussion on these two matters. Several of our meetings
were well attended. We have had oral reports from several members
of the effected areas and they have stated most emphatically that
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Page Thirteen
'JCiI'NT MEETING WITH HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Continued
the conditions which were first expressed in the list of concerns
have not completely stabilized but have been moderated a great deal,,
We are continuing our work with these two areas
Just lately we brought up this
business of the Nazi Party attempting to establish a headquarters in
the.San Gabriel Valley, more specificallyg'Covina. The matter was
brought before the Commission,, The Commissioners were unified in
their approval of a resolution and a recommendation to you and since
the approval of.the recommendation and the ensuing publicity from the
Sentinel, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune,'and by word-of-mouth, I have
received a great deal of phone calls and several visits to my office
concerning this situation. For examples the work of the Commission
has reached Washington. A leader in the Democratic Party called me
and said he had just returned from Washington and they had discussed
our situation with Representative Cameron and the possibility of
presenting our action in the Minutes of the'House of Unamerican
Activities Committee,, Also, the Mayor of Glendale was with this
gentleman and commented on the positive approach to this matter,,
I have had offers of money from people who want to donate to any
organization or movement.that you as a City Council would want to
inaugurate to combat the Nazi movement in establishing headquarters
in West Covina,, The interest is there and I would suspect you will
have quite a turn -out of interested citizens at the meeting of the
8th where we are -scheduled to formally present our recommendation to
you,,
Also in our discussions we
have recommended to you as a City Council to authorize us to form
an advisory council to the Commission. You have a rough draft and
I suggest that it is a rough draft and needs editing. I think you
would realize that as five members it is rather difficult to carry
on all the potential activities which would be implied in the activates
of such an organization,, You are all aware that you did not give us
any money, I am firmly convinced, gentlemen, that you made the
correct decision for the betterment of the City in forming,this
Commission. I think you did a great thing here,, I know it wasn't
unanimous but I think in retrospect some of you who may have`had
reservations about forming a Commission I would hope because of the
positive success -® I think I can call it success without qualification ®®
of the Commission to date that maybe some of the reservations you may
have had would be remunerated at this time,,
We do need facilities and money,
a minimum amount to carry on our activities,, Secondlya' I would like.
.....to ask you to give favorable,consideration to our request for. -the
formation of an advisory council of interested citizens within the
criteria set up by the recommendation,..
Councilman Jett- You made reference to two things
where there are questions in my
mind,, One of them is as to the success of the Commission,, Would you
brief.me a little bit, what do you mean by_"success"?
Chairman Shrader- By the word "success" I don't
mean.a completion of any
project or activity,, I mean success in approaching a reasonable
solution to concerns to date,, I consider that a success to.date but
not a completion,, I am speaking specifically of the housing situation
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C. Co 2/1/65 Page Fourteen
J'OhNT MEETING WITH 'HUMAN RELATTONS *COMMTS'SION Continued
• and the list of concerns resented to the -Commission and how they Y were
aired publicly,and how the testimony was voted upon and how the
action of the Commission was carried out in recommendations to the
Council and also in recommendations to the Commission itself to further
pursue the mattero
Councilman Jett: Have you had any indication
that there is a problem that
exists that you would be unable to solve?
Chairman Shrader: No, I haven't had that much of
a negative point of view from
anyone and that to me is very encouraging. I presented some information
to the Commission at the last meeting concerning..my visit to.the Covina
Valley Realty Board and they offered their wholehearted cooperation
to the City and to the Commission in any problem which may confront
the Commission and the City in regards to human relations.
Mayor Snyder:
have to be geniuses to come up with
think if they can say they have made
situation and changing some people's
. great deal of progress.
I think a commission of this
nature has no power and would..
solving all of the problems, I
progress toward clarifying the
attitudes they have made a
Chairman Shrader: I would consider progress as
one citizen said at our last
meeting, there has been stabilization since the hearing, and I
consider that progress but I don't consider it a victory as such.
Councilman Heath: That definitely is progress
and I think it is commendable
that this has at least been stabilized. Have you had any grievance,
let's say, concerning any individual or has this been a general
condition?
Chairman Shrader: Only an implied grievances an
implied grievance by a broker,
Mr. Jackson, from Los Angeles. He made a statement that he did not
receive in the vernacular of a teenager, a "fair shake" from the
realtors of the Valley. In my meeting with Mr. Travis I made this
a•very pointed question and his responses are all in the Minutes of
the last Human Relations Commission meeting where it was very specific
and to the point and without evasion the question was answered to my
satisfaction and if Mr. Jackson had complied with all the reasonable
rules and regulations of the Realty Board he would have received
admittance,
Councilman Heath: 'I understand that these
problems that we talked about
of Area.I and II were definitely problems in the City and I believe
if I read it right were caused mainly by elements outside the City,
My question would be in light of'the minimum amount of.grievance that
you have had and the minimum amount of complaints.you have had, wouldn't
you say that the citizens of West Covina are working harmoniously
in human relations since there is no grievance up against -an individual
or grievance against a group in the ICity9.that the`.people.are working
in harmony?
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Page Fifteen
'JOINT MEETING. WITH HUMAN REL,ATTO'NS COMMISSION - Continued.
Chairman Shradero I only take exception with one
thing you said and that is
.all grievances have not been brought by individuals before the
Commission, We have heard grievances from people within those areas
and I do think on both points of view and we had it in the form of
testimony, These people did not instigate the grievance as it was
formally introduced but as the proceedings progressed they took part
which added validity to the term "grievances", I do think there were
_and.are grievances that have not been brought formally to the Commission
but because they were brought to the Commission by a few a lot of people
..had their grievances aired in their stead,
Councilman Heath: Was this "grievance" between
individuals within our own
City or was it due to a grievance against some action done by someone
outside of our City?
Chairman Shradero That has not been finally
determined. My own opinion
is that I have a feeling based on the testimony I have been able to
examine that the majority of it came from outside but I do not say
all of it,
Councilman Heath: You stated that we hadn" t given
you any money. I think there
has been a minimum amount appropriated,
Chairman Shradero
I meant formally in the budget,
Councilman Heath: What kind of money are we
talking about?
Chairman Shradero I canet answer that. I would
have to defer to Mr, Windsor
or Mr, Aiassa, I have no idea what the total cost has been to date,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: I am relying on Mr, Windsor°s
report, (Read memo re this
matter,)
Mayor Snyder: Every other Commission in the
City has a staff man who
gathers that necessary data for them that these unpaid volunteers
do4t have time to gather for themselves, It is necessary they.have
somebody available to them from the staff for this purpose, I think
we have to continue if this Commission is going to operate efficiently
at all we have to continue to give them staff help. If you will break
it down.to dollars and cents a month perhaps we can.put this in the
budget,
Councilman Jett:
How much of his time is devoted
to work for the City Council?
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: I would have to.work that out,
Councilman Jett: Could you make a report for us
establishing something like
the Planning Director has, just,where he spends his time?
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'C. CQ 2/l/65 Page Sixteen
JOITT MEETING WITH HUMAN RFLATTONS COMMISSION. Continued
Councilman Krieger: In setting up a budget for the
Human Relations Commission
why are we taking consideration of Mr. Windsor's time?
Mayor Snyder:
We have a new policy in the City
where they charge each man's hours
to the project he is on,
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: This is an experiment and the
Council requested me to keep
a tab on what we are spending.. Ray Windsor has been working more in
this particular line. Once this Commission get's-rolling and it gets
to be.a routine operation a lot of this expensive time will not be
as heavy. We tried.to run this experiment to see exactly what it
would cost.
Councilman Jett:
City Managers Mr. Aiassa:
Mayor Snyder:
Councilman Jett:
Isn't Mr. Windsor's position
as Administrative Analyst?
Yes.
We only need a request that the
City Manager supply staff to
the Commission.
This may satisfy you but it will
not satisfy me.
Mayor Snyder: It seems to me the issue is
not how much Mr. Windsor is
spending on the City Council and how much time on this. The issue
is the budget for the Human Relations Commission.
Councilman Heath: I think his time has to be
charged to the work he is
doing because this is in line with all the other charges in the City.
I would like to know in money what are we talking about in budget?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: If we keep the pace we are
going now in supplies and
recording secretary we are talking about $700 and in staff time it
would be roughtly $1200 or $1500 a year.
.Mayor Snyder: You are going to deduct that
staff time you•are applying
to the Human Relations Commission from where it was formally applied?
City Managerfl Mr. Aiassa: We have a very limited space
as far as administration is
concerned. It would be warranted for us to hire.a part-time typist
to relieve Mr. Windsor from a lot of this paper work.
Mayor Snyder: I object to moving these hours
over into the Human Relations
budget with the inference what the Human Relations Commission is
costing the.City without a showing that you are reducing this amount
in the budget from which you are removing that man. In other words9 it
is not costing the City that much more.
r
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Page Seventeen
"JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Continued
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa.-, If the Council determines to
have a Human Relations
Commission or any commission it is their authority and their right
to demand administrative service to it, The limitation of my manpower
and my capacity to produce is going to depend on how much time you are
going to demand from it, Eventually somewhere along the line we will
need relief, I think our Human Relations Commission has tried to
work with us in their time schedule,
Councilman Heath: May we have a report on the
hours spent by Mr. Windsor
in the.past six months on each classification of duties?
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
Yes,
Councilman -Heath: It is true they have to have
money to work on, I see your
point, Mayor, that if there is $1500 appropriated here it should be
taken out of some budget and since he is in the City Manager's budget
it will be taken out of one budget and put into the other,
Motion by Councilman.Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, to appropriate
$100.00 for supplies out of the General Reserve for the remainder of
• the fiscal year for the Human Relations Commission, Motion passed on
roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: Councilman Jett
Absent: None
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, to budget
-an item of $200,00 out of the General Reserve for'stenographic help
for the Human.Relations Commission (Minutes taking) for the balance
of the fiscal year,, Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: Councilman Jett
Absent: None
Councilman Heaths What administrative time do
you need?
City Managers Mr, Aiassa: I think if you give me'about
$250.00 for part-time clerical
help it would be sufficient. I can't rebudget Mr. Windsor's salary,_
I am talking now where I can relieve Mr. Windsor by bringing in
part-time clerical help,
Councilman Heath:
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
I am not in favor of that,,
I am talking about taking it
out of.•the pool,
Councilman Jett: These are things that will be
brought in for the benefit
of the people outside of the City. -not for the people in West
Covina,
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Page Eighteen
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION -,Continued
Mayor Snyder: They are related.ta'matters
within the City,,
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: Right now the girls in my office
have been trying to.proeess
the Human Relations.Commission°s work,, We feel the Human Relations
Commission and their activities are urgent,, If you set this money up
we are not just going to go out and spend it. We will control it
as much as possible.
Councilman Heath: I think if a man works on the
project that he should allot his
time to that specific project.so we donQt finagle funds around. If
you think you need the money, we will give it to you.
Move to budget out of the
General Reserve $250.00 for staff time to be used in conjunction with
the Human Relations Commission for the balance of this fiscal year,,
Councilman Krieger: Mr. Windsor is presently on
the payroll of this City,, We
are paying out certain funds,, If you were going to say that $250.00
of his paycheck is now coming out of General Fund, meaning unallocated
funds, it means someplace else there is a fund that should be credited
with $250,00.
Councilman Heath: This is quite true but in this
other fund you are talking about --
if he doesn't spend the money in that fund it goes back into the
General Reserve at the end of the year,,
Councilman Krieger: What if the total of $250.00
worth of time is used up in
the balance of the fiscal year? That doesn't mean that Mr. Windsor
all of a sudden has a boon where he gets paid what he is going to
get paid plus $250,,00; it means there is a contra item between two
acounts so this $250.00 is not an additional expenditure to the City,,
Councilman Heath:
That/ s right,,
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: Right now we have budgeted
a specific amount of relief
help,, This help is charged to the department that uses it so each
department carries its own cost.for that extra help.
Action on Councilman Heath9s motion: Seconded by Councilmani Krieger.
Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Kriegert Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: Councilman Jett
Absent: None
Councilman Heath: 'On the report concerning the
time that Mr', Windsor is
allocating to each position, can we have that in a week, please?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: I think.we can do it in. ,a week,
sta
Co Ca 2/1/65 Page..Nineteen
JGINT'MEETING WITH THE HLiMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Continued
• Mayor Snyder-. Should events make it necessary
for the Human Relations.Commission
to become busy it would be incumbent for them to see the expenses
.ahead and they should ask for more money if they think it.is necessary.
Chairman Shrader-. If we feel a project is necessary
and in our judgement would
comply with the budget we would not have to seek clearance from you
people?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa-. That's right.
Commissioner Goldstein:
everything ready for us right when we
we have taken our own time to comment
I think this should be something that
the City Manager, also.
Councilman Jett:
Mr. Windsor is an excellent
administrative man. He has
what it. This is one thing
on each and individually and
the Council should know about and
Let the record show that this
is a better job than what Mr.
Windsor.is :doing for Councilman
Jett,
Mayor Snyder: We have a request here for a
resolution setting up a
.Human Relations Council. My interpretation of the resolution forming
the Human Relations Commission is that you had this power without
asking us but perhaps the rest of the Council feels differently.
Chairman Shrader-. I had reservations in reading
the original Council resolution
whether or not we had this power and in bringing it up before the
Commission there was some doubt so we threw it right back into your
laps to see if we do.
Mayor Snyder-. Do you feel this falls under
the directive to instigate
activities?
Chairman Shrader-. The only reason it is back
before you and we agreed upon
this as a unified Commission that if we are going to represent you
as advisors to you you as the right hand should know what the left
hand is doing. As a result we would like your counsel on the
formation of this advisory council because in our view it is an
extr.emely..important step to the Human Relations Commission.and the.
successful pursuit of the Commission.
Councilman Heath-. I have to state in this case
that I am not in agreement
with an advisory council for an advisory council. We have certain
commissions that are set up such as Planning, Recreation and Parks,
Personnel, which are advisory groups to us and they are given this.
responsibility because they are to give us this advice. Now to have
an advisory group for an advisory group for an advisory group is
ridiculous. We don°t have it for the Planning Commission, the
Personnel Board, the Parks and Recreation Commission and I think the
only thing we are going to do by this, with all due respect to the
person who conceived the idea, I think it is doing nothing more than
•
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Page Twenty
.... .........................
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISS'I"ON Continued.
setting up a mechinism to make a federal case out of everything that
comes up because the more people getting onto the thing the more it
will be complicated.
Mayor Snyder:
a body that was set up to instigate
and to attempt to settle them so it
Council and all the literature that
advisory councils. The County Human
advisory councilo
Councilman Heath:
of the governing body or without
body I don't think is legal. I
for the City and I think before
by this group that it would have
stand by.this Council. If this
to set policy$ et cetera$ issue
an advisory group.
Mayor Snyder:
The Human Relations Commission
is not an advisory body. It is
better relations and hear grievances
is not an advisory body to the
I have seen recommends these
Relation Commission has an
A Commission who has authority
to operate without.the consent
the policy setting by the government
think this,Council establishes policy
any policy or any stand can be taken
to be given permission to take that
group is not delegated this authority
orders for things to be done, it is
They are delegated the authority
to initiate activities to further
human relations.
Councilman Krieger: The point is this: The Human
Relations Commission is unique.
Even if it weren't unique I am amazed to hear that these other
commissions.that we have are so self-sufficient. If that is true
why did we hire Gold -Thompson for Personnel. If that is true, why
did we hire Victor Gruen$ D.M.J.M,, and why do we continually hire
these experts in the field? These are for advisory purposes. In
this instance it seems to me that it is a unanimous action of the
very people we represented -m they said they need help -m they come
to us and suggest a way they can get help at no cost to the City and
it seems to me it has a meritorious purpose and legitimate objective.
I can't see why it is such a bone of contention.
Councilman Heath: We hired Victor Gruen$ D•M•J•M•$
et cetera, who are experts in
the field in which they were making a study. Even so we didn't listen_
to them. The advisory group being requested here is a group of lay
people who are not professional people and should they need some study
made by a professional group I would be willing to go along with it
but this request.here is for an advisory group of lay people who are
not experts in anything.
Councilman Krieger: In my opinion anybody that
belongs to a community
organization is an expert in human relations.
Mayor Snyder: Who is an expert in human
relations if it isn't these
people?
Councilman Jett: D.MoJ.M, and all these various
organizations that you referred
to that we had hired for advice, the final decision rested with the
Council, not with the Planning Commission or the Parks and Recreation
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Page Twenty -One
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ,Continued..
Commission, but the final decision came to the City Council so we
had complete control of it,,
Councilman Nichols.- Was this recommendation a
unanimous recommendation
that the Council authorize the creation of this.advisory group?
Chairman Shrader.- Yes, it was unanimous,, I don't
think it would be fair to
compare our -Commission with any other commission because of its
uniqueness,,
Councilman Jett; Do you feel that you yourselves
are not qualified to listen
to this information that is going to be presented and make a decision?
Chairman Shrader: I feel I am qualified to listen
to any testimony and information
and make a judgement but if I were qualified to make a honest answer
on all subjects I would be Jesus Christ,, What I am trying to say,
these are unique problems that come up,,
Councilman Nichols.- I think there is a better answer
0 to the needs of this Commission
than expressed here in this request and I don't favor the establishment
personally of the advisory council in the form as it is submitted here.
However, it was suggested by Mro Shrader that this was a rough draft.
Let me offer a suggestion.
I think sometimes we have
already built-in mechanisms in our Community that we don't use. We
go off and form more committees and more commissions when the mechanics
are already present for that,, We have in the City of West Covina a
Coordinating Council,, It is set up to work in the community. It is
set up and has representation from many diverse organizations in the
community,, It invites membership from all members of the community
interested in all types of community activities, coordinating the
will of this community in all kinds of service areas. It seems to
me the West Covina Coordinating Council already exists and is an
ideal initial advisory council that might serve the needs of this
Human Relations Commission,, My suggestion would be that the
Commission attempt initially to work with the West Covina Coordinating
Council asking them to help in an advisory capacity and see if that
meets the needs of the Commission as you conceive it. If it
doesn't perhaps you could demonstrate to me the need for specialized
service elsewhere but I happened to -attend the meetings of the
Coordinating Council and I know its complexion and I know its interest
_in the community and I know its availability,,
Councilman Jett.- I think your Coordinating Council
is made up of members of various
organizations throughout the community and you have a pretty good
cross section viewpoint there. I can't help but feel ®® and I am
unalterably opposed to this Human Relations Commission and I think it
is very well known and I don't think it is accomplishing any purpose
and I don't know of any problem in this City whatsoever that we
need anything like this for,,
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Page Twenty -Two
'JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Continued.
Mayor Snyder, I think the Coordinating Council
may have value but in the first
place you have to find out if they would accept this,, Secondly, how
are the people appointed to the Coordinating Council?
Councilman Nichols- Exactly on the same basis on
which this will be drafted here,,
Commissioner Goldstein- Our second paragraph here
says exactly what he is saying,
it says that the membership of the advisory council shall consist of
one representative from selected.community organizations in the City of
West.Covina whose purpose shall be to advise and consult. We wrote'
it.exactly like that because'we were going to look through our list
of.community organizations and see who would have an interest in that
particular area and the Coordinating Council was one of our main
objectives as would be the Ministerial Association,,
Councilman Nichols:
The Coordinating Council has
representation from.all of
the other organizations,,
Commissioner Solder- But it may not be a truly
representative body because
there may be other'.organizations within the City which would be
of interest to our Commission,,
Councilman Heath- All of the organizations I
know in the City have.been
invited to be a member of the Coordinating Council,,
Councilman Jett- I happened to have attended the
Human Relations Commission the
other night when they were discussing this very resolution. There
was a question that came up about a member being appointed to this
council that would be a member of an organization that wasn't even
within the City of West Covina With'this in mind, I think the
majority of the Coordinating Council are made up of organizations
within the City,, I don't think any member of this Council would
-recommend we go outside of the City,,
Mayor Snyder- Their resolution doesn't
mention this,,
Councilman Jett- One of the discussions at
that meeting was this: They „
would like to appoint a member from the.West 'Covina ® La Puente
Human Relations committee These are people belonging to that who
are not residents of the City of West Covina,,
Commissioner Solder- Some members are residents
of this City
Chairman Shrader; Mr,, Jett is correct in what he
is saying,, However, we didn't
incorporate it in our motion because we felt this was in conflict of
interest,, The question for better clarification was a West Covina
organization has a member who is not a resident of the City, could
that member legally represent that organization which is officially
within the City and that is the way the discussion went,,
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C, C, ' 2/l/65
Page Twenty -Three
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ®'Continued
Commissioner Goldstein: I think our Commission is doing
a very valid service for the
City and I think we have made progress in a very difficult field. There
are.many commissions throughout the United States and.many.of them have
advisory councils and the reason it is important is that we have a small
commission,, The Los Angeles County Commission has 25 members,.permanent
members and they have different,groups they call on from time to time,,
This is a unanimous idea that where you make progress is dissemination
of information among interested people,, This can best be done by
those knowing what they are doing in this field in particular areas
of the City in particular problems,, We don't think we should be
limited in just going to the Coordinating Council,, They have many
other things they are interested in,, We want the churches, the
Chamber of Commerce, the schools, all other interested groups who
may have information for us or that we may be able to pass on informs®
..tion.to or problems that they can relate to their individual memebers,
.In this way the discussion among the community is wide -spread as
possible and this`is why we make progress in this field$ information
and people hearing about it,, We had a meeting where at least 50 people
spoke and they had varied opinions but as a result of this information
and this forum of public opinion and having each other's opinions,
they got closer together,, Since that time we think there has been
more harmonious progress in these particular areas. We ask you
give us this chance to do it and I think you will find if you have
these people working on our team they are going to do good,,
Councilman Nichols: I don't agree. I don't
think we should move this far
this fast and open this up to a broad based community organization
authorizing just an organization to appoint somebody,, I think it is
the surest way to let this Commission get completely out of hand to
do more damage to the work of,this Commission than you can possibly
imagine,,
Commissioner Macsurak: The question asked by Councilman
Nichols was about the unanimous
decision of the Human Relations Commission to do this thing,, I think
it was the unanimous.decision of the Human Relations Commission to
present.this to the City Council but I think the Human Relations
Commission itself still has a problem of its own to discuss about
this, I believe this was voted on last Thursday night and I wasn't
there,
Councilman Krieger:
How would you have voted on it?
Commissioner Macsurak: It was the unanimous decision
that something be put together
to present when we met with the City Council, The resolution presents
an opinion to the City Council that it was not meant to do in the
first place,
Mayor Snyder:
Commissioner Macsurak:
Then you would have voted "No"
about the adoption of the
resolution?
Without ,.first presenting it to
the City Council9.yes9.:,.I would
have voted "No",,
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Page Twenty -Four
"JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS.COMMISSIGN - Continued
Councilman Heath. -
Commissioner Macsurak.-
decide on how to form one,, I
to present to the City Council
the City Council's prerogative
cannot do it",, If it was our
would do with it,,
Are you in favor of forming
an advisory group?
I can't really answer that
because we weren't able to
think this resolution is just a proposal
for their consideration if it would be
to say "Yess you can do it" or "No$ you
own prerogative I don't know what we
Mayor Snyder.- In reading this resolution it
has a definite plan for the
forming of a council,,
Commissioner Macsurak.- As far as I am concerned that
is a mistaken opiniono
We.discussed this many times at our meetings and we were unable to
.come to a conclusion first of all as to how to set it up and.seeondly
of whether we can set it up or not. I don't know how I would vote on
it right now. I don't think the Commission itself has cured as many
.problems as it has been shown to the Commission that possibly -.we have
done or considered as many,, We have had one letter by.a Mr. Jordan
that we discussed for many months and this is a minority opinion that
I am giving right now -- most of the charges made in this letter
were discussed over and over and looked into and found to be lacking.
in fact by the majority of the members of the Commission and the only
other thing that has really come before the Commission is the question
last month about the Nazi Party,, We have't had any other complaints,,
Mayor Snyder. -
I don't think you should expect
to cure all problems. You can
only hope to make progress,,
Councilman Jett.- In your opinion there has been
no real serious problem as
yet presented to the Human Relations Commission?
Commissioner Macsurak.- No individual has brought a
complaint to us against
another 'individual,,
Councilman Jett.- An accusation against a group?
Commissioner Macsurak.- This was not an accusation; this
was a very general statement of
conditions existing in the City such as streets being swept,, It was
thought the streets weren't being properly swept. It was possibly
thought that the schools were segregating children. It was possibly
thought the garbage collectors were dumping garbage in the streets;
they weren't keeping this community as clean as they would some other
community when they picked up the garbage. There were probable
complaints against realty practices,,
Commissioner Beem.-
There are five entitled
we have checked off and
proven that there was no
These are extracts of concerns
presented by"Albert Jordan,,
(1) Environments; (2) Schools,, Those two
we had a man come from the schools and it was
problem there whatsoever,, In the environment
-24-
i
Ca CQ 2/l/65 Page Twenty -Five
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Continued
as far as keeping the streets clean, we have all come to a fair
conclusion that this is probably done all over -the City. .(3), which
we.have not gotten into because we have taken so much time on the
others, is race relations. (4) Employment. We haven't discussed
that either. (5) Housing. Those were the five points.brought out
by Mr. Jordan. He is the sole complainant of anything that has come
to our Commission in writing. We have open discussions and many people
..have spoken. I don'.t think this has ever been registered as a
definite complaint on one specific item.
Chairman Shradera On the housing it came properly
before us.
Commissioner Beemo This was the only complaint
that we have had to date, in
writing. This has taken up all of our time. Mr. Shrader brought
Up the Nazi situation the other night and that, to me, was the second
major step that we have been working on. That again is something
we can just give to you gentlemen. This is just a proclamation that
we would like you to accept and publicize. We don't have power of
subpoena, anything to do anything but to arbitrate. All we are to
do is sit here and listen to any and all complaints that have been
filed through writing to us first. The way it was set up here in
• No. D of.purposes in our resolution, it was to keep the Council
informed on all problems of local inter®group relations brought to the
attention of the Commission. This is what we are doing'now.
As far as the advisory council
is concerned, I think all the Commissioners here will agree we have
had pros and cons on this within our own body itself. There are
many things I didn't agree with. I did finally in the stabilization
of this last form which was presented to you gentlemen I did go along
with this. We had it presented to us by Mr. Goldstein which was
rather lengthy and we tried to cut it down and it was lengthy in
the amount of people that he wanted himself- however, I disagreed and
some of us finally whittled it down so we came out with what you see
before you. I am not definitely sold on the fact that we need an
advisory council. I did vote ','Yes" on it because I felt that it would
assist us. We are pretty green in anything we do. The reason we
are coming back to you with these problems is because we really
don't have any more authority to go any farther than we have gone.
We need to know what is expected of us and just exactly what we are
limited to do and the procedures other than what is set up in this
Resolution No,, 2962. We want to know what exactly we are limited
in and how far we should go.
We have sent letters out to
the people in these two areas to invite any complaint that may be in
that area. I don't think we should go out looking for it. I think
if there is anything wrong in the City it will come to us. This letter
as it is drafted here we were all going to sign this to give them a
personal touch and this is to bring them In to us if they are
in a position to give a complaint. My own personal opinion in this
Commission is if we don't receive complaints from this particular
letter I personally think that this Commission is void. I don't see
any reason for the Commission to exist because we are not promoting
this ourselves; we are putting it out as a test run and if we don't
have anything coming in from it I don't see any reason for us to be
here.
®25®
C, C, ' 2/l/65 Page Twenty -Six
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Continued
Mayor Snyder-. I have had many inquiries about
grievances for this Commission
and I have told them to hold off until you got some of this business
out of the way, I don't foresee any lack of complaints,,
I would hope anybody I appointed
to this Commission would not look at it that their job was only to
hear grievances and find out whether or not they had foundation, I
think in the field you are working in the person presenting a grievance
whether it is true or not feels it is true and the Human Relations
..Commission's job is to ehar the grievances hear the other side, and
attempt to explain to the man who feels he is aggrieved if he is
wrong where he is wrong and to clear up these differences. I think
.you are to initiate actions,ta improve human relations. I think now
getting back to this advisory council that you don't have the votes
here tonight as proposed here, I would suggest you contact the
Coordinating Council and this could perhaps be a start-.
Councilman Jett-. Are you saying to circumvent
the action of the Council for
them to go ahead and initiate them on their own?
.Mayor Snyd�ear-. No, I am not saying that. I
am saying they can ask the
Coordinating Council if they are willing to serve in this capacity
and bring this recommendation back to us,
Councilman Jett-. I got in on the tail -end of
this hearing the other_ night when
this Nazi problem came up and I would like to compliment you gentlemen
on the manner in which you handled that situation. I have never been
present at something that was so emotionally disturbing in a group '
and what little I heard of that where people threatened to kill other
people and I thought you gentlemen did a real fine job of keeping this
under control and I just want to compliment you on that,
Chairman Shrader-. I want -to clarify some doubts.
Thank you for the compliment,
Mr,, Jett, That is the first one we have received all evening,, These
people are serving here of their own good will and good time and as
good citizens to do what they think is -best for the City at your
request. I regret very much that as a Human Relations Commission
we were interrogated when exactly the opposite of the way I think
anything in the way of human relations should be conducted. I think
it was unfair to the Commission and since some things have been said
I think I owe it to the Commission and to the citizens who have
backed this Commission, and there are many, gentlemen, there are many,
I.do not wish to be critical of Commission members; every one has
the right to their own opinion, Mr,, Macsurak said some conflicting
things about this advisory council,, I called him before the meeting
when he knew he couldn't be there and asked him his opinion and he
went along with this train of thought. What.I am trying to do is
save the Commission's face in that it says "unanimous" on there and
I used the word 'fproxy" and so it was unanimous,,
Regarding Mr, Beem's comments
about no need for a Commission, if we don't get a complaint from
Areas I and II I think that is a very shallow point of view. The
area of human relations is extremely deep and complex and I think if
you do not back an organization such as this and with unity, and I
-26-
Cc C. 2/l/65
Page Twenty -Seven
JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION --Continued.
know.you have differences of opinion, but without strong support I
think you will be remiss in your responsibilities to the citizens
of West Covina
Mayor Snyder: I think the statement you made
regarding the Nazis for the
papers was a very excellent one and did a lot of good for the cause.
Councilman Heath: I think that the actions.taken by
the Nazis have been deplorable.
I.do not subscribe to their principles. However, I would like our
City Attorney to give us advice on whether we are in a libelous
position if we take a position against this "Nazi Party" in West
Covina without our knowing, outside of what we read in the newspapers,
exactly what their policy is. I don't know what their policy is,
whether it is directed against our government or not and I am not
going to take the story in the newspapers but I think it behooves
the government in our country to tell us if this is subversive against
our contry before we take a stand and put ourselves in a libelous
psotion.
There are many countries that
have their forces organized and trained within United States borders
such as the Cubans, the Chinese, et cetera, for the purpose of going
back and liberating a country. If this is their principle and we
accuse them of being a subversive group I think we are in a danger.
I would like the City Attorney
to advise us on whether he feels that we can lable this party by
ourselves and --thereby make a possible derogatory statement about
this.
Mayor Snyder: It seems to me they have some
policies such as anti-Semitism,
et cetera, which are not necessarily subversive but are against the
character and nature of the American life.
Councilman Heath:: I said in the beginning I think
their tenets are deplorable
and if that is part of their policy I think we should be so advised.
Mayor Snyder: Thank you for coming and we
are sorry we put you through
this cross examination. I, for -one, will offer you all the cooperation
I can in the future.
CAMERON AVENUE PUBLICITY
Mayor Snyder:
Avenue publicity shots and we are
Stark's.and present him with the
pictures. We would like as many
On the loth Mr. Bonelli is
coming out for the Cameron
going to take him to lunch at
plaque. This is atll:30 for the
Councilmen present as possible.
-27-
CQ C,, 2/1/65
• "CITY MANAGER REPORTS
WATER DECISION
Page Twenty -Eight
Councilman Krieger-. I have submitted a motion to
all of you,, Two weeks ago I
made my report on this. I don't have any intention of belaboring the
matter, I invited any Councilman having questions about this subject
matter to contact.me, It has now been two weeks since I gave my
report and the Council individually has had that opportunity to come
forward and discuss with me any aspect of my report, I have no
feelings contrary to the sentitments I expressed two weeks ago and
there has been no data that has come to my attention that has caused
.me to.change my position in the last two weeks,
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that
the City Attorney be directed to prepare a resolution for the City
Council of the City of West Covina declaring its policy with respect
to annexation to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
and the,Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, This
resolution should declare -that the City Council of the City of West
Covina supports concurrent annexation to the Metropolitan Water District
of Southern California of all of that part of the City of West Covina
•not now within said District and to the Upper San Gabriel Valley
Municipal Water District, upon the following terms and conditions-.
1. That the Metropolitan Water District consent to and
permit such annexation under the historical formula
for the.computation of annexation charges and upon
other terms no more adverse than those granted to the
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District,
2,, That such annexation to the Upper San Gabriel Valley
Municipal' Water District can be accomplished upon terms
and conditions mutually acceptable to the City Council
of the City of West Covina and to the Metropolitan
Water District,
3, That the City of West Covina shall not be required
to expend municipal funds of said City in order to
accomplish such annexations,
4, That the Water Supply Contract between the State of
California Department of Water Resources and the City
of West Covina, dated December 2, 1963, and Amendment
No,, 1 thereof, dated September 28, 19649 can be assigned
to and accepted by the Metropolitan Water District upon
terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the City
Council of the City of West Covina, the Metropolitan
Water District, and the State of California.Department
of Water Resources,
Mayor Snyder-. Were I not on the Council I would
actively oppose this move,
Being on the Council I will actively oppose it until the vote is taken,
When the vote is taken I will accept the results and say no more
thereafter as long as I am on the Council,
I am going to offer a suggestion
here. What would be wrong with putting both water districts on the
ballot and letting the voters make the choice?
-28-
Co C, 2/l/65 Page Twenty -Nine
WATER DECISION ® Continued
• Councilman Krieger: It shows a lack of capacity,
a lack of guts, a lack of courage,
a lack of leadership and a lack of insight and a lack of a few other
things I tan mention,
Councilman Heaths I couldn't with a clear
conscience propose the four -city
or the San Gabriel Valley Water District to the voters because I do
not.have confidence that this is good for the City,
Mayor Snyder: Once we have gone this way we
have no say in the thing any
more, I think Metropolitan Water District as set up right now.should--
be.investigated by the State and a different form of set-up initiated,
Councilman Jett: I think the Mayor has expressed
my feelings and my opinion
even better than I can express them myself because I feel we -have in
the past made a complete and as exclusive a study as possible of the
water situation, I, too, will support the stand of the Council once
it is made,
I will vote for this motion
•because I am convinced we have to move in one direction and take a
positive action,
Action on Councilman Krieger's motion: Motion passed on roll call as
follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath
Noes: Mayor Snyder
Absent: None
Mayor Snyder: The night the resolution is
brought back we should have
a schedule of dates of things to be accomplished. Also, we have a
letter from the San Gabriel Water District and they are entitled to
an answer,
Councilman Heath:
Mayor Snyder:
BOND ISSUE
How about a letter stating
the action we have taken.tonight?
I think that is in agreement
with the Council,
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: We have set up February 3 to
interview the three consulting
firms where we will orally interview them,
Councilman Heath: We are talking now about
proposing a bond issue for
certain improvements throughout the City, We need these improvements
and we need them badly and I will be the first one to say we will need
them and we need this bond issue passed, However, I think that in
all fairness to the people,of the City of West Covina it behooves this
Council to so advise the people of this City that there is a possibility
-29-
V.
C. C. 2/1/65
'BOND ISSUE - Continued
that within the next two years their tax rate will
to 90 cents per hundred dollars assessed valuation
tell the people this I think we are not being fair
Page Thirty
increase from 80
and if we don't
with them
I break it down in this way.
We voted to join MWD which I think is a logical act and in doing so
we take up the back taxes and the present operating expenses and
this point can be debated as to how much it is but I will stick to
the figure of 40� but for compromise 1-will say we are talking about
35� per hundred.dollars assessed valuation. If the bond issue
goes through in its entirety we are talking about 26t. I look forward
to the County in the next year, because of their charter and because
of their being compelled by law to pay their people a salary comparable
to industry* to increase their taxes 15t in the next year and
possibly in the two years evert more. In the spring of 1966 MWD
is going to float another eight and some odd million dollar bond
issue which we are going to have to pay for and I figure that as
another 1W,. We are talking about 86t and I think these-mumbers
are very realistic and when we go to the people, as badly as we need -
this civic center and as badly as we need these parks and the improve-
ments, we would be very unfair to them if we did not tell them the
entire story. .
• Councilman Krieger: Have you figured in our increase
in Federal taxes as well because
let's tell them that, too, because the Federal government might
increase our Federal taxes, too.
Councilman Heath: I don't think there is a basis
for stating that and here we
have the basis.
I
Councilman Krieger-.
into this situation and by the time
recognize fact from fiction. Do you
between a water system for this town
Councilman Heath-.
Councilman Krieger-,
on all fronts and I don't
oranges. If this Council
had your water assessment.
Councilman Heath-.
I disagree. All we are doing
is making more fodder to throw
we are through we are not going to
want to ask the people to decide,
and a city hall?
I want the people to know the
full facts.
Our responsibility is to make
sure .this City -.goes forward
see any sense in talking about apples and
had done something years ago you would have
The fact still remains this is
what is ahead of us.
Mayor Snyder-. It is true these other taxes
may occur but they are not
taxes we levy and we are in a competitive field in the tax market
and. I think you are right if people ask us we are going to have to
say these may come to pass but I don't think we have to go out and
warn them. People know they are going to have to pay taxes. I
don't see any deception in this at all.. I would be the last to have
any deceptive procedure in this.
m30®
Co' Ca 2/l/65
BOND ISSUE Continued
• Councilman Heath:
•
Page Thirty -One
I think it would be only fair
to tell the people the true
story_,
Councilman Jett: I feel that way, too, I think
we have to take the people into
our confidence but I still feel if we get the proper public relations
firm to do this job for us I think they can present it.to them in a
way that won®t alarm them,
.Mayor Snyder: I think at the proper time our
campaign committee will be set
up but that hasn't been decided yet. I feel that was one of the faults
of the last bond issue was that we let somebody else other than the
Council direct the campaign and I think in this case the.Council.should
direct it and we will have to come to an agreement on what kind of
a campaign we want. I think we need to be thinking about the
organization of how we are going to run this campaign,
Councilman Heath: The only thing we have to talk
on the bond issue tonight
is to make the appointment Wednesday with the bond people?
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa:
Mayor Snyder:
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa.-
CIVIL DEFENSE ALTERNATE
Yes,
Could I have some directives on
how to judge these people?
We have spread sheets for you,
(Councilman Nichols stepped out of the room for a few minutes,)
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: I have two resolutions that
require an additional signature.
From time to time Cleo and myself are not available for surplus sales
and I have two resolutions, one that still exists would authorize my
signature and Cleo"s signature and I would like to include John Q.
Adams on this list because the Street Department has options to buy
certain surplus equipment,
RESOLUTION N0, 3092
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder:
The City.Manager presented. -
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
NAMING JOHN Q, ADAMS AS A
CIVIL DEFENSE ALTERNATE"
Hearing no objections, we will
waive,further reading of the
body of the resolution,
-31-
•
I
Co C. 2/l/65
RESOLUTION NO. 3092 - Continued,
Page Thirty -Two
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes, Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes, None
Absent, Councilman Nichols
Said resolution was given No. 3092.
RESOLUTION NO, 3093
ADOPTED
Mayor Snyder,
The City Manager presented,
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA HEREBY
ORDERING THAT JOHN Q. ADAMS,
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL
HEREBY BE AUTHORIZED AS AUTHORITA-
TIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA TO SIGN FORMS OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE EDUCATIONAL
AGENCY FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY"
Hearing no objections, we will
waive further reading of the body
of the resolution,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, that said
resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes; Councilman Jett, Krieger, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes, None
Absent, Councilman Nichols
Said resolution was given No. 3093.
AZUSA VALLEY WATER COMPANY AGREEMENT
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa, I would like to advise the
Council that a meeting with
two other managers involved in this will take place.
(Councilman Nichols entered the chambers.)
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa, The PoUoC, has awarded $2.50
monthly for hydrants charge
to Azusa Valley Water Company, (Gave brief summary of this matter.)
I will have a report about this for the Council on the 8th of February.
-32-
Y �l
Ca C. 2/1/65
'CI'TY 'MANAGER REP'O'RTS' ' ' 'Co:nt'iriued..
is REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
Decemberi28i 1964
Motion by. -Councilman Heath, seconded
to accept the recommendations in the
1964 and place the report on file.
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 12, 1965
Page'Thirty®Three
by Councilman Jett, and carried,
Review Board Minutes of December 28,
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
to accept the Traffic Committee Minutes of January 12, 1965 and place
them on file.
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO. 2
(Improvement of Lark Ellen)
City Manager, Mr. Aiassao This is for information only.
This is now for the improvement
• of Lark Ellen Avenue. This is project No. 56. I would like to advise
the Council that the staff picked up this money from the State.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
to accept this report and place it on file.
AUDIT REPORT
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman.Jett, and carried,
to accept the audit report and place it on file. -
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett., and carried,
to accept the report prepared by the Director of Finance relating
to the recommendations submitted by Cotton and Francisco by their
letter of January 11, 1965,,
SKELTON PROPERTY
Appraisal Service Payment
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett,.to authorize
paying Harrison Baker $300.00.for their appraisal of the Skelton
property. Motion passed on roll call as follows.
Ayes: Councilmen Jett Krieger,
Y , g , Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noeso None
Absento None
-33-
C, C, 2/l/65
'CITY MANAGER REPORTS - Continued
• COMMITTEE OF REVENUE AND TAXATION
Mayor Snyder-.
Page Thirty -Four
I have been appointed to the
Committee of Revenue and Taxation
with the Council°s permissiono
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
that the Mayor be permitted to accept the appointment to the Committee
of Revenue and Taxation,
PARKS 6 RECREATION COMMISSION
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: The Recreation and Parks
Commission would like to have
authorization from the Council to meet with school representatives
to review the possible locations and the site developments of the
swimming pools on school property,
Councilman Krieger: Why do they have to come to
us to ask to do this?
• City Manager, Mr, Aiassa; The Parks and Recreation
Commission_ is going to ask
the school board to designate a liaison and it is better to come from
the top than strictly from the Parks and Recreation Commission which
is an advisory group, There would be one specific man on the school
staff answering some of these questions and I think we should give
him some protection.
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and
carried, authorizing the Recreation and Parks Commission to meet
with school representatives to review the possible locations and
the site developments of the swimming pools on school property,
RESOLUTION - AID TO CITIES
(Valinda Avenue, et al,)
City Manager, Mr Aiassa: This is a resolution which
authorized $929800.00 passed
by the Board of Supervisors. It is for the improvement of Valinda
Avenue between Glendora and Vincent and Valinda between City limits
and Mo:beck Street within the City of West Covina, This is to advise
the Council that the County has participated,
Motion by Councilman Nichols, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and
carried, to accept this memorandum of the County Road Commissioner
of December 16, 1964 and place it on file,
TREASURER'S REPORT
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried,
to accept the Treasurer's report for December, 1964 and place it on
file,
-34-
C. Co 2/l/65 Page Thirty -Five
'CITY MANAGER REPORTS - Continued
• BILL OF CITY ATTORNEY
City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: I have a bill from the City
Attorney for $237.50 for
services in City of West Covina vs. Allsopp, Superior Court No,, 842 040.
Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, that the
bill of the City Attorney in the amount of $237.50 for services in the
case of the City of West Covina vso'Allsopp be paid. Motion passed on
roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder
Noes: None
Absent: None
WORLDS FAIR RESOLUTION
Mayor Snyder: We received copies of resolutions
regarding this worlds fair.
I don't recommend making any resolutions of our own.
• Councilman Heath: That is very controversial.
COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH SCHOOL BOARD
Mayor Snyder: We discussed the setting up
of a committee of one or two
Councilmen.to.meet with one or two school board people to maintain
liaison. We have never done anything about it. It was my understanding
that the Council was for this. Have we had any action from the school
board on this?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa:
No. This is the reason I
brought this matter up to
the Council. If we had this
we could have eliminated this one step.
Councilman Krieger:
My suggestion was only one
representative. This is only
liason, not an action group.
Mayor Snyder:
At this time I would like to
appoint Mr. Jett to act as
liaison at such time as the school board appoints their member. I
think the procedure would be
for you to contact the school board and
Ask them if they have discussed this and to appoint a member. I
will direct a letter to them
saying that you are our liaison.
Councilman Jett:
You brief me on that and I
will carry it through.
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa:
All right.
-35-
C. C. 2/1/65
CITY MANAGER REPORTS - Continued
• DONOVAN BILL (SMUT LITERATURE)
Mayor --Snyder:
•
•
Page Thirty -Six
We have a letter.from Mr. Soto
asking for our support on the
Donovan -Soto Bill regarding smut literature. He admits to a certain
extent that this bill is probably not the whole answer. The question is
is it going to be helpful at all and in what way can we support it. I
think you all have copies of this.
Councilman Nichols: It is a little erroneous to
give'publicity to the bill
designated as the Donovan -Soto Bill because it is the Donovan Bill
and there are 11 different co -endorsers of the bill and it is known
throughout the State of California as the Donovan Bill.
I think the Council should
endorse the bill, I believe West'Covina has been in the forefront
of this battle and we don't need.a separate commission appointed '
Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried,
that this City Council support the Donovan Bill and that the Mayor
be.authorized to write a letter to this effect.
TELEPHONE RATE FIGHT
Mayor Snyder: We got a communication from
La Puente - Industry Chamber
of Commerce stating they don't support us on this telephone rate
right.
Councilman Heath: I spoke to them and they got
quite excited about it because
the way it is proposed by the telephone company there would be no
benefit to La Puente and the way we propose it there would still be
no benefit but the way we propose it there would be an additional
charge to them so`they therefore turned against it.
Mayor Snyder:
How are we coming with our
letters to the other cities
on this?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: The Chamber is also involved
in this. We are waiting for
the P.U.C. to,let us know whether or not we are going to have a
hearing. You don't want to organize your forces until we have
something to combat and the P.U.C. has acknowledged.that the General
Telephone hasn't done anything yet. They haven't formally made an
application.
REAPPORTIONMENT
Mayor Snyder: We have a letter from Mr.
Bonelli on the reapportionment.
In reapportion ment does'the Senate have exclusive right to determine
what goes on the ballot regarding reapportion ment or does the
Assembly have to vote on it, too?
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C, C, 2/l/65 Page Thirty -Seven
REAPPORTIONMENT Continued
• Councilman Nichols: The authority is not con-
sititutionally vested anywhere.
The Senate has told the House to keep their hands off of it and not
interfere or the Senate will move to do the same to the lower House
...so both houses must concur in any legislative action and any re-
apportionment that is brought before the people but the Senate seeks
to have the initiative left in its hands.
Mayor Snyder: In that case --the letter I
sent to Senator Rees I would.
like permission to send a copy to Mr. Bonelli and our three Assemblymen.
I will do it if there are no objections.
(No objections voiced.)
RESOLUTION FOR NAMING OF
JUVENILES IN ARRESTS
Mayor Snyder.- I received a letter from Mr.
Bonelli asking for support
for the naming of juveniles in arrests, This is a resolution.
•. Councilman Krieger: I would like to ask him how
that is going to do the job,
I am amazed at this approach.
Mayor Snyder: I think a lot of this grew out
of a recent article in the
Readers' Digest by some judge in Montana who is an advocate of this.
I have mixed feelings about this and I would go along with Mr. Krieger
in waiting to talk to Mr. Bonelli.
Councilman Krieger: 95% of the cases where there
are juveniles in troubles the
reason they are in trouble is because of the parents and'the parents'
attitude is they could care less about the whole thing and if they
cared more about it the kids wouldn't have been in trouble to begin
with so the publicity is a small deterrent, if any at all,:
Cou,ncilman•Heath: I feel that if the child is
exposed to the neighbors -that.
it will embarrass the parents into doing something rather than what
they are doing now and I feel there is some good in this as proven
to be effective in Montana and I think it could be effective down here,
Councilman Nichols: I have already checked into
this area most recently with
Chief Sill, I have talked to the newspaper men about it. There is
no law that ptevents the divulging of the names of juveniles of any
age at the.present time, There w$4 a recent editorial in one of the
Valley's daily papers that went into this very area and the discretion
is, -left entirely to the,newspaperso Any reporter that comes in on
any case involving a nine-year old is given full access to the reports,
the name, the event, and therefore the release of this information is
discretionary totally with the press. For this reason I don't really
see that this resolution has any real function.
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Co CQ 2/1/65
Page Thirty -Eight
RESOLUTION FOR NAMING OF JUVENILES IN ARRESTS Continued
Councilman Jett: We could go'back and point the
finger at the press and say
"Why haven't you been exposing these names?"
Councilman Krieger: Juvenile files are closed and
sealed and somewhere along
the line because the files were closed and sealed that if they come
upwith this thing they are accomplishing something, It is a lot
signifying nothing,
Councilman Jett: If this was given publicity
I can't help but feel that a
lot of parents are going to be more strict. I am 100% behind this,
Mayor Snyder: One -.of the bad things about
indiscriminately releasing
information to the press is..often times a kid just makes a mistake,
Councilman Jett:
Mayor Snyder:
BIPARTISAN POLITICS BILL
Mayor Snyder:
By history it is proven that
these juveniles just get
deeper and deeper and deeper.
I don't think there is any
action necessary on this,
We have this bill again about
bipartisan politics in local
government,
Motion by Councilman Heath9 seconded by Councilman Nichols, directing
the City Clerk to prepare a resolution opposing Assembly Bill No, 300,
Motion passed on roll call as follows:
Ayes: Councilmen Jett,
Noes: None
Absent: None
FREEWAY ASSOCIATION
Krieger9 Nichols, Heath9 Mayor Snyder
Mayor Snyder: This is in regard to,the.
City of Claremont requesting
we attend a meeting on February 10 at noon to discuss forming a
freeway association,
Councilman Jett: I have an application here if
you want to join in the Pomona
Freeway Association, This association has taken a very active part
in the development of the Pomona Freeway9 the Corona Freeway, They
are very actively engaged in getting some rest areas established
along the freeway areas. If any of you want to join, I have appli-
cations,
Mayor Snyder:
Do we join this.as a City?
if
0
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Cc Cc 2/l/65
FREEWAY ASSOCIATION Continued
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa:
Councilman Heaths
Page Thirty -Nine
You can.
I don't think you will get too
much help from this organization.
Mayor Snyder: We will let it go.
INDECENT LITERATURE RESOLUTIONS
Mayor Snyder: I have two resolutions
requested on indecent literature
from Warren Dorn. We might as well support them, too. Assemblyman
Theland and Assemblyman Carroll.
Councilman Nichols: This is a duplication of the
other in that the legislation
they are talking about has been introduced or recommended by Judge
Younger in cooperation with the County Commission referred to here.
This..is the bill that is going to the Legislature. We have already
supported the bill mentioned in these resolutions.
LIMITING LENGTH OF TIME OF ZONING
Mayor Snyder.: We have a letter from the City
Attorney stating .that we couldn't
limit the time the zoning stays on the land. He says in effect there
is nothing to prevent us as a matter of policy in certain zonings to
state that if development is not started in a certain length of time
we might initiate a zone change.
Councilman Heath: I don't think that is the way
to do it. I think we should
grant the zoning if it is deemed advisable and then at a later date,
two, three, four years later if we feel it is not in consideration
of,.the General Plan we then initiate procedures to change the zone.
Mayor Snyder: Perhaps we could set up a
policy for continuous review
for unused zoning. Is there any way we could ask the Planning
Commission to study such a procedure of a continued study of unused
zoning with a view of initiating action in those zonings that are
felt to be inappropriate?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: Yes.
Councilman Krieger: That is something retroactively.
As far as prospectively I think
it would be well for us to keep in mind this memo whenever we have
a zoning case before us. What we could do upon making the introduction
of the ordinance is make a motion for the City Manager to diary this
zone change for one year or two years hence and report back to the
Council on the status of `the development of this property and that is
an announcement right then and there to the applicant in those cases
where we feel it may just be speculative zoning that this has been
placed on somebody's calendar and is going to be brought back to the
Council's attention. This doesn't violate the opinion because it. is
not a condition on the zoning; it is just,'an administrative matter to
report back to the Council on those zoning cases.
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C. C. 2/1/65 Page Forty
'LIMITING THE LENGTH OF ZONING - Continued
sr
Mayor Snyder: I think you have to do it on
all of them.
Councilman Krieger: I don't think fairness is the
question. I think the test is
if there is any question in any individual Councilman's mind at the
time of the zoning matter before them'.
Mayor Snyder: Say you make a mistake on
commercial zoning but when
you try to change it they bring up the argument they have.been paying
taxes at commercial rates. If you put them on notice that the City
Council has the ultimate right to change it back, which they know
anyway but needs to be stated publicly to zone either up or down
.as the.public welfare demands the argument becomes less persuasive.
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Williams has expressed many
times that when we talk about
"taking the potential zoning off of a piece of property and we were
told we would be in real trouble, a person could buy this property
.based on the zoning that was on the property and all of a sudden he
finds out that the City is zoning it back to R-A. This causes him
a tremendous loss of money. The same thing would apply here.
• Mayor Snyder:
We can bring this up again
next Monday night when the
City Attorney is here.
Councilman Krieger: We are not talking about potential
property; we are talking about
property that has a firm zone and he showed in that memorandum that the
Council is vested with jurisdiction to reconsider at some later date
the zoning on the property. What I am saying, at least in my
interpretation of that memo, if concurrently with the action of rezoning
the Council were to adopt a motion to review this matter, the impli-
mentation of the zoning at some future date, this doesn't create a
potential zone; it is zoned. Also, it is a matter of record how the
Council feels about it being implimented and it is also public notice
to everybody concerning that.
Mayor Snyder: It has never been the policy
of any city council to zone
back once you have zoned and this is probably right but I think it is
not 100% right because sometimes you make mistakes and the developer
makes mistakes and it should be zoned back and you shouldn't have to
pay the penalty of being stuck with something that isn't good.
Councilman Jett: I think some means should be
devised to convey to anyone
" asking for zoning to say we.are willing to consider this and if given
to you that.it will be given based upon the information that you have
furnished the City and the City may institute hearings to rezone this
back to its original zoning.
Councilman Krieger: That is exactly what we are
discussing doing. This will
be at the time of the Council
action.
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C, C, 2/l/65 Page Forty -One
LIMITING THE LENGTH OF'_ZONTNG Continued
Councilman Heath: If you put a time to review
this it should be a minimum
of two years because by the time you start any sizable project you
have a year gone easily,
Councilman Jett: I think two years would be
reasonable:
Councilman Krieger: I think this type of motion
should be used selectively.
GROSS RECEIPTS TAX
Mayor Snyder: Is the Chamber of Commerce
studying this gross receipts
tax?
City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: Yes; Mr. Flotten and Mr. Tambe.
There being no further business9 Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded
by Councilman Krieger, and carried, that this meeting be adjourned
at 12:15 A,M,
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
APPROVED
MAYOR
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