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10-03-1966 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING.OF° THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WEST COVINA9 CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 3, 1966 • The adjourned regular meeting of the Cit Council was called t g g y o order by Mayor Krieger at 8s15 opclock. P,M, Councilman'Gillum led the Pledge of Allegiance, ROLL CALL PresentsMayor Krieger,.Councilmen Gillum,. Snyder, Gleckman Others Presents Mro George Aiassa., City Manager Mro Robert Flotten,.City Clerk 6 Admino Assistant Mr.o,Herman R_o Fast, -Public Services Director Mro George Zimmerman,. As.sistant..City Engineer Mr,.Byron Larson, Traffic Engineer Mro Ro.E, Pontow, City Engineer Mro Allen Sill., Chief of Police. Absents Councilman Nichols Mra Harry C, Williams, City Attorney Mr, Harold Joseph, Planning Director • PRECISE PLAN NO, 435 Council interpretation of William Lane building height,. Approved (Maps were presented and Mr, Aiassa gave a summary of this matter,) Councilman Gleckman° Public Services Directors Mr, Fasts Do I understand that none of these buildings have been constructed yet as far as the top is concerned? I believe there are a few frames up at this point, but they are not up at the critical location, Councilman Gleckman-, At no time will the houses backing up to this particular Property go above the lot line of the houses to the rear? Public Services Director, Mr, Fasts Councilman Gleckmans Councilman Snyder-, It will be below, I have no objection, I have no objection, I was against this restriction in the first place, .Motion by Councilman Gleckman, seconded by Councilman Gillum, that the City Council grant an administrative approval to the applicant in Precise Plan'of Design Noo 435 for the change as stated in the memorandum dated September 30, 1966 from the staff., and that the new drawings be approved, -1- Co Ca 14/ 3p 66 PRECISE PLAN NO. 436 m Continued Page Two • Mayor Krieger-, Consistent with my.a.ction on December 289, 19649 I will abstain from voting on this. For the record I.will state the.reason which was that I had something to do with the legal work having to do with this project before I was elected to the City Council of West Covina when this matter came before the Council from the Planning Commission. I so stated that fact for the record and abstained from voting. Action on Councilman Cleckman°s motion° Motion carried. (Mayor Krieger abstained.) TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES Mayor Krieger-, The first one would be Item No,, 2.. We have received a supplemental report having to do with this subject. Public Services Director, Mr..Fast-, 'The supplemental applied more to Item No. 3 which you will probably want to consider at: the same time.. • Councilman Snyder-, It seems to me one of the biggest obstacles to seeing oncoming traffic when you pull out of a driveway is cars parked along the curb if they are allowed to park right up to the driveway. Weishould have along with this a restriction of parking for at least two or three car lengths from driveways where you have a lot of traffic. City Managr-r9 Mr. Aiassa-, We tried that on Service Avenue. It can be a problem. We can mike this a study for the Traffic Committee to evaluate and come up with ideas for the Council,. Mayor Krieger0 Item No. 2 has to do with shrubbery_ control. We might relate it as well to Agenda Item No. 39 Hazardous Intersections Council. Policy. Traffic Engineer, Mr. Larson-, One reason we have arrived at the 42-inch figure is that there is another section which specifies a 42=inch maximum for shrubs on private property in the setback area. In staying with that figure, it allows for uniformity of a hedge in the property and in the parkway. It could be lowered and for certain cars, 42 inches is too high. However, I think it would be advisable in terms of lowering it not only in the parkway but lowering it in private property in the setback area as that very often has a bearing on the visibility also. • Mayor Krieger-, I think the primary limitations on the private property had a lot to do with aesthetics and not creating any spite fences in the form of shrubbery between neighboring proterties. This suggestion goes to the solution of traffic, to the problem of traffic safety and control. -2- C,, C,, 10/1 66 .11 Page Three TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES Continued Councilman Gillum- Instead of lowering it, my thinking • would be it would-be to better advantage to move the.shrubs..back on.the...pr.operty..instead of lowering Traffic Engineer.,MrA_Larson.e. I.think one of the things we were not primarily.getting involved with was._shrubs.on private property. We were thinking mostly of shrubs..in.the parkway,, I.believe tha.t.31.53, which is a general control, which.does. not specify a hdight.,..is.what we were primarily interested in changing,, The other modification and recommendation B was primarily to correct a...dis.crepancy in.maximum_..height to make it more compatible _.for_.trimming.._hedges.....and...s.o...fortha. Councilman Snyder,, I think you are going to run into trouble if you. pr_o.hibit... a.11 shrubbery .in the parkway.,, I -do thi nk. we..should.. limit ..height.q...though,, Councilman. Gillum-, We are only recommending lowering this_three...inches.... That won't make much difference.. I._would.rather.see it moved. back than lowered. City Managers Mr,. Aiassa.o._ .... We.have.to.have.some reasonableness to. this.. • Mayor Krieger. The idea here is to elaborate_ on the parkway situation and to bring some uniformity to the private property situation. Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Gillum, and carried, that the recommendation under A to Section 3153 of the Municipal. Code be amended- that said amendment'be prepared by the City"Attorney according to the recommendation of the"Traffic Committee to be consistent with the provisions stated by the Traffic Committee in.their report of -September 2, 1966a Motion by'Councilman.Snyder, seconded by Councilman Gleckman, and carried, that Recommedation B be sent to the City Attorney to draw up an amendment to Section 9220oll of the Municipal Mode consistent with the Traffic Committee's recommendation of September 2, 1966" Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Gleckman, and carried, that the Traffic Committee study the problem of the visibility abstructon of parking next to exit driveways, especially on main streets"andin.commercial areas and come up with recommendations,, Mayor Krieger-, Item No. 4 is install'a directional guidance sign directing traffic in the CBD to the freeway. Were these recommenda- tions discussed at;.alY;writh"the.CBD Committee or._with.the Chamber or the merchants associationi • Traffic.Engineer, Mr. Larson. The"request came from the CBD,, The only directions I'had were that they wanted signs in the CBD that directed traffic to the freeway and I went from there,, Mayor Krieger. At no time between your recommenda- tion or the formation of your recommendation was there ever any discus&ion'writh any of these people? 030 C,, C,, ' 10/3/66 TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES o Continued Page Four • Public Services. -Director, Mr,, Fast-, I had a discussion with representa® tives from the CBD at the meeting at which they made their formal motion to request this from the City Council, and.the point:of the numb.er...was.discuss.ed..and_they felt that the staff...should...,co.ver, this. _ .aspect o Councilman Gillum.-, to the Central Buaines.s..D_is.trict and get their...comments....an ..i.t_o.. .. .Before taking action on this, I would like to have it presented. We.dnesday...mor..ning .,at....our.... meeting Mayor Kriegers My thoughts..are this.: The request.. came from them and the Council thought it was a justified request,, I would hate to go into a program like. this...and.we. get. the.-peo.p.l.e...say.ing.....that.....this_.i.sn't what they had. in....mind..and...then...w.a..are...backtr.acking,.again.a- .. . Motion by Councilman.Gleckman,..seconded by Co.uncil.man_.Snyder, and carried, that., Item .No,,.._4..of.._the..Traffic .Committee..Minut.es...of. September 2 , ..19.6 6. b.e...held ..over . to .the next regular meeting ,of October 10, 1966 with Councilman Gillum requested to discuss these recommenda- tions with the Central,.B.usiness._Distr.ict..C.ommittee....and to determine their reaction to these recommendations,, City Engineer, Mr,, Pontows We did make a rough.. -estimate of what these proposed signs would cost in the report and it seems like by doing the work ourselves we could put up the signs with our labor for about $5'00o00o Mayor Krieger-, Item -No,, 6 was held over until tonight,, Councilman Snyder-, It says the double double lines more than two feet wide are a. violation of the Vehicle Code and that it would be expensive to add these raised barriers,, How many areas are there in the City that. would need it? City Manager, Mr-,, Aiassas I don't think there are over six or eight,, Pol de. Chief..Sill-, The one we are referring to here is at Sunset and'Merced,, Motion byloouncilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Gillum, and. carried, that the recommendations of the Traffic Committee be adopted as to A. B, and C of Item No,, 6 having to do with precast concrete barriers, painted diagonals, and one-way signals in median islands be approved,, Mayor Krieger-, Item No,, 80 Vbuhc-ilman Nichols • had no recollection of this matter,, Councilman Snyder: What he asked was did the official school board concur or was this a. staff member or what? Who concurred with this decision? -4- C, C, ' 10/3/66 Page Five TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES o Continued . City Manager., Mr,.Aiassa-, Normally...they.get John Eastman to review it with the other officials and give us.. an__:answer.o . I. think . he normally.. checks ..with the principals....in...those...par.ticular.. locatio.ns_.- • • Councilman.Snyder° __.It.seems to me he should have authority from his school-.:boaed to do this and. do it in - writing...... If he do.esn ° t. have. that. _authority now, he should get.it, Mayor Krieger-, When we get such concurrence we should get that..concurrence in writing so we have ..something on..record_a.. Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded..by Council.man..Gi.11um9 that Recommendation No,, 8 of the Traf.fic.Committee Minutes of September 2, 1-966 be approved with the additional recommendation that recommendations.from the schoo.l..district.be.rec.eived._in writing, Councilman Cleckman-, I think there are..certa.in. sections _in our City that are steadily becoming more hazardous -being on Merced or Cameron and Lark Ellen, of course, I am thinking of all the different traffic we are deciding to send north and south on Lark Ellen, I am wondering if this ha.s , been considered by the City, City Manager, Mro Aiassa-, Did you remove the crossing --guard? Police Chief Sill-, Yes. Mr, -Eastman said as far as he was concerned that the removal of this crossing guard was all right, Had we kept the guard on there for three days until we had Council approval, we -would have let ourself in for a lot more emotional reaction from the people than we had, Mayor Krieger-, That illustrates the imperim tiveness of good tuning in the action of the Traffic Committee, I would be in favor of the Traffic Committee operating in the future as it has in the past but it being understood and being a fined policy that until the Minutes of the Traffic Committee are approved by the Council it does not go into effect, City Manager, Mt. Aiassa-, Committee does have the authority, matters be reported to them, There should be an amendment to Section 3100, The Traffic The Council requested that these Councilman Snyder-., Wouldn°t you rather have these Minutes approved by the Council and put the final responsibility on the Council? Traffic Engineer, Mr, Larson, Police Chief Sill-, In effect we do that, The critical items always come to the -Council anyway, We will act any way you want us to act, - 5, C , C o 10/3/66 Page S ix TRAFFIC .COMMITTEE MINUTES Continued Councilman Snyder-, Maybe we can ask the Traffic Committee to come -up with a • recommendation on hew they would prefer.to have it either tonight or later,, Mayor Krieger-, I think this has to be defined as a matter of policy,, It has to do with all.our administrative boards,, I have.taken for granted becatiee this has..appeared before me every time the Traffic Committee has met,.as.well as any other staff committee, that it comes to the Council. , becaus.e.. _it. is ..our.. ult.imate.. r.esp.ons.i.bi.lity to satisfy these ihings ,, Action on Counc.ilman_...Snyder°s motion.-.. Mo.tion.carr.ied. Motion by Councilman.Snyder, seconded by Mayor Krieger, to direct the City Manager to submit to the Council...a.po.s.sible.revi.sion..to the ordinance of the..Traf..fic..Committe.e., ... Section.3.100_ Councilman Gleckman.- I don't agree with this because of the past.history, I think they should be brought to us as a matter of review and not as a matter of recommendation for our approval or disapproval I think the actual intent of this was to put these types of things in the hands of the experts for review,, If at.any time an error has been made and called to our attention, we can refer it back to the Traffic Committee •after our discussion rather than discussing each and every move they make,, gouncilman Snyder-, There are some policy matters and the ultimate responsibility should rest with the Council,, We still leave with them the right to act in emergency situations,, I think policy matters should rest with the Council,, Action on Councilman Snyder°s motion-, Motion carried,, (Councilman Gleckman voted nN®oa a Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Gillum, -that the Traffic Committee as a matter of policy request written recommendations from the school d-istrict or any other agency regarding traffic control,, Police Chief Sill° I can't see how you can ask for a written concurrence from the school board when they don't concur with the installation in the first place and don°t contribute anything to the operation of a crossing guard,, Councilman Snyder-, If you are going to put in your discussion that the school di -strict -concurred, you should have written evidence they concurred,, Mayor Krieger-, It is where the school. district • has a recommendation to make on the subject matter that it be in written form,, Councilman Snyder-, I would amend my motion to say, or in oral presentation in the Minutes of the Traffic Committee" because there might --be an appearance before the Committee,, -6- 0 • Co C., 10/3/66 TRAFFICCOMMITTEE MINUTES o Continued Councilman Gillum., Page Seven I will accept the amendment., Action _oii.:.the Motion - as. -amended..-__ 'Motion carried.., Mayor Kz�ieger- Item No., 9.4s the recommendation of a crossing guard at Nora Avenue and Puente Avenue., We have a suppl.emental..:re.por..t._on this matter, Motion by.C.ouncilman=Gleckman.9. seconded by Councilman Gillum, and carried$ to approve the crossing guard for.the intersection of Nora Avenue and Puente Avenue as...recommended by the Traffic Committee in their report of September 2,..19.66., Mayor Krieger' - Item No., 1.6 is recommended for approval., Motion by Councilman Snyder, seconded by Councilman Gillum, a hd.:carried,that Item No., 16, the stop.sign.tobe installed....a.t Ridge.Row Drive and Mill Ridge Drive be approved., Mayor Krieger- `The.. next. item is No., 18, the radar., They wanted to study this matter .further., Is it the desire of the Committee that the Councilconcurthat you study it further? Police Chief Sill- Yes., Councilman Snyder- I think you should study it but it is my opinion, and I am no traffic expert, that speed alone is not the total problem in traffic control and that we don't go into the study of radar with just the idea of a speed trap or catching people for excess speedo Police Chief Silk.- The reason this came up is we do have a radar presently purchased for us in speed studies and we use it for that purpose in conjunction with the Traffic Engineer, but we do have complaints very frequently and one of the most recent ones was along F'rancisquito but we were asked to do some speed enforcement., It is difficult to enforce speed laws in a given area because the more you patrol up and down the more they see .your car and the more control you have but you can't keep that type of control there forever., We would need a radar speed reader., This has been held by our Supreme Court as not'being a speed trap., Councilman Snyder- They are used that way in some cities., Councilman Gillum- '' I'.know.of a number of cities that have gone to this radar • speed control Is there any information stating how many cities in the State are using.radar.as. a.means..of enforcing speed limits? Police Chief Sill- I believe nearly half the cities in Los Angeles County are using radar., -7- C, C, 10/3/66 Page Eight TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES m Continued • Councilman..Snyder- The way he has described it where they have a problem street they could use -it for..enforcement, I.am for this, but I don7t want it carried.too_far. the._other..way..,.. Motion by -Councilman Gleckman., seconded by Councilman Gillum, and carried, to allow.. at..:_the...discretion....af... the. Traffic...Committee to continue their. .. s.tudy.. on. -,..radar.,,.. Mayor Krieger-. .. Lt.em ..20..v... Discussion Item B, the parking stall.d.elineation. B was denied four®to-one. There was a motion to discus:s....poli.cy_..the.. problem.._.o.f.. signs., for....such., quasi -public organizations.....s.uch...as__ churches...._... Councilman Snyder- I would .say half the cities have. chur..ch__.dir.ec.t.ional signs. I see no objection. to .them__and_...I...think....th.e.y._..are.. he.l.pfula... . City Manager, Mr,. Aiassao. Most of these signs will be on .public property and there will be no. uniformi°t.y., I... sugg.est....this_..be. r.eferred....to the Traffic Committee.for their.policy,.. Mayor Krieger- The Traffic Committee has state it is against their public policyeported on .this_, They • Councilman.Gleckman- I would go along with the Traffic Committee's policy, Councilman Gillum-, Practically every old established city around us have signs that indicate the locations of their churches, Councilman Snyder- They could be limited to majors and secondaries and limited to so many per organization, limited to established churches or groups or what -have -you,, Councilman Gillum - I would like to ask the Traffic Committee why they denied this request, Police Chief Sill- We are not necessarily opposed to church signs, We are opposed generally to the erection of signs in public right-of-ways, too many of them., that the motoring public gets confused in which sign to follow, Councilman'Snyder- All right, I911.oncede, • Councilman Gl:eckman- I would like to see -the Traffic Committee either have the Police investigate or the Traffic Committee look into where 'there is a new -traf'f i.c:.i.sign' installed such as at Azusa and " Vine and you have a sehool.in.proximity like a block and a half that at the beginning of the school. year either post a police car in front of'the school to slow down the traffic from trying to make that new light and would discourage the traffic.-. i ®80 Ca C,, 10/3/66 Page Nine, HAZARDOUS.INTERSEC.TION.S Mayor Krieger-, You .have..a.r..eport-on .this matter. Councilman Gleckmans I think this is an excellent report.. a.nd._I....would...go. along Motion by Councilman.. Gleckman-,.. _s.econd.ed ...by._Counc.ilman Gillum. and carried9.to accept the report dated September 30, 1966 headed Visibility Obstruction Program" and go along with the recommendations of staff, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS..MEETING. Octfber 11,..1966 Motion by. Councilman. _Glec.kman9._seconded..by Councilman Gillum, and carried, to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on October 11, 1966 and speak on behalf of the City having to do with the consideration of a contract that the County is presently contemplating with Stone and Youngberg,, • COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS VESTCOVINA BEAUTIF°ICATI.ON -BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE Councilman Gillum- We started the West Covina Beautification Blue Ribbon Committee and I participated in it standing in for Councilman Nichols and thanked the people for coming to the meeting and turned it over to Mrs,, Betty Plesco from Recreation and Parks,, The next meeting willbe this Thursday night,, ICE MACHINE. Councilman Gillum,, I would like to ask for clari- fication and additional informa- tion,, I noticed a freight car sitting on the corner of Cameron and Glendora behind Gulf Oil Station,, Councilman Gleckmano That is an ice machine,, Councilman Gillum,, I think that is an eyesore and I.don°t want to see it in that particular part of the City,, Has it been given approval? . Public Services Director., Mr. F°as.t-, The.proper.ty is..zoned C®1 and by determination...of...the Planning Commission they determined an..ice..vend.ing...machine..did._come.as an allowable use within C®1a This was presented to the Review.Board on-, precise plan and has been.approved after a holdover for additional information and interpretation by the City Attorney and is awaiting !' Ln-■ C, C, 10/3/66 Page Ten iCE MACHINE Continued • its normal fifteen -day period. .prior to. -authorization -by building permit,, That_..box..you ..see .was- delivered- and. is in..a.. temporary state of limbo awaiting_.approva.l. of action. so_ a- building permit can. be granted.,. . At_ .that _.time .it will ..be .put .._on. pier.s..g _a...skirt built around its foundation, and apply for a sign and put in proper landscaping, and so on.,,... If it is.: not c&ll.ed... up.�:.they. . w.ill... have - authorization to install it_, Councilman Gillum, If it's the feeling of the majority ---of the Council.,,. I would like to. call ..this.. bef..ore the Council.,,. Motion by Councilman Gillum,_ seconded by Councilman Gleckman, and carried, that this matter be called up before the Councilo'' RECREATION 6 PARKS. Councilman Gleckman--, Recreation.and Parks held their meeting last Thursday.and they seemed to be functioning quite well, Unfortunately, the two veteran members'of the,Commission were not in attendance that meeting,, I thought the two new Commissioners along with Mrs, Plesco, who chaired the meet ngi9 and Mr. Gingrich and his staff covered all their subjects quite well ANNEXATION NO,,, 193 Councilman.Gleckman, As .you know, we areiproceeding on Annexation 193 and I attended a -meeting the other evening with some of the opposition'as well as the proponents and I think we made a little clearer the idea of annexing�to,the "City to some of these people but they seem to think we have somet.:underlying motives for wanting to annex their particular area, Mayor Krieger-, You might call to these people's attention the County zoning on Workman Avenue that was just granted to C-1,, Councilman Gleckman, I did,, I also called to their attention the zoning on Azusa and Francisquito and the many times that this City Council and the Planning Commission sent letters of protest to the Regional Planning Commission, but they seem to counteract this with some of the decisions made by former City Councils of this City, and I really couldnPt answer that,, LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES REVENUE AND'TAXATI.ON COMMITTEE Councilman -Snyder, I.attended themeeting..on ..revenue and.taxation on the League of California.Cities....and_.weg.in essence, adopted this statement of principles regarding tax reform for recommendation for adoption by m10m C. C. 10/3/66 Page Eleven RE�IENtJE AND `TAXATION COMMITTEE - Continued the Board of Directors at the League meeting in San Diego. This is • important -because at the present time there are several moves on for tax reform.in.the State of California and they are powerful.moves. One is. lead..by.the two candidates..and by.the_As.sembiy Committee on tax reforms.:plus.Southern.California Research Council on Tax Reform. Many of these pr.o.posal.s...may limit._our tax base..instead..of help it. (Gave summary of..this matter..q).. is We have two letters in tonight°.s..mai.l.regarding property tax.limitati.ons...and.we..adopted as a statement. Qf ..p.ol.ic:y.. strongly . o pposi.ng . any limitation....on. our taxing power. Also...,, Propo.s.ition_.3.on the.November ballot..we voted.to approve and we have..a letter.fr.om Mr, Watson...o.pposing.a. We.voted to approve because we feel.the.o.pen land. ..pr.ogram..shoul.d be..suppor..t.ed::..and he fails to point out..here that...Pr.o.position.3 o®_he..gives.....several reasons why he is...against..it9._ that....it. _.gives......a...tax. break...to..land. .speculators and so ong but -he fails, to point out that the regulatory provisions under this will be provided by the Legislature against all these points he makes. I think this document with the approval of the Board can go a long way to.help in the tax reform that may come in the next Legislature.. Mayor Krieger-, Is this on the agenda for the League meeting in San Diego as a. committee report on revenue and taxation? 'Councilman Snyder-, Yes, I cant make'the League of California Cities meeting on Thursday night. Mayor Krieger.-, I am.the alternate on that. IIll try and make it. There being no further business, Motion by Councilman Gillum, seconded by Councilman Gleckman, and carried, that this meeting adjourn at 9I o°clock P.M. ATTEST-, CITY CLERK APPROVED MAYOR