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04-29-1968 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA APRIL 29, 1968: -------------- The adjourned regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Gleckman at 7: 32 p.m. , in the West Covina City'Hall.. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman. Chappell. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Gleckman, Councilmen Chappell, Nichols, Gillum Councilman Lloyd (Arrived at 7:47 p.m.) Also Present: George Aiassa, City Manager H. R. Fast, Public Services Director Owen: Me'nard,. Planning Director Lela Preston, City Clerk CIVIC CENTER SITE DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT Mayor Gleckman welcomed the four members from the Joint County - City of West Covina,. Public Authority Board, Messrs. Jess Harper, John Preston, . Walter Laband and Bert Stolpe. Mr. Aiassa: We have with us this evening Mr. Lee Sharfman from Armstrong & Sharfman, who will present to council the preliminary drawings on the Civic Center. Lee Sharfman As Mr. Aiassa said, I am here to discuss the site Armstrong & Sharfman development plan and since there are two new members Landscape Architects on. Council, I was asked to prevue the schematics. In summary, Mr.. Sharfman briefly stated that the Civic Center Development included four buildings - existing and proposed Library, City Hall, Police Facilities and County Health Building, all contained within a pie shaped site. The first concern was developing an effective circulation pattern. Explained the pattern developed for the use of motor vehicles and then the pedestrian walks. Explained in detail all the parking areas and the walks, using the drawings. The main pedestrian entry by drop-off from cars or walking into the Center would be on: Service Avenue., and there would be no cross traffic of cars, the only cross traffic is pedestrian. . The dominant feature in landscaping is the Court area with a pool of water as the main attraction.. Plant vocabulary was explained, stating that it would be a simple one both inAnitial expense and maintenance. Eventually the mounds of dirt will be completely planted to look like a forest with:.Yas.Mr., Sharfman explained that many ideas had to be replaced with other ideas because of the cost factor. • Mayor Gleckman then asked .if either the members of the joint Authority of the Council had any questions. Councilman Gillum: I took a tour recently with Mr. Fast - an on the site tour.; and we got to discussing the design of the City Hall and the large openings and I asked him - are we creating a Candlestick Park here, in other words we get a west -east wind every day, and he indicated apparently there was something that could be done in landscaping or that this could be given consideration. . I look at this and I see an opening at one end and I am wondering if there were a problem if the landscaping could help cut down the problem if it does exist? - 1 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Two CIVIC CENTER SITE DEVELOPMENT - Continued (Councilman Lloyd arrived at 7:47 P.M.) Mr.. La.lSharfman: It is a very good point. I, myself, have been concerned about the building. If there is a total site problem it is easily remedied in the time it takes for the plants to grow and by the placing of the trees, but in the building I have wondered if we are going to have a tunnel effect through the building. As a matter of fact we are waiting to suggest the type of plants to go into the planters until we can see how severe that effect is. But there is enough of the site free and clear, so that I think given enough proper time almost :any problem can be solved. Councilman Gillum: My main concern was from west to east where the normal afternoon breeze starts out here. Mr.. L. Sharfman: We have given it some consideration - as you can see we have wrapped the trees all around - you will have a quiet area - and with the spacing of the buildings I don't anticipate a problem. Councilman Gillum: In other words you feel when the trees and plants are fairly good size it will deflect any wind problems? Mr.. L. Sharfman: When they are fully matured I would not expect any pro- blem. Councilman Chappell: What is the life maturity of the plants - 5 years - 10 years ? Mr. L. Sharfman: No, I believe it would be a little longer. I think you should work in terms of the site looking well on completion, beginning to look rich in a couple of years, 10 years complete and 15 years maturity. Mayor Gleckman: Let me ask a question regarding the changes that you said have been made. If I understand it correctly, the Council and the Civic Center Authority have approved a budget of so many dollars to be spent in the. Civic Center, when you make these changes do we have somebody from the City, such as staff, coordinating these changes or are you making these changes at will? Mr. L., Sharfman: First of all - this plan is 100% in accordance with the schematic approval, any changes made were minor and were made within the framework of the subsequent decisions made at the schematic level.. For instance these parking islands show a radius and straight sides, we have given a little deflection to the sides, it has added more grace to the parking lot. Some of the trees have been reduced in size in order to retain,ar,.brick seat planter - it is that kind of a change that has been made and there is a very high degree of relationship between the two cost estimates, the preliminary and the schematic. If something was misestimated, or the facts were not all inc: and as the facts came in it cost more and we had to find the money somewhere within the framework of the schematics - and that is what we have done. It is still all first quality and fully automatic. There have been no changes that you can see visibly they are all internal in the working drawing and they have been coordinated with Neptune & Thomas and staff. Mayor Gleckman: Fine. That answers my question. I was just concerned whether you were at liberty to make changes. without - 2 - • • ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 CIVIC CENTER SIDE DEVELOPMENT Continued prior approval of the three organizations, as you might say. Page Three Mr.. L. Sharfman: If I read the contract correctly, I am not. Mr. Aiassa: No - he is not. Motion by Councilman Gillum, seconded by Councilman. Chappell and carried, that Council approve the preliminary portion of the work of the Site Development contract as outlined in the presentation. This approval being commiserate upon the approval of the Los'Angeles Board of Supervisors. Mayor Gleckman: Are there any other questions by the Civic Center Authority ? Mr.. Mande I am wondering what the specifications say regarding guarantees of for instance the trees;;' do you replace at the end of a year? Mr.. L.. Sharfman: These specifications which are almost 100% complete will call for a one year guarantee on any specimen trees and a guarantee which extends the length of the main- tenance period for any smaller material. This is customary.. If it is going to be 60 or 90 days maintenance the contractors will have to guarantee the material and anything not properly installed will show the signs of its decline during that period. We don't approve final payment until that is done.. At the end of the maintenance period we go through the entire project and anything that is not up to snuff is replaced and in addition to that there is a one year guarantee on specimen plants. Mayor Gleckman: I might add that any warrants1.or;; pyment:would,�be . subject to this Council's approval and would be paid �> subj ect-to;cthosec-c.ondition s . Mr. L. Sharfman: Now this is only what we have submitted to the Authority for approval, now if they chose to establish a different criteria it can be done, however within the scope of the schematics the amount pledged will only permit x number of days - 60 or 90, I am not sure which. Mr. Stolpe: The gentleman made the remark that he had reduced the facility in relation to irrigation - has this been a general trend ? Mr. L. Sharfman: No I said we had not. We did not in anyway reduce the quality of the irrigation system. It is still the fully automatic plastic system that we planned. There has been no quality removed from this . The point I wanted to make and can probably do it best by saying if we need pavement here for the proper use of this space that pavement is there. If the amount of it is such that it meant planting smaller trees, we elected to plant the smaller trees. The trees will grow and the pavement will not. That is one of the areas that we had to work within. Now in addition we worked out a very handsome scoring pattern for all this concrete because we had to eliminate color before the schematic presentation. The scale of it is quite vast and we made a very careful study and a very handsome scoring pattern for this entire site which is essentially the extension of the scoring pattern within the building itself. It is a very rich pattern - now this might have to go, because we can't afford it. As the costs come in closer and closer but this is all within the framework that we are able to work - 3 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Four CIVIC CENTER SITE DEVELOPMENT - Continued Mr.. Stolpe: To finalize my question - when you say you reduced the size of the shrubbery, what percentage are you talking about? From a 5 year to a 1 year? • Mr. Sharfman: We are not.planting seeds, but we have reduced the trees down to 15 gallon.. That is about as small as you can go if you want character. (Explained in detail.) Councilman Lloyd: Would we be able to plant some of these trees ahead of time and then replant them in order to obtain growth? Mr. Sharfman: There is nothing to be saved by doing that.. Once you split the responsibility, the contractural arrangement with the contractor doing the work is lost. The project is not large enough to warrant a tree farm. Mayor Gleckman: Are there any further questions ? Then thank you - Mr. Sharfman; and thank you gentlemen - Mr.. Jess Harper, Mr.. John Preston, Mr. Walter Laband and Mr., Bert Stolpe for attending this evening. ORDINANCE. NO. 1035 The City Clerk presented: • "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, AMEND - ADOPTED ING THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING SUBPARAGRAPH (b) OF SECTION 9202.1 THEREOF, AND BY ADDING PART 27,. TO CHAPTER 2 OF ARTICLE. IX THEREOF, CREATING AND REGULATING THE USE OF PROPERTY'IN THE. SERVICE -COMMERCIAL ZONE (S-C ZONE) . Mayor Gleckman: Hearing no objections, waive further reading of the body of said Ordinance. Motion by Councilman Gillum, seconded by Councilman Lloyd, that the City Council adopt said Ordinance. Motion carried on roll call vote as follows: AYES: Councilmen Chappell, NOES: None ABSENT: None • REGIONAL PARK RESOLUTION Nichols, Gillum,. Lloyd, Mayor Gleckman Mr. Aiassa: We do have a resolution and if the Council were to adopt this resolution, I would like to suggest that the City Manager be authorized to present this resolution to our Supervisor representative - Mr.. Frank Bonelli. RESOLUTION NO. 3785 The City Manager presented: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA REQUESTING THE LOS ANGELES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO AUTHORIZE. PLANNING STUDIES FOR THE - 4 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Five REGIONAL PARK RESOLUTION NO. 3785 - Continued 'REGIONAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN T HE WEST COVINA AREA. " . Mayor Gleckman. Hearing no objections, waive further reading of the body of said Resolution. Motion by Councilman Lloyd, seconded by Councilman Gillum, that the City Council adopt the resolution approving the request of the Los Angeles County to authorize the planning study for regional recreational facilities in the West Covina area, with proviso for the City Manager to meet with our city's representative Supervisor Frank Bonelli. Motion carried on r.ol.l call vote as follows. AYES. Councilmen Chappell, Nichols, Gillum, Lloyd, Mayor Gleckman NOES. None ABSENT. None EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION LETTER RE.. PARTICIPATION IN STATE AUDIT COSTS Mr. Ai.assa. We have a letter addressed to the Council and City Manager in relationship to the City Employees' Association partici- pating in an expenditure created by the State Employees' Retirement System, which is only half of the cost - $556.23 I believe we have Councilman Gillum who is the liaison with the Council on this Retirement Committee, that might like to make some comment. Councilman. Gillum. We plan to have a Retirement Committee meeting tomorrow at 4. p . m . , and I would like to have permis sion of the Council to hold this over until May 13th, so the Committee can discuss and also be made aware of the total cost: of this project. So moved by Council.man,.N.ichols, seconded by Councilman Chappell, and carried. All were in favor. RESOLUTION RE. SOCIAL SECURITY/STATE RETIREMENT STUDY Mr.. Aiassa. We have a Resolution co ,replace the Resolution, presented to. Council and adopted. in 1.951 and this authorizes the City Manager and the Finance Officer to work directly with the O1d.Age Survivor's Disability Insurance. The reason we are having this is that the communication has been sent to numerous people and it makes it a little awkward and now the communication will be sent to the Administrative Head and if there is any question he will have to resolve it. • RESOLUTION NO. 3786 The City Clerk presented. "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED. OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA DESIGNATING AN AUTHORIZED AGENT OF THE CITY' S OLD AGE SURVIVORS INSURANCE. " Mayor Gleckman. Hearing no objections, waive further reading of the body of said Resolution. 5- ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Six RESOLUTION NO. 3786 - Continued Motion by Councilman. Gillum, seconded by Councilman Chappell, that City Conncil adopt said Resolution, • Councilman Gillum-. Mr. Aiassa - all you are actually doing in this Resolution is changing individual.°s names and they are called out in the Resolution, nothing else is being changed? Mr. Aiassa: Right. This is actually to make it easier for the representatives to have somebody to work with. Motion carried on roll call vote as follows: AYES: Councilmen Chappell, NOES: None ABSENT: None MOTEL USE.AS APARTMENTS Nichols, Gi.11um,, Lloyd,. Mayor Gleckman Mr.. Aiassa: This is a follow-up report requested by Councilman Nichols. Mr.. Peacock did the best he could, he tried to give some indication of the statistics. Councilman Nichols: The nature of this report, I think, should be of some con- cern to our Council from several points of view. I did a little additional addition .__ taking just the fourth quarter of the year of 1967, which is the most current quarter, and I computed the total revenues from these 6 motels and. then computed those exempt revenues - those that were stated to be from permanent or nontransient tenants. The total revenues reported were $295, 747. from all of the motels; the total excluded revenues not subject to the motel tax was $201,626. or approximately 68% of all revenues being reported by motels, were revenues that would not apply under the use that has been authorized for that particular facility .under law and zoning, and I would call attention to the Council also that the largest and newest of the motels appear to be those motels that are most grossly departing in terms of their total revenue from the transient business. . I would also point out to the new council members that still another motel has been presently authorized :for construction which would be comparable to motels 5 and 6 on the list. I think the concern we should have about this is that not any tremendous problem currently exists, but it appear.'s that a trend is developing where individuals are coming to the City Council asking to build motels and sometimes in a zone set aside for apartment use, and asking for this permission to build a motel and then in effect operating an apartment busi ness. I think the concern can be summarized easily in three areas: 1 - this works a hardship on the individual who has come in and built a quality apartment building under a zoning authorized for apartments and limited in density to that which would apply to apartments, because the motel operator can in effect greatly increase his density..- therefore lower his cost and compete unfavorably with those who must conform to zoning requirements; 2 - it creates a density in the community in •areas of our City that the Council never anticipated or intended in the granting of these uses in these areas; 3 - I think it very greatly tends to create a misuse of the intent of the motel tax ordinance, whereby the motels are reporting a great part of theL r revenue as permanent revenue rather, than 'transient thereby escaping the provisions of the motel tax. I don't know what al.l the implications are and I am sure there are some legal matters that I would not be qualified to comment on, and perhaps there is nothing we could or should do, but it would be my feeling that it would be perfectly in order for the Council to ask our City Attorney to review this particular area to see what the implications are from the standpoint of the legalities of the operations of the motels and the implications for the future, relative both to: -6- ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Seven .MOTEL USE AS APARTMENTS - Continued our motel tax and our zoning policies. Mayor Gleckman- Fine. I: agree with you - I think to a great extent that • maybe the motel ordinance per se is not spelled out in in the proper manner in the intent in which we would like to charge it. That being the case .I would go along with a motion to have the City Attorney along with the Planning Director look into this Ordinance and come back to the. Council with a recommendation, knowing full well the intent of our conversation here this evening Councilman Gillum- A question of Mr. Menard. To your knowledge and past experience in other communities have they had this problem, and if so, has there been a way through the Planning Department to control a building to where it can only be used as a motel versus being used as an apartment? Mr. Menardo I have worked for two previous communities, and both of those communities had the same problem - what to do with motels and restricting them to auto transients of several days duration. The only solution. I have ever heard and it is not 100% is simply through the zoning ordinance to limit kitchen facilities or prohibit kitchen facilities. This will discourage a great deal of this kind of trend but not 100%, because some people in town for 60 or 90 days simply eat out. Both cities that I was involved in prior to coming to West Covina, had done studies on this based on exactly the same thing. - • tax revenue and the loss thereof. I am not saying there isn't a solution, there probably is, but a total solution was not arrived at in either of these cities. Councilman Gillum- Do you know if the studies they made would be available to add additional information to what Mr.. Nichols might request of the City Attorney and the staff? Mr. Menardo I would believe so. I have also heard of other cities that have made studies for exactly the same reason. Councilman Nichols- Again I don't know what is wrong or what can be done but if in fact there are people building or preparing to build or in the future anticipating building with the concept they are in fact going to operate a permanent residency hotel under the name of motel, then there is something wrong with their compliance with the law or there is something wrong with our law. It is rather obvious that some motels operating as motels are going bankrupt literally for the lack of business and others find it so lucrative to add hundreds of thousands of dollars to build additional. facilities that immediately fill up - - something is occurring that doesn't squargjI think with our- zoning procedures, at least with the zoning we are granting and type of use occurring. I don't have any passion about it except I think we expect our citizenry all to conform to our zoning laws and also major builders and developers should conform, and that is my thought. Mr.. Menardo If. I may - I would add one comment and it probably is a little bit of history of West Covina - at one time we were allowing motels in R-3 multiple family zones - such is not the case anymore. So a motel that came in and desired zoning for a motel use would have to request either the newly adopted S-C or C-2 or C-3 zoning, and if the commercial zoning was not appropriate then it would be denied.. Also it is absolutely true that a great number of zone variances were granted - some were in single family zoning to allow motel uses. The Planning Commission has launched forward into a program of looking at almost all these land use variances such as. Maxson Medical Center, Queen of the Valley Hospital., and several others to place them in a proper zone. So not.thait,,­.:: this alleviates the problem of the existing situation, but I don't think the - 7 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 MOTEL USE AS APARTMENTS - Continued Page Eight problem of utilizing R-3 or R-1 land off in the future for the construction of motels, will occur in the future as much as it has in the past. There are several outstanding variances though that are ,still on the books that the City Attorney has ruled are legal • variances and the individual who has that variance can pick it up at anytime and construct, which is the way the situation was with the one that just came up several weeks ago. Councilman Gillum. May I pursue this point for a moment? These variances - the City Attorney feels they are legal, is that correct? •Mr. Menard. There was no time limit placed on them at the time they were granted, so therefore they go on into the future. Councilman Gillum. As I understand it, the Council can review at such time a certain zoning and revertAt back to a lesser type - is this possible with zoning? Mr. Menard. This is absolutely true with zoning and the City Attorney had ruled that if the Council wanted to hold a public hearing on each particular variance that had been granted and provide an abatement period, similar to what we performed on non- conforming signs, this could be done, but it is a long and arduous trip. . Mr.. Aiassa. Mr. Mayor. - why don't we proceed and do a study on this? Mayor Gleckman. Any other comments by Council, if not a motion would be in order. Motion by Councilman Nichols, seconded by Councilman Gillum, and carried, that the Council refer this matter to the City Attorney and the Planning Director jointly and direct them to review the tape of this discussion and look into this problem in the light of the comments made during this discussion and at the first regularly scheduled council meeting in June, or anytime before that date, to present to the Council their conclusions relative to any action that the Council s hou Id take in regard to this impending problem. APPROVAL OF PLAQUES FOR STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS Mr., Aiassa: I would like Council approval for using our City Plaques to be presented to Mr. John A. Legarra, Deputy State Highway Engineer, California Department of Public Works, Division of Highways; Houston Flourney,. State Controller; Fred C.. Jennings, California Highway Commissioner; and George A.. Hill, Assistant State Highway Engineer, California Department of Planning, Division of Highways. •Motion by Councilman Gillum, seconded by Councilman Chappell, and carried, that Council approve the presentation of City Plaques to John A. Legarra, Houston Flourney, Fred C. Jennings and George A. Hill, for their work with the City of West Covina in the request for widening of the freeway and problems connected therewith requested of the State' Division of Highways, and the wording of the plaques to be directed by the staff. - 8 - • ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Nine RESOLUTION NO. 3787 The City Clerk presented: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND AN ALTERNATE. TO THE CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE. " Mayor Gleckman: Hearing no objections, waive further reading of the body of said Resolution. Motion by Councilman Gillum, seconded by Mayor Gleckman, that Council adopt said Resolution. Mayor Gleckman: Motion made and seconded, and in the manner of dis- cussion this is the appointing of a member of the City Council to the City Selectinn Committee primarily involved in Rapid Transit and I have discussed with Councilman Gillum, who is the appointee to his relinquishing that position to myself and he act as the alternate. One of the reasons behind that is the former Mayor of Walnut - Lee Hale served on the Executive Board of Rapid Transit and in turn his position will be Vacant, for which I have requested the City Manager to get in touch with the San Gabriel Valley cities, and I talked to the San Gabriel Valley mayors about being appointed to this position, and it would be much easier to achieving it if i.;t does come to be, if I were selected as the member of the City Council as the City's representative to the Commission, so that is the reason for the change request. Is there any discussion regarding this? Motion carried on roll call vote as follows: AYES: Councilmen Chappell, Nichols, Gillum, Lloyd, Mayor Gleckman NOES: None ABSENT: None ATTENDANCE AT MAYORS AND COUNCILMEN INSTITUTE Mr. Aiassa: This is the Mayors and Councilmen Institute scheduled for May 19-21 at the Disneyland 'Fbtel. This normally gives the new Councilmen an opportunity to have a session with the League of California Cities staff and other Councilman, and a program is set up for them. I believe, Mr. Gleckman, that you were 8 .participa.nt_at one .of D:' these seminars. Mayor Gleckman: Right. I attended the Mayors and Councilmen Institute in Berkley,- and I found it very helpful and I would recommend it very highly, especially for the two new Councilmen, and also for the other Councilmen since it is here locally and we would not have to budget the expense of $150 per Councilman to attend. I recommend it highly and I would like to see all attend - do we have enough money if all Councilmen wished to go, Mr..Aiassa? ( Answer was yes, for this type, but not the usual 3 day session.) May we have a roll call on attendance? Councilman Chappell and Mayor Gleckman to attend; Councilmen Nichols, Lloyd and Gillum - would not be able to attend. Motion by Councilman Nichols, seconded by Councilman Chappell, that the Council appropriate $70.0 0 to cover the registration and necessary incidental expenses for Mayor Gleckman and Councilman Chappell to attend the League of California Cities Mayors and Councilmen Institute. ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Ten MAYORS AND COUNCILMEN INSTITUTE - Continued Motion carried on roll call vote as follows-, AYES-, Councilmen Chappell, Nichols, Gillum,Lloyd, Mayor Gleckman NOES. None ABSENT-, None NOTICE 'OF PUC HEARING RE.. SUBURBAN RATE INCREASE Mr... Aiassa-, Mr. Mayor - there is a notice of a hearing on the rate increase for the Suburban Water Company to be held on May 6, and I would like authorization for a staff person to be present. So moved by Councilman. Gillum, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried. All were in favor. MAYOR'S REPORTS Mayor Gleckman-, I have received a letter from the West Covina Chamber of Commerce requesting a meeting with the City Council - a dinner meeting. They have asked for Monday - May 6th. Mr. Piassa - how does that fit in with the calendar? Mr..Aiassa-, You don't have a session set for May 6th. Mayor Gleckman-, Can we all make it? It is 5-, 30 on May 6th and it is dinner. (All Councilmen indicated they could make it.) Mr. Aiassa, will you so inform the Chamber of Commerce that the five members of the City Council have accepted their invitation for dinner at Stark's Restaurant in the Ban:quetsRoom and will you make sure that the appropriate notices are sent to the paper, etc. , so we are not violating the Brown Act, Mr.. Ai assa-, We will confirm this with the City Attorney and make it legal. Mayor Gleckman-, I also have a letter from the City of West Covina Police Department inviting us to attend the inspection and Open House to be held on Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. , - I would like to see -all the Councilmen there.. This has been an excellent Open House each year and I think our attendance at something like this is well deserved by our fine Police Department. Are there any questions on this? 'J ' I also received a letter from the Chamber of Commerce regarding their decision on the Public Utilities regarding the study we requested of them on the General Telephone. Company as to their rates - I need a motion to receive and file, So moved by Councilman Gillum, seconded by Councilman Chappell, and carried. . All were in favor. PROCLAMATION Mayor Gleckman-, I also have a letter request for a proclamation. This is from the American Podiatry Association, requesting that the City of West Covina proclaim Foot Health Week - May 10 to the 17th. - 10 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Eleven PROCLAMATION I:f there are no objections or discussion, I would so proclaim. • Mayor Gleckman. I would like to thank the press for their release in tonight's paper - what I considered to be a positive press, and we appreciate it.; COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilman. Chappell.- I have a question that I would like to bring up. We have a councilman that attends the West Covina Unified School District: meetings and while I was a member of that organization I found it to be very helpful. a number of times, but I notice we do not have anyone going to Covina Malley Unified School Distract Board meetings, and I understand the reason is they meet: the same time we do. I would like to say that perhaps we can, request of them. to change their Board meeting night so we could send a council representative. It ties .in with the three high schools and what we do with one I think we should do with the other-, Councilman Lloyd. The reason they have their meeting then is because it is the off Monday from the City of Covina council meeting - • you, shake your, head - no, they don't? Councilman Chappell. They meet the same night .City Hall meets,.,6 Mey have no one attending either. In .fact .I talked to some members of the staff at school and they thought it would be a good idea but we would have to pursue .it: here naturally and request it of them. Mayor Gleckman. Well, might I suggest that we hold this over Mr. Chappell. i am going to request a joint meeting with the Covina Unified. School, Board, with the permission of Council, in. the- very near future, and at: that time we could discuss it with them rather than take it: up here. I:t :is a good point: Councilman Chappell. Does it: matter that: much whether we pursue it now - - how Long are you planning before you are holding this meeting? Mayor Gleckman. Within the :next 60 days Councilman Chappell. Fine. . No sweat. We haven't done it for years. Councilman Nichols-, I thought: perhaps - his point is well taken, and perhaps some initial letter should be sent to getting them to think of the possibility of this in advance of our dis- • cuss.ion. Mayor Gleckman. I have no objection. Councilman,. Gillum-, I think any communications we can establish between ourselves and the other governing bodies in our community is fine, although I think we also have Bassett School District; which falls .in. our City also. I think some of our students attend Councilman. Lloyd- I believe there are aeven school districts in the City. ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 COUNCIL. COMMITTEE REPORTS- Continued Page Twelve Councilman Chappel.l. Well I made mention of those that have high schools within our city boundaries, and would probably be the criteria - because if we are going to have narcotics as • the Mayor mentioned in his letter today, coordination with them will probably be necessary. These things all tie in. U • Councilman Gillum. I: think basically it is a sound idea. Mayon Gleckman. If I could have a motion authorizing the Mayor to proceed? So moved by Councilman. Chappell, seconded by Councilman. Gillum, ard. carried by Council. All were in favor. Mayor Gleckman. Mr. Aiassa m would. you have staff prepare such a letter for my signature. Councilman Chappell. I attended the East San Gabriel Valley Planning Committee meeting and they came up with a Sign Ordinance that all the cities accepted that night to be brought back to our City Councils, and this might be one thing that should later on be discussed by Council or compared with our. Sign Ordinance to see if it is better than ours. Councilman Gillum. Only one thing. I will, unfortunately, not be able to attend the adjourned meeting of the Human.Relations Commission called for this Thursday, to start on a program - I am wondering if my alternate might. be able to attend? Councilman. Nichols. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS I will be happy too„ Mayor Gleckman. We don't have a place for Oral Communications on the agenda tonight - as this is an adjourned meeting, but if at this time any member of the audience would like to step forward and discuss anything with Council, with the permission of the rest of the Council, I would be glad to hear from them. (None.) Mayor Gleckman. Is there anything else? Councilman Nichols. Mr., Aiassa would you see that I get an agenda before Thursday night's meeting of the Human Relations Commission? Councilman Chappell. In the article tonight you stressed the fact that the Human Relations Commission is going to take on the subject of narcotics W does the Council give them guidelines or a challenge or anything to work on, or do they just carry the ball themselves ? Mayor Gleckman. It is a good, point. I was at the Human Relations Commission meeting last Thursday and I discussed with them earlier about themact:ing as a catalyst and taking on the responsibility of bringing together all. the School. Districts, all the enforcement people 12 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Thirteen COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS - Continued that could get involved, as well as the experts living in our community. At that time I also said to them that I would appreciate very much if they would make this request •of this City Council that they be charged with this responsibility.. Primarily because Councilman. Nichols, I believe, is the only member of the Council that was here at the inception of this Human Relations Commission, and I have always been under the impression that the Commission was set up to deal with human relations and not particularly with any minority problem as they have been acting upon the past 3 years, and I felt that they really didn't have enough work, and that this was an area in which they could really sink their teeth in and act as a catalyst to start on some type of program that is well on its way by the West Covina Unified School District that I know of, in order to keep the pressure on - so to speak, to let the young people, as well as the adults of our community know that we are interested and that we do care and this was our way of taking something that is city oriented and doing a job. And since Councilman Gillum was a representative at that meeting and I had to lease early I don't know whether they are going to request of this. Council to be given this permission but evidently if they are going to have an adjourned meeting Thursday and discuss this, they are going to. Councilman Gillum. I made this request of them and the Chairman - Mrs. Mansell indicated she would forward this request to the Council, and I was hoping we would see it this evening, but apparently.... Mayor Gleckman. Well I don't think we need it formally now, :.now .that it is out in the open if there are any comments by this Council as to any objections they might have. Councilman. Lloyd. I have a question Mr. Mayor. What do you envision as the scope of this area that is being considered - what were the goals? Mayor Gleckman. They, were to set the goals. I think they have a general idea, at least thoughts passed on by myself, to do everything possible naturally tm.curb the activity that is presently in our City and discourage any future activity. I, at no time, nor did they have the idea of eliminating the problem, because this is way beyond our scope, but I think the number one problem we have when we go out to fight something that is evil unless we keep the pressure on it pops up Aime and time'again, and the., charge was in and around the City of. West Covina. Councilman Lloyd. Did you envision perhaps an eventual budgeting of some monies so they could go into community advertising or a public relations program? Mayor Gleckman. That is why I left it to them. I felt if I were going to ask them to act as a catalyst and they getting the true meaning of what the intent was, that they as a Commission should come back with goals that we would be able to approve. Councilman Gillum. I might add that after Mayor Gleckman left, they spent about an hour discussing this and found there were many areas they could make use of within the community, such as churches - in fact at our church this Sunday we had Teen. Challenge - and things of this type were discussed, so basically the adjourned meeting this Thursday night is to formulate some type of plan. They realize and accept the fact that it is very easy to have laws and enforce the laws, but the problem is before they..get,to.'having to enforce the laws. That basically, I think, is what their program is - to generate and inform - 13 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Fourteen COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS - Continued and stop before we have to resort to laws. They were very enthused about it and there was some spirited discussion on where to go and why, but I am sure that once • they get into it they will do a commendable job in that area. Councilman Nichols: I wasn't going to make any comment on this matter in the sense of aggressively bringing it up independently of it being an agenda item, but I would have to say that I really don't quite concur in utilizing the Human Relations Commission for this type of activity, as meritorious as it is and we do need some coordination in this area. I am quite confident that both the Resolution under law which authorized the creation of this Commission and its charge at that time, did not convey that it would move into all or any of the many problem areas that exist in a community , if you would take the term of Hunan Relations Commission it applies to anything that any human being -.ever does to._ anything..tha.t relates to any other human beings - but that is very broad and you could say that if you had a bicycle safety problem in the community that is a human relations problem for the Commission to look into. . I have felt for some time and I have expressed it on one or two occasions, that the Human Relations Commission has not in my judgment at all gone into a number of areas that the original resolution charged them for going into. I question whether the answer to givingthem-something -to:-db, isn'.t'_be.tter that they work more effectively in the area of human relations as we envisioned it, rather than broaden the scope of their responsibilities. I would not think that if the Planning Commission seemed to be at somewhat of a low ebb in terms of a workload or activity, that we would begin asking them to work in the area of personnel, or some other allied area. So I want to leave that with the Council, in all due respect to your thoughts Mr. Mayor, but I do believe we are directing one of our Commissions into an area that is somewhat afield from its intent and that we might serve this more ably by establishing a Mayor's Committee - a Citizens Committee, or some other similar group to perform the function you envision. And finally I would commendto all of you on the. Council the opportunity to read and review the original Resolution that was adopted by the Council, perhaps you may wish to amend that Resolution. Perhaps at your suggestion the City Manager might furnish copies of that to each member of the City Council. Mayor Gleckman: I think it is a good point, Councilman Nichols. . There was some discussion by the Human Relations Commission at the time regarding this same interpretation and they came to the conclusion just the opposite of what you related. I purposely referred to you as one of the only members of the Council at the time, so the intent you would be more familiar with than I, but they did discuss interpretation and it was Mr. Shrader who took exception to any thought that they couldn't go into this deal because of the human relations aspect, and I don't want to set up two principals having two different interpretations, but I did want to comment to you that Mr... Shrader was one of the first to serve and has since served on this Commission. I do feel that human relations, whether it be a Commission set up to study strictly minority problems, which I don't feel is the charge of the Human Relations Commission, but I feel that in going to all these Councilmen and Mayors conventions that the number one subject has been Human Relations Commissions and their interpretation of Human Relations Commission did not strictly so state that they deal in minority housing and minority problems, but all types. Councilman Nichols: Well, Mr. Mayor we could in fact set up all kinds of clay men and then proceed to knock them down and I said at the :outset if you desire to use the concept of the Human Relations Commission and broaden it, it is certainly proper and perfectly ethical that you should. I am not disputing that at all. . In fact I am quite sure that our present - 14 - ADJ. C.C. 4-29-68 Page Fifteen COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS - Continued Human Relations Commission would be quite willing to accept whatever interpretation the Council would indicate to it that they would like them to establish. I am only •suggesting that it would be prudent, I think, for all members of the Council, at least our newly elected members, to be given the opportunity to read the Resolution establishing the Commission, and perhaps it should be amended at this time. C� Mayor Gleckman: I have no objection. I think it is a good point. Mr. Aiassa - will you see that all the Councilmen get copies of the Resolution - the new Councilmen as well as Councilmen Gillum, Nichols and myself. And you might put it on the agenda on our next regular meeting as an item for discussion. Motion by Councilman. Gillum, seconded by Councilman_ Chappell, and carried, that the Council adjourn at 8: 55 p.m. , to May 6th at 8 p.m. ATTEST CITY CLERK APPROVED MAYOR - 15 -