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06-17-1968 - Regular Meeting - Minutes• C� MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA JUNE 17, 1968. The adjourned regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Leonard Gleckman at 7, 40 p.m. , at Hollingworth: School. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman. Chappell. ROLL CALL PRESENT, Councilmen Chappell, Nichols, Gillum, Lloyd, Mayor Gleckman. ALSO PRESENT, George Aiassa, City Manager H. R. Fast, Public Services Director Owen Menard, Planning Director Ray Windsor, Administrative Assistant George Zimmerman, Ass't. City Engineer William Fowler, Director of Building & Safety Police Chief Allen Sill Fire Chief. Calvin Wetherbee Robert Gingrich, Director of Recreation & Parks Leonard Eliot, Controller Lela Preston, City Clerk Mayor Gleckman stated that normally the City of West Covina Council meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month - regular meeting nights, and usually adjourned meetings are held every Monday night. It was suggested by one of the Councilmen that the. Council "take the show on the road" and bring the City Council to the people in the Galaxie Tract area, because it is not easily accessible for them to come to the other side of town to a meeting at City Hallo It was thought by the Councilmen that if cards were sent out in the area to every resident that the meeting was being held in the area that we would get some type of turnout by the residents of this area, which is a part of our community and we could hear from them in anyway that we could be of service to ,them. And if they needed information, we as an elected body of the City would be present to do their bidding. This .is primarily the reason the Council is here instead of at City Hallo (Mayor Gleckman then introduced the Council and asked Mr..Aiassa to introduce the staff members present.) Mayor Gleckman: We are here this evening primarily to communicate and find out in what wa y we can be of better service to you and to familiarize you with some of the works of the Council. (Explained Council structure, procedure and the items that usually appear on the Agenda and advised that the Agenda tonight was purposely void of the usual items because of the Council wishing to have audience participation.) • ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Patricia A. Radamaker I have one little complaint. Why can't we get our street 3316 Hilltonia Drive cleaned up on Nogales and La Puente Roads? I believe it West Covina may be in .Walnut but don't we have an arrangement with them? We have weeds over there and last week there was a fire there. I am concerned about it because it makes our property look terrible when you come in from Valley Boulevard to our property. I would like to know what can be done about that. - 1 - ADJ. C.C. - 6-17-68 Page Two ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Continued Mr. Aiassao I can answer part of her question. We have been contact- ing Walnut and Industry to get a mutual plan working. Both cities are contracting cities and it takes a little longer to get the mutual aid plan working.. Last week we were out there, but it will take a little time to work through the red tape. Mr. Mayor - I neglected to introduce a couple of staff people that refuse to sit at the proper table - Chief Sill and Mr.. Eliot, our City Controller and behind him is our Recreation. Leader in this area - Mayor Gleckmano Also you forgot to introduce Ray Windsor, Administrative Assistant, Lela Preston, City Clerk, and Nancy Beardsley, one of our secretaries and also assistant to the'Personnel Director. Is there anyone in the audience that would request anything of the City Council? Is there anything that you would like to know? Martin T. Gamboa I noticed on coming here tonight, some of the blocks do 3202 vermillion Ste not have trees and I think this is going to represent a West Covina degrading of our property. Also I noticed a lot of loose dogs. People that have pets should be informed to take care of their pets so we will not have such a problem. Out here, we also feel like we are the "orphans" of West Covina, because all the facilities are on the other side. If parents want to take their children to the public library it is a long drive so maybe something else could be done about having a library in the school itself in • this area. Mayor Gleckmano Thank you, . The public library is a county facility and a a lot of it is population rather than the City itself. The City of West Covina does not have a public library, all we have is the County Library located in the City of West Covina with certain suburban type facilities authorized by the County. Am I correct, Mr.. Aiassa? Mr. Aiassao You are right Mr. Mayor. We are proposing a library at the corner of Amar. and Azusa. We are in the process of purchasing land for Fire Station. No, 6, and at the request of the library we have purchased some additional land and we will have a combination fire station and library similar to the County Library on Yaleton and Puente. With regard to the trees, we are developing a residential study of all the parkway trees. We are trying to renovate our trees throughout the City. It will be a long term process and very expensive. Mr. Gingrich. The trees being referred to here are trees that were planted at one time and died because of lack of water or were broken out by vandals. This is a continual replacement program. , There are a number of them on the order list for replacement but in this type of program as far as the trees are concerned this is where we • encourage and request the assistance of the property owners - where there is a broken tree or a broken stake, we ask that they give us a calls If a stake- is down and it isn't taken care of the tree will be broken. We appreciate calls to the Recreation & Park Department office anytime you have a tree problem.. If a tree isn't replaced within 3 months time, please call, because that means it has been overlooked on our list. (Explained tree program initiated throughout City.) We actually don't know what trees are needed until we make a survey and this is what Mr. Aiassa was referring to, as far as a survey of trees in the area. We know there are some missing that we don't have a record of.. We are dealing with approximately 25, 000 trees in the City. If a tree is missing in front of your home let us know. Every home in the tract should have one parkway tree. This was paid - 2 - ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Three C 0 • ORAL. COMMUNICATIONS - Continued for by the subdivider when the home was built. We do ask your assistance for 'watering the trees, because there is no way we can get around to watering all trees. If we can get them past the first 3 or 4 years, they tjet by pretty well on their own. Mayor Gleckman: In other words if you will call the Recreation & Park Department and give them the address of the place that the tree is missing, they will do a follow-up. It doesn't mean that they are replaced immediately but it will be put on the list and will be replaced in the normal process With regard to the loose dogs. Last Monday night at our regular Council meeting we voted to sign a new contract with the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society. I would suggest a little better communication from the City with the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society regarding this particular complaint. We have had several complaints in the City of West Covina, closer in, but we find in relation to the many, many complaints we could have, it just wasn't enough. In this particular area of our City it may be a problem so we should take a good hard look at it again.- I -don't believe this complaint came before the Council before, so I appreciate your bringing it up and we will look into it. Audience Participation: Many of the watering pipes from the master to the house are rotting away. What can be done by the City Administration to regulate that some particular type of pipe be used so this will not happen? This is an added expense to the property owners. Mayor Gleckman: A year ago when we held a meeting here there was about an hour's discussion on this very same subject and I believe Mr. Fast referred the matter to Mr. Yost. Mr. Fowler, can you answer that question? Mr. Fowler: Yes, at the time the houses were built in the Galaxie Tract materials were not available then that are now available. The plastic pipe industry has stepped in and it has been approved by all the testing agencies, We were not aware that this "hot" soil existed in the tract at the time the tract was put in but we have amended the code recognizing this, which will now stop this from ever occurring again. Unfortunately we couldn't help the ones that were in. Mayor Gleckman: Primarily it is the responsibility of the developer but at the same time we had certain codes which were followed which did not at that particular time include a type of pipe, if there even was one developed at that time, that could rectify that situation or avoid it. Isn't the developer held responsible for the first year? Mr. Fowler: Right, but this happened after the first year. This occurred first in 1966 when it was brought to our attention. Mayor Gleckman: Well we haven't given you much help on that subject, but that is the best we can do, Audience Participation: As far as the City School System I am very satisfied, but I would like to know if within the grammar school system of West Covina there is a program to teach a foreign language and if not, how can the council proceed to make this come about? - 3 - ADJ. C o C o 6-17- 6 8 1Page Four ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Continued Mayor Gleckman: The City Council of the City of West Covina has no authority or connection with the West Covina Unified School District or any other Unified School District within the City, but to my far left the newly elected City Councilman is a former . member of the Board of Education of West Covina Unified School District and next to me is Councilman Nichols, principal of a West Covina School, so I would defer the question you asked to either one of them - who would care to answer? Councilman Chappell: The State has mandated language courses for 6-7-and 8th grades, and it is optional by the grade schools to have a language prior, We have some in West Covina and I would suggest you go to the School Board and request that a language program be put in at the 4-5-6th grade levels or whatever level. That is the way to go and if you show an interest I am sure they will attempt to do something about it.. Any number of people going over there will certainly light a fire. You can do it during the summer because the School Board continues to meet all during the summer months. You need not wait until next year to make this request. Kenneth Cossart, Jr, , I have three items. One is regarding the trees, If we have 3645 Forecastle a txree that is practically dead or dying what steps should be West Covina taken by the homeowner to have it taken care of or replaced and what type of tree should he replace it with? Secondly, at the intersection of Forecastle and Morganfield, there is no stop signal east and west. I contacted the City Engineer • someti me ago and the man informed me there wasn't enough traffic to warrant such a signal. We have no problem getting out in the street but Forecastle is a hill and the children riding these little bikes on the Street - we can't see them until we are coming down the hill. Last summe-tive had two near misses because they don't stop at the top of the hill. I would like to have the corner looked at and see if the traffic isn't sufficient for a stop sign. Third item - when.General Telephone held a nearing on rates, I didn't see the City of West Covina present and I would like to know if you are happy with our phone service? Mr. Gingrich: In regards to a tree that is doing poorly in your parkway. Again a call to our office will bring out the tree foreman to examine the tree and determine if it can be saved or what can be done if the tree is in a poor condition, and proper steps will be taken If it needs replacing it will be replaced. We replace with a 5 gallon size tree but if the property owner would like a larger tree to make a better showing they have the option of paying the difference between a 5 gallon and.=a 15 gallon tree, which is about $12 50 difference in price. We pay the price of the 5 gallon and the property owner pays the difference for a 15 gallon tree. I failed to mention previously that there is a green folder on the table in back, which you are all welcome to take, it states the tree program in very brief form, also gives the phone number of who to call ,etc, Just a phone call will bring response to your tree problems With regard to replacing a tree.. Actually the Ordinance • of the City prevents the removal or planting of any item in the public parkway of the City without the permission of the City. We have designated trees for all parkways in the City and the only type of tree to go in on any given street is the one on the plan, in order to keep uniformity on the block and maintenance costs down. With regard to response: Someone will be out to look at the tree within the week. If it needs replacement it will be 3 or 4 weeks. We order a group of trees at a time, not one tree at a time. Also the watering plays a part and the time of the year. We do not plant trees in August. (Explained in detail.) - 4 - ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Five 0 • • ORAL. COMMUNICATIONS - Continued -Mr. Zimmerman: With regard to the signal at Morganfield and Forecastle. The City has a traffic authority which generally makes a recommendations to the City Council regarding stop signs and signals. Chief Sill is one member, the City Engineer another, and the Riffic Engineer We would be pleased to refer this once again to them. Unless they have recently discussed this and made a study of it and have a positive answer approved by the Council, I cannot answer this question. Kenneth Cossart, Jr. We discussed this by phone in some depth and he told me there had to be so much traffic before a study will be made. Mr. Zimmerman: We will be glad to study it and give you an answer. Mayor Gleckman: The third question regarding General Telephone. . I would like to have Mr...Aiassa answer it. If we didn't have representation at the last General Telephone meeting - we have been against their proposal and in fact we have even hired an outside legal counsel up to the last 6 months that I know of. Mr. Aiassa: Yes I was wondering where the people were when I was protesting. There was one meeting where I was the only person objecting. We did hire a professional firm that was legally trained to fight this. We gave the PUC all the evidence we could give and after the second hearing it was more of a rehash. Our representative was there. Kenneth Cossart, Jr.: Do you recall at which meeting he appeared? Mr. Aiassa: I would have to look at my file.. The one I am talking about where nobody showed up except my lonesome self was the meeting at Eastland Theatre. Mayor Gleckman: We want you to know that we do bear your concern. The answer to your question is "no, we are not ha.py about it" and "yes we have protested to PUC. " Further I might state that about a year and a half ago we sent out postcards to all citizens asking them to participate on Blue Ribbon Committees. A lot of them had first, second and third choices and a lot complained that they were not put on a Committee. Well one of those Committees was the Municipal Services and General Telephone Committee and this Committee was formed just a few months ago. . So we do have a report now which was just handed to the. Council regarding the General Telephone -Company rates. What effect this will have with General Telephone - - I am sure it is really insignificant but it does bring the problem close to home, so we all know what the problem is. Kenneth Cossart, Jr.: I might add the service is terrible. You have to dial a special number if you have a 714 code. And if you want to dial a direct number Mr. Aiassa: I would like to add one thing.. They did give us a preference for this area but they hurt us in other areas. If you would like to stop at City Hall we have only one map, but we would be happy to show you what we got with regard to the rearrange- ment of our toll calls. - 5 - - ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Six ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Continued Mayor Gleckman: All we really -want to say is we are aware of the situation and are working on it. Thomas Gutierrez I would like to talk to the Park Director. We have a 3740 Morganfield Avenue little park for our children but it doesn't seem to have West Covina enough play things for the children. . A few items were donated for the Park, but then the Little, Leaguers came along and chopped up the park pretty good so we don't have too much of a park. Second. I think we should have more of the police in the area at night. When I am out watering the yarjbetween 8 and 10 p.m. I don't see any police at all. I think it was Sunday and I don't know if that is in our area or La Puente but there was a body found, and I think we should have more patrol cars here at night. Thank you. Mr. Gingrich: Well we have been making improvements as rapidly as funds are available. Last year we got -some pla.y equipment into the park area. The turf and the irrigation system for the park during the entire year was an expenditure of approximately $13,-000. Our next major development, will include the paved parking area and finishing off the west park which is the location for the parking' site and the construction of restrooms on the facility.. This .is being passed on to the City Council for consideration and approval in the budget this coming year. I think we have a considerable number of small trees . and this is what really makes a park, but it just does take time for them to grow:, The playground equipment for the Park is as it exists out there. . We do have the Little League playing there. They have developed the field facility through their own fund drives. Of course we do all the maintenance of the grounds. Was there anything specific you are looking for in regards to the Park? Kenneth Cossart, Jr..: We have so many children in this area that the small things that are there if the day is nice and you have over 40 children there, there is not enough toys for the children tog.lay with. Mr. Gingrich: That is one of the usual problems of the Parks. Basically we don't have enough play equipment to go around. We have basically the same equipment in this Park as in the other six parks throughout the City encompassing 68, 000 people. The facilities and equipment is about the same as far as number, type,, quality, quantity, etc. Mayor Gleckman: The majority of problems we have within our Parks is the lack of funds to provide facilities that we would like to provide. The fault is not with the Recreation & Parks Department, the City administration, , the elected officials of your city in the past as well as now have always found a problem when it comes to money - revenue, • and where best to spend it. Invariably, with the exception of last year, the number one thing that was cut out of the budget when there wasn't enough money to go around was facilities for Recreation and Parks. So to take the staff of f the hook, they have made do- with the best they can but we still need-imoney in order to bring the proper play facilities to our Parks and this is a problem we are going to continue to have - - it is just a matter of dollars ,' Kenneth Cossart, Jr.: Is there anything the residents can do as far as donating equipment and putting it in their park? Mayor Gleckman: Some equipment was recently donated by a Trailer Park and put into one of our parks. -6- ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Seven ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Continued Kenneth Cossart, Jr.: If we got money and donated it to the City would that be accepted by the City? • "Mr. Gingrich: This is how many of our parks received equipment through community groups donating. We must realize in contribu- tions of items that they must be the heavy duty type of playground equipment. We are not talking about a Sears Roebuck swing which would be fine for your back yard. And we would certainly want to work with any group as to the selection and type of material they have in mind. We have many contributions to our various parks, this is how many of our parks have been developed to a great extent.. We would be happy to meet with anyone on that. • Mayor. Gleckman: In,fact sometimes things of this kind bring you a lot closer - the parents taking a greater interest in the children and the children appreciating the parents a little more. .I am not speaking of this particular area but in every area where we need certain things I think that ingenuity on the part of the residents play a tremendous part on what you would have in the park close to you. I know this Council has and will try and come up with more money for our Parks. I The big problem as Mr.. Gingrich stated that even in the parks we have had for sometime we haven't been able to supply them with the proper facilities, at least the facilities I would like to have in our parks. Also whatever we do for one park we try and do for all parks. . The facilities are just about similar in every park and they are inadequate. We agree with you. I could go on and talk about how proud we are of our police and fire and we are, but you did bring up a specific instance and problem such as night patrol here that I don't know is a problem, but I would defer that to the City Manager. Mr.. Aiassa: The Chief of Police could probably answer this - but we do have regular patrol in this area. I have lived in West Covina 10 years and I have only seen a patrol car twice in my area,at night because they come at different times. Chief- Sill: We do have a unit assigned to this area and he stays down here during the heavy part of the call for service time, which is now. (Explained the assigned route of the patrol car.) As a matter of fact the patrol coverage here is probably better than what we are given in an area of this size in other parts of the City. . It is a difficult thing to do and we are trying to establish it the best way we can. Mayor Gleckman: I was out of town - what is the murder this gentleman referred to? Chief Sill: I understand in.Nogales school there was a person found - it was not in the City, it was in the unincorporated area. We did have something similar to that in the Galster Park area,where someone fell on a rock and opened the back of his head. Hopefully we can get to your area and I am sure we are down here now. Jack Wilburn Mr. Mayor,, I would like the record to show that the 3225 Lanesboro Drive Mayor is being presented at this time with a 3' high West Covina weed. If you will examine the record Mr. Mayor you will find that 2 years ago at this time the Mayor at that time was handed a bouquet of roses by myself in the form of a letter to the Editor of the paper which you gentlemen will recall reading and receiving. At this ti rre you received a large compliment along with. Mr.. Sill for the fine job you were doing in programming our fair City. . I think this should be titled the "last straw" or maybe it should be the "weed" in this case. It seems since moving into a county area here - 7 - ADJ.. C.C. 6-17-68 Page- Eight • r� U ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Continued for -these particular services, the following has resulted- After moving here 6 months ago I was quite well pleased with the services the City was providing, but since then my front door has been jimmied, my garage .has been rifled , my car has had the side panel of glass shot out while parked in my driveway - these things can be solved very simply by adding insurance, but there is one problem that I can't solve by insurance` -Mr. Mayor and that is the one I am calling to your attention and that is the weed abatement problem. Now the last "straw" which came recently is a weed abatement notice which states if I don't pull the weeds out of my lawn I am going to have this done for me and charged to my property. Well the weeds are not on my property but across the street in the Parka . Now if you care to examine this Park when you drive out to go home go down Morganfield and drive done Langford going east and you will find weeds growing in front of these homes 3' tall. Now I believe these people living out here are paying as high taxes as anywhere for services received and I believe the City Council as well as the Park Department should take it upon themselves to take care of this weed problem because it is not enhancing our fair city here, nor I hope, is it representing this City Council. or City Manager. I talked with a Park man and talked to several people and they state they do not have the men available to do this, but I find the money is available for building new buildings and swimming pool, and I would like to see if we can have some of this money available for pulling weeds. Mayor Gleckmano Thank you, Jack. We do have a weed abatement program in the City and I agree with you if this problem exists in our parkway and parks it should be taken care of and I also agree with you that the elected officers as well as the Recreation & Parks Department should be aware of this. . I appreciate your bringing the problem to the elected officials attention. We feel that the administration knows about these problems and with that I would defer any further comment to Mr. Aiassa, our. City Manager.... First Councilman. Nichols would like to make a comment. Councilman Nichols: I would like to explore this a little further for the information of the Council. You personally received a notice to abate weeds on your property - do you have that notice with you? Jack Wilburn: (Presented notice to Councilman Nichols.) Councilman Nichols: Did this come to you in the mail? (Answer: Yes) Addressed to you at your address? (Answer: Yes) Would you state the weeds are not on your premises at all? Jack Wilburn: No they are across the street. Councilman. Nichols: I think Council should refer this to the staff for a check as to why this gentleman has received a notice, it would appear• that from what the gentleman states it is afthor a clear error, and if that is the case I believe we owe him a modest apology. Mayor Gleckmano I am very appreciative that this notice was sent to you because if it hadn't been maybe our attention would not have been called to that park. It is just most unfortunate, as elected officials that we can't be all over the City at all times, and it is most unfortunate that the weed abatement notice has to get in the wrong hands before.it is called to our attention that such a problem exists, but I do appreciate it and go along with Councilman Nichols in that some type of apology is due you if everything is as you say. . No aspersions to you Jack, but we have found many times we got ourselves in a jackpot by having a resident complain about something and we then find out, that staff is right and the resident has exaggerated a little bit, so you - 8 - ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page . Nine ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Continued will bear with us when we say a "modest" apology. Councilman Lloyd: The gentleman mentioned the tax structure, and I am sure • that you are sure or understand how taxes are assessed. Our tax rate is 93� a hundred as far as the City is concerned and I don't know exactly what your tax rate is down here regarding schools, etc. but I think you will probably find that our tax rate is the lowest of any tax rate in the area. Do you know of any other? Mayor Gleckman: I know Jack is very familiar with the tax structure. Jack - Councilman. Lloyd is a new councilman and I don't think you two have ever met before, but Jack was very active in several groups that I know of that knew the picture about West Covina and still knows the facts so if you don't mind Councilman Lloyd I don't want to embarrass you. Jack, if you would like to answer it you can,; Jack Wilburn: No, I will drop it. Mr. Aiassa: Mr. Mayor, you did ask me to answer some exact question. It is true that you do pay taxes but of the dollars you pay there is 93� per hundred that goes to the City and if you look at your average tax bill it is just about enough there to pay for the police protection, fire service, and administration.. We are not apologizing for the weeds. We have weeds right downtown. Weed abatement is a very lengthy legal procedure because you have to put a lien on a man's property. And the way property turns over the wrong owner many times gets the wrong notice. So we will follow through and be sure we didn't make that type of error. Mayor Gleckman: Then will you follow through with the Council and let us know about the weeds in the park area? Mr. Aiassa: Yes. Mr. Gingrich: May I have one clarification? Is this the park or parkway? Jack Wilburn: It is the park. Mr. Aiassa: Incidentally somebody ought to tell the school to knock their weeds down. Councilman Nichols: Mr. Wilburn did you go hunting this weed ? Jack Wilburn: No, I did not go into the large area but I took this from a small area. Mayor Gleckman: Well this area doesn't really have any larger or anymore • problems than any area in our City, but it is a newer area and .it is I agree with you - away from the center of town but it is not away from the center of government because as I said we are all elected at large. I know, myself, I have walked every street in this tract and hit every house in this tract when.I ran for public office. Walking up and down these hills - I did not ride but walked, and it was quite interesting. We know you have problems but we do want you to know we are interested and that is why we are here and that is why we expended an amount of taxpayers dollars to notify the people in this area that we were coming here to find out from them what tha r problems were and have them meet their local government. You don't have to, like in the County area take a Monday or Tuesday off and run downtown and sit there for several hours -9- ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Ten ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Continued before you get a chance to speak to the Board of Supervisors. As -far. as I am concerned you have local government and local representatives and we • rneet on Monday evenings and we are available at all times, at least up until a decent hour, even if you want to call us at home or at our business or call City Hall and --they will get the message to us. It is most unfortunate that more people didn't turn out tonight but on the other hand I could misconstrue it and say "there are so many -happy people down here they really didn't have too much to say. " However, I don't think that is really the point.. The point here is no different than in any other part of our community - the point is apathy. People say don't bother us that is why we -elected -you, even if they didn't go to the polls and vote, they say that is why we elected you. It is most unfortunate and most exasperating. Since I have been on the Council for 2-1/2 years I have never seen the Council go to any area other than this area for a meeting with the people of an.area and have an adjourned regular meeting. The- first -meeting we had maybe 20 and tonight we have 12. . So you see we really don't .know how to,...get the message to your neighbors. We brought oulrentire staff out to.be able to answer any particular questions and have you put us on the spot so ,we can give you what we say you have - local representation, local government - it is yours, not ours. It is most unfortunate that these words have to fall on such few people.. -At least you can say we have quality, if not quantity. Audience Participant: Turning in from Valley to Morganfield during the rainy season I noticed therewas quite a bit of water that • stood there. Is there anything that can be done about that? Mr. Fast: Valley and Morganfield is a low spot in a very flat run of grade, so far as Valley -Boulevard is concerned, there will be no permanent answer to that question until such .time as a storm drain is installed in.the general area where you go underground and put underground storm drains through the entire area. Until this is done and storm drains are seldom ever put in in a minor quantity by a local jurisdiction. This is hundreds of thousand of dollars and is usually put in under storm drain bond issues based on a countywide basis,. generally every 6 years. So until such a time that enough of the property develops below you and the area is built up, the area will have to continue to take surface runoff and in that spot it is very flat and there is no place down here for us to be actually able to take care of it. We are trying a new material which will at least keep the paving from destructing under the water but we can't dewater it. . The best wecan do is try and keep the 1z ving from breaking up causing chuckholes under the water that you can't see. Actually we are experimenting with this material, so bear with us and again it will not dry it up but we hope it will keep the chuckholes from forming under the water. Mayor Gleckman: Well he didn't tell you what you wanted to hear ;but at least he was honest. That is all we can do. Mr. Aiassa: Also we have areas on both sides of us and until a master drain developed on both sides of us we are smack in the middle. This is part of Industry and part of Walnut responsibility. They are in the process of studying it. Councilman. Nichols: My recollection of our last meeting down here was that some of the complaints alleged that there was wateriwc going on in that area by city personnel and that some of the water even in dry times was being deposited on the street by park personnel. Has that been corrected now? - - 10 - ADJ.. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Eleven C 0 0 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Continued "Mro Gingrich: There has been some changes made in the irrigation system out there so we don't have as much of a throw out in the street. Councilman Nichols: That has been improved then. Audience Participant: I have another problem in that same area. I assume Pickering put up the driveway sign at the entrance. . Is it up to the homeowners to get that sign fixed up? The word "Galaxie" used to be written.on it and it is all gone now. Mr... Aiassa: I believe we will have to check that with the City Attorney. When we accepted that tract we did accept a large maintenance of the area. We will have to check it and let you know. Kenneth Cossart,. Jr.: I would like to know who would be the proper people to contact with regard to our trying to raise funds for park equipment? Mayor Gleckman: I would suggest you talk to Mr. Gingrich, Director of Recreation & Parks. Mr. Gingrich: Our office has all the books on playground equipment, also current prices. Mayor Gleckman: And if we could be of any help I really would like to help. . If you can get some type of fund raising group together. Any further questions? Any comments by. Council? Councilman Lloyd: Well I wish there had been more people here tonight because I think this is indeed a worthy program and I hope the Council won't be stifled in their endeavors to bring City Government to the people because of the relative poor showing and I am very pleased to know those that are here. Councilman Gillum: I go along with what Mr.. Lloyd said. I was the one that requested that the. Council have the meeting here because of the enthusiasm shown when we opened the Little, League Ball Park here. We realize you are shut off from the main part of the City. It is something that has happened in our City and. I know the Council and staff consider this an important part of West Covina because we are trying to grow towards you.. It might be of benefit if you are near City Hall to stop in and see some of the proposals as far as extension of roads so you can go from here to the central part of the City.. This is still somewhat of a new area. I moved to West Covina 15 years ago and I can remember the trees then were all small but everything is coming. It just takes time. I hope and I am sure the Council does, that the next time we come down that we can have a larger representation of the people in this area and more verbal communication. Mayor Gleckman: Any further comments? Thank you. MAYOR'S REPORTS Mayor Gleckman: I received a communication from John Bauman from the Assembly Taxation and. Revenue. Committee; Assembly Bill 854 was heard by their committee on - 11 - ADJ. C.C. 6-17-68 Page Twelve MAYOR'S REPORTS - Continued April-24th and it received a do pass recommendation. We supported that. . It subsequently has passed the assembly, the Taxation Committee and is at present on the thirdreading in the Senate. AB910 has passed the Assembly and has been set for hearing- in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on June 20th. That is the one -we -opposed and that is the one regarding sales tax revenue. AB 1112 was sent out of this Committee with a Do pass recommendation and has passed the legislature and signed into law by the Governor. That is a bill we opposed and that is the loss of revenue to cities from the trailer coach license fees. . The schools get- part now; which they didn't get before.. So the City lost the revenue and the Schools -picked it up.. I don't know if it will help the tax situation any, but it won't help -the City budget any. I have nothing else. Does anybody in the audience have anything else they would like to bring up? (No one had. The Council was thanked for giving the residents of the area an opportunity to express themselves.) Mayor Gleckman: Thank you very much. It is our pleasure to be here. I might also add the new police facility will be ready in December and the City Hall wilrbe ready in January and .the new Swimming Pool which is located on the grounds of Edgewood High is to be ready by September 1. Other than that the City Council is very busy. We are now working on the budget for the 1968-'69 year.. We have had one budget meeting and. another will be held tomorrow night and hopefully we will wind it up on Wednesday night. Hearing no further business I would entertain a motion for adjournment for tomorrow night at 6 p.m. • Motion by Councilman. Gillum, seconded by Councilman. Nichols, and carried, that Council adjourn at 8.50 p.m. to 6 p.m... Tuesday,. June 18th at City Hall. ATTEST: CITY CLERK 0 APPROVED: 9 MAYOR - 12 -