01-20-2009 - Summary of Actions - Community Services Commission - Minutes of Regular Meeting - 10/14/08City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. D-2a
DATE: January 20.2009
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
October 14, 2008
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Armbrust called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
Commissioner Kennedy led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Chair Armbrust requested a
moment of silent prayer.
III. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Armbrust, Blackburn, Booth, Estrada, Kennedy and McIntosh
Commissioners Absent: Carrico
Commissioners Esparza, Torres and Valles arrived at 6:35 p.m.
Staff Present: McNeill, Smilowitz, Morgan, Reynosa, Yuasa, Shore and Headley
IV. CORRESPONDENCE AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ROLL CALL
V. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL
A. Approval of Minutes
MOTION:
Motion by Blackburn, and seconded by Torres, to approve the Minutes of the
JointCommunity Services & Planning Commission Meeting on Tuesday,
July 8, 2008. Motion carried by a vote of 7-0-3. Carrico and McIntosh were
not present for this meeting. (Booth abstained.)
B. Approval of Minutes
MOTION:
Motion by Torres, and seconded by Blackburn to approve the Minutes of the
Regular Community Services Commission Meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2008.
Motion carried by a vote of 8-0-2. Carrico was not present. (Booth
abstained.)
C. Approval of Minutes
Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Community Services Commission
Meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 will be held over to the December 9,
2008 meeting due to lack of quorum. (Estrada, McIntosh, and Valles were
not present for the September 9 h meeting. Carrico was not present at the
October 14th meeting. We only had 5 voting Commissioners on 10/14).
VI. PRESENTATIONS
A. Introduction of New Commissioner — Mark Booth
Director McNeill introduced and the Commission welcomed our newest
Commissioner Mark Booth.
B. Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice
Director McNeill congratulated Commissioner Carrico on being selected to
the Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice. Unfortunately, he
was not present at this meeting. .
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Minutes of October 14, 2008W
C. Commissioner Kennedy Recipient of the Patriotic Citizen's Award_
Director McNeill congratulated Commissioner Kennedy on being the
recipient of the Patriotic Citizen's Award.
D. Status of Restaurants in West Covina (Carrico)
Director of the Community Development Commission Chris Chung informed
the Commission of the lucrative market of current restaurants in West Covina
along with new restaurants that are moving into the City. Director Chung
also explained how his department attains new restaurants and he passed out
an advertising portfolio entitled "Elements of a Successful City" that
described how West Covina is a great location, is pro business, has a distinct
quality of life and affluent demographics.
VII. ADMINISTRATION
A. NEW BUSINESS
1. City Council Staff Reports
Director McNeill gave details of the Items brought forth at the City Council
meeting of October 7, 2008.
2. Upcoming Events
Nothing to Report.
3. Review November 11 Commission Meeting, which Falls on Veterans' Day
The Commission voted in favor of canceling the November 11, 2008
Commission meeting in honor of Veterans' Day.
MOTION:
Motion by Kennedy, and seconded by Esparza to go dark for the
regularly scheduled Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 11,
2008 out of respect for Veterans' Day and reconvene on Tuesday,
December 9, 2008. Motion carried by a vote of 8-0. Carrico and
Armbrust were not present.
4. Policy Change in Commission Meeting Minutes
Director McNeill explained that per the City Clerk's office, starting
immediately all of our Commission Minutes would be produced as a
Summary of Actions only.
B. OLD BUSINESS
1. Mobile Home Space Rents: Draft Ordinance
Commissioner Esparza recused herself at 7:01 p.m. since she is a tenant at the
Mountainview Mobile Home Estates.
Director McNeill recapped backup information on the Mobile Home Space
Rent Ordinance, citing three issues that had been brought up previously. A
lengthy discussion transpired in which staff and Richard Lam from the City
Attorney's office answered questions. On the three issues, Attorney Lam
stated that 1) after researching, it was decided that the Commission could not
make a binding decision in the matter of rent control,. only recommendations;
2) the proposed Ordinance is not violative of the contract laws, the
government could not do anything that impairs existing contracts between
private individuals. Therefore, there is no violation on the contract laws,
since we are simply reviewing the Ordinance; and 3) it remains to be decided
if rents should be audited back to 1984 or earlier.
Guest Richard Gallegos, Vice President of Operations for Jackson Square
Properties, owners and operators of Mountainview Estates, a mobile home
park in West Covina, gave background information about his company and
the Mountainview Estates rent control issues, stating that he worked for three
years with the previous owner of Mountainview Estates, and now works for
the current owners .for a total of six to seven years. When the new company
bought the ownership they were under the impression there was no rent
control Ordinance in the City.
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• Community Services Commission
Minutes of October 14, 200
Mr. Gallegos explained how his company went back and forth on numerous
occasions with the City and the Fair Housing Commission all the time being
told that there was not a rent control Ordinance in the City. It was not until
Jon Verhoef; resident of Mountainview Estates, informed them that the City
stated to him that there was an Ordinance that they were sent to the City
Attorney's office where they were told that yes there is a rent control
Ordinance. As soon as this was revealed, Jackson Square Properties rolled
back rents according to the Ordinance.
Resident Jon Verhoef stated that he was speaking as the voice of the
residents. He has lived at Mountainview Estates for 10 years, and has had a
rent increase every year. Mr. Verhoef stated that he wants to be fair to the
owners, and understands they are in the business of making a profit; however,
it is very hard on the residents with no Ordinance controlling how high the
rent increases climb.
A discussion was held about changes such as how there should be enforceable
language, which would be more succinct and protective. to both the owner and
the residents, and if new owners come on board, they would not be able to
raise the rent above the CPI rate.
Attorney Lam reminded the Commission that they need to review if they
should research back to 1984 when the Rent Control Ordinance originated to
audit the base rent (the original rent charged), which is considered the
benchmark reflecting the CPI between 5% and 9%. Guest David Evans of
Western Manufacturing Housing added that the parties affected should come
to the table together for a solution.
MOTION:
Motion by McIntosh, and seconded by Valles to form an outcome -based City
Rent Control Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee including Residents, Owners of
both Mobile Home Parks, Commissioners and staff. Motion carried by a vote
of 8-0-1. Carrico was not present, and Esparza had recused herself.
MOTION:
Motion by Blackburn, and seconded by Estrada to appoint Commissioners
Estrada, McIntosh, Torres and Kennedy to the newly formed City Rent
Control Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee. Motion carried by a vote of 8-0-1.
Carrico was not present, and Esparza had recused herself.
Director McNeill stated that staff might have to research establishing rules for
the Ad Hoc Committee at the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting.
Commissioner Esparza rejoined the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Chair Armbrust left the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
VIII. COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION
A. NEW BUSINESS
Nothing to Report.
B. OLD BUSINESS
Nothing to Report.
IX: RECREATION SERVICES DIVISION
A. NEW BUSINESS
1. Motivating the Teen Spirit
Manager Morgan presented a PowerPoint presentation on Motivating the
Teen Spirit (MTS) that deals with empowering teens to develop their full
potential. She stated that staff is considering the possibility of conducting an
MTS event in West Covina.
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2. Sports Council, Field Usage Procedure
Manager Morgan - stated that staff is updating the long-term field usage
procedures between Sports Council members and the City. The changes
being considered are a new method for assigning facilities and a new
compliance policy backed by the City.
B. OLD BUSINESS
Nothing to Report.
X. AD HOC REPORTS
A. CDBG (Armbrust, Blackburn, Carrico, Esparza, McIntosh)
Nothing to Report.
B. CIP (Armbrust, Carrico, Estrada, Kennedy)
Nothing to Report.
C. Sports Council (Estrada, Kennedy)
Nothing to Report.
D. Special Events
1. Veterans' Day Event Update
Manager Smilowitz gave an update of the upcoming Veterans' Day Event
planned that is being hosted by the City.
E. Ad Hoc Committee Appointment
Director McNeill offered Commissioner Booth an opportunity to join one or
more of the Ad Hoc Committees of his choice. Commissioner Booth
requested the CIP and Sports Council Committees.
MOTION
Motion by McIntosh, and seconded by Estrada to accept the appointment of
Commissioner Booth to the CIP and the Sports Council Ad Hoc Committees.
Motion carried by a vote of 8-0. Carrico and Armbrust were not present.
XI. COMMISSIONER REPORTS/COMMENTS
A. Individual Reports/Comments on Activities
Several Commissioners congratulated Commissioner Kennedy on being the recipient
of the Patriotic Citizen's Award, and welcomed new Commissioner Booth to the
Commission.
Commissioner Estrada stated that his father was injured at a bus stop on rebar that
was left protruding from a City sidewalk when the City took the bus shelter away for
renovations. Director McNeill stated that staff would speak to the Public Works
Department to properly secure all the sites they work on. Commissioner Estrada also
expressed concern re: a code enforcement issue in West Covina. Director McNeill
agreed to forward his concerns to the Community Enhancement Division.
Commissioner Estrada invited everyone to two open house celebrations coming up
for the East Valley Community Health Center, and the West Covina Community
Services Center. He also introduced the Commission to a computer laptop program
called Apple 1 to 1 that Oswalt Academy in Walnut is involved in, saying it was very
beneficial to the students especially those who can not afford computers. Estrada
requested that the principal be invited to attend a Commission meeting to enlighten
the Commission on benefits to the Apple 1 to 1 Learning Program. Director McNeill
stated she would contact the principal.
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MOTION
Motion by Estrada, and seconded by Blackburn to agendize consideration of
recognition of Oswalt Academy for implementing the Apple 1 to 1 Learning
Program. Motion carried by a vote of 6-0-2. McIntosh and Valles abstained.
Carrico and Armbrust were not present.
XII. ITEMS TO BE AGENDIZED
A. Consideration of Recognition to Oswalt Academy for implementing the Apple 1
to 1 Learning Program — Estrada
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION
Motion by McIntosh, and seconded by Esparza to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Motion carried by a vote of 8-0. Carrico and Armbrust were not present.
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