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04-20-1959 - Regular Meeting - Minutes1. 'J MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WEST COV.INA, CALIFORNIA April 20, 1959 1. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mottinger at 7:35 P. M. in the West Covina City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Brown. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Mottinger, Councilmen Heath, Brown, Pittenger, Barnes Others Present: Mr. George Aiassa, City Manager Mr. Robert Flotten, City Clerk Mayor Mottinger called upon Councilman Barnes, Chairman of the Water Committee, to give a report on the Upper. San Gabriel Valley Water District. Councilman Barnes: Being on the Board, I would like to comment that we had a meeting on April •16, 1959, at the City Hall, where the members of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Water District met -with the City Council of West Covina, along with their secretary, Mr, Fossette. Mr. Fossette was asked to Chairman this meeting as he had all the infor- mation, also to ask any questions he would like along with the'o,ther board members and the City Council. They brought out the fact that j they felt we should join the Metropolitan Water District at this time, \� leaving out the four cities mentioned., Azusa, ,Sierra Madre, Alhambra C �` and Monterey Park. They felt that through annexation of these cities,,,*e-., . ��ave They also felt hat they would like us determine something at this meeting tonight as to how we felt in regard to joining the Upper San Gabriel Water Association because of their meeting on April 22,1959. I think pretty near all the questions were asked.at the meeting of April 16tho Mayor Mottinger asked Councilman Barnes for his own opinions. Councilman Barnes: In my opinion, we have 22¢ which we would have to pay for back payment on the Metropolitan if the Upper San Gabriel Valley Water Association joined the Metropolitan. This does not mean that we will join. We would have to spend $20,000.00 for publicity to form an association and they indicated that it would be possibly three years at least before we could join. If we join the Metropolitan Water District it would cost us 220 on our tax roll t-b.join for. 30 years. This is to pay all back payments,.also.there would be 18¢ for improve- ments and the upkeep which would make 40¢.. Any additional water that' would be brought would cost us so much per foot, - around $15.00. ADJOURNED C,' Co 4-20-59 Councilman Barnes - continued: Page Two I feel that at the present time with the present assessed 'valuation of the City of west Covina being so high, that possibly further investiga- tion of this might be made to see if there is any way we could do it in a cheaper manner. This seems like a lot of money to be put on the people of West Covina for extra taxes. That's about all I have. Councilman Pittenger: An important factor is that if the District were formed and the decision - was made to join Metropolitan, our 22e and our 180 which starts immediately wouldn't entitle us to any water at all. Councilman Heath: Mr, Mayor, I have been to these meetings with Councilman Barnes at the Upper San Gabriel Valley Water Association. I wasn't here Thursday night when there might have been some questions answered, but I am still under the impression and I am sincere when I say this, I think this is entirely too early to consider joining or forming an association like this. • In our meetings with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Water Association last year we had a very educational program where it showed -us that since 1945 our.water table has been dropping. The rains that we had last year brought this water table up 37 feet, Of course, since then we haven't had much rain. Who is to determine whether the next year is going to be a wet year or a dry year, or any year thereafter? There is a possibility that with luck we will have some rainy seasons or rainy years within the next ten to fifteen years. Of course, there is also the possibility that we won't. Therefore, it is quite possible that we won't need a water association for fifteen to twenty years. We have been assured that we can have water here, at the outside, in one year. For us to go into something like that now, it would mean higher taxes. I think it is too early. I would be in favor of going ,along on this until we are in dire need of water. In other words, when the shoe starts to pinch, then let's consider it. Going this way may mean that during one season we may have to ration, but I still think it would be the lesser of two evils to ration water for one year than to pay this terrific tax for a period of "X" years when we don't even need it. I would like to see this thing put off indefinitely or until we need the water. Councilman Brown: After the meeting here•.on the night of April 16th I was more confused -fvhen_I left than when I arrived, Out of all the people that were endorsing the forming of this association, I found only one pumper who was a consumer of water; all the others were sellers of water, • • ADJOURNED C. C. 4-20-59 Councilman Brown - continued: Page Three It hasn't been proven to me that we have immediate need for water'in this vicinity. Also, we were talking about 22e and now it is 40e. In the local paper the same night, it stated that the tax would only be 180. Until some of these things are cleared up in my own mind, I couldn't commence to endorse a water district at this time. , Mayor Mottinger: I would like to summarize it - I believe the consensus of opinion is this: 1. We are concerned about taxes and we don't want to incur any more than we have to and,- of course, we raise the question as to whether there is a cheaper way to get water. 2. We are not water producers and, therefore, we are not directly involved in any litigation which might take place between Long Beach and the producers in this area. 3. We wonder if this is the proper time to join. We don't want to be stampeded into joining a district which may not be required at this time. 4. I believe it is the consensus that we are not against Metropolitan Water District as such - we don't want to be misconstrued; however, we feel that further investigation is in order. 5. I believe that we agree that the time will come when we are going to need more water in this area, but we don't feel that today or tomorrow is the time when we will have to obtain that water. Councilman Heath: I feel that another point should be added - that this 400 is for the Metro- politan District only, and that the present water rate will continue as it is in addition to this 400. A fact that should be mentioned is how we are going to get this water if the Metroplitan supplies it., There is a good possibility that it ;will be introduced through underground basi`ps. We would pay $25.00 a foot for water, and we will be paying for water that is spilled down below. This price is for soft water. Councilman Brown: We have two ways in which to do it - 1. Through settling basins, and 2. Through lines metering into the existing water companies in this area, and that water could be metered into West Covina through these different companies. • • i ADJOURNED C. C. 4-20-59 Page Four Councilman Heath: I feel that we will be giving -these people $15.00 a foot. In addition to that, four cities who are not in this association and who are not going to join the association are drawing out of the same basin right now and they will continue to draw even though we get into litigation with them in order to put a stop to it. Mayor Mottinger: We are not in a position to take action in favor of the resolution suggested to us by the Upper San Gabriel Water Asso- ciation. I think we have gone along far enough on this. Councilman Brown: Councilman Barnes has a meeting on Wednesday with these people, and I suggest that he tell them at that time how we feel. Motion by Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Pittenger and carried that the.City Council of West Covina do not take a stand on the formation of a water district in the Upper San Gabriel Valley for the reasons mentioned in our discussion. CITY -CLERK'S REPORT WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS UNCLASSIFIED USE PERMIT NO. 31 Edison Securities Company Withdrawal of letter of appeal Mr. Flotten presented and read a communication from the Edison Securi- ties Company dated April 15, 1959, signed by E. R. Peterson, Vice -President, withdrawing appeal from decision of the Planning Commission and withdrawing this item from the Agenda. The letter was accepted and filed. Mr. Flotten presented an application from St. Christopher's Catholic Church, West Covina, for a charity bazaar to be held June 21, 1959 from 2:00 P. M. to 10:00 P. M. Motion by Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Heath and carried that the request be granted subject to the usual department recommen- dations, and that the fee be waived. • • t ADJOURNED C. C. 4-20-59 CITY MANAGER REPORTS PAYMENT FOR COMPLETION OF WORK COVERED IN CONTRACT WITH FRY AND FRY, INC. APPROVED Page Five Motion by Councilman Browh,-sec6hded by Councilman Barnes, that authorization be given for the payment of $1,350.00, being paymentto Fry and Fry, Inc,, con- tractors, for the satisfactory comple- tion of work covered in the contract. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Heath, Brown, Pittenger, -Barnes, Mayor Mottinger Noes: None Absent: None The City Manager presented an agreement accepting a Grant Deed for sanitary sewer facilities and replacement of a walnut tree located on such easement witha cyforthia elegance palm tree, drawn up between Carlton F. Cordez and Marianna A. Cordez, joint tenants, and the Department of�Veteran Affairs, State of California, with the City of West Covina, This concerns lots No. 10 and 11 of Tract 19318 and lot 14 of Tract No, 19866 which runs from St. Malo Street to Glendora Avenue. The City Attorney, Mr, Harry Williams, reviewed this agreement and it is ready for the Mayor's signature, Motion by Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Heath and carried that the -Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign this agreement. The City Manager mentioned certain assembly bills that had already been acted on by the Council and brought to their attention No, AB-602. The Council directed the City Manager to send a special notice to State Senator, Richard Richards, and to Assemblyman.Ron Cameron, opposing this.measureo There being no further business, motion by Councilman Brown, seconded by -Co uncilman_P_ittenger, at $,.00 P_a___M.e_o that th.e_meet_ing_be adjourned. APPW As si Wi 3