01-28-1974 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
JANUARY 28, 1974.
The regular meeting of
the City Council called to order at 7:33 P.M.
• in the West Covina Council Chambers by Mayor Jim Lloyd. The Pledge
of Allegiance was led
by Cub Scout members of Pack 422, Tony Powers,
Phillip Orr, David Hanson and Clyde Farren, Jr. The invocation was
given by the Reverend
William B. Key of St. Martha's Episcopal Church.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor Lloyd; Councilmen: Young, Nichols,
Shearer, Chappell
Others Present:
George ,Aiassa, City Manager
Lela Preston, City Clerk
George Wakefield, City Attorney
George Zimmerman, Public Service Director
Michael Miller, Planning Director
Leonard Eliot, Controller
John Lippitt, City Engineer
Wm. Fowler, Bldg. & Safety Director
Craig Meacham, Ass't. Police Chief
Ora Short, Acting Fire Chief
Jeff Butzlaff, Administrative Analyst
Janice Williams, Administrative Intern
Ross Bonham, Administrative Analyst
Mike McDonnell, Staff Reporter - S.G.V.D.T.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
•
JANUARY 14, 1974.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by
Councilman Chappell and carried, to approve
minutes.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lloyd explained the procedure of the Consent Calendar and asked
if there wereccomments on any of the following items:
1. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
a) MRS. HELEN ADAMS Complaint re barking dogs and that
520 S. Avington Avenue some owners do not keep their dogs'
West Covina quarters sanitary. (Refer to Staff)
b) FIVE LANTERNS RESTAURANT Request permission to use Chinese
2648 E. Workman Avenue Fire Crackers to celebrate the Chinese
West Covina 4673 New Year on Friday and Saturday,
February 8 & 9, 1974 from 8 P.M. to
9:15 P.M. (Approved in prior years;
recommend;, ;approvals subject to staff
.review)
• c) LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION Notice of Hearing on February 13, 1974,
COMMISSION re proposed Southerly Annexation No. 62
to City of Covina. (Staff Report.
Receive and file)
d) EASTER SEAL SOCIETY FOR Request permission to conduct fund
CRIPPLED CHILDREN AND, raising campaign from March 5 to
ADULTS OF LOS ANGELES- April 14, 1974. (Approved in prior
COUNTY years; recommend approval)
CITY COUNCIL
CONSENT CALENDAR - Cont'd.
Page Two
1/28/74
e) WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL Re need for traffic signal at Fernwood
DISTRICT Street and Cameron Avenue. (Refer to
Traffic Committee Minutes of
1/22/74 - Item #1)
• 2. PLANNING COMMISSION
SUMMARY OF ACTION
3. RECREATION & PARKS COMM.
•
a) SUMMARY OF ACTION
b) SUMMARY OF ACTION
c) 1974 STATE PARK AND
RECREATION BOND ACT
4. PERSONNEL BOARD
January 17, 1974. (Accept and file)
January 22, 1974. (Adj. Mtg. - Study
Session - Receive and File)
January 22, 1974 (Reg. Mtg. - Accept
and file. Action Items: Refer to City
Manager's Agenda, Item G-6)
Informational Report.
REPORT re SPECIAL MEETING January 22, 1974. (Receive and file)
5. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
SUMMARY OF ACTION January-24, 1974. (Receive and file)
6. ACCEPTANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR RELEASE OF BONDS
PROJECT NO. SP-73013 LOCATION: Various throughout the City.
GRIFFITH COMPANY Accept street maintenance improvements
and authorize release of Fireman's
Fund American Company Bond No. SCR
707 7913 in,'the amount of $141,542.00.
(Staff recommends acceptance and release)
7. TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MINUTES
8. CITY TREASURER'S REPORT
January 22, 1974. (Accept and file)
December, 1973. (Receive and file)
Mrs. Pat Dampier (Re Item 7) I merely wish to thank
President - PTA Counsel you gentlemen for the cooperation you
have given me; with the help of the
Traffic Committee, I joined them in
their meetings and I know the traffic
light is on the current, --current
calendar —and I. do not wish it taken from,zthe Consent Calendar. I
merely wish to bring to your attention, which I am sure you all know,
that it does take one and a half year's to have a traffic light put
in place which I did not know and I see it is on a five year work
program and I would hope that it will be put on the top of a
priority list so that it will be done as soon as possible knowing
that it will take a year and a half if it were started tomorrow.
Thank you, very much.
• Mayor Lloyd: Thank you, Mrs. Dampier. This item
will be discussed.
(Tom Gallagher also asked to speak on an item in the Traffic
Committee minutes. Mayor Lloyd said it would be withheld from the
consent calendar approval and spoken to after approval of the
other items of the Consent Calendar)
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor, I would like;+,;t-o hold item
Item l(e) for the special period
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CITY COUNCIL
CONSENT CALENDAR - Cont'd.
following approval of the Consent Calendar.
Motion by Councilman Shearer to approved, the
the exception of Items 1(e) and 7. Seconded
and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer,
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Page Three
1/ 28/ 74
Consent Calendar with
by Councilman Chappell
Chappell, Lloyd
Councilman Nichols: With regard to Item 1(e), I would like for
myself to have from Staff clarification as
to why an -,..item such as the consideration of
a signal at Fernwood and Cameron Avenue, that is considered a
priority item, has as its earliest possible date that of January
1975. I am sure there are very good reasons for this but I would
like to have that clarified.
Mr. Zimmerman: Mr. Mayor and members of Council, the
current shortages are affecting -.the traffic
signal situation as well as many other
items of our needs. There is a six month or greater delay in the
control mechanism gear needed to make the traffic signals work. In
addition of that an item of this sort there would be a period needed
for approving the budget, for design and awarding of a contract. All
of this adds up to at least nine months to a year.
Councilman Nichols: Are you saying if the Council tonight gave
the directive to proceed immediately to
install,the signal at that location that
even then it could not occur until January 1975?
Mr. Zimmerman: Accordingtto the experiences we have had on
the latest TOPICS contract which was
awarded last June or July those signals are
not in yet on Sunset and West Covina Parkway. The hold up is entirely
on the electronic equipment needed to run the signals. There has
been a big surge in this equipment and the supply is very limited.
Councilman Nichols: If then the Council allows this item as a
budgeted item in the 1974-75 fiscal year
I assume then the earliest date if
authorized or spurred on by Council would be sometime late in the
summer for the start of this or are you moving immediately with the
specifics, etc., in order that the most minimal possible delay will
occur?
Mr. Zimmerman: As soon as directed by Council we can
commence the design work which in itself is
time consuming and then the funding could
follow in the next budget....
Councilman Nichols: Would this expedite the installation any
so that it would be before January 1975?
Mr. Zimmerman: Yes, very much. It would take two or three
months to design it.
Councilman Nichols: If the Council tonight would take action
to request the design process, etc., is it
correct then that in all probability there
would be no call upon the City funds before the new fiscal year, or
no significant funds?
Mr. Zimmerman: Yes, we could probably design it before the
beginning of the fiscal year and if we
advertised we could be ready to award the
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CITY COUNCIL Page Four
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item 1(e) 1/28/74
contract by July 1.
Councilman Nichols: So if the Council took actionl.tonight to
accept the minutes and directed.staff to
• begin the procedures necessary to imple-
ment that recommendation that would advance the installation date
relative to January 1975 and would not incur premature debt obliga-
tion to the City?
Mr. Zimmerman: It might be more correct to say, so as not
to put false hopes in peoples' minds,
it would make the date of January 1 possible.
Councilman Nichols: In other words if we did nothing now but
accept the Traffic Committee recommendations
would this go forward and result in the
early installation.....
Mr. Zimmerman: Yes, we would certainly given the interest
we have seen so far by City Council, we
would certainly proceed at once.
Councilman Nichols: Then there. is no action tonight that Council
can take to expedite this matter at all.
Mr. Zimmerman: That is correct, Councilman Nichols.
Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor - perhaps this is a little pre-
mature but then on the other hand it may be
too late. We recently approved a project
for development across from Cameron and Azusa Avenue. I would
• suggest that the Planning Staff contact the developer and indicate
that a traffic signal is seriously being considered for that location
which might have an effect on the layout or design of that piece of
property. As I recall the plan shown to us showed a main entrance
which did not line up with Fernwood which could present a traffic
problem that might be resolved or solved by the developer if he
knew in advance and perhaps could make a change if he so chose::
It might solve a later problem with the future Council by having
someone coming in.and asking for another signal at that location.
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor - in .response to that - what is
the status of that project? I have had
many inquiries from the community. It
seems to be rather in limbo. Do we have any late word on what the
prospects are of the implementation of that proposal?
Mr. Miller: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, the
last word we had was they were in the pro-
cess of preparing their grading plans for
submittal to the City. We are trying to contact them on a more
regular basis to keep tab on where they stand. I understand they
have two or three other projects going and due to the shortage of
materials they are concentrating on those.
• Councilman Nichols: You have no knowledge then that the project
is being abandoned?
Mr. Miller: No, not at this time.
Mayor Lloyd: Is there anything else? Mr. Gallagher,
would you like to speak to the Council now
on Item 7.
CITY COUNCIL Page Five
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item 7) 1/28/74
Tom Gallagher At the present time there seems to be a
West Covina complete breakdown in communcations
between the citizenry of the community and
the Traffic Committee. We went through this in great detail at a
meeting about two months ago and at that time tried to get through
• to them that we were opposed to any red lining of the curbs down
there. Now the Traffic Committee has come up with a recommendation
to reduce the red line zone from 220' to 175' and they are still
going through with the same project. The only good thing that has
come out of this since the initial meeting is they do have all the
1973 statistics available. Quite interestingly the total vehicle
volume for the year is around seven and ahalf million. The total
accidents for the year were ten.
Now by the standards used by the Traffic
Committee you would have to generate almost twelve accidents at that
intersection to have it considered a hazardous intersection and we
had ten. This is very favorable, even below what we had for several
previous years. On page 4 of the minutes of the Traffic Committee
they give the rates for 1969 through 1973. The rate for 173 is
1.38, for 171 it was 2, which was high.
You are not going to solve any problems
down there by red lining 175' instead of 2201. You are still
creating the same problem. Two petitions have been submitted to the
City Council on this subject and both signed by the people living in
the area (approximately 16 families involved). No one is in favor
of a left turn lane.
I would like to make the recommendation at
this time that we :abandon this project and get away from this
argument of trying to compare Cameron and Vincent with Cameron and
• Lark Ellen. There is absolutely no comparison at all. The volume
of traffic is such that you can't begin to compare. The Traffic
Committee takes the stand by putting these red line zones in at
Lark Ellen they were able to make a 73/ reduction in the amount of
left turn accidents. I don't know what the volume of traffic is on
Lark Ellen, but we know what it is on Cameron.
Councilman Young: That is my corner, I live there aid it is
heavy.
Mr. Gallagher: Yes and mainly high school traffic - right?
Councilman Young: Right.
Mr. Gallagher: That was one of the main access roads onto
the freeway before this freeway widening
job went underway. Also there are only two
residents affected there. Down at Cameron and Valinda you have four
residents. There is no vacant lot, no park and no commercial property
down there.
So, gentlemen, I would like to make this
recommendation again that we abandon this thing and get on to bigger
and more important things for the community.
• Councilman Young: What troubles me is we have some residents
involved and we have all these accidents
and sooner or later somebody gets killed
in one of these accidents, not to mention in the interim the people
injured, property damage and the traffic problems that occur and
human life and safety is very important. In fact I would be glad
to give up a parking space or two in front of my house if it will
eliminate a hazardous situation or contribute towards saving a life.
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CITY COUNCIL Page Six
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item 7) 1/28/74
That is the issue I am interested in. So we need twelve accidents
to make it major? How many people do we have to kill? This is
the problem to my way of thinking. I can understand the infringe
upon convenience on one hand but the general safety of the people
is the competing problem in my mind.
• Councilman Nichols: I have attempted to read as carefully as I
can the materials made available to us over
the past couple of months as this matter
has come to be more and more of a concern in the area. And although
I am very sympathetic to Councilman Young's psychological statement
in this regard I would like to take it a step beyond that. We do
have a signalized intersection at that particular corner of Cameron
and Valinda, yet if you visualize the routing you also can remember
that we have also Merced and Valinda a reasonably heavily traffic
street and Francisquito and Valinda, which are busy intersections and
not signalized at all. What I am pointing to is we have any number
of intersections in our City with a similar problem of relatively
heavy traffic and an accident history and to signal out this one
intersection as the one we are going to make a correction - I think
bears some scrutiny in the terms of the overall picture.
One of the concerns I have, although I don't
have all the facts and figures, but my recollection is that a number
of yaars ago,'Valinda Avenue was widened and the frontages available,
the lot depths available for the people on that street were
diminished by the widening; perhaps Mr. Gallagher can correct me if
I am not correct?
Mr. Gallagher: Yes, it is true.
. Councilman Nichols: But virtually all of the residents on
Valinda Avenue in that general area have a
lesser frontage from their houses to the
street than is available to many many of our citizens in this
community, and those who have a 50, 75 or 100' driveway reaching
back on their property to their garages are inconvenienced, true,
by some move to restrict parking on the street in front of their
properties but there are houses that would be -involved in this area
that can literally get just about one vehicle off of the public
street against their garage door and if the garage door is open then
they must. back off ftoin,it;aand park off the public sidewalk in order
to park in front of their garage. The City of West Covina in pro-
viding these improvements for that neighborhood did in fact restrict
the offsite parking of these particular houses in the area and to
come along now and say none of these people with a teenager or two
and the kids driving a Volkswagon and Dad has his car and Mom maybe
also has one, and say you cannot park on the public street, is
indeed more than a normal departure.
Where I live if that were said I could get
all of my vehicles, and.those of my neighbors, I think, parked in my
driveway and I would be inconvenienced but not to the point that I had
to hike some 200 or 300' every time I came to my house. Now we are
diminishing every time when we do this, where we create this kind of
a situation, where we reduce the front yard setback and then restrict
• the curb.parking. situation.. There is no question but what we are
diminishing the property value of these people. Whether it be 16
people or 1600 people - the government is saying for the public safety
you>�.must suffer, and I agree, but I think many times you reach a point
where you have to say what is right.
Now the thesis I am posing is if in fact
it is a definite hazard and if in fact thousands of residents travel
these two streets and reach these major intersections and are placed
CITY COUNCIL Page Seven
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item 7) 1/28/74
in jeopardy because of these conditions and if in fact it is a fact
that these other corollary conditions exist then I think the City
has a greater than average responsibility to the property owners in
the area in rectifying this. I come to my conclusion which is
• simply this that the City of West Covina still owns a right-of-way,
t.'.still owns a space from the curb line to the front of the proper-
ty line and if this: --:is in truth a hazard and I believe it is because
of the unique situation that has been created, then I feel the City
should take upon itself the obligation to both solve the problem
without inordinately penalizing those people that had good faith in
purchasing their homes in that area of the City, because there are
some that just can't get all their vehicles off the street when
this condition is imposed upon them. I know I am saying then we
will be spending more of everybody's money but all I am suggesting
is that it is everybodys' problem.
Councilman Young: Are you suggesting widening the street
by shortening the frontages:
Councilman Nichols: We have a number of streets, in fact Merced
Avenue, where I live, has a place with a curb
along there and then it dips in by 3' or so
for several hundred feet; the cost isn't prohibitive and it enables
the City to create these proper turns and channelization areas and
provide for the safety; and I am saying if the City feels this is
hazardous enough to mandate an improvement then because of the
particular limitations for off street parking that these citizens
have in there this City has a further obligation to attempt to widen
that street,minimally if so, put in the parkway area to make these
improvements without further penalizing the property owner. I only
say that because of the unique circumstances.
Councilman Young: I think there is a lot of logic in what you
say and I am perfectly willing to see that
explored as an alternative. I can see
another problem arising, maybe something that Mr. Gallagher and the
other people affected should think about. You have the actual lot
depth of your property that goes to the property line and then you
have the psychological depth which goes clean out to the curb. Some
people like that entire depth and others just as soon have less to
mow and take care of. I think that should be taken into consideration.
I am perfectly willing to see the matter referred back for further
study along this line.
Councilman Shearer: I agree with Councilman Nichols. I think in
this case we have a consideration of the
text book traffic answer and I would like to
defend the Traffic Committee. I don't think it is a matter of a
communication problem, I think it is a matter of the Traffic
Committee using their engineering judgment and as I said many times
before, this Council has to take their professional recommendation
and weigh it against the desires of the people and come up with an
answer somewhere in the middle that probably may not satisfy
everyone but doesn't cause a rebellion in the community. There is a
lot of talk here about widening and I see in the report the figure
• of $31,500 is given as the cost to widen the intersection 200' in
each direction. Frankly I don't look too favorably on that at this
time either. Based on the accident history and the type of inter-
section, I am willing at this time to deny the Traffic Committee
recommendation and let it just slip dormant for awhile. I don't
think it is all that big of a problem. And it maybe that the
criteria of the textbook answers but I don't think we have a good
answer in this situation so I would like to see us kind of lay it to
rest.
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CITY COUNCIL Page Eight
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item 7) 1/28/74
Councilman Chappell: I would have to agree with Councilman
Shearer. We have signals at this inter-
section. We have a lower speed limit than
we have along Azusa and some of our other streets, 35 MPH. It just
• appears to me, and I ride this street every day and since this appeared
last time I have been spending a lot more time at that intersection and
it appears to me that I don't think we are going to change anybody
from violating the laws by putting in a lefthand turn there. So it
appears to me we can live with it as it is, making sure that people
adhere to the 35 MPH speed limit, and with the signals there make
their lefthand turn when the light allows them to. So I would go
along with Councilman Shearer. Let's vote on it and vote it down
and move on to the next item.
Motion by Councilman Shearer to deny the recommendation of the
Traffic Committee. Seconded by Councilman Shearer and carried on roll
call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor, one further comment. I think
there may be some minor confusion as to what
the Council's action was. The Council's
action was to turn down the Traffic Committee recommendation and leave
the intersection at Cameron and Valinda as of now in its current
status.
Councilman Young: Mr. Mayor, a point of procedure. I think the
motion would be in order to approve the
balance of the Traffic Committee report, and
• I so move.
Seconded by Councilman Nichols and carried on
roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION
RESOLUTION NO. 4830 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA APPOINTING 7
COMMISSIONERS TO THE YOUTH ADVISORY
COMMISSION.
RESOLUTION NO. 4831 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA APPOINTING 7 ALTERNATES
TO THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION."
Motion by Councilman Shearer;. seconded .b ..:ounc lman:1Young<.: and _,ar-r1ed ,
to waive further reading of said Resolutions.
• Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor, a point of order. If we are
wanting to amend the Resolution or include the
item on the alternates, that is the order of
voting, should that be done now?
Mr. "Wakefield: Yes, it should be done now. That would be
the proper procedure.
Councilman Shearer: I think because the Resolution that sets up
this Committee indicates in the absence of
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CITY COUNCIL Page Nine
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION 1/28/74
one of the regular members an alternate will vote we debated awhile
whether to have one member with one alternate, andthen the problem
arises of what happens if both the member and the alternate are
absent at the same meeting. So what we decided to do was to specify
in the Resolutions appointing an order for the alternates and they
• would in that order vote. If one member was absent the first
alternate would vote. If all seven were absent, which I hope does
not occur because if it does you are not going to get paid because
we are going to amend ,the other Resolution a little later and then
all seven alternates would then vote. So the Resolution should be
in this order, Mr. Wakefield. The Number l voting alternate would
be Mr. William:Pewen; No. 2 - Miss Susan Titus; No. 3 - Miss Karen
Hauritz; No. 4 - Mr. Norm Perreau; No. 5 - Miss Renee Parker;
No. 6 - Miss Paula Ferguson; and No. 7 - Mr. Jeffrey Moore.
That would be the order for voting only. How do we get that into
the Resolution, Mr. Wakefield?
Mr. Wakefield: We will redraft the Resolution to provide
for this order of voting. You can go ahead
and adopt the Resolution tonight.
Motion to waive further reading of Resolutions
carried.
Motion.by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Shearer, to adopt
said Resolutions and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
(Mayor Lloyd asked that the following people step forward and be
• sworn in as Youth Advisory Commissioners: Lynn Giles, Brenda Thompson,
Madeline Durkee, Renee Futter, Ruth Louis, Rayner Kolrik and
Dennis Mansfield; and that the seven alternates step forward and be
sworn in: William Pewen, Susan Titus, Karen Hauritz, Norm Perreau
Renee Parker, Paula Ferguson and Jeffrey Moore. Renee Parker was
absent; City Clerk swore in the Commissioners and the Alternates.)
Mayor Lloyd: Are there any comments from Council?
Councilman Shearer: Yes, Mr. Mayor. It goes without saying
that it was a very difficult decision on
our part to pick out of the large number
of candidates seven to be the Commissioners and seven to be the
Alternates. I am sure we probably could have thrown darts and had
seven good qualified candidates. In looking it over we -generally gave
preference to the Seniors and if that creates a problem then so be it.
You will have your day:
In the past complaints were raised that
Council doesn't give us anything to do, so I am going to start out
with a couple of suggestions, which may be lousy but at least it
can't be said that we weren't given ideas to pursue.
Number 1, the City of West Covina owns a
couple of vacant pieces of ground - I believe, Mr. Aiassa, if I am
• not incorrect, generally a couple of fire station sites. So for
starters the Youth Commission might look at some way that the youth
of the Community might utilize this ground. Probably some sort of
gardening projects. I don't know if young people today are interest-
ed in things of that nature, if they are - fine. I got the idea that
some people are making a business out of this by renting out space to
people that do not have ground available and want a garden.
Secondly, we had a discussion earlier this
evening about traffic safety in and around West Covina High School and
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CITY COUNCIL Page Ten
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION 1/28/74
during the interviews this was mentioned, (I stole this idea from one
of the students interviewed that went to West Covina High), saying the
way some students leave the parking lots in a rapid manner. Perhaps
a Traffic Safety Program in amongst the students by the students might
do something to curtail this. I am sure if the Police Chief went to
• the school to lecture on this he would not succeed but if the
students were to put on a program within the school - if they are
allowed to drive to school after the energy crisis - it might have
some effect.
So here are two ideas that you can bat
around. Maybe they are good, maybe they are bad, but at least you
have two.
Councilman Chappell: I do want to congratulate all these young
people in their acceptance of this challenge.
I am still the liaison to this group and I
would like to know when the first meeting is going to be called.
(Advised it was the third Tuesday in February)
Councilman Young: I would" just add my congratulations and my
high hopes for these young people.
Mayor Lloyd: I have a word to say. I am very pleased that
we are now underway and I would like to take
this opportunity to thank Mrs. Sarah Weber
and Mr. Sid Reiner, and all those people who worked on the Committee
to get this Commission going.
The other item I would suggest as a thought
for things you might do although we do need recommendations from the
Commission; however, it was discussed and there was some thought
• expressed about putting the Youth Center on Cameron under the general
directive of the Youth Advisory Commission. It`is supposed to be a
Youth Center and there might be some concept or thought whereby through
a policy situation we could work out the direction of it by the
Commission.
Another item that might be of some value
is for you to assign certain people throughout the year to work with
each of the Councilmen; particularly in regards to their agendas in
a given month for the two Council meetings. So it would not be an
inconvenience for you but would give you an opportunity to participate.
I would certainly extend the office of the Mayor, as long as I_•.am
there, for that kind of involvement.
Another thing talked about was the numbering
of houses on the street curb. That is another item. I don't know
what the problems were before and it may be beyond this Commission.
But I think there are plenty of things to be done and I for one am
very much pleased to have all of you people back and in gear. I think
it is a very meaningful involvement.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
UNCLASSIFIED USE PERMIT LOCATION: 2210 S. Azusa .Avenue.
•NO. 71, REV. 5 (AMENDMENT) REQUEST: Clarification of conditions set
B.K.K. COMPANY forth in Planning Commission Resolution
No. 2311. Approved with modifications
by Planning Commission Resolution No. 2503.
Appealed by Applicant on December 7, 1973.
Hearing held on January 14, 1974. Held
over to this date.
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CITY COUNCIL Page Eleven
Pub. Hearings:. UUP #71, Rev. '5. (Amend.) 1/28/74
Mr. Aiassa: Mr. Mayor, we have a letter on file from the
applicant. I believe the City Attorney has
that.
• Mr. Wakefield: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, as
you know the Staff as recommended that
Unclassified Use.Permit No. 71, Revision 5
be amended by amending Section 3 thereof to extend the date of the
expiration of that element to May 27., 1974; and that the consideration
of the items that are proposed as amendments to Unclassified Use Permit
No. 711 Revision 5 as amended :and adopted by the Planning Commission
Resolution 2503 be continued for further consideration to that same
date. It requires a Resolution. The Resolution is entitled:
RESOLUTION NO. 4832 "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
ADOPTED OF WEST COVINA AMENDING UNCLASSIFIED USE
PERMIT NO. 71, REVISION 5."
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
Motion by.Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to adopt
said Resolution and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
AMENDMENT NO. 117 A proposed amendment to Article IX of the
CITY INITIATED West Covina Municipal Code relating to
guidelines and development standards for the
development of new condominiums and for the
• conversions of existing developments to
condominiums. Recommended by Planning
Commission Resolution No. 2507. (Proof of
Publication of Notice of Public Hearing
on January 17, 1974 in the West Covina
Tribune received. No mailed notices required.)
Mr. Wakefield: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, this is
the time and place for the Public Hearing on
Amendment No. 117 - City Initiated, proposing
to add to the West Covina Municipal Code a new article establishing
guidelines and development standards for the development of condominiums
and the conversion of existing developments to condominiums.
Recommended by Planning Commission Resolution No. 2507. Mr. Mayor, I
am sure staff is prepared to make a report in reference to it.
.Mr. Miller: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council,
pursuant to your direction the Planning
Commission reconsidered the proposed
Condominium Ordinance. The Staff Report and the other documents
pertaining to this subject in your agenda material detail the fine
points. The most important thing is it does provide a vehicle whereby
the City can control new development.of...c9ncJ9miniums and relates the
density an �,,cthe: 'lea District in which it is
• located. At the saine time i.t also provides for reasonable controls
on the conversion of apartments to .condominiums without regard to the
density requirement but requiring an unclassified use permit to assure
compatibility. The Planning Commission recommends approval of this
code amendment to Resolution 2507.
THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDMENT NO. 117.
THERE BEING NO PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR OR AGAINST PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
CITY COUNCIL Page Twelve
Pub. Hearings: Amend.. No. 117 1/28/74
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor - I believe that I initiated the
concerns that were expressed.on the Council
at the time this matter was before us earlier.
I would like.:to commend Staff for the review of this and also the
•Planning Commission. Generally speaking the changes made are wise and
make it a little clearer. I would like to clarify one point.
Mr. Miller, on the last page of the Staff
recommendation I am somewhat confused over the implications made there
relative to the conversion aspect of the Ordinance which mentions the
density and footage requirements as they pertain to conversions rather
than condominium development. Will you clarify for me in laymen's
language the differences that may exist between the new condominium
and the conversion of an existing facility relative to density and
footage requirements.
Mr. Miller: The square footage required for the new
condominium is again geared to the Area
District in which it is located and will
range from a low of 800' one bedroom in Area District I to a high of
1850' for a two bedroom in Area Districts IV and V. For conversion
the range is from a low of one bedroom.of 500' to a high of 800 square
feet for the same three bedroom. This utilizes the MF-25 standards
underwhich most of the apartments that would be considered for conver-
sion could apply. Densitywise the new condominiums would have a sliding
scale depending on the District in which it is located, from a hick of
8 units per acre in Area District I to a low of 4 units per acre in
Area District V. Under the conversion process there is no specific
requirement for density. It will be taken on its own merits as to
whether it will be compatible with the surrounding single family
residential and other types of development there.
• Councilman Nichols: Thank you. I think this is imminently fair
and a workable modification of the original
proposal and faces the reality of our
community and yet is a force for upgrading future developments. I
wholeheartedly subscribe to it now.
Councilman Young: Mr. Mayor, a comment. I assume the conver-
sion aspect essentially would require an
upgrading of an existing apartment. The one
thing I want to watch out for is that we don't come in here on a
MF-15, put up the apartments and come in the back door getting
greater density than a condominium overlay might require. I don't
think' -that is a great problem but it should be watched for in future
development.
Councilman Nichols: That is a good point but I think the
Ordinance itself will take care of that
and that anything developed in the multiple
zones subsequent to the passing of this Ordinance will be grandfathered
in to pre-existing developments. It does definitely, as you indicated,
require an upgrading upon pre-existing developments for conversion but
it doesn't in fact make it impossible for that conversion to occur,
which was a point I made last time and that has been corrected.
• Motion by Councilman Shearer to instruct the City Attorney to prepare
an Ordinance; seconded by Councilman Nichols and carried on roll call
vote as follows:
AYES:_ Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
- 12 -
•
n
CITY COUNCIL Page Thirteen
Hearings - Cont'd. 1/28/74
1973-74 SUPPLEMENTAL WEED. LOCATION: Various throughout the City.
AND RUBBISH ABATEMENT Review Engineer's report and set for
PROGRAM hearing on this date of protests or
PROTEST HEARING objections from property owners and
other interested parties by
Resolution No. 4819 adopted January 14,
1974.
Mayor Lloyd: Madam City Clerk, do you have the Affidavit
of Mailing?
City Clerk: Yes, I do.
Motion by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Councilman Shearer and
carried, to receive and file.
Mayor Lloyd: Madam City Clerk, have you received any
written protests or objections to the pro-
posed work?
City Clerk:
No, I have not.
THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 1973-74
SUPPLEMENTAL WEED AND RUBBISH ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
Carl Davis The property I am speaking of is 1329 East
2263 North Forbes Harvest Moon Street, West Covina. Mayor
Claremont Lloyd and Councilmen, Mr. Aiassa, it is good
to be back in the City of West Covina once
again. It is not exactly a protest against the weed abatement. I
have talked with Mr. Bonaparte and he has assured me that what this is
is a general ruling and not a specific against the property at 1329.
I`have been in Washington for the last week and when I got back I was a
little aghast at receiving this since I already spent approximately
$100. to get the property cleaned up. I had replaced fourteen windows
in the house, I called the man who was doing the repair work over the
weekend and he assured me that everything was:�done. I could not
understand why I received the letter.
I did go out there tonight and found out
that someone had broken another window. I just finished the work over
the weekend and already another window is broken. I don't know what
is happening here. I know that when the property became vacant, after
the people moved out, one afternoon the police received a phone call
saying that someone was stealing my fence and by the time they got there
the entire fence had been stolen along with the fence went the AM/FM
stereo system throughout the house, the burglar alarm, the fire alarm,
doors and several windows were broken. All this happened and I am out
about $3,000 and now in the process of repairing the house. It has
been put back on the rental market this weekend so it won't be vacant
much longer.
I was a little bit chagrined after receiving
this letter so soon upon returning from Washington and realizing that
the money had already been spent to clean up the place and why in the
world something like this was being done. r. Bonaparte has assured
me it is done on vacant houses and not any one house specifically.
I do want to assure the Council and the City that we are taking care
of the property, it is not abandoned. We are paying our taxes on it
at about $1,000.a year and we intend to keep it up.
Councilman Youhg.6
The issue here is just on weed abatement.
Do you plan to mow the yard?
Mr. Davis:
There is no problem there. The yard has
been mowed and will be taken care of.
- 13 -
CITY COUNCIL
Hearings: Weed Abatement
Page Fourteen
1/28/74
Pete Marino This is a rental property and we didn't
2312 W. Garvey keep up the outside of it. The land -
West Covina lord lives in Texas and they are not
going to do it either. The yard will
•be cleaned up as the City.wishes but I would like to know the reason
since it is of no real concern or demage to anyone else. It doesn't
obstruct traffic or vision to traffic or anything - so what is the
reason? We:. -received no.notice of the work to be done, it was received
by the landlord's. lawyer and he called up.
•
•
Mayor Lloyd:
too high and constitute
Mr. Marino:
Mr. Aiassa:
Mr. Marino:
it belongs to the State?
Mayor Lloyd:
Mr. Marino:
It is a City Ordinance stating that
we do this three times a year to
insure the fact that weeds do not get
fire hazards, etc.
clean the lawn, etc.? Or will
or what is the situation?
Mayor Lloyd:
Mr. Marino:
Why then is the City property, directly
adjacent to where we live, filled with
weeds higher, higher? Is it no concern
of the City?
It will be done also.
Also adjacent to the freeway there is a
block wall with weeds and debris - maybe
We are dealing only with the property
at hand at this time and would
apparently pertain to you only.
Okay. So as to avoid any further
.complication with the City do I need a
written statement saying - yes, I will
you be out with the bull dozer tomorrow
If you would like further information,
Mr. Bonaparte sitting over there will
discuss it with you tonight.
Fine. I have let you know now that we
will take care of it and you will not
proceed with the work.
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor, may I address a remark or
two to Mr. Marino so he will go away
with perhaps a little better.understand-
ing of the procedure. The matter of weed abatement is a charge reverted
against the owner of the property that is why you didn't know about
it. It is sent only to the person of record on the tax rolls. If you
or the owner did not do that work - chop'the weeds - it would be done
by crews at City expense and the levy charged for it would be
against the owner or the property and not against you. There would be
no bull dozers out or anything like that. And the reason for it is
very sound, indeed. I used to live on Wood Street in West Covina and
unfortunately I allowed weeds to grow up in the back, back yard that
I had and some kids got into there messing around in the weeds and
set a fire which burned the fence down that divided my property from
the other property and at my expense I had to replace the fence. So
once weeds get to a certain level they begin to dry out and turn
brown which causes a fire hazard situation and when kids get playing
around in the weeds it could create a fire that would damage property.
However, let me say I think you make
a very valid point. I think it is probably not in the best public
- 14 -
I*
•
CITY COUNCIL
Hearings: Weed Abatement
Page Fifteen
1/28/74
relations for the City to send weed abatement notices to the public
and time them so that the City's own properties are abated last.
It appears to me that it would be good public relations if the City
made sure their own weed abatement properties were abated first, so
when owners in the community receive notices of these conditions
they will not look across the street at City property and say - well
what about those weeds? So I think a point has been well taken.
Councilman Shearer: I would like to speak a little bit in
defense of the City's policy and practice
in this matter. I think it is a matter of
economics that we go with the contractor and we pay him on a unit
cost basis; and to have him come in and disc the few lots the City
owns in advance of the hearing procedure before doingpprivate proper-
ties, while -it might look good and solve a few questions I think
economically it might not be too wise.
Councilman Nichols: I think you make a very valid point, I
hadn't thought of that, but I still think
the problem raised is a valid one. I think
something in the abatement notice.to the public should state that the
abatement of these provisions will include all property in the City
and that includes City owned property also. Simply some little
thing would help to avoid a citizen from getting a notice and looking
across the street and saying what about the City property. (Council
agreed)
Mayor Lloyd: Are there any other objections or protests?
Hearing closed.
Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and
carried, to remove 1329 E. Harvest Moon Street from the vacant list.
Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Nichols, to remove
2312 W. Garvey Avenue from the list.
Councilman Shearer: A question. What happens if the gentleman
who spoke leaves the property and moves to
another location before the next abatement
period? Is it really necessary to remove this from the program? I
think it is a matter of policy if the owner comes in and cleans them
up then we will not do it. Otherwise we have to go back through this
proceeding again, so I don't see the point in removing and at
sometime in the future perhaps have to put it back on. Particularly
with the owner in Texas and we may have a vacant piece of property
there in a short time.
Councilman Nichols: I appreciate Councilman Shearer's concern
but we don't normally get word from our
citizenry in advance of the time the crews
come around and have abated the problem, so obviously there are some
dozens and dozens of parcels abated by the owner and still on the
list and are removed subsequently. But I think in those cases where
the owner or occupant takes the time to come before the Council and
certify to Council that the problem will be corrected, it is something
that would be of no additional burden upon the City to go ahead and
remove the property from the abatement rolls as it comes to the
attention of the Council.
Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Young to authorize the City Engineer to pro-
ceed with abatement of weeds and rubbish on those properties
described in Resolution of Intention No. 4819. Seconded by
Councilman Chappell and carried.
- 15 -
CITY COUNCIL
Page Sixteen
1/28/74
RESOLUTION NO. 4833 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING SECTION 11
OF RESOLUTION NO. 4826 RELATING TO THE
COMPENSATION OF THE YOUTH ADVISORY COM-
MISSION."
Motion by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Councilman Shearer and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
Motion by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Councilman Shearer, to
adopt said Resolution.
Councilman Shearer: The statement in the Resolutions is that
the compensation shall be contigent upon
attendance at the regular monthly meeting.
If by chance the regular monthly meeting is not held does that
automatically preclude payment to any of them?
Mr. Wakefield: Yes, I would think so, Councilman Shearer.
Councilman Shearer: I would like to see that amended in some-
way. I can't envision it happening but
let's say the third Tuesday falls on a
holiday and they decide to postpone the meeting to the first Tuesday
of the following month and,, -fin that month they would have two meetings.
If that should occur I would like to see them receive their small pay.
Mayor Lloyd: I really hadn't envisioned any great problem.
I thought it was based on the regular number
of meetings that would automatically occur
• each month.
Mr. Wakefield: If the regularly scheduled meeting date
should fall on a holiday then the regular
meeting date would be the following day in
the absence of some action by the Youth Commission itself. I would
think they could set a meeting date within the month at a convenient
time so that they would not be unpaid for that month. I believe they
can work it out for themselves.
.Motion carried on roll
AYES: Young, Nichols,
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
call vote as follows:
Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
THE CHAIR CALLED A RECESS AT 8:50 P.M. COUNCIL RECONVENED AT 9 P.M.
PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECT NO. SP-73006 LOCATION: Citrus Street from Cortez Street
CITRUS STREET WIDENING to Walnut Creek Channel.
PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS Council reviewed Engineer's report.
Mr. Zimmerman: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, this
is a project that has been in the Five Year
Program of Public :Works for several years.
It is a`.budgeted item. Right-of-way has been largely secured and we
expect to have the rest by the time the contract is awarded and work
would occur. We would like to have Council approve the design and
specifications and direct the City Engineer to call for bids.
So moved by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Council-
man Shearer and carried.
Councilman Shearer: When would this project start?
- 16 -
CITY COUNCIL
Pub. Wks: Project Sp-73006
Page Seventeen
1/28/74
Mr. Zimmerman: Probably in the middle of March and it would
take a couple of months to complete.
RESOLUTION NO. 4834 The City :Attorney presented:.
• ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA DEDICATING CERTAIN CITY OWNED
PROPERTY TO PUBLIC STREET PURPOSES TO BE
KNOWN AS CITRUS STREET AND ACCEPTING SAME AS
A PUBLIC STREET, AND DIRECTING THE RECORDA-
TION THEREOF."
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Shearer, to adopt
said Resolution and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ASHDALE STREET LOCATION: Ashdale Street at South Garvey
CUL-DE-SAC Avenue.
Council reviewed Engineer's report.
Mr. Zimmerman: Mr. Mayor and members of Council, this project
is part of the freeway widening project and
the State's contractor is working in the
area at this time and has agreed to do the work partly at City expense
due to the fact it is a:: -..change from the originally approved work.
The recommendation of Staff is included in the Staff Report.
• Motion by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Councilman Shearer, to
authorize the transfer of $2,048.14 from Account No. 73004 to Account
No. 72003, Freeway Widening. Motion carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
•
Motion by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Councilman Young, to approve
construction of the Ashdale cul-de-sac and authorize issuance of
Purchase Order in the amount of $2,413.20 to Kasler-Ball Corporation.
Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor, a question of Mr.Zimmerman. I
noticed in the Staff Report. we received 11
responses - how many were sent out?
Mr. Zimmerman: There was one questionable one, there were
eleven positive. Twelve were sent out.
Councilman Shearer: We had a similar situation with another
cul-de-sac where we thought everybody was
happy and then they came in and were
unhappy - they said "we want a gate" and then "we want it open" and
then "we don't want it open, etc." So I assume you covered everyone
on the cul-de-sac?,
Mr. Zimmerman:
Motion
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Yes:,Sir.
carried on roll
Young, Nichols,
None
None
None.
call vote as follows:
Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
- 17 -
CITY COUNCIL Page Eighteen
CITY ATTORNEY 1/28/74
ORDINANCE The City Attorney presented:
INTRODUCTION "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA
MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS TO REZONE CERTAIN
• PREMISES. (Zone change Application No. 487,
The May Stores :Shopping Centers, Inc.)
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to introduce said Ordinance.
ORDINANCE
The City Attorney presented:
INTRODUCTION
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA RE:.PEALING 'SECTION'S 81'ha=
AND 8130 OF THE WEST
COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE; AMENDING THE CHAPTER
HEADINGS OF ARTICLE I AND VIII THEREOF
RELATING TO THE .UNIFORM MUNICIPAL CODE; THE
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE, 1,973 EDITION;
UNIFORM HOUSING CODE, 1973 EDITION; UNIFORM
.CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS,
1973 EDITION; UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE,-1973
EDITION; NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 1971
EDITION; AND MAKING CERTAIN CHANGES THEREIN
REQUIRED TO MEET LOCAL CONDITIONS."
Mayor Lloyd:
Mr. Wakefield, do we have to .set date for the
public .hearing?
• Mr. Wakefield:
Yes, Mr. Mayor, the first appropriate date
would be February 25, 1974 at 8 P.M.
Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor, I am a little confused. If the
item is for an ordinance introduction and
then it says "Set for a Public Hearing" -
are we going to introduce the ordinance and then have the hearing or
what?
Mr. Wakefield: The statute underwhich we adopt Uniform
Codes requires that the Ordinance be intro-
duced and thata time be set for a public
hearing at which anyone interested may come in and protest before the
actual adoption of the Ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Shearer-., seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Ordinance.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to
introduce said Ordinance. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE The City Attorney presented:
INTRODUCTION "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA REPEALING CERTAIN
SECTIONS OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE
AND ADDING CERTAIN SECTIONS THERETO RELAT-
ING TO THE ADOPTION OF THE UNIFORM FIRE
CODE."
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Ordinance.
Mr. Wakefield: Mr. Mayor, the date of the hearing will be
the same as the date of the previous
Ordinance, February 25, 1974 at 8 P.M.
- 18 -
CITY COUNCIL Page Nineteen
CITY ATTORNEY - Cont'd. 1/28/74
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to introduce said Ordinance.
• RESOLUTION NO. 4835 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA DENYING AN APPLICATION FOR A
SLIGHT MODIFICATION. (Slight Modification
No. 76 - Steve Novarro) (Location: 1248
S. Montezuma Way)."
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to adopt
said Resolution and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN• Young
(Councilman Young stated he "abstains from voting on this issue"
because Mrs. Novarro has been a client.)
RESOLUTION NO. 4836 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA APPOINTING ELECTION
OFFICERS AND DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES FOR
THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD
ON THE 5TH DAY OF MARCH, 1974."
isMotion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to adopt
said Resolution and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Lloyd: Madam City Clerk, are these polling places
changed from what they were before?
City Clerk:
Yes, some will be changed.
Mayor Lloyd: Will you please make a special effort to
let the newspapers know and everyone else
to avoid confusion that occurs every time
we change these things. It does cause a great deal of trouble and I
for one do not approve of it. I voted for it because it is an
economy issue but I think there should be a effort made to alert
everyone to the changes thereby assuring the fact that more people
will vote.
VENDING MACHINES Mr. Wakefield: Mr. Mayor and
. BUSINESS LICENSE FEES members of the
Council, this item was continued from your
last regular meeting. Again I think Staff
has no specific recommendation to make with reference to this item.
As the letter indicates we really have two choices: to adopt the
system that is proposed by the Association of Vending Machine Opera-
tors or to leave the Ordinance in the form in which it presently is.
- 19
CITY COUNCIL
CITY ATTORNEY - Cont'd.
Councilman Shearer:
Page Twenty
1/28/74
Mr. Mayor, a question of Mr.
What sort of a proposal do we
they have a specific proposal
Number 1 - administrabltei,-,a>. and.'Number 2 - produce the
•that we now get from this, which"is roughly $101000, or
just, as in the past, said "we don't like your system."
Wakefield.
have? Do
that is:
revenues
have they
Mr. Wakefield: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, when
this matter first became an issue it was
back last year about this time, before the
City Council adopted the present Ordinance which provides for the
existing system of taxation. At that time I asked the representatives
of the Association of Vending Machine Operators to give me a specific
proposal and a form of Ordinance acceptable to the industry and they
declined to do that. The only specific proposal that I have ever seen
embodied in any correspondence was from McGee & Son, in which Mr. McGee
says "well if the City Council wants the $16.00 as the minimum fee we
will be willing to pay that." That is the only proposal that I know
of that has come from the Vending Industry.
Councilman Shearer: Our present rate does meet the State
statutes?
Mr. Wakefield: In -my opinion it does. As I tried to point
ou,t.in the.letter the Industry representativ-
es-;disputbc this. I think they do not have
a legal justification for disputing this; there are some practical
considerations on their side of.the argument, however.
Councilman Shearer: I am satisfied with the Ordinance as it is;
mainly because I don't own any vending
machines. In the absence of a better propo-
sal from the Vending Machine Association we came up with one and they
didn't like it, I think it would ill behoove us to go back to the
drawing boards and try and come up with another one that they might
not like either. So to me -the next move is theirs under the conditions
I see. If they can produce an alternate that will give us the income
we are now getting plus being administrable by the City Clerk but in
the absence of that I would move that we receive and file the report.
.Seconded by Councilman Chappell and carried.
THE CHAIR RECESSED THE
COUNCIL MEETING AT 9:15 P.M. FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CONDUCTING THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING FOLLOWED BY THE
PARKING AUTHORITY MEETING. CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED AT 9:20 P.M.
CITY MANAGER
PARAMEDICS REPORT
Mr. Aiassa: We have presented a Staff
Report to Council. We are
open for questions or
comments from Council. .
Councilman Nichols:
Mr. Mayor. I am thoroughly in favor of the
proposal and find it even less in terms of
the cost to the City, than the original
• proposal. I read it
and I understand all the implications including
the staff's statement
that it may well be necessary to use revenue
sharing funds for the
program. With all that in mind I am still
strongly in support of
it and feel we should go ahead promptly and I
so move.
Seconded by Councilman Chappell.
- 20 -
CITY COUNCIL Page Twenty-one
CITY MANAGER - Cont'd. 1/28/74
Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor, I have a couple of questions.
A question with regard to the overtime.
Is that extra overtime merely to cover the
sick leave and vacation, etc., resulting from the Paramedic Program?
Is that for the remainder of this year - $22,822? It seems like a
lot of money. I am for the program but I would like to have that
• question clarified.
Acting Chief Short: Yes, the overtime projected was for the
three month period from April 1 to July 1.
This is projecting 61 shifts of sick leave
and 60 shifts of vacation coverage for this coming year. All
directly related to the Paramedic Program.
Councilman Shearer: If we did not have the program than
theoritically this would not occur?
Acting Chief Short: Yes, theoritically we should still be
working within our budget.
Councilman Shearer: One other question. I noticed an awful lot
of equipment on the Paramedic ambulance -
does this include all of the equipment like
I see on TV where they talk to the Doctor, etc., or will we have to
pay more money to buy more equipment at a later date?
Acting Chief Short: The $27,000 should do it. This is all the
telemetric equipment, the entire list
recommended by the University of Southern
California Medical Center.
Councilman Shearer: All I can say is $27,000 and for that you
• had better take care of it, don't let
somebody steal it.
Acting Chief Short: We will.
Councilman Nichols: I have one final comment. I notice that we
have in the audience a number of our
_firemen, some who have been with us for a
number of years. I, as the rest of the Council, are aware of the
concerns expressed in the past and perhaps I am a little more
knowledgeable in terms of the concerns you expressed because in my
work in the public..schools we are presently seeing a similar type of
evolutionary situation where teacher's aides are being hired in the
classrooms and the certificated teachers are.expressing concerns that
this is perhaps some device to openly demean their own status and
level of enumeration as professionals. I am sure that all of us on
Council would feel the way I feel in expressing to you that we do not
have any remote conception that we would or will take any action at
all that will result in our own Fire Department's salary being less
than absolutely competitive with any Department that have no
Apprentice Firemen at all, and we hope that none -of our men who have
been so effective for our City. will feel.,in.-.7any sense that this is
the case. We are trying in times of great financial expenditure.
to expand andimprove the services we can offer the public. In fact
• when that unit begins rolling in this City with West Covina Fire
Department on its sides all of you fellows will be as proudas we are
that we have taken some of these extra steps to improve the services
available to our community. I know in speaking for the Council if
concern should arise at some future date where you feel a portion of
this program is indeed a professional threat to you we would like to
be made aware of that. Thank you.
Motion carried on roll
AYES: Young, Nichols,
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
call vote as follows:
Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
21 -
CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER - Cont'd.
Councilman.Young.:
authorizing.. the. use of
particular program?
. Mr.. Aiassa:
.Mayor Lloyd:
Mr. Aiassa:
Page Twenty-two
1/28/74
_A.question, Mr. Mayor. This appropriation
-,of funds, does this mean.revenue sharing
funds or do we need a specific motion
revenue sharing funds for funding this
This was just the recommendation. That
will have to be done by Resolution.
Are we still in contact with any of the
other cities?
Yes.
Mayor Lloyd: I see that Covina is all uptight because
Azusa didn't do something. Are they
communicating with us or is it they don't
want to communicate with us?
Mr. Aiassa: Covina is still communicating with us, Azusa
.has made afinal action.
Mayor Lloyd: It comes to me and maybe I missed it, but
that they were not aware of the fact - I
had communication with several of the
Covina Councilmen and they seemed to express almost a surprise that
we really were going forward with this thing.
Mr. Aiassa: Covina was the first one to initia. money
for Paramedics and then we came in for the
training end of it.
• Mayor Lloyd: I would like to see a cooperative effort
between the two cities with regard to this
program and certainly if there is any
training function involved it would seem to me the more involved
in it the per unit cost would go down. I, don't know if that is
true or not?
Mr. Aiassa: That will be a difficult thing and I would
almost like to have all these beautiful
reports put into the minutes because I
lived through the Communications thing at a nice reasonable cost
figure and then all of a sudden things began to sky rocket so I
worry sometimes .... but I think the main initial program we can
cover with Covina which will probably mean shorter runs with
maximum coverage going to Inter -Community for one and the other to
Queen of the Valley.
Mayor Lloyd: Yes, I appreciate that but my point is
it is going to cost money to instruct
these people and I thought probably one
instructor could train six or eight and then the cost of instruction
would be less than it would be for say five, therefore there would
be a cost reduction in the cost for training. Is that so?
Mr. Aiassa:
No. The actual cost
of the training is
•
because the
men will
be away for several
months for
training.
He is not physically
working on assignment.
Councilman Nichols:
Mr. Mayor -
Covina is
probably a little
reticent to
spend this
kind of money but
when we get
all of our men trained we may
be able to offer them a
special rate.
�W=
r
CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER - Cont'd.
Mayor Lloyd:
delighted to extend that
Page Twenty-three
1/28/74
I am all for that. Let them know the door
is open and if they need any special rates
the City of West Covina would be most
type of courtesy.
• Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor - that is what is defined as
about 130% of normal'? Like water rates?
.But seriously, is it correct that the
actual training cost is not borne by the City, that this is something
provided by the County under State program - that our cost of the
training is the cost of the salary of the men going to and from train-
ing but there is no tuition.
Mr. Aiassa: No tuition.
Councilman Chappell: I was happy to read that this was going to be
conducted at Queen of the Valley instead of
Harbor General because I think our men will
be much happier to have a much closer classroom arrangement than going
down to Harbor General. Also, a question of Chief Short. With Queen
of the Valley holding this class is it possible that other cities can
add their personnel to this March 29th training program?
Acting Chief Short:
Queen of the Valley that
Valley with the County.
Councilman Chappell, my understanding is
they will be trained at Harbor General.
The article in the paper referred to the
they will be working out of the Queen of the
. If.Mr. Aiassa I might comment further. I did
have a conversation with the Fire Chief.of Covina today in regards to
this program. We have still been talking and we are working on mutual
• efforts in the Paramedic line. They have reserved 9 training
positions at Harbor General with the County but their class will not
commence until our class has been completed. Once they get their
training out of the way then we will be working together on mutual
response.
Mayor Lloyd: Thank you, very much. Any other questions?
RESOLUTION NO. 4837 The Ci.ty.Attorney.prese:nted:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA APPROVING CLASS SPECIFI-
CATIONS FOR THE CLASS OF APPRENTICE FIREMAN."
Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Chappell and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to
adopt said Resolution and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RESOLUTION NO. 4838 The City .Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
• CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING CERTAIN PROVI-
SIONS OF RESOLUTION NO. 1277 RELATING TO
THE COMPENSATION OF APPRENTICE FIREMAN.
Motion by Councilman Chappell, seconded by Councilman Shearer and
carried, to waive further reading of said Resolution.
- 23 -
•
u
0
CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER - Cont'd.
Page Twenty-four
1/28/74
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Young,to adopt
said Resolution and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CHARLES HAMILTON Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by
Accidents at West Covina Councilman Chappell and carried, to receive
High School Crosswalk and file informational report.
(Informational Report)
(EXECUTIVE SESSION TO BE HELD AT THE END OF THE MEETING)
ANNUAL CALIFORNIA PARK Councilman Shearer: Mr. Mayor, a
& RECREATION CONFERENCE question.
FEBRUARY 16 THRU 19, 1974 This is a
LOS ANGELES budgeted item - Mr. Aiassa?
Mr. Aiassa:
Yes.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to
authorize funds for the attendance of four Recreation and Park
Commissioners at $150.00 each, totaling $600.00, to attend the
annual California Park and Recreation Conference, February 16 thru
19, 1974, in Los Angeles.
Councilman Nichols: I noticed the item of $600. to send four
Commissioners to Los Angeles.- that is
approximately the same amount of money
that has been authorized for other types of conferences attended by
Commissioners a distance away. I am wondering if in reality a sum
of $150. per Commissioner is either desirable or necessary for a
conference that is being held 20 miles down the freeway from West
Covina. I know if it was a conference that I was going to attend
that was in Los Angeles I would certainly be intending to sleep in my
own bed each night. If they were going to San Diego or San Francisco
I wouldn't question this, but I think prudence in truth might
indicate that the Commissioners can attend this with all the amenities
at a cost of less than $150. each.
Councilman Young: The legislature is about to pass the
Tippler's Tax and that might increase the
expense.
Mayor Lloyd: Mr. Aiassa, will you comment on that please?
Mr. Aiassa: Well I normally don't comment on items like
this because I tried it once and got into
trouble but I will try again. Normally in
our meetings in Los Angeles we usually go at $75. to $100. maximum
and pool cars and have one room where a couple can stay if they wish.
Councilman Chappell: This is a personal observation and I have
attempted to attend League meetings in
Los Angeles and staying home at night and I
find that I get a call from my office or a client and I end up not
going to that meeting. I think by the mere fact that our Commissioners
do stay in the area where the meeting is being held they are more apt
to get full benefit of the program. I think unless you go with the
idea of getting the full benefit of the program you will miss part of
it. I would say the $150. normally would include air transportation
to San Diego but I have no objection to their wanting to stay there
for that particular reason and they may have other reasons, but I
remember the last time the League meeting was in Los [yngeles I
- 24 -
CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER - Cont'd..
Page Twenty-five
1/28/74
intended to go regularly and I hardly got there at all. We paid our
registration fee and I only attended a couple of meetings because
all of a sudden things out here fell apart. Had I stayed there I
wouldn't have paid any attention to things going on out here and
would have attended meetings as I had planned to do. So I find no
is and
with them staying there and attending the evening meetings
and morning sessions.
Councilman Nichols: I think only in the area of where government
generally is under great criticism both
locally and nationally the citizenry are
indeed and rightly so, scrutinizing all our expenditures, where we are
asking our own people in our City to forego expenditures that we
might make if we had a greater availability of funds. I think under
these circumstances it behooves all of us to be rather prudent, maybe
ultra -conservative in our use of public funds, and although these are
not a lot I would like to think that our Commissioners could commute
into Los Angeles, stay in for the evening and in thirty minutes be
home and gain virtually as much, ard'�I think.we would be setting a good
example which I hope we ourselves would follow in similar circumstances.
Although I agree with what you are saying about maximizing a benefit
by being there on the scene, wisdom dictates to me that a more
prudent position would be to be somewhat more restrictive in the
granting of funds for attending a convention so very close to home:,, so
I will hold to my position .and vote.
Councilman Shearer: Isn't it the policy of the City that in the
case of this particular convention or any
other for that matter, that we are not
paying them $150.00 to attend the conference we expect if they only
spend $125. to get $25. back? And if they spend $175.00 that
difference is on them. That to me is the answer.' We approve not to
•exceed $150.00 with the understanding if that money isn't spent, if
someone decides not to go, we expect the whole $150. back. This is
just not a payment for being nice people and saying "I will be
going." I do agree to get the most out of the conference perhaps
they should stay if they so desire and I would like to give them that
flexibility with the understanding they return the extra money if not
spent.
Motion carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: Nichols
ABSENT: None
MAYOR'S REPORTS
SCAG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Mayor Lloyd:
This is a request
to attend
MEETING
the SCAG General
Assembly
meeting in Buena
Park on
February 71 1974, and
you have a report on
that.
Councilman Shearer:
I would be glad to move approval of
your
attendance and total expense not to
exceed
$17.00 - is that
enough?
Mayor Lloyd:
Yes, that covers
registration and I
am
chairing a panel.
Councilman Chappell: Are you going to ask for the attendance of
anyone?
Mayor Lloyd: If anyone wishes to go, needless to say just
because of my involvement - I think SCAG is
- 25 -
CITY COUNCIL Page Twenty-six
MAYOR'S REPORTS 1/28/74
an important function and I would like to say that we are also
privileged to have with us this evening in the audience the Attorney
and Counsel who serves SCAG - would you like to speak to that,
Mr. Wakefield?
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor - you are only asking for $17.00
in expenditures, don't you plan on staying
overnight?
Mayor Lloyd: No sir. Who else would like to attend?
Motion seconded by Councilman Chappell.
Councilman Chappell: Mr. Mayor, registration is $20.00, how are
you going to get away with $17.00?
Mayor Lloyd: I am on the panel.
Motion carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Lloyd
Councilman Young: Mr. Mayor, you have set an excellent example
with that modest request.
RESOLUTION NO. 4839 The City Attorney presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, SUPPORTING THE
REDEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUED OPERATION OF
ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT."
• Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Nichols, to waive
further reading of said Resolution.
Councilman Chappell: Mr. Mayor, is there some plan to discontinue
that operation?
Mayor Lloyd: Yes, the problem is simply that the runway
is in the process of falling apart and they
have to rebuild the runway either building
a parallel runway or rebuilding the current one now in use. The
current proposal provides for a long wide runway using the current
one to accommodate traffic. If this is not done they will arrive at
the point of no return in about five years at which point they will
have to shut down.
Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Shearer, seconded by Councilman Chappell, to
adopt said Resolution.
Councilman Shearer: I would like to comment. I have read some
things in the paper that might make this a
bit controversial. I think the Ontario
• Airport is vital tothis area and I think it does have an effect on
the City of West Covina and that is why I am going to vote for it,
the economic growth of this area I think the Ontario Airport is very
important.
Councilman Young: I agree with that comment and I commend
the Mayor for his continued active interest
to maintain its service. I think that is a
great service he is doing.
Mayor Lloyd: Thank you, very much.
- 26 -
CITY COUNCIL
MAYOR'S REPORTS - Cont'd.
Page Twenty-seven
1/28/74
Motion carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
• COUNCILMEN'S/REPORTS/COMMENTS
i)
•
None.
DEMANDS Motion by Councilman Shearer to approve Demands
totalling $2,159,112.69 as -listed on Demand Sheets
C939 through 942, B610A and TJ 0011. Seconded by
Councilman Young and carried on roll call vote as
follows:
AYES: Young, Nichols, Shearer, Chappell, Lloyd
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION Council recessed to the Council Conference
RE PERSONNEL AS Room at 9:46 P.M. RECONVENED IN COUNCIL
REQUESTED BY CITY CHAMBERS AT 10:24 P.M.
MANAGER
ADJOURNMENT Motion by.Councilman Young, seconded by
Councilman Chappell and carried, to adjourn
meeting at 10:24 P.M.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
APPROVED:
MAYOR