11-24-1975 - Special Meeting - Minutes•
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA
AND
JOINT MEETING WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
NOVEMBER 24, 1975.
Mayor Chappell called the special meeting of the City Council
in joint session with the Chamber of Commerce to order at
4:34 P.M., in the City Manager's Conference Room of the West
Covina City Hall.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Chappell; Councilmen: Shearer,
Miller, Browne, Tice
Chamber of Commerce Board Members:
John Adams, Alex Goodman, Andy Bogis,
Bernie Bergman, Bob Weinreb, Joe Riordan
and George Strachan, George Zartman
Others Present: George Aiassa, City Manager
Lela Preston, City Clerk
Michael Miller, Acting Pub. Serv, Dir.,
Ross Bonham, _ Administrative Ass't.
Bill Freemon, Staff Reporter, S.G.U.D.T.
JOINT MEETING WITH
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
a) REVIEW OF THE 1974- (Council received copies of the Annual
1975 ANNUAL REPORT Report and Financial Statement)
_ George Strachan summarized the high-
lights of things accomplished in the past gear; the Retail Trade
Promotion Program included four major promotions: The Fall Pro-
motion, Christmas Promotion, Spring Promotion and the 4th of July
Promotion. Stated that approximately S20,000 of the funds ear-
marked for these various promotions obtained through the Business
License Tax was spent, and in addition 320,000 of matching funds
from the merchants or a total of $Ei40,000 was spent in the general
promotion of retail trade. Some of the other publicity promotions
were: The County Fair Exhibit, winning first prize; Miss Covina :
Pageant was also a successful project playing to about a thousand
people and getting a great deal of publicity for the City; the
Citizen of the Year Program, and the Tourist Promotion Program, in
which we were able to schedule some conferences and assist in
others that brought additional people to the Valley.
Business Development Department:
Mr. Strachan stated there is a rundown in the brochure on the work
the Chamber did, indicating the businesses brought in during the
course of the year; the approval of the Eastland .Area as a Redevelep-
ment Project Area; the coordination of the groups connected with the
Fashion Plaza area; the Glendora Avenue Improvement meetings to
approve plans for refacing of buildings and improvement of parking;
and the Undergrounding of Utilities Special Committee.
The Economic Analysis - C.B.D. Phase II:
As far as growth is concerned the Chamber felt it was substantial
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Page Two
11/24/75
over and above the Fashion Plaza and the brochuree, tOLIches on the
Priority Planning Areas of South Glendora to the city limits and
the Valley -Nogales Area; Eastland Area re land use, circulation
and undeveloped land.
• The Chamber of Commerce members worked
on many projects including circulation, highways and transportation,
relating to Freeway Construction and expanded transportation within
the City; Garvey Name Change; Vincent Avenue Widening and Commercial
Vehicle Parking.
In Public Relations and Publications
eight major projects Were studied and carried out this year:
Economic Development Brochure; Windsor Publication; a brochure on
Where to Stay and Dine;,the Annual Report; the Project 175 Ad
in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune; Bicentennial Program; the
monthly publication re West Covina Business has been enlarged and
it has been so Well received that circulation is now approximately
two thousand; and in the area of Public Relations and Press Rela-
tions special emphasis has been placed; coverage of all Chamber
events has been greatly expanded. A few years ago these various
publications and brochures were put out in quantities of two to
four thousand, now it is running between 159000 and 409000 each.
Mr. Bernie Bergman summarized the
accounting of monies, most of which is derived from..the Business
Improvement Tax, Membership Dues and Special Projects. Referrin`q
to the Statement of Operations showing comparisons for the years
of 1974 and 1975, listed excess income of 33,752 in 1975 in the
Business Improvement Division; 1975 — Special Projects Division in
• 1975 a loss of $29840; and Women's Division excess income in 1975
of $9.
Councilman Tice noted in the Statement
of Operations the City of West Covina license income was down to
$1.49000 in.1975 whereas it was $209000 the year before.
Mr. Bergman explained the income is expected to be greater for the
next year because the budget for the same period was actually
$169000 but the monies were not received by June 30th and since
this.is on the total basis of cash receipts rather than accrual
Of income in this particular category, it will reflect itself in
the future year income basis.
Mayor Chappell stated the most
interesting part is that there were some results from this
program in the last year - it was a very good year overall in
Chamber relationship with the City and he felt with that as a
target to shoot for this year it would,be equally good.
Mr. Adams: Mr. Mayor and Council members, we would
like to move in on what we have
accomplished in 1975/76 starting July 1.
We have five major fields of work;(referred to brochure and asked
Mr. Alex Goodman to bring the Council current on the issues.)
Mr. Goodman spoke of the current promo-
tion now going on - the Thanksgiving Day Program; also talked of the
• Big Bertha Slot Machine promotion now going on in the City, explained
the prizes to be given, the publicity obtained from this, etc., stating
it has brought many people in to West Covina to shop. Went on to
talk of the Christmas Promotion coming up, the tree will be lighted
on the 4th of December, Council will receive letters of invitation to
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Page Three
WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 11/24/75
attend; Santa Claus will be 'there and will appear at all the srna.l.l.nr
shopping areas in the City throughout the month. 5poke of a future
promotion. to, be held on April. 0 in conjunction wi-th the circus that:
w-.11 be in town at the same time, explained what is beinq planned.
Mentioned briefly the advertising campaign going an in the papers
and on the air - 20 commercials a day. The Ch,,..amber purchased 7
• spots and the business community bought the balance of them.
Mr. Bergman called attention to the
Taxable Retail Sales graph, cony of which Council. had, pointing
out the increases since 1969 and that the first 6 months of 1975
topped that of 1974 by nineteen million dollars in sales.
Mr. Adams stated the response is very good on the promotions not
only from the shoppers but also from the merchants.
Membership Activities: It was pointed
out the membership went from 281 to 385 and the goal was 500 by
July 1, 1976. Mr. Goodman explained what is planned in regard to
the Business Booster Breakfasts where new memberships are usually
obtained. Also talked of the forthcoming Christmas Party paid for
by Home Savings and Loan and held at Home Savings and Loan.
Andy Russell and his band will be there and the Chamber hopes to pick
up a number of new members. A number'of things are being planned
for next year, one of them the "Take a Cop to Lunch" program will be
held probably in April;. and a seminar is being planned to help
increase membership; also a follow-up on the seminar held in
San Diego is planned in order to discuss further the input from
that seminar and plans for implementing some of the ideas - this
will be sometime after the Holidays.
Mr. Bergman, in charge of planning the
• various seminars,commented one seminar he had in mind came out of.
the San Diego conference and that was a desire to make the
community at large familiar with the nature bf the various businesses
in the City, how they functioned, etc., and also the relationship
of the Chamber of Commerce, and he was trying to arrange a program
that would.get this message across to the community at large.
Mr. Strachan said the Chamber is committed to seminars covering
the field of Income Tax Reporting, Advertising, the'Bad Check
Problem and Shoplifting and has the expertise to conduct these
seminars and will be doing so in this year.
Publications: Mr. Strachan showed the
newest brochure - a Buyer's Guide and Civic Directory and explained
its contents; will be mailed to every resident in West Covina; the
theme will be to keep your dollars at home, do your shopping in
West Covina - these are the people that will provide the services
and goods you need. Cost is in excess of S3,000.
Another brochure - Where to Stay and
Dine - fairly new and are out in all the hotels, also included as
a mailing piece to people inquiring about moving into the area or
locating a business here - about 30 to 40 per week go out on this
type of inquiry. And the Business Outlook is being constantly
improved in its contents. Explained the advertising in the papers,
and showed some of the recent newspaper ads, explained the cost,
and pointed out the record of increased sales indicates acceptance
• of all of these things.
Mr. Adams.commented one other area is
Economic Development - this is seeking out and being responsive
to inquiries from new businesses and George Zartman and
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SPECIAL CIT`l ;iIR,CIL MEETING Page Four
WITH CNUIOER OF _COMMERCE � 11./24/75
George Strachzn are involved in this and ;)h.i.1 Wax hecJds the Land
Use Committee and a lot of there things are still in the
talking stage.
Mr. Strachan commented on current
viable prospects: a bowline center is still a good possibility;
• stated the Chamber is working very closely with City Staff on
these various viable ;ar.osp acts, it :3 a cooppralLive effort.
Currently working on two hotels, two new restaurants, two banks
two paint stores, a specialty food shop, two department stores,,
K-Mart is pretty well firmed up, three: public service industries
are seriously involved in .locating in West Covina; also the
Social Security relocation and also attempting to fill the build-
ing they are vacating. Stall working with the.DFIIV and the
.response about a week ago was that the plans were out to bid now
and they hope to start construction not too long after the first
of the year. Also working with a light M-I type industry in a
rather sophisticated field of solar energy - trying to work with
these people and some property owners in the Orange/Merced Area.
This is without the benefit of redevelopment but they are serious
so we are trying to work out the details and we will be working
with the Planning Staff also. And we are working with a major
office space user OF about 20,000 square feet. Currently working
with about eight different development companies (mentioned some
of them.)
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Mr. Strachan: One of the interesting developments in
the past thirty days is that some of
these people are becoming more and more
interested in taking on shopping centers that need help and are
deteriorating and they want to rehabilitate them. We are now work-
ing with two major developers that are very interested in this
field. So we are hoping to move ahead not only in the Glendora
Center Area, which we are deeply involved in, but also in a
couple of other areas. And a Foreign Car City Type thing is taking
up a great deal of our time and I think this is a very good
prospect. Also working with two developers on a high rise office
building, hoping to get at least one.
And the Transportation Center we are
just starting our studies on that in developing something in the
field of transportationdevelopment which will act as a catalyst
in West Covina to bring about all the various forms of transporta-
tion into one Center.
The West Covina Center is one of the
most exciting things we are moving ahead with now and it is
practically a top priority with the possible projection of Garvey
Avenue and maybe some redevelopment in that area. These are plans
that have been developed as a result of the Williams & Mocine
studies and other private studies by West Covina Chamber and City
Staff. We have metwith the property owners in the Glendora/
Vincent area and they are in agreement that things must move ahead
and have taken a favorable.step in approving the plans basically as
presented. These, I think, are the major things we.are involved
in.. We are involved in a Tot of smaller things also.
further) (Explained
Mr. Adams:. I certainly want to recognize
George Zartman and Phil Wax as two of
the
people
time and effort on Economic Develomenth�tifav`'pent a lot of
like to comment? P You gentlemen would
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL. MEETING Page Five
WITH CHAMBER. OF COMMERCE 1.1./24/75
Mr. Zartman: The New Business Devci opment Committee
is a small committee which we are pur-
posely keeping small so we can zero in
on.the3e new business prospects. We decided this year one of the
things we would do is get a data bank on what we need .in the line
of businesses in this city - what wehave and what we don't have.
• Someone is now working on that, itemizing all. business in the city
and those that we don't have and want to get. The Land Use
Planning Committee headed by Phil Wax is vital to our group. We
feel in our. Committee that it isn't what you did last year but
what are you going to do for me tomorrow, and what we want to do
is try and fill up every vacant piece of land in the city with a
viable business.
Phil Wax: All I can add is that We are now
waiting for the leadership at
Council level. lifter two or three
years of hard work and professional studies and effort on the
part of Chamber members - well I think there are three or four
excellent proposals lined up now for the City to take leadership
on. The Chamber is ready to stand in back of you but I think we
have done all that we can and now it is up to Council to take
the leadership on implementation.
Mr. Adams: We are not. really here to blow our
horn but to express our appreciation
to the City Staff for their representa-
tion on all of our committees, they have contributed a lot and we
look to them for their expertise which we don't have on our
committees. We certainly get Council par"ticipation.and support in
all of our activities and these things we do appreciate. This
• completes our reporting Mr. Mayor and Council. We have enjoyed
the opportunity to do it and we know we have a commitment to do
it per our agreement but we look more to it as a pleasure to come
before you and tell you what we are doing and trying to do and
ask for your comments and help.
Councilman Tice: Mr. Mayor, a comment. I said this
several months ego but I think it
should be repeated - your staff and
Board of Directors are doing one heck of a fine job and should
be commended.
Mayor Chappell: I know Council is very pleased with the
relationship because we are continuing
with our contract. There is one thing I
would like to mention since we are a. business board - is the
rumors that are going on in our City, in this instance with regard
to the Fashion Plaza. This is killing.us. There was �:-i meeting
prior to this one with the Center people and our Police Department
to discuss and make .sure that we are doing everything possible to
make all of our Centers safe, not only the Fashion Plaza and
Eastland. We hope that you get out to your membership that none of
these rumors are true. rf we could only figure out a way to
reach these_ people and nip the rumorw in the bud; we can't
constantly be going to the press and having them say West Covina
is a great place, etc. etc. (Commented at further length on the
• untrue rumors and what might be done to stop those rumors.)
We are meeting with our law enforcement
and safety people to make sure that everything is being done that
is possible.. But this is something we have to work-out at the
business level because employees are making.these statements on
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Pa(--) Six
WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ll/' 4/75
occasion, and the leaders of the community are making these
statements. One of them made ,--i statoment to my partner today
a businessman in our community. Ue are all doing to have to work
on this together, not with ballyhoo and advertising but word or
mouth saying "let's cool. it, it hasn't happrnud, and we are doing
everything in our power to make sure it doesn'i happen. So if you
• can get the word out to the membership that these things havenot
happened and we are doing our best to make sure they don't happen.
Today we released a news item to the papers saying — lock your car,
close your car windows, etc. If the Chamber has any ideas or
thoughts of how we can improve this communication to our citizenry
to let them know we are not having these troubles, that they are
not true.
Mr. Wax: Fir. Mayor, I would only add that maybe
you should have a Rumor Control
Committee made up of people like the
Mayor, Mr. Strachan, the President of the Chamber, good strong
people, and if you hear of a rumor someone of high level should
call on that person who said they heard that from somebody else
and so on — first .check the rumor out and get the facts to make
sure these instances are not true and then call on the person
relating the rumor. This should be a Committee that you can check
back with — but when you have the true story these people should
be called on and advised of the true facts. ,
Mayor Chappell: That might be an approach to make.
We can kick that around and see if we
cad do something with it. I don't think
this is something that will be happening just now but that it is
something that we have to live with in our society of today.
• So if anybody has an ideas or solutions let's hear about them
because it is something I think we are going to have to keep
owrking on.
We thank you for your report. You are
doing a marvelous job, keep it up. =f Council is now to take
some of these things under advisement get them to Council so we
can study them and make decisions.
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Councilman Tice, seconded by
Councilman Browne and carried, to
adjourn meeting at 5:25 P.M.
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