06-02-1976 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WEST COUINA, CALIFORNIA
AND..
JOINT SESSION WITH WEST cbviNA UNIFIED SCHOOL.DISTRICT BOARD
June 2, 1976 .
The adjourned regular meeting of the City Council called to order
• at 7:40 P.M. by Mayor Nevin Browne at the;Wast Covina Unified
School District Administration Building.;.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Browne; Councilmen: Miller,
Chappell, Shearer, Tice
Others Present: WEST COVINA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS:
Dale Henderson, President
Richard Jennings
Mary Lewis
Jack Hochberger, Dir. of Personnel
Phineas Goldstein, Ass't. Superintendent
Dr. Clifford S. Thyberg, Supt. of Schools
Sanford Smith
Sam Sornborger
Richard Brammer
Leonard Eliot, City Manager
Michael Miller, Pub. Serv. Dir.,
Bill Freemon, Staff Reporter, S.G.U.D.T.
Gloria Davidson, Deputy City Clerk
JOINT MEETING WITH THE Mr. Henderson: It was our intention
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO at this meeting to
• CONSIDER CHARGE TO THE decide on the items to
CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO be included in the
STUDY FUTURE USE OF charge of the Committee to study the
SUNSET SCHOOL future of the Sunset School site. This
afternoon I made some notes as a possible
framework f.or this charge of the Blue
Ribbon Committee. (Read and passed copies
to Council members)
"Charge to Blue Ribbon Committee, Re
Sunset4:School Site: 1 - Sunset School Site has.been declared sur-
plus by WCUSD; 2 - Appropriate.State and County agencies have denied
interest in buying captioned property for any use; 3 - City of West
Covina has indicated interest in obtaining the property for a fair
price; 4 City of Wsst Covina has indicated interest in developing
the property for r�e:oreatio`M6I 4= educational puriposes; 5 - The fair
price to cdneu#iate sale trhd• tranvfor of property from WCUSD to City
of West Covin c6uld 0, t be Agre&d upo'n by bath parties; 6 - Two bids
each have been Obtaihed -an tht 0!tq O-rty by. froth parties, and this did
not resolve the 1Atk of agrcomf3bt vaga�rding. the fair market value of
the proport y7 - Thy WCtkS�3's pa iitis -n hs.s been that tax funds for
educational._purpg.sas wore us" to pgy for the Sunset School property
and thus any Funds dorived itna•sale or transfer of the property
should be used to -buy oducat onal c�;�itai outlay items- which have
been denied etta,dants. .during WCU1,50's rg-aid.-gr.owth;. this according to
• the Educational, CO.6a, B T•tre WCUSD is desirous to sell and transfer
Sunset School Sit-o tQ thb City b.,r Ue!at Co.sr na for a fair price, the
proceeds of which wcfu'Id be doskgna-ted, for capital outlay for needed
educational •purpvs.es '
CITY COUNCIL ADJR. REG. MEETING
JOINTLY WITH W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL Page Two
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION 6/2/76
'Therefore, we charge the Sunset School Site Blue
Ribbon Committee to: 1 - Investigate the desirability and
plausibility of the sale of the Sunset School Site by the WCUSD
to the City of West Covina; 2 - Make a recommendation or optional
suggestions as to the financial arrangements to accomplish said
• sale or transfer of the property if plan to sell or transfer is
found to be desirable; 3 - Make recommendation to insure that the
interests of the taxpayers of West Covina will.be best served and
that past taxes paid for educational purposes will be so directed
as to serve educational purposes; 4 - Make recommendations as to
the future use of the Sunset School for the advantages of all the
citizens of West Covina.'
'We pledge to make available to the Committee the
necessary resourices to accomplish this charge, including informa-
tion gathered in previous negotiations, any previous studies made
and any other pertinent information desired by the Committee. We
encourage the Committee to audit the _c.it,z;enry,' of West Covina,
through open public presentations, to obtain the broadest possible
understanding of the desires of the community."
(Mr. Henderson pointed out that Item 7 is one that is perspective
and not necessarily shared by the Board of Education members or
City Council, but perhaps should be part of the charge submitted
to the Committee.)
Mr. Henderson: Obviously this is not etched, :'. in stone,
it is just the perimeters for our dis-
cussion this evening.
Mayor Browne: Gentlemen, City Council having taken a
• stand on previous negotiations we have
also come up with the philosphy on our
intent,.which I shall read: "The purpose of the Sunset School
Committee is to find a methods -whereby the citizens of the West
Covina Unified School District and the citizens of the City of West
Covina may have available recreational facilities as well as
educational and vocational progra-m-s for their use: such programs
to be offered both at the present Sunset' -.School Site and at other
school areas to be selected.'
'This Committee should seek to find a
method whereby a cooperative agreement can be achieved through
which title to the Sunset School site may be transferred to -the
City of West Covina, together with the responsibility for the City
to conduct programs there for the general good of the citizens of
the District and the City.'
'Whether compensation shall be paid to
the School District in a fixed dollar amount, or whether the School
District will benefit adequately by the City providing physical
facilities for recreational purposes at the other school sites, is
a matter to be determined by the members of this Committee. We
must bear in mind that in great part taxpayers of the West Covina
unified School District are also taxpayers of the City of West
Covina; therefore, the payment of dollars from one political entity
to another with the same taxpayers does not better the positions of
those citizens. The provision of greatly expanded recreational,
educational, and vocational programs would be of general benefit to
the citizens and, therefore, is an avenue that does appeal to the
City Council of the City of West Covina. However, the recommendation
is yours to be achieved objectively after meeting with your counter-
parts nominated by the School District and the chairman who has been
jointly agreed upon.'
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CITY COUNCIL ADJ. REG. (MEETING
JOINTLY WITH W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL Page Three
DISTRICT. BOARD OF EDUCATION .6/2/76
That is the concept that the City
Council has on this which is pretty parallel with what you have
stated, fir. Henderson.
• Mr. Henderson: Obviously there were several alternate
suggestions made available in your
comments.
Mayor Browne: Yes, I think the ,Committee should have
a program with alternate alternatives
to pursue in case these two bodies do
not justify possibly the first recommendation and that we should
sit down and negotiate any alternatives they may suggest.
Councilman Shearer: If I may, a comment on the two papers
read. I think there needs to be some
modification to differentiate between
the positions taken by each of the bodies previously and the charge
now to the Committee. I feel some of the language in here pre-
supposes to the Committee certain things. For example, in the
document the City has presented we state, and it may well turn out
this way, I am not arguing it one way or the other, but I would
like to see the Committee have greater leeway. The statement is
made in the City's comments, second paragraph ".....whereby a
cooperative agreement can be achieved through which title to the
Sunsbt::School Site may be transferred to the City of West Covina,
together with the responsibility for the City to conduct programs
there for the general good of the citizens of the District and the
City." This to me limits it. When we say this is a charge I
think we would have to eeparate that -when the City is all through
we do not have fee title to the property. And I think the #3 at
• the bottom of the page of the School District's proposal again pre-
supposes on the Committee the fact that dollars have been spent by --
the School District,which is quite true, and that these funds are
going to somehow have to be reimbursed otherwise nothing will happen.
That may well be the recommendation of the Committee but I would
like to see them have the leeway to make that recommendation or to
make some other which might not require a dollar for dollar exchange
of funds.
Councilman Tice: I think both of these papers are fine and
more or less set the positions of both;
however, I would prefer that the Committee
use this as input but not as a charge as indicated here and that they
determine on their own what method is best for the disposition of
the•School Site and make this recommendation to both parties. This
gives them some ideas of positions on both sides of the issue but
I would prefer to let them set their own ground rules.
M@yor Browne: I concur with Councilman Tice's position
on this. I think the only charge given to
this Committee should be that they keep
two things in mind: 1 - Benefits to th-e students.,and children -'of -,our
bbmmunity;,2-?the-citizent-of our community. Other than that.,they
be given full latitude to make the recommendations they see fit.
Gather as much information as they can and there are a number of
• reports, research studies, etc., on file'for their use. In essence
in appointing this Committees, now these two bodies withdraw the
positions they held two years ago and at this time we are starting
new and fresh and have appointed this Committee to bring back the
recommendations to us.'
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CITY COUNCIL ADJ. REG. MEETING Page Four
JOINTLY WITH W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL 6/2/76
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mr. Sornborger: I would like to point out to the
Council, as Mr. Henderson said, these
are his notes, the Board as a whole
has not gone over them. If we deviate from it it is purely in
• the terms of the fact that everyone thinks as an individual on
the Board.
I would like to say I concur with what
has been said because,primarily I don't think the Committee should
be restricted in anyway. We should give them some general charges
but not specifics because I can see other purposes the site can
serve without an actual exchange of money and I think that is what
the Committee should come up with. We should state what we hope
to accomplish from the School Board's point of view and the City
Council's point of view and then let them come up with their
suggestions and then that is the time to debate.
Councilman Chappell: Are the members of the Committee all
here tonight?
Mayor Browne: The School Board has picked their
members and it was publicly announced
last week, but as yet we have not
announced the two members the City has picked.
Councilman Chappell: I would like to comment a bit on the
past history of this. What started all
this is the fact that the School District
declared a school site surplus. The City Council has for many
years pointed out the fact that this end of town has no park.
Orangewood Park is certainly not a park,per se. We have looked
for land and*attempted to rectify this situation. We have parks
• in the Galster area, on the north and south side of the City but
we do not have a park in this end of the city. So when the
school site became available in the form of declaring it surplus,
it seemed a logical and ideal location to provide the citizens
of this part of the community with a reasonable type park and that
is where I think the Committee should start from as they search
out their findings. There is a need in this end of town fora
park and the decision to be made is how can we all work together
to accomplish this so everyone is happy.
Mr. Jennings: A question. Is this pretty much the un-
animous opinion of.the Council that a
park is what is desired?
Mayor Browne: As Mr. Chappell indicated a park would
be one of the purposes,but it could
also be used as a recreational center
and we need recreational facilities such as this. Also,it could
be used for vocational programs through our Recreation and Parks
Department where at present we have no building facilities to
hold such and these type of things are always held in park sites.
Councilman Chappell: And right next door'to Sunset School site
isa facility used by the City as a
Maintenance Yard and the Council has
• thought in the past if we acquired Sunset School site we would
remove our Maintenance area from that location and expand,the
park to more uses, which makes the School Site more valuable.
We can have a recreat.ional.facility, a Senior Citizens area,
educational programs, etc., as well as an outstanding park site.
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CITY COUNCIL ADJ. REG. MEETING Page Five
JOINTLY WITH W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL 6/2/76
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mayor Browne: I think we have brought out the intent_
and purposes of the probable use of the
school site and should now continue on with
our instructive guidelines to the Committee. Perhaps we can compile
• the two papers together to be read out to the Committee. Is there
any suggestions on the part of Councilmon the combining of the,two
papers with the intent it be rewritten?
Councilman Tice: My feeling is if they have these two
documents.,let them mull it over and come
up with something for our review.. They
are going to be working with this and should have a free hand.
They are put together to tell us what to do, we want their
recommendations.
Councilman Chappell: Mr. Mayor, if the School Board has
announced their choices I think it
would be appropriate for the Mayor
to announce our choices now.
Mayor Browne: Our choices were resolved last night
after the submission of numerous names
to us. I think James Gonsalves is present
tonight and Robert Bacon is the other Committee member, he is not
present tonight.
Mr. Henderson: Harvey Krieger has been selected to head
the Committee and the two Committee
members appointed by the Board are
Emma Fischbeck ;,,and .Ray Amatore and both are present tonight.
(Mr. Henderson and Mayor Browne discussed where the meetings were
• to be held and what staff assistance would be available and it
was decided that this could be determined by the Chairman of that
group. Mr. Sornborger suggested that one location be picked for
all the meetings and then hold to it.)
Mary Lewis: It seems to me we can each express an
opinion but I am not sure that we have
really yet stated what we are going to
do. My feeling when I considered this matter was as to what was
the best thing to do as far as directing the Committee as to what
they were to come up with which was to have them come up with the
best use of the site and have them offer suggestions on how that
could be accomplished, and not give them too many other things to
go by. I have heard something like that expressed by several
people here,but I wonder if we do have concurrence on that. I
don't know�but when you set up a Committee to do something that
you then ask them to state what they are going to do. I think
you have to give them some reason for being. Have we done that?
Mr. Henderson: At this point I think it has been
suggested that we give them these two
documents and let them come back to us
with their outline of what they are going to do.
r
• Mr. Brammer: I think it has been pretty much the
conversation here this evening as it
was a couple of years ago, that we were
looking at this site for recreational — educational -use. Now if
we tell them to ascertain the best use for that site or what will
guarantee the most revenue to the School District, I guarantee you
it is not going to the City but to some other possible use.
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CITY COUNCIL ADJ. REG. MEETING
JOINTLY WITH W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
Page Six
6/2/76
I think the Committee should address
itself to the purpose of making this a recreational - educational
facility. I think that is the intent of both of these bodies,
if possibly the citizens of the community can get some benefits
from doing this.
Councilman Miller: Coming down to this point and possibly
if they concur it sounds like it will
be a recreational - educational use - -
is the next two objectives,then;)to determine the financial aspects
of it, to what extent the buildings should be used for
recreational, educational, etc. Are they going to build the
program along with the financial aspect?
(Mr. Henderson explained that the development would be up to the
one that has the ,ava.i_lability of it.)
Mr. Henderson: Would it be possible for the two bodies,
while here, to come out with a broad
paragraph with that kind of a charge?
Mr. Shearer, would you be in the position of expressing your
thoughts once again?
Councilman Shearer:
they might come up with an
recreational - educational
scope and that would limit
I think we should limit it. As
Mr. Brammer indicated, if you say the
best use and greatest revenue return
auto center. If our intent is
uses then we should st-ay:;within that
their consideration.
The purpose of the Sunset School
Committee is to investigate and recommend the method for the
Sunset School Site to be made available to the citizens of
West Covina for recreational and educational uses; the recommenda-
tion shall include initial financial arrangements as well as a
continuing program responsibility. I Would move that the City
adopt that as a charge to the Committee,
Seconded by Councilman Tice'and carried.
Motion by Mr. Brammer that the Board of Education adopt this charge
to the Committee; seconded by Mr. Sornborger.
Mary Lewis: Mr. Henderson, I just wanted to say I
was sorry that we were not going to
trust the Committee to come up with the best use and expect it
would be recreational - educational; however, I will vote for the
motion.
.Motion carried.
Mayor Browne: On behalf of the City Council, we
certainly appreciate the opportunity`
to sit here and help decide the direction
for the disposition of the Sunset School site. We thank you.
At this time we will adjourn our adjourned meeting back to the
City Hall for the purpose of an Executive Session regarding the
making of a decision on the selecting of our new City Manager.
COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING AT 8:11 P.M. AND RECONVENED MEETING
AT THE CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM AT CITY HALL AT 8:27 P.M.
•
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CITY COUNCIL ADJ. REG. MEETING
Page Seven
6/2/76
JUNIOR WOMAW S'CLUB
REQUEST Motion by -.Councilman Chappell to
approve the request from-the,Junior
Woman's Club to conduct an anti -rabies
clinic, Friday, June 18, 1976 from
7:00 P.M. to_.10:00 P.M. in the North Parking Lot'behind City
Hall; seconded by Councilman Tice and carried.
ANY OTHER MATTERS
RESOLUTION NO. 5243 The Mayor presented:
ADOPTED A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA,
ACCEPTING THE GRANT FOR THE EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY BURGLARLY
PREVENTION PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE
CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THE BURGLARLY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
Motion by Councilman Tice to waive full reading of said resolution,•'
seconded by Councilman Shearer and carried.
Lotion by Councilman Tice to adopt said resolution; seconded by
Councilman Shearer and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Miller, Chappell`,'Shearer,, Tice, Browne
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Browne: Are there any matters that Council would
like to discuss at this time?
Motion by Councilman Chappell that a resolution be prepared,
perma plaqued and presented as follows'
RESOLUTION NO. 5244 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
ADOPTED CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, FOR
THE EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM
IN HONOR OF THEIR WINNING -THE CIF CHAMPIONSHIP.
Motion by Councilman Shearer to waive full reading of said resolu—
tion; second.ed by Councilman Tice and carried.
Motion by Councilman Tice to adopt said resolution; seconded by
Councilman Shearer and carried on roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Miller, Chappell, Shearer, Tice, Browne
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor recessed the Council meeting
for the purpose of conducting an executive'
session regarding the selecting of a new
City Manager. Went into Executive Session
at 8:30 P.I.
gD,�n�iRntmFNT Motion by Councilman Shearer to adjourn
meeting at 10:00 P.M., to June 7, 1976
at 5:00 P.M., for Budget Review; second—
ed by Councilman Tice and carried.
ATTEST:
., C I T Y CLERK
APPR0VED:
MAYOR
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