01-29-1992 - Special Meeting - MinutesM I N U T E S
SPECIAL MEETING
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
January 29, 1992
The special meeting of the West Covina City Council was called to order by Mayor
Jennings at 5:40 pminthe City Hall Council Chambers, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West',
Covina. The flag salute was led by Mayor'Pro Tem Herfert.
ROLL CALL Mayor Jennings, Mayor Pro Tem Herfert, Councilmembers
Manners, McFadden
Others Present: Starbird, Wylie, Thomas, Miller, Hanna, Orr, Manheim,
Berry
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Sandy Bellville, Manager of Woodside Village Apartments,
shared photographs of the damage caused by the rain
Sandy Bellville water and mud runoff during the December 29 storm.
She asked several questions regarding whose fault was
it that the culvert was stopped up, what were the results
of the tested materials, and it also appeared to her there
were violations of the Clean Water Act.
Royal Brown, 2153 Aroma Drive, also commented about the
Royal Brown results of the tested materials.
TRACT 32323, 32324, 42159 = SOUTH HILLS HOMES PARTNERSHIP - SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS
Council reviewed the staff report.
Motion by Herfert, seconded by Manners, and unani-
mously carried to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to
Subordination agreements execute a subordination agreement with South Hills Homes
appproved Partnership, and accept a new set -aside agreement from
Union Federal Bank, subject to provision of security
for incomplete improvements satisfactory to the City
Engineer and City Attorney.
REVIEW OF WOODSIDE VILLAGE AREA FLOODING WATER QUALITY TEST -RESULTS
Community Services Division Manager introduced Blythe
Bacharawski and Rodney Nelson of the Regional Water
Quality Control Board.
Ms. Bacharawski addressed the NPDES permit, test
results and presented background information on metals
naturally occuring in water. She noted that the test
samples were done on unfiltered samples as opposed to
filtered water samples. She stated that the conclusions
of the Regional Water Quality Control Board were: no en-
forcement against BKK LAndfill was appropriate, BKK has
repaired the blockage and taken measures to ensure its
functionability (which is all that the NPDES permit
requires), and that there were no wastes from the landfill
contained in the samples tested.
Mr. Nelson explained the testing procedures and that
the dischargers are required to monitor their own samples
and send the results into the Water Quality Control
Board.
There was some discussion by the City Council as to
. whether the tests were done properly.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 29, 1992 Page 2
Council discussion Councilmember McFadden requested a staff report covering
the following: a) analyze what caused the mudslide, b)
4 did any runoff from Class I area occur, c) what measures
should be put into place to avoid a reoccurrence, d)
what can the City do as the lead agency to enforce
testing..
Councilmember Manners felt the representatives had
allayed her fears somewhat; however, she was concerned
about the self -monitoring aspects of the testing process.
She preferred to have the monitoring done by another
agency rather than the dischargers themselves.
Mayor Jennings noted that the soils engineer's report
was forthcoming which should answer questions still
pending about the incident.
City Attorney Hanna cautioned the Council from assigning
responsibility for the incident. That topic is more
appropriate for closed session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Jean Arneson, 1116 Donna Beth, asked questions of the
representatives referririg-to a 1988 report. She felt
the statistics were contradictory to a 1987 report.
She suggested the City take a -stronger role in ensuring
Jean Arneson the safety of its citizens.
Mayor Pro Tem Herfert requested staff to look into
the City's authority and City Attorney Hanna responded
that it was currently under review.
Louis Gilbert, 428 S. Fernwood Street, added his comments
to the situation and felt it:.was a major mistake that
Louis Gilbert testing for sludge was not done.
Sandy Bellville, Woodside Village Apartments Manager,
was alarmed to: -learn that BKK does its own monitoring.
She felt there was a violation of the permit and wasn't
Sandy Bellville satisfied with the answers received this evening.
The.Regional Water Quality Control Board representative,
Ms. Backarowski, addressed the comments with further
clarifications.of the process and the results obtained
from the testing samples, as well as the Board's
responsibilities in such matters.
City Attorney Hanna stated that a confidential letter
was forthcoming to Council regarding recent case law
and the City's authority as'lead agency.
Closed Session Mayor Jennings recessed the City Council meeting at
7:34 pm -to -conduct a closed session to discuss personnel
matters, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6.
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Herfert, seconded by McFadden, and unanimously
• carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 pm to 7:30 am
on January 31, 1992 for a breakfast meeting with
Assemblyman Paul Horsher at Baker's Square on Azusa
Avenna _
City Clerk Janet Be y