11-29-1994 - Special Meeting - MinutesM I N U T E S
JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION
November 29, 1994
• The joint meeting of the West Covina City Council and the Planning Com-
mission was called to order by Mayor McFadden at 6:18 pm in the Management
Resource Center at City Hall, Room 314, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West
Covina.
ROLL CALL City Council
Mayor McFadden, Mayor Pro Tem Herfert, Council -
members Manners, Touhey, Wong
Planning commission
Chairman Connolly, Vice Chairman Solinger, Com-
missioners Melendez, Reiner, Zeller
Others Present: Starbird, Wylie, Collier, McIsaac, Miller, Berry,
Yoshizaki
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA No comments offered.
GENERAL DISCUSSION Councilmembers and Commissioners discussed
expectations and communications between the two
bodies, particularly the extent to which the
views of Commissioners should reflect the
prevailing views of the City Council and the
community at large. Councilmember- Manners
encouraged the Commissioners to decide their
issues from the technical point of view, relying
on their own interpretative thinking. Council
utilizes the Planning Commission's technical
recommendations in their deliberations along
with other factors when the final decision is
made.
Chairman Connolly concurred, noting that the
Planning Commission deliberates issues from a
land use perspective while Council considers
financial and economic issues as well. Based on
all factors, should Council decide on another
course of action than that recommended by the
Planning Commission, it doesn't mean that the
Commission and Council are in conflict.
Commission Zeller felt it would be advantageous
for the Commissioners to have an understanding
of the goals and objectives for the City as
envisioned by the Council.
Councilmember Touhey suggested the Planning
Commission and the City Council meet in the
• southern portion of the City when dealing with
issues of concern to the residents south of Amar
Road. Councilmember Manners stated that Council
has met in the past in several areas of the City
and it seemed to be .well received by the
citizens.
Commissioner Melendez urged the City Council and
Planning Commission to meet together on a
regular basis.
Joint Meeting Minutes of 11/29/94
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Consensus was reached that the Council and the
Commission should meet at least once a year to
review the work program and ongoing issues. The
idea of joint study sessions on applicable
projects was favorably received.
• On another matter, it was suggested to staff
that all the commissions and commissioners be
listed in the next citywide brochure.
Discussion ensued regarding televising the
Planning Commission meetings. Assistant City
Manager Wylie stated that it was possible to
schedule them and the approximate cost would be
about $7500/year. He would need to check the,
availability of technicians to run the equipment
during the meetings. Councilmember Touhey
recommended that at least the agendas should be
placed on the cork board. Councilmember Wong
liked the idea of telephone access during the
meeting from the citizens, and if this were
possible, guidelines would need to be developed
to handle those incoming calls. Staff was
directed to report back regarding the
feasibility, cost, and other related issues.
On another matter, Vice Chairman Solinger stated
that he did not see the need to transfer BKK
issues that have been handled by the Planning
Commission in the past to another commission.
Chairman Connolly agreed, stating that the
Planning Commission's charge is land use issues
and the Waste Management and Environmental Ser-
vices Commission is charged with other technical
aspects.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT WORK PROGRAM
Planning Director Collier commenced a review of
the current fiscal year projects. As he dis-
cussed the Eastland/Foothill Transit transfer
station, Councilmember Touhey stated his support
for a transfer station but was concerned about
the valuable piece of property proposed for the
site. Mr. Collier explained requirements of the
Congestion Management Plan and the point system
of increased traffic caused by development vs
decreased emissions in our City. Councilmember
Manners noted that this would be a good topic
for a joint study session with the Planning
Commission as both bodies need a full under-
standing of this particular state law. City
Manager Starbird stated that this is a matter
that should be brought back quickly to the
Council.
Planning Director Collier commenced a general
discussion on the General Plan: the last full
• revision, the need to update the whole plan, the
relative cost of the project and the manpower to
complete. He suggested that it could be done in
phases. Discussion continued as to the need for
a comprehensive revision vs lesser alternatives.
City Manager Starbird suggested that the Plan-
ning Director, City Attorney, and staff prepare
a more critical report for Council and the Com-
mission regarding several factors in updating
Joint Meeting Minutes of 11/29/94
•
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
City Clerk :aaaet Berry
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the General Plan: which elements of the
General Plan need upgrading first, staff needs,
time frame for completion, cost, urgency in com-
pleting the document, and the consequences of
delaying.
Planning commission Action
Motion by Solinger, seconded by Melendez,
and unanimously carried to direct staff to
prepare the analysis, as suggested by the City
Manager, for Commission review sometime after
January, 1995.
City Council Action
Motion by Wong, seconded by Touhey, and
unanimously carried to direct staff to prepare
the analysis, as suggested by the City Manager,
for Council review sometime after January, 1995.
Planning commission
Motion by Solinger, seconded by Zeller, and
unanimously carried to adjourn the Planning Com-
mission at 9:45 pm
City Council
Motion by Herfert, seconded by Wong, and
unanimously carried to adjourn the City Council
at 9:45 pm.
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