03-23-1999 - Special Meeting - Minutes[7
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 23, 1999
The special meeting of the West Covina City Council was called to order by Mayor Howard at 7:10 pm
in the Management Resource Center at City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
ROLL CALL Mayor Howard, Mayor Pro Tern Melendez, Councilmembers
Herfert, Touhey, Wong
Others Present: Hobbs, Fields, Bommarito, Samaniego, McDonald, Martyn, Paul
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Mayor Howard stated that comments would be taken at the time
each item is considered.
I SHOWMOBTLE
Acting Community Services Director Bommarito presented the
staff report. Council discussed several components: waiving fees
for particular groups or recovering costs from every requesting
group, limiting the distance to which the showmobile can be taken
from the city or restricting its use to city boundaries, and
prohibiting its use by political and for -profit groups.
Motion by Herfert and seconded by Wong to a) refer the
policy back to staff to exclude waiver of fees, and b) approve the
use of the showmobile by the City of Baldwin Park, the Filipino
Americans' Church, and the City of Pico Rivera denying the
waiver of fees for all three organizations. Motion carried 5-0.
H PARTICIPATION IN 2000 TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE
Acting Community Services Director Bommarito presented the
staff report. Discussion ensued regarding actual usage of the
Business Improvement Tax for the City's 1999 Float, as the infor-
mation provided in the staff report was inconclusive.
Ed Casanova Ed Casanova, 809 Avington, related the possibility of teaming with
Lucas films (Star Wars) in a marketing strategy for the City's 2000
Rose Float, if the plans goes as envisioned by the Float Committee.
Ziad Alhassen Ziad Alhassen, 2000 E. Garvey Avenue South, pledged $10,000
from his Dodge Dealership towards the City's 2000 Rose Float.
Mike Miller Mike Miller, 735 E. Herring Avenue, spoke as Chairman of the
City's Rose Float Committee and stated that the volunteers are
anxious to get working on next year's float. He felt Mr.
Casanova's comments on fundraising revenue estimates was a little
understated.
Councilmember Wong stated that he fully supported the float in
concept but was concerned about the financial aspects of funding
it. He expressed some skepticism about raising $175,000 and
wanted to see actual figures from last year's float and fund raising
details for the upcoming float. As in the past, he was opposed to
supporting the float with the Business Improvement Tax.
Council Minutes of 3/23/99
The other Councilmembers were comfortable with appropriating
$175,000 from the various revenue sources identified in the staff
report. They spoke of the benefit to the community, even if the
fundraising falls short of expectations. Mayor Howard suggested
more diligence in record keeping by staff.
• Motion by Herfert and seconded by Melendez to front the costs for
the 2000 float from the Business Improvement Tax with the antici-
pation that it will be repaid by fundraising activities. Council -
member Wong reiterate his opposition to the use of the BIT for
this, stating he would support the funds coming out of the General
Fund reserves. Motion carried 4-1 with Wong voting no.
Mayor Howard stated she had a Speaker's Card from John Hughes,
who wished to address the Fourth of July celebration at Cameron
Park. She entertained a motion to place the matter on the Agenda
for discussion. Motion by Wong and seconded by Herfert to add
the topic. Motion carried 5-0.
John Hughes John Hughes, West Covina Elks Chairman of the Muscular
Dystrophy fundraiser at Cameron Park, requested Council to
approve the one -day July Fourth Celebration to three days. He
said there was an urgency to his request, as his group needs to
move forward with plans and the carnival contractor.
City Manager Hobbs noted that there were two items of concern to
staff: a) overtime costs for Police for three days and b) impact on
adjacent neighborhoods.
Ms. Bommarito stated that the Chamber of Commerce is not
supportive of extending the celebration to three days. The Fourth
of July Celebration is charged against the BIT, and the extended
celebration would further deplete the BIT. She added that this item
has been scheduled to come before Council on April 6 and she has
a meeting scheduled with the Police Chief to discuss overtime
costs on Tuesday, March 24.
Lee Laue Mr, Laue, President of the West Covina Chamber of Commerce,
stated that the Board of Directors was concerned about the impact
to the BIT and the negligible benefit to the business community.
Council discussed the difference between the figures being sug-
gested for overtime police officers for this event in relation to other
events that include overtime police at no charge to the sponsoring
organization. Also discussed was the need to contact the
neighborhood regarding the extended celebration, and perhaps the
Elks Lodge could assist staff in soliciting responses. Council -
member Herfert stated his opposition to the use of BIT funds for
this but favored the idea of a three-day celebration.
Motion by Herfert and seconded by Touhey to approve the three-
day event with a $10,000 cap in additional costs, with the ability to
restrict the carnival hours if need be. Staff to report back with the
is
funding source. Motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Wong and seconded by Herfert to adjourn the meeting
at 8:25 pm. Motion carried 5-0.
2
M or Kathy ow rd
Attest:
City Clerk;Janet Berry