03-29-1999 - Special 2 Meeting - Minutes•
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 29, 1999
The special meeting of the West Covina City Council was called to order by Mayor Howard at 7:30 pm
in the Management Resource Center at City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
ROLL CALL Mayor Howard, Mayor Pro Tem Melendez, Councilmembers
Herfert, Touhey, Wong
Others Present: Hobbs, Fields, Martyn, Ybarra, Marticorena, Berry
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA No comments offered.
STUDY SESSION — PUBLIC ACCESS POLICY ISSUES
Councilmember Herfert stated that he felt that Council should not
address this issue at this time because he filed a complaint with the
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and would like to wait
until a response is received. The complaint referred to permission
granted by City Manager Hobbs to the airing of a political action
committee (FOR WEST COVINA'S Candidates' Forum) on
CATV Channel 56.
City Manager Hobbs acknowledged that the FPPC's response
would more than likely address the appropriateness or inappropri-
ateness of that airing. However, the direction being sought at this
meeting was to formulate Council's thoughts and desires into the
kind of public access policy they would like to have from this point
forward.
The City Council discussed at length the possibility of speaking to
relevant issues relative to public access while skirting the political
aspects for the. time being. Such topics for discussion could be
revamping the current policy or possibly broadcasting two
channels: a government channel and a public access channel.
The staff report was not presented. Special Counsel Marticorena
responded to several comments and questions.
* A disclaimer can be inserted on the television
screen that the program is not sponsored by the City or is not
affiliated with the City or anything similar.
* If a second channel is desired, the question as to
how it will be produced will need to be addressed — by Charter, or
Mt SAC, etc.
* Council sets the policy for the broadcasting and it
cannot be content based and must be consistently applied.
• Motion by Herfert and seconded by Melendez to hold over this
issue. Motion carried 5-0.
Councilmember Herfert asked for the following items to be
agendized on upcoming City Council agendas:
1) Opening closed sessions to the public.
2) Feasibility of installing metal detectors.
Council Minutes 3129199
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Wong and seconded by Herfert to adjourn at 9:12 pm.
Motion carried 5-0.
•
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Attest:
City Clerk Janet Ber
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