07-02-2002 - Special 2 Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
• July 2, 2002
Mayor Touhey called to order the special meeting of the West Covina City Council and the special
meeting of the Redevelopment Agency at 7:45 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1444 W. Garvey
Avenue, West Covina. The purpose of calling the meetings to order together was to consider the Big
League Dreams project concurrently as actions would be required of both bodies.
ROLL CALL City Council:
Mayor Touhey, Mayor Pro Tem Herfert, Councilmembers Miller,
Sanderson, Wong
Redevelopment Agency:
Chairman Touhey, Vice Chairman Herfert, Agency Members
Miller, Sanderson, Wong
Others Present: Pasmant, Alvarez-Glasman, Fields, Chung, Swink, Hatch, Clark,
Tedesco, Freeland, Yauchzee, Genovese, Villegas, Durbin, Lee,
Bachman, Tompkins, Gardner, Greene, Rodriquez, Samaniego,
Morgan, MacMaster, Williams, Lennard, Semblantes, Berry
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
The City Council commenced a discussion on proper noticing of
the meeting and received the following comments from audience
participants:
Ferdinand Chan Ferdinand Chan, 3129 Virginia Avenue and member of the Waste
Management/Environmental Quality Commission, felt his com-
mission was overlooked in the review process of the Big League
Dreams project, proposed for the BKK Landfill site.
Royal Brown Royal Brown, 2153 Aroma Drive, felt the legislative intent of the
Brown Act is to make available to the public the same information
given to the City Council within the 72-hour guidelines specified
in the Brown Act. He requested that the matter be held over for
more time for public review.
Councilmember Herfert suggested that the matter be opened for
discussion this evening and then held over until another evening
for conclusion. Council agreed to take public input this evening
and continue the subject matter to another day and time for actions
to be taken by the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency.
Big League Dreams BIG LEAGUE DREAMS PROJECT
Redevelopment Agency Director Chung presented the staff report.
A Big League Dreams video followed.
BLD Representatives Speaking for the Big League Dreams team:
1) Rick Odekirk, Managing Director of BLD of USA, spoke
about Big League Dreams as a first class facility, affordable
to families, and the benefits to the community.
Council Minutes of 7/2/02 (BLD)
I]
•
2) Scott LeTellier, CEO of BLD, explained his role with Big
League Dreams: financials, investments, and legals.
3) Darrell Miller, Sports Coordinator, spoke of his work with
BLD in dealing with the youth.
4) Nellie Cruz, Human Resources Coordinator, explained that
the all but four or five of the employees at BLD in West
Covina would be West Covina residents.
5) Don Webber, Vice President/Development, explained how
BLD determined that there was a market here in West
Covina for their facility.
6) Bill Russell, former professional baseball player with the
Dodgers, spoke highly of the positive impact on the youth
that BLD provides.
7) Jay Johnson, former professional baseball player with the
Dodgers, spoke of the good, clean and safe environment for
youth that BLD provides.
Upon conclusion of the BLD presentation, comments from the
audience on the proposed project followed:
Corey Warshaw Corey Warshaw, 3330 E. Holt Avenue, commented at length with
a list of approximately twenty items and questions.
Ferdinand Chan Ferdinand Chan, 3129 Virginia Avenue, supported the develop-
ment of the BKK site into the recreational plans presented. He felt
the reference to the site as being on the verge of "super -funded"
was a scare tactic and should not be used. He wanted to be sure
the City addressed contaminated water issues.
John Shewmaker John Shewmaker, 1825 Borrego Drive, spoke in favor of the
project.
Royal Brown Royal Brown, 2153 Aroma Drive, spoke favorably of the project;
however, he suggested Item No. 4 be deleted so that the proposed
gymnasium at Cameron Park not be relocated to the BLD site.
John Scheuplein John Scheuplein, 1800 Aroma Drive, spoke in favor of the project
and agreed with the previous speaker in keeping a proposed
gymnasium at Cameron Park.
Herb Redholtz Herb Redholtz, 2622 Altamira Drive, spoke in favor of the BLD
project.
Tom Masterson Tom Masterson, 2028 Brentwood Drive, spoke in favor of the
proposed development for the site.
Wayne Heieck Wayne Heieck, 1313 S. Sunkist Avenue, spoke in favor of the
BLD project, noting that the time has come for a change at the
BKK site.
Staff Response
City Manager Pasmant, Special Counsel Leonard, and City
Attorney Alvarez-Glasman responded to the questions posed by
the public.
In relation to the BKK site, Special Counsel Leonard said
that the liability as to the maintenance and remediation of the
landfill does not change with any of the actions to be taken by
Council. Those issues will still be the responsibility of BKK, as
required by the EPA and the DTSC. He also stated that a
Prospective Purchaser Agreement between the City and the EPA
and DTSC would protect the City.
2
Council Minutes of 7/2/02 (BLD)
•
ADJOURNMENT
Big League Dreams project
Continued to 7/6/02
• Attest:
V
City Clerk Janet Berry
Council Comments
Councilmember Wong complimented Big League Dreams on their
presentation; however, it wasn't clear as to how local preference
would be handled. He then explained the financials noting that the
City would be investing $20 million and that Big League Dreams
would be investing zero funds into the property acquisition and
construction of the project. The City is taking all the risks and
BLD is taking none, and that is why he would be voting no on the
project.
Councilmember Sanderson presented approximately twelve
reasons for supporting the project, including: creating jobs,
increasing the reputation of the City, support for it among the
residents, the need to increase revenues, and the site needs to be
developed. She felt the public's questions were answered well by
the City Manager and the City Attorney.
Councilmember Herfert noted that professionals have reviewed the
project. The economics of the project make sense to him and he
saw no need to debate the financials.
Councilmember Wong spoke further about the City's budgetary
situation, giving the history of City's surplus and deficits. The
City's deficit budget of the last couple of years is not related to the
closure of the landfill. He said that what is wrong with this project
is that the City would be investing $20 million now and after 35
years, calculated on current value, the City would receive a return
of $5 million. The City is going to lose $15 million.
Councilmember Miller reminded the audience that his commitment
to the residents is to ensure that the BKK site is safe for the
community. He acknowledged the reports and analyses conducted
by staff and hoped the general public would review them as well.
He noted that that site is closer to going under than is generally
known. He hoped for accuracy in the reports and statements made
regarding this project, for the sake of the community.
Councilmember Sanderson asked for a staff report on the deficit
budgets of past years.
At 10:55 pm, a motion was offered by Miller and seconded
by Sanderson to continue all the items listed on the special agenda
for City Council until 10:00 am on Saturday, July 6 in the City
Hall Council Chambers. Motion carried 5-0.
At 10:55 pm, a motion was offered by Miller and seconded by
Wong to continue all the items listed on the special agenda for the
Redevelopment Agency until 10:00 am on Saturday, July 6 in the
City Hall Council Chambers. Motion carried 5-0.
3