02-08-2003 - Special Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
February 8, 2003
Mayor Touhey called to order the special meeting of the West Covina City Council at 11:14 am in the
City Hall Council Chambers, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina. Mayor Pro Tem Herfert led the
Pledge of Allegiance and City Manager Pasmant gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL Mayor Touhey, Mayor Pro Tern Herfert, Councilmembers Miller,
Sanderson
Absent: Councilmember Wong
Others Present: Pasmant, Alvarez-Glasman, Freeland, Dewus, Wills, Fields,
Tedesco, Berry
REPORTING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reported that the City Council met
in closed session as noticed and agendized, commencing at 10:52
am in the City Manager's Conference Room here at City Hall:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —
POTENTIAL LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(b)
One Case.
City Attorney stated that all Councilmembers were present, except
Councilmember Wong and there were no public comments. He
stated further that no final actions were taken during the closed
session and that there was nothing further to report.
UPDATE —
CITY'S INVOLVEMENT AND ACTION RELATING TO
THE RELEASE OF SERIOUS SEX OFFENDERS
City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reported on a meeting held with
the Attorney General and the City representatives attending that
meeting were: Mayor Touhey, Police Chief Wills, City Attorney
Alvarez-Glasman, Deputy City Attorney Gorman, and other repre-
sentatives from the State Department of Corrections.
Mr. Alvarez-Glasman stated that the meeting was very
productive and the Attorney General was very understanding and
supportive. Because of the progress made so far, filing litigation at
this point was been held off.
Police Chief Wills presented a power point presentation regarding
Megan's Law, the information available to the citizens and how
• citizens can obtain that information.
Assistant Regional Administrator of the Department of Correc-
tions, Jerome Marsh, addressed the City Council. He reported that
his office would be relocating Mr. Conklin, the felon, to another
City, honoring the victim's request to relocate him outside the 35-
mile residency prohibition.
Council Minutes for 2/8/03
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11
Public Comment The following citizens and residents of West Covina addressed the
City Council expressing their concerns about serious sex offenders
living in West Covina. Their topics covered fear for their children,
the imposition of the felon's presence within the neighborhood,
victims and survivors rights versus the rights of a felon, safe
walkways and paths to and from school, the need to strengthen
Megan's law and other applicable laws, citizens and elected
officials working together, and the need for felons to work off their
entire sentence in jail (not to be released early into society).
Speakers were:
Dave Truax, current Mayor of Covina
Gary Clifford, Councilmember of Glendora
Marie Bryan, neighbor
John Scheuplein, resident
Greg Young, neighbor
Roberta Azpeitia, resident
Ronda Forgette, resident
Anita Glasgow, another victim's mother
Christina Muriada, the victim's mother
Mayor Touhey thanked Mrs. Muriada for her courage in
stepping forward and reminded her that the City Council
would do everything in its power to address the situation.
Brian Hems, currently a Covina resident
Tom O'Donnell, resident
Wayne Heieck, resident
Linda Shestock, executive director of Project Sister
David Espinoza, resident
City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reviewed the actions intended to
be taken in the very near future by the Department of Corrections.
Council Discussion The City Council expressed their appreciation to the residents
supporting Christina Muriada and working together with the City
Council, the City Attorney, and the Police Chief in addressing this
issue.
Mayor ProTem Herfert requested that staff agendize
legislative updates on the City Council Agenda to keep Council
informed of the progress of strengthening Megan's Law and other
legislative actions taken regarding this and similar issues.
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Herfert and seconded by Sanderson to adjourn the
meeting at 12:47 pm. Motion carried 4-0.
.Al
Attest:
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City Clerk Janet Be
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