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09-23-2003 - Special Meeting - MinutesIs 0 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL September 23, 2003 Mayor Herfert called to order the special meeting of the West Covina City Council at 7:10 pm at the Senior Citizens Center located at 2501 E. Cortez Avenue, West Covina, and led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Mayor Herfert, Mayor Pro Tern Miller Councilmembers Hernandez, Sanderson, Wong Others Present: Pasmant, Alvarez-Glasman, Fields, Urban, Morgan, Tedesco, Taylor, Weischedel, Freeland, Semblantes, McIsaac, Yauchzee, Bommarito, Villegas, Wills, Genovese, Yuasa-Wang, Berry Mayor Herfert stated that the City Council would consider the matter of the location of the Senior Citizens Commission meetings at the conclusion of the staff presentations. CITY ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION Community Services Acting Community Services Director Smilowitz presented programs offered by his department for seniors and others in the general area of the eastern portion of the City. Police Department Lt. Weischedel, Service Area No. 2 - covering the eastern portion of the City, addressed policing issues and programs applicable to his service area. Of note was the implementation of a hot line number to call the Police Department anonymously (939-8688). Public Works Public Works Director Yauchzee summarized current and upcoming capital projects scheduled for the eastern portion of the City. Planning/Redevelopment Planning Director McIsaac and Redevelopment Agency Director Chung presented items of interest from their respective departments. In response to a question from the audience City Manager Pasmant stated that the City Council granted a 120-day Exclusive Right to Negotiate to Mclntrye Company/Penske Automotive to redevelop the property generally located at Workman Avenue and Citrus Street. This was a unanimous decision of the City Council at their last closed session meeting of September 20, 2003. Mayor Herfert stated that this was time to consider the matter of the meeting location of the Senior Citizens Commission. He sug- gested taking a survey of the seniors at the senior citizens center to get their input. Councilmember Sanderson concurred with him. Councilmember Wong agreed with the survey idea and suggested further that the whole community be included. Councilmember Miller suggested that the commission be given the flexibility to hold their meetings elsewhere in the City when warranted. Council Minutes of 9/23/03 Councilmember Wong recommended that the Senior Citizens Commissioners develop the questions for the survey. Motion by Herfert and seconded by Wong to direct the Senior Citizens Commission to develop questions for a citywide survey to be included in the Discover West Covina. Motion carried 5-0. • ORAL COMMUNICATIONS The following speakers addressed Council on various issues of concern. Tom Lacy Tom Lacy of the West Covina Lions announced the annual fundraiser WHITE CANE DAYS scheduled for October 3 and October 4 and encouraged everyone to participate by donating to any of the Lions members. He said they would all be wearing their official Lions vest and can be spotted at various locations around the City. John Scheuplein John Scheuplein, 1800 Aroma Drive, 4247, reported on several issues discussed at the last Planning Commission meeting. As a Senior Citizens Commissioner, he stated that he initiated the dis- cussion at the last Senior Citizens Commission meeting that it might serve the seniors of the City better if the Commission meetings were held at the Center, and he explained why. He sug- gested a joint meeting between the City Council and the Senior Citizens Commission whereat the Councilmembers could open the commissioners' minds. Don Pascoe Don Pascoe, 560 S. Azusa Avenue, spoke about the difficulties with the subsidized lunch program at the Senior Citizens Center in trying to accommodate the wishes of the Senior Citizens Associ- ation. Kenneth Butera Kenneth Butera, 142 S. Myrtlewood Street, addressed Council as the president of the Senior Citizens Association and expressed his association's difficulties in accommodating the Wednesday luncheon program. Phil Clayton Phil Clayton, 3298 E. Holt Avenue, said that although the City Council did not choose his proposal for the development of the Citrus/Workman site, they did, nevertheless, choose an excellent proposal with McIntrye Company/Penske Automotive. He was encouraged that the City Council favored several of the proposals and looked forward to possibly implementing his plan somewhere else in the City. John Hughes John Hughes, 129 Poxon Place, introduced himself as the newest member of the Senior Citizens Commission and assured the audience that he was always available and to free feel to call him with any concerns. Royal Brown Royal Brown, 2153 Aroma Drive, announced the next upcoming Planning Commission meeting and the main topics for con- sideration. Ed Casanova Ed Casanova, 809 S. Avington, talked about the fire and vandalism caused a couple of weeks ago to the Hummer dealership and that it happened not far from his home. He hoped the Police would catch the vandals and get them off the streets for the rest of their lives. Mayor Herfert asked for a report from staff regarding the possibility of hiring a CIP oversight consultant. 2 Council Minutes of 9/23/03 • E CLOSED SESSION Mayor Herfert recessed the meeting at 8:50 pm to convene the scheduled closed session to discuss the following matters: Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(b) One case relating to existing agreements with Big League Dreams CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS: Fields, Hoffman Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 Employee Organizations: • SBPEA — General Employees' Group • Mid -Management Employees' Association • Confidential/Exempt Employees' Association • SBPEA — Maintenance Employees' • Public Safety Dispatchers Association The closed session concluded at 9:50 pm. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Herfert adjourned the meeting at 9:50 pm. Attest: City Clcrk Janet Berry Mayor 'teve ett