01-10-2005 - Special Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
January 10, 2005
• Mayor Miller called to order the special meeting of the West Covina City Council at 7:02 p.m. in the
City Council Chamber at City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
Others Present:
Pasmant, Nichols, Freeland, Samaniego, Gardner, Hoppe, Rush
REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Deputy City Attorney Nichols made the following report.
The scheduled closed session to discuss the following items
did not take place. Deputy City Attorney Nichols reported that
there was no discussion and nothing further to report.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code 04957
Title: City Manager
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code 04957.6
Agency representative: City Council
Unrepresented employee: City Manager
Councilmember Herfert made a public comment complimenting
the Maintenance Department on their outstanding job during the
heavy rains and encouraged any residents with problems (sink
holes, pot holes, fallen trees) to call City Hall.
PUBLIC COMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
John Scheuplein John Scheuplein, West Covina resident commented on
qualifications of candidates for the City Clerk position and on
strategic planning of Council goals.
A. APPOINTMENT OF CITY CLERK
City Clerk Appointment City Manager Pasmant provided report on the options to Council
regarding the unexpired term of the City Clerk. The options
available are either to appoint an individual by January 15, 2005
who would serve until the next general municipal election on
November 8, 2005 or hold a special election for filling the position
in June 2005.
Following questions from Council and discussion, Mayor Miller
called the following interested persons forward to introduce
themselves and to provide a brief background.
• Laurie Carrico
• Sandra Taylor
• Orfadina Nevarez
• One interested person, Rachella Lewis, was not present.
Motion by Herfert and seconded by Miller to hold this item over to
Friday, 6:30 p.m., January 14, 2005 in order to verify the registered
voter status of all interested persons. Motion carried 5-0.
•
•
B. AMENDMENT TO WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE,
SECTION 2-44 RELATING TO MOTIONS FOR
RECONSIDERTION AND MOTIONS TO RESCIND OR
AMEND SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED
Motions to Reconsider/Rescind Deputy City Attorney Nichols presented the staff report, which
addresses the municipal code section regarding "Motions to
Reconsider." The proposed amendment would add motions- to
rescind and amend something previously adopted and allow such
motion only by a member who voted with the prevailing side.
Staff answered question from Council and Council engaged in
lengthy discussion and debate.
Mayor Miller read into the record a comment by West Covina
resident Joanne Wilner.
After continued discussion Mayor Miller called for reading of the
ordinance heading.
Deputy City Clerk Rush presented:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2,
SECTION 2-44 PERTAINING TO MOTIONS TO
RECONSIDER AND MOTIONS TO RESCIND OR AMEND
SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED
Motion Motion offered by Sanderson and seconded by Herfert to waive
further reading of the ordinance and to introduce.
Amendment Councilmember Hernandez voiced his opinion of the issue and
offered the following amendments.
1. That an item can only be brought back for reconsideration if
there was an absence on the Council at the time it was
originally voted on and is brought back within 30 days, and
2. Motions to rescind or amend a previously adopted item can
only be brought forward, with new information, only once by a
Councilmember and only within a 30-day period.
Deputy City Attorney Nichols stated that Councilmember
Hernandez's_amendments can be voted on separately from the
main motion or in order to be added as part of the main motion,
there must be a unanimous vote of the Council.
Mayor Pro Tern Sanderson, as the maker of the original motion,
accepts the two amendments. Councilmember Herfert objects and
requests the proposed ordinance be left as is.
Mayor Miller stated that due to Council not unanimous on
amendments being added to the main motion, the main motion
stands as presented.
Action on main motion After further discussion Mayor Miller called for action on the main
motion; motion to introduce an ordinance to amend Municipal
Code Section 2-44 failed by a vote of 2-2-1 with Wong and Miller
voting no and Hernandez abstaining.
C. STRATEGIC PLANNING OF CITY COUNCIL SHORT
AND LONG TERM GOALS FOR THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA
Strategic Planning City Manager Pasmant presented a PowerPoint presentation, which
revisited previous goals set by Council and an update of obtaining
those goals.
• Mayor Miller suggests returning to a regular meeting with a list of
short term and long-term goals to receive community input.
Councilmember Herfert stated that the number one goal should be
to balance the budget. Mr. Herfert felt there are several options
available and would like to bring back the issue of Shadow Oak
Park as a potential sale of surplus property and would like to bring
back the Mayor's previous list of options presented earlier in the
year.
Mayor Miller stated his goals include an update of the land use
element, which would incorporate appropriate locations for certain
types of housing and define where to consider mixed use within
the redevelopment area, and an update of the circulation element of
the General Plan. Mayor Miller also concurs with Councilmember
Herfert relative to the budget.
Councilmember Wong stated that both a short term and long term
goal should be economic stability in the community and he viewed
the sale of property as a short-term solution. He feels a long range
financial strategic plan is needed to bring the budget back into
balance and the need for community involvement.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanderson shared her viewpoint on the difficult
task of balancing the budget and concurs with her fellow
Councilmember's suggestions for balancing the budget.
Councilmember Hernandez agrees with the need to update the
General Plan and suggests separate meetings for the Community
Development Commission.
Motion Motion by Sanderson and seconded by Hernandez to direct
staff to return with information regarding the development of a
budget committee.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanderson identified her three goals as the
budget, development of the BKK site, and citywide economic
development.
Action Mayor Miller requested action on motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Councilmember Herfert stated he would like to agendize for the
next meeting a reconsideration of his vote on a previous action in
which he was of the majority, tying the City Councilmembers
benefits to the City Manager's.
ADJOURNMENT Mayor Miller adjournedthemeeting at 9:45 p.m.
Mayor Nrichaid L. Miller
ATTESD7
Deputy City Clerp Susan Rush