02-19-2013 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
February 19, 2013
Mayor Sanderson called to order the regular meeting of the West Covina City Council at 7:00 p.m. in
the City Hall Council Chambers, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pastor Kelly Dupee
Faith Community Church
Councilmember Sotelo
OATH OF OFFICE Councilmember Appointee Andrew McIntyre
Judy Wiggins North administered the Oath of Office to
Councilmember Appointee Andrew McIntyre ,
ROLL CALL Mayor Sanderson,
Councilmembers McIntyre, Sotelo, Sykes
Absent Councilmember Herfert
REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Deputy City Attorney Gorman reported the following:
Prior to convening into closed session, all items on the City
Council agenda were announced for inclusion in the closed session
discussion; all members of the Council were present except Mayor
Pro Tem Herfert.
Items on the agenda:
Public Employment — Special Assignment to City Manager
— Deputy City Attorney Gorman reported that there was discussion
on this matter with direction provided by City Council and there
was no final action to report.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Manager Christopher Chung announced a change in Item 4 —
Appointment of City Commissioners — with the resignation of
Human Resources Commissioner Lucinda Nance and Community
and Senior Services Commissioner John Glenn requesting not to
be reappointed, staff recommends that their names be removed
from the appropriate appointing resolutions and/or that City
Council provide alternative direction.
PRESENTATIONS Mayor Sanderson called forward Police Chief Frank Wills who
called forward Pastor Kelly Dupee who was given the Oath of
Office as the City of West Covina's Police Department Chaplain.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Kommah McDowell Kommah McDowell, representing the Kommah Seray
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation, extended an invitation to
the Council to an upcoming cancer walk.
Lloyd Johnson Lloyd Johnson, West Covina resident, addressed Council Agenda
items from 2007 regarding Council approved benefits and
addressed previous actions of Mayor Sanderson; congratulated
Councilmember McIntyre.
City Council Minutes of February 19, 2013
Irene Fleck Irene Fleck, West Covina resident, commended the Community
Services department for the successful Literary Fest held in
conjunction with the library; announced upcoming library events.
Phil Kaufman Phil Kaufman, West Covina resident, addressed the issue of voter
suppression and the recent Council vacancy appointment process;
addressed campaign financing.
Bruce Leinbach Bruce Leinbach, West Covina resident, addressed a recent issue at
his home and the response of the Fire Department; addressed the
proposal of upgrading Council meeting video streaming; thanked
Public Works Director Shannon Yauchzee for the response to his
call for advice; wished newly appointed Council Andy McIntyre
well.
Blanca Venzor Blanca Venzor, West Covina resident, stated she would return at a
future meeting when Mayor Pro Tern Herfert is present as she
wished to address him.
Herb Redholtz Herb Redholtz, West Covina resident, expressed his.
disappointment in the proposed reappointment process of expiring
commission terms, stating the process should be advertised.
Elsie Messman Elsie Messman, West Covina resident, thanked the Public Works
department for improvements in street sweeping; thanked Assistant
City Manager/Finance Director Bachman for his knowledge and
leadership; addressed staffing of safety personnel; addressed the
recent City Councilmember appointment; addressed equal
representation for residents.
John Shewmaker John Shewmaker, West Covina resident, addressed City finances.
Ray Hernandez Ray Hernandez, West Covina resident, spoke on the importance of
the Web and thanked Chris Freeland for his diligent effort to find
a solution to, improve the City's system.
Shirley Buchanan Shirley Buchanan, West Covina resident, welcomed
Councilmember McIntyre to the City Council; addressed a slur
from Mayor Pro Tem Herfert towards Councilmember Sykes at a
previous meeting; and made suggestions for addressing his
unfortunate comment.
Betty Valles Betty Valles, West Covina resident, congratulated Councilmember
McIntyre stating he is qualified to serve as a councilmember.
Councilmember McIntyre addressed the audience and expressed
his desire to make improvements in West Covina and named some
of the issues he will be working to achieve, stating that these could
only be accomplished by increasing City revenues. He also invited
any resident to meet with him and get to know him before forming
an opinion about him.
CONSENT CALENDAR Councilmember Sykes requested that Item #4 — Appointment of
City Commissioners - be pulled for separate consideration.
Approval of Meeting Minutes (receive & file)
1) Special City Council Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2012
Minutes Special City Council Meeting Minutes of November 14, 20.12
Special City Council Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2012
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2012
2) Commission Summary of Actions (receive & file)
Commission Summary of Actions Planning Commission — February 12, 2013
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City Council Minutes of February 19, 2013
3) Claims Against the City
Claims Against the City Government Tort Claim Denials (deny & notify claimant)
Recommendation is that the City Council deny the following
Government Tort Claims and the claimants and/or their respective
attorneys be so notified.
• Raymond J. Walsh III vs. City of West Covina (Claim One)
• Raymond J. Walsh III vs. City of West Covina (Claim Two)
• Mercury Insurance/Gabriel Flores vs. City of West Covina
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for separate
consideration
4) City Manager's Office
Appointment of Commissioners Appointment of City Commissioners
Recommendation is that the City Council adopt the appropriate
resolutions reappointing the current Commissioners to the various
City Commissions as follows:
Community and Senior Services Commission (Three Year Term) —
Ten Commissioners:
RESOLUTION NO. - A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE WEST
COVINA COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES
COMMISSION
Human Resources Commission (Three Year Term) — Five
Commissioners:
RESOLUTION NO. - A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE WEST
COVINA HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION
Planning Commission (Three Year Term) — Five Commissioners:
RESOLUTION NO. I - A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE WEST
COVINA PLANNING COMMISSION
5) City Council Chambers Video System Upgrade
Video System Upgrade Recommendation is that the City Council:
1. Approve City staff s Council Chambers video system upgrades
as presented; and
2. Appropriate $75,000 from the Public, Education, and
Government (PEG) Fund balance into the various PEG
expenditure accounts to fund the upgrades.
6) Finance Department
Budget Update Fiscal Year 2012-13 Mid -Year Budget Update
Recommendation is that the City Council take the following
actions:
I. Receive and file this report.
2. Appropriate $30,000 of Construction Tax funds to re -roof the
City Council chambers.
3. Reallocate an appropriation of $15,000 of Park Dedication Fee
Funds to recondition the Cameron Center gym floor and multi-
purpose room floor.
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City Council Minutes of February 19, 2013
4. Appropriate $1,000 of Community Development Block Grant
Funds for the Youth Assistance Program.
5. Appropriate $20,000 from the General Fund reserve to fiend
economic development activities.
7) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year ended June
Comprehensive Annual 30, 2012
Financial Report (CAFR) Recommendation is that the City Council receive and file this
report.
CONSENT CALENDAR ACTION Motion by McIntyre and seconded by Sykes to approve all items
listed on the Consent Calendar as presented except Item #4 -
Appointment of City Commissioners. Motion carried by 4 — 0.
Councilmember Sotelo did not participate in the discussion of Item
44 to avoid a conflict of interest as he has a family member who is
a commissioner and left the dais.
Item 4 Appointment of City Commissioners
Councilmember Sykes requested staff to identify the commissioner
appointments process to address any questions from residents
about the process.
Community Services Director Chris Freeland provided a
detailed report on the status of the City commissions including the
changes in the appointment process made three years ago; the
required notification process; the current vacancies and
commission terms and outlined the options for the Council to
consider.
The Council held a brief discussion and concurred to hold
the item over to the next meeting.
Motion Motion by McIntyre and seconded by Sykes to hold this item over
to the next meeting.
Motion carried by 3 — 0.
Councilmember Sotelo returned to the dais.
MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Robert Sotelo
8) Procedures for Establishing City Council Initiated Term Limits
City Council Term Limits Councilmember Sotelo stated he requested the information to see
what other cities were doing and what the procedures were to
implement term limits. Councilmember Sotelo would like to
further review the information presented and if so desired by the
council, to bring back at a future meeting.
Councilmember Sykes inquired of Councilmember Sotelo's reason
for looking into term limits.
Councilmember Sotelo stated his goal was to learn more
about term limits, how term limits are imposed, costs, what other
cities are doing.
Motion Motion by Sotelo and seconded by McIntyre to hold this item.
Motion carried 3 — 1 (Sykes — No).
Councilmember Sykes expressed his opposition to spending funds
and suggested residents should be involved in their government
and take control to avoid unnecessary spending [by voting].
Councilmember Sotelo responded to comments by
Councilmember Sykes stating community members had asked him
about term limits and he was simply complying with their request
to learn more.
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City Council Minutes of February 19, 2013
Councilmember Fredrick Sykes
9) Consideration of a Rental Housing Inspection and Regulatory
Rental Housing Inspection Program
Program Councilmember Sykes requested a staff report and Public Works
Director Shannon Yauchzee began with a summary of the City of
Covina's program that is based. on issuing permits for rental
properties that include inspections. Yauchzee reported on some of
West Covina's current programs that relate to this subject that
include the business license program for rental properties; the
City's foreclosure ordinance for vacant homes/commercial
buildings; and then mentioned some of the difficulties in tracking
rentals in single family homes. He then suggested consideration be
given to deciding the types of properties to include in a program;
the staffing needed if the program could not be handled by the one
Code Enforcement officer in the City; the fees that may need a
vote of the affected parties under•Prop 218 and 26; whether costs
for appeals for violations would be recouped by fees; and then
asked for direction on whether to pursue a housing program or to
hold off at this time.
Councilmember Sykes stated his reason for requesting information
on this subject was to look into a similar program to Covina's
program in order to prevent West Covina from falling property
values due to the lack of property maintenance and to discuss ideas
for increasing the funding of the City's Code Enforcement to be
able to implement a program in West Covina.
Councilmember McIntyre felt this approach was impractical due to
the lack of revenue, staffingand and resources as opposed to making
the City a desirable place to live in which would cause people to
fix their properties because their units are full and' would generate
enough revenues to make repairs, leading to competition and a
better product as opposed to more rules, regulations in an already
stressed system.
Council discussion ensued on this subject.
Motion Motion by McIntyre and seconded by Sykes to receive and file this
report and bring back a report with information on creating a
program to educate irresponsible landlords to fix up their
properties to include possible incentives.
Motion carried 4 — 0.
CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION
Mayor Shelley Sanderson
Request from Mayor Shelley Sanderson Requesting the City
10) Council to Instruct City Staff to Prepare a Report on the Adoption
School Violence Training of a City-wide School Violence Training and Intervention Program
Mayor Sanderson ' is requesting Council's support to create a
school violence training program to enhance existing programs and
look into any available funding, if possible.
Motion Motion by McIntyre and seconded by Sanderson to investigate the
existing City-wide school violence training programs and gather
information. Motion carried by 4 - 0.
Councilmember Robert Sotelo
11) Request from Councilmember Sotelo Requesting the City Council
Needs of Fire Vehicles to Instruct City Staff to Prepare a Study Identifying the Needs of
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City Council Minutes of February 19, 2013
the Fire Department to Replace and/or Maintain their Existing Fire
Vehicles
Councilmember Sotelo requested to look into why Fire Department
equipment is not replaced as needed and would like staff to look at
grants and funding for equipment replacement.
Council discussion ensued.
Motion Motion by Sotelo and seconded by Sanderson to look into the
needs of the Fire Department equipment and look for grants and
funding solutions to maintain and replace the Fire Department
equipment. Motion carried by 4 — 0.
ADJOURNMENT Motion by McIntyre and seconded by Sykes to adjourn the meeting
at 8:55 p.m. in memory of former West Covina Communications
Director Jack Keating (1977 — 2001). Motion carried by 4 — 0.
Submi,4ed by:
Xssistarit City Clerk Susan Rush
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