HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-12-05-01-MayoralMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
MAYORAL TRANSITION CEREMONY
DECEMBER 5, 2001
The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 6:10 p.m.,
December 5, 2001, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Robert C.
Winningham, presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Robert C. Winningham Mayor
Meredith H. Perkins Mayor Pro Tem
Rick Trejo
Kirk O. Cartozian
Keith McCarthy (arrived at 6:17 p.m.)
ALSO PRESENT: Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk
Shirley Conte, Executive Secretary
Other City employees were present in the audience.
The Invocation was delivered by Reverend Norman Stoppenhagen, Messiah Lutheran
Church of Downey. The Flag Salute was led by Boy Scout Troop 441.
Mayor Pro Tem Perkins noted Boy Scout Troop 441 is the Troop his son participated in
as a young boy.
Mayor Winningham welcomed everyone and recognized special guests, including
former Mayors and Council Members; a Downey Municipal Court Judge; the former City Clerk;
dignitaries from other cities; State and County Representatives; Downey Unified School Board
Members; and City Boards and Commission Members. He then delivered his final address,
stating it was an honor to serve the community as Mayor during the past year. He noted 2001
was a very successful year for the City and he commended the teamwork of City Management
and Staff, reviewing the many accomplishments by each City Department during this time. He
thanked fellow Council Members for the privilege of working with them and for their assistance
with his obligations as Mayor. He also recalled with sadness the passing of former Mayor and
Council Member Barbara Riley and acknowledged former staff and new staff members.
Special presentations were made to Mayor Winningham by Assemblywoman Sally
Havice; Diane Martinez, Mayor of the City of Paramount; Ron Calderon, representing
Assemblyman Tom Calderon, Connie Sziebl representing Congressman Steven Horn; Heather
Reynolds representing Senator Betty Kamette; Erin Stibal representing Los Angeles County
Supervisor Don Knabe; George Minnehan, Council Member of the City of Santa Fe Springs;
Rolf Janssen, Mayor of the City of Bell; Bobbie Samperi, Board Member, Downey Unified
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School District; Judge London Steverson representing the Downey Sister Cities Association;
Downey City Clerk Kathleen Midstokke on behalf of the Cities of Pico Rivera, Long Beach, and
Cerritos; and John Tilley, Downey Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Winningham thanked his wife and family for their excellent support this past year
and presented his wife with a bouquet of roses. He also acknowledged and thanked Council
Secretary Barbara Fitzsimmons and presented her with a bouquet of roses. He then
acknowledged and welcomed former Council Secretary Ruth Saltman.
Mayor Winningham turned the Chair over to the City Clerk for the Election of a new
Mayor.
City Clerk Midstokke declared the Office of Mayor open and asked for nominations.
It was moved by Council Member Winningham and seconded by Council Member
Cartozian to nominate Council Member Meredith H. Perkins as Mayor of the City of Downey.
There being no further nominations, the City Clerk declared the nominations closed.
It was unanimously carried to elect Council Member Meredith H. Perkins as Mayor of
the City of Downey.
Mayor Perkins declared the Office of Mayor Pro Tempore open and asked for
nominations.
It was moved by Council Member Winningham and seconded by Council Member
McCarthy to nominate Council Member Rick Trejo as Mayor Pro Tempore of the City of
Downey. There being no further nominations, Mayor Perkins declared the nominations closed.
It was unanimously carried to elect Council Member Rick Trejo as Mayor Pro
Tempore of the City of Downey.
Mayor Perkins presented Council Member Winningham with a Certificate of Election as
Mayor, a Gavel Plaque, and the traditional Mayor's scrapbook commemorating activities during
his term as Mayor.
Mayor Perkins noted he will conduct his address at the conclusion of the meeting.
Council Member Winningham introduced his wife Carol, daughter Jennifer, son Scott,
family members and friends. He also advised he is a member of the Downey Optimist Club and
introduced Optimist Club members present.
Mayor Pro Tem Trejo introduced family members, his wife Karen and children Gary,
Kathryn Mary, Karen Elizabeth and James, and former Mayor Gary McCaughan.
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Council Member McCarthy introduced his wife Katrine and special guests, Gary Morse
of the Central Basin Municipal Water District, Betty Morse, President of the ARC, Richard
Powers, Executive Director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and Connie Sziebl of
Congressman Steven Horn's office. He expressed admiration for outgoing Mayor Bob
Winningham and the Winningham family and commended the quality of representation he
provides to the City. He also mentioned support for the leadership of new Mayor Meredith
Perkins.
Council Member Cartozian introduced his parents Arlene and Fred and his brother Craig
and thanked them for their support. He also introduced various relatives and friends. He
acknowledged the service and dedication of Mayor Winningham and stated he has never been so
impressed by someone's professional leadership.
Mayor Perkins introduced his brother and his family, his daughter Peggy, son Jeff, son
Greg and wife Angelique, and other relatives and friends present.
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Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, thanked the Council and in particular
Council Member Bob Winningham for his leadership as Mayor during the past year. He noted
Bob was very courteous to everyone during his term and he commended him for this trait.
George Mennihan, Council Member of the City of Santa Fe Springs, advised he and
Mayor Perkins graduated together from Lynwood High School. He presented Mayor Perkins
with a gift from the City Council of the City of Santa Fe Springs.
Mayor Perkins thanked reporters John Adams, of the Downey Eagle, and Arnold Adler,
of the Herald American, for covering the meeting.
Mayor Perkins thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve the City with them during
the coming year. He referred to accomplishments in the City during Mayor Winningham's term
and gave examples of the Mayor's great sense of humor. He stated it is families like the
Winninghams, who are involved in their community, that make Downey a great place to live. He
introduced the members of the Winningham family and presented them with gifts.
Mayor Perkins presented a Power Point presentation highlighting his goals for the coming
year, which are education, enjoying the City's 45th Anniversary, and future developments. He
mentioned he hoped to strengthen the education and training of City employees to better equip
them to serve the public. He referred to upcoming education programs to make citizens aware of
how their City government works, noting these programs will commence in January under the
leadership of Hazel Scotto and Ruth White of the League of Women Voters. He noted this year
will be the City's 45th year of Incorporation and stated he wants to include the Second Century
Foundation as part of this celebration. He referred to the City's rich history and bright future,
pointing out current developments, such as the NASA site, Intermodal Transit Center,
Independence Park skate park and renovation project, and the changes taking place in the
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• downtown area. He felt Downey must be a place where children, young adults, and seniors can
enjoy themselves, noting this will take participation and support from its citizens, staff, and City
leaders.
ADJOURNMENT: 7:55 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., December 11, 2001, in the Council Chamber
of Downey City Hall.
Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk
H Acclerk\scontetminutes\mayoral2
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Meredith H. Perkins, Mayor