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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03. Minutes - 03-09-10 Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REGULAR MEETING MARCH 9, 2010 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular Meeting at 7:34 p.m., March 9, 2010, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Anne M. Bayer presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Anne M. Bayer Mayor Luis H. Marquez Mayor Pro Tem Roger C. Brossmer David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager Edward W. Lee, City Attorney Gilbert Livas, Assistant City Manager Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk Mark Sauter, Deputy City Manager/Emergency Services Scott K. Pomrehn, Assistant Deputy City Manager Rick Esteves, Police Chief John Michicoff, Finance Director Thad Phillips, Community Services Director Brian Ragland, Public Works Director Brian Saeki, Community Development Director Jeff Turner, Fire Chief Other City Staff COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Council Member Guerra noted that he and Council Member Brossmer are going paperless tonight in regards to the agenda materials by having laptops on the dais to view the reports, with read only capabilities. He reported attending the Day of the Reader at local elementary schools last week along with Council Members Brossmer and Gafin; attended a Southern California Association of Governments Transportation Committee meeting with a presentation on encouraging more bicycle riding, noting they are 11% of the transportation users, but 34% of the fatalities. He received a presentation on the new building permit processing software this afternoon, which will go live on th June 7; and he complemented Finance Director Michicoff on all the work in regards to the budget and specifically the City Council travel and meetings accounts. Council Member Gafin reported his attendance at opening day for Ponytail softball last th Saturday, announced the upcoming Arc Walk on March 27; and recognized Alex Saab, Director for the Chamber of Commerce, in the audience. th Council Member Brossmer announced his attendance at the True Lasting Connections 10 Anniversary luncheon last week; and noted he went to Sacramento with staff last week, meeting with local elected representatives for Downey. He requested an update on his request to establish a Youth After School Program patterned after the City of Santa Fe Springs. -1- City Council Minutes 03/09/10 Mayor Pro Tem Marquez reported his attendance at opening day for Ponytail softball last th Saturday, the True Lasting Connections 10 Anniversary luncheon last week; and thanked City staff for all their behind the scenes work. Mayor Bayer announced that the 2010 Census forms will be coming in the mail next week and encouraged everyone to complete and return so that Downey receives their fair share of monies for local services and projects. She further announced that there will be an Arbor Day ceremony to th plant trees tomorrow at West Middle School; March 13 there will be a landscaping workshop at the th Barbara Riley Center; March 20 is a Keep Downey Beautiful clean up at Arby’s on Firestone; and th March 27 there is a free mulch giveaway at the City Hall parking lot. PRESENTATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: No one came forward to speak. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Council Member Gafin, seconded by Council Member Brossmer, and approve the Consent Calendar unanimously carried to items as recommended: 1. APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Regular and Adjourned Meetings February 23, : 2010 City Clerk. 2. APPROVED WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 247831 – 248138; Wire Nos. 562 – 565 : and 30002096 – 30002104; in the total amount of $3,155,510.32 Finance. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: 3. RECEIVED AND FILED TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM UPDATE: Public Works. Public Works Director Ragland presented a Power Point presentation defining traffic calming as mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. He noted that the City is including non-physical measures such as educational programs and enhanced enforcement. The types of problems identified are: speeding, cut through traffic, increased volume and safety. The desired outcome is to be effective and self-enforcing with general positive public feedback and acceptance. The progress to date includes over 50 traffic calming request forms being received, which have been separated into Council Districts and reviewed by staff to ensure eligibility as: residential street, speed limit of 25 miles per hour, and classified as a local road as opposed to arterial or collector. There have been meetings with two Council Members to review the applications and identify locations of greatest concerns, two per Council District. Then traffic volume and speed nd surveys will be done and reviewed by staff, followed by a 2 meeting with Council Members to select locations for specific traffic calming measures. The next steps include education and enforcement measures including: radar speed trailer deployment, traffic enforcement actions, traffic signing and pavement markers, and semi-permanent solar powered vehicle speed feedback signs. The current funding is $100,000 in gas taxes in the -2- City Council Minutes 03/09/10 current year capital improvement program. Subsequently, the City has received an $180,000 Highway Safety Improvement grant for the installation of 10 feedback signs. These funds will be available in 4 to 6 months and it is anticipated the signs will be installed and operating within 8 months. Council Member Brossmer thanked the Public Works department for their recent assistance on installing a new stop sign on Rio Flora Place. Council Member Guerra requested that he be provided the list of applications from District Two and indicated he would like to see some solar signs on Rives Avenue. Council Member Gafin noted that he had requested this program about 1 ½ to 2 years ago and it has been a multi-layered project strictly in the residential areas. He explained the qualifying issues such as speed, volume of traffic and completed surveys. He noted the remedies start out passive including striping and radar officers. If needed, they can go active and include speed humps, medians and closing streets if necessary. It was moved by Council Member Gafin, seconded by Council Member Guerra and receive and file the report. unanimously carried, to 4. DISCUSSED AND PROVIDED DIRECTION REGARDING COMBINING/DELETING CERTAIN BOARDS AND COMMITTEES: City Clerk. City Clerk Midstokke gave a staff report noting which existing Boards, Committees and Commissions are required by the City Charter and State Laws and the 2 that are separate legal corporations from the City. She noted that of those remaining, the Cable TV Advisory Committee is recommended to be dissolved and the Health and Environmental Sanitation Committee, Traffic Committee and Water Board are being recommended to be combined into one new Public Services Committee. This is due to many of their existing duties being preempted by State laws, new regulations and relevance over the long period of time since formation; and frequency of meetings. If the recommendation were approved, staff would prepare a draft Ordinance to come back at a future meeting which would include proposed duties of the new Committee and that the new appointees would be made after the effective day of the Ordinance. The current appointees could be recognized at a future Council meeting. Council Member Guerra indicated that he has supported this idea since the Parking Place Commission was dissolved and requested the duties of the new Public Services Committee include parking. He proposed 2 appointees from each Council District for a total of 10 members. He also noted that we might have to review the City Hospital Commission soon due to the hospital’s proposed sale and that in the near future the Green Task Force will be requesting to become permanent. It was moved by Council Member Guerra, seconded by Council Member Gafin and delete the Cable TV Citizens Advisory Board and direct staff to prepare unanimously carried to an Ordinance deleting the Health & Environmental Sanitation Committee, Traffic Committee, and Water Board and creating a new Public Services Committee. OTHER BUSINESS: 5. REVIEWED AND APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE INCLUSION OF A WATER FEATURE AND THE QUALIFICATION OF ARTISTS: Council Member Guerra. -3- City Council Minutes 03/09/10 Council Member Guerra presented this item noting that he recommends changes in the Art in Public Places policy in regards to water features and artists qualifications. He noted that in 3 years the only piece of public art on private property currently is a bronze sphere at a car wash on Firestone Boulevard. Another piece, the Roman God Neptune, was recently approved for a strip mall on Lakewood Boulevard. On public property, a bust of John Gately Downey has been approved for the City Hall area. He pointed out the current balance in the fund is approximately $300,000 which is from fees paid by new developments. He feels the City needs to use public art for branding and incorporation of a space theme. Council Member Gafin expressed support, although he noted that with the water droughts, the piece should be physically appealing without the water and maintain an art quality. Council Member Brossmer indicated his agreement with Council Member Gafin’s concerns and also sees the need to open up the opportunities more as Council Member Guerra suggested. Mayor Pro Tem Marquez thanked Council Member Guerra for bringing the changes forward and assured that when the water is off, the art will be there and it is planned to be a space shuttle. Harold Tseklenis, resident and member of the Arts in Public Places Committee, suggested that these changes be sent to the Committee for their review and recommendations. It was moved by Council Member Brossmer, seconded by Council Member Guerra and approve the recommended changes. unanimously carried to STAFF COMMENTS: None. ADJOURNMENT: in memory of Leonard The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., March 23, 2010 “Lanny” GertlerSleme “Tony” Tesoriero , co-founder of All American Home Center; , founder of David Masciave, Frantone’s Pizza and Spaghetti Villa; longtime Downey resident and owner of Doug Bourn, Brian Finn, Andrew Ingram Arrington Square Barber Shop; and and, employees of Tesla Motors who perished in a small plane accident. ___________________________________ ____________________________ KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk ANNE M. BAYER, Mayor -4- City Council Minutes 03/09/10