HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-09-10 Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 9, 2010
The City Council/Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held an
Adjourned Regular Meeting at 6:32 p.m., Mbrch 9, 2010, in the Council Chamberof the Downey City
Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor/Chairperson Anne M. Bayer presiding.
PRESENT:Council Members/Commissioners:
Anne M. Bayer
Luis H. Marquez
Roger C. Brossrner
David R. Gafin
Mario A. Guerra
Mayor/Chairperson
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chairperson
ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager/Executive Director
Edward W. Lee, City Attorney/Agency Counsel
Gilbert Livas, Assistant City Manager
Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk/Secretary
Brian Saeki, Community Development Director
Mark Sauter, Deputy City Manager/Emergency Services
Scott K. Pomrehn, Assistant Deputy City Manager
Other City Staff
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ADJOURNED MEETING AGENDA ITEMS: None.
APPROVED CLOSED SESSION MINUTES: February 23, 2010.
It was moved by Council Member/Commissioner Brossmer, seconded by Council
Member/Commissioner GaIn and was so ordered to approve the minutes.
RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor/Chairperson Bayer announced the Council/Commission is ncessing to Closed
Session (6:33 p.m.) to discuss matters under the authority of the following sections of the
Government Code:
1.Government Code Section 54956.8 – Conference with real property negotiator Gerald
baton re: property located at 12224 Lakewood Boulevard (Downey Studios); negotiating
party: Stuart Lichter, Industrial Realty Group; under negotiations: price and terms of
payment.
Government Code Section 54957 – Public Employee Performance Evaluation – City
Manager.
2.
City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 03/09/10 -1 -
RECONVENED:
The meeting reconvened in Open Session at 7:30 p.m. ®th all Counci
Members/Commissioners present. There were no actions to report.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
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ANNE M BAYER, Mayor/CB6irpeTsonKATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk/Secretary
City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 03/09/10 -2-
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
Luis H. Marquez
Roger C. Brossmer
David R. Gafin
Mario A. Guerra
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
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
June 7th; 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
Saturday, announced the upcoming Arc Walk on March 27th; and recognized Alex Saab, Director for
the Chamber of Commerce, in the audience.
Council Member Brossmer announced his attendance at the True Lasting Connections 10th
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.
City Council Minutes 03/09/10 -1-
Mayor Pro Tem Marquez reported his attendance at opening day for Ponytail softball last
Saturday, the True Lasting Connections 10th 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
plant trees tomorrow at West Middle School; March 13th there will be a landscaping workshop at the
Barbara Riley Center; March 20th is a Keep Downey Beautiful clean up at Arby’s on Firestone; and
March 27th 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
unanimously carried to approve the Consent Calendar items as recommended:
1.
2.
APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Regular and Adjourned Meetings February 23,
2010: City Clerk.
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
surveys will be done and reviewed by staff, followed by a 2-d 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
City Council Minutes 03/09/10 -2-
current year capital improvement program. Subsequently, the City has received an $180,000
Highway Safety Improvement grant for the installation of 1 0 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 % 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
unanimously carried, to receive and file the report.
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
unanimously carried to delete the Cable TV Citizens Advisory Board and direct staff to prepare
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.
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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
unanimously carried to approve the recommended changes.
STAFF COMMENTS: None
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., March 23, 2010 in memory of Leonard
“Lanny“ Gertler, co-founder of All American Home Center; Sleme “Tony” Tesoriero, founder of
Frantone’s Pizza and Spaghetti Villa; David Masciave, longtime Downey resident and owner of
Arrington Square Barber Shop; and Doug Bourn, Brian Finn, and Andrew Ingram, employees of
Tesla Motors who perished in a small plane accident.
KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk ANNE M. BAYER, Mayor
City Council Minutes 03/09/10