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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-08-11 Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REGULAR MEETING MARCH 8, 2011 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular Meeting at 7:34 p.m., March 8, 2011, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Luis H. Marquez presiding. PRESENT:Council Members: Luis H. Marquez Roger C. Brossmer David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra Fernando Vasquez Mayor Mayor Pro Tem ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager Gilbert Livas, Assistant City Manager Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney Joyce E. Doyle, Interim City Clerk Desi Alvarez, Deputy City Manager/Special Projects Shannon DeLong, Assistant to the City Manager Rick Esteves, Police Chief John Michicoff, Finance Director John Oskoui. Public Works Director Thad Phillips, Community Services Director Brian Saeki, Community Development Director Lonnie C;room, Fire Chief Shirley Conte, Secretary to the City Council Other City Staff COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Council Member Vasquez advised that he and Council Member Gafin attended a Lakewood Boulevard Subcommittee meeting today; noted he also attended a Project Area Committee meeting where economic development was a topic; and he encouraged residents to provide their comments as to their perception of the City in the on-line survey on the City’s website, which is being done as part of the City’s branding program. Council Member Gafin advised he attended the Downey Girls Ponytail League grand opening last Saturday. Council Member Guerra mentioned he attended the Downey Girls Ponytail League and West Downey Little League openings; attended two neighborhood watch meetings; spoke about the various meetings attended during last week’s trip to Washington, DC with Mayor Marquez, Assistant City Manager Livas and Deputy City Manager Alvarez; mentioned the Raytheon Company is opening a facility in Downey which will bring 150 new high paying jobs; and advised the Character Counts Coalition will be meeting at City Hall in a couple of weeks. City Council Minutes 03/08/1 1 -1- Mayor Pro Tem Brossmer advised he met with Finance Director Michicoff this afternoon to review the warrant register; commended staff on the Raytheon Company deal; introduced new Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee, Roy Beard, and thanked him for his service to the City. Mayor Marquez welcomed everyone in the audience for participating in City meetings. He noted he attended the Downey Girls Ponytail League and West Downey Little League opening day ceremonies last Saturday; referred to the Washington, DC trip last week and the importance for staff and Council to interact directly with members of Congress and the Senate; thanked Assistant City Manager Livas and Deputy City Manager Alvarez for coordinating the various meetings; announced the first of his Mayor Presents series will be held on Thursday, March 10, 6:00 p.m., at the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center and will focus on public safety; and commended staff on bringing the Raytheon Company to the City. PRESENTATIONS : Mayor Marquez presented a Certificate of Appointment to Sally Nunez his appointee to the Emergency Preparedness Committee for Council District Five. Council Member Gafin presented a Certificate of Appointment to Francisco Zelaya his appointee to the Emergency Preparedness Committee for Council District One. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1.ISSUANCE OF AN OIL PIPELINE FRANCHISE TO LT PIPELINE INCORPORATED: Public Works. A. INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 11- , AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY GRANTING AN OIL PIPELINE FRANCHISE TO LT PIPELINE INCORPORATED. Ordinance was not introduced. Refer to vote. The Public Hearing was opened at 7:50 p.m. The City Clerk affirmed receipt of the Proof of Publication. It was moved by Council Member Gafin, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Brossmer, and so ordered by the Mayor to receive and file the proof of publication. Public Works Director Oskoui explained the history of the ten year oil pipeline franchise granted to ARCO Pipe Line Company in 1995, sold to Pacific Pipe Line Systems LLC in 1999 and renegotiated when the 10 year franchise expired. He advised the renegotiations with Pacific Pipe Line Systems LLC were never completed, although payments and insurance coverage have continued to date. He noted on August 17, 2010 Pacific Pipeline Systems LLC sold and transferred interest in the pipeline to LT Pipeline Incorporated and the City has been negotiating a new franchise agreement with LT Pipeline Incorporated and both parties have agreed to new terms. In accordance with the California Public Utilities Code, at its Council meeting of February 8, 2011, the Council adopted Resolution 1 1-7252 declaring its intention to grant a pipeline franchise to LT Pipeline Incorporated. The action before the Council tonight is the second phase of the process, which is the introduction of the Ordinance granting the franchise agreement. Council Member Gafin inquired if the City knows where all of the pipelines are and Mr. Oskoui advised the City has a map depicting the alignments of the pipelines. He advised that a representative of LT Pipeline Incorporated is in attendance and asked him to come forward. Mr. Chris Moul of LT Pipelines Incorporated pointed out they know exactly where the pipeline exists but are not certain of its integrity. He said they will measure wall thickness throughout the City Council Minutes 03/08/1 1 -2- entire line and will perform a hydro test where the line will be put under pressure under the guidance of the State Fire Marshal. He advised there will be leak detection on the line and any leak will be caught immediately. He noted the intent is to make sure the line is safe to operate and said all records will be public documents. It will be reviewed with the State Fire Marshal and a plan will be developed to monitor the pipeline for years to come. Mr. Gafin requested the Public Works Director follow up on the reports generated. Council Member Guerra referred to contract Section 16, Insurance, stating it does not give guidelines for an A.M. BEST rating and said he would like to have the City Attorney review this and insert a clause on the type of insurance company and to require a minimum rating of A minus and at least size VIIi and verify the $20 million liability limit is adequate. Mr. Harold Tseklenis, resident, referred to the path of the pipeline and requested the City require evidence that it is a sound pipeline with a program where every year the City is advised by an independent laboratory that the line is operating within limits and that those limits are reasonable for both rate and pressure. He also requested the City have adequate insurance provisions and if the pipeline is abandoned, that it is abandoned in a safe manner. It was moved by Council Member Guerra, seconded by Council Member Gafin and so ordered by Mayor Marquez to close the Public Hearing. After further discussion by the Council, it was moved by Council Member Gafin, seconded by Council Member Guerra and unanimously carried to continue the public hearing to the Council meeting of March 22, 2011, to enable staff to bring back further information. Mr. Caton advised that questions posed by Mr. Tseklenis will be answered at that time. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: Richard Spencer, resident, mentioned he hoped the City would consider putting bicycle lanes on in all major roads and not just in Downtown Downey. He submitted correspondence for the Council that he said shows studies where bicycle lanes increased safety for motorists and showed less accidents on roads with bicycle lanes. Roy Beard, advised that the City, through the efforts of Emergency Services Manager Sauter, will hold another water barrel distribution this Saturday, March 12, at the Columbia Memorial Space Learning Center. He suggested the City consider a way to thank Coca Cola Bottling Company Incorporated for their continued support in supplying the barrels for this effort. Laurence Christen, mentioned attending a Project Area Committee (PAC) meeting last week and commended Council Member Vasquez for his comments at that meeting about the City. He also referred to a comment noted at the meeting about an increase in high school students using drugs and suggested the City look into an anti-drug program. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Council Member Guerra, seconded by Council Member Vasquez, and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Calendar items as recommended: 2.APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Adjourned and Regular Meetings February 22, 2011 : City Clerk. City Council Minutes 03/08/1 1 -3- 3.APPROVED WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 256838 - 257177: Wire Nos. 30002345 – 30002354 and 702 – 707; in the total amount of $3,827,043.21 : Finance. 4.APPROVED AGREEMENT WITH NEW WORLD SYSTEMS, INC. FOR FIVE YEAR MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD) SYSTEM, AGIS RECORDS SYSTEM. ALL MOBILE UNIT SERVICES, AND APPLICABLE LICENSING FEES; TO BE FUNDED BY ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS: Police Department. 5.APPROVED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE REGIONAL ANTI TERRORISM INFORMATION INTEGRATION SYSTEM (COPLINK): Police Department. 6.ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 11-7255. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE LOS ANGELES INTERAGENCY METROPOLITAN POLICE APPREHENSION CRIME TASK FORCE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT (L.A. IMPACT JPA), AUTHORIZING THE CITY’S MEMBERSHIP IN L.A. IMPACT; AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT: Police Department. 7.ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 11-7256, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ORDERING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PREPARE A REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 4 OF CHAPTER 1 OF THE “LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972”, BEING DIVISION 15. PART 2 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FOR THE MAINTENANCE, OPERATION AND SERVICING OF STREET AND PUBLIC FACILITY LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING, TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND APPURTENANT WORK IN THE CITY OF DOWNEY, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2011 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2012: Public Works 8.ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 11-7257, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CALTRANS COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE “DOWNEy LINK TRANSIT STUDY”: Administration. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: 9.APPROVE FORMATION OF A YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Community Services. Community Services Director Phillips explained the proposed Youth Advisory Committee, noting staff guidelines, such as the committee will report to the Recreation and Community Services Commission on youth issues, including parks, recreation, social services, theatre and transit; it will promote leadership and serve as an introduction to City government; each Council Member will appoint one high school representative from their Council District; the committee will hold monthly meetings during the school year to discuss topics of concern to youth in Downey, plan an annual student government day, schedule and prepare for volunteer events, will begin one or two year terms each summer and will be appointed in May. A Community Services Department staff member will be the liaison between the City and the Youth Committee. Council Member Guerra suggested changes to staff’s guidelines and Mr. Caton suggested setting up a Council subcommittee to work with staff. Council Member Vasquez referred to his experience in these groups and stated he would like to work with staff to fine tune the committee to further engage and involve youth. City Council Minutes 03/08/1 1 -4- Mayor Marquez advised he works with cities that have youth committees and they operate as a student body and have mock Council Meetings where they come up with ideas and solutions and present these to themselves and then to the Council. He was in favor of the subcommittee. It was moved by Council Member Gafin, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Brossmer and unanimously carried to appoint Council Members Vasquez and Guerra to the Youth CommitteeSubcommittee. 10.ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 11-7258, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DESIGNATING THE STREET OF THE DOWNEY LANDING DEVELOPMENT AS “CARING WAY”: Administration. Mr. Caton said the City has been working on the development of the former NASA facility for the past 17 years and noted when Kaiser Permanente decided to move to Downey they had the requirement that two public roadways surround their property. These roadways were constructed and were turned over to the City in 2002. One was named for former Congressman Steve Horn. He advised Council Member Guerra suggested the currently unnamed road segment, from Imperial Highway to Congressman Steve Horn Way, be named “Caring Way’' for one of the six pillars of the Character Counts program and also goes along with Kaiser Hospital’s caring for the community. He noted Kaiser Permanente’s management is supportive of the name and stated there will be a minor cost of $2,000 for street signage on Imperial Highway and on Congressman Steve Horn Way. It was moved by Council Member Guerra, seconded by Council Member baHn, and unanimously carried to adopt Resolution 11-7258 designating the street of Downey Landing between Imperial Highway and Congressman Steve Horn Way as “Caring Way.” Mayor Marquez suggested staff look into naming the section of road between Columbia Way and the Columbia Memorial Science Learning Center in recognition of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s role in the NASA site acquisition process. STAFF COMMENTS: Mr. Caton welcomed Mayor Marquez, Council Member Guerra, Assistant City Manager Livas and Deputy City Manager Alvarez back from their Washington, DC trip last week. He commended the Police and Fire Departments for saving a young child yesterday who had a seizure while in the bathtub and explained the child was clinically dead and the Police Officers who arrived first began cardio pulmonary resuscitation until the Fire Department arrived and took over, which saved her life. Mayor Marquez noted the Census Bureau released its numbers today and Downey’s new population count is 1 1 1,772. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., March 22, 2011, in memory of David Buhler, longtime Downey resident, member of the Downey Amateur Radio Club and former Emergency Preparedness Committee Member; Jack Lagle, longtime Downey resident; Carlos Garcia, longtime Downey Regional Medical Center board Member; and Walter Hruden, father-in-law of Barbara Hruden, Secretary to the City Manager. DOYLE, Interim City Clerk mg H. MARa City Council Minutes 03/08/1 1 -5-