HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 03-11-97 - Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
MARCH 11, 1997
TABLE OF MINUTE ACTIONS
SUBJECT ACTION PAGE NO.
Certificate of Appointment 1
Proclamation re Mental Retardation Awareness Month 1
Presentation re 1997 Fire Explorer Academy 2
Removal of Items from Consent Calendar 2
Council Minutes: Adjourned & Regular Meetings, 2/25/97 Approved 2
Warrants Issued: #129812 - 130253 Approved 2
Res. #6036, Approving the reappointment of Margaret
(Peggy) Reed, Traffic Committee, Dist. 1 Adopted 2
Ord. #1039, Amendin sections of the DMC & certain Specific
Amending p
Plans pertaining to the establishment of Adult Uses Adopted 3
Agreement for legal services related to the acquisition &
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leasing of Federal property: Approve agreement with the
law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker Approved 4
Cn. Riley re lights out on Stewart & Gray Rd., 7800 -7900 Block 4
Cn. Riley re answers to questions submitted re hospital issues 4
Cn. Riley requested to see plans for Police Substation at
Apollo Park 4
Cn. Brazelton re grand opening of Downtown Parking Structure 4
Cn. McCarthy re removal of stop sign at Downey Av. & 2nd St. 4
Mayor Lawrence re signage on light standards on private property 4
Mayor Lawrence re swim meet hosted by Downey Aquatic Club 4
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COUNCIL MOTUTES, MARCH 11, 1997
TABLE OF MINUTE ACTIONS (CONTINUED)
SUBJECT ACTION PAGE NO.
Mayor Lawrence re major commercial historic preservation
awards to be presented to McDonald's & Pep Boys by
the L.A. Conservancy 5
Mayor Lawrence re letter received from the Student Referred to
Council of Rio Hondo Elementary School with question Cn. McCaughan 5
Mayor Lawrence acknowledged Kevin McDonald, Exec.
Director of the ARC 5
Mr. Caton thanked Fire Dept. for work on the Fire Explorer
Academy 5
Mr. Caton re acquisition of the NASA property 5
Mr. Caton commended the Dir. of Community Services &
the Public Works Dept. staff for work at Apollo Park & also
mentioned the contribution of granite by Chamber of
Commerce President, Mr. Di Mario 5
Robert Bryan, Secretary of the Downey City Employees' Assoc.,
extended his appreciation to the Council & City Staff in reference
to the Maintenance Unit's recent negotiations with the City 5
Myrtle Risley suggested the Emergency Preparedness Committee
be included in the neighborhood meetings held by the Neighborhood
Preservation Officer to educate citizens on how to prepare
themselves for an emergency situation 5
Lennie Whittington commented on the video cameras installed
in the lobby area of City Hall and also thanked City Staff for their
assistance with a parking problem on Manatee St. near Patton Rd. 6
Meeting adjourned to 6:30 p. m., March 25, 1997 6
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MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
MARCH 11, 1997
The City Council of the City of Downey held a regular meeting at 7:39 p. m., March 11, 1997,
in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Joyce L. Lawrence presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Joyce L. Lawrence Mayor
Barbara J. Riley Mayor ProTem
Gary P. McCaughan, M.D.
Robert S. Brazelton
Keith McCarthy
ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager
Tim McOsker, City Attorney
Judith McDonnell, City Clerk - Treasurer
Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager
Ron Irwin, Fire Chief
James Jarrett, Director of Community Services
Art Rangel, Director of Economic & Community Development
Richard Redmayne, Director of Public Works
Lowell Williams, Director of Finance
Bob Brace, City Engineer
John Finch, olice Captain
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Robert Gallagher, Building Official
Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Director of Community Dev. /City Planner
June Yotsuya, Assistant to the City Manager
Shirley Conte, Executive Secret
y � Secretary
PRESENTATIONS
Council Member McCaughan presented a Certificate of Appointment to Andrea Wakefield,
Parking Place Commission.
Mayor Lawrence presented to Darlene Lewis, President of ARC (formerly Association for
Retarded Citizens), who was accompanied by her son Steve, a Proclamation declaring the month of
March 1997 as Mental Retardation Awareness Month.
instrumental bringing Fire Chief Irwin introduced Fire Captain Lonald Croom who was in st in g g the
State Fire Explorer Academy to Downey and served as an explorer scout before becoming a fire
fighter.
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Fire Captain Croom explained the explorer program, which is a division of Boy Scouts of
America and is designed to give young people the chance to explore avenues of careers they would
like to pursue. He noted Fire Chief Irwin was recently awarded the Silver Beaver Award, which is the
highest medal given to a leader in scouting. The State Fire Explorer Academy will be held in Downey
during Easter Week for 16 -20 year olds who will be taught live fire training, flammable liquids training
and many other fire related activities. Of the forty cities that applied to host the 1997 Academy, the
City of Downey was selected. Captain Croom then narrated a slide program depicting activities that
will take place during this week. He commended 20 year old John Ferguson of Downey Post 641,
who was chosen as the Cadet Fire Chief of this year's academy. Graduation day will be held April 6th
at the Downey Civic Theater where an estimated 400 people are expected to attend.
HEARINGS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEMS FOR REMOVAL
Agenda Item VI -E -1, AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE
ACQUISITION AND LEASING OF FEDERAL PROPERTY, was removed at the request of
Council Member McCarthy.
CONSENT CALENDAR •
It was moved by Council Member Riley, seconded by Council Member Brazelton, and
unanimously carried to waive further reading of the Resolution and approve the remainder of the
Consent Calendar as recommended:
COUNCIL MINUTES: ADJOURNED AND REGULAR MEETINGS, FEBRUARY 25,
1997: Approve.
WARRANTS ISSUED: NO. 129812 - 130253, $1,379.642.65: Approve.
RESOLUTION NO. 6036 (ADOPT)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
APPROVING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MARGARET (PEGGY) REED TO
THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE, COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT ONE
ORDINANCES
ORDINANCE NO. 1039
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS 9104, 9124, 9126, 9128 AND 9147 OF
THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE (CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE IX); AND
AMENDING SPECIFIC PLAN NOS. 85 -01, 85 -01A, AND 89 -01 (RANCHO
BUSINESS CENTER SPECIFIC PLANS) AND SPECIFIC PLAN NO. 88 -01
(STONEWOOD SPECIFIC PLAN), AS SAID MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS
AND SPECIFIC PLANS PERTAIN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADULT
USES WITHIN THE CITY OF DOWNEY
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Council Member McCarthy commented society bends over backwards to accommodate
businesses that fall under the title of adult business and at the same time prevents the display of the
Ten Commandments in court rooms and on ball fields. He felt this was a statement on society and
while he was confident the Council would approve the adoption of the ordinance, he stated he would
abstain from voting on this matter.
The ordinance was read by title only. It was moved by Council Member Brazelton, seconded
by Council Member McCaughan, and unanimously carried (4 -1, with Council Member McCarthy
abstaining) to waive further reading and adopt.
Prior to the vote, Council Member Riley stated she would be voting in favor as she felt the
ordinance was protection for the City and hoped property owners would use discretion when renting
their properties to bring in the types of businesses that would eliminate the possibility of adult uses due
to the ordinance's spacing requirements.
Council Member Brazelton favored the ordinance because he felt there needed to be something
on the books within legal limits to restrict this type of activity and that the ordinance had been written
accordingly.
Council Member McCaughan noted his yes vote would not be because he favored adult
businesses but because the Constitutional mandate of the United States Supreme Court had to be
respected or it could leave the City open to liability. He felt adult businesses would not settle in the
City if the citizens do not support them and keep up their guard.
RESOLUTIONS: None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: None
OTHER BUSINESS - Consent Calendar - Items removed by Council Approval
AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION AND
LEASING OF FEDERAL PROPERTY
Mr. Powell advised the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker is being hired to assist
the City in negotiations related to the acquisition and leasing of the NASA property at the
Boeing/Rockwell site. He explained this purchase will involve complex real estate transactions and
this firm is an expert in these matters.
Council Member McCarthy and Mayor Lawrence advised they would abstain from voting due
to a potential conflict of interest.
It was moved by Council Member Brazelton, seconded by Council Member Riley, and carried
by a 3 -2 vote, (with Mayor Lawrence and Council Member McCarthy abstaining) to approve the
agreement for legal services from the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker.
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OTHER BUSINESS - Council Members
Council Member Riley mentioned the lights on Stewart & Gray Road in the 7800 -7900
block were out and q uestioned if this was due to the condominium complex under construction.
Council Member Riley asked the City Manager if answers to the questions submitted
regarding the hospital issues had been received and he responded they were expected within the next
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week.
Council Member Riley mentioned she visited the Community /Senior Center and Gymnasium
project and requested to see the plans for the proposed Police Substation at Apollo Park.
Council Member Brazelton indicated the Grand Opening of the City's new downtown
parking structure was an exciting event. He noted Mr. George Krikorian of Krikorian Theatres was
in attendance and stated the new theater is scheduled for completion around the end of May.
Council Member McCarthy mentioned business owners in the area are concerned by the
removal of the stop sign at the intersection of Downey Avenue and Second Street and suggested
placing lacin a flashing yellow caution light to help during the transition period.
Mayor Lawrence mentioned the signage that is being posted on light standards on private
property and q uestioned the source and whether they have a business license and permission from the
property owners to post the signage.
Mayor Lawrence commented on the swim meet held by the Downey Aquatic Club last
Saturday, which was attended by approximately 800 young athletes and was a very successful event.
Mayor Lawrence advised the Los Angeles Conservancy will be presenting major
commercial historic preservation awards to McDonald's and Pep Boys on May 14th at the
Biltmore in Downtown Los Angeles.
Mayor Lawrence displayed and read a letter received from the Student Council of Rio
Hondo Elementary School, who attended the last Council Meeting. She noted the letter asked why
all the Council did not vote on a question that arose and she referred the letter to Council Member
McCaughan for response, as his daughter is on the Student Council.
Mayor Lawrence acknowledged Mr. Kevin McDonald, Executive Director of the ARC,
who was present in the audience, noting he is very committed to the ARC program.
OTHER BUSINESS - Staff Members
Mr. Caton thanked the Fire Department for their work on the Fire Explorer Academy.
Mr. Caton mentioned most of the Council Members have traveled to Washington, D.C. or
Houston to lobby for the City's acquisition of the NASA property. He noted the City is hiring
attorneys to help recover that area as an industrial center, and that restrictions imposed by the Federal
Government would inhibit the City's ability to obtain well - paying industrial jobs on that property. A
week ago he flew to Washington with Council Member Brazelton and Mr. Rangel to meet with
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Congressman Horn and Senator Feinstein's staff and clarify that the Federal restrictions placed on the
property would prohibit the City from developing it for industrial jobs. He noted the support received
from the Congressman's and Senator's staffs, and he expressed thanks to everyone for their time and
effort on this issue.
Mr. Caton commended the Director of Community Services, Jim Jarrett, for the wonderful job
being performed on the Community /Senior Center and Gymnasium project at Apollo Park. He
also commended the City's hard working Public Works Department who constructed a very
complicated bocci ball court at the park and noted Mr. Di Mario, President of the Chamber of
Commerce, is donating some of the composite granite to assist the City in this effort.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Robert Bryan, 7231 Luxor Street, Secretary of the Downey City Employees' Association,
Maintenance Unit extended his appreciation to the Council, City Staff, and Maintenance Unit
personnel for their assistance and encouragement during recent negotiations for changes to their
Memorandum Of Understanding and compensation package with the City.
Myrtle Risley, 7938 Phlox Street, suggested including the Emergency Preparedness
Committee in the neighborhood meetings held by the Neighborhood Preservation Officer to
teach residents how to prepare themselves for an emergency situation.
Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, commented on the closed circuit cameras recently
installed in the lobby of City Hall. He also mentioned a parking problem on Manatee Street due
to construction in the emergency parking lot at Downey Community Hospital and thanked the City
Manager, Traffic Engineer Erik Zandvliet, and the City's maintenance personnel for their assistance by
establishing two -hour parking on Patton Road between Manatee and the Coca Cola Company gate to
alleviate this situation.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:20 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., March 25, 1997, in the Council Chamber of
Downey City Hall.
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Judith E. McDonnell, City Clerk Joy L awrence, Mayor
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