HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 07-25-95 - Regular Meeting i
l
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF TEE CITY OF DOW NE Y
JULY 25, 1995
T A B L E O F M I N U T E ACTIONS
SUBJECT ACTION PAGE I4.
Procl amations re Parents of the Year 1
Lot Cleaning Assessments: Deny any protests & affirm
assessments on properties cleaned by City in 1994 -95 FY Approved 2
Items removed from Consent Cal end ar 2
Council Minutes: Regular Meeting, 7/11/95 Cont. to next meeting 2
Council Minutes: Adjourned Regul ar Meetings, 6/28/95
(Mayoral Transition) & 7/11/95 Approved 2
Cash Contract #SS -464, Citywide Si urry Seal for FY
1994-95: Award unit price contract to Roy Allan
Slurry Seal , Inc . Approved 2
Warrants Issued: #112289 - 112657 Approved 2
Addend= to Lease Agreement bet. City & Downey
Museum of Art, Inc. Approved 2
Annual Project Summary for expenditure of Prop A &
Prop C Local Funds: Auth. staff to transmit documents
to L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Auth. Approved 2
Res. #5892, approving Appointrient of Robert L. Shand
to Water Ad v . Bd . , Di st . 4 Adopted 2
Res. #5893, rescinding Res. #4 96 7 Calling for 2-Hr.
Parking Restriction on Both Sides Doll icon Dr. bet.
Fairford Av. & C ro s sd al e Av. Adopted 2
Res. #5894, consenting to the establishment of
Imperial Hwy. within City as part of System of Hwys.
of County of Los Angeles Adopted 2
Time Extension on Roof Signs' Abatement to 7/25/97
with provisions for 12 months for owner to receive
apprvl . from Planning /Zoning Div. for removal of the
sign & within regaining 12 months owner shall secure
necessary permits & physically remove the sign; said
extensions shall not apply to businesses w /roof signs
that are changing use/tenants, require building permits
or are currently in process of abating roof signs Approved 4
Report by Police Dept. re High Density R -1 Complaints Staff to bring back
standard operating
procedure in 4 weeks 4
Page 1 of 2
COUNCIL MINUTES, JULY 25, 1995
TABLE OF MINUTE ACTIONS (CONTINUED)
SUBJECT ACTION PAGE W.
City Council Committee Assignments Approved 4
Cn . Lawrence re letter from Human Services Assn . re
shortfall in funds for providing meals @ Rio San PI ace on future
Gabriel Park Agenda for response 5
Cn. Lawrence re newsletter from Linc Housing , a Requested report re
non - profi t affordable housing corporation other projects group
has undertaken 5
Cn. Lawrence re establishing Technocenter in City &
suggested incorporating with pl an s @ Apol 1 o Park
Neighborhood Center renovation PI ace on next Agenda 5
Mayor McCaughan re involvement in Di st . 29 L i ttl e
League baseball play -off tournament 5
Gloria Reed re efforts to comply with City' s
Shopping Cart Ord. 5
Keith McCarthy publ icly thanked Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem &
Council secretary for efforts on presentation of
Proclamation re Parent's Day 5
Joseph Davis compl imented City & staff for prompt &
professional response in remov ing tree in right -of -way 5
Lennie Whittington re estimated timeline & projected
costs for remodel ing work at Stonewood Lodge Motel ;
urged enforcement of ordinances i f enacted; feel s
Chamber of Commerce should represent all businesses in
City; & commented re reopening of Thri fty Gas Station
at Lakewood & Cecilia & providing restroom facilities 6
Mayor McCaughan re Shopping Cart Legislation 6
Mr. Caton compl imented Stonewood Lodge Motel project 6
Mr. Caton commented on current status of LACDA Fl ood
Control Project 6
Mr. Caton re proposed cutbacks at Rancho Los Amigos
Hospital 6
Adjourned to 6:30 p.m., August 8, 1995 6
Page 2 of 2
1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF TTE CITY OF DOW [ Y
JULY 25, 1995
The City Council of the City of Downey held a regular r meeting at 7:30
p .m., July 25, 1995, in the Council Chamber of the Downey Ci ty Hal 1 , Mayor Gary
P. McCaughan presiding .
PRESENT: Council Members:
Gary P. McCaughan , M.D. Mayor
Joyce L. Lawrence Mayor Pro -Tem
Diane P. Boggs
Robert S. Bra z el ton
Barbara J. Riley
ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton , Ci ty Manager
Cheryl J. Kane, City Attorney
Judith McDonnell , City Cl erk - Treasurer
Lee Powel 1 , Assistant City Manager
Ronald Irwin, Fire Chief
James Jarrett , Director of Community Services
Art Rangel , Director of Economic & Community Development
Richard Redmayne, Director of Pu b l ic Works
Lowell Williams, Director of Finance
Robert Brace, City Engineer
John Finch, Pol ice Captain
Bob G a l l a g h e r , Building Official
Ron Yoshi ki , Asst. Director of Community Dev . /City PI anner
June Yotsuya , Assistant to the City Manager
Joyce Doyle , Deputy City Cl er k
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor McCaughan presented Proclamations to Margie and Frank Mag an a and
Dorothy Stead (Mr. Ronald Stead was unable to attend) on their selection as
1995 Parents of the Year" recommended by the WFWP - Midcities Women's Foundation.
HEARINGS
Mayor McCaughan opened the pubs ic hearing of protests on LOT CLEANING
ASSESSMENTS.
Mr. Redmayne explained the noti fication process and the requirements that
must be met prior to having the properties cleaned by a contractor. He
mentioned this year, 100 notices were mailed, with 23 properties requiring
cleaning at a total cost of $22,341.
Ms . McDonnell affi rmed receipt of the Proof of Publ ication, which was
ordered filed.
There were no 1 etters of protest received on this matter.
There being no one present to speak in protest to the Lot Cleaning Assess-
ments, it was moved by Council Member Lawrence, seconded by Council Member
Bra zel ton , and so ordered to close the publ ic hearing .
---� Council Minutes 7/25/95 -1-
Responding to questions, Mr . Redmayne explained there is a 50 percent
surcharge attached to each assessment to cover the City's costs
It was moved by Council Member Br azel ton, seconded by Council Member
Boggs, and unanimously carried to deny any protests and affirm the assessments
on properties that have been cleaned by the City during fiscal year 1994 -95.
CONSENT CALENDAR - ITEMS FCR REMOVAL
At the request of Council Member Boggs, Agenda Item VI -A -3, COUNCIL
MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING, JULY 11, 1995, was removed from the Consent Cal endar
and c o n t i n u e d to the next meeting .
CONSENT CALENDAR
It was moved by Council Member Boggs, seconded by Council Member
Brazel ton, and unanimously carried to waive further reading of the Resolutions
and approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar as recanmended:
COUNCIL MINUTES: ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETINGS, JUNE 28, 1995 (MAYORAL
TRANSITION); AND JULY 11, 1995: Approve.
CASH CONTRACT NO. S.S. 464, CITYWIDE SLURRY SEAL Fad FISCAL YEAR 1994-95:
Award a unit price contract totaling $214,927.80 to Roy Allan Slurry Seal ,
Inc ., for the sl urry seal ing of various City streets (Account #26- 16464) :
Approve.
WARRANTS ISSUED: NO. 112289 - 112657, $1,829,245.76: Approve.
/ADDENDUM TO LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF DOW E Y AND DOW NE Y MUSEUM OF
ART, INC.: Approve.
ANNUAL PROJECT SIWARY F R EXPENDITURE OF PROPOSITION A AND PROPOSITION C
LOCAL RETURN FUNDS: Authorize staff to transmit documents to the Los
Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
RESOLUTION NO. 5892
A RESOLUTION OF TEE CITY COUNCIL OF TEE CITY OF DOWNS Y
APPROVING TEE APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT L. SHAND TO TEE
WATER ADVISORY BOARD FOR COUNC ILMANIC DISTRICT FOUR
RESOLUTION NO. 5893
A RESOLUTION OF TEE CITY COUNCIL OF TEE CITY OF DOW IE Y
RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 4967 CALLING Fal A TWO -HOUR
PARKING RSTRICTION ALONG BOTH SIDES OF DOLLISON DRIVE
BETWEEN FAIRFcRD AVENUE AND CROSSDALE AVENUE
RESOLUTION NO. 5894
A RESOLUTION OF TEE CITY COUNCIL OF TEE CITY OF DOW ICE Y
CONSENTING TO TEE ESTABLISHMENT OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY WITHIN
SAID CITY AS A PART OF TEE SYSTEM OF HIGHWAYS OF TEE COUNTY
OF LOS ANGELES
ORDINANCES: None
Council Minutes 7/25/95 -2-
RESOLUTIONS: None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
TIME EXTENSION ON ROOF SIGNS' ABATEMENT
Mr. Rangel reported on the Council's previous discussion and motion to
direct staff to bring back guidelines for extending the time limit on roof
signs' abatement for 12 months with evidence that work for removal of the sign
has begun within the first six months and removal completed by the following
six months. He then discussed the provisions recommended by staff to implement
the roof abatement program and mentioned receipt of a letter from the Downey
Chamber of Commerce recommending extension of the abatement period to November
1997. Mr. Rangel offered a solution on how the requested extension could be
accomplished and recommended if the time is extended to 1997 that there still
be a provision included requiring the owner to contact Planning staff within
the first six months.
Mr. Keith McCarthy, Past President of the Downey Chamber of Commerce,
11131 Brookshire Avenue, requested Council to reconsider its position and
extend the abatement period to November 1997. He particularly emphasized the
difficult economic times businesses are facing and asked if there is a cost to
secure a permit to remove the sign, to which he was informed there is a nominal
charge for the required demolition permit.
Mr. Ed Di Lo reto , 7333 Rio Flora Place, speaking on behalf of Don Dixon,
President of Citizens for Downey, expressed his desire to keep Downey a
beautiful and progressive city. He complimented the Council on forming the
Braid Committee and encouraged approval of the requested extension as a further
opportunity for Council to prove it is pro - business.
Ms. Gloria Reed, 12161 Paramount Boulevard, owner of Country Butcher Shop,
mentioned she is on the Design Review Board and has been involved with signs
for a lengthy period of time. She noted the high cost to remove and replace
her roof sign many years ago and said to do so now would be detrimental to her
business because of the economy. She also encouraged granting the requested
extension.
Mr. Jim Morris, 8335 Firestone Boulevard, operator of his father's,
J. Arthur Morris,' photography business, requested Council to approve the
requested extension. He attributed 25% of his business to the roof sign.
Council Member Boggs indicated she would be agreeable to changing both
provisions 1 and 2 of the recommended action to 12 months each instead of six
months. While she indicated it helped to hear from someone who had already
spent considerable funds removing their sign to express sympathy for those who
are having to remove their sign now, it was her feeling that either the City
toss out the Sign Ordinance or enforce it in a fair manner.
Council Member Lawrence concurred with the 12 months, with the under-
standing that this would not apply to businesses with roof signs that change
tenants or use, in which case they must then comply with the ordinance.
Council Members Brazel ton and Riley al so concurred with the 12 month
recommendation.
Council Minutes 7/25/95 -3-
Mayor McCaughan suggested six months to receive approval and then 18
months to secure permits and complete the work.
It was moved by Council Member Boggs, seconded by Council Member Lawrence,
and unanimously carried that accord ing to Section 9154.34 of the Downey
Municipal Code, to grant and direct staff to notify those businesses of the
extension of time for certain legal non - conforming roof signs in the City of
Downey until July 25, 1997, with the following provisions: (1) Within the
first twelve (12) months, the owner of a business having a roof sign shall
receive an approval from the Planning /Zoning Division of the City for the
removal of said roof sign; and secure any other approval for its replacement at
the discretion of the business owner; (2) Within the remaining twelve (12)
months, the owner of the business shall secure the necessary permits and shall
physically remove said roof sign; and (3) Said extensions shall not apply to
businesses with roof signs which change use/tenants, require building permits
or are currently in the process of abating their roof signs.
Prior to the foregoing vote, Mr. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street,
asked whether the same extension would apply in the case of a business with a
non - conforming pole sign, and he particularly referenced the Stonewood Lodge
Motel that is undergoing major renovation and was required to replace their
non - conforming pole sign within one year. He expressed his feeling that it is
unfair to not grant the same extension to all businesses with non - conforming
signs and questioned why the Downey Chamber of Commerce was not representing
all businesses, rather than the small group with roof signs.
Mr. Caton replied this would not apply to the Stonewood Lodge Motel
because they are already in the process of making changes, as outlined in
provision 3.
HIGH DENSITY R-1 COMPLAINTS
Captain Finch reported on the results of research conducted of all 1995
complaints relating to code enforcement cases on file, noting that out of 48
specific compl aints, 36 dealt with i l l egal garage conversions. The County
Board of Health has been responsive to complaints on overcrowding. He said it
i s proposed in the future to meet with City Departments, including the City
Attorney and City Prosecutor, and develop a standard operating procedure
addressing the probl ern s . Captain Finch mentioned the staff report al so
discusses a complaint made at the last Council Meeting regarding the
overcrowding issue.
Mayor McCaughan concurred with developing a procedure which incl udes input
provided by each of the Departments, and he asked that at least a prel iminary
draft be brought back to Council in four weeks.
OTHER BUSINESS - CONSENT CALENDAR - Items r em ov ed by Council Approval : None
OTHER BUSINESS - Council Members:
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS FCR 1995-96
It was moved by Council Member Boggs, seconded by Council Member Brazel ton
and unanimously carried to approve the City Council Committee Assignments.
Council Minutes 7/25/95 -.4-
Council Member Lawrence commented on receipt of a letter from the Human
Services Association about the shortfall in funds for providing meals at Rio
San Gabriel Park and asking the City to consider granting funds. At her
request, and there being no objections, this matter will be placed on the
Council Agenda for response.
Council Member Lawrence al so referenced a newsletter received from Linc
Housing, a non - profit affordable housing corporation. She expressed a desire
to learn more about the organization and asked for a report regarding projects
the organization has undertaken. There were no objections.
Council Member Lawrence mentioned her conversation with a Mrs. Dowd
regarding an idea for a establ fishing a Technocenter in the City that would be
accessible to citizens interested in making their own videos, newsletters,
flyers, etc., and perhaps incorporating this with plans for the community
center, since a computer room has been discussed. She asked that this be
placed on the Agenda for consideration of forming an ad hoc committee to review
the possibility of providing something affordable and creative for the
community.
Mr. Caton indicated there would be adequate conduit placed throughout the
building to accommodate any changes, and he noted there is one room in the
facility that could be designated as a computer center. He encouraged
designating a particular site in the community and then drawing on community
resources to determine how the space can be utilized.
To be placed on the next agenda.
Mayor McCaughan commented on his involvement in the District 29 Li ttl e
League baseball play -off tournament and he spoke with pride about the three
Downey teams that prevailed as the final three contenders out of 16 teams, with
the Northwest Downey Team prevailing as the District 29 Little League champion.
ORAL COMM ICATIONS
Ms . Gloria Reed , 12161 Paramount Bo ul ev and , referenced the Shopping Cart
Ordinance and cited the financial impact on the business owner , noting the
expense of monitoring and retrieving shopping carts. She discussed her
attempts to keep the carts on her property and asked the City to consider ways
of solving the probl em without charging the business owner . She al so
encouraged citing people who are seen removing the carts .
During Council discussion, it was suggested stores sell the smaller
folding carts at a reasonble price as an enticement to shoppers to purchase
these carts as opposed to taking a market's cart without permission. It was
noted t hat stores do not al ways post sign s informing shoppers that taking carts
is against the law.
Mr . Keith McCarthy, 13404 Barl in , publicly thanked the Mayor for present-
ing the Proclamation on Parents Day, which was a 1 ast minute effort made
possible by Mayor Pro Tern Lawrence and Council Secretary Ruth Sal tm an .
Mr . Joseph A. Davis , 9566 Gal 1 ati n Road , compl imented the City and its
employees for their prompt and professional response in removing a tree in the
right -of -way that was breaking the curb and his driveway. He highlighted in
detail his conversations with City empl oyees and the work performed .
Council Minutes 7/25/95 -5-
b
Mr. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, clarified his remarks made
earlier in the meeting and thanked Mr. Caton, Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Yoshi ki for
their assistance in the renovation of the Stonewood Lodge Motel . He discussed
the estimated timeline and projected costs for the remodeling work, noting the
many delays which have doubled the cost. Mr. Whittington expressed the hope
that in future years, if the Council serving at the time passes an ordinance,
that they enforce it or not pass it at all. He also restated his feeling that
the Chamber of Commerce should represent all businesses in the City. Mr.
Whittington then referenced the reopening of the Thrifty Gas Station at
Lakewood and Cecilia which included the installation of two restrooms. He said
following the re-opening, the station closed one of the restrooms, which has
since been reopened through his continued monitoring of the situation.
OTHER BUSINESS - Council Members (cont.)
Mayor McCaughan announced the Shopping Cart Leg i si ation has passed the
Senate and is now on the Governor's desk for signature. This means the City
will only be able to charge $5.00 if the business owner does not have a simple
plan for retrieval. He mentioned this will lessen the burden on the business
owner but not on the taxpayer since the City will still be responsible for the
shopping cart removals.
OTHER BUSINESS - Staff Members:
Mr . Caton indicated he has toured the Stonewood Lodge Motel project, which
he complimented as a real asset to the community.
Mr. Caton then discussed the City's efforts in Washington D.C. in support
of the LAC DA Flood Control Project, which wi 11 benefit the citizens of Downey.
He commented on the efforts of State Senator Tom Hayden to stop the project,
and noted that through the efforts of Council Member Boggs and her connection
with Congressman Horn, the White House has now released a record of decision
which would allow the project to proceed. Subsequently, Senator Barbara Boxer
has brought forth an amendment through an appropriation bill , which would undo
everything the City has done, but he has now learned the Appropriation
Comm i ttee has killed Sen ato r Box er s amendment . Mr . Cato n em ph a si zed the need
for approval of the project, so that Downey can get out of the flood plain as
quickly as possible. Mr. Caton al so mentioned Mayor Pro Tem Lawrence sent the
City's first E- Mail communication to the Vice President and stated that as of
now, the project is going forward.
When asked if the City is monitoring the County's proposed cutbacks at
Rancho Los Amigos Hospi tal , Mr . Caton indicated Council Member Boggs has spoken
to Supervisor Deane Dana' Chief of Staff to express the City's strong feelings
that the Hospital remain open.
ADJOURNMENT: 9:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., August 8, 1995, in the Council
Chamber of Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey.
(.4 C i \ c - M/VA itc(
1
Judith E. McDonnei City C erk Gary P. M Caughan, Ma or
Council Minutes 7/25/95 -6-