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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes-04-20-93-Adjourned w CDC MINUTES OF JOINT MEETING C t i v CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETI ING 1 APRIL 20, 1993 The City Council and Planning Commission of the City of Downey held a joint adjourned regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., April 20, 1993, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall , Mayor Diane P. Boggs presiding. PRESENT: Counc it Members : Diane P. Boggs Mayor Robert S. Braze l ton Mayor Pro Tem Barbara J. Riley Gary P. McCaughan, M.D. Joyce L. Lawrence Planning Commissioners: Steve Al len Chairman David Gafin Brian Gasdia (arrived at 6:33 p.m.) Meredith Perkins ABSENT: Frank Sheldon Vice- Chairman ALSO PRESENT: Gerald Caton, City Manager Judith McDonnell, City Clerk- Treasurer Art Rangel, Director of Economic & Community Development Ronald Yoshiki, Asst. Dir. of Comm. Dev. /City Planner William Makshano ff , Building Official The meeting was called to order and immediately recessed for relocating to the second floor training room. The meeting resumed at 6:40 p.m. with all ,..� Council Members and four Planning Commissioners present (Commissioner Sheldon absent) . JOINT MEETING BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION Mr. Rangel explained the purpose of the joint session is to determine whether staff is heading in the right direction to achieve the desired goals of the community. He mentioned there have been many changes in municipal planning and that Federal and State mandated requirements have affected municipalities' abilities to do local planning. Mr. Caton commented on the State and Federal requirements that take up an inordinate amount of staff time in which to comply. He mentioned staff will be showing a video presentation illustrating what appears to be a wonderful program from the State dealing with the Los Angeles River, but will actually take away the City's ability to control land use in the community. If the project is expanded to include the Rio Hondo Channel, the City will lose control of a mile -wide area along that River. Planning and use of tax funds, etc., will be going to the River consortium. Mr. Caton outlined the various sources of revenue the State has taken away from cities which have had a Minutes 4/20/93 Council /Planning Comm. (Adj.) -1- r 1. tremendous impact on the City's budget, including a reduction in the City's work force, and an employee hiring and pay freeze. At this time, the City Council and Planning Commission were shown a video of the proposed Los Angeles River project. The Council discussed with staff the negative aspects of this project. Next, Mr. Rangel discussed priorities versus budget realities, by emphasizing staff is attempting to keep up with the list of priorities even though there has been a reduction in the staff level. Mr. Rangel and Mr. Yoshiki reviewed the list of 34 items in the Planning Division Priorities and Programs. Council Member Brazelton asked about correcting the problem of signs that have been permitted by zone exception, which are out of conformity and have no amortization period. Mr. Yoshiki mentioned the Specific Plan at Firestone & Lakewood did eliminate many signs by zone exception. The main consideration of the Chamber of Commerce subcommittee, who is reviewing various aspects of the Sign Ordinance, is clarity of language. Also, emphasis is being given to signing 9 9 9 for multi- business centers, particularly those on deep commercial lots. During discussion, it was noted that emphasis of the Sign Code review will be on clarity of language and equity of enforcement. Emphas izing the need for a sa fe , clean commun ity, Council Member McCaughan suggested placing Item #11, the Property Ma intenance Ordinance, as a higher priority. Council Member Lawrence suggested some articles in the Communicator to educate the p u b l i c on how to maintain their properties and avoid the code enforcement process. Mr. Rangel continued with his review of the Planning Division Priorities and Programs. Mr. Yoshiki noted that Items #1-20 are top priority; Items #21 -34 are medium to low priority. Commissioner Ga sd is expressed his hope if the voters approve the Downtown Specific Plan that Items 27 and 28 - Parking Ordinance and Mixed Use Zone can be placed further up on the priority list and impetus placed on redevelopment and rejuvenating the downtown area. Mayor Boggs indicated she would like to see consistency in sidewalk installation throughout the City. She also favored lot mergers in the perimeters of the City to eliminate substandard size lots particularly in the south part of the City. Minutes 4/20/93 Council /Planning Comm. (Adj.) -2- C 6J2 Council Member Lawrence concurred and suggested the City use its Block Grant Funds to purchase substandard lots as they become available, make necessary improvements, then rent them as low income housing rentals, which would a l s o meet the housing needs of the community. At this time, 99 Mayor Boggs announced the City Council is recessing to Y closed session (7:53 p.m.) to discuss Government Code Section 5 4956.9, one subdivision (a) matter, pending litigation - Castro vs. City of Downey, et al (Claim No. 1109) . The meeting reconvened at 8:25 p.m. with all Council Members and four Planning Commissioners present; Commissioner Sheldon absent. Discussion was held regarding the order items appear on the priority list and whether the numbering sequence is indicative of how the items are actually rated in terms of their priority. Council Member McCaughan would like the list brought back for action. Mr. Rangel then reviewed the 24 listed priority items on the Economic Development Program. Commissioner Ga sd is feels Item #11, business - specific retention campaigns, is misprioritized. A task force should be developed with full citizen participation. Mayor Boggs said Imperial Highway has been ignored way too long and should be moved up on the priority list. She suggested that each Council Member and Planning Commissioner reprioritize the priority list and submit it to staff. Commissioner Perkins recommended top priority be given to developing City -owned property. Council Member McCaughan stressed the need to maintain the residential areas of the City. He also indicated the Council should give staff direction as to what it feels the goals and objectives of the community should be and then concentrate on achieving those goals. Commissioner Ga sd is also emphasized the importance of upgrading the downtown business area. During discussion, it was indicated there is a need t o educate the p u b l i c about the benefits of redevelopment. Mayor Boggs noted it is apparent the Council and Commission Members agree on how they want the residential neighborhoods and business community to look. Also, there is a need to prioritize and assess what staff has presented, and she favored scheduling further study sess ions between the Council and Planning Commission. Commissioner Ga fi n was excused from the meeting at 9:30 p.m. The Council and Commission were asked to submit their list of priorities to Mr. Rangel. Minutes 4/20/93 Council /Planning Comm. (Adj.) -3- I j •; , 1 Mr. Rangel then commented on other areas of priority in the City, such as the Nissan and Oldsmobile dealership sites. Also, another issue concerns the type of bunting material that dealers use on a regular basis. He discussed the cross - training that has occurred in the Building & Safety Division; computerization of the Planning Division; and automation of Code Enforcement, all of which has been a cost-savings to the City. He further commented on different areas of the Community improvements Development Department where im p P p have been made in an attempt to be more customer- friendly at City Hall. The Council and Commission discussed the continual problem of commercial trucks parking on neighborhood streets and the need for code enforcement. Also raised was the issue of recreational vehicle parking that creates problems in the community. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Michael Hoag, 8120 Fourth Street, concurred with many of the comments raised this evening and suggested conducting periodic meetings so that business people, renters and residents can have discussions relating to planning activities. Norman Horney, 9102 Angel Street, indicated his main concern is code enforcement and granting the sweeper enforcement officer authority to cite vehicles that are parked illegally on sweeping day. He also referenced the use of bunting for advertising by automobile dealers on Firestone Boulevard, the parking of a fifth -wheel trailer in the storage area and visible portable restroom in the parking lot at Downey Community Hospital. Mr. Horney sought the g Council 's support i n his quest to have Caltrans tra ns improve aesthetics o f the Century Freeway. ADJOURNMENT: 9:55 p.m. The Planning Commission Meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., April 21, 1993, in the Council Chamber of Downey City Hall. The City Council Meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., April 22, 1993, in the Cou nc i l Chamber of Downey City Hall . Ski 01-„fif 72 1 / iudith E. McDonnell, City Clerk Diane P. Boggs, Mayor Minutes 4/20/93 Council /Planning Comm. (Adj. -4-