HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-04-20-92-Adjourned Meeting 9 4
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 20, 1992
The Cit y Council of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting
at 4:31 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Barbara J.
Hayden presiding.
PRESENT Council Members:
000—, Barbara J. Hayden Mayor
Diane P. Boggs -Mayor Pro -Tem
Robert G. Cormack
Robert S. Braze l ton
Barbara J. Riley
ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager
Peter Thorson, City Attorney
Judith McDonnell, City Clerk-Treasurer
Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager
Ronald Irwin, Fire Chief
Clayton Mayes, Police Chief
Art Ra ngel , Director of Community Development
Richard Redmayne, Director of Public Works
Lowell Williams, Director of Finance
Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Dir. of Comm. Dev. /City Planner
Alta Duke, Social Services Manager
William Makshanoff, Building Official
June Yotsuya, Assistant to the City Manager
Cindi Apidgian, Executive Secretary
STUDY SESSION - UTILITY USERS TAX
Mr. Caton summarized the staff report, noting he is seeking policy
,..� direction from Council. He explained the figures in the report and the
subsequent effects on the Police Department. The question is whether to
continue to budget these funds for the Police Department or include the Fire
Department rtmen t a s a "Public s Sa fet " service
p y se v ce Al so , for any type of
separate accounting of funds, this matter must be placed before the voters to
establish a specific account.
It was moved by Council Member Cormack and seconded by Council Member
Riley to place an ordinance establishing a separate account for utility user
tax funds to be used for Public Safety services, including the Fire
Department, on the November, 1992 ballot. (See later vote on . Page 4) .
Council Member Cormack noted strong public opinion to put this issue on
the ballot and agreed with the idea to let the voters decide on whether to
establish a separate fund for these monies.
Council Member Boggs strongly opposed placing an issue of this nature on
the November Presidential ballot. Instead, she preferred this matter and
other important items relative to the Charter be placed on the ballot of a
Council Minutes (Adj.). 4/20/92 -1-
I .
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f
Special Election to be conducted in the future to •
emphasize the importance of
these matters to the citizens of Downey. She requested •
� Y quested add�t�onal input on
this issue and further review of staffs report.
Council Member Riley noted the importance of including •
the Fire
Department in Public
Safety and the need for a separate accounting for funds
spent. She favored giving the public i c th g
P the opportunity to vote on the measure.
Discussion ensued regarding voter turnout, election costs involved, and
voter insensitivity to local issues.
Council Member Brazelton expressed ressed o osition •
P pp to the motion, noting it �s
imprudent to make such a vital move without knowing particulars
budget situation .g P of the
impending
. ssue being approved on the ballot by a two - thirds ma g s tuation in such difficult economic times. Also, the chance
of this issue majority of th
voters is very slim.
� Y the
Mayor Hayden stated she favored placing this issue on the ballot and
allowing the people to decide if a separate accounting is necessary.
Y
It was noted that August 7, 1992 was the deadline to '
o submit ballot
material to the Los Angeles County Register of Voters office for the November
election. Discussion ensued regarding the extra time available to further
study the issue and the need not to rush to place the matter on the ballot.
Mr. Thorson advised that should the proposed issue be adopted by the
voters, a special is 1 accoun tab 1 i P Y
P accountablity fund would be established tab l i shed to include the Fire
Department as part of Public Safety in which utility user tax money would
collect. However, if the issue is not passed by the voters, the tax will
continue to collect in the General Fund. In order for the utilty users tax to
end, Council would have to adopt an ordinance repealing in the current Ordinance
that provides for the tax.
P 9 a nce
Council Member Boggs recommended this decision be made after the budget
study has been completed since there is ample time to continue the matter.
Council Member Cormack favored moving ahead in a prudent fashion and
suggested placing this issue on the November ballot.
Ms. Joyce y ce Lawrence Cheddar 9627 Ch dar St. , expressed support of Downey 's
Police and Fire Safety Employees and was concerned with lack of a study
session on the issue of the utility users tax. Until certain q uestions are
answered, the matter should not be placed on the November ballot.
Dr. Gary McCaughan, 7918 8th St., expressed support for a strong police
force and discussed fiscal responsibility, leadership, police personnel and
costs. He requested additional records on the subject prior to placement on
the ballot.
Mr. Ken Miller, 7336 Cleargrove Dr., mentioned there were other issues
studied by the Charter Review Committee that should ' be included on the
November ballot. He expressed opposition to placing this measure on the
ballot because that was not the legislative intent of the 1977 City Council
who kept this tax in the Code for future use.
Council Minutes (Adj.) 4/20/92 -2-
9 4 .7 ' 9
Mr. John Gonzalez, 12350 Orizaba Ave., spoke as a taxpayer of the City
who is not a U.S. citizen and cannot vote. He expressed support for Downey's
Police and Fire Department and his desire to see the money available for the
protection of the City.
Mr. Roger Lawrence, 9627 Cheddar St., questioned procedures followed for
discussing the report and motion. He mentioned the natural attrition of
police officers would occur anyway and should not be included in the
justification of tax money spent.
Mr. Joel Lubin, 7820 Allengrove St., did not favor a special election at
this time and suggested re- evaluating the City's needs.
Mr. Jim Derry, 7845 4th St., questioned taking an action of this nature
at a study session. He concurred with Council Member Boggs regarding the need
for additionaT information and discussed figures cited in staff's report.
Ms. Mary L. Squire, 9546 Metro St., questioned whether the utility users
tax money was spent on the hiring of 27 officers and mentioned this meeting
should have been set at a later hour to allow more of the working public to
attend.
Mr. Ken Beckner, 8342 Cheyenne St., questioned the study session portion
of the meeting, noting this issue will lose on the November ballot. He
suggested this matter be returned for discussion in three months.
Mr. Meredith Perkins, 12729 Smallwood Ave., clarified that should this
issue be placed on the ballot, the question will be whether to designate a
special fund for these monies. If the measure fails, the 3% utility users tax
will still be collected by the City and placed in the General Fund. He
questioned whether large companies would be exempt from this tax.
Mr. Caton mentioned that if an assessment district was approved, only
those people who use police services would be assessed. Many of the larger
companies, such as Rockwell International, would not be assessed as they have
their own security system and most of the burden would be carried by
.-� commercial property owners.
Ms. Johnette Stickel, 8731 McCallum St., spoke regarding the need for
this issue to have been on a previous ballot to avoid the confusion tonight.
She suggested citizens have the opportunity to vote on this matter in
November.
Ms. Jimmie Renner, 7501 Sarabeth St., expressed concern with the original
re- establishment of the utility users tax in 1990 and suggested periodic
reports be given to Downey citizens to retain confidence in government. She
questioned if there were any administrative costs from the utility companies
regarding collection of the money and was informed there is no cost involved.
Ms. Joyce Lawrence, 9627 "Cheddar St., mentioned this money could be used
to include the Fire Department with Council direction at this time. She
discussed the staff report, specifically noting overhead expenses and excesses
carried from one year to another.
Council Minutes (Adj.) 4/20/92 -3-
Mr. Richard Pridham, 10402 Bel l ma n concurred •
Ave., � cu rred w� th Council Member
Braze 1 ton '
s opposition to specifically earmarking funds as this constricts
priorities of str�cts
their use, since
P the City may change in the future.
Mr. Daryl Boyd, 12222 Paramount Blvd., representing •
p resent � ng the Downey Firemen's
s
Association
expressed support for the Police Department and concern that n
affect t y
loss of utility users tax funds would adversely fect the Fire Department's
level of
service. He requested the utility users tax be designated for Public
g ubl�c
Safety, which would include the Fire Department.
Mr. Larry Squire, 9546 Metro St., voiced concerns •
� � terns regarding the initial
intention of the utility users tax and Council's prerogative to use the money
for other services as needed. y
It was moved. by Council_. Member B
Brazelton, aggs � s�e£ond ed- by Counc it .Member
azelton, and failed by the following vote to table the motion •
AYES: 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Boggs, Brazelton
NOES: 3 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Cormack, Riley, Hayden
y
Council Member Cormack noted the question of whether the money in a separate y should be
kept p to account would not confuse the general public.
Mayor Hayden concurred with Council Member Cormack's comments
and
recommended the matter be placed on the November ballot.
The motion to place the issue of establishin a
establishing separate account for
utility user tax funds to be used for Public Safety includin the Fire
by following vote:
was carried b the f l including
AYES: 3 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Cormack, Riley, Hayden
NOES: 2 COUNCI y
L MEMBERS: Boggs, Brazelton
Mr. Thorson advised that staff will return with specific resolutions and
an ordinance as they pertain to this tax and the baliot issue.
ORAL CINICATIONS
Mr. Roger Lawrence, 9627 Cheddar St., commented on the nature of asking
questions during Council meetings.
Dr. Gary McCaughan, 7918 Eighth St., discussed the City's rules and
regulations regarding y
9 g g procedures for adopting Ordinances.
Mr. Ken Miller, 7336 Cleargrove Dr., spoke regardin establishment of
assessment districts i regarding
n the past, and expressed concern with limiting utility
user tax monies to the Police Department.
Mr. Thorson clarified there was not a first. readin of the- Ordinance
tons ht• it will �
g . , . l be returned with the exact language at the next meeting for
the first reading, as will g
g, the necessary resolutions to place the matter on
the ballot in November.
Council Minutes (Adj.) 4/20/92 _4_
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9 481
ADJOURNMENT: 6:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., April 28, 1992 in the Downey City
Council Chamber.
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1_ / "y4, //
4 714-4-.4 Alf-d 41,A NIA 1 ■dt
f i dith E. McDonnell, City Clerk Bfrbara J /Mayor
Council Minutes (Adj.) 4/20/92 -5-
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