Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-10-30-90-Adjourned w CDC t./ MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 30, 1990 The City Council of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular ' � 9 ar Meeting at 6:03 p.m., October 30, 1990 in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Roy L. Paul presiding. ty Hall, p g. PRESENT: Council Members: Roy L. Paul Mayor Barbara J. Hayden Mayor Pro Tem Diane P. Boggs (arrived at 6:22 p.m.) Robert G. Cormack Robert S. Brazelton ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, Cit Manager er 9 Peter Thorson, City Attorney Judith McDonnell, City Clerk Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Clayton Mayes, Police Chief Art Rangel, Director of Community Development Robert Messinger, � nger, Assistant to the City Manager Ron Yoshiki, City Planner June Yotsuya, Assistant to the City er c Baker, Manager e Bake Deputy 9 .y , eputy City Clerk Lit is Rodriguez, Public Information Coordinator Barbara Laws, Executive Secretary Cindi Api dgi an, Executive Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None Ken Miller, 7336 Cleargrove Dr., suggested � 99 ted the agenda be taken out of order and the Police Protection Assessment District option i on b - heard of the Ordinance. P e prior to the second reading 9 0 di nance. He also recommended a full Council be ' a �n attendance to hear testimony given on this matter. Further discussion ensued regarding egardi ng the agenda order and it was decided the staff report for the Police Protection Assessment District t District would be heard at this ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS POLICE PROTECTION ASSESSMENT DISTRICT Mr. Powell summarized the staff report, • P t� explaining the procedures involved in establishing the Assessment District. Council Member Cormack expressed concern • with the time frame involved in the Assessment District procedure, specifically that funds would not 1 ice offi of be to begin hiring police officers until the end of 1991. He favored the utility as the most efficient means of funding ty users g the needed staff increase. City Council 10/30/90 (Adj,) -1- '3 1 `t , Council Member Hayden commented on the inequity of payment for police services by property owners under the Assessment District plan, questioning whether the property owner would pass on his cost to the renter in a proportionate amount. The utility users tax would spread the burden of cost among the majority of residents. Based on equity and the urgent need, she favored reimposition of the utility users tax at this time. Mr. Caton advised one possibility would be to implement the utility users tax now to create the needed funding and also consider establishing the Assessment District to then replace the utility users tax. Council Member Cormack agreed with setting up the Assessment District to eventually replace the utility users tax. I t was moved by Council Member Cormack and seconded by Council Member Brazelton to receive and file the staff report. (See motion withdrawn). Council Member Boggs arrived at 6:22 p.m. and assumed her seat. Discussion ensued regarding further consideration of the Assessment District plan. Council Member Cormack withdrew his motion to receive and file with the consent of the second. Mr. Caton stated staff could not make an appropriate estimate of the cost per household since the relationship between the different types of housing and police service offered has not been established. He made a basic assumption that the Assessment amount would probably be close to the utility tax levied. Council Member Hayden mentioned a utility users tax would be more equitable than the Assessment plan because it would affect the majority of people, thereby distributing costs involved. Council Member Brazelton expressed concern with incidental costs involved in the Assessment District, including establishment and collection fees. Ken Miller, 7336 Cleargrove Dr., referred to a Tax Impact Study in which .� equitable relationships between property owners and taxation were studied. He recommended continuance of this matter until the next meeting to allow further time to d o stu y this report. He noted an assessment can be prorated according to the demand for service. He suggested maintaining the Police Department at its current levels until the Assessment District could fund additional positions. Council Member Hayden questioned the time and author of the study and was informed it was completed in 1977 by City staff, Council representatives, and USC staff. Mr. Caton commented his intention was to wait until other funds were available to hire additional officers; however, with the recent increase in violent crimes, he advocated the utility users tax as the most efficient means to increase the staffing levels at this time. City Council 10/30/90 (Adj.) -2- , i Hazel Scotto, 9203 Cord Ave., suggested the public read the annual crime report, available in the Library to become aware of crime problems in the community and what the citizenry can do to combat crime. She compared crime statistics today with those of 1975 in which some of the crimes had actually decreased, questioning the urgent need for additional officers. She cautioned against exaggerating the criminal activity in the City that may result in a hysterical reaction among the citizens. Prior to the foregoing comment, Mayor Paul advised Agenda Item IV, REIMPOSING CERTAIN PORTIONS OF UTILITY USERS TAX would also be discussed at this time. Eleanor Lindenfeld, 8846 Manzanar Ave., proper questioned whether there was ro questioned P P noticing to the public on this matter and the reasoning to support an additional 27 police officers and was dismayed at the faltering Neighborhood Watch Program. Julie Gaston, 10516 Chaney Ave., spoke regarding the safety of her family and favored hiring the new officers as quickly as possible to fight rising crime throughout the City. Bill Lightner, 9239 Guatamala Ave., objected to using the utility companies as middlemen in the collection of taxes as the companies will raise their consumer rates to offset their costs. Donald Johnston, 10505 Brookshire Ave., recommended redirection of police and City staff personnel and noted various holidays enjoyed by City employees. He was concerned that retired people who are home and use more utilities will pay a higher tax. Marjorie Barnings, 10257 Vultee Ave., representing the League of Women Voters, recommended the public be given the opportunity to vote on the reimposition of the utility users tax. Lee Squire, 8804 Samoline Ave., commented the Assessment District may be disproportionate but has some accountability and control; the utility users tax may equitably spread the burden of costs but does not require monies collected be used for police services. Guy Sterner, 10303 Downey Ave., discussed past misappropriation of funds collected by the County. Increased utility rates resulting from the energy crisis will mean higher taxes to be paid. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee St., noted that the financial institutions where most robberies occur are exempt from paying utility taxes. He expressed concern with the limited time given the public to become aware of this proposed tax and encouraged conservative spending habits among City staff. Mary Squire, 9546 Metro St., requested the tax be imposed on a one -time basis on water bills similar to fees for paramedic services. Jim Derry, 7845 4th St., expressed support for reimposing the utility users tax and also forming the Assessment District. He noted an Assessment will always be paid even if the property is sold. Donn Irving, 9320 Via Amorita, spoke regarding monetary accountability and public awareness of criminal activity. City Council 10/30/90 (Adj.) -3- jPm% 9 I r\e-: Gary McCaughan, 7918 8th St., questioned the urgency of this matter, referring to statistics in the 1989 Downey Crime Report. He objected to the process by which the tax is being considered, noting more time should be allowed for careful study of all options available. He recommended a conservative review of administrative positions within the Police Department and suggested a policy of hiring a few more officers over the next few years. Catherina Bruton, 7337 Cleargrove Dr., recommended use of the Assessment District as it affords accountability. She questioned whether reimposition of the utility users tax would jeopardize state or federal funding and suggested City staff contact Ken Miller for his valuable knowledge on the subject. Ken Miller, 7336 Cleargrove Dr., discussed a study he conducted among the 71 twelve cities originally compared by staff and their varying crime rates. He recommended Council review this study for further input on the matter. Mayor Paul closed the public comment portion of the meeting. Chief Mayes explained the need for increased police services to maintain public safety. He discussed accountability measures followed by his staff and advised that the increase of 27 officers will bring the ratio to just above 1.5 officers per one thousand people. Mike Hadley, President of the Police Officers Association, expressed the urgent necessity for additional officers to insure public protection. ORDINANCE NO. 920 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 533, REIMPOSING CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE UTILITY • USERS TAX, AMENDING SECTIONS 6182(A), 6183(A), 6184(A), 6185(A), AND 6186(A) OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADDING SECTION 6197 TO THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE, ALL RELATING TO THE UTILITY USERS TAX The Ordinance was read by title only. It was moved by Council Member Cormack and seconded by Council Member Hayden to waive further reading and adopt. , Council Member Boggs discussed the demanding nature 1 gg an ng ature of the police officer 1 position and the need to provide a safe community. She expressed support of reimposing the utility users tax at this time with continued review of the Assessment District as an option to replace the tax. Council Member Hayden concurred, citing the urgent need for funding additional police officer positions as a determining factor in her support for the utility users tax until the Assessment District could be further studied. Council Member Brazelton commented that investments can be used in the future to fund the increase in police staffing, thus avoiding a permanent tax situation. Noting the time frame involved in the Assessment District option, he supported the utility users tax as the most efficient source of funding with the possibility of the Assessment District plan being implemented in the future. City Council 10/30/90 (Adj.) -4- ;s 91;L;: Responding to previous comments, Council Member Hayden praised the Neighborhood Watch Program as being a healthy, ongoing community effort. She mentioned that City employee holidays are a result of the labor negotiation process. Mayor Paul discussed the reality of criminal activity in the City and the urgent need to address this issue. He expressed support of the utility users tax at this time with consideration of the Assessment District for eventual funding of additional police officer positions. _ _ 44 The Ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council. I t was moved by Council Member Boggs, seconded by Council Member Cormac k , and unanimously carried to direct staff to return with a complete study on the establishment and impact of utilizing a Special Assessment District. Mr. Caton advised staff will be contacting Mr. M i l l e r for his valued input on this matter. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:47 p.m. 1111 41 11, ..w :' , 4 101e4;t , ;(2.4 1 �r - udi th E. McDonnell, City Clerk Ro L. ';u1, Mayor City Council 10/30/90 (Add.) 5