Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-08-17-64-Regular Meeting2104 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AUGUST 17th,1964 The City Council of the City of Downey held a regular adjourned meeting in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall at 7:30 P.M., August 17th,1964, Mayor Thomas H. Morton presiding. PRESENT: Councilmen: Dickerson, Temple, Corbin, Dunnum, Morton ALSO PRESENT: Oren L. King, City Manager Royal M. Sorensen, City Attorney Sherman Griselle, Director of Planning A.C.Gabriel, Director of Finance Robert Gain, Fire Chief Ray Lake, Director of Building and Safety Ervin Spindel, Director of Public Works Don Robison, Senior Administrative Assistant Della Doyle, City Clerk Mayor Morton announced that this was the time set for the public hearing on the proposed Charter for the City of Downey. He gave a brief review of the work and study that had gone into the preparation of this document and that this hearing was not a required hearing but was being held so that those who had not participated in the previous hearings could express themselves, The Mayor then introduced Mr, Melvin Quigley, Chairman of the Charter Committee who expressed his appreciation to the committee mem- bers who had worked so diligently for the past two years and to the many other people who had assisted the committee. He then introduced Mr. Elwayne Smith, Vice - Chairman of the Committee. The Mayor and the members of the City Council again expressed their thanks and appreciation for the many hours of work that the committee put into this proposed charter and the fine document that they had placed before the Council for their consideration, The Mayor then opened the public hearing. Those speaking on the subject were: Mary Warkentine, 8024 4th St, spoke in opposition, Mrs. Diane Boggs, 8629 E. Meadow Rd, requested that the action on the charter, if it is indeed necessary to have such a charter, be delayed to some election rather than the General election on November 3rd,1964. James Gillespie, 7214 Cleargroae stated that he felt that the powers granted to the City Manager by section 604(a) were excessive, Mrs. Mary Greene, 7816 Harper Ave, also questioned the powers grant- ed the City Manager on department head appointments and removals. Mrs, Betty Kilpatrick, 8603 Meadow Rd, questioned the protection provided by the Charter - and in section 503 the time and methods out- lined for filling vacancies on the City Council; section 504regarding the selection of the Mayor: section 604 regarding the powers and duties of the City Manager; 1207 regarding the Tax Limits, She also suggested that it be submitted at some other time than a general election. Betty Toro, 8115 Imperial, ask that the initiation and recall sec- tion be further clarified. She also ask that this not be on the Novem- ber ballot.She suggested that a section be added outlining how the charter could be amended, The City Attorney stated that the charter can be amend- ed only as outlined in the State Constitution but that it was possible to add a sentence to that affect in the City Charter, Council Meeting 8/17/64 -1- 2105 Mr. R. Muraltus, 7615 Florence Ave. questioned section 608'Non Interference with Administrative Service." Mrs. Phyllis Gerdea, 8112 Quoit St. again questioned how the people could initiate an amendment to the Charter, The City Attorney read the section from the State Constitution. She also questioned section 515 regarding ordinance violation and penalty. She,too, felt that it should .^ not be on the November ballot. Mr. Gano Culwell, 12037 Brookshire Ave. spoke in behalf of the charter as it now stands. He offered the services of any one on the Charter Committee to meet with any one or any group who would like to understand the document better. Mr. Wendell Wiser, 11215 Woodruff, disagreed with section 502. "Compensation for Councilmen." Mr. Wiser feels that the Councilmen should receive some compensation. Mr. Stephen Skinner, 8703 Glendora, stated that this charter is the only way to better our City government and guarantee its conti- nuance. He urged that it be done as soon as practical. Eileen Eckstrom, 10503 Chaney, ask the City Attorney about the restrictions put upon the Council by this document, The City Attorney replied that it gave the Council as broad powers as is possible by the Constitution of the State and that the Council could pass, amend or repeal Ordinances at any time. The Ordinances now in effect will continue as they are at this time. She congratulated the committee on their work. Mrs. Boggs again stressed her request that the election not be held in the November General Election. Mrs, Green again discussed the City Manager powers and appointment. At 9:30 P.M. the Mayor called a 10 minute recess. 9:45 P.M. roll call showed all Councilmen present. It was moved by Councilman. Corbin, seconded by Councilman Temple and so ordered that the hearing be closed. It was moved by Councilman. Corbin, seconded by Councilman Dunnum and passed by the following vote that action on the charter and further consideration be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting. AYES: 5 Councilmen: Dickerson, Temple, Corbin, Dunnum, Morton NOES: 0 ABSENT: 0 It was moved by Councilwoman Dunnum, seconded by Councilman Temple and passed by the following vote that the consideration of Zone Exception #483 (Roy Reed) be continued to the next meeting, August 25th,1964 AYES: 5 Councilmen: Dickerson, Temple, Corbin, Dunnum, Morton NOES: 0 ABSENT: 0 .--. A letter from the Downey Community Hospital Foundation was presented in which they recommended that the approximate two acres south of Manatee Street now being considered be deleted from the Hospital site. -Council Meeting 8/17/64 -2- RESOLUTION NO. 1424 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST, CON - VENIENCE, AND NECESSITY DO NOT REQUIRE THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES FOR HOSPITAL PURPOSES. It was moved by Councilman Temple, seconded by Councilman Corbin and so ordered that further reading be waived. It was moved by Councilman Corbin, seconded by Councilman Dickerson and passed by the following vote that Resolution 1424 be adopted. AYES: 5 Councilmen: Dickerson, Temple, Corbin, Dunnum, Morton NOES: 0 ABSENT: 0 A letter from the Board of Supervisors was read by the City Clerk, requesting support by the City of Downey in their protest of lowering the age limits for the purchases of alcoholic beverages. RESOLUTION NO. 1425 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY PROTESTING ANY LOWERING OF THE AGE LIMIT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. It was moved by Councilman Temple, seconded by Councilman Corbin and so ordered that further reading be waived. It was moved by Councilman Corbin, seconded by Councilman Dickerso n and passed by the following vote that Resolution No.1425 be adopted. AYES: 5 Councilmen: Dickerson, Temple, Corbin, Dunnum, Morton NOES: 0 ABSENT: 0 A letter from the Guadalajara Committee of the Chamber of Commerce requesting Council action or support for 6 representatives from the Chamber of Commerce Guadalajara Committee be recognized at the forth coming convention in Guadalajara was presented. After discussion it was determined that there should be six delegates from the City Committee and the Chamber of Commerce Committee represented at the American- Sister City Convention to be held in Guadalajara starting August 23rd,1964. Council- men Temple, the official representative of the City should officially introduce both delegations. Mr. King announced that the dedication in Guadalajara of a park in the name of Downey was to be held in Guadalajara on September 7th & 8th and that there had been a special invitation. that the Mayor or City Officals attend this dedication. Mr. Agnesi from Guadalajara had stated the Mayor of Guadalajara, the Governor of Jalisco and the President of Mexico would be there of the occasion. It was moved by Councilman Temple, seconded by Councilwoman Dunnum and passed by the following vote that the Mayor or his appointee be auth- orized to attend this dedication. AYES: 5 Councilman: Dickerson., Temple, Corbin, Dunnum, Morton NOES: 0 ABSENT: 0 Council Meeting 8/17/64 -3- 2107 The Mayor invited any of the papers who wished to send their own representative at this time to do so. He feels that this is an important occasion and probably the press would like their own representatives. Mr. King reported on a meeting of engineering representatives of Downey and neighboring Cities with the advanced planning division of Highway representatives in a study of the extension of the Century Free- way and Slauson Freeway, Their recommendations from this meeting was that the Slauson Freeway continue on to the Riverside Freeway at Yorba Linda to the east, and that the Century Freeway be terminated at the Rio San Gabriel Freeway. It was recommended that the Mayors and Councils, of these Cities set up a joint meeting to discuss this matter further. Mr. King aslwdfor approval to arrange such a meeting with Southgate, Bellflower, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, LaMirada, Pico Rivera and Paramount to study this proposed plan. It was moved by Councilman Temple, seconded by Councilman Dickerson and so ordered that the City Manager be granted authority to arrange such a meeting with the above mentioned Cities. Councilman Temple asked that a check be made with the tree trimming department in regard to the trees in District #3. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 P.M. C/ De11a Doyle City Clerk Thomas H. Morton Mayor Council Meeting 8/17/64 -4-