HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10-11-13 Special MeetingMINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING
OCTOBER 11, 2013
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special Meeting at 10:12 a.m., October 11, 2013, in
the Council Chambers of Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Guerra
presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Mario A. Guerra Mayor
Fernando Vasquez Mayor Pro Tern
Roger C. Brossmer Excused
Luis H. Marquez
Alex Saab
ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Lives, City Manager
John Oskoui, Assistant City Manager
Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Adria M. Jimenez, CMC, City Clerk
Shannon DeLong, Assistant to the City Manager
Carl Charles, Police Chief
Lonnie Croom, Fire Chief
Brian Saeki, Community Development Director
Arlene Salazar, Parks & Recreation Director
NON - AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
closed.
Mayor Guerra opened public comment. Having no one come forward, public comment was
Mayor Guerra requested a moment of silence for Downey High School student Dodi Soza.
CITY INFRASTRUCTURE TOUR: THE CITY COUNCIL TOOK A BUS TOUR WITHIN THE CITY
LIMITS TO DISCUSS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF THE CITY.
The following locations were visited by the Council:
Firestone Blvd. Project Area
Mayor Guerra discussed how he would like the City to implement crisscross crosswalks
at the intersection of Firestone Blvd. and Downey Avenue.
Delia Magdaleno, resident, expressed her concern about the impact to traffic stopping all
at once, noting it would back up traffic on Firestone Blvd. for Downey High School during drop -
off and pick -up times.
Apollo Park
Council toured the park play area, shuffle board area, parking lot and sports fields. Staff
reported that the approximately 40 year old infrastructure would require approximately $800,000
in improvements to the irrigation system and turf. In addition, the potential walking path would
cost $300,000, and a remodel of the parking lot to re -route pedestrian traffic would cost
$400,000. Staff noted that the Council had approved of a recent grant application requesting
$300,000 in funding from the County for outdoor exercise equipment and installation of trail, but
the necessary improvements at the Park are estimated at more than $1.2 million.
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of October 11, 2013
Rancho South Campus
Council toured the South Campus of Rancho Los Amigos.
Paramount/Imperial Hwy Intersection
Council toured the intersection of Paramount and Imperial Highway.
Furman Park
At Furman Park, the Council discussed the playground and irrigation system, which had
been installed in the 1950s and was an inefficient hydraulic system that shuts down the entire
irrigation apparatus when one part malfunctions (as opposed to newer irrigation systems that are
electronically controlled, easier to fix, and are able to bypass malfunctioning parts to ensure the
rest of the system functions normally). It was noted that a recent grant application had been
approved for submission by Council, requesting funding from the State, but that the necessary
improvements to the irrigation system are estimated at more than $600,000.
Council also requested staff return with proposals from nonprofit organizations to
reprogram the shuttered building formerly housing the Downey Museum of Art. Mayor Guerra
asked what the plan was for the building and suggested the building be used for afterschool
care. Council Member Saab recused himself and left the building for this conversation.
At 11:40 a.m., Council Member Marquez departed the tour.
Lakewood Blvd., north of Florence
At Lakewood Boulevard, staff reported the approximately $5 million funding gap to
complete the Lakewood Boulevard Improvement Project from Florence Avenue to Telegraph
Road. It was noted that $800,000 from gas tax and grant funds had been programmed for FY
2013 -14 Capital Improvement projects to address the segment between Gallatin Road and
Telegraph Road.
Wilderness Park
At Wilderness Park, staff described the $550,000 in necessary improvements to the
pump and aeration systems at both the north and south lakes. The existing systems have not
been upgraded or replaced since their original installation in the early 1970s. The Council also
toured the south acre of Wilderness Park, which had recently been cleared of non - native plans
and for which the City was currently seeking $200,000 in grant funding to implement drought -
tolerant plants and a walking path from the State.
Rio San Gabriel Park
At Rio San Gabriel Park, Council discussed the closure of the sports fields due to
significant damage. Staff described the current situation as having irrigation lines buried more
than 6 feet deep, significant terrain variations due to uneven soil settling, intrusion from
subterranean pests, in addition to other problems. Field usage at other parks and conversion of
other available fields, such as the ones at Discovery Park, to synthetic turn is recommended and
should be explored.
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of October 11, 2013
ADJOURNED at 2:33 p.m.
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TkDRIAM.JIMENEZ,' 1 MC
City Clerk
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of October 11, 2013
MARIO A. GUE R , Mayor