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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-11-28-72-Adjourned MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL `.i'_: OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 1972 The City Council of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Meeting at 5:00 p.m., Nevamber 28, 1077, in the Council Chzmbers r,F the ^^wrey lily era"_, ,gayer Dcnr13 H. Winton presiding. PRESENT: Councilmen: Jennings, Temple, Winton ABSENT: Councilmen: Morton (arrived at 5:22 p.m.), DiLoreto (arrived at 5:28 p.m.) ALSO PRESENT: Charles W. Thompson, City Manager Donald B. Robison, Assistant City Manager Robert L. Shand, City Clerk . Mayor Winton explained the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Revenue Sharing Program. He said Downey's share the first year would be approximately $436,000; the second year $4459000; the third year $454,000; the fourth year $464,000; and the fifth year $474,000. Mayor Winton referred to a letter from Senator Tunney, indicating State and local governments must establish a trust fund in which the Revenue Sharing Funds must be deposited; that State governments are not restricted in their use of the funds, but local governments may use the funds only for certain priorities. City Manager Thompson commented that Staff has studied an indepth analysis of the Program and developed a comprehensive five-year program to incorporate use of the funds based on,three considerations: Projects that would save or reduce City expenditures for the future; projects that would improve usefulness of existing services; and, projects that would meet the needs of the community. Mr. Thompson presented a memo titled Revenue Sharing Capital Program, ih which he outlined a five-year program to be funded by Federal Revenue Sharing monies. The projects were as follows: 24-Acre Park Fire Station Dolan -Firestone (Parking lot) Residential Rehabilitation Youth Services City Garage Council Chamber remodeling Library addition Downey Elementary School building Discussion followed. Councilman Jennings commented that the priorities outlined in the City Manager's memo should be revised, placing first emphasis on removal of the building from the Dolan -Firestone northeast corner property. He also commented that perhaps it would not be possible to spend the proposed allocation of $100,000 for Wilderness Park within the 1972 calendar year, as indicated in the City Manager's Revenue Sharing Capital Program. Councilman Jennings stated he would like to see a "border" drawn around the residential rehabilitation area for clarification purposes. City Manager Thompson replied that having federal money now available will enable the City to accelerate. the Wilderness Park Program. He stated the Nature Museum plans have been completed and are ready for bid advertisement. Councilman Jennings said he would like to see steps taken to start the preparation of negotiations to acquire the property containing the corrugated metal building at Dolan and Firestone as soon as the first actual Federal Revenue Sharing monies are re- ceived at City Hall. Councilman Morton arrived at the meeting at 5:22 p.m. Discussion was held regarding plans for the Residential Rehabilitiation Program. Councilman Jennings inquired as to whether or not the City would have enough personnel to handle the program. The City Manager said that one alternative would be to handle the Residential Rehabilitation Program on a consulting basis in lieu of City personnel. Council Minutes 11/28/72 (adj.) -I- Mayor Winton said that one item of prime consideration would be to retain 200 homes now within the Freeway corridor. These homes could be blended into the Residential Rehabilitation project as a means of replacing deteriorated dwellings, Councilman Morton stated he had no objection to the first three items on the Revenue Sharing Capital Program. He suggested considering reduction of appropriations iv. -asidential L.ohabiiitacion, Youth Services, and Council Chamber remodeling, and in turn shift this money over toward development of parks in Districts 1 and 2. Councilman DiLoreto arrived at the meeting at 5:28 p.m. Councilman DiLoreto expressed his views regarding Federal Revenue Sharing and indi- cated a preference for directing a portion of the appropriation toward tax relief. He said his arrangement of priorities would include first a form of tax relief in the sum -- of $100,000 for reduction of Utility Tax (or any tax), and the balance of money could be spent on whatever the Council decided to appropriate. Councilman DiLoreto stated con- sideration should be given to upgrading the Library and that the project should be moved up to 1973 instead of 1975 and some of the other priority items moved down, City Manager Thompson commented that the three major points in his Revenue Sharing Program criteria were based on the following: 1. Will the project save money for the City or reduce expenditures? 2. Will the project improve usefulness of existing services? 3. Are there vital needs in the community to be considered? The City Manager commented that reduction of taxes through utilization of Revenue Sharing monies would reduce the General Fund, He said that a $100,000 reduction in taxes would have the effect of reducing the General Fund by five to ten percent: Discussion followed. Councilman Morton commented that any type of tax reduction would present a question at a later date as to what would happen. if Federal Revenue Sharing ceases. Councilman Temple said he would Like to see taxes reduced, however, he agreed with the City Manager to not Lower the taxes in view of possible operating cost increases that will take place in the form of salaries at a later date. He suggested consideration to the Rehabilitation project along with the acquisition of Dolan -Firestone property first. Councilman Temple said the parks are necessary, but he does agree with the Youth Services Program and first it should be a budgeted item instead of being part of the Revenue Sharing Program, He stated that the other priorities on the Revenue Sharing list should be left as is. He also said if money is Left in 1976 in the Revenue Sharing Program, he would like to see consideration given to a new park in the area of Guatemala and the (Santa Ana) Freeway. Councilman Morton discussed possible measures to alleviate the Library addition, such as exploring use of the existing Chamber of Commerce building and in turn allowing the Chamber to utilize the fdrmer Water office building on Second Street. The Youth Employment Services and museum could be moved to the present fire building on Downey Avenue. Mayor Winton reviewed HR Bill 14370 regarding use of Revenue Sharing Funds and commented that the Bill requires a separate trust fu-d for this money and that the Mayor Shall certify to use of the Revenue Sharing Funds. He reviewed priorities contained in the City Manager's memo and stated that the parks, fire station, Dolan -Firestone property present no problem. He said the Residential Rehabilitation project is satisfactory and the City could probably work out a program with the State to vacate homes from the Freeway corridor and have these units available on a first priority basis for acquisition by the City during the years 1973-74. He said the Youth Services project is agreeable. Mayor Winton stated the City garage should be clarified as a later undertaking and the - Council Chamber remodeling should come out of the General Budget, He said he feels "the people want a Library addition, however, he indicated that perhaps some of the people who requested the Library addition over -emphasized the extent of Library usage. Councilman Temple said he felt that the Library reference section is inadequate. Discussion followed regarding the Library addition and acquisition of the elementary school property across the street from the Library. Council Minutes 11/28/72 (adj.) -2- Councilman Morton suggested going down calling for a motion on each item. the Revenue Sharing Program Project list and It was moved by Councilman Morton, seconded by Councilman Temple, and passed by the following vote that Item #1, 24-Acre Park, and Item #2, Fire Station, be approved as proposed. Item 1k1 1972 $100,000 - 1973 $75,000: Item #2 1972 $336,000. Mayor Winton suggested "at minimum" the Council should consider the first two items tonight and that the balance of the items be brought back at a later time after the Councilmen have had an opportunity to consider each item. _ Councilman DiLoreto requested a moment before acting on any of the priority items to enable him to offer a rebuttal on his viewpoint regarding Revenue Sharing and con- sideration to be given to tax reduction. Councilman Temple commented he felt that if all cities used the Revenue Sharing monies for tax reduction purposes, that the program would be almost certain to end in five years. Roll call vote: AYES: 4 Councilmen: Jennings, Morton, Temple, Winton NOES: 1 Councilmen: DiLoreto ABSENT: 0 Councilmen: None It was moved by Councilman Jennings and seconded by Councilman Morton to approve Item #3, Dolan -Firestone property. AYES: 2 Councilmen: .Jennings, Morton NOES: 3 Councilmen: DiLoreto, Temple, Winton ABSENT: 0 Councilmen: None Motion failed. Councilman Jennings moved that the Youth Services for 1973, $30,000, be added to the Residential Rehabilitation Project for 1973, $180,000, and that the Youth Services appropriation for 1974 $32,000, be added to the Residential Rehabilitation for 1974, $70,000, which, he said, is a motion for $210,000 in 1973 for Residential Rehabilitation Project and $102,000 in 1974 for the Residential Rehabilitation Project. Councilman Jennings clarified the fact that the Council in acting on the Revenue Sharing items is not appropriating money but is merely approving priorities. The Council agreed. The motion was seconded by Councilman Temple, and passed by the following vote: AYES: 4 Councilmen: Jennings, Morton, Temple, Wirton NOES: 1 Councilmen: DiLoreto ABSENT: 0 Councilmen: None Mayor Winton suggested that within the next month this matter be brought back on the Agenda for the remaining.balance of the recommendations to be considered. There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. ROBERT L. SHAND, CITY"CLERK Council Minutes 11/28/72 (adj.) -3- J DONALD H. WINTON, MAYOR