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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-01-03-77-Adjourned Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 3, 1977 The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 5:00 p.m., January 3, 1977, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Hazel N. Scotto presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Richard M. Jennings, Mayor Pro Tem Kenneth J. Miller Theodore H. Jackman Hazel N. Scotto, Mayor ABSENT: William L. Greene ALSO PRESENT: Charles W. Thompson, City Manager Ervin Spindel,Director of Community Development William A. Goggin, City Planner Robert Coates, Superintendent, Water Division Francis Carter, Assistant City Planner Jeanne Cook, Deputy City Clerk -Treasurer Operation and Maintenance Proposal from City of Pico Rivera Mr. Thompson commented the City of Pico Rivera has requested reconsideration of this matter and submitted a new proposal indicating their willingness to provide an additional additive of ten percent. He said this means that on top of the total cost representing actual expenses plus fringe benefits there would be a ten percent overhead additive plus an overall twelve percent service fee, for a total of 22 percent. Mr. Thompson indicated the draft agreement has been revised to include the provision, and he recommends the Council's favorable consideration. Councilman Jennings asked if the ten percent is on overhead or on top of all the City of Downey's overhead, fringe benefits, etc. Mr. Thompson replied no, the fringe benefits are applied first, the Downey rate ancost including all fringe benefits, an overhead additive of ten percent, and then on top of that a service fee of twelve percent. He responded to questions regarding overhead costs charged for work done by Mr. Coates and Mr. Spindel which he said will be charged to Pico Rivera. Also, he will submit reports to keep the Council informed of the operation. Councilman Jackman questioned the six month termination clause. He said that is a long period of time. Mr. Thompson replied that a change made in this operation would require approxi- mately that amount of time to make the alterations. Six months, he indicated, is not excessive. Mr. Coates advised that two crew trucks would be added to the operation in addition to the Maintenance Leadman and Maintenance Man. He responded to questions regarding labor costs, radio equipment, rising rates, and clarif;.ed the Water Division's operation and maintenance figures in the 1977-78 Budget. Discussion followed. Councilman Jennings requested this matter be tabled until after the study session on the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and then for the Council to go into Executive Session regarding personnel aspects. Study Session, Proposed Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Mayor Scotto advised the Council will be studying the sign ordinances, and there will be no public input unless the Council desires to ask questions of someone in the audience. Council Minutes 1/3/77 -1- (Adjourned Regular Meeting) Mr. Coggin narrated a slide presentation of poor signing in the City. He said Foster & Kleiser and Pacific Outdoor Advertising Company have objected to Section 9146.24, which permits outdoor advertising signs only in the M-1 or M-2 zones and have requested thesection be changed to include C-3 and C-4. Mr. Ed Dato, representing Foster & Kleiser, and Mr. Ron Cipriani, representing Pacific Outdoor Advertising Company, addressed the City Council and indicated if out- door advertising signs are permitted in the M-1 and M-2 zones they would have to eliminate approximately 63 percent of their signs without the City. Mr. Goggin reported the outdoor sign companies have requested Section 9146.24(1)(c) be removed or modified. Discussion followed. Responding to questions, Mr. Coggin explained the removal of signs in other than the M-1 or M-2 zones would have to occur within six years unless the billboard com- pany filed a variance case with the City and proved their justification for the sign. Councilman Jackman stated the ordinance will be writing the outdoor sign companies out of business in the City of Downey. Mayor Scotto said the types of signs displayed can affect the type of business that comes into a community. Mr. Goggin commented on the requirements being established to control the installa- tion and amortization of billboard signs. Councilman Jennings said according to the amortization schedule, if a billboard sign is three years old the sign company would have three years in which to remove the sign --if the sign is three years old it would have six years. He said they would probably affect 99 percent of the billboard signs in the City. Mr. Coggin outlined the setbacks being established to protect the adjoining property owners. In fact, he said, the ordinance can be amended to require the con- sent of the adjoining property owner prior to erecting a billboard sign. Councilman Jackman asked how many signs Foster & Kleiser and Pacific Outdoor have built in the City the Last three years. Mr. Dato stated Foster & Kleiser has not built any signs in the City during the Last three years. sMr. Cipriani replied Pacific Outdoor has not erected any signs since 1971. Councilman Jackman then asked if the sign companies would object to not being permitted to build signs in the City but allowed to maintain the signs they have. Both Mr. Dato and Mr. Cipriani said they would object. Mr. Ted Murphy, Independent Outdoor, said although his company is not interested in building signs in the City at this time, he would object to any franchise the City might give to any sign company. Councilman Miller raised questions of the sign company representative regarding their investment costs for signs in the City. Mr. Coggin said the sign companies are requesting the wording of Section 9146(1)(g) be changed so that the 20-foot setbacks would be no greater than the setbacks of adjoining properties; also, the sign companies are questioning the additional setback for signs that have 300 square feet of advertising. He explained that because of peculiarities which have been created, and even with the City's requirements, bill- boards in certain areas can cause hardships to adjacent property owners. Mr. Dato stated that in addition to protection written into the ordinance there is a conditional use permit procedure. Councilman Jennings questioned the standard for landscaping and made inquiries regarding roof and outdoor advertising signs. Mr. Goggin described the types of roof signs that are permitted. Council Minutes 1/3/77 -2- (Adjourned Regular Meeting) _5622 Mr. Cipriani objected to the landscaping clause. He also stated objections to standards that are more restrictive in the present ordinance. He expressed his views regarding the proposed standards for outdoor billboard signs. Mr. Goggin spoke regarding the comments of the Downey Chamber of Commerce dated November 10, 1976. He commented on the restrictions pertaining to blinking or rotat- ing signs. Mr. Ken Denny, Western Oil and Gas Association, suggested consideration be given to allowing rotating signs as an option or trade-offs to a larger sized sign and leav- ing the decision up to the applicant. Mr. Coggin spoke regarding the requirements for wall signs. He said statuary signs are now prohibited as proposed by the Planning Commission. He suggested possible improvement of Section 9146.10(1)(b) on real estate signs and discussed the proposed measurements for construction signs. Councilman Jennings commented on real estate signs approved in other cities. Councilman Miller favored leaving real estate signs displayed during a reasonable time but not for the duration of an escrow. Mr. Coggin indicated he will meet with Mr. William Cole, Manager of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the Chamber's letter of November 10, 1976. He then continued with his review on the Chamber's recommendations. Mr. Coggin outlined the requirements for pole signs. Mr. Bill Cole referred to a sign on Paramount Boulevard which he said would be in violation of the ordinance. He said this section has not taken into consideration "for sale" signs on vehicles. Discussion ensued regarding advertising signs for markets or food businesses. Mayor Scotto read a letter from Community Pharmacy regarding sign requirements for small businesses. Mr. Eugene Briermeister, 8602 Tweedy Lane, requested clarification to free standing signs applicable to drive-in businesses. The Council set its next study session on the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for 5:00 p.m., January 18, 1977. At 9:10 p.m., Mayor Scotto recessed the meeting to executive session to discuss water company acquisition. The meeting resumed at 9:40 p.m. with Council Members Jennings, Miller, Jackman, Scotto present; Council Member Green absent. Operations and Maintenance Proposal from City of Pico Rivera Mr. Thompson responded to questions regarding the possible operation costs if the City of Pico Rivera were to maintain its own system. The following amendments were proposed to the agreement: 1. Insertion of a clause for immediate termination of the Agreement for a non- performance. 2. Clarification of wording to indicate the ten percent overhead additive applied to all charges, not just labor. It was moved by Councilman Jennings, seconded by Councilman Jackman, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Operation and Maintenance Agreement with the City of Pico Rivera the proposed modifications and authorize the Mayor to sign. At 10:00 p.m., Mayor Scotto adjourned the meeting to 7:30 p.m., January 10, 1977, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, for study on the Rehabilitation Assistance Program. Robert I. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Hazc-4�'N. Scotto, Mayor Council Minutes 1/3/77 -3- (Adjourned Regular Meeting)