HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-08-27-80-Adjourned Regular MeetingroG pz
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOTJMED REGULAR MEE=TTG
AUGUST 27, 1980
The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting
at 4:30 p.m., August 27, 1980, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall,
Mayor Theodore H. Jackman presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Lyell W. Swearingen
Milton R. Mackaig Mayor Pro Tem
James T. Quinn
Robert G. Cormack
Theodore H. Jackman Mayor
ALSO PRESENT: John Saunders, Acting City Manager
Thomas Tincher, Housing & Redevelopment Coordinator
Ronald W. Leege, Director of Finance
C. Eccleston, Traffic Engineer
Harry Rayson, Acting Building Official
William A. Goggin, City Planner
Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer
Mayor Ted Jackman announced the meeting is being conducted jointly with the
Community Development Commission and the City Council for the purpose of
considering the budgets being submitted by the Housing & Redevelopment Co-
ordinator. Also, the City Council will conduct a work session to discuss
the Sign Ordinance.
C01 LAITY NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT 1980 WORK PROGRAM AND BUDGET and
REDEVELOPMENT WORK PROGRAM BUDGET:
$2,606,000 is budgeted, over half of which is intended to support Redevelopment.
Mr„ Thomas Tincher reviewed each document page by page. Copies of the documents
are available in the office of the City Clerk.
One of the budgeted projects is the Golden Park Community Center. Mr. Tincher
Councilman Mackaig addressed a comment of Councilman Cormack wherein one or more
churches are considering senior citizen housing. In the event that a church was
to sponsor a senior citizen housing project, it is possible that a referendum
vo-�e would not be necessary. The City Clerk will investigate this matter.
Councilman Swearingen inquired if other contractors are contacted regarding
local development projects. Mr. Tincher stated that the developers seek these
projects and that notices of funding availability are dispatched to interested
developers by the Federal government.
SIGN ORDINANCE - CITY OF DOWNEY:
Mr„ William Cole, General Manager of the Downey Chamber of Commerce read a let-
ter regarding Section 9148 of the Municipal Code pertaining to signs. A copy of
Mr. Cole's letter is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
At 6:15 p.m. the joint session was recessed for dinner. The meeting reconvened
at 7:40 p.m.
Mr. Tincher resumed his presentation of the budget workshop. In order to meet
the total requirement of the Redevelopment Project budget, a request is being
made for a $450,000 loan from the Capital Outlay fund to support the projects
outlined in the budget document. The need for an advance is to support the
hotel/civic center complex.
Mr. Tincher pointed out two changes on page three of the Redevelopment Project
budget wherein the words "Operative Agreement #4 should be inserted under the
title "Advances from City". Also, the title for the $400,000 "Operative
Agreement ¢f4" should now read "Operative Agreement #5". The $400,000 figure
should now read $450,000. The Grand Total for the sheet is now $3,378,200.
Co-ancil Minutes 8-27-80 (adj.) - 1
Mr. Tincher is to report back to Council regarding the extent of consulting
services paid to Mr. Kike Wagner, Downey Redevelopment Project consultant.
Councilman Cormack was excused from the meeting from 8:15 p.m. to 8:28 p.m.
to attend a meeting in the 4pee ^ nth D a:tre-.
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Mr. Tincher presented a letter dated August 26, 1980, from Mr. A. R. Cardono,
president of Jewels by Angelo. Mr. Cardono's letter stated that negotiations
are under way for financing the Jewelry Center Project D-1. The letter indi-
cated that the project is contingent upon interest rates and construction
costs. The outcome of the negotiations will require four to six weeks of
study. A copy of Mr. Cardono's letter is on file at the City Clerk's office.
Mayor Jackman instructed Mr. Tincher to pursue the Cardono situation as best
as possible and report back to the Council regarding any eventualities in the
"four to six weeks" time frame.
Mr. Tincher reported that the staff has reviewed the feasibility study for the
"Hotel" project. The architect is working on the site plan, and the developer,
Republic, has been meeting with the president of Hometels.
Councilman Swearingen inquired about the financial status of the pending new
Court Building project. Mr. Tincher replied that all our "apples" are in
Republic's pocket
RESOLUTIONS:
RESOLUTION No. 3859
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DOWNEY ADOPTI',:G THE 1980-81 WORK PROGRAM AND BUDGET
FOR THE COM'1UNITY & NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
The Resolution was read by title only. It was moved by Councilman Swearingen
and seconded by Councilman Mackaig to waive further reading.
It was moved by Councilman Swearingen, seconded by Councilman Mackaig, and
passed by unanimous vote to adopt Resolution No. 3859.
RESOLUTION NO. 33
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONM9IISSION
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADOPTING THE 1980-81 WORK
PROGRAM AND BUDGET FOR THE DOWNEY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Resolution was read by title only. It was moved by Commissioner Swearingen
and seconded by Commissioner Quinn to waive further reading.
It was moved by Commissioner Swearingen and seconded by Commissioner Quinn and
passed by unanimous vote to adopt Resolution No. 33
AGREEMENT:
It was moved by Councilman/Corrrnissioner Swearingen, seconded by Councilman/
Commissioner Quinn and passed by unanimous vote to approve an Agreement #5
to implement the Downey Redevelopment Plan pursuant to California Redevelopment
Law.
Mayor Jackman declared a three minute recess at 8:55 p.m.
SIGN ORDINANCE:
The meeting was resumed and all members were present for roll call.
Prior to entering into the Sign Ordinance study, Councilman Mackaig cited
three citizen complaints involving compliance with the City of Downey codes
and ordinances for wheelchair ramps, patios and block walls.
Mayor Jackman suggested referring to the State laws regarding wheelchair ramps.
Mr. John Saunders will prepare a report for the City Council on this matter.
Mayor Jackman said a decision should be made as to whether the staff is to
enforce the building code or to simply ignore "the little things". He said
the staff should adhere to the regulations.and that citizens should not be
encouraged to appeal to the Council if a problem exists with the Planning
Commission ruling.
Council Ni nutes 8-27-80 (adj.) - 2
Councilman Quinn would like to be informed in writing by the staff regarding
any complaints wherein a person in his district is facing a possible zone variance
situation. He concurs with Mayor JacL.man's viewpoint.
Mayor Jackman suggested that complaints be turned over to the staff with a request
for a report back. If the staff can't satisfy the complaints through public re-
lations procedure, such complaints are to be referred 'back to Council for further
action. John Saunders will report back to Council with a plan recommendation.
Councilman Ccrmack spoke to the Sign Ordinance. He thinks the ordinance is
reasonable but that great diplomacy- should be used in enforcing it.
Councilman Quinn thinks more window space should be available for advertising
specific commodities and/or services. He suggested 20o of a window be used for
this purpose and such a program be placed on a six month moritorium for evaluation.
These are non -permit and temporary signs, ref. Section 9148.10-(a)(3) of D.M.C.
City Planner William Goggin referred to the earlier City Council decision on the
Betor appeal wherein window signs are permissive whereas other merchants have been
ordered to refrain from such practice.
Mr. Harry Payson, Acting Building Official, presented a model display of various
manners in which signs are affixed to buildings and smaller signs are displayed
in the storefront windows.
Mayor Jackman said he believes that if the people are properly informed, they
will abide by the sign ordinance. He commended prior Councils for their input
into the sign ordinance and that what we need to do is enforce that ordinance
by dealing with the complaints as they are received.
Mayor Jackman suggested each council member put into writing the modifications
they think should be included in the sign ordinance. At another study session
the Council will review the suggested changes. He hopes the modifications will
be minimal. The Mayor said he will accept Mr. Cole's list of complaints with
recommendations. The Council will then decide which modification suggestions
will be sent to the Planning Commission. He prefers to keep the ideas to a
minimum and to back up the staff on enforcing the sign ordinance as modified.
Mr. Frank Beckner, realtor, informed the Council that five business enterprises
located on Paramount Boulevard are somewhat concerned regarding another firm
in the same vicinity that intends to install specific signs on its building.
Mr. William Cole, Downey Chamber of Commerce, suggested an education program
be established for informing merchants of the sign ordinance requirements and
limitations.
Councilman Mackaig moved and Councilman Cormack seconded that we continuein
abeyance the enforcement of the sign ordinance until the next meeting. So
ordered by the Mayor.
ADJOURNIv=i T:
Mayor Jackman adjourned the meeting at 10:40 p.m.
Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer
Council Minutes 8-27-80 (adj.) -3-