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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-03-20-84-Adjourned Regular Meeting//7 MMTIES OF THEO OF TEE CITY OF DUAMY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MA2M 20, 1984 The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 7:00 p.m., March 20, 1984, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Robert G. Cormack presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Robert G. Cormack Mayor Ted H. Jackman Mayor Pro Tem Randall R. Barb Bob Davila James T. Quinn ALSO PRESENT: William A. Ralph, Director of Public Works Lee Powell, Director of Administrative Services William F. Martin, Police Chief Don Davis, Fire Chief Charles G. Eccleston, Traffic Engineer Soot Yotsuya, Assistant to the City Manager Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Mayor Cormack announced the Bullet Train presentation will take place in the Downey Theatre and that the balance of the Agenda will be considered at this time. Mr. Ralph consented on his review of Senate Bill 2066 (Carpenter) concerning Registration of Professional Engineers and said there are items covered in the proposal which would be of benefit to the City. He recamrended the Council go on record in support of the Bill. It was moved by Councilman Jackman, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to authorize the Mayor to dispatch a letter in favor of Senate Bill 2066. Mayor Cormack opened discussion regarding mailers going out to the public without Council approval. A discussion ensued regarding possible Council policy on bulk mailing. It was moved by Councilman Barb, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by the following vote that no bulk mailing in excess of 50 letters on the sane issue be sent out by any Council Member without Council approval. Councilman Davila moved to amend the motion to include allowance for rebuttal to be mailed out on the same subject. The notion died for lack of a second. It was indicated the City Council should be informed when there is a bulk mailing and that the mailing should state the vote of the Council. AYES: 5 Council Members: Jackman, Barb, Davila, Quinn, Co=uck The meting was recessed from 7:07 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., at which time the meet - resumed in the Downey Community Theatre. All Council Members were present. Mr. Ralph announced the five Council Members would be seated in the audience. He mentioned Assemblyman Bruce Young will be unable to attend tonight's meting due to radical problems. He indicated there will be a Bullet Train presentation, and following will be question and answer session. Mr. Larry Gilson discussed the background of the American high Speed Rail Corporation, which he said is funded entirely by investors from the private sector. It is their intent to pursue the project with entirely private financing. No government money has been or will be involved at any point. Mr. Gilson stated it is proposed to connect Los Angeles International Airport, Downtown Los Angeles, the southeastern region of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego with a train of proven technology first introduced in Japan in 1964, which has carried over two billion passengers without a single passenger fatality. It will be a purely American production using the Amrican work force to do the work. The major Council Minutes 3/20/84 (adj.) -1- costs for the project are for construction labor, building materials, and engineer - costs. The project will consist of a new track structure with new rails and ties, using the existing railway alignment now in Southern California. The only time the system will be off the rail alignment will be along the highways or in tunnels. It is anticipated the total project will cost $3 billion. The money will be raised through private financing. Construction will not begin until the necessary financing has been raised. He described the five basic elements of financing: Sale of bonds and securities; $500 million in bank loans from American banks led by a major New York commercial bank; one-fourth of the financing will be from Japan; and equity will be raised through the sale of stock and partnership arrangements. Mr. Gilson mentioned before construction can commence, there must be a full, legally -binding environmental review by both the State and Federal Governments. The Public Utilities Commission is required to review the project to determine whether it is in the overall public interest. Forty additional legally -binding reviews will be taken by various public agencies affecting the project. The costs for the administrative reviews will be borne by the project. Mr. Bob Westmeyer, Project Engineer with the Fluor Corporation, gave a brief engineering description of the alignment through the City of Downey. Drawings will be on display for public review. Mr. Gilson explained there will be no locomotive or track noises, and no whistles. The sound of wheels on the tracks will be muffled by specially designed rubberized insulation material. A nationally recognized acoustical engineering firm has been commissioned to do sound measurements and sound forecasts for the entire route. He comrented on the benefits to the City's residents in the way of shorter travel time to their destination. There will be no grade crossings. Pro- perty values rise between three and seven percent faster per year in areas where projects of this nature are contemplated. A mailing has been sent out to each household in the City of explanations regarding the project. There was a response of 1,713 residents who supported the project, and 86 residents expressed their opposition. Mr. Angelo Cardono commented on his favorable experiences riding the Bullet Train in Japan, which he said is the most amazing piece of engineering he has ever seen. Ms. Myrtle Risley spoke in opposition to the Bullet Train and camented on her attendance at a meeting of municipalities and public entities concerned about the train. She said Downey is crossed in every direction with freeways, is bisected by the railroad, and is under the flight pattern of one of the world's busiest airports. She requested a needs assessment be conducted and that Downey take a position in opposition to the proposal. Mr. Robert Bondi of Cardiff, California, Chairman of the United Citizens Coastal Protection .League, said his organization supports the concept of transit rail and supports the concept of a Bullet Train in the proper location, but he does not think this is the right location. He said a team of Japanese engineers has reviewed the project, but to his knowledge, there have been no soil tests taken on the site; there has not been a full set of plans and specifications; and there are no definitive sets of contract documents in order to determine the costs. Mr. Robbins also spoke in opposition to the Bullet Train project, noting the Japanese are currently working on a new system. He said the project would not be funded totally from private funds --there would be $800 million in tax credit which cares out of the taxpayers' pockets. Sharon Boydston raised questions regarding the vibration levels. Mr. Dan Orr, 12615 Woodruff Avenue, questioned the motives of a Cardiff resi- dent involved with a proposal in Downey. Diane Boggs, 8629 Meadow Road, inquired regarding the disruption to the community during the construction period and raised concern regarding sewer lines. Mayor Cormack, 9632 D,ainn, feels consideration should be given to building a completely covered rail system through the City of Downey. Myrtle Risley, 7938 Phlox, read from the Japanese National Railway - 1982 Edition, regarding facts and figures. She expressed concern because the proposed rail system would be close to her home. Council Minutes 3/20/84 (adj.) -2- Mr. Warren Wingadt, President of United States Research Laboratories, said his conpany has the only builders and engineers to design an American high speed rail system. He commented on the maintenance required of a magnetic levitation system. Mr. Louie Bardano, 7860 Burns, asked if the project includes just railroad right-of-way or whether any other property will be involved. Mr. Gilson replied that throughout the City, the rail system will be entirely within the current Southern Pacific right-of-way. Mr. Bernie Jansen, 11431 Pruess Avenue, commented on the use of tax exempt bonds for financing and said the taxpayers would be supporting the project. He also indicated the high speed rail system will be increasing the noise level due to the number of tines each day it will be traversing through the area. Mr. Joel Lubin, 7820 A1lengrove, expressed his concern regarding the project and its long-term affect on the City. An unannounced speaker favored the project as an improvement over the freeway system. She asked why there will be a station in Norwalk but not in DcK-mey and whether parking will be adequate. Mr. Gilson explained how the configuration of the tracks at Firestone and Pioneer in Norwalk make it a more feasible location for a station. He said a fund has been provided for a station and paid parking. Myrtle Risley, 7938 Phlox, inquired regarding the width requirenent for the single Southern Pacific track and double tracks for the high speed rail system. Mr. Westmeyer replied the combination of the Southern Pacific single line and two lines for the American High Speed Rail require a minirmn width of 72 feet. Mr. Hernando Solis, 12347 Rives, said he is in favor of the rail system for technical and economical reasons, plus it is a free enterprise venture. Diane Boggs, 8629 Meadow Road, suggested the Council adopt an ordinance stat- ing that any train going 100 miles an hour would have to be in a channel with a lid on the top. Mr. Carl Shu=eyer, 9700 Downey Avenue, spoke in favor of supporting the high speed rail system. Sharon Boydston asked if Mr. Gilson could guarantee the loss to the property owners of decreased values to their properties as a result of the Bullet Train project, and he replied no. Councilman Quinn, 11744 Aderunoor, inquired regarding the length of time it will take to build the system, and Mr. Gilson replied three and one-half years after construction is approved. Councilman Quinn favors the project 100 percent. Mr. Willis Leach, Jr., 7823 Fourth Place, inquired regarding the consideration for businesses who use the Southern Pacific Railroad line. Mr. Gilson explained the spurs between Lakewood Boulevard and the San Gabriel River will remain in place just as they are today. The spurs between the Rio Hondo Channel and Lakewood Boulevard would be eliminated. He contented on the minimal usage of those tracks at the present tine. Mr. Ralph Engler, 11608 Adco, questioned the need for a rail system since there are two existing rail lines in the City. Mr. Don Byron, 7850 Phlox, raised questions concerning the costs to relocate water and sewer lines. Mr. Ron Van Fleet, 7901 Harper, went on record in support of, the project. Carol Main, 11403 Julius Avenue, expressed concern regarding the effect of the rail system on nearby residents. Mr. John Lee, 7848 Burns Avenue, is concerned about the effect to his property and its value. Council Minutes 3/20/84 (adj.) -3- Mr. Oscar Serron, 8267 Phlox, looks to the Bullet Train as an improvement over the noise he endures with the current rail system Elizabeth Shonager, 10513 Marbel Avenue, is for better transportation in Los Angeles but cannot see building a rail system to go to San Diego. Mr. Bass, 11408 Samoline, inquired if there is any possibility Burns Avenue may be included in the right-of-way. Mr. Gilson replied there are no plans of going outside the Southern Pacific right -of -way - Myrtle Risley, 7938 Phlox, raised questions concerning the design of the pro- posed rail system. Mr. Gilson expressed his gratitude to the Council for allowing him the opportunity to speak on behalf of the proposed Bullet Train project. The meting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Robert L: Shand, City'Clerk-Treasurer Council Minutes 3/20/84 (adj.) -4-