HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-07-22-85-Adjourned Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JULY 22, 1985
The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting
at 8:00 a.m., July 22, 1985, Mayor Bob Davila presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Bob Davila Mayor
James S. Santangelo Mayor Pro Tem
Diane P. Boggs
Robert G. Cormack
Randall R. Barb
ALSO PRESENT: Don Davis, City Manager Pro Tem
Scot Yosuya, Assistant to the City Manager
Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer
Senator Paul Carpenter
Ann Peifer, Administrative Assistant
Don Foltz, Administrative Assistant
Judith Hayes, Field Representative
Angela Young, Legislative Assistant
The first item for discussion was the Swim Center. Senator Carpenter
explained that Senator Milton Marks attempted to scuttle the bill. However,
Senator Carpenter favors the bill as well as the funding plan. The Governor
did delete the Swim Pool from the 1985-86 Budget. Senator Carpenter said the
City of Downey should communicate with the Governor on this matter. The
School District favors the swim pool project because it will result in an
immediate reduction in maintenance costs. Also, having the swim pool will
overcome the lack of competition swimming facilities in Downey.
Senator Carpenter then said the swim pool program will very likely come
up for discussion in February 1986 and that he requested guidelines from the
City of Downey, such as considering a joint agreement between the City and
School District. Staff will study the swim pool matter and report back to
Council with its findings.
The next item was State Funding for Police Protection fo Century Freeway
Corridor. Mr. Foltz said Caltrans is reneging on its funding obligation.
Senator Carpenter indicated a possible communication gap exists on the
funding program because of the transition in City Managers that has taken
place within Downey.
Mr. Foltz said this same situation is probably clouding the issue
regarding State maintenance of freeways.
Fire Safety Issue: Senator Carpenter said the State is indeed responsi-
ble for health care inspections and that the State Health Inspector should
coordinate his activity more closely with the City of Downey.
Importation of Illegal Fireworks is a problem for the State Fire
Marshal's office. Right now the State Fire Marshal's office has set
priorities, the main one of which is fire control. Therefore, funding for
combatting illegal fireworks is a secondary issue.
Unemployment Insurance Costs: Senator Carpenter agrees that cities
should not pay unemployment invoices received from the State. This is based
upon the principal, wherein the court says "you don't have to pay." He said
the State must pay mandated costs and cities should not be obligated to pay
unemployment bills.
Under oral communications, Councilman Santangelo said he is quite
concerned about trip and fall sidewalk accident damage claims within the
State.
Senator Carpenter commented that Senate Bill 75 passed overwhelmingly in
the Senate but has run up against difficulties in the Assembly. He said in
order to overcome any problem that might arise if SB 75 fails to pass the
Assembly would be to resort to the initiative process.
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Councilman Santangelo then inquired about status of the Fair Political
Practices Commission. It appears the FPPC is endeavoring to discourage people
from remaining in politics.
Senator Carpenter responded that the FPPC appears to be out of control
because it is an independent commission and not accountable to the public.
Here again, the Senator said that the initiative process prescribing limita-
tions to funding to the FPPC might be necessary in order to control this
function.
Discussion followed, wherein Councilwoman Boggs pointed out that the FPPC
appears to be concentrating more on grass roots level legislators. The
Senator assured her that the situation is no less "nit -picky" in Sacramento.
Councilman Santangelo requested information from the Senator on FPPC and
Senator Carpenter concurred.
Mayor Davila said the City appreciates the efforts put forth by the
Senator's office in curtailing the half -way house recently proposed on
Telegraph Road in Downey.
Mr. Foltz said over 12,500 residents responded to the mailer inquiry.
In answer to a question from the Mayor, Senator Carpenter said he does
not think Supervisor Schabarum will permit such a facility to be situated
within Downey.
Councilman Barb reviewed the South Gate/Long Beach Freeway offramp
program. Emphasis was placed on the traffic flow that would be directed along
Stewart & Gray Road through the principal residential area within Downey. At
present, Sacramento appears to be favoring the South Gate request for the
offramp at a time when it appears that the I-105 Freeway will reduce the auto-
mobile traffic pressure, thus nullifying the need for the offramp. It also
was mentioned that South Gate is interested mainly in constructing an offramp
to accommodate its proposed auto mall center on the west side of Downey.
Mr. Foltz will work on this matter with Councilman Barb.
Senator Carpenter's office will contact Congressman Glenn Anderson
regarding the Federal funding element.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., July 23, 1985, in
the Council Chamber of Downey City Hall, to continue study of the Capital
Improvement Budget.
Robert L. Shand, Cit Clerk-Treasurer Bob DaviiSyla` , Mayor Mayv =� y"e_
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