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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - 04-08-08 - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REGULAR MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular Meeting at 7:39 p.m., April 8, 2008, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor David R. Gafin presiding. PRESENT:Council Members: David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra Anne M. Bayer Rick Trejo Kirk O. Cartozian Mayor Mayor Pro Tem ALSO PRESENT:Gerald R. Caton, City Manager Edward W. Lee, City Attorney Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk Scott K. Pomrehn, Assistant to the City Manager Desi Alvarez, Deputy City Manager/Special Projects Roy Campos, Police Chief Linda Haines, Building and Housing Director John Perfitt, Economic Development Director Thad Phillips, Community Services Director Brian Ragland, Public Works Director Mark Sauter, Fire Chief Mike Gersch, Purchasing Manager Susan Dornen, Secretary to the City Clerk Other Staff COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Mayor Pro Tem Guerra noted that on Saturday he attended the ARC walk and Rancho Los Amigos Hospital’s Amistad Ball; attended the Downey Regional Medical Center’s Auxiliary 50th Anniversary; and stated he is proud of the City’s public safety departments noting that statistics for February show crime being down. Council Member Cartozian noted he missed the last meeting due to attending a conference in Sacramento for the Orange Line Development Authority; announced the Chamber of Commerce mixer tomorrow at Philly’s Best; mentioned that this is the last meeting before the 1 ;t Farmers Market that will take place on April 19th; and announced that the Gangs Out Of Downey luncheon is next Wednesday. Council Member Bayer thanked commissioners Maria Larkin, Lee Ann Sears and Bob Goldstein for regularly attending Council meetings as her appointees; and announced the Citizens for Downey meeting tomorrow morning 7:00 a.m. with Public Information Officer Ceniceros speaking. City Council Minutes 04/08/08 -1- Council Member Trejo noted that Downey Landing is getting busier and would like staff to look into getting another restaurant site there; and asked staff to look into the City putting on an annual fireworks show Mayor Gafin noted he attended the Woman of the Year Awards put on by Assemblyman de la Torre; and announced that the property owner of the Johnie’s Broiler site has signed a lease agreement with Big Boy corporation and clean-up of the site should start within the next 30 days. PRESENTATIONS: A representative of the California Highway Patrol presented the CHP 10851 Award regarding stolen vehicles to Corporal Justin Prentice, Corporal Jason Klevos and Officer Jaime Llamas Mayor Gafin presented a Proclamation declaring April 13-19 as National Library Week. Mr. Richard Daggett, Polio Survivors Association President and resident of Downey, made a presentation regarding suggestions for additional handicapped parking in the downtown business area. Mayor Gafin requested staff to bring back recommendations. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: Lee Ann Sears, representative of the Relay for Life and resident of Downey, announced the event will be on June 7/8, 2008 and presented Council Members and staff with applications and pins. She invited everyone to participate and challenged the staff to put a team together. Francine Victoria, resident of Downey, noted concerns about children from Sussman and Alameda schools crossing the streets and challenging drivers on the streets. Mayor Gafin requested the Police Chief to follow up on this. The following persons spoke in regards to Johnie’s Broiler, thanking the City for all their efforts : George Redfox Analisa Ridenour Adriana Bionco Kevin Preciado Harold Tseklenis, resident of Downey, congratulated Council on adopting an ordinance regarding the recycling of construction demolition materials and noted he is still waiting to see an incentive program for developers building energy efficient buildings. Jerry Awado (sp?), resident of Downey, noted his concerns with comments made at the previous meeting and encouraged everyone to act with civility and respect towards each other. Lennie Whittington, resident of Downey, spoke regarding previous speakers comments noting his right to freedom of speech and questioned the legality of changing the address on the Closed Session item. City Attorney Lee clarified that the address was just a typographical error that was being corrected. Ruben Salgado, resident of Downey, thanked the Mayor for handling issues that arise in a professional manner. City Council Minutes 04/08/08 -2- Anthony Mendez, real estate broker, spoke regarding Closed Session Item Number 1 and was informed by City Attorney Lee that this item had been agendized and staff has already been directed to investigate the allegations that he made earlier in the meeting. CONSENT CALENDAR – ITEMS FOR REMOVAL: 7.APPROVED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD AT FIRESTONE BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Public Works. This item was removed at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Guerra and is listed under Other Business below. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Council Member Bayer, seconded by Council Member Cartozian, and unanimously carried to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar items as recommended: 1. 2. APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Regular Meeting March 25, 2008: City Clerk. APPROVED WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 230434 – 230831 ; Wire Nos. 358-360, 30001646 – 30001654; in the total amount of $3,892,974.98: Finance. 3.APPROVED SPECIAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ATKINSON. ANDELSON. LOYA. RUUD AND ROMO FOR PERSONNEL RELATED MATTERS: Administration. 4.SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 13, 2008, FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE 2008-09 ACTION PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS: Building and Housing 5.APPROVED AGREEMENT FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF THE LAND LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF DOWNEY. SONIC-DOWNEY CADILLAC/SONIC- MASSEY CHEVROLET, AND ARGONAUT HOLDINGS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11190 FLORENCE AVENUE: Community Development. 6.CASH CONTRACT NO. S.S. 599: IMPERIAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THROUGHPUT AND SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT – PHASE 2 : APPROVED CONTRACT WITH APA ENGINEERING FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLANS. SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEERS ESTIMATE; AND APPROPRIATE $190,935 FROM GAS TAX FUNDS; Public Works ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: None. OTHER BUSINESS: CONSENT CALENDAR – ITEMS FOR REMOVAL: 7.APPROVED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD AT FIRESTONE BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Public Works. City Council Minutes 04/08/08 -3- Mayor Pro Tem Guerra asked if this will come back before the Council for final approval and if the funding was secure. Public Works Director Ragland responded that this authorizes the City Manager to execute the document and once it is signed by the County the money will be earmarked for the project. Harold Tseklenis, resident of Downey, mentioned his approval of the project and requested expediency in getting the project completed. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra, seconded by Council Member Trejo and unanimously carried to approve. STAFF COMMENTS: None Mayor Gafin announced that the Council would be recessing back to Closed Session and that an emergency item needed to be added to the agenda. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra, seconded by Council Member Cartozian and unanimously carried to approve the addition of a Closed Session item as follows: 5. Government Code Section 54956.8 – Conference with real property negotiator Desi Alvarez re: property located at 8818-8832 Imperial Highway, negotiating party David Gonsalves; under negotiations: price and terms of payment. The meeting recessed at 8:38 p.m. to Closed Session and reconvened with all Council Members present at 9:24 p.m. There were no Closed Session actions to report. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:24 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 22, 2008 in memory of Marianne Michicoff, mother of Finance Director John Michicoff; Robert Horton, father-in-law of Finance Department Revenue Supervisor Lauretta Horton; Sue Ann Keller, mother of Downey Theatre Stage Supervisor Mark Keller; and Brent Lovrien, Los Angeles City Firefighter and former member of Downey Fire Auxiliary. %MhdOW.OMAdd%v HARI am Mayor/KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk City Council Minutes 04/08/08