HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10-09-08 - Special MeetingMINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING
OCTOBER 9, 2008
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special Meeting at 7:31 p.m., October 9, 2008,
in the Downey Civic Theatre, 8435 Firestone Boulevard, Downey, California, Mayor David R. Gafin
presiding.
PRESENT:Council Members:
David R. Gafin
Mario A. Guerra
Anne M. Bayer
Kirk O. Cartozian
Rick Trejo
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
(arrived 8:29 p.m.)
ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager
Edward W. Lee, City Attorney
Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager
Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk
Scott K. Pomrehn, Assistant Deputy City Manager
Desi Alvarez, Deputy City Manager/Special Projects
Brian Ragland, Public Works Director
Susan Domen, Deputy City Clerk
Other Staff
INVOCATION: City Clerk Kathleen Midstokke.
FLAG SALUTE: City Attorney Edward Lee.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
1.RECEIVED AND FILED AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING: City Clerk.
It was moved by Council Member Cartozian, seconded by Council Member Bayer and so
ordered to receive and file.
2.PRESENTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING RECENT STATE ORDERED
“BOIL WATER ORDER“ IN THE CITY OF DOWNEY: City Manager.
City Manager Caton presented a Power Point presentation explaining that our water system
is a well water system that includes 20 ground water wells, 3 Metropolitan Water District
Turnouts/Interconnects, 5 Interconnects with adjacent purveyors, 35 miles of transmission mains,
265 miles of distribution mains, 23,000 water meters, 5,460 control valves, and 1,450 fire hydrants.
He noted that Downey’s water rates are $44.79 which is the lowest in Los Angeles County and we
have not had an increase in 10 years. The City operates under the California Department of Public
Health requirements meaning that there are over 1 ,700 water samples taken per year; the wells
have 60 tests per quarter and the distribution system is tested 25 times per week. The coliform
City Council Minutes, Special 10/09/08 -1-
testing tests for natural and common inhabitants of the soil and surface waters and their presence
suggests that the system may have been breached. There were 3 areas that tested positive for total
coliform. He then explained the time frame of the emergency that the City went through. Once the
City was notified of the positive test results the State required 9 more samples be taken. Those 9
repeat samples tested positive for total coliform but negative for fecal coliform and ecoli. The City
argued with the State to only restrict the three areas that tested positive however the State required
the entire City go on a boil water order on Thursday September 25th. Staff hand delivered notices to
the homes in the effected areas and notified the media. On Friday the School District and Santa Fe
Springs reverse 911 made calls to all citizens. On Friday afternoon the lab verbally invalidated the
total coliform results from the repeat samples and sent a letter stating this on Saturday, September
27th. Currently the test results are in dispute. On Friday the City began asking the State to lift the
order and the State denied the request until Sunday, September 28th except for one neighborhood.
A reverse 911 call was placed by the Mayor to notify all residents of the lifted order. On Monday,
September 29th the State removed the order for the remaining neighborhood. Mr. Caton concluded
by presenting a number of recommendations to the Council: direct staff to prepare a plan to disinfect
the water system on a regular basis; direct staff to purchase an Emergency Notification System
(Reverse 911 ) and modify its existing telephone system to better communicate with the public;
request State elected officials to investigate the actions of the California Department of Public Health
and the State certified laboratory; request Supervisor Knabe to investigate the County Health
Department’s interactions with our restaurants; and direct staff to create an Emergency
Preparedness management position with the sole responsibility of keeping the local government and
community prepared to respond to disasters and emergencies.
3.COMMENTS AND DIRECTION TO STAFF BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
Mayor Gafin noted he had requested a complete debriefing of all employees to review what
went right and what went wrong during this emergency. Operationally he felt we were well under
control but there are some administrative issues that need to be addressed. He thanked the City of
Santa Fe Springs for allowing us to use their reverse 911 system. He noted that chlorinating the
water will increase the cost and change the taste of the water, but it needs to be considered. He
directed staff to contact the State Attorney General to investigate the issues with the lab and to set
up a conference with the Board of Supervisors on the issues with the Health Department not
allowing restaurants to reopen. He stated he wants the cost of a reverse 911 system including a
subscription system brought to the Council as well as looking into other methods of mass
communication; he would like a creation of an administration procedures manual; a report on the
cost and methods of chlorination city-wide; and possibly having a ballot measure to approve
chlorinating the water; and suggested giving a week credit on the water bills.
Mayor Pro Tem Guerra noted his agreement with the recommendations made and that while
there were no physical damages to anyone, there were economic and emotional damages. He
requested that staff look into creating an email notification to residents; that Senator Lowenthal
investigate the issue; suggested staff look into web based notification systems; and that there should
be a Dine-In-Downey day to help the restaurants recovers some of their losses.
Council Member Cartozian indicated that he supports the recommendations presented but would
question going to an automatic chlorinating the water system as this would not prevent bacteria from
entering the system again. He noted he would like to see pricing on the telephone systems and
stated that the City would work with the Board of Supervisors to ensure there is consistency in how
the Health Department handles these types of emergencies.
Council Member Bayer stated that we live in perilous times and are not guaranteed tomorrow;
therefore, we need to make what we have work. She applauded the citizens for how they reacted to
the situation and congratulated staff for their efforts in this emergency.
City Council Minutes, Special 10/09/08 -2-
PUBLIC COMMENT ON SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS:
Approximately 20 members of the audience spoke having comments and suggestions
including: their concerns with how the information was distributed to the citizens; why the Citizens
Emergency Response Team and Emergency Preparedness Committees weren’t activated;
information coming through emails from too many different sources; why the County and State
officials were not present at this meeting; upgrade the website and make it more attractive to
residents; use multiple labs to do the testing; review commercial supply of alternate water; assist the
business owners in getting restitution for their losses; investigate telephone calling systems such as
the colleges use in emergencies; go back to the old alert system of some type; get a reverse 91 1
system and utilize the Neighborhood Watch programs for disseminating the information.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
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City Council Minutes, Special 10/09/08