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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - 11-13-07 - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 13, 2007 The City Council/Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting at 6:35 p.m., November 13, 2007, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor/Chairperson Rick Trejo presiding. PRESENT: Council Members/Commissioners: Rick Trejo David R. Gafin Kirk O. Cartozian Anne M. Bayer Mario A. Guerra Mayor/Chairperson Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chairperson ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager/Executive Director Edward W. Lee, City Attorney/Agency Counsel Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk/Secretary Scott K. Pornrehn, Assistant to the City Manager Desi Alvarez, Deputy City Manager/Special Projects Gilbert Livas, Deputy City Manager/Community Development Thad Phillips, Director of Community Services PUBLIC COMMENT ON ADJOURNED MEETING AGENDA ITEMS: None APPROVED CLOSED SESSION MINUTES: October 23, 2007. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chairperson Gafin, seconded by Council Member/Commissioner Bayer and unanimously carried to approve the Closed Session Minutes. RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION Mayor/Chairperson Trejo announced the Council/Commission is recessing to Closed Session (6:36 p.m.) to discuss matters under the authority of the following sections of the Government Code: 1. Government Code Section 54956.9(c) – Conference with legal counsel – anticipated litigation. Initiation of litigation – three potential cases. 2 Government Code Section 54957 – Public Employee Performance Evaluation – City Clerk. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened in Open Session at 7:31p.m. ®th all Council Members/Commissioners present. There were no Closed Session actions to report. City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 1 1/13/07 -1 - The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: 7:31 p.m. KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk/Secretary l / ''-+’,;If;lv adrIRE71–@mnFeTia City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 11/13/07 -2- MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 13, 2007 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular Meeting at 7:34 p.m., November 13, 2007, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Rick Trejo presiding. PRESENT:Council Members: Rick Trejo David R. Gafin Kirk O. Cartozian Anne M. Bayer Mario A. Guerra Mayor Mayor Pro Tem ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager Edward W. Lee, City Attorney Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk Scott K. Pornrehn, Assistant to the City Manager Desi Alvarez, Deputy City Manager/Special Projects Gilbert Livas, Deputy City Manager/Community Development Linda Haines, Building and Housing Director John Michicoff, Finance Director John Perfitt, Economic Development Director Thad Phillips, Community Services Director Brian Ragland, Public Works Director Mark Sauter, Fire Chief Mike Miller, Police Captain Susan Domen, Secretary to the City Clerk COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS: Council Member Guerra commended Downey Christian Business Association for hosting the 21 “ Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast; thanked the Soroptimist and Optimist Clubs for hosting the Halloween Pumpkin Patch; announced that he attended a historic event in South East Los Angeles County where the Independent Cities Association, Contract Cities Association and the League of California Cities held their first ever joint meeting; received the quarterly investment report last week and is impressed with results; noted the Police Department report indicating that moving violations are up 20% with many of us driving too fast; at last week’s Gangs Out of Downey meeting they mentioned that the gangs/crews don’t like coming into Downey because of the reputation of a tough Police Department; attended the Charter Ball for the Hospital; attended and gave testimony at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting regarding emergency medical services with Fire Chief Sauter and was disappointed in the comments of Supervisor Yaroslavsky that the City should increase taxes and paramedics to address the crisis; and noted that the subcommittee on Emergency Medical Services had met this afternoon. Mayor Pro Tem Gafin complimented the Community Services Department for the annual Pumpkin Patch and Youth Fishing events; recognized Jaime Garcia, President of the Chamber of Commerce in the audience; and noted that he is aware of the parking problems along Lakewood City Council Minutes 1 1/1 3/07 -1- Boulevard by the Green Line Station and indicated that Assistant to the City Manager Pomrehn is in negotiations with Metropolitan Transit Authority and Cal Trans to help resolve the issues. Council Member Bayer announced the Citizens for Downey meeting on Wednesday morning; announced the Chamber of Commerce mixer on Thursday at George's Bar on Florence Avenue; and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Council Member Cartozian attended the Read-to-Me program at the Downey Library; commended the Downey Adult School for their new strategic plan; attended a speech by Sam Cunningham to the Downey High School football team; made a presentation at the joint meeting of City Governments regarding the Maglev ground transportation system proposed by the Orangeline Development Authority; met with L. A. Council Member Greg Smith, Assembly Member Hector de la Torre and Senator Alan Lowenthal regarding the Maglev project and made a presentation at the Southern California Association of Governments meeting regarding the regional transit plan. Mayor Trejo thanked the Department Heads for making the presentations at the Employees Recognition Dinner last week; attended the Board of Realtors installation dinner at the Reef Hotel in Long Beach; thanked Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and her staff for the military academy workshop held at the City Library last Saturday; thanked Harold Tseklenis for being the Master of Ceremonies at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast; thanked the long term employees for helping to make the City safe and clean; and thanked Police Chief Campos for the kind words he said about him at the recognition dinner. City Manager Caton announced that the City has won the nationally recognized Phoenix Award for District 9 of the United States for the reuse of the former NASA site into Downey Landing, Downey Studios and the Kaiser Hospital and offices. This is an annual award that is given to projects which are former Brownfield sites. There will be more upcoming publicity on this award. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: William Judd, resident of Downey, spoke regarding the notice he had received to remove his RV from parking in the front of his driveway, after he had done so for 32 years. He stated that RV storage was too costly for him and that the Code should be reviewed and changed. John Lacey, resident of Downey, congratulated the City on receiving the Phoenix Award; suggested that the City look into the reverse calling system for emergencies; and suggested that the City needs to become more proactive in the battle against graffiti perhaps by banding with other cities to approach the legislature, CONSENT CALENDAR – ITEMS FOR REMOVAL: 6.ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. , A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 07-7019 TO MODIFY EXISTING PEAK HOUR PARKING PROHIBITIONS AND TWO-HOUR PARKING RESTRICTION ON BOTH SIDES OF PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD BETWEEN GARDENDALE STREET AND STEWART AND GRAY ROAD; Public Works. This item was removed at the request of Council Member Guerra and is listed under Other Business below. 5.APPROVE REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH INDUSTRIAL REALTY GROUP. LLC, FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROPOSED TIERRA LUNA DEVELOPMENT AT 12214 LAKEWOOD BOULEVARD (DOWNEY STUDIOS): Community Development. This item was removed at the request of Mayor Trejo and is listed under Other Business below. City Council Minutes 1 1/1 3/07 -2- CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Gafin, seconded by Council Member Bayer, and unanimously carried to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar items as recommended: 1.APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Regular and Adjourned Meetings October 23, 2007: City Clerk. 2.APPROVED WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 226730 – 227206: Wire No. 340 – 341 30001547 – 30001555; in the total amount of $3,231,041.54: Finance. 3.APPROVED JOINT USER AGREEMENT FOR USE OF THE AREA “E“ MOBILE COMMAND POST: Police. 4.APPROVED HOLIDAY LANE PARADE PERMIT FOR SUNDAY. DECEMBER 2. 2007: Administration. 7.ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 07-7035, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE AMENDED JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT OF THE GATEWAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS: Administration. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: 8.APPROVED THE MAILING OF THE TREASURE ISLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT SURVEY TO TREASURE ISLAND RESIDENTS: Community Services Director Phillips presented a staff report recommending a targeted mailing of every homeowner in the area. He continued that this would be a three part survey and the properties adjoining the park will be separately tabulated. Council Member Guerra stated that this survey was exactly what he wanted. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Gafin, seconded by Council Member Cartozian and unanimously carried to approve. OTHER BUSINESS: CONSENT CALENDAR – ITEMS FOR REMOVAL: 5.APPROVED REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH INDUSTRIAL REALTY GROUP, LLC. FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROPOSED TIERRA LUNA DEVELOPMENT AT 12214 LAKEWOOD BOULEVARD (DOWNEY STUDIOS): Community Development. Lennie Whittington, resident of Downey, stated that the Council must take steps to ensure there is no conflict of interest or appearance of conflict of interest in this redevelopment. Harold Tseklenis, resident of Downey, noted the original contract called for studios to bring in high value jobs and he would like to see that maintained. City Manager Caton agreed that is a reasonable request and explained that it is the very beginning of a long process for development. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Gafin, seconded by Council Member Bayer and unanimously carried to approve. City Council Minutes 1 1/13/07 -3- 6.ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 07-7034, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 07-7019 TO MODIFY THE EXISTING PARKING PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTION ON BOTH SIDES OF PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD BETWEEN GARDENDALE STREET AND STEWART AND GRAY ROAD: Public Works Council Member Guerra stated that he felt this was making the parking restrictions too lenient with the removing of the two-hour parking restriction near Imperial Highway. He noted he had driven by in the afternoon and counted 48 vehicles ignoring the signage that has been posted. Public Works Director Ragland stated that the removal of the two-hour parking was at the request of the apartment residents in this area as there is little available parking on weekends and that the rest of the street will still have the restriction. - City Manager Caton suggested the striking of the wording in the second Whereas "as well as the restricted two-hour parking in effect at all times on the west side of Paramount Boulevard between Quill Drive and Imperial Highway” and in Section 1 “and restrict parking to two hours at all times along the Westside of Paramount Boulevard between Quill Drive and Imperial Highway” to accomplish what Council Member Guerra is requesting. It was moved by Council Member Guerra, seconded by Council Member Car+ozian and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution as amended and to notify the residents of the changes. Prior to the vote, Council Member Cartozian noted that parking is a constant battle with the growth of population and will continue to worsen; he suggested that it be reviewed and considered on all new developments. COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Council Member Cartozian requested that staff speak to the gentleman regarding his RV parking issues. STAFF COMMENTS: City Manager Caton introduced the new Economic Development Director, John Perfitt. ADJOURNMENT: 8:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. November 27, 2007, in memory of Mary Burrows, member Friends of the Downey City Library; Ernie Wisdom, member Handicapped Appeals Board and Thomas Galvez, husband of Finance Department employee Tina Galvez. I I .' / Z.Jd'l_ RICK TREJO, Mayor qI KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk City Council Minutes 1 1/13/07 -4-