HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12-12-06 - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 2006
The City Council of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting for the
purposes of Reorganization at 6:12 p.m., December 12, 2006, in the Council Chamber of the
Downey City Hall, Mayor Meredith H. Perkins presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Meredith H. Perkins
Rick Trejo
David R. Gafin
Kirk O. Cartozian
Anne M. Bayer
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
ALSO PRESENT:Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk
Susan Domen, Executive Secretary
Other City employees were present in the audience.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR:
1.APPROVED WARRANTS ISSUED: Nos. 218419 –218715; Wire Nos. 30001335 –
30001342; in the total amount of $2,087,514.10: Finance.
It was moved by Council Member Cartozian, seconded by Council Member Gafin and
unanimously carried to approve.
OTHER BUSINESS:
2.WELCOME AND FINAL ADDRESS: Outgoing Mayor and retiring Council Member
Meredith H. Perkins.
Mayor Perkins introduced his friend Irene, son Greg, son Jeff and his wife Maria, Marge
and Tony, and his committee members. He then presented a Power Point presentation outlining
the pro-active/reactive key points from his year as Mayor: Public Works yard consolidation, water
quality, records management, and Mbyor's Soaring Eagle Award; noting that there had been
eleven recipients. He noted that he has ne\or done anything without the help of others and
dedicated this speech to his parents who gave him the opportunity to be where he is today. He
mentioned his indebtedness to others such as former Council Members Joyce Lawrence and
Barbara Riley, and Sylvia Sutherland of Southern California Edison. He explained that there
were five projects he wanted to accomplish valile on Council: the medians on Paramount
Boulevard, undergrounding of utilities, Skateboard Park, Downey Park, and run for office for a
second term. He believes the medians improve the safety and flow of traffic and stated that the
utilities along Imperial Highway from border to border have been undergrounded and additional
lighting has also been installed to improve safety. Mayor Perkins explained that in the designing
of the Skateboard Park many skate parks around California had been looked at along with study
sessions that included the parents and kids who would use it to help Wth the design. He
City Council Minutes (adj.) 12/12/06 -1-
mentioned that through dealings with a local church $300,000 has been set aside to instal
lighting to the playng fields in the new Downey Park. He feels he is leaving the City in good
hands and that new Council Member Guerra has lots of new ideas. He mentioned that the
opportunity to remodel the SEAACA building happened on his term as a Council Member and
that along with 8 other cities it was accomplished while he was the Chairman. Mayor Perkins
thanked Assistant City Manager Powell, former Community Services Director Kehoe and Public
Works Director Alvarez for all of their efforts to get the Golf Course Clubhouse completed on
time and under budget. He then unveiled a portrait of the 3 of them that he had artist Steve Clay
paint and asked that it be hung at the Clubhouse. He concluded bysaying it was an honor and
privilege to serve the community.
3.SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: Outgoing Mbyor and retiring Council Member
Meredith H. Perkins.
The following persons presented books, Certificates of Appreciation, Plaques or
Proclamations to Mayor Perkins thanking him for his years of service to the City
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe; Kim Tazhiki, Senior Advisor for Congresswoman
Lucille Roybal-Allard; Luis Marquez, Senior Field Deputy for Senator Alan Lowenthal; Dorothy
King, Bellflower Council Member; Mayor Paul Bowlen, City of Cerritos; Council Members
Gordon Stefenhagen and Chen Kelly, City of Norwalk; Mary DeWitt, wife of Vice Mayor Bill
DeWitt, City of South Gate; Daniel Crespo, City of Bell Gardens; Todd Corrin and Martha
Sodetani, Downey Unified School District Board Members; Steve Allen, President of Downey
Chamber of Commerce; George Saikalie, Downey Family YMCA Director; Sylvia Sutherland,
Southern California Edison; Beverly Matthis, President, Soroptimist of Downey; Johnny
Venegas, President, Optimist Club; Lois Buchanan, President, Downey Second Century
Foundation; Judge London Steverson, Downey Sister Cities Association; JerTy and Margarite
Rogers, Unity in the Community Sam Olivido, California Contract Cities Association; Julie
Swender, President, Downey Rose Float Association; Carol Rowland, Keep Downey Beauitiful
Coordinator and Lisa Fox, Public Works Maintenance; Bob Bryan, Downey City Employees
Association-Maintenance Division; Larry Larson, Church of Latter Day Saints, and former
Council Member Bob Winningham.
City Clerk Midstokke presented additional gifts from the City of Artesia, SEAACA, and
Gateways Cities Council of Governments.
Mayor Perkins presented the gifts of books and checks to City Librarian Nancy Messineo
for the Downey City Library.
4.ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 064959, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF DOWNEY, RECITING THE FACT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION, CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION HELD
ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006, DECLARING THE RESULTS AND SUCH OTHER MATrERS
AS PROVIDED BY LAW: City Clerk.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Trejo, seconded by Council Member Gafin and
unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution.
City Council Minutes (adj.) 12/1 2/06 -2-
5.ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES
OF ELECTION TO NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS: City Clerk.
A. MARIO A GUERRA – DISTRICT TWO;
City Clerk Midstokke administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council Member
Guerra
B. ANNE M. BAYER – DISTRICT FOUR.
City Clerk Midstokke administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council Member
Bayer
6. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL;
City Clerk Midstokke declared the Office of Mayor open and asked for nominations.
It was moved by Council Member GaIn to nominate Mayor Pro Tem Rick Trejo as Mayor
of the City of Downey. There being no further nominations, the City Clerk declared thenominations closed .
It was unanimously carried to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Rick Trejo as Mayor of the City
of Downey.
Mayor Trejo declared the Office of Mayor Pro Tem open and asked for nominations.
It was moved by Council Member Guerra to nominate Council Mbmber David Gafin as
Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Downey. There being no further nominations, Mayor Trejodeclared the nominations closed.
It was unanimously carried to appoint Council Member David Gafin as Mayor Pro
Tem of the City of Downey.
Mayor Trejo presented former Council Member Perkins with a Certificate of Election as
Mayor, a Gavel Plaque, and the traditional Mayor’s scrapbook commemorating activities during
his term as Mayor.
Mayor Trejo announced that due to the length of the outgoing ceremony he would not
present his presentation, however, noted that his focus would be on Keep Downey Beautiful and
Neighborhood Preservation programs as they help deter crime and make the City better; and on
the new park on the former NASA property, noting it had been o\er 30 years since the City had a
new park.
9. ADDRESS BY NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS:
A. MARIO A, GUERRA – DISTRICT TWO;
Council Member Guerra noted that it is an honorto be here and he is humbled for the
opportunity given to him; he introduced his family, wife Anne, 2 sons and daughter, brother-in-
law and sister-in-laws, Father McClain from St. Raymond’s, his co-workers Jim Scanlon and
City Council Minutes (adj.) 12/1 2/06 3-
Cheryl Bingham; and stated he feels the City is in great hands, noting he has already met with
many staff members.
Council Member Cartozian recognized former Mayors/Council Members from Downey,
Sally Havice, Connie & John SZebl, and his parents in the audience. He noted that he had been
very close with former Council Member Perkins and cherished learning under him.
B. ANNE M. BAYER – DISTRICT FOUR.
Council Member Bayer recognized citizen Lennie Whittington for keeping Council
accountable; City Clerk Midstokke for her help and work ethic; Assistant City Manager Powell
and City Manager Caton for being givers, Lee for his service at Kiwanis hosting the barbecue at
Rancho Los Amigos and Jerry for putting the Council in front for the recognition, while he is in
the back donating to the cause. She thanked herfamily and God.
Council Member Gafin introduced his wife Brenda, son Brent and daughter-i-law
Samantha in the audience and stated that he hoped ewryone would go out and make new
friends this evening.
10.INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS’ FAMILIES, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS:
Mayor Trejo introduced Carlos, Ofelia, Isabel, Katherine, brother-in-law Gary, sister-in-
law Paula, children: Theresa, Gary, Katherine, Karen and James, and his Wfe Karen in the
audience.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT:
Lennie Whittington, resident of Downey, wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:14 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., January 9, 2007, in the Council Chamber of
Downey City Hall.
q..\M)X);Je,
Rr6T<TR135 rKATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk
City Council Minutes (adj.) 12/12/06 4-