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CC - 04-11-95• MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL APRIL 11, 1995 APPROVED CITY OF ROS MrAD T)ATE 6- 7 3 - y!~- The regular meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Bruesch at 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. The Pledge to the Flag was led by Councilmember Imperial The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Bruesch. Councilmember Clark stated that Pastor John Wood, scheduled for the Invocation, is very ill and was not able to attend the meeting tonight. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present: Councilmembers Clark, Imperial, Vasquez, Mayor Pro Tem Taylor, and Mayor Bruesch Absent: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH 28, 1995 - REGULAR MEETING MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER VASQUEZ that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 28, 1995, be approved as submitted. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Bruesch, Vasquez, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL 1. SELECTION OF MAYOR Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, opened nominations for the office of Mayor for the City of Rosemead. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor placed the name of Councilmember Vasquez in nomination for Mayor. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor moved the nominations be closed and Mr. Vasquez be appointed to serve as Mayor for the upcoming year. A unanimous vote resulted. 2. SELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Vasquez opened nominations for Mayor Pro Tem. Councilmember Bruesch placed the name of Councilmember Clark in nomination for Mayor Pro Tem. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Taylor, second by Councilmember Bruesch that the nominations be closed and Mrs. Clark be appointed to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the upcoming year. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Bruesch, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. CC 4-11-95 Page #1 0 0 Councilmember Bruesch extended his congratulations to Mayor Vasquez and Mayor Pro Tem Clark and thanked the Councilmembers and staff for their help and support during the past two years. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE Phillip Au, representative from Congressman Matthew Martinez' office, introduced himself and recognized the outgoing Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. II. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE III. LEGISLATIVE A. RESOLUTION NO. 95-20 - CLAIMS & DEMANDS The following resolution was presented to the Council for adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 95-20 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $342,420.65 NUMBERED 12557 THROUGH 12707. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TAYLOR, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK that Resolution No. 95-20 be adopted. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Bruesch, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. Councilmember Bruesch requested an explanation of check no. 12674 to Masco Tech regarding special equipment repairs. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR - CC-A, CC-B, AND CC-C REMOVED FOR DISCUSSION CC-C AUTHORIZATION TO REJECT CLAIM FILED AGAINST THE CITY BY CHRISTINE WANG Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar, Rosemead, questioned the language of the Sheriff's Deputy in handling this situation. Councilmember Bruesch stated that this incident took place at KISS TV on Valley Boulevard. Councilmember Taylor responded that this case has been turned over to the Sheriff's Department. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER TAYLOR that the City Council approve the rejection of this claim and authorize a letter of rejection be sent to the claimant. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Bruesch, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. CC 4-11-95 Page #2 • CC-A APPROVAL OF BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY STUDY Mayor Bruesch stated that according to the study, half of the injuries are in the 17 to 24 age group and was concerned that the flyers or information would not reach these young adults. Joanne Itagaki, Traffic Engineer, responded that educational materials would be developed bilingually with specific targeting of people using bicycles. Ms. Itagaki stated that flyers could be passed out and available at City Hall. Councilmember Imperial asked if bicycles are required to be licensed and that at one time the Sheriff's Explorers offered a safety program. Mr. Imperial suggested that the Explorers could give presentations to the schools. Frank Tripepi, City Manager, stated that part of the program would involve a community meeting on bicycle safety. Councilmember Bruesch stressed the necessity of reaching young adults. Councilmember Taylor asked about the Study's portion of Rosemead's evaluation of 16.3% bicycle injuries versus the State average of 7.4% and what the percentages were based on. Ms. Itagaki responded that this evaluation was based on the total number of fatal and injury accidents versus bicycle and pedestrian accidents taken from the Institute of Transportation Studies and she would provide Council with that documentation. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL that the Council approved the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Study, authorize staff to submit the study to the Office of Traffic Safety for their approval, and authorize staff to apply for funds from the Office of Traffic Safety for the implementation of an educational/publicity campaign and the development of a Master Plan of Bicycle Facilities. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Bruesch, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. Councilmember Bruesch requested staff that a summary of the study be distributed to schools in the Garvey School District as the accident rate is highest in those areas. CC-B ACCEPTANCE OF STREET EASEMENTS FOR HIGHCLIFF STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Councilmember Taylor questioned the disparities in the two right-of-way agreements where one owner will have wrought iron fencing, brick work, and gates and the other property owner will only have a driveway, graded areas, and a retaining wall. Mr. Taylor stated further that the property owners are not being treated equally and that staff and Council needs to be aware of the potential problems being created by this inequity. Mr. Taylor stated also that he cannot vote for this project as is and is concerned that the other property owners will feel that they have been taken advantage of. Al Rodriguez, City Engineer, explained that all of the property owners on Highcliff have been informed as to what they and their neighbors will be getting and that most of the properties will have wrought iron fencing. Mr. Rodriguez stated that the property with the retaining wall was requested to be constructed that way by the owners. Mayor Vasquez requested that because of the many questions from Council, that Mr. Rodriguez bring all of the right-of-way agreements to the next meeting for review. CC 4-11-95 Page #3 Councilmember Imperial stressed also the importance of the owners being aware of what their neighbors will be receiving. Councilmember Taylor explained that the right-of-ways need to be reviewed before proceeding any further as a precaution in preventing future problems. Mayor Vasquez stated that this item will be deferred to the next Council meeting. V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION & ACTION A. REQUEST FROM HY TICH AND QUANG TICH TRAN TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE PATIO AT 3362 GREENDALE AVENUE, ROSEMEAD Mr. Khuong Dinh Nguyen, 9312 Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, attorney for the Tran's explained that the patio was in existence when the house was purchased in 1989 and that the Tran's were not aware of any code violations. Mr. Tran stated further that the Tran family would like to comply with codes to save their patio. James Guerra, Building Official, stated that staff will continue to work with the owners and their engineer to resolve this matter. / Councilmember Bruesch asked if the patio was enclosed. Mr. Guerra responded that the patio is enclosed currently, permit records indicate that in 1964 it was an open patio with a roof and slab only, and, therefore, has been cited for the enclosure which occurred since that time. Councilmember Imperial stated that he looked at the patio and there does not seem to be any footing around the slab. Mr. Imperial asked if the owners will be allowed to put a footing around the existing patio slab. Mr. Guerra responded that that is an option and that the owner's engineer, according to his calculations, can justify the slab without a perimeter foundation, however, the usual solution is a foundation. Councilmember Imperial stated that he thought that a foundation was a requirement and whatever plan the engineer develops should be brought before the Council before a decision is made. Mayor Vasquez stated that this item will be deferred to the next meeting for further information and that staff will continue to work with the owners. B. CITY NEWSLETTER VERBATIM DIALOGUE FOLLOWS: COUNCILMEMBER TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. The $1000 per month that they are asking for...I'd like to see what it's been costing them. When I got this in here, I didn't have a chance to look at their budget, from the Chamber last year. I don't have all the figures in front of here, but what they're paying for their newsletter that they send out. I'd like to see a full comparison of what we are going to be getting and are we going to still continue to pay Gardner Association. MAYOR VASQUEZ: Ok. Mr. Nichols is going to address us. FRANK TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER: At least the first part of the question. RICHARD NICHOLS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROSEMEAD CHAMBER: This newsletter by the Chamber was not done until we started doing it in November. This is a new venture.. It costs approximately $3200 a month to produce the newsletter and this last month, for example, we took in advertising $2100, so it cost the Chamber $1100. The reason we are CC 4-11-95 Page #4 making the request is, and the reason it costs so much, is we do distribute it to every resident and every business. So, it's not just a business newsletter, it is a residential mailer. But, this last month is costing the Chamber $1100. The month of April here that we just mailed out cost us $1100. COUNCILMEMBER BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. In order to compare costs, I need to know...right now with Gardener Communication, what are our current costs for the four City newsletters and the...3 newsletters, and the calendar. Give me a ballpark figure. TRIPEPI: $46,000 and change. DON WAGNER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER: For the three newsletters plus recreation brochures, which are included in here, and you've got the calendar, for about $30,000. BRUESCH: OK. $30,000 for the calendar. This figure that we have here that says the total cost including postage would be $5780 per month. In addition to that $46,000, would we roll in all the materials that was in that newsletter into this publication. WAGNER: Well, we've discussed this with Pam. If you wanted to have Gardner Communications do a monthly newsletter, like we are doing three times a year, you would have to also budget additional funds for those newsletter issues that would include the recreation brochure. She doesn't have a figure on that yet. BRUESCH: Then, I'm not prepared to vote on this tonight because I need to know the cost factors on both sides. Personally, I would like to see the City publish something like this, but not at an expense that would be an exorbitant cost factor. TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor, if I may. What Mr. Bruesch is talking about... Bob, if you look at this and do just a quick analysis of it, for $1000 a month they are going to give us twelve issues. We don't get anywhere near that from Gardner Communications in three past events newsletters. You understand what I'm saying? We put out a quarterly letter that goes backwards to three months. BRUESCH: A $1000 per page, right. TAYLOR: Well, it depends on what we put into this. As far as, do we need that much. I think it needs to be studied a little bit more. Otherwise we are duplicating and now we are going to be paying two people or two different organizations and I'm not sure that needs to be done. TRIPEPI: I think the Council needs more focus on it. I think the issue to be decided is, on a monthly basis for about $1000 and that price drops to $850, Dick, next year...? NICHOLS: Let me do some clarifying... TRIPEPI: Let me keep my train of thought here. NICHOLS: Yes, next year our request is $10,000 for the year TRIPEPI: All right. So, what the Council can get, basically, is you will continue to hit every household in the City with a newspaper once a month in newspaper print, where Mr. Nichols, basically, puts in an entire page for the City or however much we need, based on the articles that we write, four pages, if that's what we need. I can honestly tell you that when we were running the newsletter monthly, we had to look for items to put in that newsletter. So, that is what we are really talking about. For $1000 you are going to be able to continue to have the Rosemead newspaper go to every household in the City on a monthly basis. There is no way that Pam Gardner can compete with that. One, it is a different paper stock; two, there are different kinds of photos. It is a different layout procedure. It really is not apples and apples. I can't really make it apples and apples. I know what Mr. Bruesch is saying. This was put on here, because as a matter of fact, Mr. Bruesch said, "I would like to see what it would cost to go to a newsletter every month. The bottom line is, I guess, two words - very expensive. Just a matter if you want to do it for $1000 in newspaper form or if you want CC 4-11-95 Page #5 • 0 to do it as the existing newsletter. COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL: Mr. Mayor. I think that the Chamber has put out a good newspaper, but in my opinion that is still a Chamber newspaper. Even when it goes to every house in the City, I still say they are looking at a Chamber paper and there's a lot of people that might not want to read it. I can remember when the City put out a decent newsletter. I've heard one alternative here and that's Pam Gardner. I haven't heard that let's determine what we want and let's put that thing out to bid and see who can get us the best deal for what we need in this City. But, again, I think the Chamber puts out a good newsletter, newspaper, but I think we ought to have our own City newspaper. I think it ought to be something like we had before. I think we're missing a good vehicle by not having that thing. And, I think there's plenty if we want to go out and do it, that we can put in this paper. Number one, we should be covering the school programs. We've got a great program going at Rosemead High School. You never see anything about the Key Club. You've got a great program going at Muscatel, for instance. You never hear anything about the Builder's Club. These are things that we should be looking at. We should be looking at organizations within the City with some kind of coordination so two or three organizations don't have a function at the same time. That's the type of vehicle we need for the City. And, I think we could get that with our own newsletter and I think we ought to put it all together and come back with different bids, not just one from Pam Gardner. MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK: Mr. Mayor. Dick, did I hear you say we could get four pages for $1000. NICHOLS: Yes, we would love to have four pages of news from the City. BRUESCH: At $1000 apiece? NICHOLS: No, no, for the $1000. Our proposal is in that ...I want to clarify this and it might confuse you. Our proposal is, the Chamber cannot afford to do this any longer. April will probably be the last month we can do it without the $1000 help. So, what we are asking for is April, May, and June of this fiscal year that the City work with us and contribute $1000 a month and get as much news, if we can have four pages of news that would be $1000. For next year's budget, we have in our budget request, requested $10,000. For the year, that's $800 or little over a month to continue doing it. IMPERIAL: Dick, let me ask you a question. How much does the City give you now for the newspapers you have been putting out? NICHOLS: Nothing directly. IMPERIAL: Not getting anything? NICHOLS: No. We have the contract with you. There's $35,000 a year of which we are using some of that. TRIPEPI: He's asking you do we give you articles for the newspaper. NICHOLS: Oh, articles. IMPERIAL: No. I'm talking about money. NICHOLS: He's talking about money. Oh no, no. We get articles from the City. TRIPEPI: One page, basically? NICHOLS: Oh, I think it's at least one page, sometimes it's two, some longer because different department heads have brought over different stuff. But, no, we have received nothing... IMPERIAL: We do the $35,000 that we give you presently, right. CC 4-11-95 Page #6 • • NICHOLS: There's been nothing. Yes. Our money has come out of this... We came into it and I've had to apologize to our Board. When this new management team came in, we thought we were going to be able to sell enough advertising to make it self sufficient within four or five months. The first three months we paid, we personally paid, that's no concern of yours. But, we thought and had the faith that it was going to succeed because it has in other areas, but the advertising just has not been there so we've been losing about $1000 a month. The Chamber Board cannot... TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I'm a little bit concerned about the optimism Mr. Nichols, in the sense that what you thought what happened this time was optimistic and that's fine. But, what I am concerned about is if the way things are going, it states here,..... We have submitted in our 95-96 budget request to the City $10,000 for the Rosemead Report. With this support, we will be able to continue to publish at least 16 pages. As advertisement income increases, the size of the paper will grow to a maximum of 28 pages". And, I'm a little bit concerned that we put some money into it and you try to get to 28 pages and that doesn't ...the optimism doesn't pay off there. I'm not criticizing, I'm just trying to understand the caution behind it. I don't want you to expand too fast and come back, and I'm not, again, criticizing, but let's see how it works. NICHOLS: No, I understand. What I am trying to say in there is if the $10,000 was budgeted next year, we will guarantee 16 pages of a newspaper going out and I would guarantee you that at least four pages of City news could be in there. TAYLOR: But, didn't you have quite a few articles in this last one about the school activities. NICHOLS: Oh yes. TAYLOR: I think there was quite a few and that would answer Mr. Imperial's question BRUESCH: But, one of the things I noticed, excuse me, Mr. Mayor. One of the things I noticed was that a lot of the school information that you got were on schools outside of Rosemead. It had nothing to do with Rosemead. NICHOLS: Unfortunately, with this budget we don't have a reporter. We depend on the schools to send us information. And, I have personally written and talked to every Principal in every school pleading for news articles. And, we don't receive them. So, any news articles we receive, Don Bosco sends us news articles, so we print them. BRUESCH: Well, they have a Journalism Class. NICHOLS: Well, whatever the reason. Rosemead High School, I have pleaded with them to give me articles. BRUESCH: Did you contact San Gabriel and Mark Keppel? NICHOLS: No. BRUESCH: Do you realize that one-half of the high school students in Rosemead go to those two schools. NICHOLS: No, I did not know that. BRUESCH: You see, this is what I'm talking about. You have to contact those schools too. You even have a couple of hundred kids that go to Schurr High School. NICHOLS: As I've said, we have contacted, just like the service clubs, we have asked them all, and the churches, we asked them to submit articles. It's not our human nature, any of us, unfortunately, to get in that routine unless the statement was "well, they have a Journalism Class". IMPERIAL: Rosemead has a Journalism Class. CC 4-11-95 Page #7 • • NICHOLS: But, we want to print commuhity news. TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. What... Mr. Imperial raised an interesting point in the sense as far as having a City newsletter, we could put all the City events we want in it, all the school events, whatever we choose to. There's always the potential and it's good have discussions on different pro's and con's of items. But, what do we do...this is a Chamber of Commerce newsletter. How do we get...and sometimes the Chamber promotes programs and in general the City wants to support that, but what do we do on controversial issues? We've had them in the past and they will come up. Is there going to be any censorship, Mr. Nichols, as far as who prints what. NICHOLS: Not that I know of, we have never in the six years that I have done this in other Chambers, I have not ever had one instance where there was any conflict. I would have no problem if a City staff member wanted to or a City Councilmember wanted to come over and edit what we're going to put in on... TAYLOR: I don't want to go so far as to edit what you're putting in. But, I want it the other way too, that there will be disagreements. NICHOLS: The only thing I can reflect back on is what I did in Baldwin Park for four years. The City submitted to me four pages typeset of news from the City. I had no jurisdiction or anything about what they put in. We printed what they gave us. And, the same with the schools. TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I think, I really honestly think that this is an opportunity to give it a shot for the next three months and see what advertising they can get and what input they can get from Garvey School District, Rosemead School District, the local organizations that we have. And, for $3000, I'm looking to next year and Gardner Communications, we're talking $80,000. 1 don't like that $80,000 because we see them once a month for a newsletter published every three months. The Chamber has the potential of every month being current. So, I would be in favor of trying it for three months and see if we can work out some kind of association. VASQUEZ: OK. I still have a request out here for Mr. Nunez to speak on this. BRUESCH: I just want to ask one question. Gary is right and I figured it out at about $80,000. But, that would not be the full figure because we are already paying Gardner $46,000 and $30,000 which is $76,000. What we need to do before we make a decision on this is to find out how much additional cost from Gardner and see if the comparison makes the Chamber offer an offer we can't turn down. TAYLOR: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Bob, Gardner Communications is telling us it's $5000 to send out four pages per month. At Gardner Communications, 5 x 12 is $60,000 to send out four pages. The Chamber is telling us they are going to charge us $850 for four pages per month, times twelve is $10,000. So, there is a big difference between the $10,000 with the Chamber every year compared to the $60,000 yearly with Gardner. That is why I'd like to give it an opportunity to see and get current information. There's a big difference and then we can take some of that off of Gardner, then we're duplicating information if we have both newsletters. But, for right now, the $3000 is a worthwhile investment to see what could be done with it. VASQUEZ: Gary, is that a motion? TAYLOR: I'll make the motion for that. CLARK: I'll second that. VASQUEZ: OK. Before we vote on it, I haven't forgotten you, Juan. Come on up. JUAN NUNEZ, 2702 DEL MAR AVENUE, ROSEMEAD. What I wanted to speak on is that the Chamber, what was it, two years ago when they came up with an idea of having a district assessment. That didn't fly. CC 4-11-95 Page #8 • TAYLOR: Juan, that's not fair. Because they came up with a legal entity, the law says, and some cities do it, we as a Council decided that... if I recall correctly, there was approximately ...there's 200 members in the Chamber of Commerce and there was only a small percentage of them, I'm going to say approximately 20%, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but it was a small percentage of the 1010 business that we have in the community and I think it worked out that it was 27 or 53, the figures were very low, but, those were the people that agreed to the business district. I think they only had like 20 or 25% of the Chamber members that were in favor of doing it. So, that was something entirely different, I think, from what we are doing here. NUNEZ: OK. What I was going to say that the Chamber did have the power to levy the assessment. So, they came to the Councilmembers... TAYLOR: And we turned them down. NUNEZ: You turned them down. Good. Had it been another Council sitting there... TAYLOR: We can't help that. NUNEZ: No, you can't help that. But, had it been another Council, it may have passed. TAYLOR: What's that got to do with this item? NUNEZ: OK. This here, the newsletter. From what I saw... TAYLOR: Excuse me, did you get the newsletter in your home? NUNEZ: No, no, I didn't get the newsletter. TAYLOR: You didn't get it? Mr. Nichols... NUNEZ: But, I read the minutes or the report at the Library. TAYLOR: No, you should have gotten one. VASQUEZ: It's a very good newsletter, Juan, a really good newspaper. NUNEZ: What I was reading is that they estimated they would get so many advertisements. They were wrong on their advertisers that they are asking for $1000 for April, May, and June. TAYLOR: $3000. NUNEZ: OK CLARK: Mr. Mayor. Can I clarify? I believe that if we don't do this, the paper doesn't go out to the residents. The paper will not go to every resident if we don't want to put in the $ 1000. It will go only to the businesses, is that correct, Dick? NICHOLS: Well, it would cease, because we still do the one to the businesses only, we call it the Business Report. It goes to the Chamber members. Yes, it would cease. CLARK: So, the residents wouldn't get anything. For $1000 we are getting to every resident up to four pages of newsprint. So, we are basically piggy backing on what you are doing anyway. To me it sounds like a good deal. I'm willing to go for three months and try it out. TAYLOR: The Rosemead Report, this goes to the residents? NICHOLS: That goes to every resident. It's distributed by the, not the mail carriers, what do we call them. We were mailing because the Post Office was working with us and we could put postal paper, they finally clammed down and said only City governments could do postal paper and we had to buy address labels, which was going to cost us another $2500 to mail. Now we are distributing ...$2500 per month... because it had to be addressed. Anyway, we CC 4-11-95 Page #9 distribute by the Walking Man to the residents and it is mailed to 1200 businesses. TAYLOR: OK. How many have you mailed or delivered to the residents. NICHOLS: 16,500. TAYLOR: How many times? NICHOLS: The last five months. TAYLOR: Mr. Nunez, I don't know why you haven't gotten one. NUNEZ: I got it, I don't know 3 or 4 months ago, when you mailed it last. NICHOLS: No, the last one went out last Friday. NUNEZ: I didn't get it. The Chamber was going to have a meeting where they could get with the Legislature and maybe being in touch with the Legislature they could pass some action to have them come under a certain umbrella that they would... VASQUEZ: Mr. Nunez, what are you talking about? You are off the subject now from the newsletter. NUNEZ: No, I'm not off the subject. I'm talking about the newsletter the last time that I spoke here. You heard me speak about the Legislature. The Chamber was having that meeting, I don't have it here with me so I can't tell you all of it. What I am saying is that this, the Chamber has gone out and put those banners "Discover Rosemead", you know they have been there probably about two years, five years. Those things are just flying there. It's a shame to have those things flying there because they are not advertising anything. VASQUEZ: What is your point, what do you want to get across to us. NUNEZ: My point is that I don't think you should give them anymore money. You give them $3200, they want $3000, plus $10,000, that's $13,000. TAYLOR: Mr. Nunez, put it in a little bit of perspective. If I could go to the local businesses up and down Garvey, 1000 businesses in the City of Rosemead and I'm going to say there might be 30 or 40 advertising in here, I didn't count them, but what I would say is that in that newspaper, if you took a quarter of a page and monthly had something in them about this being distributed to all 15,000 homes in Rosemead, you shop and advertise in Rosemead and the benefits comeback to us. Our $1000 a month is nothing compared to if the people shop in Rosemead. Our sales taxes have gone down 6% in the last year. NUNEZ: It's going down all over. TAYLOR: No. Alhambra's down 12% on their sales tax. What I am saying is that you've got to try to boost City sales a little bit and this is a very economical way to get to 15,000 households. I would shop in Rosemead and I can get...the Chamber has a list of 200 members and it's in the back pages of that report every time it comes out, but here are 800 that aren't listed because they are not members. Those 800 if they can see that this letter was going every' month to 15,000 homes in their community, then they could see the advantage of it. Nobody wants to buy advertisement that gets basically thrown "willy nilly". I'm concerned about you not getting the copies. How to check up on these Walkmen that sometimes leave them in the trunk of their car. That might happen one out of a 100 times. NUNEZ: They're doing their job. But, again, let me ask, how many of this 15,000 residents in the City may read that paper? TAYLOR: Juan, you do the best you can. BRUESCH: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. CC 4-11-95 Page #10 0 0 VASQUEZ: Bob, I think we got his point. He just doesn't want money to be spent there. Thank you very much, Juan. Call for the question, we've already had a motion and second. IMPERIAL: I want to make a comment. I intend to vote against this, not because I have a problem with the Chamber and their newspaper, but because 1 want more information on what it would take beside Gardner's fees to put this together for the City of Rosemead. But, I would like to bring out a point. The point is if the majority of the Council decides to do this with the Chamber, I do want the City's recognition in there. Now, take this, 1 brought this to Don Wagner's attention. The Career Partners is funded to the City of Rosemead and we put that money into the Consortium. It does not say that the City of Rosemead funds this and I want this clear. Number one, this should be straightened out and I want it clear that the City of Rosemead does have it listed as the City of Rosemead, paid for by the City of Rosemead. TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. He has a very valid point. I wouldn't dispute it. But, that comes down between common courtesy between the Chamber, readers, editors, auditors, call them whatever you want, and the City staff and the City Council. I don't want to read and edit that paper before it goes out. I may complain and argue about something when an article comes about, pout if I don't like it, maybe write a rebuttal to it. But, by the same token, what Mr. Imperial is saying is a very valid point. If we're going to give the Chamber $35 to $40,000, there is no reason why we can't build each other up. If the City of Rosemead should have been listed in that article, maybe the Chamber didn't even know it. IMPERIAL: Let me give you an example, Mr. Taylor. Right here, "funded by the Los Angeles County Private Industry Council in cooperation with Los Angeles County, Board of Supervisors and Bell Gardens and City of Commerce Employment Referral Office". It does not say that the City of Rosemead put a whole bunch of money into this Consortium and the people in this City should know that we're not sitting here on our hands, that we do have a program and it's paid for through funds for federal government to... NICHOLS: I'd like to just to, and I can't rebut him except that's a paid ad. When paid ads come in copy ready and they pay $400 for that ad, I print them. We will not accept any political ads. But, Jay, you and I know the West San Gabriel Valley Consortium, I'm on the Los Angeles Private Industry Council, that is a paid ad, we print it as it is presented. IMPERIAL: OK. You put out a newspaper and I'll bring it to your attention that this is not in proper order. If you want to take the position that it's a paid ad, right or wrong, then I have a problem with that. I think you're bigger than that, Dick. VASQUEZ: Call for the question. Go ahead, Gary. TAYLOR: Jay, I would agree with Mr. Nichols. Somebody paid for that ad. We don't have the right to edit everybody's ad just as they don't have the right to edit our ads. It's true we can put in news releases and do the same thing they have there. But we can get around it and give it to Mr. Nichols as a news story from the City and not pay the advertisement because we're entitled to four pages of that letter. So, there are ways we can get the City of Rosemead all over that paper, for the Chamber and for the City. I didn't realize it was a paid ad. I can understand now why our name wouldn't be in there. IMPERIAL: It's paid with our money. TAYLOR: Not necessarily. That ad didn't come from the City of Rosemead. IMPERIAL: How does this organization survive? It survives with money from nine different cities, Mr. Taylor. Rosemead being one of them. That's all I'm saying. This money goes into that organization to pay for this. TAYLOR: But, was that put out by the head, whose the head group on that? IMPERIAL: Well, this is the Consortium. TAYLOR: Then the Consortium failed to put our name in there. CC 4-11-95 Page #11 0 0 VASQUEZ: Excuse me. I called for the question, we had a first and second. Please vote. Taken from voting slip: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Bruesch No: Imperial Absent: None Abstain: None CLARK: Mr. Mayor. I would just like the record to show that my Yes vote was for the postage to get this letter out for three months to the residents. It was not to the Chamber of Commerce in supporting them. It's just a matter of getting our message out to the residents. IMPERIAL: I would like the record to show my reason for a No vote verbatim. I would just like to say that it's not to me a matter of money, because we raised the Transient Occupancy Tax in this City to help promote the Chamber of Commerce and I think that some of the money is going in there and that tax is still in effect. So, it's not that. To me it's a what's right and what's wrong. VASQUEZ: Thank you Jay. BRUESCH: I'd like to direct this to Mr. Nichols. I notice that you have the Small Business Advocate which comes from the State Chamber of Commerce. At times, not all the time, they are supporting legislation which our City does not support. Could you have our staff look at that before it is put in there to see that there is no conflict with what our City stands on legislation. NICHOLS: Very definitely, Mr. Bruesch. That's a good point. I do check those over and it's got to be a general legislative business advocate. I appreciate that. TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. That gets to the censorship that I was talking about. I've opposed the Chamber on principle on many issues in the past, but I also ...when they wanted to pass that occupancy tax that Mr. Imperial mentioned, I supported that because it was a voluntary tax that I think was 54% to 46% when it passed. I think the Council could have killed it if we voted No on it. But, it was an optimistic chance of getting some money, let the Chamber grow in their own "boots" you might say. The business now of getting into the censorship of it, I made the comment that if the Chamber is supporting stuff that the City may be opposed to but it's good for business, and I think that business has it's place to look for tax cuts, preventing excessive taxes and such. The City needs certain taxes, sales taxes and things of that nature. So, it's going to be a give and take. If the Chamber puts something in there, then you might end of getting some "Letters to the Editors" type things that rebut it. But, to edit whatever you put in there, I don't go for that. BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. I wasn't thinking of editing. All I was asking is for staff to look at it so that in our four pages we can give the City side of the issue. I'm not asking for the TAYLOR: That's the point, Bob. I'm not disputing what you're saying. CLARK: Mr. Mayor. I also would like the record to show that the previous issues, at least to my understanding, I think it was the Council's, that this was going to be paid for by the advertising and that our City funds were not going to subsidize the paper. So, anything that has been printed, including the recent issue and previously, was done by the Chamber with advertising money. Anything controversial up to now, we had nothing to do with. NICHOLS: No, that's right. I have to use discretion as to what I put in. But, that's the reason we kept both papers. We do have one that goes to members only that we may take very strong stands on some business issues. TAYLOR: That's fine, that's your letter. NICHOLS: We recognize this as a community newsletter. CC 4-11-95 Page J112 0 0 TAYLOR: That's a valid point. That settles what Mr. Bruesch is talking about. we've got a community letter, you have your business letter. That takes care of it, Bob. They can send all the tax stuff they want to their members, but not to the public. NICHOLS: Thank you very much. END VERBATIM DIALOGUE. VI. STATUS REPORTS A. CITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE This item has been deferred. VII. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS A. REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER ORTIZ FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE ROSEMEAD PLANNING COMMISSION MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER BRUESCH that Commissioner Ortiz be reappointed the Rosemead Planning Commission. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Bruesch, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. B. REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER BEEZLEY FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER TAYLOR that Commissioner Beezley be reappointed to the Rosemead Traffic Commission. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor No: None Absent: None Abstain: None Vasquez, Bruesch, Imperial The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. C. STUDY SESSION REGARDING CHURCHES Mayor Pro Tern Clark requested that this item be on the agenda at the next Council meeting or the following one. Ms. Clark stated that this item can be covered at a regular Council meeting rather than schedule a special Study Session. D. CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF VOTER REFORM BILLS Councilmember Taylor quoted various sections of the "Motor Voter Act" that pertained to no voter registration requirements in an election for federal officers and registration of. voters at polling places at the time of voting in a General Election. Mr. Taylor stated that those practices could lead to widespread voter fraud and that the law protects anyone from challenging a person coming in to vote. Mr. Taylor referred to sections that states that data concerning the numbers of voters registered in the past two general elections and the numbers of how many voted in those elections cannot be requested. Mr. Taylor expressed his concern about the ability to audit this program. CC 4-11-95 Page #13 Councilmember Bruesch referred to H.R. 2 and that there are five items in that bill that he is in favor of and one he is not. Mr. Bruesch stated that the items he is in favor of are the notification to registrars of felons to be removed from voter rolls; voting in former voting polls one time after moving; reducing postage rate for registration materials; when changing motor vehicle registration, voter registration automatically changes; and, a requirement that the state's within two years, have in place a systematic removal of voters from rolls after two elections. Mr. Bruesch stated further that the one item he finds reprehensible is that there is no notification, no notarization or no authentication of eligibility requirements, and that one item makes this law a very weak one. Councilmember Taylor pointed various sections that are contradictory. Councilmember Imperial stated that he felt this is a bad bill the Council should go on record as requesting this bill be voided. Mr. Imperial made the motion that this bill be voided. Mayor Pro Tern Clark stated that she agrees with Councilmember Bruesch but that these bills can be addressed in simple, one subject bills. Ms. Clark stated further that in response to her questions about the bill, she was sent that big notebook which though supposedly is an explanation, is confusing because the bill itself appears contradictory within itself. She clarified the motion to support H.R. 370 which repeals the National Voter Registration Act. Councilmember Taylor stated that there are no checks and balances in this bill. Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar Avenue, Rosemead, agreed that this bill is not a good one. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK that the Council support H.R. 370 to repeal the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Taylor, Vasquez, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: Bruesch The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. Councilmember Bruesch requested that record reflect his vote to Abstain because of reasons he stated previously. VII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further action at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. in memory of Bob Culbertson who passed away on Monday and Charles Storing, former Councilmember of the City of La Puente who passed away last week. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 25, 1995, at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: APPROVED: City Clerk CC 4-11-95 Page #14