CC - 05-08-90APPROVED
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING CITY OF ROSEMEAD
ROSEMA CITY COUNCIL BXTE
MAY Y 8, 1990
The Regular Meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to
order by Mayor McDonald at 8:03 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City
Hall, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California.
The Pledge to the Flag was led by Councilman Taylor.
The Invocation was delivered by City Treasurer Hugh Foutz.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS:
Present: Councilmen Bruesch, Imperial, Taylor, and Mayor McDonald
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem DeCocker - Excused
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH
13,
1990 -
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH
27,
1990 -
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL
17,
1990 -
ADJOURNED MEETING
APRIL
24,
1990 -
REGULAR MEETING
Councilman Taylor requested clarification to the Minutes of March
13, 1990. Mr. Taylor asked that the second paragraph from the bottom
on Page #4 be amended to read "....the Council voted four to one
against me..." and that the seventh paragraph on Page #5 be amended to
read "....with the subterranean metrorail system when I opposed
.......why I wetsld-nat was opposed to it....."
Councilman Imperial requested that the memo from the City Attorney
regarding the Contract Cities Association Youth Program be added to
the Minutes of March 27, 1990.
There being no objection, these amendments were so ordered.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH that the
Minutes of the Regular Meetings of March 13, March 27, April 24, and
the Adjourned Meeting of April 17, 1990, be approved as amended. Vote
resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Bruesch, Imperial
No: None
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried.and so ordered.
PRESENTATIONS:
A proclamation was presented to Mr. A.A. Kruger, representing the
California-American Water Company, naming the month of May, 1990, as
"Water Awareness Month."
A second proclamation was presented to Registered Nurse Rosalie
Mitchell, representing the Del Mar Convalescent Hospital, naming the
week of May 13-19, 1990 as "Nursing Home Week."
I. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
A. Martha Miranda, 3318 Stallo Street, asked the Council's
assistance in developing a program to aid the youth of Rosemead who
are being unjustly categorized as gang members. Ms. Miranda cited an
incident involving a Rosemead student, attending San Gabriel High
School, who had been killed on Friday in what was being termed a
gang-related incident.
Councilman Imperial requested that the Sheriff's Gang Activities
Unit meet with the concerned parents and students and prepare a report
for presentation to the council.
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Councilman Bruesch noted that the Garvey School District is
developing a gang-intervention program that should be effective in
educating parents on methods to discourage children from becoming
involved with the gangs.
Ms. Miranda stated that a meeting is being scheduled for Tuesday
at San Gabriel High School and the Council requested that a Rosemead
Deputy attend this meeting.
B. Leroy Young, 7533 E. Garvey Avenue, presented a copy of the
ABC liquor CUP permits in Rosemead.
C. Cleo Young, 7533 E. Garvey Avenue, requested that all
interested persons should attend a meeting being held in Los Angeles
to protest the issuance of additional CUPs for alcohol.
D. Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar Avenue, again requested block numbers
to be added to the overhead street signs at intersections in the City.
This request was referred to the Traffic Commission for
consideration.
II. PUBLIC HEARINGS
An explanation of the procedures for the conduct of public
hearings was presented by the City Attorney. The City Clerk then
administered the oath to all those persons wishing to address the
Council on any public hearing item.
A. A PUBLIC BEARING TO CONSIDER A REZONING OF CERTAIN PROPERTY
FROM PROFESSIONAL OFFICE/DESIGN OVERLAY (POD) TO
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) AND IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY
MARSHALL STREET ON THE NORTH, HART STREET ON THE WEST, LINDA
LEE STREET ON THE EAST AND THE REAR OF THE PROPERTIES ON THE
SOUTH SIDE OF GLENDON WAY AND INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO_
662
At the Regular Meeting of May 22, 1990, addition of the following
verbatim dialogue was requested by Councilman Taylor.
VERBATIM DIALOGUE FOLLOWS:
II. PUBLIC HEARING
A. A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REZONING OF CERTAIN PROPERTY
FROM PROFESSIONAL OFFICE/DESIGN OVERLAY (POD) TO
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) AND IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY
MARSHALL STREET ON THE NORTH, HART STREET ON THE WEST, LINDA
LEE STREET ON THE EAST AND THE REAR OF THE PROPERTIES ON THE
SOUTH SIDE OF GLENDON WAY AND INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO.
662
McDONALD: The public hearing is now open and the first people who
would like to speak are those that are in favor of the Ordinance 662.
We have Mr. Robert Breen.
ROBERT BREEN, 9255 Marshall Street: It is quite close to the proposed
change to R-1. I am in favor of it. One of the reasons for being in
favor of it we found that the vacancy factor for offices in Rosemead
is high. As apartments, the Planning Commission determined last night
that the entire area is over developed and they turned down a
mini-mall just adjacent to that as part of the Montgomery Ward
shopping center. If we restrict this to R-1 zoning which it should be
and for single family dwellings, then it would help alleviate any
major traffic problems that apartments would develop. They have
recently as of last night approved a new cul-de-sac of sixteen single
family dwellings consisting of five bedrooms which would be an
additional 80 bedrooms that will be travelling along Marshall and
crossing the corridor of Marshall and Hart. This will make our
speedway along Marshall hazardous to children, to occupants of any
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BREEN CONTINUES: proposed apartments if this were allowed to develop
into apartment buildings rather than single family dwellings. A
separate issue, I don't know how to present it to the Council, if they
could in the future, any development of three or more structures, be
limited to three bedrooms and a den so as not to have as we do now,
this 80-bedroom units along that cul-de-sac which is going right into
that proposed area which we hope will be zoned R-1. But that would be
a separate issue. We are definitely in favor of the recommendation
made by the Planning Commission to rezone this area R-1.
McDONALD: Thank you very much, Mr. Breen. Iris Breen, did you want
to speak?
IRIS BREEN, 9255 Marshall: I'm also in favor of this R-1 zoning
because the original intent of the R-1 zoning is to keep the whole
street R-1. The rest of the street is R-1 except for this section and
as I understand it it was because Montgomery Ward had designs to build
offices there. But this is no longer the case, this was a long time
ago. I believe the residents of Marshall deserve an R-1 zone for that
area because of the high density of traffic and so with that I urge
you to vote for the R-1 zoning.
McDONALD: Anybody else in the audience at this time like to speak in
favor of the ordinance No. 662, approving the zone change?
ANGIE BARBA, 3531 Rio Hondo: I'm in favor of it, too because of the
traffic and the overcrowds in the school which were talked about a few
months ago and it was mentioned that we don't want to make the same
mistakes that were made in Monterey Park overcrowding of the
apartments so I'm in favor of it.
ANTONIO ALVAREZ, 3541 Temple City Boulevard: I am in favor of the R-1
zoning because I would like not to see any more traffic congestion in
the proposed area. Also, I don't want to see any more apartments. I
think we have too many apartments already.
GLORIA SERRA, 9349 Ralph Street: I am in favor of the R-1 zoning.
YOLANDO MUNOZ, 9221 Ramona Boulevard: No apartments.
McDONALD: Anybody else wishing to speak in favor of it? Okay, people
who oppose the change of the POD. We have six people that are signed
up here. Is there any spokesman for the group? We'll just call them
as they, if I can make it out, Michael Sturtevant.
MICHAEL STURTEVANT, 8464 E. Garvey Avenue: I'm opposed to what I
consider the downzoning and I'm also in partnership with one of the
properties involved. One thing as far as the traffic I don't if any
monitors have been put on to find out what the traffic flow is. I do
know there's a lot of diverted traffic off of Rosemead Boulevard.
Whether that traffic going up Rio Hondo is from that neighborhood or
not, I don't know. I do know that in the apartment zone which is
right next to the shopping center, right next to the freeway on- and
off-ramps is a very good location for those people. They use those
facilities. Those facilities are right next door to them and their
access to and from the freeway is right next door. I'm opposed to the
general zone.
IMPERIAL: I'd like a map of the area that we're talking about put on
the board for everyone to see.
McDONALD: We'll continue on with the testimony, here. Next on the
list I have Harold Konop.
HAROLD KONOP, 8464 Garvey Avenue: Part of a group, Mission Company,
purchased this land in the affected area a couple of years ago for
development which at that time we had a right to build. Now, you want
to downzone it at a considerable cost to us. Naturally, we oppose it.
ROSIE LING, 628 E. Dewey Avenue, San Gabriel: I have obtained a copy
of the environmental checklist form from the City. In here it says
the determination, I find the proposed project would not have a
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MS. LING CONTINUES: significant effect on the environment and a
negative declaration will be prepared. But as you can see here
there's no signature of the person completing this form which means
that this form is considered incomplete, unreliable and unofficial. I
have four points to make. That was my first point. My second point
is the City should hire at least two independent consulting
engineering companies to do evaluation of the proposed survey and the
reports of these proposals should be for both situations. One is to
keep the area to be POD or to change it to R-1 and I believe that in
both cases the negative declaration will be for both results. Also,
the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency has planned to build 100
low/moderate income housing units in two locations. I'd like the City
Councilmen to announce to us where are these two locations. I'd like
to know the specific addresses because I believe the area around the
Marshall area where there is Montgomery Ward shopping center, the POD
zoning property around there is a good neighborhood, a good area to
develop. May I suggest the City buy out the POD and to develop it.
My third point is I'd like to know whether there is any councilman or
relative who owns property in this POD. I believe there is no
councilmen or his relative who owns the property of the POD but is
there any City personnel or relative who owns property at those two
locations that they're going to build the income property over there.
I'm opposing the zone change.
McDONALD: Ms. Dewey. Who do you represent if you don't live in the
City or own a piece of property there?
LING: Yeah, we own a piece of property at 9236 and 9238 Marshall.
McDONALD: Thank you, very much. Next we have Michael Davis.
MICHAEL DAVIS: I'm here representing the Rosemead Moose Lodge which
is located at 9304 Mission Drive in the City of Rosemead. I'm
speaking on behalf of the Lodge to oppose the zoning change as it is
now outlined before the Council. I'd like to make it clear, well
first of all let me state that the Moose Lodge owns the property, a
corner lot, which is located on the southeast corner of Hart and
Glendon Way. Before I proceed to state our reasons in opposition I'd
just to say a couple of things about our organization. First of all,
I believe we have about 51 of our members present tonight in the
Council Chambers. We are a California corporation, chartered as the
Rosemead Lodge, No. 632, Loyal Order of Moose. We've been a member of
this community since 1954, some 36 years we've been in this City at
three different locations. We have in excess of 700 men and women who
are members of our organization, most of whom are residents of the
City of rosemead. we're a fraternal and charitable organization.
Principally of concern to the City we have engaged for many years in
activities such as supporting the Rosemead Youth Association, fund
raising benefits for the Rosemead High School graduating class, we've
supported scouting and Indian Guides within the City, the American
Youth Soccer organization, little league teams, all within the City.
Also, we engage in a number of fund raising activities, principally
benefitting City of Hope and March of Dimes. The property that I've
referred to that the Moose Lodge owns was acquired approximately in
1977. Back at that time we felt the need to expand. Our present
quarters on mission Drive were becoming inadequate for the size of our
membership. We engaged in a property search, located that property,
felt it would be a good location for a new moose lodge. We had a lot
of support from our membership. We had a great deal of momentum
going. We were able to pay off the encumbrance within a year after
acquiring the property. We retained an architect, had a design
completed for a moose lodge at that location. Most of you will
probably recall that during that period of time, that year and a half
or so after our purchase of that property, interest rates literally
skyrocketed. At the time we were looking for a long term loan, the
prime rate was 16% and the only lenders that were willing to talk to
us seriously, were private lenders asking 5 points over prime. That
fact pretty much put an end to our hopes of building at that time. We
simply weren't able to pay 21% interest for the amount that we felt we
would have to finance to build there. That also resulted in a loss of
momentum with our membership to move ahead with this program and we
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DAVIS CONTINUES: simply were unable to even think about it for quite
a while until interest rates came back into the realm of reason. I'd
like to be able to tell you tonight that we intend to build a Moose
Lodge there soon. I can't tell you that. I can tell you that it is
something under consideration. The money market is at a point now
where we think we may be able to do it. We're seriously considering
that possibility. It was after our acquisition of the property that
the City rezoned and I don't the history of the entire area but I know
the particular piece we own was rezoned to the POD zone which included
lodge hall uses so that we would be able to do that. We are
specifically opposing the inclusion of the parcel of property we own
in this zoning change. WE think its inclusion is poorly thought out.
Some of the reasons for that is we are surrounded on all four sides.
First of all, on the north, across the street on Glendon Way, there
are apartment buildings. Next door to us on the south there are,
behind our lot on the south facing on Ramona an apartment building was
constructed I believe just last year. On our east side is a multiple
dwelling use, condominiums. And of course on the west of us is the
large commercial development and Montgomery Ward shopping center which
I believe even now is being expanded and added to. We're surrounded
on all four sides by multiple dwelling and commercial uses. We feel
to include our property in this zoning change is literally trying to
shut the bard door after all the horses have gotten out. We're also
concerned that the zoning change, as it affects us, would result in a
substantial loss of the present day value of our property. One of our
options that we're considering is we're not sure that a lodge hall use
would fit in with the current City plans at that location. If not, we
would be considering selling that property for its current market
value and finding a location more suitable within the City to relocate
to. In either event the zoning change would either prohibit us from
building a lodge there in the future or substantially impair our
property value were we to attempt to relocate somewhere else in the
City. One other item. I was approached by two other citizens who are
residents on Glendon Way. I hope they will come up and speak for
themselves. A Mrs. Vicki Joseph at 9232 and 9240 and a Mrs. Kay
Goodwin at 9227 asked me to inform the Council that they are present
and also oppose the zoning change. I also believe that a number of
the people who have expressed concerns are residents on Marshall
Street: I haven't heard,a great deal of opposition and I did review
the minutes of the City Council meeting of January 20th I believe it
was when the matter concerning Mission Builders' development on
Marshall Street came before the Council. We're not expressing an
opinion, I want to make that clear, on whether or not that particular
portion should be rezoned. I mention that only because I think the
genesis of this whole issue came from a great deal of concern
expressed by residents on Marshall Street as to what was happening on
their street and in their neighborhood. Yet the final plan that's
been presented to the Council now seems to include a great deal more
than that. Our property has ingress and egress available to Hart
Street. Any development that would be placed on that property would
have its ingress and egress go onto Hart Street. At least two of the
approved uses for the property in its present form, lodge halls and
professional offices, are uses that would not add to the problems that
have been expressed by persons who are opposing this measure. In
other words, if a lodge hall were built there, its principal hours of
use would be off peak times. It would not conflict with commuter rush
traffic. During business hours the use would be very slight. The
principal use when numbers of people might be coming in there would be
weekends and evening hours. With all of those things in mind we're
urging the Council to either disapprove this or at least refer this
back to the Planning Commission for further consideration in the
boundaries that have been proposed to you and specifically to
eliminate our property from this proposed change if not other
properties along Glendon Way.
BRUESCH: May I ask a question, Mr. Davis. You own the one lot, 9206,
is that it?
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DAVIS: We purchase two lots. Initially, the 30-foot strip that
bounds Hart Street was owned by the city. We purchased the remaining
portion of that lot from a private owner. After acquiring that the
City agreed to put that 30 feet up for sale and at a public sale we
successfully bid on and acquired that. It is actually, I believe on
your map it's designated as two separate parcels. It is under our
single ownership.
IMPERIAL: Mrs. Ling got up and requested of the Council if any member
of this Council had any ownership or involvement with the parcels of
land. I'd like to say at this point that I have been very proudly a
member of the Moose Lodge of Rosemead for the last 15 years. I would
like to know if this would constitute a conflict of interest for me to
vote on this item.
ROBERT KRESS, City Attorney: The real question here is twofold. One,
as a member do you feel that you can hear this matter and make a fair
and impartial decision and that's something that only you know. That
KRESS CONTINUES: would depend of course on whether you participated
in meetings of the Lodge leading up to this turnout and things like
that. The other legal question is whether or not this particular
decision you would be affected in a way other than as a member of the
general public. My initial reaction is yes, you would be. As a
member of this lodge and you said it was a corporation?
DAVIS: Maybe I could clarify something. We are a corporation. We
are governed by a set of bylaws by our national parent organization,
the Supreme Lodge of the World Loyal Order of Moose. No member of any
Moose Lodge has a personal financial interest in property owned by the
Moose Lodge. That is for any reason should the Lodge, should the
corporation fall apart, should the assets have to disposed of, under
no circumstance do individual members have any assertable, personal
interest. In the event of the dissolution of the Lodge any property
or assets owned by the Lodge then become the property of the Supreme
Lodge, the parent organization. So individual members have no
personal financial interest in any property that is owned by the
Lodge, if that helps.
KRESS: Thank you for that clarification. Councilman Imperial, my
understanding is that you're a member of the Lodge but you're not on
the Board, you're not a member of the governing body. Is that
correct?
IMPERIAL: Yes and I would not have considered that position because I
sit on this City Council and I knew that some day or another that I
might have to come to a point where I'm at right now. And that's why
I wanted to clarify it. I wanted to make sure that everything was
above board and legal and I could vote in what I think is the best
interest of the City. Now, I can look at this from the point of an
outsider considering that I'm not even a member of this Lodge for the
last 15 years and know that this Lodge has done a hell of a lot of
good for this community. Therefore, I want to make this clear because
I intend to speak my piece on this.
KRESS: with all of that I think the decision on whether or not to
participate is your decision. I'm convinced that you do not have a
conflict of interest in a financial way as explained by Mr. Davis and
I concur in that. I think the decision as to whether or not you've
prejudged this matter you've indicated that you can vote on this
matter in an impartial way and hear both sides and vote in the best
interests of the City. If you feel to avoid any appearance of
impropriety that you want to step down, that's your decision but I
don't believe you're required to do so.
IMPERIAL: I don't believe so and I wouldn't do that because I don't
feel like I'm in any different position than, for instance Councilman
Bruesch would be with the Boys Club. Therefore, I just want to
clarify the issue and we can get on with the business.
McDONALD: Are there any other folks that would speak in opposition?
Come forward.
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VICKI JOSEPH, 9232 Glendon Way: We also own the property at 9240 and
we've it for many, many years, since 1949. We are on the same side of
the street as the Moose Lodge, the south side of Glendon. Way. I feel
that I would like to have it stay the zoning it is, the PD zoning. We
are surrounded by apartment buildings and I think it's an injustice to
us to make us change into R-1 when we have all these buildings around
us, deep lots. Next door to us, next to the cul-de-sac, they have
houses on postage stamp lots. They allowed them to build them, less
than 5,000 square feet per house. On the left is the condominiums.
Across the street is the apartment house. So, I'm speaking of Glendon
Way. We'd like to have it remain PD zoning. I think we've suffered a
lot and I know Jay Imperial for one and this man, Mr. Taylor knows
that if it weren't for us you wouldn't have that Montgomery Ward
shopping center because I could have tied it up with the biggest lot
that we owned in that center, we released it so the City of Rosemead
could have a shopping center. I feel we're getting dealt a low blow
by doing this.
KATHY GOODWIN, 9227 Glendon Way: I also have a house at 9229. I live
next door to the apartments and they've been there almost ten years,
now. I've had to put up with all their garbage, throwing it over the
fence and everything and the pipes breaking and flooding and I think
that I would like to keep it the same as it is because if they change
it my property is going to go down in value and I would like to have
it when I sell my house I would like to get enough out of it to live
the rest of my life. Thank you.
EDWARD LING: I'm the owner of 9236 and 9238 Marshall Street. We were
provided only with the initial study for environmental impact. This
is not a professional report. Based on this checklist I don't think
anybody can make a decision to change or not. Second point is, the
Planning commission tried to get rid of the traffic problem. If there
is a problem I think City personnel should solve the problem. I'm a
County engineer. I am hired to solve the problem for the public and
it's a shame to get rid of the problem or make people happy. If there
is really a problem I think the Commission should know how to solve it
instead of changing the zoning.
McDONALD: Mr. Ling. You say you work for the County? You're a
County Engineer. The County's got a lot of problems also. Anybody
wish to speak in opposition? Nobody else wishing to speak, the
public hearing is closed and opened to the Council for discussion. I
would like to open it up and make a little statement here. Day after
day, week after week, Council meeting after Council meeting, we have
people come to us and say we don't want to look like other cities that
have overbuilt where the population is too dense and it's even worse
than Rosemead. We know in Los Angeles County the traffic problem is
unbelievable and it's not a solution that any single City can take
care of by itself but because of the scream and the cry of the
community, 50,000 people, we have cut back on the density criteria and
made it so they had to at least give us single family dwellings. They
have to have a little bit more green area. They have to have to more
open area on the apartments and we're trying to restrict that. And
now here this evening we have just the opposite. Every other meeting
we have some opposition to any type of development that goes on in
this City. And I for one am frustrated in the respect that I like to
see single family dwellings go into this community more so than
anything else even if we have to put them on postage stamp pieces of
property because the value is becoming so horrendous that your kids
can't even buy here in your own community. It's just a sad state of
affairs and it's just that way all through southern California. I'm
just expressing a frustration that I have that you people came out
here tonight and said leave it the way it is and conceivably they
could have apartments on there. I would like'to see it R-1 and keep
the density down as low as we can get and I understand where each and
everyone of you is coming from. I hope you understand where I'm
coming from. We'll go down the line here. Mr. Taylor?
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TAYLOR: I feel the same way. There's been a lot of change in the San
Gabriel Valley. A little small two bedroom homes right in this area,
within a couple of blocks of that particular area, the houses are
selling my neighbor across the street sold a three bedroom for
$194,000; my uncle sold his on Olney down there, it was a small two
bedroom, he sold that for $176,000. They're small houses but they're
in great demand. I feel that the way things are changing there is
more traffic. Montgomery Ward is expanding quite a bit on all sides,
the southeast area they're building a health club; over on the west
side they're expanding again; on the northwest corner they put in the
addition to the shopping center. There's going to be more traffic.
It's not disrespectful to the Lodge itself but there was a comment
made by Mr. Davis, most of the time it would be after hours or weekend
evenings. Stop and think for a minute. I'm not objecting to the
entertainment or the social gatherings of the Lodge club or any other
one for that matter but I don't believe it belongs right there in a
solid residential community even if there are apartments or
condominiums or homes. The comment was made by Mr. Davis, they're not
sure yet. They may sell it and I don't doubt that you'll get good
money if you were to sell it. The land around this whole area I don't
believe any of it is selling for a loss. I'm in favor of keeping it
low density, R-1.
BRUESCH: I too am in favor of lower densities. I heard a couple of
people saying that it would thwart their ability to develop their lots
and get value out it that they were hoping for but if you noticed in
most of the areas when you have these long lots or two of these long
lots together and develope four or five homes on those lots those
homes are going for $200,000-$250,000 now, in my own neighborhood down
south. You look at the value of apartments or condos it, well first
of all condos aren't moving very well right now but apartments don't
outstrip that value that much. I have one reservation on this whole
issue and that's the 22-unit apartment that would be nonconforming.
My worry is that it has been stated at this Council many times that it
becomes a difficulty to obtain a loan on a piece of property that is
legal nonconforming. What I'm worried about on that apartment is that
should it deteriorate over the years will they be able to get
financing to upgrade that apartment to the standards of the
neighborhood and I kind of ask this of the Planning Department or the
City Attorney, one of the two.
GARY CHICOTS, Director of Planning: Many times banks and savings and
loans call the City inquiring about whether or not property is
conforming or nonconforming. Typically, nonconforming property they
just don't get as much of a loan as a conforming piece of property.
Typical single family house in appropriate zone they can get 80% or
90% loan; on a nonconforming piece it would be 500 or 60%.
BRUESCH: In your experience seeing apartments, R-3 apartments in R-1
zones, what is the upkeep on those? Do you generally see them
maintain the standards of the neighborhood or do they deteriorate?
CHICOTS: It's really a function of the property owner and the
neighborhood. Some of the apartment buildings in well established
neighborhoods are maintained well and those in areas of transition are
not. There's no real clear evidence because they're nonconforming
that they don't maintain them.
BRUESCH: I'd feel a lot stronger about this whole issue if that one
piece of property were included in the POD so it would not be
nonconforming for two reasons. Were it to be destroyed by any
earthquake or fire the dollar loss to that piece of property would be
tremendous. I know the question about spot zoning. There is not a
contiguous line on that piece of property. What about that spot
zoning, Mr. Kress? It would be considered?
KRESS: I think you've spotted the issue. It certainly is
problematic. It is with any area if you're trying to change from X to
Y or from Y to X. Not uncommon.
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TAYLOR: I'd like to take a little more optimistic attitude. If that
one property is in a decent area which I believe it is and I know it
is it shouldn't deteriorate. We have a code enforcement policy, a
rehab board, specially where landlords if they're abusing the tenants
and not keeping the property up we already have that board operating
now. If the earthquake did come it wouldn't make a difference what
type of building was there they would all be affected by the
earthquake but then all of a sudden the residents on each side are
going to be faced possibly with an office building in the middle of
them. By making it all one zone the current owner is a legal
nonconforming use entitled to all benefits to that property at the
present time but it does eliminate making it a very specific spot zone
if it's not included in it. I think it would be a mistake to leave
one single property on the street a particular zone.
IMPERIAL: In listening to this conversation it brought back memories
of a few others we've had and one of them was the change of the R-2
zone where we required more footing for a second dwelling. I can
appreciate the feelings of Mrs. Joseph, Mrs. Goodwin, on your
anticipation for that property and not being able to reach that level
of anticipation. I went through this when I had to search my soul
seeing what was happening to Rosemead and the trend we had in the same
direction as Monterey Park, overpopulation. I had to search my soul
and say am I going to look out for my piece of property or am I going
to do what is right for this City. I was one of the people who pushed
the R-2 change and by doing this, this piece of R-2 property I had
which I had anticipated putting a rental dwelling to supplement me in
my retirement which I did in January was part of my main plan. But I
had to realize what I had to do was right for the City so therefore I
pushed for the R-2 zone and by doing that rendered my property useless
for R-2 so I know the feeling. We have to get back to what is best
for the City. In the last few years we watched the neighborhoods, we
watched condos go in where there was one house maybe where there used
to be 2 cars there's 14 now, the impact on the sewer system, the
impact on the Sheriff's department, the Fire department, you name it,
the schools. It impacts every phase of our life in this City of
Rosemead. With that in mind, I can sincerely say that we don't need
any more condos, we don't need any more apartments, we need single
family dwellings to keep that density down. I also would like to say,
and as I expressed I was a member of the Moose Lodge, the Moose Lodge
was looking for a piece of land to build a new lodge. They want to
build that lodge in the best possible place and stay within Rosemead
and found that piece of land that was for sale by this City. They
bought that land off of the City and anticipated putting a lodge
there. I was part of the Lodge then as I am now and we all went out
tried to make some money trying to get this thing built and ran into
problems. I don't think it's right that this parcel should have been
included in this move down to R-1 because I don't feel like a Moose
Lodge would be any hindrance to that neighborhood down there based on
it's surrounded by apartments and it's surrounded by the Montgomery
Ward shopping center. If you'll take a look at the history of the
Moose Lodge, they have created no problem in this City. If you look
at that history further you'll find out they've done a lot of good and
there's a lot of hardworking people in that Lodge. I would like to
see thing given back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration on
the Moose Lodge plot part of it but I do believe that we should stick
to the R-1 zone in the rest of it.
MCDONALD: Any further discussion?
FRANK G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGER: Mr. Mayor. What we may suggest this
evening is that......
McDONALD: Do I have a motion?
IMPERIAL: The motion, Mr. Mayor, is to refer this back to the
Planning Commission for reconsideration on the Moose Lodge portion of
this. I'm in favor of the rest of it being done.
McDONALD: Do we have a second on that? Motion fails for lack of
second. Do I have a new recommendation or motion?
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TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I'd make the motion that we approve the R-1
change.
KRESS: Mr. Mayor. The motion would be to waive reading in full and
introduce Ordinance No. 662, then there will be a companion action of
a resolution.
McDONALD: We have a motion to introduce. Do we have a second? I
second it.
IMPERIAL: Raise to a point of information. In the fraternity, what
is that 1177 or 79 Gary of the Code, couldn't this Moose Lodge be
designated in that area which would make it exempt from this?
CHICOTS: Councilman Imperial. You're referring to a section in the
Code that lists Moose Lodges as permitted in the POD zone provided
that they get a conditional use permit. That's where it's currently
listed.
BRUESCH: Could they get a conditional use permit under that
provision?
CHICOTS: In the POD zone.
TRIPEPI: Not in the R-1 zone.
CHICOTS: If it gets changed to R-1 they would not be allowed to apply
there.
McDONALD: Any further discussion? We have a motion and a second to
introduce the ordinance. Please vote.
END VERBATIM DIALOGUE
The following ordinance was presented to the Council for
introduction:
ORDINANCE NO. 662
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
APPROVING A CHANGE OF ZONE FROM PO-D TO R-1 FOR PROPERTY
BOUNDED BY MARSHALL STREET, HART AVENUE, GLENDON WAY, AND
LINDA LEE STREET (ZC 90-171)
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY MAYOR McDONALD that
ordinance No. 662 be introduced on its first reading and that reading
in full be waived. Vote resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Bruesch
No: Imperial
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Councilman Imperial stated that he was in favor of the R-1 zone
but was not in favor of not sending this back to the Commission for
reconsideration on that piece of property that the Moose Lodge owns
and did not require the ordinance to be read in full.
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CI
III.LEGISLATIVE
A. RESOLUTION NO. 90-23 - CLAIMS & DEMANDS
The following resolution was presented to the Council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 90-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF
$411,266.70 NUMBERED 29603-29713 AND 28966 THROUGH 29005
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY MAYOR McDONALD that
Resolution No. 90-23 be adopted. Vote resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Bruesch, Imperial.
No: None
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
The mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
B. RESOLUTION NO. 90-24 - SUPPORTING THE DESERT PROTECTION ACT
VERBATIM DIALOGUE FOLLOWS:
IMPERIAL: I intend to vote against this resolution because as far as
I'm concerned this can have far reaching implications. If there was a
much needed project that had to be done in the desert and it would
create no environmental impact I don't see a problem with it.
Secondly, we're sitting here making decisions for desert communities
and we don't know their problems. I know some people in desert
communities and I've talked to them and they have a problem with this
resolution. I just wanted to point that out that this could be
another one like the lottery where we want to fix the school system
and fix nothing. Thank you.
BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. I, too, know people in the desert who are in
favor of this due to the fact that one of the reasons why they moved
to the desert was to enjoy the expanses of the great outdoors. Their
opinion is that the expanse of the outdoors has been overtaken by
motorized vehicles. Basically we're setting up three new National
Parks in the desert area, the majority of which are already either
State Parks or National Monuments. Somebody mentioned the fact that
if this went through, half of California would be government owned.
In the west, that's the norm; seven-eighths of Nevada is government
owned, two-thirds of New Mexico and Arizona are government owned. I
think in early years of the century Teddy Roosevelt said it best when
he said we. have to preserve our great west for those generations which
follow us. This is a step toward preserving a unique environment
which has weak, regenerative powers so much so that some of the areas
that are overrun right now will not regenerate, will never be what
they used to be. So, I intend to vote in favor of this.
TAYLOR: I was going to vote no on it but I'm going to definitely vote
no from what Mr. Bruesch said. Did you say that in Nevada they own
seven-eigths of it and how much in New Mexico?
BRUESCH: Two-thirds. Now remember those figures refer to Bureau of
Land Management lands which are publicly held but privately used;
national forest lands which are publicly held but privately used;
military bases; Indian reservations; and water rights owned by the
government. This is what's all included in that.
TAYLOR: It's a great country, I'll never deny that. But this
booklet, and I didn't bring mine with me, but in the back of it is
shown the three areas mapped out and there's a scale in there and it
appears to be about 40 miles wide and a hundred something miles long.
That's from Mt. Wilson to the Long Beach harbor which is maybe 35
miles and it's all the way to San Diego which is 116 miles and it
doesn't show in relationship on the State map the other National
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TAYLOR CONTINUES: forests that we have and I'm not against the
National forests in general it's all the bureaucracy and hassle that
you have to go through to even use those rights that you referred to
and if you don't know somebody or you can't buy your way through it or
you're not a giant corporation you usually don't get anything back.
But I was amazed when you said 7/8 of Nevada and 3/4 of New Mexico so
I intend to vote no on it.
IMPERIAL: Point of information. Mr. Bruesch, you said it was
impacted by automobiles: If they build these three state parks how
are you supposed to get in, by pack mule or bicycle?
BRUESCH: No, 30,000 miles of roads remain within the area. Enough to
go around the earth one a half times.
IMPERIAL: It's still going to be impacted by automobiles, then is
what you're saying.
BRUESCH: Certain areas are going to be set aside as wilderness areas
which will not be accessible by autos, by all terrain vehicles. Yes,
there are areas that will be protected. There are certain areas where
endangered species reside will be far removed from accessibility by
paved roads. But otherwise 30,000 miles of usable roads, meaning
vehicle routes, which means paved, unpaved, dirt, would be available
for everybody's use. This is a reduction of about, I believe, 230
from the areas that are now accessible by vehicles.
IMPERIAL: All right. Thank you.
McDONALD: Do I hear a motion?
JAMES CLARK, 3109 N. PROSPECT AVENUE: I was born and raised in the
desert and I love it. We were just out last weekend and had a great
time out there. My family's lived in the desert for 60 years and I
know a lot of people out there and I've hearda lot of really good
thinkers who respect the desert as much as I do and love it really in
opposition to this bill, not in opposition to the principle of
preserving the desert because people do go out in these off-road
vehicles and do tremendous damage and there's no question that it's
not a big toy to destroy. But it's my understanding of a good many of
the residents do not want the government control and this particular
act they feel does not respect the residents and the pioneers that
have lived there and severely limits the legitimate use of the desert
and they're not just crack pots. I feel that their wishes should be
respected. There was no kind of vote of the residents of the area.
It's an imposed, impacted program by the Federal government. It takes
tremendous amounts of the desert and takes it away from private use
altogether and I just felt that those people ought to be represented
and I just have feeling for them, so that's my input.
BRUESCH: I just want to say the reasoning behind my strong support of
this is I too was a person who went out on the desert. I was a
four-wheeler for a long time. I had a vehicle to go out along the
river beds. But it became increasingly clear to me the numerous times
that my campsite was ransacked and ran over by wheeled vehicles. I
even had my water stolen out in the desert. After repeated requests
of the Sheriff and the police out in that area I said to make an
investigation I was told by one Sheriff out in Anza Borego that
there's no way to control such a vast area, to protect someone who
camps out in these desert areas, you're on your own out there. And
therefore for the last six or seven years I haven't gone camping there
because I don't want to subject the young people I take out there or
myself to the marauding sense of devil may care that permeates the
people that are out there. So, I really am strongly in favor of
setting aside certain areas where we can go where we can at least have
a modicum of protection, where we can take our walks or strolls and
not worry about having our camps ransacked.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I think that Mr. Clark and we're expressing up
here, the concept is great, the idea to preserve it and such. But
also as Mr. Bruesch made the comment that there's no way that they can
protect individuals in that type of an area where it is so big and I
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TAYLOR CONTINUES: made the illustration, 40 miles wide and a 100
miles long, when you stop and think for a minute, that's 4,000 square
miles just for the one area that they have and we look at it as
outsiders you might say and gee it's a nice area to go and a nice area
to preserve it but Mr. Clark was right, again. It's the restriction
of the land owners within the area that we really don't have the
insight to. I was right up there in the National Forest at Mt. Pinos
which has been the National Forest for I don't know how long and my
brothers and I were hunting up there and you could hardly see the
Jeep, you could make out somebody sitting on the hood of it, riding
down the hillside but the nuts are all over and they fired the rifle
and I was sitting on the boulder there and I know now what a bullet
sounds like when it whizzes past you. And I haven't been back since
just because those kinds of jerks are riding around up there just in
the National Forest, they're still there. So, what we're thinking of
is the pleasures of using it and we're in favor of that but the other
side of the coin is just what kind of governmental restrictions goes
on all that property. That's what I'm opposed to. That's why I
intend to vote no on it.
BRUESCH: My feeling is who do you restrict? Do you restrict those
people who are the owners of it or do you restrict the people who wish
to use it by actually having those crazies out there?
TAYLOR: They're going to be there anyway, Bob. You'll never get rid
of them. It's like the little boy who got shot down at McDonald's in
a civilized area.
MCDONALD: Okay, let's go on with this, gentlemen
motion?
BRUESCH: I'll so move.
McDONALD: I'll second it. Please vote, gentlemen.
Yes: McDonald, Bruesch
No: Taylor, Imperial
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
This motion was not carried.
Do we have a
C. ORDINANCE NO. 661 - PROHIBITING ARCADE DEVICES IN LIQUOR
STORES - ADOPT
The following ordinance was presented to the Council for
adoption:
ORDINANCE NO. 661
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
AMENDING THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE PROHIBITING ARCADE
DEVICES IN LIQUOR STORES
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL that
ordinance No. 661 be adopted. Vote resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Bruesch, Imperial
No: None
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
D. RESOLUTION NO. 90-25 - IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 111, THE
TRAFFIC CONGESTION RELIEF AND SPENDING LIMITATION ACT OF
1990 AND PROPOSITION 108, THE PASSENGER RAIL AND CLEAN AIR
BOND ACT OF 1990
Margaret Clark, 3109 N. Prospect Avenue, was opposed to
increasing the tax on gasoline and to lifting the Gann spending limit.
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Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar Avenue, concurred with Ms. Clark and the
lifting of the spending limit.
Mayor McDonald noted that twenty-two cities are exceeding or
approaching their Gann limit.
Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, stated that Rosemead is far below
its Gann limit.
Councilman Taylor was opposed to raising the Gann spending limit.
Councilman Bruesch preferred to consider this proposal as a user
fee rather than a method of taxing. Mr. Bruesch noted that California
pays the least tax on gasoline of any State but uses almost one-third
of the gasoline in the Country.
Councilman Imperial was opposed to any more taxes.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL that
the Council not support Resolution No. 90-25 because it would tend to
undermine the Gann Initiative. It was noted that a "YES" vote would
be to deny support. Vote resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Imperial
No: None
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: Bruesch
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Councilman Bruesch noted the reason for his abstention was his
conviction that saying no implied a reluctance to address the traffic
situation.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
CC-A ACCEPTANCE OF SEWER EASEMENT AT 8056 EMERSON PLACE
CC-B TEMPLE STATION REQUEST FOR CONTRIBUTION TO TEENAGE DRIVER
SAFETY AWARENESS PROGRAM
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL that
the foregoing items on the Consent Calendar be approved. Vote
resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Bruesch, Imperial
No: None
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
The mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION & ACTION - None
VI. STATUS REPORTS - None
VII. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS
A. REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER MATTERN FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE
ROSEMEAD PLANNING COMMISSION
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH that
the Council reappoint Commissioner Mattern for a two-year period.
Vote resulted:
Yes: Taylor, McDonald, Bruesch, Imperial
No: None
Absent: DeCocker
Abstain: None
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
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B. SHERIFF DEPARTMENT LOGS
Councilman Taylor requested that the monitoring continue and
asked for a detailed report regarding a shooting incident last weekend
on Earle Avenue.
C. COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
1. Requested an update on the Valley Boulevard
reconstruction project.
2. Asked for a status report on the proposed recreation
center and low income housing.
3. Requested a position paper regarding giving citation
authority to the Code Enforcement officers to free the Sheriff's
deputies from that task.
D. COUNCILMAN BRUESCH
1. Asked the status of the business inventory.
2. Asked for pending graffiti prevention legislation (SB
3580 (Katz), SB 1977 (Kopp), and SB 1109) to be on the next agenda.
VIII.ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar Avenue, requested the status of
low-cost, mandatory earthquake insurance.
There being no further action to be taken at this time, the
meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The next regular meeting is
scheduled for May 22, 1990, at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted: APPROVED:
16-4
C y Clerk MAYOR
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