CC - 01-09-90APPROVED
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING IIATF~_~ 3° 9O
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 9, 1990 ICY- L C' z
The Regular Meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to
order by Mayor Pro Tem Imperial 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 DeCocker.
The Invocation was delivered by Pastor Charlie Corum of the Olive
Branch Outreach.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS:
Present: Councilmen Bruesch, DeCocker, Taylor, and Mayor Pro Tem
Imperial
Absent: Mayor McDonald - Excused
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:.DECEMBER 5, 1989 - SPECIAL MEETING
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER that
the Minutes of the Special Meeting of December 5, 1989, be approved as
submitted. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: DECEMBER 12, 1989 - REGULAR MEETING
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH that the
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 12, 1989, be approved as
submitted. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
PRESENTATIONS:
The Council presented a plaque to Greg Edeson of Southern
California Edison Company for his outstanding performance as
Rosemead's District Manager from September 2, 1985, to December 1,
1989.
Mr. Edeson thanked the Council and City.staff for their
professionalism and cooperation over the years.
I. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Holly Knapp, 8367 Whitmore St., asked the Council to support
SB 346, the Tungus Timber Reform bill.
B. Don Riddle of the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, invited the
City Council to attend the Discover Rosemead Banner flag raising on
Thursday, January 11, 1990, at 10:00 a.m.
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.
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A. A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN APPEAL OF A PLANNING
COMMISSION DECISION REGARDING A 13-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 9214-18 MARSHALL STREET
The Mayor Pro Tem opened the public hearing.
1. Janice Patronite, 7023 Comstock, Whittier, attorney
representing Mission Builders, stated that the applicant had met all
the requirements of the City; that a considerable amount of money has
been invested in this project; that the applicant has done business in
this City for a number of years; that the applicant owns other
apartment buildings that are well-maintained and trouble-free; and
this project will provide much needed low-cost housing.
2. Bonnie Culbertson, representing the Chamber of Commerce, urged
approval of this project, stating that it was a good use of the
property.
3. Leticia Saucedo, 9243 Ramona, an apartment dweller, disagreed
with the wording of a petition that had been circulated, implying that
persons who live in apartments are undesirables. Ms. Salcedo added
that she currently is living in an apartment owned by the applicant
and praised its condition and maintenance.
4. Lisa Distefano concurred with Ms. Saucedo and asked approval
of the project.
5. Joe Distefano also urged approval of this project.
Also speaking in favor of the project were Ken Barlett, 9437
Steele St.; Jimmy Raymond, 9136 Guess St.; Neal Sorensen, 9136 Guess
St.; Linda Malden, 3615 Strang Ave.; and Patrick Lahey, 9619 E. Olney
St.
Speaking in opposition:
1. Tom and Mary Chavez, 9357 Ralph St., cited increased traffic,
objection to apartments in a neighborhood comprised of single-family
dwellings, and asked the Council to down-zone the property to R-1.
2. Leo Sheehan, 9255 Marshall St., cited increased traffic.
3. Robert Breen, 9255 Marshall St., concurred with Mr. Sheehan
and requested down-zoning of the property.
4. Jim Trainor, Rosemead School Boardmember, feared increased
students in the schools.
5. Ernesto Vazquez, 9244 E. Marshall, cited increased traffic and
trash.
6. Angie Barba, 3531 Rio Hondo, cited increased traffic, stated
that apartments attract a bad element, that sewers would be impacted,
and the schools would become overcrowded.
7. Harry Elam, 9262 Marshall, requested the property be
down-zoned to residential.
Also speaking in opposition were: Billy Merrick, 3541 Ellis Lane;
Frances Cristobal, 3358 N. Muscatel; Jess Rodriguez, 9352 Ralph St.;
Loretta Merrick, 3541 Ellis Lane; David Garcia, 9225 E. Marshall;
Sandra George, 9031 E. Marshall; Julian Calasanz, 9222 Marshall; Roger
Ayala, 3538 Rio Hondo; Caroline Hinckley, 9225 Ralph; Robert Caudillo,
9202 DeAdalena; Tom O'Dell, 3168 walnut Grove; Gilbert Covarrubias,
9229 Marshall; Josie Alvarez, 3541 Temple City Blvd.; Marian
Fairbanks, 9555 Olney St.; Consuelo Vacquez, 9224 E. Marshall; Connie
Muniz, 9221 Ramona; Gloria and Robert Robinson, 9151 DeAdalena;
Francisco Muniz, 9221 Ramona; Iris Breen, 9255 Marshall; Christina
Vanhoos, 3619 Linda Lee Ave.; Debbie Hofstetter, 3608 N. Linda Lee;
Frazier Godinez, 9233 DeAdalena; Grace Calasanz, 9222 Marshall; Frank
Gallegos, 3565 Lashbrook; and Gloria Serra, 9394 Ralph.
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Speaking in rebuttal was Don Wick, 8464 Garvey Avenue. Mr. Wick
stated that this was a decent project that would house decent tenants;
that traffic should not show a significant increase; and that he was
willing to satisfy any concerns of the Council.
There being no one else wishing to speak, the public hearing was
closed.
Councilman Taylor asked clarification from the City Attorney as to
what action might be taken by the Council on this item.
Robert Kress, City Attorney, stated that the action before the
Council was a design review for an apartment house. The proposed use
of the apartment house had been the subject of the discussion but the
question before the Council was whether the design, as presented, was
appropriate per the conditions required by the City. Mr. Kress stated
that only the plan was subject to approval or denial. Any question
about down-zoning could not be considered until it had been properly
noticed for public hearing.
Councilman Bruesch stated that Marshall Street was used as a
secondary escape route for Valley Boulevard and the freeway.
Councilman Taylor noted that a proposal was currently before the
Traffic Commission for left-turn signalization for Marshall Street and
Walnut Grove Avenue. Mr. Taylor added that the addition of apartments
would aggravate the traffic situation in this area.
Councilman DeCocker stated that this was the wrong area for an
apartment house.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH that
the Council uphold the decision of the Planning Commission and deny
the appeal by Mission Builders. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
Councilman Taylor requested that staff prepare an urgency
ordinance, down-zoning that entire area to R-1, for the next agenda.
Councilman Bruesch requested that Marshall Street at Rosemead
Boulevard be added to the study for three-way, left-turn phasing
currently being considered by Marshall Street at Walnut Grove Avenue.
Councilman Taylor concurred with Mr. Bruesch and requested that it
be returned to the Council as soon as possible.
A fifteen-minute recess was called at 9:15 p.m. and the meeting
was reconvened accordingly.
B. A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM BONNIE CULBERTSON
FOR ZONE CHANGE CASE NO. 89-170 IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE ZONE
FROM R-1 TO C-31) AND GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 89-3 FROM LOW
DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 3953 MUSCATEL AVENUE - ZC 89-170
The Mayor Pro Tem opened the public hearing.
Bonnie Culbertson, representing the Chamber of Commerce, requested
the Council to approve this project.
No other persons wished to speak in favor of this project.
Speaking in opposition:
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1. Rosa Lagacy, 8757 Steele St., lives behind the property and
would favor the project only if the block wall remains in place and
through traffic to Valley Boulevard is prohibited. Ms. Lagacy was
concerned with increased noise in the evening, parking and traffic.
2. Bernard Sullivan, 8780 Valley Blvd., adjacent to the property
in question. Mr. Sullivan stated that he had attempted to acquire
the property for himself for a number of years and that City staff had
stated that any request for zone change would be opposed by the
Planning Commission. Mr. Sullivan was concerned with increased
traffic and parking and requested that access to the existing alley be
restricted.
Mayor Pro Tem Imperial assured Mr. Sullivan that there would be no
problem with additional parking or traffic.
There being no one else wishing to speak, the public hearing was
closed.
The following ordinance was presented to the Council for
introduction:
ORDINANCE NO. 656
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
APPROVING A CHANGE OF ZONE FROM R-1 TO C3-D FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 3953 MUSCATEL AVENUE
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER that
ordinance No. 656 be introduced on its first reading and that reading
in full be waived. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
In deference to those in the audience, the following item was
taken out of order.
V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION & ACTION
A. REQUEST FOR CITY PARTICIPATION IN ESTABLISHING TOXIC CLEANUP
REWARD FUND
VERBATIM DIALOGUE FOLLOWS:
RAUL HERNANDEZ: Mr. Mayor, Councilmembers. My name is Raul
Hernandez. I live at 3856 Brookline Avenue, in the City of Rosemead.
I've lived here going on 30 years. Mr. Mayor, I'm the co-chair for
the East Valleys Organization (EVO) and we come here tonight to make a
presentation to the City of Rosemead. In the rear background we have
a visual that I would like to explain. In the EVO we have a campaign
going on right now to clean up the toxics in the San Gabriel Valley.
The San Gabriel Valley has the worst water in the whole western United
States. What is on our temperature map here, is a participation by
cities in the San Gabriel Valley to the tune of approximately $15,000
per city. Rosemead has the distinction of being able to put us over a
mark we had set of $100,000. We have an agreement with the EPA on
certain things that take place when we do reach the $100,000 mark. We
have on-going work with the EPA. I would like at this time to
introduce along with our presentation, Mr. Jesse Martinez.
JESSE MARTINEZ: Good evening, gentlemen. My name is Jesse Martinez.
I'm with the Carpenters Union here in the San Gabriel Valley. I'm one
of the representatives. We have 168 carpenters and their families
that reside within the City of Rosemead. We also represent over 3,000
carpenters and their families in the San Gabriel Valley. We are very
proud of being part of EVO. It's one the major units that's really
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HERNANDEZ CONTINUES: taking an opportunity to bring the consciousness
level up of the people in the San Gabriel Valley. Something very
exciting is happening here. It's exciting when 1,200 people gather in
Baldwin Park in July with one factor in common to increase the quality
of life in the San Gabriel Valley. Then again, the majority of the
Mayors in the San Gabriel Valley gather together with people from the
Federal government, to together as a force, do something about the
problem that no one really has done much about. We are very proud of
the City of Rosemead together with the other cities in the San Gabriel
Valley that has shown some leadership. We are proud to walk together
with you throughout the San Gabriel Valley as we continue this
campaign. We are proud of the leadership of Rosemead and we are proud
of all those other allies that have gathered with us together to make
this the San Gabriel Valley's water better than what it is going to
be.
BERTA SAAVEDRA: My name is Berta Saavedra and I live at 3043
Charlotte in Rosemead off the corner of Garvey and San Gabriel
Boulevard and I've been a homeowner there for approximately 11 years,
give or take a few months. I'm here representing my experiences in
terms of the water issue in terms of being of a resident and also
based on experiences I've had in the last year, travelling the State
of California. One of the things that has become very evident to me
is the need for toxic cleanup throughout the State of California.
When I travel in the line of my work I happened to hit on Delano and
McFarland where there are cancer clusters and where part of the
contamination is due to the water wells and the water that seeps into
whatever level of soil it seeps in to, the community members consume
the water. Present in that area they have cancer clusters that the
State of California has verified through their health facilities.
They also are putting forth an issue where they're going to have the
school districts have distilled or bottled water for the children to
drink during school working hours. And that is something that is
being considered in that area because of the contamination. Two years
ago I became aware of the water in Rosemead although I've been a
resident for 11 years and that's because an article and some news
coverage was given about the families that became ill for seven days,
give or take a day or two, and they thought they had the intestinal
flu and what they were doing is becoming ill from the contaminated
water from the Amarillo Water Company on Walnut Grove. The thing is
since these water companies regulate themselves, they didn't report
this to the health facilities so they had no way of knowing. As I
understand it, the Sheriff's Department drove by and thought there was
vandalism taking place at night and it was because they were there
trying to address the water issue. That means the water people were
there trying to address their issue. The families in the area were
not notified of why they were becoming ill, they thought they had the
intestinal flu and unfortunately some of the babies in the area were
been giving this water and you know babies can dehydrate at a very
young age. The other thing that came to mind a few months ago was an
article in the San Gabriel Valley section of the L.A. Times that said
regarding the water in the San Gabriel Valley and its level of
contamination. And in speaking to the reporter that wrote the
article, he verified the information in the article. I thought by
that time it had been addressed and/or cleaned up. The last year in
my travels again, I've seen water issues throughout the State of
California, but I come to find out the San Gabriel Valley has the
distinction of being on the Super Fund list since 1983 and the issue
has not been addressed effectively. In talking to the Upper San
Gabriel Municipal Water Association and seeing the maps I understand
that there's plumes of contamination between the 210 freeway under
Azusa all the way to the 60 freeway which impacts South San Gabriel.
I'm concerned and as a mother being conscientious raising my family in
this area I bought bottled water and of course you know while bottled
water may not be cost effective but I'm thinking it's safer. And what
I'm going to share with you is an article that I read as of yesterday
and talks about bottled water contamination. It says the EPA does not
regulate all bottled water suppliers and there are unsafe levels
because only certain types of water elements can be examined. It also
says, this is from the National Cancer Institute, it says that death
from cancer, bladder, kidney, lymph glands, and brain damage has been
given to the types of carcinogenics that could be found in bottled
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SAAVEDRA CONTINUES: water. I guess I'm in a quandary. Do I move out
of Rosemead? Do I move some place else where there is no
contamination? Do I stop buying bottled water? Or do I ask the City
Council of Rosemead to address this issue in a very affective manner
by giving the $15,000 that is asked for to address this issue and show
in good faith with the other cities in San Gabriel Valley? Also, in
reading the General Plan, under safety where water is discussed,
because I was concerned that maybe there was something in the water
that had happened that I wasn't aware of, and the only thing that is
addressed under safety in water is the fact of the water pressure and
the listing of the agencies or the water companies that service
Rosemead. I would like to see that the General Plan be amended to
reflect the type of outreach that the City of Rosemead is doing in
regards to us being on the Super Fund list and how you're addressing
this issue. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: We have made provisions in case you have
questions or wish to make some type of notations of what you're
curious about. We do have speakers that will after our other members
are through, address any questions you have. I wish to introduce
Father Joe Greeley.
FATHER JOE GREELEY: Good evening. Mr. Mayor, members of the City
Council. I'm Father Joe Greeley, pastor of the Epiphany Parish of
South E1 Monte, co-chair of the EVO. My address is 10911 E.
Michaelhunt Drive in South E1 Monte. When I moved into the Valley
about seven years ago, and was stationed at Epiphany Parish, one of
the things I always like to do is look up and kind of see the history
of the area. One of the things that surprised me is how much
influence water fights have had in the formation of some of the cities
in this valley. It's kind of interesting to me on that, especially in
the last century, just the really bitter kinds of fights over making
sure that there would be water. We've gotten that past now because
ground water pollution respects no city boundary. It is good to see
that cities recognize that and that you have the opportunity this
evening to join us in recognizing that and putting us over this goal
that we have of $100,000. As I say, there has been a number of cities
on the visual that you saw up here a few minutes ago, that have
contributed and said yes, this is not something to fight over this is
something to work with, not just for ourselves. It's for the
investment that you're going to be putting in. We're also talking
about cleaning up the ground water for a long time to come and maybe
passing on to the next generation a cleaner set of water than what
we're having right now. It is also an issue that crosses party lines.
District Attorney Reiner's name is up there but also Assemblywoman
Tanner has sponsored legislation in the California State Assembly on
this; Congressman Dreier has gone to bat and is supporting us as is
Supervisor Pete Schabarum who has written a letter in support of this
toxic reward fund campaign. It is, as I say, something that crosses
boundaries. Something where all of us need to work together because
we've got to provide clean water. You heard it before from other
people, you'll hear it again but it's about working together and
handing on a better future and I really look forward to you join us in
this. Thank you.
FATHER GARY SMITH: Good evening. My name is Father Gary Smith,
pastor of San Gabriel Mission. My address is 537 W. Mission Drive in
San Gabriel. I'd like. to speak briefly in saying that a number of my
parishoners live in Rosemead, north of Valley and west of Muscatel and
I'm sure that they're in support of this strategy to affect a cleanup
of the toxics in the water supply. I look forward to your support for
this strategy and ask that you communicate with your colleagues in the
San Gabriel City Council in similar support. Thank you.
MONSIGNOR PATRICK THOMPSON: Patrick Thompson, pastor at Saint
Anthony's, it's 1901 S. San Gabriel Boulevard in San Gabriel. About
850 of the parishoners live in Rosemead. What I see is a chance to do
something concrete to dramatize and get a vested interest in seeing
action done on the water cleanup. It's an extensive issue which the
EPA people said will take millions effectively to remedy but it has to
begin and it seems to me that this something which kind of commits
every municipal area to getting involved without heavy indebtedness to
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THOMPSON CONTINUES: any City and yet something tangible. The
strategy is to dramatize this and begin to point to action. So,
that's why I'm in favor of it and I would hope that the city Council
would see clear to get involved along with the other cities because I
think it's something they can; nothing negative, many things positive
and we'll see if the reward succeeds in going to convicting someone it
will have proven its worth. If it does not it will return to the City
so I don't see what's to be lost. I think many things may be gained.
UNIDENTIFIED: At this time I'd like to know if you have any questions
for any of our members or if perhaps you'd like to have questions
after you close or maybe at this time if you've considered it enough
to take a vote on whether or not Rosemead will make us all proud to be
residents of this City. Thank you.
IMPERIAL: Thank you. I think at this time we'll hear anyone
that ...is there anyone else in favor of this? Thank you. We'll call
on you if we need your help. Is there anyone in opposition to this
project? Come up and state your name and address.
JUAN NUNEZ, 2702 Del Mar: I would like some information. What is
$100,000 supposed to do? Clean up the water?
TAYLOR: Clarification. Name and address, please.
DICK YOUNG: I live at 316 Villanova Drive in the City of Claremont.
I'm the co-chair of the toxic task force for EVO and that's why I'm
here. I've been involved in this issue for a while so I think I can
answer the question. The purpose of the $105,000 is to establish a
reward fund in order to try to locate the polluters. The EPA, the
Federal EPA has for five or six years now, said they have to try to
identify the polluters and charge them for the cost of the cleanup and
until they can do that they don't want to get started on this cleanup.
So, we said we'll help you find those polluters. We'll go to the
local people; we'll get some money and we'll put up a reward fund and
see if we can't find some of those polluters. In the meantime, we
said, we want you to get started spending Super Fund dollars doing
what the law says you should do for the people of the San Gabriel
Valley.
IMPERIAL: Thank you.
NUNEZ: I commend these people for what they're going to do but you're
saying it would be a reward? What can myself do to bring somebody to
justice? If the Federal government hasn't done it we know that the
dumps are causing our water to be polluted. We know that in the 1940s
the aerospace industry up in the Azusa and the foothill areas when
they were there contributed to the pollution of that water. That's
all what has been seeping into the ground water, now. It has taken
40-50 years for that water to come down to where now the pumps are
pumping it up where we can see it or the scientists can see that it's
visual in there. Those are the people that are the polluters. The
government knows that those are the polluters. What can they do about
it?
YOUNG: Government tells us that they don't know that those are the
polluters. Government tells us that the law says if one of these
polluters can be identified, if you or anyone else can come forward
with information that would lead to picking out one of these people so
that the EPA can put their finger on them, the EPA has the authority
to charge them for the cleanup. This is occurring in the San Fernando
Valley, right now. Lockheed and AeroJet General in the Sacramento
area are paying for these cleanups because they were identified.
We're hoping to find someone like you if you have information who can
turn that in and that information can be used to identify a polluter
that you or whoever turned it in would get a reward. That's the
purpose of the fund. Then we charge them.
IMPERIAL: Juan, make your point so we can get on with..... we're going
to go back and forth all night long.
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NUNEZ: How can I as a peon bring aerospace and identify that they're
polluters. I don't have any testing equipment. It's just like when
the government says there's malathion is bad for your health.
There's radiation in the air. The government comes over and says
there's a harmful amount of radiation, it doesn't harm you, so
continue. I don't have a Geiger counter.
GREELEY: The way that we are working toward setting this reward fund
up. It will be administered by the EPA. Mr. William Riley who is in
charge of the EPA will be meeting with us. We are looking forward to
that in April and in fact we would like to invite you to that meeting.
They will be set up and administered by the EPA. As it stands now,
we're working with WE TIP, so what can you do? You see somebody
polluting, you call WE TIP.
IMPERIAL: We can do that already, Father. What is new?
GREELEY: There will be a fund in place that will be reward back to
you from that.
IMPERIAL: Why can't we set up that fund in the City of Rosemead and
administer our own, then? Why do we have to go through the EPA?
GREELEY: As I mentioned earlier, it is a regional problem, not just a
city problem.
IMPERIAL: We can take of our portion if the rest of them take care of
theirs, is what I'm saying. I'm asking you a question.
GREELEY: We're asking you to join in a larger effort to clean up a
larger problem which is ground water pollution throughout the San
Gabriel Valley.
IMPERIAL: I see.
HOLLY KNAPP: 8367 E. Whitmore St. I have to get up now and say
something because it's WE TIP being brought up. I had a phone
conversation with Marian Brownell just last week with regards to this
matter and she re-emphasized to me that WE TIP is primarily concerned
with stopping crime and I've now seen the staff report and realize
that WE TIP has presented a proposal to EVO to administer this
program. That's in the staff report. I just saw it today. I want to
remind you that WE TIP has since 1984 provided rewards for the toxic
polluter with complete anonymity. This proposal that they are
proposing to you erases that factor completely. I would like to know
what EVO has done with the monies already received because it's
obvious that they haven't given any of it to WE TIP, even though they
are saying they're cooperating and working with WE TIP and they've
given out the WE TIP 800 number and I want to remind you that the 800
number is the highest cost factor for WE TIP and that organization
needs funding for its operation cost as well as its reward fund. So,
I think we should continue to support WE TIP and question very
cautiously this proposal by EVO. Thank you.
MARY REDD: I live at 3323 N. Evelyn. I'm mostly concerned on the
idea that since when do we start patting the hand of somebody who's
supposed to do their duty? I cannot see why we have to reward people
to do something that their consciousness should already be there to be
alert about something like this happening. I'm again with Mr.
Imperial. Why can't our own City provide this kind of thing? Why do
we have to go in with someone this and for that amount that they
already designated? I think that should be left up to us. I agree
that we need to look in to the water issue and I believe that we have
to do somethings to amend this situation but why do we have to go
through this kind of a thing and why do we have to pat somebody's hand
to do that they should already be willing to do as a citizen.
GEORGE EDWARDS: 2443 N. Kelburn Avenue, City of Rosemead. Mayor and
fellow Councilmembers. The City of Rosemead is a city of major single
and multi residences and not of manufacturing facilities. The
manufacturing facilities are basically offices and due to that fact
there is not a single reason for the City Council to adopt EVO's plan.
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EDWARDS CONTINUES: If someone is dumping pollutants in the water
supply, the AQMD and the other government agencies that test the wells
would prosecute the group or person. There may be pollutants in the
water but the metropolitan water area and the Southern California
Water Company and the San Gabriel Water District are doing the best
they possibly can with the facilities that they have at this
particular time. We do have the cleanest water in the area at this
particular time. To tell the people to come together; I have an
example for you. The people of this City came together within three
months time last year to stop Alhambra School District from taking the
south part of your City for one high school. If a business is
polluting the water or doing something incorrect the City would
quickly find out. So, why give $15,000 for someone to already tell
you something that we as a City group can come together for? You can
use your $15,000 as a City and a City Council can be used for other
City projects that I'm sure you would like to spend them on. This is
all I have to say tonight.
BOBBIE SERNA: I live at 2655 N. Pine Street in Rosemead. What I had
to say, everybody said for me already but I put my name down so I came
to say my piece. I don't agree to any of this money going to anybody
else but us and I hope that you see my way and our way for all of us.
Thank you.
JESS GONZALEZ: I live at 3856 Bartlett in Rosemead. I been a
resident of this community since 1947 and since 1947 I been drinking
the water and you can see it hasn't affected me too much. I have a
couple of questions and I don't the gentlemen to come out and address
them to me. I think they should address them to the City Council when
it is proper. First of all, $100,000. That's a lot of money. This
gentleman is from Claremont. He's one of the directors of EVO and who
EVO is I don't know. Who is going to disburse the money? Is anyone
from EVO or the gentleman from Claremont, is he getting paid? Is he a
paid member of this organization? How much of this $100,000 is going
to go into reward money? I was a police officer for 42 years. I was
a detective for 22 years out of the Los Angeles Police Department
robbery squad and I worked the District Attorney's Bureau of
Investigation for the balance and when the gentleman come up and said
all you got to is pick up the phone and tell them, and they'll come
out and do something about it, that's not the way the law works. You
have to have evidence. You have to have proof beyond a reasonable
doubt. Nobody's going to take hearsay evidence and these gentlemen
know it. And when they come out and tell us that all you got to do is
pick up the phone and tell them, they're conning us. Another thing,
too. What are we going to do, $100,000. How is this reward going to
be disbursed? If I turn in a man with three barrels of toxic do I get
$50.00? What if I turn in with six barrels? Do I get twice as much
money? I mean what we're doing here we're asking people to become
snitches for money and a person who is a civic person, civic citizen,
should not have to be paid in order to go out and look out for your
own community. I'm sure you gentlemen have many other projects in
which you could use the $15,000. Now, they say they're going to help
us lead to clean up the.... how they going to clean up the water? How
they going to do it? This gentleman before spoke up that we have a
strong organization here, we have one of the greatest leaders that I
know of, Estelle Holtz. She not only beat RTD, the power plant, the
high school, and if she can do all that with the support of all the
community we can do it again. We don't need outside help. I'd rather
do it myself. I say don't give money to people who live outside the
area. I think we can take care of our own self. Thank you.
TONI FABELLA: My address is 820 Hollyoak Place, Monterey Park. I'd
like to acknowledge the issue about the water that there is a problem
in that....I think that we all in this community do have an
understanding about. When I heard about this reward process or their
goal here it brought to mind about what happened quite a few years ago
and that was about rewards for littering and cities proceeded to put
signs up all over their city that there's a reward to turn somebody in
for littering. Everybody knows that they read those and they laugh
because they know it's hard to convict anybody or collect on that
reward for littering because you probably have to carry a camera
around with you in your car most of the time and take a picture and
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FABELLA CONTINUES: have it processed and send it in and go through
all that in order to catch the person who is littering. I'm not real
clear as to what difference this particular reward process is compared
to that of the littering process that's already been in existence for
quite a few years all over the State, up and down the State. I'm also
wondering if the Council has been informed of what the process and the
procedure is for citizens to acquire this reward money and if so is
this feasible, a feasible program for our City, such as ours, such as
Rosemead. I believe it could probably make a big difference up in
areas such as where the aqueducts are or where San Joaquin valley
where maybe water comes from where the cities get their water from.
But it doesn't seem really feasible for a City such as ours. $15,000
could go a long ways in our community and having the experience of
working in this community and for this community for a few years, now,
there's things such as.... I know we need a new home for our Boys and
Girls Club. As a former boardmember of the Garvey School District I
had an opportunity to be enlightened on the needs of our community and
for our children. We need a gang cleanup. We have things such as
that that are major problems with our children in this community. We
have a real need for infant care, for after-school care that is
affordable for our community members. If this City wants to invest
$15,000 in something that is really worthwhile I could see putting
money out to help parents out to keep these children off the streets,
to keep them out of the gang situation, keep them out there from
assaulting and killing one another and writing on the walls. Let's
put our money to good usage and put it to help the children and the
parents of this community. Thank you.
JIM SMITH: I live at 3038 N. Prospect in Rosemead. I heard the folks
from EVO speak of the EPA and WE TIP. It sounded to me like the EPA
is going to give the rewards and WE TIP is going to take the names. I
would offer to the Council to proceed with a lot of caution on this
thing because I too think the money would be better spent on local
stuff, increased removal of graffiti, maybe a joint project with the
school district for the youngsters. We don't know how much the reward
is going to be and Toni brought out some good points about the reward
system. The lady spoke about bottled water in the schools. I'm on
the school board and I'm not aware of that being a rule at this point.
Jess brought this up. How are they going to clean up the ground
water? My understanding is about 143 water companies in the San
Gabriel Valley? They all use this ground water and those are the
people who are going to have to be fined if the water is polluted or
they're the ones going to have to be looked to to clean it up and if
the government can't do it I really don't see how an organization,
EVO, I don't quite understand how that is going to benefit Rosemead.
So, I would ask you to proceed with caution before you donate money.
TOM O'DELL: 3168 Walnut Grove. On this issue the primary thing that
actually raises the hair on the back of my neck about this particular
item is that we pay taxes to the EPA and all the other governmental
organizations. Now, from what I understand by EVO they're saying
that these government organizations have said okay you guys go out and
get us a hundred and some thousand dollars and we'll help you set up a
reward fund to get these people that are causing all the problems. It
king of rubs me the wrong way because we're already paying the EPA to
do these things. We've got our government that's supposed to be doing
these things. If they want to spend money or try and get money to do
something they should be getting money to lobby or whatever they're
going to do our congressmen and our senators, not to come and say we
want $100,000 to go out and look for ghosts or something.
MARGARET CLARK: 3109 N. Prospect, Rosemead. The problem that I have
with this is that I've been reading the staff report and it says both
Federal and State law currently establish rewards to those individuals
who provide information that leads to the conviction of individuals or
companies who violate and it goes on and there are four agencies
mentioned that are already set up. Federal law provides for rewards
for up to $10,000 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response
Compensation and Liability Act. The State's Hazardous Waste Control
Act gives rewards of $5,000. The California Safe Drinking Water and
Toxic Enforcement Act, Prop. 65 and then WE TIP, also. Now, I'd like
to get back to Prop. 65. I got my old voter pamphlet on the clean
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CLARK CONTINUES: water issues that we've voted on in the last few
years and they are staggering. I would like to know where the
millions of dollars is going. I'm glad that somebody is getting on
the issue. I don't think anybody in this room argues that we need
clean water; that's like arguing against motherhood and apple pie but
why don't we channel our energies to getting the agencies that are
already in place, that have millions of taxpayer money already
allocated to do their job. The second thing that I'd like to say is
that I'm a little bit leery of taxpayer money to a church-supported
organization which is apparently what this with several of the
proponents from different churches and I'm not opposed to churches but
our government is set up with a separation of church and state. The
third thing that I'd like to say is that responsible citizens will
report if they see something happening. Irresponsible citizens will
cheat and they will abuse this system. I consider myself. to have very
high moral standards but I'm very tempted by this. There's no
enforcement required, if I can get a reward let's go for it, let's set
up a little pollution situation and get the money. There are a lot of
unscrupulous people out there. The next thing I'd like to say and
I'll close with that, it bothers me in this staff report it says the
summary of the proposal although the details of a fund have not been
fully developed the concept is to obtain funds and it goes on. We are
a community of many low-income people. There's not one person who is
on a budget who does not watch where his pennies go and no one is
going to give $10,000 or $15,000 away when he doesn't know where it's
going. This is far too nebulous and I'm very much opposed to it. If
these people would marshall their energies to enforce the laws that
are already there I think they can get something done about the
problem.
ESTELLE HOLTZ: I live at 8247 Bleeker Avenue in South San Gabriel.
Since I'm outside of your political boundary I'm not here to tell you
where to put your money. I would be here to tell you where to put the
money if somebody was losing a home but I know a lot of people are
very concerned about a lot of things in Rosemead which will eventually
work its way up the hill for help. I just have a lot of poor
conscience bothers me when I see money going out of a city like this
because I so vividly remember it was took two and a half years for
these people to save their homes and people came with five and ten
stamps was their donation. We had no source of money. If you have a
source of money you'd better have it ready for the people who lose
their homes and so readily could have become homeless in the City of
Rosemead if it wasn't for those people that were there. When EVO came
to Saint Anthony's I could not, in good faith, support an organization
that brought in an outside paid organizer. When I asked him how much
it would cost St. Anthony's a year he said $6,000 to $8,000. Not
here. Thank you.
IMPERIAL: Is there anyone else? If not, then we'll give a
representative of EVO a two or three minute rebuttal time and then
we'll turn it back over to the Council for decision.
HERNANDEZ: I'm a volunteer for EVO, three and a half years I've
worked for EVO, I've taken not a cent. I'd like to introduce Dr. John
Corey. He will.....
IMPERIAL: Raul, will he be the spokesman now, to rebut this? You'll
have one person, right?
HERNANDEZ: Two people, please. Dr. John Corey and Father Joe
Greeley.
IMPERIAL: In the interest of time I hope that you would expedite this
so we can get on with our normal business. Thank you.
DR. JOHN COREY: My address is 457 Marygrove Road, Claremont. EVO is
primarily a church-based organization that goes from Altadena,
Pasadena to the Pomona/Claremont area. We cover the San Gabriel and
Pomona Valley areas. All the people who spoke here this evening from
EVO are volunteers. None of us are paid. All of us have come here
because of our concern with this issue and because we see that it is
not a local issue in the sense of something that Rosemead can deal
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COREY CONTINUES: with it by itself; Azusa can deal with by itself and
so on. The San Gabriel Valley is a single aquifer and the pollution
that occurs in Azusa eventually affects Rosemead. The money in the
reward fund will not go to the EVO. It will not go to support any of
our ongoing expenses, will not go to pay the salary of our organizer,
would not go into the EVO's coffers at any point.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. Point of clarification. You just said that it .
will not go to pay your organizer. Who is your organizer?
COREY: Mr. Mike Clements is the lead organizer for our organization.
He and our secretary are the only paid staff that we have.
TAYLOR: Is Mr. Mike Clements here?
COREY: Yes.
IMPERIAL: Would you mind telling us, now that Mr. Taylor's asked this
question, what your organizer gets paid and the staff person?.....
TAYLOR: I'm going to interject because there's a comment made that
people who have made comments, members of EVO, object to anyone making
a large sum of money telling them how to run their life Is there
any objection to us knowing the amount that he gets paid Mr.
Clements, would you tell us?....
IMPERIAL: Are these taxpayer's funds that we're talking about?
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. If I may. Mr. Clements is here. Do you object
to telling us how much you're paid... (Mr. Clements responded $46,000 a
year)... That's fine. That settles the question. Thank you.
COREY: Those are not taxpayer's dollars that go to pay Mr. Clements.
IMPERIAL: Where do they come from?
COREY: Primarily from the dues paid by the churches and the
carpenter's union and the other member organizations.
IMPERIAL: Where do the churches get it from, sir?
COREY: From their membership.
IMPERIAL: That's taxpayers paying donations to their church.
COREY: Individuals who are also taxpayers.
IMPERIAL: You can clean it up any way you want to, sir.
COREY: There are as was mentioned, existing reward funds. These
existing reward funds are designed to, including the WE TIP fund, are
designed to deal with criminal convictions. The Super Fund site is
designed to cleanup pollution that is for which criminal convictions
are largely irrelevant because much of the pollution occurred before
the existing laws were on the books. We are working with the EPA.
They are being pledged by the EPA to administer the reward fund and to
advertise the existence of the reward fund. The EPA has estimated
that to cleanup the water in the San Gabriel Valley will take
$800,000,000. Obviously, $100,000 is not going to cleanup the water
but what the EPA has said in order to cleanup the water they do not
have the $800,000,000 and they need to get to identify the potential
responsible parties so that they can be made to help pay for the
cleanup of the pollution that they have created. The EPA thinks that
this is a feasible idea. Ira Reiner, LA County District Attorney,
thinks that this is a feasible idea. Congressman Esteban Torres is
also joining with us in this effort and the unanimous vote of the City
Councils of E1 Monte, South E1 Monte, West Covina, and Azusa to date
have pledged their support for what they recognized as not just a
local problem affecting their cities but a problem to affect the
entire valley and we come here from Claremont, we come here from
Azusa, we come here from South E1 Monte and other cities because we
realize that if we each try to go our own way we are never going to
deal with the problem, we are never going to be able to bequeath to
our children clean drinking water. Thank you. CC 1-9-90
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GREELEY: Father Joe Greeley from South E1 Monte. The monies that we
are asking for we are not asking for monies this evening, we are
asking for a pledge. As was mentioned in the staff report, some of
the items are vague. No monies will go from Rosemead to the fund
should you pledge this evening which we hope you will, no monies will
go until you are satisfied with the details of that contract that will
be worked out. We are asking for a pledge this evening. And I really
hope that you will join with the other cities. EVO does include some
35,000 families in the San Gabriel Valley, including the very western
end of the Pomona Valley. We are not a small organization and it is
broad-based. It is a community organization. I hope that you will
join us, the EPA, the people that we have mentioned this evening who
are all behind this fund, they are across party lines, across city
lines, and pledge your support for this so that we can begin to .
cleanup the water'and bequeath to our children clean water, water that
is good for them to drink.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I don't know who can answer this question but I'd
like to find out what Mr. Clements relationship with the UNO and the
SCOC organization is or was.
GREELEY: The EVO is a community organization. We are affiliated
with the organizations that you mentioned. But we have chosen to hire
Mr. Clements as our organizer.
TAYLOR: But he was the professional organizer for them, also if I
understand correctly.
GREELEY: Because of that affiliation there is an exchange.....
TAYLOR: No, prior to EVO he organized with UNO.
GREELEY: He was working with UNO.
TAYLOR: And who organized SCOC.
GREELEY: I don't know who the original organizer....
TAYLOR: Mr. Clements. Do you know? But who was the paid organizer
for that? Larry McNeil is the California Director of IAF..... IAF
is based in New York City, is that correct? What is the national
office of Mr. Edward T. Chambers, Executive Director, 36 New Hyde Park
Road, Franklin Square, New York, that's the IAF national
office..... what's the relationship?
GREELEY: When we come together, the churches and organizations that
formed the EVO, or UNO, or SCOC, when we come together to decide to
organize, to try to make our communities better, we can chose to hire
and we did so chose to hire an organizer from the industrial areas of
the IAF organization.......
TAYLOR: Is this Mr. McNeil the California Director?
GREELEY: What he does is he works, those of us who have chosen to
hire an IAF organizer, he is their staff supervisor so he makes sure
that he is doing what we are saying that they......
TAYLOR: How do they receive their funds?
GREELEY: That is part of the contract that we sign with them when we
choose to have them come in to be our organizer.
TAYLOR: What do you pay to these organizers, as far as like this
California chapter or whatever it is. How do pay?
GREELEY: From the dues.
TAYLOR: Who do you pay to?
GREELEY: We have a contract that we pay to the Industrial Areas
Foundation (IAF).
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TAYLOR: To California or directly to New York?
GREELEY: We pay to the central office.....
TAYLOR: I'm really concerned. The reason I'm asking these questions,
you saw the local issues that have been here for 16 years I've been on
the Council and this is the first time it's gotten across the United
States from such a large organization and it really puzzles me. I
can't support just giving it because it seems like we're funding a
national organization in a round about sense, which the parishes are,
too, unknowingly, probably.
GREELEY: It's not unknowingly. The contract is up front. We know
where our monies are going and we choose to enter into that contract.
We do not have to do that. It is our choice to make and once making
that choice we do fulfill the contract because it is a contract that
we choose to sign. You are not supporting EVO, you are supporting an
entire group of people that as somebody mentioned, isn't it time that
we got people, the government to do their work?
TAYLOR: Let me tell you something, Father Greeley, and I think this
is the typical response you're going to get from most of us and I
think Mrs. Clark made the comment, we're certainly in favor of clean
water. We've got an organization coming before us that is not just
the people of the San Gabriel Valley. It's inter-linked and it amazes
me in some of this material that I've got how you stretch right on
across from EVO to UNO to SCOC and now the fourth organization in the
San Fernando Valley. Are these groups.... how many states have
directors?
GREELEY: I could not answer that.
TAYLOR: Mr. Clements, do you know..... Two out of the 50 states?
Where can I find that information out? I want something in
writing..... Does the IAF have this information available I would
look forward to that. We're all against the polluters, we're for
clean water but it goes above and beyond what we're seeing here and
that's what I think is scaring some of us.
GREELEY: Again, we're asking for a pledge, no dollars from Rosemead
would go to any fund until you are satisfied with the details of the
contract.
TAYLOR: The D.A. made a comment that he would provide $50,000 to the
advertising fund. Is that true? Let me read you something, here.
EVO members ask Azusa to give to polluters reward fund and I don't
have the date of the paper here but it states here the District
Attorney's office has also pledged to spend $50,000 on publicizing the
reward campaign. He's going to provide $50,000, why isn't he doing it
already? That's an error. Let me ask you this. The comment is you
want to raise $115,000. Mr. Corey makes the comment here, again in
the newspaper, John Corey, Chairman of the EVO Toxics Task Force,
states he has estimated between $50,000 and 1 million dollars will be
necessary depending on how big the rewards are and whether polluters
can be required to restock the reward fund. There's another article,
here, same article from Azusa, the organizer's goal is to raise
$200,000 by 1991 for the reward fund, said EVO co-chairperson Carol
Montano.
MONTANO: My name is Carol Montano. My address is 225 Grandview,
Azusa. Yes, EVO did approach the City of Azusa and a lot of other
cities in the San Gabriel Valley. Our goal is $100,000 for our
initial year. We did start this program in October and we plan to
implement it in spring when the does visit the San Gabriel Valley.
Our goal, it's really a program, I don't think you have all the
information you need.
TAYLOR: I definitely don't.
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MONTANO: It's pretty obvious. You really should be provided with a
substantial amount of information since you do have a lot of
questions. We will be visiting with the in the spring. Our
second year's efforts will be another $100,000. I think that we've
been very successful. We're very proud of our efforts and will
continue on....
TAYLOR: Let me ask you this question. It's been stated that
Congressman Torres has promised to introduce legislation. How many
months has it been since these meetings have been held?
MONTANO: Our initial meeting was in October....
TAYLOR: Something back in June?
MONTANO: That was a congressional hearing. He conducted a hearing in
Baldwin Park.
TAYLOR: So, it's been seven months and he said that he would
introduce Federal legislation that may take a year to get passed.
MONTANO: I understand that legislation is being developed. I have a
copy of it here with me.
TAYLOR: Fine. I'd like copies of that also. I'd like to find out...
MONTANO: Can I finish, please? I don't know if this is the final
copy, I know this is something they were working with.
TAYLOR: It's something that we can start with, at least because the
problem is so major and they're talking about possibly $800,000,000
over the next 30 years to clean it up.
MONTANO: I have a discussion draft for the congressman dated October
27, 1989. This is tentative. I don't know how far that has developed
as of this time. It's true. It's going to cost billions of dollars
to clean up and the EPA......
TAYLOR: It has to be the Federal people that help to do it.
MONTANO: Definitely. I agree. It's just like this incredible,
massive deluge of a problem. It's almost inconceivable of the amount
money and the magnitude of this. It's not unlike the Exxon Valdez.
It's that disastrous. Fortunately, the water that we drink goes
through the cleaning process or is blended so that we're not getting
the contaminated water directly. What we are doing is implementing a
reward fund and I think that we've touched on it briefly; you don't
have all the technical information, all the criteria is being worked
on with our technical committee along with the District Attorney's
environmental attorney. So, it's an effort that we are working on; a
joint effort.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I have two other questions. By-laws and
regulations. How is UNO, EVO and SCOC....are they governed by
separate by-laws? Do they have by-laws?
MONTANO: I'm a volunteer with the toxic task force and I imagine they
do have by-laws of some sort.
TAYLOR: You imagine. But in fact, do they?
GREELEY: Each organization does do that. I would suggest it is
obvious that you've got a lot of questions. What I was going to
suggest that we do is instead of asking or calling for the pledge this
evening, is that we sit down, set up a meeting where we can go through
all these things, answer all the questions that you've got....
IMPERIAL: I would like to have you finish your dissertation. We will
eliminate conversation from the audience at that time. The Council
will discuss this and determine whether we need to have a meeting.
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TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. There is one other question. I had the two
questions. Something that, by-laws and regulations, I want to find
out how all these organizations are operating and who they're
answering to, the IAF by-laws and such, somehow they're tied
together. How your money is given to them, that is your choice.
The other book is Organizing for Family and Congregation. What is
that book?
GREELEY: I'm not familiar with that book, I'm sorry.
TAYLOR: Mrs. Montano, are you familiar with it?
MONTANO: I believe I have it here, just a minute. I don't know if
I brought it with me, today.
TAYLOR: Father Greeley, you're not familiar with this organizing
book?
GREELEY: Not that particular one.
MONTANO: I have reviewed it. I don't have everything here with me
today. I also have....
TAYLOR: Is that a training manual used for your volunteers?
MONTANO: I guess some people can read it. I don't know if you'd
call it a training manual. It's something to read. I also have an
article I gather a lot of information.... this is ToxicTalk by
Dana, Dean of Chemistry, regarding the way the EPA works and I
also.....
TAYLOR: I would just appreciate whatever..... you heard most of my
questions and involve who we're actually supporting.
MONTANO: I think what I see here is a lack of information and I
think that maybe some of you are seeing something that doesn't exist
like this nebulous.....
TAYLOR: The manual doesn't exist? The by-laws don't exist?
There's something wrong.
MONTANO: You're putting words into my mouth. That's not what I
meant.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. One of things you know I ask for, verbatim
minutes of this because it is going to involve a lot.
IMPERIAL:' Okay. Ms. Montano, thank you. Father, would you finish
your dissertation then this Council will take a five-minute recess
and then the Council will come back and discuss this.
GREELEY: Just very briefly, in about two sentences, we do really
hope that you join the cities that have unanimously come in to the
support of this reward fund. But there are obviously a lot of
questions that I think do need to be answered and we would be more
than delighted to answer those and then bring it back for public
vote at your discretion......
IMPERIAL: We'll call on you if we need that, sir. Thank you, very
much. We will recess for five minutes..... Okay, at this time, the
Council will discuss the proposal that has been submitted tonight.
Who would like to start?
BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. I've got a couple of comments about this whole
issue of water clarity and water pollution. This is not a problem
of today and those of us who have fought it for 22 years certainly
relish the fact that other organizations are finally discovering
that we do have polluted water around here. I can remember back in
1972 when we walked the streets of South Pasadena and Temple City
and San Gabriel to get votes for a State initiative that failed over
this very same issue. At that time I was called a tree hugger. A
little bit of history on this. The EPA was not going to get into
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BRUESCH CONTINUES: the toxic cleanup of water. But you all
remember what happened with Love Canal, to go back about 12 years.
Volunteer organizations, such as EDF and RDC, took up the cudgels
and took the polluters to court and finally forced the EPA to say
yes, we can prosecute polluters. Up until the 1978 Supreme Court
decision, they could not say that. 1978-1980, I believe the Super
Fund was set up. EPA was given the charge by Congress to cleanup, I
say cleanup, all polluted water sources. At that same time we
discovered pollution in our own aquifer which stretches from the
hills to the sea. It took four years for the EPA to say, yes, we'll
study the issue. Those of us who went to rallies and Congressional
hearings in the early 180s sat through, like you people are right
now, many a discussion on this. It also four years for the EPA to
come and say, oh, yeah, you do have pollution. Now, we've found it,
you clean it up. The EPA was given the duty by the Congress to
clean up pollution. The EPA was not given the duty to reward people
for turning people in. What we should we doing is not rattling the
bushes for a $100,000, we should be rattling the cages on the EPA,
saying, come to the San Gabriel Valley and do what you're told to do
by the Congress. Now, you people, if you want to do something, join
us who have fought this battle for 22 years and go to Congress and
say, hey, we've got polluted water in this area. The EPA has funded
a Super Fund. Why aren't we getting our fair share? I'll tell you
one reason why they're not getting their fair share. One of the
reasons is bureaucratic red-tape. About a year and a half ago a
filtering system was proposed for South E1 Monte wells. A filtering
system that would have cost approximately one million dollars. A
million dollars per well. Hydrogenated carbon, or something like
that. There was a worker in the water company, up north, that
said, gee, we've been doing that with a little unit that costs about
$14,000-$15,000. To this day, EPA will not certify that unit that
costs approximately $900,000 less. Somebody, somewhere along the
line, is getting something. I think we're attacking this problem
all wrong. The City of Rosemead has moved to help in the
investigation of our toxic pollution. First of all, we do support
to the tune of $4,700 a year, the WE TIP program, which has a toxic
hotline. The other things that we have done, things that don't
reach the headlines, four years ago people came to us and said, gee,
City Council, we have a major problem in our City. People are doing
major repair work on their cars on their lawns. I said, well, you
mean they're draining oil onto their lawns? That is prohibited by
our toxic water regulations. We sent our code enforcers out and
they said, we're just parking. At that time the City Council sought
to pass an ordinance against parking your car on your lawn. It was
one of the toughest decisions that this Council had ever made and I
think we've received a lot of flak from it but I tell you what, it
has cut those people from doing that toxic dumping on to their
lawns. You say, well, wait a second, what does that have to do with
the water pollution? That oil, that radiator fluid, percolates into
the ground and gets into the aquifer. It is now known that besides
the fact that the solvents are one of the major contaminants. PCBs,
PCES or whatever they are, comes from the radiator fluid from your
car. This has gone on over approximately 50-60 years of dumping
radiator fluid into your lawn, in front of your own home. So, our
City is doing something but we do need to do more. And on our
Agenda here, we have an item that says that we're going to go out
for a new public relations firm. I think that one of the first
things that our public relations firm should do is......
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. If I may. Let's get back on the issue.
IMPERIAL: Yes, Gary, your point is well taken. Mr. Bruesch, would
you make your point, sir.
TAYLOR: Bob, I know you have a lot of information on it but the
public information is something that we'll take later.
BRUESCH: But we cannot turn our backs on the issue because it is an
issue that affects us, on a daily basis.
IMPERIAL: Thank you. Mr. DeCocker?
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DeCOCKER: I find from reading this material, Mr. Mayor, there seems
to be a lot of open ended questions. Simple things like a fixed
amount for reward could be established, that is, $5,000, $10,000,
$25,000. Some of the things that WE TIP founder Bill Brownell,
expressed awillingness to administer the fund. I don't see
anything where's there a contract with WE TIP to administer the
funds. There's a lot of things, like former employees, neighbors
are amongst those in the best position to provide information. I
don't want a "Big Brother." We've got enough of those around the
Country, now. I can't even go outside and dump anything and
somebody's going to be calling and say hey, this guy's out here
dumping something outside. I just don't like the whole system, the
way it's being presented. That's all.
IMPERIAL: Mr. Taylor.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. At this point, as I stated before, there's a
lot of information that is needed and I definitely cannot vote on it
because there's a lack of too much information even Mrs. Montano
said she has more information that she will get to us and that
organizing manual that they're using; it may not seem like a lot but
it does something to do with how the groups are interrelated. So, I
just can't vote for this, tonight.
IMPERIAL: Mr. Taylor, thank you. I'd like to say at this time that
no matter what you do you can always do more. We've got some
problems but they're not as bad as most, I think. I think that we
should look at our problems but we ought to do from within the City
and if we're going to establish a fund for this, establish a City
fund that's operated by the City to take care of our own problems
instead of becoming a part of a general giant, general fund, or
whatever the case might be promoted by Ira Reiner and whoever. I
would like to see staff get all the information possible; give it to
the Council; have a study session on this and determine what we want
to do at a City level and I think that's where we've got to start.
I'm adverse to belonging to a giant conglomeration of cities to
fight the people and deal with them at the same time. The same
people that have the resources and taxpayer dollars to get it done
anyhow. If you want to do something then my suggestion to you is to
write your congressmen and ask them what the hell they're doing up
there, you know, about the problems because that's where it really
lies. As long as we keep the pressure on them I think we can get it
done. I'd also be willing to recommend to the Council that we pay
for any telegrams the citizens in this community want to send to
their congressmen or any congressman up there on water pollution.
But I think we should do it at the local level. So, I would like to
direct, if it's all right with the staff, to get all the information
together we can. Once we get this done, this Council can meet in a
study session and determine what we want to do. But it is my
preference, I speak for myself, that we do not become part of an
organization but take care of our problem, here. I think we have
the resources and God bless this community, we have the people do it
that are willing. Thank you.
BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. I would also like staff to obtain the
information of just what is behind the reasoning of the EPA's
refusal to address this issue.
IMPERIAL: Thank you, gentlemen.
TAYLOR: As far as the request for City participation in
establishing a toxic cleanup reward fund. It is totally in limbo,
right now as far as the action. We're just on hold, is what it
appears.
IMPERIAL: The way my comments were directed, Mr. Taylor, was that
we don't want to be part of anybody else's. If we want to, we'll
establish our own after we do some research.
TAYLOR: I agree with what you're saying. It's a positive action or
a result of what our discussion was tonight. I guess we'll just
wait and see what information they give us.
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IMPERIAL: There is no action. We are not part of any organization's
action. We will determine our own future, Mr. Taylor, as we go
along. You're absolutely right.
BRUESCH: Again, I reiterate my feelings. I strongly resent EPA
saying that they're washing their hands of this. That's what they're
there for, that's what the Super Fund is there for. Seems like
everybody else is getting cleaned up, String Fellow, Love Canal and
when we come to a local issue all of a sudden it's too expensive for
them to do it. I want to hit again on this, I don't care who does it
but our Congressmen, our Senators should know that we're, as a
Community, very displeased with the fact that organizations such as
this have to come to us for a handout to do what EPA should be doing
without any instigation from the local areas.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I'd like to continue with the Agenda, we're past
11:00 P.M.
END VERBATIM DIALOGUE
III.LEGISLATIVE
A. RESOLUTION NO. 90-1 - CLAIMS AND DEMANDS
The following resolution was presented to the Council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 90-1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF
$774,586.01 NUMBERED 28663-28718 AND 26847 THROUGH 26980
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH that
Resolution No. 90-1 be adopted. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
In deference to those in the audience, the following item was
taken out of turn.
VI. STATUS REPORTS
A. SENIOR CITIZEN LUNCH PROGRAM
Mary Redd, representing the seniors at the Zapopan Center lunch
program, asked when service would be restored.
Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, stated that staff has met with
Mr. Herring and that a full report should be forthcoming and that the
City would oppose any financial assistance to offset the costs. Mr.
Tripepi added that other agencies are willing to take over the
operation of this service if an agreeable solution cannot be reached.
Mayor Pro Tem Imperial asked that immediate action be taken to
restore the program and that a deadline be set and that City funds
should be used, if necessary.
Mr. Tripepi stated that staff would set a deadline of Friday,
January 12, 1990, for restoration of the program. If the program
cannot be reinstated another method of service would be found.
It was noted that one contractor would be used for both sites
that furnish senior lunch programs.
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III.LEGISLATIVE - CONTINUED
B. RESOLUTION NO. 90-2 - DENYING AN APPEAL AND UPHOLDING THE
DECISION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING A REQUEST FROM
TONY CHUNG FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE OFF-SITE
SALE OF BEER AND WINE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MINI-MARKET FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3365 WALNUT GROVE AVENUE, ROSEMEAD (CUP
89-475)
The following resolution was presented to the Council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 90-2
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
DENYING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 89-475 FOR THE OFF-SITE SALE
OF BEER AND WINE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MINI-MARKET FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3365 WALNUT GROVE AVENUE
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER that
Resolution No. 90-2 be adopted. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and,so
ordered.
C. RESOLUTION NO. 90-3 - ORDERING THE CANVASS OF THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION BE MADE BY THE CITY CLERK
The following resolution was presented to the Council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 90-3
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD,
CALIFORNIA, ORDERING THE CANVASS OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1990, BE MADE BY
THE CITY CLERK
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCIL BRUESCH that
Resolution No. 90-3 be adopted. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
D. RESOLUTION NO. 90-4 - SUPPORT FOR THE INITIATION OF A
PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULE AFFECTING CERTAIN INERT
LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
The following resolution was presented to the Council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 90-4
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD,
CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS SUPPORT FOR THE INITIATION OF
CONSIDERATION BY THE CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
CONTROL BOARD OF A PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULE AFFECTING
CERTAIN INERT LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH that
Resolution No. 90-4 be adopted. Vote resulted:
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Yes:
DeCocker,
No:
None
Absent:
McDonald
Abstain:
None
•
Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
E. ORDINANCE NO. 654 - AMENDING THE OFF-STREET PARKING
REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND CHILD-CARE CENTERS -
ADOPT
The following ordinance was presented to the council for
adoption:
ORDINANCE NO. 654
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
AMENDING THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING OFF-STREET
PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCHES, TRADE AND PROFESSIONAL
SCHOOLS, AND CHILD-CARE CENTERS
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR that
ordinance No. 654 be adopted. Vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
Councilman Bruesch asked that the Council be provided with the
results of the meeting held between staff and the various churches in
the City.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR (Councilman Taylor requested that item CC-H,
AGREEMENT WITH McGLADREY & PULLEN FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AUDITING SERVICES
REGARDING MODERN SERVICE, be deferred to the next regular meeting.)
CC-A AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL
EMPLOYEES RELATIONS CONFERENCE, FEBRUARY 28 THROUGH MARCH
1, 1990 IN SAN DIEGO
CC-B ACCEPTANCE OF STORM DRAIN EASEMENT AT 7840 EMERSON PLACE
CC-C SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT
CC-D ACCEPTANCE OF STREET EASEMENTS FOR FERN AVENUE (FALLING
LEAF/SAN GABRIEL), NEWMARK AVENUE (FALLING LEAF/PINE) AND
CHARLOTTE AVENUE (GARVEY/SOUTH END)
CC-E AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND 3rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR CITY
MANAGERS AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S FIELD COMMAND
PERSONNEL, JANUARY 28-30, 1990, IN OJAI
CC-F RED CURB ON'GARVEY AVENUE AT EARLE AVENUE
CC-G 1990-91 BUDGET CALENDAR
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER that
the foregoing items on the Consent Calendar be approved. Vote
resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Taylor, Imperial, Bruesch
No: None
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
The Mayor Pro Tem declared said motion duly carried and so
ordered.
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I
Councilman Bruesch requested that the minutes be included with
any item coming from the Traffic Commission to the Council.
Councilman Bruesch asked staff to determine if the figures being
obtained from the current audit of trash will be adequate to meet the
requirements of a new law that mandates audit of trash flow by
cities.
V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION
A. Taken out of order.
VI. STATUS REPORTS
A. Taken out of order.
B. WRITTEN POLICY ON RECYCLED PAPER STOCK
This item was presented for information only and no action was
required.
VII.MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS
A. LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
REGARDING ZONE CHANGE CASE AND PROPOSED CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX
AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAN GABRIEL BOULEVARD AND HAZEL
AVENUE
Councilman DeCocker stated that this project would generate
additional traffic in already congested area.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BRUESCH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DeCOCKER that
the Council send the letter. Before vote could result, Councilman
Taylor expressed hesitancy in opposing a project that is one of the
better R-1 or R-2 housing proposals. Mr. Taylor stated that there
are far more undesirable projects that could be located on that site
than condominiums.
Councilman DeCocker pointed out that this area is controlled by
the County and the restrictions regarding parking and traffic control
are not as stringent as those imposed by the City.
There being no further discussion, vote resulted:
Yes: DeCocker, Bruesch
No: Taylor, Imperial
Absent: McDonald
Abstain: None
No action was taken on this item.
VIII.ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
There being no further action to be taken at this time, the
meeting was adjourned at 11:35 p.m. in memory of those members of the
armed services who lost their lives in defense of liberty in Panama.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 23, 1990.
Respectfully submitted: APPROVE,.
C y Clerk MAYOR
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