CC - 03-22-88i APPROVED
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING DATE SIlt9"
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL lIY
MARCH 22, 1988
The Regular Meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to
order by Mayor Cleveland at 8:02 p.m. in the council Chambers of City
Hall, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California.
The Pledge to the Flag was led Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch.
The Invocation was delivered by Pastor Art Freund of the Rosemead
Church of Christ.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS:
Present: Councilmen Imperial, McDonald, Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem
Bruesch, and Mayor Cleveland.
Absent: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: FEBRUARY 23, 1988 - REGULAR MEETING/DEFERRED
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BRUESCH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR
that the Minutes of February 23, 1988, be approved. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH 8, 1988 - REGULAR MEETING
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL McDONALD that
the Minutes of March 8, 1988, be approved. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
PRESENTATIONS:
A proclamation naming the week of April 17-23, 1988, as National
Library Week, was presented to Sandy Duncan, Head Librarian.
A proclamation naming March, 1988, as Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Awareness month was presented to Roberta Trujillo, Executive Director
of Family Counseling Service of West San Gabriel Valley. Ms. Trujillo
is past Councilwoman/Mayor of the City of Rosemead.
I. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
A. Nora Ramirez, 3460 N. Bartlett, spoke on rent control and
substandard living conditions encountered with her landlord.
Councilman Taylor stated that staff will investigate the
substandard living conditions and questioned Ms. Ramirez as to the
relationship between her and her landlord.
Ms. Ramirez stated the landlord was her father.
Mr. Taylor stated that this issue appeared to be a family
dispute. Mr. Taylor requested that staff refer Ms. Ramirez to the San
Gabriel Valley Fair Housing Council.
Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, stated that a City building
inspector will inspect this property if Ms. Ramirez will make
arrangements to be there at the time of the inspection.
Ms. Ramirez reiterated her opinion that the living conditions were
substandard.
B. Ken Williams, 2402 N. Bartlett Ave., spoke on a situation that
exists near the intersection of Bartlett Avenue and Klingerman
Street. Mr. Williams stated that street parking is preempted by
Southern California Edison Company employees.
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Councilman Taylor expressed the opinion that Edison regulated its
employees' parking on that portion of streets.
Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch stated that since this is a recurring
problem;' Edison would appear to be unable or unwilling to monitor
itself.
Councilman Taylor requested that the City Manager send a letter to
Edison in regard to this problem, get a response, and report back to
the Council on the result, with possible direction to the Traffic
Commission for recommendation.
Councilman McDonald concurred that this problem might be stopped
before it gets any worse.
Staff was directed to send the letter to Edison.
Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch asked that the problem at Klingerman Park be
investigated. There appears to be noise and general rowdiness at this
location.
Councilman McDonald asked that staff be directed to check this
area over the next several weekends in an effort to alleviate the
problem.
Councilman Imperial stated that this is an ongoing problem area
and suggested that the Sheriff's department should make the park part
of their regular patrol.
Mr. Bruesch drew attention to the rear of the park and a break in
the fence. Young people are allegedly gathering golf balls from the
golf course and breaking windows.
II. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ZONE CHANGE FROM R-2 TO P-D FOR
LOTS LOCATED AT 7507-7533 MELROSE AVENUE AND 2462 JACKSON
AVENUE
The City Clerk administered the oath to all those present wishing
to address the Council.
The Mayor opened the public hearing.
Mike Mangana, representing Owen Development., 2035 S. Myrtle
Avenue, Monrovia, stated a request that this project be approved and
expressed the willingness to answer any questions the Council may have
in regard to this project.
There being no one wishing to speak against the project, the
public hearing was closed and the item was referred to the Council for
discussion.
The following ordinance was presented to the Council for
introduction:
ORDINANCE NO. 623
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
APPROVING A CHANGE OF ZONE FROM R-2 TO P-D FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 7507-7533 MELROSE AVENUE AND 2461 JACKSON AVENUE
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN McDONALD, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR that
ordinance No. 623 be introduced and reading in full be waived. Before
vote could result Councilman Taylor asked for clarification of the
size of the back yard for one lot that amounted to only 12 feet.
Mike Mangana, Owen Development, stated that this particular lot
had a side area that would be fenced in and included in the usable
back yard space requirement.
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Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch asked how many units would have less than
1,000 square feet on the ground floor.
Mr. Mangana stated that this figure should be less than 50% of the
total units.
Gary Chicots, Planning Director, stated that all the lots meet the
45% lot coverage requirement and at least one third of them exceed
this requirement.
Mr. Bruesch also expressed concerns with the elevation differences
in this project as it relates to slippage in the event of heavy and
prolonged rainfall.
Councilman Taylor stated the opinion that the 2-1 slope was
standard practice giving the physical nature of the particular
property.
Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch asked that Condition #13, regarding the
street trees, be amended to add that root sheathings will be used in
order to prevent future sidewalk problems.
There being no objection, this was so ordered.
Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, stated that the required fencing
was also included in the conditions.
There being no further discussion, vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
III.LEGISLATIVE
A. RESOLUTION NO. 88-17 - CLAIMS AND DEMANDS
The following resolution was presented to the council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 88-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN.THE SUM OF $307,243.04
NUMBERED 00755-00785/21630 THROUGH 21759
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BRUESCH, SECONDED:-BY-'COUN'CILMAN McDONALD
that Resolution No. 88-17 be adopted. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Councilman Taylor asked that staff provide a written memo in
regard to the last item on Page #18.
B. RESOLUTION NO. 88-18 - NAMING APRIL AS EARTHQUAKE
PREPAREDNESS MONTH
The following resolution was presented to the council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 88-18
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
SUPPORTING GOVERNOR DEUKMEJIAN'S PROCLAMATION OF APRIL 1988
AS CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS MONTH
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM BRUESCH
that Resolution No. 88-18 be adopted. Vote resulted:
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UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
C. RESOLUTION NO. 88-19 - NAMING MARCH 1988, AS "AMNESTY MONTH"
The following resolution was presented to the council for
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 88-19
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
DECLARING MARCH 1988, AS "AMNESTY MONTH"
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN McDONALD, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM BRUESCH
that Resolution No. 88-19 be adopted. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR (CC-B PULLED FOR DISCUSSION)
CC-A RECEIPT AND AWARD OF BIDS FOR ROSEMEAD HOME IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM - DEFERRED LOAN/2523 LA PRESA
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM BRUESCH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN McDONALD
that the aforementioned item on the Consent Calendar be approved.
Vote resulted:
Yes: Councilmen Imperial, McDonald, Mayor pro tem Bruesch,
and Mayor Cleveland
No: Councilman Taylor
Absent: None
Abstain: None
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Councilman Taylor asked that the record show his vote is not
against the owner but against the funding of the particular program.
CC-B NORTHBOUND LEFT-TURN POCKET ON WALNUT GROVE AVENUE AT DRAYER
LANE (VERBATIM DIALOGUE HAS BEEN ADDED AND BEGINS ON PG. 5)
Mr. Edward Wallin, 8546 E. Drayer Lane, presented a petition to
the Council containing forty signatures in favor of a left-turn pocket
at this intersection. Mr. Wallin also stated that the Los Angeles
County Department of Public Works, Traffic Accident Record File,
showed five accidents at this location in the'last three years. This
was in contradiction of information that had been provided to the
Traffic Engineer which showed that no accidents had occurred at that
location.
Robert Miyasaki, Deputy Traffic Engineer, stated that he could not
explain the discrepancy in these reports but would investigate this
situation and added that the loss of street parking should not present
a danger.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN McDONALD
that the left-turn pocket on Walnut Grove Avenue at Drayer Lane be
installed. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Holly Knapp, 8367 E. Whitmore, stated that a similar situation
exists on Walnut Grove Avenue at La Madrina.
This item was referred to the Traffic Commission for
consideration.
Mr. Wallin thanked the council and expressed his appreciation of
their support.
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VERBATIM DIALOGUE FOLLOWS - ADDED AFTER DEFERRAL ON APRIL 26,
1988:
TRIPEPI: Mr. Mayor. Item CC-B is the NORTHBOUND LEFT-TURN POCKET ON
WALNUT GROVE AVENUE AT DRAYER LANE. We have a petition that was
submitted this evening signed by a number of folks requesting the
approval of.this left-turn lane and this item was held over from the
last meeting. The staff recommendation remains the same. Mr.
Wallin? I believe Mr. Wallin will be the spokesman for the signers of
the petition this evening, sir.
WALLIN: My name is Edward A. Wallin, I live at 8546 E. Drayer Lane,
Rosemead, California, 91770. Good evening, Mayor Cleveland and
councilmen. I wish to only add to what I said at the February 23rd
council meeting. The safety of twenty-four home owners and their
families with some seventy cars and the relatives and friends who come
to visit us on East Drayer Lane. The only entrance we have is Walnut
Grove. They, the relatives and friends, don't know how we have
learned to make left turns watching in the rear mirror. This is my
great concern. I have brought here forty signatures which I have just
turned in - the City Manager has mentioned this. There has also been
letters sent to the office, others have told me. I also just received
news this evening that there have been five accidents reported at
Drayer Lane in the last three years. This information you may get at
the Department of Public Works, Traffic Accident Record File.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor.
WALLIN: One of my neighbors told me this.
TAYLOR: Point of clarification. I definitely would like that
information. As you know, this report states that there have been no
reported accidents.
WALLIN: Yes, I know. That's what surprised me, tonight.
TAYLOR: And where is this information at?
WALLIN: At the Department of Public Works, Traffic Accident Record
File.
TAYLOR: That's the County Public Works.
WALLIN: Yes.
IMPERIAL: Mr. Mayor. I've got some questions about this. Did this
go before the Traffic Commission?
TAYLOR: Yes, it. has. Their recommendation was that we make the left
hand turn pocket.
IMPERIAL: Well, my question is why don't we have the Minutes of the
Traffic Commission to see what they did do?
TAYLOR: We do have that.
IMPERIAL: I haven't got that in my packet. I'm looking...
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. I was down there over the weekend. I was parked
on the east side of the street. If you look at the back page, that's
marked in blue, that states seven parking places. On the west side
it's marked four parking places. I have to admit that there were no
cars parked in either of those areas because they are very isolated.
Since on Drayer Lane there's no room for people to be parking on
Walnut Grove and on the east side the condominium project are down in
the bottom of the hillside, you might say or on the side of the
hillside. This report needs to be corrected on the third page, it's
actually page two, second paragraph states ..."Although visitor's
parking is provided on-site, the loss of a total of seventeen parking
spaces is significant. I can agree with the twelve that are listed
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here but I don't know where the seventeen have come from. The five
spaces that are marked up the hill, at the private road, I don't
believe that those would need to be affected because the requested
left turn onto Drayer Lane, if you'll see, there's a forty-nine foot
existing red curb and then there's two driveways. When I was parked
on that hillside I was down at the bottom of the two red curb
sections. At this point I'm in favor of putting that left hand turn
pocket in there. It's not going to be detrimental to Walnut Grove and
we know, for a fact, that this Council and the Redevelopment Agency
has been studying this item for a couple of years. The last traffic
study that we have on this is for 1984. So, that's four years ago. I
think that if we had a new traffic count, we'd find that it's probably
up significantly.
BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. I drive Walnut Grove on almost a daily basis. I
don't care what time of day I drive it, there's hardly ever any
parking on that side. As I look at the Minutes and I ask questions of
our engineer, Mr. Miyasaki, the primary concern is for the parking on
that one side. I'll ask the question again of Mr. Miyasaki, is there,
in his estimation, a danger in putting this in to either northbound or
southbound traffic, in the turns?
MIYASAKI: There is no danger, specifically. We reviewed it and the
parking spaces up toward the condominiums are the ones that are really
of concern. The others are not.
TAYLOR: Up the hill, further. Well, looking at the map here, my
concern is why does that pocket have to be running so far up the hill.
We're talking 200...it's 100 feet in the turn out plus 90, plus
another 100...that's 290 feet, almost the length of a football field.
MIYASAKI: Yes. The reason, specifically, we like to have 100-foot
pocket basically because people... it gives them room to slow down,
decelerate, in out of the through lanes of traffic.
TAYLOR: Let's put the shoe on the other foot, not to interrupt you.
Let's go over on Del Mar and Hellman where the meat market is. We
made some exceptions there and shifted the entire roadway to one side
and did we not cut down the left hand turn lane?
MIYASAKI: We did not cut down it, it's still a 100-foot pocket.
TAYLOR: It's a 100-foot, but do we have 290 feet from Hellman back
down...
MIYASAKI: We only have about 250. I think the transition may be
about 60 feet, there. We do recommend that this transition be put in
because of the downhill speed of the traffic in that area. It
provides us good transition to get people over and back over again.
It makes for a smoother transition, makes more comfort for people
turning or going through and also turning into the left-turn lane.
TAYLOR: I really wouldn't have a problem with that if you think we
need this. But when I was down there, there wasn't a car parked in
any of those spaces, even uphill.
MIYASAKI: From my person in the field who reviewed it, he mentioned
that he saw a few cars there. It wasn't specifically in the portion
where they have the five parking spaces up the hill. It was very
sporadic and it's not a great deal.
IMPERIAL: Mr. Mayor. I've read the Minutes. I'd like to make a
motion that northbound left-turn lane on Walnut Grove at Drayer Lane
be installed.
McDONALD: I second it.
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HOLLY KNAPP: Holly Knapp, 8367 E. Whitmore Street. I still keep
looking at it, too, ever since we had it before the Traffic
Commission. I mostly see that there are no cars parked there. Sunday
night there were a number of cars parked there. As I came down the
hill Sunday night, about 9:30 or 10:00, there was a number of cars
both ways. I just wanted to give you that for your information. What
I'm concerned about at this point, I want you to look...I don't have
the chart in front of me or anything in front of me...but I want you
to look at La Madera (LA MADRINA AVENUE?), which is coming... is that
on here Rob? Okay. La Madera is right up north, south, but it's
uphill. Drayer Lane. It's a private road. It's in the County.
IMPERIAL: Three houses belong in the City.
KNAPP: Three houses belong in the City? Okay, I think that if we
give the left-turn pocket to Drayer Lane we ought to look at giving it
to La Madera, too. I'll tell you why. Because of the incline of the
hill as they... it's a big hill. Really hard for the people... probably
harder for them to make a left-turn into La Madera than it is to make
one into Drayer Lane. Because they're so much closer to where the
cars are turning off of San Gabriel Boulevard onto Walnut Grove.
IMPERIAL: Mr. Mayor. We don't know whether this is going to increase
the problem or not. I would suggest we go with my motion and see what
happens from there.
McDONALD: Mr. Mayor. I think, Holly, that that would have to
proposed and made an agenda item, and so forth. That's not
particularly on this....
KNAPP: I know. What I'm thinking about is that it's so close to the
left-turn pocket for the traffic that wants to turn left on San
Gabriel Boulevard. Maybe we should make the whole thing, with
the...left-turn pocket. Rob's going to argue with me.
CLEVELAND: It sounds to me like it should be referred back to the
Traffic Commission and let them come up with further information.
BRUESCH: Point of information, Mr.
this road ...where on this map does
it north of La Madera, south of La
dividing line?
Mayor. What is the County part of
the County take over? Exactly. Is
Madera, where exactly is the
MIYASAKI: I believe the dividing line is further south. I'm not
really certain, though. I don't have that specific information. As
far as the accident reports, I cannot explain-"that. We get a report
of the (switters?) from the Sheriff's department. It should have all
the accidents on there. It's a computer run. It surprises me that
L.A. County would have a separate or different run. I can check with
them and can report back to you on that. I do not understand why they
would have separate runs.
CLEVELAND: Any other discussion?
BRUESCH: The only reason I ask about the County portion, I know that
they are going to be doing, in a couple of years, major resurfacing of
their portion. If there is a problem with parking, possibly that
might be something for us to look into... give that extra five feet or
so to restore that parking, if there is a problem later on. There
doesn't seem to be a problem right now. But if the County is going tc
do a major resurfacing job, we might have to think in terms of going
in there and doing a bit of widening ourselves.
TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor. At this point... I think this has gone for a
couple of months and to wait a couple of more years ...I don't think
Mr. Bruesch is saying that...
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BRUESCH: No, no, I'm not saying that.
TAYLOR: But the fact we're talking about a couple of years down the
road. I would call for the question on this particular item but also
would like to direct staff to have the Traffic Commission look at and
get a report ...Mrs. Knapp's comments are well taken... because anytime
you come down a.hill, and that's one thing that I was watching while I
was parked there, it's really not that far - maybe 200 feet to the top
of the hill - but a car coming over...I wouldn't like to be in that
situation. Now, what we've done is we've gone up the hill another 150
feet and we have another turn out lane as soon as they hit the top of
the hill, there's a potential problem. So, it's a two-issue item.
One we vote on this, tonight and we can go back and study the other
one and see what recommendation we have.
BRUESCH: Mr. Mayor. It's more than a two-issue item. There's a lot
of issues down there on that Walnut Grove. The only reason I brought
up about the resurfacing issue, I still say there has to be a general
overall view of that arterial and the impact of the growth. I hate to
have this thing coming back, almost on a yearly basis, because there
is more problems.' We have to think in terms of the future and all I'm
saying is that in the future we may have to look at adding that extra
space for more parking down there.
TAYLOR: I call for the question on this item.
CLEVELAND: It's been regularly moved and seconded that we approve the
left-turn pocket on Walnut Grove Avenue at Drayer Lane. Are you ready
for the question? Will you please vote.
,END VERBATIM DIALOGUE
VI. STATUS REPORTS
A. 8555 HELLMAN AVENUE
This item presented a letter from Caltrans regarding their
maintenance yard at the aforementioned location. Caltrans is
requesting City approval to install.screen slats in the existing chain
link fence in lieu of a block wall. If agreeable, the slats could be
installed by the end of summer, 1988.
Councilman Imperial expressed displeasure with this solution and
insisted on the block wall fence being installed. Mr. Imperial
suggested a letter be sent to the governor, expressing the City's
displeasure.
Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch stated his desire to see the City begin
negotiations with Caltrans to acquire this location after it is
abandoned by Caltrans sometime in 1991. This acquisition would allow
for reconfiguration of the freeway off-ramp. Mr. Bruesch asked that
staff be directed to draft a letter to Caltrans rejecting the slats
and asking for negotiation to begin to acquire this land.
Councilman McDonald stated the opinion that slats are better than
nothing and if Caltrans is going to abandon the land, they would not
be eager.to reconsider installation of a block wall.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN McDONALD, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR that
the City accept Caltran's offer to install slats in the chain link
fence as a temporary measure, continue to work for the block wall and
cleanup, and work for the reconfiguration of the off-ramp. Vote
resulted:
Yes: Councilmen McDonald, Taylor, and Mayor Cleveland
No: Councilman Imperial
Absent: None
Abstain: Mayor Pro Tem Bruesch
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The mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Councilman Imperial asked that the reason for his vote be entered
verbatim:
IMPERIAL: My reason for not going with this, is because I do not want
to bow to the bureaucracy and that's what we're doing.
VII. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS
A. COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MCDONALD
that Margaret Clark be reappointed to the Traffic Commission. This
appointment would expire in April 1990. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT VOTED AYE. The Mayor
declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
B. MAYOR PRO TEM BRUESCH
1. Asked that staff investigate the weight limitation for Grand
Avenue, between Walnut Grove and San Gabriel Boulevard. Specifically,
the bridge near the Humane Society appears to "shudder" when heavy
trucks pass over it.
2. Asked that staff investigate the northside of Grand Avenue,
across from the California Christian Home, for a possible drainage
problem. Several residents have complained of ponding during heavy
rainfall.
There being no further action to be taken at this time, the
meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. in the memory of Robin Mattern,
daughter of Planning Commissioner Howard Mattern, who passed away on
March 21, 1988. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 12,
1988, at 8:00 p.m.
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