CC - 04-20-82 - Adjourned MeetingAPPROVED
CITY OF RO SEMEAD
DATE
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING
OF THE ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 20, 1982 AT 8:00 P.M.
The adjourned meeting of the Rosemead City Council was
called to order by Mayor Imperial at 8:03 p. m., in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 8838 E. Valley Blvd., Rosemead, California.
The Pledge to the Flag was led by Councilman Tury.
The Invocation was delivered by Rev. Art Freund.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS:
Present: Councilmen Cichy, Tury, Taylor and Mayor Imperial
Absent: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 23, 1982 - Regular Meeting
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TURY
that the Minutes of the March 23, 1982 Council Meeting be ap-
proved. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
A. Bonnie Culbertson, Manager of the Rosemead Chamber
of Commerce, announced their 3rd Annual Trade Fair on April 24th
at the K-Mart Shopping Lot.
I. LEGISLATIVE
A. RESOLUTION NO. 82-18 - RECITING THE FACT OF THE
MUNICIPAL ELECTION & DECLARING THE RESULTS
RESOLUTION NO. 82-18
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
CALIFORNIA RECITING THE FACT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION HELD IN SAID CITY ON APRIL 13, 1982 DECLARING
THE RESULTS THEREOF AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS ARE PROVIDED
BY LAW
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TURY
that Resolution No. 82-18 be adopted. .Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion..:duly carried and so ordered.
1. ADMINISTERING THE OATH OF OFFICE & ISSUING ELECTION
CERTIFICATES.
The City Clerk administered the oath of office to Councilmen
Gary A. Taylor, Louis Tury, Jr., and G. H. Pat Cleveland, and
issued the Certificates of Election.
2. REORGANIZATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
The City Manager declared the Mayor's seat vacant and re-
quested nominations.
Councilman Taylor nominated Louis Tury, Jr., as Mayor, and
there were no other nominees. The selection was unanimous, and
Louis Tury, Jr., is the Mayor of Rosemead.
Mayor Tury expressed his appreciation of the job Councilman
Imperial did as Mayor and he felt that he was an outstanding
Mayor and he would try to do as well. He appreciated the con-
fidence that the Council had in him, and would do his best.
Councilman Cichy nominated Pat Cleveland as Mayor Pro Tem,
and there being no other nominations, there was a unanimous
ballot cast for Pat Cleveland for Mayor Pro Tem. CM 4-20-82
Page #1
Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, stated that there were
two gentlemen entered the Council Chambers and that they were
here for one purpose and that is to make a public announcement
that the.public has been waiting-for. They are Jim Rippey,
Chevron Land, and Jack Jensen:.of the Johh,S:..Griffith Company.
Jim Rippey;,project manager for Chevron Land Development
Company, representing::the.owners of the property.whe"re the..
Montebello Shopping Center will be developed. He introduced
Jack Jensen, Vice President of the.-John S. Griffith Company,
a joint venture partner of the"center. He expressed his ap-
preciation to the Council for their patience and understanding
during the period of negotiations.
Jack Jensen, Vice President of the John S. Griffith Company,
announced that a.third department store had been secured for the
Center. He stated that a letter of intent had been signed with
the May Company; and this means that they-can-proceed with the
plans for the Center. Construction should start in the Spring
of 1983 and completion should be in the fall of 1984 for the
regional shopping center.
Mayor Tury stated that it was understandable that it would
be difficult to have companies commit themselves with the economy
as it is, and he thanked Mr. Jensen.
II. PUBLIC HEARING
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN APPEAL TO PLANNING
COMMISSIONS DECISION DENYING CUP #81-238 REQUESTED BY
FARRELLS ICE CREAM PARLOUR, 39.39 ROSEMEAD BLVD.
Mayor Tury inquired if there was anyone who wanted to speak
on this item and be sworn in.
The City Clerk swore in those people.
Scott Brannon, Vice President of Concept Development and
Franchising Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, 7440 B B Drive, Rockville,
Maryland,
Scott Brannon: Also tonight is our District Manager, Dave
Norris of Farrells of Los Angeles, and Jim Snydo Manager of the
Rosemead parlour. I appreciate the time you have given us this
evening to talk with you concerning our permit for conditional
use at 3939 Rosemead Boulevard. Also appreciate the City Council
allowing us to delay of our Appeal while we were waiting status
on the three conditional use permits which we applied for in Van
Nuys, Woodland Hills, and Northridge. Just like to report to the
Council that all three of those permits were approved. I promise
not to deliver a.big defense of video games this evening. There
are other people better suited for that, but what I would like to
do is to make sure that each one of you understands what are busi-
ness is and how we became interested in video games and why.we
find it necessary to add a small~number'of games to our parlour.
Farrells began here in the west coast about 20 years ago as one
of the country'.s' first theme restaurants and we have been in
Rosemead a little over 10 years, and even though we have grown
quite large with over a 100 restaurants from Hawaii to New York
we continue to view ourselves as an important part of the commun-
ity which we serve. We are responsible people. Our restaurants
offer good food, attractively presented in ways designed to please
young people and their families. We emphasis"birthday parties.
Last year we.hosted over 1,250,000 birthday parties across-the
country. Children like a lot of attention paid to them at their
birthday parties and nobody does make more of a fuss over a birth-
day than Farrells. That is where video games come in for Farrells.
Birthday parties for children have always been composed with the
same ingredients, excited kids, party favors, ice cream and cake
and games. These days they are computor games. We first intro-
duced games into our location in Rosemead in 1979 and our experience
with these games have been very good. You would expect of course,
we would have no problem with the young children.since their parents
come with them at Farrells. They give them money to spend and they
supervise them while they are there. They comprise a large majority
CM 4-20-82
Page #2
of our players of the game. What about teenagers, Farrells also
does a great deal of business with teenagers as well. Our exper-
ience with them has also been good. Why has our experience been
better than some other businesses that have encountered problems
like arcade operations and mini super markets. We don't know for
sure, but maybe our atmosphere is too wholesome for the tastes of
teenage toughs, and we feel that we are lucky enough in that res-
pect.. Another reason has little to do with luck. We supervise
every aspect of our operation very carefully., our staff is trained
to report a problem before they develop, and a responsible manager
is on duty all the time. We presented to you copies of our policy
control in our game areas and also a sample of the parlour game
etiquette sign as you can see from these documents we do control
our game areas. We are tastefully intergrating into many of our
units acreoss the country, games. I have here pictures of the
parlour in Riverside, California showing what we have done over
there. As you can see by the pictures the area is neat, clean, it
is well lit and it is located in clear view of our manager, our
cashier and all other employees. Over here on the wall we have an
artists drawing of what we are planning to do in our parlour in
Rosemead should our permit be approved. However, popular computer
games become we have no intention of ever allowing them to jeopar-
dize what we have taken so long to build. If they start to cause
trouble in any of our units, which we cannot control,out they go.
Our reason for applying to you for additional games is that because
of current popularity, we simply,do not have enough games to keep
pace with customers demands. Adding seven more games would remove
some of the congestion that we sometime encounter in the game areas.
Farrells of Rosemead, we celebrate 25 to 30 birthday parties every
Saturday afternoon alone. We plan to offer parties using game
tokens which will add a greater enjoyment and greater value to our
party customers. I have a few samples of parties which we offer,
also a sample of our tokens. As you can see we are using games
only as an incidentaltuse and we will always be the family ice-cream
parlour restaurant that we have been for the last 20 years. Our
customers have shown that they expect games in our Farrells and we
can't let them down or they will go elsewhere. I have here, also,
a petition that was sent around in our parlour in the last two weeks,
and we have over 900 signatures here of customers who support our
application"'for additional games. That's all I have. We are seek-
ing approval of our CUP for the following reasons. We have filed
the proper applications for a CUP, the staff report for the Planning
Commission Meeting for January-4, 1982 recommended approval. Farrells
has been a wholesome part of the Rosemead Community for over 10 years.
Farrells has had games in the Rosemead Parlour since 1979 and has
demonstrated that we can control that segment of our business. Far-
rells is an Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant and not an arcade. Our
customers expect games as part of their experience at Farrells and
if we don't meet their needs they will go elsewhere. I hope that
I have answered some of your questions and I want you to understand
that we operate a unique enterprise which provides good food, plea-
sant clean atmosphere which is geared to provide fun, and entertain-
ment for young people and their.families. We have no intention of
allowing anything, no matter how popular at the moment, to jeopar-
dize that work that we worked so hard for so many years. We would
appreciate your thoughtful consideration, and we will trust that you
will find reason to grant us our application.
Tury: Thank you, Mr. Brannon. I have a couple of questions. What
are your hours of operation?
Brannon: The hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m., to 1:00 a.m., Friday and
Saturdays.
Tury: You have tokens? I read in your letter that you purpose
going to total token system. Is that the way I read that? Did I
read that wrong?
Brannon: Yes, sir. We are on a total token system in that store.
Tury: Are those tokens redeemable for cash? If a person buys $5.00
worth..of tokens and if they have -6 left over can they get their money
back or have a bunch of worthless tokens?.'
CM 4-20-82
Page #3
Brannon: They are worth a play in the game. It is not our policy
to give refunds, but if a customer desires their money back, we
would certainly accomodate them.
Tury: You would have a "no smoking" posted in that area where
games are?
Brannon: At this time we do not, but the new signs are in the mail
to all the parlours across the country that have games.-..:That would
be part of our new policy.
Tury: If that was part of the CUP would that be acceptable to you?
Brannon: Yes, sir.
Tury: No gambling. How about an age limit? I am going by ordinances
I have read. An age limit of not under 14 ;except when accompanied
by parents or guardian. Would that be an acceptable condition?
Brannon: That would truly be difficult. Cause we do have parties
coming in all the time with young people and there may be just one
parent with maybe 30 kids.
Tury: I am concerned that a child may walk in with their lunch
money and blow it. There should be some control over that. If
they just walk into that store at lunch time instead of eating
lunch at school and have $2.00 or $1.00 for lunch whatever it
is, and they stay and play 2 or 3 games instead of eating their
lunch. That would be a real problem and it is a concern of a
lot of cities who have looked into this. Some kind of control
in that area.may,:.tor may not be desirable. I am asking you.
Brannon: We have not had a problem, but it is our policy that
during school hours, the manager, while school is in session, if
he sees anyone in theire of school age, he will.a';k them to leave
if they are playing games unless accompanied by an adult.
Tury: Could that/be part of a CUP as part of the conditions?
Brannon: It could. Yes.
Tury: Does anyone want to ask any questions of Mr. Brannon?
Imperial: I seem to recall that the last time the Council was
approached on this thing it was indicated that Farrells needed
the additional revenue. Is that not correct?
Brannon: We always need additional revenue, but that is not the
purpose of this. No The purpose of,adding games is to meet the
demands that customers are putting on us to add more games because
there is a great deal of competition out there right now for the
party business involving games. We want to be able to compete with
our competitors.
Imperial: Do you really feel that is the issue. There is not an
other Farrells around. The liquor store that has-3 does not handle
Farrells Ice Cream. They don't have parties. Do you really consi-
der that the issue is that.you have to do',this to meet the needs of
the competition?_
Brannon: We try to meet the needs that the customers express to us.
We have found that we have over 900 signatures that people do expect
to pay the games and they have become part of our society. There
are places such as Chucky Cheese, P J Pizaz all over the area that
have games and the birthday parties. We are a birthday party place
and 75% to 80% of our business is involved in selling our ice cream
and also dealing with parties.
Imperial: Can you tell me if out of the 900 signatures haow many
are residents of Rosemead?
Brannon: No, I cannot. These are customers in the unit and we
asked them their opinion.
Cichy: I notice that in some of the cities that are discussing
hours of limitations such as no playing of the games after 10:00
p. m., in order to eliminate some of the teenage activities that take
CM 4-20-82
Page #4
place that congregates after 10:00 p. m.
the old law there was a curfew. What is
games and shutting them down after 10:00
at night. At least in
your position in limiting
p. M.?
Brannon:' We really would not like that, but if that is part of the
Council's decision, we will certainly go along with it. Especially
in the summertime parties come in there up until midnight and have
birthday parties, teenagers with their families and so on. This
would eliminate their opportunity to play the games and also for us
to have the type of party that tokens are included. That would be
a problem, but we are willing to work with it.
Cichy: Well, what about after 10:00 p. m., eliminating the dispursal
of tokens to only those people with organized parties?
Brannon: That could be arranged.
Cichy: I notice in the diagram that was submitted that there is 2
blacked-in areas. One near the cashier's candy area and one on
the south-side.
Brannon: That is the 2nd party room. That is an optional area for
more games. We would not need that in the Rosemead area because we
have simply applied for ten games and it would only fit in the candy
section.
Cichy: With games in the candy section, there would be no wall
or partition between the candy sales section and the cash register
and the games under this diagram. Is it feasible to construct such
a barricadethat those people who are purchasing candy in that area
would not be trafficed back and forth between the games, the candy
counter. Teenagers seem to mill around quite a bit and every once
in awhile they seem to have loose fingers. It might keep them out
of that area.
Brannon: We would move most of our candy back behind the cashiers
stand. We do have in the Rosemead Parlour have a crowd control
railing for customers coming. in and directing them out in the pro-
per way and that could be extended to keep that separated.
Cichy: Some of the other parlours have glassed in areas that elim-
inate the noise of the machines and exceitement of the participants
from the restaurant areas. Have you done that in any of your other
stores or had requests for that?
Brannon: We have put, as you can see, there is a wall between the
party room and the games. We would construct a wall there with
plexiglass, but controlling noise in Farrells is sometimes diffi-
cult when the sirens and drums go off.
Cichy: There could be a plexiglass area.
Brannon: Yes, sir: We could construct one.
Tury: I have one brief question on the sample rules and regulations.
On the bottom it says "we have games for Farrells customers only"
How do you intend to enforce that?
Brannon: First of all, we feel that everyone that walks in our doors
is a customer, a potential customer. The reason for that is it would
give us the opportunty should anyone playing the games cause any
trouble to our customers that are in there, we can ask them to leave.
That is part of our policy. That the games are available to our cus-
tomers who are in there having parties and give us the opportunity to
ask them to leave if there should be a problem.
Imperial: If a person walks in your door with anything else in mind
but to use the rest-room wouldn't he be considered a customer. In
other words if he comes in there to utilize any part of that build-
ing, wouldn't he be a customer? Then you would be hard put to tell
him to leave if he came in just to use the machine.
Brannon: We reserve the right to ask anyone that we believe is
causing problems in our parlour or interrupting the fun or enjoyment
of other people.
CM 4-20-82
Page #5
•
•
Cleveland: Now, you are placing these machines in the aisle
between your candy sales and dining area. How much space have
you got,,.'in that aisle?
Brannon: I am not sure of the exact dimensions. In the River-
side Parlour it has met all the codes, and it would be identical
to that. There is enough room for customers to come in, go out,_t
and move around there, and-there has not been a congestion problem
at all.
Cleveland: This indicates that that aisle is approximately 5 feet
wide and if it stretches out with one of those machines how is
a customer going to get through there.
Brannon: There has been no problem in Riverside,.and we would be
willing if there would be a problem to certainly control it, but
we have not had any problems of that nature.
Cleveland: You have a small room on the south side of that build-
ing. Why wouldn't that be an ,ideal place to put your machines?
Brannon: Simply because having them in view of our cashier and
manager and having them close to the area where we do control our
cash is much better place to have them for security and also for
control.
Cleveland: You have a door to that room that could be left open?
Brannon: Yes, it is wide open. There are open partitions there.
Tury: You presented the three CUP that have been granted, but
have you been turned down yet?
Brannon: No,•sir.
Bonnie Culbertson: Gentlemen, when Chamber member, Jim Sido,
first came to our board and ask us to support their effort to
put in game machines, we were under the misconception that they
wanted to develop.an arcade and our board did not support it.
We were not informed, it was our own fault, that there were
things there and when we discussed it again this morning and
understood exactly what they want to do, the board did support
their actions. I have a statement from our President, Dave De
Groff, who was not able to come tonight, and I would like to
read that statement.
'.The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, this
morning approved a motion to support the reinstatement of
the ten electronic machines at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour.
These machines were in place for two years prior to Farrells
seeking proper permit needed to operate in this City.during
that time there,has been no recorded incident in connection
with these machines. You are undoubtedly aware, that Chucky
.Cheese is building an arcade in E1 Monte which will contain
some 100 machines and Pizza. You are.probably aware that
these types of machines are located in nearly every take-out
restaurant, liquor store and any other store that has extra
space. These stores provide no restrictions or supervision
of these youth playing of these machines. Though this is a
controversial subject, we believe that the record.q£ Farrells
stands in support of their continued operation of these ma-
chines. They have agreed to provide all the restriction
and supervision required by the City and are only asking to
continue their operation as they have for the past two years.
It would seem sad to allow an adjacent City to draw our kids
and our money away from Rosemead.,because of the machines.
We hope that Farrells would have a much better control. We
feel that if the children are going to. spend their lunch money,
they are going to spend it somewhere Valley Burger or Mr. Bills
where there isn't really the supervision that they provide at
Farrells. Thank you.
Tury: Mr. Carmona as a point of information, how long have they
been operating before we found out? Does anyone know?
CM 4-20-82
Page #6
Tury: How many machines have you had in there since 1979?
Snydo: The amount of machines have fluctuated from 3 to 10 in the
past two years.
Tury: I have never seen 10 of them in there.
Don DeTora: I have been hearing quite a bit about this Farrells
Ice Cream thing--slot machines--or whatever you want to call them.
Are.we.going to have Rosemead loaded with slot machines. Farrells
Ice Cream is allowed to have three I understand, now they are going
to put in about 11. I have a place of business here in Rosemead
Mr. Mayor, and I could put in about 25. If they can have it then
so can I. I.am in the business of taking the people to the cleaners
so those machines might come in handy. Mr. Mayor it is not funny,
I have been hearing quite a bit about this from the people from
Rosemead. The people in Rosemead give their kids money to go to
school to buy their lunch, and I can prove it that they do not buy
their lunch, they rundown the corner to play those slot machines.
If you are going to have something like that, you might as well
open the doors to all business.people in Rosemead:.and give them
permission for slot machines. I will be the first one coming down
here and asking for permission--permit to put in 25 machines.
Tury: Don, I can agree with you. The way the ordinance is written
right now, they can have 3 of them and you can have 3. I know what
you are talking about. I have seen them in the Stop and Go in the
morning when I go to work and the kids:are already in there spending
their money and I violently object to that. This is rather a tough
decision and it is not exactly the same thing and yet it is similar.
Don De Tora: We are going to open a whole can of worms in Rosemead,
and I hate to see it.
Tury: Is there anyone else who would care to speak? Anyone else?
If not then I will close the Public Hearing. I close the Public
Hearing. Open to discussion of the Council.
Imperial: A while back we.had a very unfortunate situation. It
was called the Electric Flipper in Rosemead Square. It was an
Arcade. It started out as a simple enough thing where the kids
go to play. It wound up where the people who frequent that shop-
ping center were afraid of their life. The manager of the Rose-
mead Four Theater appealed to the Council to do something because
of the people that were hanging around there. We wound up with
narcotics and just about everything that you can name gang-related.
It took a lot of.effort and a lot of money on part of the Rosemead
Sheriff's department to:,,clean that up and the business went out
of business. I have heard comments that that was a shopping center
and that doesn't really relate.to Farrells'. Let us go to another
item not too long ago. It was brought to my attention by some
members of the Rosemead Little League that the corner store on the
corner of Del Mar and Emerson had a problem. There were more than
3 machines in there. I think it was in.the area of 9, I am not
sure, Mr. Tripepi, was it 9 machines.
Tripepi: It was more than 3 I am not sure how many exactly.
Imperial: The people in the neighborhood caught me in the park
there and said that they really had a problem. We have got some
pretty rough characters hanging around there on that corner and
you cannot go in that store and you cannot come out of that store
without being harrassed. At that time I brought that to the
attention of the City Manager, and we found out that those people
were :operating in violation of the ordinance, closed them down
with the exception of 3 machines and that solved our problem. I
go many calls thanking me. I don't care where it is, whether it
is Farrells or that corner store on Emerson and Del Mar or whether
it is the.Rosemead Shopping Center. It is unfortunate that this
type of installation, if you can call it that, an arcade brings
in that.element of people once the word passes. I just feel that
we.have enough problems trying to control these businesses with
3 machines in their stores. You can go by that liquor store at
the Alpha Beta Shopping Center and you can see kids in there all
the time playing when they should be in School. I don't see any
CM 4-20-82
Paae a7
Imperial:(Continued)
reason for somebody to have to go to another City because there
are three machines busy with three little kids playing them all
the time there are more than enough machines to go around,it is
just not.all in one place. I really have a.problem with this and
I only wish that Council would consider this very carefully, be-
cause I feel that we have the best Planning Commission in the
San Gabriel Valley if not in Los Angeles County. I want to give
these men a lot of credit fora lot of work. They put in a lot
of thought and effort into this before they rejected their proposal.
Thank you.
Tury: Thank you Mr. Imperial. Does anyone else have anything to
say?
Taylor: Looking over these petitions that were signed in, I find
approximately 5% are Rosemead residents. I would like to read
some of these addresses. There are a good percentage here. There
is one on Kelner Avenue, Cliffhill Drive, Monterey Park, Santa Anita
Avenue, Temple City, Highland Drive, Pasadena, Pasadena, Cal Tech,
Cal Tech, Indiana.Street,:L. A., Ferguson Drive, Avenue 56, Johnson
Street, Johnson Street, Avenue 56, L.A., Sonora, Glendale, Frazier
Avenue, L. A., Magleano,Street, L.A., 10th Street,Hesperia, 10th
Street, Hesperia, Fern Avenue, Rosemead, 10th Street.Hesperia,
Duncan Avenue, L. A'., 10th Street Hesperia, E1 Camino Real, San
Clemente , Gladmont Avenue, Hacienda Heights, and out of 27 signa-
tures there is one on Fern Avenue. The nearest circle I came--
10th Avenue, Arcadia, E1 Camino Real, 10th Avenue Arcadia, 10th
Avenue Arcadia, 10th Street, Short Street, Deantric Street, L.A.,
Ditman Street, L. A.,.Ditman Street, L.A., Ditman, L. A. Ditman, L.A.
Gonzales Apple Street, Steele Street, Crescent Heights Blvd. Apple
Street E1 Monte, San Angelo, La Puente,Avenue 49, L. A., Colima Rd.,
Hacienda Heights, Huntington Drive Arcadia, Linden Street, So. Pasa-
dena, Longden,Arcadia, 'Casa Grande,Pasadena. There is only one
on that page from Rosemead, and that is representative on the next
eight pages. Some signatures are signed twice and many of them
are profanity and vulgar.words,.,,names, streets. This isn't repre-
sentative of the area surrounding Rosemead. The gentlemen made
comment of all the good qualities of Farrells and I have to agree
wholeheartedly. My children were in there last week-end and the
week-end before and my neighbor took my little four year olds.up
there and I have been there many times. All I can say in the 10
years that it has been there and I have been-there many times
and it is an excellent fun place. You have a very well organized
business now,;and.as far as I.am concerned, it looks like it is,
doing terrific. You didn't state that you needed it for the income
or that revenues were down. My feeling is that you have a good
thing going right now. In this mornings paper in the San Gabriel
Valley Tribune I would like to read a small article: Council
o. k. moratorium on Arcades. After an'outraged mother complained
that her daughter spent more than.$900 on Electronic Video Games
recently, the Azusa City Council, Monday, passed an emergency
Ordinance prohibiting new arcardes for four months. The Moratorium
to give the Planning Commission time to study the effective regula-
tion of arcades and crime waves to maybe short circuit their proli-
feration in Azusa. According to the article ...it was adopted as
an urgenc'y' measure to protect the public safety ...it effects the
establishments with more than three games. At the meeting, Shirley
Nugent spoke emotionally against Pac Man.and Space Invaders and
other video machines. She told the Council that her 17 year old
daughter,Tanya, had been addicted to the games and spent $955.00
within a 3 month period. She also recounted how her 12 year old
daughter had been chased by classmates who:, .tried to steal,her..lunch
money to,get her coins for the games. When our kids are becoming
addicted, and my child was attacked for her lunch money, you know
this is getting out of hand. It was twice that size and I won't
complete.'that article. There have been many articles in the past
several months... There is another one on both sections of the page
talking about how the kids are congregating Not that it is
wrong for the kids to congregate ...It is just that when they
get into the crowds and groups...they become disruptive to the:;-.
people in the other stores and other cities that clients come into
the 7-11.Stores and it becomes a general nuisance. You mention
that the congestion of those three machines was already happening
in.that store. So to me that is an admission that there is a 2
CM 4Page828
Taylor: (continued)
congestion problem already. The fact that you want to put more
machines in,.tells me that it also is going to be a congregation
and gathering point more congestion. The token question that
Mr. Tury asked about, I have heard complaints from the children
when they,go in and the policy is that you sell them tokens and
they can come back and play and when these kids spend a::dollar,
two dollars,._five~.dollars on tokens, hoping to.get..,the machine
and stay there to spend them. The other kids are waiting in
line and they are stuck with the tokens until the next day, and
this happens. The question was put to you, and it was your
policy,that you don't give them back. A lot of kids don't under-
stand it to tell you I want my money back. This actually happens
and I have seen some of these tokens that.they have been stuck
with. Over-all I could go on with many items, but I.would like
to close with the Sheriffs report. According to the paragraph
on the second. page here, it states: The cities that have busi-
nesses with those machines all controlled, same .....are evident
gambling, gathering of persons with interest in sales,use of
narcatics', disruption:_of'adj,acent'businesses due.to loitering,
drinking, gang type, truancy, theft and occassionally more violent
crimes. Temple Station experienced the same police hazards when
these machines were the exclusive business in two locations in
the City of Rosemead.The restriction was placed by Conditional
Use Permits have to be very stringent and closely monitored in
order to prevent the problems from developing attached is a
copy of the recently enacted San Gabriel ordinance dealing with
amusement machines. Once in awhile the Pac Man and many of the
video cassette games are available to home use and for the great
majority I think there was 90, 7.0 and 60 a couple of hundred
thousand of these games sold last year as far as in the United
States. I don't feel that it is necessary to have these at
Farrells. They have an exceptionally good business the way it
is, and just because they can make more money, I am not sure that
they would be willing to put up with, that is just an assumption,
that they.would not be willing to put up with the problems that
may come with the congestion. I think that is all I have for now,
and for those reasons I am opposed for having it.
Tury: .Thank you Mr. Taylor. Mr: Cichy.
Cichy: Farrells have been operating for.-the last couple of years
with a variety of number of machines. I disagree with Councilman
Imperial with regards to comparing Farrells to an Arcade, to a
7-11, to a liquor store. I personally wish those machines were
not in those locations or that they could be limited to-probably
one machine which might get rid of some of the people out of
those,locations. Dealing with Farrells and if we can restrict
them, I think that the access, the management can keep the teen-
agers under control and, still allow those families who want their
younger children to be able to play the machines as part of the
party..amusement or whatever other amusement there is to go ahead.
It is a passing fad. If these kids are going to grow up to be
lazar beam fighter pilots, and that's quite another. Some of these
people.claim this I don't know. I think that restrictions as to
the hours,.they should not allow the area to be open until after
the lunch hour might eliminate some of the thoughts of teenagers
for going there for the lunch, time. I think the enclosure of the
area with plexiglass would keep the congestion down to a certain
degree as;far as people walking by getting by that aisle. I would
prefer limiting the.number of machines to 6 for a period of one
year with a review at that particular time. The survey itself
is ...or the.petition that they submitted is similar to many other
types of petition circulated by a particular group for a particular
period of,time for one particular project. I am sure that Mont-
gomery Wards :tbere,:was;.not another Montgomery Wards store within
50 miles would have many people shopping, there at that particular
location from all over the San Gabriel valley. There just doesn't
happen to be another'Farrells within a given area and I am sure
that a lot of people enjoy Farrells and that is one reason that
the petition reflects that. I don't think we should legislate
the morals of,the children or the ability of the families to re-
gulate those morals. I feel sorry for the lady in Azusa, but that
is a violation of the penal code called grand theft. She should
report her daughter to the juvenile authority and get some help.
CM 4-20-82 Page #9
Cichy: (continued)
I would be in favor of overturning thelPlanning Comissions
decision on this particular issue and limiting the access on
the machines.
Taylor: I think in reiterating this was not one little lady in
Azusa. It is a fact that we did have the arcades in our City..
Whether there was three or five or ten, our own sheriffs depart-
ment backs up that they are potential problems. So it is some-
thing that many Cities are concerned with it.It is.just.-tHe fact,
do we want the revenue? What does it eome.down to. There are
many children that... there is no question about it that they
take their lunch money. The parents are not even aware of it.
I would say that is probably the majority of them.. The fact that
the parents,don't even know it, do we have some kind of a moral
obligation? Maybe we shouldn't be using the word moral because
it seems to be maybe the Government doesn't want morality or
moral judgement. Either we do or we don't. We get into-.it_one
time or the other. We can stick our heads in the sand and
say.we won't do that because we will let the parents do it.
Maybe in this case the parents are relying on us to decide some
of the uses in our City.. So I am still opposed to the prolifera-
tion of the video games.
Imperial: I take issue with the fact that we are told that we
have no business digging in to the moral issues, I think we have.
In a sense we have. If we didn't have that obligation to the
people in this community, then we should sit here and let massage
parlours, places that sell nude magazines, what have you just
move in.:and take over because we would Ihave no issue to take with
these-people. I feel that we.do have.an obligation to take with
the:;people:.of this community. Secondly, talking about the type
of individual that 'frequents the place. Let's go back to Rosemead
Square. People from all over 'L•.A-,County: uses the Rosemead Four
Theatre. People from all over, I am sure, were using the Electric
Flipper. The fact remains that when the problem started it wasn't
these people from other areas that went home that had to face the
problem. It was.the people in the City of Rosemead, and it was
the peoples tax dollar that had to pay for that deputy sheriff
to canvass that area to make sure that he tried to clean it.up_
for the citizens of Rosemead.
Tury: Thank you, Mr. Imperial. Any other comments.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that the Planning Commission's decision be upheld, and deny the
application for a CUP.
Tury: I have a brief'-statement. I amigoing to support up-holding
the Planning Commissions decision, however, I think we should in-
struct the Planning Commission to set up a set of standards to
allow places like Farrells to operate under certain conditions
I think we might be able to work out those conditions tonight, but
whenever we try to do something on quick..basis, it never seems to
work out: ".It-always has some holes in it. I think if.they look
at several of the ordinances of the cities around..such as the
San Gabriel Ordinance. If we could set up some standards, that
we could live with, `if the applicants could meet those require-
ments there would be a possibility of a business that could oper-
ate. I feel very confident that Farrells could operate this very
successfully, however, I feel that it requires restrictions and
this is not the time or place to have that. I would suggest that`
the Planning Commission... that we direct the Planning Commission
to see if they could set up some standards. .I know that they are
busy guys, but at least you have the Condo Ordinance~.off:'..your
back. We can start over again. Is there any other comments?
Cleveland: I have no objections, to Farrells operating a few
machines in there, because I think it would give us a„pi.lot,study
that we may be able to find the solutions to any future installa-
tion that we might have. Since this comes under a CUP nobody can
put their machines just anywhere they have to come before the Plan-
ning Commission and the Council,in order to get permit to operate.
1 CM 4-20-82
Page #10
Cleveland: (continued)
I am not satisfied with the location of these machines, and I
am not satisfied with the number of machines that they have
requested. I would like to see a clan worked out with the tt
Planning Commission and Farrells whereby they could eliminate U4'1-°U
the aisle between the candy section and the dining<;area and
possibly if they should operate only six machines move them
back into the room on the south side. I think there is plenty
of room there for it. Certainly with the doors open they can
control it very easily. I think having it up in the front
there by the.candy machine n'the dining area was a mistake
and I am afraid.I can't go for that, but I would like to see
some solution worked'out whereby they might be'.able.to-operate
on a limited basis.
Cichy: 'Mr. Mayor, I only have two other suggestions and others
can be explored if it is going back to the Planning Commission.
It is that the Parlour Etiquette Sign should probably include
a statement as to refunds available on unused coins,tokens,
and a separate sign setting forth the Penal section on gambling,
no gambling allowed.
Tury: I think that is an excellent idea. I think what we have
before us tonight is the appeal to the Planning.Commissions de-
cision and there is a motion and a second to deny it. We have
instructed the Planning Commission to set up a set of guidelines
that we-could apply to a CUP. As I said before I don't think
this is the place.to do that. If Farrells can live with those
guidelines,' or anyone else can live with those guidelines, they
can take a look at it. Under the present circumstances,,I don't
this is the proper time to do that. We are looking simply at
the Planning Commissions decision. There has been a motion and
a second to up-hold.;:..
Cichy: Could we have this item verbatim in the minutes?
Tury: I can see no problem with that. Just this issue
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL:
that the Planning Commissions decision be up-held and to deny the
Appeal. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
III. LEGISLATIVE
A. RESOLUTION NO. 82-16-MAKING FINDINGS & DETERMINATIONS
FOR STREET IMPROVEMENT INSTALLATIONS AND APPROVAL OF
COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF ROSEMEAD AND THE
ROSEMEAD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
RESOLUTION NO. 82-16
A RESOLUTION OF.THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT
TO THE INSTALLATION OF MISCELLANEOUS STREET IMPROVEMENTS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1981-82 FOR THE BENEFIT OF REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECT AREA NO. 1, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN
AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD AND
THE REDEVELOPMENT'.-AGENCY
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that Resolution No. 82-16 be adopted and the Cooperation Agreement
be approved. Vote resulted:
UPON-ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT-VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
CM 4-20-82
Page #11
i i
B. RESOLUTION NO. 82-17 - CLAIMS & DEMANDS
RESOLUTION NO. 82-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE,CITY OF ROSEMEAD
CLAIMS & DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $560,159.31,NUMBERED 8227-
8260 & 3521 THROUGH 3705 INCLUSIVELY
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that Resolution No. 82-17 be adopted. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
Mayor Tury directed the Attorney to look into the possibility
of reimbursing the City all.the expenses incurred by the.Cal Fed
project which is in the Redevelopment Project Area, and.he.felt
that,if possible, those charges should be passed on to the Redevel-
opment Agency.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
C. ORDINANCE NO. 541 - AMENDING SECTION 4306a OF ROSEMEAD
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO NOISE CONTROL
ORDINANCE NO. 541
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
AMENDING SECTION 4306(a) OF THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO NOISE CONTROL
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that ordinance No. 541 be adopted;.and the reading in full be waived.
Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said moti6n._.du1Y carried and so ordered.
D. ORDINANCE NO. 542 - REQUIREMENT OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
FOR INSTALLATION AND/OR OPERATION OF COGENERATION EQUIPMENT
ORDINANCE NO. 542
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
REQUIRING A CONDITIONAL PERMIT FOR THE INSTALLATION AND/
OR OPERATION OF COGENERATION EQUIPMENT
MOTION COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that ordinance No. 542 be adopted and the reading in full be
waived. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR (CC-A, CC-B, CC-F, CC-I, CC-K and CC-L Deferred)
CC-C AWARD OF BID TO OAKRIDGE DEVELOPMENT FOR HOME HANDYMAN
PROGRAM
CC-D CONSTRUCTION ACCEPTANCE OF JACKSON AVENUE(HELLMAN/GRAVES)
STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
CC-E AGREEMENT FOR TITLE SERVICES WITH TITLE INSURANCE & TRUST
CC-G GRAND AVENUE ;_WEST.OF''WALNUT`GROVE-=REQUEST FOR SPEED
LIMIT SIGN
CC-H AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND SEMINAR ON TERRORISM IN L. A.
MAY 25th, 1982
CC-J AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND SCAG GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
APRIL 28-30, 1982 PALM SPRINGS.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that the'foregoing Items on the Consent Calendar be approved. Vote
resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED-AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. CM 4-20-82
Page #12
i
CC-A REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR MAINTENANCE
SHED AT ROSEMEAD PARK
Councilman Taylor.requested clarification on the Concrete
slab that is being poured, and the drainage slope.
Mr. Burbank stated that the concrete slab would be poured
over the asphalt slab and set the building on top of it, and it
would be a level slab with a slight slope-for drainage and a slope
on the roof.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR,. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CIICHY"''
that the,request to advertise for bids for the Maintenance Shed
at Rosemead Park be approved. Vote resulted:
UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
CC-B AWARD OF BID TO NADAR--REPLASTERING & RETILING OF ROSEMEAD
POOL
. Councilman Taylor expressed concern over the water going
down the cold.joint between the coping and the slab.
Michael Burbank stated that those joints are caulked.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that the Bid be awarded to Nadar. Vote resulted:'
UPON ROLL.CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
CC-F MISSION DRIVE & EARLE STOP SIGN & CROSSING GUARD
It was directed that the Traffic Commission check to see
where the children are crossing and this'item was deferred for
additional information.
CC-I AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND 76TH MUNICIPAL FINANCE OFFICERS
CONFERENCE, MAY 23-26, 1982, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
No action be taken on this item.
CC-K AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND CONTRACT CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 20-23, 1982 IN PALM SPRINGS.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CICHY, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL
that authorization to attend Contract Cities Annual Conference
in Palm Springs, from May 20723, 1982 be granted. Vote resulted:
AYES: Councilmen Cichy, Cleveland, Imperial and Mayor Tury
NAYES: Councilman Taylor
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Whereupon the Mayor declared said motion duly carried and
so ordered.
CC-L CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY BY SALVATORE PUGLIESE
This Item be deferred for additional information.
V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION & ACTION
A. TRAFFIC COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
B. PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN IMPERIAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR
that both V-A & V-B be handled together and that Glenn Clanton be
reappointed as Traffic Commissioner and Howard Mattern be reappointed
as Planning.Commission for another 2 years. Vote resulted:
. UPON ROLL CALL ALL COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT VOTED AYE.
The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered.
CM 4-20-82
Page #13
Howard Mattern, Planning Commissioner expressed his
appreciation to the Council for the vote of confidence.
Glenn Clanton, Traffic Commissioner, thanked the Council
for his reappointment also.
Mayor Tury thanked the Commissions for their sincere,
dedicated service to the City of Rosemead.
VI. MATTERS FROM THE OFFICIALS
A. Councilman Taylor requested a report from Mr. Burbank
regarding the snack-bar stand and what problems are still left
there. He requested a written report on the tactics being used
to resolve the problem with the Contractor.
Mayor Tury also requested a written report on the addition.
B. ' Councilman Imperial inquired about the status of the
Waterfall in front of City Hall.
Robert Dickey, Assistant City Manager, stated that the pump
unit and the rest of the electrical unit is housed in the library
facility and we are getting an estimate from the mechanical depart-
ment for the replacement of the equipment.
Councilman Imperial stated i.trhad been.a long time since
he had originally requested information on this problem and it
still has not been resolved.
Frank G. Tripepi, City Manager, stated that he had instructed
staff in investigating the removal of equipment and basically re-
routing that equipment to another location that the City would
have control over.and be'-,able.-',to get to it.
C. Councilman Imperial inquired about coverage for the
Commissions in case of accidents.
Councilman Taylor inquired of the City Attorney if these
Commissioners were out of town on 'City business if they would
be covered.
Robert.:K-ress, City Attorney, stated that he felt that they
would be covered.
Councilman Imperial stated that he had inquired about this
issue a couple of years ago and he was told that they were not
covered.
Mayor Tury requested a memorandum on the status of the
Commissioners regarding insurance aspect of it.
D. Mayor.Tury requested permission from the Council to
send a letter to the Rosemead School District regarding allega-
tions of encroachment of Rosemead Park into their School creat-
ing financial hardships for their school.
E. Councilman Taylor stated that in connection with that
he-had picked up eight broken:;beer,bottles in the two diamonds
on the school property. He requested a report back on the May
11, 1982 Council Meeting, regarding what the Sheriff's Deputies
are doing and these are all busted glass bottles laying in the
walkway this last Saturday.
F. Robert Kress, City Attorney, inquired if there was a
need for the preparation of an ordinance regarding a moratorium
on Arcades.
Mayor Tury suggested that an Ordinance be prepared and it
can be studied.
CM 4-20-82
Page #14
G. ALTERNATE TO THE SANITATION DISTRICT
Mayor Tury appointed Mayor Pro Tem Pat Cleveland as the
Alternate to the Sanitation District.
J There being no further business, the City Council was
adjourned to the next-Regular Meeting on April 27, 1982 at
8:00 p. m.
Respectfully submitted:
APPROVED: City Clerk of the City of Rosemead
MAYOR _
CM 4-20-82
Page #15