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CC - 08-09-05MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 9, 2005 The regular meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Imperial at 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. The Pledge to the Flag was led by Councilman Tran. The invocation was delivered by Mayor Pro Tem Taylor. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present: Councilmembers Clark, Nunez, Tran, Mayor Pro Tent Taylor, and Mayor Imperial. Absent: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None. PRESENTATIONS: None 1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE THE FOLLOWING IS VERBATIM DOLLY LEONG: Good evening, Mr. Mayor. My name is Dolly-good evening council members. My name is Dolly Leong, residing at 8455 Mission Drive in Rosemead. I come before you to speak about Consolidated Disposal. I feel that I have exhausted all avenue for help, not limited to disposal, Consolidated Disposal, as well as the administration staff of Rosemead. You heard about Ms. Barbara Murphy talk about what Consolidated Disposal did not do in the recent council meeting. I'm here before you to tell you what Consolidated Disposal has done to me that hurt me financially in my mortgage interest rate and so forth. I have been a Rosemead resident over 30 years. And I have very good relationship with Modern Service Disposal, very good cooperation with that - Modem Service Disposal, but not with Consolidated Disposal. What they did, is that they sent to a collection agency called Union Adjustment for a mere $20. These council members all know how those derogatory statements in your credit report can hurt you dearly in your mortgage interest rate, and worse still, you heard about also insurance can be turned down because of those derogatory statements. A mere $20 on my property of 8453 Mission Drive, which was occupied by tenants, different tenants. We were told-my son once used to live there. One of the staff at Consolidated Disposal said, "Oh, there's a refund due for Victor." So we were so happy. How can there be a refund due to us and a collection of $20 sent to the collection agency? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Excuse me. I couldn't hear while the cell phone was gong off. What did you just say, that they told you that they would refund the money? DOLLY LEONG: There was a refund due to my son who occupied that property at one time. And - COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: A refund to- DOLLY LEONG: Refund due to my son. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Okay. DOLLY LEONG: So I said, "Good. If there's a refund due, how come there's a $20 sent to the collections agency?" So I came, I want to thank Don and also Jan. They were very, very good to me since 1998. They sent a trash can. I said, "I don't need the trash can." We are using 184 5th Street (sic) as an office to sell to subdivision. So they took it away, and they still keep billing me. So I came to Don again. Don said, "We'll take care of it." We did not know from what to what and how this $20 was sent to the collection agency. I'm sure anybody in this audience or you, council members, would not let this happen, a $20 sent to a collection agency to hurt your credit score. This is what-I came to Jan. I say, "Jan, who was the" I wrote to the president. They said my son can not get a refund I cannot ask for a refund for my son, he has to write. That was in CC: 8/9/05 Page 1 • • November he wrote, November of 2004. And yet still, there's still a $20 sent to the collection, it called Union Adjustment. So, council members, I think Mr. Tran know very well how this credit score can hurt a transaction, either a purchase, or worse still, I can't refinance. For a long term, 30 years, you have to force to get a higher interest rate. It's not in the thousand's, it will be in the tens of thousands when you refinance a loan for $30 to $400,000. I think, Councilmember Clark, I did mention this to you at the candidate forum in March, and yet it was not taken care of. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: You were DOLLY LEONG: I told you COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Owed $20? DOLLY LEONG: I talked to you in March in that recreation center and the candidate forum. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Yes, obviously, you're giving me something that I don't (inaudible). DOLLY LEONG: And I couldn't get any help. I couldn't get any help, at all. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Um, Mrs. Leong, question: When did this take place? DOLLY LEONG: Oh, this is very recent. It was, the credit report was dated somewhere May of two this year. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: So when was DOLLY LEONG: April. April. I'm sorry MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: When was the $20 fee I'm trying to figure out why the collection agency has a $20 fee. What did they do? DOLLY LEONG: I do not know. Mr. Taylor, Councilmember Taylor, I wish I know. So this is what I'm telling you, anybody can afford to pay for a $20 not to hurt - this is intentional. And I hear Ms. Murphy talk about what they did not do. This is what they did to me. And I did not hear any of these council members mention about replacing or finding an alternate disposal company that will work with the residents of the city of Rosemead. They did not. I called so many times, and some of the staff there are very rude. They do not know the staff name. I told them "I just talked to this lady. She said there was a refund due to my son of $20" but we don't have check stub." I go, "You don't?" "Hold just a few minutes." And make me held for a long time, 15 minutes. No result. I wrote to the president. No response. And this is Ms. Councilmember Taylor, if the trash Consolidated Disposal do not want to work with the resident of Rosemead, why do we keep them? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: When did you talk to the president of Consolidated? DOLLY LEONG: I wrote to them. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: When? DOLLY LEONG: November. Same time. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: November DOLLY LEONG: November 2004. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: What I'm trying to find out is how this this credit collection every year we have an annual - DOLLY LEONG: Lien. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: lien CC: 8/9/05 Page 2 • • DOLLY LEONG: I keep calling Jan. "Do you have any lien on my properties or" this reason I found out there was one lien on my quickly, I paid. That was hundred and something. I never heard of this $20. That is what I wrote in the letter. There was no lien, so I was not I was not warned there is a collect they going to send it to the collection agency of a mere $20. Mr. Councilmember Taylor, they know me very well. I call them a lot. I pay them at the payment center. I become friend with Maria when she was full time there until they have her part time only certain days. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Do you have all of those letters that you're referring to? DOLLY LEONG: Yes. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Does staff have those? DOLLY LEONG: Maybe. I MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: If you don't, I'm going to ask staff what they did, because it doesn't make sense. DOLLY LEONG: $20. Right here. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No, I agree. It's a very petty amount. DOLLY LEONG: Yeah. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: But if the property was on the delinquent list - DOLLY LEONG: No, it was not. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. That's where I I've got to start somewhere. DOLLY LEONG: Yeah. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Let me ask you a question, Dolly, didn't I handle something for you a few years back on Ralph Street? It was your property. DOLLY LEONG: Consolidated? MAYOR IMPERIAL: On Ralph Street, it was your property or someone else? DOLLY LEONG: Yes. I still own the property, yes. MAYOR IMPERIAL: And did that go away or what happened? DOLLY LEONG: I believe so. There was no liens and nothing on 9554 Ralph Street. This is one of the new home. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Oh, okay. DOLLY LEONG: 8453 Mission Drive. MAYOR IMPERIAL: My suggestion, Gary, you can take care of it or I can. I'm in here all the time. Now, I want to call to find out why this has happened. It must be a mistake, but I don't want to accept it as something like that, because of such time we look into it, okay. DOLLY LEONG: Yes. Mayor, before you do that, can I I I couldn't find the letter and everything my son wrote to them. I wrote to them, and 1 call in Jan's. Also, I want to thank Don and Jan. They are very helpful. And is there any questions? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, no, I want to I want to find the paper trail. CC: 8/9/05 Page 3 • • DOLLY LEONG: Yes. I will submit it to them as soon as I find it. I can't find it now. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: And, Mr. Wagner, you talked to him and another staff member, I want to find out their side of the story, now. Because this this is silly on a $20 - DOLLY LEONG: $20. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: collection agency that you said you came in and paid. DOLLY LEONG: No, no, no, no, it there was nothing on this one. I came in and paid this time, July 2005 on 7665 Grace Avenue, not this one. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. Well, maybe they can get it straightened out - DOLLY LEONG: Yes. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: so I can logically go right through it. I have to agree with you, a $20 delinquency or collection fee or whatever it was - DOLLY LEONG: No, it's it's placed for collection, placed for collection to a collection agency. Its called Union Adjustment Company. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. DOLLY LEONG: It's on my credit report. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, I will look into it. MR. WAGNER: Is this a copy, Dolly? DOLLY LEONG: (Inaudible). MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. DOLLY LEONG: Yeah, because I couldn't find it I was in a hurry, so I couldn't find it. I apologize. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Find find what you can, because it's very $20, it seems like they created a big problem, but I've got to find out what happened with it to get them to straighten out their records. DOLLY LEONG: You see, Mr. Council Councilmember Taylor, they could charge these fees, anyway. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Yes. Yes. DOLLY LEONG: But $2, $2, ten time would be $20, already. So why why send it to the collection? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I don't have the answer for you. It's the first I've heard of it. DOLLY LEONG: That is why I COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: I'd like to clarify that you did talk to me in March, but not about this issue of the $20 thing going on your credit report. I can assure you that would have been taken care of, Dolly. But I hopefully can find out because this sounds ridiculous. MR. WAGNER: But I would just you know, Mr. Taylor and Madam Clark, I would have to think that this you you're familiar with our process. CC: 8/9/05 Page 4 • 0 MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Yes. MR. WAGNER: We do put liens. We send out the notice of delinquent. And and most of the people I think the lien notice that went out, I mean, the final number of properties was reviewed was probably 75, 80 properties that were actually put on the tax roll. Everybody else paid. And Mrs. Leong always pays hers. I don't think she's been on had a lien placed on her property, in years. So I don't know where this $20 collection agency fee would come from, unless, there I you know, I'll check it out. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, we can well, we can do - MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible). DOLLY LEONG: Mr. Mr. Mayor, can I clarify that? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Yeah. DOLLY LEONG: This is not a collection fee. This $20 was sent to the collection agency for collection that I owe them on the property, 8453. I talked to somebody there. They they clarified to me, it was not a collection fee. It was placed for collection, $20. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Then why would it go as a lien? DOLLY LEONG: No lien. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Yes. DOLLY LEONG: No lien. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor at this point, Mrs. Leong, I don't know what else to do but have staff start putting all the paperwork together. Because it's the first time we've we've had a problem of this nature. If there are delinquent fees not paid, we have an annual process. DOLLY LEONG: Yes, in June. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I don't know where this $20 collection fee came from, But we've never had that. DOLLY LEONG: Councilmember Taylor, this is not collection fees. This is placed to the collection agency to collect this $20. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Then I need to see what that is, so staff can just research it. DOLLY LEONG: Thank you. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Uh-huh. DOLLY LEONG: Thank you. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Thank you. BARBARA MURPHY: Good evening. Barbara Murphy, 9125 Bentel Street in Rosemead. Just to add to what Dolly just said, well, they had a glitch in their billing system, And they billed everyone in this cycle, regardless of the number of units, for one unit. That's gonna cause a little bit of a problem. I got a bill for one unit rather than two units. So everyone who has multiple units got a bill for one unit. CC: 8/9/05 Page 5 • 0 MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: When was that, Mrs. Murphy? BARBARA MURPHY: I got the bill today or yesterday. I called them, and they said, "We had a billing glitch." Just --just, you know, for your information. Um, that's not what I'm here to talk about. I would like an explanation from the Mayor and Mr. Taylor and Maggie. I keep getting this mail from PRIDE. And it says on it, "Last Chance to Stop the Rosemead Tax Increase." Could you explain what that means to me? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: I don't have anything to do with those that go out. BARBARA MURPHY: Well, your name is in here. Well, I mean, they're using your name without your permission? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Well, I'd like to see it. May I see it? BARBARA MURPHY: Well, sure. Right here, Councilmembers Margaret Clark, Jay Imperial, and Gary Taylor. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: And what about it? BARBARA MURPHY: Well, you can read it. I didn't memorize it. But, I would like an explanation. What do you mean when you say, "Last Chance to Stop the Rosemead Tax Increase"? I don't understand. I'd like an explanation as to what that means. MAYOR IMPERIAL: I can start off by saying we don't want any taxes in Rosemead. We are totally against new taxes in Rosemead and we'll continue to do that. But its like you makeS100 a month or a week, whatever and you spend $80, okay, you haven't got enough money to go into a lot of other things. Okay, we're very careful on those issues. BARBARA MURPHY: But that's not the same as a tax increase. What what - MAYOR IMPERIAL: That will be a tax increase if we spend more money than we had to pay. BARBARA MURPHY: I don't understand. It doesn't say that. It just says, "Last Chance to Stop the Rosemead Tax Increase." MAYOR IMPERIAL: You want me to write that in there for you. BARBARA MURPHY: No, I would like an explanation. That didn't explain it. MAYOR IMPERIAL: That's the only thing we're saying, we're not looking for any new taxes. We will not vote for any new taxes, and therefore that's what our stand would be if that comes up. BARBARA MURPHY: Well, why is signing a card and sending it back going to stop the tax increase? You haven't even talked about a tax increase, Mr. Mayor. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Yes. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, Mayor, I want to read this sentence, if it's correct here, "If one of them were replaced" - - assuming Mr. Imperial or myself "in the recall, there would be no way to stop these newcomers from draining the City treasury and raising taxes to support their very expensive ideas." Is that what you're referring to'? BARBARA MURPHY: Right. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. CC: 8/9/05 Page 6 • BARBARA MURPHY: But that's not what the front of this letter and this other mailer says. It says, "Last Chance to Stop the Rosemead Tax Increase." Very confusing. I don't understand. Well, I didn't see any bond issues that we voted on for tax increases. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, the paragraph above it states some of the things that want to be done. One comment was raised, and I don't know if you got the news article or not, when they talked about getting their own police department. BARBARA MURPHY: I believe the request was for a study to see what was the feasibility of that. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: What did Mr. Bmesch have to say about that? BARBARA MURPHY: Mr. Bmesch? I don't know. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: He said, "We don't have the $20 million to do it." BARBARA MURPHY: I believe Mr. Tran said the same thing, and he's on the City Council. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're still going to be working on that study. But that's an example, there, why we don't have the $20 million to it would cost us every year $10 million to have our own police department. BARBARA MURPHY: No, I understand that. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. But then that's that's a proposal that's still on the board. It hasn't gone away. BARBARA MURPHY: Did you propose to start a new police department, Mr. Tran? COUNCILMAN TRAN: I thought it was shelved. I didn't put away, as far as the study. You can clarify that, City Manager. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, let me read something else here. Then there was a proposal to go to the cal card accounting procedure. BARBARA MURPHY: Uh-huh. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Credit card, whatever you want to call it. BARBARA MURPHY: Uh-huh. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: And when it came before the Council, that was $5000 per council member per month. So that was $25,000 per month. Do you know of that? BARBARA MURPHY: No, I I read the whole article that was in the paper on Cal-Cards that are used by many school districts and many other government agencies. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: But it was $300,000 a year, when you calculate out, if each council member chooses to use it. That would be $300,000 a year, additional. BARBARA MURPHY: Well, then you would be traveling all the time. Because that was to be set up for travel expenses only. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: It was also we use it for a monitoring program. As you know, Mr. Tran had to explain his actions in Las Vegas. COUNCILMAN TRAN: And I I believe I did, Mr. Taylor, and it was rectified. As a matter of fact, on the Cal-Cards, it was more of an accountability. We currently have a $20,000 limit right now, I believe, on the Assistant City Manager and City Manager, which is taken to conferences. And, I believe, when when a council member travels, a staff member goes CC: 8/9/05 Page 7 • 9 with them with the $20,000 credit card. Is that put on let me ask the City Manager. Is that are the rooms, everything put on that $20,000 credit card? , CITY MANAGER: The rooms, if they're pre-reserved are placed on the credit card before. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Does everyone hear this back there? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: No. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: No. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: No. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. If you can't hear, raise your hand. So I'll make sure we talk louder. Okay? Thank you. Go ahead. CITY MANAGER: The city has a credit card. The assistant city manager and I I now have a credit card, a city credit card. So we split that $20,000 limit. So there's ten on each card. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Times 12 is what, 240,000? CITY MANAGER: Yeah. The card is used on a the basis when we travel we can pre-reserve rooms. We do not always travel with the with the council. What was your other question? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Excuse me. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor --I'd like to finish an item here, to clarify it with Mr. Tran. The continent was made that the charges that were charged against your room in Las Vegas the comment was made that it was put on Councilwoman is it Sharon Martinez? it was put on her credit card. Do you recall that comment? COUNCILMAN TRAN: Yes, I do. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Was it ever verified? In ten weeks, did we ever get a copy of her credit card statement saying that it was on there? COUNCILMAN TRAN: I don't know. Has staff been able to get ahold of her on that receipt? CITY MANAGER: Well, we we asked Ms. Martinez if she did pay for it. We would certainly like to see a copy of that billing so that we could notify the hotel that there has been a possible overcharge. We didn't receive that, so we went directly to the hotel to ask them if they could confirm whether there was any potential for a double billing. And they satisfied the staff that that there was not the opportunity for a double billing. And as a consequence of that in fact, prior to that, Councilman Tran had provided a a payment for that that charge in issue. So we figured that the issue was satisfactory satisfactorily handled. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, Mr. Tran did come in the very next day and write a personal check to satisfy that debt and take it off of the credit card charge, if I'm not mistaken. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Yeah, I did that because of the fact that once and if the hotel did double bill, which the assumption was that - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No, I have documentation. They did not double bill. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Can I finish'? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Go right ahead. CC: 8/9/05 Page 8 COUNCILMAN TRAN: You asked me a question here, so let me finish this. And so when that was when that happened, I had no idea that the hotel did charge our City, which is obviously on the City credit card. I checked out of that hotel knowing that there was no charges. So when that was when that was brought up by Councilwoman Clark, it blew me away, because I had not seen the receipts. So the next morning, I made I wrote a check out right away just to satisfy that because the understanding that we could have been double billed. And so I had staff investigate that. And, obviously, staff has investigated that and talked to the hotel. And what was your finding, again? CITY MANAGER: Well, again, they told us that there wasn't the possibility that it was double billed. COUNCILMAN TRAN: And was that satisfactory? CITY MANAGER: Yeah. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor, if I may, it states here: To Councilman Tran from the City Manager regarding the hotel charges. "In order to resolve the question of possible double billing of room service charges, management staff contacted the billing department of New York, New York Hotel in Las Vegas. Hotel staff reviewed the billing record for your room for the date in question and confirmed that no charges were double billed. The May 22nd room service charges totaling $89.64 were billed against your room only and charged to the City's credit card as previously reported. As you tendered a personal check to the credit card company for these charges, the finance department records now reflect your payment." So there was no double billing, and ten weeks later we still have not got any documentation from Mrs. Martinez that it was put on her credit card. So that's one reason for the City getting copies of all the bills directly, because staff can go right through them and see immediately. They don't get they don't get a one-line statement saying this is all there is. We get the bills with it. And that's the best way to be auditing the checks and balance our accounts. But going on further here, there's been a proposal of building a new city hall or adding on council offices to the west side of our building here. And that's a $2 million project. And if they have another vote, they can probably do that. COUNCILMAN TRAN: You know, that was actually that was actually a previous council. The plans when I first got on the city council, the plans there were for five different schemes. One of the schemes has council offices. Now, I recall the last council meeting, we didn't go that direction. Our direction was to improve the city hall to make it ADA accessible, make the bathrooms accessible for handicaps, and remodel. And that was it. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: And are we coming back with the proposal for what it would cost for those four extra offices? COUNCILMAN TRAN: Which was previously brought up by previous council, in the past. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Let me clarify this, Mr. Tran. This previous council flat out denied the council building an addition for council members. We flat out denied it. So don't be throwing it back. We're talking about what you want to do now. COUNCILMAN TRAN: What do what do I want to do? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Adding these new council rooms, $2 million is our estimate now COUNCILMAN TRAN: You got John, maybe you got City Manager, maybe you can clarify this. Are we coming back - - before council read what was the direction of the last redevelopment meeting? Was it brought up, what, allocated a million dollars that we all voted on, a million dollars to vote - CITY MANAGER: That we all voted on? COUNCILMAN TRAN: Just to remodel city hall to make it accessible. And, I believe, that was a 5-0 vote. Was that correct, Mr. City Manager? CITY MANAGER: I don't recall the yeah, there was a 5-0 vote to analyze a couple of options and come back to the council. CC: 8/9/05 Page 9 • • MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: So then what are we doing with an elevator out there in the sidewalk for the future addition to those four rooms? COUNCILMAN TRAN: You know what? That elevator was done because the architect recommended that - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: For what reason? In the future that lobby would serve as - COUNCILMAN TRAN: There's three Mr. Taylor, there's three options on the elevator. One would have been inside the in this council chamber. Number two would have been inside, actually, right where the computer is at the receptionist's desk. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That's correct. COUNCILMAN TRAN: The third one, which was less disruptive and cheaper, I believe, less expensive, to create an elevator to go downstairs for residents with ADA. And we all and you kept pushing for one that's on (inaudible) receptionist's office. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Right behind that door in the mechanical closet. COUNCILMAN TRAN: And we didn't agree with that, because we thought the fact that the receptionist needed more space. And as a matter of fact, the majority of the council was looking at more space for the receptionist. You were the only one that you were the only one that wanted the elevator right smack in the middle, which would have cost a lot more money because you would have done - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Tran, I spent 33 years as a construction superintendent and a general building contractor. And to go out there to and to cut an eight-foot square hole in that floor to go down below and cut an eight-foot square hole in that floor to put the base of an elevator is a lot cheaper than going out there and going 16 to 20 feet, excavating that out, blocking the doors to the city hall you've got to excavate out on a 45-degree angle for OSHA and safety codes. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Mr. Taylor, you didn't get support on that, I don't believe. Well, actually, we're coming back. The architect gave me his options. Whatever is least expensive and least disruptive as far as- COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Can I get some clarification on this this issue? COUNCILMAN TRAN: Well, can I finish, please? Let me finish, please. BARBARA MURPHY: Uh-huh. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Basically, whatever whatever the architect can come back with that's least disruptive and least expensive, that's the route we're gonna go. When you asked the question you mentioned your 33 years of experience as a contractor. The architect mentioned that it would be a lot less destructive, lot less expensive to go out that way. I still don't- MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I told him he didn't know what he was talking about. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Okay. It wasn't me. COUNCILAN NUNEZ: Then you should fire him (inaudible). COUNCILMAN TRAN: So we should get somebody else? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: We should get whoever (inaudible) - COUNCILMAN TRAN: That's all right. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: allow you to do it. COUNCILMAN TRAN: That's all right. CC: 8/9/05 Page 10 0 MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. One other thing as far as clarifying the extra costs, on the Claims and Demands tonight here, it states city business meeting, June 141h, 2005. This was a Claims and Demands. Now, this was attended by Council Member Nunez, Council Member Tran, Bill Crowe, and Brad Johnson. The reason for this was a tour of development projects in Buena Park, Cerritos, and Fullerton. Now, what was that about? CITY MANAGER: On that date, those individuals that you just indicated, we spent an afternoon looking at various mixed- use development projects that are recognized in Southern California as having particular design merit, one over in Fullerton. Uh, we did go by Buena Park and the city of Cerritos. In Buena Park we looked at they had just built the new City Hall. In Cerritos we were looking at the - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Why were you looking at their City Hall? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Can we move forward please. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. Why were you looking at the City Hall? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Actually, we were looking at the library that was there. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Oh, the library. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: There's a library that is state of the art. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We've got a library next door. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: But it was it looks just like one at Cerritos; right? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: How we gonna pay how we going to pay for it? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Taylor, I asked the question did you look at the one in Cerritos. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I haven't seen the one in Cerritos. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Okay. Then how do you see you should go out there and look at things like that? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: What do you think that library would cost? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Well, I don't know. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Oh, okay. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: But you know what? If we don't go out there and look at things the way other people do it, we're not going to learn. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did the library change? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: You who have not gone anywhere and looked to see other things, bring other things from other areas, they're- MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did you check with the library to tell them we need a new one? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Gary. Did I tell you that we're build a new one? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, you're in COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: (Inaudible). Did I say we were gonna build a new one? CC: 8/9/05 Page 11 • MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Are you down there just killing time? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: We're looking at the way things are done in other cities. MAYOR IMPERIAL: We have to move on. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Anyways COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Let me ask you one thing, Mr. Taylor. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Yes. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: If they gave if they gave 5 council members you being included as one of them of a budget of $5000 a month, you mean to tell me you would go out and spend $5,000 a month? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I don't spend COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Wait a minute. Does that mean you're going to spend $5000 a month? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: That's what you implied. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Why was it in here for $5,000? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: That's staff recommendation. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Staff recommendation is $5000. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: (Inaudible). MAYOR IMPERIAL: Let's close this with one item, 1 think... COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Hold on for a second. MAYOR IMPERIAL: This card in use for 27 years, and its still good. Okay. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Imperial, do I have the floor or not? MAYOR IMPERIAL:. Yes. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Imperial MAYOR IMPERIAL: Do you want it? COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Imperial, do I have the floor or not? MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible). COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Imperial, do I have the floor or not? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Yes. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Okay. Thank you. Now, the fact is that, you know what, we have a $20,000 credit card limit. Do we spend $20,000 a month? CC: 8/9/05 Page 12 • 0 MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. I don't think so. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Okay. Then why would you say we're gonna spend $5000 a month on each one that we use? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, we're not (inaudible). COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: You're making a lot of presumptions for something that are really disingenerous. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: (Inaudible). MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No, we don't have a Cal-Card, and we don't - COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: We have a credit card that and you know what that that somebody can go out there and use and go to Macy's or something like that and purchase a something. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: In 46 years, we haven't had the problem. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Right. And we won't have a problem. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Tran went to Las Vegas, and we had a problem. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: We won't have a problem. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I know we won't. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: We won't have a problem. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're not having a Cal-Card. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: It won't happen with the Cal-Cards either. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Anyway, we're just disputing the (inaudible). MAYOR IMPERIAL: Let's go on with the items here. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: The thing about it Gary is that you are being disingenuous by saying that we're going to just spend that kind of money. We don't spend that kind of money. You don't spend that kind of money. I still have the floor don't 1, Ms. Clark does not spend that kind of money... MAYOR IMPERIAL: I think that has ended, we're going on to the next item. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Are you taking it away from me? COUNCILMAN TRAN: you allow Mr. Taylor to speak. When you cut someone off. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Okay. Are you cutting me off are you asking me to stop speaking? MAYOR IMPERIAL: I'm asking you to finish up so we can go onto the next item. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (Inaudible). CC: 8/9/05 Page 13 • • COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: I'm trying, but 1 keep getting interrupted. Mr. Taylor, I think you're being disingenuous by telling people that we're going to spend $5000 a month. We don't spend the $20,000 that we have right now limit on credit cards. And there is no reason why we will we will start doing that. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Uh-huh. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Taylor, you're saying that only you alone, you can control yourself with credit cards and that we can't'? Is that what you're saying? MAYOR IMPERIAL: This is on behalf of Barbara MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Tran fouled up. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Barbara wanted to say something. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: I'm sorry? What did you say? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Tran fouled up with his charges. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I did not get the receipt, Mr. Taylor. Had I got the receipt - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You should have looked at it. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Staff has the receipt. If staff would have brought those receipts to me and I'm not blaming staff. 1 did not get the receipt. I did not get the receipt. Had they brought it to my attention, I would say, "You know what? I didn't know about these charges." Because Councilmember Sharon Martinez paid with her own- MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Wait a minute. Don't go down that road again, because you've had 10 weeks - COUNCILMAN TRAN: Thank you. You just stick to the chairing. And I'd like you to apologize to me. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Now, look okay. I have the floor now. I asked for the floor, Jay. Mr. Mayor - COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: When you use a credit card or Cal-Card you pick up the receipt and you bring it with you. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I asked for the floor. I need to clarify something. COUNCILMAN TRAN: You don't believe me? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Mr. Mayor. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Ms. Clark has a continent. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay and them after that we will continue with our normal business here. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: I need to clarify what happened with the with the issue with Ms. Martinez; all right? I called her the next day when you said she was upset. Can you hear me? COUNCILMAN TRAN: You said you called the next day. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Okay. I called Sharon, and I said, "I'm sorry that 1 didn't talk to you first about it. That would have been the more polite way. But you have to understand that we were being challenged. We were being challenged that we used limousines and upgraded to first class. We were being challenged that we misused tax payer money." All right? She did not accept my apology. She said, "Nothing you say can make it better. You were a fellow Soroptimist. How could you do this?" I won't go into the whole thing, but she did not accept my apology. Okay. I did not apologize for the issue. I CC: 8/9/05 Page 14 • apologized for not going to her first. That would have been the polite way to do it. All right? Now, she said to the newspapers that she had paid. I said, "All we need is your either your City credit card receipt or your personal credit card receipt, and that would prove that it was a double billing. End of conversation." I said she said, "I do not have a City credit card." Period. That's all she said. She did not say, "I I'm looking for the receipts," or, "I paid with my personal credit card." She didn't say that. And to this day she has not brought in the receipts. You said she paid for the meal. She said she paid for the meal to the newspapers, and she did not. Now, I wasn't gonna bring this up again, John. I wasn't going to bring this up at all. But the memo that says we cashed the City cashed your check for the $86 in order that it would not go on the City bill, but that is still was a charge that would have been on the bill if it hadn't been caught. And you and she both said she paid for it. Now, when I talked to people on from other council people read about it in the paper at the conference in Monterey and they think that it's even illegal. It is actually illegal. We know because we have an Attorney General memo that says it is illegal for a city council member to take another council member, a friend, a constituent, a spouse on the City tab. It is illegal. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I'm sorry? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: And it may even be illegal to get reimbursed. In other words, you you-- you say, "Well, I'll charge it, and then I'll pay for it later." It may according to these council people, that even may be illegal to actually charge it. And you made an issue of it, John. You brought it back and vilified me for bringing this up at that meeting. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I don't disagree. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: at that meeting. The next day I called her and I talked to her, and nothing has happened since. Your check was cashed, but she did not pay. And you were gonna it was all fine with you. You may have not realized when when it was brought up. You said that you were caught off guard. But when you were in that hotel having that meal with there were actually two meals. There was one with Roger Hernandez and you and Sharon, and there was another meal with just Sharon and you. And there is four entries on the bill. And you knew that was taking place. That was room service, and it went on the bill. COUNCILMAN TRAN: And again COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: So for you to say this is all nothing, and it's all my fault, you were going around --your people that are getting signatures on the recall I have friends out there that tell me when when they come to their house. And they told me that your people are going out there and saying, "Margaret Clark apologized to Sharon Martinez." And that implies that the whole thing was my fault. You had nothing wrong, she had nothing wrong. And I take issue with that. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Well, let me let me --no I I - COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: And it it brings up the whole thing - MAYOR IMPERIAL: I'm going to let you comment one more time, and let's go on with business. Okay? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: It brings up the whole thing about why we cannot have the Cal-Card, because I was totally crucified and vilified for an $86 bill, there is no way that we're gonna keep tabs on what you spend, where you go. Because you absolutely you absolutely and it's verbatim in the minutes. It's verbatim on the tape. And anybody can come in and listen to that. And you're the one that has kept it going by having your recall people out there talking. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I have my recall people? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Yes, you do. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I have so much control over them. Anyhow, I'd agree that - COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: I have a lady here tonight, and she'll tell you exactly what you said. MAYOR IMPERIAL: She has an answer on that and that's it. We're going onto the next order of business - CC: 8/9/05 Page 15 • • COUNCILMAN TRAN: And I actually want to comment on that. So basically I didn't bring it up. Councilman Taylor brought it up. And - MAYOR IMPERIAL: It doesn't matter who brought it up. You're giving your opinion and we're going on with the next order of business. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Well, let me give my opinion, then, Mr. Imperial. MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible) this is a council meeting. COUNCILMAN TRAN: That's what I thought it was. MAYOR IMPERIAL: You seem to forget sometimes. Go ahead. COUNCILMAN TRAN: (Inaudible). I just wanted to clarify that. And, again, Councilman Clark, we had room service on with with the assumption at the time, Councilwoman Sharon Martinez, with her own credit card, paid for the meal - UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (Inaudible). COUNCILMAN TRAN: with her own MasterCard. And when I got back to the obviously, coming back here without giving staff the receipt, I was not notified about these charges; otherwise, that would have been rectified. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: But why this -is the electronic age COUNCILMAN TRAN: But you you made the assumption COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: You can go on the Internet and find out what you charged on your credit card, John. She could find that out in an instant on-line. Now, if she can't produce that in ten weeks, then obviously it didn't happen. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Well, you know what? We're under the assumption - COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: So why didn't you keep asking her to find it if she really did it. COUNCILMAN TRAN: You know, that's true. That's that's - MAYOR IMPERIAL: Let's go on with business. COUNCILMAN TRAN: (Inaudible), Mr. Mayor. This is unbelievable. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Yeah, it is. MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible). COUNCILMAN TRAN: Unbelievable. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Mr. Perea. COUNCILMAN TRAN: They're just motivating me more. DAVID PEREA: Good evening. My name is David Perea, 2434 North Charlotte. Well, I hope we don't end up talking about trash for what I'm gonna ask you. The issue that I have is why our city fathers who lead this city don't remind the citizens that it's a Federal offense to remove political signs? MAYOR IMPERIAL: They're removing political signs? DAVID PEREA: Yes. CC: 8/9/05 Page 16 MAYOR IMPERIAL: It's a Federal DAVID PEREA: People yes, it is. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. They're not removing them. DAVID PEREA: They're removing them. We paid for them. They should stay up. If people want to run a fair campaign, that's one way to do it. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Well, is there a problem there? DAVID PEREA: Yes. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Well, then, why don't you bring that to the that problem to my attention- DAVID PEREA: I hey THE COURT: and we'll look into it? DAVID PEREA: You said that at the last meeting, and it's gotten worse. MAYOR IMPERIAL: And did you bring it to my attention? Huh? DAVID PEREA: We did. We spoke about it. MAYOR IMPERIAL: I'm not talking to you, sir. I'm talking to - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor DAVID PEREA: Mr. Ruiz spoke about it. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor, there are signs being taken from both sides. DAVID PEREA: Well, it's not us. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: It's not us either. DAVID PEREA: We are running a clean and fair campaign. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: And so are we. We have DAVID PEREA: We don't put you down. We don't talk about bad - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're saying the same thing. We're not taking your signs, and you're not taking ours. DAVID PEREA: Well, then, you should tell somebody that you you represent, it's illegal to do that. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You should tell somebody you represent. It's a back-and-forth issue. DAVID PEREA: We don't do that. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You're not doing it? DAVID PEREA: We don't do that. CC: 8/9/05 Page 17 0 MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Absolutely, you do. DAVID PEREA: That's not our policy. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I've had signs taken from my neighborhood. We've had signs taken and put in the park and go up and take pictures. They're not - DAVID PER-EA: You're not supposed to put them in a park, anyway. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We know that. We're not dumb. We they had my signs put out here in the ivy and came in and told the City to go out and take pictures. There's just people that pull those crummy stunts. DAVID PEREA: Well, those must be your people, because it ain't ours. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Oh, that's right. And it's not ours. COUNCILMAN TRAN: But we did get we did get the memo - UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: (Inaudible) come on. COUNCILMAN TRAN: We did get a memo from from our staff stating that actually, I think Mike Lewis was there. Mike Lewis had a sign in the in the park, which a picture was taken, both with signs taken to the park. So it was just people throwing it in the park, Gary. So - DAVID PEREA: But, you know, if you gonna run a clean campaign and be professional about it and fair, show your true colors. Don't do it the way it's being done. That's all. What's wrong with that? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That is the way it's being run. DAVID PEREA: Well, I'll tell you what MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Who did you catch doing that? DAVID PEREA: We don't haven't caught anybody, but we're gonna set traps for them. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That's the best thing to do. DAVID PEREA: And you know what MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I agree with that. DAVID PEREA: You know what? And you and I'll tell you this much, you a person who removes a political sign can go to prison. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Catch them. DAVID PEREA: Well, I hope we do. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We'll help you send them to prison. DAVID PEREA: I hope we do. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No, I'm I'm in --I'm in agreement with you. I really am. COUNCILMAN TRAN: (Inaudible) Gary. CC: 8/9/05 Page IS L DAVID PEREA: And you, as a leader of our community, you should tell the people, "Don't do it." MAYOR IMPERIAL: Thank you, Mr. Perea. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Don't do it. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Don't do it, Gary. DAVID PEREA: I bet you will. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Have we got any others? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yeah, all the other ones - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Somebody else (inaudible). (Inaudible). Okay. (Inaudible). RON GAY: Good evening. Ron Gay, 4106 Encinita Avenue. Let's get a few things clear here, Gary. Cal-Card. Okay? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're done with that Ron RON GAY: No. No. No. Excuse me. Who's got the podium? Thank you. MAYOR IMPERIAL: You've got it now, but not for everything that happened during the evening. RON GAY: No. No. No. You come out with these assumptions. Okay? Your staff reviewed this. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're not getting a Cal-Card. RON GAY: Please. Please. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're not getting a Cal-Card. (Inaudible). RON GAY: Will you please be quiet. Who's got the floor? Thank you. You know, you you get my blood pressure to a point where I'm not gonna take this bull. Okay? So please bear with me and listen. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Ub-huh. RON GAY: Uh-huh. Okay. Cal-Card, okay, were reviewed by your staff. It's a professional card endorsed by the state of California. This $5,000 limit limits can be set by your own organization. Okay? It's all about accountability, Gary, not your old 40-year-old plan of a traveling - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: If it's not broken, don't fix it. RON GAY: Can you please be quiet, please? Can you please be quiet? Okay? Okay? You're you're you're talking about, you know, spending this, spending that. Well, let's go back a few, too. When we talked, I brought up a point about limos with Jay excuse me, town cars, having city managers driving town cars on trips. Does that ring a bell? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: The car in the back? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Are you kidding? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: The car in the back? RON GAY: A rental. Rental cars. That doesn't ring a bell? CC: 8/9/05 Page 19 • MAYOR IMPERIAL: No, it does not. RON GAY: Okay. Okay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Crowe you're the City Manager RON GAY: Also also, too - no hang on. Hang on. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. You accuse them of driving a town car RON GAY: No, I'm asking, does it ring a bell? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: They told you last time they didn't. RON GAY: I I specified a limousine. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Town car? What are you thinking about - RON GAY: You've never had a city manager MAYOR IMPERIAL: I never had a limosine in my 27 years. I've never had a limosine. RON GAY: Okay. I'm talking a town car. Okay? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay, a town car. Where where did you get a town car? RON GAY: Well, some people consider MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: (Inaudible). RON GAY: Some people consider those limos; some don't. Okay? MAYOR IMPERIAL: I spent 26 years in the military, I consider it a damm tank. What's your problem? What's your problem? RON GAY: I was in the military, too. Okay? So yeah. MAYOR IMPERIAL: I'm trying to behave, honest, but this guy gets to me. RON GAY: Well, you get to me, too. Okay. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay, guess what. Don't get too far now. If you're done. Finish up and go home. RON GAY: Oh, no. No. No. Now you listen up. Okay, buddy? Back to you, Gary, I brought up the point I brought the point about recalling Pike, and you said you had absolutely nothing to do with that. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Oh, come on now. RON GAY: No, you come on. We're talking credibility, Gary. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That's not what I said. RON GARY: Gary, we're talking credibility. You point blank said you had nothing to do with it. Well, I checked my sources. CC: 8/9/05 Page 20 0 0 RON GAY: Estelle Holtz (sic) and Lillian Soco (sic) said you came to them, and you wanted a position. Matter of fact, they're the same outsiders --that you call outsiders that you asked to get you in this office. Yes or no? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I didn't ask them for anything. RON GAY: You didn't ask them for anything? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: The outsiders are your union. RON GAY: No. This is the outsider. Where is my man Mr. Mike Lewis? Who's ask to do the same thing in South El Monte. Okay? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did you look at the campaign statements today? How much money did the unions put into our elections? RON GAY: You tell me. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. You're supposed to know. RON GAY: No. No. I've been working all day. Okay? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did they'put in $10,000? RON GAY: How much did how much has Wal-Mart put in on this already? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Wal-Mart put in $480,000 to buy the permits down there and the EIR to become a part of this community. RON GAY: I'm asking you, how much have they put out for all your pieces - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I don't know. RON GAY: which you claim, cleaning up Rosemead. All of a sudden you've been here 25 31 or 30. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Uh-huh. RON GAY: You've been here 25 now, it's now it's your ambition to clean up Rosemead? Huh? MAYOR IMPERIAL: No, no that actions been going on. You know what I think (inaudible) because (inaudible). RON GAY: Well, excuse me, I think you're the one that's - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Gay RAN GAY: a little, uh, a little MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Gay you're not following what the union - MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible). RON GAY: You're wonderful, Jay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You're not following what the unions are doing. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Tell another war story. CC: 8/9/05 Page 21 • • MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did they spend $10,000? Did they spend $20,000? RON GAY: You tell me. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You don't know? RON GAY: No, I haven't read it yet. Enlighten me, Gary. You seem to be full of enlightenment. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did they spend 30,000. Did they spend $40,000? Did they spend $80,000? RON GAY: Do you know? Tell me. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did they spend $100,000? RON GAY: Tell me. MAYOR IMPERIAL: We'll have a five-minute recess. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: It's there Mr. Gay your outside people spent 80 to $100,000 dollars. RON GAY: Your asking for Wal-Mart? Your outside people are Wal-Mart because you're too lazy to do your job and fill these vacancies. Your quick cure is to bring a Wal-Mart when you have all these blighted areas of town. Okay? You've had enough time in this city. Good-bye. (Recess) MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. We're back in order in the oral communications from the audience. Can we hear the last one, please? RON GAY: Yeah. I took a nice little time-out there. I think we all needed it. Excuse me for raising my voice, but I just really get, it irks me when people try to take things out of context, which By the way, you never mentioned what the new tax increase was all about. Bottom line, it's strictly a scare tactic. That's all this whole ploy is. You know, I look at this "Cleaning up Rosemead," and new businesses. You know, once again, here we go again. You know, the objective of the city council is to grow a city, is to bring in businesses, not replace businesses. Please. Please. I don't want to go down this road again, Gary. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: But that's Wal-Mart. RON GAY: Okay? But okay, that's Wal-Mart is gonna cure all your ills; right? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: It will help. RON GAY: Forget about all the blighted parts of Valley, all the blighted parts of Garvey. Just forget about it. These are replacement pictures, Gary. These are businesses that went out, for one reason or another, that were strictly replaced. We have no growth, Gary. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: (Inaudible). RON GAY: We have no growth in this city. You --you know, like I said before, if if if you talk about spending and spending. It's not about spending money, it's about looking into and investing. That's why you have staff. That's staffs job. But if you if they're not given direction if they're not given direction to go after and look at avenues to enrich our city you know, 'cause bottom line you know, I know half of you don't live in Rosemead other than our council. Okay? Other staff, they don't live here. We don't have anything in this city. What do we have? Nothing. Bottom line, nothing. You look at Pico to the south. Yeah, they got a Wal-Mart, but they got a whole lot more than Wal-Mart, buddy, you know? Okay? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're trying. CC: 8/9/05 Page 22 • • RON GAY: You look at you look at you look at the other cities. I mean, we leave the city to go out to dinner, to go to the movies. Isn't the objective to build it here in the city so we can enjoy our city, so we can spend our tax money in the city? It's not happening. And and you get on these tangents about spending this and blah, blah, blah. And you know what? It's nothing but a smoke screen, and it's not gonna work. And until people up here realize that residents require a little more than a Wal-Mart okay because bottom line, what's gonna happen to you is what Wal-Mart does everywhere else. Ten years down the road when this little, um, lease is up, they're gonna vacate, baby. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That's not true RAN GAY: Oh, come on. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: and you know it. RON GAY: No, I know exactly. Just like I asked Kanelos (sic) okay. I'm gonna keep it down. Just like I asked Kanelos (sic) at the meeting, I Cathedral City. "Oh, no, we didn't close that. We relocated." Yeah, one town to the other. That is their ball plan, Gary. That is what they do. They come in. They promise you the world. You say we didn't have to give them anything? Well, when this first started out, we were looking at about one and a half million dollars to purchase that sign and all that kind of good stuff. But because they got shellacked in Inglewood and have taken the heat, they want to win this city. And you can tell. You can tell, the money they spend in here to put this stuff up, which is you know what? I just hope residents don't realize do realize that there's a whole heck of a lot more to a city than Wal-Mart. Okay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: How many stores does Wal-Mart have? RON GAY: How many? Well, geese, they keep growing every day. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: How many do they have right now? RON GAY: I don't know, Gary. I don't really follow Wal-Mart. I just follow it in my city. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: And that's what we're trying to do. RON GAY: okay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: They said they have 4,000 stores, and you're telling me every ten years they close them all? RON GAY: Check their track record. Check their track record. They'll go they'll they'll close this one. They'll go to another site. And what they do, is what they do everywhere else. They prey on cities. They promise you the world. We're gonna set up on the border here, and let's take some of Pico's business, and take some of Montebello's business. Let's take some of Alhambra's business, or whoever it may be. And they promise you the world. Okay? And and you talk about jobs. Those jobs aren't guaranteed for people in Rosemead. We've been through this. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We've never said that. RON GAY: Oh, yes. 500 jobs for MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Rosemead area, do you know what that means? It means south San Gabriel. It means Monterey Park. It means El Monte. It means San Gabriel - RON GAY: It means East Los Angeles. It means everywhere else but just Rosemead. I mean, these things, you know you know who puts this together. You know, Mike Lewis - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor RAN GAY: is here for a reason. CC: 8/9/05 Page 23 • • MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Ron, you're gonna take this the wrong way, but I think we should move on with the meeting because you and I could talk all night. RON GAY: Yeah, we can. And the only thing I can really say that I know you you you folks on this council have done for this city barring these two gentlemen on the corner was to vote yourself a $1200 a month raise for redevelopment. Okay? Which puts you up in the neighborhood of what, 1,200 or 950, I believe, for a part-time job. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Did you check the voting record on that? RON GAY: No, I didn't, Gary. You didn't vote for it, did you? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: There you go. You just discovered something. RON GAY: Okay. Fine. Big deal. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I I I just don't want to go on with this, Mr. Mayor. We can talk all night, Ron. RON GAY: Yeah, we can, Gary. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I didn't vote for it. RON GAY: And I'm done. And you know what? If he would learn - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: (Inaudible). RON GAY: how to run a clean campaign, it wouldn't get like this. Okay? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor, they spent $100,000, 1 think. RON GAY: (Inaudible). Okay. What did Wal-Mart spend, Gary? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Oh, don't blame it on Wal-Mart. RON GAY: No, I'm asking a question. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Don't blame it on Wal-Mart. RON GAY: You brought it up. I'm not blaming anybody. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You said you're a bunch of poor people that can't even buy signs. MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible). RON GAY: No, don't excuse me, Mr. Mayor, he brought up a point to me. He said, "Did you know they spent an x amount of dollars?" And I asked the simple question in rebuttal, "How much did Wal-Mart spend?" And he won't answer. Just like he wouldn't answer about the tax increase. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. You guys outspent Wal-Mart. I'll tell you that. RON GAY: Pardon? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You guys outspent Wal-Mart. RON GAY: Yeah, right. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: It's all in the financial records, and we're gonna talk about that a little later. CC: 8/9/05 Page 24 • RON GAY: You can't tell us now. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I told you. It's $100,000. RON GAY: No, that's you didn't tell me what Wal-Mart spent. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You get the records. It's under $100,000. RON GAY: Once again MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. I'm gonna make you go get the records. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Slippery slope here, okay, last comment. • COUNCILMAN TRAN: Mr. Mayor, real quick on that on that flyer that says "No New Taxes," but interesting enough, that I'm not too sure the public even knows, we're actually in debt. We we financed a bond in 1993 for $35 million that we owe. Plus, if you pay out for 30 years, which is 2023, we owe an additional $35 million. So if you look at it, we owe as of today, $70 million. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: You're wrong. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I'm wrong? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're gonna bring it back at the next meeting fully documented. Mr. Crowe, would you bring that up? COUNCILMAN TRAN: Mr. Crowe knows fully (inaudible). MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. No. We're gonna bring that up at the next meeting - COUNCILMAN TRAN: (Inaudible). Does he have (inaudible)? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: in detail. MAYOR IMPERIAL: We're not going on with that. We're going on with the regular meeting. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Do we owe do we owe $35 million? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No. No. You said $70 million. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Plus interest. After you pay everything else, it will be $70 million. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Anyway, we'll bring it back at the next meeting. COUNCILMAN TRAN: We are in debt, so UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (Inaudible). COUNCILMAN TRAN: Cancel the City credit cards, and we'll be okay. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: People need to learn to (inaudible). COUNCILMAN TRAN: (Inaudible). Cancel the City credit cards, and we'll be fine. CC: 8/9/05 Page 25 • MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Keep moving. H. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None. III. LEGISLATIVE A. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-26 - CLAIMS AND DEMANDS The following Resolution was presented to the Council for adoption. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-26 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $529,743.62 NUMBERED 49968 THROUGH 50040. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to pull one item off the list. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: (Inaudible). MAYOR IMPERIAL: Which one, Mr. Tran? COUNCILMAN TRAN: I'm actually going to I'd like to get some more information on this let's see here. Would that be considered, uh, (inaudible) register number 05-26. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: What page? COUNCILMAN TRAN: First page. First page of the Claims and Demands. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Which number? COUNCILMAN TRAN: 89505 through 89663. I have to get some more information on this as far as what we've paid for for these fire extinguishers. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Tran, is it 26 or 27, which is the resolution number? COUNCILMAN TRAN: 26. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: On page 1? On page 1? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Hey, Gary, it's check 49. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Want to move (inaudible), John? COUNCILMAN TRAN: That's fine. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: John, you want to remove that one, though? COUNCILMAN TRAN: I'd like to remove that, possibly, just bring it back at the next meeting with more information on that. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. So is that the only item? CC: 8/9/05 Page 26 • COUNCILMAN TRAN: That's the only one. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. (Inaudible). MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Move the approval. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: I second. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Both items? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Both? MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible) hold off, I think (inaudible) information on this. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Is that it? COUNCILMAN TRAN: That's it. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: So we're paying it? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Yes. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Are we paying it or getting it • MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Yes. Mr. Tran, we're going to pay it. And you're going to get the information. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I'd like to pull it and move it to the next meeting. (Inaudible). MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible) you want to pull that'? COUNCILMAN TRAN: Yes. I want to pull that item. I guess, that warrant or the check number. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN NUNEZ that the Council adopt Resolution No. 2005-26. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Imperial, Nunez, Taylor, Tran No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. B. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-27-CLAIMS AND DEMANDS The following Resolution was presented to the Council for adoption. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-27 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $255,571.26 NUMBERED 49920 THROUGH 50130. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN NUNEZ that the Council adopt Resolution No. 2005-27. Vote resulted: CC: 8/9/05 Page 27 • Yes: Clark, Imperial, Nunez, Taylor, Tran No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR CC-A ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS AND AWARD OF CONTRACT - ROSEMEAD PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER RENOVATION AT ZAPOPAN PARK, CDBG PROJECT NO. B-04-MC-06-0580 CC-B APPROVAL OF UNDERTAKING AGREEMENT FOR PARCEL MAP 26748 3044ISABEL AVENUE CC-C APPROVAL OF JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH GARVEY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE JESS GONZALEZ SPORTS COMPLEX MOTION BY COUNCILMAN NUNEZ, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TAYLOR that the Council approve the aforementioned items on the Consent Calendar. Vote resulted: Yes: Clark, Imperial, Nunez, Taylor, Tran No: None Absent: None Abstain: None ' The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION - None ! V1. STATUS REPORTS - None VII. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: At our next city council meeting, I would like an item put on the agenda regarding the hiring of two additional deputies. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Mr. Mayor. I just want to ask something on that. Last time we talked about getting a study. Is the study done?. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Nunez this has got nothing to do with the study. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Well, I just want to okay. So we asked for a study on something, and you want to bring something up, then document MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That study can still be done. This is a supplemental hiring that would fill any gap we may have. You can still have the study. I'm just asking for these two additional - COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: So if the study calls for something different, how do we do it? How do we change it? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We can correct it, then? Obviously, we got to have some more deputies. CC: 8/9/05 Page 28 • • COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: So you're saying we need more police help? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I want to try and put two more additional deputies - COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Today? So in other words, like as soon as possible? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, yes. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Okay. I just want to make sure. That's all I want to do. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: And we can discuss this (inaudible). COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: And then at that time we'll discuss what the purpose what the (inaudible) - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Absolutely. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: All right. Thank you. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Absolutely. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Is there a cost attached to that or - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Of course there will. We don't get it for free. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Two deputies; right? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Well, it's $500,000. And you brought up the comments, when you were walking the streets of the city of Rosemead, the response time is so long that a couple more deputies will help that. That's why I'd like it on the next agenda to discuss that. COUNCILMAN TRAN: it's a study and the response time. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Okay. But that's all I have on that, Mr. Mayor. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Mr. Mayor? MAYOR IMPERIAL: Oral Communications from the audience? COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: Mr. Mayor, I I have some things. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: I would like the item verbatim on the tape recorder. MAYOR IMPERIAL: I can't hear you, Maggie. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: I'd like the item verbatim on the credit card issue. MAYOR IMPERIAL: All items are verbatim. No (inaudible) on the credit card issue, again. COUNCILWOMAN CLARK: No, on the credit card. COUNCILMAN TRAN: I'd like to get all items verbatim. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. I just had that request CC: 8/9/05 Page 29 • i MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Mr. Tran is That's fine. I'll go along with that. I'm sorry, Nancy. Usually, I'm the one that that issue. COUNCILMAN NUNEZ: Are we gonna add extra dollars to the (inaudible). MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: I don't know. We can take a vote on it, if you want to vote yes or no. MAYOR IMPERIAL: 1 didn't have any dinner tonight. I can donate five bucks. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Anyway, Mr. Mayor, we do have some other council members have an issue for I do want to bring up the candidate, the statements that were filed. I need to ask the city clerk if those forms that had been filed, if they're acceptable, or have you asked for additional explanations? CITY CLERK: No, I have not asked for additional - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: Then I would like to ask, because I believe it's about, I'm gonna say, an 80- to 90-page report that was given to us from the CITY CLERK: (Inaudible). MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: No, the Committee on political education (COPE). And it's the LA County Federation of Labor. And there is between 80 and $100,000 listed in there that they paid out for the last election. So but it's so confusing because they threw in approximately six other city elections, and it's not broke down. So I would request - and if you have to have the City attorney look at it but as I say, it's 80- to 90-pages long. And Mr. Rosenthal, I believe, ran in L.A. There was quite a bit of money it was approximately $236,000 that they put in one form. So I would like to get it broke down in a legible form, because they donated many, many thousand dollars to the See S-O-C-P-A-C. As was discussed in some previous literature, they sent they spent many thousands of dollars, whether it be 10 to 20 because it's not broke down enough. MAYOR IMPERIAL: In what period of time are we talking about? MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're talking about from the last filing statement from "February 19, 2005." MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: the two weeks before the election. All this money was spent after that time, and it was not reported on the "February 19'h form #460." MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: So I would like to ask the city clerk to send a letter to get that clarified rather than grouping it all together with like I said six other city elections. That's all I have, Mr. Mayor. COUNCILMAN TRAN: Mr. Mayor, we'd also like to make a request. See, offer the same set up that Mr. Taylor said that Wal-Mart how much money they gave to PRIDE and - MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: That's in there John, they all made the same statement. COUNCILMAN TRAN: But I would like to ask for a breakdown too. VIII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE MAYOR IMPERIAL: Okay. At this time, then, we're going to a closed session. Mr. Pike do you want to say anymore on this before we go into closed session? CC: 8/9/05 Page 30 • • KEN PIKE: I have listened tonight to arguments both ways here, and I'm firmly convinced that nobody convinced anybody of anything because it was so jumbled up. Now, we have agendas that are set up, and if we as council members or audience listening to this, in parliamentary procedure, why, things that are not on the agenda can't be brought up at a council meeting. They can be asked for a study or something to be put on the agenda for the next council meeting, and it will run smoothly then. But this asking a question here, and trying to answer the question, and getting in an argument, that doesn't that doesn't promote a smooth council meeting. When the people say that there's been no improvement in the city, I went on a tour of our city here this evening, before I came to this council meeting, and I was absolutely flabbergasted at the improvement that has happened in our city in the past 30 years. Now, it didn't happen yesterday, and it didn't happen last week, it just happened over this period of time. But when I refer back to what we had when we began and what we have now, it's almost unbelievable. Now, Walnut Grove used to be a little two-lane road, run down from the city of Emmit (sic). And it had no curbs and gutters. It had a bar ditch there that was some cattails were growing in places, and the mosquitos were breeding, and it was just one heck of a mess. And I toured the city today, and I went down Walnut Grove clear to the end of the city limits. And where it joins San Gabriel, it's a four-lane highway, curbs, gutters, drainage, beautiful. I turned around San Gabriel. It's also a four-lane highway all the way down to where it crosses under the 60. I didn't go any further than that today. I don't know whether it's four-lane on past the 60 Freeway or not. But the curbs and gutters and drains in the city and the improvement in the homes why there's beautiful two-story homes down there that didn't exist when we were incorporated. And people wanted to hunt rabbits and quail out there where the city has developed. But we have made one lot of progress. The only thing we're lacking is in business. Now, when we first incorporated, we hired one of the foremost professionals to help to come in and try to tell us how we could develop the city of Rosemead and be successful with it. And at that time, he said the strip zoning with the 25s and 20s and 25s didn't get it, but if you had you're gonna have a business district, you have to have depth for the business district. Now, Bert Kellog Kellog Bank was on the corner of Rosemead and Valley he attended all of these meetings that we had. And he was the first man that followed the project when our planner charged us $50,000 for which was cheap, but it was a lot of money at that time. And he said that we had to have the depth, that it had to go deeper than half a block, half of the (inaudible) depth as it (inaudible), or we couldn't develop. Now, this Bert Kellog put in his according to what was recommended, he went through the depth of Valley Boulevard, to Steele, to the either side of there, and he developed a bank that way. Now, Olive's up here used to be Olive's, then it was Builder's Emporium, and now that it's a massive Johnny's Restaurant Row or something there. It get there, but it was developed the same way. It has depth in which the development business wise. I turned old 66 Highway clear down to La Veme. No place was any development there that didn't have depth of development. They bought out I tell you, El Monte used to be one street. Valley Boulevard didn't go through there, and that was strip zoning. They have gone in back of the old strip, they built a new Valley that went around, and they got parking in hopes that are trying to save the shopping center. Rosemead has not gone to that expense. They haven't got followed the advice of the experts that we've hired to come in here and help us. And you're not going to get any good development unless you make it zone property so they can have room for the development and the parking around it. MAYOR IMPERIAL: Just a minute. (Inaudible). KEN PIKE: Universal Square, which you put in MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR: We're rebuilding the general plan this year. It will probably be a year by the time it's all completed. So I'm sure that's all going to be reviewed again to get recommendations. KEN PIKE: Fine. Universal Square, which you put in under private it wasn't redevelopment, it was private development and they bought all of that property and put it in. But it was feasible. Now, this offering of benefits to to businesses that have come in, this has been very prominent in a lot of the cities trying to steal business or get businesses there by giving buying personal property and then selling it at a discount, or allowing people to come in and keep part of the sales tax that are created, and that and that we Rosemead has never done that way. I'm thankful to say, that their competition has. So that's where some of the business development that possibly could have come, hasn't made it. If we had had our redevelopment project on Valley Boulevard and Rosemead like we had it set up and planned according to the specifications of the man that we hired come in and give us these things, we would have been way ahead of Temple City. They put in their redevelopment project and have the (inaudible) and a lot of businesses up there, K-Mart and those drug stores. MAYOR IMPERIAL: I'd like to say that (inaudible). Okay? Some people have forgotten about we had a redevelopment project there, and that was (inaudible) in this city. They had two projects. One was the project that had already started. Once the building gets started, you can't stop it. That's (inaudible). The other one is Valley Boulevard. It was killed before it got started, even though it wasn't - CC: 8/9/05 Page 31 0 • KEN PIKE: We had embarked money on it. MAYOR IMPERIAL: And you know as well as I do, that (inaudible) big markets in here, outside of a lot of things, (inaudible), I called him down here. And when I got him down here, they looked around and said, "Well, okay. We'll let you know." They weren't satisfied with what they seen, because of them being killed right along. KEN PIKE: It's not feasible. MAYOR IMPERIAL: So so what they did, is they went into Temple City, is what they did. So this is the problem we've been fighting with. Okay? KEN PIKE: Yes. MAYOR IMPERIAL: So I'm confident a fine example, all this stuff about care about what you do, but nobody went out there to care about stopping Rosemont. (Inaudible). KEN PIKE: Well, we could we can't keep the market in once you leave, and you can't get one in that doesn't want to come in. And that's that's bad, but we have made progress. And what we have made is great, but the crying need we now need is for business to come in, and K-Mart is a start. We're gonna lose May Company. MAYOR IMPERIAL: No, we're not gonna lose (inaudible). KEN PIKE: Well, all I know is what I read in the paper. MAYOR IMPERIAL: (Inaudible). KEN PIKE: Yeah. Okay. Then that's all I'm gonna say. Thank you. MAYOR IMPERIAL: So we got any (inaudible)? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: We're gonna read (inaudible). IX. CLOSED SESSION: (At 9:25 p.m.) CITY ATTORNEY: The announcement. Well, maybe I'll let Jay call the meeting back to order. The council met in closed session to discuss existing litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a), Save Our Community vs. City of Rosemead. There was no reportable action taken. (Reconvened at 9:55 p.m.) MAYOR IMPERIAL: Any other questions? The meeting is now adjourned. X. ADJOURNMENT: VERBATIM SECTION ENDS. There beirg no further`action to be taken at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 9:58 p.m. The next regular meeting will be scheduled for August 23, 2005, at 8:00 p.m. Respectively submitted City Clerk APPROVED OR Te CC: 8/9/05 Page 32 0 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS. CITY OF ROSEMEAD ) 1, Nina Castruita, City Clerk of the City of Rosemead, do hereby certify that the minutes from August 9, 2005 were duly and regularly approved and adopted by the Rosemead City Council on the 8th of August, by the following vote to wit: Yes: CLARK, IMPERIAL, NUNEZ, TRAN No: NONE Absent: TAYLOR Abstaiiii NONE Il A,&,q dzww~' Nina Castruita Secretary