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CC - 01-13-040 APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 13, 2004 CITY OF ROSEMEAD DATE The regular meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Vasquez 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 Mayor Pro Tem Clark The Invocation was delivered by Reverend Jonathan Wu of the Evergreen Baptist Church ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present: Councilmembers Alarcon, Taylor, Mayor Pro Tern Clark, and Mayor Vasquez Absent: Councilman Imperial - excused APPROVAL OF MINUTES: DECEMBER 9, 2003 - REGULAR MEETING Councilman Taylor requested that the aforementioned Minutes be deferred for inclusion of his comments verbatim in section V. A. Graffiti Removal Program Enhancement, in which he rebuts the comments several residents made earlier criticizing the City, the City's graffiti program, and the Sheriffs Department. There being no objection, the Minutes were deferred. Councilman Taylor requested a follow-up on the petition that was to be turned in by a resident regarding the conditions around Zapopan Park. PRESENTATIONS: None 1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE Ben Wong, West Covina Councilman and Assistant to John Chiang, Member of the State Board of Equalization, gave a brief presentation to the students in the audience of the role of the State Board of Equalization. Mr. Wong stated that Mr. Chiang's office will be the site of the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program and Tax Counseling for the Elderly. These services will be free of charge, beginning February 2"a Mayor Pro Tern Clark requested that the News Release that Mr. Wong provided regarding the aforementioned programs be placed in the Chamber of Commerce Newsletter. CCMIN:1-13-04 Page # I • Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar, Rosemead, stated that the'trash'can hds in his neighborhood do not close tightly over the containers because they are filled to overflowing. Mr. Nunez stated that the winds in February and March will result in trash being blown all over the City. Mr. Nunez continued that people are putting E-waste into the trash rather than taking it to the recycling centers. Mr. Nunez reported that the Shopper Shuttle did not stop for an eastbound passenger at the Garvey Community Center on Garvey Avenue. Also, there are no shuttle stop signs at the Metro bus stops at the Center going east or west. Bill Crowe, City Manager, stated that staff will investigate the shuttle situation. H. PUBLIC HEARINGS -None HI. LEGISLATIVE - None IV CONSENT CALENDAR (CC-D and CC-F were removed for discussion purposes) Councilman Taylor requested a copy of the conference program from CC-B - Authorization to Attend 3`d Annual Partners for Smart Growth, Building Safe, Healthy; and Livable Communities - Portland, Oregon. Councilman Taylor requested the tapes from CC-C - 2004 National League of Cities Annual Congressional City Conference, Washington, D.C.. CC-A RELEASE OF BOND - PARCEL MAP 26583 CC-B AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND 3RD ANNUAL PARTNERS FOR SMART GROWTH: BUILDING SAFE, HEALTHY, AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES - JANUARY 22-24,2004, PORTLAND, OREGON CC-C AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND 2004 NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL CITY CONFERENCE, MARCH 5-9,2004, WASHINGTON, D.C. CC-E REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC CONTROLS FOR THE ALLEY WEST OF WALNUT GROVE AVENUE BETWEEN FERN AVENUE AND KLINGERMAN AVENUE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK that the Council approve the aforementioned items on the Consent Calendar. Vote resulted: Yes: Alarcon, Clark, Vasquez, Taylor No: None Absent: Imperial Abstain: None CCMIN:1-13-04 Page #2 J The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. CC-D REQUEST FOR BLUE CURB IN FRONT OF ENCINITA SCHOOL Councilman Taylor stated that there is some confusion about what the school intends to do about the handicapped parking situation. Bill Crowe, City Manager, replied that the school district officials indicated that Encinita School has a master plan that deals with dropping off and picking up of school children, and also addresses the handicapped parking issues. Their Business Manager stated this situation would be dealt with internally. Councilman Taylor pointed out that the Traffic Commission staff report states that the gate into the school parking lot on Lower Azusa Road is locked, and the Encinita Avenue parking lot is coned off to access by parents. The handicapped driver cannot drive into those lots. Councilman Taylor stated that the school has a situation where they have handicapped parking, but the public cannot access it. Mr. Crowe stated that the district office has indicated that they will resolve this issue with the requestor of the blue curbs without involving the City. Councilman Taylor requested that staff monitor this situation as there are contradictions as to what the school district intends to do. Mr. Taylor stated that tonight's recommendation is to deny the request; however, he would like the option to bring this item back in the future should the school district not be able to resolve this issue. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK that the Council approve the recommendation of the Traffic Commission to deny without prejudice the request for installation of blue curb at Encinita School. It is further recommended that the Traffic Engineer be directed to work with the School District officials to determine if there are other options available. Vote resulted: Yes: Alarcon, Clark, Vasquez, Taylor No: None Absent: Imperial Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. CC-F REQUEST FOR RED CURB AT THE INTERSECTION OF VALLEY BOULEVARD AND GERNERT STREET CCMIN:1.13-04 Page 43 • Ken Rukavina, City Engineer, explained that when this item was presented to the Traffic Commission, the request for red curb on the west side of Gernert Avenue to south of Valley Boulevard, was inadvertently left out. Mr. Rukavina stated that there was no opposition to the installation of the red curb, and that the request be included in the recommendation tonight. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ALARCON that the Council approve the installation of 16 feet of red curb on Valley Boulevard, and approve the amended recommendation to install red curbing on the west side of Gernert Avenue to the south of Valley Boulevard. Vote resulted: Yes: Alarcon, Clark, Vasquez, Taylor No: None Absent: Imperial Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. V. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION - None VI. STATUS REPORTS - None VII. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS A. MAYOR PRO TEM CLARK 1. Stated that she and Ron Esquival, from the Rosemead School District, attended an all- day conference on graffiti, at the Los Angeles County Public Works Department. Mrs. Clark continued that discussion revolved around the difficulties encountered trying to prosecute the taggers once they are caught. Mrs. Clark stated that there is a new program called T.A.G. (Totally Against Graffiti), involving a bus that goes to elementary school campuses and offers rewards to kids for turning in graffiti offenders. Mayor Pro Tern Clark stated that she would like to see this program offered in both of the City's school districts schools. Graffiti removal costs the county millions of dollars. Mrs. Clark stated students do not realize how difficult it is to- remove graffiti, the dollars involved, and the difficulty in apprehending and convicting the culprits, and that the parents should be held liable for the thousands of dollars in damages that each tagger causes. 2. Stated that she and the City Manager just returned from Sacramento where they attended the California Contract Cities Association Conference (CCCA) Legislative Tour. Mayor Pro Tern Clark stated that they met with several Legislators regarding the budget crisis, and that the State continues to threaten to take money from the cities and counties to balance their budget. Mrs. Clark continued that she pointed out to the Legislators and the Governor's representative that member cities within the CCCA contract for the majority of their services, and that it is an efficient and cost-effective process. Mayor Pro Tern Clark stated that last year a ridiculous bill was attempted to gain passage at the last moment that would prevent cities from CCMIN:1-13-04 Page #4 0 contracting out for their services without first asking the State's permission. Mrs. Clark concluded that it has been proven that contract cities are very efficient in delivering municipal services, and that the State would benefit from such contracting efficiencies, too. B. COUNCILMAN TAYLOR Asked Mayor Pro Tern Clark if they discussed the ordinance from the City of Los Angeles making parents responsible for graffiti done by their children. Councilman Taylor requested a copy of that ordinance. Mayor Pro Tern Clark stated that per the District Attorney's office, the taggers, when caught, do not have to identify their parents. Councilman Taylor commented that this is another ironic and frustrating situation. Councilman Taylor stated that the City of Los Angeles is also working on a Wal-Mart ordinance and requested a copy of the ordinance. Mayor Vasquez confirmed that Councilman Taylor's request for placement of the ad offering $1500 reward money for arrest and conviction of a tagger, had been placed in the Rosemead Report. Councilman Taylor stated that he would like the article to be in 1" bold print on the front page offering: "$1500.00 REWARD", in an effort to attract the residents attention. If the residents are not willing to be a witness, then the City cannot keep graffiti off the walls. C. MAYOR VASQUEZ Referring to the Zapopan Center community meeting held on December 18a , commended Deputies Jewett, Chivas, and Brink, staff members Assistant City Manager Don Wagner, Code Enforcement Officer Milan Mrakich, City Grant Coordinator Lisa Baker, City Engineer Ken Rukavina, and Planning Director Brad Johnson for their excellent presentations. Councilman Taylor requested the Council receive a monthly update on the activities around the Zapopan Park area. Mr. Taylor also requested that complaints from the neighbors be included in that monthly report. . VHI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar, Rosemead, asked what guarantee or protection is there if a resident reports a tagger, that his own home will not be graffitied? CCMIN:1-13-04 Page #5 C J every street every minute for 24 hours to catch graffiti taggers. Councilman Taylor stated that there is not an easy answer that question. Only with the peoples help, can graffiti be cleaned up, the Sheriff's cannot patro he °'-°°'°'n ti^^ ° ° a°° Mr. Taylor stated that by publishing the reward money in the newsletter, people will understand the seriousness of this problem, and he concluded that the City spends well over $1 million in recent years in removing graffiti. IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further action to be taken at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. in memory of Karen Ogawa's father, Clarence "Chuck" Ogawa and David Fierro's mother, Nelly Perez. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted: APPROVED: City Clerk CCMIN:1-13-04 Page #6