HomeMy WebLinkAboutJUNE 16,1970
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CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
MINUTE
APPROVAL
HEARING
(Friedman)
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HEARING
PROPOSED
BUDGET
1970-71
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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
ADJOURNED and REGULAR MEETING
JUNE
16, 1970
The City Council of the City
adjourned and regular session
City Hall on June 16, 1970 at
of Arcadia, California, met in an
in the Council Chamber of theArcadia
7:30 P. M. and 8 P. M. respectively.
Rev. Robert Oliver, Arcadia Church of Christ
Councilman James R. Helms, Jr.
PRESENT: Councilman Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
ABSENT: Councilman Hage
On MOTION by Councilman Helms, seconded by Councilman Considine and
carried unanimously, the minutes of the regular meeting of June 2,
1970 Were APPROVED.
CONTINUED - Appeal filed from the decision of the Planning Commission
in its denial of the application of Mrs. Harry Friedman for a lot split
at 120 - 150 E. Duarte Road.
The City Attorney explained what has transpired since this matter was
continued by Council (April 21, 1970); that the persons involved had
not yet reached a meeting of the minds and recommended a continuance
to the next regular meeting (July 7); that during ~he interim further
attempts will be made to resolve the matter. SO ORDERED.
Time and place for consideration of the proposed 1970-71 budget.
Mayor Butterworth advised that communications and oral presentations
would be heard prior to budget discussion.
Whereupon the Hearing was declared OPEN and the following persons
addressed Council.
(TRANSCRIPT IS HEREBY MADE PART OF THE OFFICIAL MINUTES)
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FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT (insofar as decipherable from
tape recording) OF PRESENTATIONS MADE PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION
OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
Dorsey Caldwell, 124 Diamond Street, Arcadia. Fire Department.
"I would like to read to you in the interest of brevity, a stat e-
ment which more or less sums up our business here tonight and I
would like to be followed by three members of the department for
information remarks which might be of some assistance. The fire
department is not as you know, in the habit of coming directly to
the city council, but the situation has grown serious enough to
warrant it we think. Our questions fall into two main categories,
mainly salaries and benefits and departmental operations as they
are affected. The first is a request for a clarification of our
joint memorandum of last year. We have been unable to reach agree-
ment with the City Manager's office on a few points.
1
"Number one, by including Educational Incentive Increment and
stability pay and computing average wages when some employees
receive them and some do not, those who do not, are penalized.
No mention was made of this last year when the agreement was
drawn up and to include it now indicates bad faith on the City's
part. These two items are clearly fringe benefits which comes
to those who are here over five years in the case of stability
payor who have earned an AA degree in the case of Ell. To average
this throughout the whole department is unjust. Also the city now
has announced that at the end of five years an AA degree will become
a part of the job requirements for all personnel desiring a position
above hoseman. Those who are in one of the grades requiring the AA
and who have not met this requirement by that time will then suffer
a five per cent differential in pay from those who have it. By
doing this, the City is completely reversing the original intent of
the Ell plan where instead of rewarding the people who make the extra
effort to obtain an AA degree they will be penalizing those who don't
or can't. For Some this effort would be completely impractical at
this time as they are near retirement. Why then do this to these
employees who have given long and faithful service to the city. We
further feel it is unfair for the City to demand that a department
with below average pay and benefits be above average in educational
requirements.
"Regarding stability pay it was stated while Mr. Schone was here, at
the time of the stability pay inception plan, that it is a separate
item from salary to recognize years of service and encourage stability
of employment. Now, Item two, the City Manager's office refuses to
consider any method for correcting possible errors in projecting the
average. We made two suggestions for this but both were rejected.
If our joint memorandum is to have any meaning at all, something like I
this must be included or the same thing could happen this year as
did last year. The City Manager apologized for being low on his
predictions and promised to correct it next year, but this hasn't
helped pay the grocery bill this year.
"Item three, your request that we deal with no other legislative body
than yourself regarding conditions of employment, is in our opinion
against public policy. We feel it is the right of all Americans to
bring about change through all legal means. We don't feel that the
Arcadia firemen deserve fewer rights than any other citizen.
"Item four, our memorandum further states that all members of the
Fire Department are to be paid the average salary. The City Manager's
office now is attempting to exclude our Inspector, Batallion Chief and
Assistant Chief from this agreement. Finally, we came up with twelve
requests for improvements in benefits and working conditions, all of
which were perfectly justified. The City Manager's office chose to
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give no consideration to these this year. It boils down to where
we can't get you to live up to last years agreement, much less
make any much needed long overdue improvements.
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"In summary, none of this information nor any you will hear tonight
from the Fire Department has been made public through the press. We
come to you tonight with an urgent request for a meeting of the minds
in the hope of avoiding an unpleasant situation. Now gentlemen, in
short, we just request that you consider all the information and I
have prepared a packet for each one of you of our minutes of meetings
held with Mr. Francis, along with a copy of our original proposal and
with a copy of my remarks tonight and we would like to have you
evaluate them and try to help us get off dead center and help us
reach an agreement for this year I s negotiations ,"
Mike Povero, 2534 Gardi Street, Duarte. Fire Department.
"We have sought an audience tonight for what we hope will be a mutual
enlightenment. We seek enlightenment in the area of your sentiment
regarding a memorandum of understanding and offer you enlightenment
in the sad state of affairs that prevails within the Fire Department.
Not being a public speaker, I am, with your permission, going to read
from this prepared statement so that none of the essential facts will
be overlooked or forgotten. I would appreciate any statements,
comments or questions on your part being withheld until the conclusion
and I will endeavor at that time to clarify any points or answer any
questions.
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"First,. I must make one statement. I love my job. I like the City in
which I work. In fact, I like the City so much that I feel a definite
loyalty to her and it is out of this feeling of loyalty that I feel
compelled to speak tonight. Everyone feels, reacts and is influenced
by the forces that surround him and I am surrounded by a force I do
not like. It is an aura that is very obvious and inescapable. It is
this feeling of mass discontent and dissatisfaction. This feeling
that seems to have been fostered and engendered by the attitude of
the administrators of this City. This City has been known as the Queen
of the Valley for a long time. And she truly has the attributes of the
name. .,a beauty and reputation rare, but this reputation is becoming
besmirched by the mire of selfish officialdome. Thousands of dollars
are spent to mantle this Queen in beauty by building planted divider
strips down her boulevards, building and improving her parks and
recreation areas and facilities and yet the loyal subjects who are
expected to take care of these areas, the people who gr'oom and pamper
this Queen are paid less, far less in many cases than her counterparts
who labor in other areas. We could possibly even accept this if our
Queen's coffers were depleted or committed as alms for charity, but
she is financially a sound and secure entity, more solvent and more
pre-possessing than almost any other community in this area and is
reported to be fourth richest community per capita in the State. We
can see no possible justification for us to be trailing in wages and
benefits and history shows that this is not just a contemporary problem.
This is a situation that has been allowed for many years. We have in
this Department always tried to deport ourselves in a manner that would
bring us no shame, no dishonor and no scandal to our city and gentlemen,
in a large measure we have succeeded. We have established a tradition
of helpful courteous service that is unsurpassed anywhere and denied to
none of the citizens fortunate enough to live here.
"You all know of our unselfish deeds that go beyond the mere requirements
of our jobs, the extra measure of good will that makes us clean up a
place to the Nth degree, to see that the owners have all that is necessary
and do all we can to see that they get what they lack in time of need. We
are the best trained fire units in this entire County in our opinion,
thanks to the aggressive leadership and spirited cooperation by all the
men in the ranks. We prove this in all our inter-city drills by being the
firstest with the mostest, the sharpest and happiest group. But this is
changing. We are suffering from lapses and we are having a serious drop
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out problem. The morale of the group is extremely low and men -
good men - are, in their dissatisfaction seeking employment elsewhere.
When we look around for the reasons of our discontent, the destroyer
of our morale, what do we find and whom do we blame. We say, can we
blame the Captain, is he the cruel monster pushing us beyond our
endurance. No, he is doing his job and doing it well. Well, how
about the Chief. Is he the culprit? Is he the one who makes us work
so hard for so less money than any other fireman in the surrounding
communities. No, the Chief has made this Department. He has run it
as astutely as humanly possible and even he is beset by our complaints...
Not enough to meet the necessities let alone enough to set the. pace. So
we look beyond the Chief and we find the upper level of administration, I
the controllers and the purveyers of the funds. Are these the people to
blame. Are they swayed by facts, by the fact that all Departments are
at a minimum or below average. Can a body of men appointed and elected
by their peers come before them with facts, percentages and statistics
by the ream to show us below average and show almost every item of
benefit. Can they sway the judgment of these men. So far, we have been
almost totally unsuccessful.
"What happened to the care and honest concern of the plight of their
fellow man. Why must adjustments always be made in such a grudging
manner, almost as if they did not deserve to be rewarded as well as
the other people who do the same job and take the same risk. Other
Cities ahead of us including us in their comparison dread the fact.
They say we are a millstone around their necks dragging them down
because we are on rock bottom. How do you think that makes us feel.
Or to attend a convention far north of here and have someone look at
you with pity and say 'Arcadia, aren't you the guys that gave up
their bed sheets and take their own trash to the dump so they would
cut your hours' and they laugh. Oh, how they laugh. This is a
reputation that this penny pinching is giving to our Queen. How can
we hold up our head. We can barely see daylight from way down here.
We were happy when several years ago a trained facility was funded.
Do you know that we have no adequate place to drill. We have to
haunt the dead end streets and the like to drill and then we have to
be careful with our water lest we damage somebody's property and our
reputation.
"Our Chief is a very honorable man, not given to temper and is fair in
all of'his dealings with his men as is possible for him to be. He
hones,tly budgets this department and even then is ultra conservative.
He knows better than any man in this City what is required to run the
department. Yet this year's budget cuts are leaving him almost helpless
to do his job and to execute his responsibilities. New helmets are on
the market far. superior to anything we have ever known and offered to
us at a good reasonable price as an introductory sale. Guess what. We
are only going to get half of the required number. Why, gentlemen, why?
Is our safety so unimportant. I wonder who is going to pick the men
who are to be adequately protected, the half of the group that is to be I
rewarded. On what premise is it to be established who is going to have
the roof fall on him or some such hazard that we are all subject to...
Is a Captain more valuable than a Hoseman. Would you like to be the one
to tell a family that their provider has been disabled or killed because
he was not one of the chosen. All of our safety equipment needs re-
evaluation. Our coats are becoming ragged and unsafe and so on, but
this, this is almost too much. Perhaps you can help us and make uS all
as safe as possible.
"The budget does not allow for short manpower. The records show that
over 50% of last year we were undermanned and ran short at least one
man and sometimes more. During this period there were pay backs owed
to the City but due to the hours cut of last January they are no longer
a buffer and yet the budget is just as short. Do you realize that under
this circumstance you are being in a large part .protected by a three man
company in the north and western portions of this city. If we have to
leave one man with an inhalator at a call and respond to a fire we have
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no one and I mean no one to lay a line, connect to a hydrant or lead in
to suppress a fire. This is a terrible situation and the citizens
deserve more in our opinion. If the American Insurance Association and
people responsible for grading the City for fire protection on which
your insurance rates are predicated, came here to reevaluate us at this
time, in light of the fact that we have no training facilities and no
manpower, we would most likely be downgraded and at the expense of every
businessman and citizen of this community. It makes sense that it is
less expensive to provide the funds for adequate manpower at least than
to face this real jeopardy.
1
"We in the fire force realize it is not our place or our responsibility to
dictate policy and this is not our intent. We only wish to apprise you
of the true situation, the conditions under which we are forced to try
to fulfill our responsibilities and we know that when you realize these
conditions exist that you will abate them for the good of the community.
There are more items and we could go on ad infinitum and ad nauseam, but
we think you get the general picture. A picture of the department's
frustration and the key to the lowering morale. We feel like an
undeserving appendage tolerated as a necessity but just barely. We feel
collective bargaining is the best way to settle an issue. It has come
down to almost collective begging, to borrow a phrase, and we will go no
lower. ..an explosion seems iminent. From the fallout of adverse publicity,
that we have shunned up to now, from the ill feeling and in order to pro-
tect ourselves and to gain an honorable equity within the fire service
will next come unionization and whatever other measures will be required
for uS to rise up again to face the sun and walk among men proud, proud
to be sworn to the fealty of a kind and gracious Queen. No longer will
we be content with scraps and bits that fall or are thrown to us. We
wish just this once to be fed from a clean plate by an open hand from
our Queen.
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"So tell us gentlemen, are we to go on believing that you are honorable
men who care about their constituents. Are you still prepared to honor
the agreement made last year and embodied in the Memorandum of Under-
standing, that we shall be made equal to the sixteen cities in the
survey, and to cut our hours if the survey shows that we have reached
that predetermined point. I'hope you realize that we have tried
mightily to be honest and reasonable in our demands, and that the sixteen
cities in the survey were picked by the City Administrator, and that
almost everyone of them were below the prevailing average on a county
wide basis. We accepted this fact, and now they want to change even this;
because one city is contracting service, they want it eliminated, since
the employees of this city are making more money than under the original
regime. They also want to change the base salary by including an
educational benefit and a stability benefit. This is so clearly chicanery
and manipulation that we are amazed they had the nerve to try it. Well,
we are here to publicly denounce this practice and to ask you gentlemen
to honor the agreement, just this once, as it was originally established,
without alteration and without dilution. We are far enough behind now
without any attempts to further the gap. We come seeking fairness and
justice and we feel we are long overdue on both counts. We leave it
in your hands - what do you say? Thank you."
Jerry Broadwell, 3737 Main Street, Baldwin Park. Fire Department.
"I would like to discuss the system the City uses for determining the
salary wages for the fire department in other City Departments in this
area. The sixteen city survey that the City uses represents about ten
per cent of the firemen in the Los Angeles County area. It does not
represent the prevailing wage for firemen in the County. We recently
finished a survey on over seventy cities in this County. The average is
substantially different. For instance, the Countywide survey showed
the average wage - the prevailing wage for a fire captain - to be $1292
per month. The average of the sixteen cities that we use show the
average salary to be $1097 - $200 per month difference. The seventy
city survey also showed eighty per cent of the firemen in this County
work a 56 hour week - we work a 60 hour week. A Captain in our depart-
ment works three extra weeks in a year for more than three months less
pay a year. This survey Countywide also showed there was only one City
in the entire Los Angeles area that made less money and pay their firemen
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less money than you pay us.
Were very close behind us.
This City was Huntington Park. They
This situation we don't appreciate.
"We have tried to negotiate with management for several years in the
past. Once in awhile we thought we made a good bargain with you and
later on, after July 1st, we found that our averages dropped below
even our standing prior to July 1st last year. Right now we are on
the bottom of the list of a sixteen City survey, we are on the bottom
of the list in the Los Angeles County area. Of over 8000 firemen
surveyed, only 200 firemen, rank for rank in the entire county, that
make less money than we do. We have asked to have some fringe areas
brought up to date with other cities in the Los Angeles County area
and we can't even get a group to listen to us. Last year we settled
with Mr. Cozad before July 1st and things looked pretty good. We got
a 7~% increase. The average increase throughout the sixteen cities
turned out to be better than 7~%. We ended up in a worse position
than we had prior to our negotiations. His projections were not
accurate. It is only human that these discrepancies may occur. This
year we offered a method of implementing a more accurate and sure way
of settling this problem giving us exactly what we agreed, the intent
of the memorandum was to keep us average. We would not ask any more
and we would not have to take any less. We asked that a contingency
account be established whereby after July 1st, if the projections were
not accurate, this discrepancy would be made up retroactive back to
July 1st. It is only fair we do. After July 1st if we find that our
projections were accurate and they very well could be, then this might
be put back in the general fund and nobody need know it was earmarked
for it, It was a very simple matter we feel unless there are complica-
tions we don't know about. We asked that our firemen specialist be
paid a flat rate of five per cent in addition to his firemen wages. We
can't even get an audience. We contracted Los Angeles County Fire
Protection District on the weed abatement problem. Now these people
come in, - a fireman specialist comes in to our fire station. He
discusses matters of weed abatement with our Batallion Chief, Robert
Dick, head of our fire prevention bureau. He gets notification of
problem areas in our city.That fireman specialist goes out and he abates
this and this crew gets to work on these weed troubles. Right now this
Fireman Specialist from the Los Angeles County Fire Protection District
makes $57 more a month than our Batallion Chief in charge of our fire
prevention office. This is a situation I don't see where the courage
comes from to pay our Batallion Chief this kind of wages. I really don't.
1
"Last year we signed a memorandum with the City of Arcadia. Less than a
year after we signed this memorandum it seems to have lost a lot of its
intent. Gentlemen, no matter how you look at it, the intent of that
memorandum was to keep us average in the sixteen cities chosen by you,
the administration people in this City. If you don't keep with the
intent, how can we ever bargain with you. How can we hold your statements
in faith. We, the firemen of Arcadia, are expected to present credential
at least equal and in many many cases, in most cases, superior to creden
tials required of the average fireman in Los Angeles County. Our Captai
for instance. have to have the equivalent of a teaching credential in th
Junior college system. He has to be eligible if he applies for it he ca
get it, - any Captain in our department can teach in college, junior college,
right now. He also has to have an up to date first aid instructors card.
He also has to have a formal education. He is required and is one of the
very few Captains in the county that is required to have a college educa-
tion, a formal education. Still he is the worse paid Captain in the entire
County of Los Angeles. There is no City that undercuts his salary any-
where in the County of Los Angeles. If the City expects the kind of
service the Arcadia Fire Department provides in the future, no way will
we accept this type wages again. We are not going to accept - period.
We don't know what action we can take. We canno~ communicate with city
management or offices of the City Manager ...somehow we are going to have
to decide a way to get to it...So to relay some of the future plans of
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the Arcadia Firemens Relief Association, we intend in 1971 to
contract with professional campaign managers. We intend to take
an issue to the people of the City of Arcadia if we can in 1971.
If we can't, then in 1972 and maybe 1973. We are going to attempt
to have the City of Arcadia set a base on how low you can pay the
City of Arcadia Fire Department. We feel if the City administrators
can never again cut our wages more than five per cent below the
prevailing wage, we will be happy. We don't want to ever settle for
top wages. Never again are we ever going to accept bottom wages. We
have always been cooperative with city management. We have never
arose in arms...we have never stood before you in this Council
Chamber. We have always tried to meet with you on your grounds, we
accepted your Cities. All we ask is don't screw us on salary right now.
We are in a position where we can't stand it, we canlt afford it, we
don't deserve it. I thank you."
David Wilson, 1610 South Tenth Avenue, Arcadia. Fire Department.
"Gentlemen, all I have to say is I agree with the other members of
this committee and I want to assure you that the membership of the
Arcadia Re lief Association is behind it 100%. Thank you."
Dorsey Caldwell. "Gentlemen, the Fire Department thanks you for your
attention. This concludes our remarks and we hope this information
will enable you to discuss this among yourselves and advise the City
management and we hope to be hearing from you so we can get an agree-
ment. Thank you."
Mayor Butterworth: "I think you can hear in part from us right now.
We had no idea of course what presentation you were going to make and
obviously no one on the Council has been a part of any negotiating
team and we are obviously not prepared to make the dramatic presentation
that you made although I am sure you made it in good faith. But perhaps
there are one or two matters that we should clear up. First of all, Mr.
Cozad and Mr. Francis have the confidence of this City Council. It is
the elected representative of the people. Secondly, we have been in
touch with Mr. Francis and Mr. Cozad during these negotiations and if
you feel there has been bad faith or you feel that there has been a
culprit as you want to express it, you are talking about the wrong
people. These gentlemen have had instruction from Council and we are
the ones that you must look to if you feel there has been a breach of
an agreement and I would not want any mistake on that matter. They have
acted as our agents and we will assume responsibility for those negotia-
tions which we have been aware of.
I
"Now on the matter of Ell and stability pay. I don't want to prej udge
the brochure which you have handed to us. All of us will read it. We
will consider it. But it is at least the present thinking of the Council
and I think you should be aware of that, that Ell and stability pay is
part of compensation, and frankly we are unable to understand how it
could reasonably be assumed to be anything else other than compensation.
Deductions are taken from it on social secur~ty,...frorn internal revenue.
Under what type of reasoning this would not be part of compensation we
can't follow.
"Now on the matter of safety equipment. You gentlemen are entitled to
have the best in safety equipment and I don't think there is a man on
this Council who is not going to go along on that situation. We are
not aware of any dereliction in the area of safety and I can assure
you this will be high on our list of immediate consideration. We don't
want anything but top safety and we can afford to give you that safety.
So far as your attitude toward the city is concerned, we would like to
have a good espirit de corps and we want to do anything within reason.
We agree that you are a top flight fire department. There has never
been any question in our minds about that. We agree further that we are
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obligated to honor commitments which We make. There is no question
about that. And I assure you that this Council will honor agreements
but I think the statement that We have failed to honor agreements or
we would readily breach agreements is a rather broad conclusion, but,
nevertheless you have made the statement. That will receive most
serious consideration. If there has been any breach of agreement, it
will be remedied and we want you gentlemen to be in a position where
you are able to rely on us, but again I want to, and I could not stress
it too strongly, that Mr. Cozad and Mr. Francis are an arm of the City
Council and they represent our thinking, and to accuse them of misconduct
is unwarranted and unreasonable. I mean if you have charges to make
you make those charges to the elected representatives of the city.
1
"Now you say that no one will listen to you. We have other information.
I mean the information that we have is that our negotiators met with
the Fire Department on April 13, May 19, May 25, June 2, June 10 and
June 11. Now I don't feel the statement that you are unable to
communicate with the administrators is one that is supported by fact
and I am sure that if you want to meet tomorrow or if you want to meet
the next day the administration will meet with you. You suggested that
you want to take this matter to the people and I am not certain that I
don't agree with you on that matter. An increase in wage demands by
the Firemen's Relief AssociatiD n, the Police Relief Association, by the
Union and by the City Employee's Association, is somewhere between
$200,000 and $225,000. This is just this year's increase and converting
that to a tax rate that is almost 20~ on the tax rate. Our Charter
Section 1209 provides that the constitutional limitation of this Council
is $1.30. We do not have charter authority to levy a tax in excess of
that and were we to convert just this year's increase to the tax rate
it would raise our tax rate from $1.05 to $1.25 and put us within 59 of
our constitutional limitation. Now obviously, we are not going to put
this whole thing on our tax bill. We have other sources of revenue but
I would hope that the City would understand and that you people would
understand - that ultimately we may very well have to go to the city
because we are reaching the end of the line of our capacity to raise
revenue. We are not the County of Los Angeles and we are not the City
of Los Angeles and we are not the State of California. We don't have
the tax base...we do not have the sources of revenue in this city and
if money is the sole consideration, then I think you are going to have
to give some thought to working for the County of Los Angeles, as much
as we would like to keep you here.
"Let's maintain order in this Council. We listened to you courteously
without interruption. You do the same thing for us. Now, I hope that
we can resolve this. You cannot imagine how much this council wants
to resolve it. You can't imagine how difficult this is for us and I
hope you will bear in mind this is not a Board of Directors of a
Corporation with large stock interests where it is money out of our
pocket. It isn't money out of our pocket. Certainly you have enough
understanding to know that we are trying to represent the people of 1
this community and we are trying to do it as best We can... we are'
trying to be fair to them as we are trying to be fair to you and it
isn't an easy job to do but we are doing our best and we are trying to
do it in good faith. We will read your memorandum - we will read it
carefully. We will make a very serious effort to make corrections if
they are warranted...Now I have talked longer than I intended. Is
there any member of the Council who wishes to speak to this matter."
Councilman Helms. "I would just like to comment that I think we all
have a very high and personal regard for each of the Firemen who spoke
here tonight and for all the people that they represent. We will do
all we can to consider the statements they made here tonight and the
documentation they have supplied in addition to that of our staff.
Beyond that we cannot go."
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Councilman Considine. "I think I would have to agree with . Councilman
Helms. I think in every instance we have found our fire,' police and
employees of all types to be outstanding. However, we are in a peculiar
position. While we are trying to raise salaries within the city we find
that in industry people are being laid off. There were 67,000 people
laid off in the County alone for just aircraft. Military layoff is
going to add to that. People are taking cuts in pay in the aircraft
industry as much as $8,000 a year. And these people and particularly
the executives and the junior executives of the aircraft company are
a good portion of our community. It is going to be difficult to justify
to them the increases that were requested by the employee groups in the
face of their layoffs and their reduction in pay. I think we must
consider also that even through the tough times we try to maintain our
salary levels for the employees whereas were we a corporate business
perhaps we would not be able to do the same as has been demonstrated
by the various aircraft companies in the area. We all know the problems
that are facing them and the problems that exist in other cities and
certainly the people who have to pay the taxes to support these increases
must have equal consideration with the iner eased demands."
Councilman Arth. "The only thing I might add and I tend to concur with
the other gentlemen, but it is to emphasize the fact that I feel very
strongly that the so-called fringe benefits are a part of salary and I
think if any of you gentlemen will look at it from the standpoint that
if you aSSume that a man from Monrovia and let's say you are both making
$900 a month and he is getting another $50 in other types of benefits
but the cash that he takes home at the end of each month, you would say
I am getting $50 less than he is - and you would come to us and ask - so
I feel on this basis, I feel quite strongly, that we try to look at the
whole package that the other cities are getting and what we are paying
here too. I think this is very legitimate and I think average when you
get down to it, it is something almost inevitable in anything of this
type. You can't just get away from some averaging to come to common
grounds on pay scaLes."
Mayor Butterworth:
that you would like
you. II
"All right gent lemen, is there anything further
to say. If so, we would be very pleased to hear
Mr. Povero: "Gentlemen, I would like to make a few replies primarily
and principally directed at Mayor Butterworth in regard to the statements
you made. Firstly, the first statement we take exception to is the
charge of allegations. We made no allegations. We charged no one with
any breaches of any contract or any trust or anything. We say that if
you do not honor this memorandum then you will be guilty of such a
breach. We are not leveling any allegation against anyone at this
time, Mr. Cozad, Mr. Francis or anyone.
I
Mayor Butterworth: "Thank you for the clarification, I appreciate that."
Mr. Pavero: llSecond 1y, you said th at tomorrow we COli Id have a meet ing
if we so desired. I meet every day with my kids and I still don't get
through to them. This is our basic problem. They have their considera-
tions and their ideas on what is proper. We have our ideas of what is
proper and there just doesn't seem to be a time or a place at this time
where we can come together at a meeting place...an agreement. That is
why we came to you gentlemen tonight because you are the only control
that is appointed over the City Administrator. You are the only people
we can appeal to. We come here in good faith. We come here seeking an
understanding, not demanding or not cajolling, but we presented our facts
in as reasonable a manner as possible and we hoped that you would under-
stand our situation and the desperateness that we do feel in the Fire
Department. We are very dissatisfied and very unhappy. This is not just
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the rank and file. This is the administrators of our department. As
far as we can evaluate the situation this goes for all the officers
and all the men. All right, another statement that you made Mr. Mayor
was our wage demands. We are not demanding anything. All we are asking
is that you recognize the value of the Memorandum of Understanding and
let us realize that you are going to go along with the limits of its
commitments. That is all we ask. We are not asking or demanding any-
thing above that in the area of wages...Then you said something about
the constitutional limits of $1.30 and that you are really trying hard
to make the employees of the City of Arcadia well paid, etc., but in
the face of rising prices and in the face of rising costs you are
holding to $1.05 tax rate. We seriously think you are to be commended
for this but not at our expense. We don't want this. If it has to go I
to $1.10, go to $1.10. We have many men on the Fire Department that
pay taxes. They don't object to $1,10. The time has come gentlemen '
for some real serious thinking about where this thing is headed.
"You said something about the benefits Mr. Arth, and you said definitely
the things that we received should be considered as a part of our salary.
I disagree. The department disagreed and this is the way we disagree.
Certainly these benefits are money and Some are paid directly to us in
revenue and some paid indirectly to us as is our partial insurance pay-
ments, etc. But these things are not a part of the base salary. This
i~ the contention and this is the difference we have with the City
Administrator. They are not a part of the base salary. When you advertise
for a fireman these things are not considered in that base salary. When
we consider benefits, if you want to consider benefits, we can give you
a whole ream of statistics and you are going to get them to show where
we actually are in the benefit picture. We are at the bottom of the pile.
People are much better benefited than we are in every Fire Department in
the County of Los Angeles. We are right on rock bottom. That is why we
are here. We are ashamed. We feel bad. We want you to know we feel bad -
that is why We are here. So that is all I have to say about where we are
and why we are here and I wish you gentlemen would take the spirit of
this thing as it really is intended. ..to consider rationally and reasonably
what we are asking. We are not demanding, that you just honor the agree-
ment, and we feel that you are going to, but now that you have the facts
we honestly feel you are going to. We are not coming over here and accusing
you and telling you you aren't going to do it. We feel you are going to do
it. We just want everybody to know what the situation is, because when
the things happen that are going to have to happen in order for us to gain
our equity, then we don't want everybody to say gee what a great big surprise
the Fire Department just jumped out all of a sudden. We are not jumping
out all of a sudden. We have been creeping along on our stomachs long
enough. It is getting boring down here. We want to get up where the
fresh air is. Thank you. II
Mayor Butterworth: "Thank you Mr, Povero. I think Council has expressed
itself on this matter and we will read the memorandum and consider the
matter further. Now, is there any other of the employee associations thai
would like to come forward at.this time and make a presentation to the
council." '.
Wilma Johnson. 52 E. Woodruff Avenue, Arcadia. "1 represent the
Arcadia City Employees Association. To answer some of the remarks made
by Council, the Arcadia City Employees Association has had many suggestions
on how savings could be made which could be used for salary. Also, We know
that We are a Charter City and that there have been bills out that will be
presented to adopt a utility tax. If you don't do so, you are very anxious
to do so. We know that will bring in more revenue...plus the fact also,
if I am not mistaken, property tax is approximately one-fourth of the revenue
that the City receives, so we can fall on that. As far as the aircraft
industry is concerned, we realize that they are having a hard time right
at the present time, but we have agreed upon the sixteen cities as being
more comparable to the type of work that we are in than any other. Our
6-16-70
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Association feels that stability payments being brought in as salary
for the first time is unfair. It has never been done before. Our request
that none of the association members shall receive less than 1.25% below
the average of the sixteen management selected cities for their position.
If it is found that any position is below .this level, this position should
be increased to reflect a place of not more than 1.25% below the average,
or we are willing to say, slightly below average. We do not feel that
even this is entirely fair to many of our members.
I
"We have been waiting for three years to receive the average salary of
the comparable cities. We have been given one reason after another for
waiting. We have had a clerical survey last year and we stayed even
further behind last year than we were the previous year. For the first
time we are told that stability pay is not a fringe benefit and is really
a part of our salary that is ~d for us by the city and given to us in
December. This is the reason we are told that our salary is lower than
the average of the sixteen comparable cities. Stability pay is now to
be considered to be salary for everyone whether they receive it or not.
This means trn t all employees working less than 5~ years, 5~ years is
because if you start working in January, you wait six years before you
receive it. So starting in December, it is 5 years, but averages out
5~. All employees working less than 5~ years must receive much lower
than average salaries in order to help pay for the stability pay for
those with five to six years of service and-up - category. Those with
five to six years of service and up category are now told that they
must stay below average salarywise as stability pay now means that
management saves up part of your salary to give in a lump sum in
December. How this can be considered advantageous is beyond our reason-
ing. How stability pay ranging from nothing to $325 a year can be
averaged in as benefits for everyone whether they receive it or not is
incomprehensible.
I
"When stability pay was initiated in 1962 a memorandum from the City
Manager's office dated June 22, 1962, stated'this factor is intended
to encourage stability of employment by recognizing years of service~
This plan provides for a separate recognition for length of service to
encourage employees to remain with the City. Any cost of compensating
this stability is more than offset by savings in turn-over costs.' Now
our personnel director states stability pay is a part of salary, it is
not separate. Stability pay is not paid on a pro rated basis. If a
person retires or terminates for any reason prior to December 31st, he
receives no credit for that year for stability pay. Retirement, social
security and PERS payments are not made on stability pay. It is quite
obvious that this pay has never been considered a part of salary before.
The City benefits to the extent that, when properly administered, stability
pay encourages employees to stay and their extra knowledge from working
within the framewortk of the City is passed on in their everyday work and
is a definite asset to the City of Arcadia. We also note that unused sick
leave, the limits for sick leave ---we have 90 days. All others have none
except for two which have 120 days and one of those receive 25% pay, so
we are at the very lowest of all of them. Our holidays, we are at the
very bottom of the barrel again. I will give you copies to show where
we are. On vacation, our employees who have been with the City the longest,
are at the very bottom - 15 days - the very lowest. Not one of the Cities
are that low. I have given Mr. Francis and Mr. Cozad copies of this and
I hand copies to the City Clerk to be placed on the record. Thank you."
Mayor Butterworth. "Thank you Mrs. Johnson."
Richard Mauch, 2500 S. Santa Anita, Arcadia. Police Department.
III am a police officer and this year I am the President of our Police
Relief Association. Mayor Butterworth, members of the Arcadia City
Council, Mr. Cozad, Mr. Francis, ladies and gentlemen. I am here
tonight as the President of our association, to present a gentleman,
a prominent Los Angeles attorney who is assisting us in our wage
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negotiations with the City of Arcadia. At this time I would like
to present this gentleman to you, he is going to offer you a few
thoughts on what has taken place since May 13th as to our position,
and I assure you, the position of the members of our Association.
At this time I would like to present Ronald L. Leibow, an attorney
of Los Angeles who is the next speaker. Thank you."
Ronald Leibow, 6404 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. "The Arcadia
Police Relief Association has requested me to assist it this year
in its negotiations with the City Manager and his agents with regard
to salaries and other beaefits of employmeat for police officers in I
this City. As a result of my representation I have met with both
Mr. Cozad and Mr. Francis on a number of occasions over the past two
months. As a result of our many meetings, I believe that both the
Police Association, as well as the City, has presented their positions
quite clearly. I believe each of you geatlemea has received previously
the lengthy document which we refer to as our presentation regardiag our
suggestions for salaries and other employee benefits for the comiag year.
liThe City on one occasion submitted to us a two page letter indicating its
position and even though the Police Relief Association has indicated its
willingness to modify its position as originally presented, the City has
largely not modified its position except to the extent that it is agreed
to make one adjustment in overtime, or in the alternative, to add one or
two holidays for senior members of the department. Thus, the City has
recommended basically a 7~% increase for all members of the Police Depart-
ment. It is our position that 5~% or 5% of that figure is taken up in a
cost of living adjustment based on the increase in cost of living in the
past year, so in essence the City is recommending an increase of about
2~% effectively over the past payments. We find that percentages very
often do not reflect the actual facts. If in the past the City's position
among police departments in Southern California and especially in Los
Angeles County was comparable, then a cost of living adjustment'alone
would probably be sufficient. However, as we have tried to indicate
to the City, we do not believe that that is the case. We do not bel~ve
that the Arcadia Police Relief Association and all of the officers in the
City of Arcadia are being paid the comparable wage to police offices in
Los Angeles County.
Mayor Butterworth: "You are speaking now just for the County of Los
Angeles."
Ronald Leibow: "The County of Los Angeles, no, all agencies within the
County of Los Angeles. There are approximately 72 or 73 police agencies
ia this Couaty. The facts are that we believe we are at the patrolmaa or
police officer rank at the present time - $75 low ...$75 in addition to
our present pay would just bring us up to the 69-70 standards for many
of these Cities. It would still be low for the III -71 standard.
Mayor Butterworth: "Is this for a policemanll. I
Ronald Leibow: "This is for the rank of policeman or patrolman. Yes,
that is correct Mr. Mayor. I do not feel unless it is the desire of the
Council, to go into any lengthy discussion of the' actual dollars paid
to the various agencies but I would point out as one example which is
of most recent viatage. The City of Torrance last Friday, after
negotiations and subsequent mediation, arrived at salary and other employ-
ment benefit increases for the 70-71 fiscal year, and I would just like
to briefly indicate to you what those figures are as an indication as to
what is happening in some of the cities other than larger agencies such
as the County and City of Los Angeles. For policeman at the third step
which would be the highest step under their system, the pay is $989 per
month. Keep in mind that the pay proposed by the City for police officers
is $942. After five years a policeman would receive $1037. In addition
6-16-70
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,'~'. : ... 'w~'.l
to these figures, if an officer has reached some of the P.O.S.T.
certifications, intermediate and advanced certifications which are
similar to the same requirements of the City of Arcama in its Ell
program, a policeman could receive as much as $1207 per month. In
addition to that, if he is under the Ell program, he receives
longevity or stability pay of 2.5 or 7.5% above his base pay based
on the number of years of service. This is a policeman. Keep in
mind that the City of Arcadia if you put together all of the benefits...
salary benefits, Ell and stability benefits...would be $207 below that
figure.
I
Council.k",n Helms. "May I ask a question. Will you tell us again which
city it is that is paying this."
Ronald Leibow: "The City of Torrance as of July 1, 1970. I am just
using this as an example. I could go into the other ranks and indicate
briefly that a Sergeant could make as much as $1516 per month under
Ell and also a longevity benefit of 7.5, 2.5 to 7.5 in addition to that
based on length of service. A Lieutenant under the same scheme would
be making $1570 per month plus other stability payments and a captain
$1713 per month. These are figures which are for one City and we do
not propose that Arcadia reach that level this year. We do want to
point out however, that the city has made - or the administration has
made - great copy of the fact that we are attempting to compare ourselves
with some of the larger agencies. We recognize that the City and County
of Los Angeles are large agencies. In fact those two agencies represent
80% of the police force in Los Angeles County and we believe that because
80% of the policemen in this County are getting certain levels of pay
so should Arcadia police officers who are providing the same service to
the residents and the citizens of Arcadia as the officers in those juris-
dictions are to those constituents. I would also point out to you just
so that we don't misunderstand each other, that the benefits I have
referred to for the City of Torrance as an example, are merely salary,
Ell and stability benefits. In addition to that, the City of Torrance,
as an example, last year adopted the CHP retirement plan, several years
ago adopted the half continuance plan under the PERS program. There is
a paid sick leave program that was adopted this year and in addition to
all of that an extra holiday was adopted for police officers in that city.
I
"So what we have suggested both to the City Manager and to the Personnel
Director is that if in fact we have gotten to the point that we just can't
agree, we agree that we disagree, then let us bring in if necessary, if
that is the way we need to do it, a third party, for the purpose of
mediating or at least assisting us in what I would classify as our dispute.
We suggested this in good faith. We don't believe that the City at the
present time has indicated to us an unwillingness to do what it thinks
is right. We think the city's position in the city's mind is a one well
thought out. The problem is that it doesn't correspond with what we
think is appropriate. In other words we don't agree. We therefore
believe that the next step has to be approached and we would recommend
very strongly to this honorable body that mediation or some other third
party procedure be adopted so that we can work with an independent agent
to determine whether or not the requests the police association have made
are within the scope of propriety. We believe they are. We believe we
can convince any agency that they are. However, we know how busy the
Council is and how difficult it would be for the five of you to sit in
on all of our negotiation meetings. We believe that an independent
mediator would be able to assist you very well in that regard. This is
our presentation this evening. We are not here yet,and I hope we will
never have to come before you to argue)in loud language, as we believe
some cities have had to do in the past, the disagreement and in some
cases the lack of good faith on the part of city management. We don't
believe we have got to that point yet. We want to accelerate if we can
6-16-70
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this entire process so that the next time we come before you it is
with a memorandum of understanding executed by the parties or in the
alternative they would appoint a fact finder or mediator indicating
what he believes should be the facts and what the City Council should
do. That is our presentation tonight. We hope we do not have to
make any stronger presentation in the future. Thank you gent lemen."
Councilman Helms: "May I make one observation Mr. Mayor. I would
like to point out that the Council is not too busy to consider this
matter as has been intimated. The Council deals through its City
Manager and Personnel Director just as the Association deals through
you. But for your information and my rough calculation the Council
has spent at least six hours in concentrated study of these proposals
as they have progressed through. The Council is not too busy to
consider this and we intend to.continue to consider it as it is our
duty and obligation."
I
Mayor Butterworth: "I think it was your suggestion that insofar as the
details of bargaining were concerned, it would not be meet for the
Council to do that and I agree. We are not a negotiating body and that
is why we have assigned the responsibility to men in whom we have
confidence...Now I hear what you say and you have said it very well
and we appreciate that and those facts will be considered. I think
that perhaps something should be said about the facts as we understand
them.
"So far as the policeman is concerned he was given a 10% increase last
year. The City is recommending a 7~% increase this year - for a total
of l7~% increase for a policeman over a two year period - certainly an
increase that is in excess of any increase in the c09t of living. Last
year a Sergeant obtained a 10% increase and again is recommended for a
7~% increase this year...a total of 17~% over a two year period. We
are advised that a policeman, for instance, with Ell, is the second
highest paid police officer among the 16 Cities surveyed, and with five
years on the department, that is, with his stability pay, he is the
highest paid among all of the 16 cities at $948 per month...only an
Alhambra policeman with a BA receives $15 per month more. So far as
the Sergeant is concerned, with Ell he is the third highest paid among
the 16 cities. He is at $1064, and with stability pay he still remains
at third position - at $1084. All Sergeants receive Ell pay and average
stability pay is $21. While I am at it and just to complete the figures,
last year the firemen received 7~%. They are recommended this year for
another 7~% - or a total of 15% over a two year period. Last year an
engineer received a 7~% increase. This year the City recommends a 10%
increase for the engineer. Last year an Inspector in the Fire Department
also received a 7~% increase and this year the City is recommending a 12~%
increase for a total of a 20% increase in compensation over a two year
period. Last year, a Captain received 7~%. I might say, as I understand
it, going back to the Inspector, 7~% last year and we recommend an I
additional l2~% this year. The Fire Association feels that 20% is prope
Last year a Captain received a 7~% increase. Our City this year recomme
a 10% increase...The Fire Department feels a 12~% increase is appropriat
The Battalion Chief received a 7~% increase last year...the City this ye
recommends a 10% increase or a total of 17~% over the two year period
which are increases that seem to exceed certainly any cost of living
increase during that period of time. However, these are not conclusive
and again we appreciate the manner in which this has been presented and
it will receive our consideration. Now, is there another representative
here that wishes to make a presentation."
Russell Fish, 11118 Daineswood Drive, Arcadia. "I am representing AFME
606C Local. Mr. Mayor and Councilmen, I will be very brief. All I am
asking you is for your support as representatives of the people of
Arcadia for a decent income for the people that work for the City of
Arcadia just as the people of the City of Arcadia would want for their
families. Thank you."
6-16-70
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Mayor Butterworth: "Thank you. We will stand in recess for five
minutes at this time.1I
COUNCIL RECONVENED.
I
Mayor Butterworth: "Ladies and Gent lemen, the City Counci 1 will
resume session at this time. We are now on the matter of our
tentative budget. We have heard the presentations'in connection
with the salaries. Is there anyone else in the audience now that
would care to address the City Council on any matter pertaining to
the budget for 1970-71. If so would they please come forward at
this time. This is the time and place to be heard on the matter of
Our budget. Would you please state your name and address, please."
I
Donald Tyre, 2122 Bella Vista, Arcadia. "As not only an employee
of the City but also as a taxpayer, please allow me to share some
personal thoughts with Council. It is my feeling that recently the
morale and efficiency of the Fire Department has reached an all time
low. By the administration's own admission we are underpaid. We
have no drill tower in which to train. It is my understanding that
construction of this much needed facility has been approved for
almost five years but the appropriations needed have been pushed
aside each year. Citizens have called and complained of our drilling
On the streets in their neighborhood. One complainant is reported to
have said 'these are $60,000 homes in this neighborhood go somewhere
~lse.' Our training budget is almost non existent. I understand that
On occasion we share the cost of a training film with other Cities.
the philosophy here seems to be half a loaf is better than none. The
proud peacock city swallows its pride each year and borrows pumper
testing facilities from the City of Monrovia; The apparatus to which
t am assigned has been without some essential emergency equipment for
some time. I am told that this is due to the fact that ther e is no
money for replacement until after July 1st, if then. We have had
unfilled vacancies and delayed appointments. Almost 50% of the time
last year we were undermanned. I invite you to check the duty roster
for as recently as June 6 of this year. Statistics prove that the
loss of one man from a four man engine company reduces the efficiency
of that company over 50%. The residents of this City are being furnished
One half of a fire department due I feel to the most part, to the overly
conservative fiscal policies of their elected and appointed officials. I
Was given the opportunity to work overtime for one of our association
members tonight and when I asked out of it, they said'fine we can hire
firemen at lower pay.' Gentlemen, a fire department is not an abstract
~ntity. A fire department is made up of real people. Intelligent human
beings with real desires and real requirements doing a vital job to the
best of their ability. The fact of the matter is that Arcadians are
getting from their ,fire department more than a day's work for less than
a day's wages. Working conditions and remunerations have reached the
near ridiculous. I implore you to take some positive action to improve
the aforementioned conditions and prevent a potential explosive political
confrontation, the impact of which would be felt for years throughout
every city in the San Gabriel Valley. Thank you."
Councilman Considine: lIMay we ask Mr. Tyre to come back please."
Mayor Butterworth: "Could we ask you a question please Mr. Tyre."
Councilman Considine:
things on your rig for
been done.1I
"I would
example,
like to know what are the specific
that you say need doing that have not
6-16-70
-IN-
Mr. Tyre: "We need a wand for our explosive meter. Are you
conversant with this - if there is anyone here from the gas company
they know what it is and we also are without some large bolt cutters
with which We can extract people from wrecks,
Mayor Butterworth: "You call it a wand".
Mr. Tyre: W-A-N-D. All it is primarily is a basic aluminum tube.
I took it upon myself to call and I believe the price is under $5.
I have at one time purchased out of my own pocket as other men have,
various equipment for the rigs. I recently purchased a little razor
blade knife to cut our plastic with which we cover people's roof if
they're leaking or if there is a fire that destroys a roof - no big
deal. I did not ask for reimbursement because it was only 98~ and
tax but it is better to do it that way than to be told to wait until
July 1st.
I
Mayor Butterworth: "I sort of gathered when you said your equipment
was absent some apparatus we were talking about some very substantial
expenditure of a good number of thousand of dollars. A wand the way
you describe it is certainly almost minor isn't it in expenditure.
Well, surely you don't assign this as part of the economy program of
the city do you. Have these matters been brought to the attention of
whoever you report to and in turn brought to the attention of the Chief
and the City Manager."
Mr. Tyre: "Mr. Mayor, you asked me a number of questions here and I don't
know if I can anSWer them all with one answer. I believe to quote Shakes-
peare "there lies the rub". You have to understand that if we budget so
much money for hose, equipment and things like that throughout the course
of the year, if we exhaust this money then where do we get the money to
replace these various and sundry items. Granted perhaps I am being a
little too dramatic. There may not be a situation between now and July 1st
in which we will have to send a man into a manhole or something to examine
the explosive nature of a certain atmosphere, but then again there may. And
here again there may be a situation, there may not be a situation I should
say between now and July 1st in which we will be called upon to manually
cut some sort of a large piece of metal. And here again if I have seemed
to be a little too dramatic you will have to forgive me, but I believe
basically the analogy I am trying to draw here is to impress upon you
gentlemen the fact that, well the reason I even alluded to even this $2
or $3 difference, the man who is working for one of our representatives
here tonight came in second on the engineers exam, subsequently he was
called into replace this man and paid overtime at a fireman's wage, whereas
me being an engineer they would have to pay me engineer's rate. The
difference in the three or four hours is what would you say $3 or $4 or $5
but this seems to be the predominant thinking and if you take that as an
accusation, please don't. Because I do~'t mean to say that. It is just I
that you heard our presentation, the members of the Fire Departmen~s
presentation, and all I am trying to do - here again as an employee and
as a taxpayer, is to draw some analogy is to tell you that we are there,
we are where it's at and we know what is happening and I can't help but
believe that the reason for our lowering morale and our lowering efficiency
has to do with, as I said and pointed out in my little prepared script, an
overly conservative outlook it seems to me.
Mayor Butterworth: "Let me rephrase my question. This wand you said was
a matter of $5".
Mr. Tyre: "I donlt really know, please don't quote me.
Mayor Butterworth: "It is a minor matter. And I have purchased bolt
cutters and that is another relatively minor matter. Now the implication
I get from what you say is that there has been an intentional withholding
of money on these expenditures in the name of economy. I think this is
terrible if it is so. But what I am wondering if on relative minor
matters such as this - if they are absent from apparatus - if it isn't
a matter of some failure to communicate the nature of these relatively
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,......,< ,
minor matters to the right authority where they can be acquired."
Mr. Tyre: "This is entirely possible.
I
Councilman Considine. "Mr. Mayor, may I make just a couple of comments if
I may. I certainly hate to interrupt you. But we have budgeted at this
point $34,195 for supplies and services which include all of this sort of
thing and which is within a few hundred dollars of the department's request.
The areas we have reduced are areas that do not relate to this area at all
and we still are talking of only a $600 reduction. As to overtime pay, we
have budgeted better than $10,000 increase in overtime pay this year than
was budgeted last. And last year we increased it $6,000 over the year
before. But I think the point we are trying to make is it has not been
the attitude of the council to be chintzy, if you will pardon the
phraseology. We have been attempting to meet the requirements, safety-
wise, equipment wise and all overtime pay that is legitimately needed. We
don't intend to be wasteful but I don't think you can say we have been
running an economy drive that has been say inconsistent with maintaining
the department so if a man has lost a boltcutter or doesn't have a knife
to cut plastic, it seems all he would have to do is turn in a requisition
because you are talking about money that the department would normally
run into surplus with."
Mr. Tyre: "I understand what you are saying Mr. Considine and I hope
you don't for one minute think that I am criticizing the man who
prepares and submits the budget which would be our Fire Chief. I don't
intend to do that. All I know is what I am told and I am on occasion
told that we have to work short because we have no more money for
overtime. II
Dorsey Caldwell: "May I please share the floor with Mr. Tyre just
briefly. "
Mayor Butterworth; "Would you state your name again for the record."
"My name is Dorsey Caldwell. This overtime matter, you are talking
figures etc., but I think is it not true you cut Chief Way's original
budget request for overtime severely.
Councilman Considine:
it at a figure that is
the last year."
1'We cut his request for overtime but we have left
substantially greater than has been expended in
I
Mr. Caldwell: "It is not substantially greater enough Sir. We ran out
of overtime funds last September and we have been hanging on with make
do methods ever since. There is not enough money to cover the require-
ments. It sounds great - you have increased it - but you have not
increased it enough. Chief Way is about the most conservative budget
man you can imagine and he does not put anything across to you he
doesn't figure he needs. If you cut him down ----
Counci lman Considine: "What you are in effect saying is, in this year's
budget you ran out of overtime last September, after six months."
Mr. Caldwell: "Yes sir, three months, after last July.
Councilman Arth:".. I wonder if we have delegated establishing a budget
with the City Manager on details, supplies and this sort of thing ---"
Mr. Caldwell: "You know Chief Way's reputation and he does not do
things that are flambouyant or frivolous. What he says is usually
6-16-70
-lP-
close to the truth and you had better
and try to come close to them because
the Fire Department by cutting down.
say. "
reread his original figures
you are really shortchanging
That is really all I have to
Mayor Butterworth: "All right, thank you gentlemen. Thank you for
your presentation here. Is there anyone else now that wishes to be
heard on the matter of the city budget at this time. If so, now is
the time to come forward. Gentlemen, there appears to be no other
citizen that wishes to address the council on this matter and the
chair will entertain a motion to close the public hearing on the matter
of the tentative budget on 1970-71."
I
Councilman Helms: "I so move."
Councilman Arth: tlSecond. "
Mayor Butterworth:
lf not, the hearing
budget."
"Any discussion. Is there anyone that disapproves.
will be closed on the matter of the tentative
(MOTION CARRIED).
I
6-16-70
-lQ-
I
I
HEARING
(Gun Show)
APPROVED
,~~/)
(y 7Y
HEARING
(Auction of
Assets)
APPROVED~
,Pyj~
Ov;y
{)Y
CONDITIONAL
USE PERMlT
(Montessori
School)
APPROVED
\ -i-\
y\
SIDEWALKS
(Altura
Road)
S7-
\ \?)
0'
18:7648
Application of Dwain J. Pelock, 10151 Washington Street, Bellflower,
for a Council Permit to conduct an antique gun and collector's show
at 50 W. Duarte Road (Masonic Temple) on July 11 and 12, 1970. Mayor
Butterworth declared the hearing open and the applicant explained
the proposed function with sales tax to accrue to the City. No one
else desiring to be heard the hearing was CLOSED on MOTION by
Councilman Arth, seconded by Councilman Considine and carried unani-
mously. Whereupon it was MOVED by Councilman Considine, seconded by
Councilman Arth and carried unanimously that the application be
APPROVED and a Council Permit be issued therefor.
Application of Gary Ostrin, dba Ostrin & Ostrin, 738 E. 12th Street,
Los Angeles, for a Council Permit to conduct an auction of the assets
of the Cameo Figure Control Center, 1020 S. Baldwin Avenue, on June
17 at 7 P.M. Mayor Butterworth declared the hearing open and no one
desiring to be heard the hearing was CLOSED on MOTION by Councilman
Arth, seconded by Councilman Considine and carried unanimously. Where-
upon it was MOVED by Councilman Arth, seconded by Councilman Considine
and carried unanimously that the application be APPROVED and that a
~ouncil Permit be issued therefor. Should traffic in connection with
the auction warrant it - control will be authorized.
Planning Commission Resolution No. 704 granting a conditional use
permit for additional construction and site alteration at the
Montessori School, 1406 S. Santa Anita Avenue, subject to conditions.
Discussion held on the proposed alterations which the Planning Director
pointed out will not preclude the possibility of the residence being
returned to R-l usage in the future, however, the location is conducive
to the use due to its proximity to the Richard Henr~ Dana, Jr High
School. That the opposition was from residents on Pamela Road. Fred
Kennedy, attorney for the applicant, explored the proposed addition
and alterations and stated in part that the children remain indoors
most of the time and that the noise is minimal compared to that emanating
from the adjacent junior high school; that the children are usually
called for by 2 PM each school day.
Councilman Arth then MOVED to ratify the action of the Planning
Commission in its Resolution No. 704. Motion seconded by Councilman
Helms and carried unanimously.
At the regular meeting of June 11 Council granted the request of Edward
DaRin for a delay in action regarding sidewalks on Altura Road. Mr.
DaRin addressed Council expressing appreciation for the delay which
permitted an opportunity to poll the residents and referred to a petition
filed with the City Clerk opposing sidewalks which were scheduled for
both sides of Altura Road. He stated that signatures were obtained
from about 85% of Altura Road residents and from bordering streets;
that some of the reasons for the opposition include a general reluctance
to change the character of the neighborhood, that it has a rural ranch
atmosphere with landscaping and trees which have taken some 20 years
to grow; that they do not feel there is a need for sidewalks in that
Altura Road is not a heavily traveled street - that children do walk
to school but a large number take the bus or ride bicycles. That to
date there have been no reports of danger or harm. He expressed the
hope that Council will accede to the wishes of the residents who have
asked that sidewalks not be constructed.
Mrs. Robert Whittier, 1125 La Rosa Road, stated in part that she favors
sidewalks which provide safety for all ages; that the School Board is
now considering reducing the bus service and asked Council to proceed
with the construction as scheduled. Mrs. Whittier mentioned other residents
who were in favor.
6-16-70
- 2 -
COUNCIL
CHAMBER
REFURBISHING
,
,
,
I '
>) \
,)
, I
\
18:7649
Mrs. William Sward, 1060 Paloma Drive, stated in part that the afore-
mentioned petition had not been circulated to everyone in the area; that
she was in favor of sidewalks, that about four years ago parents requested
a crosswalk at DeAnza, and she urged that the con'struction proceed.
I
Perry Carter, 1100 La Rosa Road, stated' in part that perhaps action should
stop on the sidewalks to permit an opportunity to examine more closely the
various aspects of the problem; that perhaps the addition of sidewalks
would have a bearing on the speed limit; that he would like more concrete
evidence one way or another.
Councilman Considine cited a fatal accident on El Monte Avenue a few yearSI
ago; that since sidewalks have been constructed in the exact block the
safety factor has improved and no accidents have been reported. He
explained that when the initial planning was done, all major walk routes
to all schools Were considered with School Principals, teachers, P T A
and city police and street departments, that provisions must be made for .
safety for all who use the public facility, namely, the street.
Mayor Butterworth explained that the program has been inffiistence some
seven years now -- months and months of deliberations have gone into the
matter - the program was designed solely to insure safety. He cited
instances where opposition was 90 to 100 percent - that after sidewalks .
were in - those same residents were delighted with the improved situation.
Councilman Arth also referred to the inherent safety of sidewalks; that'
he realized the landscaping which has been planted all the way to the
curb and the feeling of the loss of some of a resident's property, which
was city parkway land..that he worked to keep the sidewalks adjacent to
the curb which will work out better for the property owner.
In answer to a question the City Manager advised that the School District
strongly supported the program and had asked that if Council were consid-
ering dropping Altura Road that they be notified so they could present
arguments for the installation.
The City Clerk then read into the record the opposing petition signed
by 86 residents on or adjacent to Altura Road, and three communications_
in support of sidewalks from Mrs. D. W. Anderson, 1129 LaRosa Road,'
Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Rose, 1142 La Rosa Road, and Mrs. Robert Whittier,
1125 La Rosa Road.
It was noted that the contractor had been agreeable to the delay whereupon
it was MOVED by Councilman Arth, seconded by Councilman Considine and
carried on roll call vote as follows, that staff be authorized to proceed
with the sidewalk program including the east side of Altura Road from Hugo
Reid Drive to Catalpa Road - sidewalks to be curbside.
AYES: Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
NOES: None I
ABSENT: Councilman Hage
Jack Saelid, 821 Balboa Drive, in noting the opposition to the program, -
recommended that in future planning consideration be given to maintaining
to a bare minimum traffic on the residential streets in the subject area
which he stated in part has increased during the past years.
In a report submitted by the City Manager and the Director of Public Works
it was noted that the Council Chamber was constructed some 22 years ago
and that little has been done to modernize the facility; that it might
be refurbished at a cost of about $8,649; that if a more extensive
change were desired it could best be accomplished by engaging the services
of a professional.
Discussion held on the feasibility of engaging an architect or an industrial
interior decorator. It was submitted that $10,000 might cover the project.
Matter will be determined later, however, it was the consensus that it is
clearly indicated something will have to be done in the subject area.
6-16-70
- 3 -
I
I
CITY-COUNTY
RECREATIONAL
AGREEMENT
& !fit
SECOND
AVENUE
IMPROVEMENT
(Cooperative
Agreement)
ijLl'fJ
(p
RESOLUTION
NO. ~ <;//5//
ADOPTED
I I'
bH1 "
,
INFORMATIVE
MATERIAL
~
REQUEST FOR
ALLEY
PAVING
~~~~
..1'
i;
18: 7 650
Discussion held on the proposed agreement between the City and the Los
Angeles .County Flood Control District for use of its properties in the
development of recreational facilities where feasible. The City had
requested and the District indicated that it would grant an easement
over property adjacent .to the Wilderness Park such that it may be
developed for parking and recreational purposes. Following consideration
of the contents of the agreement with Councilman Helms observing in part
that the proposed contract provides very little if any benefit to the
City, it was MOVED by Councilman Considine, seconded by Councilman Arth
and carried unanimously that the agreement be approved and that the
Mayor and City Clerk be and they are hereby authorized to execute same.
It was noted that staff has negotiated an agreement with the State
Division of Highways providing for State participation in sharing the
cost of the improvements in the Second Avenue Realignment Project
(Job # 363).. .from Bonita Street to Route 210 Freeway within the City...
Said agreement provides for the payment of all costs relative to con-
struction of pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, bridge abutment
modification and 50% of the cost of the necessary traffic signal
modifications necessary for the signalization of the new intersection.
It was MOVED by Councilman Considine, seconded by Councilman Helms
and carried on roll call vote as follows, that the agreement be entered
into and that the Mayor and City Clerk be and they are hereby authorized
to execute same in form approved by the City Attorney.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Rage
Whereupon the City Attorney presented, explained the content and
read the title of Resolution No. 5041, entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO EXECUTE A
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE IMPROVEMENT
OF HUNTINGTON DRIVE IN CONNECTION WITH THE WIDENING OF SECOND AVENUE."
It was MOVED by Councilman Helms, seconded by Councilman Arth and
carried on roll call vote as follows, that the reading of the full
body of Resolution No. 5041 be WAIVED and that the same be ADOPTED.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Coune i Iman Rage
Council received and ordered FILED a communication dated June 1, 1970,
from the State Division of Highways concerning a study now being
initiated to provide for functional classification of all highways,
roads and streets which will exist or be needed in the year 1990 -
considering 1990 projections of land use, population, urban limits
and travel.
The City Manager and the Director of Public Works advised that a
request has been received for the improvement of an alley right-of-
way paralleling Live Oak Avenue running between Sixth Avenue and the
Santa Anita Wash; that the subdivider deposited funds for improvement
of the alley but that no consideration has been given or ,is being given
toward improving the alley. The City has, at no expense to abutting
owners, installed alley improvements in locations where the abutting
owners providing right-of-way at no cost to the City. The Director
of Public Works set forth in his report dated June 2, 1970, that the
City purchased the land and in his opinion the abutting owners should
pay the cost for the improvement. He estimated the cost at $5,500
and subtracting the deposit of $1,650 there would be a deficiency
fund-wise of approximately $3,850. An explanation was then given as to
procedure. He was asked to convey the information to the attorney for
the owner of property at 625-635 E. Live Oak Avenue.
6-16-70
- 4 -
FIREWORKS
STAND
LO~I~11
ORDINANCE
NO. 1413
INTRODUCED
ORDINANCE
NO. 1414
INTRODUCED
18:7651
On MOTION by Councilman Considine, seconded by Cokncilman Helms and
carried unanimously the request of the American Legion Arcadia Post
# 247 for permission to use city owned land at 423 E. Huntington
Drive and 100 North Santa Anita Avenue for sale of fireworks between
July 1 through July 4, 1970. Insurance certificates will be submitted.
The City Attorney presented for the first time, explained the content
and read the tit le of Ordinance No. 1413, ent it led: "AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA AMENDING SECTION 3420.1 OF
THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO SWIMMING POOL FENCING."
It was MOVED by Councilman Helms, seconded by Councilman Considine
carried on roll call vote as follows, that the reading of the full
of Ordinance No. 1413 be WAIVED and that same be INTRODUCED,
I
and
body
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Hage
The City Attorney presented for the first time, explained the content
and read the title of Ordinance No. 1414, entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA AMENDING SECTION 2322.2 OF
THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO THE MAXIMUM AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT
OF FIREMEN."
It was MOVED by Councilman ,Arth, seconded by Councilman Considine. and
carried on roll call vote as follows, that the reading of the full body
of Ordinance No. 1414 be WAIVED and that same be INTRODUCED.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Hage
RESOLUTION The City Attorney presented, explained the content and read the title
NO. 5'1B'J '1/31 of Resolution No. 5039, entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTED OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA CHANGING THE HOUR OF THE REGULAR MEETINGS OF
THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 3551."
RESOLUTION
NO. 3l)tj:() t//</o
ADOPTED
/~~k
r:;1" \
It was MOVED by Councilman Helms, seconded by Councilman Arth and
carried on roll call vote as follows, that the reading of the full body
of Resolution No. 5039 be WAIVED and that same be ADOPTED.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT :
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Rage
The City Attorney presented, explained the content and read the title
of Resolution No. 5040, entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ARCADIA AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY AT
THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND SECOND AVENUE FOR THE
WIDENING OF SECOND AVENUE."
I
It was MOVED by Councilman Considine, seconded by Councilman Helms and
carried on roll call vote as follows, that the reading of the full body
of Resolution No. 5040 be WAIVED and that same be ADOPTED.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Hage
The City Attorney explained that this document authorizes the City to
acquire property for a specified amount on condition that the owner
consents to removal of a spur track serving the property; that it
further authorizes the City to execute an easement deed to the owner
of property at the northeast corner of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue
for the purpose of reinstalling a railroad spur track in Second Avenue
with several provisions including one providing for the termination of
- 5 -
6-16-70
I
I
APPOINTMENTS
RESIGNATION
& APPOINTMENT
WATERSHED
COMMISSION
1970-71
LIBRARY
BUDGET
18:7652
the easement in the event the spur track is not installed within ten
(10) years; that if the spur is reinstalled the City is authorized
to make any repairs or improvements in Second Avenue required by the
reinstallation. (Gas Tax Funds will be used).
Mayor Butterworth made the following appointments which were ratified
on motion.
Chamber of Commerce Liaison
Councilman Helms
Committee - to investigate
the feasibility of the City
employing a full time Area
Developer
Councilman Considine, Chairman,
Mayor Edward L. Butterworth,
Planning Commissioners Er,ickson and
Livingston
Committee - to review the
financial arrangement between
the City and the Chamber of
Commerce
Councilman Arth, Chairman,
Councilman Rage, Planning Commissioners
Kuyper, Lauber, Reiter. Representative
from the Chamber to be appointed by its
President.
Committee - to review the
existing contract between
the City and the Chamber of
Commerce dated January 26,
1954.
Councilman Helms, Chairman; Planning
Commissioner Cahill. City Attorney, Ogle.
Representative from the Chamber to be
appointed by its President.
MOTION was then made by Councilman Helms, seconded by Councilman Considine
and carried unanimously that the above appointments be and they are hereby
ratified.
Mayor Butterworth advised that Donald S. Camphouse has resigned from the
Los Angeles County Watershed Commission and that Reuben Coatsworth had
agreed to serve on that Commission. Whereupon it was MOVED by Councilman
Arth, seconded by Councilman Helms and carried unanimously that the
resignation of Mr. Camphouse be accepted with regret and that Mr. Coatsworth
be and he is hereby appointed to the Los Angeles County Watershed Commission.
The Library Board had asked for certain additions to its original budget
and had asked that if those additions were not acceptable that the budget
be returned so that it could be recast by the Board. This was done and
changes were made which the City Manager explained. He also noted that
while it was first thought to be adequate to wash the exterior of a
portion of the building, 'upon further examination it was found that it
should be painted - that it had not been painted for 10 years...that the
cost would be $3,072, which would have to be added to the total amount of
the library budget. It was MOVED by Councilman Arth, seconded by Council-
man Helms and carried on roll call vote as follows, that $3,072 be added
to the library budget for said purpose.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Hage
The City Manager continued in the area of carpeting, some trim painting
and a cash register, stating in part that the Library Board had suggested
funds for these items be deleted, but that since carpeting is needed in
the reference area at this time and that the auditor strongly recommends
the cash register, it is now his recommendation that funds for these items
be retained; that the only adjustment would be the addition of the afore-
mentioned amount for exterior painting.
6-16-70
- 6 -
CITY
ENTRANCE
AREA
DEVELOPER
18:7653
Mayor Butterworth called for a motion with respect to the City Manager's
recommendation for approval of the original budget with one addition. Where-
upon it was SO MOVED by Councilman Helms, seconded by Councilman Arth.
Mayor Butterworth explained his position in the matter by stating in part
that what Council is doing is in effect disapproving the budget the Library
Board submitted in the first place with the request that certain items be
added. That if they were not acceptable that the budget be returned to
the Board for reconsideration, which was done - that the budget was then
resubmitted to Council by the Board. And now Council is disapproving the
redrafted budget and insisting it proceed with the initial budget. He
referred to a portion of Section 1202 of the City Charter - "The budget I
shall provide a complete financial plan of all city funds and activities
for the ensuing fiscal year." Reference was also made to a portion of
Section 809 providing that "Library Board shall administer and operate
the city libraries." He continued in part that it is his feeling that
there can be no effective administration or operation without authority
to expend public funds; that it was the intent of the Charter Committee
to give the Library Board total authority over the total operation of
the library including the right to determine how money appropriated by
the Council should be expended; that he thinks Council is getting into
the administration and operation of the facility when it begins to tell
them how they must spend their money...on that basis he would oppose the
motion.
Councilman Helms spoke in favor of the motion...that the basic issue
is an item of capital outlay which the Library Board had first requested
and then asked for deletion - relating to the carpeting and trim painting,
all necessary to the maintenance of the building. That these items do
not qualify under the definition of Capital Improvements and must be
budgeted accordingly. That Council in approving the motion is merely
doing what is required by the Charter, exercising physical responsibility
of the administration of city money. That he would never consider inter-
fering with the internal affairs of the Library and thinks it essentia1to
have an independent free functioning library, but that in the case of
financial responsibility the proposed motion is proper.
Councilman Arth concurred and stated in part that Council has a definite
responsibility to the people to see that these things are taken care of
on a normal regular basis.
Councilman Considine stated in part that in
met with the Board to discuss their budget;
budget and include the additions, the Board
Council has always
approving the first
satisfied.
the past
that by
would be
Roll call was then taken on the motion.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms
Councilman Butterworth
Councilman Hage
I
Councilman Helms suggested a provision in the Library budget for fiction
material and he will discuss this with the Board at its next meeting. It
was noted that another meeting is clearly indicated in the adoption of
the budget.
Brief reference made to the improvement of the entrance to the city on
West Huntington Drive.
Discussion held on the appropriation in the budget for the employment of
a full time Area Developer. It was noted that any firm arrangement must
await the recommendadon of the Committee just formed to look into the
feasibility of such a program. It was MOVED by Councilman Helms, seconded
6-16-70
- 7 -
I
I
CONSIDINE
ARTH
18:7654
by Councilman Arth and carried on roll call vote as follows, that
the sum of $20,000 be appropriated in the ensuing budget to be used
to defray the expense of an area development program, subject to
Council further order.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Helms, Butterworth
None
Councilman Hage
Councilman Considine reported on matters discussed at the recent
League of California Cities meeting. On a matter concerning low cost
housing, it was suggested that the City take a stand and the City
Manager will obtain all related material.
He also advised that a local resident, George Gaffney, had noted that
the Flag was not displayed at the Library on Flag Day, and suggested
that steps be taken to see that the Flag is flown on all Holidays.
He also asked that a check be made concerning the cost to the City
of its fire protection insurance (valuable documents etc).
Advised of activities of the Southern California Association of
Governments; also the computer program.
BEAUTIFICATION/At the suggestion of Mayor Butterworth the City Attorney will prepare
a resolution requesting undergrounding'of utility poles on the east
side of Michi11inda Avenue. It was noted that the Arcadia Beautiful
Commission supports this improvement.
GENERAL
PLAN
MEETING
ADJOURNMENT
The Planning Director advised that the Commission will meet with the
General Plan Consultant, Simon Eisner, on Monday June 22, at 7:30 P.M.
in the Conference Room, and invited the members of Council to attend.
At 11:10 P.M., the meeting was ADJOURNED to THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1970,
at 6:30 A. M. in the Council Chamber.
!lJt~
~~~~~u
City Clerk
6-16-70
- 8 -