HomeMy WebLinkAboutJUNE 25,1970
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
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PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
AGREEMENTS
APPROVED
(ACEA)
(AFME
606-C)
(AFRA
AND
APRA)
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18:7655
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 25, 1970
The City Council of the City of Arcadia, Califernia, met in an
adjourned regular session in the Council Chamber of the Arcadia
City Hall en June 25, 1970, at 6:30 A. M.
Councilman C. Robert Arth
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Hage, Helms, Butterworth
Nene
The City Manager advised that the Personnel Director, representing
the City Manager and the City Council, had been meeting and con-
ferring with the City Employee's Association; that an agreement had
been reached and signed. (Copies were distributed to. the Council),
The agreement included salaries, vacatiens, sick leave and stability
payments. Whereupen it was MOVED by Councilman Helms, seconded by
Councilman Considine and carried on roll call vote as follows, that
said agreement be and it is hereby APPROVED.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Hage, Helms, Butterworth
None
None
The City Manager also advised that an agreement had been reached with
the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and
that a summary of the agreement had been submitted to Council. Where-
upon it was MOVED by Councilman Hage, secended by Councilman Considine
and carried on roll call vote as follows, that said agreement be
APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Rage, Helms, Butterworth
None
None
The City Manager then advised that the City Fireman's Relief Association
had submitted a final demand; that since the date ef that communicatien
there have not been any meaningful meetings and that there is no agree-
ment at this point. He continued that the City Police Relief Association
had submitted additional information and after reviewing the new material
he hoped to meet and confer in good faith with the association. He
suggested that Council schedule a further meeting on or befere June 30.
Councilman Hage, being absent from the last council meeting, asked if
this particular meeting had been noticed in the usual manner. Upon
being informed that all of the legal requirements had been cemplied
with, he stated in part that his reason for inquiring was that he had
read some information about this being a secret meeting; that he does
not attend secret meetings nor does he want to be included in secret
meetings...that he just wanted to bring this out.
Upon inquiry, Mayor Butterworth was advised that the empleyee from the
po~ice 'department who had made the subject press release was present.
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Mayer Butterworth then stated: "It is now time reserved for those in
the audience who wish to address the City Council, and I would like to
tell you what I think about your press release so that you will have an
adequate opportunity to reply, I can start off by stating that r think
it is beneath contempt. At eur last meeting we were unable to arrive
at a conclusion with the police department and the fire department and
it seemed that additional time was necessary for bargaining. Fer the
convenience of the fire and police departments, we put this meeting
over a very short period of time. We didn't have very many days in
which to go before we wanted to meet again because we thought it was
convenient for you.
I
"All of us are working men here and you that were here saw us take our
calendars and we had commitments every single night between the time
of the last meeting and today. We went over these calendars and we
could not find a night when the five of us were free, We all are
working men. I am dewn at my office at 7:45 in the morning. One of us
works in Los Angeles, one in Pasadena, one is a local attorney and the
other a loc& businessman. The only time that we could meet in order
to carry out our negotiations here and not cut off negotiations with
the fire and police was 6:30 this morning. Now there was nobody in
the audience when we publicly announced that meeting that made the
slightest protest. Nobody, A simple telephone call to the City
Manager or to me or to any of my colleagues, or a letter stating that
this meeting was inconvenient for the policemen and the firemen and
that they would prefer that we go a little bit longer and meet at
night, would have been all that was sufficient and as far as I know
it wasn't even attempted and it wasn't attempted I think because the
representative of the police department did net want to attempt it. And
I come to the regrettable conclusion that there is in process at this
time no attempt to mitigate a problem, but to aggravate a problem. The
police representative that made this release to the newspaper was not
seeking a selution to a preblem, he was seeking to. intensify the problem.
"This statement in the newspaper of secret and clandestine tactics for
a 6:30 meeting in the light of that background and, I think it bears
repeating at least in the judgment of the chair, is beyond contempt
and I cannot believe that it represents the thinking or the attitude
ef the excellent men in both the fire and police departments that we
have guarding the safety and welfare of this community. I simply refuse
to believe that this represents their thinking. And I think it was a
most unfortunate release to make and I can't imagine what the man who
made the release had en his mind when he made that release unless it
was to intensify problems we are trying to find a solution to. II
Councilman Arth stated in part that Council has, under legally authorized
terms, held executive sessions since the last council meeting, to discuss
in detail the demands of the four associations; that council has been
in touch constantly and working to try to reach satisfactory solutions.
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Mayor Butterwerth stated in part that in view of the press statement
concerning what appears to be an attempt on the part of Council to
conduct a secret and clandestine meeting, he felt another meeting should
be scheduled. He asked if June 30 at 7:30 P.M., would be convenient and
acceptable to all concerned. No ene responded to the contrary
and the meeting will be so held.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Richard Mauch, 2500 S. Santa Anita Avenue, President ef the Police
Relief Association, expressed appreciation to Council for its gracious-
ness in scheduling the meeting at a convenient time so that all ;ho so
desired could attend.
Ronald Liebow, attorney for the police association, also expressed
gratitude to Council for the day and hour to which this meeting will
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1
FUND
TRANSFERS
(1969-70)
PROPOSED
UTILITY TAX
,c.,t " _I {,'
.~ ~: "'" r '" " .
18:7657
be adjourned; that the additional time will provide an opportunity
to meet with the City Manager and review the new material and it is
heped an understanding will have been reached by the next meeting.
Mayor Butterworth stated: "Mr. Manager, between now and June 30th,
I think it is the wish of this council that you meet with the police
and fire representatives at some time convenient tq them within
reason. I think the way we feel...if you have an appointment, it
would be appreciated if you would make an effort to change it so.
that you can meet with these representatives. We know that you will
listen to their viewpoints and we want you to listen to their view-
points. This doesn't mean that you kneel to. demands which are
unreasonable, of course, but we want you to talk to these people
and to bargain with them. We believe that you have in the past and
we would like that to be the pattern between new and the 30th. I
know that yeu and Mr. Francis will make every oppertunity to suit
the convenience of the representatives of the police and fire depart-
ments. II Council concurred in this expressed thinking.
Gerald Gardner, 1012 W. Puente Avenue, West Covina, President of
the Firemens Relief Association, referred to Mr. Cozad's starement
that the associatien had submitted a final demand; that what else
can it be when there isn't anything else to concede in order to come
to an agreement. He referred to a Memorandum of Agreement which was
approved by Council a year ago and asked that the City Manager be
instructed to include all fire personnel in said agreement and to
recommend the average salary of the 16 city annual survey in his
recommendation, He also stated in part that only the exclusion of
three positions from the agreement is standing in the way of reaching
a solution; that they would meet at any time and continue negotiatiens
if this is understood.
Mayor Butterworth stated in part that he weuld hepe the Firemens
Association would meet with the City Manager with a little bit more
of a flexible mind than that expressed at this time. He then in-
structed the City Manager to adhere to the Agreement made with the
Association; that whether or not it ebtains the result that the
association considers to be a final demand er net is something that
has to. be handled with the City Manager and the Personnel Director;
that he hoped they will meet and confer.
Before the close of the fiscal year it is necessary that Council
authorize fund transfers as recemmended by the Director of Finance.
Whereupon it was MOVED by Councilman Hage, seconded by Councilman
Arth and carried on rell call vote as follows, that authorization
be given for fund transfers as set forth in the report dated June
18, 1970.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Hage, Helms, Butterworth
None
None
The City Manager advised that funds which will result from revenue
provided in the existing budget for next year will be inadequate and
suggested that an ordinance imposing a utility user's tax be prepared
for council consideration; that staff be directed to meet with the
Utility Companies in this regard.
Discussion ensued on the enactment of such a tax and it was pointed out
that the State, from time to time, preempts a local source of revenue
such as eccurred with the cigarette tax and the realty transfer tax;
that the League of California Cities advises that the State is about to
pass a utility tax which would preclude any City from leveling a utility
user's tax if it has not done so prior to. the enactment of such legis-
lation, With this explanation any objections held by Ceuncilman Hage
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PLANNING
COMMISSION
VACANCY
PLANNING
COMMISSIONER
REAPPOINTED
EMPLOYEE
NEGOTIATIONS
RACE TRACK
PROPERTY
ASSESSMENT
18:7658
were withdrawn. Councilman Arth asked staff to prepare a comparison...
between this type ef revenue as oppesed to raising the same amount of
money with an increase for instance of 5~ on the property tax rate.
Councilman Considine stated in part that he would only consider such
a tax if it were used in conjunction with a tax rate already contem-
plated; that it is important to people who are aware of the tax
structure as a result of city costs to see and to know and understand
why a tax is imposed.
Councilman Helms MOVED that the City Attorney be instructed to prepare
an ordinance enacting a utility tax to be submitted to Council for
consideration and that staff meet with the utility companies in this
regard. MOTION seconded by Councilman Arth and carried on roll call
vote as follows:
1
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Councilmen Arth, Considine, Hage, Helms, Butterworth
None
Nene
Discussion held on forthcoming vacancies on the Planning Commission.
Mayor Butterwerth referred to the provision of the City Charter
providing that a commissioner may continue to serve in an expired
term until his successor is appeinted and advised that James Parker
(whose term expires June 30) will be asked to remain for a few
months. If Mr. Parker does not choose to do this, Council will
expedite a new appointment.
It was MOVED by Councilman Arth, seconded by Councilman Considine
and carried unanimously that Norman Erickson be reappointed to the
Planning Commission for a full four year term expiring JUNE 30,
1974. It was noted that Mr. Erickson was originally appointed
January 29, 1969, to fill out an unexpired term.
Brief discussion held on some of the additional fringe benefits
contained in the two agreements already signed; that such benefits
are to. inure to. the benefit of all employees even though they are
members of the two associations which have not as yet reached an
agreement.
Some discussion held on what would be the net result if it is not
pessible to reach an agreement with the two associations (Police
and Fire). The recommendation of the City Manager was accepted -
that no determination be made in this direction at this time - but
to await the outcome of further negotiations.
Co uncilman Helms stated in part that it is timely, in his op~nlon,
that since the City is endeavoring to increase revenue to meet an
expanding budget, that it take a look at a situation which appears
to him to be rather inequitable. He referred to an economic survey
furnished by the track indicating its property to be assessed at
$11,000 per acre - that he had worked out some figures on the property
indicating $10,000 per acre and using the criteria of assessed valuation
being one-fourth of market value that it is incredible to him that an
acre of land at Santa Anita is only werth $40,000 per acre. He continued
that he had checked some prime land in the City on Old Ranch Road south
of Hugo Reid Drive (directly across the street from the track) and where
4.15 lots equal an acre and they were assessed at $17,645 (land only).
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That according to his figures if the track property wae assessed equally
with ether property its assessed valuation would be $6,213,000 instead
of $4,087,500, and using the tax base of $1.05 per $100 revenue to the
city would increase $22,317 and to the schoel district $94,584 based on
its $2.45 per $100. .,or a total increase in excess of $100,000.
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He submitted other figures on this issue and commented in part that
historically the track property has been used predominately for
parking, but that current information indicates extensive plans for
its development and it appears to him that the track property is 'no
longer being held for collateral use but for investment; that anyone
else holding property for investment would pay the increased taxes
resulting from a true assessed valuation, He then asked staff to
check the situation with the County Assessor and report back to
Council. His tabulations will be put into writing and submitted to
Council.
Councilman Rage commented that if he were a property owner in the
subject area he is not certain he would want to have his land
reassessed regardless of what eccurs at the track. He also concurred
with Councilman Considine who stated in part that if the City requests
such a reevaluation he would agree only if the Ceunty Assessor is
asked to. loek at the total business community; that he would not want
~ single out one particular business.
Mayor Butterworth commended Mr, Helms for his time and efforts and
felt that any additional information will be helpful.
ADJOURNMENT
TO DATE
CERTAIN
At 7:20 A. M. the meeting ADJOURNED TO JUNE 30 at 7:30 P.M.
Yl~
ATTEST:
d~~~~
Clerk
City
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