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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJUNE 25,1970 CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL AGREEMENTS APPROVED (ACEA) (AFME 606-C) (AFRA AND APRA) 1 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. 6-25-70 - 1 - 18:7656 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. 1 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 6-25-70 - 2 - , I 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 - 3 - 6-25-70 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). 1 6-25-70 - 4 - 18:7659 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. 1 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 1 6-25-70 - 5 - \, --.