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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDECEMBER 5,1995 , .... ~ .... - -- aNa - L,) 1.Qt:J :.-.,!:.~ c:-~ I CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 5,1995 The Arcadia City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in an Adjourned Regular Meeting on Tuesday, December 5. 1995, at 5:40 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilmembers Chang, Kuhn, Ulrich, Young, and Lojeski ABSENT: None 1. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS - REPORTSI ANNOUNCEMENTS/STATEMENTS I The exhibits supporting the election resolutions on the regular agenda this date were distributed to the Council. 2, QUESTIONS FROM CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGARDING CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA ITEMS None. 3, TIME RESERVED FOR TIl0SE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL None, 4, MEETING WI1H STATE ASSEMBLYMAN BOB MARGE1T: (A) DISCUSSION REGARDING JUVENILE CRIME ISSUES; (B) DISCUSSION REGARDING OTHER STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES AFFECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EXCERPTS FROM THE DISCUSSION FOLLOW) /0 >".! III.';' I-' Steve Johnson, Administrative Assistant to Assemblyman Bob Margen. and Fred Petteruno, Field Representative, were present along with Assemblyman Bob Margett. Mr, Johnson stated that there is a lot of carryover legislation on criminal justice that aftects juveniles. Council member Ulrich commented that he is concerned about the increase in juVenile crime, There are a lot of violent crimes being committed by children as young as 10 years old, and under the law they are treated as juveniles, with restrictions to protect them. The legislature needs to address this issue. to assure that these offenders are treated as they should be, and not as children who are released from I 1 12/5/95 ,- ,. - -' : -' .) - - custody upon reaching the age of 21. Assemblyman Margett could not say \\ hat the legislature has planned or what pending laws exis\. However. the RepublIcan caucus met last weekend in Palm Springs and addressed the issue of the criminal Justice system as it refers to juveniles, Mr, Johnson commented that the youngest age at which the system treats juveniles as adults for crimes committed is age 14, Assemblyman Margett recently met with Superior Court Judge Montes regarding this issue, There is a commission that will be reviewing the manner in which the system handles juveniles, I Another matter that Councilmember Ulrich is concerned about is the fact that selling liquor to minors is a misdemeanor. Because of the overcrowded court system. misdemeanors are not always prosecuted. He asked if it would be possible to strengthen legislation to make selling alcoholic beverages to minors a felony. especially since many intoxicated juveniles are the ones who commit serious erimes. Assemblyman Margett stated thai he will look into this matter, He noled thai many good ideas with regard to legislation come oul of Council meetings and Board of Education meetings as far as issues to pursue. and that is one of the main rC3S0lIl! he is meeting tonight with the Council. The City Manager inquired about the alleged State' budget surplus, Assemblyman Margen staled thai the S600 million referred to is a lot of money, bul it would only cover three days of the State's operation, One of his concerns about the State budget which he voted against, was the fact that the budget had no reserves. Last year there was some money in surplus to take care of catastrophes such as the Nonhridge earthquake. fires, and floods. However, this year there is no money set aside in reserves for thai purpose, Assemblyman Margen stated that any surplus money should first go toward reserves for natural disasters, and any additional money should go back 10 the cities and counties from whom money was taken in 1992 and 1993, ' I Discussion continued regarding the State budget and how it affects city and county budgets. Mayor Pro tern Kuhn commented Ihat unfunded mandates, whether they come from federal, state, or county. make it difficull for the City to project its budget and expenses. Assemblyman Margen responded that most bills in the Legislature which would impact communities, schools, or businesses with unfunded mandales are usually nOI passed, Mayor Lojeski noted, in reference 10 budget issues, the City is receiving less property tax dollars because propenies are being ,reassessed al a lower tax level. Assemblyman Margen noted that California must be business-friendly and strive to retain businesses in the state in order to compete with other areas. especially the Pacific Rim countries. Mayor Lojeski broughl up the maner of having a freeWay sign to let people know which is the offramp for the race track, the mall. and the Arboretum. The City Manager commented that the City has had conversations with the Caltrans District Director. and Caltrans has always declined 10 put up sueh a sign. Assemblyman Margen stated that he would see if there is something he can do. Mayor Lojeski inquired about a voter's survey taken,by Assemblyman Margen's office, When the results are tabulated, the infonnation will be given 10 the City, With regard 10 the issue of speed limits, Assemblyman Margen authored this bill and staled that Caltrans will determine which freeways qualify for higher speed limits, Further, statistical studies have indicated that there should not be any increase in fatalities because of the higher speed limits as long as highways are designed for inereased speed, A lengthy discussion ensued with regard to the matter of additioual freeway soundwalls for Arcadia. The City Manager stated that the City has no money to apply toward soundwa1l construction, and the State has diverted its money toward reinforcing bridges I 2 12/5/95 I and piers, The residents could accomplish construction of a soundwall b\' means of an assessment district, and they may get reimbursed when the State d~s the wall. Assemblyman Margett recalled that in the past, residents did not approve of that plan, He stated that a proposition for retrofit bonds for highways and bridges will be on the March or the November ballot. Perhaps if the bonds are approved, there "ill be some money available for soundwalls. Councilmember Young mentioned the problem of sound eddying off of the south wall along a section of the 210 Freeway, going over the houses adjacent to the freeway, and causing an increase of noise at higher elevations, Perhaps that problem could be addressed. Me, Johnson commented that according to Caltrans, they found no evidence of eddying sound. Council member Young suggested that sound tests will answer that question. Assemblyman Margett stated that since the State has created a problem by building a soundwaJI on one side of the freeway and not the other. the question is, what will they do to address the problem of the eddying sound? His staff will look into this matter and see if they can get something done about this problem. I Me, Johnson brought up some mailers of legislation regarding mandates which would affect cities. "Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 which relieves local governments from mandates imposed since 1975, unless funding is provided for the Legislature by a two-thirds vote, requires performance of the mandate." Another two-year bill still in committee, "Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8, requires the Legislature to fully fund for each fiscal year solely from State or Federal revenues every mandate imposed directly or indirect1y on any local government by any act of government." Assemblyman Margett explained that the approach taken by the Republican Legislature will be not to pass bills if there are unfunded mandates to go with them. Me, Johnson added that Senate Bill II did pass; it modifies and establishes time lines for processing of State reimbursements filed by local governments, city councils and school boards, Councilmember Chang inquired about Proposition 62. relative to utility taxes, The City Manager stated that although the City of Arcadia is currently protected because it is a charter city. there is a potential that charter cities will be required to refund or rebate utility taxes. The City Manager stated that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) will be reviewing statewide priorities, and the Pasadena rail extension has been given a high rating. However, there is a move afoot by the new representatives of the CTC to re- rank priorities such as the Alameda Corridor and the Dreamworks project funding. If that is done, the City will lose its potential for the rail extension, The City Manager noted that a letter from the Mayor's office will be sent to Assemblyman Margell' s office requesting that his office lobby the CTC not to change priorities, The City is committing money to buy an old train station site with the intent that there will be a train stop, and would not want to start improvements on the property and then not acquire the rail extension. I Discussion continued with regard to the City's support of the MTA reorganization plan in order to get beller representation. The City Manager stated his understanding is that action will take place after the first of the year, The City is working with Supervisor Antonovich's office to follow through on this plan. A different plan is proposed by Assembly Bill 273, which is known as the "Riordan Piano" Mayor Lojeski stated that at recent League of California Cities meetings he has attended there is unanimous support for the "Antonovich Plan." There are 87 cities in Los Angeles County which must take a stand on this issue. The 87 cities represent six million people; the City of Los Angeles represents three million people. Assemblyman Margett stated that he will be introducing a bill which will enable the people of Los Angeles County to vote as to whethe,r they would like to have three 3 12/5/95 ADJOURN- MENT ATTEST: counties created from what IS now Los Angeles CountY, He noted that health care IS " driving this issue, He would like to hear from all city councils In the 59th Assembly District concerning creation of the Counties of San Fernando and San Gabriel In addition to Los Angeles County. which would put approXimately three million people In each cOunty, Couneilmember Young recalls that in the early 1970's the San Gabriel Valley Association of Cities was fonned to separate ~the Valley from Los Angeles County, It did not worle then. and one reason was thatlhere was not enough money to develop the necessary services. MJ, Johnson noted that the Assemblyman's office has researched the reports from that time and has background information on the subject, The City Manager noted that there is also a school of thought in this state that counties are no longer functional and they should cease to 'exist; that there should be a governmental structUre of state and cities. The maner of the breakup of counties \\:IS further discussed at length. I Councilmember Ulrich referred to a lener from the ~ndependent Cities Association asking the cities to take a stand on funding of juvenile probation camps and urging , discussion with their state legislator about the maner, ~mblyman Margett stated that the camps are very effective, they cost less, and the camps should be pan of the federal justice system, but unfortunately they were eliminat~ from the budget because of eleventh-hour cutbacks, He commented that letters from cities expressing their positions on cenain issues are very important to him in helping him know which way to vote on those issues. At 6:47 p.m, the Adjourned Regular meeting ADJO~D sine die. Dennis A. jeski, Mayor of the City of Arcadia , , , J 4 I I, 12/5/95 I I I