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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEPTEMBER 14,1993 I I (;/Hr./. ~O ,0?1'I1.] _,:;: .i___ c.c. CITY COUCiClL PROCE::Dl:iGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE lei THE OFFICE OF l"~ ,:rrr' CLERK ROLL CALL 1. DIRECTIONAL SIGNS (Santa Anita Race Track) OS-I ~ ~ 70 ()Sf..).,.f1;) M I eI UTE S CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING (WORK SESSION) September 14, 1993 The City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met in an Adjourned Regular Meeting (Work Session) on Tuesday. September 14, 1993, at 5:40 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room, PRESENT: Councilmembers Fasching, Lojeski, Margett, and Ciraulo ABSENT: Harbicht It was MOVED by Mayor Pro tem Lojeski, seconded by Councilmember Fasching, and CARRIED. to EXCUSE the absence of Councilmember Harbicht. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. The City Manager introduced Bill Grant, the City Manager of Newcastle, Australia. and Des Lawson, Deputy Director of Administrative Services and Finance Director. who stopped by Arcadia on their way to the International City Management Association Conference in Nashville. The City of Newcastle is starting to hold work-study-type sessions, and so they wanted to take the opportunity to observe tonight's meeting. Mayor Ciraulo read a letter of greeting from Frank Rigby, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Newcastle Sister City Committee. The Los Angeles Turf Club has requested approval from the City to place new signs directing traffic to Santa Anita Race Track. The Turf Club feels that colorful and attractive signs would not only aid people in finding their way to the Race Track, but would also present a favorable image of Santa Anita's beauty and charm. The Public Works Department and the Police Department have approved the signs. The City Attorney explained that the plan is to replace existing signs and add new ones. The signs would be subject to encroachment permits which are granted by the Public Works Department. In response to concerns by Council as to why the increase in the number of signs. from 17 to 37, Mr. Richard Honaker of the Santa Anita Race Track explained that there have been complaints that it is difficult for people to find the location of the Track once they get off the freeway. He pointed out that going north on Santa Anita at Huntington Drive, or coming from Colorado Boulevard, there is no indication as to the direction of the Race Track. Mr, Honaker presented an example of the new logo-type sign. which is 30 inches square in size and in the colors of blue and yellow. The signs would be in place year-round. Existing standards and poles would be utilized wherever possible, with removal of thos~ 'standards which are no longer in use. Because of Council's concern that 37 new signs may be too many and may bring complaints. the City Attorney suggested that the encroachment permit could be issued as conditional and subject to modification if, after the signs are installed, there is a desire -1- 9/14/93 2. RECOMMENDA- TION TO ADOPT RESOL. 5748 (Temporary Banners) o \'-?c) - ~ '<.1 3. CORDOBA GROUP (SGV Subreg- ional Comprehen- sive Plng. Asst.Proj.) I) I~-O;J (,) CITY COUNCIL AGENDA it.:' -.. '''/: ' f, is: .),: _ 3 to reduce the number. :Ir. Honaker agreed that a conditional encroachment permit ~ould be acceptable to his company. Public Works and the City Attorney will draft the conditional encroachment permit, Mayor Pro tern Lojeski reported that there are unused metal poles left in sidewalks, as on Foothill Boulevard after the new sidewalks were poured; he would like to see them removed by the Public Works Department, as they can present a dangerous s i tuaeian. Councilmember Margett asked that Public Works also look into removing some of the unnecessary poles on the northeast corner of El Monte Avenue and Live Oak. which must be very unsightly to the resident at that location. In an effort to expedite implementation of Resolution No. 5748, which would amend Resolution No. 5682 by reducing the modification fee for temporary banners, staff presented the resolution for Council's action this date. Mayor Pro tem Lojeski questioned why staff is recommending adoption of the resolution at a study session rather than a regular Council meeting. He felt that a study session should not be used to take definitive action. Staff explained that it was just done as a matter of expediting Council's direction at its last meeting on September 7. Councilmember Fasching suggested that in this case it probably would not be inconvenient to have the matter continued to the next regular Council meeting on September 21, since the banners in question are permitted to remain up until Council's decision. By general consensus, Council determined to postpone any action until the regular Council meeting on September 21. I At the request of Councilmember Fasching, the City Manager arranged to have this report brought before the Council. Genoveva Arellano, Project Manager of the Cordoba Corporation. presented the San Gabriel Valley Association of Cities Subregional Planning Assistance Project Activity Report. She explained that this plan is being coordinated through the San Gabriel Valley Association of Cities. The Association was asked to coordinate with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to provide subregional input into the Regional Comprehensive Plan. SCAG is asked on a periodic basis to create a regional planning document for all of its six counties. The intent is to provide more local input into this regional planning process. The Association brought in the Cordoba Corporation as a consultant to assist in the process. Cordoba Corporation has identified six areas where the Association felt that policy work should be reviewed. Those six areas are structured as elements in the document and consist of: mobility, growth management. housing. air quality, finance, and economics. Ms. Arellano explained in detail other aspects of the document and how they affect individual cities and cities as a whole, Councilmember Fasching stated that as the community becomes aware of these environmental programs, he would like to see the formation of a youth commission which would involve itself with these issues, I since young people are the ones who will be affected in future years. Perhaps. also, the Association could make an informative video to bring this information to the community via cable television. Ms. Arellano said that her company is asking cities to approve the document in concept in its current form or provide comments to her by September 20, as a final draft must be submitted to SCAG by October 1. It was the consensus of the Council that the draft document is approved in concept. At its last meeting, Council considered the possibility of revising its agenda, moving the Matters from Elected Officials item so that it occurs earlier in the evening. After a brief discussion. it was decided to try the restructured agenda beginning with the next Council meeting, placing Matters from Elected Officials. after the meeting of the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency and before Consent -2- 9/14/93 I I 4. FASCHING (Green Waste, 'AB 939) FASCHING (Downtown Revitali- zation) LOJESKI (League Workshop) LOJESKI (Committee Membrshp. ) LOJESKI (Oak Tree Trimming) LOJESKI (Costco) ));~,~-- Items, The City Attorney suggested that if Council prefers to kee? the agenda structured in that way after a month, an ordinance ~ill be recommended to permanently adopt the change, ITEMS FROM COUNCIL~EMBERS A letter was received from the County Sanitation Districts with regard to allowing green waste to apply toward AB 939 requirements, It was stated that the policy will not be before the full board until November 2. Staff commented that the Integrated Waste Management Board strongly encourages representatives from the Council to attend the meeting. Councilmember Fasching said he will be happy to attend, Councilmember Fasching asked for clarification of the confidential letter written by the City Attorney with regard to downtown revitalization and the environmental review process. The City Attorney responded that he would like to discuss the matter in a closed session, He explained that, basically, there was a debate among staff and lawyers with regard to how far the RFP's should go, and so he wrote a legal opinion to the City Manager to aid him in giving direction to staff. The City Manager added that the City will proceed with doing the environmental review required for the streetscape, apart from any larger, programatic environmental impact report which would entail spending thousands of dollars and taking several months to complete. The City Manager mentioned that a draft mission statement, developed at the corporate planning session with Bill Lewis, will be brought before Council at its next work session. Following that. Council will receive notes of the corporate planning session that specify priorities. Also, staff will prepare for Council a draft public relations program. Mayor Pro tem Lojeski inquired as to the League City Council/Citv Manager Leadership team workshop at Kellogg Hills to be held in January. The City Manager said it is being conducted by David Jones and deals with corporate planning, and it is an excellent program which may be of interest to the Council. Mayor Pro tem Lojeski stated that he seems to find himself on many committees, and due to time restrictions he cannot always attend meetings. This in reference to unexpected telephone calls from the Foothill Job Consortium. The City Manager noted that Councilmembers may find it necessary to choose that type of involvement which is of most benefit in the long run to the community, and forego that which is not. A resident recently called Mayor Pro tem Lojeski with concern that a 2l-inch-diameter limb had been cut from a neighbor's oek tree. Mayor Pro tem Lojeski referred the resident to the City Attorney and City Manager. The City Attorney explained that a person does have a right to cut off that portion of a tree which is invading his property. but it is best to ask permission first. Staff explained that since this was an oak tree, Code restrictions apply, such as mandatory replacement with other trees or fining the owner for having the limb removed. With reference to the Special Meeting Closed Session held September 7 with regard to Costco, Mayor Pro tem Lojeski presented an article from the Los Angeles Times which read. in part. "the Council agreed to begin negotiations to buy the land and begin negotiations with Cos tco. " He wondered how the newspaper would have gotten such information since the meeting was held in closed session. The City Attorney stated that a Notice of Special Meeting was sent to the media, as is required under the law, and an inference could have been made from information stated in that Notice. -3- 9/14/93 CIRAULO (Oc t, 19 Counc il Meeting Canceled) CIRAULO (Coordin, Counc il Repres,) CIRAULO (Parking on Unpaved Areas) 3j:O~,j Since Council will be returning from the League of California Cicies Conference in San Francisco on October 19, Mayor Ciraulo announced that the regularly scheduled Council meeting of that date would be canceled, Mayor Ciraulo received a phone call from a commission member who asked if Council would be interested in sponsoring a commissioner from the Sister City Commission to the Coordinating Council to represent the City and go to the Coordinating Council meetings every month. It was felt that if someone were to attend the meetings it would be more practical if it were someone from City staff. who would be better able to represent City matters. The City Manager will have staff look into the possibility of attending said meetings. I With reference to ordinances which deal with cars parked on unpaved areas, motor homes parked in front of residences, cars with "For Sale" signs on them, etcetera, Mayor Ciraulo has been informed that this is still happening, especially on weekends. A concerned resident has suggested that flyers could be made indicating certain restrictions, and these flyers could then be given out by volunteer Arcadia residents to those who do not comply with these restrictions. Staff clarified there is no ordinance with regard to motor homes as long as they are parked on a paved area. but people are not permitted to live in them. It was suggested that information on this subject could be presented to the community in the City Newsletter. The City Attorney advised that the matter be brought before Council at a regular meeting for further discussion. ADJOURNMENT At 7:15 p.m. the City Council ADJOURNED to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 1993, in the Conference Room of the City Hall Council Chambers, for an Adjourned Regular Meeting to conduct the business of the Council and the Redevelopment Agency. and any Closed Session necessary to discuss personnel, litigation matters or evaluation of properties. ATTEST: J Alford, ~ I -4- 9/14/93