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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARCH 21,2000 1 I I O/l() "~) c),? 0 /90 42:0050 r C' CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE AUDIO AND VIDEO TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ROLL CALL: 1a CLOSED SESSION 0110- 'M MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGULAR MEETING March 21, 2000 The City Council and the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency met at 5:30 p,m, in a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2000, in the Conference Room of the City Council Chambers, PRESENT: Councilmembers Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler ABSENT: None Pursuant to Government Section 54957 - City Manager annual performance evaluation, At 5:33 p,m, the City Council RECESSED to Closed Session and RECONVENED in the Council Chambers at 7:00 p,m, INVOCATlON Reverend Ron Fraker, Victory Chapel, Church of the Foursquare Gospel PLEDGE OF Director of Recreation, Jerry Collins ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: 2, SISTER CITY RECREATION AWARDS (Essay Contest) 3, CENTENNIAL ART WORK (AHS Fine Arts) Mayor Chandler announced the subject discussed at the Closed Session held earlier this evening, PRESENT: Councilmembers Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler ABSENT: None PRESENTATIONS Mayor Chandler, Councilmember Roncelli and Jim Hanner. Chairman, Sister City Commission presented the Sister City Commission Awards and Mayor's Certificates of Commendation to the winners of the Commission sponsored Essay and Interview competition, Mayor Chandler, Mrs, Carol Libby. Centennial Commission and Arcadia High School Fine Arts teacher, Georgette Tuttle presented the Mayor's Certificates of Commendation to Arcadia High School Fne Arts students for submission of Centennial art work to the Centennial Celebration Commission, which will be used to support the programs and events throughout the years of preparation for the Centennial Celebration, 1 3121/00 6a. ",,'APPEAL OF PLNG. COMSN DENIAL OF . SADR 99-074 (2 Charles Schwab Wall 'Architectural Design Review Application No. SADR 99-074 was submitted on December Signs -1130 . 2, 1999,-by applicant Mina-Tree Signs, Inc. Staff requested that the proposed wall signs S. Baldwin be revised so that the Chinese characters would be closed together to' reduce their length Unit B-1) so that they would be readily perceived as one word or message and satisfy the allowable (A i"1.;,..?:i (~ ar~a for:i?entification limits in accorda,nce with the City's d~finition of sign area. (.)4' N / c:.. I-,j On December 15, 1999, a revised proposal was sUbmitt~~ which reduced the spacing " between the 'Chinese characters. This proposal was approved on 'December 21, 1999 .. .. with the condition that the separation between the English and Chinese characters be reduced to a maximum of 3-feet for the 15-inch tall sign and 4-feertor the 18-inch tall sign and that both sighs be recentered accordingly. This would bring the signs into compliance with the City's Code requirements. 4. BOY SCOUT TROOP ~.' NO. 125 CROP-WALK (3-26-2000) 5. ORD. & RES. READ BY TITLE ONLY 6. O'>,;(tJ - , .. 42:0051 .;; Mayor Chandler expressed appreciation to Boy Scout Troop 125 for outstanding service '. to the community during the mud slide at the northern part of Arcadia. I , Mayor Chandler read a Proclamation to commemorate the March 26, 2000 CROP-Walk and proclaimed March 26, 2000 to be CROP-Walk Day. . SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS , None. , " It was MOVED by Council member Roncelli, seconded by Councilmember Marshall and CARRIED that ordinances and resolutions be read by title only and that the reading in full be WAIVED. PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of the report and recommendation to deny an appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of an appeal of staffs conditional approval of Architectural Design Review Application No. SADR 99-074, for two illuminated channel-letter wall signs for 'Charles Schwab" at 1130 South Baldwin Avenue, Unit B-1.' I '" . . - . On January 19, 2000, the applicant appealed both the conditional approval and the initial revision request regarding the spacing of the Chinese characters. The Planning Commission at its February 22nd hearing denied the applicant's appeal,. On Feb~uary 49th, the applicant appealed the Planning Commission's denial,. The applicant is requesting that the signs be approved as originally proposed. The March 21, 2000 staff report indicated that the letters on the front of the building are 18-inches high, and the letters on the side of the building are 15-inches ,high. The letters for the English portion, 'Charles Schwab" are very closely spaced with essentially no space between the individual letters, and less than 2-inches between 'Charles" and "s,CQwab". In cpntract" the Chinese ,characters are widely spaced. The sign facing the parking lol.has approximately 3-feet between each of the individual Chinese characters and is separated from the English pOnion by appro~i!Tlately 4-feel. Because the four Chinese, characters constitute one name or one message, they should be grouped more closely together, similar to the English 'portion of the sign. In addition, a more compact arrangel]1ent would-, clearly provide for the four Chinese characters, to be measured I together as one sign to provide for area measurements that would comply with the City's sign regulatio'ns, and tiie additional criteria established for this center by Application No. 2' 3/21/00 0_. ' 42:0052 SADR 99-046. I Staff noted thai the rr.easurements of the'\vall signs presented by the applicant do not rneet the City's re':juirmnent that they comply with the 1/3 to 2/3 identiflcation requirement of the Arcadia Muricipal Code as follows: Section 9262.4.14, ALLOWABLE AREA FOR IDENTIFICATION. "With regard to <:ny business in the City, applicablp. to the signs listed here, no more :han one-third (1/3) of the sign area of each SUCll sign(s) may contain a non-English translation of the business identification; the remaining sign area identification shall be set forth in the Roman alphabet, English language and includa Arabic numerals. The sign(s) must be clearly readable Irem a distance of one-hundred feet (100')." Staff noted that the Planning 'Commission in it's denial of the applicant's appeal, notea that they wanted integrity of the ordinance to be maintained and that the applicant should comply with the 1/3,2/3 requirement of the City Code. ,_ --,-,--Mayor-Challd,er-OPENED,the,public,hearingo,----,---,---__,__ ,-----,- _,__u ,__,_,,_'_u___, _u -___ Lerov Minatree, owner of Mina- Tree Signs, residing at 4646 Mirada Lane, Acton, California. Mr. Minatree d;stributed drawings of the building under consideration indicating the relationship v; the Engiish version and the Chinese version on the proposed signs. Mr. Minatree, stated in part, that these drawings were not those that were exhibited in the Proposal and Analysis of the staff report. He noted the placement of the Chinese ch8racters are a corporate standard for the Schwab Company. Mr. Minatree advised Council that the Menager of the "Charles Schwab" office would respond to Council's qllestion~ relating t,) verbiage in relation to the Chinese cllaracters. I G.:)uncilrnember ICOV.3cic com:nentGd, in part, that the City of ArcatJia was r.ot asking tAr. Minatrae to d21ete the Chinese characters, just bring the signage into compliance with City code. Staff is just asking Ulat the ChineSE) characters be close together so the overal! appearanc'j of ti1e sign3()e is not so large. Mr. Minatree commented that this would diE.turb the aestllelics of the building by violating the vertical reveals on the facia. In response t::> Council's question of having English lettering above the Chinese translation of the sign; Mr. Minatree said it would be too tight vertically. His company stacks such signage when it is feasibie and space allows. Lori Burke, 3:120 Eust Chapman Avenue, Orange, stat€d in part, that she processes most of the permits lor Mina-Tree Signs in various cities. in the Latino communi~ of Santa Ana, some of the signage ;s all in Spanish while other near. by cities allow signage with a 50/50 ratio, English and/or Korean and Vietnamese. She noted Mina-Tree Company is applying for a variance for two separate types of graphics in Arcadia... English and Chinese. E:nglish over one window area and Chinese over an adjacent window area, both signs the same size, compatible with the Schwab corporate image. In response to Council, Ms. Burko; commented that she is aware that this type of Gignage is not allowed by the Arcadia Municipal Code (AMC), which is the reason Mina-Tree has applied for a variance to the Code. j?j!)'10n Parl, 615 Alegria Place, San M'3rino, Branch Manager for the proposed Charles Schwab Arcadi<l office. Mr. Pan stated tlmt the Schwab Company is thrilled to havo a S.:hwab branch opening up in Arcadia. His company wants to project a high professional and quality com;lany image in this community. The Schwab group selected the Mina-Tree Company to do t:'e best job for them to project a bright image in this community. I Mr. Pun st<1ted in part that City staffs recommencla~ion for signage is com;l:iance with City Code will compromise the Schwab image which inGludes the width betNeon Charles 3 3/21,00 1, 42:0053 Schwab in English and the Chinese characters. His company wants the lettering in English and Chinese to be the same size. Mayor Chandler pointed out that the illustration in the latest drawings of this signage depicts the sign with English above Chinese characters on one of pages and questioned why this could not be done with the sign on front of the building facing the parking lot. I Erwin Jones, 2439 Houston Avenue, Stockton, in response to Mayor Chandler, stated in the opinion of Mina-Tree, it is not feasible to stack the signage as suggested by the Mayor. They feel this would violate the architectural design of the building. Further, stacking of the sign would not be pleasing from a pedestrian standpoint or to the professionals who visit the Charles Schwab office in Arcadia. Mr. Jones noted he tried to work with Planning staff to reduce the sign area, however, what staff was considering is completely unacceptable, there would only be four inches of space between each Chinese character, which would iook awkward from the customer's standpoint and his standpoint, and unreadable at night when lighted. Mr. Jones presented photographs of signage of severai business' in the area, which he stated, may be acceptable to some business', but not to the Charles -,-,--Schwab-Companyc-Moreover,Mr:-Jones-stated,they-believe'the-proposal-for-the-Schwab----~ sign is well within the City's allowable sign area. Further, it his opinion that the only thing in question is... should the' Council allow them to apply the signage the way they have proposed? Compressing the sign in such a small area, he fell, is not fair. Mayor Pro tem Harbicht commented that no one has contended that the proposed sign area is too big, the sole area of contention is the ratio between the Chinese characters and the English language characters. The ratio has to be a maximum of 66% to 33%. Further, Mr. Jones has presented a 50% to 50%, that is the variance they are asking for. Mr. Jones further stated the position of his company is that, although the signage on some area business' is within Code, this type of signage is not acceptable to the Schwab Company. John MacDonnell, 155 East Laurel Avenue, stated, as a general contractor, the proposed Schwab sign on the side of the building appears as one sign, while the other sign facing the parking lot looks like two businesses... he believes uniformity should be considered. It was MOVED by Councilmember Kovacic, seconded by Mayor Pro tem Harbicht and CARRIED to CLOSE the public hearing. In the discussion Mayor Pro tem Harbicht said, after listening to all of the testimony, he did not see any reason why the Council should vary the law, which is applied to everyone in the City and should be adhered to. He will not relax the sign regulations at all, and the people in the community do not want this either. Councilmember Kovacic felt the proposed signage appears to be two separate signs. He agrees,' for the most part, that the current regulations have worked well, the Schwab peopie appear to be looking for an excuse to justify the width of the proposed characters. He favors compliance with the existing Code. ' Councilmember Roncelli noted the number of complaints he heard while campaigning, that Chinese characters on signs FIre larger than 1/3rd of the English characters. He favors stacking the signage... English above and Chinese beiow. Councilmember Marshall believes the Code as written is the way the community wants the regulations. It is her Ilope that Mr. Jones and staff can work out a solution that everyone can be happy with. 4 3/21/00 /' I I I I I 7. 8. RONCElLl (Building Rpt.) (Complaints) (Computer Filter) (Saying) MARSAHLL (Award Recipients) (Santa Anita Race Track) . , (Quote) KOVACIC (Friends Gift to Library) 42:0054 It was then MOVED by Mayor Pro tem Harbicht, seconded by Council member Marshall and CARRIED on a roll call vote as follows to DENY the applicant's APPEAL and SUSTAIN the conditional approval of Architectural Design Review Application No. SADR 99-074, for two illuminated channel-letter wall signs for Charles Schwab Company located at 1130 South Baldwin Avenue, Unit B-1. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: J,. Councilmembers Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler None None AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None. MATTERS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Roncelli thanked Mr. Don Penman, Development Services Director, for the February building report. He noted if the construction of new buildings continues the way it is now, this will be the first year that the City will go over one-hundred million dollars worth of building construction. Mr. Roncelli noted some of the complaints expressed by Arcadia residents, such as; lack of street sweeping, drainage problems on Woodruff Avenue, the noise of the auto racing in Irwindale, new auditorium funds and the issue of homeless in south Arcadia, Live Oak area. Mr. Roncelli stated he was pleased to know that the Arcadia Public Library installed filters on the Reference desk computer. Mr. Roncelli shared a saying which was read at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast 20 years ago. Councilmember Marshall expressed congratulations to all the recipients of the Mayor's award. Ms. Marshall informed the citizens, who voiced their concem at the last City Council meeting, with regard to trash and noise at the race track, that due to Council member Roncelli's action and request the race track management is reviewing and solving trash clean-up problems, the speakers volume and the paging volume in the stable area. Ms. Marshall thanked Councilmember Roncelli and Santa Anita for their cooperation in . listening and acting on citizens concems and problems. Councuilmember Marshall shared a saying from an unknown author: "The butterfly counts not months but moments, and yet has enough time", Councilmember Kovacic referenced Consent Item 11 b. and thanked the Friends of the Arcadia Public Library for their generous contribution of. $20,000 to be used for the purchase of international language malerlals. Mr. Kovacic expressed appreciation to Library Board Members, John Fung and Jerry Selmer for their effort in tutoring new . residents in conversational English. (Larry Eustacl1y) Mr. Kovacic wished former Arcadian Larry Eustachy, basketball coach for the Iowa State University, and team members good luck on the upcoming game with the UCLA basketball team. 5 3/21/00 HARBICHT (Arc. Historical Museum) 9, ROLL CALL 10. _ ,1 Oa. 0(, ~ () - :) CRESOLUTION NO. ARA 184 (ADOPTED) 42:0055 Mayor Pro tem Harbicht noted the ground breaking for the Arcadia Historical Museum and encouraged everyone to make a contribution to the museum. THE CITY COUNCIL RECESSED TO ACT AS THE ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PRESENT: Agency Members Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler ABSENT: None AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None. City Manager Kelly presented for ADOPTION and read the title of RESOLUTION NO. ARA-184: "A RESOLUTION OF THE ARCADIA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING AND ADOPTING LOCAL GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21000 ET SEQ.)" It was MOVED by Agency Member Harbicht, seconded by Agency Member Kovacic and CARRIED on roll call vote as follows that RESOLUTION NO. ARA 184 be and is hereby ADOPTED. AYES: NOES: ABSEMT: Agency Members Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler None None ADJOURNMENT The meeting of the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency ADJOURNED to Aprll 4, 2000 at 6:00 p.m. 11. 11a. If) RESOLUTION NO. 6169 (Workforce Investment Act of 1998) 11b. D? ~-,;l" (.('ARC/LlB or.,).!~ ~.!i FOUNDATION GIFT ($20,000) 1010 11c. O(,)() ,1 "RESOLUTION NO. 6168 (CEQA Guidelines) THE CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED CONSENT ITEMS ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 6169 entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE FOOTHILL PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND POLICY BOARD TO ACT AS THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998." ACCEPTED a $20,000 donation for the Arcadia Public Library from the Arcadia Public Library Foundation for the purchase of books in international languages in both the Children's and Adult Services Divisions. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 6168 entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING AND ADOPTING LOCAL GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CALIFORNIA ENVITONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21000 ET SEG.)." 6 3/21/00 I I I I I I 42:0056 11d. 07~0 "~ ACCEPT ACCEPTED all work performed by Rokni Electric Co., for the installation of a 300 kw WORK diesel generator at the Orange Grove reservoir facility as complete; and, AUTHORIZED (Instal. 300 kw the final payment to be made in accordance with the contract documents subject to Generator - retention of $7,200. Orange Grove Reservoir) 11e. 07'>() ',11 ACCEPT ACCEPTED all work performed by Spiess Construction Company, Inc. for the WORK construction of Upper Canyon Reservoir and Booster Pump Station as complete; and, (Upper Canyon AUTHORIZED the final payment to be made in accordance with the contract documents Reservoir and subject to retention of $73,665.50. Booster Sta.) 111. APPROP. See page 7. FUNDS (Longden Ave. 30-inch Water- line proj.) 111. APPROP. FUNDS (Longden Ave. 3D-inch Water- line Proj.) (APPROVED) rJ9/~' .40 THE PRECEDING CONSENT ITEMS 11a, b, c, d and e APPROVED ON MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM HARBICHT, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MARSHALL AND CARRIED ON ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Council members Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler None None Consideration of the report and recommendation to authorize an additional appropriation of $260,000 to complete the Longden Avenue 30-inch waterline project. In response to Council's question, Public Works Director Malloy detailed the project's unfortunate history and stated, in part, that on July 6, 1999 the City Council awarded a contract to Leatherwood Construction Company in the amount of $1,459,727. The project involved replacement of an existing 20-inch waterline with a 3D-inch line on Longden Avenue and the conversion of the existing 20-inch welded steel transmission main to a pump-to-waste line from the Longden Water Plant to Santa Anita Wash. During construction, unmarked and improperly identified water, gas and con-crete encased' sewer lines were discovered in the project area. This required relocating the new 30" pipeline around misidentified utilities at several different locations at an additional cost of $189,754.23. Staff anticipated that this project should be finished and the road restored to normal by the end of Aprll. At that time, a report will be presented to City Council for final acceptance of the project and a final cost tabulation of all of the work involved. Following discussion it was MOVED by Mayor Pro tem Harbicht, seconded by Council member Kovacic and CARRIED on roll call vote as follows to APPROPRIATE an additional $260,000 from the Water Facilities Replacement Fund to complete the Longden Avenue 30-inch waterline project; and, APPROVE three (3) contract change orders in the amount of $189,754.23 to Leatherwood Construction Company for the construction of the 30-inch waterline on Longden Avenue; and, INCREASE the purchase order to Associated Engineers Inc. an additional $30,000 for construction management 7 3/21/00 12. 12a. CENTE:NIAL COMMISSION (Huang and Blackwood) 01 ~ 0 J I 13. 42:0057 and inspection services. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Councilmember Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler None None I CITY MANAGER Consideration of the report and recommendation to fill two vacancies on the Centennial Commission. The Centennial Commission is comprised of fifteen (15) members appointed by the City Council. There are currently two vacancies on the Commission, due to the resignation of two members who moved out of the area. The remaining commission members discussed the Citizen Service Resumes on file at their February 28 meting and recommended the appointment of Loretta Huang and Pameja Blackwood to fill the existing vacancies. It was MOVED by Councilmember Kovacic, seconded by Councilmember Marshall and CARRIED to APPOINT Loretta Huang and Pamela Blackwood to fill the current vacancies on the Centennial Commission. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Councilmembers Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall, Roncelli and Chandler None None CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Deitsch presented for INTRODUCTION and read the title of ORDINANCE NO. 2118: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 9273.1.17 TO THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PERMITTED USES IN THE S-1 ZONE." I 13a. ORDINANCE NO.2118 (AMC SEC. 9273.1.17 - USES IN THE S-1 ZONE) It was MOVED by Mayor Pro tern Harbicht, seconded by Councilmember Kovacic and (INTRODUCED) CARRIED on roll call vote as follows that ORDINANCE NO. 2118 be and it is hereby OS"'<i 0 -(, \ INTRODUCED. () .,--, ~ -- I \) AYES: Councilmembers Harbicht, Kovacic, Marshall and Chandler NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: Council member Roncelli ADJOURNMENT (In Memory of Dr. Julian Love) Mayor Pro tem Harbicht adjoumed the meeting in memory of Julian Love, stating, in part, "It is my sad duty this evening to adjoum our meeting in memory of Julian Love, someone who was well known in the community and particularly in the medical community here in Arcadia. A friend of mine for many years, and a friend of many in this community. I would like to just tell little bit about Julian. Julian was born in 1905, and he died approximately two weeks ago at age 94, after a long and truthful life. . As a young man he skipped two grades and graduated from high school at age 15. He went to the University of Colorado pre-med and became a medical doctor at age 21, and upon getting his medical degree he joined the navy which was in 1927 and served there until 1956 as a physician in the navy at which time he moved to Arcadia and became the Director of Missions at the City of Hope. A few years later he left the City of Hope and joined the Arcadia Clinic going into private practice here in Arcadia. I think an indication of the esteem in which Julian was held in the medical community was that at the age of 72 he I 8 3/21/00 I I I ADJOURNMENT ATTEST: 42:0058 was elected chief of staff at the Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Julian didn't marry till his mid thirty's which was relatively late in life in those days and he and Mina celebrated their 60lh anniversary last year. They have three sons, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Julian was very active in the community, he was a member of the Masons, the Rotary, the Rogues, High twelve and many other organizations. In May of 1995 the Alpha Auxiliary of Methodist Hospital honored Julian as their "Man of the Year" at their Marvelous May Brunch, and that day was proclaimed Julian Love Day in the City of Arcadia. My wife Patsy was involved in arranging the reservations and working with Julian on inviting his friends and relatives to the thing, so she was in constant contact with him, he was absolutely delighted to be honored and also he was quite delighted with Pasty's help, because every time I saw him after that for the next three or four years he would say 'how is Patsy?'. Julian was a delightful guy, was very active, vital and had all of his faculties right up until the end, and it is a sad day for Arcadia his passing, but I would tike to adjourn this meeting in honor of Dr. Julian Love. At 9:15 p.m. the City Council Regular Meeting ADJOURNED to April 4, 2000 at 6:00 p.m., in the Conference Room of the Council Chambers for a Regular Meeting to conduct the business of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency and any Closed Session necessary to discuss personnel, litigation matters or evaluation of properties. ~ 9 3/21/00