Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutCity Council_Minutes_1989-03-07_Regular 19891 CITY OF TEMPLE CITY CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 7, 1989 INITIATION: 1. CALL TO ORDER: Pursuant to Agenda posted on March 3, 1989, Mayor Swain called the meeting of the City Council to order at 7:30 P.M. on Tues- day, March 7, 1989. 2. The invocation was given by Rabbi Alan Lachtman, Temple Beth David, 9677 Longden Avenue. 3. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Mayor Swain. 4. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmen Atkins, Breazeal, Gillanders and Swain Absent: Councilman Froehle Also Present: City Manager Koski, City Attorney Martin, Community Development Director Dawson, Public Works Coordinator Peterson, Parks and Recrea- tion Director Kobett, Temple City Times Staff Writer Estrada, and Pacesetter Staff Writer Holtzclaw. Councilman Gillanders moved to excuse Councilman Froehle's absence for cause, seconded by Councilman Atkins and unani- mously carried. PRESENTATION: Mayor Swain, on behalf of the Council, presented to Councilman Breazeal a tile of the City Seal in recognition of his 15 years of dedicated service on the Planning Commission, 5 years of which were served as Chairman. Councilman Breazeal in accepting the plaque expressed his thanks and appreciation. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR: Councilman Breazeal and Mayor Swain requested Item I. be re- moved from the Consent Calendar. Councilman Atkins commented on Item B., a request for use of Live Oak Park Facilities by Sierra Madre Girl Scout Council, stating that he certainly could support the girls in the troops but was less than enthusiastic in giving any support to the Sierra Madre Girl Scout Council because of a prior confrontati- on over what once was the Temple City Girl Scout House. City Council Minutes, March 7, 1989 - Page 2 Councilman Atkins moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Breazeal and unanimously carried. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Regular Meeting of February 21, 1989. B. RECOMMENDATION FROM PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 15, 1989 - REQUEST FOR USE OF LIVE OAK PARK FACILITIES BY SIERRA MADRE GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL - Council approved the use of Live Oak Park Meeting Room two Saturdays a month from 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. through June 1989 by the Sierra Madre Girl Scout Council, subject to the required insurance. C. ACCEPTANCE OF WORK: ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, TRACT NO. 44413 - (5632 MC CULLOCH AVENUE) Council approved and accepted for maintenance the road work guaranteed by the Bond, reduced the Letter of Credit by $16,000 and instructed the City Clerk to notify the princi- pal and surety of Council's action. 1 D. FINAL MAP APPROVAL: PARCEL MAP NO. 19589, 5738 KAUFFMAN AVENUE (OWEN DEVELOPMENT) - Council approved the final Parcel Map No. 19589; approved and accepted work agreements and securities; made the necessary findings as enumerated in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works' letter dated February 16, 1989; and instructed the City Clerk to endorse on the face of the map of Parcel Map No. 19589, the certificate that embodies the approval of said map. E. CDBG 15TH YEAR COST SUMMARY - Council approved the 15th Year Allocation and 1989 -90 Cost Summary for the Community Development Block Grant Program. F. LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 1989 COMMUNITY SERVICES CONFER- ENCE - MONTEREY, APRIL 12 -14, 1989 - Council approved Councilman Pat Froehle's attendance at the above - referenced League of California Cities Conference in Monterey, April 12 -14, 1989, and authorized the necessary expenditures. 1 1 1 1 City Council Minutes, March 7, 1989 - Page 3 G. CALIFORNIA CONTRACT CITIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MUNICIPAL SEMINAR - PALM SPRINGS, MAY 18 -21, 1989 - Council authorized registration and conference expenses for City Officials attending the above - referenced Seminar in Palm. Springs. H. CITY CLERK'S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE APRIL 19 -21, 1989, SACRAMENTO - Council approved the attendance of Chief Deputy City Clerk, Vivian Love, at the above - referenced City Clerk's Associa- tion Conference and authorized the necessary expendi- tures. J. .PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIONS FROM THEIR REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 18, 1989 - Council received and filed. K. RESOLUTION NO. 89 -2845: APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILLS - Council adopted Resolution No. 89 -2845 approving claims and demands in the amount of $284,322.60. I. LAS TUNAS DRIVE BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM - Mayor Swain stated that this area is one that was identi- fied in the Chamber's Downtown Revitalization Committee's study on ways to beautify the downtown business area. City Manager Koski said the study was a combined effort of the City and the Chamber in a cooperative effort to revi- talize the boulevard. Along these lines, Council has appropriated funds for bus shelters, new trash receptacles, and has requested staff to pursue Federal funds for the resurfacing of Las Tunas. This item of trees along Las Tunas is in conjunction with this program and is part of the City's commitment to the business district and the community at large. Councilman Breazeal recalled the bus shelters and trash receptacles and felt they are appropriate measures. How- ever, he felt the $20,000 proposed to purchase trees could be put to much better use. How far would it go in hiring an outside expert to attract new business to the City? Additionally, he felt some of the merchants are less than enthusiastic about the trees because of blocking their place of business. City Council Minutes, March 7, 1989 - Page 4 Councilman Atkins stated he could understand Councilman Breazeal's point of view to a point. However, he does feel an attractive downtown is an important way to attract businesses and trees do help. The cost would be approxi- mately $357 per tree and he felt this is a cost effective expenditure that would make the business district more attractive and he could support it. Councilman Gillanders said he understood what Councilman Breazeal is saying. However, he felt it is much more desirable to shop in an attractive community and trees do help. As far as trees blocking view of the business, perhaps there is an acceptable alternative such as low shrubbery. He also felt they should ask for appropriate input from the Chamber. Marianne Milch, 5827 Temple City Blvd., on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, stated the Chamber has for some time felt the need to plant trees or shrubbery in the bare areas and to remove some of the existing overgrown trees. The Revitalization Committee felt 56 trees planted as proposed would be a lot of trees. They felt perhaps it is an ex- travagant expenditure at this time. Also discussed with some of the merchants was the base well area around the trees and felt perhaps this could be approached through some service group in the community. Councilman Atkins moved to approve the expenditure to purchase and install of 56 ficus trees along the Las Tunas Drive Business District. Said motion died due to lack of a second. Councilman Gillanders moved to refer this matter back to a joint study group consisting of City staff and members of the Revitalization Committee to consider the type of land- scaping deemed appropriate and then return this item with their recommendations to Council, seconded by Councilman Breazeal and unanimously carried. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None 7. NEW BUSINESS: A. PUBLIC HEARING: APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 47106 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 88 -963 AT 8916 -22 LONGDEN AVENUE (WANG) - Providing background information, City Manager Koski stated that the applicant proposes to develop an eight -unit condo- minium project on an R -3 zoned site. The proposed density of slightly less than 20 dwelling units per acre is less than the maximum permitted density of 24 dwelling units per 1 1 City Council Minutes, March 7, 1989 - Page 5 acre. The proposed development meets all the development standards for condominium projects in the R -3 Zone. The Planning Commission recommends approval. Councilman Gillanders recalled a lengthy discussion several years ago regarding closing up subterranean garages without smoke alarms and there was no mention of smoke alarms for these units. Also, he wanted to know the height of the building at the highest point. Community Development Director Dawson stated there is no requirement for smoke alarms but to meet Code the garages must all have automatic fire sprinklers. As to the height of the building, Mr. Dawson said the building measured 32'8" from grade. The Code in R -2 and R -3 Zones allows a .height of 35'. Mayor Swain mentioned that condition No. 25 stated all units would be equipped with automatic fire sprinklers in lieu of access. Mayor Swain declared the public hearing open and invited anyone wishing to address the City Council on the matter to come forward at this time. Minq Nang Chen, Architect, 600 W. Main St., Alhambra, stated he was available to answer any of Council's ques- tions and submitted to Council a small colored artist's rendition of the project. Councilman Gillanders discussed at great length the poten- tial built -in safety hazards in the proposed plans for vehicle ingress and egress from the garages of this pro- ject. These potential hazards include vehicles entering onto a very busy street from subterranean parking while driving up 20 -foot, 15- degree ramp. Also, he considered the block wall, the trees and shrubbery additional hazards as they would not allow clear visibility for entering the street nor would it allow the driver of the exiting vehicle to see pedestrians. Another problem is that it is only 10' to the curb line and a vehicle would be all the way out to the curb line before having a view of Longden Avenue. Also mentioned by Councilman Gillanders was the fact that there is a school nearby and school children conceivably would be walking in front of the development. If the City allows a project such as this, they would be trapped into accepting liability for the life of the structure. Ming Nang Chen, Architect, in rebuttal, said the ramp could be modified and the trees and shrubbery could be eliminated or low shrubbery could be used so as not to block visibil- ity. City Council Minutes, March 7, 1989 - Page 6 As there was no one else who wished to speak on this matter, it was moved and seconded to close the public hearing. Councilman Gillanders stated he would stand with his previ- ous statements. Councilman Atkins thoroughly agreed with Councilman Gil - landers and compared this project to the one on Cloverly that is very similar. It is a result of overbuilding. He had real objections until the problems are clearly solved. Councilman Breazeal agreed with Councilman Gillanders and felt this project would be more of a problem than the one on Cloverly. He favored sending this item back for sig- nificant re- design or deny it. Mayor Swain concurred and reiterated that it is a very heavily travelled street and would just create another problem. Councilman Atkins moved to deny approval of Tentative Tract Map No. 47106 as presented with the stipulation that re- vised plans may be resubmitted within a 90 -day period; seconded by Councilman Breazeal and unanimously carried. 8. COMMUNICATIONS: None 9. TIME FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO SPEAK: None RECESS TO CRA: At 8:10 P.M., the City Council recessed to meet as the Temple City Community Redevelopment Agency; approved the Minutes of the February 21, 1989 meeting; approved a request to rent property at 5721 North Rosemead for the sale of fireworks and adopted Resolution No. CRA 356 allowing claims and demands in the amount of $7,784.70. The Minutes of the Agency are set forth in full in the Agency's records. RECONVENE AS CITY COUNCIL: 10. ACTION ON REQUEST BY CRA: None 11. MATTERS FROM CITY OFFICIALS: Councilman Breazeal commented that he had read the report on the Prop. A Funds and throughout found no exceptions. He felt Parks & Recreation Director Kobett and City Treasurer Maldonado deserved to be commended for the manner in which they admini- ster these funds. 1 City Council Minutes, March 7, 1989 - Page 7 Mayor Swain referred to a Contract Cities meeting scheduled next week in the City of Lakewood. It is the 35th Anniversary of the beginning of the Contract Cities Association and she felt it is a real momentous occasion as this organization has become a very effective political action group. 12. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Councilman Breazeal, seconded by Councilman Gil - landers, the meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 8:35 P.M. The next regular meeting will be held on March 21, 1989, at 7:30 P.M. in Council Chambers, 5938 North Kauffman Avenue, Temple City. ATTEST: Chief Deput •r'tilerk 1