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Home My Public Portal AboutM 1932-08-08 - CC~ l~~ SPECIAL MEETING AUGUS`f 8th, 1932. `~ ~~ The City Council of the City of Lynwood met in a Special session pursuant to call of Mayor Snyder, at the City Ha11, 11331 Plaza Street, on above dates at 8:00 o~elock P. M., which call read as follows "You are hereby notified to attend a Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Lynwood, Monday,August Stn, 1932, at 8:U0 P. M. for the purpose of further discussing the proposed Lynwood Jockey and Ken- nel Club. Your presence is urgently requested. Yours very truly, Cecil E. Snyder, Mayor, City of Lynwood". Mayor Snyder in the Chair. Councilmen Davies Schouten and Snyder were present. Councilman Williams was absent. It was moved by Councilman Davies and seconded by Councilman Schou• ten that the reading of the minutes of the previous meetings of August 2nd and August 4th, be dispensed wi th . Roll Ca11~ Ayes: Councilmen Davies, Schouten and Snyder. .Noes: None. `Absent: Councilman ~'~illiams. Mayor Snyder inquired of the City Clerk if all Councilmen were served at least three hours previous to said hour and date, and the Clerk stated that al 1 were notified, but that not in person in the case of Coun- cilman Williams as he was not at home, whereupon the City Attorney read from Section 858 of the Municipal Corporation Act"that special meetings may be c~.led at any time by the president of the Council or by three Coun- cilmen by written notice delivered to each member at least three hours be- fore the time specified for the proposed meeting; stating that he believed the meeting fllegal because Councilman Williams was not served in person with said notice as provided in said section. Mr. Berger stated that he was willing to proceed without Council- man Williams, Should the proposed Ordinance be passed, as same requires another reading. A communication was received from Lynwood Post No. 85, commending the CouriGtl for their action in regard to the Lynwood Jockey and Kennel Club, because of the stimulant to business it will provide and the number of unemployed citizens that it will give employment to, and therefore be- lieving it to be a very worthy cause. Petitions were presented signed by approximately 963 persons en- dorsing the proposed Lynwood Jockey and Kennel Club erection and operation. A Resolution was received from the Lynwood Men's Brotherhood pe- titioning the Council to prevent with all the legal power it has, the open- ing of the Lynwood Jockey and Kennel Club, as same results in gambling, and will also bring in undesirable element into the City. Also a petition was received signed by 52 persons petitioning the Council not to issue a permit to the proposed Lynwood Jockey and Kennel Club. There being no objectio3~, the Mayor ordered said petitions, reso- lution and communication filed. Mr. Carlos Johnston addressed the Council°in behalf of the busi- ness men of~Lynwood favoring the proposed dog and horse race tracks. . Mr. C. J. Reece also addressed the Council representing the American Legion, also endorsing the project. Mr. .~ohn S. Barger addressed the Council thanking them for the favorable action taken at the last meeting instructing the Building In- spector to give him a permit for the erection of buildings, and for fix- ing the license fee, stating that if the Council can see their way clear to pass the request this evening he will use local labordrs almost exclusively, buy all the products for the construction of his plant in Lynwood, provided he can "buy same at competitive prices; also that he is not asking the City to give him anything gratuitously, but that he is willing to pay for every- thing, again rebinding that there is no stock for sale, but that they are able to finance their own contracts. Mr. Berger stated that they will be glad to comply with al 1 laws, stating that there is no gambling, but people buy dptions On certain dogs or horses, estimating that the races will at- tract between 20000 to 25000 people per day and that he thinks it will stimulate business, and that he wishes permit to operate for a term of say ten years, and that°the proposition will take care of the unemployed situa- tion, going on to say that he will gladly pay for everything that he se- cures- and asks for, if you see your way clear to grant my request, urging the Council not to detain the final reading of the ordinance too long. Mayor Snyder inquired of Mr. Berger if any of the work will be contracted out so that Lynwood men will receive no benefit therefrom. `t'hereupon Mr. Berger stated that the labor that he will use will be local labor, except experienced helpers, which will not amount to more than 2~, and all other help will be Lynwood help; also saying that he will patronize the local jobbers, and that Lynwood citizens wi 11 come first with him and that he will buy everything that is possible in Lynwood that is 3 ~;~ any way near competitive prices, stating that he believed in~atronizing home industry, going on to say that he willnot let anything out on contract, except possibly cement work, etc. City Attorney Hess presented draft of an ordinance which n.e stated is not that drafted by the City Attorney, but suggested by Cdr. Ber- ger.~ Thereupon City Attorney Hess read the proposed ordinance .entitled as follows: -'n Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lynwood, State of California grating to John S. Berger, doing business under the firm name and style of, the Lynwood Jockey and Kennel Club, which will be transformed into a California Corporation, a perm it and license for a period of ten years,. to engage in conduct, manage, maintain and operate the business of horse and canine racing, coursing and exhibitions in the City of Lynwood, State of California, and with the further right and permission the objects and pur- poses of buying, selling anc~ offering for sale, horses, canines of all types, and/or options on the same and /or contributions thereon, also the right to operating, maintaining and conducting concessions for the sale of cigars, candy and food stuffs, soda pop and soft drinks of all kinds and necessary adjuncts thereto: Operating, Maintaining and conducting auto Parking and storage spaces, prescribing the health and sanitation regulations of said 3~usiness, fixing the annual license fee trierefor, and stating the other terms, cond~tiona and attendant requirements, stating that at the'bot~a~~~rill~°appear his disapproval because of illegality, however, that he believes-that Mr. '^ Berger is satisfied to proceed anyway, which Mr. Barger stated he yras. Discussion was had relative to any additional policeman that may be needed. dir. Berger stated that whatever extra policeman may be nec- essary we will pay for same, and that he wi 11 gladly reinburse the City for whatever additional police protection needed, stating that this pro- ject was a tremendous investment in face of the depression, stating that he is ready to erect and equip the finest dog tracks in America;.. It will excel the track in Culver City. Mr. Berger made the statement that it will employ 200 to 300 unemployed for the next 2 or three months, assuring the Council that they will gladly cooperate with their rules and regulations, and that they will be fair and reasonable in all of their doings, and that the race track will be maintained in the very highest class and gill be a great credit to the City and that they will meet the City more than half way. Mr. Berger stated that it will be a corffiporation and that he will wish some of the outstanding citizens^of Lynwood to serve on the Board of Directors, so that they can see and know their inner doings as well as the outer. Thereupon Councilman Davies inquired of City Attorney Hesa whether there would be any individual liability, whether the City would be held liable, and if injunction proceedings could be had because the ordin- ance is not legal. '1'he City Attorney stated that he could see no damage to the City or .any individual liability of the Council by the adoption of the Or- dinance a€xcept for possible litigation with respect to its validity and that this question was aside from that of an_y possible damage by the oper- ation of trie race track. Thereupon it was moved by Councilman Davies and seconded by Councilman Schouten that said Ordinance be accepted as read the first time and passed to the second reading. ` Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Davies, Schouten and Snyder. Noes : None. Absent: Councilman Williams. It was moved by Councilman Davies and seconded by Councilman '''""~ Schouten that the second and final reading of said proposed ordinance be had at the next regu7a r meeting on Tuesday night, August T6th, 1932. Rol"y Call Ayes : Councilmen Davies, Schouten and Snyder. %~ Noes: None. Absent: Councilman William s. It was moved by Coutic ilman Davies and seconded. by Councilman. ~ehouten that the meeting adjourn to August 16th, 1932, at 7:30 P. M. Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Davies, Schouten and Snyder. Noes: None. Absent: Councilman Williams. ATTEST T I OF GT, ~ ~ ~ : -