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HomeMy Public PortalAboutM 1966-02-01 - CCa~U REGULAR MEETING FEBRTJARY 1, 1966 The City Council of the City of Lynwood met in a regular session in the City Hall, 11330 Bullis Road, on above date at 7:3o p.mo Mayor Siokos in the chair. Councilmen Byork, Duncan, McMillan, Siokos, and Smith answered the roll call. It was moved by Councilman Duncan, seconded by Councilman Smith, that the minutes of the regular meeting of January 18, 1g66, be approved as written. All members voting aye, the Mayor declared the motion carried. Res. 66-8 RESOLUTION N0. 66-8 entitled: "RESOLUTION OF THE CITY remands COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD ALLOWING AND APPROVING THE DEMANDS PRESENTED AND ORDERING WARRANTS DRAWN THERE- FORE." was presented. It was moved by Councilman Duncan, seconded by Councilman McMillan, that said resolution be adopted. Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Byork, Duncan, McMillan, Siokos, Smith. Noes: None. Absent: None. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Res. 66-g RESULUTION N0. 66-9 entitled: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY Requesting COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF .LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA, TJRGING THAT deferment of THE NECESSARY STEPS BE TAKEN TO EFFECT DEFERMENT OF local police LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS FROM MILITARY DUTY DURING PERIODS officers OF INTERNATIONAL POLICING ACTIONS INVOLVING THE USE OF from UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES." was presented. It was military moved by Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Duncan, d~...'.- that said resolution be adopted. Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Byork, Duncan, McMillan, Siokos, Smith. Noes: None. Absent: None. Res. 66-10 RESOLUTION N0. 66-10 entitled: "COMBINATION OF SURPLUS Approving PROPERTY OVER AND UNDER $2500." was presented. ,purchase of surplus The Manager explained that adoption of this resolution property is necessary in order that the City might purchase for civil surplus property donated to the States by the Federal defense use Government for Civil Defense purposes. It was moved by Councilman McMillan, seconded by Councilman Dur~ca.n, that said resolution be adopted. Ro:L1 Call: Aye:: Councilmen Byork, Duncan, McMillan, Siokos, Smith. Noes: None. Absent: None. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS `4e::° from .A letter from Mr. Martin E. Whelan, Jr. of Bewley, Knoop, ~, far I_,~.ssleben & Whelan, Attorneys representing the Police r;~;~.:e relief Relief & Welfare Association, was presented. The letter welfare made reference to the Council minutes concerning the assoc. presentation made at the January 18 meeting on salaries clarifying and overtime for the Police Department. The presentation oral pres- noted that a two step increase for Sergeant would not ~~. _'~ion of cure the problem with regard to that particular rank, Jai, .1.8, 1966but stated that they were not asking for more than a Lwo step increase at this time. The letter wished to emphasize that the discrepancy is more than two steps 1..~ ""1` zn that particular rank. Whelan was present and stated that it was not his intent Mr . to ask for an amendment of the January 18 minutes. The letter was. merely for the purpose of clarification. It was moved by Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman All d d fil d t . e an e McMillan, that the letter be accep members voting aye, the Mayor declared the motion carried. Letter from A letter from Mr. Paul A. Lindgren, ~~19 San Antonio Avenue, ~"~aul Lindgren South Gate, was presented in v~ idh he urges City officials concerning to give consideration to improved tra~fiC flow on surface traffic streets particularly because of a~tio~pated traffic influx planning for when the Century Freeway is Go~~l@tA~, surface sts. The Mayor requested the City Cle~~ t~ ~~'~v~.c~e a copy of the letter for each member of the ~®~~~~7. ~~~' them' study . A letter from Mr. James E. Ro~Ve ~u~~~t~~~ his ~^esignation Jim Rowe from the Personnel Board effeat~ve ~~~~a~y ~~~ 1966, was resigns from presented. It was moved by Cou~~~~~~n ~~Q~~, seconded by Personnel Councilman McMillan, that Mr. ~oW~~~ ~~~~~~a~ion be Commission accepted with regret and tha'~ ~, ~@$~@~' A~ thanks for his fine service on the Commissie~~ be ~~~t tQ Mx~. Rowe. Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Byork, ~u~~~~, ~~~~.~~,~~, Siokos, Smith. Noes: None. Absent: None. The Mayor announced that at th~.~ ~~~~ the GAUncil would rn to an executive sesslAn ~'~~' the purpose of d jou a considering a replacement for the v~~a~~y o~ the Personnel Board. Following the executive sessio?~, the ~ay~r announced that Executive nominations would be accepted fq~+ a ~'epl~oement for the Session Personnel Board.. Councilman McMillan nominated hrs. A~t~. Birkholm. Mrs. Anita Birkholm It was moved by Councilman By~ark, seca~elec~ by Councilman appointed Smith, that nominations be closed. X111 members voting aye, to Personnel the Mayor declared the motion carried• Commission Mayor Siokos announced that Mr_s. Ants. Birkholm was chosen unamiously as a member of the Personnel P9ard. Mrs. Birkholm was present and in accepting the appointment assured the Council she would do her best to do a good job for the City. REPORTS AND REQUESTS A request from the United Cerebral Palsy Association for United Cere- permission to conduct their annual fund campaign during bral Palsy May, 1966,, was presented. It was moved by Councilman granted permi Duncan, seconded by Councilman Byork, that said permission for fund dr. be granted. All members voting aye, the Mayor declared the "May, 1966 motion carried. A request from the Crippled Children's Society for permission to place coin containers in business establishments during the fund campaign from March lst to April 10, 1866, was presented. It was moved by Councilman Byork, seconded by Councilman McMillan, that permission be granted. All members voting aye, the Mayor declared the motion carried. Crippled Child. Soc. granted permi for fund dr. Mar. 1 to April 10. X00 ~.: Girl Scout A request from Angeles Girl Scout Council for permission cookie sale to conduct their annual cookie sale from Mar°ch 'T to Mar. 4 to 21 March 21, 1966, was presented. It was moved by Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Duncan, that permission be granted. All members voting aye, the Mayor declared the motion carried. DAV waiver A letter from the Disabled American Veterans Chapter and of rental feeAuxiliary #86 was presented in which their annual ,,,~, CCS bldg. Americanism Program was described. The letter contained Feb. 24 a request for exemption from the rental fee for the use of Bateman Hall on February 24, 1966, for presentation of awards to winning students. It was moved by Councilman McMillan, seconded by Councilman Smith, that the Disabled American .Veterans be granted an exemption from the rental fee for use of Bateman Hall on February 24, 1966. All members voting aye, the Mayor declared the motion carried. Report on The Manager presented a report on the postal address postal change for Atlantic Avenue Annexation No. 6 in which address he stated that on January 21 he requested information change from the Lynwood Post Office concerning the status of Atlantic the requested change. In December the Manager had been Annex #6 informed that the San Francisco District Office would probably take immediate steps to change the postal boundaries between Lynwood and Compton. On January 21, however, the Manager stated that he was told that the district office had indicated to the Compton Postmaster that the change would not be made for at least six months. The report stated that inspite of the desire of the people to be in the City of Lynwood and the petition for change of postal address submitted to the local post office by the residents of the annexation, the district office in San Francisco is intending to poll each .resident as to his desire in the matter. The Manager stated that in his opinion certain aspects of the poll are improper and should not considered in determining whether or not the people want a Lynwood or Compton mailing address. The Manager's report stated that upon receiving the above information, he wrote immediately to Congressman Clawson requesting his assistance and indicated to him 'that he would recommend adoption of a resolution urging that the changes be expedited and, if acceptable to the Council, suggested ~ hat copies be sent to Senators and Congressmen representing this area with copies to the Post Office Department Regional Office in San Francisco and to the Postmaster General in Washington, D. C. The .letter sent out to the residents of the area by the San Francisco Regional Office of the Post Office Department was read by Councilman Smith. Mention was made in the letter that whether or not transfer to the Lynwood Post Office district was made that the area would remain in the Compton School District as "transfer of schools located in areas a::anexed to cities having an existing school district is prohibited by state laws." The ballot accompanying the letter indicated a "yes" or "no" vote concerning the transfer with the notation that failure to return the ballot would indicate a "no" vote. It was moved by Councilman Duncan, seconded by Councilman McMillan, that the Manager write letters to Senate and Congressional representatives of the area protesting the action of the post office department The Manager's report concluded by recommending that RESOLUTION N0. 66-11 entitled: "A RESOLUTION CF THE CITY ~:~UNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE CHANGE OF LOCAL POSTAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF L`~'~~WOOD." be adopted. ~i`~he rriotion concerning the letter was withdrawn and it was moved by Councilman McMillan, seconded by Councilman Duncan, ii ~ that the resolution be adopted. °' Roll. Call: Ayes: Councilmen Byork, DUnCan., McMillan, Siokos, Smith. Noes: None. Absent: None. The Manager informed the City CQUnci1 that information has been received from Supervisor Mahn as to the status of storm drain construction affecting the D~.ty of Lynwood. Under projects numbers 717, 5301, Lind ~ (~#' 1210. Under the present scheduling construction should commence about May 25 and be completed about ~]ecember 31. The Manager listed the locations of the various projects. He also stated that matching funds will be available for the opening of Santa Fe Avenue. Res. 66-11 Requesting immediate action on change of address Atlantic Annex #6 Report on status of storm drain construction It was moved by Councilman McMillan seconded by Councilman Duncan, that a letter be sent tea Supervisor Hahn expressing the Council's appreciation for his assistance. All members voting aye, the Maycr declared the motion carried. The Manager presented his report an the bids received for Street a three-wheel dual control, dual gutter broom, ~.0 minimum sweeper bid cubic yard capacity street sweeper, The report stated that the low bid contains one minor exception to the specificatio awarded to nsDonaher & in that the water pump does not disengage when the tank is Son empty, but will run dry for forty-five minutes. It was the Manger's belief that this provision was sufficient to overcome the need to invalidate the low bid. Further, the low bidder, Donaher & Son, guarantee that in all other respects the machine will comply with the specifications. The Manager recommended that the City Council approve the purchase of the Elgin Street Sweeper, Model White Wing #475-Duals, from A. N. Donaher & Son, Inc. for a total price of $11,759.28; the street sweeper to be equipped with an international V-8 engine with 345 cu. in. displace- ment; no right of modification upon delivery of the street sweeper shall be assumed or granted.. It was moved by Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman McMillan, that the City Council concur in the recommendations of the City Manager and approve the purchase of the Elgin street sweeper from the low bidder, A. N. Donaher & Son, Inc., fo.r a total price of $11,759.28. Ro11 Call: Ayes: Councilmen Byork, Duncan, McMillan, Siokos, Smith. Noes: None. Absent: None. The Manager presented his report on the Lynwood Police Relief Report on & Welfare Association's request for additional salaries and Police Relies fringe benefits. The report and analysis covered the & Welfare following specific points: Assoc. Salary & 1.. Overtime work by policemen is excessive due to fringe continual understaffing. Additional men should benefits be hired and an overtime policy should be request ~ ~2 Report on Police RAlief & Welfare Assoc. salary & fringe benefits request. implemented involving time and one-half pay. 2. Salaries of policemen lag the .prevailing rate provided in other jurisdictions. Salaries should be increased 5~ retroactively to January 1, 1966, to meet this lag. 3. Due to salary and fringe benefit policies, the City is experiencing an excessive turnover rate. The retention of personnel can only be accomplished by granting the Association's requests. 4. Again, due to salary and fringe benefit policies, recruitment of new police personnel is becoming increasingly difficult. (For details of the report and analysis of the Association's request, reference is made to the City Manager's report on file) 1. The report contained a breakdown of overtime work by members of the department and stated that in the ratio of employees to 1,000 population, Lynwood is not greatly understaffed in the Police-Department. The analysis stated that there is no generally accepted rule for staffing City Departments other than providing the services desired and public .willingness and ability to pay. Lynwood is presently authorized 44 men. A survey among mutual aid cities shows that Lynwood is authorized 1.02 men per 1,000 population while the average o£ the ten cities is 1.19 per 1,000. Manpower needs on the basis of employees per square mile of area indicated Lynwood is authorized 9.7 men per square mile and the survey resulted in Lynwood being average with four cities having more men per square mile and four cities with fewer men per square mile, The majority of the overtime hours shown in the association report were accrued while the men were working in the detective bureau and these men receive extra compensation each month for the odd hours, minor out-of-pocket expense and overtime required of detectives. The report quoted the sections of Resolutions No. 2843 and Resolution No. 65-48 (Personnel Rules and Regulations and Salary Resolution, respectively) concerning overtime, and stated that the Council has established the method of repaying overtime and that whenever possible and when requested by the police officer, time off has been granted by the Police Chief in accordance with the respective resolution. The analysis reviewed overtime policies in the mutual aid cities and indicated that five give compensatory time off only; five give either compensatory time off or straight time pay, at the discretion of the appointing authority; and one pays straight time only. Because of recent annexations the Council has previously authorized six additional policemen in order to provide back up personnel and for vacation and sick leave relief. The analysis commented that as to two patrol cars being in the :field on certain dates, there were at least four detectives as well as the shift commander available for back up if the need had arisen; further, that with reference to Christmas Day, that is historically a quiet day and as much compensatory time off as possible is granted. 2. The City presently pays a direct salary to patrolmen which is within $3.67 maximum per month of the inter-quartile 1 ~3 mean average of the mutual aid cities; reduced tc the bi- Report on weekly pay schedule this is $1.89 less than the present Police Relief payday average of the other cities. The salary range for & Welfare sergeant is below the inter-quartile mean average by Assoc. approximately 2.5%. The analysis stated that for the salary & past six years it has been the policy of the City to compare fringe salaries with the mutual aid cities. The inter-quartile benefits mean average is generally excepted as a more reliable figure request than a straight mean for such comparison The cost for providing patrolmen the five percent increase request would be $6,972 to the end of the present fiscal year; if all ranges are given a like increase, the total would be $9,012 for the remainder of the year. It has been the policy to provide like salaries for the police and fire departments. If these were also increased, the cost would be $16,619, and the total cost of increasing all salaries 5% above the inter-quartile average would be $27,205 for six months. To maintain this policy in the next fiscal year would require either deficit financing or a 10.2$ tax increase based upon the City's estimated assessed valuation. With reference to the Police Sergeants, the analysis stated that there is a definite lag from the inter-quartile mean average of approximately 2.5%. Other fringe benefits were mentioned such as premium pay for attending advance schooling, time in which Lynwood employees Reach the top pay of their classification; false arrest insurance premiums paid by the City; however, no allowance is made for uniforms (dnly three cities in the mutual aid g_»oup provide any type of compensation for uniforms). 3. With reference to the rate of turnover, the average of ten cities including Long Beach was ?~6.5 during the past five years. Lynwood, during the same period, had a turnover rate of 47.7 with seven of the men who resigned requesting reinstatement on the Lynwood eligibility list. The analysis stated that a high turnover rate is a normal condition for police departments. 4. Recruitment of personnel has improved, particularly since the decision of the Council to use the State testing agency rather than the County. The analysis quoted figures indicating that the City has been able to hire 8.3% of the people taking examinations. Mr. Fischer of the California Personnel Service states that a five percent average is considered good. Compensatory time off figures were also provided, which indicated that the Council's policy to grant compensatory time off is being carried out when it is feasible. In discussing the report, Councilman McMillan stated that the salaY~~r range of the Sergeant classification requires reconsideration. He expressed the opinion that pay scale should probably be reconsidered during the budget session. Further, that because there is a sufficient number of renr~.zits available, he recommended that three additional of_fice:r.~s be hired. Mr. Ma_~tin E. Whelan, 300 E. Penn Street, Whittier, addressed the Council to say he had received Mr. Erickson's report. In commenting on it, he said that much of the accumulated overtime of the men was made before they went into the detective bureau and to use averages is to net treat fairly those that have the largest amount of overtime. As to the $40 per month paid detectives, that is not overtime as the resolution provides that it is for additional expenses of the members of the detective bureau and how it became overtime the Association is V~ Report on not sure. Police Reli ef & Welfare. Mr. Whelan stated that comparisons with other City Ass®c. departments is irrelevant and-that in connection with salary & pp,tential costs, the Association is not trying to deny fringe other departments; that these requests are being made benefits on behalf of the Police Department. As to disposition request of the~~ec~ued overtime, Mr. Whelan said he felt sure .the Polite Department can arrange that someone with a large amount of overtime can take time off. A few with the greatest number of hours should be paid for their overtime, and: the overtime should be worked off and a fresh start should be made with a system designed with provisions for emergencies. With reference to the Manager's report on men per 1,000 population, Mr. Whelan stated that if those figures are correct, the Lynwood Police are performing with less men per 1,000 population and less per square mile and they should receive greater pay for greater efficiency. With reference to understaffing on certain days, he emphasized that two cars in the field is not a desirable situation® In regard to salaries, he again urged that cities othe~.thar~ tie mutual .aid cities be compared. Mr. Whelan mentioned premium or school pay and said that many who came on the fo~r~e are not paid for education previously taken, and as to axriving at the maximum pay step #'aster, it would be hard to tell what affect this might have. As to turnover rate, Mr. Whelan stated that the Manager's report is based on 44 positions but the turnover occurred when there were 38 positions and cities with greater pay and fringe benefits have less turnover. As to the State providing testing service, he said that a higher percentage pass the State test and by switching to the State test the City's standards have been dropped. He also said that the Manager's report does not take into account the problem of recruiting facing Los Angeles and how it is going to affect Lynwood. As to funds for the proposed increased salaries and staff, Mr. Whelan quoted probable sales tax revenues and said that to some eactent additional staffing will help solve the overtime problem. He again urged that the past overtime problem be handled in an equitable manner, the 3-year work off program being the fairest method. He also mentioned that several men are rumored to be leaving and hoped that the pay and overtime proposals would not be put aside. The Mayor inquired if l~r. Whelan had any statistics from oth~:r departments as to how they handle overtime and how many permit continuous overtime. Mr. Whelan replied that he knew of none. who continue overtime. Mrs. Barbara Zolg, Corresponding Secretary, Lynwood Coordinating Council Executive Board, addressed the Council to read a letter in which the Coordinating Council went on record in support of the following: "l. In the interest of safe guarding {sic) the citizens and their property, immediate stags should be taken to increase police personne.7~ patroling {sic).our city. This step would not only afford the protection of the pe©ple but would also eliminate the necessity of 10~ many overtime hours. Additional revenue from traffic violations could be obtained by having more police on patrol and would off-set a large portion of the cost involved. "2. In order to maintain qualified, experienced personnel, we support the request for a revised salary structure, competitive to adjacent communities. "3. That provisions be made for settlement, to the mutual satisfaction of parties concerned, for overtime already accrued." The City Manager said that Mr. Whelan indicated that if additional personnel is provided, overtime could be cut down, but the greatest overtime is in the detective bureau in which a man starting on a case stays on it until it is finished. The Manager also pointed out that the accrued overtime is for a period of 11 years. As to the State examination, he did not agree that it is an easier test; there are more men available for the oral examination because there were more taking the test.. As to the recruitment problem when Los Angeles starts to retire people, every city will have the same problem which has always been present because Los Angeles has always paid one of the. higYies~t rates. The Manager said that the State Board of Equalization has not yet established what the City will receive, a1tY~ough he agreed there will be more money. In the discussion whicY} followed, Councilman Duncan stated that he is opposed to x.11 overtime; that his only interest is to have enough men in the field and that the overtime cease. Mr. Jerry Rokos, 12217 Bullis Road, questioned reasons for keeping down overtime and mentioned that the City is presently under the authorized strength; he also suggested that the entire matter be held over until after the election and questioned the propriety of the Coordinating Council taking a stand on the matter under discussion. It was requested by the Council that the City Manager study the present structure, particularly with regard to the sergeant classification, and present a report on the total cost and include recommendations on the overtime problem. Mayor Siokos stated that a system of cutoff should be found so that the present overtime problem cannot occur again. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Councilman Duncan said he has a letter from eighteen citizens near Fracar and Abbott Road complaining that trucks and busses: are shaking their houses. The City Manager said he would have a report on the complaint at the next meeting. Councilman McMillan said that for some time he has felt that people who serve on commissions such as the Personnel Board, Planning Commission, etc., should be compensated for certain expenses and time away from their families, and request the City Attorney to report at the next meeting whether or not such compensation can be legally . Report on Police Relief & Welfare Assoc. salary & fringe benefits request Citizens on Fracar & Abbott complain of trucks & busses McMillan asks for compensation for people o other com- missions xos considered. Councilman Smith asked the members of the press to make some comment for the people in the new annexation to mail the statements back to the post office district whether they are for or against the proposed change to Lynwood postal service. Jaycees Mr. Bill Lomas, representing the Lynwood Jaycees, award banquetaddressed the Council to extend an invitation to attend •~• invitation their annual distinguished service award banquet. YMCA Indian Mr. George Martini, 10760 Alexander, addressed the Council Guide kite to extend an inviation to the Rio Vista YMCA Indian Guide contest annual kite flying contest on March 13 from 1 - 4 p.m. Mr. Cass Waranius addressed the Council concerning improving the public attitude toward police officers. Councilman Duncan asked for investigation of the possibility of the County of Los Angeles paying a portion of an officers salary when he is called to Court. ADJOURN It was moved by Councilman Duncan, seconded by Councilman Byork, that the meeting be adjourned, All members voting aye, the Mayor declared the motion carried. ~'Cit Clerk, City f Lynwood APPROVED FEBRUARY 15, 1966 l a or of e C ty of Lynwood .ie l3'~. M ..aA:may V M!.-i~ f.. w....... .