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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCity Council_Minutes_1999-11-10_Special 19991 1 1 CITY OF TEMPLE CITY CITY COUNCIL AND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 10, 1999 LIVE OAK PARK CAMELLIA ROOM 1. CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to the Agenda posted on November 5, 1999, Interim City Manager Martin called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, 1999. 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilman- Gillanders, Souder, Wilson, Brook PRESENT: Commissioner - Ferrari, Freeman, O'Leary, Broge ABSENT: Councilman- Breazeal Commissioner- Sternquist ALSO PRESENT: Interim City Manager Martin, Assistant City Manager Hart and Community Services Director Burroughs Councilman Wilson moved to excuse Mayor Pro Tem Breazeal and Vice Chairman Sternquist for cause, seconded by Councilman Souder and unanimously carried. 3. ENFORCEMENT OF THE CLOSING HOURS OF THE CITY PARKS Chairman Broge indicated the meeting was scheduled due to recent incidents in which groups have gathering at Live Oak Park after posted hours. She noted disagreement arose between the Parks and Recreation Commission, the City Council, and the Sheriff's department regarding the issue of enforcement of the opening and closing times of the park. Mayor Brook apologized for being late. He said he had concerns regarding the lack of enforcement of the park rules. He thanked the Sheriff's department for their strong representation at the meeting and then asked the commission to share their experiences. Chairman Broge asked why the Sheriff's department is not ticketing people loitering in the park after posted hours. Lt. Richard Shaw, Temple City Sheriff's Station, stated in his experience issuing citations was left to the discretion of the deputies. He indicated the Sheriff's department could adopt a "no tolerance" policy if the Commission desired. However, he indicated he did not believe such a policy was the best way to proceed. Councilman Souder asked how many tickets were cited at the park. Chairman Broge said she did not know and stated she could not recall a deputy ever citing someone for being in the park after 10:00 p.m. Mayor Brook stated he understood on Friday nights after football games the park is a meeting place and this is a concern. Lt. Shaw said he understood it was a place for groups to meet and then disperse elsewhere. City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting November 10, 1999 Page 2 Chairman Broge indicated she has lived across from the park for close to 30 years and can always pinpoint the opening of the football season due to increased activity in the park at night. She said she stopped calling the Sheriff's department when a noisy group of youngsters met at the park on a Friday or Saturday night because she knew there would be no response. She stated (*ally related to the park have been widely ignored. Lt. Shaw stated on Friday and Saturday nights calla regarding juveniles loitering in the park usually do not receive high priority relative to other calla. He stated there are only three deputies assigned to Temple City on those nights and they simply do not have the resources. Michael Fung, 10133 Bogue Street, expressed support for the issuance of citations in the park. In his experience for every 10 -12 calla he made, the Sheriff's department responded quickly to about 6 -8 of those Balls. He noted exceptions on Friday nights. He said tickets would generate revenue for the park and act as an effective deterrent. Councilman Wilson expressed concern regarding the issuance of citations. She stated exceptional circumstances often arise and felt it should be left to the discretion of the Sheriff's department. She said an ordinance would not be possible. Duffy Brook stated the goal of the meeting was to concentrate on creating a policy, not an ordinance. Councilman Gillanders said an ordinance already existed and the issue was its enforcement. Judy Benson, 5564 North Ryland Avenue, commended the Sheriff's department for doing an excellent job of ridding the park of gangs. She agreed with Councilman Wilson and expressed concern over the issuance of citations at the park. Mr. Fung also agreed that discretion should be used. He suggested signs regarding citations be put up in the park. Chairman Broge agreed discretion should be used as well when issuing citations. However, under certain circumstances it would be appropriate for citations to be issued to send a message. Lt. Shaw asked if there had been any discussion regarding using motion detecting lighting or other deterrents. Chairman Broge stated fines were determined to be the best deterrent. Duffy Brook called for a discussion on the use of chains on the park's driveways at night. Lt. Shaw stated staffing is limited and a number of ordinances are worded to require the offense be committed in the presence of the officer. He said most people calming a disturbance in the park would become quiet if a deputy appeared. He went on to say most citations would be for loitering. Mayor Brook asked Community Services Director Cathy Burroughs if staff advised people to leave when locking up at night. 1 1 1 1 1 1 City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting November 10, 1999 Page 3 Community Services Director Burroughs responded by saying most lights are on a timer and turn off automatically. She stated if a crowd was gathered in the park she believed her staff would tell them the park was closed. Councilman Gillanders expressed concern regarding re- soding the park. He pointed to a past incident of vandalism in which the sod was torn up. He urged everyone to look at the matter from a fiscal point of view, especially in light of the recent computer crash at City Hall. He stated the prospect of pouring more money into the park when it could possibility be ruined in a few weeks was troublesome. Councilman Wilson said she did not feel chains on the driveways of the park would be an effective deterrent. She noted the elementary schools have chains and they have not been effective. Councilman Souder asked where the groups congregated in the park. Helen Funs, 10133 Bogue Street,. stated that groups meet in various locations. She urged for immediate action to be taken on this issue. Commissioner Ferrari asked about the availability of deputies to patrol the park at night. He then asked if the Sheriff's department keeps track of incoming calls. Lt. Shaw stated they have the capability. Commissioner Ferrari asked if there was the possibility of budgeting overtime for deputies to patrol the park at peak hours. He then requested a list of potential deterrents from the Sheriffs department for review by the Commission. Lt. Shaw responded by saying he could look into it. He said extra lighting might help and disagreed with Councilman Wilson regarding the effectiveness of driveway chains as a deterrent. Mayor Brook agreed with Lt. Shaw and stated he felt chRining off the driveways would act as a deterrent. He also agreed with Councilman Gillander's earlier comment regarding an increase in vandalism after improvements have been made to the park. Councilman Souder suggested contacting the school district to send the message loitering in the park will not be tolerated. Chairman Broge stated citations would get the message across but have not been issued in the past. Lt. Shaw stated the Sheriffs department will issue citations but does not want to assume the responsibility alone and asked the City and Parks and Recreation Commission to assume responsibility as well. He asked that other alternative measures be utilized. Harry Crump, 9902 Daines Drive, said 22 years ago the issue was the same and the only sure way to stop people from loitering in the park was to fence it off and make it a prison. Councilman Souder asked Assistant City Manager Hart if the City has Brutle funds available to be put City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting November 10, 1999 Page 4 toward overtime for deputies to patrol the park on Friday and Saturday nights. Assistant City Manager Hart said yes. Lt. Shaw asked if loitering was a big problem on nights of football games. Chairman Broge said yes it was and it was not just Temple City High School students but students from other surrounding high schools as well. She stated a stronger presence in the park is important. Lt. Shaw said he could not guarantee a presence. He stated they could come to the park and write a few citations so word would spread. Councilman Souder asked what the fine was for loitering. Assistant City Manager Hart stated it was $100 for the first infraction, $200 for the second offense and $500 for the third offense. Mr. Fund said that better lighting and more signs would let people know about the curfew. Assistant City Manager Hart stated larger signs have been ordered and the City is now waiting for PSI to come back to the City Council with a proposal for motion detectors, additional lighting and video surveillance. Mayor Brook stated City staff' and the Sheriff's department need to get together and come up with ideas. Lt. Shaw said he would urge the deputies to create a presence at the park on Friday and Saturday nights. Mayor Brook stated additional Brulte funds could bring the deputies to the park on those night. Assistant City Manager Hart confirmed the City has 10 percent discretionary monies from the Brutle grant and stated City staff would work with the Sheriff's department. Mayor Brook mentioned the re- soding project at Live Oak Park and read aloud a memo from Assistant City Manager Hart. A discussion ensued. City Attorney Martin reminded the Council this matter was not on the posted Agenda and any discussion should stop at this point. Mayor Brook stated the issue would be addressed in future meetings of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mayor Brook then asked if anyone had any other issues to bring up for future meetings. Eugene Hough, 10118 E. Daines Drive, expressed concern with parking and the excessive speed of traffic on Daines Drive. He suggested putting in a stop sign. CommisRioner Ferrari asked if the City does traffic evaluations. 1 1 1 City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting November 10, 1999 Page 5 Councilman Souder answered the City has a traffic engineer who does such evaluations. Mayor Brook stated the traffic engineer could take a look at it. Miriam Tallmadge, 5520 Ryland Avenue, expressed concern with children running in and out of parked cars around Live Oak Park. Mayor Brook told her in the future a master plan will be created for the park in which traffic will be rerouted and these issues will be addressed. Michael Reed, 9703 Daines Drive, suggested RSVP volunteers issue citations in Live Oak Park on Friday and Saturday nights. Councilman Souder suggested the Commission and City Council meet more often. Robert Tallmadge, 5520 Ryland Avenue, expressed his gratitude to Community Services Director Burroughs, Recreation Supervisor Hampson and Mayor Brook for recently helping to resolve a reoccurring problem with noise from a nearby picnic area. David Reukema, 5514 Ryland Avenue, expressed concern with the lack of visibility when leaving the west exit on the south side of Live Oak Park onto Daines Drive and also at the stop sign at the intersection of Daines Drive and Gracewood Avenue. He suggested painting the curbs red to prevent parked vehicles from blocking visibility. Mr. Tallmadge indicated a hedge is blocking visibility eastbound onto Daines Drive at the intersection of Daines Drive and Ryland Avenue. Mayor Brook noted this matter should be brought to the City's attention. 4. ADJOURNMENT At 7:41 p.m., it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried to adjourn. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 5938 North Kauffman Avenue, Temple City.