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HomeMy Public PortalAboutM2004-02-24-CC_spLYNWOOD CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING FEBRUARY 24, 2004 The City Council of the City of Lynwood met in a Special Meeting in the Council Chambers, 11330 Bullis Road on the above date at 6:15 p.m. Mayor Byrd presiding. ~j Councilman Pedroza, Rodriguez, Vasquez and Byrd answered the joint roll call for all ~ agencies. Councilwoman Santillan was absent. Also present were City Manager Hempe, City Attorney Beltran, City Treasurer Pygatt and City Clerk Hooper. City Clerk Andrea Hooper announced that the agenda had been duly posted in accordance with the Brown Act. PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Regarding Agenda Items Only) NONE PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS NONE CONSENT CALENDAR -~~ Councilman Pedroza pulled Item #5 and Item #6 for further discussion. i ` ~ Item #5: ELECTRONIC MEDIA ALLOWANCE The city Manager an City Attorney will provide a brief presentation regarding the proposed implementation of an Electronic Media Allowance to cover monthly expenditures such as cellular phones, cable television and Internet access for Council Members. These expenses are currently paid directly by the City. The establishment of a monthly allowance could provide both direct and indirect savings to the City. Councilman Pedroza -Stated that he read staffs recommendation and had a lot, of concerns as well as other council members. He does agree that there should' be changes and new policies to see how they can help the City save money on the excessive use of the Cellular phones. City Manager Hempe -Responded that the City has been paying a monthly base pay for invoices on Council's telephone bills and Cable bills. Suggested that for the public interest a cap can be placed on telephone bills, and set an allowance at no more than the wireless phone plan is set at. Mayor Byrd -Questioned if the City has a current plan now. City Manager Hempe -Stated right now the current practice is that, we receive the bill { and pay it on your behalf. Also each department has its own cellular plan. Mayor Pro-Tem Vasquez -Responded she strongly supports the communication allowance. However she doesn't feel that the taxpayers should be paying their cable bill. City Manager Hempe -Stated she wants Council to consider getting basic cable such as public access and CNN. And not any of the premium packages that would come with HBO for example. City Attorney Beltran -Stated to Council that there has been a long history of providing means of services to elected official: Such as Internet, cellular phones, and cable. Therefore Council. should set a reasonable cap allowance amount to cover such services. City Clerk Hooper -Stated that the Cable Company had made an offer to give the City a franchise fee and free cable to the five Elected Official's a long time ago. I'm not sure if it's still in the wording. Director of Finance & Administration Alfretta Earnest- Responded that she doesn't recall _ any wording like that in any of the contracts. Unless it's in the new contract, doesn't + ~- believe it is a negation item. I '~~ 1~1 Mayor Byrd -Questioned if the City would be in dough. Director of Finance & Administration Alfretta Earnest- Stated that they would be billed and that the funds would come out of the L. I. I. account. Councilman Pedroza -Responded what ever happen in the past is time to change the policy, agrees with the very basic cable. He believes that there should be a cap on the Cellular phones. If the counilmember's go over the cap they are responsible for paying that amount, and not the city. Mayor Byrd -Stated that Councilman Pedroza suggestion was a possibility. However this policy has always been in affect since before he was on council. Therefore it's not necessary for a new policy. Councilman Rodriguez -Stated the reason this is coming up is because the public has been complaining about the usage of the phones. Wants to now if there are any policies for any of these items they are discussing. City Manager Hempe -Stated staff is the only one with policy. There is no policy for the i --~-~- City Council. ~ ~. Councilman Rodriguez -Questioned how are they being billed on the Cellular phone And do they have a set plan City Manager Hempe -Responded that there is set plan, but that staff sometimes goes over the set plan. And they are penalize for it. Councilman Rodriguez -Suggested that City Manager Hempe look into other plans. He made a comment on his own personal cellular plan. As for cable, and newspaper I have no concerns about it. He doesn't understand the wording "to establish a monthly allowance". City Attorney Beltran -Stated there is no policy adopted but there has been only a long time practice. The city could save a lot of money if you reevaluate this plan. City Manager Hempe -Responded by this is a savings for city that staff will no longer process invoice, purchase orders. Currently the staff is processing them now. Also this allows Council to put a cap on. As of now you have unlimited amount. Councilman Rodriguez -Stated that he has no problem with setting a cap ~--~ City Manager Hempe -Suggested that the Mayor assign the councilmembers to work ~ with the City Manger, and the City Attorney on this item or would like the City Manager ~~--~ and the City Attorney to prepare a policy for the next Agenda. Mayor Byrd -Replied he trusts the City Manager and the City Attorney to prepare a policy. All Councilmember's -Agreed. City Attorney Beltran -Stated he wanted to know what are the needs of the policy. Would like some impute from the Mayor for the next Agenda meeting. Councilman Rodriguez -Suggested they should look into another provider. All Councilmember's- Stated to make sure they are not lock in a contract for long period of time. Councilman Pedroza- Suggested that the City Manager find alternative means to save ~ money on the overall phone services such as faxes and phones. There are companies out ~ there that would give us a better deal. , Mayor- Pro Tem Vasquez- Addressed her comments to Councilman Rodriguez. She wanted to clarify her decision on passing the Item. That they are responsible for paying there own bills, for Internet, newspaper and cable. Mayor Byrd- Made a direct order for City Manager and City Attorney to meet together. Item #6: SHOOTING AT LYNWOOD CITY PARK On Monday, February 23, 2004 a homicide occurred at the western corridor of Lynwood City Park (Birch/Sanborn). Staff will provide the Council with an updated report regazding this matter. Mayor Byrd -Stated that shooting of the young man was a tragedy. Questioned Capt. Lopez to address the Council on this matter. Councilman Pedroza- Stated the reason for this Special meeting was to address this matter. Lynwood residents aze all very concern. Council hired Sheriffs to patrol the parks. We do not want this to continue. ~I Councilman Rodriguez- Suggested they adjourned in Joe Vargas memory. ~,_ ~' Mayor Byrd -Announced he his putting together a summit, with the City Manager, Sheriff, Gang Detail, Unified School District, and St. Frances Hospital, and maybe they can come up with an idea that can bring changes to the problems the city is currently having. Capt. Lopez.- Reported that at 12:10 p.m. A male Hispanic was ridding his bike on the South Bound on Burch Ave. and Sanborn with another Hispanic male they have not identify. A vehicle fired several shots at the two victims. Where one was mortally wounded and died at the seen, the second victim fled and is curtly being sought. The two suspects In the vehicle are also currently being sought. The two suspects in the vehicle aze also currently being sought. At this time it is still to early to tell if it's gang related. The City does have a contract with the Sheriff department on patrolling the parks. The contract is for Misdemeanor drug offenses, graffiti, loitering, they are not design for drug enforcement. Councilman Pedroza- Questioned if the pazk security were at the park at the time of the incident. Captain. Lopez- Responded not at that time. Councilman Pedroza- Asked why not and were where they. Director of Recreation & Comm. Services Given- stated that the security patrol is schedule around the school schedule on Wednesday the schools get out early Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday they come at noon, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, they come in at 2:00 p.m. Councilman Pedorza- Responded that in the morning there is no security in the park. Director of Recreation & Comm. Services Given -Stated except on Saturday and Sunday. CouncilmanPedorza -Responded that the schedule is not acceptable he thought that they where going to be there all day when Council approved the contract. Also he is disappointed that they are not there to prevent gang activity. Captain Lopez- Stated security is there to take police action. But for activity gang enforcement they are not at the level of a Deputy Sheriff. They have limited police ___ powers, they can sight for liquor law violation, loitering. They are armed and can protect life and property they have the same shooting policy as a Sheriff Councilman Rodriguez- Questioned what would have happed if the security was there. Captain Lopez- Stated that security would have responded by getting on the radio and given the description of the vehicle and the direction it was going. Mayor Byrd- Stated that there was an officer involved in a shooting. Wanted to know if they were related or two separate shootings. Captain Lopez- Responded they where two separate shootings. Mayor Pro-Tem Vasquez- Questioned if the security officers report to the Century Sheriff station. Captain Lopez- Stated yes they do. Mayor Pro-Tem Vasquez- Questioned the City Manager on how much is the Sheriff `s contract. And what are the hours of the officers Captain Lopez -Answered the questioned for the City Manager the City is paying $147,000.00 for two officers, 7 days a week. The hours are flex right now one comes in at 12:00 noon the other will come in at 4:00 p.m. the reason is to have a complete coverage Because of cutbacks and the cadet class the sheriff department has not been able to fully staff Security as contracted. Currently we have scheduled to date one permanent Security officer March 1, 2004 to date from December 1, 2003 we have relied sole on overtime Security officer from Court and the Community Collages we have Identify two Security officer both are bilingual both are highly. One we will be receiving on March 1, 2004. City Manager Hempe- Stated she had talk to the Captain Miller, Lieutenant Tellez, Captain Lopez, about the incidents. She Continued to explain that there was another incident at about 10:30 p.m. that night. What she is requesting for council to do is a workshop dealing with public safety issue. To cover with the City Councilmembers how the deputies are deployed, also supplementing and adding those services to improve the public safety services here in Lynwood. Continued and stated that she would like for council to direct her to bring it back for a special meeting so they can have a three hour meeting in the few weeks solely on this matter Councilman Pedroza- Questtioned if security has a set working hour. How are they paid hourly or monthly. City Manager Hempe- Responded by answering on a monthly bases Councilman Pedroza- Questioned if we are paying for something that we are not getting. City Manager Hempe- Responded by asking to consult her staff first. City Attorney Beltran- Stated it is not advisable to be discussing law enforcement deployment in a public meeting. City Manager Hempe-Questioned if she could have a special meeting regarding public safety. By General consent councilmembers agreed to schedule a special meeting CLOSED SESSION City Attorney Beltran stated, with respect to every item of business to be discussed in joint Closed Session Pursuant to Section 54956.8: Item #7: CLOSED SESSION ITEMS: A. With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.9(b): CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION ONE (1) CASE (CITY MANAGER REQUEST TO HIRE SPECIAL COUNSEL) B. With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54957: THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES Consultation with: Los Angeles County Sheriffls Department- Captain James Lopez' j It was moved by Councilman Pedroza, seconded by Councilman Rodriguez and carried to recess to Joint Closed Session at 8:45 p.m. Council reconvened at 9:20 p.m. City Attorney Beltran stated Council met on the aforementioned matters and stated on: Item #7: CLOSED SESSION ITEMS: B. With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54956.9(b): CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION ONE (1) CASE (CITY MANAGER REQUEST TO HIRE SPECIAL COUNSEL) With further consistent with the direction given by the Agency and to staff with closed session deliberations. A modification to the proposed Resolution being Item 1. ROLL CALL: AYES: COUNCIL PEDROZA, RODRIGUEZ, SANTILLAN, VASQUEZ,BYRD NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: NONE B. With respect to every item of business to be discussed in closed session pursuant to Section 54957: THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES Consultation with: Los Angeles Courity Sheriff sDepartment- Captain James Lopez' No reportable action ADJOURNMENT Having no further discussion, it was moved by Councilman Pedroza, seconded by Councilman Rodriguez and carried to adjourn in memory of Jose Vargas at 9:30 p.m. oui Byrd, Mayor ~~ Andrea L. Hooper, City Clerk