HomeMy Public PortalAboutCity Council_Minutes_1970-02-25_Regular 1970COUNCIL MINUTES
CITY OF TEMPLE CITY
ADJOURNED MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 1970
INITIATION:
1. Mayor Harker called the Adjourned Meeting of the City Council to
order at 7:30 p.m.
2. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Mayor Harker.
3. ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Councilmen - Beckley, Briggs, Merritt, Harker
ABSENT: Councilmen - Tyrell
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Koski, City Attorney Martin, Planning
Director Dragicevich, and professional resource
persons to provide testimony.
Councilman Tyrell was not present at the time of roll call, however
he arrived shortly thereafter and was present for the opening
discussion.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
4. PUBLIC HEARING: Continued. Re. Appeal from Planning Commission
Decision on Conditional Use Permit 70 -309PC by Standard Oil Company
of California for core -hole drilling at Live Oak Park.
Mayor Harker prefaced the discussion by outlining the procedure
that would be followed relative to receiving testimony, advising
that the resource persons who had been invited would speak first,
following which those in the audience who had new information or
facts to present would be allowed to speak, and finally any rebuttal
to statements or answers to inquiries would be the privilege of the
applicant.
Mayor Harker advised that the following testimony and documents were
on record as part of this hearing:
Minutes of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting in which
it was recommended the subject site be used for the purpose
requested,
Complete transcript of Planning Commission Public Hearing and min-
utes, together with Resolution No. 70 -371PC denying the
Conditional Use Permit by a 3 to 2 vote,
Minutes and tape of the Public Hearing before the City Council
on February 17, 1970, which meeting had been continued to this
evening, and
All communications, both for and against, including those that
had been received up until 7:30 p.m. this evening, and a record
of all telephone calls received.
City Manager Koski introduced the professional witnesses and their
topics as follows:
Mr. Verne Gaede, Associate Oil and Gas Engineer, State Division
of Oil and Gas, who would speak to safety and water protection.
Captain Marvin Hill and Inspector Joe Day, Los Angeles County
Fire Prevention Bureau, who would speak to fire protection.
Council Minutes, February 25, 1970 - Page 2
Mr. Art Spaulding, Petroleum Administrator, City of Los Angeles,
and registered geologist, who would discuss the experience of
the City of Los Angeles in regard to core -hole and oil drilling.
Mr. A. F. Woodward, Petroleum Engineer Consultant and Registered
Geologist, South Pasadena, who would speak on technical aspects,
noise factor, cost analysis, proposed site and geology.
Mr. Gaede of the State Division of Oil and Gas advised that the
primary concern of that agency was with blow -out prevention
equipment, the casing, ,and anything that is subsurface which
also relates to the protection of fresh water. He advised that this
is one of the critical areas, and that equipment would be rated at
5,000 pounds pressure per square inch, and is inspected and tested
at 1,000 PSI for 15 minutes, minimum requirement, after the surface
pipe is installed. However at this time the State Division of Oil
and Gas has not received a proposal from the applicant. He advised
that the general requirements would be for at least 10% of the total
depth of the surface casing, however a deeper depth may be required
if necessary to protect the fresh water for the area. He advised
that certain mud warning devices to indicate the mud level were a
requirement, and that this type of operation may require running test
samples : to determine that the fresh water would be protected.
Upon inquiry as to the number of blow -outs that occur, Mr. Gaede
advised that of the last 60,000 wells, not more than 10 blow -outs
had occured, none of a serious nature; the potential hazard as far
as a blow -out in the drilling operation of a core -hole is concerned .
is practically nil; that once the well is abandoned there is no
hazard; that hazard of blow -out is usually after a well is completed
to production, and then if a few years later the well is pulled;
that results of tests are documented and filed in the records, as
well as submitted to the operator; and that the plugging of the
well is witnessed by representatives of the State agency.
Captain Hill of the Fire Prevention Bureau discussed what was
required as to obtaining a permit from the Fire Department, and
the availability of and type of fire extinguishers on the drilling
platform. He advised relative to and discussed the provisions
of Division X, Crude Oil Production, of the City Fire Code, in
particular, page 122, sections 15.1001 -2; page 123, section 15.1005;
and page 124, section 15.1011; describing the permit required, the
location of the oil well, the prevention of blow -outs, and fire
control. He advised that when a request for a drilling permit is
received, the Fire Prevention Bureau would meet with the applicant
and discuss safety factors and conduct a fire brigade training
program. Inspector Day discussed his observations at the Getty
oil fire, which he described as not a blow -out, but an uncontrolled
fire due to breakage.
Mr. Spaulding, petroleum administrator for the City of Los Angeles
and registered geologist, spoke to the experience of the City of
Los Angeles since 1953 when the core -hole ordinance was adopted,
which ordinance he described as the life -blood of modern drilling
ventures taking place within the City, and by which production
had increased approximately 100 -fold, adding substantial revenue
to the City. Of the 500 drilling ventures within the City since
that time, approximately 300 have been for production, and the
remaining 200 as core holes. The safety against blow -outs occuring
was considered as .02 %, since one blow -out had occured. He des-
cribed this incident as having been due to negligence on the part
of the drilling crew, and that while there was no hazard to the
surrounding area, there was one fatality among the crew. He
advised that normally an exploratory well would be designed for
eventual completion, but that a core -hole is designed not to
produce. Photographs of development wells, some of which were
camouflaged, were provided for Council review.
Council Minutes, February 25, 1970 - Page 3
Mr. Woodward, petroleum engineer consultant and registered
geologist, discussed the technical aspects of the site and the
tower, as well as noise suppression devices. He described blow -out
and potential fire hazard as minimal for this type of operation,
and outlined the types of soundproofing that are available to
minimize noise to nearby residents. He stated that a core -hole
operation in this area would take at least 60 days for an 8,000 to
10,000 foot hole, upon inquiry, he described how the drilling
operation, by use of instruments, can reach in different directions
to arrive at the desired site. He advised that even on a 24 -hour
schedule, the pipe must be removed every 12 hours to replace the
drilling bit. Upon inquiry, Mr. Woodward advised that he did not
know of any regulations that should be required of this operation,
over and above the State requirements.
Following a question and answer period between the Council and the
resource persons, Mayor Harker invited persons in the audience to
come forward to speak either for or against the issue.
C. W. Anderson, 5526 N. Ryland, speaking against the matter, took
issue with procedures by which the Public Hearing had been conducted,
stating that in his opinion members of the Council who had signed
leases should not be permitted to consider the issue, and also that
a "straw ballot" was an improper tool for consideration of the issue,
in that notification to lessors by Standard Oil had generated
response of persons as proponents, while it was his contention
that the matter should rest with the residents of the area. Mr.
Anderson filed a written statement covering his remarks.
Mayor Harker apprised Mr. Anderson that the City Attorney had ruled
that councilmen who had signed leases were eligible to participate
in the decision- making following the disclosure as to having signed
the lease, and affirmation that they could fairly jud9e the issue.
He advised that a "straw vote" as such had not been taken, but that
the show of hands was to provide everyone present the opportunity
to express whether they were for or against the matter, without
having to come up to the podium since time did not permit everyone
to speak. Further, that he had stated that the show of hands would
not be an element to the decision.
Karl Lloyd, ,9846 Olive, stated that he h.ad been employed by an oil
company at one time and that he had had the opportunity to receive
the fire brigade training program, and that it was an excellent
experience.
John Stacey, 5626 Gracewood, read a communication, which was presented
to the Council for filing, in which he stated that all of the factors
being considered by the Council, such as hours of operation, number
of cores, safety, or outside consultants to be heard, in his opinion
had no bearing, that it was the people of the area who were being
inconvenienced and that the determination should be made by them,
the same as in a zone change.
City Attorney Martin explained that zoning belongs to the taxpayers
and the voters of the City as a whole, that they express their
wishes by the election and maintaining in office of five City Council-
men; that when a zone change of any kind is to be made, the City
should give reasonable notice to persons most affected by the proposed
change, to the people within a prescribed distance; however that the
interest of the City as a whole and the taxpayers still prevails.
City Attorney Martin also clarified the use of the reference to count
persons for and against the matter as a "straw vote" as being an
unfair term. He advised that he had prefaced the opening of the Public
Hearing by advising that certain petitions and letters had been
received, but that the content of the messages was not accepted as
testimony and that the City Council could not base their opinion on
the plebiscite, but on the three criteria, 1) that the site must be
adequate, 2) that roads must be adequate, and 3) it must not be
detrimental to the neighborhood properties or the City as a whole.
Council Minutes, February 25, 1970 - Page 4
Councilman Tyrell inquired as to the adequacy of the site as it
pertained to the fire code.
It was determined that depending on the exact location that may be
chosen by Standard Oil for the core -hole itself, within the 100' x
200' area described, the site may not meet the requirements of the
fire code as to distance of 300' from the convalescent hospital,
or 75 feet from dedicated street and /or other requirements as des-
cribed in Section 15.1002 of the fire code.
Mayor Harker declared a 15- minute recess at 9:10 p.m. for the purpose
of Standard Oil representatives and staff to examine the ordinance as
it pertains to the location of the core -hole, to determine if the
hearing should proceed further.
Council reconvened at 9:25 p.m., and Mayor Harker invited others
present who wished to speak to come forward.
Boyce O'Bannon, 10316 Olive, stated that he did not feel the residents
would be inconvenienced to any great extent and was in favor of the
permit being granted.
Fred Lunqhard, 10149 Bogue, advised that he was within the 300'
radius of the proposed site, and was concerned as to where the
required water pressure for fire protection would come from, since
the pressure in the area was only 40 #. He was advised that on -the-
site fire pumps are provided by the drilling installation for this
protection. Mr. Lunghard also inquired if information was available
as to the number of core - holes being drilled in R -1 zones within the
City of Los Angeles; and discussed the effect of the drilling oper-
ation on property values as being detrimental while the rig is so
located.
Carl Swanson, 9951 Bogue, opposed the granting of a permit because
he felt it would be noisy while 5,000 or more feet of pipe would be
pulled every evening.
Bernard Cook, 5736 Rowland, who favored the granting of the permit,
inquired if rezoning of the park would be in order. He was advised
that the zoning does not change with public use, that it remains
the same as the area in which it exists.
Bill Swain, 5758 Agnes, speaking in favor, advised that he had
recently attended classes for three weeks, within 500' of a core -
hole operation, and that while the classroom windows were closed,
there was no buffer except the acoustical material provided on the
site, and that the sound of the drilling could not be heard in the
classroom.
Mr. Wild, speaking in rebuttal as the applicant, discussed the
possible locations within the site for the core -hole, so as to
conform to the requirements of the fire code. He stated that the
requirements for the drilling of a core -hole, however, by the State
Division of Oil and Gas, were not the same as for a producing well.
Captain Hill advised that a determination of this factor would have
to be determined by Chief Petroff.
City Attorney Martin advised that we are dealing with the code that
is the law of this City; that we are trying to measure distances
by scale on a piece of paper on the wall, and that we are in danger
of violating our own ordinance, which none of us want to do; that
in connection with this and other problems which have arisen, he
would like an opportunity to study the matter and would recommend
that the Public Hearing be carried over for the purpose of analysis
of the fire prevention code and our own code in connection with this
particular permit.
Council Minutes, February 25, 1970 - Page 5
John Spangler, Standard Oil representative, answered queries of
the Council relative to noise involved in pulling and stacking
pipe. He advised that it takes approximately 1 1/4 minutes for
each 90' length of pipe; that these lengths are swung over and
stacked; and that the skill of the operator is depended upon for
minimum noise. Other inquiries were also answered relative to
more enclosure and general operations.
Councilman Tyrell moved to retain the Public Hearing as open, and
to continue the matter to Tuesday, March 3, 1970, at 7:30 p.m.
Councilman Beckley seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
5. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Harker at 10:10 p.m. The next
regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Tuesday,
March 3, 1970, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City
Hall, 5938 N. Kauffman Avenue.
MAYOR
ATTEST: