HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/1992 Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992
1. CLOSED SESSION: 5:00 p.m.,
- Government Code 54956.9
Personnel - Government Code 54957.6
No reportable action taken.
2. CALL TO ORDER: M/Kim called the meeting to order at
6:00 p.m. in the AQMD Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Drive,
Diamond Bar, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of
Allegiance by Mayor Kim.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Kim, Councilmen Forbing, Miller
and Werner. Mayor Pro Tem Papen arrived at 7:20 p.m.
Also present were Terrence L. Belanger, Acting City Manager;
Andrew V. Arczynski, City Attorney; James DeStefano, Community
Development Director; George Wentz, Interim City Engineer; Bob
Rose, Community Services Director and Lynda Burgess, City
Clerk.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Sue Sisk, 1087 Flintlock Rd., repre-
senting the Diamond Ranch Booster Club, stated that the State
Legislature recently passed legislation allowing the City of
Industry to donate 70 acres of land to the Pomona Unified
School District for a north Diamond Bar High School. She
further indicated that members from Industry's Planning
Association hired powerful special interest lobbyists to
convince the Governor to veto the Bill. She encouraged
citizens to write to Governor Wilson urging him to sign the
legislation.
C/Werner announced that the Governor's FAX number was (213)
897-0319 for anyone wishing to FAX to encourage the Governor's
support.
Clair Harmony, 24139 Afamado Ln., stated that he has yet
received the legal brief that the City Attorney was to
provide. Further, even though the City of Lawndale turned
down their General Plan in May, the City is still issuing
permits and listed other court cases to support his contention
that D.B. should still be able to issue permits.
Red Calkins, 240 Eagle Nest Dr., thanked C/Miller for putting
Prospector Rd. Underpass, 60 fwy. on the list of streets for
clean up by clients of Lanterman Developmental Center. He
complained that the Ranch Festival program excluded Lavinia
Rowland from its article regarding Past Presidents, as the
Festival was her idea to help the Municipal Advisory Council
pay for funds owed the County for previous incorporation
election attempts.
Max Maxwell, 3211 Bent Twig Ln., asked why the dirt pile on
South Pointe Middle School was left there. He stated that he
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 2
had been called by John Francis of the Highlander regarding a
comment made by MPT/Papen alleging that he had requested the
State Office of Regional Planning to deny the City's request
for an extension of the General Plan. He denied making this
request to the State and requested that ACM/Belanger clarify
the matter.
CDD/DeStefano stated that he understood that dirt currently
stockpiled on South Pointe Middle School was from removal of
dirt during grading for construction of homes in the area as
well as for construction of the street created for the school.
The School District and developer Arciero intend to relocate
the dirt to an adjoining site to permit construction of a
permanent school facility.
In response to M/Kim's question as to whether the dirt is a
nuisance or jeopardizes public safety, CDD/DeStefano stated
that it is not a mound of earth created by grading, it is what
is left from the grading activity which had not been touched.
He understood that the hill will be removed and lowered to a
grade elevation consistent with the adjacent property to allow
for the permanent school. The dirt is to be relocated to the
canyon as part of a project for residential development that
Mr. Arciero and his company have desired for several years. --
Don Schad, 1824 Shaded Wood Rd., spoke in favor of sending
letters to Gov. Wilson.
Fred Scalzo, President of the Chamber of Commerce, stated that
there are currently 120 to 130 retail vacancies in the City
representing approximately 700-800 jobs and losses of between
$16 to $18 million in spending power. If those vacancies were
filled, the City's share of sales tax revenues would amount to
approximately 4-5% of the City's budget. He further stated
that businesses outside of the City would be more attracted to
D.B. if they felt welcome. In addition, he encouraged the
City Council to adopt the General Plan.
Eileen Ansari, 1823 S. Cliffbranch, stated that even though
she signed the referendum and is behind it, she is supportive
of local business and that the people behind the Referendum
are not working against the City, but for the City to achieve
responsible City government, quality of life for residents
(country style of life) and a nice environment. Further,
there are other canyons in the City that are of concern such
as Sandstone Canyon and upper Sycamore Canyon. She supported
the idea of a Tonner Canyon Acquisition Commission, but felt
that all Councilmembers should have input into committee
selection and not just C/Miller, but this should be done after
the issue of the General Plan has been resolved.
ACM/Belanger stated that in regard to Sandstone Canyon,
development plans had been submitted for private property in
this area, but the applicant had been informed that the City
would not entertain individual projects in the area, but
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 3
rather, the entire area would be master planned. As part of
the master plan, the two public agencies also owning property
there --Walnut Valley Unified School District and the
City --would also be a part of that master plan process. The
entire land would be subject to a master environmental impact
report. He further stated that the Diamond Bar that the
people in orange County refer to is what existed under L.A.
County. In regard to upper Sycamore Canyon, which is owned by
Bramalea, a Memorandum of Understanding will be brought to the
Council soon to preserve 400 acres in City ownership,
including the entirety of upper Sycamore Canyon.
Frank Dursa, 2533 Harmony Hill Dr., stated that he felt that
C/Miller had made a personal attack on him at the last meeting
and that these are the types of things that are wrong with the
community. He stated that C/Miller seems to think that he is
misinformed, biased and has a focused train of thought. Mr.
Dursa agreed that he was biased because 1) he caught one of
C/Miller's family members taking down campaign signs support-
ing opposing candidates during an election before Cityhood; 2)
because Page 15 of the Grand Ave. Agreement states that Tonner
Canyon Road would be built by 1994 and that there would be a
benefit assessment district passed onto this community; 3)
Assemblyman Horcher previously accused C/Miller of making a
profit on property he owned along Grand Ave; 4) C/Miller got
his property on Lycoming zoned from residential to commercial
without a lot of fanfare; 5) C/Miller accused Mr. Al Rumpilla
of walking out of City Hall with a suitcase full of papers; 6)
when the City was first formed, Councilman Lancaster from
another city proposed a racquetball sports club on Sylvan Glen
Park which was, fortunately, turned down. Mr. Lancaster was
C/Miller's campaign chairman when he ran for State Senate; 7)
when C/Miller last ran for office, his campaign brochure
stated that he was in favor of term limits for Councilmembers,
but has said nothing about it since; 8) C/Miller said he was
going to end conflict of interest voting which must have meant
that there was conflict of interest voting going on; 9) the
Council was planning to go to Lake Arrowhead to conduct city
business right after incorporation; 10) the City Council says
it wants business to flourish yet they had a meeting at the
Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, probably so nobody else
would show up. Fortunately, he and Mr. Rumpilla showed up at
the meeting and were privy to what was going on; 11) when the
City was first formed, they paid over $55,000 for a study of
waste water, without bidding, to some company in Newport
Beach. He stated that he had other things to point out but
that his time had run out.
C/Miller stated that he did not understand Mr. Dursa's
comments that he had personally attacked Mr. Dursa. The TV
audience and the persons attending the meetings watch Mr.
Dursa and others attack the City Council every week. Mr.
Dursa accused his son of taking a sign down while putting up
a sign in the first Cityhood election and he met with Mr.
Dursa and Mr. Rumpilla twice. His son said it was a
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 4
misunderstanding, Mr. Dursa said it wasn't. C/Miller stated
that he did everything in his power to try and resolve it and
that he had apologized to Mr. Dursa and Mr. Rtmpilla for what
they thought he did, even though he said he didn't. He
further stated that the Council has repeatedly explained that
any assessment district formed in Tonner Canyon would not be
levied against the entire City but only those parcels that
benefited from it, which are undeveloped parcels. As for the
comment that Mr. Horcher had accused him of profiting from the
property he owned on Grand Ave. when the City and San
Bernardino County signed the agreement, C/Miller again stated
that he never owned property on Grand Ave. but that his
property is located by the golf course. Mr. Horcher was
removed as Mayor Pro Tem because everybody on Council said he
lied. He explained that before he accepted appointment as a
negotiator for Grand Ave., he obtained a written opinion from
the City Attorney stated he did not have a conflict of
interest and further, that all four other Councilmembers knew
there was no conflict. Regarding his property on Lycoming,
C/Miller explained that he stated the process well over a year
before Cityhood to change the zoning because all other four
corners were zoned commercial on a major four-way intersection
and approval by the County was nearly complete when the City
incorporated. He would not allow the property to be reviewed
by the Council while he was a Councilman. It was merely for
this parcel to conform with all other corners on Lycoming and
Brea Canyon. As to Mr. Rumpilla "walking out of City Hall
with a briefcase full of papers, C/Miller stated that he did
not know what Mr. Dursa was talking about. In regard to Mr.
Lancaster, he stated that he met Mr. Lancaster when he applied
for a racquetball center which was turned down. Mr. Lancaster
ran the area office of the State Senator whose seat C/Miller
was campaigning for which had nothing to do with Diamond Bar
whatsoever. Regarding term limitations, C/Miller stated that
he supported uniform limitations on all City Councils
throughout the State. In regard to conflict of interest
voting, he stated that the City Council makes certain that
those who have conflicts don't vote. He further stated that
Mr. Dursa seems to think that he was somehow personally
involved for a suggestion to hold a meeting in Lake Arrowhead
and in Newport Beach, but that he was not even on the Council
when the meeting was held in Newport Beach.
MPT/Papen explained that a benefit assessment district is a
means of financing capital improvement projects such as roads
and sewer systems and the assessment is against those
properties which benefit from the improvement. In regard to
term limits, she stated that she has supported that, but State
law does not currently allow General Law cities to adopt term --
limitations.
C/Werner stated that he felt term limits for City Council are
stupid and that the people in the community and electorate
have to read the information and get to know the candidate.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 5
4. COUNCIL COMMENTS: C/Forbing asked that Council direct
staff to make sure all reports, particularly ones coming from
consultants, be copied double -sided.
C/Miller asked that the audience make note of the amount of
personal attacks that continue through the Council meetings
and that they continue from people who never bother to call
Council and express concerns, ask for information or commun-
icate in any way.
C/Werner asked that staff work with the Traffic Commission
regarding the Heritage Park Apartments and the concern they
have regarding the driveway approach to the street as well as
the possibility of red curbing along a certain distance beyond
the driveway. He also stated that the Council has voluntary
request forms for people who wish to speak to the Council and
added that the form had been redrafted eliminating the place
for "for or against" the item.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by C/Werner, seconded by
C/Forbing to approve the Consent Calendar as presented with
the exception of City Council Minutes of August 11, 1992.
C/Werner abstained from voting on approval of these Minutes
due to his absence from the meeting.
AYES: COUNCILMEN - Forbing, Miller, Werner, MPT/ Papen,
M/Kim
NOES: COUNCILMEN - None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEN - None
5.1 SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
5.1.1 Parks & Recreation Commission - September 24,
1992 - 7:00 p.m., AQMD Hearing Room, 21865 E.
Copley Dr.
5.1.2 Diamond Bar Ranch Festival - September 25, 26,
27, 1992 - Gateway Corporate Center
5.1.3 Planning Commission - September 28 1992 - 7:00
p.m., AQMD Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Dr.
5.1.4 City Council Meeting - October 6, 1992 - 6:00
p.m., AQMD Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Dr.
5.2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Special Meeting of August 11, 1992
- (C/Werner abstained from approval of these Minutes) -
Approved as presented.
5.3 WARRANT REGISTER - Adopted the following Minute Order
entitled: Warrant Register - September 15, 1992, in the
amount of $183,501.93.
5.4 TREASURER'S REPORT - Adopted the following Minute Order
entitled: Treasurer's Report - Month of July, 1992 -
received and filed.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 6
5.5 BOND EXONERATIONS:
5.5.1 STORM DRAIN BOND FOR PRIVATE DRAIN NO. 2100 ON
TRACTS 42573 THROUGH 42578 -
Adopted the following Minute Order entitled:
PRIVATE DRAIN NO. 2100 - BOND EXONERATION -
Tracts 42573 through 42578, Bond No. 83 SB 100
352 243 in the amount of $212,000 for storm
drain on Longview Dr. and Thunder Trail
constructed by Bramalea Ltd. and directed City
Clerk to notify all parties.
5.5.2 STORM DRAIN BOND FOR PRIVATE DRAIN NO. 2084 ON
TRACT 42572 -
Adopted the following Minute Order entitled:
PRIVATE DRAIN NO. 2084 - BOND EXONERATION -
Tract 42572, Bond No. 83 SB 100 327 660 in the
amount of $11,500 for storm drain on Cromarty
Dr. and Radbury Place constructed by Bramalea
Ltd. and directed City Clerk to notify all
parties.
5.6 CLAIM FOR DAMAGES - filed by Robert Peak August 31, 1992 -
- Denied.
6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, CERTIFICATES, ETC.
6.1 Proclaimed October 1992 as "Parents Without Partners
Month" - C/Werner presented the Proclamation to Barbara
Williams, President, Parents Without Partners.
6.2 PRESENTATION - UPDATE ON 1992 DIAMOND BAR RANCH FESTIVAL
- AA/Fritzal reported that the Festival's theme for 1992
is "Festival of Friends" which will be held September 25
through 27 at the Gateway Corporate Center. Festival
activities will include a parade, a business expo, live
entertainment, the Mucho Macho Desperado Contest and a
5-10K run as a "kick-off" activity. In addition, a free
shuttle service will be provided from various off-site
locations throughout the City to bring visitors to the
Festival.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
7.1 CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT - C/Werner advised that pursuant
to Council direction, the Personnel Committee had met
with Acting City Manager Terrence Belanger to negotiate
an agreement. The agreement provides for terms similar
to those of the former City Manager, with some
exceptions.
C/Miller reported that one exception was that the
termination pay had been reduced by 25% over that for the
former City Manager. He felt that it was a good contract
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992
PAGE 7
and that Mr. Belanger would make an excellent Manager.
C/Miller moved, C/Werner seconded to approx#e the contract
with Terrence L. Belanger as City Manager.
CA/Arczynski asked that the motion reflect that the blank
spots in regard to the effective date of various
provisions be September 15, 1992. C/Miller agreed to
amend,his motion.
MPT/Papen stated that she had read the contract and it
met with her satisfaction; however, she requested a
summary of benefits be added and a breakdown of the total
costs of the employment package. With the following Roll
Call vote, motion carried:
AYES: COUNCILMEN - Miller, Werner, Forbing, MPT/
Papen, M/Kim
NOES: COUNCILMEN - None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEN - None
7.2 UPDATE FROM CITY ATTORNEY ON STATUS OF CITY'S ABILITY TO
PROCESS PERMITS, ETC., DUE TO REFERENDUM - Regarding
public comments made earlier in the meeting, CA/Arczynski
explained that the City of Lawndale was able to issue
permits after a General Plan referendum was submitted to
the City because the referendum was not against the only
Plan the City had ever adopted but against a newly
revised version only. When the new version was sus-
pended, the old General Plan remained in effect. Not so
with the City of Diamond Bar as there was no General Plan
previously in effect. In regard to the City Attorney's
opinion requested by Mr. Harmony, the Council directed
release of the legal authorities relied upon for the
opinion which had just been given to Mr. Harmony. As to
whether staff exceeded its authority by discontinuing
permit issuance at the time petitions were filed, it was
felt that this was the safest and most conservative
approach at the time. Since that time, Council has
directed implementation of a policy to issue permits in
certain limited circumstances. The City has applied to
the Office of Planning and Research for another extension
of time on preparation of the General Plan but no
response has yet been received.
CM/Belanger stated that he had recently spoken with Mr.
Cervantes of the Office of Planning and Research to
inquire into the status of the response promised to the
City earlier. Mr. Cervantes indicated that he was
delaying his opinion while awaiting information from Max
Maxwell and Tom Van Winkle in opposition to the City's
extension request. Mr. Cervantes further indicated that
if an extension were granted, it would only allow for
issuance of the barest of permits.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992
PAGE 8
CA/Arczynski indicated that a draft urgency ordinance had
been prepared in the event an extension is not granted.
Said ordinance tracks with State law provisions regarding
project processing and approval of permits along with the
extension granted by OPR earlier.
In response to MPT/Papen's inquiry into legal require-
ments for adoption of such an ordinance, CA/Arczynski
stated that this matter was not subject to a public
hearing and recommended that if the Council wished to
consider this item, that a motion be made adding it to
the Agenda as a matter in which the need for action arose
after the agenda was posted. Assuming there is a 4/5
vote to add it to the agenda, the Council could then
discuss the matter and adopt it.
At the request of MPT/Papen, CA/Arczynski read the
Ordinance in its entirety.
C/Miller moved, C/Werner seconded to add the matter to
the Agenda as an urgency ordinance for discussion. With
the following Roll Call vote, motion carried:
AYES: COUNCILMEN - Werner, Forbing, Miller, MPT/
Papen, M/Kim
NOES: COUNCILMEN - None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEN - None
RECESS: M/Kim recessed the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
RECONVENE: M/Kim reconvened the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
7.3 URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 4 (1992): AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND EAR, CALIFORNIA,
ESTABLISHING STANDARDS REGULATING LAND USE AND
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING FINDINGS IN SUPPORT
THEREOF - C/Werner expressed concern about Page 2,
Paragraph 4, second to last sentence "City
representatives have been advised by representatives of
the Governor's office of Planning and Research that they
are without authority."
CA/Arczynski explained that when the ordinance was
drafted, his office contacted OPR and their indication
was that they didn't think they could grant an extension
of time on the theory that the City had already adopted
a General Plan, therefore there is nothing to extend.
C/Werner suggested that "verbal" be inserted in the
paragraph and asked why "not heretofore filed" was
included on Page 6, Item E.
CA/Arczynski stated that if the language is not added,
one could assume that the City would be precluded from
continuing to process applications for various kinds of
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 9
approvals already in the pipeline.
Following discussion, C/Werner recommended that "not
heretofore filed" be stricken so as not to confuse the
issue with language to be added in the initial recitals
to clarify that these circumstances do not apply to
previously filed and processed projects.
CA/Arczynski stated that he would frame language for
inclusion into the body of the paragraph for specificity
regarding previously filed and processed projects.
MPT/Papen stated that it was her opinion that until such
time as the referendum has been settled, no action should
be taken on any vesting tentative tract map that has not
already been approved.
Following further discussion, MPT/Papen stated that she
wanted to honor the intent of the referendum and that by
adopting the ordinance the City would circumvent the
referendum. She further stated that the ordinance should
only pertain to already approved lots.
With Council consensus, the wording "not hereto filed"
was removed.
CA/Arczynski stated that during the time of the
extension, based on OPR's correspondence, vesting
tentative tract maps could not be accepted nor other
certain types of entitlement applications. Upon adoption
of the General Plan, some individuals filed applications
for vesting maps. Those applications could not be
processed for thirty days and then the referendum was
submitted. The only point in including a date or
language was so that no one would misunderstand the
intent.
In response to C/Miller's question, CA/Arczynski stated
that OPR could grant more leeway than the ordinance;
however, it would be unlikely.
CM/Belanger stated that in order to clarify the intent in
Sections 3a and 3b, modifying language could be included
in c, d and a so that those restrictions set forth in c,
d and e --which in essence restrict what the City can do
in terms of processing General Plan amendments and
certain types of large tract development, especially
hillsides and in the SEA --such as "notwithstanding the
provisions set forth in Section 3a and 3b above, until
such time as the General Plan adopted and deemed..."
This would modify the intent of a and b and narrow it to
those types of development proposals that are arguably
not within the ambit of the referendum, i.e., commercial
development proposals on already zoned and general
planned commercial land, etc.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992
PAGE 10
Following discussion, CA/Arczynski recommended insertion
of "subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3 c,
d and a below" at the beginning of the sentence prior to
"land use actions."
MPT/Papen suggested removal of "process" on Page'6 a to
allow those people who filed maps between July 14, 1992
and August 10, 1992 the ability to work on EIRs and
whatever is needed to get them ready so that when the
referendum issue is settled, the projects will be ready
to go.
In response to M/Kim's question, CM/Belanger stated that
the City can initiate their own planning proposals;
however, the statement "City shall not initiate" in
Section 3d would preclude the City from being able to
submit such an application.
In response to MPT/Papen's inquiry into the status of the
JCC projects, CDD/DeStefano stated that two tracts were
approved in April and the final map is currently being
processed for approval and recordation. However, they
cannot obtain grading or building permits due to
suspension of the General Plan.
CA/Arczynski stated that the question of whether permits
could be obtained for the JCC project would boil down to
Section 3E as to whether or not it is within an area that
has been defined. The JCC project is proceeding with
vesting map applications with two of them moving to final
map stage. There are a number of other issues that need
to be resolved, all of which are required to go through
a discretionary process. If the issues fall within the
area defined in subsection 3 e, the JCC project would not
be able to obtain grading or building permits.
Clair Harmony, 24139 Afamado Ln., stated that he endorsed
the efforts of the ordinance, however, he felt that it
could go farther.
Don Schad, 1824 Shaded Wood Rd., stated that Page 5,
Sections 3 a and b indicates to him that the "Buffington"
project should never been approved since there was no
General Plan and only a very limited tree ordinance in
effect.
CA/Arczynski stated that with regard to the statement
made by Mr. Schad, the vesting tentative map applications
that were filed three years ago regarding the JCC project
are not impacted by this General Plan or any other
General Plan that the City proposes to adopt. The
ordinance would not affect those maps, it is what was in
place when those applications were filed, and that is
what those projects are measured by.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 11
Eileen Ansari, 1823 S. Cliffbranch Rd., suggested that a
committee be formed to look at amending the General Plan.
CA/Arczynski stated that if the General Plan referendum
is certified, the City Council has alternatives, one
being to simply repeal it and the other is to place it on
the ballot. In either instance, a one year time line has
to pass before adoption of a substantially similar
General Plan.
C/Werner moved, C/Forbing seconded to adopt urgency
Ordinance No. 4 (1992) as amended, entitled AN ORDINANCE
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR, CALIFORNIA,
ESTABLISHING STANDARDS REGULATING LAND USE AND
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING FINDINGS IN SUPPORT
THEREOF. Motion carried unanimously by the following
Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEN - Forbing, Miller, Werner, MPT/
Papen, M/Kim
NOES: COUNCILMEN - None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEN - None
8. NEW BUSINESS:
8.1 FEASIBILITY OF MEDIAN ISLANDS ON GOLDEN SPRINGS DRIVE,
BETWEEN BREA CANYON ROAD AND THE STATE ROUTE 57 OVERPASS
- At the June 11 and July 9, 1992 Traffic and
Transportation Commission meetings, the Commission was
provided with the preliminary layout of proposed medians
along Golden Springs Drive. Pros and cons were reviewed
and evaluated. The Commission recommended maintaining
existing roadway characteristics and for Golden Springs
Dr. remain without raised medians/channelization.
Following a report by ICE/Wentz outlining available
options, C/Forbing recommended that staff further study
traffic counts and impacts on businesses and that staff
be directed to make recommendations based on the new
information obtained.
MPT/Papen recommended that river rock be used under
freeway overramps on the northend of the City and that no
tree planting be done due to traffic patterns in these
areas.
8.2 CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING TONNER CANYON ACQUISITION
COMMITTEE - CM/Belanger stated that all individuals
suggested at the last meeting were contacted and all but
Mr. Harmony and Mr. Van winkle responded in the
affirmative that they would be willing to serve, some of
them conditionally. Mr. Van Winkle who indicated that he
will get back with an answer.
C/Werner stated that he felt that the committee is not a
City committee and that the decision to serve or not is
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 12
entirely up to them; therefore, their response to the
City as to membership is unnecessary.
MPT/Papen indicated that the City was organizing the
committee and that she felt the City should give an
ad-hoc committee a scope of work to be done.
Eileen Ansari, 1823 S. Cliffbranch Dr., stated that she
would like to be on the committee and that she would like
to see other people on the committee, such as Lydia
Plunk. She further suggested that C/Miller attend some of
the meetings.
William Gross, 21637 Highbluff Rd., expressed his
opposition to formation of a committee.
Max Maxwell, 3211 Bent Twig Ln., stated that he would
like to be involved with the committee and asked the
Council to discuss the goals and objectives. He also
congratulated Mr. Belanger on his appointment as City
Manager.
Don Schad recommended that the Council write a letter of
introduction specifying that the committee is a research --
group endeavoring to procure information relating to the
Tonner Canyon.
Fred Scalzo spoke in favor of the committee, but urged
the Council to make sure that taxpayers understand the
costs involved. He further stated that he would like to
see more control on those who choose to raise their
voices at the Council and who engage in personal insults
to them.
C/Miller reiterated that this is not a City committee,
the Council is trying to help form a committee, but no
City funds will be spent on this committee. In regard to
a bond issue, he stated that he would not approve a bond
issue, but would put it on a ballot for voters to decide
whether they wish to purchase the canyon.
MPT/Papen felt that the committee should come back to the
Council before the end of the year with a report as to
financing methods available. She further stated that due
to the referendum, discussion with property owners
regarding annexation has stopped.
C/Werner stated that he opposed City expenditures for the
committee as other projects within the City limits need
attention such as development of park space and increase
in number of acres devoted to parks.
Jack Kowtowski stated that he agreed with C/Werner and
that he felt that it was ludicrous for the Council to
help when 4,000 people signed the referendum to save
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 13
Tonner Canyon.
C/Werner stated that the Council protected Tonner Canyon
within the City's Sphere of Influence but could not
protect areas outside City limits.
C/Forbing stated that half of Tonner Canyon is within
Orange County, the north portion is in San Bernardino
County and a small portion is in L.A. County. He further
indicated that the Supreme Court recently ruled that if
government changes zoning on a piece of property and
doesn't allow building, government has to pay for the
property. He recommended that a committee be organized
similar to the Historical Society.
MPT/Papen stated that she felt that there are two issues
that seem to be meshed together which are overturning the
General Plan and preventing development in Tonner Canyon.
Overturning the General Plan will not prevent development
in Tonner Canyon because it is not within City limits but
only within our Sphere of Influence, which means the City
has not ultimate control. Regarding the General Plan,
the Canyon was designated Agricultural which limits land
use to three designations --recreation, open space and
agriculture which is a reflection of what is currently
there.
Clair Harmony requested that the road be taken out of the
City -'s Sphere of Influence which would help the ecology
of the canyon. He stated that he had heard a rumor that
the toy Scouts are considering rehabilitating the Tonner
Canyon Scout facility.
Following discussion and with consensus of Council, the
matter was tabled until the referendum matter is settled.
8.3 CONSIDERATION OF MEMBERSHIP IN BALDY VIEW PUBLIC/PRIVATE
COALITION (CLOUT) - CM/Belanger recommended that the City
indicate an interest in becoming a member of CLOUT and
appoint a Councilmember as a representative. In
addition, the Chamber of Commerce would also appoint a
representative and a member from the community would also
be appointed. The purpose of the formation of the
Coalition is to meet and exchange information and ideas
on economic development in the Baldy View region.
MPT/Papen expressed concern that the San Gabriel Valley
Consortium that has been operating for approximately 2
1/2 years and that it might be more beneficial for the
City to join this organization, rather than joining an
organization outside the City's jurisdiction.
CM/Belanger stated that membership in one committee does
not preclude from being a member in the other committee
and that the primary advantage of joining CLOUT would be
SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 PAGE 14
that members of the private sector and local communities
and their staffs would meet on a regular basis to
exchange information and ideas and discuss projects that
are being proposed in their particular areas. It is an
information exchange. It would provide an opportunity
for the City to be involved with cities in the immediate
area on matters that have regional impact.
C/Forbing stated that the Chamber of Commerce has
indicated that they wanted to join and that he would be
willing to represent the City.
C/Forbing moved, C/Miller seconded to approve the City's
membership in CLOUT. Motion carried unanimously.
C/Forbing stated that an announcement needs to be made to
the public that the Council will be appointing an at -
large delegate and that anyone interested should contact
the City Manager.
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS: None offered.
10. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to be
conducted, M/Kim adjourned the meeting at 10:16 p.m.
LYN A BURGESS, City Cle-fk
ATTEST:
May