ccmin12-20-05

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

1/24

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

2/24

City CouncilMinutes of December 20, 2005Page 2

Larry Caballero, 5052 Pine Circle, addressed the Council regarding the reorganization of the City

Council in support for Larry Herman as Mayor.

PROCEDURAL ITEM

1. Council Reorganization

Mayor Blake requested that, in the absence of the City Clerk, the City Manager conduct

the election for Mayor.

City Manager Catherine Standiford entertained nominations for the position of Mayor.

Mayor Blake nominated, seconded by Councilmember Waldman, Christine Barnes to

serve as Mayor. Councilmember Rodriguez nominated, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem

Herman, Larry Herman to serve as Mayor.

Councilmember Rodriguez moved to close nominations, seconded by Councilmember

Herman, to which the motion was carried unanimously.

Councilmember Rodriguez inquired about the protocol for voting on the nominees. City

Manager Standiford responded that the protocol is to consider all nominees in the order in

which they were nominated. Each nominee is voted on in turn; the winner is determined

by whichever nominee receives the majority of votes.

City Manager Standiford called for the roll call vote for Christine Barnes for the position of

Mayor. The results of the voting were as follows:

AYES: Barnes, Blake, Waldman

NOES: Herman, Rodriguez

City Manager Standiford called for the roll call vote for Larry Herman for the position of

Mayor. The results of the voting were as follows:

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

3/24


AYES: Herman, Rodriguez

NOES: Barnes, Blake, Waldman

Based upon the votes, Christine Barnes was selected to serve as Mayor for the next year.

Mayor Barnes assumed the role of presiding officer.

Mayor Barnes entertained nominations for the position of Mayor Pro Tem. Councilmember

Blake nominated, seconded by Mayor Barnes, Mark Waldman to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

Councilmember Blake moved to close nominations, seconded by Mayor Barnes, to which

the motion was carried unanimously.

Mayor Christine Barnes called for the roll call vote for Mark Waldman for the position of

Mayor Pro Tem. The results at the voting were as follows:

AYES: Barnes, Blake, Waldman

NOES: Herman, Rodriguez

Based upon the votes Mark Waldman was selected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the

next year.

Councilmember Herman requested an opportunity to state a few words. First, he congratulated

Christine Barnes as the new Mayor, and Mark Waldman as the new Mayor Pro Tem. At the same

time, he voiced some disappointment, stating that he does support a Council Policy for succession

of Mayor Pro Tem to Mayor. He knows it is not automatic, but cant help feeling that he has been

slighted. He felt he tried to be as transparent as he could by announcing an interest to serve as

Mayor during the last year of his current term at the Council meeting on November 15, 2005. In

addition, no other Councilmember made contact with him to express an interest in being the next

Mayor. Councilmember Herman stated that he believed that there were discussions and strategy

meetings behind the scenes between staff and individual Councilmembers actively discouraging

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

4/24

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

5/24


families, and those of future generations. Mayor Barnes said that she looks forward to serving La

Palma with a positive outlook, and thanked everyone for the opportunity to become the new

Mayor.

Mayor Barnes presented a plaque to former Mayor Kenneth A. Blake from the La Palma City

Council for outstanding service and dedication to the community as Mayor from 1996-97, 1998-99

2004-05. She thanked Councilmember Blake on behalf of the citizens of the City.

Councilmember Blake thanked Council and staff for their support in the last year. He expressed

pride that Council had successfully addressed several important issues during the past year,

including the oversized vehicle parking issue that has been plaguing the City for some 30 plus

years, strengthening code enforcement issues, beginning the renovation of the Community Center

complex. He reported that the City is financially stable, with enough in reserves to operate for

approximately one year with no source of income. He stated that the City had made a lot of

progress in the last nine months. Mayor Blake said that Mayor Barnes will do a great job and that

Council will be here to support her. Councilmember Blake presented his wife, Karen, with roses to

thank her for all of her support during the last, busy year.

PRESENTATIONS

Alta Duke, Chair of the Kiwanis Club recognized the winners of the Holiday Decorating Awards in

the City of La Palma, along with Mayor Barnes and Kiwanis President, Mayor Pro Tem Mark

Waldman.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

Keith Nelson, 5311 La Luna, expressed his disappointment that Larry Herman had not been

selected as Mayor. He asked for traffic calming in the early morning at the crosswalk location ofLa Luna and Walker Street, near John F. Kennedy High School. He asked for it to be policed, to

look at the light sequencing, or for the Traffic Safety Committee to look at how to manage the

traffic better for those residents who cannot leave their driveways at that time of morning due to

the volume of cars along La Luna.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

6/24


Fadra Coil, 5307 Achilles, expressed her disappointment that Larry Herman had not been selected

as Mayor. She believes that crime has increased in the City, and would like to see this addressed

on a future City Council agenda.

Marilyn Sweet, 8071 Janeen, thanked the City Council and Ismile Noorbaksh for installing the new

bus benches throughout the City.

RECESS

Mayor Barnes recessed the City Council to convene as the Community Development Commission

at 7:50 p.m. (See separate Community Development Commission Minutes.)

RECONVENING

Mayor Barnes reconvened the meeting in regular session at 7:52 p.m.

Mayor Barnes stated that it has been requested that Items #1, 3, and 10 be pulled for discussion.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Councilmember Blake made a motion to approve the following items on the Consent Calendar:

2. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO.s 2005-48 AND 2005-49 APPROVING A REGISTER OF

DEMANDS FOR DECEMBER 6, 2005 AND DECEMBER 20, 2005

4. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED THE ISSUANCE OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO

CARMENITA FORD TRUCK SALES FOR THE REPLACMENT OF A 2006 FORD

F-450 TRUCK WITH A 4-YARD DUMP TRUCK (LP-14)

5. APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 2005-50 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF

REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND

POLICE DEPARMENTS

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

7/24


6. APPROVED THE REAPPOINTMENT OF COUNCILMEMBER LARRY HERMAN AS THE

CITYS REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ORANGE COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL (OCVD)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM COMMENCING JANUARY 1,

2006

7. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE JOB

CLASSIFICATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER, AND ADOPT

RESOLUTION NO. 2005-51 TO SUBSTITUTE THE TITLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE

SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE TITLE OF ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER/

CITY CLERK

8. APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 2005-52 APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF THE

SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES TO ADJUST THE

SALARY RANGE FOR THE POSITION OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR BY TEN

PERCENT

9. APPROVED THE REJECTION OF THE CLAIM PRESENTED BY MR. EDWARD LEE

11. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO COOPERATIVE PROJECTS

CONTRACT NO. 0412 BETWEEN THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT

AND THE CITY OF LA PALMA IN PREPARATION OF THE SEWER MASTER PLAN,

CITY PROJECT NO. 03-SWR-01

The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waldman and carried on the following roll call vote:

AYES: Barnes, Blake, Herman, Rodriguez, Waldman

NOES: None

1. Approval of Council Minutes

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

8/24


Councilmember Herman questioned the minutes taken on November 1, 2005, page 6. He stated

it was unclear what the answer was to a question raised by Mayor Pro Tem Waldman, specifically

whether one of the playground surfaces at El Rancho Verde Park was going to be all rubberized

with no sand. Councilmember Herman asked if that change in the plan had been made or if it

would be coming back to the Council for further discussion.

Director of Public Works, Ismile Noorbaksh replied that he will be opening bids for the project on

Thursday, December 22, 2005, and that after the bid opening, he hoped to come before City

Council to make a recommendation to award the contract.

Councilmember Herman asked if this playground was included in the project.

Mr. Noorbaksh replied that it was included, as well as all of the playground equipment and

resurfacing.

Councilmember Herman asked to confirm that El Rancho Verde Park was included.

Mr. Noorbaksh replied affirmatively.

Councilmember Herman stated that he must have misunderstood the minutes. He thought the

problem was taken care of.

Councilmember Rodriguez stated that the comment being asked here is that no sand be used at

El Rancho Verde Park. He thought the plan was still using sand.

Mr. Noorbaksh responded that there would only be one little portion of the Central Park play area

that would have sand.

Councilmember Rodriguez responded that this comment was in relation to El Rancho Verde.

Councilmember Herman concurred that that was his question.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

9/24

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

10/24


Councilmember Rodriguez requested to have the minutes of November 1st be pulled for

correction.

City Manager Standiford answered that it would be appropriate to go back and listen to the tape, to

make sure that the minutes were clear.

Councilmember Herman asked Mayor Pro Tem Waldman if he wanted the whole area to be

rubberized at El Rancho Verde Park.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman answered yes.

Councilmember Herman asked if that is the plan.

Mr. Noorbaksh replied with no, that is not what the plan is, it will be 50 percent sand, 50 percent

rubberized surfacing.

Councilmember Rodriguez stated that there is a portion of the minutes missing where the majority

of the Council was not going to go with that decision.

Councilmember Herman asked to have this agendized for a future meeting.

City Manager Standiford recommended that staff to go back and double check the plans and

specifications and listen to what the tape says in terms of the Councils specific direction. She

stated that if the Council needed to revisit the issue in the interim, it would be agendized.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman made a motion to approve the minutes for August 16, 2005, October 4,

2005, October 18, 2005, and November 15, 2005, but that the minutes of November 1, 2005 be

pulled for further review. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Herman and carried on

the following roll call vote:


8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

11/24


NOES: None

3. Award of Professional Engineering Design to Rehabilitate Orangethorpe Avenue the

Coyote Creek Channel to the 91 Freeway & La Palma Avenue from Valley View Street

to Walker Street, City Project Nos. ST-270 and ST-271

Councilmember Rodriguez asked, of the two bids being received and selected tonight, is Council

being asked to approve the more expensive one due to some additional engineering services

being provided. He questioned where and how often the City has used the firm proposed for the

project.

Mr. Noorbaksh replied that the City has used Harris and Associates in the past for doing design of

medians on Moody Street, La Palma Avenue, and Walker Street. The City also used them a long

time ago on a resurfacing project.

Councilmember Rodriguez asked Mr. Noorbaksh would these types of contracts typically get a lot

of change order activity.

Mr. Noorbaksh replied, not to his knowledge. The consultant will be responsible to complete the

design and assure the City that there will be aprpoval by Caltrans and the OCTA for the City to

proceed. There are no extras in this proposal; it is a complete turn-key project.

Councilmember Rodriguez made a motion to award the Award of Professional Engineering Design

to Rehabilitate Orangethorpe Avenue, the Coyote Creek Channel to the 91 Freeway & La Palma

Avenue from Valley View Street to Walker Street, City Project Nos. ST-270 and ST-271. The

motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waldman and carried on the following roll call vote:


NOES: None

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

12/24


10. Notice of Completion and Acceptance of Work for Coyote Creek Channel Emergency

Reconstruction of Levee and Channel Invert, City Project No. 05-WTR-02

Councilmember Rodriguez asked for an update regarding the Citys interaction and

correspondence with Nextel.

City Manager Standiford replied that staff has issued an invoice and statement of demand letter to

the Nextel Corporation which admits that it was their sub-contractors work that led to the damage.

Nextel has turned over the invoice and demand letter to the sub-contractors insurance company.

At this point, the City Attorney, the Public Works Director and she are reviewing the lease with

Nextel Communications to determine whether or not there may be a breach in the lease

agreement caused by the subcontractors activity. She reported that staff is in the research stage

on this.

Councilmember Rodriguez asked if the City has received all of our certifications and approvals

from state, county, and flood control agencies.

Mr. Noorbaksh replied, yes and added that the County has approved the project.

Councilmember Herman asked Mr. Noorbaksh if the funds for the project had come from the water

reserves fund.

Mr. Noorbaksh answered yes.

Councilmember Herman asked if there is any money left.

Mr. Noorbaksh responded that the City has sufficient money in the reserves.

Councilmember Rodriguez made a motion to award a Notice of Completion and Acceptance of

Work for Coyote Creek Channel Emergency Reconstruction of Levee and Channel Invert, City

Project No. 05-WTR-02. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Herman and carried on

the following roll call vote:

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

13/24



NOES: None

PUBLIC HEARING

12. Proposed Adoption of the Urban Water Management Plan

Mr. Noorbaksh stated that the first urban water management plan was approved by City Council

on May 7, 1991. Since then, there have been eighteen updates to the plan. The law requires that

the City prepare the urban water management plan every five years if there are 3,000 customers

or if the City is producing or selling more than 3,000 acre feet of water. The purpose of the plan is

to fundamentally achieve conservation and to ensure sufficient water supply to the residents and

businesses of La Palma. Contents of the plan are based on the requirements of the Department

of Water Resources and the Planning Act. The first chapter in the report is an introduction and the

second chapter is water supply sources or resources. The Citys water supply comes from two

sources; one is ground water, which is pumped from the Walker Well and City Yard Well sites; and

the other is imported water, which is purchased from the Municipal Water District of Orange

County, [MWDOC]. The Citys connection with MWDOC is at the corner of Ball and Walker Street.

The third Chapter of the Report discusses the past, current and the projected water use. The

fourth chapter concerns liability planning, which generally discusses the water districts capabilities

to respond during water shortages; which could be caused by earthquakes, fires, floods and water

system distribution interruptions. The Citys system is capable of providing the necessary water to

the entire City in the event of all these emergencies. The fifth chapter discusses Best

Management Practices; reducing the average annual water demands, reducing sewer overflows,

reducing demands during peak seasons and meeting drought restrictions. The last chapter is the

Water Service Contingency Plan. The City adopted an Ordinance in 1990 adding sections 25-67

through 25-72 to the Municipal Code regarding the Citys emergency water management program.

Councilmember Rodriguez asked Mr. Noorbaksh about the section on conservation and whether it

would be used as a road map in the next five years as far as conservation programs throughout

the City.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

14/24


Mr. Noorbaksh explained that the conservation is based on providing low flow toilets, high speed

washers, retrofitting some of the plumbing, giving people advice on conservation as to landscaping

and so forth. This is already occurring and is ongoing.

Councilmember Rodriguez stated that he recently attended an Orange County Metropolitan Water

District water tour and an interesting part of it was the conservation. MWDOC did a project down

in Irvine that found that 65% of the water that the City uses and has to pay for is outside of the

home. In fact, they found that most of that water is running down the gutter. Using sensitive

timers that actually tracked how much moisture was in the soil, they found they were able to

reduce the water consumption of those homes by 50%. Councilmember Rodriguez expressed

hope that the City explore a similar project sometime in the next year.

Councilmember Herman asked how the City deals with homeowners who fail to turn off their

sprinkler systems. He asked who goes by to observe it--code enforcement, policemen, or is it up

to a neighbor to report it?

Mr. Noorbaksh replied that when a resident calls the City to report that somebodys water is

running, Public Works will send out water staff to see what the problem might be. However, if it is

a consistent problem, Code Enforcement gets involved by speaking to them or sends a letter

asking them to modify their water usage.

Councilmember Herman asked how homeowners can be helped to improve their systems.

Mr. Noorbaksh stated that the Municipal Water District of Orange County has a program. They

provide brochures of information on how to implement water conservation and drought tolerant

plants.

Councilmember Herman asked if the City can provide residents with information on different types

of timers for sprinkler systems.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

15/24


Mr. Noorbaksh suggested that this type of information could be provided to residents through the

water bill statement or in The Sourcethat the Police Department distributes monthly.

Councilmember Rodriguez asked Mr. Noorbaksh how the City practices water conservation.

Mr. Noorbaksh answered that the El Rancho Verde Park has sensors that automatically respond

to weather conditions.

Councilmember Rodriguez asked if the City medians have that type of technology.

Mr. Noorbaksh responded that the street medians do not have sensors, but that he could have the

controllers modified to provide that information.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman asked if this has become more of a regional planning report rather than

a local planning report.

Mr. Noorbaksh responded affirmatively, and explained that MWD gets involved with the regional

planning part of it. However, the City needs to establish a plan, because the City provides its own

water. Staff needs to provide the water information to them to include in their plans.

Councilmember Blake made a motion to adopt the Resolution No. 2005-53 adopting the Urban

Water Management Plan. The motion was seconded Councilmember Herman and carried on the

following roll call vote:


NOES: None

REGULAR ITEMS

13. Revision to City Council Policy No. 15 (Travel and Meeting) in Compliance with

AB 1234

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

16/24


City Manager Standiford stated that effective January 1, 2006, there will be a new statute going

into effect that adds some new requirements for Council to pay attention to. One is that all

Councilmembers and other elected officials must take ethics training at least every two years. The

statute requires having a written policy with certain items in it, in order for reimbursement of

expenses using City funds. The City Attorney has reviewed the City Councils existing travel and

meetings policy and has made some suggested changes to it to make sure that it is in compliance

with AB 1234. For example, some statements have been added that Councilmembers shall use

government and/or group rates for lodging or transportation when they are available. It has been

specified that reimbursement for mileage will be at the Internal Revenue Service rate in effect at

the time the travel expenses are incurred. The policy is also modified to require a completed

expense reimbursement form to be submitted within 30 days of incurring the expense. A new

section required by the statute has been added, requiring Councilmembers to provide brief reports

on the meetings that they attend at the expense of the City at the next regular City Council

meeting following the meeting at which they incurred that expense. The recommendation is for

Council to approve the revisions so as to be in compliance with the new law.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman stated that subsection I is the requirement that Councilmembers

complete and submit an expense statement within 30 days. He stated that 30 days is not a

number required by the law, but asked if a particular number was required.

City Manager Standiford responded that this is correct. The statute requests that a time frame be

established for a specific deadline for turning in an expense report. After conferring with the City

Attorney, he suggested it be 30 days, but Council can make it any reasonable number that they

choose.

City Attorney Kuperberg stated that the law requires that the City specify a reasonable time. So,

any deadline the Council believes is reasonable -- and that the Council also believes the public

would objectively find reasonable -- is acceptable.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman asked whether the 30 days constitutes the maximum of an acceptable

time frame.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

17/24


Mayor Barnes asked if there was another suggestion for a time.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman stated that if the Council doesnt comply then there is no

reimbursement.

City Attorney Kuperberg answered that he wouldnt want to make it sound that harsh. These are

policies that Councilmembers should comply with. The law does not mandate that if a

Councilmember turns in a receipt or an expense request on the 32nd day that the City is prohibited

from paying. However, at some point somebody can audit it and it can become a public issue.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman said that he preferred 45 days. He proposed amending the time to

submit expense reports from 30 days to 45 days.

Councilmember Larry Herman made a motion to approve the revision to City Council Policy No. 15

(Travel and Meeting) in compliance with AB 1234 with the modification that the deadline for

completing expense reports be changed from 30 days to 45 days. The motion was seconded by

Councilmember Blake and carried on the following roll call vote:


NOES: None

14. Traffic Safety Education and Enforcement Program

Chief Ed Ethell presented the highlights of the traffic safety education and enforcement program

for residential areas. He stated as a result of the October 11, 2005 Council Meeting, where traffic

calming was discussed, Council directed staff to continue to look at the issue of speeding and

reckless driving on City residential streets. The name of the proposed program is called Project

Safe Streets, and it is a comprehensive traffic education enforcement program aimed at reducing

speeds of vehicles in the residential areas. Project Safe Streets will use a variety of methods to

provide traffic education to residents, schools, and businesses. The primary goal of Project Safe

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

18/24


Streetsis to leave no doubt to anyone who drives through the City, that speeding and aggressive

driving in residential areas and on arterial streets is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

Chief Ethell described several performance goals for Project Safe Streets: increase public

awareness of neighborhood traffic safety issues; increase voluntarily compliance with traffic laws

in our residential areas; increase the feeling of safety in La Palma; increase the awareness of

dangers of speeding; reduce speeding and reckless driving; and identify and promote effective

speed enforcement activities. The first and most comprehensive portion of Project Safe Streets is

a major education effort that will hopefully touch every La Palma resident during the year.

Methods for education include public service announcements produced by the Police Department;

providing regular information to the cable channel, and issuing press releases to the newspapers

and other publications about Project Safe Street and about the hazards of driving quickly in City

residential areas. In addition, a professionally developed Project Safe Streets logo will be placed

on signs, posters, and handouts along with information about the speed reduction program. Staff

will also be exploring the feasibility of placing the Project Safe Streets logo on pole banner signs to

encourage people to think about speed and the manner in which they are driving. The education

component will also include the development of awareness posters, signs, stickers, pencils, and

pens with the Project Safe Street logo to disseminate the message in as many different ways as

possible. Handouts will be developed for students when members of the Police Department visit

classrooms at the local schools; they also will be available at all City Department front counters.

The Police Department also will use The Source newsletter to promote the program, and will

include a special article each month highlighting a specific area of Project Safe Street.

To assist in enforcement, the radar trailer will be used much more in the next year. In addition,

Chief Ethell reported that they will be bringing back a proposal to purchase actual speed indicator

signs, which tell people how fast that they are going. The Department is going to seek an Officer

Traffic Safety (OTS) grant for next year for these signs. The application period is in January but

the awards will not be distributed until November. Chief Ethell is hoping to purchase at least a

couple of those signs with the intent of purchasing more if the grant is received.

Chief Ethell reported that the presence of a police officer is definitely an effective enforcement tool.

One short-term solution is to leave a decoy police car out on the street with the intent to slow down

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

19/24


the speeding process. In addition, all officers can use radar detection on arterial streets but will

have to complete a special 24 hour radar course to be able to use it on residential streets. Plans

are underway to provide all Police officers with that training.

Councilmember Blake stated that the parked police cars are effective on slowing down speeders.

He was impressed with the report and was in favor of activating speeding signs in the City,

especially around the schools.

Councilmember Herman asked if the education program will be integrated into the school system.

Chief Ethell replied that Project Safe Streets is being integrated into the elementary school

program that the Police Department is starting in January.

City Manager Standiford stated that Project Safe Streets also will be incorporated at the Junior

High and High School levels through programs such as Every 15 Minutes. The Police

Department gets a lot of requests for officers to come on campus to make presentations.

Councilmember Herman appreciated the speed indicator signs and believed that they were

effective. He asked how residents will bring forward their problems with speeding citizens.

Chief Ethell explained that residents have always called the Police Department regarding

speeding and that they appreciate and want to receive those types of calls.

Councilmember Rodriguez stated that he is in support of an expenditure when it comes before

Council to purchase the speed indicator signs. He stated it would be good for the City, especially

around schools. Some schools would like to see additional crossing guards. Councilmember

Rodriguez asked if crossing guards would be in this program or if it would go somewhere else.

Chief Ethell responded that the City is under contract with a vendor who provides the crossing

guard service.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

20/24


Councilmember Rodriguez asked who the residents or parents of children should go to in order to

request more crossing guards.

Chief Ethell answered the Police Department.

Councilmember Rodriguez commented on high intensity crosswalks in other cities. He thought if it

were to come to the City that the Traffic Safety Committee might want to review the possibility and

could work in conjunction with schools. He wondered if it would be possible to have traffic

surveillance throughout the City, something more along the lines to of a monitoring system for the

Police Department to act on problems quicker. He felt it was an option to consider somewhere

down the road.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman voiced his commendation to the Police Chief. He asked if there were

cameras available on speed indicators to identify speeders who could then receive a courtesy call.

Chief Ethell responded yes there are speed cameras, but they can be very expensive. Mayor Pro

Tem Waldman stated that the program was a very big comprehensive program and was interested

on how things would get started and what the milestones were.

Chief Ethell stated that his goal was to implement most of what he can immediately in January,

such as putting articles in The Source, developing the cable television programs, proceeding with

press releases, and incorporating program components into the elementary school curriculums.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman asked if there were industry standards for measuring effectiveness.

Chief Ethell responded that the primary industry standard is the number of traffic accidents. The

Police Departments goal is to get fewer and fewer calls for these types of incidents.

Councilmember Rodriguez asked about the timed school crosswalks and if the Chief had given

any thought to those types of controlled devices.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

21/24


Chief Ethell stated that he didnt know the effectiveness of the timing of the crosswalks or

streetlights, that maybe Mr. Noorbaksh might be able to answer that question.

City Manager Standiford answered that Mr. Noorbaksh had to leave after his presentation to deal

with a family emergency. She stated that she would ask him to look into and report back on the

effectiveness of timed crosswalks.

Councilmember Blake made a motion to direct staff to begin implementation of the new traffic

safety education and enforcement program. The motion was seconded by Councilmember

Herman and carried on the following roll call vote:


NOES: None

COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS FROM CITY-AFFILIATED COMMITTEES/COUNCIL REMARKS

Mayor Barnes commented on the fact that there were negative comments made about one of the

staff members tonight, and felt it was almost impugning someones integrity and ethics. She

expressed her objections to that. She stated that the allegations seemed to be based on rumors,

and she hoped no one on the Council was propagating any such rumors.

Councilmember Blake attended an Orange County Fire Authority General Board and Executive

Committee meeting on November 17, 2005. The Executive Committee discussed routine

administrative items and the General Board approved the annual investment policy. They also

extended a policy for one year to provide full benefits and compensation to active military

reservists. He gave an update of OCFA emergency preparedness procedures as well as the

Emergency Vehicle Preemptive Master Plan for Orange County. Buena Park already has

preemptive signaling. Congressman Miller, back in May, arranged for a grant to give $500,000 to

start the master plan program in Orange County, comprising 12,000 signals on arterial streets and

high congested areas. Councilmember Blake thanked the Fire Authoritys pipe and drum band for

performing at the Citys La Palma Days for the first time. He reported on the many Christmas

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

22/24


programs he had attended, including one at the La Palma Christian Center and the Cypress Stake

of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He attended La Palmas annual Christmas tree lighting on

December 7, 2005. He attended the John F. Kennedy choir show on December 15, 2005. He

attended the Chamber mixer and Employee Recognition Luncheon on December 14, 2005.

Councilmember Blake congratulated Ismile Noorbaksh on becoming the first Vice-President of the

American Public Works Association. He attended the American Public Works Association

luncheon, with La Palma receiving two awards.

Councilmember Herman commented on the Orange County Vector Control District retirement plan

and said he will alert Council of any changes and get direction. He stated that the Orange County

Register reported on the West Nile Virus cases for 2005, there were zero deaths, so the extra

money spent on treatments is paying off and is saving lives. He mentioned that the crosswalk

indicators at Sharon/Moody are not working properly. He stated that the utility meter box on the

east side of Moody, south of Shirley, has a broken door that has become a trash receptacle. He

reported that he noticed the tree removal on Houston Street, and commented on a dead tree

around the corner on Walker Street. He asked about the digging going on at the Edison right-of-

way.

City Manager Standiford commented that Edison requested to have some trees removed and will

verify whether the dirt piles are in relation to it.

Councilmember Herman asked if staff plans to send a letter of response to Mr. Culver on his

recreation vehicle inquiry.

City Manager Standiford answered yes. Staff has drafted a letter for the Mayors signature for that

purpose and will include a copy of it in the Friday report.

Councilmember Herman stated he was happy to see the new elementary school drug/alcohol

decision-making program for next year, and felt it to be a positive outcome for the Police

Department. He stated that he was looking forward to the goal setting retreat on January 23,

2006 and working with the other four Councilmembers and staff. He attended the Employee

Recognition Committee on the December 14, 2005, and highly enjoyed it.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

23/24


Councilmember Rodriguez thanked and congratulated Ms. Sweet on the bus bench issues that

she brought to the City. He also, thanked Mr. Noorbaksh for installing the bus stops in a timely

manner and for correcting the lights at Redford. He assisted the Kiwanis Club in helping to make

the holiday season brighter for 38 families by distributing food and gifts. He also worked with the

Hope Group program and served over 340 families in need, which included the cities of La Palma,

Cypress and portions of Buena Park. He attended the Employee Recognition Luncheon on the

December 14, 2005. He wanted to acknowledge Ramon Campos on his 34 years of service and

would like to have Ismile Noorbaksh present him with his legend key and flag at his retirement

luncheon. Councilmember Rodriguez expressed his disappointment on the outcome of this

evening, and felt it was inappropriate to skip the next person in turn for Mayor. He wished the

Council success this year. He commented on the comments made at the podium tonight in the

open session, stating to Mayor Barnes that as her term as the new Mayor begins, Council may not

always like what citizens say, but should always allow them to express their opinions and not try to

censor them.

Mayor Pro Tem Waldman attended the Employee Recognition Luncheon on December 14, 2005.

He congratulated Councilmember Herman for being reappointed to the Orange County Vector

Control Board. He also attended an Orange County Sanitation District subcommittee meeting,

where they examined the districts capital improvement program. They are trying to defer some of

the rehabilitation projects that have been scheduled in order to mitigate some of the rate increases

that are being projected in the next few years.

Mayor Barnes attended the Anaheim Union High School Districts Facilities Committee meeting on

November 11, 2005, and attended two COG meetings. She reported that SCAG, the Southern

California Association of Governments, will be releasing the State of the Region Report in

January. She commended the CAB Committee, Jan Hobson, and staff for doing a great job on

the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting. She congratulated all of the employees that were recognized at

the Employee Recognition Luncheon on December 14, 2005, and stated that it was a great event.

She also thanked the Employee Recognition Committee for hosting the luncheon. She

congratulated Ismile Noorbaksh on Public Works Department awards.

8/14/2019 ccmin12-20-05

24/24


CITY MANAGER COMMENTS

City Manager Standiford praised the Kiwanis Club for the good work that they did over the

weekend. She reported that at the Employee Recognition Luncheon it is traditional to raffle prizes

that are purchased by contributions made by the Management Teams and Employee Groups, and

the funds that are raised through the raffle of prizes is used to provide a needy family that lives in

the City of La Palma. She stated that the City raised $640 for that family, received about 20 gifts

and distributed them along with gift cards and money to the family. She also commended one of

the Citys employees, Tina Truebe, Management Analyst in Administration, who was interested in

working with Orangewood Childrens Home. She decorated the holiday tree in the City Hall lobby

with about 61 childrens names and gift suggestions for anyone to take and contribute. About 160

gifts were donated and delivered to Orangewood today on December 20, 2005. She wished the

Council and staff Happy Holidays!

CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS

City Attorney Kuperberg thanked everyone for his invitation to the Annual Employee Recognition

Committee Luncheon and wished everyone happy holidays.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Barnes adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.

________________________________________

Mayor

ATTEST:

____________________________________

Deputy City Clerk

Date post:	31-May-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	aptureinc
View:	216 times
Download:	0 times

ccmin12-20-05

Documents