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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - September 12, 1988 - RACITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 12t 1988 - 7:30 P.M. The City Council and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Azusa met in adjourned regular session at the above date and time in the Civic Auditorium. Mayor Pro-tem/Chairman Pro -tem Naranjo called the meeting to Call to order order and led in the salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Roll Call. PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: AVILA, STEMRICH, NARANJO ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: LATTA, MOSES Latta & Moses absent ALSO PRESENT Also Present City Attorney/General Counsel Thorson, City Administrator/Executive Director Fuentes, Community Development Director Bruckner, Director of Finance Craig, Utilities Director Hsu, Director of Community Services Guarrera, Redevelopment Manager Steel, Code Enforcement Officer Rudisel, Police Captain Broderick, Assistant Director of Public Works and Engineering De Loach, Deputy City Clerk/Deputy Secretary Lara. Moved by Councilmember/Director Avila, seconded by Mayor Moses excused Pro-tem/Chairman Pro -tem Naranjo, and unanimously carried by roll call* to excuse Mayor/Chairman Moses from the meeting as he is ill and in the hospital. Director of Community Development Bruckner addressed the Council and summarized proposed property maintenance Ordinance. He stated that the proposed ordinance would define a level of maintenance required of property owners and make it clear that maintenance of adjoining public rights of way such as alleys and parkways are the responsibility of the property owner. The landscape portion of the ordinance pertaining to vacant lots would significantly enhance the City, however, property owners would incur costs for installation of water meters, irrigation systems and landscaping, as well as ongoing maintenance. Discussion was held between Council and staff regarding the vacant lot portion of this ordinance. It was consensus of Council that the costs to the property owner to install water meters and maintain the lots would be prohibitive. However, these lots should be weed free and debris free and that, possibly, an ordinance could be adopted that would govern these problems, making it mandatory to clean the lots on a quarterly basis. Staff commnts prop. landscp Propty Ord 0 0 Discussion was held on how these ordinances would be enforced and staff advised that at present the budget allows two Code Enforcement Officers and that it is planned to augment this division by hiring two community improvement technicians. Discussion was held regarding separate ordinances for residential and commercial property maintenance; including the back yards for residential and the City's authority to enact such ordinances. City Administrator apprised Council that staff would revise the property maintenance ordinance for presentation some time in October. COUNCILMAN/DIRECTOR LATTA ENTERED THE MEETING AT 7:55 P.M. Code Enforcement Officer Rudisel addressed proposed rental housing inspection ordinance. He stated that there are currently over 6000 rental units in the City. The greatest number of complaints received involve rental housing and the failure of many landlords to adequately maintain their property. Under the proposed ordinance, all rental properties would be required to obtain an occupancy inspection upon change of tenants, similar to that now being done in the City of Pasadena. Such occupancy inspection would require that each unit rented be in a clean and habitable condition prior to occupancy. If approved, the ordinance would require that prior to utility connections on residential rental property, the utility must have an approved certificate of inspection provided to the tenant by the property owner, this could be done in our own Utility Department as well as those rentals being serviced by Southern California Edison. Mr. Rudisel then presented slides of various rental properties in the City which were in different stages of deterioration, as well as a video-tape of a rental that was caused to be demolished because of the condition of the unit. Lengthy discussion was held between staff and Council on the manner of enforcing the ordinance, and if the additional two positions of community improvement technicians would be adequate; rebates to those property owners who have no problems and are in compliance and the amount of fee to be charged. Director of Community Development Bruckner and Assistant Director of Public Works and Engineering De Loach addressed Council regarding improving the street sweeping throughout the City. At present, each street, including alleys, is swept once a week. Sweeping is done during the day and at night. Commercial areas are no problem because they are swept at night and generally no vehicles are parked along the curb to cause problems. Even though the streets are swept, it is difficult to get them properly cleaned because of all the vehicles. Restricting overnight parking was presented to Council at one time, but public outcry defeated that concept. Staff was requesting approval of possibly targeting certain specific areas in the City by posting no parking signs, or alternating the parking of vehicles one week on the east side to sweep the west side, and vice versa. Discussions were held on proposed target areas and educating the public prior to implementing any program. Staff to report on this concept at a future date. 09/12/88 PAGE TWO Latta entrd mtg Staff commnts rental hsng insp. Ord Staff commnts street sweeping 0 0 Redevelopment Manager Steel addressed the Agency regarding Staff commnts a housing rehabilitation program. He advised that we have hsng rehab had a rehabilitation program for the past three years, program however, most of the units were in need of major repairs, as well as room additions. This proposed program would deal with direct Code violations and cosmetic improvement, thus, getting the cost down and allowing more units to be helped. The major obstacle at this time, is funding. The Agency has some low and moderate income funds set aside, as mandated by law, which could be used. A more detailed proposal will be submitted within three months. Due to reconsideration of Councilwoman Avila regarding Reintro- retaining 30 day period for length of stay at motels or duction of hotels, the following Ordinance was re -introduced for first Ord re: reading by Councilwoman Avila: length of stay in AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AZUSA AMENDING SECTION 8.62.010 hotels & OF THE AZUSA MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING SECTION 8.62.080 motels THERETO RELATING TO THE LENGTH OF TIME PERSONS MAY STAY AT A MOTEL OR HOTEL. Moved by Councilwoman Avila, seconded by Councilman Stemrich and unanimously carried by roll call* to waive further reading and introduce. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Pub prtcpn Mrs. Gayle Avakian addressed the Council/Agency questioning Comments the irregularity of Council/Agency meetings. She stated G. Avakian that this particular meeting should have been televised as it dealt with matters of interest to the residents. She, also asked that the Council consider that some residents are poor and cannot help it if they have so many people in one dwelling. Mrs. Bernardine Andrews addressed the Council regarding the Comments rental housing inspection ordinance. She stated that she is B. Andrews well aware of this ordinance as it is in effect in the City of Pasadena. However, two Code Enforcement Officers would not be enough to properly monitor the program and the fee of $30.00 would also not be adequate, in her estimation. Mr. Bill Simpson addressed the landscaping property Comments ordinance and wondered if the ordinance could be written so B. Simpson that tenants would be cited if they did not maintain the property according to their agreement with the property owner. Code Enforcement Officer advised that proper tenant screening would be a useful tool to property owners prior to renting. The bottom line is that the property owners are responsible for their property. Mr. Simpson further stated that possibly an ordinance could be adopted or some enforcement created as to number of people allowed to reside in an apartment. He advised that that he has had problems in the past with over -crowding, even though proposed tenants are advised of the regulation of two persons to an apartment. Since Mr. Simpson's time for speaking had elapsed, it was Simpson allwd consensus of the Council that he be allowed an additional 5 min to spk five minutes. He went on to state that there should be a back-up ordinance with regard to tenants responsiblities to the property owners. He further stated that the fee of $30.00 for rental housing inspections was adequate. He welcomed the inspections as they would benefit him if and when he had to 09/12/88 PAGE THREE 0 0 go to court, and would like to see an inspection made after a tenant moved out and have that tenant cited for the deplorable condition of the apartment. He further had some concerns regarding the certificate, itself, and was advised that staff members could better respond to his concerns. He further stated that he would submit a letter regarding his concerns to Council for perusal. Mr. Art Morales addressed the Council stating that he felt Comments the inspection fee for the rental housing was not high at A. Morales all, and that in some instances landlords did need support from the City. He stated that people should be encouraged to upgrade their property and not have it "pushed down their throats." He. also, requested that when the new reservoir is built is that water rates be lowered in the Summer months to encourage people to water lawns, parkways and trees. He went on to state that certain properties in the City need to be landscaped and maintained, as well as City owned property. He went on to state that we need to coordinate with the people and Western Disposal about pick up of large items, such as refrigerators and mattresses. Councilwoman/Director Avila offered a resolution entitled: A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA Res #8511 AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF Closed Sess THE CITY OF AZUSA TO RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1988, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957 AND MAKING FINDINGS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 (b). Moved by Councilwoman/Director Avila, seconded by Councilman/Director Stemrich to waive further reading and adopt. Resolution passed and adopted by the following vote of the Council/Agency: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: AVILA, STEMRICH, NARANJO, LATTA NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/DIRECTORS: MOSES TIME OF RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION: 9:38 P.M. Recess Closed Sess THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY RECONVENED AT Reconvened 10:30 P.M. Moved by Mayor Pro-tem/Chairman Pro -tem Naranjo, seconded by Adjourn Councilman/Director Stemrich and unanimously carried * to adjourn. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 10:31 P.M. DEPUTY SECRETARY NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 503 * Indicates Mayor/Chairman Moses absent 09/12/88 PAGE FOUR