HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/27/1990 - City Council Special MeetingSPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF COSTA MESA
JULY 27, 1990
The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, California,
met in special session on July 27, 1990, at 6:30 p.m.,
in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 77 Fair Drive,
Costa Mesa. Notice of the special hearing was given as
required by law. The meeting was called to order by the
Mayor, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Peter Buffa
Vice Mayor Mayor Hornbuckle
Council Member Ory Amburgey
Council Member Sandra Genis
Council Member Edward Glasgow
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: None
OFFICIALS PRESENT: City Manager Allan Roeder
City Attorney Thomas Kathe
City Clerk Eileen Phinney
ORAL Henry S. Panian, 436 Swarthmore Lane, Costa Mesa, repre-
COMMUNICATIONS senting the Mesa Consolidated Water District, announced
that a public hearing will be held on August 7, 1990, at
Water Supply 7:00 p.m., at the University of California, Irvine,
for Southern Beckman Auditorium, by the State Water Resources Control
California Board, to discuss its three-year program on determining
the amount of water which will be shipped to Southern .
California. Mr. Panian also announced that on August 2,
1990, the Mesa Consolidated Water District will conduct
a special work shop at its headquarters, 1965 Placentia
Avenue, to acquaint all interested persons with this
particular matter. He invited the Council and all
interested citizens to attend the workshop.
Notices for Anne Hogan-Shereshevsky, 2152 Elden Avenue, Costa Mesa,
Special Meetings asked whether proper notice had been given for this
special meeting. The Clerk responded that all notices
were provided as required by law.
Council Member Amburgey asked whether a Notice of
Special Meeting is published in the newspaper's legal
section. The Clerk replied that when a special meeting
is scheduled, notices are mailed to all newspapers who
have requested such notification.
The City Attorney reported that when a special meeting
is called, the Brown Act does not require publication;
however, the Act does stipulate certain posting and
notification procedures.
Public Input for Scott Hart asked if the public would have an opportunity
Agenda Items to speak on the items listed on the Agenda. Mayor Buffa
responded affirmatively, and advised Mr. Hart that it
would be especially helpful to staff if all speakers
would write their names and addresses on the yellow
"Sign In Sheet".
CITY ATTORNEY The City Attorney presented his Report No. 90-25, which
REPORT includes a ballot title and summary for an initiative to
Conflict of be placed on the ballot for the election on November 6,
Interest Ballot 1990, amending the City's Conflict of Interest Code. He
Measure explained that Resolution 90-63, adopted on July 16,
1990, did not become effective due to requirements
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contained in Government Code Section 36934; therefore,
an amended resolution was drafted for Council's -consid-
eration. The City Attorney reported that amended
Resolution 90-63-A is essentially the same as the
original document except that the language of Govern-
ment Code Section 84308(b) was utilized to clarify the
prohibitions on contributions made within three months
after a decision involving the contributor is made.
Council Member Amburgey commented -that it was his under-
standing that the Conflict of Interest measure is
advisory only. The City Attorney responded that this
measure calls for a direct amendment to the Municipal
Code, so that if the voters were to approve the Conflict
of Interest proposal, the Code must be amended accord-
ingly; on the other hand, if the voters were to approve
an advisory measure, Council would have the option of
adopting or not adopting an ordinance.
Council Member Amburgey asked if contributions received
prior to the effective date of the new ordinance would
be affected. The City Attorney replied that the 12 -
month time period would begin to run on the date the
ordinance becomes effective. He stated that Council
Members and campaign contributors would be notified of
the requirements.
Jay Humphrey, 1620 Sandalwood Street, Costa Mesa, was
of the opinion that the ordinance needed refining.
Responding to Vice Mayor Hornbuckle's question, the
City Attorney stated that if the voters approve this
measure, and the Council wanted to make changes in the
future, those changes could be adopted by the Council
without a vote by the electorate.
MOTION On motion by Vice Mayor Hornbuckle, seconded by Council
Resolution 90-63-A Member Genis, Resolution 90-63-A, A RESOLUTION OF THE
Adopted CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA,
SUBMITTING A PROPOSED MEASURE TO THE SUPERVISORS OF THE
COUNTY OF ORANGE FOR THE BALLOT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION OF SAID CITY TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 1990,
WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SAID
DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 23302 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE,
was adopted by the following roll call vote: .
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Buffa, Hornbuckle, Genis
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Amburgey, Glasgow
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
Advisory Measure The City Attorney presented his Report No. 90-26A which
Firewworks Ballot addresses an advisory measure for the election of Novem-
Measure ber 6, 1990, prohibiting the sale and discharge of safe
and sane fireworks.
A communication was received from Scott A. Hart, Ellis/
Hart Associates, Incorporated, 2865 East Coast Highway,
Corona del Mar, suggesting an alternative to immediately
placing the advisory measure on the November ballot.
Costa Mesa residents who spoke in favor of placing the
advisory measure on the ballot were: Anne Hogan-
Shereshevsky, 2152 Elden Avenue; Sherrie Neft, Melva
Neft, Daryl Neft, and and Lillian Daniels, 3132 Madeira
Avenue; and Donn Hall, 930 West 16th Street.
The following Costa Mesa residents spoke in opposi-
tion to placing the measure on the ballot: Joseph Busi,
3133 Dublin Street; Katharine Bequette, 2349 College
Drive, member of Youth Services Association; Rex
Tompkins, 1068 Salvador Street; Norman Manz, 2745 Sand-
piper Drive, representing AYSO Soccer; Audrey Buck, 1890
Parkcrest Drive, representing the Estancia High School
music program; Nancy Palme, 1997 Kornat Drive; Tomi
Scofield, 3123 Cork Lane, representing Marian Parsons
School; Clarke Draheim, 3001 Warren Lane; and Darrell
Pheasant, 924 Congress Street.
Other persons who opposed placing the measure on the
ballot were: Louis Hungate, 15851 Wicklow Lane,
Huntington Beach, fireworks stand operator for Orange
County Ski Club; and Dennis Revell, 1121 "L" Street,
Suite 806, Sacramento, representing American West
Marketing and Freedom Fireworks.
Scott Hart, Ellis/Hart Associates, 2865 East Coast
Highway, Corona del Mar, stated that he is working with
American West Marketing and Freedom Fireworks, and he
felt calling for the advisory measure was premature
because of the many unanswered questions which should
be discussed. Mr. Hart suggested organizing a citizens
committee so that all questions could be addressed, such
as, the difference between legal and illegal fireworks;
and the fiscal impact on the charities who sell safe and
sane fireworks.
MOTION A motion was made by Council Member Genis, seconded by
Approved Additional Council Member Glasgow, to allow additional time for Mr.
Time to Speak Hart to complete his presentation. The motion carried
4-1, Council Member Amburgey voting no.
Mr. Hart suggested that if Council were to proceed with
placing an advisory measure on the ballot, the wording
in the resolution should be changed to ensure fairness
for all parties involved. Mr. Hart submitted a copy
of his letter dated July 24, 1990, which contains reccm-
mended language for the resolution.
MOTION/Adopt A motion was made by Vice Mayor Hornbuckle, seconded by
Resolution 90-65-A Council Member Genis,.to adopt Resolution 90-65-A, A
(See Substitute RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA
Motion) MESA, CALIFORNIA, SUBMITTING A PROPOSED ADVISORY MEASURE
TO THE SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE FOR THE
BALLOT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF SAID CITY
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 1990, WITH THE STATEWIDE
GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON SAID DATE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 23302 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION After discussion, Council Member Genis made a substitue
Amended Resolution motion to amend Resolution 90-65-A by changing the word -
90 -65-A Adopted ing for the Advisory-Measure;to read: "Should the City
of Costa Mesa continue -to permit the sale and discharge
of State Safety Approved fireworks by nonprofit organi-
zations within the City of Costa Mesa?". The substitute
motion was seconded by Mayor Buffa, and carried by the
following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Buffa, Hornbuckle,
Genis, Glasgow
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Amburgey
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
Council Member Amburgey agreed with the suggestion of
establishing a committee to study the real issues
regarding fireworks and to report back to the Council.
He requested that a task force be established to study
the arguments both for and against the sale of fireworks.
Mayor Buffa spoke in support of forming a committee, and
requested the City Manager to provide suggestions on the
structure of the committee at the next Council meeting.
The Mayor recommended that the committee's membership
include representatives from the nonprofit organizations
that have been selling fireworks, those charitable
organizations who no longer sell fireworks, and citizens
for and against continued sale of fireworks.
Council Member Glasgow felt that placing the measure on
the ballot would enable the Council to be responsive to
the citizens.
Council Member Genis requested background information
on organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America,
who have banned the sale of fireworks as a fund-raising
activity.
RECESS The Mayor declared at recess at 8:25 p.m., and the meet-
ing reconvened at 8:35 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS Council Member Amburgey stated that because of an
COMMENTS inaccurate article on the front page of the Daily Pilot,
he probably would no longer release any comments to this
Daily Pilot newspaper unless it is the reporter who usually covers
Reporting Costa Mesa.
Ballot Arguments Council Member Genis expressed her desire to either
author or co-author the ballot argument for the Conflict
of Interest Ordinance.
Vice Mayor Hornbuckle suggested that it would appropri-
ate for the three Council Members who voted for the
measure to co-author the ballot argument in favor of it.
ADJOURNMENT The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Mayor of the City o sta Mesa
ATTEST:
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C ty Clerk of the City of Costa sa
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