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Troy EdgarMayor (2010) |
| Marilynn PoeMayor Pro Tem (2012) |  |
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Gerri Graham-Mejia City Council Member (2010) |
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Ken Stephens
City Council Member (2012)
kstephens@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us
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Constantine “Dean” Zarkos
City Council Member (2012)
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(6/1/2009, Los Alamitos) Once again we’re providing the agenda for tonight’s Regular Los Alamitos City Council meeting, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Looking for a new graphic, I thought I’d paste in the current photos from the City Website, although poor Dean Zarkos appears to be a tad camera shy. Hard to believe for a Realtor, so I’m guessing it’s not his fault. I’m also guessing someone messed up on when his term expires, which was 2010 last time I checked.
In any case, several interesting items are on the agenda, including a potential hot topic in appointing commissioners, a proposal to select a non-profit to operate LosAlTV and even another closed session to discussongoing labor negotiations with the City Employees Union, which strongly supported the current majority in the last election as well as management employees.
Under the Brown Act the Council is entitled to meet behind closed doors to discuss these negotiations, and has done so under both the present and past majorities. However, I’m not so sure that just because they legally can meet behind closed door out of public view they really should do so, especially when the majority has an obvious potential conflict of interest and potential for payback to our union workers. (It should be noted that the Police Officers’ Association chose to remain neutral in the last and all previous elections. They are not included in tonight’s negotiation, either, although hopefully that is not related to their neutrality in the election.
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Then there’s the proposed response to Cypress’ proposal regarding SeaCoast Grace Church’s plans for a 38,000 new sanctuary/auditorium (click here for my Saturday post on the traffic and other related issues, including links to the Los Al staff report, proposed letter from our Mayor, and the site plan.)
The meeting will be televised live on LosAlTV3, starting at 7, so be sure to set your DVR if you’re not able to watch it. (Requires the “manuel” record if you’ve got a Verizon DVR.)
Once again, you’re encouraged to report what you see & hear in the comments section below, whether you watch the meeting in person, on TV, or later on a rebroadcast or via DVR.
I’m trying to turn down my monopoly here and encourage you, the resident of Los Al & surrounding neighborhoods, to take control of this site. Just remember to keep your language “family friendly” and comments diplomatic.
Here’s the agenda, so you can follow along, with links to some of the staff reports in pdf form:
Los Alamitos City Counci Agenda
7 p.m., June 1 2009 Regular Meeting
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Zarkos
4. INVOCATION Mayor Edgar
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
At this time, any individual in the audience may come forward to speak on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Please state if you wish to speak on an item on the Agenda. Remarks are to be limited to not more than five minutes.
6. REGISTER OF MAJOR EXPENDITURES
Roll Call Vote
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
All Consent Calendar items may be acted upon by one motion unless a Council Member requests separate action on a specific item.
A. Approval of Minutes (City Clerk)
1. Approve minutes of the Special Meeting - May 4, 2009.
2. Approve minutes of the Special Meeting – May 11, 2009.
3. Approve minutes of the Regular Meeting – May 18, 2009.
4. Approve minutes of the Special Meeting – May 22, 2009.B. Warrants (Finance)
June 1, 2009.C. Pool Service and Maintenance Contract Att1 (Recreation)
This agenda item is a contract for service and maintenance of the pool.Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute a one-year extension of the pool maintenance contract in an amount not to exceed $21,000 with Deckside Pool Service for service and maintenance of the pool at the Joint Forces Training Base.
D. Activities Guide Brochure Printing Contract Att1 (Recreation)
This agenda item is a contract for the printing of the Recreation and Community Services Activities Guide.Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute a one-year extension of the printing contract in an amount not to exceed $24,500 with Media Lithographics, Inc. to provide the printing of the Recreation and Community Services Activity Guide.
E. OCTA/Senior Meals Transportation Agreement Att1
This report seeks City Council consideration of contract renewal with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for Senior Citizen Transportation Services for the one (1) year period from: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010.Recommendation: Authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 14 to Agreement No. C-8-0192, which extends existing transportation services between the City of Los Alamitos and OCTA in an amount not to exceed $3491.25 for the provision of transportation services through June 30, 2010 for senior citizens participating in the Los Alamitos Senior Meals & Services Program.
***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Consideration of Revised Resolution 2009-04, Establishing No Parking- Katella Avenue, Lexington Drive to Midway Drive Att1 Ex1 (CD)
This item is being returned to City Council to clarify minor changes to the resolution necessitated as a result of differences between the City Council’s direction and the actual staff recommendation approved during consideration of this item at the May 4, 2009, meeting.Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 2009-04, “A RESOLUTION OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ALAMITOS ESTABLISHING NO PARKING- KATELLA AVENUE, LEXINGTON DRIVE TO MIDWAY DRIVE.”
B. City of Los Alamitos Response to Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (SeaCoast Grace Church) – 5100 Cerritos Avenue, Cypress Att1 Att2 Att3 Att4 (Community Development)
The Cypress City Council will be considering a Conditional Use Permit Amendment (91-3) for the expansion of SeaCoast Grace Church located at 5100 Cerritos Avenue during their June 8, 2009, meeting. Staff, with the assistant of a Traffic Consultant, has prepared a response to the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). The 20-day comment period began May 15, 2009, and ends June 3, 2009. Los Alamitos staff received the notice and the MND on May 19, 2009.Recommendation:
1. Review and modify the attached letter as necessary; and,
2. Direct staff to forward the letter to the City of Cypress.[click here for my post on this topic, with several links]
C. City Commissions
The recruitment period for the Cable, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs and Planning Commissions has expired. Staff is seeking direction regarding the appointment process.Recommendation: Provide direction to staff regarding the status of the Commission recruitment process.
D. Direction Regarding Possible Agreement between the City and Community Schools Media Partnership Regarding the Provision of Public Access, Educational and Government Programming (PEG) in Los Alamitos and Rossmoor (Administration)
The City Council voted to dissolve the City-created non-profit entity of Los Alamitos Television (LATV) in December 2007 and formed a Cable Commission to make recommendations regarding the City’s PEG programming post-LATV. The Commission did not make a recommendation to the City Council. Since the dissolution of LATV, the City of Los Alamitos has managed cable television programming services, which consist primarily of Los Alamitos City Council meeting, Los Alamitos Unified School District Board meetings, Rossmoor Community Service District Board meetings, LAHS football games and other programs aired as public access. Although the Cable Commission has not made a formal recommendation to the City Council, on February 17 and April 20, 2008, the City Council conducted special council meeting workshops to discuss the issue. On April 20, the Council heard presentations by different members of the community regarding the plausibility of forming an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation as an appropriate method of providing PEG programming in the community. Staff is now proposing that the City Council authorize staff to negotiate an appropriate operational agreement with Community Schools Media Partnership (CSMP) as the independent non-profit entity with which the City will contract for the operation of its PEG programming. Alternatively, should the Council seek another option, staff would recommend a formal RFP process whereby ideas and concepts are submitted formally from interested participants.Recommendation:
1. Authorize the CSMP to submit to the City Manager a detailed work plan and schedule of activities, including composition of the governing board of the proposed non-profit entity by June 8, 2009; and,
2. Authorize staff to negotiate and present to Council an appropriate operating agreement formalizing the arrangement between the City and CSMP pending the creation of CSMP as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation for the purpose of providing for PEG programming in Los Alamitos and Rossmoor; and,
3. Once the CSMP is formed and a contract is approved by the City Council with CSMP, formally dissolve the Los Alamitos Cable Commission.9. MAYOR AND COUNCIL INITIATED BUSINESS
Council Announcements
At this time, Council Members may also report on items not specifically described on the Agenda that are of interest to the community, provided no action or discussion is taken except to provide staff direction to report back or to place the item on a future Agenda.
10. ITEMS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
11. CLOSED SESSION
A. Conference with Labor Negotiator
Agency Negotiators: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager and Dean Derleth, City Attorney
Employee Organization: Executive Management, Middle Management and Non-Management Employees; and, the City Employees’ Association
Authority: Government Code Section 54957.612. ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2009, in the City Council Chambers.
Once again, your reporting, thoughts, and comments before, during, and after the meeting are welcome, whether you use your actual name, first name, or a pen name:
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Related posts:
- Agenda & your reporting & comments on 7/20/09 regular City Council Meeting
- Your reporting and comments on tonight’s Los Alamitos City Council Meeting (June 21, 2010)
- Agenda & your reporting and comments on tonight’s City Council meeting
- Agenda, your comments, and your reporting on July 6, 2009 City Council Meeting
Maybe it’s just me, but why is the city paying anything for the pool? Los Alamitos Aquatics Foundation Board should be out there raising money for the pool… shouldn’t it? According to the 2007 990-EZ filing it had $52,664 on hand. The form was filed by:
MARK WAGNER
562-430-1073
10911 OAK STREET
LOS ALAMITOS, CA
and signed by Mark Wagner and prepared by Dugan and Associates (I have to assume that was the single $200 expense).
The Corporate Agent for Service of Process
MARK A WAGNER
WESTMINSTER, CA 92683
So maybe we should ask the City Council to ask Mr. Wagner and the members of the Board of the non-profit to come in and describe what the non-profit is doing so we can see how they are raising funds and what they are doing with funds to help the city offset some of the costs of operation of the aquatics center. Or, if they are not operating, to use the last funds to offset the costs of operations and then relinquish the 501(c)3 to a group that would actively fund raise (considering the only income they achieved per their last filing was interest, one has to assume that the board is a dead board and doesn’t care any more about the aquatics center and maybe the vehicle should be turned over to people that do).
I find it interesting that there is a lot of hay being made about LATV, which doesn’t have the cost basis that the aquatics center does, and we have a non-profit foundation that isn’t doing a thing to help offset the costs of operations for the aquatics center and our city council doesn’t say one word.
In case anyone is wondering on who the board is….
RONALD BATES
CFO
LOS ALAMITOS CA 90720
[Former Mayor of Los Alamitos when the base pool was being upgraded]
GEORGE BRIGGEMAN JR
CEO
3624 BRIGGEMAN DR
LOS ALAMITOS CA 90720
[Garbage King and financier of an estimated $100K+ in the last election cycle through CPLA/LATA to the current city council majority]
RICHARD FOSTER
DIRECTOR
1 WORLD TRADE CENTER
LONG BEACH CA 90831
[Rich Foster, J.D., M.P.A A partner in the law firm of Cameron, Pearlson and Foster, Rich also serves as President of the Long Beach Sports Council. Rich is currently the President of USA Water Polo and served a four-year term (1992-96) as a board member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).]
RAND WATKINS
DIRECTOR
115 12TH STREET
SEAL BEACH CA 90740
[Board of Directors - President Seal Beach Swim Club]
MARK A WAGNER
SECRETARY
10911 OAK STREET
LOS ALAMITOS CA 90720
[Former Los Al Rec Director]
The statement of program services…
ASSIST THE CITY OF LOS ALAMITOS IN OPERATING THE CITY POOL
and the income…
You know the vending machines… Seems they are (or were) owned by the foundation (income in 2004: $641, 2005: $688 2006: $41).
There is no public available 990 for 2008 so all this is from 2007 (filed Oct 10, 2008) for tax year 7/1/07-6/30/08.
In case any of the Directors of the non-profit actually read the blog (or even an interested City Council Member) how about a few fund raising ideas…
The Jr Lifeguard Swimathon where the Los Al Jr. Lifeguards swim laps for pledges per lap. Heck, why not also open it up to the Seal Beach Swim Team and anyone who signs up for level 4 or above from the rec departments swim program as well.
Aquatics Center Discount Card A card with business from the Shops at Rossmore, the Target Center and other Los Al / Seal Beach establishments that give discounts to card carriers at their establishments. These cards generally sell for $10 each and in some cases give up to 90% of the margin back to the non-profit promoted by the cards. Imagine if every person using the base were to sell 10 of these fund raising cards…
US Water Polo .v. Los Al’s Best – a series of polo games between any Los Al / Seal Beach water polo team that wants to participate with a gate charge of $2.00 / head. The winner of the Los Al portion would then play a game against the US Water Polo team at $5/head with all the funds going to the Foundation Charity.
This is fun, come on and play along. I’m sure there are any number of people in the city that can come up with great fund raising ideas for the Aquatics Foundation. All we need is leadership on the foundation to start to implement them. Then we won’t ever have to hear about city funds being used to maintain and/or upgrade the pool.
I believe Briggeman is the president now. I’m sure something big will be done by the new council and sugar daddy will finance it.
This is the problem with handing over the city “Jewels” to non-profit 501 3(c). No accuntability and it cost the city 100k+ a year.
The city has to ask for the money from the foundation, but the foundation can deny the city the money.
Don’t worry though, The big man owes the current council and he will come through.
JM,
How do you reorganize a non profit that has no accountability? The last time that was done was the LATV station and all hell broke loose.
I’d like to know why we have to pay for the pool. It seems to me that LATV and The POOL have wasted more tax payers’ money and time than any other expense this city has.
Does Ron Bates still do his laps in the pool? Maybe someone can ask him and Poe since she’s on the council what their plan was suppose to be? Last question? Does the pool really cost over 100 thousand a year from the budget? How many years has this been going on?
“The Los Alamitos Olympics”
What about having local buisiness and or residents participate in The Los Alamitos Olympics. Years ago I participated in the Yorba Linda Olympics and they had great success. You have the teams compete in several events which include swimming relays and running relays for example. It was a great way for the entire community to get together and have fun while raising funds for needed services.
So, the people srill pay.
At the Parkewood Candidate forum last October, I challenged “our most trusted voice” on how much the pool was costing us, and she stated that the city wasn’t helping at all at this time as far as she knew.
She also stated that more kids took swimming lessons at the base pool their first year in operation than ever learned at Los Al High back when the City Rec Dept. used a pool that actually had a shallow end for kids. Having seen the number of kids who used to take classes at the Los Al High pool, and comparing the sizes of the two aquatic facilities, I find that very hard to believe.
Anybody find anything besides the pool worth commenting on in last night’s meeting?
I just got the LATA mailer today.. I guess this is the new way of politics in our city. You have an organiztaion smear people and then they become your own private PR firm.
I’m just surprised it took Briggeman, Sylvia and Edgar so long to get this out.
BTW-I drew some nice horns on Chuck.
Main Point > If we shut down the pool, how much of the $100,000 annual expense will we actually save?
I’d like to see the figures on the pool — 100,000 dollars plus seems excessive to me, but it may be true and is real money. I wonder how much of this is salaries, how much is fixed cost and how much is variable costs. If we shut the pool down completely, how much would we still have to pay in fixed costs, maintenance, insurance and money for current commitments. How much will it cost to lay up the pool? Do we drain the pool, demo it, fill it in or what?
A break out of the costs needs to be done to make this decision.
David … you are like a lot of the posters on this blog, you go off trying to make a point without getting your facts. Los Alamitos doesn’t own the pool, but has a vested interest. Pulling out wont save all that much, but cost us valuable training for our children in learning how to swim. Income is made by swimming lessons and groups who use the pool, including the US Women’s Water Polo Team. The County, city and a number of private individuals put forth money to reopen the pool after the military let it go. If Los Al backs out, we’d have to find another location to train kids — ah, the high school pool, you say. Nope, that will cost more money — which is why the pool on the base was the best approach. There are already break-outs on the cost, if you are truly interested, just call the parks and rec department and you can get them.
As long as you are worried about costs, why not also ask them for the cost of maintaining the McColaugh polo fields, owned by the School District, which costs nearly $100,000 a year for the CITY to maintain! Be careful when you start to complain, you may get more than you bargin for.
Thanks for the information – it is a good tip. I am interested in getting the break down like you suggest so I will check at city hall soon. I believe you when you say that it won’t save all that much, but it is good to know that the study exists that can give us information so we keep the pool open.
I was talking this morning to one of the other swimmers at the pool (you might even be him) this morning and we discussed that heating the pool in the winter might be the most expensive. You appear familar with the budget- do you happen to know if this is true?
By the way, you should give your name in this discussion.
Thanks
David, about 60% of the people that post here do NOT us their names. That’s okay because their opinions are useful (although I tend to put less weight on unnamed posts). Then you have people like Larry the Liar who uses a totally fictitious name and pretends to actually be a person. Sometimes it’s hard to sort out the players without a scorecard.
Now, I made an issue of the pool, not because I think it’s a bad thing, but because it’s a good thing that we were sold with a false bill of goods.
When the aquatics center was “sold” to the people we were all told that this wonderful foundation was going to fund it and that it wouldn’t cost the city money to maintain. The people involved all had a vested interest in the aquatics center being opened. You had the Olympics guy in Long Beach, The Seal Beach Swim Club, the head of Los Al’s rec department, The guy who was running politics in Los Al and the guy who funded him.
All parties with some level of a vested interest in making the aquatics center happen. And to their benefit, they did.
But then they all took a leave of absence. They didn’t keep up their end of the bargain. They all bailed out and left the City holding the bag.
That’s what pisses me off.
I am a supporter of the aquatics center. My kids have benefited from it from “Mommy and me” (well “Daddy and me” in my case) through Level 5/6 swimming every summer. And my daughter is back for her second Jr. Lifeguards as well as working 1/2 day there every day this summer as part of the Los Al Volunteer Youth Program (the other 1/2 day will be at Little Cottonwood I believe).
That said, I would love to see an active foundation working to raise money to cover the operational costs. I would even be willing to participate on such a foundation as I see the benefits to our community and our children in having access to the facility. But, the reality is that the foundation was (and is) made up with people with a vested initial interest and they have had no interest in maintaining the pool or opening up the foundation to other to take it over and make it a real fund raising tool to help make the center better as well as maintain the center.
How can I know this? Look at their published books (tax records) and you can see no attempts at even trying to raise the funds required for operation. No new blood. No new ideas. Nada. So, here is the city having to spend tax dollars on something that the five amigos should have been covering. It’s wrong. Even though I am a direct beneficiary I am still able to say it’s wrong. That’s why I want Troy to go to his financial backer and tell him to either get off his ass and make the foundation work, or turn it over to people that will make it work.
If I had a choice over having the City Council focus on LATV or the aquatics center I think that their current focus is wrong (LATV). There is no expense that comes close to that of the aquatics center for the City in LATV. And as for the benefits, I would love to be able to see the breakdown of LATV viewers to aquatics center users. My guess is that there is a two or three to one ratio in favor of the aquatics center (at a minimum).
The vehicle is there. The City has to either ask them to live up to their promise, or open it up to be taken over by people that are willing to make it work the way it was supposed to.