Feb

28

Agenda for March 2nd Los Al City Council Meeting

Filed Under City Council Meetings, Dean Grose, Decency 

Coming Monday to a City Council meeting near you, courtesy of the C.P.L.A. and our new majority

Coming Monday to a City Council meeting near you, courtesy of our City Council majority

(2/28/09, by Dave Emerson)  This Monday’s Council meeting looks to be perhaps the most important in Los Alamitos’ 49 year history. Mayor Dean Grose has announced he plans to resign the Mayor’s post at the meeting, but not his Council seat, and apparently not his seats on a number of important state and County commissions and boards either.

Unfortunately, the agenda, which is posted below, has at least one unpleasant surprise, which will hopefully be corrected Monday.

Some citizens would like to see the meeting moved to a larger venue–stay tuned. As it stands now, you’d better get there early if you want a seat,  or even room to stand and watch. If you can’t come early, throw a lawn chair in the trunk and be prepared to sit outside in case they have speakers out there.

This will be our small town’s first opportunity to counter the tsunami of bad publicity that has overwhelmed us the last few weeks as a result of  Mayor Dean Grose’s tasteless e-mail and inadequate responses. (I would like to use stronger words, but I’m trying to be diplomatic here.)

Since our “leaders” in the Council majority have failed to speak up, it is also the first chance for we, the people of Los Alamitos to commence the damage control that  Troy Edgar and “Our most trusted voice” should have fired up three days ago.  (Ken Stephens’ response was rather tepid, but he at least returned Jaimee Fletcher’s call.  Marilyn Poe  literally ran from the press and, rather than return calls, Troy Edgar has simply gone AWOL.)

The first step in damage control is not to make matters worse by audience behavior that only reinforces the “rich redneck” image Los Alamitos now has.  ( <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

“Imagine the deep south with personalized plates on Mercedes and Jaguars instead of pickup trucks with Confederate flags ,” wrote one national blogger!)

The second is probably to make sure the chambers themselves are filled with respectful, polite Los Al residents before the out-of-town (and in town?) crazies arrive.  The earlier you get there, the better.   6 p.m. or earlier.  If your dress and behaviour will reflect well on our little town, please sit as close to the front as you can, starting from the side on your left as you enter.

Please help make our Los Alamitos Police officers’ job easier, not more difficult.  They’re all putting in lots of overtime due to this circus, and some are quite concerned about what’s going to happen Monday. Thank them for being there.  Thank the reporters and camera people as well.  They’re just doing their jobs, and would rather be home with their families, I’m sure.  So would I.

Please make our city proud (unlike our Council Majority).  This is only logical for everyone who cares about our city–CPLA, anti-CPLA, white, black, brown, green, or maroon.

Here’s the agenda:   (Please note that Dean Grose’s resignation as Mayor is scheduled before the public comments. The public can’t comment until after the Council appoints the new mayor?  That makes no sense to me.  You may want to call and or e-mail or visit the city offices and/or the Mayor and/or other Council Members to politely express your disapproval.  Hopefully a change will be made.)

CITY OF LOS ALAMITOS

AGENDA, CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, March 2, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.

1.         CALL TO ORDER

2.         ROLL CALL

3.         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE    Mayor Grose

4.         INVOCATION       Council Member Mejia

5.         SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

A.        Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Resignation or Removal of the Mayor from his Appointed Office, the Appointment of a New Mayor, the Possible Appointment of a New Mayor Pro Tem (Depending upon Mayoral Appointment), as well as Any Other Action Deemed Appropriate by the City Council Related to the Mayor’s Recent Email Controversy                                                    (Administration)

This report allows for City Council consideration of action regarding the resignation or removal of the Mayor from his appointed office, the appointment of a new Mayor, the possible appointment of a New Mayor Pro Tem (depending upon Mayoral appointment), as well as any other action deemed appropriate by the City Council related to the Mayor’s recent email controversy.  If a new Mayor and, possibly new Mayor Pro Tem are appointed, the City’s Charter requires roll call votes be taken for the election of these two Officers.

Recommendation:

1.            Accept Mayor’s resignation; or,
2.            Remove Mayor from his appointed office; and,
3.            Elect a new Mayor; and,
4.            Possibly elect a new Mayor Pro Tem; and,
5.         Any other action City Council deems necessary.

6.         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.

7.         REGISTER OF MAJOR EXPENDITURES
March 2, 2009.
Roll Call Vote

8.         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
1.    Approve minutes of the Special Meeting – February 2, 2009.
2.    Approve minutes of the Regular Meeting – February 2, 2009.
3.    Approve minutes of the Special Meeting – February 14, 2009.
4.    Approve minutes of the Special Meeting – February 17, 2009.

B.        Warrants
March 2, 2009.

C.        Mobile Command Vehicle Agreement      (Police)
This report seeks the authority to formalize an agreement for joint ownership, maintenance, and repair of the West Cities Mobile Command Post vehicle which was acquired by the Cities of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach through the Urban Area Security Initiative.

Recommendation:  Authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Los Alamitos, the City of Cypress, the City of Seal Beach, and West Cities Communications Center Joint Powers Authority for shared use of a Mobile Command Vehicle.

D.        Re-Adoption of Resolution No. 2009-01 – Revising the Salary and Benefit Resolution for Non-Represented Employees and Repealing Resolution 2008-19                                                        (Administration)

This report went to the City Council meeting of January 20, 2009, and addressed revision of the medical insurance contribution benefit provided to non-represented employees.  Resolution 2009-01 called for the repeal of Resolution 2008‑15, but it should have called for the repeal of Resolution 2008-19.  Because of this typographical error, Resolution No. 2009-01 must be re-adopted by the City Council.

Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2009-01, entitled “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ALAMITOS ESTABLISHING SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO.  2008-19.”

E.        Approval of Notice of Completion, Katella Avenue Median Improvements at Siboney Avenue, CIP No. 08/09-01     (Public Works)

Katella Avenue Median Improvements at Siboney Avenue are complete and in compliance with the plans and specifications. Staff is therefore recommending the City Council accept the work as complete, direct filing the Notice of Completion and retention release as prescribed by the public contracts codes.

Recommendation:
1.  Accept as complete the construction contract by Alliance Streetworks for the Katella Avenue Median Improvements at Siboney Avenue; and,
2.  Direct the City Clerk to record the Notice of Completion/Final Report with the County Recorder’s office; and,
3.   Authorize staff to release the 10% retention, in the amount of $18,704.50, thirty-five days after recordation of the Notice of Completion.

F.         Request to Purchase One Community Services Department Mini Van
This is a request to purchase one (1) Community Services Department Mini Van to replace a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina sedan that is scheduled for surplus.  Per Los Alamitos Municipal Code 2.60.110 – ‘Purchases Through Other Agencies’, this report requests authorization to utilize Purchase Order #0000946829, agreement between the City of Los Angeles and McPeek’s Dodge of Anaheim to purchase the replacement vehicle.

Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to purchase one (1) 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan for $24,529.41 utilizing Purchase Order #0000946829 between the City of Los Angeles and McPeek’s Dodge of Anaheim.

***END OF CONSENT CALENDAR***

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.       ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2009, in the City Council Chambers.

Be sure to check back here as more information will hopefully be posted, both about the meeting and the controversies surrounding it.  I may even have time for another “Sunday sermon.”  We could sure use it this weekend.  (Maybe you’ve got one you’d could e-mail me.  RealtorDaveE “at” msn “dot” com.)

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome, whether you live in Los Alamitos or you’re new to this blog.  Just keep the tone civil and the language polite.  Contrary to popular opinion, my experience is that, despite the e-mails forwarded by our Mayor, Los Alamitos is not really a redneck community.

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One Response to “Agenda for March 2nd Los Al City Council Meeting”

  1. Your Thoughts, Comments, and real time reporting on the 3/2/09 Council meeting | Let's Fix Los Al! on March 2nd, 2009 5:53 pm

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