The council considered an appeal of a notice and order requiring removal or relocation of bulky items blocking a resident’s garage. That resident, Hai Hong, explained that the items in question are lumber that he uses as a woodworker and, because his garage is full, he stores the wood in his driveway. An unidentified resident had filed a complaint with the City, according to staff members.
Hong said during the meeting that, because the lumber is covered with a tarp and because many of his neighbors also store items in front of their homes, he doesn’t understand why having the wood there is a problem.
City staff explained to Hong that, under the proposed resolution before them, he would have 15 days to move the items. If he does not comply, the City would be compelled to pay for the service of relocating the wood and then bill Hong for the work.
Additionally, if Hong does not pay the bill within a certain period of time, the City could put a tax lien on the property, which Hong’s parents own.
After Hong expressed discontent with being “singled out,” staff members told him he is not being targeted but that they were addressing a particular complaint by his neighbor.
City attorney Dave Aleshire clarified the logistics of the resolution, but Hong said, because of illness, he would not be able to meet its 15-day requirement. Aleshire and council members informed Hong that they would be willing to grant him more time, considering his health and the current hot weather.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”300px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SH-Council-2.jpg” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Luis Armas addresses attendees at the July 21 Signal Hill City Council meeting after Mayor Larry Forester (second from left) introduced him as the City’s new water systems operator II. Also pictured is Public Works Director Steve Myrter.” captionposition=”right”] “I’m just trying to make sure you understand the situation that you’re at,” Aleshire told Hong. “So, the question was, ‘Can you do it in 15 days?’ If you would like a longer period of time, this is the point in time where you could give that information to the council. If the material is not removed within that period of time, the City would have the ability to come onto the property, remove the material and then charge you the cost— the City’s cost— of removing the material. If that was not timely paid, after that, it would then become a tax lien on the property.”
Hong then sought clarification on the process city officials were describing.
“Don’t you have to get a court order first,” Hong asked, “to come on my property?” Aleshire explained that a court order is not necessary in this case.
“No, the City is a legal jurisdiction and has the power under its ordinances to— after having a hearing, this is part of the process you’re going through right now— this is a public hearing. You have the ability of giving your testimony, and then they, as the City, have the ability to make a determination. That’s why I went into this, so you would understand the implications of where you’re at before you finalize your position.”
Hong then mentioned other properties that appear to violate the municipal code, and he provided photos of what he said were homes where others store items in their yards. Aleshire addressed that concern.
“You are free to go submit complaints on any other property you think violates the code,” Aleshire said. “That does not address your violation, and the City can start an action against all the other properties that are in violation. And if those people comply and correct the problem, they won’t have any problem. You’ve had two years, but I want to be very clear— you are free to take any other properties and submit them, and we will commence a code-enforcement action on those properties. That does not stop the action on your property.”
[aesop_image imgwidth=”300px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SH-Council-1.jpg” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Signal Hill Public Works Director Steve Myrter (far right) welcomes new water-systems superintendent Cecil Looney (second from left) with a handshake after Mayor Larry Forester (far left) introduced him at Tuesday’s city council meeting.” captionposition=”right”] Hong requested clarification on exactly where he would need to relocate the items in order to be in compliance. Scott Charney, Community Development director, explained that Hong could move the wood to another area outside the home.
“We had previously talked, that if he moved it aside, in a location not highly visible, with an orderly tarp, that would be acceptable,” Charney told the council. “Given the configuration of the property, there’s a place where he can move it to the side where it won’t be highly visible.” Hong requested 90 days to relocate the materials. After more discussion, Councilmember Mike Noll made a motion to adopt the modification of the resolution, allowing Hong 90 days instead of 15. Councilmember Tina Hansen seconded the motion for the extension of time, but, after Aleshire emphasized that the resolution includes the stipulation that a tax lien could be put on the property if Hong does not meet the agreement, she withdrew her second, stating that she doesn’t agree with that part of the resolution. Councilmember Edward Wilson then seconded the motion, but he referred to the lien as being “a last resort.”
Dog park design services
The city council approved a contract services agreement with landscaping and architectural firm Urban Arena to prepare construction plans and specifications for a dog park to be located at 3100 California Ave. Urban Arena had been retained to prepare a concept design for the park, which will accommodate small and large dogs. The cost of the architectural design services is $25,970 plus reimbursable expenses of approximately $5,000. The Fiscal Year 2015-16 capital-improvement program includes $316,500 for the project, and costs will be funded with park-impact fees paid by developers.
Water-rate study
The city council also approved a $45,260 contract services agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive water-rate study for the Public Works
department.
During the discussion before the council’s vote, Signal Hill City Manager Charlie Honeycutt explained that the consultant would look into the current water rate and the city’s future needs. Public Works Director Steve Myrter said the last water-rate analysis that resulted in rate increases was in 2008. The subsequent rate hikes took place in 2009 and 2010, Myrter said. He added that the City has worked to avoid raising the rate but the cost of water has increased. He noted that water-conservation efforts have improved, and he cited two recent droughts and the recession as likely reasons for lower water usage by residents and businesses.
“Before the great drought we have now, we were actually seeing water demand increase a little bit as the customer base expanded,” Myrter said. “However, with the new list of laws that require us to conserve, we are now down 14 percent as com- pared to last year, and I believe this is a paradigm shift that will stay with us. If we do get an El Niño here, and the rains return, I do not believe that the State laws are going to allow us to let the demand go up again. We’re going to work very hard to keep the demand at the new sustainable level, which we’re working very hard to obtain.”
Well No. 9
The city council voted to authorize city manager Honeycutt to execute an amendment to a contract services agreement for professional services with Tetra Tech, increasing July 24 – Aug 22 the contract sum by $495,000 and extending the contract by 12 months. Tetra Tech is providing specialized technical assistance and construc- tion management services during the implementation and construction of the design/build process for the Well No. 9 Advanced Groundwater Treatment Plant.
Deputy city manager interviews
Upon the recent retirement of city manager Ken Farfsing, deputy city manager Charlie Honeycutt became the city’s new city manager, leaving a vacancy in his former position. At Tuesday’s meeting, the city council chose 6pm on Monday, Aug. 3 as the time slot for when they will interview applicants for deputy city manager during a closed session.
Presentations
Mayor Larry Forester welcomed new water-systems superintendent Cecil Looney and Luis Aramis as Forester also honored the Sultans Car Club of Long Beach as California Park and Recreation Society District 10 Volunteer Merit Award recipients for Signal Hill.
Matthew Faulkner, executive director of Community Hospital Long Beach, made a presentation on the hospital’s 90th anniversary and provided a brief update on its recent accomplishments, funding priorities and future plans.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will be at 7pm on Monday, Aug. 3 rather than the regularly scheduled date of Tuesday, Aug. 4 (when National Night Out will take place) in Council Chambers at City Hall, 2175 Cherry Ave.
