Council Meeting Minutes 3-13-07

M I N U T E S

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE

WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL

AND THE

COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION

March 13, 2007

Mayor Touhey called to order the special joint meeting at 5:22 p.m. in the Community Room on the first floor at City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Touhey

ROLL CALL City Council:

Touhey, Lane, Herfert

Absent: Hernandez, Sanderson

Community Services Commission:

Chacon, Armbrust, Carrico, McIntosh, Martinez, Valles, Vargas, Woods

Absent: Puchalski

Others Present: Pasmant, Fields, Alvarez-Glasman, McNeill, Freeland, Smilowitz, McDonald, Morgan, Reynosa, Rush

Mayor Touhey announced that Councilmember Hernandez is unable to attend due to medical reasons.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Mary Grace Barrios Mary Grace Barrios, West Covina resident, thanked the Commission and Council for the opportunity to serve as a Community Services Commissioner.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Services Director McNeill presented a PowerPoint presentation, which identified the rules and guidelines of City Commissioners, and the role of the Community Services Commission as outlined in the Commission Handbook and the West Covina Municipal Code.

Councilmember Herfert requested the support of the Commission with the 10/605 interchange improvements.

ROUNDTABLE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Mayor Touhey opened the floor for roundtable discussion.

On behalf of Chairman Puchalski who was unable to attend, Commissioner Chacon asked the Council the following:

What are the weaknesses and strengths of the park system and community services programs, and

What other issues are deserving of attention, and the short and long-range threats to the programs successes.

Councilmember Herfert thanked the Commission for their services and complimented the Community Services Department and Commission. Councilmember Herfert felt the only weakness throughout the City is getting the word of all the City’s programs out to the community.

The City Council and Commission engaged in discussion as to the role of the Commission as an advisory board. The City Council has the responsibility to receive all avenues of information when making decisions on issues and the Council and Commission may not always agree.

Mayor Touhey encouraged the Commissioners to contact their appointing Councilmember directly to discuss any Council issue that is in opposition to a Commission recommendation.

ADJOURNMENT Motion by Herfert and seconded by Touhey to adjourn the City Council meeting at 6:15 p.m. Motion carried 3-0.

Motion by Armbrust and seconded by McIntosh to adjourned the Community Services Commission meeting at 6:15 p.m. Motion carried 8-0.

Mayor Michael Touhey

ATTEST:

Assistant City Clerk Susan Rush