Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

I attended the Monterey Park City Council Meeting on November 18th.

During Oral Communications Joe Reichenberger, a longtime resident and former Boardmember of the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District spoke to Council, staff and the residents. He is a Water Engineer with fifty plus years of experience.

He advised the Council and staff that the residents own our water.  We have a spare capacity to add more units to each household. The staff and Council debate over our reservoir capacity.

He said the residents should not have to pay more for water because of the new developments being built in our city.

He spoke about the need for the city to have an impact fee to cover the additional costs of our water, sewer, trash, police service, fire service, parks and recreation and the library.

He reminded the Council, staff and the residents that developers are building 80 units, maybe five more hotels and a seven-bedroom house that was built on a vacant lot that was never developed before.

Mr. Reichenberger suggested the Council approve a $200,000 impact fee for water and sewer connects for the future hotels and other constructions projects.

City Manager Paul Talbot said staff is currently working on creating impact fees.  It should be present to Council in the December 16th meeting.

Agenda Item 5-A: Lions Club lease of a portion of the Service Club

Larry Sullivan, President of the Monterey Park Lions Club made a presentation to the Council on why the club has not been paying their current rent of $160 a month. They currently owe the city $1,760 in back rent.

The Lions Club is a nonprofit organization that helps the blind, prevents blindness and promotes the awareness of the plight of the visually impaired.  Every dollar they collect goes into this project.

He also explained that White Cane Days Inc. is a separate organization. They create and sell White Canes around the world to help other Lions Clubs raise funds to service their causes.

The White Canes is operating at a loss and they are unable to pay their rent on their portion of the Service Club.

He asked the Council to amend the lease to reduce the rent to $1 per year, waive the current bill and charge the club $3 for three years.

I told the Council that I support the Lions Club and provided them with some of their background history.

Our Lions Club is one of the original service clubs in Monterey Park.

They have been active in our hometown since the 1937.  In 1946 they began their famous Ham & Eggs Breakfast so they could raise funds and offer the residents a chance to have their breakfasts cooked and served by local officials. They financed and built the original Amphitheatre after World War II dedicating it to their fallen veterans with brass plates attached to the old wooden benches. They also financed and built the Service Club House, the original Picnic Shelter and the Lions Manor as affordable housing for seniors.

They also invented the White Canes that are sold to help raise money for their “Eye Screening Programs” along with the funds raised by their famous Ham & Eggs Breakfasts.

Monterey Park will be 100-years-old in 2016.  The Lions Club has been generously servicing our residents for the last 78 years.

I told the Council now is our turn to provide them with our financial aid.

I asked the Council to please vote to change the annual lease to $1 per year payment for three years, extend this lease for another three years and forgive the current lease payment of $1,920.

I know we have the funds in our city treasury to help our old friends at the Lions Club.

The Council debated the issue and reviewed the income taxes provided by the club for one year, as the club needs more time to secure additional tax returns and a current Profit and Loss statement.

Their tax returns showed a loss to the White Cane Days Inc. for the tax year from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

The Council discussed the benefits provided to the community by the club and the loss of the annual rent of $1,920 to the city.

After a lengthily discussion the Council voted (Mayor Peter Chan, Councilmembers Teresa Real Sebastian, Stephen Lam and Hans Liang) to approve the club paying $1 deposit with the balance of the rent due next year and additional income documentation for their next review of the contract.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Ing voted no since he cannot forgive the debt.  It is money owed to the city.

Agenda Item 6-F El Nino preparedness projects near the Garvey Reservoir and Declaration of Emergency

The Council and residents were provided with a video and handouts showing the actions required by the city and the Metropolitan Water District to secure that area and protect public and personal property.

The Council voted to authorize the funding of $300,000 from the General Fund Capital Improvements Projects to help provide the necessary contract services to prevent flooding and mud slides without the bidding process as a Declaration of Emergency.  Staff will still get prices for the contractors’ services.

The MWD will be working with the city and provide their own contractors to do their own repairs.  They will be financially liable for their own work.

The December 2nd Council meeting was cancelled since Mayor Peter Chan, Councilmember Stephen Lam and five of the city’s firefighters went to Hong Kong to observe their fire fighting services. They should be reporting back on their trip during the December 16th meeting.

The Councilmembers and staff paid for their own travel expenses as required by law. The taxpayers did not pay their bills.

The Fire Department and Police Department held a Disaster Preparedness Presentation on December 2nd at City Hall.  The event was sent out live on the city’s television stations and it will be replayed several times during our Winter Season.

The public can get more information at City Hall.

I want to thank my writers and readership for their support.

I wish you and yours a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!