Jun 10, 2025 Planning Commission

[00:00:07]

[Call to Order]

UH, WE WILL NOW TAKE A MOMENT FOR SILENT PRAYER OR MEDITATION, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER HANG.

OKAY.

UM, PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED, UNITED STATES, STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

JOANNE, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL? SURE.

COMMISSIONER CASTANOS HERE.

COMMISSIONER LEWIS.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER REYES.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER, HANG HERE.

CHAIR BERA HERE.

THE RECORDS SHOW ALL PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE PRESENT.

UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES? THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED AS PRESENTED.

OKAY.

NOW WE'LL

[ORAL COMMUNICATIONS]

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA? I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE CARD, FRANK.

A IS IT LEY? A.

OKAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD? SURE.

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PLANNING, I'M NOT HERE TO POINT ANY FINGERS OR, UH, DIS UH, DISPARAGE ANYBODY.

MY QUESTION IS, UH, WE'RE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND, UM, DUE TO THE, UH, EX UH, EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EATON CANYON FIRE AND THE PALADE FIRE AND MY BACKGROUND, I WORKED FOR UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD UNDER POWER DISTRIBUTION ALL THE WAY UP TO 16,000 VOLTS.

WE'VE GOT A PROJECT GOING ON IN THE, UH, BAINBRIDGE, CALIFORNIA AREA.

THEY'RE PUTTING IN NEW STREETLIGHTS, UH, CONCRETE POLES, IS WHAT I READ, BUT THEY'RE NOT PUTTING ANY OF THE UTILITY UNDERGROUND.

I ASKED THE GUY, UH, TODAY THAT WAS DIGGING THE ANCHORS, AND HE DIDN'T KNOW.

AND I THINK WE'RE KIND OF OVERLOOKING A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE IN THE FUTURE.

WE NEED TO GO UNDERGROUND, AND THIS WOULD'VE BEEN THE PRIME TIME TO DO IT.

AND, UH, SAME WAY WITH, UH, OBSERVING THE LINES GOING UP CALIFORNIA FROM FRANCISCO ALL THE WAY TO THE MALL AT ONE POINT.

UH, THE 16,000 VOLT LINES DO GO UNDERGROUND TO PASS UNDER CALIF, UNDER CAMERON, BUT THEY COME BACK ABOVE GROUND AND JUST ABOUT 300, 400 FEET SOUTH OF THE MALL, THEY GO BACK UNDERGROUND.

UH, I THINK WE NEED TO START ADDRESSING WITH THE UTILITY, UH, SUCH AS FRONTIER, UH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ANALOG AS WELL AS THE SPECTRUM FOR TV, CABLE AND, UH, WIFI CABLE.

AND, UH, ALSO WITH EDISON THAT, UH, HAS ALL THE BRANCH LINES THAT ARE GOING IN BEHIND THE HOUSES AND START, UH, A PROGRAM WHERE WE, AS TIME GOES ON, UH, WE START MOVING THINGS UNDERGROUND.

NOW, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, FROM WHEN I PUT THINGS UNDERGROUND FOR RAILROAD, THE INITIAL COST IS HIGHER, BUT THE MAINTENANCE IS LOW, VERY LOW.

AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS IF WE HAVE A GOOD EARTHQUAKE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE POLES SNAPPING AND 16,000 VOLT LINES AT THAT, UH, CURRENT, THEY'RE COMING UP THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT CAN CAUSE US PROBLEMS. I JUST WISH SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AND KIND OF PLAN AHEAD AND START, UH, MAKING MOVES TO GET THE, ALL THESE WIRES AND EVERYTHING UNDERGROUND.

AND THAT'S ALL MY OBSERVATION

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

JOANNE.

WOULD THAT BE AN, UH, DISCUSSION FOR CITY COUNCIL? THAT WOULD NOT BE UNDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S PURVIEW, ALTHOUGH, UM, WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION DO DOES APPROVE NEW STRUCTURES OR MAJOR ADDITIONS THERE, THERE IS ALWAYS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL REQUIRING UNDERGROUNDING.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA, SO WE'LL MOVE

[2. CONSIDERATION OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES 2024/2025 ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM ]

UM, TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR THE STAFF REPORT REGARDING, UH, THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM FOR 24, UH, 25.

JOANNE, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT.

I'LL BE DELIVERING THE STAFF PRESENTATION.

SO THE CITY, UM, HAS AN ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM.

AND IN THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, IT REQUIRES THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT BE GIVEN.

SO THIS IS THE, THE ANNUAL REPORT.

SO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM ARE, ARE NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WITH SUBDIVISIONS OF 10 OR MORE NON-RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS THAT COST $500,000 OR MORE, OR EXPANSION AND OR REMODELING OF AN EXISTING NON-RESIDENTIAL PROJECT WITH THE COST OF $250,000 OR MORE MIXED USE PROJECTS.

UM, AND ALSO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UM, PROGRAM PROJECTS THAT INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS OR FACILITY THAT HAVE A COST OF $500,000 OR MORE.

SO EACH, EACH ONE, UM, WHEN, WHEN THE DEVELOPER OR THE CITY, UM, IN THE CASE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PRO, UM, PRO PROJECTS, UM, WHEN A STRUCTURE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED OR FALLS UNDER THESE CRITERIA, 1% OF THE TOTAL COST OR VALUATION OF THE PROJECT IS REQUIRED TO BE CONTRIBUTED TO EITHER THE, THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES, UM, PROGRAM IN LFI OR, UH, A 1% OF THAT COST OF PROJECT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO, TO, UM, GO TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OR COMMISSIONING OF PUBLIC ART.

THAT 1% IS FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECTS.

BUT FOR, FOR RESIDENTIAL? FOR RESIDENTIAL, IT IS, UM, HALF A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL PROJECT VALUATION.

SO THE, THESE, UM, ON THE PROJECTOR ARE TYPES OF PROJECTS OR ARTWORK OR PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE FUNDED FOR THE ARTS IN PUBLIC PLACES IN LIEU FUND THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED BY THE CITY.

UM, IT COULD BE USED TO COMMISSION THE INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC ART, THE MAINTENANCE OR RESTORATION OF EXISTING PUBLIC ARTWORK, EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR EVENTS, PLAQUES OR SIGNAGE, THE PUBLICITY OR PROMOTION OF PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS AND FUNCTIONS, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF INVOLVING PUBLIC, THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM, AND THEN COST DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.

SO IN, IN 2024, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD APPROVED THREE DIFFERENT ARTWORK IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THE FIRST, UM, ARTWORK ON THE PROJECTOR, UM, THAT THE, THAT, UH, IS DEPICTED BY,

[00:10:01]

AND IT IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING.

AND THE COST, UM, FOR THAT, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF ARTWORK IS 200,000.

AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE OF ARTWORK WITHIN THE SAME PROPERTY, UM, IS THE, THE GEOMETRIC, UM, TREE-LIKE SCULPTURE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE, OF THE PROJECTOR.

UM, AND THE COST FOR THAT IS 300,000.

UM, THE, THE ONE, THE BRONZE S DEPICTING A FAMILY WALKING, UM, IS ACTUALLY, WAS ACTUALLY LOCATED ON 11, UM, SORRY, 1611 THROUGH 1623 WEST SAN BERNARDINO ROAD IN FRONT OF A COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL CONDOMINIUM PROJECT.

HOWEVER, UM, A UM, UNFORTUNATELY THIS STATUE, THIS BRONZE STATUE WAS RECENTLY STOLEN, AND SO IT, UM, SOMEBODY HAD COME IN AND, AND SAW IT OFF THE, THE LEGS OF THE STATUE.

SO WHAT'S LEFT IS LIKE A COUPLE OF FEET.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND, AND HOPEFULLY, UM, BEING ABLE TO REPLACE IT.

AS FAR AS EXISTING ARTWORK IS CONCERNED, UM, THE CITY HAS ONLY COMMISSIONED ONE, UM, ARTWORK THROUGH THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM, AND IT'S THE VETERAN MEMORIAL WALL IN THE CIVIC CENTER PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VETERAN MEMORIAL WALL ISN'T UP IN THE PROJECTOR.

AND THE PRO, THE PROJECT COST AT THAT TIME WAS $186,000, AND THAT'S INCLUDING $10,000 THAT THE, UH, THAT THE NONPROFIT VETERANS GROUP CONTRIBUTED AND RAISED AS PART OF THEIR FUNDRAISING EFFORT.

SO MOST RECENTLY, UM, PRIOR TO MEMORIAL DAY, WE WORKED ON, UH, WE WORKED WITH, WITH A FEW VETERANS TO A, A VETERAN GROUP, UM, TO ADD THREE NAMES TO THE THREE NAMES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY MISSED OF, UM, THREE, I'M SORRY, THREE NAMES OF THAT WAS ORIGINALLY MISSED OF, UM, WORLD WAR TWO VETERANS.

AND WE ALSO ADDED THE DATE THAT THE AFGHANISTAN, AFGHANISTAN WAR ENDED, WHICH WAS 2021.

AND THE COST FOR THAT WAS $1,100.

SO THE CURRENT FUND BALANCE THAT'S, THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED, UM, FROM THE IN LFI FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT THE CITY HAS HAD, UM, IS TOTAL, THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE IS CURRENTLY SEVEN TH 742,780.

AND IN THE PROPOSED, UM, 20 25, 20 26 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, 200,000 OF THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE PAINTING OF CITY HALL.

UM, THE PAINTING OF CITY HALL OR THE RENO, I GUESS, REP RENOVATION OF THE EXTERIOR OF CITY HALL IS, UM, IS ALLOWABLE IN THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM BECAUSE CITY HALL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF A BRUTALIST TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE.

SO IT QUALIFIES IN AS ARTWORK BECAUSE IT, UM, THROUGH ITS ARCHITECTURE, THE POTENTIAL LOCATIONS OF PUBLIC ART THAT THIS, THESE FUNDS CAN BE SPENT ON IS IN INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC ART IN POTENTIALLY OTHER, IN CITY PARKS DOWNTOWN WEST, DOWNTOWN WEST COVINA, ALONG GLENDORA OR IN OTHER PUBLIC PLACES.

UM, ONE OF, ONE OF THE, I, ONE THING THAT STAFF IS PLANNING ON DOING IS PRESENTING, DELIVERING THE SAME PRESENTATION, SIMILAR PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHEREAS THE, UH, WE WILL DELIVER OR LET THE CITY COUNCIL KNOW ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS MADE REGARDING THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM.

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN DISCUSS ANY IDEAS ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND WHERE, UM, IN

[00:15:01]

HOWEVER, UM, UPON INVESTIGATION AFTER THE, THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SUBCOMMITTEE WAS CREATED, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SKATE PARK WAS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION, UM, AND IT NEEDED TO BE RENOVATED.

IT REQUIRES AN EXTENSIVE RENOVATION IN ORDER TO PUT THE ARTWORK THERE.

SO THAT, SO THAT PROJECT DID NOT CONTINUE OR IS NOT GONNA CONTINUE AT THIS TIME? I SO WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT ART, UM, WHEN THE ARTWORK AT ORANGEWOOD PARK WAS DISCUSSED, THE, THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SUBCOMMITTEE WAS CREATED, UM, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS TO DISCUSS IDEAS FOR POTENTIAL PUBLIC ART, WHAT KIND OF ARTWORK, UM, YOU, THEY, THEY WANTED TO SEE AND THE LOCATION.

AND, AND THEY'RE ALSO TASKED WITH REVIEWING THE ARTWORK AFTER THE ARTIST RENDERINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, BUT IT NEVER HAD HAD GOTTEN TO THAT POINT.

SO AT THAT TIME, THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSIONER, AND ONE PLANNING COMMISSIONER.

AND THERE WAS ALSO A STAFF LIAISON WITH, WITH THAT.

UM, THE PLA STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO REESTABLISH THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SUBCOMMITTEE, AND ALSO PROVIDE SOME IDEAS FOR POTENTIAL LOCATION OF PUBLIC ART.

IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER.

JOANNE, JUST CURIOUS, WHAT, UM, ARE, ARE THE, ARE THERE LIMITATIONS IN TERMS OF UTILIZING THE MONEY SOLELY FOR, UH, VISUAL ART? IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT'S INTENDED? THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO LIMITATIONS IN THE CODE.

IT CAN BE USED FOR, UM, FOR VISUAL ART OR LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, UM, LIKE AN, UH, AN ARTS PROGRAM OR CONTEST OR SOMETHING, SOMETHING OF THAT SORT.

LIKE IT CAN BE PERFORMING, PERFORMING ARTS, OR BASICALLY ANY, ANY TYPE OF ART.

IT'S NOT LIMITED TO JUST VISUAL ARTS.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

AND JUST, JUST CURIOUS, DOES THE, DOES, WHERE DOES THE ART AND EDUCATION PROGRAM AND EVENTS HAVE TO TAKE PLACE? DOES IT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE CITY? DOES IT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE ON THE PROPERTY THAT PAID THE 1% OR HALF PERCENT IN LIEU OF FEE? HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? IT DOESN'T, IT, THE CODE DOESN'T SPECIFY WHERE THE, WHERE IT HAS TO TAKE PLACE, BUT IT HAS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT THE CITY IS INVOLVED WITH.

OKAY.

THANKS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS REPORT? I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2004 AND, UM, I, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE ART.

I, MY QUESTION WAS, WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING, THAT'S JUST A QUESTION.

WOULD IT BE BETTER TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS AND, AND, UM, MAKE THEM, TO GIVE INCENTIVES FOR NEW BUSINESSES TO COME TO WEST COVINA? SOMETHING WHERE IT COULD BE USED TO THE ART IS NICE, IT'S THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, PER THE MUNICIPAL CODE, IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE USED FOR INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES TO COME.

UM, IT CAN ONLY BE USED, UH, FOR, FOR THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE PROJECTOR.

THANK YOU, JOANNE.

SO JOANNE, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE COULDN'T MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO, TO CHANGE WHAT THESE FUNDS ARE USED FOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL? NO, UM, NOT AT THIS.

YOU, YOU CAN, UM, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN THOUGHTS, UM, YOU CAN, UM, I GUESS MAKE A, THAT RECOMMENDATION, HOWEVER IT WOULD, IT, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE.

UM, SO ANY, YOU CAN VOICE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS OR YOUR THOUGHTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

HOWEVER, ULTIMATELY IT WOULD HAVE, IT WOULD REQUIRE A CODE AMENDMENT.

AND COULD THAT BE INITIATED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION

[00:20:01]

OKAY.

OKAY.

WE, THIS ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES, SECTION OF THE CODE IS NOT IN THE DEVELOPMENT CODE, SO, OR ZONING CODE.

SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH TO SEE IF THE PLANNING, IF, IF A CHANGE IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE, UM, OUT OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE, UM, CAN BE INITIATED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, TYPICALLY IT'S INITIATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

OKAY.

THANKS.

OKAY.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN THE CITY THAT WE DO HAVE VISUAL ARTWORK, UM, IT'S VERY, WE IN TERMS OF HOW AND WHAT WE USE THIS PARTICULAR FUNDS FOR.

UM, OUT OF THE 700 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND, WE'RE SPENDING 200 PLUS THOUSANDS ON PAINTING A BUILDING, WHICH IS OUR CITY HALL HERE.

UM, TO ME, ART, WHEN YOU TRAVEL, YOU SEE A PARTICULAR PIECE OF ART THAT IS SPECIALS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANNA TAKE PICTURE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANNA TAKE PICTURE OF THE CITY HALL, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT ART, ART IS, IS, IS UNIQUE AND, AND IT SHOULD LAST NOT JUST FOR A MOMENT IN TIME, BUT IT SHOULD LAST FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, BE PART OF THE CITY.

AND THAT'S, UM, WHAT, THAT'S HOW I SEE IT AS AN ART PIECE.

AND MAYBE PERHAPS IN THE FUTURES WE CAN HAVE A MEETINGS TO DISCUSS ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF ARTS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS TYPE OF FUNDS, BECAUSE THE DEVELOPERS OR THE BUSINESSES ACTUALLY PAY INTO THESE FUNDS FOR ARTWORK THAT I PRESUME THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE FUTURE IS THAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY OR, OR, OR THEY DID CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FUNDS.

YEAH.

AND I THINK TO ADD TO THAT THROUGH THE CHAIR, UH, I THINK WE COULD DO EXACTLY THAT AS PART OF TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION.

SO I THINK WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO WAIT FOR THE FUTURE TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I THINK WE COULD MAKE ANY AND ALL RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE TO A LARGE DEGREE, THAT'S WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING FOR US TO DO THAT.

SO I THINK WE COULD DO THAT TODAY WITHOUT DELAY.

SO, I MEAN, I, I, I GUESS I'LL, I'LL GO FIRST IN THAT REGARD.

AS FAR AS RECOMMENDING TO THE COUNCIL TO, UM, UTILIZE A PORTION OF THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FUNDS HERE AT CITY HALL, I WOULD SAY, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE INPUT AS TO THE, THE DESIGN OR, OR WHAT KIND OF ART, BUT I WOULD SAY YES, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE AND PRUDENT AND OVERDUE TO TRY TO SPRUCE IT UP OUT HERE A LITTLE BIT.

UM, WITH, UM, WHAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT COPPER BEING STOLEN, THAT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND NO MORE COPPER, UH, STATUES BECAUSE THEY WILL GET STOLEN.

MAYBE, UH, I'LL RECOMMEND CONCRETE STATUES.

I THINK THAT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER AND LESS OF, OF AN INCENTIVE TO MESS WITH.

UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT, I'LL ASK MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, WHAT IF, IF ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR IDEAS TO MENTION OF THE COUNCIL? I'VE SEEN THEM, I'VE SEEN THE ART AT, AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT LOOKED KIND OF AWKWARD.

I MEAN, DID IT HAVE TO BE A DEALERSHIP, GROCERY STORES? CAN WE JUST MAKE THEM LIKE CITY BUILDINGS? OR MAYBE LIKE, I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING AT THE MCINTYRE CENTER THERE.

I MEAN, THOSE, THOSE WERE THEIR LARGER, I I, I MEAN JUST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BUILDING, UH, BUSINESS TO HAVE TO PUT ONE BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, UH, CONSTRUCTED A BUILDING THERE.

SO THEY HAVE TO PUT IN A, I JUST THINK IT JUST LOOKS AWKWARD.

I MEAN, HAVE THEM, IF THEY, IF YOU, THEY, THERE'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DONATE OR PERFECT TOWARDS THEIR BUSINESS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING THERE, THEN HAVE IT GO TOWARDS AN ACCOUNT OR FOR INCENTIVES FOR, TO BRING BUSINESSES IN.

I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, I SEE SOME OF THEM AND THEY DO LOOK VERY NICE.

UH, I JUST THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR SOME, SOME BUILDINGS.

I AGREE.

THAT'S MY OPINION.

I AGREE.

I THINK ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS THOUGH, IS THAT THE FUND ITSELF IS ONLY AN IN LIEU OF FUND.

SO IF, IF SOME BUILDER COMES

[00:25:01]

SO THAT'S, THAT'S SORT OF THE INHERENT CATCH 22.

LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE DEALERSHIPS.

I AGREE WITH YOU, IT LOOKS AWKWARD, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, AND AGAIN, THAT WAS THEIR DECISION.

THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO PUT IN THE, UH, WELL, CAN THAT THE ACTUAL, WELL, CAN THAT BE, I MEAN, ARTWORK, YOU KNOW, UM, CAN THEY RE-LOOK AT IT AND, AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT A MANDATORY INSTEAD OF ART, MAKE IT MANDATORY TO PUT OUR OTHER BUSINESSES, IT IT'S BUSINESS'S CONTRIBUTING TO FUTURE BUSINESSES? WELL, I DON'T THINK WE COULD DO THAT, BECAUSE TYPICALLY THAT TYPE OF FUND COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH CBDG.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE TWO DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO COMMINGLE.

SO FOR BUSINESSES AREN'T PAYING FOR THAT, NO, NO GRANTS THAT TRICKLE DOWN FROM THE FEDS TO, TO US TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ASSIST WITH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, WHETHER I, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOMES OR WHETHER IT'S HELPING FUND NEW BUSINESSES THROUGH GRANTS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THAT'S A SPECIAL POT OF MONEY THAT COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE FEDS.

THIS IS A POT OF MONEY THAT GETS, AS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WAS DISCUSSED, IT, IT, IT GETS CREATED BY WAY OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.

SO I, I THINK TO SOME EXTENT IT WOULD BE KIND OF INAPPROPRIATE TO SAY TO A BUSINESS, HEY, YOU'RE GONNA FUND THIS NEW POT OF GOLD, AND BY THE WAY, THAT BUSINESS IS GONNA GET THAT AGAIN.

SO, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY COMING FROM ONE BUSINESS TO ANOTHER.

SO I THINK, UM, I, I LIKE THAT IDEA, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THE FUNDING OF BUSINESSES TO, TO THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME OUR WAY FOR THAT PURPOSE ALSO, BECAUSE IT'S A FEE, AND YOU'D BE CHANGING THE, UH, THE PURPOSE OF THE FEE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, BUT IT'S, WHAT IS IT? PROP TWO SOMETHING I ALWAYS FORGET TWO 18.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, BECAUSE IT'S A A, A FEE, IT WOULD REQUIRE, UM, POTENTIAL INPUT, AND DEPENDING ON HOW IT WAS STRUCTURED, IT WOULD POTENTIALLY EVEN HAVE TO BE VOTED ON BY THE, THE CITIZENS OF THE, OF WEST COVINA, UH, IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY AGREED WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY CATCH 22.

WITH THAT, MY, I I DID, I DID WANT TO COMMENT, UM, ON SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU SAID, UM, WITH REGARD TO STATUES, I, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I, I'VE SEEN ALL OF THE STATUE WORK THAT THAT'S GONE INTO TO SORT OF PUBLIC ARTWORK, UH, IN THE CITY.

AND I MEAN, REALLY THE ONLY, THE ONLY STUFF THAT HAS ANY, YOU KNOW, REDEEMING VALUE, I THINK WOULD BE, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, BECAUSE IT, IT ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING UNIQUE AND MEANINGFUL AND NOT SOME BANAL, YOU KNOW, OH, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, RANDOM FAMILY.

LIKE, OKAY, WHO CARES? UM, IS, IS THE STUFF UP AT, UM, AT THE HEIGHTS OR, OR, I, I THINK THE, THE BIG HORSE STATUE AT MCINTYRE SQUARE IS PRETTY COOL TOO.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE, THE VETERANS WALL, OF COURSE.

BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WITH REGARD TO THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE VETERANS WALL, I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE IS KIND OF JUST, I MEAN, WHAT CONNECTION DOES IT HAVE? IT, IT, IT, IT MAKES IT FEEL JUST SORT OF LIKE, HEY, WE HAD TO PUT AN ART PROJECT HERE, SO HERE, LET'S PUT IN SOME RANDOM, YOU KNOW, I I I, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD BUT , TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S JUST, IT'S GOT ZERO APPEAL TO ME.

SO, I MEAN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YEAH, I, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I THINK WE'RE KIND OF, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF CD INTO CONTINUING ON THIS, THIS PROGRAM.

I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, THERE'D BE PLENTY OF DIFFERENT COOL THINGS WE COULD DO.

WE COULD DO LIKE A MUSICAL ROAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, HONESTLY, I I, I, I THINK WE COULD DO BETTER THINGS THAN, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST RANDOM, UH, YOU KNOW, RANDOM FAMILY ARTWORK OR JOE SCHMOE'S KID PLAYING AT THE PARK.

YOU KNOW, WHO CARES? SORRY, I, I, I HATE TO SOUND SO GLIB ABOUT IT, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IT, IT HAS ZERO CITY CONNECTION TO ME, AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT ANYONE IN OUR CITY'S GOING TO REMEMBER 50 YEARS FROM NOW IN ANY MEANINGFUL SENSE.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE THE AIRPLANE PARK.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT AIRPLANE PARK IS, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THAT HAS SOME CONNECTION TO THE CITY.

RIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE REMEMBERS THE, THE DECAPITATED STATUES.

, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY.

UH, SO, I MEAN, I WOULD JUST SAY LET'S STAY AWAY FROM STATUES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, I I I, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THEY STAND THE TEST OF TIME ALL THAT.

WELL, I MEAN, THE PROBLEM IS, IS AS YOU'RE SAYING, COPPER, BRONZE, PEOPLE STEAL THIS STUFF.

PEOPLE RUN INTO IT, PEOPLE TRY TO PULL IT DOWN WITH CARS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER STUFF.

HONESTLY, IT'S JUST AN

[00:30:01]

AND SOMEBODY'S GONNA DO SOMETHING STUPID, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OUR SOCIETY JUST HAS LOST ITS WAY TO SOME DEGREE, WHERE WE HAVE A, A LARGE ENOUGH CONTINGENT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BRING THESE THINGS DOWN PURPOSELESS ANYWAY.

BUT BEYOND THAT, I MEAN, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY ON IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SENT OUT AN RFP ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN ARTWORK, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN GET ANY BIDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, IT'S NOT WORKING WITH RE WITH REGARD TO THIS PROGRAM.

SO I THINK IT NEEDS WHOLESALE CHANGES, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO, I, I, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK I, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE PUBLIC INPUT, BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT COMING AT ANY POINT IN TIME.

I MEAN, ULTIMATELY IT'S PROBABLY JUST GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S DESIGNATED TO SOMEBODY INTERNALLY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE GET SOME REPORT FROM SOME CONSULTANT THAT SAYS, WE NEED TO DO THIS OR THAT, AND REALISTICALLY IT'S NOT GONNA END UP BEING ALL THAT MUCH BETTER.

SO, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHT IS LET'S, LET'S LOOK FOR SOME CREATIVE IDEAS.

UM, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T CARE.

MUSICAL ROAD SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

LET'S DO THAT.

LET'S DO SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S ACTUALLY CREATIVE.

THAT ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO GO TO SEE THE ARTWORK FOR, OR LISTEN TO THE ARTWORK OR EXPERIENCE THE ARTWORK AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST RANDOM DROLL THAT WE'RE DRIVING BY IN OUR CARS.

SO YOU'RE SAYING SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT ON WIKIPEDIA? YEAH.

SOUNDS GOOD.

LET'S DO THAT.

I, I, I GOT AN IDEA IS, IS THAT LIMITED ONLY TO LIKE, ART PIECES? CAN IT BE LIKE A, A, A NICE BOTANICAL GARDEN THAT'S KIND OF ARTSY AND, AND IT'S INVITING TO OUR, OUR, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WHERE THEY WANT TO GO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY, THEIR KIDS, AND BRING UP, YOU KNOW, MAKE MEMORIES THERE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN MAKE LIKE AN ART GARDEN AND, AND JUST HAVE MAYBE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OR THINGS PLACED IN THERE THAT'S ARTSY.

SO IT KIND OF DRIVES THE, THE MIND, YOU KNOW, STIMULATES THEIR MINDS.

UH, TODAY'S YOUTH OR ELDER GENERATION, GO RELAX, ENJOY IT, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS.

UH, I, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A THOUGHT ART GALLERY OR SOMETHING.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? GARDEN? UM, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF A GALLERY, NOT EVERYBODY'S GONNA WANT TO GO TO AN ART GALLERY.

'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S INTERESTED IN ART, BUT, YOU KNOW, PARK SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN GO RELAX ON WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO GET OUT AND, AND MAKE MEMORIES.

I MEAN, THE, THE AIRPLANE PARK, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT BECAUSE US AS ALL KIDS THAT GREW UP IN THIS AREA, THAT'S WHERE WE USED TO GO HANG OUT, WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE COOLEST PARKS WE'D GROW UP AND GO TO.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING FOR OUR NEXT GENERATIONS TO COME.

SO THEY, THEY HAVE PLACES TO GO AND MAKE MEMORIES AND REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK A PIECE OF ART IS UNIQUE IN ITSELF AND UNIQUE TO THE PERSON WHO'S LOOKING AT IT AS WELL.

THAT'S WHY IT'S IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

HOWEVER, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE INCIDENT THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE THAT DECAPITATED THE BRONZE, UH, STATUE DOESN'T MAKE US TO NOT HAVE IT.

OR HAVING THE STA BRONZE STATUES AT THE MCINTYRE UH, SHOPPING CENTER IS NICE, BUT NOT NICE AT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

TALK ABOUT FUTURE, FUTURE WISE, RIGHT? FUTURE WISE, I THINK ARTWORK IS UNIQUE.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON AND THE BUSINESSES SPEND SO MUCH ON BEING ON IT, HOWEVER, THEY KIND OF LIKE DESTROY THAT PIECES.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE NEED TO, UM, COMPLY TO THE BEHAVIOR.

'CAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE ALL THE RESIDENTS BAD.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH MORE ARTWORKS AND HAVE DIFFERENT TYPE OF ARTWORKS SO THAT, I KNOW THIS PROGRAM JUST STARTED IN 2004.

SOME CITY HAVE THIS TYPE OF ARTWORK A HUNDRED YEARS.

I MEAN, SINA HAS BEEN AROUND A HUNDRED YEARS.

SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH THE ART PROGRAM SINCE 2004.

SO IT'S VERY INFANT.

IT'S, IT'S VERY INFANT IN, IN, IN THE PROGRAM ITSELF.

SO I THINK THE MORE WE HAVE IT, THE MORE UNIQUE AS YOU WALK AROUND OR DRIVE AROUND, YOU SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I SEE THIS PIECE OF ART THAT I LIKE VERSUS NOT HAVING ANYTHING OR LIMITING ARTWORKS TO, HOW WOULD I WANNA SAY IT? I MEAN, ART IS A PIECE OF ART.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, YOU JUST CAN'T LIMIT IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPE OF ARTS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE, OR, YEAH, WE SHOULD HAVE OR NOT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT, BUT I THINK, I MEAN, WE SHOULD RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE

[00:35:01]

THE NEXT, NO, THE NEXT STEP IS, IT'S IMPORTANT, IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A PAY COMMISSION.

THE STATUE THAT HAS TO BE, THEY GOT CUT OFF AT THE FEET.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNITY, A BAD PERSON DOESN'T MEAN LI WE SHOULD LIMIT AND NOT HAVE THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHY I SAID THE NEXT STEP IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE REESTABLISHED THE ART COMMISSION.

HAVING SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY COME UP WITH THINK THE ALICE AND PAINTED BRONZE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST, WE'RE JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE JUST TO DETER THE THEFT OF THEM.

I, I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, THE SKY'S, AND REALLY THE SKY'S THE LIMIT, BUT I WOULD SAY TO SOMEONE, IF YOU WANT USE BRONZE, GO FOR IT.

MAKE SOMEONE SOME SIDE CASH.

UM, IT'S NOT JUST WEST COVINA THAT IT HAPPENS IN IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, IT'S HAPPENING AS WELL.

SO YEAH, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST BRONZE OR, OR COPPER OR ANY, ANY METAL REALLY.

IT'S JUST, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE IF I WERE TO BUILD ART, I PROBABLY WOULD KIND OF SHY AWAY FROM THAT.

'CAUSE I KNOW I WOULD BE INVITING, UM, UH, RISK, I GUESS I COULD SAY.

I MEAN, I, I ACTUALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY OFFICE IN COVINA, UM, COPPER STATUE GOT STOLEN OFF THE CORNER OF SECOND IN PADILLA.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S, YEAH, NOT TO SAY DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN, BUT IT'S LIKE, HEY, I MEAN, IF YOU BURN YOUR HAT ON THE HOT STOVE, YOU KIND OF GOTTA LEARN, LIKE, MAYBE DON'T DO THAT AGAIN.

BUT, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE SKY'S LIMITED IN ANYTHING'S OPEN.

I, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

ONE THING I'VE NOTICED FROM A LOT OF CITIES IS A LOT OF ART IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

MM-HMM .

I WOULD SAY, LET'S TRY TO, IF POSSIBLE, SHY AWAY FROM INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE ART PROJECTS.

'CAUSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT LESS AND SEE IF WE COULD LOOK AT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING FOR ART THAT WOULD, WE WOULD GET THE MOST, LIKE EVERYONE'S DISCUSSING MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK AND SOMETHING LASTING, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? YES, ALL OF THE ABOVE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S, I GUESS THIS IS A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER DAY FOR, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS, AND PART OF, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, UH, TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT SHEENA WAS SAYING, SHEENA WAS SAYING, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, TO RE BRING BACK OR REESTABLISH A COMMISSION, I THINK WE'RE, IF WE WANNA MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE COULD RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL TO REINITIATE THAT AND TO CONSIDER THAT.

'CAUSE THAT'S THE, THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF OUR REPORT, AND THAT'S THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO US ANYWAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

CHAIR, IF I MAY.

SO IF, IF THE CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHES A PUBLIC, UM, ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SUBCOMMITTEE, UM, AND IT, BASED ON WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED OR EXPRESSED SO FAR, UM, THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD NOT JUST BE LIMITED TO, TO, UM, TO REVIEWING VISUAL ARTS, UM, AND COMING UP WITH VISUAL ARTS IDEAS.

THEY, IT, IT COULD ALSO EVOLVE, UM, IN, IN, IN DIS THEY CAN ALSO DISCUSS, UM, PERFORMING ARTS IDEAS OR ID THAT COMMISSIONER LEWIS HAD PRESENTED MUSICAL ROAD AND, AND, AND SO FORTH.

IT'S, IT'S JUST A, UM, I GUESS A SMALLER, UM, GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT, THAT ARE IN THE COUNCIL SENIOR, UM, COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AND IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO THAT YOU CAN, UM, COME IN AND, AND DISCUSS YOUR IDEAS SO THAT YOU CAN, SO THAT IT CAN BE PRESENTED LATER ON TO THE RESPECTIVE COMMISSION OR, OR, AND, AND OR CITY COUNCIL.

SO IT'S, IS THERE A QUESTION THERE? ? SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, SO WHAT WOULD BE, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE MEETING TIME AND EVERYTHING FOR THIS ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES SUBCOMMITTEE? I, I'M, I GUESS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS, LOOK, WE HAVE A BAD ENOUGH TIME IN THIS CITY GETTING PEOPLE TO COME TO ANY MEETINGS.

OKAY.

MUCH LESS CITY COUNCIL OR PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST FOUR PEOPLE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC ART, I GOTTA BE HONEST WITH YOU, I, I AM NOT EXACTLY ENAMORED WITH THE IDEA OF SAYING, PIGEONHOLING IT INTO THE HANDS OF FOUR PEOPLE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GETS BROUGHT UP TO PLANNING AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT UP AT CITY COUNCIL AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO RUBBER STAMP IT.

UH, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

[00:40:01]

SO, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE, IF THE CONCERN IS, HEY, WE NEED TO HAVE LESS THAN A QUORUM OF, OF EACH OF THESE ENTITIES, THEN, YOU KNOW, FINE.

HAVE, HAVE TWO PLANNING COMMISSIONERS HAVE FOUR, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES, OR COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSIONER, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LEAST YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET IDEAS, HOPEFULLY, THAT ARE, THAT ARE FLOWING FROM, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN JUST ONE PERSON.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN ON ALL OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE, I'VE SEEN HOW SUBCOMMITTEES PLAY OUT AND IT, IT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.

I MEAN, NOBODY GOES TO TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.

IT WAS AT THREE O'CLOCK TODAY.

WHY? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE GETTING OUTTA SCHOOL, PARENTS ARE PICKING THEM UP, PEOPLE ARE AT WORK.

IT'S THE MOST RIDICULOUS TIME TO HAVE A MEETING IN THE WORLD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DO IT ANYWAY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SAME, SAME WITH WHATEVER SUBCOMMITTEE WE'RE GONNA CREATE.

I MEAN, I, I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S SILLINESS.

LET'S MAKE IT AT A TIME WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO.

IT'S, IT'S WELL PUBLICIZED BY COUNCIL, BY US, BY COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES AND HAVE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CILS.

I I, IS IT POSSIBLE, I MEAN, I, I'M NEW TO THIS, I'M KIND OF ASKING THE QUESTIONS AS WELL.

WHAT ABOUT HAVING LIKE A CONTEST WITH THE COMMUNITY? YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A, LET'S SAY A A A SOME KIND OF REWARD OR PRIZE MONEY, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT THEIR BEST IDEAS, AND THEN US AS THE COMMISSION OR COUNCIL, WHOEVER NEEDS TO LOOK IT OVER.

WE, WE, WE VOTE ON WHAT WE LIKE.

I MEAN, WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT SOMEONE OUT THERE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER IDEA OR ANSWER THAN, THAN US AND GIVE US A GREAT IDEA FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY, THEY HAVE TO BE SOMEONE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO, TO, TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.

I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW.

WE COULD, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THROUGH THE CHAIR, WE COULD MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER DOING IT IN THAT FASHION.

I MEAN, RIGHT HERE, THE STAFF REPORT REC REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDS FROM US TO ALREADY RECOMMEND THE POTENTIAL ARTWORK RIGHT NOW.

BUT AS WE'RE FINDING, IT IS KIND OF CHALLENGING TO COME UP WITH THE RIGHT THING.

SO I THINK OUR RECOMMENDATION COULD BE PARTIALLY WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED AND ADDITIONALLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HERE ON THE COMMISSION THINKS COULD KIND OF COMPLETE THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.

SO YEAH, I THINK WE, WE CAN AND SHOULD DO WHAT YOU JUST SUGGESTED AND GO FROM THERE.

SHERIFF, I MAY, SO ALL THE IDEAS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED TODAY, I CAN GO AHEAD AND PREP, UM, LIST THAT IN A STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

OKAY.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANK YOU, JOANNA.

OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NON-HEARING

[3. 2024/2025 ANNUAL REPORT ON SERVICE STATIONS GRANTED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW BEER AND WINE SALES FOR OFF-SITE CONSUMPTION (Part 1 of 2)]

UH, THIS IS ONE WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

I THINK , UH, IT CAUSED SO MUCH OF A, A DISCUSSION WHEN WE WERE FIRST LOOKING AT TO PASS OR TO, TO GIVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

THIS IS FOR THE 20 24, 20 25 ANNUAL REPORT ON SERVICE STATIONS.

GRANTED A CON CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, UH, TO ALLOW BEER AND WINE SALES FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION.

SO I YOU HAVE A STAFF REPORT FOR THAT, JOANNE? YES.

I'LL, I'LL BE DELIVERING THE STAFF REPORT TO THIS ONE AS WELL.

SO A BIT OF HISTORY HERE ON, ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2023, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ORDINANCE IN 25, 20 FIFTH, 25 15, UM, WHICH ALLOWED ALCOHOL, UM, MAINLY BEER ONLY BEER AND WINE SALES, UH, IN SERVICE STATION CONVENIENCE STORES, UH, WITH AN APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WITH CERTAIN PERFORMANCE MEASURES OR STANDARDS.

UM, SINCE THAT TIME, THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WE, THIS, UM, THE CITY, CITY STAFF, THE PLANNING DIVISION HAS RECEIVED SIX APPLICATIONS AND HAVE HAS PRESENTED THOSE SIX APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY, TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS APPROVED, UM, ALL SIX APPLICATIONS THUS FAR.

UM, SORRY, BASED ON THOSE THREE APPLICA, UM, SIX APPLICATIONS, ONLY THREE APP THREE LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED OR HAVE BEEN ISSUED A, A, UH, LICENSE BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL.

SO, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GO OVER THOSE LOCATIONS.

UM, 12 0 9 SOUTH SUNSET AVENUE, IT'S A CHEVRON, UH, A BC ISSUED THEIR, THEIR ALCOHOL LICENSE ON APRIL 29TH, 2024.

THEY WERE STAFF

[00:45:01]

UM, AND FOR ALL THREE LOCATIONS, STAFF CONTACTED THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT AND ASKED IF THEY CAN PROVIDE US ANY, ANY RECORDS OR IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS REGARDING, REGARDING, UM, THESE BUSINESSES OR IF THERE THERE'S BEEN ANY ALCOHOL RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE SINCE, UM, FOR THE LAST YEAR AT THESE LOCATIONS.

AND NONE OF, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY CODE ENFORCEMENT STATED THAT NONE OF THE THREE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED A, B, C LICENSES, UM, HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH ANY, WITH BOTH DEPARTMENTS.

SO IN, UM, BACK TO THE CHEVRON, UM, THEY COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.

THEY HAVE 11, UM, REFRIGERATED OR REFRIGERATORS COOLERS, AND THREE OF THOSE PICTURED ALONG HERE, UM, IS OCCUPIED BEER BY BEER AND WINE.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE A SECTION ON THE SIDE WITH, WITH, UM, WINE AND THEN 2, 2 46 NORTH CITRUS AVENUE.

IT'S A MOBILE.

UM, THEIR A BC LICENSE WAS ISSUED IN JUNE 7TH, 2024.

UM, AND THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE, UM, BARREN WINE, UM, IN FOUR, UM, COOLER REFRIGERATORS, UM, TOWARDS THE SIDE OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S SHOWN ON THE PHOTOGRAPH.

SO IT'S LIMITED TO THAT.

THIS AREA IN THE BACK WHERE THEY'RE SHOWING, UM, LOCATION IS BEER AND WINE LOCATION IS, IS, UH, NOT ACCESSIBLE TO, TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S JUST WHERE THEY STORE IT.

HOWEVER, THESE, THESE FOUR REFRIGERATOR COOLER IS, IS PART OF THEIR DISPLAY AREA.

SO WHEN SITE, WHEN STAFF WENT OUT THERE TO GO DO AN INSPECTION, UM, I, I FOUND THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, WITH THE FLOOR PLAN, UM, AND WITH THEIR APPROVED PLANS.

THE OTHER LOCATION IS, UM, 1 3, 3 3 WEST MERCED AVENUE IS THE ARCO.

THEY GOT ISSUED THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE OF IN ON JANUARY 30TH OF THIS YEAR.

UM, I WENT TO THE SITE, UM, AND, AND TOOK SOME PICTURES AND THEY, THEY TOO ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, WITH, UM, THEIR CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.

THEY ARE, THEY ONLY HAVE AT THE MOMENT, THEY, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ALCOHOL DISPLAY AREAS IN, IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CONVENIENCE STORE AT THE MOMENT, THEY ONLY HAVE, UM, ALCOHOL DISPLAY, UM, IN TWO OF THEIR COOLERS, WHICH IS THESE TWO.

WITH THAT, UM, THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.

IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER.

SO WERE THE OTHER THREE DENIED? THE OTHER THREE WERE NOT DENIED.

UM, THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ISSUED THEIR A B, C LICENSE YET.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER? NO.

OKAY.

UM, COMMISSION REPORTS, COMMENTS,

[COMMISSION REPORTS/COMMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS]

I WAS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 28TH TO, UM, OBSERVE IT AND SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.

AND JUST GOING OVER THE, UH, ITEMS THEY WANT TO, OR I GUESS OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO ADD, UM, TO THE PARKS, WHATEVER THEY RECOMMEND.

AND, AND PRETTY MUCH THEY'RE TAKING OUT A TALLY, I GUESS, AND THEY'LL COMPILE IT AFTER, I'M GUESSING AFTER THE THIRD MEETING.

JOANNE, WERE THERE ANY ITEMS? UM, SORRY.

UH, IN THE AGENDA

[APPOINTMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEE FOR DESIGN REVIEW REPRESENTATIVES (TWO PLANNING COMMISSIONERS)]

OH YES.

MEMBERS.

OKAY.

TONIGHT WE'RE SELECTING TWO MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SERVE ON THE DESIGN

[00:50:01]

UH, THERE, ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS OR VOLUNTEERS? I WAS ON IT THE LAST TIME AND I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THE DESIGN REVIEW.

I WOULD LIKE TO AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE, I WILL SECOND BOTH OF YOU ALL THIRD.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THANK YOU'VE BOTH FOR VOLUNTEERING FOR THAT .

OKAY.

UM, LET'S SEE.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT? OH, NO.

SO THAT'S ON THAT ITEM AS WELL.

COMMUNITY

[COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S REPORT]

JOANNE, DO YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS TO REPORT? UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL, UM, MAINLY COMMUNITY EVENTS.

UM, THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WILL BE STARTING SOON.

UM, THE FIRST ONE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 18TH.

UM, AND IT'S EVERY WEDNESDAY THROUGH JULY 30TH EXCEPT FOR JULY 2ND.

AND THERE'S GONNA BE LIVE MUSIC, UM, FOOD AND DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT VENDORS AND A LOT OF FUN.

UM, SO WE'RE IN INVITE, WE'RE INVITING THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO ATTEND THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES.

UM, THE, ON JULY 4TH, THE CITY IS GOING TO BE HOSTING ONE OF, ITS ONE OF OUR LARGEST EVENTS, UM, WHICH IS ON 4TH OF JULY, FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR AT THE WEST COVINA SPORTSPLEX.

UM, WE ARE ALSO, THIS, THE CITY IS ALSO WORKING ON A PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.

THE NEXT WORKSHOP FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, UM, WOULD BE WORKSHOP NUMBER THREE.

AND IT WILL BE HELD ON JULY 7TH.

UM, IT IS FROM 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM AT THE WEST COVINA SPORTSPLEX.

UM, AND UM, ONE, WE HAVE LYDIA DARA HERE TODAY.

UM, LYDIA IS A, A FRIEND.

LYDIA, CAN YOU STAND UP PLEASE? LYDIA IS THE PLANNING DEV DIVISION OR COMMUNITY SERV, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

UM, SENIOR ADMINISTER, ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, SE SENIOR, UM, SORRY, , IT'S GETTING, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN SERVING THE, THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS AND SHE HAD FILED FOR RETIREMENT AND HER LAST DAY WILL BE ON JULY 3RD WORKING FOR THE CITY.

UM, LYDIA IS VERY HELPFUL.

UM, SHE IS SUCH A ASSET TO THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT.

UM, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, UM, SINCE COVID.

UM, SHE HAS BEEN STAYING BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT SHE HAS BEEN THE PERSON PREPARING THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA AND ALSO THE MINUTES.

SO WE WISH LYDIA GOOD LUCK ON HER RETIREMENT AND WE WILL MISS HER GREATLY.

THANK YOU LYDIA, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.