Minutes 79-10-01MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL
HELD
October 1, 1979
371
The adjourned regular meeting of the Cypress City Council was called to order at
6:45 p.m. on Monday, October 1, 1979 in the Administrative Conference Room of the
Cypress City Hall, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, California, ~ayor Howard Rowan
presiding.
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Councilmembers Evans, Hudson, Lacayo and Rowan
Councilwoman MacLain
Mayor Rowan announced that there were two items on the agenda for the joint
meeting with the Senior Citizens Ad Hoc Committee and the Recreation and Community
Services Commission, and he asked if anyone wished to add items to the agenda.
COUNCILWOMAN MACLAIN ARRIVED AT 6:46 P.M.
Councilman Lacayo reported that he was advised by residents of problems existing
at the Albertson's/Mervyn's shopping center at Valley View and Ball relating to
truck deliveries at night and street sweeping occurring on the property in the
earlv morning hours. The residents expressed concern over the disturbances.
The Council requested that staff prepare a report identifying the nature and the
source of the problems in this area.
CONTINUATION OF CONSIDERATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AD }{OC COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION:
The staff presented a report dated October 1 which provided an update of the senior
citizen committee's recommendation regarding a senior citizen facility. The
report described the Cypress Elementary School facilities as an alternative site
for th? seniors center. Chairman Darrell Hayes of thc ad hoc committee described
the school facilities and indicated they appeared adequate for the seniors' needs
and also would allow for future expansion.
Recreation Commissioner Swain expressed support for the committee's proposal and
indicated the Cypress School building is sound and would be adequate for the
seniors' activities. She reported there is pending State legislation which would
encourage school districts to renovate and lease rather than sell their buildings.
Commissioner Swain felt a cooperative effort with the School District was necessary
and she encouraged the senior citizens committee to contact the District immediately
and make their desires known. She reported the School Board would soon be con-
sidering the matter of school closures and possible sale of school properties.
She reported that Cypress School is owned by the Cypress School District and
was not built with State monies. With regard to the Landell School as a possible
site, the staff felt there would be problems associated with a lease because
of the direct State control of the site. The City Manager indicated that Cypress
School was a preferable location because of the possibility of a long-term
agreement between the local City/School District agencies. Mayor Rowan felt
a long-term arrangement would be advantageous since it would provide planning
time in case the building must be converted back to a school to meet future
student population growth. He felt Cypress School's potential for meeting a
wider range of community needs should be addressed.
Councilman Hudson felt the ad hoc committee should evalnate where is the best
location for the seniors facility. He felt ownership of a facility would be
more advantageous than a lease agreement which could be subject to change.
Councilman Lacayo felt it would be difficult for the seniors group to obtain
Federal funding unless they had an existing site to present in their proposal
and included the terms of a lease agreement. Councilman Hudson suggested that
Cypress School could be an interim site for senior activities which they might
lease on a month-to-month basis with them performing only minimum upgrading to
the building, while the committee pursues a further evaluation of its needs and
a suitable site. He did not feel the Community Center site could handle future
growth of the senior activities because of the many programs already conducted
there. Councilman Lacayo felt the issue to be addressed is whether sustaining
City Council Minutes October 1, 1979
372
funds would be available for a seniors facility, not just one-time funding, in
view of Proposition 13 cutbacks and the possibility of more in the future.
Mayor Rowan also felt it was risky to rely on State or Federal funding and he
noted the City will also be facing the impact of the Gann initiative. He felt
that if the C~ty proceeds with the seniors progrem tLen it should count on one-
time funding only. He stated he liked the idea of the school site.
Mr. Don Moonier, a member of the audience, asked questfons relative to the needs
of the senior citizens group and whether their needs could be met by programs
elsewhere. Members of the seniors group indicated that they have insufficient
time during the day to spend at the Commnnity Center because of the other gronps
using the building.
Councilwoman Evans asked for clarification of the ad hoc committee's recommendation.
The members indicated their first priority was the Cypress School site and the
second was the Community Center. Councilwoman Evans felt there were alternatives
which had not been explored, such as other sites or temporary facilities, and
she recommended that a determination be made on the availability of the Cypress
School site and the availability of the County funding. Sbe stated she would
like to be assured of what funding is available, particularly sustaining funds.
Councilwoman Evans suggested the possibility of a west Orange County regional
senior citizens center and also finding out what other cities have done to provide
seniors services. Mayor Rowan suggested that the study f~cus on a facility whi,~l~
wouTd serve compatible con~nu~£y programs and be felt other options for funding
may be available if a project is not restricted to senior citizens.
it was moved by Councilwoman Evans, seconded by Councilman Hudson and unanimously
carried to direct staff to prepare a report explo~ing all alternatives for a
senior citizens center including an analysis of what fuading sources are availab]eo
RECESS: Mayor Rowan called a recess at 8:05 p.m. The meeting was called back
to order at 8:15 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
CONTINUATION OF CONSIDERATION OF SCHOOL MINI-PARK MAINTENANCE: The staff pre-
sented a report dated August 21 concerning this matter wbich transmitted a commun[--
cation from the Cypress School District Board of Trustees dated ~June 22, 1979.
The letter outlined a list of requests to the Cypress Recreation and Park District;
in exchange for the School District maintaining and providing for public access
to the mini-parks located at Cawthon, Damron, K~ng and Vessels School~.
The Council and Commission held general discussion regarding tbe terms as outlil~ed
by the School Board. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilwoman Evans,
seconded by Councilman Hudson and unanimously carried that the City Connci],
acting as the ex officio Board of Directors of the Cypress Recreation and Park
District, approve the requests of the Cypress School District as outlined in
their June 22, 1979 letter, which would require the Recreation and Park District
to perform the following in exchange for the School District maintaining the
grounds and continuing the availability of the mini-parks to the public:
(1) Remove any tables, barbecues on the sites and continue maintenance of
play equipment at all mini-parks.
(2) Install a lO-foot gate in the south fence for equipment ac~ess at the
Cawthon mini-park.
(3)
Install a fence along the north boundary, install a pedestrian gate in
the north fence, and install a lO-foot gate in the south fence for equip-
ment access at the Damron mini-park.
(4) Replace the small gate on the east fence with a 10-foot gate for equip-
ment access at the King mini-park.
(5) Install a 10-foot gate on the west fence for equipment access at the
Vessels mini-park.
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City Council Minutes October 1, 1979 373
Councilman Hudson requested that the Recreation Commission make a study of how
to maximize funding for the maintenance and treatment of problems at parksites.
The Recreation Director stated the Council would receive a report at their
October 9 meeting from the Commission who would be recommending the reinstitution
of the Park Ranger program and the employment of additional maintenance personnel.
Councilman Hudson also suggested that consideration be given to assigning per-
sonnel to specific parksites as a means to improve productivity. Mr. Bryant
reported that personnel are assigned at the two large parksites. Councilman
Hudson reported that on a recent weekend he noticed a large group of young people
cleaning one of the parks. The staff reported the group may have been working
through the County juvenile program. Councilman Hudson requested a staff report
on the possibility of the Park District providing leadership for such a program
and employing youths from the local high school. Mayor Rowan requested that
staff prepare a report on the feasibility of constructing a community center
building at Cypress-Arnold Park.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Rowan adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS
ATTEST:
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