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Minutes 80-10-06MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR ~ETING OF THE CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL HELD October 6, 1980 The adjourned regular meeting of the Cypress City Council was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 1980, in the auditorium of Patton Elementary School, 6861 Santa Rita, Garden Grove, California, Mayor Vickie Evans presiding. PRESENT: ABSENT: Councilmembers Coronado, Lacayo, Mullen, Rowan & Evans None Also present were Darrell Essex, City Manager/City Clerk, Orbrey Duke, Chief of Police, Marvin DeCarlo, Director of Recreation & Parks, and Police Captain Robertson. PLEDCE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Evans led the pledge to the flag. Mayor Evans announced that the Council meeting was called in order for the resi- dents in the vicinity of Peppertree Park to make the Council aware of the nature of the problems they are experiencing. She asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak. Mr..Jack Smith, 6892 Reefton, Cypress, felt the greatest problem was speeding by teenagers in the tract. He stated this is dangerous for small children at play in the area. He reported the teens drink while riding their bicycles on the street, and he felt the teens lived in the neighborhood. He stated the homeowners are disgusted with the situation. He reported the Police have done a good job, there has been improvement since the last neighborhood meeting, the teens have slowed down, but they have also moved to another area so the problem has only been relocated, not resolved. He reported the same group of about 15 teens is involved. He felt a lack of discipline by parents was the problem. Mr. Smith reported the teens blew out a light on his car, called him obscene names and threatened to repeat the action. Mr. Smith indicated he would protect himself if he has to on his own property. He reported some of the teens are from sur- rounding cities, some from the neighborhood; it is not an organized gang. He stated he felt some of their parents just did not care. Chief Duke stated the Police Department knows many of the teens and several have alreody been to court for offenses. He stated it is difficult to file charges regarding an unfit home or parents not caring for their children. ~r. Joe Micus, 6797 Reefton, a homeowner in the area for nine years, felt the speeding problem began after Reefton was opened up to the new Tempo tract. He suggested the closure of Reefton at Scandia to stop cars from speeding around the corner. He stated it is difficult to get the license number of speeding cars. He reported he works at night and sleeps during the day and he hears car and motorcycle noise all day long. ~lr. Micus reported the problem has improved with the added police patrol. He stated the most critical time is when elementary children get out of school; the speeding is dangerous for them. Councilman Lacayo inquired about placing more stop signs in the area. Chief Duke reported the Police Department conducted speed checks; the average speed was 30 mph and that included speeding by adults, not only the teens. He indicated motorists may not obey stop signs. He indicated traffic and speed counts were necessary to determine the need for stop signs. He stated stop signs may increase noise from cars which are squealing to a stop. Mr. John Johnson, 6759 Tahiti, stated the speeding is dangerous for children at play, they have no protection, lie suggested that warning reflectors be placed in the street where it curves into Halawa. Mrs. Lucy Troltsch, 11652 Luau Lane, reported there is speeding around the three curved streets in her neighborhood and there are many parked cars on the street which could be damaged. She reported parked cars have been hit by speeders. Chief Duke reported that if a car is bit, the speeding driver will be cited after the police report is reviewed by a Traffic Officer. City Council Minutes October 6, 1980 Mrs. Irma Gamez, 6852 Reefton, reported that six months ago while driving down the street at 10 mph a driver on the wrong side of the road hit her head-on. She reported that during the last two weeks a neighbor had a bike stolen, another had the real estate sign burned down, and her home has been vandalized. She reported her children have been threatened and offered marijuana. She stated it is unsafe for children to play at the park and at school. Mrs. Trolt$ch inquired about the discontinuation of supervised recreation programs at Peppertree Park during the summer. ~lr. DeCarlo reported that because of budget cuts only five parks have three day per week supervision and this is provided at parks which have the highest registration in youth sports activities. Mrs. Troltsch stated the supervised activities maintained order in the park. Mrs. Mary Crowder, 6881 Reefton, reported her cars have been damaged and one was stolen. She recommended that a concrete island be placed in the center of the street. Chief Duke responded that the installation of speed bumps creates a great deal of liability for the City. He stated test results have shown that speed bumps can cause a speeding motorist to lose control of the vehicle which could turn over or smash into a house. He added the State has not authorized the use of speed bumps except for test purposes. He reported that reflectors, such as those used on freeeays, were tested by two states and following the tests they were not installed. Regarding a concrete island, Chief Duke reported that one was instal]ed on Los Altos Drive in Buena Park and, while it slowed cars down, Buena Park felt it caused more accidents. Chief Duke reported that speeding and reckless driving was their most frequently received complaint in the City and the problem is not isolated to this neighborhood. He reported that a high school program attempts to educate against speeding. Chief Duke reported that the special police onit has kept records of the activities and has found that many of the teens were coming from Garden Grove. He reported that several arrests were made for possession of pot and alcohol by minors. Chief Duke stated he would change the hours of the special patrol to the time when school is dismissed. Mr. John Johnson reported that many homeowners had windows shot out with BB guns. Chief Duke reported that the Police Department and Chamber of Commerce are working on a program to eliminate the use of BB guns, that they are a common problem in the City, and users will be arrested. Mrs. Dot Ahrens, 11503 Halawa at the corner of Orangewood, reported the teens use beer bottles to smash car windows, litter the neighborhood, and on weekends drive down Orangewood and throw bottles on the wall. She stated they also line up the bottles in the street and drive through them. Mrs. Patty Spira, 6798 Leilani, stated Leilani is the only entrance to their tract from Knott and cars race down Leilani daily, almost hourly. She reported that motorists traveling down Luau towards Knott often do not look for traffic coming down Leilani. She suggested that a yield or stop sign be placed at the corner of Luau and Leilani. Mrs. Spira reported that the tract looks like a used car lot with so many cars parked on the street, that Halawa is almost impassable with cars parked on both sides, and she recommended that this area be red-zoned. Mrs. Mary Nolan, 6741 Reefton, asked if curfew was being enforced by the police. Chief Duke reported that if a minor is picked up there is no place to send him or her and usually they are picked up by their parents from the Police station. He stated minors are sent to juvenile court for vandalism offenses. He reported the Police Department has one juvenile officer. Mrs. Nolan reported she has called the Police Department because of frequent pot and alcohol parties at one home which has no adult supervision and she asked why no citations are issued. Chief Duke explained the procedure for handling minors arrested for alcohol and marijuana offenses. He reported that many of the trouble-makers in the area are not attending school. He stated that many citations are issued in this area and six arrests were made in a two-week period. ~rs. Nolan asked what could be done about unkept homes which are a public nuisance. The City Manager explained the City's nuisance abatement procedures. He indicated the staff would check out the problem residence on Reefton. ~rs. Nolan recommended that a City-wide clean-up day be conducted to help residents dispose of large trash items. I~s. Cheryl Chumley, 6859 Tahiti, reported the teens have been stealing and threat- ening small children and some animals have been killed. She stated it appears the homeowners are helpless if they cannot catch the teens in the act. She asked what the Council intended to do about the problems and indicated there has been an improvement during the last few weeks. -2- City Council Minutes October 6, 1980 Councilman Lacayo stated his suggestion would be to send a Police Officer to each residence in the neighborhood to inform all families about the nature of the problems, possibly with a pamphlet which identifies all the problems. He felt this would isolate the problems and that peer pressure from the neighborhood would be effective. Councilman Coronado stated a unified effort between the Council and homeowners was necessary. Ms. Chumley stated the homeowners need guidance. Councilman Rowan felt Councilman Lacayo's suggestion would isolate the problems. He indicated he would support legal action against the persons who are identified as the source of problems. Ms. Athena Crowder, 6881 Reefton, asked what could be done about damage to the park and outdoor sexual activities at the park. The staff reported that two Park Rangers work seven days a week and should check Peppertree Park nightly. Chief Duke reported that since the teens are monitoring police calls the calls are now going out by teletype. Chief Duke suggested that the neighbors organize a Neighborhood Watch program. He reported there is a person in custody for burglaries in this ~rs. Yvette Garlock, 6815 Molokai, volunteered to organize a Neighborhood Watch program. Mrs. Trudy Smith, 6892 Reefton, reported the teens' attitude towards adults is bad. She reported that one youth drives a motorcycle and a cadillac and has terrorized other children; he uses obscenities and his parents do not seem to care. ~irs. Beverly Sidbough, 6782 Reefton, asked that Police Officers from both Cypress and Garden Grove visit the schools and talk to the students. Mr. Walt Zwonitzer, 6890 Tahiti, reported that the homeowners were awaiting this meeting before proceeding with a Neighborhood Watch program. He felt it was up to the parents to take care of their own families first, and supervise their own teens if the problems are to be resolved. He recommended that the neighbors set up a homeowners' association to deal with problems which could include the Neigh- borhood Watch program, i~r. Zwonitzer stated homes in this area have been devaluated because of the bad impressions of the weeds, trash and bottles. He indicated there have been improvements on the street and in the park but the problems will reoccur unless the homeowners cooperate with the City. Mrs. Beverly Roll, 6828 Leilani, reported cars speed down Leilani, sometimes three abreast. She reported there is a bad drug problem in the neighborhood, kids smoke pot outdoors, and citizens have called the police twice regarding a drug dealer who leaves the scene before the police arrive. Mrs. Irma Gamez, 6852 Reefton, reported that for years Peppertree Park has not looked attractive and the residents themselves had to make improvements and see that the park is maintained. Mr. John Johnson, 6759 Tahiti, reported one critical incident occurred when an adult confronted one of the teens and he felt there would be more such incidents. He stated the residents are tired of putting up with the behavior of the trouble- makers. Mrs. Troltsch, 11652 Luau Lane, supported Councilman Lacayo's suggestion for house-to-house police visits and felt that persons not attending this meeting would become aware of the problems. She reported that some parents are gone all day long. In response to a question, Chief Duke reported that the department has a list of the speeders and speeders are being cited. He reported he will station radar on Reefton tomorrow when school lets out. Councilman Lacayo inquired about the possibility of barricading the entrances to the tract at Scandia and Sarco Streets which enter from Garden Grove and he recommended that a questionnaire be sent out inquiring how the residents feel about such barricading. -3- City Council Minutes October 6, 1980 Mrs. Joan Schlaich, 4225 Via Verde, Cypress, stated it appeared that racing was the primary problem. She noted that while teens may not care about others they do care about their cars and she suggested that speed bumps be installed. The staff stated the liability to the City is very high with speed bumps. bir. Herb Zell, 6965 Molokai, asked what the City's liability would be with speed bumps and if Molokai could be posted for a 15 mph speed limit. Staff reiterated their concern over the use of speed bumps. Chief Duke reported that State warrants have established the speed limit on Molokai at 25 mph which the City must follow. Councilman Lacayo suggested that staff investigate the use of raised dots on the pavement to reduce speeds. Mrs. Kathy Hufmeyer, 6809 Tahiti, reported she has seen stolen bikes taken away in vans and she asked about laws relating to selling goods at swap meets. Chief Duke reported that a police swap meet task force randomly checks the dealers at swap meets for stolen goods. Mrs. Mary Crowder, 6881 Reefton, stated the police cannot keep an eye on everything and residents will have to get out themselves to see what is happening. '~rs. Jeanette Santini, 6849 Tahiti, felt the homeowners association was a good idea since the homeowners could solve some problems themselves. The staff advised that they could assist in organizing the homeowners association. It was moved by Councilman Mullen and seconded by Councilman Lacayo to direct staff to investigate the problems and evaluate the suggestions made tonight including those suggestions on traffic control devices and report back to the Council with recommendations for implementation. Mayor Evans stated the motion would address or provide for greater law enforcement by the Police Department, the placement of radar in the neighborhood, activities by the School Resource Officer, joint cooperation between the Cypress and Garden Grove Police Departments to patrol after school closes, a police program to deal with drugs and curfew, assistance by the staff in the Neighborhood Watch program, investigation by the City's Zoning Enforcement Officer of nuisance conditions, traffic control devices, possible supervised recreation activities at the park, and need for crossing guards or parent volunteers. Mayor Evans requested that staff prepare an article for the City newsletter in regard to encouraging children not to walk in the streets but to use the sidewalks. Mrs. Roll, 6828 Leilani, reported there is much traffic and bicycle congestion at Hettinga School between noon and 1:00 p.m. when persons leave adult education classes and children get out of school. The Council requested that staff prepare its report for the October 27 Council meeting. The motion unanimously carried. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Evans adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. 0F NE C P ESS ATTEST: _ ,~' :,:/_~ ~' ,' ~ .~ CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS -4-