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12/01/1987CITY OF GRAND TERRACE COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING - DECEMBER O1, 1987 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace was called to order in the Council Chambers, Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California, on December 01, 1987, at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Byron Matteson, Mayor Barbara Pfennighausen, Mayor Pro Tem Hugh J. Grant, Councilmember Dennis L. Evans, Councilmember Susan Shirley, Councilmember Thomas J. Schwab, City Manager/Finance Director ABSENT: None Mayor Matteson indicated Item No. 1 is the appointment of a representative to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, indicating that each Councilmember had copies of letters that were sent to them by prospective candidates. Councilmember Grant nominated Faye Dastrup, Mayor Pro Tem of Ontario, as representative to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, second by Councilmember Shirley. Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen nominated Carole Beswick as representative to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and stated she understood in order to qualify, the candidates have to be supported by nine cities and apparently Ms. Beswick has the nine cities. She indicated Ms. Beswick has indicated an interest in serving in this capacity and was just re-elected and would have four full years to serve, indicating she did not know if that was the case with Faye Dastrup. Councilmember Grant stated he thought Ms. Dastrup had about two more years to serve on her term. Mayor Matteson noted a nomination for Carole Beswick was before the Council. Mayor Matteson stated his intent to abstain from voting on these nominations. His reason being that the candidates will be at the meeting tomorrow and will present their point of view and indicated there may be nominations from the floor. He did not want to make a commitment until he heard the presentations. f� Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen stated by abstaining it makes it impossible for Council to reach a consensus. Council could give Mayor Matteson the authority to vote which ever way he felt he should vote without Council's direction on successive ballots. She also stated she felt it is incumbent, at least, in the first round, to have a consensus of this Council in support of somebody. Councilmember Grant concurred with that and stated he wasn't certain how Council was going to get the consensus. Councilmember Shirley concurred with both Councilmembers and felt it would be incumbent upon the Mayor to vote the Council's desire, at least, for the first round of voting. Mayor Matteson replied he could not really do that until he talked to the candidates and asked questions and heard their testimonies. He questioned how he could vote for a candidate without knowing their position. Councilmember Shirley asked how the other Councils were handling this and what was their direction? Councilmember Grant replied, what he understands from past experiences, it varies, depending upon the city. He stated some cities are requesting the Mayor to make his/her decision. He stated most cities are not reaching a consensus. Mayor Matteson indicated it would be preferable to have the candidates here to question, but time constraint makes that impossible. He invited all Councilmembers to attend the meeting tomorrow. Councilmember Shirley stated she did not believe a consensus could be reached by the Council on the issue other than at this meeting. Councilmember Grant indicated Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen has reached the only positive conclusion on this and Council really has to have some consensus. He stated whomever is selected by Council tonight did not make the first ballot, he would certainly leave it up to the Mayor to use his best judgment after the fact. Mayor Matteson stated if Counci,l without his vote, comes to consensus, then he will follow through with that, but in his true conscience he cannot make a decision without truly hearing each of the candidates presentation. He stated air quality means a lot to him and he needs to get information about the candidates on how they feel about this issue. Council Minutes - 12/01/87 Page 2 Councilmember Grant stated how the candidates feel on this issue, obviously isn't mentioned in their letters, but they do tell Council things about themselves and their positions in general. Mayor Matteson indicated Council has their credentials, but do not have their philosophies. Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen stated as far as she is concerned, either one of the two candidates that have been nominated are highly qualified to do this job. She indicated the only thing she would suggest is that she thinks it is incumbent upon this Valley to stand solidly as a block on certain issues. She indicated we need some local representation from our area. She stated what she would like to see, at least, on a first round, is for us to join the block of the East Valley cities and support Carole Beswick, indicating there is no doubt in her mind that it's going to go to more than one round of votes and, at that point, she is perfectly willing to agree with Mayor Matteson making his own decision. She stated that if there is a second round and Faye Dastrup looked like she is going to be the representative, she would have no problem going with that because she would like to see the East Valley Block come in as a block. Councilmember Grant stated his position is the same as Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen's except that he is using the same { argument in reverse and felt both of these candidates are extremely qualified. He stated he felt Faye had the edge by virtue of her experience as an incumbent, but this doesn't mean that Carole wouldn't do a good job. He stated he is also saying pollution is an Inland Area problem, not an East or West Valley problem. He stated obviously because of population, the number of vehicles and industries, the West Valley probably contributes much more than the East Valley does in total pollution, indicating both gets it from Orange County and L.A. County and smog travels over boundaries. Councilmember Evans asked what was Ms. Dastrup's position on the tire burning plant as a member of the South Coast Air Quality District? Councilmember Grant indicated talking to Ms. Dastrup today and she only told him about the garbage burning plant which was turned down 3-2 by the Board of Supervisors. She felt that was probably the most feasible way of getting rid of garbage, and yet, she understood the problem of potential pollution. She said if she had been on the Board of Supervisors, she would have had a very difficult problem and might have voted the same way as the majority of the Board of Supervisors did which would be against that plant. Council Minutes - 12/01/87 Page 3 N Councilmember Evans asked if there was any way of researching Ms. Dastrup's position right now, because he believed that the South Coast Air Quality took a pro -active approach and supported the go ahead on that issue. Councilmember Shirley asked if Ms. Dastrup was at the meeting about the tire burning plant? Councilmember Grant indicated he believed so. Councilmember Shirley indicated she believes Ms. Dastrup was interested enough to be here at that meeting and knew that she did not take a public position at that meeting and indicated she felt Ms. Dastrup has the dedication, the interest and the experience. She stated Ms. Dastrup went to bat for changing that proposal for the makeup of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board which, had it gone through the way it was originally proposed, would have been detrimental to all of Southern California. She indicated she felt Ms. Dastrup has done a lot of work in that area and that she does need Council's support. Mayor Matteson asked Councilmember Evans what his position was on these particular candidates. Councilmember Evans replied he did not have any particular position right now and would not until he has a chance to do some research. He stated he has some concerns because something locks in his mind that the members of the Air Quality District, when they discussed the tire burning plant, did not really take a strong position against it. He stated it seems to him that they were more in support of it than against, but without the records before him, he did not know what Faye's position was. He stated until he researched it, he would be very hesitant in going with her. Councilmember Grant stated researching it at twenty minutes to eight, the night before the big event, is going to be very difficult. Councilmember Evans replied, he felt it would be incumbent upon the Mayor if he is going to represent this City that he should have the research available to him before the meeting tomorrow. Councilmember Grant asked Councilmember Evans if Council would take a vote right now, would he also abstain? Councilmember Evans replied, "you will have to wait and see." CC-87-225 Councilmember Grant replied, okay, then I make a motion that we request the Mayor to support Faye Dastrup to this position, second by Councilmember Shirley. Motion CC-87-225 failed, vote was 2-2, with Mayor Matteson abstaining. 71 71, Council Minutes - 12/01/87 Page 4 Mayor Matteson indicated having a 2-2 vote and he would make a decision one way or the other. He questioned what difference would it make if he makes the decision tonight or makes it at the meeting tomorrow. Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen stated she was not going to put this in a form of a motion at this point. She asked could it possibly become the consensus of the council that there are going to be other candidates other than Ms. Dastrup and Ms. Beswick? She stated she would ask and would be willing to be part of that consensus of casting the first round of votes with Faye Dastrup. She stated if it goes to a second round and the eastern block is able to pull the weight necessary to take Faye Dastrup out, then she would ask the Mayor to support Carol Beswick. CC-87-226 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen, second by Councilmember Grant, to direct the Mayor to vote the first round for Faye Dastrup and the second round for Carole Beswick if it appears that there is enough support to put her in that position. Motion CC-87-226 carried 4 to 1 with Mayor Matteson abstaining. Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen stated she highly rejected the fact that Mayor Matteson would abstain as a member of this Council. She stated we are taking a position as a Council, not simply you as a delegate to that Board and indicated Council giving Mayor Matteson the latitude of casting votes different ways, indicating she felt it's a cop-out. Mayor Matteson replied, "it's not a cop-out," you are committing me to vote for Faye and you are committing me, if that doesn't work, to vote for Carole. Councilmember Shirley concurred with what Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen said and felt it is the Mayor's duty, not only as a Councilmember on this Council, but more so, as the Mayor to make the decision. Mayor Matteson replied that was incorrect because he doesn't know how the candidates stand on two major issues and apparently no one else here does. He stated until we know that, how can we make an intelligent decision? He stated those two issues are very important to him and he wasn't going to vote for someone when he doesn't know what their position is because of some connections. Councilmember Grant replied he did not have a connection with Ms. Dastrup, but he has known her for a long period of time. He stated the only thing he knows about Faye is that she is an incumbent on the Air Quality Management District and felt she was qualified for this position. Council Minutes - 12/01/87 Page 5 N Councilmember Shirley stated her support for Faye Dastrup comes from the fact that she worked very diligently to maintain control of the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California by the communities that it is going to affect and take it away from the Governor's appointment. Councilmember Grant stated the vote has been taken and the majority did indicate that the first ballot would be for Mrs. Dastrup indicating if there is to be a majority of the cities in favor of Mrs. Beswick, the Mayor would vote for Mrs. Beswick on the second ballot. The City Manger stated for clarification, what was Councilmember Evans vote. Councilmember Evans replied he voted yes. Councilmember Evans stated he would like to encourage research on Ms. Dastrup's position because if it is in support of the tire burning plant, he would strongly support Carole Biswick at this point. The City Manager questioned if there was going to be a question and answer period tomorrow? Councilmember Grant replied, traditionally, there has been. Each -candidate gets up and makes their presentation and gives their qualifications. The City Manager replied, he has no problem with doing a research indicating the only person with a track record would be Faye and staff really would not know the decision of anyone else. Mayor Pro Tem Pfennighausen asked if it would be possible to direct or request Mayor Matteson to specifically ask that question which she assumes would fall within the bounds of procedures if there is that kind question on the floor. She indicated that we would be able to get that information directly from Ms. Dastrup herself. Mayor Matteson stated he will not ask her that question tomorrow and get a negative answer, then vote for her, he will not do that. Councilmember Grant replied, regardless of whether the Mayor asks that question or not, procedurally that question can be asked. Council Minutes - 12/01/87 Page 6 Adjourned the Special Meeting at 8:30 p.m. until the next regular City Council Meeting which will be held Thursday, December 3, 1987 at 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted APPROVED: Council Minutes - 12/01/87 Page 7