Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1950 01-04 CC ADJ MIN186 National City, California, January 4, 1950 Adjourned meeting of January 3, 1950, of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Clinton D. Matthews at 7:30 P.M. o'clock. Councilmen present: Adams, Curry, Fritz, Thatcher, Matthews. Councilmen absent: None. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present: McClure, Qautereaux, Harkey. MAYOR MATTHEWS stated that the hiring of en Attorney is the first thing neoessary to discuss. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said that he thought an Attorney should be hired tonight. There is'a Jury trial in the Court in the morning and it was neoeesary to engage the services of an Attorney since the City was with- out its own. COUNCILMAN THATCHER asked if there were any applications received, and MAYOR MATTHEWS said there were none; and he would like to recommend the, appointment of Verne 0. Warner. Mr. Warner is a local man, has an office here In National City, his home is here, he takes quite an active interest in community affairs. COUNCILMAN FRITZ asked if Mr. Warner has an office open here at the present time. Mr. Warner stated that it has been closed for a week or two, but he would have it open soon as he is putting another man in. COUNCILMAN FRITZ stated that it is necessary for the Department heads during the day to contact the Attorney. MR. WARNER said he would like to have the Council understand that he is a trial attorney and will be in court a great deal of the time. COUN- would CILMAN ADAMS said he thought we/face that problem with any Attorney; he cannot devote his entire time to City business. COUNCILMAN FRITZ asked what salary would the Council like to, set up for this job. MAYOR MATTHEWS said he thought on the same basis as the former Attorney, $200.00 per month retainer 1/4 187 fee, and extra money for a special job. • RESOLUTION NO. 5123 was read, authorizing the appointment of Verne 0. Warner as City Attorney,, salary $200.00 per month. Moved by Adams, seconded by Fritz, that the Resolution be adopted. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye. CITY CLERK'S RECOUNT OF CERTIFICATION OF REFERENDUM PETITION wag read. The Certificate stated that the petition was signed by 996 qualified electors. COUNCILMAN ADAMS stated that he believed the Council had thirty days,to repeal the Ordinance or set the matter up for an election, either at, the regular election or a special election. Moved by Fritz, seconded by. Adams, that the matter be referred to the Attorney. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye, COUNCILMAN FRITZ stated he thought the Council should go on record as setting up some qualifications for the postion of Administrative Officer. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said that he agreed with Mr. Fritz that we should set up some qualification for ari Administrative Officer, and that the Civil Service Commission be instructed to prepare examinations for all the City's Department Heade with a, view of establishing an eligibility list in case of a death, resignation or dismissal; that, without an eligibility list it is difficult to know, which way to turn. COUNCILMAN FRITZ asked if the Civil Service rules do not take care of that; that a preference is given to the people in the department. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said they would have the pre- ference, COUNCILMAN FRITZ asked ED INfALLS, Chairman of the Civil Service Commission if he would care to make any statement in this regard. MR. INGALLS said that he was not sure that he was qualified to state. He said that "we do have somewhat of 1/4 188 a loose set up, and I think it is natural with a new Civil Service System,' Mr, Engalla said that at the present time i it was not mandatory for an applicant to have worked up through ranks as an employee of the City of National City, but that could be changed if deemed advisable. There should to someone who is qualified to step into the position. COUNCI:':'.:' FRITZ said he wondered if it would be possible to get peoplo to take these examinations for department heads as the examination is only good for a period of six months or a year and it might be years before there would be a vacancy, and it brings up a lot of problems. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said we could try to find out the capable people we have now without wasting too much time. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said he thought this matter should be held in abeyance for the time being until the Civil Service Commission comes in with its qualifications for City Admin- istrative Officer; and the new Attorney make a review of the Civil Service regulations. MR. INGALLS said that he thought it highly desirable at this particular time that the Council and the Civil Service Commission sit down and go over r few of the problems, COUNCILMAN ADAMS said he thought we rii^u_3 estab- lish some sort of qualifications for an Administrative Officer; and that it is his personal feeling that the position of City Engineer and Administrative Officer be combined, that it might be possible to, save a few dollars a month if the Council adopted such a program, if we can get a person to f111 the bill. MAYOR MATTHEWS stated that he was wondering if it would not be possible to hire a City Manager instead of Administrative Officer. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said he thought we would have to have n referendum to do this. COUNCILMAN FRITZ said that there was considerable difference between the position of City Manager 1/4 169 and that of Administrative Officer, COUNCILMAN ADAMS said that the Western City advertises for City Engineer and Administra- tive Officer. COUNCILMAN FRITZ stated that he was sure that you would find that Cities the size of National City do not combine the position of City Engineer and Administrative Officer. If one man had to take over both jobs he would have to have an assistant engineer; and he would also be Purchasing Agent. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said he would have to have an assistant. COUNCILMAN CURRY stated that he would like to see the savings made, but if we would have to hire Pn-'ther engineer he wondered if there would be any money saved by doing so. MAYOR MATTHEWS stated that he would like to suggest that we go ahead and advertise for a combination engineer and administrative offioer and see what we get; there would be others probably who would apply at the same time. COUNCILMAN ADAMS asked if it would not be possible to advertise for "either an Engineer and Administrative Officer, or Administra- tive Officer". COUNCILMAN FRITZ suggested that the League of California Cities,be contacted in regard to advertising. Moved by Thatcher, seconded by Adams, that the salary set range from $5,000.00 to $7,000.00 per year, or leave it open; and it was voted to leave the salary open; and that it be left up to Administrative Officer McClure'to investigate all the 1^•_rces of advertising, Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye. MAYOR MATTHEWS stated he had attended a Water Committee meeting with the Chula Vista City Council and they are still very much interested in getting National City to come in with them to form a larger water district. A meeting is being held January 9, 1550 at the Chamber of Commerce in Chula Vista. MAYOR MATTHEWS stated that Mr, Robinson was there today and pointed 1/4 190 out a lot of reasons why we should go into this district and really organize and try to get nore water for this South Bay area; and he would like to appoint a. member from each one of the Clubs to attend the meeting., COUNCILMAN FRITZ said that this was originally turned down over a year ago by the City Counoil, and he said he did not know of any benefits that could be derived, COUNCILMAN ADAMS stated that if we went in on this we would probably be in another assescmy't 'llstrict of some kind and the property owners will have to bec the burden. COUNCILMAN CURRY asked if it was.a fact that we are taking more water than was our allocation, he said he under- stood we were getting some water from the City of San Diego. COUNCILMAN FRITZ said that was correct, and he asked if we might have a report from the Engineer regarding the well. ENGINEER MoCLURE said that from tests made yesterday afternoon the well is producing 600 gallons of water per minute with.a 20 foot draw down. The water ooneumption in National City, according to the California Water and Telephone Company is 1335 gallons per minute. Mr. McClure said that on the basis of the testa made the well should produce 1100 gallons a minute with a 40 foot draw down and about 1450 gallons a minute with a 50 foot draw down, COUNCILMAN ADAMS said he hears that, the well is one of the two best wells in the County, COU CILMAN CURRY asked if, the well had been pumped continuously for a number of days, and Mr. McClure said he did not know how long it had been pumped, MAYOR MATTHEWS said he would like to see a committee meet with Chula Vista to discuss this. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said we nhonld have a committee to make a study of the en+:ire situat+.on- COUNCILMAN CURRY said that if we need additional *eater we should maker. Study, and COUNCILMAN FRITZ 1/4 191 said that we world get no additional water. MAYOR MATTHEWS asked the Council if they would approve of establishi-s a Water Committee and COUNCILMAN CURRY asked if Mr. Die:spn did not make quite a study. COUNCILMAN ADAMS asked if it would not be possible to have our Attorney sit down with Mr. Dickson and get some of the.background of this; how much additional water it would mean, and how much additional taxes, and then in a reasonable time give ue a report. MAYOR IMATTHEWS said that Mr. Robinson was in favor of the Water Act which allows revenue bonds, and that with a large district we would have more prestige and water for the South Bay Area. COUNCILMAN THATCHER said °yes, if we can get a larger allocation of water". MAYOR MATTHEWS stated he would like to have a thorough study made of this, therefore he would like to have letters sent to everyone of the service clubs and ask one member to be appointed which would form a committee to sit in rt,z the Water Committee. Moved by Adams, seconded by ThatchF', that letters be sent to the President of each one of the service clubs asking that a member be appointed to attend the meeting Monday, January 9, 1950, in the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, and that the City Attorney be requested to go into this matter with Mr. Dickson and bring ue up to date with all the infor- mation on it. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye. MAYOR MATTHEWS said that he will act as a member of the Council and he would be happy to have anyone go along who is interested. COUNCILMAN FRITZ said that it might be well to have the Attorney and Mr. Dickson talk with Mr. Robinson; there is an angle on tie taxes and Councilman Fritz said he was not sure whether Mr, 7tokosn has gotten the answer on the "pick up tax". 1 /4 192 COUNCILMAN CURRY at3te5i that he thought we should take a little better care of our wzyte lines on the streets, he said he brought up this matter at the last meeting, but he noticed that there has not been anything done as yet, and he was wondering if the Engineer would look it_over and see if it could not be taken care of. Also the lighted sign of "National City" has been out a good deal of the time and this should also be taken care of. MAYOR MATTHEWS said he would like to appoint COUNCILMAN FRITZ to serve on the Finance and Street Committees. COUNCILMAN FRITZ stated he would decline to serve on the Finance Committee. MAYOR MATTHEWS asked COUNCILMAN ADAMS to serve on the Finance Committee, and COUNCILMAN ADAMS asked what it involved. • MAYOR MATTHEWS stated that he would like to suggest that the Council give some thought to appointing a Recreation Commission which would be set up to handle the recreational activities and suggested that it be left up to the City Administrative Officer to make a recommendation on it. MR. INGALLS stated that the Civil Service Commission would be very happy to have the Council meet with them at anytime they care to. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said that the City has a Park and Recreation Superintendent ^nd a City Administrative Officer and that he does not feel that the individual members of the Council should hold meetings with the different Committees or Commissions; and he did not think it, was the duty of the Council to have to get them "on the bull"; that we should set an overall policy and leave it up to the Part and Recreation Superintendent. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said he thought the Council should ask the Civil Service Commission for their recommendations and then sit down and study them. MAYOR MATTHEWS said he thought a little social visit would do 1/4 1 193 1 no harm. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said that meeting with the Commissions is not expected of the Councils of Sixth Class Cities. MR. INGALLS said that he agreed with Mr. Adams; the Civil Service Commission does not care to meet with the Council as a regular thing, but month after month we write letters back and forth and he said he thought it was very important that the Counptl and Civil Service Commission do meet occasionally. MR. INGALLS said that of course he realized that under the Administrative Officer form of government it is the -duty of the Administrative Officer to take care of such matters. COUNCILMAN FRITZ stated that the thought in back of establishing these Commissions was to take part of the load off of the City Council. MAYOR MATTHEWS said he thought it would show a little interest in what they'are doing. COUNCILMAN CURRY said that since we have these various departments in the City it seemed to him that the Council should have a monthly report brought in by the Department Heads which would show Just what each Department -has done and the cost of operation. COUNCILMAN FRITZ asked if COUNCILMAN CURRY meant for instance, "how many calls the Fire Department answered"4, and COUNCILMAN CURRY said it was. COUNCILMAN ADAMS said that it is the specific duty of the Administrative Officer to keep the Council informed of the various departments and have all records available for member of the Council to see. COUNCILMAN FRITZ said 2., thought what COUNCILMAN CURRY wanted to know was for instnee the cost of putting down a street. Councilman Fritz stated that we have a Cost Accountant who does this work and Mr. McClure has all this sort of information available continually. MAYOR I4ATTHEWS stated if COUNCILMAN CURRY har'• some specific report that he shoull ask Mr. Harkey and he would give him the desired 1/4 194 information. COUNCILMAN FRITZ eairl it would be necessary to take on another clerk in the department if a detailed report was needed. MAYOR MATTHEWS etated that if it is a report on cost of operation that COUNCILMAN CURRY would like he can get that from Administrative Officer McClure. Moved by Adams, seconded by Thatcher, that the meeting be closed. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye. ATTEST: )(tire/ C1 e C � / rTA�l'CRZl� rLI ax�alA :/4 1