CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

REWARDS TO FIGHT VANDALISM

The City Council passed two similar ordinances offering rewards for information leading to the conviction of people responsible for vandalism. The first, which offers a $500 reward for tips that help convict someone who defaces property with graffiti within the city, passed 7-0. The second, which after several amendments became a $2,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of someone who vandalizes a sign on public property, passed 4-3, opposed by members Debbie Cook, Jill Hardy and Don Hansen on grounds it was confused or financially wasteful.

WHAT IT MEANS

Council members hope the ordinances will encourage people to turn in those they know committed acts of vandalism. City Atty. Jennifer McGrath said that the reward itself will be paid out rarely, since first-time juvenile offenders usually go through a legal process that’s technically not a conviction. The sign vandalism ordinance was originally a $1,000 reward proposed by Mayor Gil Coerper for information about damage to the sign marking the future senior center in Central Park. The sign was found in a lake Feb. 25. However, after staff said a reward for one sign might pose legal problems, several amendments and a lengthy discussion turned it into the final ordinance.

MORATORIUM ON WIRELESS FACILITIES

The council voted 7-0 to extend a moratorium on building wireless communication equipment, such as cellular transmitters, except under certain circumstances.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city is still waiting, since the moratorium began in August 2006, to come up with permanent rules on wireless facilities. A temporary set of permitting regulations, which is scheduled to come before the city planning commission on March 27, would require companies to prove there was a gap in coverage and that the proposed site was the least obtrusive option.

PROPOSED HOLIDAY FOR PERMIT FEES

Councilman Joe Carchio proposed looking into a temporary waiver of some or all permit fees associated with remodeling homes and buildings, saying it would stimulate the economy and give residents a chance to improve their homes. A vote to have staff study the issue passed 5-2, with Cook and Hardy opposing.

WHAT IT MEANS

City staff will study the costs and benefits of a temporary waiver or drop in fees, especially researching programs in Anaheim and Costa Mesa that Carchio has called very successful. Coerper called it an excellent chance to study the issue, while Cook and Hardy said it was unlikely the city would ever make the money back.