The property is impacted in certain areas by groundwater and soil contaminants. Much focus of the acquisition activity has been diverted to the cleanup required by federal regulation.
Transfer of the environmental cleanup to private contractors is now considered. This involves technical experts from the GSA, NASA, Kaiser and Ezralow Company.
The previously authorized funding has been exhausted, and due to its familiarity with the problems and the property, the City deemed it best to retain The Clayton Group by adding additional funding for environmental consulting services. The $38,000 will eventually be reimbursed by the developer, Ezralow.
The action was at Tuesday's regular Council meeting.
The five year pact is for an estimated $4,274,423 annual cost, to be funded through Proposition A and C funds.
Community Services Director Jim Jarrett, said during his staff report, that interviews were conducted with MV and Southland Transit, the two finalists.
The vehicles to be provided are new Bluebird buses similar to those currently operated in Downey. The new buses are expected to be delivered by July 1. Councilman Keith McCarthy asked if something could be done with the color scheme of the new buses, adding the colors in use now don't please him.
Councilman Kirk Cartozian admonished the new operator to make sure the buses run on time. Cartozian is a teacher, and many students take the DowneyLINK buses to school.
In other action the Council:
* Approved an agreement with the State of California (Caltrans) for a further study of the use of groundwater pumped from beneath the I-105 Freeway in Downey. The study will be conducted by Black and Veatch, Inc., at a cost of $300,000. Other expenses will amount to an additional $40,000. Caltrans will reimburse Downey $300,000.
* Presented certificates of appreciation to Karl LeCompte and Harold Tseklenis for their successful efforts in opposing the construction of an electrical power plant in South Gate.
* Recognized and welcomed teacher Mary DeWitt and her West Middle School class.
* Held a public hearing on the 2002-03 Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership Grant. A speaker from Southern California Rehabilitation Services said the City should include funding for modification of homes here to make them accessible to the handicapped. The next public hearing on the $1.9 million Block Grant allocation will be May 14.
* Approved a loan agreement between the City and the Community Development Commission authorizing execution of Operative Agreement No. 29.
* Approved a consulting agreement with Edington, Peel & Associates for lobbying services on behalf of the Cities of Bellflower, Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, Paramount and Signal Hill. The listed cities with the help of Congressman Steve Horn, are fighting federal mandates on runoff water and trash carried by same that will cost the cities millions of dollars if not mediated.
* Set a hearing for Feb. 26 on a request for a zone change on property at 8400-8432 Firestone, 8450 Firestone Blvd., and 11211 Brookshire Ave. (owners/applicants Georgia Benadom, Dave Simpson, Washington Mutual Bank) from M-1, D-P (Light Manufacturing, Downtown Plan), to C-3/DP (Central Business District/Downtown Plan).
* Set a hearing for Feb. 26 on a proposed zone change of property located 12531 Paramount Blvd. (owner/applicant Alvaro Banegas), from C-2 (General Commercial) to R-3-0 (Medium Density Multiple Family Residential Ownership).
* Approved a Community Development agreement with Clayton Group Services for a health risk assessment and environmental analysis of the Downey NASA site.
* Referred the appeal of a denial of a permit for massage technician for Mi Hwa Kim to a hearing officer.
* Referred the appeal of a denial of a permit for massage technician for Hannah Yun to a hearing officer.
* Approved and then adopted a resolution accepting a California State Library English Grant and Literacy Intensive Program Grant of $357,600, and adopted class specifications and salary ranges for the Senior Library Associate and Library Associate positions, while amending the City staffing table to include them. Councilman McCarthy noted the new program will benefit the entire community. Councilman Richard Trejo was also impressed.
* Adopted a resolution approving supplements to pavement rehabilitation work on Florence Avenue, Paramount Boulevard, Gardendale Street and Stewart and Gray Road, and a professional services agreement with PSOMAS for $149,156 for preliminary engineering.
* Adopted a resolution ordering the Engineer's report on Lighting and Landscaping District A.D. 121.
Bill Harrison, longtime Downey resident who is legally blind, thanked the Council for its Downey, which he called "a wonderful city."
And Hazel Scotto thanked the City and Council members for helping make the League of Women Voters' recent forums on government a success.
Councilman Trejo said he learned a lot during a recent tour of the city with the Police Chief.
And Councilman Bob Winningham noted his wife was in the audience.
Mayor Meredith Perkins said he attended the recent Rose Float dinner. He also attended the Symphony Guild fundraiser at the Embassy Suites.
And City Manager Gerald Caton recalled the long council meetings before the practice of turning police permit appeals over to a hearing officer was adopted.
The next public meeting of the Downey City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave.
They assume a certain pose (asana), perform deep breathing exercises, close their eyes and meditate. They even do a bit of chanting. And voila! They slow down their heart and metabolic rates, lower their blood pressure, get their alpha and theta brain waves going, control their body temperature, and experience a host of other health-enhancing benefits. Some even swear to its ability to achieve a certain measure of happiness.
To which we say, fine, if you can do it.
The literal translation of yoga, a Sanskrit word, is union of body and mind. It sounds very similar to the Greek ideal of a sound mind in a sound body. People will try to achieve that extra advantage, however slight, to cure their aches and pains. Thus the practical appeal of yoga.
Ramesh Pandey, otherwise known as Yogi Ramesh, is an apologist for a certain kind of yoga (yogic practice is "incredibly diverse," says one authority) which he says he learned in Lucknol, Uttarpradesh, India at the age of 5, from a master he calls Swami Ananda. From him Pandey learned the art of breathing, discipline and meditation, among other things. But it is on the art of breathing that he has focused all these years, and today he calls his practice the "science of breath." The main benefit he says his form of yoga conveys, through vigorous breathing, consists in taking the toxins from the body, especially the lungs, and unclogging the arteries, from which all kinds of good things come. Thus, he says, his form of yoga, which is the staple of his teaching to a growing number of individuals and institutions during the time he has been here (he immigrated from India in 1984), helps alleviate/treats sinusus, asthma, diabetes, HIV, heart disease and even cancer.
He received an award in October from Gil Garcetti, as an "energy and yoga guru." Pandey's wife, Gretchen, is a yogini.
He hasn't lost many opportunities presented to him here either. For example, he has been on Roseanne's and Howie Mandel's TV shows. He has hobnobbed with people like Martin Short. He has just finished doing a film with Winona Ryder and Adam Sandler, which is due out in June.
His TV presence in the Southland is not confined to Paramount-based Channel 36. His TV production is also seen on Channel 3 in Beverly Hills/BelAir, likewise on Channel 25 in the Valley. His aim, he says, is to "create a Health Care Yoga Program for seniors and children, to eliminate dependence on drugs and eliminate disease, including mental distress and the like." In so doing, "We can eliminate hospitals and expensive medical care." And how do we accomplish all this? Through the natural process of breathing, meditation, and yoga, was his answer. "Oxygen is free," he says. "My form of yoga can even eliminate physical exercise."
"I can be invited for demonstrations on breathing and relaxation for any church, hospital, school or college, or group-for a donation," he said. (He can be reached at 1-877-FOR YOGA.) He also turns out videos. A book or books is a distinct possibility.
After practicing 4 hours a day, most of it in the early predawn hours, Pandey embarks on his daily round of activities. His aim of course is to reach as many people as possible with his message. Eventually, and soon, he wants to be able to construct a Temple somewhere in the Valley. That day is not far off, he says.
He started giving yoga lessons at the Barbara J. Riley Community/Senior Center three years ago, attended, he says, by 17-90 year olds. His monthly cycle of classes starts the first Tuesday of each month. He also holds a briefer (1-1/2 hours) Saturday yoga session.
Somebody has said, "In modern medicine, we're actually doing a lot more guesswork than we let on. We want to say we understand everything. We don't understand half of it. It's scary how clueless we are." Thus, "Desperate patients consult half a dozen specialists and get half a dozen conflicting opinions." Hence the appeal of alternative medicine such as aromatherapy, hemeopathy, herbology, gingko biloba, and the like.
And medical experts will tell you, there's a lot more to learn about the human body, about diseases and their prevention. Some say the best strategy really is try to prevent the onset of disease, and it is far better not to get sick at all. We can't argue with that.
And with proper nutrition and regular exercise, one can of course achieve greater longevity and stay healthy. One even suggested that, if one can do it, considering one's lifespan potential which is getting longer and longer, to concentrate the accumulation of disease, if this is possible, up until the time when the body is ready to die. Good thought, and a supreme achievement, if one can accomplish it.
For Yogi Ramesh, who has found his passion in life, he is ready to assist anyone, through his "science of breath," to achieve some semblance of psychosomatic harmony. This is after all what the relevance of yoga is, as one pundit said. And since there are limits to everything, and perfection is not achievable in this life, this is perhaps more than we can ever hope, and aspire, for.
Under the first phase, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants was retained based on the firm's experience in water quality, hydrology, water treatment and drinking water regulations.
A draft report from Kennedy/Jenks found that the groundwater falls into the "extremely impaired water source" category, and possibly the "groundwater under the direct influence of surface water."
The goal of the second phase of the project was to determine if the groundwater was under the direct influence of surface water and to update the first phase feasibility study. Kennedy/Jenks and their subcontractor installed a new well meeting drinking well standards and performed the necessary tests and pumping to meet Caltrans' and Department of Health Services (DHS) standards.
The results of the additional testing was that the water from the new well was not "under the influence of surface water."
The third phase of evaluation can now begin. This involves the preparation of a study conforming to DHS guidelines, including a 10-step process that must be conducted to receive a permit to use extremely impaired drinking water sources as a domestic drinking water supply.
The contract for this includes a one-year project completion deadline. The Downey portion of the total cost of the $340,000 study is $40,000.
The water produced by this pumping to date has been merely diverted to the storm drain system and allowed to flow to the sea.
As for the cost of retrofitting the freeway itself, Alvarez said estimates are in the area of $100 million spent by Caltrans to date.
The Council Tuesday authorized the Mayor to sign a professional services agreement with Melzer, Deckert and Ruder Architects for $53,000 for site master planning and conceptual design of the aging clubhouse.
Suggested improvements include the consolidation of the golf shop, clubhouse and storage area into a single building; and integration of the scenic golf course with the restaurant and dining operation for an elegant dining experience by providing an unobstructed view of the golf and waterscape; and an outdoor dining area.
Councilman Bob Winningham said after the vote that he has personally seen the architect's work, calling it beautiful. Melzer, Deckert and Ruder (MDR) was selected from a field of 12 firms after intensive screenings. Their previous works include Coto de Caza Golf Clubhouse in Trabuco Canyon; Coyote Hills in Fullerton and Indian Wells.
The clubhouse complex is about 15,500 square feet, including restaurant and banquet facilities. There are two banquet rooms, the larger of which has a capacity of 360 and a smaller one with a capacity of 90.
MDR's work is to be completed in four months.
The possibility was raised during an interview outside City Hall last week where Smyrniotis had been to discuss the conversion of his restaurant to a used car lot by the people who have leased it.
Smyrniotis told the Downey Eagle his lease to the used car lot operator was with the understanding that food operations would also be continued there.
Johnie's Broiler, formerly Harvey's, is one of the few 1950s architecture drive-in restaurants left in the southland. As such, it has been used repeatedly as a location for motion pictures about the '50s and '60s.
Preservationists have been outraged by the plan to convert the old eatery into a used car lot, with the restaurant proper to be used as a showroom.
Generations of teens have enjoyed Harvey's and later Johnie's fries and burgers, while truckers have also made the big parking lot and its late hours theirs.
The furor began more than a month ago when the lot was cordoned off and filled with rows of used cars.
Restaurant hours were shortly curtailed.
City officials said the site is not zoned for operation as a car lot only. They said it might be legal under "dual usage" if food operations were maintained. But used car interests told the L.A. Times their main concern is car sales-not burgers.
Smyrniotis, while saying he will evaluate the used car lot operator's plan when he receives it, says he is ready to retire. However, that retirement may have to wait while the latest chapter in Johnie's is worked out.
Spokesmen for the Los Angeles Conservancy, a group dedicated to the preservation of historic landmarks, said they have received a number of calls from residents who say they want the old drive-in and its architecture preserved-and they don't mean as a showroom.
Sixteen-year-old Teresa Perez, one of the local residents upset by the proposed conversion, is set on a campaign to save the old building. She told the L.A. Times recently, "This place is part of Downey history. Think about it. If they tear down Johnie's, then Downey will be even more boring than it already is."