HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956 05 24 CC MIN1956 05 24 CC MIN HÄ—@¸— ; ãÍ«69
CHARLES D. JONES SCHOOL CAFETORIUM TEMPORARY COUNCIL CHAMBERS) BALDWIN PARK,
CALIFORNIA THURSDAY MAY 24, 1956 10:00 A.M.
The City Council of the City of Baldwin Park met in special
session at the above place at 10:00 A.M.
Mayor Bloxham lead the Salute to the Flag.
Present: Councilmen Cole, Duskin, Scovotti, and
Bloxham; City Clerk; City Attorney.
Absent: Councilman Littlejohn; City Treasurer.
The City Clerk stated that this special meeting had been
called for two purposes, to-wit:
1. Acting upon a proposed resolution to adopt and approve
memorandum of agreement for expenditures of gas tax
allocation for major city streets.
2. Consider amendment of Section 4300.1 of the Baldwin Park
Municipal Code, and any other matters made pertinent there-
Flag Salute
Roll Call
Purpose of Meeting
by.
He also certified that all councilmen except Mr. Littlejohn Certification of
had been notified in writing by personal delivery more Notice Given
than 24 hours in advance of the time set for the meeting and
that Mr. Littlejohn had been advised of the meeting by a
special delivery letter mailed to him at his home address
which was placed in the postoffice at 7:50 P.M. on May 22,
1956. Notice by postal card was sent to the editors of the
following newspapers having been placed in the U.S. Post-
office., Baldwin Park, at approximately 11:00 P.M., on May
22, 1956, the San Gabriel Valley Daily Tribune, the
Pasadena Star-News, the Pasadena Independent. The Editor of
the Baldwin Park Bulletin was notified by personal delivery
in writing at approximately 3:30 P.M. May 22, 1956.
The City Clerk offered the following resolution entitled: Resolution No. 35
A RESOLUTION OF TBE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BALD EN PARK ADOPTING BUDGET AND APPROVING MEMORAN-
DUM OF AGREEMENT FOR FICPE DITURE OF GAS TAX ALLOCA-
TION FOR MAJOR CITY STREETS."
I
Councilman Cole moved its adoption, seconded by Councilman
Duskin. This resolution adopted and passed by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmen Cole, Duskin, Scovotti and Bloxham.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilman Littlejohn.
The Council then proceeded to the second item on the agenda
reference amendment of Section 1300.1 of the Baldwin Park
Municipal Code. Councilman Cole Requested reading of
Section 4300.1 which was read by the City Cleric.
Councilman Scovotti requested that the City Attorney read a
memorandum on the general question of the legality of
amusement devices as dealt with by the Penal Code.
This memorandum was then read in full by the City Attorney.
Councilman Scovotti also requested that Captain Josenhans
of the Baldwin Park Police Department make a sworn state-
ment regarding his findings as the result of inquiries he
had made at different police stations regarding the opera-
tion of pin ball machines. Captain Josenhans stated in
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1956 05 24 CC MIN HÄ—@¸— ; ãÍ«CHARLES D. JONES SCHOOL CAFETORLUM TE1 PORARY COUNCIL CHAMBERS) BAL]J1rtiICN PARK,
CAf S FORNI A T HUZSDAY MAY 24, 1956
Page 2
substance that he had contacted the Chiefs of Police of the
Cities of Azusa, El Monte, Monrovia and Alhambra, found that
pin balls were permitted in cafes and beer halls in those
cities and that the operation of the pin ball machines had
not constituted a police problem in any of these cities. He
stated he had also contacted the Police Sargeant who was act-
ing as Chief of Police at Covina who informed him that they
had no pin ball machines at the present time but prior to the
recent election they had asked the merchants to remove the
pin bail machines from the premises. He further stated that
he had contacted an agent of the State Alcoholic Beverage
Control who informed him that they had had no particular
trouble because of pin bail machines being in places where
alcoholic beverages were sold.
Councilman Cole asked Captain Josenhans if he had been em-
ployed by the Los Angeles Police Department prior to coming to
Baldwin Park and if so, if he knew whether or not the City of
Los Angeles permits pin ball machines to which Captain Josenhans
replied in substance that they were permitted in the Penny
Arcade on Main Street but did not have them in other places.
Councilman Cole then asked him whether or not Los Angeles
County has them, to which he replied in the negative.
Councilman Scovotti requested the City Attorney to read sub-
section 6 of Section 22.19 of the Alhambra City Ordinance,
pertaining to operation of games of skill under Chapter 10,
Part 1 of Penal Code of California, which was done.
Councilman Cole stated that for various reasons he did not
feel that the Council should go into this matter at this time.
Councilman Scovotti stated that he thought the City should
have the revenue which might be derived from licensing pin
ball machines.
Mayor Bloxham offered his understanding of why pin ball
machines were prohibited in Covina.
Councilmin Duskin stated that he did not believe pin ball
machines should be allowed in any places frequented by
juveniles.
The City Attorney stated that the City could place reason-
able regulation on the placing and use of pin ball machines.
That it might be reasonable to restrict them to beer halls
but this would not prevent juveniles from having access to
them since juveniles can enter a beer hall to buy food, which
food is required to be sold under the State Board of Equaliza-
tion set-up.
Councilman Cole made inquiry as to whether this meeting was
considered a public hearing to which hayor Bloxham replied
that it was not called as such but that if there were any per-
sons present desiring to be heard, they would be heard.
James Taylor, 4126 N. Laurens Ave., Baldwin Park, Calif.,
spoke in protest against changing the ordinance, based on his
knowledge and experience as a councilman at the time the
ordinance was originally adopted.
Dr. Darcy Skaggs, Superintendent, Baldwin Park School
District, spoke in protest, stating in general that he felt
the Council should consider the wishes of all the people rather
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1956 05 24 CC MIN HÄ—@¸— ; ãÍ«CHARLES D. JONES SCHOOL CAFETORLUM TEMPORARY COUNCIL CHAMBERS) BALDWIN PARK,
CAU I FORMA THURSDAY MAY 21i, 1956
Page
than the wishes of any one individual. Also that he believed
permitting the use of pin ball machines in Baldwin Park
would result in ultimate juvenile delinquency, as it would
be impossible to keep them away from juveniles.
The City Attorney stated that the City Council could pro-
hibit juveniles playing these machines and could set
penalties for violations; also that the Council could re-
quire a bond from operators to guarantee proper use of
the machines.
Moved by Councilman Cole that we leave the ordinance as is
and do not amend it. There was no second to the motion.
Councilman Duskin asked Dr. Skaggs-if he felt that if this
ordinance was changed and was restricted to cafes if it
would relieve the problem of the juvenile. Dr. Skaggs re-
plied in substance that he felt that if we start to bring
them in there will be pressure brought on the Council to
relax their restrictions; that within two years they would
be throughout the city; that he doubted if they could be
kept away from the juveniles.
Rev. Gordon James, First Methodist Church, Baldwin Park,
Calif., requested information as to whether juveniles can
be prevented from entering a bar or beer parlor as they are
all licensed as cafes.
Councilman Scovotti requested the recall of Capt. Josenhans
of the Police Dept., and again queried him as to amusement
devices in the City of Los Angeles.
Capt. Josenhans replied in substance that he was talking
of the City of Los Angeles; that they have no gaming
machines there; that they have these shuffle boards with
electric boards for scoring; that they never saw kids play-
ing them; that the principal problem with juveniles in
Los Angeles were incident to juke boxes, which served as
gathering places for ycmngsters and offered opportunity
to narcotic peddlers to operate among them.
Dr. Skaggs then asked Capt. Josenhans whether the same thing
could occur where there were pin ball machines, shuffle boards,
etc., as well as juke boxes, to which Capt. Josenhans re-
plied in the affirmative.
The City Attorney stated that from a local standpoint the
fartherest you can go is to say that a minor cannot play
them. From there on it is a practical question of enforce-
ment, which is a police problem rather than a legal one.
Councilman Cole inquired as to why this came up so sudden,
and why the Council wanted a quick action vote.
Rev. Frank Schottelkorb, First Christian Church, Baldwin
Park, Calif., made inquiry as to what we had to gain out-
side of the 2,000.OO,to which Mayor Bloxham replied in sub-
stance that it was another business.
Dr. James inquired as to whether there has been any
investigation as to why San Bernardino County and all of
the cities located therein had banded together for two
years to get rid of pin ball machines throughout the
County.
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1956 05 24 CC MIN HÄ—@¸— ; ãÍ«CHARLES D. JONES SCHOOL CAFETORZUM TEMPORARY COUNCIL CH.NBERS) BALMUN, PARK,
CALIFORNIA THURSDAY MAY 24, 1956
Page 4
Moved by Councilman Duskin and seconded by Councilman Scovotti,
that as a matter of policy if and when pin ball machines
are permitted in the City of Baldwin Park, they shall be
allowed only in places selling alcoholic beverages.
This motion was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmen Buskin, Scovotti and Bloxham.
NCE S: Councilman Cole.
ABSENT: Councilman Littlejohn
Moved by Councilman Cole, seconded by Mayor Bloxham, and
unanimously carried that the meeting be adjourned.
The foregoing minutes approved by the
City Counciijg, 1956.
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