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DECEMBER 20, 2012 - DECEMBER 26, 2012 | 7
Rosemead Postpones Hearing on Handcrafted Toys Made by L.A. County Home Occupation Ordinance Inmates Brighten Lives of Local Kids The Rosemead City Council on Tuesday deferred to its next meeting a public hearing for amending the city’s Municipal Code that addresses the licensing and operation of home occupations. The existing Rosemead Municipal Code currently does not contain provisions for home occupations, and the city said it has been receiving calls from residents who would like to set up a home business - and do it legally. The council’s next meeting date, which falls on Christmas Day, is cancelled, so the public hearing will be continued at the Tuesday, Jan. 8 meeting. The public hearing was postponed at the request of the City Council to provide additional time to review the proposed ordinance. Even though the council voted 5-0 to table any action on the Municipal Code amendment until the next meeting, Mayor Sandra Armenta opened up public testimony to the residents who showed up to speak. However, those in attendance chose to save their comments for when the matter would be discussed by council and staff on Jan. 8. According to Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director, Ordinance No. 925 will be given its first reading on Jan. 8 with a second reading scheduled for the Jan. 22 meeting. If approved, the
By Jim E. Winburn ordinance would go into affect after 30 days, said Ramirez. “People could come in here (to City Hall) and get a home occupation business license and legally conduct that business without being cited by code enforcement,” she said. In her staff presentation to the council on Tuesday, Ramirez explained that Municipal Code amendment would allow for home occupations in residential zoning districts in the City of Rosemead. “The code amendment proposes a licensing procedure as well as occupational regulations to ensure that home occupations do not disrupt, become a nuisance or modify the residential character of the city’s established residential neighborhoods,” she said. The proposed amendment allows home occupations as an incidental, accessory use in residential zoning districts through Ordinance No. 925, which was recommended to the council for adoption by the Planning Commission on Nov. 19. In response to public comment and testimony at the Nov. 19 meeting, commissioners fine-tuned the language in the ordinance to clarify that testing, maintenance, repair, towing and storage of any boat, aircraft or motorized vehicle is prohibited as a home occupation. The ordinance out-
lines other prohibited commercial uses that are not compatible with a residential environment, including wholesale and retail sales, dating services, adult businesses, fortune-telling, massage services, animal kennels or breeding - to name just a few. In her presentation to the City Council, Ramirez pointed out that a home occupation is typically defined as a business activity that is conducted whole or in part in a dwelling unit or garage, and is clearly an accessory or incidental use as subordinate to the residential use of the dwelling unit. The most common home occupations are office uses for businesses such as accountants, Internet sales, certain types of contractors or similar operations where the primary means of contact are by phone, mail or Internet, she said. According to the staff report, city officials have completed a survey of surrounding cities to determine an appropriate fee for a home occupation, and “staff found that the surrounding cities on average charge higher fees than what the City of Rosemead charges for a Professional Business License.” City staff is proposing a first-time application fee of $100.00 and an annual renewal fee of $50.00. For more information, visit the City of Rosemead online at www.cityofrosemead.org.
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Funding for School Construction and Modernization Projects The State Allocation Board (SAB) today disbursed $383.8 million for new school construction and modernization projects across 110 school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools statewide, announced State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. “Our schools play a key role in California’s future,” said Torlakson. “These new funds provide vital assistance to local districts in the construction and rebuilding of schools,
creating jobs in the community, and providing better opportunities to students for a successful future.” Commissioned by Torlakson’s administration in 2011, the Schools of the Future Initiative underscores the importance of modernizing school facilities via the use of new technologies, energy efficient upgrades and the establishment of science and career technology education to guide the establishment of a 21st century learning environment for
students. The SAB meets monthly to allocate state matching funds for the construction of new classrooms and the modernization of existing schools and to consider policies and regulations regarding SAB programs. The funds allocated by the SAB are from voter-approved general obligation bonds that cannot be used for school operational expenses. The State Allocation Board’s online agenda provides a complete list of the allocations.
In a program that began over 52 years ago, inmates in the Los Angeles County jails have once again worked the entire year to make Christmas day more memorable for needy children. This Holiday Season, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will distribute more than 2,150 handcrafted dolls and wooden toys to children throughout the county. “I am extremely proud of the men and women involved in this ongoing program,” said Sheriff Lee Baca. “Each year, the labors of the instructional staff and jail inmates brighten the lives of children within our communities by providing a gift that may be the only one the child receives at Christmastime.” This year inmates at the Century Regional Detention Facility handcrafted approximately 2,000 cloth dolls and personnel from the Pitchess Detention Center, South Facility will distribute approximately 150 wooden cars, trucks and helicopters.
-Courtesy Photo
“The personal satisfaction felt by those involved in the toy giveaway program is outweighed only by the joy they’re able to provide to these deserving children. The program is a blessing to the children and enables the inmates to use their time in a productive manner that benefits the community,” Sheriff Baca said. “To brighten the life of a child during the holidays is certainly one of the most rewarding feelings any of us can experience. After all, it is what the spirit of the holiday season is all about,” the Sheriff added.
Materials used to create these holiday gifts were donated by local merchants and residents. These supplies need to be replaced every year. Please contact the Sheriff’s Department’s Vocational Shops if you are willing to help support this worthwhile program through the donation of wood, wood stain, yarn, cloth material or sewing thread. Doll materials should be directed to Gloria Welsh at (323) 568-4500. Wooden toy materials should be directed to Sergeant Gerri McCorkle at (661) 295-8805.
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