South Gate City Council

South Gate population: 86,284 Election: April 14 On the ballot: Six candidates for two at-large seats INCUMBENTS Robert A. Philipp Age: 60 Occupation: Semi-retired land-use consultant Remarks: "I'm running again because there's a lot of unfinished business in both projects and organizational structure in the city that needs to be completed. When I ran (in 1988), I said I would increase the Police Department if the funds were there and we added 10 police officers.

Fernando Rios has soccer fever. He is an avid follower of European soccer leagues, and his favorite player is Lionel Messi, an Argentine soccer player who currently plays for Futbol Club Barcelona. When the 21-year-old isn't watching games on television, he's out playing the sport with friends on the uneven grass of South Gate Park. Rios' fever peaked on June 3 when a Scottish firm opened the doors to a new soccer complex at the park. Reported to be the first of its kind in the United States, the Goals Soccer Center features 10 floodlit mini-soccer fields equipped with rebound walls, netting and artificial turf.

To avoid a public outcry, the City Council has decided to move with caution on a proposed five-year, $20-million project that would improve the city's water system but also substantially increase user fees. "We need more public input," Mayor Del Snavely said. "The people who will pay for these improvements need to know what their money is paying for."

The South Gate City Council fired Deputy Manager Albert Robles on Tuesday night after officials accused him of squandering millions of dollars in public funds and attempting to destroy the city financially. The announcement came after a closed session in which council members discussed a new six-page city report. It portrays Robles as an intimidating manager who, when targeted with a voter recall, vowed to leave the city penniless.

When South Gate voters go to the polls next month, they will get a choice of voting for Hector De La Torre or Hector De La Torre. Or both, or neither. And you thought the Florida presidential election was confusing. The first two candidates listed on the ballot for two City Council seats are both named Hector De La Torre. No middle initials. On top of that, they have similar-sounding designations: One candidate is described as a counselor, the other as a council member.

The South Gate City Council has given final approval to an ordinance switching council meetings from Mondays to Tuesdays beginning in February. Under the new measure, the council will meet at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The change was made to give council members more time to study agenda materials and to avoid conflicts with Monday observances of state and federal holidays.

I was appalled the other night to attend the South Gate City Council meeting and have Councilman (Henry C.) Gonzalez state on the record that he voted against Proposition 13. This proposition saved homeowners, the small businessman and many middle-class homeowners and middle-size businesses from bankruptcy. I now begin to understand the shortsightedness of this councilman, whose claim to fame, apparently, is that he is a great contract negotiator for the United Auto Workers.

Councilman Henry C. Gonzalez has been chosen mayor and Herbert W. Cranton was voted vice mayor in the annual reorganization of the five-member South Gate City Council. Gonzalez, assistant director of United Auto Workers, Region 6, replaces John Sheehy as mayor. Gonzalez was vice mayor. Gonzalez was first elected to the council in 1982. This is his second time to serve as mayor, an office that entails presiding over council meetings and being the ceremonial head of city government.

The South Gate City Council has voted to spend $46,400 to start an anti-gang program in the city's elementary schools and one junior high school. The council unanimously approved spending the money for anti-gang instruction for fourth- and fifth-grade students at the city's nine elementary schools and South Gate Junior High School, which are on a year-round schedule. About 4,000 students will receive instruction from counselors from the county Juvenile Assistance Diversion Effort program.

The South Gate City Council killed a proposal to open a bingo parlor in the city, ending a three-year debate over the issue. The nonprofit Steelworkers Oldtimers Foundation had hoped to open a bingo hall at the former Builders Emporium warehouse at 5645 Firestone Blvd. The bingo parlor would have raised an estimated $4 million each year for area charities, said foundation Director George Cole.

The South Gate City Council, taking its first major actions against people hired by the city's former political leaders, has rescinded the contracts of the former police chief and his two deputies, calling their salaries and perks "unconscionable." At a marathon meeting that ended early Wednesday morning, the five-member council voted unanimously to terminate the contracts of Acting Police Chief Rick Lopez, Assistant Chief Mark A. Van Holt and Deputy Chief Carl Heintz.

At the first meeting of the new South Gate City Council, no one threw a punch, no one was kicked out of the chamber and every resident who wanted to speak was given a turn. And that's news in South Gate, a working-class community of 96,000 in southeast Los Angeles County that grabbed headlines this week when the mayor slugged a councilman.

Bravo for exposing the spending of 1.5 million taxpayer dollars for the legal defense of public officials in South Gate (Nov. 11). As a resident of South Gate I am outraged and embarrassed that our City Council majority has shamelessly spent taxpayer dollars to hire the top-notch law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton to represent city Treasurer Albert Robles. The same three individuals who make up the City Council majority also authorized attorneys' fees to fight a recall effort against them -- stalling the matter in the courts for almost a year until the state Supreme Court recently denied any further appeals.

Molotov cocktails were thrown early Monday at the business of a South Gate political activist involved in a fiercely contested voter recall effort. The fire destroyed one van and damaged another at the plumbing business owned by Joseph Ruiz. A second firebomb failed to ignite after being thrown at the front door of the building. "It's definitely arson," South Gate police Lt. Vincent Avila said.

When audience members at a recent South Gate City Council meeting were ordered to stop meowing every time a councilwoman spoke, they changed tactics. At the next meeting, they sat silently but waved placards reading, "Meow-Meow-Meow." City officials are now barking back. Saying unruly behavior at council meetings disrupts civic affairs and borders at times on riot conditions, the officials launched a campaign to stop it.

A former candidate for the South Gate City Council was found guilty Tuesday of lying about where he lived in order to qualify for the ballot. The conviction of Richard Mayer on seven felony counts, including three of perjury, marks the first court victory for Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley's public integrity squad. Prosecutors viewed it as a strong indicator of the public's willingness to convict officials--or would-be officials--charged with wrongdoing.

Five candidates have filed nomination papers to run in the March 7 special election to replace South Gate City Council member Dorothea Lombardo, who died in November. The election is timed to coincide with elections scheduled by other municipalities. Lombardo, who died Nov. 16 after suffering a stroke, had served about six months of a four-year term. The term ends in April, 1992. Candidates include former Councilman Henry C. Gonzalez, who lost by seven votes in the April 12 election; Gregory W.

The South Gate City Council has decided to pay $63,500 to former Administrator Bruce Spragg, who was fired last month. "In order to avoid any possibility (of a lawsuit), we negotiated," Mayor Robert A. Philipp said after the council approved the severance settlement last Friday. The council also rescinded its Aug. 20 firing of Spragg, who then submitted his resignation. Spragg, 57, had been the city administrator for more than eight years at an annual salary of $87,000 when he announced on Aug.

The South Gate City Council and city treasurer have been ordered to testify this week before the Los Angeles County Grand Jury as part of an ongoing political corruption investigation. Council critics have reacted to the proceedings with glee. At Monday night's City Council meeting, some residents tauntingly waved plastic handcuffs at officials they hope will soon be indicted.

The South Gate City Council meeting opened with a warm remark from the Turkish consul general. Visiting the southeast Los Angeles County city to receive a proclamation for "Turkey Republic Day," he returned the compliment in accented English. "It is a great honor," said Aykut Berk, "to see how democracy works in this great democracy."