LOCAL: L.A. County historical group seeks a home for displays.
By Karen Robes Staff Writer for The Press Telegram
BELLFLOWER -- The Los Angeles County fire museum may have found a home
in the Friendly City.
The City Council authorized staff Monday night to work out a license
contract with members of the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum
Association, allowing them to use city-owned property to drum up
membership, funds and support for a permanent museum, located just
south of the historic train depot on Bellflower Boulevard.
The association, which would pay $1 a month for nine months with a six-
month extension option, could move into the 9834 Flora Vista St.
facility as early as April 1, Community Development Director Brian Lee
said Tuesday. There, they can set up dioramas and host fundrasing
activites as early as May.
During those nine months, the city and the association will negotiate
a "disposition and development agreement" -- which will take
precedence over the license contract -- that will include details of
the construction of the $25 million fire museum, where the money will
come from and more specific time projections.
Fire Capt. Paul Schneider, president of the fire museum association,
told the council Monday that the project has received much interest
and enthusiasm from local business owners and community members.
"A lot of people believe in it," he said, adding that the facitlity is
"a means of showing our membership a very positive concrete step
forward" in making the museum a reality.
But not everyone agreed.
"To me, this is a backwards step into the future," former mayor Joe
Cvetko said Monday.
Cvetko said the project is wrong for the city, especially on the main
street.
"You need revenue generators in this city," he said. "This city is
dying. ... The people of Bellflower, the future, the kids and the
grandchildren are going to wind up paying for this here lemon."
Councilman Raymond Dunton took offense at Cvetko's remarks.
"For as far as I can remember, Joe, the forefathers of this town have
always said no," dunton said. "They've said no to everything that's
tried to come into this town and I believe you're one of those
people. You've been up here for many many years saying no, no,
no. ... What have you done? Can you put your name on one project?
"Well, let's try something and maybe it will fly," Dunton said.
"We're not going to have malls, we're not going to auto squares. We
have to have something. This is something that can percolate smaller
businesses to make things grow."
A terse exchange ensued between Dunton and Cvetko, who said he voted
for thie senior housing development and Hollywood Sports Park, which
is generating more revenue than the golf course that used to be there.
"That was one of the reasons why I lost the election," Cvetko said.
"Because I voted for what was better for the city than what was better
for Joe Cvetko."
After the unanimous vote, Dunton apologized.
"This town means a lot to me," he said, adding that the project could
bring more businesses to town. "It's been a long time since we've had
something like this."
Since 2000, the association has been looking for a home for its
historical fire trucks, engines and gear dating back to the 1800s,
which are currently in a South Gate warehouse.
The museum, which could be built in Bellflower in the next three to
five years, would feature a restaurant, banquet room and a garage
where mechanics can restore antiques.
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I live within walking distance of the address in the article. This
would be awesome.
mo aka maureen
officer of morale aka troll patrol
(alt.tv.E! info) hometown.aol.com/bandannamo/myhomepage/index.html
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