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Ordinance No. 626
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Z nrI "0.,27 mrZ' a n mZ "-U a 28 oIow; i dm <o�a . 29 LL OZrFa Z U1UVa 0 16 w LL ij 30 Q o Z F 0 U x 31 32 ORDINANCE NO. 626 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VERNON AMENDING LICENSE ORDINANCE N0. 598 BY ADDING THERETO SECTION 25.10 REGULATING BUSINESS BY VEHICLE. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Ordinance No. 598 of the City of Vernon to license, for the purpose of revenue and regulation, certain kinds of business authorized by law and carried on in such city includ- ing shows, exhibitions, and lawful games carried on therein;•to fix the rates of license tax upon the same and to provide for the collection of the same by suit or otherwise; and prescribing penalties for the violation of the provisions of this ordinance, and repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict therewith, is hereby amended by adding thereto Section 25.10. Section 2: Section 25.10 shall read as follows: (a) "Business by Vehicle" shall mean the business of running, driving or operating any automobile, automobile truck, automobile tank wagon, or any vehicle used for transportation, selling, collection or delivery of goods, wares, merchandise or other personal property of any kind from a vehicle, either as his or its principal business, or in connection with any other business, or of soliciting for work, labor, or services to be performed upon the public street, in Or from a vehicle, or to be performed on goods, wares, merchandise, clothes or other personal property to be taken for such purpose to a plant or establishment inside or outside of the city limits of the city of Vernon. The terms of this ordinance shall not be deemed to apply to the delivery of goods to persons, firms or corporations operating such vehicles together, and in conjunction with a fixed place of business within the city of Vernon for which such busi- ness a license fee is paid under other provisions of this ordinance. The provisions of this ordinance are not to be construed as imposing a tax upon vehicles, but as a method of classification - 1 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 32 of business and distinguishing between those maintaining a fixed place of business'in the conduct of which vehicles are used and those maintaining a business in the conduct of which vehicles are used but who do not have a fixed place of business in the city of Vernon. (b) A vehicle is a device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved by a human power or used ex- clusively upon stationary rails or tracks. A trailer is a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by another vehicle; and is declared to be a separate vehicle under this ordinance. (c) Every vehicle engaged in "Business by Vehicle" shall pay an annual license fee of Forty Eight Dollars ($48.00) per year on the first day of January of each year. All of said vehicles providing for a semi - annual license shall pay a fee of Thirty Dollars 030.00) on the first day of January and on the first day of July of each year. After the effective date of this ordinance, and prior to January 1, 1950, but not thereafter, applicants may apply for a quarterly license, and shall pay therefor a fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00), which quarterly license will expire at midnight on the 31st day of December, 1949. This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its final passage. Section 3. There is no newspaper printed and published within said City of Vernon. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be posted in three of the most conspicuous places in the City of Vernon, to -wit: the northwest corner of 38th Street and Santa Fe Avenue; the northwest corner of 37th Street and Santa Fe Avenue; and on the bulletin board in the lobby of the City Hall of the City of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Q 26 a 0 m � a2p . 27 mWZ,sl• M "" 28 z O10W0 X 6maou0 . 29 4 oZy�LL o o O • a 0 1 30 mz a 0 U m� D 31 T 32 Vernon, located at 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, in said City. This Ordinance shall be posted for a period of not less than thirty (30) days prior to its effective date, and shall be in full force and effect on and after the 18th Day of November ', 1949. ADOPTED THIS 18th day of October, 1949. - 3- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 tonate a. .otenua 0 a► k rt:t west corner `; 7t t and ONO, 3 1 z k of tits or e , do I di a or Ordinance 626 +c t nort4woot c i1, no, and at 4305 u1 ttj ►z2 itod and Aw.bil 4 -rang. to tho bar 21 '. W Iona am #s i or r w My , _ 3 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE 15992 SOUTH PARAMOUNT BLVD. DOUGLAS DISTRIBUTING CO. PARAMOUNT, CALIFORNIA December 5, 1949 City of Vernon Vernon, California Gentlemen: Please explain your new tax law to us and send us an application for same. HPF /st TELEPHONE: METCALF 3 -5119 NEVADA 6 -1521 1751 SO. SANTA FE AVE. LOS ANGELES 21 TRINITY 6251 1081 TWENTY- SECOND ST. 1603 A ST. 390 PACIFIC ST. OAKLAND 7, CALIF. FRESNO 1, CALIF. SAN LUIS OBISPO TWINOAKS 3 -2866 PHONE 2 -1114 PHONE 800 1490 SO. FIRST ST. SAN JOSE COLUMBIA 1 -0100 GENERAL OFFICES: 625 BRANNAN ST. - SAN FRANCISCO 7, CALIF. - PHONE GARFIELD 1 -8454 CALIFORNIA MOTOR EXPRESS, LTD. O V E R - N I G H T E X P R E S S S E R V I C E SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA :: LOS ANGELES AND INTERMEDIATE POINTS San Francisco, California December 2, 1949 T. J. Furling, City Clerk City of Vernon Vernon, Calif. Dear Sir: This has reference to Ordinance No. 626 adopted October 18, 1949 by the City of Vernon with reference to City License, with partic- ular reference to Section 2: Section 25.10 (a). Would you kindly forward application for License in complaince with Ordinance No. 626 to the attention of the undersigned at your earliest convenience. WJD: th Yours very truly, SERVING ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, IDAHO AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST GENERAL OFFICES . . 625 BRANNAN ST. . . SAN FRANCISCO . . PHONE GARFIELD 1 -5454 SPECIFY "CALMOTEX" SERVICE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF CABINET MANUFACTURERS 2 0 0 S O U T H VICTORY B O U L E V A R D B U R B A N K , C A L I F O R N I A PHONE CHARLESTON 8-6686 H. O. WARDE PRESIDENT SHELDON TRENERY VICE - PRESIDENT PHILLIP A. DEMARCO TREASURER TRACY T. JOURNEY SECRETARY December 13, 1949 City Clerk Dear Sir: The Southern California Association of Cabinet Manufactuers is desirous of cooperating with the officials of your city regarding truck license fees and /or business license fees. Some of our members manufacture kitchen cabinets in one city and then ship these cabinets via truck within your city's limits and in some instances install these cabinets as subcontractors for a general contractor. Therefore would you send us a copy of your ordinance or ordinances which apply in our case, in order that we may advise our members. We are enolosing'a self addressed envelope for your use. Yours very truly, Tracy nay TRUSTEES MILTON DIXON SHELDON TRENERY RALPH HANDY C. N. THIELEN ROY HOFFMEISTER PAUL STEMBER CURTIS TOWLE LEE PARRISH JESSE H. STEINHART JOHN J. GOLDBERG B. J. FEIGENBAUM S. A. LADAR JOHN H. STEINHART KARL R. BENDETSEN ARTHUR J. COHEN, JR. RICHARD W. JENNINGS COUNSEL LAW OFFICES OF JESSE H. STEINHART ONE ELEVEN SETTER SAN FRANCISCO, 4 December 9, 1949 City Clerk City of Vernon Los An-'eles County, California Dear Sir: I would very 'such appreciate it if you would send to me a copy of Ordinances No. 598 and 626. If there is any charge for these I will remit i!nrnediately upon receiving your advice. J.F : of r Very truly, ORDINANCE No. 626 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VERNON AMENDING LICENSE ORDINANCE NO. 598 BY ADDING THERETO SECTION 25.10 REGULATING BUSINESS BY VEHICLE. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Ordinance No. 598 of the City of Vernon to license, for the purpose of revenue and regulation, certain kinds of business authorized by law and carried on in such city including shows, exhibitions, and lawful games carried on therein; to fix the rates of license tax upon the same and to provide for the collection of the same by suit or otherwise; and prescribing penalties for the violation of the provisions of this ordinance, and repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict therewith, is hereby amended by adding thereto Section 25.10. Section 2: Section 25.10 shall read as follows: ORDINANCE No. 626 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VERNON REGULATING BUSINESS BY VEHICLE. 598 BY ADDING THERETO SECTIO l THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Ordinance No. 598 of the City of Vernon to license, for the purpose of revenue and regulation, certain kinds of business authorized by law and carried on in such city including shows, exhibitions, and lawful games carried on therein; to fix the rates of license tax upon the same and to provide for the collection of the same by suit or otherwise; and prescribing penalties for the violation of the provisions of this ordinance, and repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict therewith, is hereby amended by adding thereto Section 25.10. Section 2: Section 25.10 shall read as follows: (a) "Business by Vehicle" shall mean the business of running, driving or operating any automobile, automobile truck, automobile tank wagon, or any vehicle used for transportation, selling, collection or delivery of goods, wares, merchandise or other personal property of any kind from a vehicle, either as his or its principal business, or in connection with any other business, or of soliciting for work, labor, or services to be performed upon the public street, in or from a vehicle, or to be performed on goods, wares, merchandise, clothes or other personal property to be taken for such purpose to a plant or establishment inside or outside of the city limits of the city of Vernon. The terms of this ordinance shall not be deemed to apply to the delivery of goods to persons, firms or corporations operating such vehicles together, and in conjunction with a fixed place of business within the city of Vernon for which such business a license fee is paid under other pro- visions of this ordinance. The provisions of this ordinance are not to be construed as imposing a tax upon vehicles, but as a method of classification of business and distinguishing between those maintaining a fixed ess place c duct of which vehicles les are used vehicles are used and those do not have a fixed place tof business in busi- ness in the conduct the city of Vernon. (b) A vehicle is a device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved by a human power or used exclu- sively upon stationary rails or tracks. A trailer is a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by another vehicle; and is declared to be a separate vehicle under this ordinance. (c) Every vehicle engaged in "Business by Vehicle" shall pay an annual license fee of Forty Eight Dollars ($48.00) per year on the first day of January of each year. All of said vehicles pro- viding for a semi - annual license shall pay a fee of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) on the first day of January and on the first day of July of each year. After the effective date of this ordinance, and prior to January 1, 1950, but not thereafter, applicants may apply for a quarterly license, and shall pay therefor a fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00), which quarterly license will expire at mid- night on the 31st day of December, This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its final passage. Section 3. There is no newspaper printed and published within said City of Vernon. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be posted in three of the most conspicuous places in the City of Vernon, to -wit: the northwest corner of 38th Street and Santa Fe Avenue; the northwest corner of 37th Street and Santa Fe Avenue; and on the bulletin board in the lobby of the City Hall of the City of Vernon, located at 4305 Santa daFe ys Avenue, in its effective date, d shall be shall full force and period on and lafter theh18th (30) days prior to Day of November, 1949. ADOPTED THIS 18th day of October, 1949. ATTEST: T. J. FURLONG City Clerk R. J. FURLONG Mayor mquist�otbers FORMERLY ALMQUIST BROTHERS AND VIETS 2300 EAST 49th STREET • LOS ANGELES 11, CALIFORNIA President Vernon City Council Vernon, California Dear Sir: December 12, 1949 ABRASIVES • SHOP SUPPLIES METAL CUTTING TOOLS PHONE: Kimball 9111 Several of our customers have recently called to our attention the new ordinance adopted by your body imposing the license fee on truck- ing operations within the Vernon City limits. (Ordinance 626) We do not believe that your Honorable Body realizes the full effect that this ordinance will have on sales of firms such as ours that are located within your City, as we have numerous competitors that are located out of the City of Vernon. At present we are paying the property tax as well as tax on merchan- dise a7gregating approximately $300,000.00, and in addition pay to the City of Vernon a tax on our gross sales. Many of our customers in order to save time make it a practice to pick up their orders with their own trucks. However, the disastrous affect upon our over - the - counter business is not our only concern. The fact that carriers used by our firm have their main offices out- side the City limits would impose such a burden on the shipping and receiving of our merchandise that the ever increasing cost of doing business, resulting from the carriers inability to absorb these license fees, threatens to wipe out our entire profit. While we realize that the comparatively small gas tax allocation to the Vernon area, in the opinion of your body, necessitates this source of revenud, we believe the remedy for this situation lies in a justified demand for a greater allocation from the State Gas Tax Fund. We hope that further investigation of this entire subject will warrant reconsideration of the Ordinance. Yours very truly, ALMQUIST BROTHERS 1,e4.7.04.0•4 Carl L. Almquist Sec /Treas. v Address all mail to Box 3100, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles 54, Calif. City Council of Vernon Vernon, California Gentlemen: ASBURY TRANSPORTATION CO. 4905 SOUTH ALAMEDA STREET LOS ANGELES, CALIF November 25, 1949 I would of Ordinance No. 26 ®relating toithe taxation rofe ommercialrmotor passage motor vehicles. The Asbury Transportation Co. has been domiciled in Vernon for over 20 years. While under the terms of the ordinance we are specifically exempted, our customers located outside the city limits of Vernon are not. exempted and for this reason would have to purchase a license in order to deliver freight to our docks at 4908 South Alameda Street. Doubtlessl y' you gentlemen are aware of the fact that truck transportation is a highly competitive industry. It is obvious no shipper will deliver to Vernon docks and pay a license if he has an option of delivering to a dock outside of Vernon without paying this penalty. suite apart from the foregoing, it is to be noted that the license fee in itself is exorbitant and would only result in retaliatory steps being taken by adjoining municipalities. There are other deficiencies in the ordinance from a practical point of view in that the license fee is not transferable between equipment. It is impossible in the operation of a business to limit one particular truck to one particular area. We have never had any quarrel with the City of Vernon and have enjoyed our long residency in this area, but an ordinance of this type emphasizes the lack of representation enjoyed by industry in the city affairs of Vernon. We cannot fail, as businessmen, to recognize the problems of our good customers who are domiciled in Vernon and, who are in the business of selling merchandise. This ordinance could easily affect a concern such as Ducommon materially. We would like this communication to be considered as a request for a rehearing and a reconsideration of the subject ordinance. Very truly yours, ASBURY TRANSPORTATION CO. ARROWHEAD FREIGHT LINES, LTD. AJE: ea By . J. Eyraud Vice President, General Manager RECTIFIERS R -22 • CABLE ADDRESS : BO DISCO • IMPORTERS 1 -803 ACE BEER 2254 EAST 49TH STREET • • TELEPHONE KIMBALL 1181 LOS ANGELES II, CALIFORNIA November 23, 1949 Honorable Vernon City Council 4305 Santa Fe Avenue Vernon 11, California Gentlemen: We respectfully desire to draw to the attention of your Honorable Body the vital concern with which we, as an industrial house in this community along with other members of the shipping public, view the drastic provisions of the latest ordinance imposing license fees on trucking operations within the Vernon City limits, (Ordinance No. 626.) From a brief resumer of such ordinance, we understand that the license is applicable to proprietary owned trucks as well as common carriers; that license fees are chargeable against truck owners outside but not within the city limits where pick -up or delivery service is performed within such area; that licenses are not transferable from one truck to another, and that the amount of the license fee is considerably in excess of that assessed by other cities of comparable size and population. We are unable to conceive that the extensive ramifications involved in the provisions of this ordinance have been fully considered in relation to the business whioh enters this area from surrounding communities, and particularly, the drastic effects brought upon industries which have been attracted to locate within your City. In this latter connection, we cannot emphasize too strongly the impossible situation which will de- velope concerning that phase of our activities involving the sale of merchandise which our customers purchase over the counter and take delivery of with their own trucks. To expect that such customers from surrounding territory will continue to patronize our concern, or any other firm in Vernon, when subject to such a penalty, is beyond the realm of possibility. This, perhaps, is one of the worst features which confronts local industries, and should alone warrant revision of this pease of the ordinance. -Page 2- Honorable Vernon City Council November 23, 1949 But the disastrous affect upon our over -the- counter business is not our only concern. The fact that carriers used by this firm have their main offices outside the city limits imposes such a burden on the shipping and receiving of our merchandise that the ever increasing cost of doing business, resulting from the carriers' inability to absorb license fees, threatens to further decrease the margin of pro- fit to which private industry is rightly entitled. While it is no doubt contended that the present legislation is con- stitutionally sound, we cannot refrain from expressing the personal opinicn that such license fees are unreasonable and exorbitant. It may be contended that the comparatively small gas tax allocation necessitates this source of revenue, but if so, we believe the remedy for this situation lies in another direction; namely, in a justi- fiable demand for a greater allocation from the State Gas Tax Fund. The fact that industry in Vernon and the shipping public, in general, is so vitally concerned in this legislation will, we hope, warrant your earnest reconsideration of the subject. Yours very truly, BOHEMIAN DIS' G COMPANY A. D. Ferrari General Superintendant IaDF : Inc B1IUNSWIG DRUG COMPANY UP/I'1iGeG' QPi / / Iittxy Vernon City Council 4305 Santa Fe Avenue Vernon, California Gentlemen: 4701 SO. SANTA FE AVENUE P. 0. BOX 2318, TERMINAL ANNEX LOS ANGELES 54, CALIF. TELEPHONE LUCAS 0251 November 22, 1949 Re: City of Vernon Ordinance No. 626 The Brunswig Drug Company is greatly concerned about the adverse effect of Ordinance No. 626 on its business. We wish to register our protest with the Council and call attention to factors, which, as we understand the Ordinance, will be directly detrimental to the every day operation of our business, our competitive position and our customer and supplier relationships. 1. The Brunswig Drug Company serves approximately 2,000 regular customers, for the most part retail druggists and hospitals, from its Vernon plant. We do not operate our own trucks and depend upon common carrier, contract carriers and many small operators to de- liver our merchandise, drugs, sick room needs and pharmaceuticals. This license will directly increase the delivery cost because the trucking companies involved will certainly use this franchise cost to obtain higher freight rates. It is conceivable also that our service to our customers might be curtailed due to the fact that the trucking companies serving us would use a minimum number of trucks for the Vernon area while our competitors in Los Angeles can be served freely with unlicensed trucks. 2. A great percentage of our total inventory is delivered to us by truck from warehouses in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is con- ceivable that trucking companies will purchase Vernon licenses for a minimum number of trucks and again curtail their service to us if they were not able to offset the increased cost by higher freight rates. 3. Our two chief competitors operate in the City of Los Angeles. App •. =p -tely 150 customers pick merchandise up at our Waiting Order LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA • PHOENIX AND TUCSON, ARIZONA Vernon City Council BRUNSWIG DRUG COMPANY -2- November 22, 1949 Department daily. If each of these customers is compelled to buy a license from the City of Vernon, they will either expect Brunswig Drug Company to pay for their license or they will choose to make their pickups at the two competitive establishments in Los Angeles. Many of these customers come from out of town and will be uninformed as to the license requirement; the embarrassment caused will reflect on our business relationship. A $48.00 license for the small retail druggist picking up emergency prescription items will definitely send him elsewhere. In summary, this Ordinance definitely places Vernon industry in a position of disadvantage in relationship to Los Angeles competitors and will create many embarrassing situations. RVS/dm Respectfully submitted, Ro . Schwab P sident MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 220 BUSH STREET v December 2, 1949 SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. PRESIDENT WM. B. TYLER, Vice Pres. and Gen. Counsel, California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Corp. 1st VICE PRESIDENT T. T. ARDEN, Executive Vice Pres. Robertshaw - Fulton Controls Co. TREASURER R. K. CUTTER, M.D., President Cutter Laboratories SECRETARY HAYWARD C. THOMAS, President Alumalux Company, Inc. EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT HARRY S. SCHENK DIRECTORS BURTON N. ARNDS, SR., President Sparkletts Drinking Water Corp. HARRY S. BAKER, President Producers Cotton Oil Company T. NOEL BLAND, Vice President Fibreboard Products, Inc. HENRY 1. CLARK, Plant Manager B -O -P Assembly Division General Motors Corporation WILLIAM E. CRANSTON, JR., President Thermador Electrical Mfg. Co. GEORGE A. DAVIDSON, Vice President Standard Oil Co. of California WILLIAM A. DeRIDDER, President General Metals Corporation F. O. FERNSTROM, Chmn. of Board Fernstrom Paper Mills, Inc. LEONARD K. FIRESTONE, President Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. of Calif. O. H. FISCHER, President The Union Diesel Engine Co. J. A. FOLGER, President J. A. Folger and Company T. KIRK HILL, President Kirkhill Rubber Co. RALPH M. HOFFMAN, President Link -Belt Co., Pacific Division WM. B. HUBBARD, President Cherry Rivet Co. EDGAR B. JESSUP, President Marchant Calculating Machine Co. IVAN L. JOHNSON, President Pacific Steel Casting Co. LLOYD A. JOHNSON, President National Motor Bearing Co., Inc. C. W. KRAFT, President Kroftile Company W. KEITH McAFEE, Chairman of the Board, Universal- Rundle Mfg. Co. J. R. MILLAR, President National Automotive Fibres, Inc. K. T. NORRIS, President Norris Stamping & Mfg. Co. F. B. ORTMAN, President Gladding, McBean & Co. JOHN PARKER, President American Marine Paint Co. L. D. PRATT, Production Manager Kelso Company O. W. PRINGLE, Vice President Columbia Steel Company A. N. SKINNER, President The Fredick Couch Company City Council of Vernon Vernon, California Dear Sirs: 315 WEST NINTH STREET LOS ANGELES 15, CALIF. Los Angeles Information has reached us concerning Ordinance No. 626 of the City of Vernon, amending License Ordinance No,, 598 by addition of Section 25.10 which will impose a license fee of $48.00 per year per vehicle against all "business by vehicle" involving freight pickup and /or delivery in the City of Vernon, except by firms which are domiciled within your city limits. It is my understanding that this ordinance was adopted on October 18 and will be placed in effect around the the first of the year. As we view this added tax; based particularly upon infor- mation of your intention to completely enforce its terms, limitations will be placed upon not only manufacturers located in Vernon but also a great number of them located in other California communities, Many of our members in Vernon and now receiving the benefit of for -hire carriers will be faced with the necessity of some revision of their methods of delivery and procurement, perhaps to the extent of using their own proprietary equipment in order to escape this fee. Other manufacturers located outside Vernon, now making delivery of products to customers there, may be required to call upon such customers to use their own equipment for picking up materials purchased outside of the Vernon city limits. This is to specifically request that the operation of Ordinance 626 be deferred long enough to give us an opportunity to acquaint our members throughout the state with the penalties contemplated thereby so as to give them an opportunity for revision of their pickup and /or delivery arrangements on business done in Vernon, whether by proprietary or public carriers. It seems rather convincing that business establish- ments in Vernon will be subjected to costs not now incurred, as a result of the new license fees to be imposed. Your advice in the premises will be greatly appreciated. YO v toy y, Le Os orne, Director Freight Traffic Department LEO /J1 cc: CMA Freight Traffic Committee CMA Taxation Committee 4632 -42 PACIFIC BLVD. -:- LOS ANGELES 11, CALIF. LOgan 3381 November 17, 1949 City Council City of Vernon Los Angeles 11, Calif. Gentlemen: We understand that there is before your body an ordinance calling for a tax on all pick up and delivery trucks entering or leaving the city of Vernon. We wish to protest this ordinance to the utmost, as our entire business depends on the pick up and delivery of merchandise by our customers, many of whom have only small pick up trucks. A large quantity of units belonging to our cus- tomers are brought into us for repairs from as far as San Francisco by our own customers. This ordinance would create a hardship, as the great bulk of our business is done in the city of Los Angeles, and it would mean that these customers would rather buy in the city of Los Angeles than come the long dis- tance to Vernon and pay a duty of 44.8.00 per year to do business with us. We believe that you will be driving many businesses out of your city, including ours. May we respectfully suggest that you give this matter every consideration to eliminate the hardships of doing business, which are bad enough with the Federal, State and County taxes, without including harsh city taxes. Thanking you for your kind consideration, we are, cjh Very truly CHALTIO ORPORATION , President B 20 IJUCOMMUN METALS SUPPLY CO. SINCE 1849 Tam anal 1,2zGzatiliez,9 S 4890 SOUTH ALAMEDA STREET • LOS ANGELES 54, CALIFORNIA P.O.BOX 2117 TERMINAL ANNEX November 21, 1949 President Vernon City Council Vernon, California Dear Sir: PHONE:KIFIBA1L 0161 We respectfully desire to draw to the attention of your Honorable Body the vital concern with which we, as an in- dustrial house in this community along with other members of the shipping public, view the drastic provisions of the latest ordinance imposing license fees on trucking opera - tions within the Vernon City limits, (Ordinance No. 626.) From a brief resume of such ordinance, we understand that the license is applicable to proprietary owned trucks as well as common carriers; that license fees are chargeable against truck owners outside but not within the city limits where pick -up or delivery service is performed within such area; that licenses are not transferable from one truck to another, and that the amount of the license fee is consider- ably in excess of that assessed by other cities of comparable size and population. We are unable to conceive that the extensive ramifications involved in the provisions of this ordinance have been fully considered in relation to the business which enters this area from surrounding communities, and particularly, the drastic effects wrought upon industries which have been at- tracted to locate within your City. In this latter connec- tion, we cannot emphasize too strongly the impossible situ- ation which will develop concerning that phase of our activi- ties involving the sale of merchandise which our customers purchase over the counter and take delivery of with their own trucks. To expect that such customers from surrounding DUCOMMUN METALS & SUPPLY CO. -- Page 2 President November 21, 1949 Vernon City Council territory will continue to patronize our concern, or any other firm in Vernon, when subject to such a penalty, is beyond the realm of possibility. This, perhaps, is one of the worst features which confronts local industries, and should alone warrant revision of this phase of the ordinance. But the disastrous affect upon our over - the - counter busi- ness is not our only concern. The fact that carriers used by this firm have their main offices outside the city limits imposes such a burden on the shipping and receiving of our merchandise that the ever increasing cost of doing business, resulting from the carriers' inability to absorb license fees, threatens to further decrease the margin of profit to which private industry is rightly entitled. While it is no doubt contended that the present legislation is constitutionally sound, we cannot refrain from express- ing the personal opinion that such license fees are unreason- able and exorbitant. It may be contended that the compara- tively small gas tax allocation necessitates this source of revenue, but if so, we believe the remedy for this situation lies in another direction; namely, in a justifiable demand for a greater allocation from the State Gas Tax Fund. The fact that industry in Vernon and the shipping public, in general, is so vitally concerned in this legislation will, we hope, warrant your earnest reconsideration of the subject. Yours very truly Vice President aj SALES AND SERVICE 1444 SOUTH ALAMEDA ST. LOS ANGELES 21 FRUEHAUF TRAILER COMPANY MAIN OFFICE AND FACTORY 5137 SOUTH BOYLE AVENUE CORNER FRUITLAND AVENUE Phone JEfferson 1181 LOS ANGELES 11, CALIFORNIA November 29, 1949 City Council of Vernon Vernon California Dear Sirs: BRANCHES: SAN FRANCISCO KLAMATH FALLS SALT LAKE CITY ALBUQUERQUE SACRAMENTO SAN DIEGO PORTLAND BILLINGS SPOKANE PHOENIX EL PASO SEATTLE FRESNO BOISE It has come to our attention that the City Council of Vernon has enacted on Ordinance, by number 626, imposing a license tax on motor trucks entering the city limits. We respectfully urge that you reconsider this ordinance and rescind its passage because of the unfortunate effects that such an ordinance will have on the City of Vernon and the people doing business therein. In these modern times, more and more industries are becoming dependent on motor transport to carry the goods of commerce quickly and with greatest flexibility. Industrial areas which prosper most are those which offer the freest access to the carriers of commerce. In the nation, there have been certain states which have imposed more restrictions on motor transport — restrictions on sizes, weights and the burden of heavier taxes. These restrictions are known as trade barriers and because of such trade barriers, those states have hindered commercial development by restricting motor transport. We firmly believe that the proposed license tax will mean a trade barrier around the City of Vernon and will do irreparable harm to the future development of the area. Such tax will discourage out- side industries from doing business in Vernon because of the tax on their vehicles. The loss of this business will harm industries already located here and will dissuade new industries from locating here. The proposed tax may mean that outside transportation companies will apply for a freight rate differential to compensate for the tax. If such is approved by the Public Utilities Commission, such increase in rate would be a burden on all industries receiving goods within Vernon. +2 Bbr these reasons and because we believe this tax to be against the best interests of all of us with an interest in the City, we respectfully urge that Ordinance No. 626 be rescinded and repealed. Very truly yours, R. S. Kirksey, President (Western Division) Vernon City Council VERNON, California Gentlemen: 60).X. ea TERM NAL Artql JYS "OUR 78th YEAR" November 28, 1949 Your honorable body recently caused to be enacted Ordinance No. imposing license fees on certain tracking operations within the City of Vernon. A study of itts provisions indicates an intention to assess each and every vehicle serving us with necessary operating supplies and merchandise for resale. Also, it places a license burden and a business deterrent upon our customers located outside of the City of Vernon, dependent upon us for emergency food needs where they would be compelled to use their own vehicles. ?chile we appreciate it does not apply to our own equipment, yet we respectfully appeal to your honorable body to reconsider this ordinance upon the basis it may very likely build a barrier around the industries located in Vernon, which must be given every possible opportunity to grow, and have consequent profits from which the City of Vernon benefits thru other taxation channels. Anticipating your favorable action, we are Cordially yours, HAAS, BARUCH & COMPANY. By R`uVR d Secretary 01 L WELL, REFINERY AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES 5125 SANTA FE AVENUE LOS ANGELES 11, CALIFORNIA P.O. Box 457, Vernon Branch Vernon City Council City of Vernon 4305 Santa Fe Avenue Vernon, California Gentlemen: November 25, 1949 ORDINANCE NO. 626 In the interest of ourselves and the City of Vernon, we wish to enter our protest against subject ordinance because it places us in a non - competitive position with over 100 concerns similar to ours and is bound to drive business away from us and deprive the City of Vernon of revenue. We understand that the intent of this ordinance is to produce funds to offset the lack of monies from the State Gasoline Fund which is based on the regis- tration of motor vehicles located in various municipalities. While we are sympathetic with the aims of your body and its desire to have decent streets which the cityts vehicles can travel upon, it would appear that the enactment of the above ordinance was adopted without full consideration of the conse- quences to the business houses and the city alike. Our company, like all concerns enjoy what is known as "will call" business - where the customer with either his own trucks or trucks of licensed trucking companies call at our place of business for materials which are consumed in other areas. The type of concerns who call for material on their own trucks within a radius of twenty -five miles, I am sure would run into the thousands, and such concerns will refuse to pay a $48 license fee for the privilege of picking up material in the City of Vernon when it is a simple matter to pick up the same material which we handle, from over one hundred concerns located outside the City of Vernon. We feel sure that the revenue which can only be successfully collected from the trucking companies will be more than offset by a shrinking in the volume of business done by commercial institutions in the City of Vernon and the revenue produced from the present city taxes will be considerably reduced. We feel that this ordinance should be rescinded as it is a detriment to the business concerns and the city alike, and we strongly recommend some other means of raising the desired funds that will not work a hardship upon the business or upon the City of Vernon. We urge that this matter be given your immediate consideration before it is too late to prevent the harmfull effects mentioned above, HEH BC DistriGutors REPUBLIC OIL COUNTRY TUBULAR GOODS . . . PIPE Yours .very truly, UPPLY` COMPANY President VALVES FITTINGS . SPECIALTIES LORD. BABCOCK, Inc. PLUMBING & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES- 2201 EAST 38TH STREET TELEPHONE JEFFERSON 6238 LOS ANGELES 11, CALIFORNIA November 30, 1949 City Council of Vernon Vernon 11, California Honorable City Council: We are in our fifteenth year of doing business in the city of Vernon. It has always been a pleasure to be a part of industrial Vernon, and our relations with the city government have been very pleasant. At the present time we are very concerned over the new ordinance licensing trucks entering the city. We can readily see where this is needed for public carriers or trucks making regular deliveries into the city, but the portion we would like to protect is the licensing of trucks making an occassional pick up in the city. While most of our business is delivered with our own trucks, we do have a large number of pick up deliveries by our customers. If they are required to obtain a license it would force them to do that type of buying elsewhere and thus put us in a bad position with our competitors located outside the city of Vernon. We hope that you will reconsider this portion of the ordinance and amend it so that no penalty is imposed on the businesses of Vernon. SHD:lf Yours very truly, LORD - BABCOCK, Inc. 6L,/cL S. H. Dicken vr U. S. PAT °" MALL TOOL COMPANY ELECTRIC GASOLINE ENGINE AND PNEUMATIC POWER FOOLS • FLEXIBLE SHAFT EQUIPMENT • CHAIN SAWS EXECUTIVE OFFICES CHICAGO 19, ILLINOIS Honorable City Council Vernon, California Gentlemen: 5 3 1 6 S A N T A F E A V E N U E LOS ANGELES 11, CALIFORNIA T e l e p h o n e K i m b a l l 2 1 2 1 November 30, 1949 This letter is written in protest of City Ordinance #626 recently passed. We feel that this ordiance will impose an unjust handic:=.p on the merchants and manufacturers in the City of Vernon. A large percentage of the merchandise we sell is picked up at our place of business by customers outside the City of Vernon. We are afraid that as a result of Ordinance 626 many of our customers will be forced to take their business to our competitors in other localities. The resulting loss of business may force us to consider a new location. There must be other ways of securing additional revenue for the City of Vernon that would not jeopardise the competitive position of the merchants and manufacturers in the city. Very truly yours, MALL TOOL COMPANY J. W. J. Friedrich WJF /mm Branch Manager P. 0. BOX 68, STATION K 5215 SOUTH BOYLE AVENUE * * * * * * * * * * * LOS ANGELES 11, CALIFORNIA TELEPHONE KIMBALL 7111 December 5, 1949 The City Council City of Vernon 4305 Santa Fe Avenue Vernon, California. Gentlemen: ,e are vitally concerned over the imposition of an a^n.nuel license fee of 5;18.00 per vehicle against all vehicles picld.ng; up or de- livering freight in Vernon. Our business, established here for some years, has found that the trucking industry is a vital link in the transportation of raw materials and manufactured articles in and out of our plant, end that the motor carriers have, as an industry, been tormented by overlapping taxes. 'e do not believe it is the intent of your good body to deprive the community ity of its just reguireraents; however, the ordi_n^.nce as ,°re interpret it, will create one of the most successful trade barriers ever devised. S new -taxes are imposed, the cost of operations rise and the price of nerchandise woes up. This vicious circle of rising costs must be ended if the flow of commerce into and out of t'1e City of Vernon is to be continued. Business and industry in Vernon is panned by experienced officials who know .:hat is necessary to nr1ce their ;properties ;oink concerns. There is no guesswork. Experience has demonstrated that trans- portation at present has about all the trouble it can stand; there- fore, we are Of the opinion that the 'further taxing of trucks that n 'lemon's bring and carry array the ? �roca,.l c =�s c::� industrial pl•srts will result in rising costs that will be passed on to Lhe tub l-i c itself. The City Council Cit,r of Vernon December 5, 1949 Undoubtedly, you Td11 receive other protests from Vernon businesses which 1ai11 likewise point out the effect the ordinance have on the business from which the City of Vernon derives taxation revenue. In this respect, ';re su , est the folloviing for your con- sideration: (1) That the ordinance be repealed. (2) That the Council_ cooperate with a committee of Vernon industrial officials in working out substitute tax pro7raln for street repairs. Advice of your action will be very much appreciated. Very truly yours, 11,01:ILIS SMITING I1NG '_1`.D ANUF CTIIRI1i':r CO. 0G /n w S O F T W O O D S H A R D W O O D S P L Y W O O D S SASH AND DOORS BUILDING MATERIALS E� N PAIR City Council City of Vernon Vernon, California Gentlemen: iu, M November 25, 1949 ▪ [ (o) M PAN Subject: Ordinance No. 626 2100 EAST 38TH STREET POST OFFICE BOX 38 V E R N O N BRANCH LOS ANGELES. CALIF. PHONE ADAMS 5171 Subject ordinance has just cone to our attention and we have given considerable time and thought to its effect on our busi- ness and as well as its effectiveness in obtaining for the City of Vernon the revenue which it unquestionably needs for its operations. It is our opinion that this ordinance would not only have a most adverse effect on our particular operation and general business but that also the ultimate result could well be a lessening of total revenue collections by the city. These conclusions are briefly summarized as follows: 1. By far the larger part of our business is done with contractors, businesses and individuals located outside of the Vernon city limits. The trade which we obtain from them is based on our low - cost operation from one centrally located plant and one of the prin- cipal reasons for choosing this site originally was the favorable tax situation as compared with Los Angeles and other communities. Enforcement of this ordinance would virtually eliminate our "will call business" which constitutes a substantial part of our volume and which comes from practically every community in Southern Calif- ornia. 2. We are constantly receiving supplies and merchandise from suppliers who are not located in Vernon and who make deliveries to our plant. The enforcement of this ordinance would make it impossible for us to do business with many of our present suppliers. 3. We have been spending many thousands of dollars annually in advertising to increase our sales throughout Southern California. As a result of this program, we have a large clientel of ranchers, contractors and individual buyers from outlying communities who come in with their own equipment to pick up lumber and building material. Enforcement of the ordinance would undoubtedly virtually eliminate this type of business and by reducing our volume would reduce the city's collection of its gross receipts tax based on dollar volume. 4. Unless the ordinance was strictly and completely en- forced, it would cause unfair discrimination and its rigid enforce- City Council Page -2- November 25, 1949 went would unquestionably require considerable additions to its personnel and a greatly increased cost of operation. The difficulties of enforce- ment would appear to be great. 5. This company has successfully resisted the attempts of other communities throughout Southern California to collect license taxes for making deliveries into those communities. Enforcement of Ordinance No. 626 would unquestionably make it necessary for us to secure a license in every community in Southern California to which we might make a de- livery. Any attempt to enforce punitive tax measures against businesses and individuals from other localities would undoubtedly result in retalia- tion against Vernon industry. 6. The trend in the direction of taxing individuals and busi- ness doing business in a locality where they do not maintain an office is tending to localize purchasing in Southern California and will have the ultimate effect of eliminating free trade among cities just as excessive duties stops trade between nations. Of all Southern California cities, it would appear that Vernon, a great industrial center, can least afford to take such action if it is to preserve a healthful operating climate for the industry which supplies its tax revenue and which makes its existence possible. It is clearly recognized that the City of Vernon must have sufficient revenues to provide the many services which its residents and its industries require. It is respectfully suggested that in view of the foregoing and of the many other adverse factors which can be cited by other industries, that this ordinance be rescinded and other means of obtaining the necessary revenue be considered. Very truly yours, OWENS -PARKS LUMBER COMPANY S. G. McDonald Vice-President SCR: ah E. JUNGQUIST, PRES. & TREAS. H. W. PEARCY, VICE PRES. E. R. PHILLIPS, SECY. & MGR. M A I L I N G A D D R E S S Box 66, VERNON STATION Los ANGELES 1 1 , CALIF. JEFFERSON 1151 Vernon City Council 4305 Santa Fe Ave. Los Angeles 11, Calif. Gentlemen: STEEL •'TOOLS • SUPPLIES 4600 S A N T A F E A V E N U E LOS ANGELES 11, CALIF. November 23, 1949 We are writing you to protest passage of Ordinance No. 626 requiring the purchase of licences for all motor vehicles doing business in but not registered in Vernon, as we are of the opinion that this ordinance would vitally effect all business in Vernon by creating a barrier to the free flow of merchandise in and out of the City of Vernon. For many years Vernon has been a desirable place for business firms to locate, but if this ordinance continues in effect, we believe that it will drive new business awayand handicapping business firms now located in Vernon. We respectfully request that you give serious consideration to the revision or cancellation of this ordinance so that Vernon may always be a good City in which to do business. Yours truly, Ha olcf 'N Pearcy, V e -Pre PERCIVAL STEEL & SUPPLY C HWP /pw PIONEER • • • T H E • DIVISION FLINTKOTE COMPANY••• P.O. BOX 2218 TERMINAL ANNEX 55TH A N D A L A M E D A STS. LOS ANGELES 54, CALIFORNIA Vernon City Council 4305 Santa Fe Avenue Vernon 11, California Gentlemen: November 30, 1949 May we urgently request you give every consideration to the revisal of Ordinance No. 626 and, in the meantime, not to enforce it. We ask this based on the following reasons: 1. License fee is excessive. 2. Lack of "floating flexibility" of license adds greatly to the cost. 3. Our customers would be severely penalized in picking up materials at our shipping docks. 4. Our suppliers would be greatly penalized in delivery of materials to us - which would mean added costs to us. 5. Public carriers (truck lines) might not be able to absorb this extra cost and might pass it on to us or to our customers. 6. Our competitors not manufacturing in the City of Vernon would have a distinct advantage over us on shipping costs. 7. The City of Vernon could acquire the undesirable reputation of being a high cost city to ship goods (by truck). A number of other Vernon manufacturers have talked with us and, in every case, they have expressed the opinion that Ordinance No. 626 should be modified. JACyV: gr LOS ANGELES • SAN FRANCISCO • PORTLAND • SEATTLE • SALT LAKE CITY • SPOKANE • DENVER BLUE PRINTS, PHOTOSTATS VERNON BLUEPRINT INC. 5300 SANTA FE AVENUE PHONE LAFAYETTE 1251 LOS ANGELES November 30, 1949 Honorable City Council, Vernon, California Gentlemen: DRAFTING SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT We are writing this letter to you in protest of Ordinance No. 626 just passed. We feel that this ordinance as worded will do just the opposite of its intentions, namely, drive business away from our City. In our own case, we have from twenty to thirty customers outside of the City of Vernon who drive to our plant to either wait or pick up material or re- production work. Naturally, these people will take their business elsewhere. We also have a great deal of our raw material brought to us by wholesalers and manufacturers in their own trucks and cars and it would be impossible for them to continue to do this under the new ordinance. This would necessitate our adding personnel and equipment to go outside of the City of Vernon to make both deliveries to our customers and to pick up our raw materials. We feel that this added cost and loss of business would put us in a most precarious position. We feel that if more revenue is needed for the City of Vernon there must be other means of securing it without jeopardizing the merchants and manufacturers in the City. Respectfully yours, Ver Lightning Blueprint, Inc. GPC : sw vl F,L . P. Clifford resident RETAIL YARDS LOS ANGELES LONG BEACH ONTARIO THERMAL OAKLAND INDIO HOLLYWOOD RIVERSIDE SIERRA MADRE TEMPLE CITY WHITTIER LA VERNE PASADENA SAN PEDRO ,s, GOODS OF THE WOODS "© \. 171$L INCORPORATED FEB. 5?" 1895 MANUFACTURER & DEALER IN DOUGLAS FIR - REDWOOD - SPRUCE - PONDEROSA AND SUGAR PINE PLYWOOD AND BUILDING SPECIALTIES OFFICES: 4710 S. ALAMEDA ST., LOS ANGELES • PHONE JEFFERSON 3111 MAIL ADDRESS BOX 3158 TERMINAL ANNEX, LOS ANGELES 54, CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES November 30, 1949 President, Vernon City Council, Vernon, California, Honorable Sir: WHOLESALE YARDS OAKLAND, CALIF. LOS ANGELES, CALIF. MILLS REEDSPORT, ORE. ROSEBURG, ORE. SALES OFFICES PORTLAND 5, ORE. PHOENIX, ARIZ. Ordinance No 626 which imposes license fees on trucks and other vehicles operating within the City Limits of Vernon will reflect itself immediately in a lower volume of sales by this company, with resultant loss of profits. E. K. Wood Lumber Company has been doing an extensive pick -up business, conservatively estimated at 25% of the total business done through the Vernon Yard. This pick -up trade consists partly of various bargain items which are difficult to sell through other channels. The license fees which will be assessed under Ordinance No, 626 will practically destroy this particular class of business and the direct loss to our company will run into a large sum of money. It is our honest opinion that Ordinance No. 626 should be repealed in the interests of the City of Vernon and those engaged in business in the City of Vernon. We earnestly solicit you to consider the repeal of Ordinance No. 626 and to work to that end. JAP:lmk Yours very truly, E. K. WOOD LUMBER COMPANY A. Privett, General Manager. MANUFACTURERS OF INDUSTRIAL GASKETS Slue* 1924 AND PACK G COMPANY City Council 4305 Santa Fe Ave. City of Vernon, Calif. Attn: Mr. T. J. Vuriong Gentlemen: Phone Jefferson 6291 2331 EAST 27th STREET LOS ANGELES 11, CALIF. Dec. 5, 1949 I am writing this letter as a protest against the new city ordinance, whereby everyone, regardless of vol- ume of business transacted, is required to pay 448.00 per year for the privilege of making pick -ups and deliv- eries in the city of Vernon. In the case of our company, this ordinance places us at a definite disadvantage with competitors who operate outside the city limits of Vernon. For example, if the customer operates his own truck and cannot make a pick -up from us in Vernon, then we have to add delivery charges to the order which is not only expensive, but is slower. If the same customer buys from the competitor outside of Vernon, they will make their own pick -up and our competitor does not have to add extra delivery charges. Likewise, we will encounter delays and extra expense from the people who supply us with materials if some of them do not have a sufficient volume of business in Vernon to justify paying this new tax. If they ship to us by common carrier it will be slower, and in many cases the cost will be charged to us. Again, the same material go- ing to a competitor of ours outside of Vernon would not have to pay the extra cost and get faster delivery. We service between three and four hundred accounts whose yearly volume of business is less than a hundred dollars, yet require immediate delivery, and in many cases rush delivery - -- due to break downs in equipment - - -. The use of common carriers in these cases is not practical. 1 akaia210,44, GI ASBESTOS • FIBRE • DUCK • RUBBER • NEOPRENE • HYCAR • METALS • LEATHER TAN F I BREE • FELT. PLASTICS • PAPER • CO R K.PATENTED WESGASCO BOLTED TANK STRIP Mr. T. J. Vurlong Dec. 5, 1949 City Council Page Two I have always thought the city of Vernon was try- ing to encourage business to come into this area, and it is my opinion that if this ordinance is not repealed, you will discourage business from coming into this area. ,-ince the new ordinance would place our company in a disadvantageous position with competitors, I sincerely hope you will see fit to repeal this ordinance. Yours truly, WESTEK GASKET & PACKING CO. D. S. Alexander President DSA/bc cc: Vernon Industrial Development i.issn. REXALL DRUG COMPANY REXALL SQUARE, BEVERLY AT LA CIENEGA, LOS ANGELES 36, CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE OFFICES December 5, 1949 To the President Vernon City Council, Vernon, California Dear Sir: We no::e with alarm the drastic provisions imposed by the operation of Ordnance #626 on those industries having places of business in Vernon. It is inconceivable that your Honorable Body could have had full know- ledge of the far reaching ramifications involved and of the penalizing effect this Ordinance will have on members of Vernon's business com[;:uni. ty A considerable percentage of our incoming deliveries and practically all of our out bound shipments are handled by Carriers located outside of Vernon who will be .forced to pass on to us license fees which they are unable to absorb, thereby imposing upon us an unjust and unfair burden, which the ever increasing cost of doing business will not per - mio, us to assimilate and oppress us ,,;ith a stifling load which competitors located in Los Angeles and other municipalities do not have to bear. We can, n t refrain from commenting on the certain retaliatory measures which will be taken by those ne3,ghbering communities who aes mme a jealous and protective guardianship over their business wards and it is not difficult to foresee Vernon business houses and industries being further penal zed by being required to pay greatly increased license fees in each of a -multiplicity of surrounding communities. We respectfully but firmly request that you reconsider your action and spare us the unjustifiable burden which Ordinance !!626 will place upon us and each member of Vernon's business and industrial family. Very truly yours, S. E. K S T EY, Lian,ig er, Tax License Dent. ATLANTA • BOSTON • CHICAGO • FORT WORTH • LOS ANGELES • PITTSBURGH • PORTLAND, ORE • SAN FRANCISCO • ST. LOUIS • NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND • PORT ELIZABETH, S. AFRICA • TORONTO, CANADA MUNICIPAL LICENSE TAX ASSOCIATION A California Organization of Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Distributors LOS ANGELES, 15 942 South Hope Street Telephone MAdison 1161 P. ARNOLD ANDERSON Executive Vice - President December 7, 1949 Honorable Mayor H. J. Furlong and Members of the Vernon Council Vernon, California Gentlemen: SAN FRANCISCO, 4 1625 Russ Building Telephone GArfield 1 -7887 In the interests of our many members who serve your community through the use of motor vehicles in the delivery and distribu- tion of products and merchandise which contribute to the ebb and flow of business and to the comfort of your citizens, we urge you to reconsider the provisions of your Ordinance No. 626. The license tax levied on "business by vehicle" of 48 per year per truck or trailer is extremely high and will work a hardship on business which is already overburdened with business tuxes on all sides. believe that a careful analysis of your revenue problems with prove it unnecessary to levy such a high rate of tax on vehicles and that some more equitable method of taxation can be worked out. nde respectfully urge you to give further study to your problem and to repeal the above -named ordinance, or amend it by reducing the license fee to about half for vehicles, with a small premium for the use of trailers. FS our very truly, MUNICIP iiL LICENSE TAX ASSOCIATION " luminum of Antrri Honorable City Council City of Vernon California Gentlemen: VERNON WORK S 5151 ALCOA AVENUE ZONE / , 11 December 12, 1949 RE: VEH ON ORDINANCE NO. 626 By reason of my association with an industrial plant located in the City of Vernon, that has a genuine interest in the welfare of the community where it has made a substantial investment, I consider it my duty to bring to your attention certain adverse criticism of Vernon Ordinance No. 626 relating to truck licenses. I believe that there is merit in these criticisms and hereby present them to you in the hope that they will be helpful in determining future municipal legislative policy. The Aluminum Company of America itself owns no trucks and does no trucking insofar as delivery to its customers is concerned. However, about 20 trucking companies come to the plant to make deliveries and pick up for delivery to our customers, and a number of these trucking companies have called the effect of the Ordinance to my attention. I realize that the Ordinance has a twofold purpose, one to raise funds for civic uses and two, to benefit local industry. It is my opinion, however, that both of these purposes will be defeated if the present license rate is retained. Trucking companies may curtail their services in the City of Vernon, and thus the amount of license fees collected will be reduced, yielding less rather than more income for civic uses. In the alternative, trucking companies may increase the charge for services to Vernon, and in the final analysis the Vernon concerns will be bear- ing the license fees rather than the outside trucking companies. my reduction of trucking service into the City of Vernon will, I believe, discourage business activity in that community rather than encourage it. Before writing this letter I made a personal investigation to ascertain the situation in similar localities and find that the other communities in our vicinity which I checked have either a blanket rate or a rate considerably less than that prescribed by Vernon Ordinance No. 626. I can assure you that those companies whioh have made the City of Vernon their headquarters have considerable interest in the welfare of our City, and fully appreciate that City Council's right to tax for good and sufficient reasons. However, it is beta use of that interest in the welfare of the city and the desire that, in the lone run, the city's income and business activity be increased, that I believe Ordinance No. 626 should be repealed and rescinded, and one enacted which imposes less hardship on trucking companies. The full purpose of the present Ordinance may not be gained because the carriers involved apparently believe that it imposes undue hardship on them, espeoially those coming in on pickup service. This may result in the withdrawal of their activities or increase in their charges, and To --- -- VERNON CI TY... COUNCIL. DATE DEC} IBi R- .12, -- ..1.949 __. .. - -- -SHEET No. 2.. -. consequent hardship upon the business enterprises and persons in this community. I would therefore appreciate the reconsideration of Ordinance No. 626 by Your Honorable Council. Respectfully, WH: him AL JMINUM COMPANY OF Arlo RCCA VERNON WO qt° Wm. Holzhauer Manager, Vernon Works NK 749 PRINTED IN U.S.A. VERNON COMPLETE BOOKKEEPING SERVICE 3865 SOUTH SOTO STREET LOS ANGELES 58, CALIFORNIA Telephone Klmball 5211 December 8, 1949 City Clerk City of Vernon Vernon 11, California Dear Sirs We have had inquiries from some of our clients requesting information on the new proposed tax on trucks, operating in the city of Vernon, Would you please be good enough to supply us with a copy of your ordinance #626 covering the above matter, Very truly yours, VERNON COMPLETE BOOKKEEPING SERVICE hs: sy