Council Delays Decision on Quarry Permit : Azusa Rock: Environmentalists demand that the quarry be closed. City attorney warns that may be illegal.

A deadlocked City Council put off for two weeks a decision on whether to close a rock quarry that is slicing into two mountains next to the Angeles National Forest.

More than 150 people, many waving banners and placards, crowded into council chambers Monday for the vote on whether to revoke the operating permit for the 186-acre Azusa Rock Inc. quarry at the mouth of Fish Canyon.

Mayor Eugene Moses suggested that city officials, environmentalists and quarry officials meet before the next council meeting to work out a compromise. But he withdrew that proposal after City Atty. Henry Barbosa said Azusa Rock could sue if the city added new requirements to the quarry permit.

Barbosa told the council that the city cannot close the quarry unless it can be shown that Azusa Rock failed to meet the conditions of its operating permit. No one has shown that the quarry has not lived up to those requirements, he said.

Monday’s council debate was a continuation of a Feb. 1 public hearing that was called after local anti-quarry activist Jim McJunkin appealed a Planning Commission decision to allow the quarry to remain open.

Environmentalists have accused the quarry of polluting the air, damaging the local water and restricting access to Fish Canyon.

The City Council twice rejected a bid by Councilman John Dangleis to deny McJunkin’s appeal. Dangleis argued that the city could impose additional restrictions on Azusa Rock at a later date.

Councilman Tony Naranjo supported Dangleis, while council members Stephen Alexander, Cristina Cruz-Madrid and Mayor Eugene Moses voted against the quarry. On a second vote Moses abstained.

After council members were unable to reach a decision on the quarry permit, they agreed to continue the hearing March 15.

Disappointed environmentalists vowed to keep the pressure on the council. McJunkin urged city officials to call a meeting with Azusa Rock and environmentalists before the next hearing to talk out their differences.

Quarry spokesman Tom Davis rejected that plan, saying company officials will not meet with environmentalists until the council acts on the quarry’s permit.