1 11-22-24
Unofficial until approved by the
Alhambra City Council
MINUTES
Special Meeting
ALHAMBRA CITY COUNCIL
November 22 , 202 4
10:30 a .m.
ROLL CALL: At 10:48 a.m., on Friday, November 22, 2024, the Alhambra City Council met in the Council Chambers of Alhambra City Hall.
PRESENT: MALONEY, ANDRADE-STADLER, PÉREZ
ABSENT: LEE, MAZA
Officials Present : Assistant City Manager Garcia, City Attorney Montes, City Clerk Myles, Assistant Police Chief Seki
CITY CLERK REPORT - NOTICE NO. N2M2 4 -144
The City Clerk hereby report ed that she duly gave notice of the special meeting of the City Council being held this morning pursuant to the order of the Mayor and in accordance with Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California.
COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. APPROVE ABSENCE S : KATHERINE LEE & ROSS J. MAZA – F92-27, M2M24- 203 Sec. 12 of the Alhambra City Charter provides in pertinent part that an “elective office becomes vacant . . . if a member of the council . . . fails to attend the meetings of the council . . .of which he or she is a member for a like period (i.e., 30 consecutive days), without being excused therefrom by the council. ” Due to the short notice for the scheduling of this morning ’s meeting, Vice Mayo r Lee and Councilmember Maza were unable to attend. Therefore, staff request ed that the City Council vote to excuse the absences of Ms. Lee and Mr. Maza.
Action Taken : City Council excus e d Vice Mayor Lee ’s and Councilmember Maza ’s absence from this morning ’s special meeting. ( M2M24- 203 )
Vote: Moved: ANDRADE-STADLER Seconded: MALONEY
Ayes: MALONEY, ANDRADE-STADLER, PÉREZ
Noes : NONE
Absent: MAZA, LEE
2. REAFFIRMATION OF SUPPORT FOR SB54 AND ASSERTION ALHAMBRA POLICE DEPARTMENT ’S POLICIES ARE IN LINE WITH SB54 – F2M24- 16, M2M24-204 At the April 22, 2019 City Council meeting , a group of students from Alhambra High School presented 'Immigration Resolution Regarding City's Sanctions" during the oral communications portion of the meeting. The Council requested the item be brought back for consideration on a future agenda. On June 10, 2019 staff presented information on Senate Bill 54, California's "Sanctuary State Law", and Alhambra Police Department policy. SB54 prohibits local law enforcement from sharing certain immigration status information with the Federal government ( ΊC Ε ), and also prohibits expending resources to detain or assist ICE 2 11-22-24
with immigration enforcement. In addition, Alhambra Police Department was in full compliance with SB54 and has an Immigration Violations policy that is in compliance with SB54. The Council heard comments from the public on the item, and adopted a Minute Order (M2M19- 158) to support the tenets of SB54, to assert that Alhambra Police Department ’s current immigration policies were in line with SB54, and to encourage staff to return with a plan for community outreach on this topic with the goal of educating the public. On November 20, 2024 , Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez requested staff call a Special Meeting of the City Council to reaffirm the previous support for SB54, and reassert Alhambra Police Department ’s current policies are in-line with SB54. If readopted, staff would distribute this information on our social media platforms and post it on the City ’s website.
Public Comment: Lewis McCAMMON , 105 N. Cordova St., provided a printout of California Government Code Section 7284, “California Values Act ” to Council and discussed the law as well as the need to offer protections to immigrants in California.
Discussion : Councilmember ANDRADE-STADLER spoke in support of SB54 and supported Council ’s reaffirmation of their support to alleviate fear within the community . She motioned to reaffirm support. Councilmember MALONEY seconded the motion. Mr.
MALONEY referred to Mr. McCammon ’s handout and discussed the history of immigration in California and the United States as well as the history of political rhetoric to scapegoat recent immigrants. He spoke in support of SB54 and discussed his family ’s history in which his mother was sent to a Japanese American incarceration camp during WWII. Mayor PÉREZ explained that her goal in this action was to reaffirm the City ’s stance on assisting the immigrant population of Alhambra. Ms. PÉREZ and Assistant Chief SEKI discussed the Alhambra Police Department ’s policies coinciding with SB54 and California Government Code Section 7284 as well as the Police Department ’s ongoing effort to instill trust within the community. Ms. PÉREZ spoke regarding the potential uncertainty of national policy after President -e lect Trump ’s inauguration in January.
Action Taken : City Council reaffirm ed support of SB54, and reassert ed Alhambra Police Department ’s current policies are in line with SB54. ( M2M24-204 ) Vote: Moved: ANDRADE-STADLER Seconded: MALONEY
Ayes: MALONEY, ANDRADE-STADLER, PÉREZ
Noes : NONE
Absent: MAZA, LEE
ADJOURNMENT : At 11:08 a.m. there being no further business for the Council to transact, the Mayor, with the consent of the City Council, adjourned the meeting .
LAUREN MYLES, CMC
CITY CLERK
by
BRIANNA LAMB MCCARTHY
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK