DATE: June 4, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT TO THE LA METRO TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SERVICE COUNCIL
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Make Appointment
SUMMARY
The LA Metro Transportation Authority/San Gabriel Valley Service Council exists to advise on Metro policies and programs throughout the region. The LA Metro/San Gabriel Valley Service Council (“Service Council”) consists of nine board members, four of which include city subareas, intended to represent various regions in the San Gabriel Valley.
Arcadia is part of the San Gabriel Valley East subarea, which is inclusive of El Monte and Temple City. The current appointment to the Metro Service Council for Arcadia/El Monte/Temple City is expiring June 30, 2024, and Arcadia needs to make a nomination for the next term, extending from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027.
The Cities of El Monte and Temple City have both indicated an interest from members of their respective City Councils to serve as the regional representative; therefore, Arcadia must cast the deciding vote on the appointment between the two nominees: El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona, and Temple City Council Member Ed Chen. It is recommended that the City Council select a nominee for appointment to the LA Metro/San Gabriel Valley Service Council.
BACKGROUND
The LA Metro Transportation Authority/San Gabriel Valley Service Council (“Service Council”) was formed in 2002 and is comprised of nine members, five elected officials and four non-elected officials. The representation on the Service Council is determined by nominations from LA County Supervisors Hilda Solis (1st District) and Kathryn Barger (5th District) as well as the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and four city clusters, one of which is Arcadia/El Monte/Temple City.
San Gabriel Valley Service Council Appointment
June 4, 2024
LA Metro’s Service Councils advise on bus schedules and routes in their respective areas as well as Metro policies, programs, and initiatives. Service Council Bylaws require that nominees live or work in the region they represent, and that they ride public transit regularly. The Metro Board does not input on the appointment process but does rely on the respective cities to put forth a joint nomination from their subarea.
On the Service Council, the Cities of Arcadia, El Monte, and Temple City comprise the San Gabriel Valley East Cluster, and are represented by one elected official from among the three cities. Traditionally, the City Managers and City Councils of Arcadia, El Monte, and Temple City informally confer among themselves to make a nomination. Most years, only a single candidate emerges, making the nomination straight-forward.
Since 2006, all representatives for the region have been from either Arcadia or El Monte; there has not been a representative from Temple City. In the past, former Mayor Roger Chandler served as the appointed representative from 2006 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2021. In 2022, Mayor Jessica Ancona of El Monte was selected as the representative on the Service Council for Arcadia/El Monte/Temple City, with her term expiring on June 30, 2024. With the conclusion of Mayor Ancona’s term on the Service Council on June 30, the City Council needs to make a recommendation for appointment.
DISCUSSION
Mayor Ancona has expressed interest in being reappointed to the Metro Service Council, for a term beginning July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. Additionally, Council Member Ed Chen from Temple City has also expressed his interest in being appointed to the Service Council for this next term.
With the El Monte and Temple City both putting forth a representative from their respective cities, the “tie-breaker” will occur with Arcadia’s selection. Once the cities agree on a nominee, a nomination letter will be submitted to the Metro Board for an appointment.
It is recommended that the City Council support either the nomination of Mayor Jessica Ancona from El Monte or Council Member Ed Chen from Temple City and direct staff to relay the nomination to the cities in the subarea and the Metro board.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action of making an appointment does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment.
San Gabriel Valley Service Council Appointment
June 4, 2024
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the City’s budget as a result of making an appointment to the San Gabriel Valley Service Council.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and select a candidate to be nominated to represent the Arcadia/El Monte/Temple City subarea for the upcoming term of July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, and direct staff to relay the nomination to the cities in the subarea and the Metro board.
Attachment No. 1: Letter from El Monte endorsing Mayor Jessica Ancona Attachment No. 2: Letter from Temple City endorsing Council Member Ed Chen
April 29, 2024
Dolores Ramos
Senior Manager
Metro Services Council
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952
Sent via email: [email protected]
RE: Appointment to San Gabriel Valley Service Council
Dear Ms. Ramos,
Q 11333 Valley Boulevard
El Monte. CA 91731
t,. (626)580-2002 m [email protected]
0 elmonteca.gov
Pursuant to your letter dated February 6, 2024, this letter serves to confirm the nomination of Incumbent Mayor Jessica Ancona for the July 1, 2024- June 30, 2027, term on Metro's Service Council. The cluster Cities of Arcadia, El Monte and Temple City reached consensus on this nomination.
We greatly appreciate it and look for ward to Metro's Board of Directors approval at their June 27, 2024, meeting.
Should you have any questions or need any additional infor mation, please do not hesitate to contact me at (626) 580-2059.
Respectfully,
A/�
Alma K. Martinez
City Manager
Attachment No. 1
9701 Las Tunas Drive • Temple City • California 91780 • 626-285-2171 May 10, 2024
Dolores Ramos
Senior Manager, Metro Service Councils
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, California 90012-2952
Dear Ms. Ramos,
I understand that you have already received a letter from the City of El Monte indicating that El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona is the incumbent seeking reappointment to the San Gabriel Valley Service Council and that no other candidates, from either the Cities of Arcadia or Temple City, sought the appointment.
However, the City of Temple City now has a Councilmember, Ed Chen, interested in being appointed to the Service Council. Hence, Temple City wishes to retract the prior consideration and propose Mr. Chen as a candidate to the Cities of El Monte and Arcadia as a candidate. We understand that this will leave the seat vacant as of July 1st until the Cities come to an agreement on an appointee.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at 626-285-2171, ext. 4105.
Sincerely,
Bryan Cook
City Manager
Cc: Alma K. Martinez, City of El Monte
Dominic Lazzaretto, City of Arcadia
Attachment No. 2