ARTESIA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024, 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 18747 CLARKDALE AVENUE, ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA REMOTE TELECONFERENCE LOCATION:
MELROSE GEORGETOWN HOTEL, 2430 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20037
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lima called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Lima, Mayor Pro Tem Taj (Remote)* Councilmembers Manalo, Trevino, and Ramoso
Staff Present: City Manager Schindler, City Attorney Nguyen, Deputy City Manager Burke, City Clerk Alderete, Parks and Recreation Manager Guerra, Public Works Manager Sanchez, Community Development Director Dor, Finance Manager Murguia, Special Projects Manager Lee, Management Analyst Fajardo, Admin Secretary NietoLinares
INVOCATION
Councilmember Trevino delivered the invocation
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Sergeant Ramos led the pledge of allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public comments could be provided, in person or submitted by [email protected] by 12:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting. email to
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Lima, Mayor Pro Tem Taj, Councilmembers Trevino, and Ramoso asked questions and/or provided comments.
CEREMONIAL PRESENT ATIONS
A certificate of recognition was presented to Salome Agbaroji. Deputy City Manager Burke introduced Administrative Secretary Christina Nieto-Linares. Mayor Lima and Council welcomed her to the City and presented a certificate of appreciation. The Gateway City's Energy Action Awards, a gold-level accomplishment given to Hector De La Torre, from Gateway Cities Council of Governments.
BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS
Chamber of Commerce Updates - Sam Desai, Chamber President provided updates.
Margaret Saito provided public comment. Councilmember Ramoso asked questions and/or provided comments.
TransportaUon Committee Chair - Fernando Dutra, METRO Board Member, provided updates on Metro Projects alongside METRO staff, 01ga Arroyo, Director of Community Relations and Paul Sullivan, Engineer. Mayor Lima, Mayor Pro Tem Taj, Councilmembers Manalo, Trevino and Ramoso asked questions and/or provided comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1-10)
A MOTION to approve the Consent Calendar Items I-10, excluding item(s) 8, 9, 40 was:
Moved: Trevino Seconded: Manalo
AYES: Manalo, Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: None
The motion carried 5-0-0-0
1 . WAMNG OF FULL READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Motion: Waive further reading and introduction ordinance(s) and resolution(s), which appear on the agenda, shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
2. APPROVALOFACCOUNTSPAYABLECHECKREGISTER
Action: Receive and file this report.
3. APPROVALOFCITYFINANCIALREPORT-NOVEMBER2023
Action: Receive and file this report.
4. APPROVALOFCITYCOUNCILMEETINGMINUTES
Motion: Approve City Council minutes forthe December 11, 2023 Special Meeting, December 18, 2023 Special Meeting, and December 27, 2023 Special Meeting.
5. MAYOR'S 2024 APPOINTMENTS TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMITTEES Action: Receive and file this report.
6. PRODUCTION AGREEMENT WITH PYRO SPECTACULARS INCORPORATED FOR A CITY-SPONSORED 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SHOW IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,000
Motion: Approve production agreement with Pyro Spectaculars.
7. AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT BET\/VEEN THE CITY OF ARTESIA AND COPP CONTRACTING, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,016,610.78 TO IMPLEMENT THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT A
DETERMINATION OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES 15282(j) AND PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080.19 Motion: Approve and award contract wikh Copp Contracting, Inc. for street improvement project.
ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR (8, 9, 'TO)
8. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE N0. 24-949, AMENDING ARTICLE 5 (CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX) OF CHAPTER 5 (T AXES) OF TITLE 3 (FINANCE) OF
THE ARTESIA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING THE INITIAL RATE OF
CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX
Deputy City Manager Burke provided staff report. Councilmember Ramoso asked questions and/or orovided comments.
A MOjlON to adopt Ordinance No. 24-949, was:
Moved: Ramoso Seconded: Trevino
AYES: Manalo Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: None
The motion carried 5-0-0-0
9. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE N0. 24-951, AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 7 0F TITLE 1 AND CHAPTER 4 0F TITLE 5 0F THE
ARTESIA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS TO PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS OF
MINORS WHO VIOLATE THE CITY'S GRAFFITI PREVENTION, PROHIBITION
AND REMOVAL PROVISIONS AND A DETERMINATION OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES 15060(c)(2) and 15061(b)(3) City Attorney Nguyen provided staff report. City Manager Schindler and Sergeant Ramos provide information. Mayor Lima, Councilmembers Manalo, Trevino and Ramoso asked ouestions and/or provided comments.
A MOTION to adopt Ordinance No. 24-951 was:
Moved: Trevino Seconded: Ramoso
AYES: Manalo Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: None
The motion carried 5-0-0-0
City Council Minutes
January 17, 2024 - Open Session Special Meeting Page 2 of 4
10. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION N0. 24-2969, APPROVING AND ADOPTING
A CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS) FOR, RESPECTIVELY,
UNREPRESENTED MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEES OF THE
MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS UNIT, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE GENERAL UNIT; AND
RESOLUTION NO. 24-2963, APPROVING AND RETROACTIVELY ADOPTING CITYWIDE SALARY SCHEDULES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2020-21, 202'l-22, AND 2022-23, AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS)
Andrew Perry provided public comment.
A MOTION to adopt Resolution No. 24-2969 and Resolution No. 24-2963 was:
Moved: Manalo Seconded: Trevino
AYES: Manalo Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: None
The motion carried 5-0-0-0
DISCUSSION
11. CONSIDERATION AND ACTION ON AMENDMENT NO. I TO EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF ARTESIA AND CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE
A MERIT-BASED STEP INCREASE
City Attorney Nguyen provided staff report.
A MOTION to a-pprove Amendment No. 1 to City Manager Schindler's Employment Agreement regarding a 5% performance-based step increase to his salary, with no COLA adjustment was:
Moved: Trevino Seconded: Ramoso
AYES: Manalo Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: None
The motion carried 5-0-0-0
12. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION N0. 24-2968, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 22-2902, REGARDING UNREPRESENTED MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Citv Manaoer Schindler provided staff report.
A MOTION to adopt Resolution No. 24-2968, 7imending Resolution No. 24-2902 was:
Moved: Manalo Seconded: Ramoso
AYES: Manalo Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: None
The motion carried 5-0-0-0
13. DISCUSSION REGARDING INITIATING A FRIENDSHIP CITY PROGRAM Management Analyst Fajardo provided a staff report. Mayor Lima, Mayor Pro Tem Taj, Councilmembers Manalo, Trevino and Ramoso asked questions and/or provided comments. Council created an ad hoc committee to be added to the committee list (item 5) received and filed. Mayor Lima appointed himself and Councilmem(:;er,Ramoso to the adhoccommittee. i
14. LANDSCAPE PLAN REVISIONS
FENCE OR BLOCK WALL AT
TRAIL
AND INSTALLATION OF A WROUGHT IRON
THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT RECREATIONAL
Councilmember Manalo recused herself. Public Works Manager Sanchez provided staff reoort. Nick Brown and Rebecca Lim provided public comment. @'MOTION to approve landscape plan revisions was:
Moved:Ramoso ISeconded:Trevino
City Council Minutes
January 17, 2024 - Open Session Special Meeting Page 3 of 4 AYES: Ramoso, Trevino, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: None ABSTAIN: Manalo
The motion carried 4-0-0-1 PASSES
A MOTION to approve the installation of 6-foot block wall was:
Moved: Trevino ' Seconded: Ramoso
AYES: Ramoso, Trevino ABSENT: None
NOES: Taj, Lima ABSTAIN: Manalo
The motion carried 2-2-0-1 FAILS
A MOTION to approve the installation of wrought iron fence, with money taken from reserves to be replenished/replaced when funds are available, City would own and maintain the wrought iron fence through an easement agreement, while residents would have the option to contribute to cost difference if they would like a 6-foot block wall.
Moved: Taj Seconded: Lima
AYES: Ramoso, Taj, Lima ABSENT: None
NOES: Trevino ABSTAIN: Manalo
The motion carried 3-1-0-I PASSES
CITY MANAGER INFORMATIONAL REPORTING
City Manager Schindler provided updates.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Lima, Mayor Pro Tem Taj, Councilmembers Manalo, Trevino, and Ramoso asked questions and/or provided comments.
Councilmember Ramoso attended a Contract Cities legislative tour at public expense. Ramoso attended the Los Angeles Vector Control Mosquito Abatement meeting.
Councilmember Manalo attended a Contract Cities legislative tour at public expense.
Councilmember Trevino attended a Contract Cities legislative tour at public expense.
Mayor Pro Tem Taj attended Contract Cities legislative tour and the US Mayors Conference at public expense.
*Mayor Pro Tem Taj left the meeting at 10:45 p.m.
Mayor Lima attended Contract Cities legislative tour at public expense. Lima also attended the Gateway Cities Council of Government meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:49 p.m.
Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk
City Council Minutes
January 17, 2024 - Open Session Special Meeting Page 4 of 4