CITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022 – 6:47 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Azusa met in special session at the above date and time in the Azusa Auditorium located at 213 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA 91702.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY, THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY.
Mayor Gonzales called the Regular meeting to order at 6:47 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Cornejo.
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, MENDEZ, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., GONZALES ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo.
Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Marco, Director of Administrative Services Johnson, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Delgadillo, Deputy City Manager DeAnda-Scaia, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
None
CEREMONIAL
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
Al Torres, spoke on the young Marine Program.
SCHEDULED ITEMS
FOLLOW UP DISCU SSION AND DIRECTION ON ALLOCATION OF EXCESS RESERVES FOR FISCAL Y EAR 2021-22.
1) Allocate $1.5 million of the projected $6.7 million excess reserves as the first payment to establish a trust account to address liabilities related to Other Post -Employment Benefits (OPEB) for retiree medical obligations was approved.
2) City Council p rovided Staff direction on how to utilize the remaining $5.2 million of the projected $6.7 million excess reserves by establishing priorities for capital infrastructure i nvestments and/or enhancing community programs, services, and events.
Mayor Pro-Tem Avila Jr. questioned the timelines for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. City Manager Gonzalez answered the ARPA plan is December 31, 2024 with the expenditures good through 2026, with a plan for staff to bring the list of ARPA expenditures back to City Council in February for further discussions and no timeline for the General Funds.
Councilmember Mendez commented he believes the homeless and ARPA programs are incredibly important and is looking forward to future conversations.
Councilmember Beckwith expressed a hope they can utilize the ARPA funds as strategically as possible and he is also looking forward to future discussions.
Councilmember Alvarez questioned when the new rules were introduced. City Manager Gonzalez replied the new rules came out in middle January and he came up with the initial allocations based on previous City Council discussions.
Deputy City Manager DeAnda -Scaia stated the new rules are ap proximately 450 pages, the League of Cities has an overview posted on the ir website and they go into effect on April 1, 2022. Councilmember Alvarez requested the overview also be posted on the City Clerk’s website.
Councilmember Alvarez believes some of t he projects are priorities, and some of the projects seem over -budgeted. City Manager Gonzalez explained the listed amounts are estimates due to the unpredictability of the current construction market, and many of the projects listed will be multi-year projects; staff has been working with the League of Cities and a federal representative in Congresswoman Napolitano’s office for the allowable uses of the ARPA funds. Up to $10 Million dollars can be used for operation expenses of ARPA funded projects.
Mayor Gonzales commented many cities have already begun allocating ARPA funds and questioned if some of the General Fund projects can be used with ARPA funds in a 50/50 split with the General Funds and expressed a concern with some of the projects getting lost in the shuffle and believes this is a good list to move forward . City Manager Gonzalez stated staff is looking to be aggressive with the projects that were adversely affected by COVID-19 first, with a hope they can lean more than 50% into the ARPA funds.
Motion to approve item C -1 Allocate $1.5 million of the projected $6.7 million excess reserves as the first payment to establish a trust account to address liabilities related to Other Post -Employment Benefits (OPEB) for retiree medical obligations by Councilmember Beckwith, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Avila Jr., and carried by unanimous vote of City Council.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, MENDEZ, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Pro-Tem Avila Jr. thanked Mr. Torres for coming and speaking at the meeting and for his work with the youth in the community and the young Marine Program.
Councilmember Alvarez thanked Mr. Torres for co ming and requested he leave his contact information so they can receive more information on what his organization needs are, and suggested he reach out to the Armory for help as well.
Councilmember Mendez thanked Mr. Torres for sharing his insight and th anked City staff for their work on the downed powerlines over the weekend.
Councilmember Beckwith echoed the comments that have already been shared.
Mayor Gonzales commented to Mr. Torres that he believed his comments were directed to the Scout House p roject and agrees the Scout House would be perfect for his program’s use.
ADJOURNMENT
It was the consensus of the Council to adjourn the meeting in solemn honor of those Azusans who lost their lives to Covid-19.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:24 P.M.
* Items heard out of order
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK