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AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AZUSA LIGHT & WATER – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025 729 N. AZUSA AVENUE 7:30 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING AZUSA, CA 91702 Following Regular Utility Board Meeting
AZUSA CITY COUNCIL
ROBERT GONZALES
MAYOR
EDWARD J. ALVAREZ JESSE AVILA, JR.
MAYOR PRO-TEM COUNCILMEMBER
SABRINA BOW, Ed.D. ANDREW N. MENDEZ
COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER
A. PRELIMINARY BUSINESS
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Flag Salute
B. PUBLIC COMMENT – Limited to items listed on this Special Meeting Notice.
Each p erson or representative of a group shall be allowed to speak without interruption for up to five (5) continuous minutes, subject to compliance with applicable meeting rules, on items listed on this agenda only.
Questions to the speaker or responses to the speaker's questions or comments shall be handled after the speaker has completed his/her comments.
C. SCHEDULED ITEM
1. GOALS AND PRIORITIES WORKSHOP – FISCAL YEARS 2025-2027
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1) Receive a status update on key city priorities and provide direction on existing or new goals.
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D. COUNCIL COMMENTS
E. ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
April 1, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Commission Interviews Special Meeting April 7, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Closed Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting April 21, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Closed Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a city meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 626 -812-5229. If possible, notification should be submitted at least three (3) working days prior to the meeting when special services are needed in order to assist staff in assuring that reasonable arrangements can be made in time.
CERTIFICATION
I, Lucy Demirjian, Interim City Clerk Services Manager of the City of Azusa, or my designee, hereby certify under penalty of perjury that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on March 19, 2025 , twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting per Government Code 54954.2 at the City Clerk’s Office, 213 E.
Foothill Blvd.; the lobby of the Police Department, 725 N. Alameda Ave.; the Civic Auditorium, 213 E.
Foothill Blvd.; the City Library, 729 N. Dalton Ave.; and on the City’s Web Page at www.azusaca.gov.
Lucy Demirjian
Interim City Clerk Services Manager
Azusa City Clerk’s Office
SCHEDULED ITEM
C-1
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER
DATE: MARCH 24, 2025
SUBJECT: GOALS AND PRIORITIES WORKSHOP – FISCAL YEARS 2025-2027
BACKGROUND
The City’s financial position has improved over the past few years , resulting in the ability to increase our budget stabilization and catastrophic event “rainy day” reserve and establish ing restricted reserves for capital needs, insurance and retiree benefits. However, w ith fund balances exceeding established reserve target levels, it has required the City Council to prioritize the use of excess funds. In addition to creating new parks , a large emphasis has been placed on upgrading and modernizing existing city facilities. It is good practice to revisit the goals/priorities established to track their progress, make changes and/or introduce new ones.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council receive a status update on key city priorities and provide direction on existing or new goals.
ANALYSIS:
It is important to point out that the goals and priorities established by the City Council are above and beyond the daily operations and apart from funding consideration, they w ill require coordination and ultimate implementation through city departments. Furthermore, departments are encouraged to set their own goals to improve operations by implementing best-practices and staying on top of current trends in their respected field s. Traditionally, these goals are reflected in individual operational department budgets and may not necessitate a budget augmentation. Nevertheless, when there are budget constraints and/or capacity concerns, the budget formation process allows for their reconciliation.
Goals and Priorities Fiscal Years 2025-2027
March 24, 2025
Current Projects and Status
Project
Budget Notes Status
North Side Park
Recreation Hub
$750,000 Complete rehabilitation of the building inside and out, new parking lot, fence and signage
Complete
Library Outdoor
Learning Space
$500,000 state
grant
City match
approximately
$700,000
Introduction of new outdoor space
immediately north of the library that includes
hardscape, landscape, lighting, decking and
shade structure.
Complete
Great Park $9.5 Million
Bonds: $7.6
City: $1.8
9-acre passive park equipped with walking
paths, exercise stations, play structure and
event space.
Complete
City Hall “Civic
Center”
Improvements
$1.1 Million West Wing Remodel
Human Resources Division Remodel
Roof and Gutter Repair
Exterior Stucco Repair and Paint
Exterior Lighting
Additional Grounds Improvements
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Pending
Pending
Downtown
Improvements
$785,000 New light fixtures, trash receptacles, benches and color scheme.
Complete
Azusa Resource
Center
$1.9 million 25 bed emergency “low barrier” shelter with wrap-around services. Federal funds to build
and pay for partial operations for year one.
Complete
Dog Park $1.5 million New dog park with separate areas for small and large breeds. Sidewalk access
improvement to surrounding area.
Estimated
completion:
June 2025
Old School House $3 million
(State Grant)
Relocation of historic structure from AUSD
School Site.
Estimated
completion:
June 2025
Library
Modernization
$9.75 million
($6.5 million
state grant)
City match
$3.25 million
Earthquake retrofit, plumbing, interior
modernization, lighting and new furniture
and fixtures throughout. Temporary
relocation of library services TBD.
RFP for
construction
April 2025
Senior Center $4 million Complete interior remodel, exterior paint and new entry and bus drop off location.
Completing
bid package
Farmers’ Market $400,000 “Pop up” market planned for late spring 2025 - through summer 2025. Permanent
location and frequency planned for fall 2025.
Consultant
Secured
Woman’s Club $750,000 On hold to consider use as temporary senior center during the renovation of the center.
Memorial Park /
North Recreation
Center
$3 Million Preliminary scoping has begun including
office needs, customer reception area and
assessment of mechanical systems.
Goals and Priorities Fiscal Years 2025-2027
March 24, 2025
Ahead of this year’s budget formation process for the next two fiscal years, Council may consider additional goals/priorities. The following overarching goals are suggested:
Economic Development
• New quality hotel ahead of the 2028 Olympics
• Create and promote 4 new downtown activation events
• New sit-down restaurant at “Block 37”– 624 N. San Gabriel Ave. • Locate appropriate site to establish the National Boxing Hall of Fame and Youth Opportunity Center
• Work to attract investment for the development of at-least 4 underutilized and/or vacant properties in prominent locations throughout the City:
o Atlantis Gardens
o 609 N. Azusa Ave. (vacant lot recently purchased by city – interim use first) o Arrow and Azusa Ave.
o Azusa Ave. at 5
th Ave
o Former Colonial Inn site on Foothill Ave.
o Other economic development opportunities
Transportation
• Finish plans, engineering and specifications to turn San Gabriel Ave. two-way • Secure funding for phase I of project: San Gabriel Ave. from 3rd street north to Foothill Blvd
Programs and Services
• Establish city-sponsored Youth Boxing Program
• Other programs and services
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with this item. Additional fiscal analysis will be required, and ultimate fiscal impact will be identified during the budget study session
Prepared by:
Sergio Gonzalez
City Manager