MIUTES OF THE REGULAR JOINT MEETING OF THE
Bell City Council/Bell Community Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Berl Community Redevelopment Agency/Bell Public Finance Authority March 12, 2025
5:00 P.M. Closed Session
7:00 P.M. Regular Meeting
Location: Bell Community Center, 6250 Pine Avenue, BeII CA 90201
MEETING WILL BE HELD IN -PERSON AT THE BELL COMMUNITY CENTER PUBLIC COMMENT: If you wish to make a comment on items listed on the agenda. you may attend the meeting in -person at BeII Community Center. Pease complete a Request to Speak Card available in the location and wait until the mayor calls you to approach the podium. Please clearly state your name and address and proceed to make your comments.
You may also submit input electronically through a temporary public comment email established for City of Bell City Council meetings at cityclerk cityofbell.org. Your written comment must be submitted by 4pm on Wednesday, March 12. 2025. Any emails received after the time indicated will not be included in the record. Written Comments will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words).
The meeting will be recorded and live streamed on the City's website at http://www.citvofberl.orgl?NavID=101 Mayor Saleh called the meeting to order at 5:41 p.m.
RoII Call of the City Council in their capacities as Councilmembers/Members of all Related Agencies: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, Vice -Mayor Arroyo, and Mayor Saleh PRESENT: Councilmembers Flores*, Quintana, Romero`, Vice -Mayor Arroyo, and Mayor Saleh ABSENT: None
*Councilmember Flores arrived at 6:00 p.m.
*Councilrnember Romero arrived at 6:30.
Staff Present: City Manager Michael L. Antwine, City Attorney Dave Aleshire, Assistant to the City Manager Javier Ochiqui, Finance Director Rickey Manbahal, and Community Development Director Manuel Acosta
Communications from the Public on Closed Session Items
This is the time for members of the public to address the City Council and related Authorities and Agencies only on items that are listed under Closed Session.
Seeing no speakers, Mayor Saleh recessed the meeting to closed session at 5:43 p.m.
Closed Session
The City Council and the related Authorities and Agencies will recess to closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding the following matters:
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Bell City Council and Related Agencies
March 12. 2025
a. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8)
Property: 7030 Atlantic Avenue, Bell CA 90201
Agency negotiators: Michael L. Antwine II (City Manager), and Dave Aleshire (City Attorney) Negotiating parties: To be Determined
b. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Goverment Code section 54956.8)
Property: 4400 - 4410 Gage Avenue, Bell CA 90201
Agency negotiators: Michael L. Antwine II (City Manager), and Dave Aleshire (City Attorney) Negotiating parties: To be Determined
c. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8)
Property: 5241 Florence Avenue, Bell, CA 90201
Agency negotiators: Michael L. Antwine II (City Manager), and Dave Aleshire (City Attorney) Negotiating parties: To be Determined
d. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8)
Property: APN 6327-002-900,901
Agency negotiators: Michael L. Antwine II (City Manager), and Dave Aleshire (City Attorney) Negotiating parties: To be Determined
e. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8)
Property: APN 6226-005-900,901,902,903
Agency negotiators: Michael L. Antwine II (City Manager), and Dave Aleshire (City Attorney) Negotiating parties: To be Determined
f. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8)
Property: APN 6226-006-900,901,902,903
Agency negotiators: Michael L. Antwine II (City Manager), and Dave Aleshire (City Attorney) Negotiating parties: To be Determined
g.
Anticipated Initiation of Litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(3) regarding significant exposure to litigation in one case.
Reconvene Regular City Council Meeting
Mayor Saleh called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
RoII Call of the City Council in their capacities as Councilmembers/Members of all Related Agencies: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, Vice -Mayor Arroyo, and Mayor Saleh PRESENT: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, Vice -Mayor Arroyo, and Mayor Saleh.
ABSENT: None
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Bell City Council and Related Agencies
March 12, 2025
Staff Present: City Manager Michael L. Antwine, City Attorney Dave Aleshire, Chief of Police Carlos Islas, Deputy City Engineer Rey Alfonso, Interim Public Works Director John Oskoui, Community Development Director Manuel Acosta, Assistant to the City Manager Javier Ochiqui, Finance Director Rickey Manbahal, Human. Resources Manager Gina Skibar, and Community Servies Director Janine Andrade.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Saleh
City Attorney Report
The City Attorney will report out on any action(s) to be taken by the City Council/Agencies on Closed Session matters.
City Attorney Dave Aleshire reported out the following: Item A) was discussed and there was no reportable actions. Items B -G) were not discussed.
Presentations and Recognitions
a. Mayor Citizens Award
This item was continued to the next meeting.
b. Proclamation declaring March 2025 as Women's History Month and Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to Ten Outstanding Women Mayor Saleh presented the proclamation to Montserrat Aguilar, Nancy Cervantes de Medrano, Elsa De Loera, Rihan Bedier, Haifa Hamdan, Daisy Aldama, Nora Saenz, Antonia Gonzalez M, Zeinab Tehfi, Manal Farhat, and Mary Cranston. Vice - Mayor Arroyo, Councilmember Quintana and Councilmember Romero praised the contributions women have made to society.
Communications from the Public
The following members of the public may addressed the City Council and related Authorities and Agencies on items that are on the agenda and non -agenda items that are under the subject matter jurisdiction of City Council and/or its related authorities and agencies: Gary Anderson, Kathy Teague, Nora Saenz, and Antonio Robles.
Mayor and City Council Communications
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 1234, this is the time and place to provide a brief report on meetings, seminars and conferences attended by the Mayor and City Councilmembers.
Councilmember Quintana made a comment.
Councilmember Romero made a comment,
Vice -Mayor Arroyo made a comment.
Mayor Saleh made a comment.
Mayor Saleh left the meeting at 7:34 p.m.
City Manager Report
In this portion of the agenda, the City Manager will provide a brief report on items of interest to the City Council and/or the community.
City Manager Michael L. Antwine had nothing to report.
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Bell City Council and Related Agencies
March 12, 2025
Business Session
1. Consideration to approve Amendment No.1 with Transtech Engineers Inc. for contract building official, building inspector, and plan check related services. (City Council) Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council approve a one-year extension with Transtech Engineers Inc. for contract building official, building inspector, and plan check related services for, and on behalf of the City.
Community Development Director Manuel Acosta provided a report on the item.
It was moved by Councilmember Quintana to approve agenda item no. 1, as recommended.
Motion was seconded by Councilmember Romero which carried with the following roll call vote:
Roll Call: 40-0-1
AYES: Councilrnembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, and Vice -Mayor Arroyo NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Mayor Saleh
Motion Passed.
2. Consideration to approve an Agreement with SEO Media for Recording and Live Web - Streaming Services. (City Council)
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council approve an Agreement with SEO Media for Recording and Live Web -Streaming Services.
Assistant to the City Manager Javier Ochiqui provided a report on the item.
It was moved by Councilmember Romero to approve agenda item no. 2, as recommended. Motion was seconded by Councilmember Flores which carried with the following roll call vote:
RoII CaII: 40-0-1
AYES: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, and Vice -Mayor Arroyo NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Mayor Saleh.
Motion Passed.
3. Creation of FY 2025-2026 Budget Ad hoc Committee. (City Council) Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council appoint two (2) Councilmernbers to the FY 2025-2026 Budget Ad -hoc Committee to review and provide feedback on the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026.
City Manager Michael L. Antwine provided a report on the item.
Council appointed Vice -Mayor Arroyo and Mayor Saleh to the FY 2025-2026 Budget Ad -hoc committee.
It was moved by Councilmember Romero to approve agenda item no. 3, as recommended. Motion Minutes of the Meeting of the
Bell City Cauncil and Related Agencies
March 12, 2025
was seconded by Councilmember Flores which carried with the following roll call vote:
RoII Call: 4-0-0-1
AYES: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, and Vice -Mayor Arroyo NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Mayor Saleh
Motion Passed.
4. Mid -Year Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. (City Council) Recommendation: !t is recommended that the City Council read by title only, waive further reading and adopt Resolution 2025-11 titled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL
AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 BUDGET AMENDMENTS
TO INCREASE GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND
EXPENDITURES BY $1,258,802 AND AUTHORIZE A
TRANSFER OF $564,002 FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES
TO GENERAL FUND OPERATING ACCOUNTS, AND TO
RECONCILE FY24-25 CIP BUDGET BY $2.7 MILLION FOR
PROJECT CLOSE OUT, DEFERREMENT AND ADDITION TO
THE FY24-25 CIP PROJECTS
Mayor Saleh returned to the council meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Finance Director Rickey Manbahal provided a PowerPoint presentation on the item.
Chief of Police Carlos Islas provided additional information on the item.
City Manager Michael L. Antwine provided additional information on the item.
Councilmember Quintana recommended the motion be to approve the following embodied in the resolution authorizing the fiscal year 24/25 budget amendment to increase general fund revenues and expenditures by $315,000.
City Attorney Dave Aleshire stated Council would be approving the modified version of the resolution with the revised language: A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Bell Authorizing Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Amendments To Increase General Fund Revenues And Expenditures by $315,000 and to reconcile the FY 24-25 Cip Budget by 2.7 million For Project Close Out, Deferment And Addition To The Fy24-25 Cip Projects.
It was moved by Councilmember Quintana to approve agenda item no. 4, as with council's recommended changes. Motion was seconded by Councilmember Romero which carried with the following roll call vote:
RoII Cali: 5-0-0-0
AYES: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana. Romero. Vice -Mayor Arroyo, and. Mayor Saleh NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Bell City Council and Related Agencies
March 12. 2025
Motion Passed.
Consent Calendar
The following Consent Calendar items are expected to be routine and non -controversial. They are acted upon by the City Council and related authorities at one time without discussion. The reading of the full text of ordinances and resolutions will be waived unless a Councilmember requests otherwise.
It was moved by Councilmember Quintana to approve agenda items 5 through 6. Motion was seconded by Vice -Mayor Arroyo which carried with the following voice vote:
Roll Call: 5-0-0-0
AYES: Councilmembers Flores, Quintana, Romero, Vice -Mayor Arroyo and Mayor Saleh NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion Passed.
Recommendation: Approve agenda items 5 and 6.
5. Minutes for the Regular City Council Meetings of February 26, 2025. (City Council)
6. General Warrants, Successor Agency to the Bell Community Redevelopment Agency and Community Housing Authority Warrants of March 12, 2025. (Council/SuccessorAgency to the Bell Community Redevelopment Agency/Bell Community Housing Authority).
Pending Items - None
Next Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Mayor Saleh adjourned the meeting at 8:48 p.m.
I, Angela Bustamante, City Clerk of the City of Bell, certify that the foregoing minutes were roved by the City Council of the City of Bell at a regular meeting held on April 9, 2025. ngela Bustamante, Ierk
Ali Saleh, Mayo,`
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Bell City Council and Related Agencies
March 12, 2025