CITY OF BELL GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022, 6:00 PM
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361, The Council Members of the City of Bell Gardens City Council held a Regular City Council meeting on September 26, 2022, via teleconference in the Council Chambers, 7100 Garfield Avenue, Bell Gardens, CA with Mayor Maria Pulido presiding. Mayor Maria Pulido called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m.
ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Present: Marco Barcena, Council Member
Lisseth Flores-Franco, Council Member
Jorgel Chavez, Mayor Pro Tem
Maria Pulido, Mayor
Absent: Alejandra Cortez, Council Member(excused)
Councilwoman Alejandra Cortez requested to excuse her absence. There was no objection by Council to excuse her absence.
PRESENTATIONS
- GREATER LOS ANGELES VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT (GLACVD/DISTRICT) Mary-Joy Coburn, Director of Communication for Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District provided a PowerPoint presentation on mosquito prevention and protection. - CALHOME GRANT RECIPIENT AWARDS
Director of Community Development Gustavo Romo and Omar Hernandez, grant consultant from Global Urban Strategies I nc. presented Bell Gardens resident Alejandra Diaz with a check for$75,000 on behalf of the CalHome Program, Home Ownership Rehabilitation Assistance Program.
PROCLAMATION HONORING DEAF AWARENESS MONTH
Councilwoman Lisseth Flores-Franco presented a proclamation on behalf of the City Council for Deaf Awareness Month.
PUBLIC HEARING (Item No. 1)
1. URGENCY O INANCE NO 927 OF THE CITY OF, ELL GARDENS EXTENDING M PROH N OF N , INCREASES ON.,,,�t�ERTAIN RESIDENTIAL, PROPERTIES UNTIL THE CITY -PERMANENT-RENT STABILIZAT N_ 1 N
TAKE EFFECT
Urgency Ordinance No. 927-U of the City of Bell Gardens extending the interim prohibition of rent increases on certain residential properties until the City's permanent rent stabilization regulations take effect.
Recommendation:
It is staff's recommendation that the City Council adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 927-U, thereby extending the existing interim prohibition of rent increases on certain residential properties subject to State rent control effective immediately and expiring on October 12, 2022, when Ordinance No. 925,which establishes permanent rent stabilization regulations,takes effect.
Mayor Maria Pulido opened the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. City Manager Michael O'Kelly and Community Development Director Gustavo Romo introduced this item. Mayor Maria Pulido opened and closed the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. There were no comments made.
A motion was made by Lisseth Flores-Franco and seconded by Jorgel Chavez, to approve recommendation.
Motion Passed 4-0-1 with the following vote:
Ayes: Barcena, Chavez, Flores-Franco, Pulido
Absent: Cortez
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
There were no public comments.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Michael O'Kelly provided general community announcements.
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item Nos.2-6)
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and can be acted on by one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the Successor Agency request specific items to be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action. Items called for separate discussion will be heard as the next order of business A motion was made by Lisseth Flores-Franco and seconded by Marco Barcena, to approve Item Nos. 2 -6 on the Consent Calendar.
Motion Passed 4-0-1 with the following vote:
Ayes: Barcena, Chavez, Flores-Franco, Pulido
Absent: Cortez
2. GENERAL MOTION TO WAIVE FULL READING AND APPROVE ORDINANCES BY TITLE ONLY PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 36934
In order to expedite the conduct of business at City Council meetings, California State Law (California Government Code Section 3 3 ) allows Ordinances to be read by title if a majorityof the legislative body supports the motion to waive the full reading.
Recommendation:
It is staff recommendation that the CityCouncil approve a general motion to waive full reading and approve Ordinances by title only pursuant to California Government Code Section 36934.
CONSIDERATION
MEETINGSCONDUCT OF TELECONFERENCED IT
CITY BODIES UNDER THE MODIFIED T FORTH UNDER GOVERNMENT SECTIONCODE ( )
AS 1 was signed in to law on September 16, 2021, and immediately went into effect, authorizing local government bodies continue to meet remotely contingent on their compliance of the newly amended overnmen Code Section 54953.
In compliance with the modified rules set forth under Government Code Section 4 (e)s the City Council is requested to reconsider the circumstances regarding the previously approved 3 -d y resolution authorizing teleconferenced eetin s of the City Council and all other city bodies and either extend the authorization or terminate.
Recommendation:
It is staffs recommendation that the City Council adopt or approve the Resolution permittingthe City conduct public meetings virtually for all public bodies subject to the Brown Act in accordance with the requirements of AB 361, hick will require reauthorization every thirty ( ) days.
Resolution No. 7 was adopted.
® WARRANT REGISTERSI
In approving the action of receiving and filing the warrant registers, the official minutes of the Bell Gardens City Council should state that each individual member of the City Council is not voting on, influencing the outcome of, or participating in approving, accepting, receiving or filing any warrant which bears the name of the same council member, or pays for any costs or expenses, or otherwise en fits the same named council member. Each council member will not be participating, influencing or voting on any such warrant bearing their name or which benefits the same named council member, but with that exception is voting in favor of receiving and filing all other warrants contained in this report, unless otherwise noted on the record at the time of the approval of the action required by this report.
Recommendation:
It is staffs recommendation that the CityCouncil receive and file the warrant registers, wire transfers, and net payrolls date 0 /2 / g 08/30122 and / / ® ® BIENNIAL REVIEWAND ADOPTIONICONFLICT
California Government Code Section 87306.5 requires that local governments conduct a review of their Conflict of Interest Codes every two years. The Ci @s Conflict of Interest Gad determines which i officials and employee osi ions must file the Fair Political Practices Commission Statement of Economic Interest Form 700.
Recommendation:
It is staff recommendation that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution repealing Resolution No. 2020-89, and amending the Conflict of Interest Code for the City of Bell Gardens City Council, the Successor Agency to the Community Development Commission, and the Financing Authority Board.
Resolution No. 2022-98 was adopted.
6. APPROVAL OF. ALARY RANG-E-E-ORASSISTANT....T.0 THE CITY MANAGER.
Approval of salary range for Assistant to the City Manager.
Recommendation:
It is staffs recommendation that the City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the compensation levels for the Assistant to the City Manager position.
Resolution No. 2022-99 was adopted.
DISCUSSION (Item Nos.7-9)
7. L CAL GOMMI_ SIO APP IN _MENT LI T
The Local Commissions Appointments List outlines the City of Bell Gardens Commissions and Commissioners. Per the Bell Gardens Municipal Code, City Commissions consist of Bell Gardens residents appointed by each member of the City Council. Council Members may remove commissioners during any regular City Council meeting and may appoint commissioners following 10 working days after the posting of the vacancy notice.
Recommendation:
It is staffs recommendation that the City Council review the Commissions Appointments List and by motion, remove commissioners and/or make appointments to the posted vacancies.
A motion was made by Lisseth Flores-Franco and seconded by Marco Barcena, to table this item.
Motion Passed 4-0-1 with the following vote:
Ayes: Barcena, Chavez, Flores-Franco, Pulido
Absent: Cortez
8. CITY N IL HAMBER_l -PERSON PUBL1 P�iTICIPATION UPDATE 1 n-person public participation for meetings held in the Bell Gardens City Council Chamber will be allowed starting Tuesday, September 27, 2022, unless a specific effective date is otherwise provided. As in-person meetings resume, members of the public may also continue to participate via Zoom as long as the City Council continues to approve the reauthorization of the 30-day resolution permitting the City conduct public meetings virtually for all public bodies subject to the Brown Act in accordance with the requirements of AB 361.
Recommendation:
It is staff's recommendation that the City Council affirm the direction given regarding in-person public participation for City Council Chamber meetings.
City Manager Michael O'Kelly introduced this item. City Manager Assistant Hailes Soto provided a PowerPoint presentation.
A motion was made by Marco Barcena and seconded by Jorgel Chavez, to approve recommendation.
Motion Passed 4-0-1 with the following vote:
Ayes: Barcena, Chavez, Flores-Franco, Pulido
Absent: Cortez
9. CITY OF BELL GARDENS, ACALIFORNIA MUNICIPALITY, V. JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ, CASE NO,20STC 38848
A lawsuit was filed by the City against former City Councilmember, Jennifer Rodriguez, to recover salary/benefits paid to her during absences from the City Council during 2016 and 2017. The lawsuit resulted in a default judgment being entered by the court in an amount of $29,979.35 The judgment is valid for ten years with an additional ten year renewal period. The City filed an Abstract of Judgment with the Los Angeles County Recorder in an attempt to collect on the judgment. The judgment remains outstanding.
Recommendation:
It is staffs recommendation that the City Council by motion receive and file this report and provide further direction regarding collection of the judgment amount.
City Manager Michael O'Kelly introduced this item. Attorney Gary Bacio from Bacio and Associates provided a PowerPoint presentation.
A motion was made by Marco Barcena and seconded by Jorgel Chavez, to send a collections letter every 30 days to Jennifer Rodriguez until payment is made.
Motion Passed 4-0-1 with the following vote:
Ayes: Barcena, Chavez, Flores-Franco, Pulido
Absent: Cortez
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS UNDER THE SUBJECT MATTER
JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
There were no public comments.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
The City Council made general comments.
ADJOURNM ENT
Mayor Maria Pulido adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m..
L
Daisy Gomez,City Clerk
Agenda posted on September 22, 2022.