14-F
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
FROM: Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the December 15, 2022, Special Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: January 12, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the December 15, 2022, Special Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the December 15, 2022, Special Meeting… ................................... ………… 2
1 MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022, 10:00 A.M.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The City Council Chambers was open to the public. Per the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order effective March 4, 2022, it was recommended, but not required, to wear a face covering when inside Bellflower City Hall.
1 Call to Order
Mayor Santa Ines called the Special Meeting to order at 10:13 a.m.
2 Roll Call
The following Members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Y. Hamada
Council Member Ray Dunton
Council Member Dan Koops
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
Staff Participants:
Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Joel Hockman, Director of Public Safety
Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
Eduardo Lizarraga, Management Analyst II
Travis Sais, Assistant to the City Manager
Jennifer Poole-Eidd, Management Assistant
2 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 3 December 15, 2022 Page 2 of 5
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was no one in the audience wishing to provide public comments.
4 STUDY SESSIONS
A Consideration and possible action to consider renewals for ten Cannabis Business Permits (“CBP”) for dispensary, cultivation, and distribution uses:
“The Medicine Woman Group”: Two CBPs to operate a cannabis dispensary; manufacturing; and distribution facility at 9058 Rose Street. Permittee representative: Damian Collins;
NC3 Systems, Inc. dba “Deli by Caliva”: One CBP to operate a cannabis dispensary facility at 9535 Artesia Boulevard. Permittee representative:
Hirsh Jain;
“Joint Forces, LLC”: Three CBPs to operate a cannabis dispensary, cultivation, and distribution facility at 10040 and 10042 Artesia Place.
Permittee representatives: Jonathan Barrett;
“Dynasty Alliance Grow, Inc.”: Two CBPs to operate a cannabis cultivation and distribution facility at 8832 Ramona Street. Permittee representatives:
Berenice Cisterna; and
“EEL Holdings, LLC”: Two CBPs to operate a cannabis dispensary and distribution facility at 9032-38 Artesia Boulevard. Permittee representative:
Elliot Lewis.
CEQA: In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code § 21000, et seq.; “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code of Regs. § 15000, et seq.) the City determined that the applications for the CBPs consist of applications to operate businesses in existing commercial and industrial buildings that meet the definition for classes of projects exempt from addit ional environmental review under CEQA Guidelines § 15301 (Existing Facilities) and § 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction).
City Manager Stewart introduced the item.
Assistant to the City Manager Sais 1) stated that there was a clerical error on the agenda and there were no manufacturing permits requested for renewal this year; 2) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 3) along with City Manager Stewart responded to Council Members’ questions throughout the discussion of the matter.
3 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-A December 15, 2022 Page 3 of 5
4 STUDY SESSIONS – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to consider renewals for ten Cannabis Business Permits (“CBP”) for dispensary, cultivation, and distribution uses – Continued
Following discussion, City Clerk Ochiqui administered the Oath to the following individuals wishing to present public testimony regarding this matter:
• Damian Collins, representing The Medicine Woman
• Brandon Scadron, representing The Medicine Woman
• Hirsh Jain, representing NC3 Systems, Inc. dba Deli by Caliva • Jonathan Barrett, representing Joint Forces, LLC
• Heather Alexander, representing Joint Forces, LLC
• Berenice Cisterna, representing Dynasty Alliance Grow, Inc. • Elliot Lewis, representing EEL Holdings, LLC
Permittee Representative for The Medicine Woman Group (9058 Rose Street), Damian Collins and General Manager Brandon Scadron, responded to Council Members’ questions. For the record, at the request of Council Member Koops, City Manager Stewart confirmed that there continued to be no permission for the permittee to utilize sign flippers as a form of advertisement.
Permittee Representative for NC3 Systems, Inc. dba “De li by Caliva” (9535 Artesia Boulevard), Hirsh Jain, responded to Council Members’ questions.
Permittee Representatives for Joint Forces, LLC (10040 and 10042 Artesia Place), Jonathan Barrett and Heather Alexander, responded to Council Members’ questions. For the record, at the request of Mayor Santa Ines, City Manager Stewart confirmed that staff would look into whether the state eliminated taxes on cultivation permits.
Permittee Representative for Dynasty Alliance Grow, Inc. (8832 Ramona Street), Berenice Cisterna, responded to Council Members’ questions.
Permittee Representative for EEL Holdings, LLC (9032-38 Artesia Boulevard), Elliot Lewis, responded to Council Members’ questions. In response to comments provided by Mr. Lewis relative to having the City write letters to state senators requesting that they lower taxes at the State level, Mayor Santa Ines stated that staff would look into it.
Following discussion, it was moved by Council Member Dunton, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the renewal of ten CBPs for dispensary, cultivation, and distribution uses:
AYES: Council Members- Hamada, Dunton, Koops Sanchez, and Mayor Santa Ines
4 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 5 December 15, 2022 Page 4 of 5
4 STUDY SESSIONS – Continued
A Recess: Without objection, Mayor Santa Ines recessed the meeting at 11:16 a.m.
Reconvene: Mayor Santa Ines reconvened the meeting at 11:25 a.m. with all Council Members present.
5 CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Santa Ines announced that the Consent Calendar would be considered prior to completing Study Session Item No. 4-B (2022 North Downtown Bellflower Parking Analysis).
City Manager Stewart introduced Item 5-A and provided a brief verbal report of the staff report.
It was moved by Council Member Koops, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the action stipulated on the Consent Calendar:
AYES: Council Members - Hamada, Dunton, Koops, Sanchez, and Mayor Santa Ines
A Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute a legal retainer agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen and terminate a legal retainer agreement with Hensley Law Group effective on or before December 31, 2022; reappoint Karl H. Berger as City Attorney.
Action: 1) Authorized the City Manager to terminate the legal services agreement with Hensley Law Group (AFN 707) to be effective on or before December 31, 2022; 2) Authorized the City Manager to execute a legal services agreement with Burke, Williams and Sorensen to be effective on or before January 1, 2023; and 3) Confirmed Karl H. Berger as City Attorney and reappoint him as City Attorney, effective on or before January 1, 2023.
4 STUDY SESSIONS – Continued
B Consideration and possible action to receive and file the 2022 North Downtown Bellflower Parking Analysis.
City Manager Stewart introduced the item.
For the record, Council Member Dunton 1) stated that he will recuse on this matter as he owns property within 500 feet of the designated North Downtown Bellflower Parking Area; and 2) left the dais and Council Chambers at 11:27 a.m.
Management Analyst Lizarraga 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the staff report; and 2) along with City Manager Stewart, Director of Economic Development DellaLonga, Director of Public Safety Hockman, and Parking Consultant Gene Kim (Principal Engineer with TJW Engineering, Inc.), responded to Council Members’ questions.
5 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-B December 15, 2022 Page 5 of 5
4 STUDY SESSIONS – Continued
B Consideration and possible action to receive and file the 2022 North Downtown Bellflower Parking Analysis – Continued
For the record, Mayor Santa Ines suggested that eventually the City should look into parking meters.
At the request of Council Member Sanchez, Mayor Santa Ines stated that a more comprehensive study will follow.
Following discussion, there was no action taken on this item.
For the record, Council Member Dunton did not return to the meeting.
6 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Santa Ines adjourned the Special Meeting at 12:00 p.m.
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Mayor
City of Bellflower
Attest:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: January 12, 2023
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