14-N
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 July 10, 2023, Special Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: August 14, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the July 10, 2023, Special Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the July 10, 2023, Special Meeting… ........................ ………………………… 2
11 MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JULY 10, 2023, 3:30 P.M.
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Santa Ines called the Special Meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
2 ROLL CALL
The following Members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Council Member Ray Dunton
Council Member Dan Koops
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
For the record, Mayor Pro Tem Hamada was absent.
Staff Participants:
Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Elizabeth Oba, Planning & Building Services Director
Travis Sais, Assistant to the City Manager
Jennifer Poole, Management Assistant
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
For the record, public comments were taken during the discussion of Item 4 -A (Study Session).
2 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-A July 10, 2023 Page 2 of 3
4 STUDY SESSIONS
A Consideration and possible action to receive, file, and provide direction based on a report and recommendations regarding establishing an Arts District on Clark Avenue between Alondra Boulevard and Rose Street.
For the record, Council Member Koops 1) announced that he would recuse on this item as he owns property within 500 feet of the subject property; and 2) left the dais at 3:32 p.m.
City Manager Stewart introduced the item.
For the record, Director of Planning & Building Services Oba 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report with Consultant James Troyer, Senior Business Analyst of Tripepi Smith; and 2) along with City Manager Stewart and Consultant Troyer, responded to Council Members’ questions.
For the record, Mayor Santa Ines, 1) explained that he made the request about a year ago, as he drives Clark Avenue often and noticed that there were many vacant properties, especially between Alondra Boulevard and Oak Street; 2) noted that it would be nice to have an Arts District in this area and possibly use the new Youth and Senior “Oak Center” at Simms Park to display art pieces; and 3) suggested that the project could start small and be expanded slowly, similar to the development of the downtown area.
At the request of Mayor Santa Ines, Consultant Troyer stated that he would need to check regarding the projected timeline, from City Council approval to completion.
Lengthy discussion ensued regarding the matter among the City Council (Hamada absent; Koops recused), City Manager Stewart, Director Oba, and Consultant Troyer.
Jean Dare 1) stated that she welcomed the project; 2) expressed the opinion that a feasibility study may be a place to start in order to get a better understanding of the “draw” the project would have to the area; and 3) expressed that she liked the area of Flower Street to Alondra Boulevard, but suggested that “Area 2” had more potential for walkability and places to eat.
In response to comments from Jean Dare, 1) Mayor Santa Ines stated that he envisions the Art District attracting artists who will set up studios to make and show their art; and 2) Council Member Sanchez stated that he is more interested in the retail component of the project to revitalize Area 2.
3 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-A July 10, 2023 Page 3 of 3
4 STUDY SESSIONS – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to receive, file, and provide direction based on a report and recommendations regarding establishing an Arts District on Clark Avenue between Alondra Boulevard and Rose Street – Continued
Clarissa Ortega, Office of Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, 1) stated that she wanted to share some insight, as their office does work with artists; 2 ) noted that there has been concern over an artist’s income and their capability of building a studio space or mixed housing; 3) shared that the South East Los Angeles Artist’s Guild had been established and acted as a hub for artists in that area; 4) recommended speaking to this guild for further insight, as they promote and provide various opportunities for artists, noting that some artists within this network currently have developed studios; and 5) added that art is not only visual, but could include dance, culinary arts, and other mediums.
Following lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to 1) establish an overlay zone on Clark Avenue between Alondra Boulevard and Rose Street for a designated Arts District; 2) subsequently, as part of the ongoing implementation of the Housing Element Update, the zoning standards for the Housing Opportunity Areas on Alondra Boulevard and Clark Avenue, Clark Aven ue and Park Street, and Clark Avenue and Artesia Boulevard will accommodate for additional housing and will include other standards and criteria that would support an Arts District; and 3) bring the matter back to the City Council for further consideration within six months to discuss recommendations for an implementation plan.
5 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Santa Ines adjourned the meeting at 4:38 p.m.
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: August 14, 2023
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