In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 804-1424, extension 2220 or [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Agenda Items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for public inspection during normal business hours. For your convenience, the Agenda is also posted on the City’s Website at www.bellflower.org with links to each Agenda Item (unless they are too lengthy or unavailable at the time of posting). Any supplemental material distributed to a majority of the members of the City Council after the posting of this Agenda will be made available for public inspection during normal business hours in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower. (Privileged documents and Closed Session documents are exempted.)
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2023, 4:00 P.M.
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1 CALL TO ORDER
2 ROLL CALL: Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Koops
Council Member Ray Dunton
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), the public may address the City Council on matters listed on the Agenda. Those wishing to speak on a listed item should come to the podium, be recognized by the Mayor, and state your name for the record. Each speaker will be given three (3) minutes to address the City Council.
AGENDA
T h e C i t y o f B e l l f l o w e r
Families. Businesses. Futures.
16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706
Tel 562.804.1424 Fax 562.925.8660 www.bellflower.org
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Agenda
October 2, 2023
4 CONSIDERATION ITEM
A Consideration and possible action to appoint a successor to Council Member Raymond Y. Hamada’s Council District 1 seat with a term ending December 2024.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Complete the process to appoint a successor to fill the vacant District 1 seat as follows: a) City Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee reports its findings; and b) If desirable, select a successor to fill the District 1 seat for a period with a term ending December 2024; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
5 ADJOURNMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF BELLFLOWER )
I, Dakota Wallace, Management Assistant, of the City of Bellflower, do hereby declare under penalty of perjury, that the Agenda for the Special Meeting of the Bellflower City Council to be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., was posted Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the following locations in the City of Bellflower:
City Hall Lobby and Doors, 16600 Civic Center Drive
City Website at www.bellflower.orci
Clifton M. Brakensiek Library
Executed this 28th day of September 2023 at Bellflower, California. 0 ota allace, Management Assistant
SPEAKER SIGN-IN SHEET
OF BELLFLo.. (Voluntary)
BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
October 2, 2023
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY
NAME ORGANIZATION
(if applicable)
4-A
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to appoint a successor to Council Member Raymond Y. Hamada’s Council District 1 seat with a term ending December 2024.
DATE: October 2, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The District 1 City Council seat became vacant when Mr. Raymond Y. Hamada resigned effective August 14, 2023. On August 28, 2023, the City Council approved a process by which it may appoint a successor to serve with a term ending December 2024 (at the declaration of the results of the November 5, 2024, Municipal Election). The City Clerk received seven verified applications and statements of interest for the open seat. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, serving as an ad hoc subcommittee, interviewed seven (7) applicants and is expected to recommend finalists to the full City Council.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Complete the process to appoint a successor to fill the vacant District 1 seat as follows:
a) City Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee reports its findings; and b) If desirable, select a successor to fill the District 1 seat for a period with a term ending December 2024; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended process will have no fiscal impact on the City, unless a special municipal election is called for March 2024. A special election for Council Member District 1 on March 5, 2024, is estimated at $51,586.81 and would require a budget amendment.
PUBLIC NOTICE
No additional public notice required.
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Staff Report – Consideration of Appointment to Council District 1 Vacant Seat October 2, 2023
DISCUSSION
Based upon the timing of Mr. Hamada’s resignation, the City Council may take any of the following actions: 1) call a special election to be held at the next regularly established election date (March 5, 2024) to fill the vacant seat; or 2) appoint a qualified resident of District 1 to complete the unexpired term until the results of the next regularly scheduled City Council election (November 5, 2024). The City Council has until October 13, 2023, to either appoint a candidate to fill the vacant seat or schedule a special municipal election for March 5, 2024.
The matter was brought to the City Council for direction during the August 28, 2023, City Council meeting and the City Council decided to try and fill the position from among qualified applicants in Council District 1.
The City Council subcommittee had full discretion on how to conduct its review of candidate applications within the guidelines approved on August 28, 2023. Based upon direction provided during that meeting, the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, serving as an ad hoc subcommittee, interviewed seven (7) applicants and is expected to recommend finalists to the full City Council. However, while the City Council has stated its initial desire to appoint a qualified resident to fill the vacant seat, it is not obligated to make such an appointment. All options stated above will remain open.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Final List of City Council Candidates (listed in the order received) B. Finalists Applications (in the order received)
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UPDATED 9/12/23 @ 5:01 P.M.
FINAL
2023 VACANCY ON THE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1
LIST OF CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
(Voter Registration and District of Residence Verified; Listed in the Order Received)
NAME
DATE
FILED
1 Wendi Morse 8/30/2023
2 Aaron K. Drake 8/30/2023
3 Brian J. Ahumada 9/8/2023
4 Jake Daniel Schnablegger 9/8/2023
5 Ruth Zymkowitz 9/11/2023
6 Paula Karen Grond 9/11/2023
7 Stacey Chanan 9/12/2023
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