14-C
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 October 9, 2023, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: October 23, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the October 9, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the October 9, 2023, Regular Meeting… ................... ………………………… 2
1 MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2023
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5:30 P.M. CLOSED SESSION / 7:00 P.M. OPEN SESSION
5:30 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Santa Ines called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower.
2 ROLL CALL
The following members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Koops
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
For the record, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Koops, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried without objection to excuse the absence of Council Member Dunton.
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
For the record, City Manager Stewart read the titles of the Closed Session items .
There being no one from the public in attendance, without objection, Mayor Santa Ines recessed the Meeting at 5:31 p.m. to a Closed Session regarding:
A CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION - GOVERNMENT CODE § 54956.9(d)(4). Number of Cases: One.
B THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES (Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(a)). Consultation with: Captain Dan Holguin, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
For the record, Closed Session adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
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4 RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION
Mayor Santa Ines reconvened the Meeting at 7:00 p.m. with Council Member Dunton absent and announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
7:00 P.M. – OPEN SESSION
5 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Santa Ines called the Open Session of the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
6 ROLL CALL
The following members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Koops
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
For the record, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Koops, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried without objection to excuse the absence of Council Member Dunton.
Staff Participants:
Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Joel Hockman, Director of Public Safety
Travis Sais, Deputy City Manager
Sergiu Todorov, IT Manager
Jennifer Poole, Management Assistant
7 INVOCATION
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines offered the Invocation.
8 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director of Public Safety Joel Hockman led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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9 OATH OF OFFICE – COUNCIL-APPOINTEE WENDI MORSE
City Clerk Ochiqui administered the Oath of Office to Council-Appointee Wendi Morse.
Council Member Morse expressed her gratitude and thanked those in attendance for their support.
10-A CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Santa Ines provided details regarding the City’s annual “State of the City” which was held on October 5, 2023, at the Mayne Events Center, noting that the video presentation would be posted on the City’s website within a few weeks of the event for those who cannot attend.
Mayor Pro Tem Koops provided details relative to the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board’s regional job fair to be held on October 20, 2023, at Apollo Park in Downey.
Council Member Sanchez provided information relative to 1) the Chamber of Commerce’s 15th Annual “Trick or Treat on the BOO-LEVARD to be held on October 27th, 2023; and 2) the next Monthly Morning Mingle to be held on October 31, 2023.
Council Member Morse provided information relative to the City of Bellflower’s Photo Contest with a deadline date of November 1, 2023.
10-B PRESENTATION: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation
Mayor Santa Ines and his City Council colleagues declared October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Bellflower and presented the proclamation to Carol Sullivan Miller, past organizer for the Cancer Relay for Life Event.
For the record, Carol Sullivan Miller accepted the proclamation and thanked the City Council, noting that she is a 19-year survivor of breast cancer.
10-C PRESENTATION: Filipino American Month Proclamation
Mayor Santa Ines and his City Council colleagues declared October as Filipino American Month in the City of Bellflower and presented the proclamation to Arlene Mary Whitney, Executive Director of California Advancing Pathways for students (CalAPS) in Bellflower Unified School District (BUSD).
For the record, 1) Arlene Mary Whitney accepted the proclamation and thanked the City Council; and 2) provided information on CalAPS which provides quality technical career education to BUSD students ensuring they are college and career ready.
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11 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Steve Tamer, resident, 1) thanked the Sheriff’s Department who dispersed a group near Caruthers Park that had been loitering in the area, noting that the Deputy on scene recognized some of the group as “Crip gang members;” and 2) stated that there are two liquor stores facing each other off of Eucalyptus Avenue and Alondra Boulevard, one of the stores installed an automatic gate which has limited crime in the area, and requested that the City ask the other store to install a gate as well, noting that he owns rental property located on Eucalyptus Avenue and Linden Street.
In response to comments provided by Steve Tamer, 1) City Manager Stewart stated that Director of Public Safety Hockman noted that the project for the gate is already underway; and 2) Mayor Santa Ines thanked Steve Tamer for his vigilance and reporting these issues.
12 PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
13 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
None
14 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
A Consideration and possible action to consider a request from Greg James (MMA Architecture) for a time extension and adopt Resolution No. 23-43 – A Resolution approving an initial 90-day time extension with an option to grant an additional 90-day extension provided certain conditions are met for Conditional Use Permit Case No. CU 21-03 and Development Review Case No. DR-6-21-12018 on properties located at 17617-17639 Bellflower Boulevard. (Continued from September 25, 2023)
CEQA: The time extension is exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq.) because the project is an administrative action that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. A Categorical Exemption (§ 15332 – In-Fill Development Projects) was adopted by the City Council when CU 21-03 was approved on September 26, 2022.
City Manager Stewart 1) introduced the item; and 2) announced that the item was continued from the September 25, 2023 Regular Meeting , but that due to Council Member Dunton’s absence and several conflicts of interest for Council Members, there was a possibility of a lack of quorum on the item, so staff is requesting to continue the item to the October 23, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting. 5 Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 14
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14 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
A Consideration and possible action to consider a request from Greg James (MMA Architecture) for a time extension and adopt Resolution No. 23 -43 – Continued
For the record and for the benefit of the public, Mayor Santa Ines stated that this item has three Council Members who must recuse due to conflicts of interests, lots will need to be drawn to determine which of the three will participate in the matter; however, if lots are drawn during this meeting, there is a chance Council Member Dunton would be selected to participate and he is not in attendance.
For the record, City Manager Stewart noted that supplemental material was received after the posting of the agenda from Coast to Coast Commercial in support of the Sonic Burger on that site.
Following discussion, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Koops, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried by the following roll call vote, to continue the matter to the October 23, 2023, City Council Meeting:
AYES: Council Members - Morse, Sanchez, Koops and
Mayor Santa Ines
ABSENT: Council Member - Dunton
15 CONSENT CALENDAR
For the record, 1) Council Member Sanchez requested that Item 15-B (Agreement File No. 663.2 with Golden Star Technology) be pulled for discussion only; and 2) Council Member Morse announced that she would recuse herself from Item 15- D (Green curb at 9928 Artesia Boulevard C.E.# 23-12) as her employer owns property within 500 feet of the subject property.
In response to questions from Council Member Sanchez and with regard to Item 15-B (Agreement File No. 663.2 with Golden Star Technology, Inc.), IT Manager Todorov stated that 1) the new contract with Golden Star Technology, Inc. (GST) would include termination of the existing agreement, almost 50 percent reduction in monthly spending, and would include a 30-day termination clause, as IT management is being brought in-house; 2) GST would still provide additional technical resources two days per week to assist with any technical issues; and 3) recommended maintaining an agreement with GST to ensure a smooth transition, noting that bringing in a new company could potentially be disruptive.
City Manager Stewart added that over the next year IT would analyze the services being provided and potentially consider an RFP for additional services to ensure the City is receiving the right cost and level of services.
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15 CONSENT CALENDAR – Continued
Noting the aforementioned recusal from Council Member Morse on Item 15-D (Green curb at 9928 Artesia Boulevard C.E.# 23 -12), it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Koops, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the actions stipulated on the Consent Calendar .
AYES: Council Members - Morse, Sanchez, Koops and
Mayor Santa Ines
ABSENT: Council Member - Dunton
A Consideration and possible action to receive and file City Council Warrant Register No. 24-041, dated October 9, 2023.
Action: Received and filed Warrant Register No. 24-041.
B Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 663.2, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Golden Star Technology, Inc. for Information Technology Support and Consulting Services
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 663.2, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Golden Star Technology, Inc., for information technology support and consulting services.
C Consideration and possible action to authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to install time-based parking restrictions, extend existing time-based parking restrictions, install red curb parking restrictions, and install a loading zone at 9944 Flora Vista Street; and install a loading zone at 9924 Flora Vista Street (C.E. #23-13).
Action: Authorized the Director of Public Works, or designee, to install time-based parking restrictions, extend the existing time-based parking restrictions, install red curb parking restrictions, and install a loading and unloading zone at 9944 Flora Vista Street; and 2) Authorized the Director of Public Works, or designee, to install a loading and unloading zone serving 9924 Flora Vista Street.
D Consideration and possible action to authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert certain red curb parking restrictions to time- restricted parking (green curb) at 9928 Artesia Boulevard (C.E.# 23 -12).____ Action: Authorized the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert the existing red curb parking restrictions to time-restricted parking (green curb) at 9928 Artesia Boulevard.
E Consideration and possible action to authorize the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Cornuta Avenue and Muroc Street (C.E.# 23-11)._____________ Action: Authorized the Director of Public Works, or designee, to convert the existing 2-way ‘Stop’ controls to 4-way ‘Stop’ controls on Cornuta Avenue at Muroc Street.
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15 CONSENT CALENDAR – Continued
F Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1016, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with PGN, for planning consulting services related to Housing Element implementation.
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1016, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
G Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the September 25, 2023, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
Action: Approved the September 25, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.
H Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the October 2, 2023, Special Meeting of the City Council.
Action: Approved the October 2, 2023, Special Meeting Minutes.
16 COUNCIL REPORTS
Council Member Morse, Council Member Sanchez, Mayor Pro Tem Koops, and Mayor Santa Ines made various comments and reports.
17 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Santa Ines adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m., to the next Regular Meeting of the Bellflower City Council at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023.
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: October 23, 2023
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