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MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
3:00 P.M. CLOSED SESSION / 3:30 P.M. OPEN SESSION
3:00 P.M. - CLOSED SESSION
1 Call to Order
None
2 Roll Call
None
3 Recess to Closed Session
None
4 Reconvene for Open Session
None
3:30 P.M. - OPEN SESSION
5 Call to Order
Mayor Koops called the Adjourned Regular Meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. 6 Roll Call
The following members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Dan Koops
Mayor Pro Tem Ray Dunton
Council Member Wendi Morse
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
Council Member Sonny R. Santa Ines
Bellflower City Council Minutes
January 11, 2024
6 Roll Call — Continued
Item No. 6
Staff Participants:
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
Jennifer Poole, Management Assistant
7 Invocation
Mayor Dan Koops offered the Invocation.
8 Pledge of Allegiance
Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development, led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
9 City Council Announcements
Mayor Koops provided details relative to the City's next BRAVO Awards (Bellflower Recognizes Acts of Valor and Outstanding service), noting that the nomination period closes January 15, 2024, and the ceremony will be held on April 25, 2024.
Mayor Pro Tem Dunton provided details relative to CR&R Waste Management's annual Christmas tree collection.
Council Member Morse provided details relative to the City's next Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workshop to beheld on January 18, 2024, at City Hall.
Council Member Sanchez provided details relative to the Chamber of Commerce's next monthly morning mingle to be held on January 30, 2024.
Council Member Santa Ines provided details relative to the City's weekly Farmers Market operating on Mondays from 3:00 — 7:00 p.m. at Town Center Plaza. 10 Public Comments
The following individuals addressed the City Council relative to their concerns regarding "Bellflower Connect", "5-G" networks, and "15 -minute cities", expressing the opinion that they are harmful to the community and requesting the City Council schedule the matter on a future agenda for further consideration. For the record, Esther submitted written materials to the City Council.
Bellflower City Council Minutes
January 11, 2024
10 Public Comments — Continued
Item No. 10
Esther
Don Beck
Baltazar Tedalizo
Paul Jones
Florita
April Manor, resident
Joeite
Andy Lai
Tiffany Manor, resident
Jan Gati
Richard Osnaya addressed the City Council relative to an Administrative Citation he received as a property owner for illegal fireworks set off at his rental property, noting that his appeal of the matter resulted in a dismissal by the presiding judge and expressing the opinion that the appeal process was ridiculous and the City should return the money collected for similar citations or expect a class action lawsuit.
Andrew San Nicolas, Executive Director of Kingdom Causes Bellflower, provided an update on all the work the City helped them accomplish in 2023:
1) assisted 487 non -duplicated individuals with various services; 2) provided support services such as showers, food, hygiene kits, and case management services to 356 people; 3) assisted 32 people in getting jobs through GSI (Good Soils Industries), 18 of which are permanent; 4) helped 64 renters at risk of becoming homeless be able to retain their housing through program assistance; and 5) helped 30 homeless individuals get off the street and into their own homes, including three of which had been living at the New Hope Shelter for more than a year and are now in permanent housing.
Judy Calvin asked the City Council where the City stands on illegal immigration and requested the matter be scheduled on a future agenda for consideration.
In response to comments provided relative to "Bellflower Connect", "5-G" networks, and "15 -minute cities", 1) Mayor Koops stated that the City took down the questions asked and may have a forum to provide answers, so the speakers do not feel that they are being taken advantage of; 2) Council Member Santa Ines confirmed that there has been no discussion regarding "15 -minute cities" by the City Council and requested that staff reach out to the speakers who voiced concerns relative to this matter to ask what the connection is between Bellflower Connect and "15 -minute cities", as from the City's perspective there is no connection between the two; 3) City Attorney Berger confirmed that Bellflower Connect is broadband, wireless access from anywhere within the City, the funding was provided through ARPA funding which was approved during the pandemic, there is no deep -seeded conspiracy to create some sort of world order in Bellflower as far as he's aware of, and it is simply optional Wi-Fi access; [Continued on next page.]
Bellflower City Council Minutes
January 11, 2024
10 Public Comments — Continued
Item No. 10
4) Mayor Pro Tem Dunton suggested that the recent presentation regarding Bellflower Connect be placed on the City's webpage to provide clarity; 5) City Council Member Sanchez requested that Director DellaLonga put on the record that the ARPA funding was used mainly due to the COVID pandemic, when it became very apparent that there was a huge digital divide as many families could not afford internet services and did not have the proper bandwidth to do homework online, participate in school, or work remotely, and that is the reason why ARPA funding was allowed for this kind of use; 6) Director DellaLonga stated that there was a whole webpage dedicated to information relative to Bellflower Connect; and 7) Council Member Morse stated that the key word for this matter is "optional." For the record, 1) Mayor Koops briefly introduced City Manager Smoot, City Attorney Berger, and City Clerk Ochiqui; and 2) at the request of Mayor Koops, City Manager Smoot provided a brief biography of his career leading to his recent appointment as City Manager, noting that he has worked for the City twice before and worked with the previous two City Managers.
11 Public Hearings
None
12 Ordinances and Resolutions for Consideration
None
13 Consideration Items
A Consideration and possible action to consider adopting Resolution No. 24-01 — A Resolution consenting to the inclusion of the property located at 8827 Artesia Boulevard, Bellflower, California in the California Statewide Communities Development Authority ("CSCDA") Open PACE Program.
CEQA: The City reviewed the environmental impacts of the proposed Ordinance pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq. "CEQA") and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal.
Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., the "CEQA Guidelines"). CEQA Guidelines §§ 15060(c)(2), 15061(b)(3), and 15378 exempt activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, activities where there is possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment, and activities that do not constitute a "project" as defined, respectively. This Resolution is for general policies and procedure -making in that it grants the Participating Owner the ability to obtain financing from the CSCDA.
Any subsequent development will be evaluated separately under the CEQA Guidelines. Accordingly, this Resolution is exempt from further review.
Bellflower City Council Minutes
January 11, 2024
13 Consideration Items — Continued
Item No. 13
A Consideration and possible action to consider adopting Resolution No. 24-01 — Continued
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Director of Economic Development DellaLonga 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 2) responded to Council Members' questions.
Following discussion, it was moved by Council Member Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 24-02 providing City consent to the inclusion of the property located at 8827 Artesia Boulevard in the CSCDA Open PACE Program and authorizing related actions:
AYES: Council Members - Dunton, Morse, Sanchez, Santa Ines, and Mayor Koops
14 Consent Calendar
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Dunton, seconded by Council Member Santa Ines, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the actions stipulated on the Consent Calendar:
AYES: Council Members - Dunton, Morse, Sanchez, Santa Ines, and Mayor Koops
A Consideration and possible action to receive and file Warrant Register No. 24-071 dated January 11, 2024.
Action: Received and filed Warrant Register No. 24-071.
B Consideration and possible action to receive and file City Council Treasurer's Report for the Month of November 2023.
Action: Received and filed the Treasurer's Report.
C Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the December 11, 2023, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
Action: Approved the December 11, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.
D Consideration and possible action to ratify the 2024 Mayor's Appointments to the various City -associated organizations.
Action: Ratified Mayor Koops's 2024 appointments to the various City -associated organizations.
Bellflower City Council Minutes
January 11, 2024
15 Council Reports
Item No. 15
Council Member Sanchez and Mayor Koops made various comments and reports.
For the record, Mayor Koops 1) requested the meeting be adjourned in memory Vivian Faith Talsma; and 2) reported official travel to the California Contract Cities Association Annual Legislative Orientation Tour in Sacramento with all Council Members except Mayor Pro Tem Dunton, City Manager Smoot, and Deputy City Manager Sais, noting that it was good for the Council to be there to hear about the new State budget and how it will affect the City.
16 Adjournment
Without objection, Mayor Koops adjourned at 4:27 p.m., in memory of Vivian Faith Talsma, to the next Regular Meeting of the Bellflower City Council at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 22, 2024, in the Green Room for the Outgoing Mayor's Ceremony.
ga?ad-
Dan Koops, Mayor
City of Bellflower
Attest:
Mayr. Oc • ui, Ci y Clerk
App ved. January 22, 2024