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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
8:30 A.M. - CLOSED & OPEN SESSIONS
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16600 CIVIC CENTER DR., BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
11 :00 A.M. - BRAVO AWARDS CEREMONY
THE MAYNE EVENTS CENTER
16400 BELLFLOWER BLVD., BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
8:30 A.M. - CLOSED SESSION & OPEN SESSION
1 Call to Order
Mayor Koops called the Special Meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower. 2 Roll Call
For the record, the following Members of the City Council were present:
Mayor Dan Koops
Council Member Wendi Morse
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
Council Member Sonny R. Santa Ines
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Council Member Santa Ines, and carried without objection, to excuse the absence of Mayor Pro Tern Dunton.
Staff Participants:
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Travis Sais, Deputy City Manager
Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
Dakota Wallace, Management Assistant
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 3 April 25, 2024 Page 2 of 7
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was no one in attendance wishing to provide public comments. 4 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
For the record, City Manager Smoot read the title of the Closed Session item.
There being no one from the public in attendance, without objection, Mayor Koops recessed the Meeting at 8:36 a.m. to a Closed Session regarding:
A CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): One Matter (not required by applicable law; voluntarily disclosed):
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project (State Clearinghouse No. 2017061007) For the record, Closed Session adjourned at 8:52 a.m.
5 RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION
Mayor Koops reconvened the Meeting at 8:54 a.m. and announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
6 PUBLIC HEARINGS
A Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider ratifying Resolution No. 24-16 — A Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the FY 2023-24 Operating Budget and execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with M Power Communication Corporation for the purchase of real property located at 16730 Bellflower Boulevard (APN 7109-013-800 and 801).
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
For the record, Director of Economic Development DellaLonga 1) provided a brief verbal report of the Staff Report; and 2)along with City Attorney Berger, responded to Council Members' questions.
At the request of Council Member Santa Ines, City Attorney Berger explained that in an abundance of caution due to an error in the noticing of the public hearing, it is recommended that the City Council 1) open the public hearing; 2) close the public hearing; and 3) ratify the action previously taken.
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 6-A April 25, 2024 Page 3 of 7
6 PUBLIC HEARINGS — Continued
A Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider ratifying Resolution No. 24-16 — Continued
Following discussion, it was moved by Council Member Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried without objection, to open the public hearing.
There being no one in attendance wishing to provide public testimony, it was moved by Council Member Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried without objection, to close the public hearing.
It was moved by Council Member Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Morse, and carried by the following roll call vote, to ratify Resolution No. 24-16 amending the fiscal year 2023-24 Operating Budget to allocate funds for the property purchase and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney:
AYES: Council Members - Morse, Sanchez, Santa Ines and Mayor Koops
ABSENT: Council Member - Dunton
B Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider adopting Resolution No. 24-20 — A Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the FY 2023-24 Operating Budget and execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Arioto Cali Properties Inc.for the purchase of real property located at 9835 Flower Street (APN 7109-013-036 and 037).
For the record, 1) supplemental material was distributed to the City Council and made available to the public prior to the start of the meeting; and 2) this public hearing was continued from the April 8, 2024, City Council Meeting.
For the record, Council Member Morse 1) announced that she would recuse herself from this item as she has property interests within 500 feet of the subject property; and 2) left the dais and Council Chambers at 8:57 a.m.
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
For the record, Director of Economic Development DellaLonga 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 2) along with City Manager Smoot and City Attorney Berger, responded to Council Members' questions.
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 6-B April 25, 2024 Page 4 of 7
6 PUBLIC HEARINGS — Continued
B Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider adopting Resolution No. 24-20 — Continued
For the record and for the benefit of the public, at the request of Council Member Santa Ines, Director DellaLonga 1) confirmed that staff reviewed the numbers of recent property sales in Downtown Bellflower; and 2) stated that the value of the land of the subject property is approximately $80-90 per square foot.
Council Member Sanchez 1) expressed the opinion that the United States Postal Office located at the subject property is important to the community and residents; 2) noted that property development is typically slow and can take five to ten years to complete; 3) suggested language be included in the agreement that states that the United States Postal Office will be included in any future development of the property, further expressing the opinion that the intent of the City Council should be memorialized because the current members of the City Council may not be on the City Council once the development or project is finished; and 4) expressed that the City and City Council are doing their best effort to incorporate and keep the United States Postal Office at the current location.
At the request of Mayor Koops, City Attorney Berger 1) explained that the City Council can direct the City Manager to express that the preference of the City Council is to include the United States Postal Office in any future project or development; 2) stated that if this preference is memorialized into the agreement, it would limit the ability of a future City Council; and 3) confirmed that the official meeting minutes can reflect the intent of the City Council.
For the record, 1) City Manager Smoot confirmed that the City has expressed a desire to converse with the United States Postal Office as soon as possible to ensure a standing relationship is in place; and 2) Council Member Sanchez reiterated that the intent of the current City Council is to incorporate the United States Postal Office in any future project or development.
Council Member Santa Ines requested and received clarification from, 1) City Manager Smoot who recommended that Resolution No. 24-20 stay as is, noting that the official meeting minutes will reflect the intent of the City Council; and 2) City Attorney Berger who explained that the City Council can give direction to City Manager that any request for proposals for a future project or development of the property give specific direction, to the extent possible, that the United States Postal Office is to be retained at that location.
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 6-B April 25, 2024 Page 5 of 7
6 PUBLIC HEARINGS — Continued
B Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider adopting Resolution No. 24-20 — Continued
For the record, 1) at the April 8, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting it was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Dunton, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried without objection, to open the public hearing; and 2) it was moved by Council Member Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried without objection, to re-open the public hearing.
There being no one in attendance wishing to provide public testimony, it was moved by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Council Member Santa Ines, and carried without objection, to close the public hearing.
It was moved by Council Member Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and carried by the following roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 24-20 amending the fiscal year 2023-24 Operating Budget to allocate funds for the property purchase and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney:
AYES: Council Members - Sanchez, Santa Ines and
Mayor Koops
RECUSE: Council Member - Morse
ABSENT: Council Member - Dunton
For the record, Council Member Morse did not return to the Council Chambers or dais.
Recess: Without objection, Mayor Koops recessed the meeting at 9:09 a.m., noting that the meeting would reconvene at 11:00 a.m. at The Mayne Events Center to conduct the BRAVO Awards Ceremony.
11 :00 A.M. - BRAVO AWARDS CEREMONY
7 Reconvene to Open Session
The meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m. at The Mayne Events Center with all Council Members present, except Mayor Pro Tern Dunton who was previously excused.
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 7 April 25, 2024 Page 6 of 7
• INVOCATION
Reverend Jordan Hall offered the Invocation.
• PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Brent Koops led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. 8 Presentations to BRAVO Award Recipients
For the record, the following individuals were presented awards for their distinguished service:
Distinguished Service
Michael Drayer, Probation Officer, Los Angeles County Probation Department Ron Vande Vegte, Detective, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Valor
Mason Duffy, Deputy, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Saul Ruiz, Deputy, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Austin Weisenburger, Deputy, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Outstanding Service
Broc Harmon, Captain, Los Angeles County Fire Department Nathaniel Solorio, Firefighter Specialist, Los Angeles County Fire Department Jason Jones, Firefighter, Los Angeles County Fire Department John Machin, Firefighter, Los Angeles County Fire Department Lawrence Cervantes, Deputy, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Student Essay Winners
Mina Roufael, Mayfair High School
Jada Williams, Mayfair High School
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 9 April 25, 2024 Page 7of 7
9 Adjournment
Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 12:32 p.m.
Dan oops, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayr O iqui, Clerk
Approve : May 13, 2024