Chula Vista City Council
February 14, 2023

City of Chula Vista
Special Meeting of the City Council
Meeting Minutes

January 31, 2023, 5:00 p.m.

Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA

Present: Councilmember Cardenas, Councilmember Chavez, Deputy Mayor Preciado, Mayor McCann

Also Present: City Manager Kachadoorian, City Attorney Googins, City Clerk Bigelow, Assistant City Clerk Turner

The City Council minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the City Council Agenda.

Agenda items may be taken out of order during the meeting.

The agenda items were considered in the order presented. _____________________________________________________________________

1. CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 5:06 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California.

2. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Bigelow called the roll.

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE John Acosta led the Pledge of Allegiance and Mayor McCann called for a moment of silence in honor of victims of recent shootings in Monterey Park and Halfmoon Bay.

4. ACTION ITEMS

4.1 District 3 City Councilmember Vacancy: Possible Action to Make an Appointment to Fill the Vacancy For the Remaining Term and Administer the Oath of Office to the Newly Appointed Councilmember (Continued from January 24, 2023 City Council Meeting)
Alan C. spoke in opposition to filling the vacancy by special election and in opposition to appointing Devonna Almagro.

John Acosta, Chula Vista resident, spoke regarding Councilmembers interacting with constituents of District 3 and in opposition to Councilmembers appointing friends.
2023/01/31 Minutes - City Council - Special Meeting

The following members of the public spoke in opposition to appointing Devonna Almagro:
 Anna B.
 Estela Stachowitz
 Delia Dominguez Cervantes
 Cheryl Perez
Eli K. spoke in opposition to Councilmembers appointing friends.

Lillie, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of appointing Nimpa Akana and in opposition to appointing Devonna Almagro.

The following members of the public spoke in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy.
 Erica Lowery
 Laura D., Chula Vista resident
 Steve Stenberg, Chula Vista resident
 Tony Villafranca
 John Moore
The following members of the public spoke in support of appointing Nimpa Akana:
 Norliza Rodriguez, Chula Vista resident
 Patty O’Mara
 Nerissa Torralba
 Diana MJC, Bonita resident
Rosemarie Ballard spoke in opposition to appointing a person who is not honest.

Russ Hall, Chula Vista resident, spoke regarding the appointment process and in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy.

Robert Garcia, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of appointing someone other than Devonna Almagro.

The following members of the public spoke in support of appointing Tanya Williams:
 Dorothy Martin, Chula Vista resident
 Ricky Allen, Chula Vista resident
Joe Mazares, San Diego resident, spoke in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy or, if filled by appointment, in support of appointing Nimpa Akana.

The following members of the public spoke in support of Devonna Almagro:
2023/01/31 Minutes - City Council - Special Meeting

 Sonia Farron, San Diego resident
 Ana Sanchez, Chula Vista resident
 Karla C.
 Patricia Cueva
Mary Davis, Chula Vista resident, thanked staff for posting the agenda in advance and in support of appointing Tanya Williams or Nimpa Akana.

David Diaz, Chula Vista resident, expressed interest in being appointed to fill the vacancy.

Mary Soriano, representing the Asian Pacific American Coalition, spoke in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy.

The following members of the public spoke in support of appointing David Diaz:
 Veronica Ferguson, Chula Vista resident
 Henrietta Parano, Chula Vista resident
 Cida Diehl
 Miguel Angel-Pino, Chula Vista resident
 Alfred Lee, Chula Vista resident
The following members of the public submitted a request to speak but were not present when called:
 Ryan Pernicano, Chula Vista resident
 Alicia Souza, Chula Vista resident
Beatriz Suarez-Pastrana, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy or, if filled by appointment, in support of appointing Tanya Williams.

Tanya Williams, Chula Vista resident, expressed interest in being appointed to fill the vacancy.

Rebecca Lee spoke in support of appointing David Diaz and in support of Griselda Delgado and Nimpa Akana.

Jesse Navarro, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of Griselda Delgado and appointing someone honest.

Melody, National City resident, spoke regarding a vetting process to fill the vacancy.

Mayor McCann recessed the meeting at 6:23 p.m. The Council reconvened at 6:34 p.m., with all members present.

The following members of the public submitted written comments expressing opposition:
2023/01/31 Minutes - City Council - Special Meeting

 David Winter
 Lorena Winter
 Mark T
 Joe Leshen
 Sherrie Leshen
 Melody Carlson
 Kathy Crail
 Shirley Powers
 Gale Moriarity, Chula Vista resident
 Robert Moriarity
 Rebecca V. Mekus
 Dan Mekus
 Maria H.
 Bibian Harrison
 Dan Rice, Chula Vista resident
 Lois Morera, Chula Vista resident
 Lina Y.
 Olivia G.
 Kathleen Adams, Chula Vista resident
 Dorlas W.
 Diana E.
 Carolee W.
 Christina Gomez, Chula Vista resident
 Char
 Cindy D.
 Jeni Wilson
 Silvia Mangubat
 Maria McDuff, Chula Vista resident
 Janet Ardagna
 Martha Hill, Chula Vista resident
2023/01/31 Minutes - City Council - Special Meeting

 Brenda Shaw
 Beverly Grant-Davidson
 Georgina Enriquez
 Christine Paxton
 Danica Holmes
 Bernadette Jacard
 Kari Thomas, Chula Vista resident
 Donna Hodge
 Rosemarie Ballard, Chula Vista resident
 Cynthia T.
 Michael McCabe, Chula Vista resident
 Linda Bianes, Bonita resident
 Paula Whitsell, Chula Vista resident
 Barbara T.
 Eva Adolfsson, Chula Vista resident
 Nancy Mascola
 Barbara Zacharias
 Margaret Lowerie
 Robin Leon, Chula Vista resident
 Roy Akana, Chula Vista resident
 Nancy Tiznado, Chula Vista resident
 Edward Legaspie, Chula Vista resident
 Melody Hurt, National City resident
 Richard Roy, Chula Vista resident
The following members of the public submitted written communication in opposition to appointing Devonna Almagro:
 Ray Edwards
 John Teevan
The following members of the public submitted written communications in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy:
 Frank Riley
2023/01/31 Minutes - City Council - Special Meeting

 Catherine Zordell
 Ian Burgar
 Robert Johnson, and he also commented regarding masks.

The following members of the public submitted written communications in support of holding a special election to fill the vacancy and in opposition to appointing Davonna Almagro if filled by appointment:
 Brad Davis
 Katy Davis
 Dan Luko
 Mitch Thompson
Gail Perez submitted written communications in support of Devonna Almagro.

Sara Kent Ochao submitted comments in support of appointing a democrat.

Ruben Guilloty submitted comments regarding a mental health hospital.

TN submitted comments regarding small business restaurants.

Crystal Irving, representing SEIU Local 221, submitted written communication in support of appointing Sophia Rodriguez.

Mayor McCann moved that the vacancy be filled by a special election. The motion failed for lack of a second.

Deputy Mayor Preciado moved to appoint Griselda Delgado. The motion failed for lack of a second.

Moved by Councilmember Cardenas
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Preciado
To appoint Alonso Gonzalez to the office of District 3 City Councilmember for the term expiring December 2024.

Yes (3): Councilmember Cardenas, Councilmember Chavez, and Deputy Mayor Preciado
No (1): Mayor McCann
Carried (3 to 1)
City Clerk Bigelow administered the Oath of Office to Councilmember Gonzalez.

5. CLOSED SESSION
Pursuant to Resolution No. 13706 and Council Policy No. 346-03, Official Minutes and records of action taken during Closed Sessions are maintained by the City Attorney.

City Attorney Googins announced that the Council would convene in closed session to discuss the items listed below.
2023/01/31 Minutes - City Council - Special Meeting

Mayor McCann recessed the meeting at 7:51 p.m. The Council convened in Closed Session at 7:57p.m., with all members present.

5.1 Conference with Legal Counsel Regarding Existing Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
A) Name of case: CV Amalgamated LLC v City of Chula Vista, et al., San Diego Superior Court, Case number 37-2020-33446-CU-MC-CTL
No Reportable Action
B) Name of case: UL Chula Two LLC v City of Chula Vista, et al., San Diego Superior Court, Case number 37-2020-41554-CU-MC-CTL
No Reportable Action
C) Name of case: Chula Vista Cannabis Village Inc. v City of Chula Vista, et al., San Diego Superior Court, Case number 37-2020-41802-CU-MC-CTL No Reportable Action
D) Name of case: Tlaloc Fait v. City of Chula Vista., et al., San Diego Superior Court, Case No. 37-2022-00013673-CU-PO-CTL
No Reportable Action
E) Name of case: Arturo Castanares v. City of Chula Vista, San Diego Superior Court, Case No. 37-2021-00017713-CU-MC-CTL
No Reportable Action

6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Minutes prepared by: Tyshar Turner, Assistant City Clerk

_________________________
Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk