City of Commerce
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - 5:00 PM
CONCURRENT JOINT MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COMMERCE, JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY AND THE GOVERNING BODY
OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COMMERCE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION
5:00 P.M. CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1). One (1) case: Morley Justman and Catherine Justman, as Trustees of the Justman Family Trust dated February 8, 1991 vs. City of Commerce, acting in a separate limited capacity elected to serve as the Successor Agency to the Commerce Community Development Commission et al. - Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, Case No. 20STCP00446.
2. THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957
Consultation with: City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, and other related City officials.
3. Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 the City Council will confer with its labor negotiator, Edgar P. Cisneros, with respect to labor negotiations pertaining to:
A. The Memoranda of Understanding between the City and the City of Commerce Employees Association on behalf of the part -time employees.
B. The Memoranda of Understanding between the City and the City of Commerce Employees Association on behalf of the mid-management and non-management full-time employees.
4. Conference with Legal Counsel Pursuant to Government Code Sections 54956.9(d)(2) City of Commerce Page 1 Printed on 5/2/2022
City Council Meeting Minutes April 12, 2022
Regarding Anticipated/Potential Litigation - One (1) Matter.
5. Pursuant to Government Code §54956.8, the Successor Agency will confer with its real property negotiator, Edgar Cisneros, with respect to real estate negotiations concerning proposed price and other terms relating to the properties located at:
A. 5550 Harbor Street, Commerce CA 90040 (6335-025-009), 2300 S. Eastern Avenue (6335-025-010)
B. 5625 Jillson Street, Commerce CA 90040 (6335-025-905) C. 5555 Jillson Street, Commerce, CA Property (APN 6335-025-906)
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
ORAL CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
6:00 P.M. - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mendoza called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. via teleconferencing.
ROLL CALL
Councilmember Altamirano
Councilmember Argumedo
Mayor Mendoza
Mayor Pro Tem Rebollo
Present: 4 -
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Soria
APPEARANCES AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation/Update from the Sheriff's Department Regarding Public Safety in the City of Commerce
Sgt. Villarreal provided an overview of the statistics for the last two weeks.
SCHEDULED MATTERS
2. Reorganization of City Council
Councilmember Argumedo moved, Mayor Mendoza seconded, to nominate and appoint Mayor Pro Tem Rebollo for Mayor for 2022-2023. The motion carried by the following vote:
YES: Councilmembers Argumedo, Altamirano, Mayor Pro Tem Rebollo and Mayor Mendoza (4)
Absent: Councilmember Soria (1)
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Councilmember Mendoza moved, seconded by Mayor Rebollo, to nominate and appoint Councilmember Argumedo for Mayor Pro Tem for 2022-2023. The motion was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Argumedo, Altamirano, Mendoza and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Soria (1)
Representatives from Supervisor Janice Harn's Office congratulated Mayor Rebollo on her appointment and thanked outgoing Mayor Mendoza for his service as mayor of the City of Commerce during 2021-to 2022.
Councilmembers and Mayor Rebollo thanked outgoing Mayor Mendoza for his service.
Councilmember Mendoza talked about his over 30-year residency and community involvement and thanked for the opportunity to serve as a Mayor from 2021-to 2022.
3. Organizational Assignments for Councilmembers
Organizational assignments stayed the same as 2021-2022. Mayor Rebollo is the representative for Sanitation District No. 2
PUBLIC COMMENT
Director of Administrative Services and City Clerk Shumway read thank you letters for outgoing Mayor Mendoza submitted by Maribel Mendoza, Johncito Perraza, Esther Zavala, and Daniel Cortez.
Director of Administrative Services and City Clerk read letter from employees asking for their pay cut given back: David Torres, Jesse Hernandez, and Angela Picazzo-Lopez.
MaryAnn Griego read letters asking for the employees pay cut given back.
The letter from the Transportation Department was signed by 27 employees.
Additional letters were submitted by Rachel Baltierra, Mack Jefferson, Alfredo Beltran, Omar Olivas, Denise Raigosa, Chris Muniz, Fransisco Navarro, Brenda Diaz, MaryAnn Griego, and Kevin Larsen. Francisco Navarro, Matt Jefferson, Veronica Diaz, Chris Munoz, Omar Olivas, Maryann Griego.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Councilmember Altamirano commented on item #8. According to Councilmember Altamirano, two Ukrainian refugee families from Ukraine are in the City of Commerce. Councilmember Altamirano thanked Commerce Casino for providing rooms, food, and accommodations for these two families. In addition, Councilmember Altamirano thanked Commerce residents who welcomed refugees and helped them. According to Councilmember Altamirano, the City Council staff is working on finding permanent housing for the refugees and continuing to support those two families. The families, in turn, are incredibly grateful for all the help that they received.
Councilmember Altamirano moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: 4 - Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Mendoza, Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo, and Mayor Rebollo
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Soria
4. Approval of Warrant Register Nos. 15A, 15B, 16A & 16B
5. Approval of Minutes
6. A Proclamation Declaring the Month of April 2022 as Limb Loss Awareness Month
7. A Proclamation Declaring April 2022 a “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” and April 27, 2022 as “Denim Day”
8. A Resolution of the City Council Affirming Support For People of Ukraine
9. A Proclamation Designating the Month of April 2022 as “Autism Awareness Month.”
10. A Proclamation Declaring Wednesday, April 20, 2022, as Arbor Day in the City of Commerce
11. Proclamation Designating April 24, 2022 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in the City of Commerce
12. Re-Ratifying the Proclamation of a State of Emergency by Governor Newsom, and Re-Authorizing Remote Teleconference Meetings of the Legislative Bodies of the City of Commerce for the 30-Day Period City of Commerce Page 4 Printed on 5/2/2022
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13. Agreement With Moore Iacofano Goltsman Inc. for On-Going Professional Consulting Services to Assist in the Implementation of the City’s General Plan And Zoning Code
14. Resolution Rescinding City Council Resolution No. 21-61, Reclassifying Surplus Land in the City of Commerce, California and Making Findings that the Properties are Necessary for the City’s Use
15. Resolution Declaring Property Owned by the City of Commerce and Located at 6364 Zindell Avenue as Exempt Surplus Land, in the City of Commerce, California
ORDINANCES
16. Second Reading and Adoption of Uncodified Ordinance Approving an Amended and Restated Development Agreement Related to Application No 18-026 and Replacing Commercial Cannabis Development Agreement No. 726
Director of Economic Development and Planning Jimenez provided an overview of the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo moved, seconded by Councilmember Altamirano, to adopt an Uncodified Ordinance approving an amended and restated Development Agreement with VK Labs, LLC to replace Development Agreement No. 726 [also identified as commercial cannabis permit I.D. NO. 18-026] changing ownership of a previously approved commercial cannabis business at 5608 E. Washington Blvd.: and making a determination regarding exemption from further CEQA review and direct staff to prepare and file corresponding Notices of Exemption. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: 4 - Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Mendoza, Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo and Mayor Rebollor
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Soria
17. Second Reading and Adoption by Waiving the Full Reading and Reading by Title Only, Three Uncodified Ordinances Approving Development Agreements Related to Application Nos. 18-002, 18-009, and 18-036 Director of Economic Development and Planning Jimenez provided an overview of the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo moved, seconded by Councilmember City of Commerce Page 5 Printed on 5/2/2022
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Altamirano to consider for adoption and Reading by Title only an Uncodified Ordinance approving and adopting Development Agreement with Golden Perspective, LLC for a commercial cannabis business related to Permit Application No. 18-002; an Uncodified Ordinance approving and adopting Development Agreement with Claremont Capital Partners, LLC for a commercial cannabis business related to Permit Application No. 18-036, and an Uncodified Ordinance approving and adopting Development Agreement with LA Green Rush, LLC for commercial cannabis business related to Permit Application No 18-009. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: 4 - Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Mendoza, Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo
Absent: 1 - Councilmember Soria
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY REPORTS
Councilmember Mendoza spoke in support of reinstating the pay for the employees. Councilmember Mendoza noted that he has been a union member for many years and agrees that employees should be treated fairly.
Councilmember Mendoza reported that on March 11, 2022, he met with the Supervisor Janice Hahn, on March 31, 2022, attended a Neighborhood Watch meeting at Bristow Park, on March 12, 2022, attended 14 year -old Crush Volleyball tournament, and on April 3, 2022, delivered State of the City address, on April 6, 2022, attended Tree of Remembrance, and on April 9, 2022, attended Spring Festival.
Councilmember Mendoza asked that the retirees are invited to all City events.
Councilmember Mendoza stated that the Senior Brunch in the Senior Center hosted by the Commerce Casino was a great event that seniors enjoyed.
Councilmember Altamirano spoke about inflation and asked that the letter is written and sent out to Assembly members and the Governor requesting to remove the significant gas tax that was put in place about three years ago.
Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo reported that he attended a Neighborhood Watch meeting in Bristow park. Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo agreed that employees need to be treated fairly, and the City will continue working on these issues.
Mayor Rebollo thanked for being appointed as a Mayor and thanked the City of Commerce Page 6 Printed on 5/2/2022
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community for standing behind her.
Mayor Rebollo requested that a financial workshop is scheduled in order to sit down with the employees and understand the financial situation.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. in memory of Francisco Contreras.
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