City of Commerce
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 28, 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
Mayor Rebollo called meeting to order at 5:20 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Rebollo
Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo
Councilmember Soria
Councilmember Mendoza
Present: 4 -
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
There were no individuals wishing to address the City Council on any item on the Closed Session agenda.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
City Council/Successor Agency recessed to Closed Session at 5:22 p.m.
1. 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.
2. Pursuant to Government Code §54956.8, the City Council will confer with its real property negotiator, Edgar Cisneros, with respect to real estate negotiations for:
A. Wash-Tel Commerce, LLC concerning proposed price and other terms relating thereto, comprised of 6329 and 6355 Washington Boulevard, Commerce, California, commonly referred to as the Stahl Trust property.
B. 5550 Harbor Street, Commerce CA 90040 (6335-025-009), 2300 S. Eastern Avenue (6335-025-010), 5625 Jillson Street, Commerce CA 90040 (6335-025-905) and 5555 Jillson Street, Commerce, CA Property (APN 6335-025-906) City of Commerce Page 1 Printed on 8/1/2022
Absent: Councilmeber Altamirano
City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2022
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
ORAL CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Attorney Tapia reported that item #1 on Closed Session was not discussed.
Item #2- staff brief the City Council, feedback was provided and no reportable action was taken on this item.
6:00 P.M. - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rebollo called meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Rebollo
Mayor Pro Tem Argumedo
Councilmember Mendoza
Councilmember Soria
Present: 4 -
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Finance Director Brooks led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
Vice Mayor Argumedo offered the invocation.
APPEARANCES AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation/Update from the Sheriff's Department Regarding Public Safety in the City of Commerce
Sergeant Mayra Duarte stated that deputies and City's social services worked on three homeless encampments. Sergeant Mayra added that additional deputies are assigned to work during the Fourth of July to enforce penalties for illegal fireworks discharge.
Discussion took place about the fine amount for illegal fireworks. Councilmember Mendoza suggested raising the fine to $5,000, which is the amount the City Paramount levies. Vice Mayor Argumedo recommended having a plan for this year and next year and replicating best practices from other cities on how they deal with and enforce penalties for illegal fireworks. It was a consensus among the City Council to start implementing penalties this year for $1,000.
2. Employee of the Quarter Presentation
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Absent Councilmember Altamirano
City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2022
Melissa Romero, Tina Fierro and Anthony Gutierrez were recognized as Employee of the Quarter.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no individuals wishing to address the City Council on any item within their jurisdiction.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Rebollo pulled item #12, and Councilmember Mendoza pulled item #5.
Councilmember Mendoza moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Argumedo, to approve the consent calendar minus items #5 and #12. The motion was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Mendoza, Soria, Vice Mayor Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Altamirano (1)
Item #5- discussion took place about how this legislation would affect local control.
There was a consensus among the City Council to table this item and bring it back at the next City Council meeting.
Councilmember Mendoza moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Argumedo, to table this item for the next meeting. The motion was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Mendoza, Soria, Vice Mayor Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Altamirano (1)
Item #12- Mayor Rebollo mentioned that she wanted the applicant to attend the meeting and have an opportunity to speak. Mayor Rebollo moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Argumedo, to table this item for the next meeting. The motion was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Mendoza, Soria, Vice Mayor Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Altamirano (1)
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3. Approval of Warrant Register Nos. 21A, & 21B
4. Approval of Minutes
5. Letter of Opposition to AB 1186 (Wiener) Medicinal Cannabis Patients Right of Access Act
6. Amendment No. 2 to an Agreement with Keenan & Associates for Self-Insured Claims Administration
7. Master Agreement between City of Commerce Public Library and SirsiDynix
8. Authorization for Transportation Grant Funding for Capital and Operating Assistance for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023
9. Amendment No.1 to the TransTrack Systems, Incorporated Updated Maintenance and Support Agreement
10. Camp Commerce Pool and Spa Replastering Project Acceptance
11. Camp Commerce Replacement of Damaged Retaining Walls Project - Release of Notice Inviting Bids
12. Appeal of Traffic Commission Denial of Disabled Blue Curb Parking Request at 2241 Strong Avenue
13. Construction of New Drinking Water Well at Commerce Station 7
SCHEDULED MATTERS
14. First Amendment to the Agreement with West Coast Arborists for Tree Maintenance Services
Councilmember Soria moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Argumedo to table this item to a later date. The motion carried by the following vote:
YES: Councilmembers Mendoza, Soria, Vice Mayor Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Altamirano (1)
15. Commercial Refuse Hauler Update
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John Katangian, Key Disposal, and Allan Babashoff, GB Services, asked that the City Council allows their companies to continue providing services in the City.
City Manager Cisneros asked that this item is continued to a later date.
Councilmember Mendoza asked that staff is consistent and fair in how companies are treated. Due to Covid, one or two companies were allowed to continue operations, and it should be taken into account.
Vice Mayor Argumedo moved, seconded by Councilmember Mendoza, to table this item to a later date. The motion was carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Mendoza, Soria, Vice Mayor Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Altamirano (1)
16. Approval of a Non-Exclusive Access License Agreement with Commerce Energy Storage, LLC to Allow for the Installation of High-Voltage Electric Transmission Lines; and Approval of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions between the City of Commerce and Commerce Energy Storage, LLC, for the Acquisition of Land Located at 5960 Garfield Avenue, Commerce
Tommy Faavae, IBEW 11, Tommy Zielomski, representing electrical workers, and Fransisco Arago, IBEW 11, spoke in support of the project that would bring union jobs.
Director of Economic Development and Planning Jimenez provided an overview of the staff report.
Discussion took place about the purchase price and size of the lot.
Matthew Gilliland, Owner of Energy Storage, LLC, spoke about Commerce Energy Storage, LLC. and the benefits it would bring to the community. Energy Storage, LLC has multiple similar projects in California. The community would benefit financially, would offer new high-paying local union construction jobs, and would clean up this vacant contaminated site. This would be a high-end facility.
Further discussion took place about the purchase price, the facility's revenue, and the community's benefits. According to City Attorney Tapia, the allocation of money City of Commerce Page 5 Printed on 8/1/2022
City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2022
received from this project could be decided at a later date.
Mayor Rebollo moved, seconded by Councilmember Mendoza, to adopt Resolutions to: 1) Execute a License Agreement for Transmission Lines with Commerce Energy Storage, LLC to allow for the installation of high-voltage electric transmission lines along South Garfield Avenue and up to the Laguna Bell Substation (Garfield Avenue and E. Gage Avenue); and 2) approve an Agreement for Sale of Real Property between the City of Commerce and Commerce Energy Storage, LLC, for the acquisition of land located at 5960 Garfield Avenue (APN# 6356-017-900). The motion was carried the following vote; AYES: Councilmembers Mendoza, Soria, Vice Mayor Argumedo and Mayor Rebollo (4)
Absent: Councilmember Altamirano
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY REPORTS
Vice Mayor Argumedo reported that he attended clean-up on Friday with the business community at the Gerhard area of the City of Commerce.
Councilmember Mendoza reported that he attended a volleyball festival in Arizona.
Mayor Rebollo congratulated the Commerce Crash Girls teams that did an outstanding job at the Arizona tournament. Mayor Rebollo thanked Parks and Recreation staff for Summer Fest.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 7:28pm in memory long time resident Mariella Campos.
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