CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COVINA REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY/COVINA PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY/COVINA HOUSING
AUTHORITY JOINT MEETING
MINUTES
May 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
125 E. College Street, Covina, California
Council Chamber of City Hall
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Walter Allen, III Councilmember Hector Delgado
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chair Victor Linares
Mayor/Chair John C. King
Councilmembers Absent: Councilmember Patricia Cortez
Staff Present:
City Clerk Drew Aleman (Elected Member)
City Manager Chris Marcarello
City Attorney Candice K. Lee
Police Chief David Povero
Community Development Director Brian Lee
Parks & Recreation/Library Services Director Lisa Evans Interim Public Works Director Rafael Fajardo
Deputy City Manager Angel Carrillo
Chief Deputy City Clerk Fabian Velez
Staff Absent: City Treasurer Neil Polzin (Elected Member) Administrative Services Director Anita Agramonte
1 CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor King called the Council/Agency/Authority meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with Councilmember Allen, Mayor Pro Tem Linares, and Mayor King present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
CLOSED SESSION
A. Government Code § 54956.8 - CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY
NEGOTIATORS
Property:
Agency Negotiator:
Negotiating Parties:
Under Negotiation:
114 E. Italia Street
Chris Marcarello, City Manager, City of Covina
Brian Lee, Community Development Director, City of
Covina
TBD
Price and Terms of Payment
B. Government Code § 54956.8 - CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY
NEGOTIATORS
Property: 305 Orange Blossom Lane
Agency Negotiator: Chris Marcarello, Executive Director, Covina Housing Authority
Brian Lee, Community Development Director, City of
Covina
Negotiating Parties: Benny Yun Bun Chung, Owner
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment .
C. Government Code § 54957.6 — CONFERENCE WITH LABOR
NEGOTIATORS
Agency Designated Representative:
Chris Marcarello, City Manager
Update on ongoing negotiations with the various Employee Organizations:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Police Association of Covina (PAC); Police Management Group (PMG); and Police Supervisors of Covina (PSC), and discussions with Unrepresented Employees: Mid -Management, Supervisory and Professional, and Confidential and Technical Employees
RECESS
Mayor King recessed the City Council to Closed Session at 6:32 p.m. 2 JOINT MEETING —OPEN SESSION 7:30 PM
RECONVENE AND CALL TO ORDER
Mayor King called the Council/Agency/Authority meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. with all Councilmembers present except Councilmember Cortez.
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor King.
INVOCATION
Police Chief Povero introduced Police Chaplains Steve Martinez and Jim Allgaier. Police Chaplain Allgaier provided the invocation.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Lee reported that the City Council pulled Closed Session Items B and C were not discussed and continued off calendar. There was no reportable action and direction was given to staff for Closed Session Item A.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Municipal Clerk's Week
A proclamation declaring May 5 through May 11, 2024, as Municipal Clerk's Week, was read into the record by Mayor King and presented to City Clerk Aleman on behalf of the City Clerk's Office.
City Clerk Aleman gave a shout out to the staff of the City Clerk's Department for their hard work.
B. National Public Works Week
A proclamation declaring May 19 through May 25, 2024, as Public Works Week, was read into the record by Mayor King and presented to Interim Public Works Director Fajardo.
Interim Public Works Director Fajardo provided background information on Public Works Week and thanked the Public Works staff for all their hard work.
C. National Police Week
Police Chief Povero noted that May is a month of remembrance for those have been lost while serving in law enforcement, encouraged everyone to say hello to peace officers and stop by the peace officer memorial located outside of the Covina Police Station.
3 Mayor King thanked the Police Depattiuent staff for their hard work, sacrifice, and care for the community and presented a proclamation declaring May 9 through May 18, 2024, as National Police Week to Police Chief Povero.
D. PD K9 Atos Retirement
Police Chief Povero introduced outgoing Police K9 Atos and handler Officer Joseph Seylani, and provided background on the Covina Police K9 Program. The Covina K9 Foundation presented Police K9 Atos with a retirement basket.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Melinda Forbes thanked the City Council for the left turn lights that have been added to throughout the City in order to increase safety, requested a left-hand turn lane at Vincent Ave. and Cypress St., and expressed her concern with intersections without them as well as the number of cars running through red lights. She also thanked the City for the Azusa Avenue project.
Tom Armbruster of the Covina Historical Society and Bob Ihsen, President of the Historical Society, requested that the City look into the repair of five veteran memorial plaques located in Jalapa Park to continue to honor those from the community who have served.
Mike Aguilar congratulated Mayor King on his recent appointment and thanked the City for the efforts on street vendor enforcement but expressed concerns with vendors in residential neighborhoods. He also suggested changes for enforcement scheduling and hours of operations for City Hall.
Marcela Gutierrez expressed her concerns with the impacts of short-term rentals in the City.
COUNCIL/AGENCY/AUTHORITY COMMENTS
Councilmember Delgado offered his thoughts and prayers to recently injured Officer Gutierrez.
Councilmember Allen also wished a speedy recovery for Officer Gutierrez and Police K9 Paco and encouraged the community to pray for those who serve. He also noted his attendance at the Charter Oak Foundation Dinner and thanked Brian Anchors, who received an award for his outstanding service to Charter Oak and the community, for his work with the Gang and Graffiti Task Force and time as a Boardmember for the Charter Oak Unified School District.
Mayor Pro Tem Linares echoed the wishes of a quick recovery for Officer Gutierrez and Police K9 Paco.
Mayor King commented on his recent meeting with the family of Officer Gutierrez and wished a quick recovery.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
4 CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor King highlighted the following Consent Calendar items: CC 5, authorizing the filing of an application for the Ca1FIRE Urban Forestry Grant Program in conjunction with the Charter Oak Unified School District; CC 6 authorizing agreements and receiving funding for the Wingate Park Regional Stormwater Capture Project; CC 7 and CC8, both relating to the City's water strategy and supply; CC 10, approving the retirement and transfer of Police K9 Atos to Officer Seylani; and CC 11, utilizing fund from the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for the resurfacing of City streets.
CC 1. Minutes
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Approve the Minutes of the April 16, 2024, Regular Meeting of the City Council/Successor Agency to the Covina Redevelopment Agency/Covina Public Financing Authority/Housing Authority.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 2. Payment of Demands
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Approve Payment of Demands in the amount of $5,003,182.29.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 3. Resolution Increasing the Police Department 2023-24 Budget by $78,285 Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Adopt Resolution CC 2024-20 increasing the Police Department 2023-24 revenue budget by $103,544 and expenditure budget by $78,285 for Crossing Guard Service for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 4. Request to Cancel the Regular City Council Meeting of May 21, 2024 Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
That the City Council consider cancelling the regular scheduled City Council Meeting of May 21, 2024.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
5 CC 5. Resolution Approving the Filing of an Application for the CaWFIRE Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Adopt Resolution CC 2024-21.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 6. Approval of Addendum No. 3 and Addendum No. 4 to the Transfer Agreement between Los Angeles County Flood Control District and City of Covina for the Safe, Clean Water Regional Program
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Adopt Resolution CC 2024-19 authorizing the City Manager to execute Addendum No. 3 and Addendum No. 4 of the Transfer Agreement between Los Angeles County Flood Control District and City of Covina for the Safe, Clean Water Regional Program.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 7. Approval of Fiscal Year 2025 Water Supply Strategy and Authorization to Execute all Requisite Documents
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
1. Approve the Fiscal Year 2025 water supply strategy outlined in this report;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Temporary Assignment or Lease of Water Right Form to assign 359.69 acre-feet of Water Production Rights from the City to an Alternate Water Agency for FY 2025;
3. Authorize the City to solicit and lease up to 400 shares of Covina Irrigating Company stock for Fiscal Year 2025, and execute a Lease Agreement and an Order for Delivery with interested shareholders; and
4. Authorize the City to participate in the Fiscal Year 2025 Covina Irrigating Company lease pool.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 8. Award Contract to D&H Water Systems, Inc. for the Procurement of a Chloramine Boosting System (CBS) Trailer for the Charter Oak Reservoir Site and Adoption of Resolution CC 2024-23
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
1. Approve award of contract to D&H Water Systems, Inc. for the procurement of a Chloramine Boosting System (CBS) Trailer in the amount of $154,850, and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract; and 6 2. Adopt Resolution CC 2024-23 to appropriate funds from Available Water Fund Balance for the Charter Oak Reservoir Site — Chloramine Boosting System (CBS) Trailer.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 9. Crime Prevention Budget Increase
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Approve Resolution CC 2024-24 Increasing the Police Department FY 23-24 budget by $5,000 to cover staffing cost.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 10. Transfer of Ownership of Police Canine (K9)
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Approve the retirement and transfer of ownership of CPD K9 Atos.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 11. Resolution CC 2024-22 Adopting the West Badillo Street Resurfacing Project from North Azusa Avenue to North Lark Ellen Avenue as the City of Covina's Fiscal Year 2025 Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Projects
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
Adopt Resolution CC 2024-22 adopting the West Badillo Street Resurfacing Project from North Azusa Avenue to North Lark Ellen Avenue as the City of Covina's Fiscal Year 2025 Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Projects and reserving all FY 2024- 2025 RMRA funds for project construction costs.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
CC 12. Amendment to the Compensation Rules for the City's Mid -Management, Supervisory and Professional/Technical Employees (July 1, 2021 — June 30, 2024)
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
That the City Council approve the proposed amendment providing a leave buyback opportunity for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
7 NEW BUSINESS
NB 1. Proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Improvement Program Budget The agenda report and PowerPoint presentation were provided by Interim Public Works Director Fajardo.
Councilmember Allen gave kudos to the Public Works staff for their work supporting every other department in the City and expressed his excitement for the proposed quiet zone. Mayor King also gave his thanks to the Public Works and Parks & Recreation staff and stated he was happy to see the proposed alleyway refurbishments.'
There were no public comments.
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Allen
That the City Council receive and file the proposed project list and provide direction as necessary.
Approved (4 to 0); Cortez Absent
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:41 p.m., Mayor King noted that the May 21, 2024, Regular City Council meeting will be cancelled and the Covina City Council/Successor Agency to the Covina Redevelopment Agency/Covina Public Financing Authority/Covina Housing Authority adjourned to its next regular meeting of the Council/Agency/Authority scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., for closed session and 7:30 p.m., for open session in the Council Chamber located inside of City Hall, 125 East College Street, Covina, California, 91723.
Fabian elez, ef Deputy City Clerk
8