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CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COVINA REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY/COVINA PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY/COVINA HOUSING
AUTHORITY SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
MINUTES
July 16, 2024, 6:15 p.m.
125 E. College Street, Covina, California
Council Chamber of City Hall
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Patricia Cortez
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chair Victor Linares
Mayor/Chair John C. King
Councilmembers Absent: Councilmember Walter Allen, III
Councilmember Hector Delgado
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
Deputy City Manager Angel Carrillo
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor King called the Council/Agency/Authority special meeting to order at 6:16 p.m. with Councilmember Cortez, Mayor Pro Tem Linares, and Mayor King present.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
NEW BUSINESS
City Council Consideration of Appeal by Element 7/Infinity Assets Covina LLC at 678 S.Citrus Avenue,Covina,CA Related to the Rejection of its Proposal Under RFP 2023-02—Establishment of a Commercial Cannabis Retail or Microbusiness Staff Recommendation:
1. Open the Appeal Hearing, Receive Public Testimony and Close the Hearing;
2. Make finding that the appeal is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act("CEQA");
3. Consider the appeal of the City's Cannabis Evaluation Committee's rejection of the application by Element 7/Infinity Assets Covina LLC at (678 S.Citrus Avenue,Covina,CA)under RFP 2023-02,with the following options:
A. If the City Council agrees with the decision of the City's Cannabis Evaluation Committee, then sustain its decision.
B. If the City Council can make the findings to support the appeal, then reverse the City's Cannabis Evaluation Committee's decision and authorize Element 7/Infinity Assets Covina LLC to continue under the RFP evaluation process.
Mayor King opened the appeal hearing.
The staff report and presentation were provided by City Manager Marcarello and Consultants Michael Busch and Chris Harrison of Urban Futures, Inc.
City staff confirmed the submission of evidence presented for the City and the City Council confirmed there was no ex parte communication with the matter before them to disclose.
Applicant representative Chris Hester provided the testimony on behalf of Element 7/Infinity Assets. In response to an inquiry from Councilmember Cortez, Applicant representative Hester confirmed that Element 7/Infinity Assets had completed multiple applications for cannabis retail businesses.
Applicant representative Hester confirmed the submission of evidence presented for Element 7/Infinity Assets.
There were no public comments.
2 Gina Sadie of Element 7/Infinity Assets also provided comments in support of Element 7/Infinity Assets.
Mayor King closed the appeal hearing.
Motion made by: Councilmember Cortez
Seconded by: Mayor Pro Tem Linares
1. The City Council sustained the decision of the City's Cannabis Evaluation Committee;
2. Direct staff to bring forward a resolution to the August 20, 2024 City Council meeting to memorialize the decision; and
3. Made finding that the appeal is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA").
Approved (3 to 0); Allen & Delgado Absent
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:55 p.m., 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, July 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.,for open session in the Council Chamber located inside of City Hall, 125 East College Street, Covina, California, 91723.
Fabian Velez, ief Deputy City Clerk
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John King, Mayor/Chair .„
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