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CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COVINA REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY/COVINA PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY/COVINA HOUSING
AUTHORITY JOINT MEETING
MINUTES
December 9, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
125 E. College Street, Covina, California
Council Chamber of City Hall
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Patricia Cortez
Councilmember Hector Delgado
Mayor/Chair John C. King
Councilmembers Absent: Councilmember Walter Allen, III
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chair Victor Linares
Staff Present: City Clerk Drew Aleman (Elected Member) City Manager Chris Marcarello
Police Chief David Povero
Community Development Director Brian Lee
Chief Deputy City Clerk Fabian Velez
Staff Absent: City Treasurer Neil Polzin (Elected Member) City Attorney Candice K. Lee
Parks & Recreation/Library Services Director Lisa Evans Public Works Director Rafael Fajardo
Deputy City Manager Angel Carrillo
Interim Finance Director Theresa Franke
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor King called the Council/Agency/Authority special meeting to order at 4:18 p.m. with Councilmember Cortez, Councilmember Delgado, and Mayor King present.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
NEW BUSINESS
NB 1. City Council Consideration of Appeal by Covina Responsible and Compliant Retail LLC at (1052 N. 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 Public Hearing, Receive Public Testimony, and Close the Public 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 Covina Responsible and Compliant Retail LLC at 1052 N. Citrus Avenue, Covina, CA under RFP 2023-02, and direct to staff to prepare and bring a resolution at the next Council meeting with one of the following actions:
A. If the City Council agrees with the decision of the City's Cannabis Evaluation Committee,then affirm staffs original decision and deny the applicant's advancement in the RFP evaluation process for a cannabis business permit application
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 Covina Responsible and Compliant Retail LLC to advance in the RFP evaluation process.
Mayor King opened the appeal hearing.
Motion made by: Councilmember Delgado
Seconded by: Councilmember Cortez
Make finding that the appeal is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA").
Approved (3 to 0); Allen & Linares Absent
2 City Clerk Aleman confirmed that the applicant was provided notice of the appeal hearing and City Attorney Eckart provided the procedural guidelines.
The staff report and presentation were provided by City Manager Marcarello, Deputy City Manager Carrillo, Community Development Director Lee, and City Attorney Marroquin.
Councilmember Cortez informed the Mayor that communication regarding the appeal was received from two individuals and both communications were referred to City staff Councilmember Delgado informed the Mayor that an email communication for a meeting was received and the email was referred to City staff.
Mayor King disclosed that he also received an email communication for a meeting and the email was referred to City staff
Representatives of Covina Responsible and Compliant Retail, LLC,presented their appeal.
Questions from the City Council to the appellant included the selection of a C-2 Zoned location, what it means to have control of an alternative site, if applications will be combined with the alternative site, and the merits of the appeal.
Jorge Marquez, Lisa Reina, Eloy Florez, George, Bri Rizo, and Robert Moreno provided comments in support of Covina Responsible and Compliant Retail, LLC.
The appellant representatives thanked the City Council for the opportunity to present.
Further questions from the City Council included what the process for zoning verification consisted of, implications of moving forward with the alternative location, what impacts allowing an alternative location woud look like, the subject matter of the appeal, if an alternative location would be allowed, and how the municipal code could be harmonized.
Mayor King closed the appeal hearing.
City Council deliberation included thoughts on the appeal, potential to allow an alternative location, and next steps.
Mayor King reopened the appeal hearing.
Motion made by: Councilmember Cortez
Seconded by: Councilmember Delgado
Continue the appeal hearing to February 4, 2025.
Approved (3 to 0); Allen & Linares Absent
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:08 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, December 17, 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. 3 Fabian Vele of Deputy City Clerk
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John C O_, Mayor/Chair
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