City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 2/20/2024 Page 1 of 5 Final Minutes Approved March 5, 2024
MINUTES
CUDAHY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING and
CITY OF CUDAHY AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY and
HOUSING SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CUDAHY
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JOINT MEETING
February 20, 2024, 6:30 P.M.
City Clerk announced due to lack of quorum meeting will begin late.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor / Chair J. Gonzalez called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Council / Agency Member Martin Fuentes
Council / Agency Member Daisy Lomelí
Vice Mayor / Vice Chair Elizabeth Alcantar (joined virtually) Mayor / Chair Jose R. Gonzalez
ABSENT: Council / Agency Member Cynthia Gonzalez
ALSO PRESENT: City Attorney, Stephanie Arechiga, Assistant City Attorney, Paloma McEvoy, City Clerk, Richard Iglesias, Assistant City Clerk, Estefania Zamora, Community Development Director, Juan Arauz, Finance Director, Joshua Calhoun, Community Services Director, Brenda Rodriguez, Public Works Director, Aaron Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager, Johncito “John” Peraza, Building Official, Raul Diaz, Senior Planner, Cecilia Madrigal-Gonzalez, Associate Planner, Kassandra Cornejo, Management Analyst, Jimmie Reginald Smith, Executive Assistant, Janet Andrade, and Administrative Analyst, Lisette Gonzalez.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion: Council Member Fuentes motioned to move item 7A before 6A and table item 14B to the next City Council meeting, seconded by Council Member Lomelí. Motion passed 4-0-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez
NOES: None
ABSENT: C. Gonzalez
ABSTAIN: None
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 2/20/2024 Page 2 of 5 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Fuentes.
5. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Land Acknowledgment was led by Council Member Lomelí.
We would like to acknowledge that the land we inhabit today was once known as Tovangaar, the home of the Gabrieleño-Tongva people. We show our respects to the Gabrieleño-Tongva people, as well as all Indigenous people, past, present, and future, and honor their labor as original caretakers of this land. We commit to uplifting the Gabrieleño-Tongva people, invite you to acknowledge the history, and join us in caring for this land.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Congressman Robert Garcia mentioned he just came from Sprouts and congratulated the City on a great accomplishment for the community and access to healthy foods, shared the importance of government at the local level, and presented the City Council and community with a flag that flew on top of the United States Capitol in honor of the City of Cudahy.
1213****845 spoke on the incident occurring in the city and surroundings, shared his trauma experience, and stated everyone is becoming more traumatized, alleged SELA collaborative is part of the local political machine and does not help civic engagement.
Susie de Santiago stated starting the meeting late is unacceptable, spoke on the recent shooting that occurred in the City, asked if there is an update from the Sheriff’s they can give to the community, asked if the flooding that is happening in Cecilia and River Road can be addressed
6. PRESENTATIONS
A. Presentation by the East Los Angeles College
8. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS / REQUESTS FOR AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Fuentes spoke on the shooting incident that occurred in the City but also commended the collaborations with all the surrounding cities, shared his attendance at the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, and his attendance at the grand opening of Sprouts.
Council Member Lomelí shared the Sprouts excitement in the community, spoke on the shooting incident and her attendance at the vigil, asked to think of how to honor the youth that has passed and shared her condolences with the families, asked to adjourn the meeting in Javier’s name and the other victims of the incident.
Vice Mayor Alcantar shared her condolences with the four victims and their families, echoed the adjournment and asked to also include the victim in the City of Bell who was also a Cudahy resident, stated graffiti tends to increase on the weekend and asked to City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 2/20/2024 Page 3 of 5 consider increasing graffiti abatement on the weekends, stated Sheriff communication with the public needs to be better as too many rumors arise from the shooting incidents, and need to work on preventing of flooding in the city.
Mayor J. Gonzalez send his condolences with the families, commend the work that was done between different agencies and Sheriff department regarding the shooting incidents, suggested an annual report data presentation from the Sheriff’s and how we can work on increasing safety in the community, asked to look into the flooding and if we clean the storm drains and also spoke on the grand opening of Sprouts.
9. CITY MANAGER REPORT (information only)
10. REPORTS REGARDING AD HOC, ADVISORY, STANDING OR OTHER COMMITTEE MEETINGS – NONE
11. WAIVER OF FULL READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES Motion: Council Member Lomelí motioned to waive full reading of resolutions and ordinances, seconded by Council Member Fuentes. Motion passed 4-0-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez
NOES: None
ABSENT: C. Gonzalez
ABSTAIN: None
12. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Consideration to Review and Approve the Draft Minutes of February 6, 2024, for the Regular Meeting of the City Council and the Joint Meeting of the City of Cudahy as Successor Agency and Housing Successor Agency to the Cudahy Development Commission
Presented by the City Clerk
Recommendation: The City Council is requested to review and approve the City Council / Successor Agency Draft Minutes for February 6, 2024.
B. Approval of the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) for the Month of January 2024 Presented by the Finance Director
Recommendation: The City Council is requested to approve the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) Report for the month of January 2024 in the amount of $12,728,593.04.
C. Approval of the City Demands and Payroll Including Statement of Investment for the Month of January 2024
Presented by the Finance Director
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 2/20/2024 Page 4 of 5 Recommendation: The City Council is requested to approve the Demands and Payroll in the amount of $2,880,738.20 including the Statement of Investments for the month of January 2024.
Motion: Council Member Fuentes motioned to approve Consent Calendar items, seconded by Council Member Lomelí. Motion passed 4-0-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez
NOES: None
ABSENT: C. Gonzalez
ABSTAIN: None
13. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Resolution No. 24-03 of the City Council Approving Programs for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding During the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Presented by the Community Development Director
Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action(s):
adopt Resolution No. 24-03 approving programs for the Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funding for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
At 8:15 p.m. Mayor J. Gonzalez opened public comment.
Public Comments:
Susie asked why it takes a long time to process applications and after speaking to a staff member she was made aware only one application was submitted and the other was pending, shared her concerns for the rehab program and asked if the money was funded why isn’t it being used on pending applications and stated the money allocated for the rehab is not sufficient and if a status update can be provided.
At 8:19 p.m. Mayor J. Gonzalez closed public comment.
Motion: Council Member Fuentes motioned to adopt Resolution No. 24-03 approving programs for the Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funding for Fiscal Year 2024-25, seconded by Council Member Lomelí. Motion passed 4-0-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez
NOES: None
ABSENT: C. Gonzalez
ABSTAIN: None
14. BUSINESS SESSION
A. County of Los Angeles Digital Equity Programs and Opportunities Presentation City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 2/20/2024 Page 5 of 5 Presented by the Finance Director
Recommendation: The City Council is requested to receive and file the County of Los Angeles Digital Equity Programs and Opportunities Presentation.
Motion: Council Member Lomelí motioned to receive and file the County of Los Angeles Digital Equity Programs and Opportunities Presentation, seconded by Council Member Fuentes. Motion passed 4-0-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez
NOES: None
ABSENT: C. Gonzalez
ABSTAIN: None
B. City Manager Annual Update Presentation
Presented by the City Manager
Recommendation: The City Council is requested to receive and file the City Manager Annual Update.
ITEM TABLED TO NEXT MEETING
16. CLOSED SESSION – NONE
17. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT – NONE
18. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council / Agency meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m., in honor of all the residents that were hurt in the recent shooting, 24-year-old Kevin Parada and 14-year-old Javier Pedraza Jr.
Jose R. Gonzalez
Mayor
ATTEST:
Richard Iglesias
City Clerk