City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 1 of 7 Final Minutes Approved May 7, 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
April 16, 2024, 6:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor / Chair J. Gonzalez called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Council / Agency Member Martin Fuentes
Council / Agency Member Cynthia Gonzalez
Council / Agency Member Daisy Lomelí
Vice Mayor / Vice Chair Elizabeth Alcantar
Mayor / Chair Jose R. Gonzalez
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager, Alfonso Noyola, 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, Interim Public Works Director, Ron Bow, Assistant to the City Manager, Johncito “John” Peraza, Recreation Coordinator, Ruben Vazquez, Parks and Recreation Manager, Victor Maria Santiago, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, Janet Andrade, and Administrative Analyst, Daniela Trujillo.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion: Vice Mayor Alcantar motioned to continue agenda item 13B, seconded by Council Member Lomelí. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 2 of 7 Motion: Vice Mayor Alcantar motioned to approve the agenda without item 13B, seconded by Council Member C. Gonzalez. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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.
6. PRESENTATIONS
A. Certificate of Recognition awarded to Elizabeth Learning Center Teacher Mr.
Dennis Barber
B. Certificate of Recognition awarded to Kiwanis, Angeles por sempre unidos, and Republic Services for their Participation in the Cudahy Clean-Up Event C. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office of Violence Prevention D. Community Services Department Annual Update
E. Communications Plan Update
F. Proclamation - Public Service Recognition Week
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Susie commented on safety in the city, asked City Council to check that our streets lighting are working properly, shared her concerns on Lugo fitness center, mentioned she has seen an improvement on the sports program, spoke against term limits and the cost to change, and also to consider cleaning the sidewalks.
Edwin Gonzalez spoke in support of City of Bell’s ceasefire resolution but mentioned that doesn’t stop violence, commented on both City of Bell and Cudahy’s resolution to ceasefire and stated it was naive.
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 3 of 7
8. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS / REQUESTS FOR AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Fuentes shared his participation at the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, celebrated Earth Day, and Cudahy’s Basketball banquet, and thanked Cudahy Youth Foundation for sponsoring the awards.
Council Member C. Gonzalez requested to have Scholar Match present to City Council before June, add a council discussion to see how we can partner with Scholar Match, schedule meeting with Exclusive Action in 2-3 weeks, requested a date to meet for the Keep Cudahy Clean Ad Hoc, SELA standoff event on June 1 st
, announced CalKids
program all students after 2021 have bank accounts and would like to educate families, also thanked Richard and Estefania met to discuss voter turnout ideas.
Council Member Lomelí mentioned collaboration with assemblywoman Pacheco for a “Get out to Vote” event, supported Scholar Match being formalized, shared her attendance at the Basketball banquet, thanked staff, coaches and all volunteers, attended the Vector Control meeting and asked to repost their educational information and invite them to bring their educational RV to our events.
Vice Mayor Alcantar asked staff to look into the Gateway COG Regional Early Action Planning grant, opening a 2.0 grant cycle soon, metro taskforce for the 710 corridor passed a plan, bring back clean power alliance to have that discussion.
Mayor J. Gonzalez mentioned the plan for the fireworks to come to City Council sooner, challenges with graffiti and would like to see average time to resolution, when a graffiti issue gets reported and how many days it takes to resolve, excited for the massive energy project and for the SELA standoff to do a QR code for vendors to donate through a nonprofit and post it, and thanked Parks and Recreation staff.
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 C. Gonzalez motioned to waive full reading of resolutions and ordinances, seconded by Council Member Fuentes. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 4 of 7
12. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Consideration to Review and Approve the Draft Minutes of April 2, 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 April 2, 2024.
B. Approval of the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) for the Month of March 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 March 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 March 2024
Presented by the Finance Director
Recommendation: The City Council is requested to approve the Demands and Payroll in the amount of $1,818,213.76 including the Statement of Investments for the month of March 2024.
Motion: Council Member C. Gonzalez motioned to approve Consent Calendar items, seconded by Council Member Fuentes. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
13. PUBLIC HEARING
At 8:21 p.m. Council Member Lomelí left Council Chambers.
At 8:24 p.m. Council Member Lomelí returned to Council Chambers A. Appeal of the Planning Commission’s Decision upholding the Community Development Director’s Interpretation of Section 20.80 of the Cudahy Municipal Code Relating to the Continuation of Legal Nonconforming Uses and Subsequent Denial of City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 5 of 7 a Zoning Clearance to Allow a Vehicle Towing/Storage Facility at 7822 Salt Lake Avenue, in Low Density Residential (LDR) Zone
Presented by the Community Development Director
Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action(s): Open the public hearing and receive testimony; and Adopt Resolution No. 24-08 of the City Council of the City of Cudahy, California, upholding the Planning Commission’s decision upholding the Director’s interpretation of CMC Section 20.80 and subsequent denial of a Zoning Clearance; and Find this action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15270 (projects which are disapproved).
At 8:28 p.m. Mayor J. Gonzalez opened public comment.
Public Comments:
Hector Gomez spoke on the traffic and supported upholding the planning commission decision.
Susie requested to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision and the director’s decision to deny the permit.
At 8:45 p.m. Mayor J. Gonzalez closed public comment.
Motion: Vice Mayor Alcantar motioned to adopt Resolution No. 24-08 of the City Council of the City of Cudahy, California, upholding the Planning Commission’s decision upholding the Director’s interpretation of CMC Section 20.80 and subsequent denial of a Zoning Clearance; and find this action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15270 (projects which are disapproved), seconded by Council Member Fuentes. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
B. Adoption by First Reading of Ordinance No. 741 Amending Cudahy Municipal Code Section 10.04.020 (Vehicle Weight Limits) by adding Patata Street to the list of streets where vehicles exceeding 6,000 pounds are prohibited.
Presented by the Community Development Director
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 6 of 7 Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action(s): Open the public hearing and receive comments; and Adopt by first reading Ordinance No. 741 (Attachment A), an amendment to the Cudahy Municipal Code (“CMC”) Section
10.04.020 (Vehicle Weight Limits) by adding Patata Street to the list of streets where vehicles exceeding 6,000 pounds are prohibited; and Schedule a second reading of Ordinance No. 741 at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on April 16, 2024; and Find the Project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 150601(b)(3).
ITEM CONTINUED TO NEXT MEETING
14. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Consideration to Appoint an Alternate to the Southeast Gateway Line Corridor Cities Committee
Presented by the City Clerk
Recommendation: The City Council is recommended to appoint an Alternate to the Southeast Gateway Line Corridor Cities Committee.
Motion: Council Member C. Gonzalez motioned to appoint Council Member Fuentes as an alternate to the Southeast Gateway Line Corridor Cities Committee, seconded by Council Member Lomelí. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
B. Discussion of Potential Ballot Measure for November 5, 2024, Election-Increasing Term Limits for Council Members.
Presented by the City Attorney
Recommendation: The City Council is recommended to discuss and, if necessary, provide direction for staff to prepare language for a proposed ballot measure for the November 5, 2024, election, that would increase term limits for all Council Members.
Motion: Council Member Fuentes motioned to direct staff to look into three terms, options on cleaning up the language, and research surrounding cities, seconded by Council Member C. Gonzalez. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Fuentes, C. Gonzalez, Lomelí, Alcantar, and J. Gonzalez NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
City Council/Successor Agency Minutes of 4/16/2024` Page 7 of 7 At 9:26 p.m., City Attorney, Stephanie Arechiga recessed to closed session.
16. CLOSED SESSION
A. Conference with Legal Counsel Anticipated Litigation - Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(2) - One Matter At 9:53 p.m., Mayor J. Gonzalez reconvened to open session.
17. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Attorney Stephanie Arechiga announced for item 16A, all five council members were present and no further reportable action.
18. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council / Agency meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m.
Jose R. Gonzalez
Mayor
ATTEST:
Richard Iglesias
City Clerk