MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2022
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special City Council Meeting on January 12, 2022, at 4:24 p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, with Mayor Pacheco presiding.
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Council Members:
Blanca Pacheco Mayor
Sean Ashton Mayor Pro Tern (excused)
Catherine Alvarez Council Member
Claudia M. Frometa Council Member
Mario Trujillo Council Member (excused)
ALSO PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Deputy City Manager/Community Development Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Leslie Murray, Chief of Police
Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE REMOTE TELECONFERENCING FOR 30 DAYS PURSUANT TO AB 361: Mayor Pacheco.
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 22-8048, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DOWNEY AUTHORIZING USE OF REMOTE TELECONFERENCING PROVISION PURSUANT TO AB 361
Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if there was any written correspondence received regarding Item No. 1. Mayor Pacheco asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment regarding Item No. 1.
Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding the coronavirus, mask guidelines, and freedom of speech.
RECESS/RECONVENE
Mayor Pacheco recessed the City Council meeting at 4:31 p.m. Mayor Pacheco reconvened the City Council meeting at 4:33 p.m. with Mayor Pro Tern Ashton and Council Member Trujillo excused.
Resident, no name provided, commented against the adoption of the proposed resolution.
Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commented against the adoption of the proposed resolution.
Rodolfo Barragan-Cortes, non-resident, requested clarification regarding the closure of the Council Chambers.
City Attorney Abich Garcia presented the staff report for Item No. 1. She explained staff's intention to control the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and stated members of the public may access the meeting via Zoom. Adoption of AB 361 would repeal the emergency order, which was a stop City Council Minutes
Special Meeting - January 12, 2022
gap measure and only valid for seven days. The Governor's Executive Order in March 2020 overrode the more onerous requirements of teleconferencing provisions of the Brown Act. The State legislature put forward AB 361 as an urgency measure after the Governor's Executive Order expired to reinstitute remote meeting rules. Adoption of AB 361 would close the Chambers and allow Council Members and members of the public to participate remotely to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant. Provisions under AB 361 are similar to measures taken during the City's closure at the start of the pandemic, such as utilization of YouTube, written public comment, and allowing members of the public to call in by telephone. If there's a technical glitch, the meeting must stop and no action can be taken until the technical issues are resolved. If there is a cap on public comment, the full period must lapse before Council can move on to the next agenda item. The resolution must be renewed every 30 days and a staff report will be brought back to Council in February to consider its renewal.
It was moved by Council Member Frometa, seconded by Council Member Alvarez and carried 3- 0, with Mayor Pro Tern Ashton and Council Member Trujillo absent, to adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Downey authorizing use of remote teleconferencing provision pursuant to AB 361.
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS
Deputy City Manager Schindler noted it was the first Council meeting of the new year and wished everybody a healthy and prosperous 2022.
Mayor Pacheco also wished everyone a happy new year and asked everyone to stay safe and healthy.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pacheco adjourned the Special City Council meeting at 4:51 p.m. in memory of Los Angeles County Firefighter, Jonathan Flagler, 47, who died in the line of duty; Los Angeles Police Department Officer Fernando Arroyos, 27; and, the lives lost due to COVID-19
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CIVIC
City Clerk
BLANCA PACHECO
Mayor
City Council Minutes
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