City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting – May 10, 2022 1
MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 10, 2022
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on May 10, 2022, at 6:38 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Pacheco presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Blanca Pacheco Mayor
Catherine Alvarez Mayor Pro Tem
Claudia M. Frometa Council Member (excused)
Donald E. La Plante Council Member
Mario Trujillo Council Member
ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager
Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Leslie Murray, Chief of Police
Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief
Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director
Jason Chacon, Interim Director of Parks & Recreation
Anil Gandhy, Director of Finance
James McQueen, Director of Human Resources
Linda Thai, Deputy City Clerk
The Invocation was delivered by Pastor Art Reyes, Calvary Chapel. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mariana Pacheco, Cerritos College Board of Trustees.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS;
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Trujillo wished the public a Happy Mother’s Day. He noted that ballots have been mailed out and emphasized the importance of voting. He commented regarding street improvements and thanked the Public Works Department staff. He reported attending the Downey Symphony performance at the Downey Civic Center Theatre, new Compton High School Ground Breaking Ceremony, Santa Fe Springs Arts Festival, and Downey Touch-a-Truck event.
Council Member La Plante concurred with Council Member Trujillo’s comments and added remarks regarding the new Compton High School.
Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez thanked members of the public for attending the meeting. She commented regarding the Shower of Hope event and thanked staff and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Mayor Pacheco thanked members of the public for attending the meeting and wished them a Happy Mother’s Day. She acknowledged nurses from Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and Executive Director of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, Michael Calvert, who were in attendance. She reported attending the Kiwanis Club Scholarship Dinner and the Downey Touch-a-Truck event. She invited residents to attend the Downey Business Watch meeting on May 19 and the Gangs Out of Downey Gala on May 20. She thanked incoming Interim City Attorney Lauren Langer and welcomed her to Downey.
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Regular Meeting – May 10, 2022 2
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation in Honor of National Nurses Week.
2. Proclamation in Honor of National Public Works Week.
3. Proclamation in Honor of Public Service Recognition Week.
4. Certificate of Recognition to Exemplary Employees.
5. Certificate of Recognition to City employee with 11 years of service, Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Pacheco asked Deputy City Clerk Thai if any written public comments were received regarding Agenda, Consent Calendar and Non-Agenda items. Deputy City Clerk Thai confirmed two written comments were received.
Daisy Quiroz, resident, commented regarding a recent traffic collision and submitted a traffic calming petition.
Bruce Crow, resident, commented regarding the recall of Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascon, First Amendment rights, lockdowns, mask mandates, vaccine mandates, depopulation, tax hikes, disinformation, the Ukraine crisis, and the oath of allegiance.
Mayor Pacheco asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment on Agenda, Consent Calendar and Non-Agenda items.
Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding public participation, corruption, housing, and the LGBTQ community. He commented in opposition to Item Nos. 4 and 5.
Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding the effort to recall Los Angeles District Attorney Gascon and National Police Week. He requested a wreath and proclamation at the Downey Police Officer Memorial, a plaque at the Downey Fire Fighter Memorial, and dedication plaques at all Fire Stations.
Resident, no name provided, requested an ordinance regulating drones.
Mike Greenspan, non-resident, thanked the chaplain for the prayer and commented regarding Brunch with a Bunny, no Easter, staff departures, the appointment of the Council District 2 vacancy, Confederate Memorial Day, and clergy abuse.
Alan Halstengard commented regarding the video “Whose Children Are They?”.
Stephanie Nava-Angeles invited the City Council to attend the Water Education for Latino Leaders Conference and commented regarding water policy issues.
Resident, no name provided, welcomed Council Member La Plante, thanked City Attorney Yvette Abich Garcia for her service to the City, and commented regarding the effort to recall Los Angeles District Attorney Gascon.
Jang Lee, resident, commented regarding the vaccine mandate, alternative uses for street improvement funding, and LGBTQ events and policies.
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Regular Meeting – May 10, 2022 3
Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, non-resident, commented in opposition to Mayor Pacheco’s campaign and regarding the Kessner lawsuit, The Downey Patriot, Council Member La Plante, and Interim City Attorney Langer.
Juan Martinez, resident, commented regarding Council Member Trujillo, Interim City Attorney Langer, marijuana, First Amendment rights to free speech, staff departures, water quality, and funds for inclusionary housing.
Kevin Ezeh, resident, congratulated Council Member La Plante on his appointment and commented regarding Shower of Hope, the Homeless Veterans Project, the Touch-a-Truck event, and the departure of the City Manager and City Attorney.
Having no one else, Mayor Pacheco closed Non-Agenda public comment.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Pacheco pulled Item No. 1, Special Meeting Minutes of April 26, 2022; and, abstained from Item No. 3 due to the close proximity to her residence.
Council Member La Plante abstained from Item No. 1, Regular Meeting Minutes of February 8, 2022, as he was not a seated Council Member during this meeting.
It was moved by Council Member Trujillo, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez, and carried 4-0, with Council Member Frometa absent, to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar.
1. APPROVED MINUTES: Regular Meeting of February 8, 2022: City Clerk.
2. WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 359209 – 359469; Payroll Wire Numbers 30004224 – 30004226; EFT Nos. 11426 – 11459; Manual Wire No. 2233 – 2238; in the total amount of $4,960,198.59: Finance.
3. ACCEPTED WORK FOR RESIDENTIAL STREETS PAVEMENT REHABILITATION - AREA 10; APPROVED HARDY & HARPER, INC.’S FINAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,682,897.38; AND, AUTHORIZED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER TO FILE NOTICE OF COMPLETION (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 22-02): Public Works.
4. APPROPRIATED $1,851,095, FROM THE GENERAL FUND, TO PURCHASE A LADDER TRUCK FROM SOUTH COAST FIRE EQUIPMENT, INC., TO REPLACE THE 2005 LADDER TRUCK CURRENTLY IN SERVICE AS A FRONT LINE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE APPARATUS: Fire.
5. AUTHORIZED STAFF TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES (OES) THAT ALLOWS A STATE OWNED, OES FIRE ENGINE TO BE
ASSIGNED TO THE DOWNEY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STAFFED BY DOWNEY FIRE
PERSONNEL TO RESPOND TO WILDFIRES AND OTHER STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID INCIDENTS: Fire.
6. AUTHORIZED STAFF TO ENTER INTO AN AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA REGENTS, ON BEHALF OF THE UCLA CENTER FOR PREHOSPITAL CARE
FOR PARAMEDIC TRAINING AND PERSONNEL PLACEMENT IN FIELD INTERNSHIP POSITIONS: Fire.
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Regular Meeting – May 10, 2022 4
7. APPROVED THE ASSIGNMENT OF SALE AGREEMENT AND ESCROW INSTRUCTIONS WITH HOLDINGS DOWNEY, LLC, IRG DOWNEY, LLC, QUALIFIED EXCHANGE SERVICES, INC., AND KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITALS; AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE ASSIGNMENT; AND FOUND THAT NO FURTHER CEQA ANALYSIS IS REQUIRED: Community Development.
8. APPROVED A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE DOWNEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (DUSD) FOR OPERATION OF SPORTS FIELDS AT COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL: Parks & Recreation.
9. ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 6 OF ARTICLE VII OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 6 (“STREET TREE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION”) TO ARTICLE VII (“STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS”): Public Works.
ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 22-1483, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REPEALING CHAPTER 6 OF ARTICLE VII OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 6 (“STREET TREE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION”) TO ARTICLE VII (“STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS”)
10. APPROVED THE DONATION OF ONE FOURSOME OF GOLF AT THE RIO HONDO GOLF CLUB FOR THE 10-20 CLUB FUNDRAISING GOLF TOURNAMENT HELD ON MAY 23, 2022: Council Member Frometa.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: None.
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS
City Manager Livas thanked Public Works staff for the Touch-a-Truck event, provided an update on Public Works infrastructure projects, and commented regarding Public Service Recognition Week.
Mayor Pacheco thanked City Attorney Abich Garcia for her service to the City and welcomed Interim City Attorney Langer to Downey.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pacheco adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:10 p.m. on May 10, 2022 in memory of the victims of the Ukraine crisis; and, the lives lost due to COVID-19.
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC BLANCA PACHECO
City Clerk Mayor