City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting – July 26, 2022 1
MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 26, 2022
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on July 26, 2022, at 6:31 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, with 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 (excused)
Mario Trujillo Council Member
ALSO PRESENT: Mark Scott, Interim City Manager
Vaniah de Rojas, Interim Assistant City Manager
Lauren Langer, Interim City Attorney
Leslie Murray, Chief of Police
Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief
Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director
Jason Chacon, Director of Parks & Recreation
Anil Gandhy, Director of Finance
Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk
The Invocation was delivered by Fire Chief Hurlock. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ruby Martinez and Samantha Mendoza.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS;
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Trujillo welcomed the audience to the City Council meeting. He thanked businesses for maintaining their properties free from litter. He requested staff contact Caltrans regarding maintenance of freeway on-ramps and off-ramps. He shared that adding lighting in Downey would be his next priority. He invited the public to email him regarding their concerns.
Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez thanked the audience for attending the City Council meeting.
Mayor Pacheco welcomed the audience to the City Council meeting. She acknowledged Michael Calvert, Executive Director of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, and Planning Commissioner Horacio Ortiz in attendance. She reported attending the Rancho Sports Complex Ribbon Cutting event and the Girls on Fire Summer Camp. She thanked Chief Murray for speaking at the event and Interim Assistant City Manager Rojas for organizing the event.
Council Member Trujillo acknowledged Recreation and Community Services Commissioner Henry Ceja and invited the public to attend the summer Concerts in the Park event.
PRESENTATIONS
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Regular Meeting – July 26, 2022 2
1. Mayor Pacheco presented a Proclamation in honor of Disability Pride Month.
2. Mayor Pacheco presented Certificates of Recognition for National Parents’ Day.
3. Mayor Pacheco, with assistance from Council Member Trujillo, presented Certificates of Recognition for L.A. CADA 50th Anniversary.
RECESS/RECONVENE
Mayor Pacheco recessed the City Council meeting at 7:12 p.m. Mayor Pacheco reconvened the City Council meeting at 7:20 p.m. with Council Members Frometa and La Plante absent.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if any written public comments were received regarding Agenda, Consent Calendar and Non-Agenda items. City Clerk Duarte confirmed two written comments were received.
George Redfox, resident, commented in opposition to street vending in Downey.
Irma Zamorano, non-resident, commented regarding Mayor Pacheco and OMLO.
It was moved by Council Member Trujillo, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez, and carried 3-0 to receive and file written public comment.
Mayor Pacheco asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment regarding Agenda, Consent Calendar and Non-Agenda items.
Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding the Brown Act and Bagley Keene Act, the right to public comment, the Constitution of the United States, homosexuality, Mayor Pacheco, OMLO, and Assistant City Manager Oskoui.
Alan Halstensgaard, resident, commented regarding abortion.
David Angelo, resident, and a representative from Ensenada, Mexico, commented in support of the Sister Cities Association.
Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commented regarding members of the City Council, OMLO, the clergy, and Catholic schools.
Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding Disability Pride Month and litigation related to the Central Basin Municipal Water District.
BC, resident, commented regarding the upcoming election season, Mayor Pacheco, the effort to Recall Los Angeles District Attorney Gascon, the effort to recall Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez, and pandemic mandates.
John Lacey, resident, no named provided, commented regarding former City Manager Livas.
Gabriel Enamorado, Stay Gallery, commented in support of a proposal to fund Stay Gallery.
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Regular Meeting – July 26, 2022 3
George Manzanilla, Stay Gallery, commented regarding funding of Stay Gallery, the Downey Museum of Art, and art institutions in Downey.
Jang Lee, resident, commented regarding funding of LGBTQ events, and vaccine mandates.
Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, non-resident, commented regarding the reading of written public comment, the Interim Assistant City Manager, Assistant City Manager Oskoui, the law firm of Best Best & Krieger, OMLO, and corruption.
Juan Martinez, resident, commented regarding the conduct of the Downey Police Department, inclusionary funding for housing, the Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District, and the reading of written public comment. Assistant City Manager Oskoui, and the law firm of Best Best & Krieg er.
Resident, no name provided, commented regarding renter protections, language accessibility, and representation of residents.
Jeannie Wood, resident, commented regarding City Council, City staff, and City organizations.
Resident, no name provided, commented regarding Council Member Trujillo’s comments to a public speaker.
Having no one else, Mayor Pacheco closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez, seconded by Council Member Trujillo and carried 3-0, with Council Members Frometa and La Plante absent, to approve the Consent Calendar
1. APPROVED MINUTES: Special Meetings of June 9, 2021 and July 12, 2022; Regular Meeting of April 26, 2022: City Clerk.
2. WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 360883 – 361146; Payroll Wire Numbers 30004246, 30004251 – 30004253; EFT Nos. 11633 – 11657, in the total amount of $2,215,428.02: Finance.
3. AWARDED CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,827,000 TO ONYX PAVING COMPANY, INC.
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL STREETS PAVEMENT REHABILITATION - AREA 4; APPROVED ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF $2,000,000 IN MEASURE M BOND FUNDS IN ACCOUNT NO. 58-1-6874; AND, AUTHORIZED PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER
TO EXECUTE ANY CHANGE ORDERS OR ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK DEEMED
NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE UP TO THE APPROVED PROJECT BUDGET (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 22-18): Public Works.
4. ACCEPTED WORK FOR CITY MAINTENANCE YARD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION; APPROVED GENTRY BROTHERS, INC’S FINAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $235,558.63; AND, AUTHORIZED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER TO FILE NOTICE OF COMPLETION (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 22-24): Public Works.
5. AUTHORIZED FUNDING TO UPGRADE THE CITY NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER
TO SUPPORT NEW AND IMPROVED BACKUP, RECOVERY AND EMAIL SYSTEMS TO MAINTAIN CYBER LIABILITY COVERAGES AS REQUIRED BY THE INSURANCE CARRIER:
Finance.
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Regular Meeting – July 26, 2022 4
6. AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH HCA ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC (HCA) FOR FIXED ASSETS PHYSICAL INVENTORY CONSULTANT SERVICES: Finance.
7. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 22-8092, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE ACCEPTANCE OF GENERAL FUND GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COLUMBIA MEMORIAL SPACE CENTER IN THE CITY OF DOWNEY: CMSC.
8. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 22-8093, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DOWNEY APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF WENDY MORA TO THE GREEN TASK FORCE FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT 1: Mayor Pacheco.
9. AUTHORIZED STAFF TO SUBMIT A GRANT REQUEST FOR THE 2022 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM LOCAL SOLICITATION: Police.
10. ADOPTED THE 2022-23 INVESTMENT POLICY FOR PUBLIC FUNDS OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY AND ITS RELATED ENTITIES: Finance.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: None.
CITY MANAGER/STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS
Interim City Manager Scott commented regarding street paving projects approved in the Consent Calendar by City Council. He introduced the topic to be presented by staff.
Interim Assistant City Manager De Rojas provided an update regarding the Healthcare Workers Minimum Wage Ordinance implementation process and the steps being taken by staff in preparation for the effective date of August 11, 2022. She explained staff created a webpage ( www.downeyca.org/healthcare) and email address ([email protected]) where members of the public can obtain detailed information and email enquiries regarding the Ordinance. She stated staff has responded to enquiries received and has mailed letters regarding the Ordinance to affected businesses in the City as well as created legal notices for the businesses to display at their facilities. She shared staff is coordinating with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs regarding the enforcement process and future updates will be provided to the City Council. She added staff is continuing to work through the aspects of the Ordinance such as the Consumer Price Index and court waiver process, which will return before the City Council for consideration.
Interim Assistant Manager Scott commented regarding the initiative process.
Mayor Pacheco invited the members of the public to attend the City’s National Night Out event scheduled for August 2.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pacheco adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:15 p.m. on July 26, 2022 in memory of Council Member Manual “Manny” Avila of the City of Huntington Park; Council Member John J. Kennedy of the City of Pasadena; and, the lives lost due to COVID-19.
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC BLANCA PACHECO
City Clerk Mayor