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MINUTES
GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Community Meeting Center
11300 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840
CONVENE MEETING
At 6:37 p.m., Mayor Jones convened the meeting in the Council Chamber.
ROLL CALL PRESENT: (7) Council Members O’Neill, Tran, DoVinh, Klopfenstein, Nguyen, Mayor Pro Tem
Brietigam, Mayor Jones
ABSENT: (0) None
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
RECESS
At 6:39 p.m. Mayor Jones recessed the meeting.
RECONVENE
At 6:41 p.m., Mayor Jones reconvened the meeting in the Council Chamber with all Council Members present.
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF COMMENDATION OF CITY MANAGER SCOTT STILES FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE (F: 83.1-2023)
This matter was introduced and moved by Mayor Jones, seconded by Council Member Nguyen that:
A Resolution of Commendation recognizing City Manager Scott Stiles for his service to the City of Garden Grove, be adopted.
The motion carried by a 7-0 vote as follows:
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Ayes: (7) O’Neill, Tran, DoVinh, Klopfenstein, Nguyen,
Brietigam, Jones
Noes: (0) None
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT IN RECOGNITION OF CITY MANAGER SCOTT STILES FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE (F: 83.1-2023)
City Manager Stiles thanked the City Council and City staff for their support during his tenure as City Manager since 2015.
INFORMATION ON THE 48TH ANNUAL AMERICANA AWARDS AS PRESENTED BY THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HOWARD KUMMERMAN OF THE CYPRESS COLLEGE FOUNDATION (F: 90.3)
Executive Director, of the Cypress College Foundation, Howard Kummerman provided a brief PowerPoint presentation and thanked the City Council for their support.
STREET MEDICINE PROGRAM AS PRESENTED BY CALOPTIMA (F: 117.15C)
City Manager Kim introduced CalOptima CEO Michael Hunt and Executive Director of Medi-Cal/CalAIM Kelly Bruno-Nelson. Mr. Hunt introduced the Street Medicine Program and Ms. Bruno-Nelson provided a PowerPoint presentation featuring the goals, objectives, and services to address the health care needs for homeless individuals living on the streets.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Speakers: Nicholas Dibs, Cyrise Smith, Teresa Tran, Maureen Blackmun, Rubi Garcia
RECESS
At 7:24 p.m. Mayor Jones recessed the meeting.
RECONVENE
At 7:28 p.m., Mayor Jones reconvened the meeting with all Council Members present.
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF COMMENDATION OF CITY MANAGER SCOTT STILES FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE (F: 83.1-2023)
This matter was considered earlier in the meeting.
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REJECTION OF ALL CONSTRUCTION BIDS AND AUTHORIZATION TO RE-ADVERTISE A BID FOR PROJECT NO. CP-1259000 – VARIOUS RESIDENTIAL STREETS RECONSTRUCTION 2023 (F: 96.1)
It was moved by Council Member Klopfenstein, seconded by Council Member Nguyen that:
All bids received on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, for Project No. CP-1259000 – Street Reconstruction Project, be rejected; and
Staff be authorized to re-advertise the project.
The motion carried by a 7-0 vote as follows:
Ayes: (7) O’Neill, Tran, DoVinh, Klopfenstein, Nguyen,
Brietigam, Jones
Noes: (0) None
AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF A PURCHASE ORDER WITH C. WELLS PIPELINE MATERIALS, INC., FOR WATER APPURTENANCES
It was moved by Council Member Klopfenstein, seconded by Council Member Nguyen that:
The Finance Director be authorized to issue a one-year purchase order with C. Wells Pipeline Materials, in the amount of $200,000, for water appurtenances; and
The Finance Director be authorized to issue a renewal of the purchase order after the one year term if necessary.
The motion carried by a 7-0 vote as follows:
Ayes: (7) O’Neill, Tran, DoVinh, Klopfenstein, Nguyen,
Brietigam, Jones
Noes: (0) None
WARRANTS
It was moved by Council Member Klopfenstein, seconded by Council Member Nguyen that:
Payroll Warrants issued on February 9, 2023, inclusive, as listed on the register and have been verified by the Finance Division as properly issued and bear all proper signatures be received and filed; and
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Demands covered by EFT numbers 00032423 through 00032439, and check numbers 00684139 through 00684181 inclusive as listed on this register and have been verified by the Finance Division as properly issued and bear all proper signatures; and
Demands covered by Wire numbers 00001422 through 00001429; EFT numbers 00032440 through 00032453, and check numbers 00684182 through 00684288 inclusive as listed on this register and have been verified by the Finance Division as properly issued and bear all proper signatures; and
Demands covered by Wire numbers 00001430 through 00001444; EFT numbers 00032454 through 00032482; and check numbers 00684289 through 00684402 inclusive as listed on this register and have been verified by the Finance Division as properly issued and bear all proper signatures; and
Payroll Warrants issued on February 23, 2023, inclusive, as listed on the register and have been verified by the Finance Division as properly issued and bear all proper signatures, be received and filed.
The motion carried by a 7-0 vote as follows:
Ayes: (7) O’Neill, Tran, DoVinh, Klopfenstein, Nguyen,
Brietigam, Jones
Noes: (0) None
CONSIDERATION TO APPOINT TO THE CITY'S COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEE, AND BOARD (CONTINUED FROM THE MEETINGS HELD ON JANUARY 24, 2023 AND FEBRUARY 14, 2023) (F: 122.0)
This matter was continued to the next meeting.
APPROVAL OF AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH LISA L. KIM FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER (F: 55-LISA KIM, CITY MANAGER)
Following staff introduction, Council Member DoVinh commented that the City Council interviewed qualified internal candidates and conducted a full day of deliberation with critical questions asked of each candidate.
Mayor Pro Tem Brietigam noted that the salary that was negotiated was commensurate with other cities in Orange County and the previous salary of the last City Manager.
With no further discussion, it was moved by Council Member Nguyen, seconded by Council Member Klopfenstein that:
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The employment agreement with Lisa L. Kim for the position of City Manager, be approved; and
The Mayor be authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
The motion carried by a 7-0 vote as follows:
Ayes: (7) O’Neill, Tran, DoVinh, Klopfenstein, Nguyen,
Brietigam, Jones
Noes: (0) None
Following the vote, City Manager Lisa Kim thanked the City Council and commented on her excitement and commitment to serving as City Manager.
MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CITY MANAGER
BUILDING STREAMLINING UPDATE (F: 35.1)
Mr. David Dent, Building Official, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the City’s new streamlined online system for review and issuance of building permits.
Prompting implementation of a new system were the following issues: No clear process or procedure for submitting projects, lack of predictability, the need for transparency and continuity in the permitting process, slow responses and service delivery, late surprises, lack of access to information, and delays during construction due to revision approvals. The new software system creates an easy to follow process for the public that includes an interactive dashboard and step by step instructions. The system’s estimate for saving staff time is 25 to 35 percent that also reduces up to 90 percent of copying and recycling as well as increasing revenue by allowing more permits to be processed.
Council Member DoVinh noted that he and Council Member Tran attended the ADU workshop held by the City and encouraged more workshops. He spoke about attending a sister city tour ten years ago in Anyang, Korea with the City’s former Mayor Bruce Broadwater, and how impressed they were with Anyang’s “Smart City” technology. He praised Garden Grove’s new online system and suggested having technical support for the public in multiple languages to the extent that it is affordable. He also suggested using “Build in Garden Grove” as a slogan to attract small developers. He asked that people be informed that permit information is a public document.
Council Member Klopfenstein praised Mr. Dent, noting the large scope of work that went into implementing this system that provides good communication and overall transparency. She confirmed that the system can be accessed on an iPad in real time.
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Mayor Pro Tem Brietigam praised both Building Official David Dent, and City Manager Lisa Kim for moving forward with the new system and that now instead of taking two months to finalize a building permit, it is now three days. He agreed with Council Member DoVinh’s comment about providing technical support in order to assist the public with navigating the new system. He confirmed that the system is accessible on the City’s App.
Council Member O’Neill congratulated David Dent on this new system. This system is a big improvement that allows for real time information throughout the permit processing cycle.
Council Member Tran noted that she has received numerous complaints about the permitting process, and she thanked David Dent for implementing this new and simple to follow system.
MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CITY MANAGER (Continued)
Mayor Pro Tem Brietigam commented on the catalytic converter etching event at the Grease Monkey Garage with a nice turnout of about 40 cars. He encouraged people to have their catalytic converters etched to help minimize the crime of stolen converters. He noted that the cost for replacing a stolen catalytic converter is between $3,000 and $5,000. If a converter is not engraved, there is no chance that it will be returned to the owner. The Grease Monkey Garage on Knott Street is offering free engravings to customers who pay for an oil change. Kathy Ladd will be hosting an annual Chili Cook Off at Eastgate Park on March 4, 2023, at noon.
Council Member O’Neill congratulated Lisa Kim on her appointment as City Manager.
He thanked all those who applied for the position, noting that the City Council wanted to give internal candidates the first opportunity; and that they were confident in the abilities of the internal candidates. The Orange County Fire Authority will be hosting an open house at 1 Fire Authority Way in Irvine on March 4, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Community Cleanup event in District 2 had to be rescheduled to May 13th, due to the rain; however, between now and May 13th, there will be five different events scheduled throughout the city with dates and locations posted on the City’s website.
Council Member Tran thanked City Manager Kim for giving her a tour of the Navigation Center. She expressed her passion for helping alleviate homelessness; and she witnessed the Be Well team assisting someone. She noted that District 3 has many small businesses, and she is proactively promoting local businesses and plans to visit a business in District 3 every week. She expressed that she is happy to meet with the residents in her district for coffee. She thanked the Community Services team for taking her on a tour of the parks and noted the security risks in the public restrooms. She expressed the need to actively seek funding for park improvements.
In reference to the collaboration with Mayor Pro Tem Brietigam, she expressed her
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appreciation for his outreach to the community on the issue of catalytic converters, and also his respect for the business owners of the Grease Monkey Garage. She is looking forward to collaborating with Council Member O’Neill on future events in the community as well.
Council Member DoVinh congratulated newly appointed City Manager, Lisa Kim, and thanked outgoing City Manager, Scott Stiles for his service for the past seven years.
He expressed his confidence in the decision to appoint Ms. Kim as City Manager, and his hope the City maintains its continuity and successful growth. He recognized former Mayor Broadwater in attendance at tonight’s meeting who inspired him to public service. He noted that the Council will be meeting to discuss priorities and budget and encouraged anyone with questions to email him at [email protected] He commented on the need to take care of staff in terms of pay increases and pension protections as the staff takes care of the city. He speculated that with the improvements to the permit system, and by promoting “Build in Garden Grove,” that there will be resources available.
Council Member Klopfenstein commented on the presentation from CalOptima and how exciting it is to have a street medicine program that offers care to combat the crisis of homelessness. She listed the resources the City has implemented to help with this crisis that includes Be Well OC, the Special Resource Team, and the Navigation Center coming on line soon. She encouraged residents to read about the steps the City is taking to address the crisis of homelessness on the City’s website, to talk with City staff, and to talk with the Council Members to learn about everything the City is doing to help our unhoused. She noted the continuous rain storms; however, reminded everyone to dump and drain standing water as the rain subsides to avoid mosquito infestation. Mosquitoes can breed on anything vulnerable to standing water, including calcium deposits on clay pots. She congratulated Lisa Kim for her appointment as City Manager, praising her hard work, vision, professionalism and dedication to the City.
Council Member Nguyen echoed Council Member Klopfenstein’s enthusiasm for having the Street Medicine program, noting that as a former CalOptima employee and serving the last seven years as a council member, she has been an advocate for the whole person holistic approach to people seeking and needing medical attention. She expressed the importance for public safety, as well as the maintenance and improvements to infrastructure, but to also promote and help people to thrive in our city. She thanked everyone involved for getting these programs together including the Navigation Center that is located in her district. She met with the Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) where she had an opportunity to express how the assignment of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) of over 19,000 units in Garden Grove is the second highest number in the region, and how detrimental and unfair it is for the residents. She toured with the SCAG Director through her district, as well as neighboring districts that are currently impacted by density, and stressed the point that both Anaheim and Santa Ana were allowed an exemption for their RHNA numbers, while Garden Grove
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was not provided an exemption because of being 3,000 population count short for meeting SCAG’s exemption criteria. She attended the League of California Cities Board meeting and one of the topics discussed was ballot measures impacting local control. On May 4-5, local leaders from throughout Southern California will convene for SCAG’s 58th annual Regional Conference and General Assembly, and she really hopes that her alternate for the League of California Cities, Council Member Tran, will be able to attend. She has two more years on the dais and she has worked hard the past six years at the state and regional level to make a name for Garden Grove, and she hopes that the work continues moving forward when she is no longer serving on the City Council. She and Mayor Jones met with Consular Audrey Gomez at the Mexican Consulate office in Santa Ana to discuss a sister city opportunity. Ms. Gomez did give them information on some of the programs available that Garden Grove staff could benefit by when exploring sister city opportunities. She noted that the delay in appointing commissioners was at her request as she felt that it was critical to allow for extended outreach for the purpose of having true district representation. She expressed the need to bring in disenfranchised portions of the community, and it’s important to meet people where they are in the community. She also expressed the need to bring in new people and transition others out of those roles to give more people an opportunity for leadership and ownership of their community. She commented on how she will miss City Manager Stiles noting that she was blessed to have served on the council during his time as the City Manager. She is also very excited for having an Asian Woman of Color appointed as City Manager, pointing out that neighboring cities have also appointed Asian Women as their City Managers and that this serves to encourage young girls of color that leadership roles are within their reach.
City Manager Kim expressed her gratitude to the City Council for trusting her and appointing her as City Manager and she is excited to begin a new chapter in her career. She recognized David Dent’s team for pulling together the GG Ready streamlined and online permitting program, and acknowledged Director Rao and his team for implementing the program on the City’s website.
Mayor Jones closed the meeting in memory of Victoria McAmy, a long-time resident of West Garden Grove, who tragically passed away from her injuries sustained in a collision with a wrong way driver. In the words of Vicki’s daughter, Laura Herzog, everyone who knew Vicki knew her to be a woman of faith who sprinkled love and joy everywhere.
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ADJOURNMENT
At 8:31 p.m., Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting in memory of Victoria McAmy. The next Regular City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, California.
Teresa Pomeroy
City Clerk