1 MINUTES
Special Meeting of the
Gardena City Council
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
The Special Meeting of the Gardena City Council of the City of Gardena, California, was called to order at 6:18 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2023; Mayor Tasha Cerda presiding.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tasha Cerda; Mayor Pro Tem Paulette C. Francis; Council Member Mark E. Henderson; Council Member Rodney G. Tanaka; and Council Member Wanda Love; Other City Officials and Employees present: City Manager Clint Osorio; City Attorney Carmen Vasquez; Assistant City Attorney Lisa Kranitz; Community Development Director Greg S. Tsujiuchi; Senior Planner Amanda Acuna; and City Clerk Mina Semenza.
2. SPECIAL MEETING
City Attorney Carmen Vasquez noted for the record the public comment received with the threat of litigation as a result the City Attorney’s Office is recommending that we add an item to the agenda as Item 3.C which will be the Introduction of Ordinance No. 1848, which is identical to the Urgency Ordinance No. 1847 under Item 3.B that is on the agenda. We learned of this today and this threat of litigation, which is why we are requesting that the Council make a motion to add this Item to the agenda and request for City Clerk to take role – this vote requires four -fifths in order to be added to the agenda and that would be the Introduction of Ordinance No. 1848.
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to Add the Introduction of Ordinance No. 1848:
Ayes: Council Member Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Francis, Council Members Henderson and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Consultant Veronica Tam of Veronica Tam & Associates, along with Senior Planner Amanda Acuna gave a PowerPoint presentation on the following:
3. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
3.A ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #1-23, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT # 1 -23 Readoption of Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element for 2021 - 2029 period and finding that the adoption is subject to the common sense exemption of CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) as the Housing Element is a policy document
DocuSign Envelope ID: C69596B9-5201-4D00-A23D-C4AAA0705F3B 2 Staff respectfully recommends that the City Council:
• Conduct a Public Hearing; and
• Approve Resolution No. 6619 which readopts the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element for 2021 – 2029 and makes a finding that the adoption is subject to the common sense exemption of CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) as the Housing Element is a policy document.
Mayor Cerda opened the Public Hearing at 6:43 p.m.
City Clerk Mina Semenza , noted for the record the public comment received from the public, which would cover both 3.A and 3.B, stating that it has been forwarded to the City Council, and are available for viewing at the City Clerk’s office.
Consultant Veronica Tam, along with Assistant City Attorney Kranitz, Community Development Director Greg Tsujiuchi and Senior Planner Acuna answered all questions.
Mayor Cerda closed the Public Hearing at 7:02 p.m.
It was moved by Council Member Love, seconded by Council Member Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Conduct a Public Hearing and Approved Resolution No. 6619:
Ayes: Council Member s Love and Henderson, Mayor Pro Tem Francis, Council Member Tanaka, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
3.B ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #2-23, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT # 2 -23, ZONE CHANGE #1-23, ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT #1-23
Adoption of Resolution No. 6620 Updating the Land Use Plan, including changes to the Land Use Map and adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 1847, amending the Zoning Code, and revising the Zoning Map both subject to findings of exemption under CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) - the common sense exemption and 15308 for protection of the environment. Also adoption of Resolution No. 6621 adopting a color palette for buildings, fences, and walls subject to finding of exemption under CEQA Guidelines section 1506 1(b)(3) - the common sense exemption.
Staff respectfully recommends the City Council:
• Conduct a Public Hearing; and
• Approve Resolution No. 6620 , adopting the Update to the Land Use Plan, including an amended Land Use Map, with CEQA exemption determination under CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3) and 15308 (Requires a majority vote of total Council); and
DocuSign Envelope ID: C69596B9-5201-4D00-A23D-C4AAA0705F3B 3 • Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 1847 , amending Title 18 of the Gardena Municipal Code and revising the City’s Zoning Map, with CEQA exemption determination under CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3) and 15308 (Requires a 4/5 vote).
• Approve Resolution No. 6621, adopting a color palette for residential design criteria, with CEQA exemption determination under CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3)
Senior Planner Amanda Acuna gave a PowerPoint presentation along with Special Projects Planning Consultant Gregg McClain, and Assistant City Attorney Lisa Kranitz.
Assistant City Attorney Lisa Kranitz, Senior Planner Amanda Acuna and Special Project Planning Consultant Gregg McClain answered all questions.
Mayor Cerda opened the Public Hearing at 8:02 p.m.
Public Speaker : Mariya Wrightsman expressed her concerns on Urgency Ordinance No. 1847.
City Attorney Vasquez reiterated that as stated by City Clerk Mina Semenza, noted for the record the public comment received from the public, which would cover both
3.A and 3.B.
Mayor Cerda closed the Public Hearing at 8:05 p.m.
RESOLUTION NO. 6620
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE GARDENA GENERAL
PLAN BY ADOPTING AN UPDATE TO THE LAND USE PLAN
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Council Member Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Conduct a Public Hearing and Approved Resolution No. 6620:
Ayes: Council Members Tanaka and Henderson, Mayor Pro Tem Francis, Council Member Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 1847
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA AMENDING TITLE 18 OF THE
GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE PRIMARILY RELATING TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF HOUSING OVERLAYS AND
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS PERTAINING THERETO AND
REVISING THE CITY’S ZONING MAP AND FINDING THE
ADOPTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA PURSUANT TO CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15061(b)(3) and 15308
DocuSign Envelope ID: C69596B9-5201-4D00-A23D-C4AAA0705F3B 4 It was moved by Council Member Love, seconded by Council Member Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Conduct a Public Hearing and Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 1847 with Amendments:
Ayes: Council Members Love and Henderson, Mayor Pro Tem Francis, Council Member Tanaka, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
RESOLUTION NO. 6621
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING A COLOR PALETTE FOR
DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF GARDENA
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Council Member Love, and carried by the following roll call vote to Conduct a Public Hearing and Approved Resolution No. 6621:
Ayes: Council Members Tanaka and Love , Mayor Pro Tem Francis, Council Member Henderson, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
3.C INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1848 , of the Gardena Municipal Code Primarily Relating t o the Establishment of Housing Overlays and Development Standards Pertaining t hereto and Revising t he City’s Zoning Map a nd finding the Adoption to be Exempt f rom CEQA Pursuant to C EQA Guidelines Sections 15061(B)(3) and 15308 which is identical to the Urgency Ordinance No. 1847.
Assistant City Attorney Lisa Kranitz explained the introduction of Ordnance No. 1848, which is identical to Urgency Ordinance No. 1847, except it does not include the Urgency Ordinance language and will have a second reading and be effective 31 days After Adoption.
Council Member Love introduced Ordinance No. 1848.
It was moved by Council Member Love , seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Francis , and carried by the following roll call vote to Introduce Ordinance No. 1848 with the same Amendments being made to Urgency Ordinance No. 1847:
Ayes: Council Member Love, Mayor Pro Tem Francis, Council Members Henderson and Tanaka, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
DocuSign Envelope ID: C69596B9-5201-4D00-A23D-C4AAA0705F3B 5 4. ADJOURNMENT
Ruby Leon Ballard, Ruby Leon Ballard was born on July 13, 1935, in Montezuma, Georgia. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Washington DC and became a manufacturing engineer. She was employed by numerous aerospace companies, including Northrop Grumman, McDonnell Douglas, and The Boeing Company; she was the only African American woman in her division. Ms. Ballard was an especially kind and quiet woman who had a great sense of humor and lived a full life. Ruby was a devout member of the First Church of God. She passed away on January 28, 2023, and will be greatly missed by her family and everyone whose lives she touched.
At 8:10 p.m., Mayor Cerda adjourned the Gardena City Council Meeting to the Closed Session portion of the City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m., and the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
MINA SEMENZA
City Clerk of the City of Gardena and
APPROVED:
Ex-officio Clerk of the Council
______________________________ By:___________________________ Tasha Cerda, Mayor Becky Romero, Deputy City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: C69596B9-5201-4D00-A23D-C4AAA0705F3B