1 MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the
Gardena City Council
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
The Regular Meeting Notice and Agenda of the Gardena City Council of the City of Gardena, California, was called to order at 7:36 PM on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, in the Council Chamber at City Hall 1700 West 162nd Street, Gardena, California; Mayor Tasha Cerda presiding.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tasha Cerda; Mayor Pro Tem Mark E. Henderson; Council Member Rodney G. Tanaka; Council Member Paulette C. Francis and Council Member Wanda Love; Other City Officials and Employees present: City Manager Clint Osorio; City Attorney Carmen Vasquez; Deputy City Clerk Becky Romero; and Records Management Coordinator Katherine Rhee. City Clerk Mina Semenza was away on an excused absence.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION - None
2. CLOSED SESSION - None
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION - None
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
James, Benjamin, and Micaela Urabe led the Pledge of Allegiance. James is in the 4 th grade, Benjamin in the 2 nd grade and Micaela in Kindergarten they all attend Amestoy Elementary School. James and Benjamin have been a part of the city’s youth sports programs and enjoy the sport of baseball. Micaela likes dancing and drawing. All three siblings participate in the City of Gardena’s after -school program. They introduced their parents and family members.
4. INVOCATION
Pastor James Chang, of Gardena Valley Baptist Church, gave the Invocation.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.A Community Updates from Los Angeles County Assessor, Jeff Prang – Mayor Cerda informed everyone that this item was rescheduled.
5.B Public Works Presentation of Third Quarter (3Q) CIP Project Updates – Presented by Director of Public Works Allan Rigg
Mayor Cerda asked if someone could submit a request for example if a signal light is out through Gardena Direct. Director Rigg confirmed, yes , and explained the process.
Council Member Love thanked Director Rigg for all the work done, specifically for making the audiovisual job in the City Council Chambers come true. She also had questions about the timing of the traffic light on Normandie and Artesia; and asked if he could look into the damaged streets and sidewalks on DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 2 the city borderline off Western and Artesia going west that were caused by a re-piping project.
5.C Presentation of the "Holiday Home Decoration Contest 2023" Winners - Councilmember P aulette C. Francis, Chair of the Gardena Beautification Committee stated the pri zes for all the winners and was elated to have participated.
5.D Gardena Events Video Presentation
6. PROCLAMATIONS
6.A "Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week," January 8 through 15, 2024 - Accepted by Councilmember Paulette C. Francis, Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Cultural Committee of Gardena, along with board members Artemese Bailey, Freddy Williams, Sharice Glosson Watson, and Michelle Miller.
7. APPOINTMENTS – No Appointments were made
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
8.A Waiver of Reading in Full of All Ordinances Listed on this Agenda and that they be Read by Title Only
CONTACT: CITY CLERK
8.B Approve Minutes:
Amended Regular Meeting of the City Council, November 14, 2023 Regular Meeting of the City Council, December 12, 2023
CONTACT: CITY CLERK
8.C Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, December 26, 2023 CONTACT: CITY TREASURER
December 26, 2023: Wire Transfer: 12587-12606; Prepay: 174390-174393; Check Numbers: 17 4394-174558 for a total Warrants issued in the amount of $5,367,456.90; Total Payroll Issued for December 15, 2023: $2,358,014.65.
8.D Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, January 9, 2024 CONTACT: CITY TREASURER
January 9, 2024: Wire Transfer: 12607-12616; Check Numbers: 174559-174699 for a total Warrants issued in the amount of $ 2,645,787.49; Total Payroll Issued for December 29, 2023: $2,048,493.36.
8.E Monthly Investment Portfolio, November 2023
CONTACT: CITY TREASURER
8.F Personnel Report P-2024-1 1-9-24
CONTACT: HUMAN RESOURCES
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 3 8.G SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1861 , Amending Section 2.60.100 (Open Market Procedure) of Chapter 2.60 (Purchasing System) of Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) of the Gardena Municipal Code CONTACT: CITY MANAGER
ORDINANCE NO. 1861
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.60.100
(OPEN MARKET PROCEDURE) OF CHAPTER 2.60
(PURCHASING SYSTEM) OF TITLE 2 (ADMINISTRATION
AND PERSONNEL) OF THE GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE
8.H SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1862 , Amending Section 3.24.020 (Delegation of claims authority to city manager) of Chapter 3.24 (Claims and Demands Against t he City) of Title 3 (Revenue and Finance) of the Gardena Municipal Code
CONTACT: CITY MANAGER
ORDINANCE NO. 1862
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 3.24.020
(DELEGATION OF CLAIMS AUTHORITY TO CITY MANAGER)
OF CHAPTER 3.24 (CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE
CITY) OF TITLE 3 (REVENUE AND FINANCE) OF THE
GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE
8.I SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1860 , Repealing and readopting Chapter 18.43 of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to Density Bonus laws and finding the Ordinance to be exempt pursuant to the common sense exemption of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
CONTACT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ORDINANCE NO. 1860
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, REPEALING AND READOPTING
CHAPTER 18.43 OF THE GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO DENSITY BONUS LAWS AND FINDING THE
ORDINANCE TO BE EXEMPT PURSUANT TO THE COMMON
SENSE EXEMPTION OF CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION
15061(b)(3)
8.J Acceptance and Notice of Completion for the Van Ness Avenue Street Improvements from Redondo Beach Boulevard to Marine Avenue, Project JN 992 CONTACT: PUBLIC WORKS
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson , seconded by Council Member Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve the Consent Calendar with the exceptions of Items 8.C, 8.D, 8.E, 8.G, 8.H and 8.I:
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 4 Ayes: Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member s Francis, Tanaka and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
9. EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR
8.C CITY TREASURER - Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, December 26, 2023 – Item pulled by Council Member Love
Council Member Love had no questions and asked to abstain from the vote.
It was moved by Council Member Francis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Item 8.C:
Ayes: Council Member Francis, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Tanaka, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: Council Member Love
8.D CITY TREASURER - Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, January 9, 2024 - Item pulled by Council Member Love
Council Member Love had no questions and asked to abstain from the vote.
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Item 8.D:
Ayes: Council Member Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: Council Member Love
8.E CITY TREASURER - Monthly Investment Portfolio, November 2023 - Item pulled by Council Member Love
Council Member Love had no questions and asked to abstain from the vote.
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka seconded by Mayor Cerda, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Item 8.E:
Ayes: Council Member Tanaka, Mayor Cerda, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson , and Council Member Francis
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: Council Member Love
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 5 8.G CITY MANAGER - SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1861, Amending Section 2.60.100 (Open Market Procedure) of Chapter 2.60 (Purchasing System) of Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) of the Gardena Municipal Code - Item pulled by Council Member Francis
Council Member Francis asked for clarification of Ordinance No. 1861. City Manager Osorio replied to her questions.
It was moved by Council Member Francis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Item 8.G:
Ayes: Council Member Francis, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Members Tanaka and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
8.H CITY MANAGER - SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1862, Amending Section 3.24.020 (Delegation of claims authority to city manager) of Chapter 3.24 (Claims and Demands Against the City) of Title 3 (Revenue and Finance) of the Gardena Municipal Code - Item pulled by Council Member Francis
Council Member Francis asked if this item pertains to claims brought against the City. City Manager Osorio confirmed, yes, that is correct and explained the purpose of the Ordinance. City Attorney Vasquez added that additional attorney expenses can also be saved.
It was moved by Council Member Francis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Item 8.H:
Ayes: Council Member Francis, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Members Tanaka and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
8.I COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1860, Repealing and readopting Chapter 18.43 of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to Density Bonus laws and finding the Ordinance to be exempt pursuant to the common sense exemption of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) - Item pulled by Council Member Francis
Council Member Francis asked for a clearer understanding of the item.
Senior Planner, Amanda Acuna was present and explained the state regulations and what is being requested in the ordinance that is being brought forth.
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Council Member Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Item 8.I:
Ayes: Council Member s Tanaka and Francis , Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 6 10. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION ACTION SHEET
10.A DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Meeting Cancelled
10.B JANUARY 2, 2024 - Meeting Cancelled
11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1) Jessica Abaya, Program Coordinator of Connected to Lead; came to announce various programs.
2) Travis Hernandez, Community Library Manager of Masao W. Satow Library: came to give updates on both Mayme Dear and Masao W. Satow libraries. 3) Courtney Alicia Miles, Community Organizer of Abundant Housing Los Angeles; asked for City Council to draft a support letter for the C Line Extension. 4) Paul Randall, Director of Mama Rosa’s Food Pantry; asked for assistance in obtaining the correct permit for the food pantry to continue the work. 5) Anthony P. Dixon, came to announce his Candidacy for the Gardena City Council and is looking forward to everyone’s support.
12. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES – No Items
13. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
13.A PUBLIC HEARING : ORDINANCE NO. 1863 , Making minor amendments to Ordinance No. 1851 which adopted by reference the 2022 Edition of the California Building Standards Code relating to fence permits and rodent -proofing, amending Section 18.42.070.f of the Gardena Municipal Code and finding the action is exempt from the California Enviro nmental Quality Act pursuant to the Common Sense Exemption of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
RESOLUTION NO. 6649, Setting forth the findings for required amendments to the 2022 California State Building Code relative to local climate, topographic and geologic conditions relating to permits for fences
ORDINANCE NO. 1863
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA,
MAKING MINOR AMENDMENTS TO ORDINANCE NO. 1851
WHICH ADOPTED BY REFERENCE THE 2022 EDITION OF
THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE RELATING
TO FENCE PERMITS AND RODENTPROOFING, AMENDING
SECTION 18.42.070.F OF THE GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE
AND FINDING THE ACTION IS EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT
TO THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION OF CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 7 RESOLUTION NO. 6649
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS FOR
REQUIRED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2022 CALIFORNIA
STATE BUILDING CODE RELATIVE TO LOCAL CLIMATIC,
TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS RELATING
TO PERMITS FOR FENCES
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
At 8:32 p.m., Mayor Cerda announced that the Public Hearing was open. She asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. There were no public speakers.
Council Member Francis asked for confirmation if the original ordinance that was submitted to the State was denied or rejected; what is rodentproofing?
City Manager Osorio answered the question and Building Official Mark Berg stepped in and explained why the Adopted Ordinance that was sent to the State Building Standards Commission was rejected and answered all questions.
At 8:34 p.m., Mayor Cerda then announced that the Public Hearing was closed.
It was moved by Counci l Member Tanaka, seconded by Council Member Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to Conduct a public hearing, receive testimony from the public allowing three (3) minutes for each speaker, and close the public hearing; Adopt Ordinance No. 1 863, including making finding for CEQA exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3); and Adopt Resolution No. 6649:
Ayes: Council Members Tanaka and Francis, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
13.B PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION NO. 6650 : Adopting an application fee for a home sharing permit and renewal fee, as authorized pursuant to Ordinance No. 1854 and finding that the fee is exempt under public resources code section 21080(b)(8) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15273
RESOLUTION NO. 6650
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AN APPLICATION FEE
FOR A HOME SHARING PERMIT AND RENEWAL FEE, AS
AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 1854 AND
FINDING THAT THE FEE IS EXEMPT UNDER PUBLIC
RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080(b)(8) AND CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTION 15273
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 8 City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
At 8:36 p.m., Mayor Cerda announced that the Public Hearing was open. She asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. There were no public speakers.
Questions and comments were made by Council Member Francis; does the permit run with the property if the property is sold?
Director of Community Development, Greg Tsujiuchi was present and responded to her question. City Attorney Vasquez added her response.
At 8:39 p.m., Mayor Cerda then announced that the Public Hearing was closed.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson , seconded by Council Member Tanaka, and carried by the following roll call vote to Open the public hearing, receive testimony from the public, and close the public hearing ; Adopt Resolution No. 6650 and making finding for CEQA exemption under Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(8) and CEQA Guidelines section 15273:
Ayes: Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Members Tanaka, Love and Francis, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Mayor Cerda took the following item out of order:
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Deputy City Clerk Becky Romero , noted for the record one (1) email that was received.
She stated that the email was received and filed and made part of the record.
14. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ELECTED & CITY MANAGER'S OFFICES
14.A SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1864 , Amending Section 2.04.170 of the Gardena Municipal Code Setting the Compensation of the Mayor and Members of the City Council as Authorized by Senate Bill 329
ORDINANCE NO. 1864
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.04.170 OF
THE GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE SETTING THE
COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY
COUNCIL AS AUTHORIZED BY SENATE BILL 329
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda asked if anyone asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. There were no public speakers.
There were no questions or comments made by any Member of the Council.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 9 It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, seconded by Council Member Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to Adopt Ordinance Number 1864:
Ayes: Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Members Francis, Tanaka and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
15. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS – POLICE – No Items
16. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - PUBLIC WORKS – No Items
17. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES – No Items
18. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS – TRANSPORTATION – No Items
19. COUNCIL ITEMS – No Items
20. COUNCIL DIRECTIVES
Mayor Pro Tem Henderson
1) Can we receive documentation on how the contractors are selected when it comes to the CDBG low-income housing - Council Member Tanaka seconded it
Purpose: To educate us on the selection process.
Reason: We are currently not aware of the selection process.
Benefit: It will raise the quality of life and everyone will now be informed about the selection process.
21. CITY MANAGER REMARKS RE: DIRECTIVES / COUNCIL ITEMS
City Manager Osorio gave a verbal report of information to follow -up on matters that had been directed or requested by the Mayor and Members of Council. Those items were, as follows:
1) Memo update regarding the request for Proposal for Audit Services. 2) Memo report on CDBG Housing Rehab Program.
22. COUNCIL REMARKS
(1) COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS – Since the last Council Meeting, she attended the Jolly Trolley stop at Rowley Park, the Santa ’s Taco Tuesday event for the Therapeutic Recreation Program, the Winterfest and the staff holiday party. She talked about the Holiday Home Decoration Contest and how she got to v isit all the homes that were submitted to be recognized, the Beautification Committee then got to choose the winners and make a presentation to each homeowner that decorated their homes. She reiterated that this Friday night is the Friday Night Youth Commemorative Program for the Martin Luther King celebration and we’re the first city west of Mississippi to have an officially sanctioned holiday honoring Dr. King. They have a two -day program while DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 10 most cities just have one, we have a Friday night youth progr am and the parade on Saturday. She encouraged everyone to please come out and support our young people, they have great entertainment, there will be music, there will be dance, their first-place essay contest winners will make their presentation then they ’ll present all the essay contest winners with a certificate as well as their scholarship award. On Saturday the parade starts at 10 o ’clock, it starts at Serra High School and goes north all the way down to Rowley Park and ends there. We’ll have a festival with vendors and food trucks, and we’ll have a battle of the bands and battle of the drum line. Guy Black from KJLH is our Grand Marshal and he decided to come back again even though we rained out twice last year, but he was so kind as to come back and ac t as our Grand Marshal for our parade. Barabra Phillips is our community Grand Marshal and just a little bit about Barbara, she’s seen her at so many events she thought she actually worked for the city, and she found she was a volunteer so because of her involvement and her contribution to our city, they selected her as our community Grand Marshal. She concluded saying to come on out this Friday night at Nakaoka where they have a reception at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7:30 p.m. and she expects to see her fellow council members up front and center, it’d be nice if they could come by and say hello to support our young people and they’ll be looking for them.
(2) COUNCIL MEMBER TANAKA – He started off by wishing everybody a Happy New Year and hoping that their holiday season was great, and he hopes the new year was a great start. He was invited to the Hustler Casino to do an informercial interview, he described it as being quite interesting and pretty short, but with a lot of questions. Went to the Tri City CERT holiday potluck and than ked the Tri City CERT for all that they do for our community and keeping us disaster prepared. Attended Jolly Trolley at Freeman Park where they had fake snow and a lot of interesting things this year, it was a great event.
Went to Senator Ben Allen ’s holiday open house at his new office in El Segundo. He went to the Chamber of Commerce Installation of Officers events. He attended Shop with a Cop at Target and thanked the Gardena Police Department and Foundation for all they do for our kids. Attended Breakfast with Santa and the senior lunch at Nakaoka and they were totally happy. Helping Hands toy giveaway at Rush Gym was amazing with how many toys and things they had to giveaway to kids this year and so much love and donations that were made. He participat ed in the lucky goat raffle giveaway and employee holiday party at Nakaoka, which he said is a great way to show appreciation to all that our employees do for our city that make us the gem of the South Bay because nobody likes to compete with us. He attended the Senior formal Winter Gala at Nakaoka and said it was a great event to see everybody dressed up and Director Santin made him wear a tuxedo that night, but it was a lot of fun to see seniors dressed up, dancing, and having a great time. He did his Kiw anis Club installation of officers and thanked them for electing him as their president. He went to California Cities LA Division January meeting at the new Edison building in Monterey Park, the COG Budget Committee meeting, AC Green’s Leadership Camp at Rowley Park and thanked AC Green and his people, Lastly, he did the COG Steering Committee meeting and shared they have a lot of things coming up this year with the budget and everything. He said thank you to every one of our departments, our city departmen t heads, all our employees for everything they did last year because nobody does what we do. He thinks Stephany outdid herself and we had more than 111 events this last year, but he wanted to say that we do more in our small little city than everybody does in the South Bay total together so he’s just proud to be a Council Member of the city.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 11 (3) COUNCIL MEMBER LOVE – She said she didn’t do a lot this holiday season because she needed to take a break, but she did attend the Friends of the Library Christmas party. She attended the Second Time Around Club Christmas party and said it was amazing to see how many of the seniors gather and really get their party on. She attended the Gardena Chamber breakfast with Santa, where they served 150 people that lived in s helters and foster families that didn ’t have what they needed for the holidays. She shared that there was one young lady that finished the LAPD Academy, who said because of how expensive it was to go through the academy, she wasn’t able to get anything for her two kids, so the kids were able to come and have breakfast with Santa provided by IHOP, and t hey were also a ble to go into a toy store without their parents and were able to pick out whatever toys they wanted without parent supervision. She described it as a really fun event with a lot of photo opportunities and added that the adults got gift cards to the grocery store and gif t bags of hygiene products. She attended the League of Cities event in Monterey Park where they learned about the new bail schedule from the police from the court system and remarked that it was pretty interesting to see how the bail schedule is put out there and how those that should be given bail or arrested or held are just kind of, she doesn ’t understand our laws, but it was interesting. Before she ended her report, she wanted to ask the question, when did telling the truth become a lie? She stated she doesn’t have a candidate in this race, and she doesn’t mean to offend anyone, but her goal in this race is to educa te the community and the public on how we conduct business in the city.
She continued by saying if she offends anyone by any of her comments or statements she does apologize because that ’s not her intent, her intent is to do what she was elected to do and that’s to look out for the 60,000 residents that she represents sitting on this Council.
(4) MAYOR CERDA – Since the last Council Meeting, she attended several events, the first one being the Friends of the Library Christmas party, the Tri-City annual Christmas party, she got the opportunity to witness her new Youth Commissioner Aidan Madison get sworn in and remarked that it’s been great to see him at all the different events. She attended all three of the Jolly Trolley events, the stuff a bus event with Gtrans and got a chance to meet Adai Lamar and spend some great time with her and she got a chance to meet Stevie Wonder who was awesome and was able to see him perform . She attended the Second Time Around Club’s Christmas party, Shop with a Cop, Breakfast with a Cop, and also attended an organization which is outside the city run for kids who are autistic and it’s called Surf and that was a toy giveaway and she had a great time attending that and working with their director, other elected officials and neighboring area of Torrance, Congresswoman Waters was there too. Attended the Commissioners Christmas holiday dinner, our employee Christmas party, our Rent Mediation Christmas party as well as the City ’s Breakfast with Santa, separate from PD ’s breakfast with Santa, our Helping Hands toy giveaway, the Winter Gala Candlelight Christmas dance.
Also, the AC Green event , as it was said earlier, she has to give a special thanks to Guy Mato, who helped put that together, he sat and talked with the staff, he took pictures with everybody, he was not that celebrity person that was trying to sign one or two autographs and run out the door, he stayed until the very end. She was excited to do the program during the winter, her understanding was that this was kind of like a test run and they’re looking to do it again in the summer and maybe have it for a little bit longer. As she said, kicking it off was great and she thinks he’s going to be a wonderful partner here in the City of Gardena. She also unfortunately attended two funerals, one was of our residents, and they adjourned in memory of her Ms. Jackie Collins who was DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 12 in the ti tle escrow business for many, many years and her son was a former vice principal at Peary Middle School at one time, so a lot of history within the City of Gardena. She also attended the funeral of Council Member Gloria Gray’s husband as well as Water Board member, her spouse Mr. Tibbs was somebody who was wonderful and just very supportive of her, a lot of people in attendance at that and just recognizing what a great partnership he had and helping her be successful in all her endeavors.
Lastly, just one quick comment, she knows it’s been mentioned a couple of times about this social media post that went out about the Mayor’s boyfriend ’s running for City Council and he doesn’t live in the city, it’s wrong for any of them as elected officials, as leaders, to put false information like that out. People expect for us to be above all this nonsense and they trust that they ’re going to put accurate information. She is aware that Council Member Love has been served via email from at attorney that you are to cease and desist from that and if you haven ’t seen it yet it’s already in your email, but she just thinks it’s wrong to continue to be doing that and she knows that action will be taken against her financially as well and being sued if that kind of behavior continues.
(5) MAYOR PRO TEM HENDERSON – Since the last meeting he’d like to say Happy New Year to everyone. He attended the Tri -City CERT holiday celebration, he was able to work with Independent Cities as their incoming president of the League of California Cities LA Division and the Contract Cities association, they had a joint holiday party. As the incoming president of Independent Cities, he ’s trying to make sure that there ’s collaboration between those three entities. He knows Independent Cities really focuses on Public Safety, Contract Cities focuses on contracts and the League is supposed to serve all of us. With that, there ’s 88 cities in LA County, he was able to get 74 representatives of the 88 cities to come so that was a lot of work, but it was a great percentage. He was able to attend Senator Ben Allen ’s office in El Segundo. He said the Jolly Trolley events were wonderful in our community, Breakfast with Santa, he was able to briefly hang out at the employee holiday celebration, spent a little bit of time at the Holly Park Homeowners meeting. He was invited to a snow event in the City of Los Angeles with Councilwoman Heather Hutt, and they had a real nice snow event in Leimert Park, they had real snow, and he was able to take his granddaughter out and everything, so she had a really good time. He attended Shop with a Cop and wanted to thank the Police Department and Parks and Rec teams for doing such good work with that. He attended our Gardena Flag Football banquet both times so that was great, he always brings greetings on behalf of our whole Council. He had his ICA Board meetings, AQMD meeting, he also works with Kappa Alphas Sai Psi at Rowley Park, they have an event they did on Christmas Eve, it ’s where they create these lunch bags for the homeless folks and that was something, again, representative of the whole city so made sure everybody shared in that opportunity, so it wasn’t just Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, it was from the Gardena City Council so he wanted to make sure everybody was aware of that. He went to the AC Green basketball camp and then he did all of his community and business visits. Some final thoughts he wanted to say were thank you to the City Manager and the Department Heads, they may not be aware, but they made everybody available for all the things that they were asking for in regards to different directives and just answering the questions and everything so he appreciates that. He appreciates the information that he gets from the Department Heads when he has a direct question on an issue that’s just not really a directive type thing, but it ’s something he’s not familiar with and everything. He appreciates the staff taking the time with him to help him work on some of the vision and that the ideas that we get from our community that we then now try to work it through our governmental process to make sure it comes to fruition, so he wants to thank our City Manager and all the Department Heads for that.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8 13 23. ANNOUNCEMENT(S)
Mayor Cerda announced:
1) Memory Matters Educational Presentation, Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at the Nakaoka Community Center;
2) 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade & Celebration, Saturday, January 13, 2024; at 10:00 AM;
3) Pizza with a Purpose! Tuesday, January 16, 2024, from 2:00 PM-3:30 PM at the Nakaoka Community Center;
4) Gardena Police Department’s Coffee with a Cop, Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at Superior Market in Gardena;
5) Ministerial Association Luncheon, Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at the Nakaoka Community Center;
6) Gardena Police Department’s American Red Cross Blood Drive, Friday, January 19, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Rush Gym in Gardena;
7) New Year, New You! Candlelight Dinner, Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Nakaoka Community Center; and
8) MJ The Musical, Sunday, January 28, 2024 at the Pantages Theater, Hollywood, CA; Check-in at Nakaoka at 11:15 AM; Departure: 11:30 AM; Showtime 1:00 PM; $50 per person.
24. REMEMBRANCES
Mr. Leonard Clifford Tibbs, Jr, 89 years of age; beloved life partner of Gloria Gray, who sits on the Board of Directors for the West Basin Municipal Water District.
Mr. Lars Aagaard Hansen, 58 years of age; beloved father of Paige Hansen, Program Coordinator in the Community Development Department.
25. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:14 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, January 23, 2024.
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: 9E87F743-F660-4972-A78E-7B631D79B3F8