1 MINUTES
Regular Meeting Notice
Gardena City Council
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
The Regular Meeting Notice and Agenda of the Gardena City Council of the City of Gardena, California, was called to order at 7:40 PM on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in the Council Chamber at City Hall 1700 West 162nd Street, Gardena, California.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Cerda; Mayor Pro Tem Henderson; Council Member Tanaka; Council Member Francis; and Council Member Love. Other City Staff present was City Manager Clint Osorio; City Attorney Carmen Vasquez; City Treasurer Guy H Mato; and Deputy City Clerk Becky Romero. City Clerk Mina Semenza was away on an excused absence.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
2. CLOSED SESSION - None
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Yaresky Gonzalez and Angela Arredondo, who are both going into the 11th grade at Gardena Senior High School. Yaresky is starting her third year in JROTC. She is an active member of the color Guard and the Battalion Staff. One of her goals after graduation is to become a Nurse in the U.S. Army. Angela is also a 3
rd year JROTC Cadet. She plans to become a
medical doctor or a U.S. Army Chaplain.
4. INVOCATION
Ruling Church Elder Sallie Cuaresma of First Presbyterian Church of Gardena, led the Invocation.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.A Resolution Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Gardena-Huatabampo Sister City Relationship – was presented by Mayor Tasha Cerda
5.B Lexipol Policy Award 2023 – was presented by Theresa Maza
5.C Recognition of Members of the City of Gardena Police Explorer Post #142 for their 1st Place victory at the 2024 Central Valley Explorer Competition, in Ripon, CA - was presented by Police Chief Mike Saffell and accepted by members of the City of Gardena Police Explorer Post #142
5.D Boards & Commissions Presentation - Recreation Commission – was presented by Woods Woolwine
5.E Gardena Events Video Presentation
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 2 City Manager Osorio took a moment to announce and introduce Audra Lowe, our new Community Liaison Officer to Council. He read her bio, and she came up and said a few words.
6. PROCLAMATIONS
6.A Parks and Recreation Month - July 2024 – was accepted by Director of Recreation and Human Services Stephany Santin
7. APPOINTMENTS
7.A Oath of Office and Swearing in of Christyna Giles Washington, who was appointed to the GEBAC Commission at our June 25, 2024 Council Meeting - Appointed by Council Member Love – was sworn in by Deputy City Clerk Becky Romero
7.B Reorganization of the City Council - Selection of Mayor Pro Tem
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. There were no public speakers.
A motion was made by Mayor Cerda to nominate Council Member Tanaka to serve as the new Mayor Pro Tem from July 2024 to July 2025
It was moved by Mayor Cerda, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson , and carried by the following roll call vote to Appoint Council Member Tanaka to serve as the new Mayor Pro Tem from July 2024 to July 2025:
Ayes: Mayor Cerda, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member s Tanaka and Francis
Noes: Council Member Love
Absent: None
7.C Reorganization of Council Assignments of Delegates and Alternates to Outside/City Committees
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. There were no public speakers.
There was a discussion regarding current and alternate assignments to outside/city committees which included Mayor Cerda, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Tanaka and Council Member Francis. A motion was made to table the item until the next meeting.
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 3 It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, seconded by Council Member Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to table this item, make corrections to the Council Assignments, and bring back to the 8/13/2024 Council Meeting:
Ayes: Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member s Francis, Tanaka and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
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:
Regular Meeting of the City Council, June 25, 2024
CONTACT: CITY CLERK
8.C Receive and File Minutes:
Planning and Environmental Quality Commission, June 18, 2024 CONTACT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
8.D Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, July 9, 2024 CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
July 9, 2024: Prepay: 176619-176621; Check Numbers: 176622-176845 for a total Warrants issued in the amount of $7, 258,543.81; Total Payroll Issued for June 28, 2024: $2,425,246.33
8.E Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, July 23, 2024 CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
July 23 , 2024: Wire Transfer 12736 -12751; Prepay: 176846; Check Numbers:
176847-177028 for a total Warrants issued in the amount of $4,783,788.11; Total Payroll Issued for July 12, 2024: $1,894,725.98
8.F Monthly Investment Portfolio, June 2024
CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8.G Personnel Report P-2024-12 7-23-24
CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
8.H SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1874, Adding Chapter
15.64 to Title 15 of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to a Labor Transparency.
CONTACT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 4 ORDINANCE NO. 1874
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA,
ADDING CHAPTER 15.64 TO TITLE 15 OF THE GARDENA
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO A LABOR TRANSPARENCY
8.I Appointment of a Representative to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB)
CONTACT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
8.J Acceptance and Notice of Completion for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements FY 2023-2024 - Sidewalk Trip Hazard Removal Phase, JN 527.
CONTACT: PUBLIC WORKS
8.K Approve the Contract Services Agreement between the City of Lawndale and the City of Gardena for the Elderly Nutrition Program Services beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025
CONTACT: RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES
8.L Ratify Administrative Approval of the Elderly Nutrition Program Contract ENP242504 for FY24-25
CONTACT: RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES
8.M Ratify Administrative Approval of the Supportive Services Program Contract SSP232403 Amendment Two which provides funding for FY 24-25
CONTACT: RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES
8.N RESOLUTION NO. 6678, Authorizing the Filing of a Claim with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for Local Transportation Funds CONTACT: TRANSPORTATION
RESOLUTION NO. 6678
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A CLAIM WITH THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY FOR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
8.O Approve Purchase of On-Board Digital Storage for a Total of $84,955 and a Project Total of $93,450.50
CONTACT: TRANSPORTATION
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Item 8.H:
Ayes: Council Member Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Members Francis and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 5 9. EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR
8.H COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1874, Adding Chapter 15.64 to Title 15 of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to a Labor Transparency – Item pulled by Council Member Francis
Public Speaker: Salvador George, representative of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters spoke in favor of the Ordinance.
Questions and comments were made by Council Member Francis; Assistant City Attorney Lisa Kranitz and Community Development Director Greg Tsujiuchi answered all questions.
It was moved by Council Member Love, seconded by Council Member Tanaka, and carried by the following roll call vote to Adopt Ordinance No. 1874:
Ayes: Council Members Love and Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Members Francis, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
10. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION ACTION SHEET
10.A JULY 2, 2024 - Meeting Cancelled
10.B JULY 16, 2024 MEETING:
1818 W. REDONDO BEACH BLVD, THE TIRE HOUSE PROGRESS REPORT As requested by the Planning Commission at the April 16, 2024, meeting, staff presented an update report on the business known as the Tire House Inc. and their progress with meeting the requirements of Site Plan Review #4-15.
Commission Action: The Planning Commission motioned that this item be continued and recommended that staff monitor the business for compliance with the conditions of approval for Site Plan Review #4- 15, by a vote of 5- 0. The Planning Commission directed staff to bring forward a report of the applicant's progress to the October 1, 2024, Planning Commission meeting.
City Council Action: No action needed.
10.C JULY 16, 2024 MEETING:
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE TRAINING
California's new SB 553 law requires all employers to establish a workplace violence prevention strategy and initiate training. A presentation was given by Risk Management Analyst, Tracy Jacobs-Strange.
Commission Action: The Planning Commission was trained on SB553, a workplace violence prevention strategy, and initiated training, by Risk Management Analyst, Tracy Jacobs-Strange.
City Council Action: No action needed.
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 6 11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1) Chris Bennett, Block Club Captain of the Casimir Gatekeepers Network, came out to acknowledge and express gratitude to the Gardena Police Department for all their efforts and excellent work with the illegal fireworks seizure;
2) I ’Lah Bennett , daughter of Chris Bennett, came out to thank the Gardena Police Department for a job well done for the illegal fireworks bust; 3) A hraya Bennett, daughter of Chris Bennett, came out to thank the City Council for making improvements to the Gardena Direct App.
11.A. PUBLIC COMMENT
1) Deputy City Clerk Romero noted for the record that a Public Comment came in after the agenda had been posted, she indicated it had been distributed, filed and made part of the record.
12. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
12.A Approval of Blanket Purchase Orders for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. There were no public speakers.
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Council Member Love, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Blanket Purchase Orders for Fiscal Year 2024-2025:
Ayes: Council Members Tanaka and Love , Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
12.B Approval of Side Letter between the City of Gardena and the Gardena Police Officers Association ("GPOA")
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda 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. City Manager Osorio responded to her question.
It was moved by Council Member Francis, seconded by Council Member Tanaka, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve the Side Letter between the City of Gardena and the Gardena Police Officers Association ("GPOA"):
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 7 Ayes: Council Members Francis and Tanaka , Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
13. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
13.A PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION NO. 6676 , Certifying the Final EIR for the City of Gardena General Plan, Zoning Code and Zoning Map Amendment; RESOLUTION NO. 6677 , Readopting the Update to the Land Use Plan implementing Alternative 2, including making findings required by CEQA and adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; and ORDINANCE NO. 1873 , Readopting the zone changes for all the Inventory Sites, adopting the zone changes to eliminate the Parking zone on split -zoned properties, adopting a formal statement regarding the dividing line on split -zoned residential properties, and readopting the text changes to Title 18 with the amendments set forth in the Ordinance. Adoption of Ordinance No. 1873 includes making findings required by CEQA and adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
RESOLUTION NO. 6676
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA,
CERTIFYING AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR
THE CITY OF GARDENA GENERAL PLAN, ZONING CODE AND
ZONING MAP AMENDMENT PROJECT
ORDINANCE NO. 1873
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GARDENA, CALIFORNIA,
READOPTING THE ZONE CHANGES FOR ALL THE INVENTORY
SITES, ADOPTING THE ZONE CHANGES TO ELIMINATE THE
PARKING ZONE ON SPLIT -ZONED PROPERTIES, ADOPTING A
FORMAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE DIVIDING LINE ON
SPLIT-ZONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND READOPTING
THE TEXT CHANGES TO TITLE 18 WITH THE AMENDMENTS SET
FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO.
1873 INCLUDES MAKING FINDINGS REQUIRED BY CEQA AND
ADOPTING A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING
PROGRAM
City Manager Osorio announced that Item 13.A was a Public Hearing, and that there is a presentation.
Community Development Manager, Amanda Acuna and DeNovo Consultant, Starla Barker, presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Cerda asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any comments or questions. She then opened the Public Hearing at 9:22p.m.
Public Speaker: Brandon Smith, spoke in favor of the project and voiced his concerns.
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 8 Mayor Cerda read a statement regarding how the Council’s comments would be addressed on the project.
Questions and comments were made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson. Assistant City Attorney Kranitz answered all questions.
Mayor Cerda closed the Public Hearing 9:27p.m.
Staff Recommendation for Motion: Adopt Resolution Nos. 6676 and 6677 and Introduce Ordinance No. 1873.
It was moved by Council Member Love, seconded by Council Member Tanaka, and carried by the following roll call vote to Adopt Resolution No. 6676:
Ayes: Council Members Love and Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Council Member Love, and carried by the following roll call vote to Adopt Resolution No. 6677:
Ayes: Council Members Tanaka and Love , Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, seconded by Council Member Tanaka, and carried by the following roll call vote to Introduce Ordinance No. 1873:
Ayes: Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member s Tanaka, Francis and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Mayor Cerda noted that Mayor Pro Tem introduced Ordinance No. 1873.
14. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ELECTED & CITY MANAGER'S OFFICES - None
15. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - POLICE
15.A Approval of New Duty Weapon and Red Dot Aiming System for Police Department at a Cost Not to Exceed $128,452.28.
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Police Chief Mike Saffell introduced Sergea nt John Francis who presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Questions and comments were made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis and Council Member Tanaka. Seargent Francis answered all questions.
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 9 It was moved by Council Member Tanaka, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, and carried by the following roll call vote to Authorize Purchase:
Ayes: Council Member Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis and Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
16. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - PUBLIC WORKS
16.A Award Professional Services Contract for the Storm Drain Master Plan Project, JN 523, to Carollo Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $463,500.
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda 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 Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis, Mayor Cerda, and Council Member Love. Public Works Director Allan Rigg answered all questions.
It was moved by Council Member Francis, seconded by Council Member Tanaka, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approve Professional Services Contract:
Ayes: Council Members Francis and Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Love, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
17. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES - None
18. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - TRANSPORTATION
18.A Approve Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goal for Federal Fiscal Year 2025- 2027
Assistant Transportation Director, Dana Pynn presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Questions and comments were made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Francis, and Council Member Love. Assistant Transportation Director, Dana Pynn answered all questions.
It was moved by Council Member Love, seconded by Council Member Francis, and carried by the following roll call vote to Approval Goal and Methodology:
Ayes: Council Members Love and Francis, Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, Council Member Tanaka, and Mayor Cerda
Noes: None
Absent: None
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 10 19. COUNCIL ITEMS
20. COUNCIL DIRECTIVES – None
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) A memo update regarding the Wi-Fi in the Park project; 2) Wished our birthday recipients a very Happy Birthday; we are having cake after our meeting.
22. COUNCIL REMARKS
1) COUNCIL MEMBER TANAKA – Since the last meeting, he attended our COG Board meeting he would like to thank Council Member Cedric Hicks for his last one year of being a Board Chair for the COG; he did a really great job and he’s left big shoes for him to follow as he’s honored to have been elected as the 2024- 2025 Chair of the COG.
Along with his first vice chair Hawthorne Council Member Bernadette Suarez and second vice chair Lomita M ayor Bill Uphoff he looks forward to moving forward with the COG and bringing some really good things. He then had to do a COG video presentation to introduce himself. They did it in front of our own Gardena sign on the 162nd. He attended the COG S teering meeting, and he attended the COG Legislative briefing; w here we were honored to have Congresswomen Waters and Senator Ben Allen who attended on Zoom, and the rest were field reps. The Congresswomen talked about the housing crisis, affordable housing, and 1.4 million in resources for voucher programs to assist homelessness and to strengthen our U.S. Postal service, which she informed us is in disarray right now. Congressman Lieu talked about coastal cities assistance especially with Abalone Cove and El Segundo pumping station. Senator Allen talked about climate resilience education and landslide assistance especially with the things that are happening on the other side of the hill, he talked about conservation in plastics, battery, and water issues. Senator Gibson talked about reckless driving impounds for vehicles and human trafficking and to enhance school safety. There were some other issues that were talked about, but I think those were the important ones. He attended Boys to Men workshop that was hosted and put on by our City, with Jennifer Harris but it was great to see Mayor Pro Tem Henderson leading the charge on the Boys to Men. That was a very good event. I attended the Boys and Girls Club Robotics competition at Rowley Park; he thanked the Boys and Girls Club, they took robotics kits and put them together and it’s amazing what these young people can do when they put their minds to it. He attended the Southern California Inka Lions Club installation of officers at Rafaello’s in San Pedro; congratulations to their new officers and we wish them luck. He attended the Huatabampo Sister City’s 50
th Anniversary welcome at Terranea; I don’t advi se you taking the coastal route, it was devastating. However, it was a great event ; they were really excited to be there. I attended Huatabampo Gardena Day where they were able to tour all of our City departments and get a tour of what we do and then Huatabampo Farewell dinner at the Gardena Elks where we fed them and had a really great time of dancing. He attended Coffee with a Cop at Aunties Café on Artesia, He thanked the Chief
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 11 for always doing those things to keep everybody informed. He attended the Chase Bank groundbreaking; he thanked Congresswomen Waters for attending. He thanked Public Works Director Allan Rigg, because it is exciting and eventually it will be a really great project when done. Lastly, he was really saddened and his heart breaks and goes out to Linda and family about the passing of Deryl Lloyd who was an awesome employee for the City of Gardena, He did a lot of great things at Public Works and then came over to Recreation, he always did our Gardena Golf Tournament in Palm Springs. Just a solid guy with a big heart, always willing to do whatever it was to get done.
2) C OUNCIL MEMBER LOVE – Since our last council meeting, she attended the Boys and Girls Club Robotics competition it was really great to see the kids take nothing and turn it into something. They were really competitive and excited. She thanked the Boys and Girls Club of Carson for coming to Gardena to offer that to our youth. She also attended Coffee with a Cop, that’s always a great event to come out and meet your local authorities and get to know them, it’s a good way to meet them before you need them. She attended the Park and Recreation month lunching with our Sister City. She also attended the tour of our departments with our Sister City, and she attended the 46 th annual Hawaiian
festival at Alondra park. Before she closed her remarks she wanted to make a statement; she’s not really happy to make but she will make it anyway. She wants to let three of her colleagues on Council know that she has no intentions on ever accepting the Mayor Pro Tem seat, not that they will ever give it to her, but due to the pettiness and the slights that are done on C ouncil; she just wants the public to be totally aware that in order for the City to grow and compete and become like some of our sister cities we really need to look at our leadership and how we conduct ourselves on the Council.
3) C OUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS – Since the last council meeting, she attended the Metro State of the Agency that’s our local bus agency and they got a lot of great plans and some of it includes the City of Gardena. She also attended the Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District meeting. There is an increase in mosquito activity and if you need to have an inspection or need some assistance, if you call the agency they will come out and help you. She attended several of the sister city activities, a second time aro und Club, the ministerial luncheon, and also the soft groundbreaking for the new Rosecrans Community Center; this has been a long time coming. She is so glad and hopefully it won’t take another 10 to 15 years to get the building built, before I get too old. She mentioned that if anyone has any ideas about what we can do to make that happen please do. She thanked Congresswomen Maxine Waters for coming and the fact that she found earmarked a million dollars for that project so we can get that going. She mentioned they have started the demolition of the Chase building fence is going up, workers are there and so at least they’re going to knock it down. She said by the time we meet again school will have started again for hundreds of LA Unified School District, please be watchful for our young people because they will be walking our streets, they’re busy with their cell phones and not paying attention to traffic, so please be watchful.
Lastly her sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Deryl Lloyd and we thank him for his many years of service through our city. As she always says, stay faithful and just know better days are coming.
4) MAYOR CERDA – She attended the LA Sanitation Collective meeting and that’s where all the different directors from all the different cities meet in Whittier and discuss the union’s proposal for different things that they want to improve on their contract. We came to some agreement, and we had our committee vote and I believe at the end of the day everybody was very happy with that. She also attended the candlelight dinner that we
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 12 had here in the city. She attended Inglewood’s State of the C ity event that happened at the new Intuit Dome along with Mayor Pro T em, what a great event, the Intuit Dome is amazing. The event was called an Economic Summit, they weren’t event calling it a state of the city, but it was really great. Later that week she attended Dr. Mike Romero’s fare well for his retirement event that was held in San Pedro. He was very happy that the City of Gardena had a certificate for him, for his many years of services as well as the different things that he has done. H e’s really gotten our schools and principals really involved in a lot of our activities; he says even in his retirement he is still going to make sure that all of that continues. She also attended the annual 4
th of July celebration at Rowley Park
and another great year, our residents were very happy with it, and just a quick side note she has had a lot of residence come up to me and say that they noticed that there was more policing of fireworks in the city and t hat they noticed it being a lot significantly quieter than it has been and that’s good to hear. In the past we hear so many complaints, there were still illegal fireworks going on, but it’s great to hear residents say they feel like it’s getting a little bit better, and I think that’s all due to the extra patrolling that we had on our fireworks detail ; so Chief please share that, and she thanked the Chief and the Department. She also attended one of our residents in our community a 90 th birthday
party that was at Rowley Park. She was very happy to get a certificate from the City of Gardena just recognizing her birthday, they had a great party for her with family. She also attended Southern California Gas hydrogen house that was in Downey, along with Director Rigg and a couple of members from our C ommunity Development department and she had the opportunity to tour a hydrogen house and just look at all the great features and it was really exciting to see just some options that a City like o urs could have in the future. She also went to Sacramento along with City Manager Osorio and the Chief Saffell to testify in the hearing for our car d rooms on A ssembly Bill 549 and unfortunately the vote did not go in our favor but there were a lot of people out there showing their support and why we should not let the tribes make some changes that could affect our card rooms and inadvertently affect the revenue that comes to our City.
It was very disappointing that we did not get the vote that we wanted to, but she can say that our Assembly Member Tina McKinnor, gave us her word that she was going to vote in favor of the card rooms, and she did exactly what she said even though several of the other members voted other ways, either not in favor or not at all. The interesting part of this is that their newspaper articles have come out recently showing that all the people who did not vote in favor of this got sizeable donations from the tribe, so it’s kind of unfortunate to hear things like that. She also attended the July H ome of the Month with Council Member Francis. She attended the Emerald Square homeowner’s association meeting there had been in the past a lot of conversations about the streets having uneven pavement. The areas that you’re referring to are not the Gardena side it’s the LA side and what we have found out was that there’s some parts of Gardena where we abut up against the City of LA and that part of the street is owned by LA so I was very happy that we requested representatives from Tim Mc Allister’s office which is an assembly member in LA, Council District 15 he sent r epresentatives out, our Public Works Department printed out a really nice large map for us that showed what side of the street we have and what side of the street the City of LA had and we were able to get to the bottom of it and determine that those uneve n streets that they were talking about were not our streets. So we gave a lot of the complaints to Mc Allister’s office and overall we had a great meeting but you know nevertheless she appreciates the staff for going through the extra effort in putting this map together, she knows that she sent a lot of detailed information over as far as what we need to have and it was exactly what we
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 13 needed just to make sure the residents know were Gardena started and ended because it is kind of tricky. She also learned a lot about the parts on the street that we have, and we don’t have. She also attended the ICA Summer conference; she thanked Mayor Pro Tem for his group doing an amazing job putting on a great seminar together it was from last Thursday to Monday. We talked about great things like how City’s can find revenues during tough budget times, all kinds of things like life after city council, getting your house in order, how to meet your City’s RHNA needs. The one that she enjoyed the most was our public speaking workshop where we all had the opportunity to do some media training, so that was a lot of fun. She attended her normal JPA card room meeting, where they discuss monthly what’s going on. She also attended a lot of the Huatabampo events.
She thanked the staff for Parks and Rec’s Day for doing an amazing job. She always boasts about the fact that we’re doing close to a hundred events in our City, and she constantly keeps hearing people from other cities say they are coming from Redondo to come to you Gardena Event and she’s had a lady once tell her she came from Santa Ana to one of our candlelight dinners. That’s really impressive because this pas t weekend she had to drive to Santa Ana, and it took her 44 minutes to get there, so that’s not just around the corner. She attended her S anitation meeting, Coffee with a C op, ministerial lunch-in, the ground-breaking for Chase. She attended a nonprofit called the Joy of Others which was in Santa Ana, and she got to represent the City of Gardena and speak at their event encouraging more people to volunteer to help those in need and this organization was founded many years ago but they’ve really stepped up getting their youth to do more especially during covid. She also attended an organization called Kailasa Guru Purnima’s event that was in Montclair which was an hour and a half away on the same day. She gave them a proclamation recognizing their organization as well.
She attended the Serra High School golf tournament, and she is proud to say that our Gardena POA team was playing in there and they actually won the tournament which was awesome. Her team might not have won but at least the Gardena POA team did win so that was great.
5) M AYOR PRO TEM HENDERSON – Since the last meeting he attended the Inglewood State of the C ity. He also attended the d emo ribbon cutting for the Chase property, as well as hanging out with our Huatabampo Sister City at dinner and the LA Galaxy game.
That was his very first soccer game, so that was a lot of fun. On behalf of our C ity, for participating in the Boys to Men conference that was our first one and it was a great thing, so we’re going to do more things just to kind of give some mentorship to the members in our community. He attended a seminar regarding driving financial equity in the community, so Mr. City Manager be prepared for that as we look to figure out what the City of Gardena is doing for financial equity for our community. He had a quick meeting with Dr. Reginald Sample who will be the incoming superintendent for LAUSD for our region. He’s very well respected in LAUSD he has worked a lot in district one he’s looking forward to partner ing with us. He shared with him that Gardena has a great partnership with the schools in our area, so we want to make sure we continue that. In regard to leadership, congratulations Council M ember Tanaka for being now the new Chair of the South Bay Council of Governments leading the 16 cities in our region again Mayor Cerda thank you for being the C hair of the Joint Powers Authority for all the gambling establishments in the state of California especially in our region so continue that good fight. He has been recently elected as the incoming President of Independent Cities Association which is a consortium of 40 cities within LA county, our theme this next go around in my term is going to continue cities helping cities, so we want to continue to do that, so in our seminar s we’ll make sure that we have content that is relevant to our cities, new cities. We’re actually now expanding to Ventura County and Orange County
Docusign Envelope ID: F3E9406A-4640-4420-836F-B4F80BC36B91 14 so we’re looking to go beyond LA county because as we all know a lot of cities have the same issues. Gave his condolences go out to the Lloyd Family, Deryl will be missed we had a lot of great golf stories at the Gardena Golf tournaments in Palm Springs, so that was saddening to hear.
23. ANNOUNCEMENT(S)
Mayor Cerda announced:
1) Line G to Manhattan Beach – Free Service to the Beach running Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from June 18-August 31, 2024;
2) Summer Country Bash on Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 5:00- 7:00p.m. on the City Hall Lawn;
3) Gardena Police Department and City of Gardena’s Blood Drive , Wednesday, July 31, 2024 from 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. at Rush Gym
4) Back to School Giveaway, on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 6:30- 8:30p.m. at City Hall Complex
5) Summer Block Party in Celebration of National Night Out, Tuesday, August 6, 2024 from 6:30-8:30p.m. at the City Hall Complex; and
6) 21st Annual City of Gardena Jazz Festival, Sunday, August 25, 2024 at Rowley Park.
24. REMEMBRANCES
Mr. Joseph Huss, 69 years of age, beloved stepfather-in-law of Jose Espinoza, Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department.
Mr. Deryl Lloyd, 74 years of age, retired from the City after almost 34 years of service.
He worked in the Public Works Department as the Park Maintenance Superintendent, and then retired as the Recreation Program Administrator in 2017. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
25. ADJOURNMENT
At 1 0:37p.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, August 13, 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
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