MINUTES
Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Park, California was called to order at 6:03 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 6550 Miles Avenue, Huntington Park, California; Mayor Marilyn Sanabria presiding.
PRESENT: Councilmember(s): Graciela Ortiz, Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez., Arturo Flores, Vice Mayor Karina Macias and Mayor Marilyn Sanabria.
ABSENT: None
CITY OFFICIALS/STAFF: City Manager Ricardo Reyes; Cesar Roldan Director of Public Works; Raul Alvarez Assistant City Manager; Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk; Cosme Lozano Police Chief; Steve Foster Director of Community Development; Sergio Infanzon Director of Communications; Araceli Almazan City Attorney.
INVOCATION
Mayor Sanabria led the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Arturo Flores led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION(S)
1. RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL OLYMPIC TORCH RUN EVENT VOLUNTEERS
2. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR LOCAL SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
3. INNER CITY VISIONS REPORT
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following member of the public submitted a public comment card:
1. Jesse Estrella
2. Baldomero Capiz
STAFF RESPONSE
City Manager Ricardo Reyes stated that he requires more information to understand the issue that was raised by the commentor. Chief of Police Cosme Lozano stated he would reach out to Mr. Estrella for additional information.
CLOSSED SESSION
City Attorney Araceli Almazan stated that it is appropriate to recess to closed session. Mayor Martinez recessed into closed session at 7:05 p.m.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Construction Industry Force Account Council v. City of Huntington Park Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 20STCPO3947
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Hector Barba, Sr. & Norma Barba v. City of Huntington Park, et al.
USDC Case No.: 2:22-cv-08987-FMO-JEM
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(2): One matter.
Mayor Sanabria reconvened the Council meeting from Closed Session at 8:23 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Attorney Almazan reported that the record should reflect that with all five (5) members of the City Council present the three (3) items on the posted agenda were discussed. Regarding items one (1), two (2) and three (3) the Council was briefed but no final action was taken. This concluded the closed session report.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY CLERK
MOTION: Councilmember Macias moved to approve the consent calendar, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria.
NOES: None
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINTUES
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held July 18, 2023
FINANCE
2. WARRANT REGISTER
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated August 15, 2023
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
FINANCE
3. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION FIXING THE ANNUAL PENSION TAX RATE TO PAY THE CITY’S PENSION OBLIGATION BOND
ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE AND A PORTION OF THE COST OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to adopt Resolution fixing the Rate of Taxes to Pay the Cost of the Public Employees Retirement System for the Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 and Levying Taxes for Said Retirement System to the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2023, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria.
NOES: None
4. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
AGREEMENT AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE ACCOUNTING/FINANCE
SERVICES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
HUNTINGTON PARK AND HERRERA & ASSOCIATES
MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to Approve the Resolution authorizing an agreement with Herrera & Associates, a municipal CPA firm, to provide Financial Consultant, namely John Herrera, CPA; and approve an appropriation in the amount not to exceed of $22,500 a month for 12 months from account(s):
33% from No. 111-3010-415.56-41
33% from No. 787-8914-499.56-41
33% from No. 111-9050-419.43-15
and authorize the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement and the first amendment to the agreement, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
PUBLIC WORKS
5. APPROVE ACCEPTANCE OF WORK PERFORMED FOR CIP 2022-01 SENATE BILL 1 (SB1) SLURRY SEAL PROJECT
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to approve acceptance of work performed by All American Asphalt for the construction of CIP 2022-01 Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Slurry Seal Project; and authorize staff to execute the Notice of Completion (NOC) and direct the City Clerk to file the NOC with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office; and release the retention amount of $30,555.18 to All American Asphalt 35 days of the effective date of the recordation of the NOC, if no Stop Notices are filed within the 35-day period, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
6. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT FOR CIP 2022-10 CDBG ADA RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to award the contract to Kalban, Inc. for the construction of CIP 2022-10 CDBG ADA Reconstruction Project as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for a not to exceed fee of $733,250; and approve a construction contingency in the amount of $61,183.28 payable from CDBG funds and $209,281.00 in Metro TDA Article 3 funds for a total construction contingency amount of $270,464.28; and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract agreement and all change orders in good faith, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
7. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO DISTRIBUTE AND POST ON THE CITY’S WEBSITE THE DRAFT URBAN FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR A 60-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to authorize staff to distribute the draft Urban Forest Management Plan to community stakeholder and allow to post on the City’s website for a period of 60-days for public consumption and commentary; and authorize staff to bring back the final draft at a future City Council meeting for adoption, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
8. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO EXECUTE AN INTERAGENCY
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON
PARK AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
REGIONAL INTEGRATION OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to accept the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) as the Administrator of the Regional Integration of Intelligent Transportation Systems (RIITS); and authorize the City Manager to sign and execute the MOU, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
9. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL TYPE 332 CABINET AND 170 CONTROLLERS
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to authorize staff to waive bidding pursuant to Huntington Park Municipal Code section 2-5.12 Formal Bid Procedures (i) City Council, by a majority vote, may dispense with bidding and other procedures required by this chapter in any individual instance upon finding that it would be impracticable, useless or economically infeasible to follow such procedures and that the public welfare would be promoted by dispensing with them; and approve the purchasing of a traffic signal Type 332 Cabinet and 170 Controller from SWARCO for the amount of $26,239.50 payable from Account No. 221-8014-429.74-10; and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase order, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
10. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS FROM
QUALIFIED VENDORS TO PURCHASE AN AERIAL UTILITY TRUCK
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to authorize staff to proceed with the advertisement of the Request for Proposal (RFP) to purchase an aerial utility truck, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
11. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO UPGRADE THE FUEL PUMPS AT THE
CITY MAINTENANCE YARD
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to proceed pursuant to Huntington Park Municipal Code section 2-5.12 Formal Bid Procedures (i) and waive bidding; and approve the purchasing of a turn-key fuel management system that includes all applicable equipment hardware, labor and firmware from EJ Ward for the amount of $117,890.75 payable from Account No. 741-8060-431.74-10; and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase order and all other applicable documentation related to the upgrades of the fuel pumps at the City’s Public Works Maintenance Yard, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
12. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AWARD CONTRACT PROPOSALS TO
REMOVE AND REPLACE A TOTAL OF SEVEN MECHANICAL AND HEATING,
VENTILATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING UNITS AT CITY HALL AND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to authorize and execute F. M. Thomas Air Conditioning, Inc.’s cost proposals to remove and replace Mechanical and Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning units at City Hall and the Police Department for a not-to-exceed amount of $262,068 payable from Account No. 111-8022-419.73-10 ($167,793) and Account No. 111-8024-421.73-10 ($94,285); and authorize the City Manager to execute the two cost proposals, seconded by Councilmember Flores.
Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
13. 2023/24 FINAL PAYMENT TO ECO-RAPID TRANSIT MEMBERSHIP MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to authorize staff to publish and solicit a Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified vendors to provide fixed-route shuttle bus transportation services, seconded by Mayor Sanabria. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
END OF REGULAR AGENDA
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Director of Communications Sergio Infanzon presented a plaque to the City Council for all the work the Council does for the Huntington Park Community.. The plaque was provided by an elected official from the state Zacatecas Mexico.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Ortiz thanked the police department and city staff for all their hard work in making the first day of school smooth for the local Huntington Park students. She then thanked Vice Mayor Macias for her dedication to the Eco-Rapid committee. She closed by sharing information on an upcoming community workshop that will focus on helping people enroll for insurance through the Covered California program on Wednesday August 23, 2023 at 5:30pm at the Salt Lake Park Community Center.
Councilmember Martinez thanked staff for the work with the new welcome to Huntington Park signs.
Councilmember Flores began by thanking the staff for their hard work.
Vice Mayor Macias thanked staff for all there hard work, and she gave a special shout out to Parks and Recreation for the afterschool program.
Mayor Sanabria thanked staff for all their hard work.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sanabria adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m. The next City of Huntington Park City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday September 5, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk