MINUTES
Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
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. CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PERFORMERS & VOLUNTEERS
2. RECOGNITION OF LOCAL EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS
At the conclusion of public comment Mayor Sanabria called for a five (5) minute recess at 6:25pm. Mayor Sanabria reconvened the City Council meeting at 6:32pm.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following member of the public submitted a public comment card:
1. Edin Enamorado
2. Daniela Martinez
STAFF RESPONSE
City Manager Ricardo Reyes commented on the destruction of records item on the agenda. He stated that all the documents that have been identified for destruction align with the city's records retention schedule and are consistent with State law. He added that these records have exceeded their lifespan and thus have been identified for purging which is allowed under the law. He then addressed that comment regarding the urban forest plan and requested the Public Works director Cesar Roldan provide information about the plan.
Public Works Director Cesar Roldan stated that he is working with staff to have the urban forest plan posted on the front landing page of the city's website for easy access. He is also working with the Communications Department to provide the plan via email to those who have requested it.
The City Manager closed his comments by requesting item five (5) be pulled from the agenda.
CLOSSED SESSION
City Attorney Araceli Almazan stated that it is appropriate to recess to closed session. Mayor Martinez recessed into closed session at 6:43 p.m.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) - One matter
Aragon et. al. v. City of Huntington Park et. al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No.: 20STCV44933
Mayor Sanabria reconvened the Council meeting from Closed Session at 7:45 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 two (2) items on the posted agenda were discussed. Regarding items one (1) and two (2), the Council was briefed, and directions were given but no final action was taken. This concluded the closed session report.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY CLERK
MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to approve the consent calendar, 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
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINTUES
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held August 7, 2023
FINANCE
2. WARRANT REGISTER
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated September 5, 2023
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS
CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE FOR CIP 2019-02 SLAUSON AVENUE CONGESTION RELIEF
PROJECT AND AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH BID ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to approve Environmental Assessment pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations § 15301 as a Class 1 categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and adopt the 100% completed plans, specifications, and engineer's estimate for CIP 2019-02 Slauson Avenue Congestion Relief Project; and authorize staff to proceed with bid advertisement for construction, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria.
NOES: None
4. CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE FOR CIP 2019-14 ATP CYCLE V PROJECT AND AUTHORIZATION
TO PROCEED WITH BID ADVERTISEMENT
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to approve Environmental Assessment pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations § 15301 as a Class 1 categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and adopt the 100% completed plans, specifications, and engineer's estimate for CIP 2019-14 ATP Cycle Project; and authorize staff to proceed with bid advertisement for construction, 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
5. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT FOR CIP 2022-13 ROOF REPAIRS AT CITY HALL AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Item five (5) was pulled by City Manager Reyes.
Prior to item six (6) Councilmember Ortiz stepped away from the dais.
6. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AWARD OF A PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLANS,
SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATE OF CIP 2023-01 SB1 STREET
ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to award the preparation of Plans, Specifications, and Estimate of CIP 2023-01 SB1 Street Enhancement Project to NCE for a not-to-exceed amount of $136,800; and appropriate $136,800 from State of California Senate Bill 1 funds allocated to the City for roadway resurfacing purposes (non-FY 2023-24 budgeted item); and authorize the Finance Department to provide an account number and project code for this specific project in order to process project invoices; and authorize the City Manager to execute the professional services agreement, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz
At the conclusion of item six (6) Councilmember Ortiz returned to the dais.
7. RESOLUTION APPOINTING AN ALTERNATE TO THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE GATEWAY WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ("LOS ANGELES
GATEWAY REGION INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY")
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to adopt a Resolution appointing Steve Forster, Director of Community Development Director and Samantha Leyva, Public Works Management Analyst, as the alternates to the governing board of the Gateway Water Management Authority ("Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management Joint Powers Authority"), seconded by Councilmember Martinez.
Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A HEAVY-DUTY
HYDRAULIC LIFT TO REPAIR THE CITY'S LARGE-SCALE VEHICLES AND
SHUTTLES
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to dispense bidding process pursuant to Huntington Park Municipal Code section 2-5.12 Formal Bid Procedures (i): Waive of Bidding. 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 heavy-duty hydraulic lift to repair the City's large-scale vehicles and bus shuttles from Dr. Hydraulics, Inc. for the amount of $125,000 payable from Account No. 741-8060-431.74-10; and authorize the City Manager to execute the quote (Attachment 1) 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
9. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO RESTORE THE CLOCK AT THE CITY
HALL TOWER
MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to dispense bidding process pursuant to Huntington Park Municipal Code section 2-5.12 Formal Bid Procedures (i): Waive of Bidding. 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 restoration and installation of the clock at the City Hall Tower by Lumichron Commercial Clocks for a not-to-exceed amount of $33,111.60 payable from Account No. 111-8024-421.73-10; and appropriate an additional amount of $9,111.60 into Account No. 111-8024-421.73-10 since only $24,000 was budget in FY 2023-24 for the repairs; and authorize the City Manager to sign the quotation and execute the purchase order, 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
10. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S QUALITY
ASSURANCE PROGRAM
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Engineer to sign the State of California Department of Transportation Quality Assurance Program and Manual; and authorize staff to submit the adopted Quality Assurance Program and conforming resolution to the State of California Department of Transportation, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. 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 SUBMIT A FUNDING APPLICATION TO
CALRECYCLE FOR THE LEGACY DISPOSAL SITE ABATEMENT PARTIAL GRANT PROGRAM FY 2023-24
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to authorize staff to submit a funding application to CalRecycle for the Legacy Disposal Site Abatement Partial Grant Program FY 2023-24; and authorize the City Manager to sign all applicable documents, 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 EXECUTE THE THIRD AMENDMENT WITH PACIFICA SERVICES, INC. TO PROVIDE LABOR COMPLIANCE
SERVICES FOR TWO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2023-24
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to pursuant to Huntington Park Municipal Code section 2-5.19 Formal service contract procedure (b): Exception. When the City Manager or City Council authorizes the hiring of services for which standard specifications cannot be drawn because of: (4) When subjective criteria are necessary to evaluate the proposals; Persons designated by the City Manager shall negotiate for the authorized service. Proposals shall be submitted whenever practicable from at least three (3) firms, except in those cases where a service firm has established such a successful past history of work with the City that it is clearly in the public interest not to negotiate with any other source. The contract for professional services should be awarded to the entity that will provide the best possible service to the City for the best value. When the City Council or City Manager finds that a service lends itself to written standard specifications, bidding for these services shall be conducted pursuant to Sections 2-5.12, 2-5.13 or 2-5.14. When value of any service shall be twenty-five thousand ($25,000.00) dollars or more, the contract or purchase order shall not be executed unless approved by the City Council; and execute Pacifica Services, Inc.'s Third Amendment (Attachment 1) for labor compliance services associated with two Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded projects in Fiscal Year 2023-24 for a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 payable from Account No. 221-8010-431.76-12; and appropriate an additional $50,000 into Purchase Order (PO) 2883 from State Gas Tax Fund Account No. 221; and authorize City personnel to execute the Third Amendment, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
CITY CLERK
13. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A
DESTRUCTION OF BUSINESS RECORDS OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON
PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to adopt Resolution authorizing and approving the destruction of certain business records no longer required as permitted by the City Retention Schedule, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
END OF REGULAR AGENDA
PUBLIC HEARING(S)
Prior to the item fourteen (14) Councilmember Ortiz stepped away from the dais
14. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (AMENDMENT 1) TO THE FY 2023-2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN (AAP) TO ALLOCATE UP TO $1,208,584 TO AZURE DEVELOPMENT INC. FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FROM HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS (HOME) FUNDS.
Mayor Sanabria opened the public hearing at 7:57pm. Public testimony was provided by Vanessa Delgado. Mayor Sanabria then closed the public hearing at 7:59pm.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved to approve Amendment 1 to the Annual Action Plan for FY 2023-2024; and amend the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget in accordance with the approved reallocation of funds as follows, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz
At the conclusion of item fourteen (14) Councilmember Ortiz returned to the dais.
END OF PUBLIC HEARING(S)
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Chief of Police Cosme Lozano announced that the community police academy is starting an eight (8) week session for interested community members starting September 6, 2023. He then announced the Movie with a Cop event at Keller Park on September 15, 2023, at 7:00pm and encouraged the community to attend and enjoy the food and other goodies.
Mayor Sanabria encouraged community members to take advantage of the community police academy and increase community readiness and preparedness.
Director of Parks and Recreation Cynthia Norzagaray announced the upcoming Walk for Wellness event that happens every third Tuesday of the month at Veterans Park. She also encouraged the community to come to the Freedom Park Friday's series from 3:00pm to 4:00pm on Fridays at Freedom Park.
Director of Communications Sergio Infanzon provided information on the various activities the city is offering and provided a summary of the three most recent newsletters provided to the community.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Ortiz announced that Nimitz Middle School is having a parent summit Saturday September 9, 2023 at 9:00am and invited her colleagues to attend.
Councilmember Martinez thanked staff for providing a safe space and then asked staff to provide an update on the memorial plaques at Freedom Park and think about using materials that would be less valued by thieves when replacing the memorials. He then thanked staff for the opportunity to provide feedback on the city website and suggested including a page dedicated to renters rights and information.
Councilmember Flores began by thanking the staff for their hard work and gave special thanks to Public Works department for their hard work improving the sidewalks around the city.
Vice Mayor Macias thanked the staff and directors for all their hard work and encouraged the community to continue providing feedback. She then briefly touched on her recent trip to Zacatecas Mexico where she had an opportunity to meet Mayor and take part in the festivities celebrating the city of Fresnillo Zacatecas 469 Anniversary. She added that a discussion took place about the possibility of having a basketball tournament with teams from Zacatecas participating against some of our local school children. She closed by displaying the key to the city that was presented to her on her trip to Zacatecas Mexico.
Mayor Sanabria started by thanking Vice Mayor Macias for her efforts in putting the community of Huntington Park first and doing a great job representing the city during great trips like the one she just came back from in Zacatecas Mexico. She then thanked staff for all there hard work. She then directed staff to please have the United States flag in front of City Hall replaced with a new flag.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sanabria adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m. The next City of Huntington Park City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday September 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk