MINUTES
Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Park, California was called to order at 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 6550 Miles Avenue, Huntington Park, California; Mayor Marilyn Sanabria presiding.
PRESENT: Councilmember(s): Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez., Arturo Flores, and Vice Mayor Karina Macias
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
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
Vice Mayor Macias led the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION(S)
1. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH
2. PRESENTATION OF OFFICIAL VISIT TO FRESNILLO ZACATECAS
3. PRESENTATION OF K9 OFFICER DOC
4. PRESENTATION BY VALLEY VISTA
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
STAFF RESPONSE
City Manager Ricardo Reyes advised that staff report for agenda item number five has been revised and copies have been made available to both City Council members and the public.
CLOSSED SESSION
City Attorney Araceli Almazan stated that it is appropriate to recess to closed session. Vice Mayor Macias recessed into closed session at 7:11 p.m.
1. 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
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
Vice Mayor Macias reconvened the Council meeting from Closed Session at 7:55 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Attorney Almazan reported that the record should reflect that with Councilmembers Martinez, Flores and Vice Mayor Macias 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 direction was given but no final action was taken. This concluded the closed session report.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY CLERK
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the consent calendar, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINTUES
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held August 15, 2023
FINANCE
2. WARRANT REGISTER
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated September 19, 2023
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
POLICE DEPARTMENT
3. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT BODY
ARMOR, BALLISTIC HELMETS, RADIO COMMUNICATION HEADSETS, AND
CHEMICAL AGENT (GAS) MASKS FOR THE SPECIAL EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM (SERT)
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to authorize the expenditure of $75,000.00 from account 111-7010-421.73-10 as partial funding; and approve an appropriation, not to exceed, of $55,000.00 to account 111-7010-421.73-10, to close the funding gap; and approve a total expenditure, not to exceed, $130,000.00 to purchase tactical equipment for the Special Emergency Response Team, and authorize the Chief of Police to purchase this equipment, seconded by Councilmember Martinez.
Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
4. APPROVE DONATION OF A POLICE SERVICE DOG FOR NARCOTICS
DETECTION AND SUSPECT APPREHENSION
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize the City Manager to receive a Police Service Dog (PSD) for narcotics detection and suspect apprehension from Adlerhorst International, LLC.; and authorize the Chief of Police to take physical possession of the Police Service Dog and assign the canine to the police department’s Patrol Division K9 program for police service in the community, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
5. CONSIDERATION AND AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CUSTOM STACK LLC FOR LAST MILE GRANT
DEVELOPMENT
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to authorize a Professional Services Agreement with Custom Stack LLC in the amount of $26,900; and authorize the City Manager to prepare and execute the agreement, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
6. CONSIDERATION AND AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH
CROWN CASTLE FIBER FOR INTERNET SERVICES RELATED TO THE CITYWIDE WIFI PROJECT.
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize an Agreement with Crown Castle Fiber in the amount of $16,200 per month for 36 Months; and authorize the City Manager to prepare and execute the agreement, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
FINANCE
7. BUDGET STATUS REPORT AS OF JUNE 30, 2023
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to receive and file the Q4 Quarterly Budget Status report through June 30, 2023; and authorize Finance Director to make necessary adjustments to FY 2023 City Budget throughout the audit process. seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
PARKS AND RECREATION
8. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZATION AND RATIFICATION
OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES FOR HOLIDAY PALM TREE DECORATIONS ON
PACIFIC BOULEVARD
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve authorization of Brightlife Designs for the installation and removal of Holiday Palm Tree Light Decorations on Pacific Boulevard using account #111-6010-451-74.10 in a not-to-exceed amount of $17,500.00; and authorize the City Manager to enter into a 2-year agreement with Brightlife Designs for 2023 and 2024, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, Vice Mayor Macias and Mayor Sanabria
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
PUBLIC WORKS
9. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AWARD A JANITORIAL
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias modified staff original recommendation and moved to award the janitorial services contract to Coalition for Responsible Community Development for a period of five (5) years instead of three (3), including two (2), oneyear extensions for an annual amount of $349,940.55; and appropriate $349,940.55 from the General Fund to be evenly distributed amongst each of the following four (4) accounts 111-8020-431.56-41, 111-8022-419.56-41, 111-8023-451.56-41 and 111-7024-421.56-41; and authorize the City Manager to execute the professional services agreement, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
10. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE FOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
TRANSPORTATION VANS
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve staff recommendation. Prio to a second to Councilmembers Martinez motion, Vice Mayor Macias offered a substitute motion that modified the original staff recommendation.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved 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 two 2019 Green Power Electric Vehicle Transportation Vans from Zeem Solutions, Inc. for the amount of $111,680 payable from AB 2766 funds; and modify staff recommendation for the purchasing of two (2) 9-passenger and/or 19 passenger units to four (4) and charging stations and pertinent material for a not-toexceed amount of $130,000 payable from AB 2766 funds; and authorize the Finance Department to provide an account number in order to process the invoices; and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase orders and all other applicable documents related to the registration of the vehicles through the Department of Motor Vehicles, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
11. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A TIRE CHANGER AND
TIRE BALANCER
MOTION: Vice Mayor Macias moved 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 tire changer and tire balancer from Hunter Engineering Company for the amount of $60,012.68 payable from Account No. 741-8060-431.74-10; and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase order and all applicable documents, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
12. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A SUMP PUMP FOR THE
CITY HALL BASEMENT
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved 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 sump pump for the City Hall basement from Simonds Machinery Co. for the amount of $32,352.86 payable from Account No. 111-8022-419.73-10; and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase order and all applicable documents, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
13. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AWARD OF A PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR FIXED-ROUTE SHUTTLE BUS
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to award a 5-year professional services agreement (PSA) with an option to renew automatically for an additional five-year term to Express Transportation Services, LLC for fixed-route shuttle bus transportation services as the most responsive and qualified vendor; and allocate an additional amount of $272,750 for FY 2023-24 Budget to process invoices; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the PSA, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
14. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS FROM
QUALIFIED FIRMS TO PREPARE A WATER MASTER PLAN
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to approve authorize staff to publish and solicit a Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified water engineering and environmental firms for the preparation of the Water Master Plan, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
15. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT FOR CIP 2022-13 ROOF REPAIRS AT CITY HALL AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Prior to agenda item 15 being deliberated on by the City Council, City Manager Reyes clarified that the total monetary amount being requested for Council approval is $2,173,000.
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to award the contract to Danny Letner, Inc. dba Letner Roofing Company for the construction of CIP 2022-13 Roof Repairs at City Hall and Police Department as the most responsive, responsible bidder for an amount of $1,890,000; and approve construction contingency and incidentals (change orders) in the amount of $283,500.00; and approve the total project cost of $2,173,000 payable from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds; and authorize the Finance Department to provide an account number and project code for this specific project in order to process project invoices; and approve Best Contracting Services, Inc.’s request for the withdrawal of their bid and release their bid bond; and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract agreement and to negotiate all change orders in good faith, seconded by Vice Mayor Macias. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
16. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO SOLICIT CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES AS PART OF THE OVERSIGHT OF CIP 2019-14 ATP CYCLE V PROJECT
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to authorize staff to publish and solicit a Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified firms to provide Construction Management and Inspection Services (CM/CI) for CIP 2019-14 ATP Cycle V Project, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
END OF REGULAR AGENDA
PUBLIC HEARING(S)
PUBLIC WORKS
17. ADOPT ORDINANCE EXTENDING TORRANCE PIPELINE COMPANY LLC’S
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE AND OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A
PIPELINE AND APPURTENANCES TO TRANSPORT HYDROCARBON ON
SANTA FE AVENUE
Vice Mayor Macias opened the public hearing at 8:22pm and no public testimony was provided. Vice Mayor Macias then closed the public hearing at 8:23pm.
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to waive full reading and introduce by title an Ordinance extending Torrance Pipeline Company LLC’s franchise agreement for ten (10) years to continue to operate and maintain a hydrocarbon pipeline on Santa Fe Avenue, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Vice Mayor Macias opened the public hearing at 8:23pm and no public testimony was provided. Vice Mayor Macias then closed the public hearing at 8:24pm.
18. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE FY 2022-2023 CONSOLIDATED
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) FOR
FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for FY 2022-2023, inclusive of any comments received by the City Clerk during the 15-day public comment period., seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz and Mayor Sanabria
END OF PUBLIC HEARING(S)
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Chief of Police Cosme Lozano thanked City Council for their continues support of the K9 program and tactical team program. He also mentioned that the movie with the cop event was a success.
Director of Parks and Recreation Cynthia Norzagaray announced that sign ups for youth basketball will be open until October 19, 2023. She added that beginner guitar classes are also available at Freedom Park from October 6, 2023 through November 17, 2023. Those interested in the guitar classes can register at Salt Lake Park.
Public Works Director Cesar Roldan announced that the basketball courts at Salt Lake Park will re-open soon after being resurfaced.
Community Development Director Steve Forster announced that the city’s housing element has been submitted to HCD at the State level and will be added to the city website and available for viewing in the next week or so. He then provided an update on the aquatic center and how monitoring of the site has revealed much lower levels of waste than anticipated and progress with the site is moving in a very progressive route.
Director of Communications Sergio Infanzon announced that Saturday September 23, 2023 in collaboration with the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation will be having a health fair at Keller Park from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Various services and medical exams will be available for our most needy families and encouraged the community to attend.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Maria Adan submitted a communication related to illegal dumping.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Martinez thanked staff for providing a safe space and then asked staff to reach out to the proper authorities in the city of Veron regarding a property located on Miles that is cause for concern due to all the illegal dumping and graffiti.
Community Development Director Steve Forster advised Council that efforts are being made to communicate with Vernon police department and proper city officials to address the blighted property.
Councilmember Flores began by congratulating the Chief of Police for a successful event they recently had. He also thanked Public Works for their efforts in addressing pothole concerns. He closed by suggesting staff look into providing some guitars for those unable to afford to purchase the instrument but would still like to participate in the lessons being offered by Parks and Recreation.
Vice Mayor Macias thanked the staff and directors for all their hard work and encouraged the community to attend the health and resource fair. She added that the Huntington Park Police Department will also be giving away backpacks at the health fair event. She then reminded the community on the upcoming fair housing workshop September 27, 2023 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Salt Lake Park.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Macias adjourned the meeting at 8:33 p.m. The next City of Huntington Park City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday October 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk