MINUTES
Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Park, California was called to order at 6:04 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): Graciela Ortiz, Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez., Arturo Flores, and Vice Mayor Karina Macias
ABSENT: 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 Ortiz led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION(S)
1. NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
2. NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
3. RECOGNITION OF MOAF EVENT VOLUNTEERS
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
STAFF RESPONSE
None
CLOSSED SESSION
City Attorney Araceli Almazan stated that it is appropriate to recess to closed session. Vice Mayor Macias recessed into closed session at 6:40 p.m.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
Gene Farmer v. City of Huntington Park, ADJ14211080; ADJ14264443 (Covid)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
Joana Casillas v. City of Huntington Park, ADJ13626665
3. 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
4. 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 7:52 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 Ortiz moved to approve the consent calendar with a change in the September 5, 2023 meeting minutes, changing the words “stepped away” to “absent”, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINTUES
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held September 5, 2023
FINANCE
2. WARRANT REGISTER
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated October 3, 2023
PUBLIC WORKS
3. SECOND READING OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE EXTENSION OF THE TORRANCE PIPELINE COMPANY LLC’S FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE AND OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A PIPELINE AND
APPURTENANCES TO TRANSPORT HYDROCARBON ON SANTA FE AVENUE MOTION: Councilmember Ortiz moved to waive full reading and adopt Ordinance by title 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 Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS
4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO SUBMIT STATE DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES RECYCLING AND RECOVERY SB 1383 LOCAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM FY 2022-23 FUNDING APPLICATION
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to adopt Resolution authorizing staff the submit the State Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program FY 2022-23 funding application; and authorize the City Manager to sign the Letter of Designation (Attachment 2) and all applicable CalRecycle grant documents, seconded by Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
5. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PERFORM EMERGENCY
REPLACEMENT OF WATER PRODUCTION WELL NO. 14 MOTOR
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2-
5.13 Emergency purchase, authorize the City Manager, Public Works Director and Finance Director to proceed without solicitation of bids to a contract for the replacement of Water Production Well No. 14; and authorize LittleJohn-Reuland Corp. to make the necessary replacement of the motor for a not-to-exceed amount of $16,160.45 payable from Account No. 681-8030-461.43-30, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
6. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO SUBMIT A FUNDING APPLICATION TO
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE
LAW FOR SMALL SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER STORAGE
PROJECTS
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to authorize staff to submit a funding application to the Bureau of Reclamation through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for small surface water and groundwater storage projects; and authorize the City Manager to sign all applicable documents, seconded by Councilmember Martinez.
Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
7. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO SOLICIT CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION SERVICES AS PART OF THE OVERSIGHT OF 2019-02 SLAUSON AVENUE CONGESTION RELIEF PROJECT
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez 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 2019-02 Slauson Avenue Congestion Relief Project, seconded by Councilmember Flores. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
8. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A MODIFIED CUSTOM
CONCRETE TRUCK WITH CEMENT MIXER
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 modified custom concrete truck with cement mixer from RWC Group. (Fred M.
Boerner Motor Co.) for the amount of $240,830.48 payable from Account No. 741- 8060-431.74-10 ($217,830.48) and Account No. 111-8010-431.74-10 ($23,000); and authorize the City Manager to execute the sales order, purchase order and all other applicable documents related to the registration of the vehicle through the Department of Motor Vehicles, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Ortiz, Martinez, Flores, and Vice Mayor Macias
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Sanabria
9. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO EXTEND NORTH STAR LAND CARE’S
CITYWIDE TREE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR AND INCREASE
CONTRACT BY FIVE PERCENT
Prior to item nine (9) Councilmember Ortiz stepped away from the dais.
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to approve a one-year extension of North Star Land Care’s Citywide Tree Maintenance contract and one-time five percent contract increase of $15,963.75; and approve an appropriation of $15,963.75 into Account No. 535-8090-452-56.60; and authorize the City Manager to execute the professional services agreement amendment, 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 AN AERIAL UTILITY
SERVICE TRUCK
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the purchasing of an aerial utility truck from Utility Equipment & Supply, Inc. dba Utility Crane & Equipment for a not-to-exceed amount of $277,853.15 payable from Account No. 535-8016-431.74- 10 ($200,000) and Account No. 741-8060-431.74-10 ($77,853.15); and authorize the City Manager to execute all applicable documents related to the purchasing of the aerial utility service truck, 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
11. AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR SERVICES RELATED TO STREET LIGHT(S) AND Wi-Fi DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
MOTION: Councilmember Flores moved to award a contract for services related to Street Light(s) and Wi-Fi Demonstration Project to Louii’s Electric Power &Lighting Company in an amount not to exceed $847,000; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the final terms of the contract, 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
At the conclusion of item eleven (11) Councilmember Ortiz returned to the dais.
END OF REGULAR AGENDA
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
City Manager Ricardo Reyes stated that he will meet with the Public Works director to determine whether or not a second cement mixing truck is necessary.
Chief of Police Cosme Lozano shared the Police Department is participating in the National Coffee with a Cop event and will host a local event at the Starbucks located at State and Slauson Wednesday October 4, 2023 at 6:00pm. He encouraged the community to come out and get to meet and ask questions to its local police officers while enjoying a warm beverage.
Public Works Director Cesar Roldan thanked the Council for their continued support of the department. He also shared that Valley Vista provided an organics workshop that was well attended by the community.
Director of Communications Sergio Infanzon shared the electronic newsletter with the Councilmembers. He also shared the quarterly newsletter that all residents will receive, which includes the various services and upcoming activities available for the community.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Maria Adan submitted a communication related to illegal dumping.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Otiz thanked staff for coming out the opening of the newly resurfaced basketball courts at Salt Lake Park. She also gave a shout out to the Huntington Park Kiwanis organization who is celebrating their 100th anniversary and thanked them for their continued support of the local high school key clubs.
Councilmember Martinez thanked staff for providing a safe space and then thanked the Community Development Director for addressing the blighted building located at Hill and State Street.
Councilmember Flores thanked staff and reflected on his one year as a Councilmember and how proud he is of the team the city has put together to help move the community forward. He shared how residents’ comment about the repaving of the streets and park maintenance and upkeep, with the basketball court resurfacing serving as a prime example of the work staff continues to complete.
Vice Mayor Macias thanked the community and her colleagues for all the birthday well wishes. She then thanked staff for the basketball court resurfacing and reopening event which was amazing. She echoed her colleague’s comments about how residents are excited about what’s to come and all the renovations happening at the parks
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