MINUTES
Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Park, California was called to order at 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 6550 Miles Avenue, Huntington Park, California; Mayor Karina Macias presiding.
PRESENT: Council Member(s): Esmeralda Castillo, Jonathan Sanabria, Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez, Mayor Karina Macias
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Flores
CITY OFFICIALS/STAFF: City Manager Ricardo Reyes; Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk; Cosme Lozano Police Chief; Steve Forster Director of Community Development and Interim Public Works Director; Sergio Infanzon Director of Communications; Cynthia Norzagaray Director of Parks and Recreation; Gloria Ramirez City Attorney.
INVOCATION
Mayor Macias led the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council member Castillo led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION(S)
1. CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS – REGARDING HUNTINGTON PARK FIRE STATION 164
2. AVILA SCHOLARSHIPS
3. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN & SALUTATORIAN RECOGNITION
4. LOCAL SCHOOL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION
5. PUBLIC WORKS WEEK PROCLAMATION
6. LOCAL ARTIST RECOGNITION
Mayor Macias called for a brief recess at 6:52pm to celebrate the students and educators for the year. Mayor Macias reconvened the meeting at 7:11pm
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following people provided public comment:
1. Michael Graham
2. Ivonne Correa
STAFF RESPONSE
City Manager Ricardo Reyes stated that the comments provided by Ms. Correa have been noted and he will be working with the departments to address the issue.
Mayor Macias agreed with the comments provided by Ms. Correa regarding the trash in that area. She stated that a solution needs to be developed that also includes the businesses collaborating with the city to keep the area identified clean.
Community Development and Interim Public Works director Steve Forster stated that he will be addressing the issues by adding additional patrols by the public works department and engaging the property owners to address the issue. He added that the city will also utilize the services of Inner-City Visions to address the people living in their vehicles along those streets that contribute to the issue. Lastly, he stated that the police department will increase parking enforcement in the area to allow for increased street sweeping efforts from once a week to three times a week.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Consideration of one (1) potential case
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jon Pina vs. City of Huntington Park, et al.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 19STCV23618
Attorney Gloria Ramirez stated that it is appropriate to recess to closed session. Mayor Sanabria recessed into closed session at 7:19 p.m.
Mayor Macias reconvened the Council meeting from Closed Session at 7:43 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
City Gloria Ramirez reported that the record should reflect that with four (4) members of the City Council present Council Member(s) Castillo, Sanabria, Martinez and Mayor Macias. Item one (1) on the closed session agenda was not discussed. Regarding item two (2) on the closed session agenda, the City Council receive a briefing from the City Attorney’s office and voted 4-0 in favor of a settlement agreement.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY CLERK
MOTION: Council member Martinez moved to approve the consent calendar, seconded by Council member Castillo. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Castillo, Sanabria, Martinez, Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Flores
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINTUES
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held April 16, 2024
FINANCE
2. CHECK REGISTER
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated June 4, 2024
CITY MANAGER
3. CONSIDERATION AND APPOVAL OF CHANGES OF THE ALTERNATES FOR
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve changes to the Economic Development Committee alternates.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
4. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A “LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY FIRE STATION 164 BETWEEN THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON PARK
AND THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY” (LICENSE AGREEMENT)
MOTION: Council member Martinez moved to approve a License Agreement for the placement of temporary Fire Station 164 at Raul R. Perez Memorial Park (Park); and authorize the City Manager to negotiate terms and execute the License Agreement, seconded by Council member Sanabria. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Castillo, Sanabria, Martinez, Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Flores
5. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF FIREWORKS SALES PERMIT
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN
THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON PARK
MOTION: Council member Martinez moved to approve the Fireworks Sales Permit Applications submitted by local non-profit organizations in the City of Huntington Park; and authorize the Community Development Department to process the applications and conduct the final inspections of the stands, seconded by Council member Sanabria. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member(s): Castillo, Sanabria, Martinez, Mayor Macias NOES: None
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Flores
CITY CLERK
6. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS COMMISSIONS
City Clerk Eduardo Sarmiento announced that Vice Mayor Arturo Flores advised him that he appoints Graciela Ortiz to the Civil Service Commission.
END OF REGULAR AGENDA
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Police Chief Cosme Lozano shared that the meet your police event was successful and was well attended by the community. He then gave kudos to the SWAT members who organized and awarded scholarships to graduating students. He closed by sharing that the torch run event was successful and thanked all departments for their support.
Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Norzagaray announced some upcoming events for the community including a Red Cross blood drive at Salt Lake Park. She closed be announcing that the 2024 graduation stage is set up and available for photos for all graduates and is located between City Hall and the Police Station on Miles Ave.
Community Development and Interim Public Works Director Steve Forster began by thanking the City Council for the Public Works proclamation. He highlighted a few of the Public Work’s programs that are currently underway including Slauson Ave Street Rehabilitation Project which is entirely grant funded, Gage Ave project which covers Gage Ave and other ancillary streets and is also grant funded. He then reported that the city was awarded a 5-million-dollar grant for other street improvements and will be used for concreate intersections on Pacific Blvd. These projects and acquisition of funds are a direct reflection of staff efforts to move forward the Downtown Specific Plan, which City Council approved, and all told equate to about 18 million dollars of grant funded improvements for the community.
Communications Department Director Sergion Infanzon provided information on upcoming city events and encouraged all residents to visit the city website for additional information.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council member Castillo thanked staff for their hard work.
Council member Sanabria thanked staff for their hard work and various programs and events for the community and the police department for keeping the residents safe.
Council member Matinez thanked staff for the amazing work they do.
Mayor Macias thanked her colleagues, all the staff and directors for their diligence. She also thanked the police department for their nimbleness in addressing all the community’s needs, and still making time to have amazing events like the torch run and meet your police which gives the residents an opportunity to be heard. The Mayor closed by sharing concerns regarding the increased vandalism in and around the 99 cents store property and she requested staff reach out to the property owner to address those concerns.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Macias adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m. The next City of Huntington Park City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday June 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm Respectfully submitted
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk