MINUTES
Meeting of the
City of Huntington Park City Council
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Huntington Park, California was called to order at 6:06 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 6550 Miles Avenue, Huntington Park, California; Mayor Karina Macias presiding.
PRESENT: Council Member(s): Esmeralda Castillo, Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez, Vice Mayor Arturo Flores [Arrived during Closed Session] and Mayor Karina Macias ABSENT: Jonathan Sanabria
CITY OFFICIALS/STAFF: City Manager Ricardo Reyes; Eduardo Sarmiento City Clerk; Cosme Lozano Police Chief; Steve Forster Director of Community Development and Interim Director of Public Works; Sergio Infanzon Director of Communications; Araceli Almazon Deputy City Attorney.
INVOCATION
Mayor Macias led the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance
PRESENTATION(S)
1. PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
2. PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING AUGUST PSORIASIS AWARENESS MONTH
3. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS
4. CERTTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER
5. SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM UPDATE
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following people provided public comment:
STAFF RESPONSE
None
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION @ 6:53pm
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) Consideration of one (1) potential case
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency designated representatives: Ricardo RCONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING
LITIGATION
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) Aurelia Beltran Teran vs. City of Huntington Park, et al. Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No.22NWCV01102 Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) MEETING RECONVIENED @ 7:27pm
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
Deputy City Attorney Araceli Almazan reported that the record should reflect that with four (4) members of the City Council present Council Member(s) Castillo, Martinez, Vice Mayor Flores and Mayor Macias only Item one (1) was discussed in closed session. In regard to item one (1) the City Council received a status update and direction was provided but no final action was taken. This concluded the closed session report.
CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items prior to the time the Council votes on the motion unless members of the Council, staff, or the public request specific items to be discussed and/or removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action.
CITY CLERK
1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINTUES
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
Approve Minute(s) of the following City Council Meeting(s):
1. Regular City Council Meeting held August 20, 2024
FINANCE
2. CHECK REGISTER
RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Approve Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrant(s) dated September 3, 2024 MOTION: Vice Mayor Flores moved to approve the consent calendar, second by Councilmember Martinez. The Motion passed by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member (s): Castillo, Martinez, Vice Mayor Flores, and Mayor Macias
NOES: Council Member (s): None
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Sanabria
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL
1. CONSIDERATION OF A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL (SB) 549, “NEW PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION”
MOTION: Vice Mayor Flores moved to Consider and Approve to consider a letter of opposition to Senate Bill SB 549 “New Private Right of Action”, second by Councilmember Castillo. The motion passed by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member (s): Castillo, Martinez, Vice Mayor Flores, and Mayor Macias
NOES: Council Member (s): None
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Sanabria
CITY MANAGER
2. CONSIDERATION OF NEW CITY COUNCIL MEETING DAY FROM FIRST AND
THIRD TUESDAYS TO FIRST AND THIRD MONDAYS
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez motioned to change Council meeting days first and third Tuesdays of the month to first and third Mondays of the month.
Second by Councilmember Castillo. The motion passed by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member (s): Castillo, Martinez, Vice Mayor Flores, and Mayor Macias
NOES: Council Member (s): None
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Sanabria
POLICE DEPARTMENT
3. APPROVE A FIVE-YEAR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS USE AND ACCESS
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
INTEROPERABILITY SYSTEM (ICI) AND THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON PARKMOTION.
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez motioned approving a five-year wireless communications use and access agreement between the City and Interagency Communications and Interoperability System. Motion was second by Vice Mayor Flores. The motion passed by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member (s): Castillo, Martinez, Vice Mayor Flores, and Mayor Macias
NOES: Council Member (s): None
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Sanabria
FINANCE
4. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR FINANCIAL AUDITING SERVICES
MOTION: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve and award a professional services agreement for financial auditing services. Vice Mayor flores second the motion. The motion passed by unanimous consent.
AYES: Council Member (s): Castillo, Martinez, Vice Mayor Flores, and Mayor Macias
NOES: Council Member (s): None
ABSENT: Council Member(s): Sanabria
CITY CLERK
5. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDED THAT CITY COUNCIL:
1. Make appointments to Commissions consistent with provisions set forth in Resolution No 2015-19.
The City Council had no appointments to the commissions.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
City Manager Ricardo Reyes commended Mayor for speaking openly about Psoriasis. He added that his niece suffers from psoriasis as well and it pains him to see what she has to endure and thanked the mayor for telling her story to bring awareness.
Finance Director Jeff Jone wished Councilmember Castillo a happy birthday.
Director of Communications Sergio Infanzon provided information on upcoming weekend events and reminded residents that this weekend residents can have a yard sale from 9am until 5pm without having to pull a permit for the sale. He also shared information about the upcoming mental health fair this Saturday 10-12 at Salt Lake Park which the Health and Education commissions advocated for. He encouraged the community to attend. He then shared two programs from the community development department. The first is a first-time homebuyer program, and the second is an owner-occupied homeowner rehabilitation program. All the information is located on the city website, and every Friday the Communication department sends an email with all the information to the residence. 45% of emails sent out are open.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
NONE
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Castillo thanked everybody for her birthday wishes and wished everybody a good night.
Councilmember Martinez shared information about an email he received regarding 58th street alleyway. He stated that there are unhoused individuals making noise near property, being disruptive, and causing disturbances for the residents in the area.
In response to Council Member Martinez, Chief of Police Cosme Lozano went over a recent activity report regarding the patrolling in the described area. The Chief advised that patrols should be increased in the area up to 4 times every 24 hours until the end of the year to continue to address the issue. Public Works Director Steve Forester added Inner City Visions is also engaging folks in that area along with other areas on west side of Seville to continue addressing concerns in the area.
Vice Mayor Flores thanked staff. He requested an agenda item be brought to the council regarding Body Cameras for the Police Department either the 1st or 2nd meeting of October and should include a feasibility and sustainability report. A presentation preferably entails to launch a program as well as margins regarding the sustainability of the program as well.
Mayor Macias thanked staff and directors for their hard work.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Macias adjourned the meeting in memory of Maria Garcia at 7:49 p.m. The next City of Huntington Park City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 at 6:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk