IRWINDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5050 N. IRWINDALE AVENUE
IRWINDALE, CALIFORNIA 91706
APRIL 18, 2022
WEDNESDAY
5: 30 P. M.
The Irwindale CITY COUNCIL met in special session, beginning at the above time and place.
ROLL CALL:
SPONTANEOUS
COMMUNICATIONS
Present: Councilmembers Mark A. Breceda; H. Manuel Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tern Albert F. Ambriz; Mayor Larry G. Burrola
Absent: Councilmember Manuel R. Garcia
Present: Julian A. Miranda, City Manager; Adrian Guerra, City Attorney; and Laura Nieto, Chief Deputy City Clerk
CARMEN ROMAN Carmen Roman complained that holding special meetings is disrespectful to individuals that attend regular meetings. She also spoke against organizations from other cities setting up fireworks booths for fundraisers in Irwindale, and spoke on her perception of conflicts of interest. She stated that allowing additional non- profit organizations to sell fireworks would siphon revenue from the existing non -profits.
DENA ZEPEDA Dena Zepeda stated that she has worked for several non- profit organizations, and that the new non -profits would compete for revenue with the existing non -profits.
DOLORAS AMADOR Doloras Amador expressed her belief that it would be unfair to allow additional nonprofit organizations to sell fireworks to raise funds since the existing non -profits rely on the funds they raise to support the community. She also noted that allowing additional non- profit organizations to sell fireworks would actually cost the city funding, which would need to be expended to pick up the increased amount of used firework debris.
NEW BUSINESS
ITEM C INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO, 760, INTRODUCTION AND AMENDMENT TO IMC 8. 16. 010 DEFINITION OF "ORGANIZATION"
FIRST READING OF
ORDINANCE NO. 760,
AMENDMENT TO
IMC 8. 16. 010
DEFINITION OF
ORGANIZATION"
CITY MANAGER City Manager Miranda advised that he would recuse himself from MIRANDA participating in this matter since he belongs to an organization that sells fireworks in Irwindale.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 18, 2022
SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 2
CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Guerra presented the staff report and noted revisions to GUERRA the draft ordinance.
CARMEN ROMAN Carmen Roman clarified her previous comment.
CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Guerra noted that the draft ordinance would add the GUERRA Covina Vikings Youth Football Organization as an entity that may sell fireworks in Irwindale through the end of the fireworks sales period for the year 2022. This will clearly delineate that the organization may not operate beyond the 4 h of July season for 2022, and that the organization would be permitted to return next year to seek permission to sell fireworks for that future season.
CARMEN ROMAN Carmen Roman noted that the municipal code requires that non- profit organizations reside in Irwindale for at least one year in order to apply to sell fireworks, to which City Attorney Guerra advised that staff could draft the necessary revisions to the application process in order for the Covina Vikings Youth Football Organization to be permitted to submit an application.
COUNCILMEMBER Councilmember Ortiz stated that he previously voted in favor of ORTIZ allowing the Northview Vikings to sell fireworks since children from Irwindale participate in activities with the organization. He noted that the existing non- profit organizations have been greatly impacted by the pandemic, and that they rely on fireworks sales to fund their activities. He concurred that additional non --profit organizations should not be allowed to sell fireworks in Irwindale.
Responding to several questions by Councilmember Ortiz, City Attorney Guerra advised that if the Council votes against allowing Covina Vikings to sell fireworks in Irwindale, then there is no need to adopt the draft ordinance included in the staff report.
MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Pro Tern Ambriz noted that the subject has become more AMBRIZ complicated than he anticipated. He acknowledged that the public appears to be against non- profit organizations outside of Irwindale from selling fireworks within the city, and as such, neither the Covina Vikings nor the Northview Vikings should be allowed to sell fireworks in Irwindale.
CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Guerra noted that, at the previous City Council meeting, GUERRA staff indicated that the Northview Vikings organization would not be able to sell fireworks in Irwindale since they could not provide the required documentation. Accordingly, this organization is not included in the draft ordinance being presented. The only entity that would have been included in the draft ordinance would be the Covina Vikings. He clarified that, should the Council wish to allow the Covina Vikings organization to sell fireworks in Irwindale, then the ordinance should be adopted. However, if the Council elects to deny the request CITY COUNCIL. MINUTES APRIL 18, 2022
SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 3
from the Covina Vikings to sell fireworks in Irwindale, then there is no need to take any action.
COUNCILMEMBER Councilmember Breceda stated that he only intended for one BRECEDA additional non- profit to sell fireworks in Irwindale. He further stated that he has no issues with the Northview Vikings since many residents have previously or currently attend Northview High School, and his intent was for this organization to sell fireworks as a way to help fund their activities.
MAYOR BURROLA Mayor Burrola stated his support for youth sports organizations. He noted the financial impacts that the pandemic has had on local nonprofit organizations and stated that authorizing just one additional non- profit to raise funds by selling fireworks in Irwindale would affect the established non -profits.
COUNCILMEMBER Councilmember Breceda spoke on his financial support of youth BRECEDA sports organizations, and indicated that he would speak to his Covina Council colleagues to identify other ways that these organizations may hold fundraisers.
MOTION A motion was made by Councilmember Ortiz, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Ambriz, to deny the draft ordinance.
CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Guerra recommended revising the motion to simply GUERRA receive and file the report and take no action on the ordinance.
REVISED MOTION Councilmember Ortiz revised his motion to receive and file the report and take no action on the ordinance.
ROLL CALL The above -mentioned motion, which was seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Ambriz, was unanimously approved; Councilmember Garcia absent.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 6: 11
Ma JCef Nieto, MMC
eputy City Clerk
Approved as submitted at the meeting held May 11, 2022.