MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, February 10, 2022
APPROVED: These Minutes were approved on March 21, 2022.
SPECIAL MEETING 6:00 P.M.:
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Medrano called the Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of La Habra to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, located at 100 East La Habra Boulevard, La Habra, California.
INVOCATION: City Attorney Jones
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilmember Espinoza
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Medrano
Mayor Pro Tem Gomez (telephonically)
Councilmember Espinoza
Councilmember Simonian
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER OFFICIALS PRESENT: City Manager Sadro
City Attorney Jones
City Clerk Swindell
Assistant City Clerk Barone
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CONSIDERATION ITEMS:
1. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS FOR THE VACANT SEAT ON THE LA HABRA CITY COUNCIL
City Clerk Swindell presented the staff report.
Based upon a random draw of order by City Clerk Swindell, City Council conducted in-person oral interviews with City Council candidate applicants in the following order:
1. Carrie Surich
2. Thomas A. Ludwinski
3. Christine Michelle Bernier
4. Daren Nigsarian
5. Wesley Perez
Mayor Medrano invited the public to testify at 7:24 p.m.
City Council
Thursday, February 10, 2022
The following La Habra residents spoke in support of the appointment of Carrie Surich to the vacant seat on the City Council:
• Alana Flores
• Judian Tinsley
• Jim Lozano
• Randy McMillan
• Doug Gulmond
City Manager Sadro stated that in addition to the speakers, seven letters of support were received – four in support of applicant Bernier and three in support of applicant Surich. City Manager Sadro asked Mayor Medrano if he preferred that City Clerk Swindell read each letter of support received, or if posting them for the record on the City ’s website would be sufficient. Mayor Medrano indicated that posting the letters of support on the City website was sufficient.
Mayor Medrano closed public testimony at 7:34 p.m.
City Council discussion included: qualifications and experience of applicants; the high caliber of the applicants interviewed and considered for the City Council vacancy; encouragement for each applicant not appointed to City Council to continue their community involvement; the upcoming General Municipal Election and potential future City Council vacancies; and the difficulty involved for City Council to make a final decision to fill the City Council vacancy.
City Clerk Swindell opened nominations for the position of City Council. Mayor Pro Tem Gomez nominated Daren Nigsarian. There were no other nominations presented. MOVED by Mayor Pro Tem Gomez, seconded by Mayor Medrano, and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (4-0) TO CLOSE
NOMINATIONS AND CAST A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO APPOINT DAREN NIGSARIAN TO FILL THE VACANT SEAT ON THE LA HABRA CITY COUNCIL.
Said motion CARRIED by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Mayor Medrano, Mayor Pro Tem Gomez,
Councilmember Espinoza, Councilmember Simonian
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Medrano congratulated Daren Nigsarian.
City Clerk Swindell swore newly appointed City Councilmember Nigsarian into office.
COMMENTS FROM STAFF: None
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS: None
City Council
Thursday, February 10, 2022
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Medrano adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. to Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Closed Session Room 112c, 100 East La Habra Boulevard, followed by the Regular Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber due to the observance of the President’s Day holiday on Monday, February 21, 2022.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Swindell, CMC
City Clerk