MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
APPROVED: These Minutes were approved on April 4, 2022.
SPECIAL MEETING 5:00 P.M.:
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Medrano called the Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of La Habra to order at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, located at 100 East La Habra Boulevard, La Habra, California.
INVOCATION: Mayor Pro Tem Gomez
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Medrano
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Medrano
Mayor Pro Tem Gomez
Councilmember Espinoza
Councilmember Nigsarian
Councilmember Simonian
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER OFFICIALS PRESENT: City Manager Sadro
City Clerk Swindell
Assistant City Clerk Barone
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CONSIDERATION ITEMS:
1. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS FOR ANNUAL EXPIRING TERMS AND TWO ALTERNATES ON
THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION, AND THE
BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE
Mayor Medrano noted that appointments would not be made this evening, but would be considered at the April 4, 2022, City Council meeting.
Based upon the interview schedule coordinated by City staff, City Council conducted interviews with the following applicants:
1. Matthew Matias 7. Richard Rojas
2. Gabriela Garcia (via telephone) 8. Maria Mahecha
3. Richard LaBounty 9. Carrie Surich (via telephone)
4. Denise Schmidt 10. John Fei
5. Peter Cruz
6. Teresa Kempker
11. Esther Rojas (via telephone)
City Council
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Councilmember Nigsarian recused himself from the interview with Denise Schmidt due to a conflict of interest. Councilmember Nigsarian left the dais at 5:37 p.m. He returned to the dais at 5:45 p.m.
Christopher Eastridge , Pearl Arzate, and Luis Salazar did not show up for their scheduled interviews.
COMMENTS FROM STAFF:
City Manager Sadro stated that staff would agendize an item for the selection of the commission and committee members at its next regular meeting of April 4, 2022. He noted that no decision was requested tonight regarding appointment of any of the applicants. He spoke regarding possible direction from City Council regarding the amendment of the La Habra Municipal Code reducing the number of Community Services Commissioners from seven members to five members to align with the Planning Commission and the Beauti fication Committee; which each have five members. He indicated that the Community Services Commission member reduction could potentially displace incumbent commissioners based upon the recommended appointments by the City Council. He noted that the number of seats on the Community Services Commission is set by the La Habra Municipal Code, so if City Council would like to consider reduction in seats the item would need to go through a public hearing at a future date. He stated that the City Council could consider the potential Community Services Commission member reduction after all of the commission and committee appointments had been made at its Regular City Council meeting of April 4, 2022.
Councilmember Nigsarian directed staff to agendize the potential reduction of the number of Community Services Commissioners from seven members to five members. Councilmember Nigsarian stated that he did not want to displace incumbent Community Services Commissioners, so he withdrew the direction to staff.
City Council discussion included: inquiry that if the number of Community Services Commissioners were reduced from seven members to five members, would any current commissioners be asked to leave their position; and confirmation that the Community Services Commissioners had not been asked regarding reduction in the number of seats.
Mayor Pro Tem Gomez spoke in support of the number of Community Services Commission members remaining at seven. Mayor Medrano concurred with Mayor Pro Tem Gomez.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Medrano adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m. to Monday, March 21, 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Swindell, CMC
City Clerk