City Council - March 26, 2024
1. CALL TO ORDER
Public Comments:
The City Council minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the City Council Agenda. Agenda Items can be taken out of order during the meeting.
The Agenda Items were considered in the order presented.
Mayor Arapostathis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1.1 INVOCATION - MAYOR ARAPOSTATHIS
Public Comments:
1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Public Comments:
2. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Public Comments:
There were no comments.
3. COMMUNITY BULLETIN REPORTS
Public Comments:
The Mayor, Council and staff made announcements and reported on various events taking place in the City. No action was taken.
4. ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
Public Comments:
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.
5. PRESENTATION
Public Comments:
5.1 CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO SONJA BELLA FOR HER "BRACELETS FOR BANCROFT" COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER EFFORTS Public Comments:
Mayor Arapostathis presented a Certificate of Recognition to Sonja Bella Hans for her community-minded project, "Bracelets for Bancroft," which raised $800 to aid in the January 22, 2024, flood recovery efforts at Bancroft Elementary School.
Truth praised Sonja Bella Hans for her fundraising efforts.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)
Public Comments
mairs ryan
I am here to ask that you allow the zoom mic to go live again at all La Mesa Council and Commission meetings.
Yes, a band of irreverent hooligans took verbal potshots at the Feb 13th meeting. They spoke rubbish and profanities. I’m sure most of us have heard similar trash talk on our streaming videos. Their goal was to bully us into less democratic discourse. And they won. As a teacher from college-age students down to third graders, I have seen my share of bullies. And what I know is that when administrative bodies give in, the bullies only suck up more and more space. And then they move on to the next victims.
The Council’s knee-jerk reaction to shut down zoom comments shows a fear-mindset which has cast a shadow onto La Mesa. Council member Parent and the Mayor have promised to work on solutions beyond playing the we-only-needed-zoom-because-of-COVID card.
It’s no secret that we are not the only political body experiencing conflict. I’d like to suggest a resource that I have used for conflict mediation. And that is San Diego’s National Conflict Resolution Center. Founded in 1984 by USD’s Law Center and the San Diego Bar Association, their work covers neighborhood, civic and international conflict. Organizations doing like work, are resources for Parent and the Mayor in finding a path towards public zoom again.
Please, we can’t let the zoom mic go dead. If we do, it will go down on La Mesa’s record that the bullies won and that this administration allowed it.
George Jiracek
Mayor, Council Members and Staff
I am writing to ask that you please continue to offer remote public comment for Council and Commission meetings I am a scientist and an emeritus professor who is in my 80’s. An eyesight problem has severely limited my driving, especially at night. This has not affected my active participation in the San Diego Veterans For Peace (SDVFP). This is because the SDVFP have continued Zoom meetings along with in-person attendance. Our hybird meetings allow about half our members to attend remotely, maintaining an organization that is both open and democratic.
I am interested in my La Mesa community and would like the option of voicing my opinions during City Council and Commission meetings. If I have something to say, please give me the opportunity to say it.
Thank you for your consideration.
George Jiracek
La Mesa Resident
Christopher R Glenn
What do you do when others are at their worst? How do you respond when feeling attacked? Sometimes your response feels entirely clear while other times it can be more difficult. The circumstances more ambiguous, the right way through requiring more thought, before acting.
Responding with composure and self-awareness to hateful assaults can be difficult. It requires recognition that these attacks reflect more about the attacker's emotional needs than about you or the intended victims. By reaffirming your own value and refusing to return the assault sends the message that everyone deserves respect.
The best way to respond to verbal assaults from groups that propagate antisemitic and racial hate speech is through strategies aimed at addressing the issue effectively. These include:
1) Showing commitment and respect for the protection of human rights by condemning hateful attacks and discourse. 2) Overcoming prejudice by increasing awareness in the community and engaging in condemnation of discriminatory stereotypes. 3) Supporting our community by denouncing hateful incidents, educating others about hate and bigotry, and providing support for our community to respond effectively to hate speech.
Limiting public comments to only those in attendance at public meetings shackles not only hate speech but also the voices of those working to lift our community above hate. Silencing those with a passion for the values we share as a community leaves the unfortunate impression that fear and intimidation have achieved the divisions it seeks to sow among us.
Joseph Cryer spoke regarding remote public comment.
Gene Carpenter spoke regarding remote public comment.
Janet Castanos spoke regarding leadership skills.
Wendy Mihalic spoke regarding the Harry Griffen Regional Park Joint Powers Agreement Governing Board's approval of the purchase of two diesel engine mowers.
Dianne Osterling spoke in support of Item 10 and on behalf of Mairs Ryan regarding remote public comment.
Truth spoke regarding remote public comment.
Mairs Ryan submitted a comment regarding remote public comment.
George Jiracek submitted a comment regarding remote public comment.
Christopher Glenn submitted a comment regarding remote public comment.
7. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES
Public Comments:
There were no conflict of interest disclosures.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
Truth spoke on Items 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4.
Dianne Osterling spoke on Items 9.2 and 9.4.
Wendy Mihalic spoke on behalf of David Harris on Item 9.4.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
(Items 9.1 through 9.4)
City Clerk Wiegelman stated a scrivener's error was identified in Item 9.4. The staff report and Attachment A showed 175 units of newly permitted housing (Building Permits Issued). The number of newly permitted housing should have read 217 units. An errata was prepared and published to the agenda to reflect the identified error and correction to the staff report and Attachment A.
Moved By
Councilmember Parent
Seconded By
Councilmember Shu
Approve Consent Calendar Items 91. through 9.4.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Shu, Councilmember Parent, Councilmember Dillard, and Vice Mayor Lothian Approved (5 to 0)
9.1 APPROVAL OF MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE TEXT OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AT THIS MEETING Public Comments:
Approve.
9.2 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2024 Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Mar12_2024.pdf
Approve.
9.3 RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ECS IMAGING, INC. TO TRANSITION THE CITY’S ELECTRONIC CONTENT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE (ECMS) FROM ON-PREMISE SERVER TO THE CLOUD AND PROVIDE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND RELATED SERVICES Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Transition to Laserfiche Cloud 2024-03-26.pdf
2. Attachment A - Laserfiche Cloud Draft Resolution.pdf
3. Attachment B - Draft Contract withECS Imaging_Laserfiche Cloud.pdf
4. Fiscal Impact Certificate_Laserfiche Cloud.pdf
Resolution No. 2024-029
Adopt Resolution.
9.4 ACCEPT THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO TRANSMIT THE REPORT TO THE STATE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Staff Report_2023 General Plan Annual Report.pdf
2. Attachment A - 2023 Annual Report - Implementation of the General Plan.pdf
3. Errata Memo and Revisions to Staff Report and Attachment A.pdf Approve.
10. STAFF REPORT
Public Comments:
10.1 CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING Attachments
|
Public Comments
1. Staff Report_FY25 Congressionally Directed Spending Funding Request.pdf
2. Attachment A - Draft Resolution FY25 Congressionally Directed Spending Application.pdf
3. FY 2025 Federal Grant (Congressional Directed Spending)_PowerPoint.pdf Assistant City Manager Lee provided a PowerPoint presentation outlining the recommended projects for the federal grant application, including the requested amount for each project.
Council questions and comments ensued.
Truth spoke on the projects recommended for the federal grant application.
Resolution No. 2024-030
Moved By
Councilmember Shu
Seconded By
Mayor Arapostathis
Approve Resolution authorizing the submittal of an application for Fiscal Year 2025 Congressionally Directed Spending.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Shu, Councilmember Parent, Councilmember Dillard, and Vice Mayor Lothian Approved (5 to 0)
11. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 MINUTE LIMIT)
Public Comments:
Truth spoke on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
The Mayor and Council reported on various outside boards, commissions and committee meetings they attended. No action was taken.
12. AB 1234 REPORTS (GC 53232.3 (d))
Public Comments:
There were no reports.
13. CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
Public Comments:
There were no remarks.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Public Comments:
Mayor Arapostathis adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m.