City Council - November 12, 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 - COUNCILMEMBER SHU
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. PRESENTATIONS
Public Comments:
5.1 BUDGET MONITORING REPORT
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_Budget Monitoring Report FY25 Quarter 1.pdf
2. Attachment A - 2024-2025 Q1 Budget Monitoring Report.pdf
3. PowerPoint_Budget Monitoring Report 2024-11-12.pdf
Finance Director Royales reported on the national, state, and local economic outlook, sales tax revenues, and the performance of the City’s General Fund for the quarter ending September 30, 2024.
Following Council question and comments, no action was taken.
5.2 CITY TREASURER'S QUARTERLY REPORT
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_City Treasurer's Report for the Quarter Ending 2024-09-30.pdf
2. Attachment A - Treasurer's Report Quarter Ending 2024-09-30.pdf
3. Treasurer’s Report Quarter Ending 2024-09-30_Attachment A.pdf
4. Treasurer’s Report Quarter Ending 2024-09-30_Attachment B.pdf
5. PowerPoint_Treasurers Quarterly Report 2024-11-12.pdf City Treasurer Strabone made a presentation regarding the investment earnings for the quarter ending September 30, 2024.
Following Council question and comments, no action was taken.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)
Public Comments:
Gene Carpenter spoke on campaign contribution limits.
Barbie Wheeler spoke on her concerns about a house on Bellflower Drive.
Dianne Osterling spoke and submitted a comment on campaign contribution limits.
Brenda Hammond spoke about campaign signs.
7. CONFLICT DISCLOSURES
Public Comments:
There were no conflict of interest disclosures.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments
Dianne Osterling
La Mesa City Councilmember candidates and City Treasurer candidates (and active elected officials) currently have no campaign contribution limitations including no contribution limitations from city contractors, developers, etc. There are also no fundraising window limits when candidates may raise money. Unfortunately, this makes La Mesa a desirable place for those who want to influence the city in the interests of their donors and raise donations for future campaigns. Hopefully, our new council members won’t follow Colin Parent’s disturbing practices but will instead represent the interests of their constituents, La Mesa City residents.
The 2022 CITIZENS TAKE ACTION Report Card gave La Mesa a D Grade on campaign finance ethics. Citizens Take Action assessed the strength of municipal campaign finance laws, as well as the transparency of information about campaign contributions and expenditures in municipal elections. They’ve did this for San Diego and Orange County municipalities.
Here’s a summary of their findings:
• La Mesa has no limits on campaign contributions by individuals or Political Action Committees (“PACs”). • La Mesa has no prohibitions or limits on campaign contributions by prospective city contractors, or on developers seeking approval from local officials. • There is no limited fundraising window during which candidates can raise money. The absence of such limits makes local elections and government vulnerable to undue influence from large donors.
Here’s the resulting score based on the findings:
• La Mesa received 0 out of 70 possible points for campaign finance limits. • La Mesa received 25 out of 30 possible points for transparency of campaign finance data. The information on candidates’ campaign contributions and expenditures is easy to find on the city’s website. However, La Mesa didn’t score well for thoroughness of data, as the information only goes back to the 2020 election. • Though La Mesa scored fairly well on transparency of campaign finance data, the complete absence of any limits on campaign contributions resulted in a D for the La Mesa’s overall grade.
Here are RECOMMENDATIONS from CITIZENS TAKE ACTION 2022 Report:
• Enact campaign contribution limits of $1,000 or less on individuals. • Enact campaign contribution limits of $2,000 or less on Political Action Committees (“PACs”). • Enact a prohibition or campaign contribution limits of $500 or less on all city contractors or developers for a minimum of 6 months/180 days from the consideration/action by council on the matter. • Enact a fundraising window of one year or less on candidates running for local office. • Post campaign disclosure statements dating back at least four election cycles on the city’s website.
The financial fundraising benefits La Mesa provided Councilmember Parent may be for naught this time, as he’s currently losing by about 7%. However, note the difference in campaign donations Colin garnered. He received more than 2.5 times his opponent in his run for 79th Assembly District.
Donations:
Colin Parent Received:
$1,009,151 Direct Contributions
$1,733,749 Independent Expenditures
Total- $2,742,900 combined.
LaShae Sharp-Collins Received:
$488,606 Direct Contributions
$535,756 Independent Expenditures
Total- $1,024,363 combined.
Corruption doesn’t belong to one political party or another. It’s attracted to and by power, influence, desire for control, and opportunity for financial gains.
Let's all call on council to work on significantly improving our grade. Residents of La Mesa deserve better than rules that allow D level operating candidates or elected officials.
Dianne Osterling spoke on Item 9.9.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comments:
(Items 9.1 through 9.10)
Moved By
Councilmember Parent
Seconded By
Councilmember Shu
Approve Consent Calendar Items 9.1 through 9.10.
For (5)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Shu, Councilmember Parent, Vice Mayor Dillard, and Councilmember 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 MEETINGS HELD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, AND TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2024 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Oct08_2024.pdf
2. Post-Meeting Minutes - CCM_Oct22_2024.pdf
Approve.
9.3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING HELD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2024 Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Post-Meeting Minutes - City Council Special Meeting (Closed Session)_Oct22_2024.pdf Approve.
9.4 RESOLUTION AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 TO FUND THE NEW JOB CLASSIFICATION OF COMMUNITY CLEANUP COORDINATOR Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_Resolution Community Cleanup Coordinator Operating Budget Amendment 2024-11-12.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution Amending Operating Budget_Community Cleanup Coordinator.pdf
3. Attachment B - 2024-10-22 Staff Report_Community Cleanup Coordinator Position.pdf Resolution No. 2024-133
Adopt Resolution.
9.5 RESOLUTION APPROVING A SIDE LETTER TO AMEND SECTION 1.11.03 - REDUCED WORK WEEK, OF THE 2024-2027 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA MESA AND THE LA MESA POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - Side Letter to POA (Reduced Work Schedule for Sworn Ees).pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution Reduced Work Week POA.pdf
3. Exhibit 1 to Resolution - Side Letter POA Reduced Work Week.pdf Resolution No. 2024-134
Adopt Resolution.
9.6 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL RESURFACING PROJECT, BID 24-05, TO QUALITY CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_CCO-1 to Quality Construction Inc for Bid 24-05_2023 Annual Resurfacing Project 2024-11-12.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution Bid 24-05 CCO-1.pdf
3. Attachment B - CCO-1 Bid 24-05.pdf
4. Attachment C - Street Map and List.pdf
5. Fiscal Certificate - CCO-1 Bid 24-05.pdf
Resolution No. 2024-135
Adopt Resolution.
9.7 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER NO. 3 FOR THE BOULEVARD DRIVE STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, BID NO. 24-16, TO SC VALLEY ENGINEERING, INC.
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report - CCO-3 to SC Engineering Inc Boulevard Drive Storm Drain Improvement Project 2024-11-12.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution CCO-3 to SC Valley Engineering Inc for Bid 24-16.pdf
3. Attachment B - CCO-3 Boulevard Drive Storm Drain Improvement Project.pdf
4. Fiscal Certificate - CCO-3 Bid 24-16_Boulevard Drive Storm Drain Improvement Project.pdf Resolution No. 2024-136
Adopt Resolution.
9.8 RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN COUNTIES OIL CO. TO PROVIDE FUEL DELIVERY AND RELATED SERVICES Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Agreement with Southern Counties Oil Co. for Fuel Delivery and Related Services 2024-11-12.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution Southern Counties Oil Co Agreement 2024-11-12.pdf
3. Attachment B - Agreement Southern Counties Oil Co_Fuel Delivery and Related Services.pdf
4. Fiscal Certificate_Southern Counties Oil Co Agreement.pdf Resolution No. 2024-137
Adopt Resolution.
9.9 RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH BPR CONSULTING GROUP TO PROVIDE FIRE MARSHAL AND FIRE INSPECTION SERVICES Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Resolution BPR Consulting Group Agmt to provide Fire Marshal and Fire Inspection Services.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution_BPR Fire Inspection Services.pdf
3. Attachment B - BRP Consulting Group_Agreement_Fire Inspection Services.pdf Resolution No. 2024-138
Adopt Resolution.
9.10 RESOLUTION TO AWARD RFP 25-07 FOR SPECIAL EVENT SECURITY SERVICES TO ELITE SHOW SERVICES, INC.
Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Staff Report_Awarding RFP 25-07 to Elite Show Services Inc for Special Event Security Services.pdf
2. Attachment A - Elite Show Services, Inc_Agreement_Special Event Security.pdf
3. Attachment B - Resolution_RFP 25-07_Special Event Security Services.pdf Resolution No. 2024-139
Adopt Resolution.
10. COUNCIL INITIATED
Public Comments:
10.1 CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE REDUCTION OF VEHICLE TRAVEL AND PROMOTING TRAFFIC SAFETY IN CONCERT WITH OTHER REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDERS - COUNCILMEMBER SHU Attachments
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Public Comments
1. Memo_CI.Shu_Reduction of Vehicle Travel Resolution 2024-11-12.pdf
2. Attachment A_Resolution Reduction of Vehicle Travel 2024-xxx.pdf Councilmember Shu explained the purpose of requesting the Council to adopt the Resolution encouraging the reduction of vehicle travel and promoting traffic safety, in concert with other regional transportation planning organizations and providers.
Council questions and comments ensued.
Dan Miller spoke in support of the Resolution encouraging the reduction of vehicle travel and promoting traffic safety in concert with other regional transportation planning organizations and providers.
Matty Klemanski spoke about their concerns regarding traffic safety on Lemon Avenue.
Brenda Hammond spoke about the lack of safety for passengers on the trolley.
Resolution No. 2024-140
Moved By
Councilmember Shu
Seconded By
Councilmember Parent
Adopt Resolution.
For (4)
Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Shu, Councilmember Parent, and Vice Mayor Dillard Against (1)
Councilmember Lothian
Approved (4 to 1)
11. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 MINUTE LIMIT)
Public Comments:
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 6:58 p.m.