MINUTES OF THE REGULAR STUDY SESSION MEETING
LA MIRADA CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 8, 2023 - 5 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor De Ruse called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. in Conference Room 1, La Mirada City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California.
2. ROLL CALL
The City Council was present with Councilmember Eng, Councilmember Lewis, Mayor Pro Tem Sarega and Mayor De Ruse responding to roll call.
Councilmember Otero was absent.
The following staff members were present: City Manager Jeff Boynton, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Anne Haraksin and City Attorney Craig Fox.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
4. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION
4.1 INTERVIEW OF A POTENTIAL HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER
Members of the City Council invited Michelle Bean to provide information on her interest, qualifications and experience, as they relate to the Historical Preservation Advisory Council (HPAC).
Ms. Bean responded to questions asked by members of the City Council related to her potential role on HPAC. Following the interview, the Council expressed support for Ms. Bean's interest in serving on HPAC. The City Manager said an item regarding her potential appointment would be placed on an upcoming City Council meeting agenda.
4.2 2023 INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION EVENT DEBRIEFING
City Manager Jeff Boynton introduced the item.
Community Services Coordinator Veronica Luna said this year's Independence Celebration event featured live music, food booths, patriotic program, and concluded with a fireworks display. She said it is estimated that upwards of 20,000 people attended the event. She said more than 25 food vendors sold a variety of hot foods, drinks, desserts and other specialty food items. Additionally, four La Mirada non-profit groups operated food booths and the feedback from the non-profit groups was mixed. She said the general consensus among the groups was that they did not sell as well as the previous year due to competition from the for-profit vendors. She said staff would review the feedback from the non- profit groups and consider making some adjustments to next year's food vendor operations.
Minutes of the Study Session Meeting
August 8, 2023
Community Services Director Oliver Osuna provided information on the Independence Celebration's budget. • He said this year's cost was approximately $142,805 which included expenditures for City staff, Sheriff's Deputies, the fireworks display, equipment rentals, and supplies.
He said the budget for the fireworks display was set at $15,000 and due to inflationary factors, the number of shells allotted to the fireworks display at the budgeted amount was much lower than what has been provided to the City in previous years. He said that staff would continue to reach out to fireworks vendors to secure the best show possible given the budget.
Members of the City Council asked questions and expressed appreciation to staff for planning a successful 2023 Independence Celebration event. They also expressed support for increasing the fireworks budget to receive a similar display as prior years.
4.3 RECREATIONAL USE AND ATHLETIC FIELD MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT FOR LOS COYOTES AGREEMENT FOR NORWALK-LA
MIRADA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT USE OF CITY FACILITIES
City Manager Jeff Boynton introduced the item.
Community Services Director Oliver Osuna said the City and School District entered into a Maintenance Agreement for the Los Coyotes Athletic Fields in 2018. He said the City has been maintaining these fields for many years for the benefit of La Mirada Athletic Council (LMAC) member organizations. Additionally in 2018, the City and School District executed a comprehensive agreement providing for La Mirada High School's use of City facilities for the first time. He said the agreement covers the use of Behringer Athletic Fields, La Mirada Community Gymnasium, and Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. He said both agreements have since expired and there continues to be a need for them to meet the needs of local youth and high school athletics programs.
Community Services Director Osuna said the City and the School District have been working to draft new agreements. He said the proposed Los Coyotes Recreational Use and Field Maintenance Agreement provides for the City to maintain the athletic facilities on the condition that the School District offers LMAC member organizations to have first priority to reserve the fields when not required for use by the School District. He said the proposed term of the agreement would be for two years with an option to extend the agreement by three additional one-year terms.
Members of the City Council reviewed and discussed the proposed recreation use and maintenance agreement for Los Coyotes Athletic 2 Minutes of the Study Session Meeting
August 8, 2023
Fields and the agreement for Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District's use of City facilities. They were in support of both items.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Boynton provided an update on the newly installed public safety resource camera system at Creek Park.
6. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the City Council adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m.
Leticia Revilla, Assistant City Clerk
ATTEST:
Steve De Ruse, Mayor
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