MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LA PALMA CITY COUNCIL
August 2, 2022
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Steggell called the Regular Meeting of the La Palma City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of La Palma City Hall, 7822 Walker Street, La Palma, California, with all members present.
CLOSED SESSION
CS-1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6.
Agency Designated Representatives: Ajit Thind, City Attorney Ryan Hallett Hinton, Administrative
Services Director
Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
CS-2. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957(B)(1):
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Position Title: City Manager
CS-3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING
LITIGATION
(Pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Name of Case: Tartarian vs. City of La Palma
Case No. OCSC 30-2022-01263112-CU-WM-CJC
CS-4. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6.
Agency Designated Representatives: Conal McNamara, City Manager Ryan Hallett Hinton, Administrative
Services Director
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
Employee Organizations: La Palma Police Association
Unrepresented Employees: Executive Management
Mayor Steggell recessed to Closed Session at 5:32 p.m.
Mayor Steggell adjourned Closed Session at 6:25 p.m.
OPEN SESSION:
Mayor Steggell reconvened in Open Session at 6:30 p.m. and asked for a report.
City Attorney Thind responded that there are no reportable actions out of Closed Session for items CS-1 through CS-3; however, the City Council will return to Closed Session after the meeting to discuss Item CS-4.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Goodman
INVOCATION: Pastor Peter Hernandez, La Palma Christian Center ROLL CALL: Council and Commission Members
Council Members present: Mayor Pro Tem Baker, Council Member Goodman, Council Member Patel, Mayor Steggell, and Council
Member Waldman
Council Members absent: None
City Officials present: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Ajit Thind, City Attorney
Joe Cisneros, Assistant to the City Manager
Ryan Hallett-Hinton, Administrative Services Director
Scott Hutter, Planning Manager
Terry Kim, Police Chief
Kimberly Kenney, City Clerk
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
PRESENTATIONS
1. Mayor Steggell presented Certificates of Recognition to the La Palma Recreation Center Martial Arts Students for achieving Black Belt Status.
Joe Pak, representing Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva's office also issued Certificates of Recognition.
2. Simy Soto, Senior Recreation Leader, introduced the Volunteen Program and Mayor Steggell issued Certificates of Recognition to the 2022 Volunteens.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Richard Lyons, representing the South East Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA) as a Field Services Supervisor, introduced La Palma's new designated Officer Xavier Fair and Trainee Rosa Rubakava.
RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL AND CONVENE AS THE CITY OF LA PALMA AS
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE DISSOLVED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AT 6:46 P.M.
City Clerk Kenney stated, "The City Council will now recess and convene as the Successor Agency to the Dissolved Community Development Commission of the City of La Palma. Members of the La Palma City Council receive no compensation or stipend as a result of convening or participating in either the Successor Agency or otherwise as serving as members of the Successor Agency."
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of Successor Agency Minutes
Minutes of the July 5, 2022, Regular Meeting of the Successor Agency.
Council Member Patel made a motion to approve Consent Calendar Item A.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Waldman and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Baker, Council Member Goodman,
Council Member Patel, Mayor Steggell, and Council
Member Waldman
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
NOES: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None Scheduled.
REGULAR ITEMS
None Scheduled.
ADJOURN THE CITY OF LA PALMA AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE DISSOLVED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AT 6:47 P.M.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Waive the Reading of All Ordinances
Waive the reading of all Ordinances in their entirety and read by title only.
2. Approval of Council Minutes
Minutes of the July 5, 2022, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
3. Approval of Register of Demands
Resolution No. 2022-35 approving the Registers of Demands for July 19, 2022, and August 2, 2022.
4. City of La Palma Fourth Quarter Cash and Investment Report, Fiscal Year 2021- 22, as of June 30, 2022
Receive and file the Cash and Investment Report for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2021-22, as of June 30, 2022.
5. Approval of an Extension to Consultant Services Agreement with Charles Abbott Associates for As-needed Building Official, Building Inspector as Required by Workload, Optional Part-Time Permit Technician, and As-Needed Building Plan Check Services.
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
Authorize the City Manager to exercise a six (6) month extension of the Agreement for Consultant Services with Charles Abbott Associates, Inc. for as-needed Building Official, Building Inspector as required by workload, optional part-time Permit Technician, and as-needed Building Inspection, and as-needed plan check services.
6. Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending City Municipal Code Chapter 44 (Zoning) Pertaining to the Regulation of Pharmaceutical Uses Conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2022-05 of the City of La Palma amending City Municipal Code (Chapter 44 Zoning) pertaining to the regulation of pharmaceutical uses.
7. Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending City Municipal Code Chapter 2 (Administration), Chapter 14 (Finance and Taxation), and Chapter 44 (Zoning) Pertaining to the Regulation of Short-Term Rentals in Residential Zones Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2022-06 amending City Municipal Code Chapter 2 “Administration”, Chapter 14 “Finance and Taxation”, and Chapter 44 “Zoning” pertaining to the regulation of short-term rentals in residential zones.
8. Second Reading and Adoption of An Ordinance Amending City Municipal Code Chapter 36 (Streets and Sidewalks) Pertaining to the Regulation of Sidewalk Vendors on City Sidewalks
Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance 2022-07 of the City of La Palma amending City Municipal Code Chapter 36 (Streets and Sidewalks) pertaining to the regulation of sidewalk vendors on City sidewalks.
9. City Attorney Contract Amendment
Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute a Sixth Amendment to the Agreement for Legal Services with Rutan & Tucker, LLP.
Council Member Patel made a motion to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 9.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Waldman and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Baker, Council Member Goodman,
Council Member Patel, Mayor Steggell, and Council
Member Waldman
NOES: None
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. Fourth Public Hearing to Receive Input from the Community Regarding the Composition of Council Election District Draft Maps and Sequence Of Elections a) Mayor Steggell opened the Public Hearing at 6:48 p.m. b) City Manager McNamara introduced the item an Dr. Levitt representing National Demographic Center (NDC) gave the Staff Report and presentation.
c) City Council Comments and Questions:
Discussion ensued regarding the ability to still submit maps up to the next and final public hearing in September; that under the Federal Voting Rights Act, maps 105, 108, 109, 110, and 111, are all viable and population balanced; that meeting the Federal requirement doesn't mean it's the best map, but these five maps identified do meet that legal requirement; that deciphering a good outcome for a district north of Houston would mean you'd have to make it into two equal districts and the legal requirements have been met; that the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) has explicit direction that if you have district elections, you are no longer open to a lawsuit; it is why NDC focuses on neighborhoods, communities, and streets when drawing maps; that not just race, but a confluence of factors is why a district needs to be represented, and why they don't focus on only the number of Latinos in a district; and that the City is not allowed to make a district based on race - it cannot be the only factor or a predominant factor - when approving a final map.
d) Public Input:
No members of the public wished to speak.
e) Mayor Steggell closed the Public Hearing at 7:08 p.m.
Discussion further ensued by having the City Council give feedback to NDC as a result of this fourth Public Hearing; that there might be issues that need to be addressed that were brought up tonight either in closed session or open session; that City Attorney Thind noted that there could at some point be potential litigation even after moving to districts, although unlikely, but there is no basis for Closed Session or further discussions as the City is in City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
the process of complying to the Shenkman letter; that the City Council appreciates all the work that NDC is doing for the City; that maps will still be accepted by NDC until August 25th to allow for time to turn these around by the September 6th last Public Hearing; that City Attorney Thind clarified that the City was not sued, but received a threat of litigation; that the public can reach out to NDC for help if they have any questions or need help with the tools; and that by consensus, the City Council received and filed the Report.
REGULAR ITEMS
11. League of California Cities Voting Delegates and Resolutions City Manager McNamara introduced the item and City Clerk Kenney gave the Staff Report.
a) Designate Council Member Goodman as the City of La Palma’s Voting Delegate at the League of California Cities’ (LOCC) Annual Conference; b) Designate Mayor Pro Tem Baker as the City of La Palma’s Alternate Voting Delegate at the League of California Cities’ (LOCC) Annual Conference; and c) Authorize the City of La Palma delegation the discretion to vote on any resolutions taking into consideration the information they receive at the conference.
Council Member Waldman made a motion to approve the designation of Council Member Goodman as the City of La Palma’s Voting Delegate at the League of California Cities’ (LOCC) Annual Conference; designation Mayor Pro Tem Baker as the City of La Palma’s Alternate Voting Delegate at the League of California Cities’ (LOCC) Annual Conference; and authorize the City of La Palma delegation the discretion to vote on any resolutions taking into consideration the information they receive at the conference.
The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Baker and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Baker, Council Member Goodman,
Council Member Patel, Mayor Steggell, and Council
Member Waldman
NOES: None
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
COUNCILMEMBER AB1234 REPORTS, REPORTS FROM CITY-AFFILIATED
COMMITTEES, AND COUNCIL REMARKS
Council Member Waldman attended several Concerts in the Park.
Council Member Patel attended the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) Board meeting as the alternate.
Council Member Goodman attended the OCSD Operations Committee meeting; interviewed for a Board position at the League of California Cities (Cal Cities); the Garden Grove State of the City; the Cal Cities Board meeting's "Year in Review" as Chair of the Housing and Economic Development Policy Committee; the Hometown Heroes Concert in the Park; the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA) Annual Board meeting; and the CJPIA Executive Committee meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Baker attended the Bridges at Kramer Place tour of the facilities; several Concerts in the Park including the Hometown Heroes concert; the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) Special Meeting; the CJPIA annual Board Meeting; the OCMVCD Board of Trustee's meeting; the Orange County Fair's Elected Officials event; announced the upcoming Central Park Cinemas and National Night Out event; and congratulated Council Member Goodman on his appointment to the OCSD as Vice Chair for the Operations Committee and his nomination to the Cal Cities Board.
Mayor Steggell attended the Orange County Fair's Elected Officials event; the Hometown Heroes Concert; the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Cadet Graduation; the OCFA Board of Directors meeting; and announced the upcoming Meet the Mayor event tomorrow at Central Park.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
City Manager McNamara announced the upcoming Mayor's Town Hall at the Community Center on August 18th at the Community Center.
Police Chief Kim reported on the retirement of the City's most experienced dispatcher and with that, a challenge to the dispatch schedule; that he reached out to Buena Park Police as they share the same dispatch program; that Buena Park was willing to share dispatchers in support of helping us address our needs; and announced the upcoming National Night Out and Civic Expo.
CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
City Attorney Thind had nothing to report.
City Council Meeting
August 2, 2022
Mayor Steggell recessed to Closed Session at 7:24 p.m.
Mayor Steggell adjourned the Closed Session, reconvened in Open Session at 8:01 p.m. and asked for a report.
City Attorney Thind announced that there are no reportable actions out of Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Steggell adjourned the Regular Meeting at 8:01 p.m.
Michele Steggell
Mayor
Attest:
Kimberly Kenney, CMC
City Clerk