MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE LA PALMA CITY COUNCIL
April 4, 2024
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Goodman called the Special Meeting of the La Palma City Council to order at 5:42 p.m. in the Royal Palm Room at the La Palma Community Center, 7821 Walker Street, La Palma, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Goodman
ROLL CALL: Council and Commission Members
Council Members present: Council Member Baker, Council Member Conklin, Mayor Goodman, Council Member Patel, and
Mayor Pro Tem Waldman
Council Members absent: None
City Officials present: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Ryan Hallet, Assistant City Manager/Administrative
Services Director
Joe Cisneros, Assistant to the City Manager
Belinda Deines, Planning Manager
Kimberly Kenney, City Clerk
Alan Rivera, Management Assistant
REGULAR ITEMS
1. Community Conversation Regarding City Leadership and Civic Engagement Recommendation that the City Council engage the community in a conversation regarding the City’s future leadership and civic engagement to cover some topics such as volunteerism, public participation, term limits, and City communication.
Mayor Goodman introduced the item; that the intent was to address term limits, however the purpose is to inspire leadership; that the meeting is to address civic engagement; that there are ways to get civic engagement from the residents by having them join committees, go through the citizen's academy, and others; that tonight there are other citizen committee members for residents to speak with and for those who are interested in getting involved in the next citizen's academy; and that he thanked everyone for coming; that in 2019, the City Council placed term limits on the agenda and later chose to table the item; that instead, he reinstated the dormant program called the Citizen's Academy; that since it's reinstatement, Special City Council Meeting
April 4, 2024
residents have attended that academy; that a former Mayor and his wife attended the Academy; and that this is for an open discussion on other options and ideas on how to engage the community in a pipeline directed towards City leadership.
Council Member Patel thanked all the residents and respective agencies for coming to the event tonight; that he welcomes the residents to get engaged in the conversation with Council Members, Staff, Citizen Committee members, and Agency Officials; that this is for the residents to get more information; and that he's looking forward to having the public engaged in this process.
City Manager McNamara thanked the attendees for coming to the meeting; noted that the City Council gave direction to Staff at the February meeting to initiate a community conversation type of meeting; that the discussion involved the responsibilities of City Council members, their various committee obligations, and the need to attract civic engagement; that the agencies present tonight are all member organizations that the City Council Members belong to or interact with like the Orange County Sanitation District, the Metropolitan Water District of Orange County, the League of California Cities, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority - the City's insurance provider, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District; that additional tables for the Police Department, City Administration, Citizen Committees - Development and Circulation and Community Activities and Beautification (CAB), the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) are happy to engage with residents; that this meeting is to collect the community's thoughts and by that, attendees can go get a card and get it stamped for every station or table they visit and the conclude by giving a survey; that for Staff, this process is important as the feedback from the public is valuable regarding a wide variety of topics; that this is meant to be a free flowing conversation; that Staff is also available during this process to engage in a discussion or answer questions; and that oral comments will be received at the end of this open meeting conversation.
Mayor Goodman opened the community conversation at 5:50 p.m.
Mayor Goodman reconvened the City Council at 6:53 p.m.
Mayor Goodman thanked all the attendees and announced his hopefulness that community can take away something valuable from this conversation; that he hopes the community received some inspiration to get involved and run for the City Council and Citizen Committees; and asked for the City Manager's direction on the next step.
City Manager McNamara announced that the City Staff will be compiling the information and feedback received from the conversations had; that it is his hope that this provides some stimulation in getting the community involved and start to Special City Council Meeting
April 4, 2024
volunteer; that Staff will be taking the interested parties information to follow up; and that with this portion of the meeting being concluded, the next agenda item would be the Oral Communications portion of the Agenda.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Robert Carruth, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding the Cerritos method for term limits that was given to their voters; supported this measure being presented in the same fashion to the La Palma voters; and suggested other alternatives for La Palma voters to address City Council term limits.
Ed Byrne, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding his desire to correct the record on some information that was passed out; that it is not true that incumbents always win as was the case in La Palma's earlier election in 1982 where highly qualified candidate incumbents did not win their reelection; that in 1984, three experienced Council Members stepped down and the City did not collapse; that he is in support of term limits for City Council members; that he supports state and national term limits; and his opposition to the lack of communication regarding street construction and requested a better format to inform residents in the future.
Mayor Goodman stated for the record that the literature that was passed out about how incumbents always win reelection was not from City Staff or the City Council; and that it came from resident Mr. Carruth.
Emma Diones, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding her opposition to the backyard neighbor's overgrown cypress trees; that these trees harbor vermin; would like the City to provide a resolution; and her support for La Palma having our own Police and Fire Departments.
Keith Nelson, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding support for giving the voters term limit options and alternatives on the ballot; support for more communication and education regarding district elections; and support for procedure and policy being put in place for when the City does not have a candidate running in a district.
Emme Diones, a La Palma resident, asked about the status of the old Walgreens building, the Chase Bank, and the vacant buildings in front of the CJPIA property, and whether a new tenant has shown interest.
Mayor Goodman announced that the old Walgreens will become a Dollar Tree store and that the property at Moody and La Palma in front of the CJPIA will become a new CJPIA campus facility.
Special City Council Meeting
April 4, 2024
Peter Eckel, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding his opposition to the dilapidated conditions of several commercial and retail centers in the City; that he's concerned about the decline in the economic development conditions in these centers; and how to improve tenancy or redevelopment options for the city's business and retail centers.
Mayor Goodman announced that the City Council has been engaged in promoting economic development in the City; has formed an Economic Development Ad-Hoc committee as a result; that the City has the authority to zone, but cannot force a private property owner into making decisions on tenant occupants; and encouraged Mr. Eckel to contact Planning Manager Deines.
Steven Hesse, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding the street sweeping schedule and the conflict with major holidays; and asked if there's a way to resolve the confusion.
Irene Hesse, a La Palma resident and CAB Committee Chairperson, addressed the City Council regarding her support to incorporate artwork onto the City's electrical boxes.
Mayor Goodman asked City Manager McNamara for closing remarks to which he announced that the agencies who participated tonight brought a generous supply of materials like chap-stick, pens, and shopping bags that the public was welcome to take with them on their way home and thanked everyone present for attending this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Goodman thanked everyone in attendance for coming to the Community Conversation and announced his hope that those present would participate in some service capacity for the City of La Palma. He adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m. ____________________________
Marshall Goodman
Mayor
Attest:
__________________________
Kimberly Kenney, CMC
City Clerk