MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LA PALMA CITY COUNCIL
February 4, 2025
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Waldman called the Regular Meeting of the La Palma City Council to order at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers of La Palma City Hall, 7822 Walker Street, La Palma, California.
CLOSED SESSION
CS-1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6.
Agency Designated Representatives: Conal McNamara, City Manager Ryan Hallett, Assistant City Manager
Steve Filarsky, Labor Attorney
Mike Matsumoto, Financial Consultant
Employee Organizations: La Palma General Employees
Association
La Palma Police Association
La Palma Professional Employees
Association
Unrepresented Employees: Executive Management
CS-2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(2)) 1 case – Proposed AT&T Tower at 8415 Meadowlark
Mayor Waldman recessed to Closed Session at 5:32 p.m.
Mayor Waldman adjourned Closed Session at 6:23 p.m.
OPEN SESSION TO BEGIN AT 6:30PM
Mayor Waldman reconvened the City Council in Open Session at 6:31 p.m. and asked fora report out of Closed Session.
City Attorney Thind reported that there were no reportable actions out of Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Conklin
City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
INVOCATION: Pastor Steve Bland, La Palma Christian Center ROLL CALL: Council Members
Council Members present: Council Member Baker, Council Member Conklin, Council Member V. Patel, Mayor Pro Tem N. Patel,
and Mayor Waldman
Council Members absent: None
City Officials present: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Ajit Thind, City Attorney
Joseph Cisneros, Deputy City Manager
Belinda Deines, Community Development Manager
Joe Guerrero, Police Chief
Kimberly Kenney, City Clerk
PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Pro Tem Patel presented a Proclamation to Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Captain Sobiesiak in Recognition of Orange County Fire Authority's Burn Awareness Week/
City Manager McNamara introduced Aliyar Yazdanshenas as the City’s new Engineer Technician in Public Works.
Howard Kummerman, Executive Director of Cypress College Foundation, gave a presentation on the 50th Annual Americana Awards recognizing Richard and Jean Daum as La Palma’s Citizens of the Year.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Emma Diones, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding her opposition to her neighbor's Cypress trees that abut her backyard fence; that lack of regard by the owners, problems with squirrels, and potential fire hazard are concerns; and asked for the City Council's support in resolving the matter.
Mayor Pro Tem Nitesh Patel responded that the neighboring trees are on private property and asked if the City Council has any authority to get involved.
City Attorney Thind responded that this is a civil matter; that the City Council can issue a City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
nuisance abatement, but that property management issues are ultimately up to the property owner.
Mayor Pro Tem Patel added that Ms. Diones previously discussed her concerns with the City Council; that the only way the City can get involved is if the trees affect the public right-of-way; that maybe hiring an attorney is an option; that the City Council cannot take action on behalf of residents for civil matters; and that maybe a real estate agent can find the property owners.
Joanne Studebaker, a La Palma resident, addressed the City Council regarding a neighboring little league having a backstop next to her fence; her opposition to the nonstop noise from the players screams; that she's contacted Anaheim Unified School District and was told they have no jurisdiction; and asked the City Council for a resolution on this matter.
Mayor Waldman responded that this matter will be referred to Staff.
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 January 14, 2025, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
3. Approval of Register of Demands
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-04 approving the Register of Demands for January 21, 2025, and February 4, 2025.
4. Second Quarter Operating Report, Fiscal Year 2024-25 Receive and file the Second Quarter Operating Report, Fiscal Year 2024-25.
5. Second Quarter Cash and Investment Report, Fiscal Year 2024-25 Receive and file the Second Quarter Cash and Investment Report, Fiscal Year 2024-25.
6. Pickleball Notice of Completion
City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
Authorize Staff to file a Notice of Completion and Accept the Work with the Orange County Clerk and Recorder for the Central Park Pickleball Fencing and Striping Project.
7. Resolution approving the Sponsorship for 2025 Cypress College Foundation Americana wards, an Authorizing the Distribution of Tickets to Attend the Event.
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-05 approving Sponsorship of the 2025 Cypress College Foundation Americana Awards at the Benefactor Level and authorize the distribution of tickets to attend the event.
8. Resolution Approving the Admission of the City of La Palma into the Joint Powers Authority of the California Municipal Finance Authority regarding Casa La Palma Apartment at 7777 Valley View Street/
Adopt the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement and adopt Resolution No. 2025-06 approving the admission of the City of La Palma into a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement relating to the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) for the purpose of promoting economic, cultural, and community development activities in the City, including the financing of projects by the CMFA.
9. Approval and Ratification of the Transition to the Cloud-Based ERP System Approve and ratify the City Manager’s transition to the cloud-based ERP system.
Mayor Pro Tem N. Patel made a motion to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through
9. The motion was seconded by Council Member Baker and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Council Member Baker, Council Member Conklin,
Mayor Pro Tem Nitesh Patel, Council Member Vikesh
Patel, and Mayor Waldman
NOES: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None Scheduled.
REGULAR ITEMS
10. Department Restructuring and Overhire Authorizations City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution updating the Salary Schedule and a Comprehensive Listing of Personnel Practices and Benefits for Management Employees to include a Public Works Manager and City Clerk/Executive Assistant positions, establish a new salary schedule for the City Clerk/Executive Assistant position, and rescind Resolution No. 2024-23;
2. Adopt a Resolution approving a Side Letter with the La Palma Professional Employees Association amending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to add a Deputy City Clerk position at the proposed salary range, reclassify the City Clerk/Executive position to the Management Employees group, and retitle the Utilities/Maintenance Supervisor to Water Supervisor; and
3. Authorize the overhire of the Public Works Manager and City Clerk/Executive Assistant (or Deputy City Clerk/Executive Assistant) positions for a limited transition period to ensure continuity of operations.
City Manager McNamara gave the Staff Report.
Council Member Comments and Questions:
None.
Public Input:
No members of the public wished to speak.
Mayor Pro Tem N. Patel made a motion to:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-06 updating the Salary Schedule and a Comprehensive Listing of Personnel Practices and Benefits for Management Employees to include a Public Works Manager and City Clerk/Executive Assistant positions, establish a new salary schedule for the City Clerk/Executive Assistant position, and rescind Resolution No. 2024-23;
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-07 approving a Side Letter with the La Palma Professional Employees Association amending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to add a Deputy City Clerk position at the proposed salary range, reclassify the City Clerk/Executive position to the Management Employees group, and retitle the Utilities/Maintenance Supervisor to Water Supervisor; and
City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
3. Authorize the overhire of the Public Works Manager and City Clerk/Executive Assistant (or Deputy City Clerk/Executive Assistant) positions for a limited transition period to ensure continuity of operations.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Baker and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Council Member Baker, Council Member
Conklin, Mayor Pro Tem Nitesh Patel, Council
Member Vikesh Patel, and Mayor Waldman
NOES: None
11. Council Member Request – Discuss and Approve the City of La Palma rejoining the Association of California Cities – Orange County (ACC-OC).
Recommendation that the City Council consider Council Member Baker’s request and discuss the matter.
City Manager McNamara introduced the item and Council Member Baker gave a brief overview of her request.
Executive Director Kris Murray from the ACC-OC gave a presentation on their services and the value of membership with her agency.
Council Comments and Questions:
Discussion ensued by thanking Ms. Murray for her detailed presentation; the differences between them and Cal Cities; that Cal Cities focuses on State issues and the ACC-OC works with them, but that the ACC-OC provides education and needs for Orange County Cities versus the State; that they provide guidance and education to OC Cities; how the ACC-OC works and implements the Advocacy Trip to Washington DC working with the federal government; that the legislative agenda goes through their Board of Directors for approval; whether the ACC-OC's talking points and position are the same as Cal Cities; that the ACC-OC often has a different position than Cal Cities as they are geared to addressing City matters and not State matters; that the ACC-OC works differently to move Orange County's concerns to the table; that when Cal Cities and the ACC-OC have issues and principles that both are interested in, they collaborate together; the ACC-OC's involvement in the Sober Living Task Force and role they play; that they don't regulate Sober Living facilities, but advocate on behalf of local Orange County municipalities protecting the residents in their neighborhoods; the ACC-OC's history starting in Mission Viejo and how they City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
have slowly reached other cities in Orange County; and the many events they sponsor including the Women in Leadership summit.
Public Input:
No members of the public wished to speak.
Mayor Pro Tem Nitesh Patel made a motion to approve the City of La Palma to rejoining the Association of California Cities – Orange County (ACC-OC). The motion was seconded by Council Member Baker and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Council Member Baker, Council Member Conklin,
Mayor Pro Tem N. Patel, Council Member V. Patel,
and Mayor Waldman
NOES: None
COUNCIL MEMBER AB1234 REPORTS, REPORTS FROM CITY-AFFILIATED
COMMITTEES, AND COUNCIL REMARKS
Council Member Baker attended the ACC-OC Newly Elected Council Member Orientation & Training; the Cal Cities Mayors and Council Members Academy Run of Show; the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) Board of Trustees Meeting; the Centralia School District's Open House; the Cal Cities Northern California Mayors and Council Members Academy; the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) Board of Directors Meeting; the Cal Cities Community Services Policy Committee Meeting; a meeting with the Executive staff of ACC-OC; the Cal Cities Southern California Mayors and Council Members Academy; the annual Goal Setting/Strategic Planning Session; welcomed Aliyar Yazdanshenas on board; and congratulated Rick and Jean Daum for their recognition of being named La Palma's Citizens of the Year.
Council Member V. Patel attended the ACC-OC Newly Elected Council Member Orientation & Training; the Orange County Sanitation District (OC SAN) Board of Directors meeting; the Orange County Public Library Advisory Board (OC LAB) meeting; the annual Goal Setting/Strategic Planning Session; welcomed Aliyar Yazdanshenas on board; and congratulated Rick and Jean Daum for their recognition of being named La Palma's Citizens of the Year.
Council Member Conklin attended the annual Goal Setting/Strategic Planning Session; City Council Meeting
February 4, 2025
was appointed as a Federal Political Coordinator (FPC) for the National Association of Realtors; thanked the public for allowing her to serve; announced that she stepped down as the President of the La Palma Chamber of Commerce and now serves as the Founder in an advisory role; and announced an upcoming Chamber mixer.
Mayor Pro Tem N. Patel attended the OCFA Budget and Finance Committee meeting; the Cypress College Foundation Board meeting; the OCFA Board of Directors Meeting; the John F. Kennedy High School Expo; the Boys and Girls Orange Coast Board meeting; the annual Goal Setting/Strategic Planning Session; the OCFA Human Resources Subcommittee where he was appointed Chairperson.
Mayor Waldman attended the annual Goal Setting/Strategic Planning Session.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
City Manager McNamara had nothing to report.
CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
City Attorney Thind had nothing to report.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Waldman adjourned the Regular Meeting of the City Council at 7:39 p.m. _________________________
Mark I. Waldman
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Kimberly Kenney, CMC
City Clerk