MINUTES
LA PUENTE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING OF
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
Per Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised 11" Edition, minutes are a record of the actions taken by the body. These minutes do not include a summary of the discussion but only reflect the action taken by the body. A complete audio recording of this meeting is available on the City's website www.lapuente.org.
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of La Puente was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 15900 East Main Street, La Puente, California, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Quinones called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Quinones, Klinakis, Mendoza.
Members absent: Argudo, Munoz.
Staff members present: Acting City Manager/Director of Development Services John Di Mario, City Attorney Susie Altamirano, City Clerk Martha Torres, Director of Administrative Services Troy Grunklee, Chief/Director of Public Safety Jeffrey Buckwell, Director of Community Services Alexander Bauman, Finance Manager Alexander Merkel Medina, and Office Specialist Jackie Cortez.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Quinones led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS
Project LEAD students Sarahi Jaramillo and Cassandra Sam provided an update regarding recent and upcoming events and activities at Bassett High School.
Project LEAD students Serenity Olvera and Joseph Alarcon provided an update regarding recent and upcoming events and activities at La Puente High School.
Mayor Quinones and Council Member Mendoza thanked everyone for their participation in Project LEAD.
Mayor Quinones presented a Certificate of Commendation to Dr. Marci Chavez, Principal at Nelson Elementary School, for her work at Nelson Elementary School and her collaboration with Project LEAD.
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Community Outreach Program Coordinator Brian Torres of the La Puente Programs, Re- employment, Outreach Services (P.R.O.S.) Team provided an information briefing on recent activity in the City.
Mayor Quinones and Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis thanked the P.R.O.S. Team for their hard work.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mary Pantoja expressed her concern regarding a neighbor.
Richard Martinez expressed his concern regarding a neighbor.
Jeanette Freels spoke regarding the La Puente Library and indicated the library is a cooling center and an activation center during heat waves.
Manuel Maldonado spoke regarding upcoming elections, upcoming community meetings, and Nelson Elementary School.
BOARDS/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REPORTS - None.
A. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MEETINGS
A-1 READ AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETINGS OF AUGUST 13 AND AUGUST 19, 2024.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis, seconded by Mayor Quinones, to waive the reading and approve the Minutes of the City Council and Successor Agency meetings of August 13 and August 19, 2024. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Mendoza
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Argudo, Munoz
B. PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL - None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL - None.
D. CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR
Acting City Manager Di Mario pulled item D-4 for further discussion and read the following revision to Item D-5 into the record: the effective date of the agreement shall be changed from August 27, 2024, to September 10, 2024.
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Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis pulled item D-6 for further discussion.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis, seconded by Council Member Mendoza, to approve Consent Calendar Items D-1 through D-3, D-5 and D-7, with the revision to Item D-5 as stated by Acting City Manager Di Mario. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Mendoza
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Argudo, Munoz
D-1 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING WARRANT RESOLUTION NO. 24-5895
Action Taken: The City Council and Successor Agency adopted Resolution No. 24-5895 approving Warrant Register No. 1578.
D-2 SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 24-987 APPROVING MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENT NO. 24-01 TO CHANGE THE ZONE CLASSIFICATION FOR TWO
PARCELS OF VACANT LAND AT VALLEY BOULEVARD AND OLD VALLEY BOULEVARD IDENTIFIED AS ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NUMBERS 8247-032-900 AND 8247-032-024 FROM COMMERCIAL-MANUFACTURING TO OPEN SPACE Action Taken: The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 24-987, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of La Puente, approving Municipal Code Amendment No. 24-01 to change the zone classification for two parcels of vacant land at Valley Boulevard and Old Valley Boulevard identified as Accessor's Parcel Numbers (APN) 8247-032-900 and 8247-032-024 from Commercial-Manufacturing (CM) to Open Space (OS), and adopting a Notice of Exemption Regarding same.
D-3 CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR THE
PEDESTRIAN HYBRID SIGNAL (HAWK) INSTALLATION ON HACIENDA
BOULEVARD AT PRICHARD STREET
Action Taken: The City Council: (1) accepted the project as complete; and (2) authorized the City Clerk to execute the Notice of Completion.
D-4 CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR OLD VALLEY
BOULEVARD SEWER EXTENSION PROJECT
Acting City Manager Di Mario pulled this item for further discussion.
Acting City Manager Di Mario requested that the City Council consider the following revised recommended action: (1) approve the plans and specifications for the construction CC/SA MINUTES PAGE 3 OF 6 SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
of the Old Valley Boulevard Sewer Extension Project; and (2) authorize Staff to solicit for bids, if needed.
He noted that Staff is looking into a potential option with the Los Angeles County Sanitation District that would authorize the City to not require extending the sewer.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis, seconded by Council Member Mendoza, to: (1) approve the plans and specifications for the construction of the Old Valley Boulevard Sewer Extension Project; and (2) authorize Staff to solicit for bids, if needed.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Mendoza
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Argudo, Munoz
D-5 CONSIDERATION OF A STREET USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA PUENTE AND A5 EVENTS/STUDENTS RUN LA FOR A 5K/10K STRENGTH
TRAINING RUN
Action Taken: The City Council: (1) approved the Street Use Agreement between the City of La Puente and A5 Events/Students Run LA for a 5K/10K Strength Training Run; and (2) authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City.
D-6 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 22-5755
AND ADOPTING AN AMENDED CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE CONTAINING
REVISED DESIGNATED POSITIONS AND DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis pulled this item for further discussion.
In response to an inquiry from Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis regarding the addition of designated positions, Acting City Manager Di Mario clarified that there were four new supervisory level or above positions recommended to be added and noted that after review, Staff is recommending that the City Council further consider amending the resolution to remove the following five designated positions that are below supervisory level from the designated filer list: Management Assistant, Management Analyst, Assistant Planner, Associate Planner, and Senior Planner.
Discussion ensued regarding transparency, state law, and the designation of positions.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis, seconded by Council Member Mendoza, to adopt Resolution No. 24-5896 rescinding Resolution No. 22-5755 and approving the City's amended Conflict of Interest Code, with the revisions to remove the following five designated positions from the designated filer list: Management Assistant, Management Analyst, Assistant Planner, Associate Planner, and Senior Planner. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
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AYES: Quinones, Klinakis, Mendoza
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Argudo, Munoz
D-7 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER CONTRACT WITH
CDW-G FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AUDIO AND VIDEO
EQUIPMENT FOR THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE LA PUENTE CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $252,247.00
Action Taken: The City Council: (1) approved the purchase order contract with CDWG for the purchase and installation of audio and video equipment for the council chambers at La Puente City Hall; (2) authorized the City Manager to execute, on behalf of the City, all documents necessary to effectuate this action.
E. NEW BUSINESS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL - None.
AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
Code Enforcement and Public Safety Committee: Nothing to report.
La Puente Park Fees, Ordinance and Program Oversight Committee: Nothing to report.
Project LEAD Committee: Mayor Quinones noted that Director Alexander Bauman has reached out to Rowland Unified District regarding one of their elementary schools joining Project LEAD and stated that he is trying to coordinate another mural project with Bassett High School students.
He further spoke regarding upcoming Mock City Council meetings.
LPQT Action Committee: Mayor Quinones reported that he met with Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang and attended a meeting of a non-profit, created from a committee of elected officials representing the LGBTQ+ community.
Rowland, Bassett, and Hacienda La Puente Unified School Districts Liaison Committee: Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis reported that the ad hoc committee was continuing to meet with Bassett and La Puente Unified School Districts to continue ongoing discussions regarding joint use agreements.
Grant Writing Committee: Nothing to report.
AB 1234 REPORTS - None.
ORAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Mayor Klinakis thanked Staff for putting together the summer events at the La Puente Park.
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Council Member Mendoza thanked Staff for the programs and events at the La Puente Park and thanked Public Safety and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for ensuring satety at the park.
Mayor Quinones thanked Community Services Staff for their hard work and commitment.
ORAL COMMENTS FROM STAFF
Acting City Manager Di Mario stated that an outside resident complimented the cleanliness and quality of the La Puente Park. He further noted that the Northgate shopping center and the Food4Less center are undergoing construction improvements.
Chief/Director of Public Safety Buckwell stated that there are currently three ongoing major fires and encouraged people to remain indoors due to the air quality. He further stated that the Public Safety Department is available for those in need during the heat wave as they drive throughout the City.
Director of Community Services Bauman stated that the youth soccer league started last week and has a record number of youth registered. He further recognized Community Services employee, Stephanie Aldrete, for suggesting afternoon arts & crafts, Spanish, and Parent & Me classes at the Community Center, and noted that all classes have sold out.
Director of Community Services Bauman recognized Community Services Specialist Cynthia Saucedo and the Special Olympics Staff and read an email from a parent of a Special Olympics athlete thanking the City and the Special Olympics Staff for their dedication and the difference they have made.
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis thanked Staff for their dedication and going the extra mile.
Chief/Director of Public Safety Buckwell thanked the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for their support and assistance.
Finance Manager Merkel Medina stated that a new volunteer program has began and the City is actively recruiting for volunteers for ages 13 and up.
ADJOURMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Quinones adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m. in honor of the 9/11 first responders and their families.
Approved this 24" day of September, 2024.
MEP Sulf
Martha Torres, MPA
City Clerk
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