MINUTES
LA PUENTE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR CLOSED SESSION, SPECIAL SESSION, AND REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 11, 2025
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 Closed Session, Special Session, and 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, March 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
6:00 P.M. REGULAR CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Klinakis, Argudo (arrived at 6:12 p.m.), Mendoza, Quinones.
Members absent: Munoz.
Staff members present: Acting City Manager/Director of Community Services Alexander Bauman, City Attorney Susie Altamirano, Director of Administrative Services Troy Grunklee, Director of Development Services John Di Mario, Chief/Director of Public Safety Jeffrey Buckwell, Management Assistant Cece Dunlap, and Office Specialist Karissa Rivas Bustillos.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None.
RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION
The City Council recessed into closed session at 6:02 p.m. to discuss items as posted on the agenda.
CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel Anticipated Litigation - Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) (one potential case).
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RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened to open session at 6:15 p.m.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Altamirano reported out of closed session. In regard to Closed Session Item No. 1, a report was provided, feedback was given, and there is no reportable action at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis adjourned the special meeting at 6:15 p.m.
6:30 P.M. SPECIAL SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Quinones.
Members absent: Munoz.
Staff members present: Acting City Manager/Director of Community Services Alexander Series, City Attire Use A mire Director Services isra v Director of Development Services John D
Mario, Chief/Director of Public Safety Jeffrey Buckwell, Management Assistant Cece Dunlap, and Office Specialist Karissa Rivas Bustillos.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None.
SM-1 PRESENTATION AND UPDATE BY GLOBAL URBAN STRATEGIES REGARDING GRANTS
Omar Hernandez, President/CEO of Global Urban Strategies, provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding grant updates.
Action Taken: The City Council received and filed the presentation.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis adjourned the special meeting at 6:56 p.m.
7:00 P.M. REGULAR SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Quinones.
Members absent: Munoz.
Staff members present: Acting City Manager/Director of Community Services Alexander Bauman, City Attorney Susie Altamirano, Director of Administrative Services Troy Grunklee, Director of Development Services John Di Mario, Chief/Director of Public Safety Jeffrey Buckwell, Senior Planner Abraham Tellez, Management Assistant Cece Dunlap, and Office Specialist Karissa Rivas Bustillos.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Quinones led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS
Council Member Quinones presented a Proclamation declaring March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day. Gloria, resident of La Puente, spoke regarding her daughter with down syndrome and her family's experiences. She further thanked the City Council for raising awareness in the community and spoke regarding the "Rock Your Socks" campaign. Denise English from Down Syndrome Family Resource Center spoke regarding the organization, thanked the City Council for the proclamation, and stated that a World Down Syndrome Day celebration would be taking place at John's Incredible Pizza in Montclair on March 21, 2025.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Goeff Butterfield submitted a written comment regarding Item No. E-1 and expressed his support to allow short-term rentals within the City.
Maura O'Neill, Policy Analyst and Advocate for Better Neighbors LA, submitted a written comment regarding Item No. E-l, in support of the City Council adopting the Interim Urgency Ordinance.
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BOARDS/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REPORTS - None.
A. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY A-1 READ AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 2025
A motion was made by Council Member Argudo, seconded by Council Member Quinones, to waive the reading and approve the Minutes of the City Council and Successor Agency meeting February 25, 2025. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Quinones
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Munoz
B. PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL - None.
C. UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL - None.
D. CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Argudo, seconded by Council Member Quinones, to approve Consent Calendar Items D-1 through D-3. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Klinakis, Argudo, Mendoza, Quinones
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Munoz.
D-1 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING WARRANT RESOLUTION NO. 25-5923
Action Taken: The City Council and Successor Agency adopted Resolution No. 25-5923 approving Warrant Register No. 1588.
D-2 APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR AUDITING
SERVICES WITH VAN LANT & FANKHANEL, LLP
Action Taken: The City Council approved a professional services agreement with Van Lant & Fankhanel, LLP for professional auditing services.
CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO EXCEL
PAVING COMPANY FOR THE OLD VALLEY BOULEVARD SEWER EXTENSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $413,360
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Action Taken: The City Council: (1) awarded the contract to Excel Paving Company in the amount $413,360; (2) authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreement and approve change orders up to 10% of the original bid amount; and (3) adopted Resolution No. 25- 5924 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
E. NEW BUSINESS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
E-1 INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AN INTERM URGENCY ORDINANCE APPROVING A CITYWIDE 45-DAY MORATORIUM PROHIBITING
THE ADVERTISING AND OPERATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHIN THE CITY
Senior Planner Tellez provided a report regarding an interim urgency ordinance that would provide a Citywide 45-day moratorium on short-term rentals within the City. He noted that the ordinance would prohibit new operations of short-term rentals within the City.
In response to an inquiry from Council Member Argudo regarding the cause of the interim urgency ordinance, Senior Planner Tellez stated that concerns from such short-term rentals such as noise, parking, and mishandling of properties, had been reported to the City.
Council Member Argudo spoke regarding his opposition to the moratorium.
In response to a request of clarification by Council Member Quinones, Senior Planner Tellez and Director Di Mario stated that current short-term rentals within the City would be allowed to continue running and new short-term rental listings would not be allowed.
Council Member Argudo inquired how Staff would enforce the moratorium.
Discussion ensued between the City Council and Staff regarding the intention of the moratorium and enforcement.
A motion was made by Council Member Mendoza, seconded by Council Member Quinones, to introduce, waive the reading of, and adopt Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 25-988 approving a citywide 45-day moratorium prohibiting the advertising and operation of short-term rentals within the City. The motion failed by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Klinakis, Mendoza, Quinones
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Argudo
ABSENT: Munoz
E-2 DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION (MAYOR PRO TEM
KLINAKIS/MAYOR MUNOZ)
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Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis read a draft letter regarding Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department staffing levels that he would be sending to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and requested that any Council Member that would like to be included in the letter to contact Staff.
Council Member Argudo noted that he sent a similar letter regarding the same concerns to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors last week and stated that the issue has been ongoing for years. He further read part of his letter that he sent.
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis further spoke regarding the recruitment and staffing processes of the Sheriff's Department.
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: Council Member Quinones spoke regarding the Mock City Council Meeting and City Hall tour for Bassett High School and La Puente High School Project LEAD students that took place on March 4, 2025, and thanked City Staff for the workshops provided to the students. Council Member Mendoza praised Project LEAD for educating the students about local government and potential future careers.
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis provided positive remarks for Council Members Quinones and Council Member Mendoza for their leadership in engaging with the high school students.
LPQT Action Committee: Nothing to report.
Rowland, Bassett, and Hacienda La Puente Unified School Districts Liaison Committee: Nothing to report.
Grant Writing Committee: Nothing to report.
AB 1234 REPORTS
Council Member Argudo reported that he attended the Water Education for Latino Leaders conference from March 7 to March 8, 2025, and reported that topics discussed included lessons learned from the Los Angeles County recent fire storms, their impacts, and extreme weather resiliency. He further noted that participation included UCLA professors, general managers from other agencies, council members, and school board members. He further noted that Council Members from the City of Pomona may be reaching out to Council Member Quinones to learn how to implement the Project LEAD program in their City.
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ORAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis thanked Staff for the successful Little League parade and announced he is an assistant coach for the White Sox t-ball league.
ORAL COMMENTS FROM STAFF
Acting City Manager/Director of Community Services Bauman announced the public release event of the Local Aging and Disability Action Plan to take place on March 22, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the La Puente Park.
Chief/Director of Public Safety Buckwell praised the Sheriff's Department deputies for their hard work and stated he is in support of Item E-2.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Pro Tem Klinakis adjourned the meeting at 8:18 p.m.
Approved this 25" day of March 2025.
MaTe
Martha Torres, MPA, CMC Valerie Muñoz
City Clerk Mayor/Chair
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