MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LA VERNE
Monday, February 6, 2023
A regular meeting of the La Verne City Council was called to order by Mayor Hepburn at 6:31 p.m.
2. Council Members present: Mayor Tim Hepburn
Mayor Pro Tem Rick Crosby
Council Member Wendy Lau
Council Member Steven Frank Johnson
Council Member Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita
Absent: None
Advisory personnel present: City Manager Ken Domer
Assistant City Manager JR Ranells
City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow
Deputy City Clerk Debra Fritz
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Army Veteran Dave Alvarado, Specialist Fourth Class
4. Presentation: Taylor Briglio and Alison Linder from Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) reported on the Electric Vehicles (EV) Project and the primary plan objectives, along with a Power Point slide presentation.
Mayor Hepburn called for public comment.
There was public comment on this matter. (To hear what was said during public comment, please visit the City's website to view the archived Council meeting.)
No action was taken. Presentation was for information only.
5. Announcements of Upcoming George May, La Verne Library Director spoke on the numerous events at the Community Events library including dance classes and story time.
Mayor Hepburn spoke about February being Black History Month and requested a proclamation be made. City Attorney Barlow stated a four fifths vote was needed to place it on this agenda. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Crosby, seconded by Mayor Hepburn, and was unanimously carried to rom February 2023 as Black History Month. A proclamation will be issuec City Council Minutes, Monday, February 6, 2023, Page 2.
6. Consent Calendar It was moved by Crosby, seconded by Kashifalghita, and unanimously carried to accept, approve, or act on the Consent Calendar items, with the exception of Resolution No. 23-06, pulled for further discussion and Resolution No. 23- 07, pulled for further discussion.
City Council Minutes City Council Minutes of the regular meeting of January 17, 2023, received and filed.
Register of Audited Demands Register of Audited Demands as follows In the amount of $656,612.38 dated December 29, 2022
In the amount of $1,942,938.71 dated January 5, 2023,
In the amount of $654,313.46 dated January 12, 2023,
In the amount of $1,339,865.12 dated January 19, 2023, and in the amount of $555,070.85 dated January 26, 2023.
Approved as recommended by Finance Director Lopez.
Treasurer's Report City of La Verne Treasurer's Report for the Quarters Ending September Number 215, the Statement of Investment Police, and the State of California's Government Code (GC) Section 53646.
Finance Director Lopez recommended that the City Council receive and file the Treasurer's Report for the quarters ending September 30, 2022, and December 21, 2022. Received and filed.
Purchase of Grant Funded Purchase of Grant Funded Portable Vehicle Barriers - The Police Portable Vehicle Barriers Department received grant funding from a State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) to purchase protection barriers to be used to strengthen public safety.
Chief Flores recommended that the City Council approve the purchase of an eight-barrier trailer kit from Meridian Rapid Defense Group for $86,633.48; and authorize the City Manager to execute applicable documents. Approved as recommended.
Additional Compensation for Additional compensation for Utility Supervisor Assigned to Standby - Utility Supervisor Assigned to After the promotion of employee Ralph Hernandez to Utility Supervisor, the Standby City has a need for an employee to serve in a back-up standby duty role.
Assistant City Manager Ranells recommended City Council authorize, by ninute order, that Ralph Hernandez receive additional compensation as provided under Article 12 of the La Verne City Employee's' Association Memorandum of Understanding when assigned to standby duty. Minute order passes as recommended.
Staff recommended approval and passage of the following Resolutions:
City Council Minutes, Monday, February 6, 2023, Page 3.
Pulled from Consent Calendar Council Member Johnson pulled this item off the Consent Calendar for further for Discussion/Resolution No. discussion. He is questioning the City owned properties on the LA County 23-06, Declaring that Weeds, weed abatement list and possible inclusion of the Wilderness Area.
Brush, Rubbish and Refuse
Jpon or In Front of Specified Fire Chief Chris Nigg clarified that the properties on the LA County weed Properties are a Seasonal and abatement list are the undeveloped properties within the City.
Recurrent Public Nuisance
No additional comments were received.
Staff recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 23-06, declaring the intention to provide for the abatement of weeds, brush, rubbish and refuse, and setting a public hearing for Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 6:30 It was moved by Kashifalghita, seconded by Johnson, and unanimously carried to approve Resolution No. 23-06.
Resolution No. 23-06 Resolution No. 23-06 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE Declaring Weed Abatement of CITY OF LA VERNE, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Specific Property in the City. DECLARING THAT WEEDS, BRUSH, RUBBISH AND REFUSE UPON OR IN
FRONT OF SPECIFIED PROPERTY IN THE CITY ARE A SEASONAL AND
RECURRENT PUBLIC NUISANCE, AND DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE ABATEMENT THEREOF. Approved
Pulled from Consent Calendar This item was pulled off the Consent Calendar at the request of La Verne for Discussion/Resolution No. resident Danita Beauchamp; she stated her concerns regarding community 23-07 Agreement with City of safety while our officers are working in another city. Also, she had concerns Pasadena for Supplemental regarding the amount of overtime this would generate.
Police Services
Lieutenant Cory Leeper gave some background information regarding the agreement with City of Pasadena, and the great opportunity to learn best practices this provides to our Police Department. He further claritied that no overtime would be incurred as the officers that sign up for these duties are on Mayor Pro Tem Crosby commented he was in favor of the cross training and best practices opportunity to benefit La Verne.
It was moved by Kashifalghita and seconded by Hepburn and unanimously carried to approve Resolution No. 23-07.
Resolution No. 23-07 esolution No. 23-07 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF TF greement with the City ITY OF LA VERNE. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNI asadena for Supplementa AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PASADENA FOR THE Police Services LA VERNE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FOR A TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS
RELATING TO MAJOR EVENTS AT THE ROSE BOWL. Approved
City Council Minutes, Monday, February 6, 2023, Page 4.
7. Discussion and Potential Council Member Johnson has requested an item to discuss and consider Consideration Related to a revisiting a directly elected mayor in-lieu of the current rotational system set Directly Elected Mayor Position forth by Ordinance No. 1107 adopted on December 6, 2021, by a 4-1 vote of the City Council. This item will allow discussion and for the City Council to provide appropriate direction.
Mayor Hepburn called for public comment on this matter.
Robin Carder, La Verne resident, and former Council Member stated that waiting until closer to the 2032 census date would be a wise decision.
Danita Beauchamp, La Verne resident, spoke about the issues surrounding the districting decisions.
Resident Richard Gill was in support of an elected mayor.
Resident Pam Berry stated the residents right to vote was taken away and that was not right.
Kathy Kalousek, La Verne, resident raised the question of the insurance liability.
Resident Sylvia T. was in support of an elected mayor.
Zoom caller, Steve W. spoke about the cost and timeliness and we should wait until closer to 2032.
Council Comments:
Council Member Johnson stated he wanted the vote for mayor to be placed on the 2024 Election ballot. The cost of the election was not going to get any cheaper.
Council Member Kashifalghita agreed that voters should have the ability to vote for the mayor.
Council Member Lau stated that decisions should be made closer to the 2032 census as council members will change as well as possibly the demographics of the community, plus the cost would be better spent in other areas at this time.
Mayor Pro Tem Crosby agreed that decisions should wait, and the cost was a lot to commit at this time.
Mayor Hepburn agreed that all comments were relevant, and he felt the voters should have the right to vote for mayor.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Kashifalghita, to direct staff to bring back the necessary Resolutions and language for a potential ballot measure to be or the 2024 Primary election. Motion was passed by a vote of 3-2 (Lau and Crosby voted no).
8. Public Comment This was the time set aside for anyone wishing to address the City Council on items not listed in any other place on the agenda.
City Council Minutes, Monday, February 6, 2023, Page 5.
Mayor Hepburn called for public comment.
There were public comments at the meeting. (To hear what was said during public comment, please visit the City's website to view the archived Council meeting.)
Danita Beauchamp spoke on ARPA funds and status of Senior projects.
Kathy Newlon spoke on ADA money.
Robin Carder praised the City staff stating the Public Works Department does a great job.
Anna Anderson spoke on HOA's and private spaces and parks.
Council Comments Council Member Lau spoke on the ULV Women is Sports Day, the upcoming ULV Gala and the ULV Oak tree that fell in the windstorm, also the Lunar New Year and Tri-City meeting.
Council Member Kashifalghita spoke on the League of California Cities Conference Training Academy for new council members.
Council Member Johnson thanked the Mayor for his support and spoke of long-time La Verne resident and volunteer Don Redman who passed recently.
Mayor Pro Tem Crosby congratulated BUSD on the accreditation and the Oak Mesa Distinguished school designation as well as the appointment of the nev Superintendent Wein.
Mayor Hepburn attended a fund raiser at Chases and the grand opening of the new Inland Valley Humane Society medical center. Prayers for the shooting victims of the Lunar New Year event and the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. He also invited everyone to the State of the City address.
10. Adjournment at 8:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sebra Frit
Debra Fritz
Deputy City Clerk<