MINUTES
LAWNDALE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
April 15, 2024
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Pullen-Miles called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 14717 Burin Avenue, Lawndale, California.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor Pro Tem Bernadette Suarez, Councilmember Rhonda Hofmann Gorman, Councilmember Pal
Kearney, Councilmember Sirley Cuevas
Other Participants: City Manager Sean M. Moore, City Attorney Gregory M. Murphy, City Clerk Erica Harbison, Assistant City Clerk Yvette Hall, Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources Raylette Felton, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Captain Nicole Palomino, Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Wade Kelsey, Municipal Services Director Michael Reyes, Finance Director Hrant Manuelian, Community Development Manager Jared Chavez
Public Works & City Engineering Oversight Contract Project Manager Ahmad Ansari
B. CEREMONIALS
Councilmember Kearney led the flag salute. Pastor Dwight Dudley of Calvary Chapel South Bay provided the inspiration.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
a. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Update
Captain Palomino summarized the recent law enforcement activities.
Councilmember Hofmann Gorman thanked the Sheriff's Department for their efforts in resolving an animal abuse incident.
PRESENTATION
1. Certificate of Commendation
Certificate of Commendation Presented for Courage and Bravery to Rolando Mendez.
A Certificate of Commendation was presented to Rolando Mendez by the City Council.
E. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (Public Comments) Hayley Hutt, Field Deputy for Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, announced an Earth Day event scheduled for April 19, 2024, and a Town Hall meeting scheduled for May 1, 2024.
Minutes - City Council
April 15, 2024
Chelsea Schreiber, Resident, thanked the Councilmembers and the Beautification Committee for approving and creating the utility box art project, commented on upcoming Metro meetings and distributed a booklet about the Metro project.
Deena Sopko, Resident, commented on the Interstate 40S (1-405) detour signs and asked if the City is going to alert residents of the I-405 project causing the detours.
Randall Abram, Resident, commented on the City's transparency, agenda packets, past joint meetings with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), and making the City's monthly crime summaries available to the public.
John Schreiber, Resident, commented on upcoming Metro meetings, trash dumping on the freeway right-of-ways and stated that he was informed by Metro that the City is responsible for maintaining
FS COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Councilmember Cuevas thanked everyone who attended tonight's meeting, asked about the detours near the I-405, requested the City's monthly crime statistics be posted on the City's website and social media accounts and asked if buses would be available to take residents to the upcoming Metro meetings.
Public Works & City Engineering Oversight Contract Project Manager Ansari explained that Caltrans is performing landscape work on the I-405 on-ramps and off-ramps and doing improvements under the bridge.
City Manager Moore responded that buses will be reserved to take residents to the upcoming Metro meetings and commented that the City's monthly crime statistics will be added to the City's website and social media accounts.
Councilmember Hofmann Gorman thanked Residents Chelsea and John for keeping up with the Metro issues and commented that she agrees with Resident Abram to publicize the City's monthly crime statistics.
Councilmember Kearney announced the City's Clean-Up Day event scheduled for April 20, 2024, commented on the I-405 detour signs, trash dumping on the right-of-ways and asked about an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) related to the trenching component.
City Manager Moore responded that he will review the EIR regarding the trenching.
Mayor Pro Tem Suarez thanked everyone that attended tonight's meeting.
Mayor Pullen-Miles thanked everyone that attended tonight's meeting, commented in favor of the utility box art project, thanked everyone for their involvement on the Metro Project, thanked Residents John and Chelsea for keeping the City updated on the Metro project and commented on the I-405 detour signs.
Minutes - City Council
April 15, 2024
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Motion to read by title only and waive further reading of all ordinances listed on the Agenda Recommendation: that the City Council approve.
3. Accounts Payable Register
Recommendation: that the City Council adopt Resolution No. CC-2404-066 authorizing the payment of certain claims and demands in the amount of $865,391.00.
4. Minutes of the Lawndale City Council Regular Meeting, April 2, 2024 Recommendation: that the City Council approve the minutes.
A motion was made by Councilmember Cuevas and seconded by Councilmember Kearney to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
H. ADMINISTRATION
5. Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 Recommendation: that the City Council receive and file the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Finance Director Manuelian presented the staff report.
Councilmember Kearney asked about the City's cash and investments cost amounts.
Finance Director Manuelian clarified the balances of the different accounts.
By consensus, the City Council received and filed the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
6. Approval of Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement with Sean M. Moore Recommendation: that the City Council 1.) Approve First Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement; 2.) Approve and adopt Resolution No. CC-2404-067, Fourth Amendment to Citywide Salary and Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2023-2024; and 3.) Authorize the Director of Finance/City Treasurer to complete a budget transfer from the General Fund and American Rescue Plan Act Fund to the appropriate various line items noted and approve budget amendment of $15,043.
City Attorney Murphy presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Suarez commented that she prefers incremental salary increases.
A motion was made by Councilmember Kearney and seconded by Councilmember Hofmann Gorman to approve the First Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement; approve and adopt Resolution No. CC-2404-067, Fourth Amendment to Citywide Salary and Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2023-2024; and authorize the Director of Finance/City Treasurer to complete a budget transfer from the General Fund and American Rescue Plan Act Fund to the appropriate various line items noted and approve budget amendment of $15,043. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1 with Mayor Pro Tem Suarez voting no.
Minutes - City Council
April 15, 2024
7. Approve the First Amendment to Contract Services Agreement for Lawndale Security Improvement Project
Recommendation: that the City Council approve the First Amendment to the Lawndale Security Improvement Project Agreement with Am-Tec Total Security Inc. to extend the term for an additional seven months for a new expiration date of December 31, 2024, and no increase to the current project amount.
Public Works & City Engineering Oversight Contract Project Manager Ansari presented the staff report.
Councilmember Cuevas asked if the contractor will provide a credit to the City due to the project delays.
Public Works & City Engineering Oversight Contract Project Manager Ansari responded that he will discuss this matter with the contractor.
A motion was made by Councilmember Kearney and seconded by Councilmember Cuevas to approve the First Amendment to the Lawndale Security Improvement Project Agreement with Am-Tec Total Security Inc. to extend the term for an additional seven months for a new expiration date of December 31, 2024, and no increase to the current project amount. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
8. Amendment to the FY 2024-2025 CDBG Budget Allocation Recommendation: that the City Council approve the amendment to the CDBG budget allocation to implement the Community Development Block Grant.
Community Development Manager Chavez presented the staff report.
A motion was made by Councilmember Kearney and seconded by Councilmember Hofmann Gorman to approve the amendment to the CDBG budget allocation to implement the Community Development Block Grant. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Moore commented that staff will work with Caltrans to provide additional 1-405 detour signs and that staff will attend the upcoming Metro meetings. He indicated that the City will secure buses to transport residents to the Metro meeting.
J. ITEMS FROM CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
9. Mayor/City Councilmembers Report of Attendance at Meetings and/or Events Councilmember Cuevas attended the neighborhood No to ROW Virtual Q&A session, South County Labor Celebration of Life Memorial for Raymond L. Cordova, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Contract Law Enforcement Bureau City Council Academy.
Councilmember Hofmann Gorman attended the neighborhood No to ROW Virtual Q&A session and commented that she would like information on low cost or no cost neuter/spade services, asked if Minutes - City Council
April 15, 2024
staff does curb address painting, and announced the Youth Day Parade scheduled for April 27, 2024, and Clean-Up Week taking place this week April 13-21, 2024.
City Manager Moore responded that he will research low cost or no cost neuter/spade services and will look into curb address painting.
Councilmember Kearney attended the Lawndale's Senior Easter Spring Lunch, Contract Cities Liability Trust Fund Oversight Committee meeting, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Contract Law Enforcement Bureau City Council Academy and announced the City's Clean-Up Day scheduled for April 20, 2024.
Mayor Pro Tem Suarez attended Lawndale's Senior Easter Spring Lunch, South Bay Cities Council of Governments' (SBCCOG) Steering Committee meeting and commented that the rental of the Harold E. Hofmann Lawndale Community Center will be discussed at the upcoming Budget Subcommittee meeting.
Mayor Pullen-Miles attended the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts meeting, the neighborhood No to ROW virtual Q&A session, South County Labor Celebration of Life Memorial for Raymond L. Cordova, participated in the Consolidated Board of Realtist - Mayors Roundtable on All Things Housing, and asked City Manager Moore if American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds can be used to provide homeowners with rebates for home improvement projects.
K. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to conduct, Mayor Pullen-Miles adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m.
Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor
ATTEST:
Erica Harbison, City Clerk
Approved: May 6, 2024