MINUTES
City Council Regular Meeting
January 21, 2025
A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 14717 Burin Avenue, Lawndale, California.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Pro Tem Kearney, Councilmember Bernadette Suarez, Councilmember Frank M. Talavera
Councilmembers Absent: Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles, Councilmember Sirley Cuevas Other Participants: City Manager Sean M. Moore, City Attorney Gregory M. Murphy, City Clerk Erica Harbison, Assistant City Clerk Yvette Palomo, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Ricky Osburn, Los Angeles County Fire Department Acting Assistant Chief Brian Kane, Municipal Services Director Michael Reyes, Finance Director Hrant Manuelian, Community Services Director Jason Minter, Community Development Director Peter Kann B. CEREMONIALS (Flag Salute and Inspiration)
Councilmember Suarez led the flag salute. Retired Pastor Dwight Dudley provided the inspiration.
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney announced that agenda items G.5. Approval of the Youth Development Center Conceptual Design, G.7. Discussion of the Existing Software Used by City Departments, G.8.
Lobbyist Request for Proposals, G.9. Purchasing Policy Reorganization and Amendment to Authorize City Manager Purchases in Specified Situations, J.13. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, and J.14. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation will be continued to the next meeting.
City Attorney Murphy announced that the Closed Session items are being continued until all the City Councilmembers are present.
C. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
1. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Update
Lieutenant Ricky Osburn summarized the recent law enforcement activities.
D. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (Public Comments) Holly Osborne, Redondo Beach Resident, commented that the Metro C Line (Green) Project has been renamed Metro K Line (Pink) Project.
Dulce Stein, Experimentally Structured Museum of Art (ESMoA) Staff, invited everyone to visit ESMOA
Randall Abram, Resident, commented on wildfires, illegal fireworks, community partners allowed to sell fireworks and their profits.
E. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL
Councilmember Talavera commented that he is looking forward to learning about the Metro C Line (Green) Project, plans to visit ESMoA and will address illegal fireworks when the Fireworks Ad Hoc Subcommittee meets.
Councilmember Suarez thanked everyone that attended tonight's meeting, and thanked ESMoA for the programs.
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney thanked everyone that spoke at tonight's meeting, commented on the history of when the Interstate 405 Freeway was built and the Metro C Line (Green) Project.
F. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Councilmember Suarez and seconded by Councilmember Talavera to approve the consent calendar. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2 with Mayor Pullen-Miles and Councilmember Cuevas absent.
2. Motion to read by title only and waive further reading of all ordinances listed on the Agenda - Recommendation: that the City Council read by title only and waive further reading of all ordinances listed on the agenda.
3. Accounts Payable Register
— Recommendation: that City Council adopts Resolution No. CC-2501-006 authorizing the payment of certain claims and demands in the amount of $389,831.13.
4. Minutes of the Lawndale City Council Regular Meeting - January 6, 2025 - Recommendation: that the City Council approve the minutes.
G. ADMINISTRATION
5. Approval of the Youth Development Center Conceptual Design- — Recommendation: that the City Council review and approve the proposed Conceptual Design for the Youth Development Center and Skatepark and affirm the Categorical Exemptions and Categorical Exclusion.
By consensus, the City Council continued this item to the next meeting.
6. Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024 - Recommendation: that the City Council receive and file the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
Finance Director Manuelian presented the staff report.
By consensus, the City Council received and filed the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
7. Discussion of the Existing Software Used by City Departments- - Recommendation: that the City Council provide City Staff with direction.
By consensus, the City Council continued this item to the next meeting.
8. Lobbyist Request for Proposals-
- Recommendation: that City Council: 1) review the Request for Proposals (RFP) received from the responding firms and provide further direction to staff to proceed with a selection process for lobbying services, which may include establishing a selection committee; or 2) provide other direction to staff as appropriate.
By consensus, the City Council continued this item to the next meeting.
9. Purchasing Policy Reorganization and Amendment to Authorize City Manager Purchases in Specified Situations-
- Recommendation: that the City Council review the proposed changes and adopt Resolution No. CC-2409-095 making the changes to the purchasing policy.
By consensus, the City Council continued this item to the next meeting.
10. Award Three Year On-Call HVAC Preventative Maintenance and Repair at City Facilities Services Contract
- Recommendation: that the City Council Award an On-Call HVAC Preventative Maintenance and Repair at City Facilities Services agreement to South Coast Mechanical, LLC, for a three-year term, with an option to extend up to three one-year extensions.
Public Works Director Lucho presented the staff report.
Councilmember Suarez asked how much has the City paid for repairs, and how often service calls are made.
Public Works Director Lucho responded that the City pays between $1,000 and $3,000 per item and commented that the preventative maintenance is $28,000. He indicated that calls for service are made often.
In response to Councilmember Talavera's and Mayor Pro Tem Kearney's questions of if the system needs replacement and why William Green Park is included in the service report, Public Works Director Lucho stated that he can provide a detailed report.
City Manager Moore responded that staff can do research and bring the item back with the new information.
By consensus, the City Council continued this item.
H. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Moore commented that he has nothing to report.
I. ITEMS FROM CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
11. Discussion of City Clerk Compensation
- Recommendation: that the City Council 1) review and discuss the City Clerk compensation; 2) provide direction to the City Manager and staff to prepare an amendment to the Lawndale Municipal Code to provide an adjustment to the City Clerk compensation; or 3) provide other direction to the City Manager and staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney provided background information on this item.
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney opened public comments.
There was no one wishing to make a public comment.
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney closed public comments.
Councilmember Suarez asked for more information on City Clerk positions in other cities.
Councilmember Talavera commented in favor of a salary increase.
A motion was made by Councilmember Talavera and seconded by Councilmember Kearney to direct the City Manager and staff to provide additional information on the City Clerk position and bring this item back for further discussion. The motion passed by a vote of 2-1-2 with Councilmember Suarez voting no and Mayor Pullen-Miles and Councilmember Cuevas absent.
12. Report of Attendance at Meetings
Councilmember Talavera attended a Senior's Lunch.
Councilmember Suarez attended a South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) Steering Committee meeting, Ribbon Cutting for Made Burgers, Traffic Committee meeting, and Homeless Solutions Standing Committee meeting.
for further discussion. The motion passed by a vote of 2-1-2 with Councilmember Suarez voting no and Mayor Pullen-Miles and Councilmember Cuevas absent.
12. Report of Attendance at Meetings
Councilmember Talavera attended a Senior's Lunch.
Councilmember Suarez attended a South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) Steering Committee meeting, Ribbon Cutting for Made Burgers, Traffic Committee meeting, and Homeless Solutions Standing Committee meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Kearney attended a Ribbon Cutting for Made Burgers, Liability Trust and Oversight Committee meeting, Los Angeles County West Vector Control District meeting, and the Holiday Decorating Contest Annual Awards Ceremony.
J. CLOSED SESSION
13. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation - - The City Council will conduct a closed session, pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1), to discuss existing litigation: Name of Case: City of Lawndale v. LA Investment, LLC (LA Superior Court Case No. 20TRCV00065).
By consensus, the City Council continued this item to the next meeting.
14. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation- - The City Council will conduct a closed session pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d) (4), to discuss the potential initiation of litigation: one (1) case.
By consensus, the City Council continued this item to the next meeting.
K. ADJOURNMENT
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Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor
Erica Harbison, City Clerk