Lynwood City Council Regular Meeting
Meeting Minutes
March 7, 2023
01. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council Regular Meeting of the City of Lynwood met in the Council Chambers, 11350 Bullis Road Lynwood, CA 90262 or Web conference via ZOOM - To participate via Zoom or by telephone: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-253-2158782 Meeting ID: 835 2029 8238 on the above date at 6:00 p.m.
Meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m.
Mayor Flores presiding.
02. CERTIFICATION OF AGENDA POSTING BY CITY CLERK
Assistant to the City Clerk announced the Agenda had been duly posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
03. ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA, SOLACHE,
MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
ABSENT: NONE
STAFF PRESENT:
CITY MANAGER HERNANDEZ, CITY ATTORNEY TAPIA, COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR LINARES, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR LEE, HUMAN
RESOURCES DIRECTOR MATSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR WONG AND PARKS AND
RECREATION DIRECTOR FLORES
ABSENT: CITY TREASURER CUELLAR AND CITY CLERK QUINONEZ
04. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Lynwood Sheriffs Explorers.
05. INVOCATION
The invocation was offered by Pastor Eric Quiles — Potter's House.
06. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
• Update on Law Enforcement Issues.
• City Council Members Reporting on Meetings Attended (Gov. Code Section 53232.3 (D)).
• City Videos.
1 07. COUNCIL RECESS TO:
City of Lynwood as the Successor Agency to the Lynwood Redevelopment Agency MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Solache, seconded by Council Member Camacho to recess to the City of Lynwood as the Successor Agency to the Lynwood Redevelopment Agency at 6:14 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA,
SOLACHE, MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Lynwood Housing Authority
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Munoz -Guevara, seconded by Council Member Solache to recess to the Lynwood Housing Authority at 6:16 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA,
SOLACHE, MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Lynwood Public Financing Agency
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Solache, seconded by Council Member Camacho to recess to the Lynwood Public Financing Agency at 6:18 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA,
SOLACHE, MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
2 Lynwood Utility Authority
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Camacho, seconded by Council Member Munoz -Guevara to recess to the Lynwood Public Financing Agency at 6:17 p.m.
Motion carried by unanimous consent.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA,
SOLACHE, MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
The City Council reconvened to the regular City Council meeting at.6:20 p.m.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Regarding Agenda Items Only)
NONE
NON -AGENDA PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following individuals spoke or emailed comments regarding non -agenda items:
Michelle Zuno
Paola Nunez
Dalilah Medina
Joaquin Mesinas
Blanca Alvarado
Rosalba Castaneda
Clara Hernandez
Public Hearing
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Soto, seconded by Council Member Camacho to open the public hearing. Motion carried by 5/0 vote:
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA,
SOLACHE, MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
3 08. RENEWAL OF TORRANCE PIPELINE COMPLANY, LLC, PIPELINE FRANCHISE;
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING ESTABLISHING THE
FRANCHISE
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Munoz -Guevara, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Soto to continue item to the next meeting. Motion carried by 5/0 vote.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA,
SOLACHE, MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Opened Public Hearing and Continued Item to Next Meeting Consent Calendar
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar will be acted upon by one motion affirming the action recommended on the agenda. There will be no separate discussion on these items prior to voting unless members of the Council or staff request specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Solache, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Soto to approve the consent calendar. Motion carried by 5/0 vote:
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA, SOLACHE,
MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
09. APPROVAL OF THE WARRANT REGISTER
Approved and Adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2023.023
ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE LYNWOOD CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LYNWOOD ALLOWING AND APPROVING THE DEMANDS AND WARRANTS REGISTER DATED MARCH 7, 2023
10. PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
4 Approved
Meeting Minutes for the Lynwood City Council November
15, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting; January 17,
2023 Regular City Council Meeting; January 26, 2023
Special City Council Meeting; February 21, 2023
Regular City Council Meeting
11. APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS - 2023 Council Provided Direction to Continue Sale of Safe and Sane Fireworks - 2023
12. STAFF RECOMMENDS REJECTION OF ALL BIDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT WORK AT LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE STATION 147
Approved and Adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2023.024
ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD,
REJECTING ALL BIDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AT LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE STATION 147
13. LOCAL AGENCY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT AWARDED BY THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $444,000
AND PARTNERING WITH HR &A ADVISORS TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT
AND EXECUTE AWARDED FUNDS
Received and Filed
REPORT ON LOCAL AGENCY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
GRANT AWARDED BY THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $444,000
AND PARTNERING WITH HR&A ADVISORS TO
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT AND EXECUTE
AWARDED FUNDS
New/Old Business
14. RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION OF INITIATIVE 21-0042A1; LETTER OF PROTEST
FOR FAILED EXIDE CLEAN-UP EFFORTS
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Soto, seconded by Council Member Camacho to approve the item. Motion carried by following 5/0 vote:
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA, SOLACHE,
MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
5 Approved and Adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2023.025
ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD SUPPORTING THE OPPOSITION OF INITIATIVE 21-0042A1
15. CONSIDERATION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE
CITY OF LYNWOOD AND THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR COORDINATION
OF DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY INVESTMENTS
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Camacho, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Soto to approve the item. Motion carried by following 5/0 vote:
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMACHO, MUNOZ-GUEVARA, SOLACHE,
MAYOR PRO TEM SOTO AND MAYOR FLORES
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Approved MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF
LYNWOOD AND THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR
COORDINATION OF DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY INVESTMENTS
16. CITYWIDE MONUMENT DESIGN SELECTION
Council Provided Further Direction for Design Selection
CITY COUNCIL ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Council Member Munoz -Guevara announced that March begins the start of Women's History Month and he wanted to extend his wishes to everyone for a Happy Women's History Month. He also highlighted that there will be more upcoming activity in the way of a presentation regarding women's history and encouraged the residents to reflect on the many contributions made to our society from women throughout history and present times.
He expressed appreciation about the opening of the Ham Park Playground and noted that he is incredibly happy for the community to now have this facility available. He acknowledged that usage of the playground was a huge, huge issue for so many residents, as to having nowhere to take their kids to play during the summer months for the past several years. He indicated that he was very pleased that the City finally delivered on the playground and mentioned how important it is for the residents and the City to take care of the park amenities. He explained that the park playgrounds are significant investments that the City has made to the community and that everyone is 6 responsibility to make sure that hundreds of kids will continue to benefit by being able to enjoy the playground for years to come.
Council Member Munoz -Guevara requested staff to look at various intersections where there has been several incidents of pedestrians struck by vehicles. He perceived that it has become an alarming trend in that there was one incident a month and all of a sudden there are four incidents in one month. He pointed out some of the troubled intersections and roads that folks have flagged for him over the past couple of weeks as Sanborn between Birch and California; Euclid between Long Beach Boulevard and Bullis Road; also at Harris Yolanda Abbott, Atlantic, even Cesar Chavez Lane and MLK over the past month.
He reported that many residents have informed him about getting knocks on their doors representing a particular referendum petition. He encouraged residents to get all the facts and look at the past Council meetings and minutes as the record is there for a reason and you can hear the context and the comments around that particular issue.
Council Member Munoz -Guevara brought up the issue of renter protections looming deadline approaching on March 31. He indicated that he appreciated the comments from landlords heard throughout the meeting and that he has met with a number of landlords over the past weeks as well; however, he voiced the need to protect our small mom and pop landlords as a part of our community. He noted that if our mom and pop landlords fail it could result in a larger corporate landlord take-over of the property that would mean a loss of direct connection to the community. He stressed the need to come up with a balanced approach to address this issue as the displacement of people in our community feeds into so many other issues.
He conveyed that currently as this meeting is being held, our Lynwood High School Basketball Team is playing in a tournament and wished them the best of luck as the Team makes their way to the C I F State Championship.
In closing, Council Member Munoz -Guevara remarked that he wanted to wish a speedy recovery -to our City Clerk Maria Quinonez who unfortunately was involved in a vehicle accident over the weekend and hopes that she is better soon so that she can continue joining us in our meetings.
Council Member Camacho stated she was able to attend the grand opening of the Ham Park Playground this weekend and it was very exciting to be able to be there. She indicated that the park is the nearest park to her home and her two little kids were thrilled and enthusiastic that they will be finally be able to participate and enjoy the playground.
She indicated that they even watched when the gates came down so they were very excited.
She expressed special thanks to our former council members that worked so hard on the playground issues. She remarked that she and Council Member Munoz -Guevara have only been at the dais for a couple of months, therefore could not possibly take any
credit for the playground opening. She stated the headaches that playground caused belonged to our former colleagues that were up here and noted that former Council Member Santana and former Council Member Casanova endured two years of a headache and it is very exciting to finally have the playground open.
In closing, Council Member Camacho also acknowledged that our Lynwood High School Team is playing a basketball game right now and they have not sent the score, but hopefully they are winning and we will see them representing the City of Lynwood at the State Championship on Friday.
Council Member Solache acknowledged the glowing excitement from Mayor Flores as a park advocate and noted everyone's enthusiasm at our Saturday event. He also echoed Council Member Camacho's comments regarding Ms. Santana and Mr.
Casanova as huge advocates with big loud voices to ensure that the playground work was finished on the project and that the contractors were held accountable for a project that obviously our community needs. He described seeing the kids run into the playground as a magical moment for all of us to observe. He stated that it was worth the two years that we had to fight with legal action and having our City Attorney Mr. Tapia led us into those moments during the two-year battle and now with the realization that park playground is open was awesome. Council Member Solache recognized the City fought hard to ensure that it was completed under the leadership of City Manager Hernandez directing the charge. He also thanked the community for their patience as many residents throughout the last two years were complaining about the fact that the fence outside of the park playground looked horrible. He thanked Director Mark Flores and Parks Department staff for doing a great job in organizing the playground -opening event.
Inclosing, he offered best wishes and good luck to the Lynwood High School Basketball Team as they play for the State Championship and expressed his desire that Lynwood continues to be on the map for great things such as winning a prestigious State Championship.
Mayor Pro Tem Soto expressed a happy Women's History Month to all the women that are present here tonight and to all the women that are in our city and surrounding cities too. She offered her thanks for all of their amazing contributions that have been extended to our community. She joined in with her colleagues to convey excitement and joy for the opening of Ham Park Playground after way too many headaches during the construction period. Mayor Pro Tem Soto revealed that unfortunately, she heard that part of the park had been vandalized. She said is it sad that someone who is part of the community or even somebody that is not from our community doing this damage to our park. She mentioned that the bike trail was also vandalized and unfortunately that is really, sad as we are trying to provide everything that this community deserves.
Mayor Flores extended a greeting for the community to enjoy Women's History Month.
He expressed that it is definitely a blessing to have two women members serve on the s
City Council. Additionally, he described both of them as two very scholarly individuals.
He continued by thanking all female staff members that we have on board with the City for the work they do on a daily basis and voiced appreciation for their services performed all year long. He recognized another female colleague Ana Maria Quintana from a neighboring city, the great City of Bell, and acknowledged appreciation for her and the work that she has provided for the community.
His closing statement offered encouragement to Lynwood High School Basketball Team to win the State Championship.
STAFF ORAL COMMENTS
City Manager Hernandez stated that the City Council in the last two years has spent millions of millions of dollars to fix up our streets and parks. He explained that it is unfortunate that some people, which he hopes are outside of this community, are vandalizing the City's amenities. He indicated that we are surveying what other agencies are doing to address this problem. He noted that this is one area where our own residents and neighbors can help us somewhat to narrow down possible suspects and acknowledged that some folks are doing exactly that. He mentioned that recent vandalism happened at one of our parks and we received information that helped us out in targeting a conclusion. He expressed that we are hoping to receive continued collaboration in this area in that we all want a better Lynwood that this community deserves
ADJOURNMENT
Having no further discussion, it was moved by Council Member Solache, seconded by Council Member Munoz -Guevara to adjourn the regular Lynwood City Council meeting at 7:49 p.m.
/Q
Maria Quinonez, ity Clerk
/nb
9 Oscar Flores, Mayor