CITY OF MONTEBELLO
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024 AT 6:00 PM
QUIET CANNON, BALL ROOM (CRYSTAL ROOM 1 AND 3)
901 VIA SAN CELEMENTE
MONTEBELLO, CALIFORNIA
OPENING CEREMONIES
CALL TO ORDER - 6:00 P.M.
Mayor Peralta called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present were Mayor Peralta, Mayor Pro Tem Melendez, Councilmember Torres, and Councilmember Tamayo.City Clerk Jimenez and City Treasurer Matanga were also present.
City Attorney Noel Tapia, City Manager Raul Alvarez, Senior Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Guillen, Deputy City Clerk Nelly Ochoa, and Department Directors Michael Solorza, Joseph Palombi, Ramon Figueroa, John Soria, David Sosnowski, Cesar Roldan, Fire Chief Pelaez, and Police Assistant Chief Cabrera were present.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
At this time, the public may submit a speaker card to the City Clerk staff for Closed Session items, prior to the beginning of this statement. Speakers will be called in the order received. Please be aware that the maximum time allotted for members of the public to speak on Closed Session items shall not exceed three (3) minutes per person. State Law prohibits the City Council from taking action or entertaining extended discussion on a topic not listed on the agenda. Please show courtesy to others and direct all of your comments to the Mayor and City Council.
CLOSED SESSION - NONE
REGULAR SESSION - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CLOSED SESSION
December 11, 2024: City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4
INVOCATION
Led by City Clerk Jimenez.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Fire Chief Pelaez.
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA - CITY MANAGER
None.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS/PRESENTATIONS
1. PRESENTATION TO AND COMMENTS BY OUTGOING MAYOR SCARLET PERALTA
Mayor Peralta reflected her time as Mayor and spoke about the city's accomplishments throughout the year. She thanked her family, staff, and community for their support and hard work.
Mayor Pro Tem Melendez thanked Mayor Peralta for her dedication and presented gifts to the outgoing Mayor Peralta. He then invited the following dignitaries and Councilmembers from the surrounding cities to present Certificates of Recognition to outgoing Mayor Peralta:
• Field Representative Yulissa Chavez, with the Office of US Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. • 1st Vice Commander, Genny Cervante, with the American Legion Montebello Post 272. • Senator Bob Archuleta.
• Mayor Hector Sosa and Councilmember Horacio Ortiz from the City of Downey. • President Zachary Humber, Vice President Rodriguez, and Vice President Carbajal with the Montebello Firefighters Association.
Mayor Pro Tem Melendez recognized certificates from neighboring cities who were not in attendance: City Council from City of Bell Gardens; Board of Education from Montebello Unified School District; and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez from District 54.
Mayor Pro Tem Melendez recognized the following Commissioners: Sylvia Takeyama; Oliver Jimenez; Ruben Beas; Phoenix Perez. He also recognized Montebello reporter and Rotary Club President-Elect, Sarkis.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (30 MINUTES)
At this time, the public may submit speaker card(s) to the City Clerk staff, for both agenda and non-agenda items, prior to the beginning of this statement; Public Hearing items do not require a speaker card.
The City Council will address non-agenda items during this section and speakers will be called in the order received. Those persons not accommodated during this 30-minute period will have an opportunity to speak under “Public Comments – Continued”, after all scheduled matters have been considered. Public Hearing, Regular Business and/or Consent Calendar items will be addressed at the time that matter of business is heard, in the order received.
Please be aware that the maximum time allotted for members of the public to speak shall not exceed three (3) minutes per speaker. State Law prohibits the City Council from taking action or entertaining extended discussion on a topic not listed on the agenda. Please show courtesy to others and direct all of your comments to the Mayor and City Council.
The City Clerk’s Office acknowledged four(4) members of the public wishing to address the City Council. Speakers were provided three minutes to address the City Council and said speaker cards are on file at the City Clerk’s office.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
City Manager Alvarez congratulated Mayor Peralta and Councilmember Torres on their re-election.
December 11, 2024: City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4
REGULAR BUSINESS
2. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR DISTRICTS 2 AND 4 FOR REELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND CITY CLERK
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Receive and File Oath of Office for newly elected officials.
Mayor Peralta invited her family and Senator Bob Archuleta to the dais administer her Oath of Office.
Councilmember Torres invited his fiancée, Gabriela, to the dais to administer his Oath of Office.
City Clerk Jimenez invited Senior Deputy City Clerk, Kimberly Guillen, and his mother, Erica Jimenez, to the dais to administer his Oath of Office.
3. CITY COUNCIL SELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE POSITIONS UNDER MONTEBELLO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.08.010, "REORGANIZATION"
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Move to designate one of its members as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore as called for in Section 2.08.010 of the Montebello Municipal Code.
Mayor Peralta requested nominations for the Mayor's position.
Councilmember Torres nominated Mayor Pro Tem Salvador Melendez for Mayor, seconded by Councilmember Tamayo; the motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Melendez accepted the role of Mayor and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
Mayor Melendez requested nominations for the Mayor Pro Tem position.
Councilmember Peralta nominated Councilmember Georgina Tamayo for Mayor Pro Tem, seconded by Councilmember Torres; the motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Pro Tem Tamayo accepted the role of Mayor Pro Tem and expressed heartfelt thanks to her colleagues for selecting her for the Mayor Pro Tem position.
CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine. Any items a member wishes to discuss, including any items the public submitted speaker cards for, should be designated at this time. All other items may be approved in a single motion. Such approval will also waive the reading of any Ordinance.
Approved unanimously.
4. PAYMENT OF BILLS: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-91 APPROVING THE CITY WARRANT REGISTER OF DEMANDS DATED DECEMBER 11, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 24-91 approving the Warrant Register dated 12/11/24 .
Councilmember Peralta motioned, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Tamayo, to approve the item; the motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - CONTINUED
December 11, 2024: City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4
AB 1234 TRAVEL REPORTS
Members will provide a brief report on meetings attended at the expense of the local agency as required by Government Code Section 53232.3(d).
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The City of Montebello will adjourn to the next Regular Meeting on January 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., which can be live- streamed at https://www.montebelloca.gov (Click on Live Stream).
I, Kimberly Guillen, Senior Deputy City Clerk for the City of Montebello, hereby certify that a copy of this agenda has been posted on or before Sunday, December 8, 2024, no later than 6:00 p.m.
Kimberly Guillen, Senior Deputy City Clerk
Mayor Melendez adjourned the meeting at 7:14 p.m.
THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11, 2024, ARE HEREBY APPROVED AND ADOPTED ON THE 8TH DAY OF JANUARY 2025.
EXHIBIT - CITY OF MONTEBELLO FORECASTED AGENDA
Please note, the attached exhibit is a draft version that is to be used for reference purposes only; agenda items, information, and dates are subject to change. The exhibit will be placed at the end of the Agenda Packet.
• CITY OF MONTEBELLO FORECASTED AGENDA