ITEM # 5
CITY OF MONTEBELLO
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Raul Alvarez, City Manager
BY: Kimberly Guillen, Senior Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT TO FILL DISTRICT 4 CITY COUNCIL VACANCY
DATE: February 26, 2025
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Conduct interviews of applicants and make an appointment to fill an existing vacant City Council Seat for the term ending in December 2026; and
2. Take such additional, related action that may be desirable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended actions.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On January 28, 2025, Councilmember David Torres resigned from his position with the City of Montebello, effective immediately. This resignation created a vacancy in District
4. Under Government Code Section 36512(b), the City Council may choose to fill the unscheduled vacancy in District 4 either through an appointment or by calling a Special Election within 60 days of the vacancy (Government Code Section 36512). On February 12, 2025, the City Council unanimously voted to fill the vacancy through an appointment process.
Registered voters residing within City Council District 4 of Montebello were invited to apply. Interested community members were directed to complete an application available on the City’s website and submit it to the City Clerk's Office by 5:30 p.m. on February 19, 2025. Applicants were also invited to attend the Regular City Council Meeting on February 26, 2025, to provide an oral statement.
UPDATED 2/26/2025
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT - MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL:
N/A
ANALYSIS:
In total, the City received eight (8) applications. Of those, four (4) applications qualified after they met all the application requirements by the prescribed deadline. Four (4) applications were disqualified because they did not fully meet the requirements.
Attachment A includes the names of the applicants along with their respective applications with personal information redacted. The applicants who submitted applications are as follows:
Qualified Applications (4 total)
1. Danielle M. Romero
2. Joshua P. Olloa
3. Joella Valdez
4. Rafael Gutierrez
Disqualified Applications (4 total)
5. Paulette L. Shubin (Does not live in District 4)
6. Claudia Castro (Candidate Statement does not meet the word count requirement.)
7. Daniel Tom (Does not live in District 4, and the Candidate Statement does not meet the word count requirement.)
8. Sand ra Hernandez (Submitted after the deadline and did not provide a Candidate Statement.)
The City Council has flexibility in determining th e process for selecting an appointee to the vacant City Council seat. A motion, second, and majority vote are required to finalize the appointment. The proposed appointment process is outlined below:
1. Applicant names will be drawn to determine the order of interviews.
2. Staff will provide copies of the applications and supporting documents for each candidate.
3. Each applicant will deliver a two-minute oral statement in the determined order.
4. The City Council will have an opportunity to ask follow -up questions after each presentation.
5. Following the interviews, the City Council will deliberate and select an appointee by majority vote.
The selected appointee must take the oath of office on or before March 29, 2025, and will assume their seat at the Regular City Council Meeting scheduled for March 12, 2025.
SUMMARY:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct interviews of applicants and make an CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT - MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2025
appointment to fill an existing vacant City Council Seat for the term ending in December 2026; and take such additional, related action that may be desirable.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Attachment A - List of Applicants for District 4 Councilmembers and Applications
ATTACHMENT A
Name of Applicant
Date
Submitted
Voter
Registration
Verification
Felony
Conviction
Declaration
Candidate
Statement Notes
1 Danielle M. Romero 2/18/2025
Meets all
qualifications.
2 Joshua P. Ulloa 2/19/2025
Meets all
qualifications.
3 Joella Valdez 2/19/2025
Meets all
qualifications.
4 Paulette L. Shubin 2/19/2025
District 3
Resident
5 Rafael Gutierrez 2/19/2025
Meets all
qualifications.
6 Claudia Castro 2/19/2025
Candidate
Statement does
not meet the
word count
requirement.
7 Daniel Tom 2/19/2025
District 1
resident.
Candidate
Statement does
not meet the
word count
requirement.
8 Sandra Hernandez 2/20/2025
Submitted after
the deadline;
missing
Candidate
Statement
APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT 4 CITY COUNCIL VACANCY
* Does not meet all qualifications.
Candidate lives in District 3.
* Does not meet all qualifications.
Candidate Statement does not meet word count requirement.
* Does not meet all qualifications.
Candidate lives in Distric t 1.
Candidate Statement does not meet word count requirement.
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
NAME (FIRST, MIDDLE, LASTI
J)Jt N j 6- L, To fll1
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (NOTE: Cannot be a mailing address or PO Box
TELEPHON
ARE YOU A MONTEBELLO REGISTERED VOTER? �
ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF MONTEBELLO? �
€
€
RECEIVED
FEB 1 9 2025
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
NO
NO
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A RESIDENT? SJ°;Jca- Jc>riiJ•--:J -s-1 l97tJ '- ..
ARE YOU A UNITED STATES CITIZEN? (!_ YE� € NO
NOTE: THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED ON THIS APPLICATION TO VERIFY YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS.
Have you ever been convicted of a crime that WC"J.�ld
prohibit you from holding elective office pursuant to
California Elections Code Section 20?
Are you aware of the time commitment necessary to serve on the city council, and will you have such time? Regular meeting dates are the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each
month with additional s ecial meeti s from time to time.
State law and the city conflict of Interest cod� requires �ty council members to file a statement o�mic �r�t;s')
(fonn 700) annually as well as related fonns wfien
a$suming. ------ ---- ,.- -
And leaving offi�.a.g_�o..u.rces of income, lo�r,is,_g� investm�ts,.interest in real property as required by state law)
Do you agree to flle al!.J�qulredJ,qms_ln..a tlm�y [email protected] r uired b theci :'
€ YES
€ NO
€ NO
I
* Does not meet qualifications.
Submitted after the deadline and missing the Candidate Statement.