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MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the City of Monterey Park is to provide excellent services to enhance the quality of life for our entire community.
MINUTES
MONTEREY PARK CITY COUNCIL
FINANCING AUTHORITY (MPFA)
HOUSING AUTHORITY (MPHA)
GEOLOGIC HAZARD ABATEMENT DISTRICT (GHAD)
SUCCESSOR AGENCY (SA)
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 2, 2023
The City Council, the Financing Authority (MPFA), the Housing Authority (MPHA), the Geologic Hazard Abatement District (GHAD), and the Successor Agency (SA) of the City of Monterey Park held a Regular Meeting of the Council in the Council Chamber, located at 320 West Newmark Avenue in the City of Monterey Park, Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Sanchez called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
FLAG SALUTE:
The Monterey Park Fire Explorers led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL:
City Clerk Maychelle Yee called the roll:
Council Members Present: Vinh Ngo, Jose Sanchez, Thomas Wong, Yvonne Yiu Council Members Absent: None
ALSO PRESENT: City Treasurer Amy Lee, Interim City Manager Inez Alvarez, Assistant City Attorney Tim Campen , Interim Assistant City Manager Diana Garcia , Director of Public Works Shawn Igoe, Director of Recreation and Community Services Robert Aguirre, Director of Finance Martha Garcia, Community Development Director Jessica Serrano , Police Chief Scott Weise, Fire Chief Matthew Hallock, Interim City Librarian Kristin Olivarez, Fire Marshall Jessica Estrella, Finance Manager Laura Borjon, Adult Literacy Coordinator Victor Castellanos, Recreation Supervisor Guillermo Chavez, Assistant Deputy City Clerk Helena Cho
VIRTUALLY PRESENT: Director of Human Resources and Risk Management Christina Tomikawa
AGENDA ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, CHANGES AND ADOPTIONS
None.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
- Sarkis Antonion voiced his disapproval of residential development at Orange Avenue and Pepper Street.
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- Larry Sullivan, representing the Historical Society of Monterey Park , talked about the presentation of the movie “Joy Luck Club” on August 12 at the city library. He also passed out the July 2023 Historical Society newsletter.
- Carol Sullivan, on behalf of the Monterey Park Library Foundation, spoke about the Library Gala to be held at Luminarias Restaurant on October 13 to honor the Monterey Park Police and Fire departments.
- Savei Colio , Nurse at Garfield Medical Center and representative of S ervice Employees International Union 121, talked about the working conditions at Garfield Medical Center . He stated that the nurses gave the hospital a 10 day notice to strike.
- Liunea Gong gave her time to City Clerk Maychelle Yee.
- Kailia Garfield gave her time to City Clerk Maychelle Yee.
- City Clerk Yee expressed her opinion regarding her violations of the City’s Code of Conduct policy.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
- Library: Adult Literacy Coordinator Castellanos spoke about the summer literacy program that had just ended. He pointed out the success of the program with over 1800 attendees, and over 17,700 hours of reading.
Coordinator Castellanos also detailed the upcoming programs offered by the library, such as Literacy for All of Monterey Park, Educator Night, and the Library Foundation Gala.
- Public Works Department : Director of Public Works Shawn Igoe gave an update on the Capital Improvement Program mapping software, which provides the users with an overview of the city and ongoing Public Works projects. He also took brief questions from Council Members regarding mobile access to the software. City Manager Alvarez suggested that a link be added to the GOMPK app.
- Recreation and Community Services: Recreation Supervisor Chavez thanked those who attended the last three recreation events: Movie Night, Christmas in July dance social, and a trip to the Academy of Motion Pictures, which were offered by the Langley Center. He also detailed the cooling centers offered by the Langley Center and the Bruggemeyer Library. Recreation Supervisor Chavez also talked about the upcoming events offered by the Recreation Department, including Hispanic Heritage Month, and Langley Center Line Dance.
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1. PRESENTATION
Matters listed under presentation are informational content and for discussion only.
1-A. MONTEREY PARK COMMUNITY HEALING FUND UPDATE
City Treasurer Lee presented an update on funds raised so far of $70,000 and an update on the new Healing Fund website which is linked to the City of Monterey Park’s website. She said the site gives access to applications for victim compensation grants and community project grants as well as links to other resources, and that the application deadline has also been extended to August
31. 2. OLD BUSINESS – None.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NOS. 3A-3F
All items under the Consent Calendar are considered by the City Council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. Specific items may be removed from the Consent Calendar at the request of any member of the City Council for separate consideration.
Action Taken: The City Council approved and adopted Agenda Item Nos. 3B, 3D, and 3F on C onsent Calendar, excluding Item No s. 3A, 3C, and 3E which were pulled for discussion, separate motion, reading resolutions and ordinances by the title only and waiving further reading thereof.
Motion: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Wong and seconded by Council Member Ngo, motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members: Lo, Yiu, Ngo, Wong, Sanchez
Noes: Council Members: None
Absent: Council Members: None
Abstain: Council Members: None
Recusal: Council Members: None
3-A. WAIVE FURTHER READING AND ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 21.55 ENTITLED “FIREARM PROTECTION ZONE” TO THE
MONTEREY PARK MUNICIPAL CODE
This Ordinance was drafted in accordance with Section 3(A) of City Council Resolution No. 2023-R15, adopted March 1, 2023. That Section directed the City Manager and City Attorney to draft an ordinance substantially similar to that proposed to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on February 7, 2023.
If adopted, this Ordinance would add a new Chapter to the Monterey Park Municipal Code (“MPMC”) regulating firearms dealers within the City’s jurisdiction.
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Specifically, the Ordinance will create a Firearm Health Protection Zone separating firearms dealers from sensitive receptors, such as residences and schools.
This Item was heard after Agenda Item No. 3C.
Discussion: Assistant City Attorney Campen pr esented a Power Point presentation on the Firearm P rotection Zone and was available to answer questions.
Action Taken: The City Council waived the second reading and adopted Ordinance No. 2234.
Motion: Moved by Mayor Sanchez and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wong , motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members: Lo, Yiu, Ngo, Wong, Sanchez
Noes: Council Members: None
Absent: Council Members: None
Abstain: Council Members: None
Recusal: Council Members: None
Ordinance No. 2234
AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 21.55 ENTITLED “FIREARM
PROTECTION ZONE” TO THE MONTEREY PARK MUNICIPAL CODE
3-B. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ADOPT TWO SEPARATE
RESOLUTIONS APPROVING MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN (1) THE CITY AND THE MONTEREY POLICE OFFICERS’ MID - MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION AND (2) THE CITY AND THE MONTEREY PARK POLICE CAPTAINS’ ASSOCIATION, BOTH FOR THE TERM OF JULY 1, 2023 TO JUNE 30, 2025
Representatives of the City of Monterey Park (“City”), the Monterey Park Police Officers’ Mid-Management Association (“MPPOMMA”), and the Police Captains’ Association (“PCA”), met and conferred to negotiate the terms and conditions of a new Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) regarding employment. The parties reached an agreement on an MOU effective July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.
Action Taken: The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-R63, approving a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Monterey Park and the Monterey Park Police Officers’ Mid- Management Association (“MPPOMMA”) and adopted Resolution No. 2023- R64, approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Monterey Park and the Monterey Park Police Captains’ Association (“PCA”), on Consent Calendar. 71-226
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Resolution No. 2023 – R63
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR CONTRACT YEAR 2023 -2025 BETWEEN THE CITY OF MONTEREY PARK AND THE MONTEREY PARK POLICE OFFICERS’ MID -MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION
Resolution No. 2023 – R64
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR CONTRACT YEAR 2023- 2025 BETWEEN THE CITY OF MONTEREY PARK AND THE MONTEREY PARK POLICE CAPTAINS’ ASSOCIATION
3-C. CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITERACY SERVICES (CLLS) ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) GRANT FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024
The LAMP Literacy Program was notified of a $34,976 award from the California Library Literacy Services CLLS. The LAMP Literacy Program will utilize the grant to continue to assist adult learners achieve their literacy goals, improve job prospects and become United States citizens.
This Item was heard after the motion to approve the Consent Calendar items.
Action Taken: The City Council accepted $34,976 in California Library Literacy Services grant funding for Library English as a Second Language Programming and appropriated the $34,976 funding into the 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget.
Motion: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Wong and seconded by Mayor Sanchez , motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members: Lo, Yiu, Ngo, Wong, Sanchez
Noes: Council Members: None
Absent: Council Members: None
Abstain: Council Members: None
Recusal: Council Members: None
3-D. IDENTIFYING A TAX RATE FOR COLLECTING VOTER AUTHORIZED
PROPERTY TAXES FOR EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT BENEFITS BASED ON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTY
ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
The City of Monterey Park’s retirement costs are funded by a special voter - approved property tax. Each year the City is required to establish a tax rate to generate the retirement property tax based on the assessed valuation established by the County Assessor’s Office.
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Action Taken: The City Council approved and adopted Resolution No. 2023- R65 identifying the amount of tax revenue required to fulfill the voters’ intent in funding the City’s retirement system, on Consent Calendar.
Resolution No. 2023 – R65
A RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE REQUIRED TO FULFILL THE VOTERS’ INTENT IN FUNDING THE CITY’S RETIREMENT SYSTEM DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023 -2024 AND AUTHORIZING THE LEVY
OF APPROPRIATE TAXES
3-E. THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT 2260 -A WITH THE SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN ITS
REGIONAL FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM
On October 2021, the City entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to participate in a Regional Edible Food Recovery Program in order to meet the requirements set by Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) to recover 20% of edible food otherwise sent to landfills by 2025. A First Amendment to the Agreement was then executed to provide additional funding for inspection services in a new net amount not to exceed $110,763. Since November 2021, the City was awarded SB1383 Grant funding from CalRecycle in the amount of $86,123. As specified in the grant application, grant funds were earmarked to pay for the establishment of sub- regional food recovery hubs and to provide additional education/outreach materials for the Regional Edible Food Recovery program.
The proposed Third Amendment designates that additional SB1383 grant funds will be incorporated into SGVCOG’s Edible Food Recovery Program to provide direct support to the sub-regional food recovery hubs, such as the purchase of equipment, and increase compensation by $28,592, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $159,911.
Action Taken: The City Council a uthorized the Interim City Manager to execute a Third Amendment to Agreement No. 2260- A with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for the Regional Food Recovery Program for a not -to-exceed amount of $159,911 and appropriated $51,332.62 from the SB1383 grant fund to the FY 23-24 budget.
Motion: Moved by Council Member Ngo and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wong, motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members: Lo, Yiu, Ngo, Wong, Sanchez
Noes: Council Members: None
Absent: Council Members: None
Abstain: Council Members: None
Recusal: Council Members: None
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3-F. AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO ADVANTEC CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC. FOR THE PREPARATION OF PHASE 1 OF THE CITY OF MONTEREY PARK’S ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC/TRAFFIC
RESPONSIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS PROJECT
The City was awarded funding through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Project ID# MR2.3.2.13 and FTIP #LAMIPMR115. The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) and received four bids for the preparation of Phase 1 of the City of Monterey Park’s Adaptive Traffic/Traffic Responsive Control Systems project. Following an extensive selection process, staff selected Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc. as the most qualified consultant for this work. Staff requests City Council approval to enter into an agreement with Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $182,778, for the preparation of City of Monterey Park’s Adaptive Traffic/Traffic Responsive Control Systems project.
Action Taken: The City Council authorized the Interim City Manager to execute a Professional Services agreement with Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney, to prepare Phase 1 of the City of Monterey Park’s Adaptive Traffic/Traffic Responsive Control Systems project in an amount not to exceed $182,778, on Consent Calendar.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
4-A. CONSIDERATION OF COSTS RESULTING FROM ABATING WEED
NUISANCES AND AUTHORIZING COLLECTION VIA SPECIAL
ASSESSMENT
On March 1, 2023, the City Council determined that weeds, brush, rubbish, refuse and dirt maintained on certain private properties in the City constitute a public nuisance. The Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture Commissioner/Weights and Measures (“County”) is contracted to provide weed abatement services to the City. The County compiled its annual list of properties within the City which contain, or have the potential to contain, weeds, brush or other flammable materials sufficient to be considered a fire hazard (the “Weed Abatement Declaration List”). Persons identified as owning property on the Weed Abatement Declaration List were provided sufficient notice to either protest their inclusion thereon, or voluntarily remove the nuisance conditions identified on their property. The deadlines for voluntary compliance or protest have passed, and the County has abated the noncompliant properties on the Weed Abatement Declaration List. The final step in the City’s Weed- Abatement process is for the Council to consider approving the County’s costs related to abatement and directing that these costs be collected via special assessment.
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Public Speakers:
- Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures Inspector Karina Narvaez was virtually present and available to take questions.
Motion: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Wong and seconded by Council Member Yiu, motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members: Lo, Yiu, Ngo, Wong, Sanchez
Noes: Council Members: None
Absent: Council Members: None
Abstain: Council Members: None
Recusal: Council Members: None
Action Taken: The City Council opened the public hearing at 7:46 p.m. , there being no registered speakers for public comment, closed the public hearing at 7:48 p.m. and adopted Resolution No. 2023-R66 approving the Weed Abatement Clearance Charge List and authorized collection of such costs through special assessment.
Resolution No. 2023 – R66
A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE ITEMIZED WEED ABATEMENT CHARGE
LIST OF WEED ABATEMENT COSTS AND DIRECTING THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER TO COLLECT THESE COSTS
THROUGH PROPERTY TAX BILLINGS
5. NEW BUSINESS
None.
6. CITY COMMUNICATIONS (CITY COUNCIL)
Council Member Lo spoke about his participation in a virtual town hall on July 20
organized by the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Victory Fund, an anti - gun violence organization, where he spoke about the efforts in the City to recover from the mass casualty incident. On July 21, Council Member Lo said he joined Representative Judy Chu in announcing legislation funding for red flag laws in other languages. He also talked about his attendance at the Junior Friends event at the Bruggemeyer Library on July 25. Council Member Lo also thanked the City’s Net Team for showing him the work the Community Engagement Bureau has been doing. He said he attended the National Night Out event and congratulated the Police Department and the community for their participation, and thanked members of the community who showed interest in participating in the Neighborhood Watch program.
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Council Member Yiu spoke about the National Night Out event and highlighted the car chase simulation and expressed her appreciation for the Police Department and their efforts. She also talked about participating in the Nachikatsuura Sister City event. She said she attended a ribbon cutting event in City of Industry in conjunction with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments on July 24.
Council Member Ngo talked about Chef Tony Grand Opening event at the Marriot on July 22. He spoke about joining Congresswoman Judy Chu at the event supporting red flag laws on July 21 and the State Assembly Member Mike Fong’s roundtable event regarding Senate B ill 1186 concerning cannabis/medicinal marijuana bill that takes effect January 1, 2024. Council Member Ngo said he also attended National Night Out event and the Asian Real Estate Association of America Super Summit.
Mayor Pro Tem Wong spoke about his attendance at the National Night Out event. He said he also attended the Vincent Price Art Museum Gala on July 29 to raise funds for the museum . He spoke about the Junior Friends event at the Bruggemeyer Library and expressed his support for the program. He said he also attended the Chef Tony G rand Opening event and Congresswoman Judy Chu’s event in support of red flag laws and language accessibility.
Mayor Sanchez talked about attending many of the same events as the rest of the council, but wanted to highlight the Nachikatsuura S ister City event which he sees as an opportunity to maintain connections with foreign countries and encouraged the creation of delegations to visit our sister cities. He also mentioned his attendance on July 29 for Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Leadership Award ceremony in Arcadia, which included an honor for an Educator of the Year Tin Tran who currently teaches at Mark Keppel High School, and coaches the Academic Decathlon Team. Finally, he congratulated the Police Chief and the Police Department for the National Night Out event and read an email he received from a long- time resident of Monterey Park who attended the Night Out event and expressed gratitude for the work done by first responders.
7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
8. CLOSED SESSION (IF REQUIRED; CITY ATTORNEY TO ANNOUNCE) None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for consideration, the meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
_____________
Maychelle Yee
City Clerk
Approved on October 18, 2023, at the Regular City Council Meeting