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MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the City of Monterey Park is to provide excellent service, foster growth and opportunity, and create a joyous and collaborative environment.
MINUTES
MONTEREY PARK CITY COUNCIL
FINANCING AUTHORITY (MPFA)
HOUSING AUTHORITY (MPHA)
GEOLOGIC HAZARD ABATEMENT DISTRICT (GHAD)
SUCCESSOR AGENCY (SA)
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 21, 2025
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 Special Meeting of the Council Special Meeting of the Council in the Council Chamber, located at 320 West Newmark Avenue in the City of Monterey Park, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:15 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Ngo called the meeting to order at 5:29 p.m.
FLAG SALUTE:
None.
ROLL CALL:
Deputy City Clerk Trang called the roll:
Council Members Present: Henry Lo, Vinh Ngo, Jose Sanchez, Thomas Wong, Elizabeth Yang
Council Members Absent: None
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Inez Alvarez, Assistant City Manager Diana Garcia, Assistant City Attorney Justin Tamayo, Director of Finance Martha Garcia, Director of Public Works Shawn Igoe, Director of Human Resources and Risk Management Christine Tomikawa, Fire Chief Chris Thompson
VIRTUALLY PRESENT: None
AGENDA ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, CHANGES AND ADOPTIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: None.
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[1.] OPEN SESSION
1-A. DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY: WINDSTORM AND FIRESTORM EVENTS
On January 7, 2025, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties experienced severe wind events and devastating fires that caused widespread damage to private and public property in local communities leaving infrastructure, buildings, and roads damaged or destroyed. The events also resulted in power outages, downed trees, and significant debris. Locally, the City of Monterey Park (“City”) was impacted by these events resulting in the need of immediate response from City employees and contractors. While City employees continue to assess the impacts from these events, the Public Works Director (“Director”) and Fire Chief (“Chief”) ident ified risks to City operations and emergency responses. The Director and Chief recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution ratifying the City Manager’s administrative declaration of emergency regarding the recent wind events and fires to protect public health, safety, and general welfare.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
The Resolution itself and the actions anticipated by the Resolution were reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal.
Code of Regulations §§15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”). Based upon that review, this action is exempt from further review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15269(a) because the protection of public and private property is necessary to maintain service essential to the public, health and welfare.
Action Taken: The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-R3 declaring a local emergency resulting from the windstorm and firestorm events identified on or about January 7, 2025, ratifying the City Manager’s administrative Declaration of Emergency dated January 16, 2025, ratifying the City Manager’s Order for Urgency Abatement, and authorizing the City Manager to directly negotiate contracts pursuant to Public Contract Code §§ 20168 and 2205 and authorized the Public Works Director to approve change orders and contingency as appropriate up to 15% of the contract amount for these projects.
Motion: Moved by Council Member Wong and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Yang, motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members: Wong, Sanchez, Lo, Yang, Ngo
Noes: Council Members: None
Absent: Council Members: None
Abstain: Council Members: None
Recusal: Council Members: None.
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Resolution No. 2025-R3
A RESOLUTION DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY RESULTING FROM THE
WINDSTORM AND FIRESTORM EVENTS IDENTIFIED ON OR ABOUT
JANUARY 7, 2025, RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER’S ADMINISTRATIVE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY DATED JANUARY 16, 2025, RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER’S ORDER FOR URGENCY ABATEMENT, AND AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO DIRECTLY NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS PURSUANT TO PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE §§ 20168 AND 22050
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
The City Council directed staff to research programs and resources to support undocumented immigrants in relation to President Trump’s deportation plan and to return for a discussion at a future City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for consideration, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.
_____________________
Maychelle Yee
City Clerk
Approved on March 5, 2025, at the Regular City Council Meeting