CC SA Minutes – February 7, 2024 – 5pm 1
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
38300 SIERRA HIGHWAY, SUITE B
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
www.cityofpalmdale.org
1) CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Bishop called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.
Note: All City Council memberships are reflected in their City Council titles.
2) ROLL CALL MAYOR BISHOP, MAYOR PRO TEM LOA, COUNCILMEMBERS OHLSEN, BETTENCOURT, ALARCÓN
PRESENT: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
ABSENT: None.
3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Pro Tem Loa led the pledge of allegiance.
4) PUBLIC COMMENTS
CONSENT CALENDAR(S), APPOINTMENT(S), NEW BUSINESS, AND CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Bishop announced that a video would be shown displaying the cute critters available for adoption.
Eugene Hernandez asked for more information on Item 5.6 City's 2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform. Mayor Bishop and Councilmember Alarcon provided information on the item and directed Mr. Hernandez to the website to access the agenda links.
Mayor Bishop closed the Public Comments.
Councilmember Alarcon requested that item 5.7 be pulled and a continuation for item
5.6. There was Council consensus.
Mayor Bishop requested that item 5.3 be pulled.
5) CONSENT CALENDAR
5.1) Waive full reading of the Resolution(s) and/or Ordinance(s) to be considered and voted on at this meeting. (This allows for reading the title only in lieu of reciting the entire text).
CC SA Minutes – February 7, 2024 – 5pm 2
5.2) Receive and File the monthly and quarterly investment activity report for December 2023.
5.3) Approve Requisition No. 240740 with Warren -Anderson Ford, Inc. for the purchase of one Roadline Model GPMT Graffiti Removal Truck in an amount not to exceed $156,947.
Mayor Bishop commended staff for getting a deal on the third graffiti truck and spoke regarding fighting the ongoing graffiti problem.
Councilmember Bettencourt and Councilmember Ohlsen spoke in favor of this item.
Motion: Approve Requisition No. 240740 with Warren -Anderson Ford, Inc. for the purchase of one Roadline Model GPMT Graffiti Removal Truck.
Moved by Richard J. Loa, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
5.4) Notice of Completion - Accept public improvements for McDonald’s located at 1671 E. Palmdale Boulevard.
5.5) Approve agreement with Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), Incorporated for a California Air Resources Board (CARB), Fleet Electrification and Microgrid Study in the amount of $150,000 for a term of six months from the date of the Notice to Proceed.
5.6) Approve the City’s 2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform to promote Palmdale’s priorities and legislative initiatives at the State and Federal levels.
There was Council discussion regarding continuing this item.
Motion: Move to continue the item to February 21, 2024.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
5.7) Approve the minutes from the previous meetings.
CC - January 24, 2024
Councilmember Alarcon pulled this item and stated the minutes should reflect that she did not participate in Item 11.1 Closed Session. Upon entering the Closed Session Chambers, she was advised that the item to be discussed may include a discussion of a cross-claim that involves Shenkman & Hughes, which is a source of her income.
CC SA Minutes – February 7, 2024 – 5pm 3
Motion: Approve the minutes from the previous meeting with corrections.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
Motion: Approve all items listed under the Consent Calendar except 5.3, 5.6 & 5.7 Moved by Laura Bettencourt, seconded by Richard J. Loa.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
6) PUBLIC HEARING
6.1) Adopt Resolution No. CC 2024 -017, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palmdale; Denying Appeal 24 -0002 and upholding Planning Commission Resolution No. PC -2024-001 to deny General Plan Amendment 23-0001, Zone Change 23-0002, and Specific Plan Amendment 22-001.
Mayor Bishop made the following statement:
"There are a lot of important issues involved in this application and there are several stakeholders who have real concerns in regard to this Specific Plan area.
The Specific Plan is a comprehensive and integrated document, it will best serve everyone’s interests to take a more critical look at the land use and economic benefit issues.
To responsibly accomplish our review, I move that we table this item to the next two council meetings and further that a sub -committee, comprised of myself and Councilmember Ohlsen, work with the interest of all stakeholders to ensure everyone benefits from our actions. The sub -committee will not want any separate meetings to occur without its participation to ensure the most efficient and comprehensive analysis of the issues."
Mayor Bishop called for a second to his motion.
Motion: Move to table item to the March 6, 2024 Council meeting.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Richard J. Loa.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
6.2) Introduce and adopt Ordinance No. 1638, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palmdale, approving Comprehensive Development Plan 23-0003; a request to amend the existing language within the Antelope Valley Auto Center Specific Plan to be consistent with the Palmdale Municipal Code and find that the request is exempt from Environmental Review.
CC SA Minutes – February 7, 2024 – 5pm 4
Acting City Clerk Scott read the title of Ordinance No. 1638.
Associate Planner Almora provided a presentation on this item.
Motion: Introduce Ordinance No. 1638.
Moved by Laura Bettencourt, seconded by Richard J. Loa.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
Mayor Bishop opened the public hearing to receive testimony.
Public Testimony: None.
There was Council and staff discussion regarding the letters submitted for Item
6.1, and also how Item 6.1 might affect Item 6.2. City Attorney Curley responded.
Motion: Adopt Ordinance No. 1638, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palmdale, approving Comprehensive Development Plan 23 -0003; a request to amend the existing language within the Antelope Valley Auto Center Specific Plan to be consistent with the Palmdale Municipal Code and find that the request is exempt from Environmental Review.
Moved by Richard J. Loa, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
6.3) Introduce and adopt Ordinance No. 1639, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palmdale, recommending City Council approval of General Plan Amendment 23 -0006, Zoning Ordinance Amendment 23 -0004 and Zone Change 23-0005, a request to amend the Noise Element of the General Plan, the Development Standards for Mixed -Use Zones, Land Use Map and Zoning Map to address inconsistencies and finding that the project is consistent with Program Environmental Impact Report 22 -002 prepared and certified in conjunction with the City’s General Plan.
Acting City Clerk Scott read the title of Ordinance No. 1639.
Motion: Introduce Ordinance No. 1639.
Moved by Richard J. Loa, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
Planning Manager Magana provided a presentation on this item.
Mayor Bishop opened the Public Hearing and called for testimony.
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Public Testimony: None.
Mayor Bishop closed the Public Hearing.
Motion: Adopt Ordinance No. 1639, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palmdale, recommending City Council approval of General Plan Amendment 23 -0006, Zoning Ordinance Amendment 23 -0004 and Zone Change 23-0005, a request to amend the Noise Element of the General Plan, the Development Standards for Mixed -Use Zones, Land Use Map and Zoning Map to address inconsistencies and finding that the project is consistent with Program Environmental Impact Report 22-002.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
7) REPORTS AND ACTION ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND / OR COUNCILMEMBERS
7.1) Council Informational Reports on Committee memberships and meetings attended at public expense.
Council reports were submitted electronically.
Mayor Pro Tem Loa discussed the Justice Sunday event he attended at the Palmdale Playhouse.
Councilmember Ohlsen reported on the following: Justice Sunday event; Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service desert clean up event and assembly of organic waste containers; met with Southern California Electric and he had an opportunity to highlight some future projects; and attended the groundbreaking for the Together California project.
Councilmember Alarcon discussed the Together California project.
Councilmember Bettencourt thanked Supervisor Barger for her participation in the Together California Project and stated it is a collaborative effort from a lot of different agencies.
Councilmember Ohlsen provided the website for individuals to learn more about the Together California Project. He also stated if individuals want to give to the project they can go to togethercalifornia.org.
Mayor Bishop discussed the Together California Project. Councilmember Alarcon discussed the Council reports.
7.2) Council Action Items.
None.
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8) CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Assistant City Manager Mendez reported on the following: Sketchers grand opening February 9; Association of Sister Cities will host a fundraiser event at Firehouse Subs on February 9; Love Rocks at Marie Kerr Park on February 10th; Valentine's Day Dance at Marie Kerr Park on February 16; Journey Tribute Band at the Palmdale Playhouse on February 16; A Tail of True Love event for dogs at Yellen Park on February 17; and Pianist, Robin Spielberg, at the Palmdale Playhouse on February 29.
9) NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals provided public input: David Harris discussed the Los Angeles County Mental Health symposium and the shelter at Marie Kerr Park; and Eugene Hernandez discussed the presentation made by City Attorney Curley regarding the code of conduct and meeting rules at the Measure AV Oversight Committee and the Human Rights Advisory Committee meetings.
Councilmember Ohlsen and Councilmember both agreed that the code of conduct and meeting rules should be shared with all boards/commissions/committees.
Councilmember Alarcon stated the code of conduct and rules of order were presented to all of the commissions and she agreed that all commissioners should be fully informed as to proper processes and the rules to be followed.
Mayor Bishop closed the public comments.
10) PRESENTATION BY CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney Curley confirmed the Closed Session item would be heard as listed.
10.1) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Land Developers & Associates Corporation v. Successor Agency to the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Palmdale, et al.
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Case No. 22AVCV01093
The closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1).
11) ANNOUNCEMENT BY CITY ATTORNEY
Closed Session was held from 5:45 pm - 6:35 pm.
City Attorney Curley announced the Council was updated, provided direction to staff that would be followed through promptly, and anticipated documents being exchanged on February 8, 2024, or the following day.
12 )
ADJOURN
Mayor
Bishop
adjourned
the
meeting
at
6 :
36 pm
to
February
21 ,
2024
,
at
5 :
00 p
.
m
.
in
the
City
Hall
Council
Chamber
located
at
38300
Sierra
Highway
,
Suite
B
,
Palmdale
,
California
.
PASSED
,
APPROVED
,
and
ADOPTED
this
21 st
day
of
February
2024
.
—
Austin
Bishop
,
Mayor
A
Rochelle
Scott
,
Acting
City
Clerk
CC
SA
Minutes
-
February
7 ,
2024
-
5 pm
7