1 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL/SA/HA
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
38300 SIERRA
HIGHWAY,
SUITE
B
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
JANUARY 8, 2025
www.cityofpalmdale.org
1)
CALL MEETING
TO
ORDER
Mayor Loa called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm.
Note: All City Council memberships are reflected in their City Council titles.
2)
ROLL CALL
MAYOR
LOA,
MAYOR
PRO TEM
BETTENCOURT,
COUNCILMEMBERS
BISHOP,
OHLSEN, ALARCÓN COMMISSIONERS
FRAGA
-
SAENZ, BETTS
PRESENT: Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón, Christina Fraga
-
Saenz, Dianne Betts.
ABSENT:
None.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF
SILENCE
Mayor Pro
Tem
Bettencourt led the pledge of
allegiance.
Mayor Loa announced the meeting would be adjourned in memory of former President Jimmy Carter and those who lost their lives in the recent fire s
.
4)
PRESENTATIONS
4.1)
Presentation
of
Government
Finance
Officers
Association
(GFOA)
Distinguished Budget Award for Fiscal
Year
2024
-
25. Director of Operations Samson presented a certificate of recognition to the Council.
Mayor Loa commended
the
staff on the accomplishment.
5)
PUBLIC COMMENTS CONSENT CALENDAR, APPOINTMENT(S),
NEW
BUSINESS, AND CLOSED SESSION:
The following individuals provided public input on Item 7.5: Michael Disana, Diana Love, Joshua Christensen, Eugene Hernandez, Diane, Michelle, Rich Gallego, Fernando Dutra, Yul
Gevargis.
2 6)
JOINT CITY COUNCIL/HOUSING AUTHORITY CONSENT
CALENDAR
6.1)
Approve Project Authorizations A through G under Master Services Agreement with Good Guard Security, Inc., for unarmed security guard services for
the
Housing Authority of the City of Palmdale facilities for an amount not to
exceed
$2,858,300; and approve Project Authorizations A and
B under Master Services Agreement with Good Guard Security, Inc. for City of Palmdale facilities and special events for an amount not to exceed $7,429,900, each for a term of three years with an option to extend for two additional one
-
year terms.
Councilmember
Alarcón
pulled this item for discussion.
Deputy City Manager Gallagher presented the staff report.
Councilmember
Alarcón
inquired about contract local hire provisions and
monitoring.
Deputy City Manager Gallagher confirmed
that thirty
-
five guards have already
been hired locally to fulfill the contract, and the contractor's goal
is to hire
locally.
Discussion ensued regarding annual reporting from the contractor on local
hiring requirements and the contract amount.
Motion: Approve A
-
9189 with Good Guard Security, Inc., for unarmed security guard services for the Housing Authority of the City of Palmdale facilities for an amount not to exceed $2,858,300.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Andrea Alarcón.
Vote: Motion carried (7
-
0)
Yes: Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen ,
Andrea
Alarcón, Christina Fraga
-
Saenz, Dianne Betts
.
Mayor Loa adjourned the Housing Authority at 5:28 pm.
Motion: Approve A
-
9190 with Good Guard Security, Inc. for City of Palmdale facilities and special events for an amount not to exceed $7,429,900.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (
5 -
0)
Yes: Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
7)
CONSENT
CALENDAR
7.1)
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).
3 7.2)
Receive and file the monthly investment activity reports for November 2024.
7.3)
Adopt Resolution No. CC 2025
-
003, a Resolution of the City Council of
the
City of Palmdale designating by title and name those officials who are
authorized to sign checks and warrants, and repeal Resolution No. CC 2024 -
004,
and
adopt
Resolution
No.
SA
2025
-
001,
a
Resolution
of
the
Successor
Agency to the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Palmdale designating by title and name those officials who are authorized to sign checks and warrants, and repeal Resolution No. SA 2024
-
011.
7.4)
Power
Content Label (PCL) and
Attestation.
7.5)
Adopt Ordinance No. 1649, an Ordinance of the City of Palmdale amending Palmdale Municipal Code Section 2.08.040 changing the regular meeting day
and time of the City Council.
Councilmember
Alarcón
pulled this item for discussion.
City Manager Perez provided the staff report.
Councilmember Bishop requested the second version of Ordinance No. 1649 with the meeting starting on Tuesday at 5:00 pm.
Councilmember
Alarcón
discussed provisions for remote participation and
language in the ordinance related to canceling meetings held on election days
.
Motion: Adopt Ordinance No. 1649, an Ordinance of the City of Palmdale amending Palmdale Municipal Code Section 2.08.040 changing the regular meeting day and time of the City Council to Tuesday, at 5
pm
.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Eric Ohlsen.
Vote: Motion carried (4
-
1)
Yes:
Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric
Ohlsen.
No:
Andrea Alarcón.
Motion: Approve all items listed
under the Consent Calendar with the except
ion of
item
7.5. Moved by Laura Bettencourt, seconded by Austin Bishop.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
8)
APPOINTMENTS
8.1)
Discussion and possible action regarding City Council
committee
appointments.
Mayor Loa recommended that all committee
appointments
stay the same, with
the exception of three appointments that required changes. The changes were 4 made as follows:
City of Palmdale Investment Oversight Committee
:
Member: Mayor Loa (Must be Mayor per Investment Policy) Member: Councilmember Ohlsen
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts No. 14 and 20
District No. 14
Delegate: Mayor Loa (Must be Mayor per H&S Code § 4730) Alternate: Councilmember Bishop
District No. 20
Delegate: Mayor Loa (Must be Mayor per H&S Code § 4730) Second Director: Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt
Alternate Director: Councilmember Bishop
Palmdale Tourism Improvement District (PTID)
Director: Councilmember Bishop
Motion: Approve Council recommendations regarding committee appointments.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Eric Ohlsen.
Vote:
Motion carried (4
-
1)
Yes:
Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric
Ohlsen.
No:
Andrea Alarcón.
9)
REPORT
City Manager Perez wished everyone a Happy New
Year.
She stated the City's
thoughts are with the fire
victims and the first responders as they continue to fight
the
fires
. She reported on the Art Reception "Through My Eyes" at the Palmdale Playhouse on January 9, Journey USA performing at the Palmdale Playhouse on January
10th
and
11th,
The Foreigner
p
erformance on January 18th, and volunteer
opportunities for Martin Luther King,
Jr.
Day of Service on January 20. She also
noted that
the California Contract Cities Association held a press conference in Sacramento encouraging swift enactment of Proposition 36 and encouraged the public to
educate
themselves
about
the legislation. She also
announced that
the City
of Palmdale was notified yesterday that they were the only city in California to receive a Raise Grant in the amount of $25M.
10)
NON
-
AGENDA PUBLIC
COMMENTS:
Addressing the City Council at this time: Euguene Hernandez discussed rent control and
former
President Carter; Robert commended
the
Council on a great job, spoke
about the Chiquita dump closing, and asked about the tonnage accepted at the local dump; Edith Roman discussed border issues and requested a Council resolution supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Yul Gevargis spoke about President Carter; Michael Ross congratulated Council on the Christmas festivities; 5 Roger Soderstedt discussed the Ritter Ranch project and the drought; Rich Gallego discussed the California Air Resource Board voting on a new fuel mixture that would result in an increase in the cost of gasoline, the financial damage it would cost, and asked Council to pass a resolution sending a letter to Governor Newsome requesting that he put this aside.
11)
COUNCIL REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR
FUTURE
AGENDA
ITEMS
Mayor Loa discussed the desired accomplishments for 2025:
1)
M
aking the City of Palmdale the
heart of the City
:
Working on the Civic Center, Chimbole Center, and taking control of Highway 138 / Palmdale Boulevard.
Prioritizing the 14 freeway to 15th Street East beginning with a comprehensive plan
to develop the 56 acres acquired by the
City.
D
iscussed the
High
-
Speed Rail, High Desert Corridor, and
Brightline coming
from Las Vegas.
2)
Parks Initiative
:
Yellen
Park
Expansion of Dry
Town
W
ater
P
ark
Establishment of concession stands at Marie Kerr
and the
Quinones Park
design
3)
City rebranding to promote the City of Palmdale
:
City rebranding by publishing, announcing, advertising
,
and attracting people
and businesses
to the City of Palmdale.
Mayor Loa thanked Councilmember Bishop for his leadership last year as M
ayor. He
also reported attending a turkey giveaway event held by Amazing Events at the AV Fairgrounds, Palmdale
Parade
, and the AVTA holiday
drive
-
thru
and toy giveaway.
Councilmember Bishop spoke about the tree lighting ceremony, SAVES giveaways, Playhouse mural, and the Raise Grant.
Councilmember Ohlsen thanked Assemblyman Carrillo for the tools to work with Caltrans on the relinquishment of Palmdale Boulevard.
He also discussed Measure
PD and reinvesting in Palmdale, the tree lighting ceremony, the
Jolly Holiday event,
and the parade.
Mayor Pro
Tem
Bettencourt wished everyone a Happy 2025. She discussed the gas hike and encouraged
the
Council to write a letter. She enjoyed the
tree
-
lighting
ceremony but missed the classical American caroling that was done in the past. Also, she discussed the overpass at Rancho Vista and how it would be great for
aerospace
workers and increase public safety for the Fire and Sheriff's Departments who respond to emergencies.
Councilmember
Alarcón
wished everybody a Happy New Year. She discussed the
Center for Transportation and Technology Excellence, McAdam Park investment of
6 $6M, Domenic Massari $2M lighting project, and the Kicks for Kids winter event. She also stated that she met with an organization
that
submitted an application to the US
Environmental Protection Agency to establish an Antelope Valley Environmental Justice Collaborative to access funds to address water quality equity issues specifically in disadvantaged areas. She noted that the Kicks for Kids at McAdams Park was a
phenomenal
event.
12)
PRESENTATION
BY CITY
ATTORNEY
City Attorney Curley confirmed the Closed Session item would be heard as listed.
12.1)
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
-
EXISTING LITIGATION
Case
No.
23AVCV01005
This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54956.9.
13)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY CITY
ATTORNEY
Closed Session was held from 6:07 pm
-
6:54 pm.
City Attorney Curley announced the Council was updated
,
and there was
no
reportable action.
14)
ADJOURN
Mayor Loa adjourned the
meeting
, in memory of former President Jimmy Carter
an
d
those who have lost their l
ives
in
the recent
fires
, at 6:55 pm to January 22, 2025, at
5:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chamber located at 38300 Sierra Highway,
Suite B,
Palmdale,
California.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 22nd day of January
2025.
Richard J. Loa, Mayor
ATTEST:
Rochelle Scott, City Clerk