1 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL/SA
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
38300 SIERRA HIGHWAY, SUITE B
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
APRIL 1, 2025
www.cityofpalmdale.org
1) CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Loa called the meeting to order at 5:01 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
PRESENT: Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen.
ABSENT: Andrea Alarcón.
Councilmember Alarcón arrived at 5:02 pm.
3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
Councilmember Ohlsen led the pledge of allegiance.
4) PRESENTATIONS
4.1) Housing Department Update.
Director of Neighborhood Services Reyes provided highlights and updates on the Department of Housing's programs and functions.
5) PUBLIC COMMENTS
CONSENT CALENDAR, APPOINTMENT(S), NEW BUSINESS, AND CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Loa asked Brown Act questions regarding item 8.1, and Acting City Attorney Halfman explained the process and answered the questions. Mayor Loa asked about proof of service for item 12.2, and Acting City Attorney Halfman confirmed it was properly served.
Councilmember Alarcón suggested giving the public more speaking time to discuss the items. A motion was made and passed to allow extra time during the public comment section. Mayor Loa stated that additional time would also be given for the New Business and Closed Session sections.
Marsha Furman commented on the change to the additional time.
There were no public comments on the Consent Calendar and Appointments sections.
2 6) CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1) Receive and File the Monthly Investment Activity Reports for February 2025.
6.2) Approve Second Amendment to Agreement with Taft Electric Company for electrical services, increasing the agreement by $394,137 for a total not to exceed amount of $664,137 for a three- year and eleven month term through July 31, 2025.
6.3) Approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
6.4) 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).
Motion: Approve all items listed under the Consent Calendar.
Moved by Eric Ohlsen, seconded by Andrea Alarcón.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
7) APPOINTMENTS
7.1) Approve Appointment of Public Member to the Palmdale Recycled Water Authority (PRWA).
Motion: Approve Appointment Joe Pallon as the Public Member to the Palmdale Recycled Water Authority (PRWA).
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Eric Ohlsen.
Vote: Motion carried (5-0)
Yes: Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
8) NEW BUSINESS
8.1) Adopt Ordinance No. 1655, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palmdale, California, a chartered city, repealing and rescinding Section
2.08.010 of Title 2 of the Palmdale Municipal Code and adopting a new Section 2.08.010 of Title 2 of the Palmdale Municipal Code, establishing the annual selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem by majority vote of the entire City Council.
Public comment: Michael Ross
The Council approved extending the public comments to three minutes in this section.
Acting City Attorney Halfman presented the staff report.
3 Public Comments continued: Rich Gallego, Angela Allen, Yule Gevargis, Carol Ross, Xavier Flores, Chuck Murphy, Aubray McPherson, Marsha Furman, Vicky Ventura
A motion was made and passed to continue hearing this item and delay moving forward to public comments in Sections 10 and 11.
City Clerk Scott read the title of Ordinance No. 1655.
Councilmember Bishop commented in support of the proposed ordinance.
Mayor Loa presented an alternate motion amending PMC Section 2.08.010 as follows, “the matter of determining the mayor of the City of Palmdale shall be by election of the voters, and the five districts would remain intact, and one at- large mayor would be selected. ” The motion died for lack of a second.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Loa presented another motion to table the item. The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilmember Ohlsen discussed bringing back the directly elected mayor and supporting the current ordinance.
Councilmembers Alarcón and Ohlsen discussed an amendment to the ordinance and the current rotational process, which led to further discussion.
A motion was made and passed to introduce Ordinance No. 1655.
Councilmember Bishop moved to amend the ordinance so that the mayor or mayor pro tem cannot serve back-to-back terms.
Mayor Loa discussed forming a committee to put the matter of a directly elected mayor before the voters.
Motion: Adopt Ordinance No. 1655, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palmdale, California, a chartered city, repealing and rescinding Section 2.08.010 of Title 2 of the Palmdale Municipal Code and adopting a new Section 2.08.010 of Title 2 with an amendment that Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem cannot serve back-to-back terms.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote: Motion carried (4-1)
Yes: Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
No: Richard J. Loa.
9) CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
There was no City Manager report provided.
4 10) NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS:
The following individuals provided public input: Debbie Dino and Kathy Gomez talked about an auction at the AV Fairgrounds; Sandy Chavez discussed Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month; Councilmember Alarcón suggested including Child Mental Health Awareness Month in for the April observances; Marsha Furman spoke about implementing street sweeping and the "Boots on the Ground" event; Leola Fussell shared details about a Bible reading marathon event; Jorge Ventura thanked the Council for supporting the Cesar Chavez event; Eugene Hernandez talked about the comments regarding a directly elected mayor and the Captain of the Sheriff's Department for helping with crime in his apartment building.
11) COUNCIL REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR FUTURE
AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ohlsen discussed the noise ordinance and requested a feasibility study or analysis on how to bring back a directly elected mayor without a voted- on ballot measure.
Councilmember Alarcón requested a report from the City Attorney on deferring the implementation of the new sales tax until 2028, providing harassment training for the entire city by a new facilitator, and made a general comment about the Closed Session. She also mentioned speaking with Andres Chavez, Cesar Chavez Foundation, on a potential City partnership.
Mayor Loa commented on the National League of Cities Conference, and the Executive Committee on Regional Homeless Alliance meeting. He also mentioned attending the AV Boots on the Ground and the Cesar Chavez Day event.
12) PRESENTATION BY CITY
ATTORNEY
Public Comments: Sky Jung, David Harris, and Carol Ross spoke on item 12.2, and letters were received from Jodi Kyman and Laurel Forrest.
12.1) This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54957
Public Employee Performance Evaluation
Title: City Attorney
12.2) This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54957 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE
Title: City Manager
5 13) ANNOUNCEMENT BY CITY ATTORNEY
Closed Session was held from 7:07 pm - 10:02 pm.
Acting City Attorney Halfman announced the following:
12.1 - Council directed City Manager Pro Tem Mendez to direct Human Resources to gather evidence and report back to Council regarding the City Attorney. Also, she announced that Council appointed her to Acting City Attorney.
12.2 - There was no reportable action.
14) ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Loa adjourned the meeting at 10:04 pm to April 15, 2025, at 5:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chamber located at 3830
0 Sierra Highway, Suite B, Palmdale,
California.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 15th day of April 2025.
Richard J. Loa,
Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Rochelle Scott, City Clerk
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