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MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN GABRIEL CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ding called the regular meeting of the San Gabriel City Council to order at 6:33 P.M. on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, California, 91776.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Harrington.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Denise Menchaca, Carina Rivera, John Wu, Vice Mayor
John R. Harrington, and Mayor Tony Ding.
None.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, City Attorney Keith
Lemieux, Community Services Director Rebecca Perez,
Police Chief Eugene Harris, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark, Public Works Director/City Engineer Greg de Vinck, Fire Chief Steven Wallace, Human Resources/Risk
Management Director Edward Macias, Finance Director
William Kaholokula, Community Development Director
Aldo Cervantes, and Assistant City Clerk Marilyn Bonus.
Special City Council Meeting of September 6, 2022:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (GOVERNMENT CODE §54957.6) City Negotiators - City Manager Lazzaretto, City Attorney Lemieux, and Human Resources/Risk Management Director Macias, Labor Relations Counsel Steve Filarsky.
Regarding the following Employee Organizations - San Gabriel Police Officers' Association, San Gabriel Police Management Group, San Gabriel Firefighters' Association, San Gabriel Fire Management Group and all Unrepresented Employees.
City Attorney Lemieux announced that no reportable action was taken.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chief City Clerk Clark provided information for the public on how to view the meeting and how to request meeting agendas.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER
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Hearing no objection, Mayor Ding stated the agenda order was approved.
2. PRESENTATIONS
A. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Mayor Ding made the presentation and Council Members Menchaca and Rivera commented on a book donation they made through the San Gabriel Educational Foundation in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Grace Yang, San Gabriel Library Manager, invited the community to provide input on the Library's services and detailed the methods available to do so.
Debbie Kilgore, resident, commented on a recent issue with the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society and made a suggestion that one of the Council Members with a Hispanic background read the proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month in the future.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Wu, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A - 4F as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
MENCHACA, RIVERA, WU, HARRINGTON, DING
NONE
NONE
NONE
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved the following:
1. Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of August 2, 2022.
2. Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of August 5, 2022.
3. Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of August 6, 2022.
4. Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of August 16, 2022.
5. Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting of August 16, 2022.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved August 5, 2022, August 12, 2022, and August 18, 2022, Registers of Demands and Warrants for the payment of City expenditures.
I c. 2022 CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST CODE BIENNIAL UPDATE
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 22-56 entitled, "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Gabriel, California, amending the City of San Gabriel Conflict of Interest Code and rescinding Resolution No. 20-43." D. ORDINANCE NO. 684 ADOPTING POLICE DEPARTMENT LEXIPOL POLICY, SECTION 707, MILITARY EQUIPMENT, PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL (AB) 481 MILITARY EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION, USE, AND REPORTING - 2ND
READING & ADOPTION
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The City Council waived reading and adopted Ordinance No. 684 entitled, "An Ordinance of the City Council of San Gabriel, California, adopting Police Department Lexipol Policy, Section 707, Military Equipment, pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 481 Military Equipment Acquisition, Use, and Reporting." E. COMMISSIONER REMOVAL FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
The City Council declared the Community Services Commission seat currently held by Bronwyn Velazquez vacant pursuant to the City's Rules of Order for City Meetings due to several unexcused absences, effective immediately, and directed staff to advertise the position and begin accepting applications.
F. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION PROPOSED SCOPE, PURPOSE AND 2022 ANNUAL WORKPLAN
The City Council approved the Community Services Commission's Scope, Purpose and 2022 Annual Workplan, as presented.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - None.
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. INCLUSIONARV HOUSING AND DENSITY BONUS
Planning Manager Samantha Tewasart and David Bergman of Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc. (LCW) made the presentation.
Clarifying discussion included details of covenant restrictions and effects on property tax and homeowner association (HOA) fees for sellers and buyers of affordable-housing units; request for a comparison of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) under current and proposed standards; the inclusionary requirement would be citywide, but development is more likely in areas that allow higher density; the complexity of the information in the staff report and desire for future reports to be more easily understandable; nearby cities that have been successful with an inclusionary program; definition of and income basis for affordable housing; desire to include rental units; and including income provisions in the ordinance.
Chasity Jennings-Nunez provided comments requesting the adoption of an lnclusionary Housing Ordinance as soon as possible and suggested that the Ordinance provide that 20% of units be rented or sold to very-low- and lowincome households.
Debbie Kilgore, resident, stated that most residents don't understand the language in the presentation and requested meetings for the community that explain more simply; expressed concern about a shortage of parking spaces; and commented on high rental prices in the City.
Isela Bowles, resident, commented on median household income in San Gabriel; cautioned about potential impacts of proposed changes on the City; and thanked Council Member Wu for his clarifying questions.
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Discussion included that City Council direction is being sought on what the affordability level and percentage of affordable units should be before it goes to the Planning Commission for consideration; adoption of an inclusionary housing ordinance would not change development standards in the City; the need to show an economic study that development would still be feasible under new standards; City Council desire for the Planning Commission to be part of the discussion; Housing Needs Assessment statistics for the City; San Gabriel is a majority-rental City so it doesn't make sense to exclude rentals; clarification of both income and housing-price in various income categories; a proposal for 15% for both for-sale and rental properties; defaulting to the state for density-bonus standards; a request for more and simpler information; a suggestion for Council Members to let the City Manager know what information is desired in the next presentation; rental-property types; revisiting percentage numbers for the inclusionary ordinance every two years; having different percentage numbers for for-sale and rental units; assigning units to a certain income level doesn't guarantee buyers can qualify; and writing letters to legislators about providing special financing for lowincome buyers.
B. AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE PRICES AND FEES
FOR THE DUMPLING AND BEER FESTIVAL
Economic Development Director Caroline Velarde made the presentation.
Clarifying discussion included a discount for early ticket sales and the allotment of 800 tickets for the beer garden.
There was no public comment.
Discussion included the ticket-sales timeline.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Harrington, seconded by Mayor Ding, to amend the City's adopted Fee Schedule to include the vendor participation fee and charge of admission for the Dumpling and Beer Festival at the amounts recommended, with the addition of a discount of $5 for ticket purchases up to two weeks prior to the event.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
MENCHACA, RIVERA, WU, HARRINGTON, DING
NONE
NONE
NONE
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Dr. Chasity Jennings-Nunez, Human Equity, Access and Relations (HEAR Chair), provided comments inviting the community to the first Mental Wellness Expo on September 18, 2022, from 12:00-4:00 P.M. in the Grapevine Arbor and Mission Playhouse Plaza, and thanked those who made the event possible.
9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Lazzaretto informed the City Council that he would not be present at the next regular City Council meeting as he will be out of town at a conference, and that Police Chief Harris will be sitting in for him at the meeting.
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10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Rivera reported that she and Mayor Ding spent on a day with the San Gabriel Fire Department, commented on the experience, and thanked and commended Fire Department staff.
Council Member Menchaca invited all to the Mental Wellness Expo, commented on a Pasadena Star News article on pickle ball that highlighted San Gabriel; and requested Fire Chief Wallace to speak about an upcoming 9/11 event.
Fire Chief Wallace announced the 21 st 9/11 Remembrance event on September 11 , 2022, at 6:30 A.M. at Fire Station 51.
Council Member Wu reported on a September 1, 2022, Focus Plaza tenants' meeting, and expressed concern about landlord-tenant communication and his desire for the City to assist the business owners.
Vice Mayor Harrington announced the Stunts and Fun event on September 11 , 2022, from 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. on Commercial Avenue just east of San Gabriel Boulevard and invited the community to attend after the 9/11 event.
Mayor Ding echoed Council Member Rivera's comments about the Fire Department visit and commented on his experience; expressed his desire for the City to facilitate communication between the Focus Plaza landlord and tenants; commented on a donation of Moon Cakes for the City's seniors sponsored by the Chinese-American Women's Association; announced a school-supplies backpack giveaway on September 8, 2022, for those who had pre-registered, sponsored by Los Angeles County, Kiwanis Club, and San Gabriel Hope Lions Club; reminded of the Stunts and Fun event previously announced; and wished all a happy Moon Festival on September 10.
11. CLOSED SESSION - None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 P.M
Respectfully submitted:
Approved this 20th day of September, 2022:
TONY
~ DI NG, Mayor
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