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MINUTES OF AUGUST 15, 2023
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN GABRIEL CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Harrington called the regular meeting of the San Gabriel City Council to order at 6:34 P.M. on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, California, 91776, and announced that Vice Mayor Wu was unable to attend the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Menchaca.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eric Chan, Tony Ding, Denise Menchaca, and Mayor
John R. Harrington.
Vice Mayor John Wu.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, City Attorney Keith
Lemieux, Community Services Director Rebecca Perez,
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,
Interim Police Chief Rikimaru Nakamura, and Assistant
City Clerk Marilyn Bonus.
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
Mayor Harrington noted that Public Hearing Item SA had been cancelled and hearing no objection, announced that the Agenda Order was approved.
2. PRESENTATIONS - None.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chasity Jennings-Nunez, resident, provided comments expressing concern about methods for seniors to schedule with Ride SG.
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Craig Himmler expressed dissatisfaction with his experience with the Police Department relative to parking tickets he received.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A - 4J as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0-0- 7 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
WU
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved the Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting of July 18, 2023.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved July 10, 2023, July 14, 2023, July 20, 2023, and July 27, 2023, Registers of Demands and Warrants for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT- JULY 2023
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for July 2023.
D. RESOLUTION NOS. 23-49 AND 23-50 SETTING THE RATE AND AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR RETIREMENT LEVY
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-49, setting the tax rate at 14 cents per $100 assessed valuation, and Resolution No. 23-50, fixing the amount of property taxes to be generated for the City employee's retirement cost for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
E. AGREEMENT WITH HDL COMPANIES TO PERFORM A STUDY OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ORDINANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 The City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with HDL Companies for a business license tax ordinance study.
F. ORDINANCE NO. 691 RELATING TO ELECTRONIC AND PAPERLESS FILING OF
FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION (FPPC) CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
STATEMENTS AND STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS
INTRODUCTION
The City Council introduced Ordinance No. 691 , adding Chapter 40 "Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practices Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements and Statements of Economic Interests" to Title Ill "Administration" of the San Gabriel Municipal Code, for first reading by title only, waived future reading, and scheduled the second reading and adoption for the next regularlyscheduled City Council meeting.
G. RESOLUTION NO. 23-47 APPROVING A REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE ON THE 600 BLOCK OF SYCAMORE DRIVE
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The City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-47 authorizing closure on the 600 block of Sycamore Drive between Hermosa Drive and Duane Avenue from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, 2023.
H. RESOLUTION NO. 23-48 APPROVING A REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE ON THE 300 BLOCK OF BRIDGE STREET
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-48 authorizing closure on Bridge Street between Sycamore Drive to the end of the cul-de-sac from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
I. RESOLUTION NO. 23-55 - RESOLUTION FOR TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES
DURING BLOCK PARTIES
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 22-55 authorizing the Public Works Director to review and approve future residential block party applications.
J. PURCHASE OF SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS IN THE AMOUNT OF $473,061.71
The City Council authorized the issuance of a purchase order in the amount of $473,461.71 to LN Curtis, Incorporated for the purchase of twenty-eight MSA G1 SCBA.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
A. APPEAL (APPEAL NO. 23-001) PLANNING PROJECTS NOS. CUP23-003 AND VAR23-001 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE (535 WEST ROSES ROAD)
Chief City Clerk Clark announced that the application for a conditional-use permit and variance for 535 West Roses Road had been withdrawn and the Public Hearing for this item had been cancelled.
B. APPEAL (APPEAL NO. 23-002) OF PLANNING CASE NO. PPD21-008 PRECISE PLAN OF DESIGN (330 WEST LAS TUNAS DRIVE)
APPELLANT: LOZEAU DRURY, LLP / SUPPORTERS ALLIANCE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY (SAFER)
Mayor Harrington opened the public hearing.
City Attorney Lemieux noted that only four City Council members were present and received agreement from both parties to proceed.
Senior Planner Christine Song made the staff presentation.
Robert Montano, Project Manager, Adept Development and Architecture, representing the applicant, presented the proposed project.
Jordan Sisson, Attorney, representing appellant Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), presented the appeal. Chief City Clerk Clark read a comment submitted by SAFER representative Victoria Yundt.
The Applicant's representative presented a rebuttal to the appellant's comments.
The appellant's representative presented a clarification to his previous comments.
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Dr. Kyle Wong, L-Likon, LLC, spoke in support of the appeal and against approval of Planning Case No. PPD21-008.
Reza Bonachea Mohamadzadah, Attorneys for Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters, provided comments advocating workforce requirements for the project.
Richard Burns, resident, member of the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters, stated the Council's request for workforce requirements on the project.
Mayor Harrington closed the public hearing.
Discussion included the purpose of the Mission District Specific Plan; no next step if Council denies the project; the only item for Council to consider is whether California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements were properly followed; use of the parking lot is a private agreement between the applicant and the property owner; the City's CEQA consultant's methodology (presented by Eddie Torres, Department Manager, Michael Baker International); CEQA in-fill exemption details; construction-phasing timeline; and that the City Council must make all five findings to approve the project as it went to the Design Review Commission (DRC), A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to adopt Resolution No. 23-51 denying the appeal and upholding the approval of Resolution No. 23-04 for Planning Case No. PPD21-008 for a Precise Plan of Design at 330 West Las Tunas Drive, subject to the recommended conditions of approval.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0-0- 1 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
WU
RECESS AND RECONVENE
The meeting was recessed at 7:37 P.M. and reconvened at 7:48 P.M. with all Council Members present except Vice Mayor Wu.
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. PICKLEBALL DISCUSSION - POTENTIAL AWARD OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT NO. 23-08 IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,500, PLUS A $9,050
CONTINGENCY TO COMMERCIAL PAVING AND COATING FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CONCRETE SLAB FOR PICKLEBALL COURTS AT
SMITH PARK
Community Services Director Perez made the presentation.
Clarifying discussion included time restrictions for shared use with school districts.
The following provided comments or spoke in favor of this item: Howard Fong, resident; Antonius Gunawan, resident; Bennet and Nancy Jeong, residents; Michael Liu, business owner; Kris Chin, resident; Andrew and Michelle, residents; Lipen Chang, resident; Mitch Borgeson, resident; Mary, resident; Eddie Lim, resident; Mary T. Lau; Christopher Lai, resident; Vivi Ou, resident; Nhan Tran, resident; Sonia Lyn, resident; Andre-Philippe Sam, resident; Greg Tailin, resident; Tracy Nguyen, resident; Danny Tran, resident; Kathy Weninger; Rosemarie Gonzalez, resident; Joan CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Page 4 of 6 August 15, 2023 I
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Early, resident; Laurene Mascola; Sareena Kanji-Velletto, resident; Anthony Velletto, resident; Peter Cote; Edward Vera, resident; Bruce Bailey; Monica; Kary Kumwhara; Toni Cavanagh Johnson; Zhuo (Larry) Wang; Elliott Lee; Eric Romero; Gail Rolf; Jim Shearer, resident; Elizabeth Lee; Annie Yang, resident; Ganda Suthivarakom; John Fasola; Joella Crosby; Boonthom Noparatana; Lillian Chu, resident; Oscar Rolan; Catherine Li, resident; Camelia Vera, resident; Jeffrey Sun; Anonymous; Carina, resident; Tessa De Roy; Glen Jacinto; Amy Passingham; Alan Pygin; Kelsey O-Keefe; Lisa Terry; Zoraida Rossi, resident; Sonia Nicholson; Richard Asher, resident; Matthew Pearce; Madison Forrest; Lotus Lou, resident; Ivy Luong; Sue Sun; Lars Whelan; William Vasquez, resident; Dennis Sam, resident; S. Wayne Radford, resident; Kitty Ku, resident; Cheryl Cabot, resident; Annie Yang, resident; Holly Lou Streem, resident; Monica Lu, resident; and Fred Rudinetkin, resident.
The following provided comments or spoke in opposition to this item: Debbie Young, resident; Aida Gutierrez, resident; Rafael Cagigas, resident; Quang Pho, resident; Winnie, resident; Debbie, resident; Celia Zago, resident; Chrsitina Jimenez, resident; Albert Castillo, resident; Vivian Tong, resident; Johnson Hung, resident; Sara Castro, resident; Jonathan L., resident; Simran Rana, resident; Eric Chen; Davis Barrantes, resident; Chase Ong, resident; Michele Veenendaal, resident; Mike L.; Maria Cordero, resident; Nadine Salas, resident; Jonathan Vivanti, resident; Annette Kondo, resident; Anthony Morales, Chairman, Gabrielino San Gabriel Mission Indians, resident; Andrew, resident; Ting Xie, resident; Jorge Herrera Avila, resident; Melinda Gonzales, resident; Irene Chan, resident; Michael Dominguez, resident; Pete Escobedo, resident; Lynell Messineo, resident; Isabel Sandoval, resident; Michele Candelaria, resident; H.T., resident; M.A., resident; Henry Lujan, Jr., resident; and Eileen Leiva, resident.
The following commented without taking a position: Manuel Gonzalez, resident; and Chasity Jennings-Nunez, resident.
RECESS AND RECONVENE
The meeting was recessed at 9:58 P.M. and reconvened at 10:08 P.M. with all Council Members present except Vice Mayor Wu.
Discussion included that the benefits outweigh the concerns for the most residents; noise mitigation; enforcement of operating hours; benefit of having the distinction of being a pickleball-friendly city; recent replacement of the tennis court light timer for better accuracy on timing; plans for small improvements to the pool over time funded by the City's General Fund and the estimated cost of various pool repairs; the proposed construction of the pickleball court would be funded by Development Impact Fees; park restrooms were recently renovated but get vandalized frequently; security cameras to be installed at the park; the Police Department has received one pickleball noise complaint in the last year; feasibility of moving trees; open space versus dedicated space; importance of the area dedicated to local tribes; feasibility of use of school facilities; displacing use instead of eliminating use; being inclusive of all in the community; Tongva Memorial would not be moved; and economic and health benefits relative to pickleball.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to approve the addition of the pickleball court at Smith Park in the proposed location and approve construction Contract No. 23-08, authorizing the City Manager to sign all documents necessary to execute the contract.
Motion carried by a vote of 3- 7-0-1 as follows:
AYES: CHAN, DING, MENCHACA,
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NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
HARRINGTON
NONE
WU
7. NEW BUSINESS- None.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT - None.
9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Lazzaretto explained that riders without access to the Ride SG app can call the Community Services Department or the transit company for assistance scheduling rides.
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Menchaca reported on her attendance at the Independent Cities Association (ICA) Conference.
Council Member Chan reported on his attendance at the ICA Conference and the City's National Night Out.
Council Member Ding reported on reported on his attendance at the ICA Conference and the City's National Night Out, and commented on the Kids' Council backpack giveaway.
Mayor Harrington reported on the ICA Board Meeting and Winter Conference plans.
11. CLOSED SESSION - None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:58 P.M
Respectfully submitted:
Approved this 5th day of September, 2023:
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