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MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19, 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 6:30 P.tvl. on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, Cal ifornia, 91776, and announced that Council Member Ding was unable to attend the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Wu.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Eric Chan, Denise Menchaca, Vice Mayor John Wu, and
Mayor John R. Harrington.
Tony Ding.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, Assistant City Attorney
Martin Koczanowicz, Community Services Director
Rebecca Perez, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark, Publ ic
Works Director/City Engineer Greg de Vinck, Human
Resources/Risk Management Director Edward Macias,
Finance Director William Kaholokula, Community
Development Director Aldo Cervantes, Police Chief
Edward El izalde, Fire Division Chief Bradley Davis, and Assistant City Clerk Marilyn Bonus.
Special City Council Meeting of September 19, 2023:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (GOVERNM ENT CODE §54956.9 [d] (21) (ONE CASE)
Assistant City Attorney Koczanowicz announced that no reportable action was taken.
I 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
Hearing no objection, Mayor Harrington announced that the Agenda Order was approved.
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2. PRESENTATIONS
A. 2023 SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS UPDATE San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Administrative Services Manager Katie Ward made the presentation.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Michael Shutz, resident, provided comments in opposition to giving taxpayer funds to the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce and expressed his opinion that Mayor Harrington has a conflict-of-interest in this matter.
Sonia Martin provided comments in favor of the City helping the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce after getting more financial information and expressed disagreement with statements made by Mayor Harrington on the subject at a recent City Council meeting.
Chasity Jennings-Nunez, resident and Human Equity, Access, and Relations (HEAR) Commission Chair, provided comments expressing disappointment with the treatment of the indigenous community's input on Smith Park proposed changes and Mayor Harrington's participation in the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce membership consideration; and questioning the methodology for non-profit participation in City events.
Cheryl Cabot, resident, provided comments objecting to Mayor Harrington's characterization of her articles regarding the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce, and commenting on related public records act requests and the Mayor's alleged conflictof-interest in the matter.
Sam Guo, resident, commented about a parking ticket he received while transporting a disabled person and the lack of handicapped-parking spaces.
Li Ping Chen commented on her experience as the handicapped person in the event described by Sam Guo and requested that the parking ticket fine be waived.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Chief City Clerk Clark noted that on item 4A, the dates in the footers of the Minutes had been corrected.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Vice Mayor Wu, to approve Consent Calendar Item 4A as corrected and Items 4B - 4H as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0 -0- 1 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, MENCHACA, WU, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
DING
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved:
1. Minutes of the City Council Special Meeting of September 5, 2023.
2. Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting of September 5, 2023.
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B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved August 25, 2023, and August 31 , 2023, Registers of Demands and Warrants for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT - AUGUST 2023
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for August 2023.
D. FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 BUDGET UPDATE AS OF AUGUST 31, 2023 The City Council received and filed the report.
E. APPROPRIATION REQUEST IN THE AMOUNT OF $131,750.56 FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT OFFICE SPACE ADDITION REQUEST
The City Council:
1) Authorized the additional $100,000 funding to complete the Police Office Space Addition Project from the Development Impact Fund for FY 23-24; 2) Authorized the use of the Omnia Public Sector Cooperative Agreement Reg ion 4 ESC Contract #R191817 awarded to Trendway Design Studio to purchase modular office furniture in the amount of $18,872.64 from the Development Impact Fund for FY 23-24;
3) Authorized the use of the Omnia Public Sector Cooperative Agreement Reg ion 4 ESC Contract #R191817 awarded to 9to5 Seating to purchase office chairs in the amount of $12,877.92 from the Development Impact Fund for FY23-24; 4) Adopted Resolution No. 23-54 to appropriate the additional $13 1,750.56 to the budget; and
5) Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute all agreements on behalf of the City.
F. PURCHASE OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMAND VEHICLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $213,930.19 AND UPFIT OF UTILITY TRUCK IN THE AMOUNT OF $53,561.66
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-57 and authorized the issuance of purchase orders in the amount of $213,930.19 and $53,561 .66 to National Auto Fleet Group for the purchase of a Command Vehicle and Utility Vehicle Uplift under Sourcewell Contract 091521 -NAF.
G. APPROVAL OF FINAL PARCEL MAP NO. 82176, A 4-UNIT CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED AT 117 WEST NORWOOD PLACE
The City Council approved Final Parcel Map No. 82176, authorized its filing with the Los Angeles County Recorder and authorized the City Manager to execute the Subdivision Agreement on behalf of the City.
H. APPROPRIATION REQUEST FOR CONTRACT BUILDING OFFICIAL
TEMPORARY BUILDING SERVICES
The City Council:
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1) Adopted Resolution No. 23-56, increasing appropriations by $40,000 in the general fund for the costs of temporary building official services. 2) Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with VCA Code Group to provide building official services.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS - NONE I 7. NEW BUSINESS
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A. AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
FAIRBANK, MASLIN, MAULLIN, METZ & ASSOCIATES IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $37,000 FOR A PUBLIC OPINION POLLING SERVICE REGARDING A PUBLIC
SAFETY HEADQUARTERS POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX INITIATIVE
Public Information Officer Clara Tsang made the presentation.
Chasity Jennings-Nunez, resident, provided comments in opposition to the agreement.
Carina Rivera, resident, provided comments in favor of the agreement.
Andrew, resident, questioned the choice of consultant, services provided for the cost, and where the money from Transit-Occupancy Tax and Measure SG is being used, and commented on employee salaries.
Discussion included how the recommended consultant was chosen; details of a prior agreement with consultant FM3; how Measure SG funds are being used; the need for a dedicated funding source for a new public safety facility; community surveys that indicate the community's priority for public safety; methodology for the proposed survey and uses for the information that will be received; the deteriorating conditions of existing public safety facilities and their inadequacy to meet current and future needs; methodology for the languages to be supported for the poll and consultant capability for languages; poll focus on registered voters who will likely vote in the November 2024 election; contact methods for reaching respondents; benefits of a general obligation bond to fund a public safety facility; criteria to pass a special tax as opposed to a general tax; estimated cost to add a measure to the ballot; the poll as a tool to determine best timing for a ballot measure; rising construction costs; the need to accommodate adequate technology in a facility; and the benefits of using the expertise of a consultant.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with FM3 for a public opinion poll.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0 -0- 1 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, MENCHACA, WU, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
DING
B. COMMUNITY SERVICES/ MISSION PLAYHOUSE UPDATE
Community Services Director Perez made the presentation.
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Andrew, resident, commented that there is not much activity for junior high and high school youth and advocated for youth ambassadors on the Community Services Commission.
Discussion included ideas for a seating campaign to replace seats in the Mission Playhouse; progress toward a non-profit Community Foundation or 501 (c)(3) to accept donations; shortfall in the Mission Playhouse budget that is made up by the General Fund; improvements needed for the Playhouse; ability for the City to produce Playhouse programming with greater funding; suggestions for changing programming; limitations on renovations to the Playhouse as a registered historic building; potential Lantern Festival event; RideSG program update; and Community Services Department staffing levels.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Ashley Sanchez requested a selfie with the City Council for a school assignment.
9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Lazzaretto reported that the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District had notified the City of the first positive test for West Nile Virus in San Gabriel and reminded community to empty out standing water.
Council Member Menchaca, as the City's representative to the Mosquito and Vector Control District, commented on resources available from the District.
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Chan reported on his attendance at the San Gabriel employee health fair and thanked staff for coordinating it.
Council Member Menchaca thanked Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Ding for attending the 911 Memorial at Fire Station 51 and congratulated ColoradoBlvd.net on celebrating its 10th anniversary.
11. CLOSED SESSION - None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 P.M
Respectfully submitted:
Approved this 3rd day of October, 2023:
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