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MINUTES OF JANUARY 16, 2024
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN GABRIEL CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Wu called the regular meeting of the San Gabriel City Council to order at 6:43 P.M. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 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 Council Member Chan.
CITY ATTORNEY ANNOUNCEMENT
Assistant City Attorney Koczanowicz announced that Mayor Harrington would not be attending the meeting due to a COVID exposure and the City's inability to meet the technical requirements required by recent legislation for his remote participation.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Eric Chan, Tony Ding, Denise Menchaca, and Vice Mayor
John Wu.
John R. Harrington.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, Assistant City Attorney
Martin Koczanowicz, Community Services Director
Rebecca Perez, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark; Human
Resources/Risk Management Director Edward Macias,
Fire Chief Steven Wallace, Finance Director William
Kaholokula, Community Development Director Aldo
Cervantes, Police Chief Edwin Elizalde, 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
Hearing no objection, Vice Mayor Wu announced that the Agenda Order was approved.
2. PRESENTATIONS
A. RECOGNITION OF NEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT)
MEMBERS
Fire Engineer Takahiro Suzuki made the presentation.
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3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jacqueline Candelaria, resident, provided comments expressing concern about recent dog attacks.
Barbara Messina, President of Soroptimist of Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino, invited Council to their 90th-year celebration event.
Andrew, resident, commented on Assembly Bill 481 and Policy 707 in relation to law enforcement use of military equipment and an annual Police Department report.
Chasity Jennings-Nunez, resident, and Human Equity, Access and Relations (HEAR) Commission Chair, thanked the City Council for the thoughtful appointments to the HEAR Commission earlier in the evening; reported on a recent trip to the JapaneseAmerican National Museum by HEAR Commissioners and City staff; and commented on the HEAR Commission's annual work plan under consideration for Council approval.
Cynthia Talavera, resident, commented on recent dog attacks and questioned who was responsible for receiving complaints related to dog attacks City Manager Lazzaretto, in response to public comments, explained that the City is working with animal control to determine where responsibilities lie and to please report non-emergency animal incidents to City Hall, and that the annual report on the AB 481 Policy is scheduled for the HEAR Commission in January and will be brought to the City Council in February.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Regarding Item 4F, Marjan Abubo, representing SAFER, provided comments in opposition.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A - 4G as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
HARRINGTON
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved the Minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting of December 19, 2023.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved December 8, 2023, December 14, 2023, December 21, 2023, and December 28, 2023, Registers of Demands and Warrants for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT - DECEMBER 2023
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for December 2023.
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D. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA CONSULTING FOR GRANT WRITING SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,200 ANNUALLY The City Council approved the Professional Services Agreement with California Consulting for Grant Writing Services and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement and issue a purchase order in the amount of $50,000.
E. ORDINANCE NO. 699 APPROVING AN ANNEXATION AND PRE-ZONING AT 5623 NORTH GLADYS AVENUE (ANX23-001/ZC23-001/GPA23-001) -
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION
The City Council waived reading and adopted Ordinance No. 699 entitled, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Gabriel, California, Approving Planning Case Nos. ANX23-001, GPA23-001, and ZC23-001, Approving an annexation and pre-zoning at 5623 North Gladys Avenue." F. ORDINANCE NO. 700: AMENDING AN EXISTING PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
OVERLAY ZONE AND APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT AT 201-217 SOUTH SAN GABRIEL BOULEVARD (ZC22-001 AND DA22-001) - SECOND READING AND ADOPTION
The City Council waived reading and adopted Ordinance No. 700 entitled, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Gabriel, California, Approving Planning Case Nos. ZC22-001 and DA22-001, Amending an Existing Planned Development Overlay Zone and Approving a Development Agreement for a Mixed-Use Development at 201-217 South San Gabriel Boulevard." G. HUMAN EQUITY, ACCESS AND RELATIONS (HEAR) COMMISSION PROPOSED 2024 ANNUAL WORK PLAN
The City Council received and filed the HEAR Commission's 2024 Annual Workplan.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - None.
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION AND DIRECTION ON A NEW SISTER CITY
AND FRIENDSHIP CITY POLICY FOR THE CITY OF SAN GABRIEL
City Manager Lazzaretto made the presentation.
Andrew, resident, requested that the policy include a provision to exclude countries that are adversaries to the United States.
Discussion included funding in the annual budget for Friendship/Sister City expenses; the implementation process; opposition to including verbiage about adversarial nations, appreciation for the policy having a local group take responsibility, travel will not be funded by the taxpayers, historical purpose of the program; benefits of cultural sharing; possible outside funding sources; exclusion of countries listed by the U.S. Department of State as hostile to the U.S.; partnering with the San Gabriel Tourism and Marketing Improvement District (TMID) for receptions, and equivalent gift exchanges.
A motion was made by Council Member Ding, seconded by Council Member Chan, to adopt the policy presented, with a wording amendment to section 7.0 City Responsibilities to add that funds spent on meetings, receptions, and gifts for sister CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Page 3 of 6 January 16, 2024 I
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city delegations will be negligible unless an expenditure line item is added to a future annual City budget or unless approved on a case-by-case basis by the City Council.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
7. NEW BUSINESS
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
HARRINGTON
A. AUTHORIZATION OF AN ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY
TECHNICIAN (EPT)
Police Sergeant Nhat Huynh made the presentation.
Clarifying discussion included the process to review body-worn camera footage, Andrew, resident, questioned whether salary comparisons for this position were made with comparable cities.
Discussion included the current competitive environment for police positions; the cost for the proposed position includes the value of benefits; technician workload and challenges providing information requested by the District Attorney's Office; training and skills required; timeline for hiring; effect on the need for this position if there is a change of District Attorney; use of Artificial Intelligence (Al); alternate duties for technicians; cost for body-worn camera software; and that this item is to consider adding another position in an existing classification.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to adopt Resolution No. 24-01 and authorized the City Manager to approve the addition of a second Evidence and Property Technician for the San Gabriel Police Department.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
HARRINGTON
B. PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE
FINANCIAL REPORT AND OTHER AUDIT REPORTS FOR THE FISCAL VEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023
Assistant Finance Director Linda Tang made the presentation.
There was no public comment.
Discussion included that there were no findings by the auditors that needed to be brought to the City Council's attention; the City's reserves goal has been surpassed; kudos to Finance staff for their good work; unpredictable fluctuations in building permit fees; and the stability of business license fees.
RECESS AND RECONVENE
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The meeting was recessed at 8:56 P.M. and reconvened at 9:03 P.M. with all Council Members present except Mayor Harrington.
C. ADOPTION OF URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 701 PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858 PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS DELIVERY BUSINESSES FOR 45 DAYS AND AN EXEMPTION FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENT~L QUALITY ACT Community Development Director Cervantes made the presentation.
There was no public comment.
Discussion included that the purpose of the urgency ordinance is to allow the City time to craft a permanent ordinance in compliance with new state zoning laws, and the importance of expediency in adopting a new ordinance.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Ding, to adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 701.
Motion carried by a vote of 4-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
HARRINGTON
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Barbara Messina, President of Soroptimist of Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino, explained that Soroptimist functions as an ambassador for and promotes San Gabriel, commented on experiences with sister cities, and commended the City Council for an outstanding City Council meeting.
9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT - None.
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Menchaca reported on the San Gabriel Mission's first Oaxacan procession and announced that NetFlix series, The Brother's Son, features real and imaginary San Gabriel businesses and locations.
Council Member Chan expressed his hope that everyone had a great holiday season and Happy New Year.
Council Member Ding wished all a Happy New Year for January 1 and a Happy Lunar New Year, and reported his attendance at San Gabriel Council of Governments (COG) and Sanitation District meetings.
Vice Mayor Wu announced the 2024 Lunar New Year Lantern Festival to be held on February 17 - 18, 2024; thanked City Manager Lazzaretto and Public Works Director/ City Engineer de Vinck for replacing the deck and side rails on the pedestrian bridge in Vincent Lugo Park; reported on his attendance at an event hosted by the ChineseAmerican Military Support; and commented on the NetFlix series featuring San Gabriel locations.
11. CLOSED SESSION - None.
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12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:32 P.M. in memory of Anita L. Maxey.
Respectfully submitted:
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Approved this 6th day of February, 2024:
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