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MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 2024
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 6:31 P.M. on Tuesday, February 20, 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 Menchaca.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Eric Chan, Tony Ding, Denise Menchaca, Vice Mayor
John Wu, and Mayor John R. Harrington.
None.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, Assistant City Attorney
Martin Koczanowicz, Community Services Director
Rebecca Perez, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark, Public
Works Director/City Engineer Greg de Vinck, Human
Resources/Risk Management Director Edward Macias,
Fire Chief Steven Wallace, Community Development
Director Aldo Cervantes, Police Chief Edward Elizalde,
and Assistant City Clerk Marilyn Bonus.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION.
INITIATION OF LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE §54956.9 [C]: ONE CASE
Assistant City Attorney Koczanowicz announced that the City Counci l had unanimously authorized the City to move forward with the filing of a complaint.
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
Chief City Clerk Clark announced that staff had requested the removal of Item 4E from the agenda, to be considered at a future meeting.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Ding to approve the agenda order with the removal of Item 4E.
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Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
NONE
2. PRESENTATIONS - None.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Andrew, resident, commented on the Lunar Lantern Festival and requested translation into English in the future, and commented on the start of early voting for the March 5, 2024, primary election.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Vice Mayor Wu, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A - 4D as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
NONE
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved the Minutes of the City Council Regular Meetings of February 6, 2024.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved January 26, 2024, January 30, 2024, and February 2, 2024, Registers of Demands and Warrants for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT - JANUARY 2024
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for January 2024.
D. FISCAL VEAR 2023-2024 BUDGET UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023, FOR
THE GENERAL FUND AND MISSION PLAYHOUSE FUND
The City Council received and filed the report.
E. ORDINANCE NO. 703 RENEWING AND APPROVING THE SAN GABRIEL POLICE DEPARTMENT'S UPDATED MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY 707
AND FINDING THAT THE ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE 7072(A)
This item was pulled from the agenda; no action was taken.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
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A. ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT TO UPDATE THE SAN GABRIEL MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO NEW STATE LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW MEDICINAL
CANNABIS DELIVERY-ONLY RETAILERS IN THE M-1 ZONE (ZTA23-004) Mayor Harrington opened the continued public hearing.
Planning Manager Samantha Tewasart made the staff presentation.
Clarifying discussion included proposed fees to be included when the Master Fee Schedule is considered and fees to be charged in the meantime; there are no pending applications; sales tax considerations; clarification on existing code versus proposed new code sections; expired applications require a new application; and the ability of the City Council to set minimum standards by resolution.
There was no public comment; therefore, Mayor Harrington closed the public hearing.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Ding, to:
1. Waive full reading and introduce Ordinance No. 702 by title only: and
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 153 (ZONING CODE) OF THE SAN
GABRIEL MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO MEDICINAL CANNABIS
DELIVERY-ONLY RETAILERS IN THE M-1 (LIGHT MANUFACTURING) ZONE,
SUBJECT TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
2. Waive future reading of the Ordinance and schedule the second reading and adoption of the Ordinance for the next regular City Council meeting. The Ordinance would then become effective 30 days after adoption.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, MENCHACA, WU, HARRINGTON
NONE
NONE
NONE
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. PRESENTATION OF THE ALL ARE WELCOME PROGRAM AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-05 FOR A BUDGET INCREASE OF $1,500
Community Services Manager Matthew Morales-Stephens made the presentation.
Clarifying discussion included policy for employees to put personal symbols in their work space; no neighboring cities of San Gabriel's size have this program, but support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community in other ways; why this program is narrow and not inclusive of other groups; the Human Equity, Access and Relations (HEAR) Commission proposed this program based on survey results; the requested budget amendment seeks an increase to the Community Services line item for programs; initial and upkeep costs for the program; and a one-year review period for the program.
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HEAR Commission Chairperson Chasity Jennings-Nunez, M.D., provided comments in favor of the program and adoption of the resolution.
Andrew, resident, questioned who will approve the program's video presentation and suggested additional content for the video related to the safety of business owners.
Discussion included potential backlash on businesses; whether the San Gabriel Mission been involved in the logo choice; possible website in support of stop the hate for other groups as well; preference to provide resources rather than this program; an All Our Welcome program should include other minority groups; referring it back to the HEAR Commission; personal preference of the business owner; hotel endorsement; and for the City to endorse it, should be more inclusive for all people.
There was a consensus of the City Council to send the item back to the HEAR Commission to craft a broader program as to inclusion.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Omar Gallegos, Vice-Principle of West California Academy of Art and Design, expressed concerns about student safety in relation to a growing homeless encampment, property damage, syringes, and trash, proposed creating a gate instead of a chain link fence, and provided photographs.
City Manager Lazzaretto responded that the Police Department would look into the concerns and that the City's social services provider had visited the area to offer options.
I 9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
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City Manager Lazzaretto gave a shout out to all staff who made the Lunar Lantern Festival so successful.
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Vice Mayor Wu expressed appreciation to his Council colleagues and staff for a very successful Lunar Lantern Festival; reported his attendance at a Soroptimist event; commented on a recent accident involving a pedestrian and parking issues due to street vending; and stated the urgent need for parking enforcement to curb illegal crossing and parking violations for community safety.
Council Member Menchaca thanked Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Ding for providing an amazing Lunar Lantern Festival and gave details of the event; invited all to a Kiwanis event to tour the Mission Playhouse on February 22, 2024, at 11 :30 A.M.; and, announced Police Department events: Talk of the Town with Police Chief Elizalde on February 24, 2024, from 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. at the Sheraton, Community Academy coming up in March 2024, and Blood Drive on February 28, 2024.
Council Member Ding thanked the Community Services, Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments, and the City's Public Information Officer for the Lunar Lantern Festival and shared his observations about the event; reported his attendance at the Sheraton Chinese Lunar New Year event with Vice Mayor Wu, announced he had been honored by Supervisory Hilda Solis for helping the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community, encouraged the community to vote in the March 5, 2024, primary election; and wished all a Happy New Year.
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Page 4 of 5 February 20, 2024 Council Member Chan reported his attendance at the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce's Tasty Tuesday at Luna's Restaurant, commended staff for a great Lunar New Year Lantern Festival, and commented on improvements that could be made for future events.
Mayor Harrington stated the Lantern event was excellent, expressed appreciation for staff's work on the event, commented that parking is an issue for all venues, and made a suggestion for a shuttle van or SG Ride for those not able to make the walk as easily.
I 11. CLOSED SESSION - None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Approved this 5th day of March, 2024:
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.,,- JOHN R. HARRINGTON, M
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