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MINUTES OF JANUARY 21, 2025
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN GABRIEL CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wu called the regular meeting of the San Gabriel City Council to order at 6:32 P.M. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 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 Menchaca.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Eric Chan, Tony Ding, Jorge Herrera Avila, Vice Mayor
Menchaca, and Mayor John Wu.
None.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, Assistant City Attorney
Martin Koczanowicz, Community Services Director
Rebecca Perez, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark, Fire Chief Steven Wallace, Human Resources/Risk Management
Director Edward Macias, Finance Director William
Kaholokula, Community Development Director Aldo
Cervantes, Police Chief Edward Elizalde, Acting Public
Works Director/City Engineer Szeka Cheng, and
Assistant City Clerk Marilyn Bonus.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (GOVERNMENT CODE §54957.6) City Negotiators - City Manager Lazzaretto, City Attorney Lemieux, and Human Resources/Risk Management Director Macias.
Regarding the following Employee Organizations - San Gabriel Police Officer's Association, . San Gabriel Police Management Group, San Gabriel Firefighter's Association, San Gabriel Fire Management Group and all Unrepresented Employees.
Assistant City Attorney Koczanowicz announced that no reportable action was taken.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chief City Clerk Clark provided information for the public on how to view the meeting.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER
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Assistant City Attorney Koczanowicz explained that an item had come to staff's attention subsequent to the posting of the agenda and requiring action before the next regularly-scheduled meeting: City Council ratification of the proclamation of a local emergency by the City Manager as Director of Emergency Services.
A motion was made by Council Member Chan, seconded by Vice Mayor Menchaca, to add the item to the agenda.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
NONE
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve the agenda order as so amended.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
NONE
2. PRESENTATIONS
A. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES - POLICE
Police Chief Elizalde made the presentation.
8. COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (C.E.R.T.) PROGRAM
COMPLETION RECOGNITION
Fire Captain Taka Suzuki made the presentation.
C. RETIREMENT OF K-9 OFFICER BENTLEY
Police Chief Elizalde made the presentation and Mayor Wu presented a Certificate of Recognition.
Mary Cammarano and Sue Fitzsimmons, representing the K-9 Foundation, presented a plaque. Retired San Gabriel Police Lieutenant Cruz Hernandez, former K-9 Coordinator, presented a shadowbox.
San Gabriel Police Sergeant Paul Puente, Bentley's former handler, commended Bentley's service to the community; and thanked his former Lieutenant, Sue Fitzsimmons, the City Council, and his family for their support.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT - None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A - 4J as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES: CHAN, DING, HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU
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NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
NONE
NONE
NONE
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved the Minutes of the Regula City Council Meeting of December 17, 2024.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved December 6, 12, 20, and 26, 2024, and January 3, 2025, Material Demands for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT - DECEMBER 2024
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for December 2024.
D. FISCAL VEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, FOR
THE GENERAL FUND AND MISSION PLAYHOUSE FUND
The City Council received and filed the report.
E. AGREEMENT WITH WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES TO PERFORM A NEXUS
STUDY AND UPDATE THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,500
The City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Financial Services to perform a nexus study and update the City's development impact fees.
F. APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS FOR $10,000 FROM DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN 8-FOOT WURLITZER POST HORN RANK, AND FOR $400 FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REVOLVING FUND FOR HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING; AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-04 FOR A TOTAL BUDGET INCREASE OF $10,400 The City Council:
1. Accepted the donation of $10,000 from the Desert Community Foundation into Donation Account #152-329 and increased appropriations in Expenditure Account #124-712-35-96-840 for the same amount; waived the formal bid process; and authorized the purchase of the Wurlitzer Post Horn Rank from Century Pipe Organs, consistent with San Gabriel Municipal Code Section 34.35 C.
2. Accepted the donation of $400 from the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors revolving fund into Donation Account #173-3920 and increased appropriations in Community Services expenditures account #173-850-18-23-048 for the same amount.
3. Adopted Resolution No. 25-04 memorializing the above budget adjustments.
G. PURCHASE OF NEW POLICE MOTORCYCLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,984.02 The City Council approved the purchase of one 2024 Harley Davidson from Laidlaw Harley Davidson utilizing Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant #25056 funds from account #124-751-52-99-201.
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H. APPROVAL OF A VEHICLE LEASE AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BY
ENTERING INTO A MASTER EQUITY LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ENTERPRISE
FLEET MANAGEMENT AND APPROVAL FOR THE LEASE OF FOUR PATROL
VEHICLES
The City Council authorized the City Manager to:
1. Execute the Master Equity Lease Agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management (EFM) for the leasing of new police fleet vehicles and Professional Consulting Services Agreement;
2. Execute an Assignment to Sell Agreement with EFM for the sale of City-owned vehicles replaced through the lease program.
3. Add, remove, or trade-in fleet vehicles as appropriate with surplus to be sold by EFM pursuant to the Assignment Agreement; and
4. Approve the leasing of four front-line patrol vehicles and disposition of old police fleet vehicles at the City Manager's discretion consistent with operational needs and budget allocation.
I. AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT NO. 24-03 TO ONYX PAVING
COMPANY, INCORPORATED, FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) LOCAL STREETS SLURRY PROJECT FISCAL VEAR 2024-2025 IN THE AMOUNT OF $414,000 PLUS A 10% CONTINGENCY [RESOLUTION NO. 25-02]
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 25-02 to appropriate an additional $55,754 from the Gas Tax Fund to account 122-800-41-97-704; approved plans and specifications for the Community Development Block Grant Local Streets Slurry Seal Project, Fiscal Year 2024-2025; awarded the contract to Onyx Paving Company, Incorporated, and authorized the City Manager to execute Construction Contract No. 24-03 and approve a purchase order in the amount of $455,400 which includes a 10% construction contingency.
J. AMENDMENT TO CENTRAL SQUARE PERMITTING SOFTWARE CONTRACT TERMS
The City Council approved the amendment to transition the Central Square permitting software contract from a generic professional services agreement to a software-specific agreement and authorized the City Manager or his designee to sign the amended agreement.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
A. ORDINANCE NO. 716 AMENDING CHAPTER 153 OF THE SAN GABRIEL
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO HEDGE HEIGHTS IN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONES (ZTA24-004) - INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
Mayor Wu opened the public hearing.
Assistant Community Development Director Samantha Tewasart made the staff presentation.
Clarifying discussion included setbacks for ornamental and perimeter walls, the proposed ordinance would remove height limits for hedges only, and use of correction notices.
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Doug Richter, resident, proposed that the height limit for wall be changed to 8-10 feet, for privacy purposes.
Mayor Wu closed the public hearing.
Discussion included maintenance guidelines for enforcement purposes; adding landscaping on top of a wall or fence; the ordinance would only apply to residential properties; differing requirements for corner properties; safety exceptions due to sight lines and use; public outreach before making a decision; wildfire considerations; and the status of current code enforcement hedge-height cases.
There was a consensus of the City Council to direct staff to gather additional information based on Council's discussion, and to continue the City Council discussion on heights of hedges, fences and walls in a future meeting.
B. ORDINANCE NO. 717 AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 153 OF THE SAN GABRIEL MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO DEFINITIONS (ZTA24-005)
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
Mayor Wu opened the public hearing.
Associate Planner Marlon Cervantes and Senior Planner Christine Song, made the staff presentation.
There was no public comment; therefore, Mayor Wu closed the public hearing.
Discussion included kudos to staff for their work on this item.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to:
1. Waive full reading and introduce Ordinance No. 717 by title only: "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Gabriel, California, Amending Title .... Chapter 153 (Zoning Code) of the San Gabriel Municipal Code Relating to Definitions."
2. Waive future reading of the Ordinance and schedule the second reading and adoption of the Ordinance for the next regular City Council meeting.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
NONE
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. SIDEWALK VENDING AND POTENTIAL REGULATIONS DISCUSSION Assistant Community Development Director Samantha Tewasart made the presentation.
Clarifying discussion included having expanded Code content for mobile food trucks; staff's suggested regulations are based on research of local cities' CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Page 5 of 7 January 21, 2025 I
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regulations; health and safety requirements; permit costs; enforcement and penalties; revenue for the City; and permits would be issued for one-year periods.
There was no public comment.
Discussion included the City's mandate to comply with state regulations; definitions of roaming and stationary vendors, and food and hot food; multilingual communication with vendors and residents; permit and enforcement administration; permit fees and methodology; hours of operation; penalties; collecting sales tax; insurance requirements; the County issues and polices health permits; pedestrian and driver safety concerns; and educating the public on when to call the Health Department.
There was a consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare an ordinance based on Council discussion for future consideration.
RECESS AND RECONVENE
The meeting was recessed at 9:06 P.M. and reconvened at 9:16 P.M. with all Council Members present.
B. RESOLUTION NO. 25-05 RATIFYING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE DIRECTOR
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES CONCERNING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR THE JANUARY 2025 WIND AND FIRE EVENT
Fire Chief Wallace made the presentation.
There was no public comment.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Chan, to adopt Resolution No. 25-05 ratifying the proclamation of the Director of Emergency Services concerning the existence of a local emergency.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CHAN, DING, HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU
NONE
NONE
NONE
8. PUBLIC COMMENT - None.
9. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Lazzaretto thanked Police, Fire and Public Works Departments for their work during the Wind and Fire event; and recognized outgoing Community Development Director Aldo Cervantes for his service to the City.
Community Development Director Cervantes thanked City Manager Lazzaretto, the Executive Team and the City Council for their support during his time at San Gabriel.
Mayor Wu, Vice Mayor Menchaca, and Council Members Chan, Ding and Herrera Avila commended Community Development Director Cervantes for his service to the San Gabriel community.
10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
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Council Member Chan reported on his attendance at a Chinese American Citizens Alliance meeting and Monterey Park's Lunar New Year Festival, and announced San Gabriel's Lantern Festival to be held on Feb 1-2, 2025.
Council Member Herrera Avila reported on a visit to the San Gabriel Fire Department and Emergency Operations Center, and thanked the first responders for their service.
Vice Mayor Menchaca provided information on ways to help fire victims and commended first responders and volunteers for the work they are doing.
Council Member Ding thanked the Fire and Police Departments for their service in the Wind and Fire event; inquired about ways the City can assist small businesses; reported that the San Gabriel Hope Lions Club provided senior meals and donated to local victims of the Wind and Fire event; reported on his attendance at a San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments meeting, a community Health and Wellness event, and a memorial event for a Professor Yu Fa Ming; and invited all to the City's Lunar Lantern Festival to be held on February 1-2, 2025.
Mayor Wu commented on his attempts to secure a Disney Adventure Booth for the Lunar Lantern Festival; reported on his experience in the San Gabriel Emergency Operations Center during the recent emergency and commended the Police, Fire and Public Works Departments for their response to the emergency; and announced that the City's newest sister city, Hualien County, Taiwan, R.O.C., is sending a gift of large lanterns.
11. CLOSED SESSION - None.
12. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:53 P.M. with condolences to the communities of Altadena, Pasadena, Pacific Palisades and everyone affected by the unprecedented fires, and those who have lost family members, pets, and their homes.
Respectfully submitted:
Approved this 4th day of February, 2025:
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