City Council Special Meeting Agenda – April 15, 2025 1
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CITY OF SAN GABRIEL
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 6:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, California 91776
Mark Lazzaretto
City Manager
Keith Lemieux
City Attorney
Julie Nguyen
City Clerk
Kevin B. Sawkins
City Treasurer
Denise Menchaca
Mayor
Eric Chan
Vice Mayor
Tony Ding
Council Member
Jorge Herrera Avila
Council Member
John Wu
Council Member
City Council Special Meeting Agenda – April 15, 2025 2
City Council Special Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
• CALL TO ORDER
• PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY: Council Member Ding
• ROLL CALL: Mayor Menchaca, Vice Mayor Chan, Council Members Ding, Herrera Avila, Wu
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER
2. PRESENTATIONS
A. RECOGNITION OF INCOMING MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND OUTGOING MAYOR
B. CITY’S BIRTHDAY
C. OUTSTANDING OLDER AMERICAN RIAZ (RICK) KHAN
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
All items listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and recommendations will be approved in one motion unless a member of the City Council requests separate discussion.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes are a record of the official actions taken at the City Council meeting.
1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of March 18, 2025.
2. Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of April 1, 2025.
3. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of April 1, 2025.
4. Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of April 8, 2025.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Recommended Action: Approval
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
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The most recent Material Demands from the Finance Department are presented to the City Council for review and approval.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Material Demands as presented.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT – MARCH 2025
In accordance with the City of San Gabriel’s 2024-2025 Adopted Investment Policy (Resolution No. 24-35) and California Government Code Section 53646, the Finance Director is to render an investment report to the City Council, City Treasurer, City Manager, and the City Attorney. The Cash and Investment Report is presented to receive and file in accordance with the City’s adopted 2024-2025 Investment Policy.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the Cash and Investment Report for March 2025.
D. APPOINTMENTS TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES [RESOLUTION NO. 25-15]
The Mayor is responsible for appointing members of the City Council to serve on various local and regional committees, as well as liaisons for City initiatives.
In addition, it is necessary for the Council to take formal action to designate the new Mayor to serve as the Delegate to the Los Angeles County Sanitation District Board and Los Angeles County City Selection Committee. There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Recommended Action:
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-15 confirming the Mayor’s appointments of Council Members to serve as delegates, alternates and liaisons to various agencies and committees.
E. THEATRE FEE REDUCTION REQUEST BY SAN GABRIEL MISSION HIGH SCHOOL
San Gabriel Mission High School has requested a waiver of theatre rental fees for their upcoming graduation ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025. The request is for a $5,851.30 fee reduction, to reduce their total rental cost to $5,000. The City has budgeted $10,000 in its annual Rental Subsidy account, account number 152-3532, from which this waiver would be charged.
Approval of fee waivers decreases the Revenue that is received by the Mission Playhouse. Should the City Council approve staff’s recommendation of waiving $2,475, which covers the costs associated with the theatre and ancillary space rental, Mission Playhouse revenue for account number 152-3532 will be reduced accordingly.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve staff’s recommendation to grant a partial waiver of the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse rental fee in the amount of $2,475 for the San Gabriel Mission High School’s graduation ceremony on May 29, 2025.
F. APPROVAL OF A TRIP TO TAIWAN FOR MAYOR MENCHACA AND
COUNCILMEMBER WU TO TRAVEL TO NEW TAIPEI CITY TO VISIT THE 2025
WORLD MASTERS GAMES AT NO COST TO THE CITY
Several weeks ago, Mayor Hou Yu-ih of New Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.) invited then-Mayor Wu and Vice Mayor Menchaca to travel to Taiwan to visit the 2025 World Masters Games. The trip will be paid for directly by New Taipei City and will not have a financial impact on the City of San Gabriel. Government Code Section 18950.1 allows for travel costs to be paid for by a foreign government entity provided that the City makes a finding that the travel is for governmental purposes and designates the agency members who will be travelling.
Government Code Section 89506 exempts those payments from the gift limitations applicable to public officials. New Taipei City will be covering airfare, City Council Special Meeting Agenda – April 15, 2025 5
travel, hotel, and food costs. Any incidental expenses will be paid directly by the Councilmembers from their personal funds.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council find that the proposed trip to Taiwan for the 2025 World Masters Games is for governmental purposes and authorize Mayor Menchaca and Councilmember Wu to travel on behalf of the City.
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
The proposed zone text amendment would remove height limitations for hedges in residential zones. Hedges in residential zones would continue to be regulated by existing maintenance and safety standards. Should a hedge in a residential zone cause a hazard to the public by obscuring visibility at any public right-of-way, road intersection or pedestrian, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to trim, relocate, or remove the hedge so as to remedy such a condition. Additionally, if any hedge in the parkway planting areas planted immediately adjacent to a respective real property is determined by the City to be hazardous, then it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to trim, relocate, or remove the hedge so as to remedy such a condition. The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Adopted Budget includes the cost for required legal publication (Account No. 121-702-00-65-000) and codification (Account No. 121-702-00- 22-000) of the ordinance, if adopted by the City Council.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: The proposed amendments were reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This project is exempted from the requirements of CEQA, per Guidelines Section 15303, Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). Accessory structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
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1. Conduct the public hearing and discuss proposed Ordinance No. 716;
2. Waive full reading and introduce Ordinance No. 716 by title only:
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 HEDGE
HEIGHTS IN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
3. 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.
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS – None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. AGREEMENT WITH GRIZZLY ENTERTAINMENT FOR AN ENHANCED DRONE SHOW FOR THE 2025 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $71,000 [RESOLUTION NO. 25-17]
On December 19, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Grizzly Entertainment for the City’s first drone show. The Independence Day event was held on July 3, 2024, at Gabrielino High School. To further build on that event, staff proposes to work once again with Grizzly Entertainment to provide an enhanced show that has a longer run time. The total cost for the agreement with Grizzly Entertainment for the quoted July 3 enhanced drone show is $71,000. For the 2024 event, the cost for the drone show was $45,000. Staff anticipates that other event costs will be close to the costs last year and the majority of costs will be included in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget. The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget for this Independence Day event is $50,250. With this, staff recommends that the City Council appropriate funding from the City’s General Fund to cover the cost for the enhanced drone show in the amount of $26,000 to Non-Departmental Special Events account number 121-714-00-27- 047. Any sponsorship costs brought in will help to offset these additional costs.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Not a Project as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines, as it has no potential to result in any change to the environment.
Recommended Action:
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Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve a show with Grizzly Entertainment on Thursday, July 3, 2025, to include lights, lasers, up to 500 drones, at a cost of $71,000 at Gabrielino High School.
2. Authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement with Grizzly Entertainment.
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and any other necessary documents with San Gabriel Unified School District pending review and approval by the City Attorney.
4. Designate two City Councilmembers to serve on the Council Committee for the Independence Day Celebration.
5. Adopt Resolution No. 25-17 appropriating $26,000 from the City’s General Fund into account #121-714-00-27-047 for the Independence Day event.
8. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
9. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Each Council Member may address the City Council and public on matters of general information and/or concern. This is also the time for Council Members to report on conferences and/or meetings they have attended.
10. CLOSED SESSION
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.
11. ADJOURNMENT
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The next regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 6:30 P.M. Information regarding matters to be considered at each meeting will be available on the Friday before the City Council Meeting on the City’s website at www.sangabrielcity.com.
Materials Available for Inspection. You may view agenda items online at www.sangabrielcity.com/agendacenter, or in person at City Hall, 425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776. Materials related to an item on this Agenda, submitted to the City Council after distribution of the Agenda packet, will be posted on the City website.
Persons with Disabilities
Upon request, this Agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Persons requesting a Translator
Any person requesting translation for the meeting must notify the City Clerk Department at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the meeting.
English
Translation Services. Upon request, the agenda and any public hearing notice for a project may be translated in either Chinese, Spanish, or Vietnamese. Please direct such a request for translation to the City Clerk Department by emailing [email protected] at least 48 hours before the meeting.
Chinese (Traditional)
翻譯服務。根據要求，項目的議程和任何公開聽證會通知可以翻譯成中文、西班牙文或越
南文。請至少在會議開始前 48 小時發送電子郵件至 [email protected] 將此類翻譯請求
發送至市文員部。
Chinese (Simplified)
翻译服务。根据要求，项目的议程和任何公开听证会通知可以翻译成中文、西班牙文或越
南文。请至少在会议开始前 48 小时发送电子邮件至 [email protected] 将此类翻译请求
发送至市文员部。
Vietnamese
Dịch vụ Dịch thuật. Theo yêu cầu, chương trình nghị sự và bất kỳ thông báo điều trần công khai nào cho một dự án có thể được dịch sang tiếng Trung, tiếng Tây Ban Nha hoặc tiếng Việt. Vui lòng gửi yêu cầu dịch thuật như vậy tới Phòng Thư ký Thành phố bằng cách gửi email tới [email protected] ít nhất 48 giờ trước cuộc họp.
City Council Special Meeting Agenda – April 15, 2025 9
Spanish
Servicios de traducción. Previa solicitud, la agenda y cualquier aviso de audiencia pública para un proyecto pueden traducirse al chino, español o vietnamita. Dirija dicha solicitud de traducción al Departamento del Secretario Municipal enviando un correo electrónico a [email protected] al menos 48 horas antes de la reunión.
Questions about this Agenda? Should any person have a question concerning any of the above Agenda items prior to the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at [email protected] during regular office hours.
Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such a request to the City Clerk Department by emailing [email protected] at least 48 hours before the meeting, if possible.