CITY OF SIERRA MADRE
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL
PRA
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - 5:30 pm
Sierra Madre City Hall, City Council Chambers
232 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
THIS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MOST
CURRENT LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER'S ORDER The Brown Act provides the public with an opportunity to make public comments at any public meeting; or public comment may also be made by e-mail to [email protected] by 3:00PM on the day of the meeting. Emails will be acknowledged at the Council meeting, filed into public record and scanned onto the City website for public review.
The meeting will be streamed live on the City's website at www.cityofsierramadre.com, on Foothills Media website at http://www.foothillsmedia.org/sierramadre and broadcast on Government Access Channel 3 (Spectrum)
CODE OF CONDUCT
orderly course of the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Goss called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. City Clerk Aguilar called the roll.
Present: Mayor Gene Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Edward Garcia, and Council Member Rachelle Arizmendi, Council Member Kelly Kriebs, and Council Member Robert Parkhurst
Absent: None.
Also Present: Jose Reynoso, City Manager
Miguel Hernandez, Assistant City Manager
Aleks Giragosian, City Attorney
Laura Aguilar, City Clerk/Administrative Services Manager Hillary Guirola-Leon, Finance Director
Rodrick Armalin, Police Chief
Brent Bartlett, Fire Chief
Chris Cimino, Public Works Director
Stephen McGee, Interim Utility Services Director
Arnulfo Yanez, Deputy Director of Public Works
Vincent Gonzalez, Director of Planning and Community Preservation Lori Garza, Interim City Librarian
Rebecca Silva-Baron, Community Services Manager
Oscar Millan, IT Manager
Christian Delgado, Senior Network Administrator
James Carlson, Management Analyst
Sophia Kownatzki, Management Analyst
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 03-08-2022
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INSPIRATION
Council Member Parkhurst led the Pledge of Allegiance and spoke on Ukraine and implored the residents of Sierra Madre to help in any way possible. He announced today is Women's Day and acknowledged women on the Sierra Madre's Council and staff.
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Mayor Goss asked for changes to the agenda or a motion to approve as presented.
Council Member Kelly Kriebs made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.
Council Member Arizmendi seconded the motion.
Mayor Goss called for a roll call vote of the Council to approve the agenda.
Ayes: Mayor Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Council Members Arizmendi, Kriebs, and Parkhurst Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
The motion to approve the agenda as presented was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
APPROVAL FOR READING RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES
Vote of the City Council to read all Ordinances and Resolutions by title only and waive the reading in full.
Mayor Goss asked for a motion.
A motion to approve the reading of resolutions and ordinances was made by Council Member Parkhurst.
The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Garcia.
Mayor Goss called for a roll call vote of the Council:
Ayes: Mayor Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Council Members Arizmendi, Kriebs, and Parkhurst Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
The motion to approve the reading of all Ordinances and Resolutions by title only, and waive the reading in full, was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
COUNCIL REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS
Report of any action taken in Closed Session from March 8, 2022 meeting.
City Attorney Giragosian reported that the City Council met in Closed Session on March 8, 2022 and unanimously authorized the City Manager Reynoso to negotiate price and terms of payment for the property located at 350 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Council Member Kriebs: thanked the public for attending the Joint Meeting last week and thanked staff for their hard work. She reported progress is being made, by staff, on the zoning maps and regulatory updates for the housing project.
Council Member Kriebs an announced the kiosk at Kersting Court has an electronic sign board up for display.
Council Member Parkhurst: attended two meetings of the Clean Power Alliance and two meetings for the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Commission; no report from those meetings. Attended the dedication of the rotary clock in the Downtown area. Also attended the RT Rogers Fourth Anniversary event.
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 03-08-2022
Council Member Arizmendi: attended the Community Services Commission meeting and discussed their upcoming activities and accomplishments over the past year.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia: thanked the Rotary Club, Community Services Department, and the Community Services Commission for the refresh of Kersting Court. Also attended the girls' softball opening day and parade.
Mayor Goss: stated he is the liaison to the Chamber of Commerce. They discussed the Wisteria Festival and two car shows that will be at the event.
Attended the Little League opening day and introduced the Little League Grand Marshal Lisa Carlson.
Also attended the ribbon cutting event for new business in the City, Joli Bridal.
Mayor Goss attended the Library Board of Trustees meeting; no report from that meeting
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Council will listen to the public on any item on the agenda. In addition, the Council will devote time for public comment on items not on the agenda. Addressing the City Council from the audience is not permitted; all comments addressing the Council must be made from the podium. Only public comment made from the podium will be recognized by the City Council and entered into public record
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Persons wishing to speak on any item on the agenda will be called during the comment period at the time the agenda item is brought forward. Persons wishing to speak on closed session items have a choice of doing so either immediately prior to the closed session or at the time for comments on items at the open session.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
staff or to a subsequent meeting.
COMMENTS
1. Any person wishing to provide public comment on matters not on the agenda, or during the comment period for items on the agenda is asked to complete a comment card. Please include your name and address. Each speaker will be limited to up to three continuous minutes, which may not be delegated or deferred.
2. The City provides a podium for public comment. Comments addressed to the Council shall occur during the appropriate time on the agenda and should not be construed as an opportunity for dialogue.
Each speaker will be limited to three continuous minutes, which may not be delegated or deferred.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Goss opened the meeting for Public Comment on items not on the agenda.
Public comment from the podium in Council Chambers:
Deb Sheridan, Valley Vista Drive: requested a Town Hall meeting on the Meadows Proposal to discuss issues she wants addressed pertaining to the environmental impact report.
Cynthia Suenka: spoke on Paramount Production and her concern due to the name on the signature sheet listed under her address belonging to someone else. She is concerned regarding the inaccurate names, addresses, and signatures on the Paramount Production memo of filming documents. She is requesting a response on her public records request number PR2022-9.
Leesa Puleo, W. Highland: spoke on Paramount Production and the signatures on the memo forms being fabricated by the film agency.
Pat Alcorn: requested a Town Hall meeting with a questions and answers format to have a dialogue with City Council. She also spoke on the Passionate Father filing to change their zoning for the housing project and believes they should have that right.
Kristin Stevens, W. Grandview: spoke on filming permits at the Alverno Heights Academy and the disruption the filming is causing to the local residents. She also stated she is waiting for a response to a Brown Act document request.
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 03-08-2022
Hearing no one else, Mayor Goss asked City Clerk Aguilar if any e-mails had been submitted for public comment. City Clerk Aguilar advised that no e-mails were received for items not on the agenda.
City Manager Reynoso responded that an ongoing investigation is being handled by the Sierra Madre Police Department regarding the filming at Alverno. He also stated there was a discussion with the City Attorney to discuss options moving forward for the future.
PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION BY FIRE CHIEF BRENT BARTLETT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RESERVE FIRE FIGHTER PROGRAM
Presentation made by Chief Brent Bartlett and Captain David Gacad
CEREMONIAL BADGE PINNING FOR FIRE CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER BERTRAND AND FIRE
ENGINEER RYAN TORNCELLO
Presentation made by Chief Brent Bartlett
PRESENTATION BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION ON COMMUNITY EVENTS Presentation made by Community Services Commission Chair Karen Rownski and Commissioner Tom Sullivan
Mayor Goss asked City Clerk Aguilar to report on the Consent Calendar.
AGENDA ACTION ITEMS:
CONSENT
City Clerk Aguilar gave the following reports:
CONSENT
a) CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 22-13 APPROVING CERTAIN DEMANDS It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution 22-13 approving payment of City Warrants in the aggregate amount of $195,265.59; Sierra Madre Library Warrants in the aggregate amount of $3,943.20; and Payroll Transfer in the aggregate amount of $411,697.14; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
b) CONSIDERATION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CLEAN POWER
ALLIANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POWER READY PROGRAM
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Clean Power Alliance (CA) to participate in the Power Ready Program.
Mayor Goss asked the Council if they had any questions.
Item a - no questions from the Council.
For Consent item "b", Council Member Kriebs requested clarification on how the power would be allocated from the solar panels. Management Analyst Carson responded that as long as the solar panels are producing energy, it will be used to the facilities. There will also be a charging a storage battery for redundancy and ultimately power their emergency operation center and dispatch if power is down. The batteries will not go below 25 percent to retain that resiliency in an emergency and the 75 percent can go back to the grid to offset the cost of the project. He stated, at no time will Sierra Madre pay any costs for the installation and the bill will not go up. The arrangement will be documented in the power purchasing agreement.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia asked where the solar systems will be housed. Management Analyst Carlson stated there will be solar panels on City Hall and the Public Safety building and the battery location may be stored between City Hall and the tennis courts.
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Regular Meeting Minutes 03-08-2022
Mayor Goss opened the matter for public comment.
Seeing no one come forward to the podium, Mayor Goss closed public comment and brought the matter back to Council for discussion and/or a vote.
Mayor Goss asked for a motion.
Council Member Parkhurst made a motion to approve Consent Items A and B Council Member Arizmendi seconded the motion.
Mayor Goss called for a roll call vote of the Council.
Ayes: Mayor Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Council Members Arizmendi, Kriebs, and Parkhurst Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
The motion to approve Consent Items A-B was passed by a unanimous vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FO THE CITY OF SIERRA MADRE ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND
APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNTS PROJECTED
It is recommended that the City Council approve the budget adjustments to the Fiscal Year 21-22 budget.
Presentation made by Finance Director Guirola-Leon.
Mayor Goss opened the matter for public comment.
Seeing no one come forward to the podium, Mayor Goss closed public comment and brought the matter back to Council for discussion and/or a vote.
Mayor Goss asked for a motion.
Council Member Kriebs made a motion to approve the budget adjustments for the fiscal year 2021-2022.
Council Member Arizmendi seconded the motion.
Mayor Goss called for a roll call vote of the Council.
Ayes: Mayor Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Council Members Arizmendi, Kriebs, and Parkhurst Noes:
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
The motion to approve the budget adjustments for the fiscal year 2021-2022.
DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SIERRA MADRE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN
It is recommended that the City Council provide Staff with direction on further steps concerning bears in the City.
Chief Armalin presented on this item.
Mayor Goss brought the matter to the City Council for questions.
Mayor Goss opened public comment.
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Shirley Moore: spoke on the City being an Urban Wildlife Community and asked Council to let the bears roam freely.
Catherine Adde: wanted to commend the Council for having a Wildlife Management Plan. She also asked Council to consider removing the use of pyrotechnics from the hazing section of the Wildlife Management Plan.
Hearing no other public comments, Mayor Goss closed public comment and brought the matter back to the City Council for discussion or a motion.
Council provided direction for Staff to bring back the Ordinance relating to the Wildlife Plan with outdoor prohibitions and signage with enforcements. Council also requested an overview of costs for signage and communication of the new Ordinance.
2. CONSIDERATION OF LETTER TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER HOLDEN
CONCERNING THE SIERRA MADRE PUBLIC LIBRARY
It is recommended that the City Council direct staff to draft a letter to Assembly Member Holden detailing the requested Library option and funding amount and authorize the Mayor to sign the letter on behalf of the City.
Management Analyst Sophia Kownatzki gave the report.
Mayor Goss brought the matter to the City Council for discussion.
Mayor Goss opened the public comment period.
Leigh Gluck: asked Council to consider a meaningful improvement for the Library when requesting a funding amount.
Rich Proctor: spoke to Council regarding a letter he drafted to Assembly Member Holden. He read the letter to the Council and distributed a copy for review.
Gary Hood: advised he wrote a report with multiple grants available to assist in the renovation of the Library.
Ann Palmer: asked Council to consider asking for enough funds for the meaning improvement category.
Susan Gallagher: thanked Council for discussing the Library and drafting a letter to request funding to improve the Library.
Margaret Quigley: thanked Staff for their hard work and all the improvements they have made to continue to provide programs from the Library.
Catherine Adde: asked Council to ask for the highest funding amount for improvements to the Library or a new Library building
Seeing no one come forward to the podium, Mayor Goss closed the public comment period and brought the matter back to the City Council for discussion.
Council Member Arizmendi made a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter on behalf of the City requesting 10 million dollars for meaningful improvement for the Library for allocation from the California State Library and a second letter to request 10 million dollars to support the Public Safety infrastructure.
Council Member Parkhurst seconded the motion.
Mayor Goss called for a roll call vote of the Council.
Ayes: Mayor Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Council Members Arizmendi, Kriebs, and Parkhurst Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
The motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter on behalf of the City requesting 10 million dollars for meaningful improvement for the Library for allocation from the California State Library and a second letter to request 10 million dollars to support the Public Safety infrastructure was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 03-08-2022
FUTURE ITEMS:
Mayor Goss asked if the Council had any items for future agendas.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia asked for consideration feasibility to potentially move money from one capital improvement to potentially purchasing a backup generator for the safety of the residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia would like to agendize discussion for the Council's thoughts on how to vote on items that effect the City, while he is in his capacity as a SCAG liaison.
ADJOURNMENT:
Council Member Arizmendi made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
The motion to adjourn was seconded by Council Member Kriebs.
Mayor Goss called for a roll call vote of the Council.
Ayes: Mayor Goss, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, and Council Members Arizmendi, Kriebs, and Parkhurst Noes:
The motion to adjourn was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
THIS SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING WAS ADJOURNED at 8:12 p.m. to a Regular Meeting to be held on March 22, 2022.
(
Gene Goss, Mayor
Minutes taken and prepared by
Amber Tardif, Deputy Citt
Reviewed by:
Quatular.
Laura Aguilar, City Clerk
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 03-08-2022