CITY OF SIERRA MADRE
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - 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 be made by e-mail to [email protected] by 3:00 PM 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
The purpose of a City Council meeting is to conduct City business. Members of the public that behave in a manner that interrupts or obstructs the Council's ability to conduct City business may be asked to The meeting will be streamed live on the City's website at www.citvofsierramadre.com, on Foothills Media website at http://www.foothillsmedia.org/sierramadre and broadcast on Government Access Channel 3 (Spectrum)
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Goss called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. City Clerk Aguilar called the roll.
Present: Mayor Edward Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Kriebs, and Council Members Gene Goss, Kristine Lowe, and Robert Parkhurst
Absent: None.
Also Present: Jose Reynoso, City Manager
Miguel Hernandez, Assistant City Manager
Aleks Giragosian, City Attorney
Laura Aguilar, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Henry Amos, Acting Police Chief
Hillary Guirola-Leon, Finance Director
Chris Cimino, Public Works Director
Arnulfo Yanez, Deputy Public Works Director
Regular era Mine i one
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INSPIRATION
Council Member Kristine Lowe led the Pledge of Allegiance. Spoke on standing in solidarity with Monterey Park. Mentioned how multiple cities came together to work for Monterey Park staff so the staff could have debriefings of the shooting incident and receive the psychological help they needed
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Vote of the City Council to proceed with City business.
Council Member Parkhurst made a motion to approve the agenda.
The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs.
Mayor Garcia called for a vote of the Council:
Ayes: Mayor Edward Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Kriebs, and Council Members Gene Goss, Kristine Lowe, and Robert Parkhurst
Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
The motion to approve the agenda as presented was approved by a unanimous voice vote.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Reporting of Council Members' activities related to City business.
Council Member Lowe: no report
Robert Parkhurst: no report
Council Member Goss: no report
Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs: no report
Mayor Garcia: no report
PUBLIC COMMENT
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
This is a special meeting of the City Council. The City Council will only accept public comments for items on the agenda.
COMMENTS
1. 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.
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 2-07-2023
ACTION ITEMS
PRESENTATION
UPDATE ON LIBRARY RENOVATIONS FROM DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ARNULFO YANEZ
DISCUSSION
1. CONSIDERATION OF:
RESOLUTION 23-15: A RESOLUTION CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 9, 2023, FOR REPEAL OF CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE 1461, AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISION OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES;
RESOLUTION 23-16: A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO RENDER SPECIFIED SERVICES TO THE CITY OF
SIERRA MADRE RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 9, 2023;
RESOLUTION 23-17: A RESOLUTION SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING WRITTEN
ARGUMENTS REGARDING A MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS; AND
RESOLUTION 23-18: A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF REBUTTAL
ARGUMENTS FOR BALLOT MEASURES SUBMITTED AT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolutions 23-15; 23-16; 23-17; and 23-18 calling for a Special Election on May 9, 2023, and provide direction regarding a Special Election.
Mayor Garcia brought the matter to the City Council for questions.
Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs requested information regarding the effects of the density bonus law with very low income housing and if there are other effects. One of the effects being that the density bonus law allows the developer to make certain requests for variances of allowances. City Attorney Giragosian responded that the density bonus law is a state law and it applies throughout the state. It is a law commonly used by developers across the state and they have low income and very low income housing developed. When the density bonus law is triggered it provides four different types of benefits. First, it provides additional density. Second, it requires the city to provide a certain number of incentives or concessions, depending on their level of affordability. Third, if the developer qualifies they can get certain waivers from our development standards. Fourth, it provides preferential parking standards. The developers would qualify for all four of those benefits if the density bonus law is triggered, which it is under the SB330 application.
Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs asked if the maximum amount of homes the developer could build, with the inclusion of three very low income homes, would be the 50 proposed. City Attorney Giragosian responded that the developer could build up to 60 homes.
Council Member Parkhurst asked if there are other laws besides the SB330 and the density bonus law that apply to application that the developers put in. Requested information on what laws and what the impact would be if there are any other laws. City Attorney Giragosian responded that the others laws were provided in his legal analysis which was handed out and posted on the City's website. There are four primary laws which are; SB330, the housing accountability act, density bonus law, and permit stream lining act. Council Member Parkhurst asked that even if SB330 were not an issue would the three laws apply. City Attorney Giragosian responded that the four laws operate independently of each other.
Mayor Garcia opened public comment.
Martha Walsworth: asked the proponents to pull the referendum so the city does not spend $300,000- $400,000 that could be used somewhere else.
Gary Hood: read a letter on behalf of Lynn Coleman
Susan Neuhausen: asked Council to allow more time for negotiations. Asked Council not to set an election date.
Sierra Madre City Counci
Regular Meeting Minutes 2-07-2023
Philip Yao: stated the developers submitting a high density proposal shows how dishonest they are.
Howard Hays: spoke on Municipal Code 17.340.020 and the formula for determining low income.
Bob Spears: spoke on supporting the process and the rights of people to develop their private property, city staff, planning commission, previous City Council, and voters.
Robert Gjerde: spoke in support of an election as soon as possible.
Alex Arrieta: asked Council to delay the special election and allow more time for negotiations.
Stephen Tuttle: spoke on moving forward with Ordinance 1461 so the city can keep the concessions that were made.
Stephen Heydorff: spoke in support of property owners and supports their right to do what they want with their property.
Deb Sheridan: asked Council to postpone the election.
Seeing no one else come forward, Mayor Garcia closed public comment.
City Clerk Aguilar advised that 47 e-mails had been received for this item.
The Mayor brought the matter back to the Council for comments.
Mayor Garcia asked for a motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs made a motion to approve Resolutions 23-15, 23-16, 23-17, and 23-18.
Council Member Goss seconded the motion.
Mayor Garcia called for a vote of the Council.
Ayes: Mayor Edward Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Kriebs, and Council Members Gene Goss, Kristine Lowe, and Robert Parkhurst
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
The motion to approve Resolutions 23-15, 23-16, 23-17, and 23-18 was passed by a unanimous voice vote.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Garcia asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council Member Goss made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. to a Regular meeting to be held on February 14, 2023.
Edward Garcia, Mayor
Minutes taken and prepared by
Amber Tardif, Administrative Analyst
Reviewed by:
demaAquilar .
Laura Aguilar, City Clerk
Sierra Madre City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes 2-07-2023