1 MINUTES
SPECIAL
EMERGENCY MEETING
SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL
Robert Parkhurst, Mayor
Kristine Lowe, Mayor Pro Tem
EdwardGarcia, Council Member
Gene Goss, Council Member
Kelly Kriebs, Council Member
Sue Spears, City Treasurer
Thursday, January 9, 2025
11:40 am
City of Sierra Madre
City Council Chambers
232 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, California 91024
The Brown Act provides the public with an opportunity to make public comments at any public meeting; As an alternative to attending the meeting in person, 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.SierraMadreCA.gov, 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 leave the meeting. Any and all demonstrations that disrupt, interrupt, or obstruct the Council’s ability to conduct City business are prohibited. No signs, posters or other large objects shall be brought into the Council Chambers or other meeting place if doing so would disrupt, disturb or otherwise impede the orderly course of the meeting.
2 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Parkhurst, Mayor Pro Tem Lowe, Council Member Garcia, Council Member Goss, Council Member Kriebs
Mayor Parkhurst called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. City Clerk Aguilar called the roll.
Present: Mayor Robert Parkhurst, Mayor Pro Tem Kristine Lowe, and Council Members Edward Garcia, Gene Goss, and Kelly Kriebs.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Jose Reynoso, City Manager
Miguel Hernandez, Assistant City Manager
Aleks Giragosian, City Attorney
Laura Aguilar, Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
James Carlson, Senior Management Analyst
Brent, Bartlett, Fire Chief
Gustavo Barrientos, Chief of Police
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INSPIRATION
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Parkhurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Vote of the City Council to proceed with City business.
Council Member Garcia made a motion to approve the agenda.
Council Member Kriebs seconded the motion.
Mayor Parkhurst called for a vote of the Council:
Ayes: Mayor Parkhurst, Mayor Pro Tem Lowe, and Council Members Garcia, Goss, and Kriebs Noes: None.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
The motion to move to approve the agenda as presented was approved by a unanimous voice vote.
ACTION ITEMS
Regardless of staff recommendation on any agenda item, the City Council will consider such matters, including action to approve, conditionally approve, reject, or continue such item.
DISCUSSION
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 25-07 PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY CAUSED BY THE EATON FIRE
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 25-07.
The report was presented by City Manager Reynoso, Police Chief Barrientos, Senior Management Analyst Carlson, and Fire Chief Bartlett
3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CODE OF CONDUCT
Your participation is welcomed and invited at all City Council meetings. The Council requests that participants refrain from making personal, slanderous, profane, or disruptive remarks. A person who continues to disrupt the orderly conduct of the meeting after being warned by the Mayor or designee to cease the disruption may be precluded from further participation in the meeting. No signs, posters, or other large objects shall be brought into the Council Chambers or other meeting places if doing so would disrupt, disturb, or otherwise impede the orderly course of the 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 comments made from the podium will be recognized by the City Council and entered into public record.
Providing Public Comment for Items on the Meeting Agenda Persons wishing to speak on any item on the agenda will be called during the designated comment period. 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.
Provide Public Comment for Topics not on the Meeting Agenda Time shall be devoted to provide public comments for items not on the agenda. Under the Brown Act, Council is prohibited from taking action on items not on the agenda, but the matter may be referred to staff or to a subsequent meeting.
Providing Public Comment
1. Any person wishing to provide public comment is asked to complete a comment card. Each speaker will be limited to up to three continuous minutes, which may not be delegated or deferred.
2. Comments addressed to the Council shall occur from the podium during the appropriate time on the agenda and should not be construed as an opportunity for dialogue
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Parkhurst opened the meeting for public comment.
Glen Lambdin, 444 Sturtevant Drive: Expressed gratitude to first responders, including Sierra Madre Fire and Police personnel.
Teri Buchanan, 65 W. Grandview: Raised several questions, including whether the City of Sierra Madre has the authority to lift evacuation orders without Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval. She also inquired if decisions are being made with the Palisades Fire in mind, whether Southern California Edison (SCE) is coordinating with fire response efforts, and when evacuation orders, particularly for areas north of Grandview Avenue, will be lifted.
Leila Regan, City Librarian: Announced that the City Library is open.
Ms. Navarro: Expressed gratitude to City management and Council Members.
At this time, Mayor Parkhurst acknowledged the audience participating via Zoom and asked if anyone wanted to provide public comment from the Zoom arena:
Carey (via Zoom): inquired when mail service would resume.
Seeing no one else come forward, Mayor Parkhurst closed public comment and brought the matter back to Council for further discussion or a motion.
4 City Manager Reynoso requested that Council consider postponing the January 14, 2025 Regular Council meeting. After discussion, the Council determined that the would cancel the January 14, 2025 meeting and instead hold the meeting one week later, January 21, 2025 to give City staff an opportunity to focus their attention on the Eaton Fire operations and fire management.
Mayor Parkhurst asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Council Member Goss made a motion to adjourn the Special Emergency meeting to a Special meeting on January 21, 2025.
Council Member Garcia seconded the motion to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:24 p.m. to a Special meeting to be held on January 21, 2025. ________________________________
Robert Parkhurst, Mayor
Minutes taken and prepared by:
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Eric Lozick, Administrative Analyst
Minutes edited by
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Laura Aguilar, City Clerk
AVAILABILITY OF AGENDA MATERIALS
Materials related to items on this agenda are available for public inspection on the City’s website at www.SierraMadreCA.gov
LIVE BROADCASTS
Regular City Council meetings are broadcast live on Cable Channel 3 and rebroadcast on Wednesday and Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Additionally, meetings are streamed live on the City of Sierra Madre YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@3SMTV/streams..
MEETING ASSISTANCE
If you require special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call the City Clerk’s office at (626) 355-7135 at least 48 hours before the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council will adjourn this meeting to a Special meeting on January 21, 2025.