MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VENTURA COUNTY WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 8
Simi Valley, California
CALLED TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. (OPEN SESSION)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by John Tolson
April 10, 2023
ROLL CALL: Present: Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge and Mayor/Chair
Thomas
Remote: None
Absent: None
1. AGENDA REVIEW: City Manager Gabler noted the Youth Council Report Item 3C(1) would be pulled and moved to a future meeting.
1A. ACTION: Council Member/Director Rhodes moved that all resolutions and ordinances presented tonight be read in title only and all further reading be waived. Council Member/Director Litster seconded the motion. (CC/WWD)
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
1 B. It is the policy of the City Council that upon reaching 11 :30 p.m., the City Council will not address any new agenda items. Should the City Council continue to address agenda items past 12:00 midnight, the following motion is in order:
MOTION: Move that the City Council meeting tonight may extend beyond the midnight deadline to conclude the agenda (Section 2-1.106 SVMC). 1C. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT: None
Note: If this is a joint meeting of the City Council and Boards of Directors, the applicable entity is identified at the end of each agenda item.
CC - City Council PFA - Public Financing Authority
WWD - Wateiworks District No. 8 SA - Successor Agency · IDA - Industrial Development Authority LB - Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees PFFA - Simi Valley Public Facilities Financing Authority Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the CC, WNO, IDA, PFFA, PFA, SA, and/or LB after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley·, CA during normal business hours.
Minutes
2 April 10, 2023
1 D. CERTIFICATES/HONORARY RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS:
(1) Presentation of an honorary resolution to the 2023 City Volunteer of the· Year (CC)
Assistant Community Services Manager Raquel Wirth read the honorary resolution acknowledging Jeanie Mortensen as the 202·3 City Volunteer of the Year. (2) Presentation of an honorary resolution to the 2023 Community Volunteer of the Year (CC)
Assistant Community Services Manager Raquel Wirth read the honorary resolution acknowledging John Tolson as the 2023 Community Volunteer of.the Year. (3) Presentation of a proclamation declaring the week of April 23 through April 29, 2023 as Library Week (CC)
Assistant City Manager Linda Swan read the proclamation declaring April 23 through April 29, 2023, as Library Week and Kelly Behle accepted the proclamation. (4) Presentation of a proclamation declaring the week of April 9 through April 15, 2023 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (CC)
Communications Manager Erin Cooper read the proclamation declaring the week of April 9 through April 15, 2023 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and James Liddy accepted the proclamation.
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON APPOINTMENTS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
3. APPOINTMENTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
3A. APPOINTMENTS:
(1) Appointments to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee (Perras) (CC)
ACTION: Council Member/Director Litster moved to approve and the Mayor appoint the seven nominees, Debbie Gainey, NC#1; .Sam Cohen, NC#2; Cintia Gallo, NC#3; Gina Truncale, NC#4; Janet Plant, Council on Aging; Christopher Kricorian, Youth Council; and Elsa Dreckmann, Community at Large to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee with terms commencing upon appointment and concluding when the City Council awards the FY 2023-24 CPG funding .. Council Member/Director Cavanaugh seconded the motion.
Minutes
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
3 April 10, 2023
Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
None
None
None
(2) Selection of two City Council Members to conduct Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Advisory Committee Interviews (Fuchiwaki) (CC) ACTION: Council Member/Director Litster moved to select City Council Member Cavanaugh and Mayor/Chair Thomas to conduct interviews and nominate prospective ADA Paratransit Advisory Committee Members. Council Member/Director Rhodes seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors 'Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
None
None
None
38. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None
3C. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS. 4A.
APPOINTMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
The following submitted a speaker card and spoke:
1. Eileen Connors thanked the City Council for their actions regarding the revisions to the terms and conditions of employment for Management-designated employees and shared support for the revised Memorandum of Agreement with $EIU employees.
CITY COUNCIUBOARD MEMBER/SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
Council Member Cavanaugh thanked Eileen Connors for speaking.
Mayor Thomas stated the intent of the City Council is to show appreciation of City employees during negotiations.
Minutes
5. SA.
6. 4 April 10, 2023
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A public hearing to consider establishing requirements for backflow prevention assemblies and prohibition of cross-connections. determination that the ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and introduction of an ordinance (Fuchiwaki) (WWD)
Ordinance No. \/\JWD-18 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VENTURA COUNTY WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 8 ADDING CHAPTER 15 TO TITLE 6 - SANITATION AND HEAL TH OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY
OF SIMI VALLEY ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INSTALLATION,
MAINTENANCE, AND TESTING OF BACKFLOW PREVENTIONASSEMBUES AND
THE PROHIBITION OF CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Prior to the presentation of the item, Public Works Director Ron Fuchiwaki took time to recognize the retirement of Assistant Public Works Director Joe Deakin and to thank him for his over 19 years of dedicated service to the City of Simi Valley.
Members of the City Council thanked Joe Deakin for his dedicated service.to the City and wished him well on his retirement. ·
There being no public testimony Mayor Thomas opened and closed the public portion of the hearing at 7: 10 p.m.
ACTION: Council Member/Director Cavanaugh moved to introduce for first reading Ordinance No. \/\JWD-18 to add Chapter 15, Title 6 - Sanitation and Health of the Simi Valley Municipal Code to establish requireme·nts for the installation, maintenance, and testing of backflow prevention assemblies to prohibit cross..:connections to be consistent with the California State law requirements as outlined in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, and determine that the ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Council Member/Director Litster seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors 'Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thoma·s
None
None
None
CONTINUED PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS, APPOINTMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
Minutes
6A.
7. 5 April 10, 2023
CITY COUNCIUBOARD MEMBER/SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC STATEMENTS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
(1) Authorization to accept $1,000.000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a patio cover at the Simi Valley Senior Center, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all grant related documents, and approve a Supplemental Budget Request (Swan) (CC)
ACTION: Approved request.
(2) Award of contract for the Construction of FY 2022-23 Annual Minor Streets Rehabilitation Program (CDBG), CP60000019, Specification No. SV 23-03 (Fuchiwaki) (CC)
ACTION: Awarded contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc.
(3) Award of contract for Traffic Signal · Video Detection System Installations, CP60000018. Specification No. SV 23-14 (Fuchiwaki) (CC)' ACTION: Awarded contract to Econolite Systems, Inc.
(4) Reinstatement and first amendment to the contract between the City of Simi Valley and Trillium USA Company, LLC for the Compressed Natural Gas {CNG) Fueling Upgrade, CP960281, Specification No. SV 20-13R, Fain: CA-2020-221- 00 (Fuchiwaki) (CC) ·
ACTION: Approved first amendment with Trillium USA, Co., LLC.
ACTION: Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge moved to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 4. Council Member/Director Litster seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
None ·
None
None
8. CONTINUED BUSINESS:
Minutes
6 April 10, 2023
BA. Approval of the Memorandum of Agreement with Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 721 and adoption of a resolution (Argabrite) (CC/WWD)
Resolution No. 2023-16 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SIMI VALLEY AMENDING THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY AND THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL 721, AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2021-37, AND ALL
PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE IN CONFLICT
HEREWITH
ACTION: Council Member/Director Cavanaugh move to adopt the attached Resolution No. 2023-16 approving revisions to the current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Service Employees International Union, Local 721 (SEIU) employees. Council Member/Director Rhodes seconded the motion:
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
None
None
None
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9A. Adoption of a resolution amending the compensation and other terms and conditions of the City Attorney's Employment Agreement (Gutierres) (CC) City Attorney David Caceres recused himself from the dais at 7:_17 p.m. and Senior Assistant City Attorney Sonia Hehir joined the City Council at the dais.
Resolution No. 2023-17 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SIMI VALLEY AMENDING THE COMPENSATION AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS 0~ EMPLOYMENT FOR THE POSITION OF CITX ATTORNEY ACTION: Council Member/Director Litster moved to adopt Resolution No. 2023-17 to amend the compensation and other terms and conditions of -the City Attorney's Employment Agreement. Council Member/Director Cavanaugh seconded the motion.
Minutes
98. ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
7 April 10, 2023
Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
None
None
None
City Attorney David Caceres returned to the dais at 7:19 p.m.
Consideration of revisions to the terms and conditions to the resolution for Confidential-designated employees and a modification of one of the job classifications included (Argabrite) (CC)
ACTION: Council Member/Director Judge move to place this matter on the May 1, 2023 agenda for final determination. Council Member/Director Rhodes seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Thoma$
None
None
None
9C. Authorization for the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a Design Services Agreement not to exceed $1.4 million with Metrolink for the Sequoia Avenue Grade Crossing Improvement Project. execute a Funds Transfer Agreement with Caltrans, negotiate and enter into a Construction Agreement with Metrolink,.accept $4.5 million in State funding (Argabrite) (CC)
Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge recused himself from the dais·at 7:24 p.m. due to conflict.
ACTION: Council Member/Director Rhodes moved to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a Design Services Agreement not to exceed $1.4 million with Metrolink for the Sequoia Avenue Grade Crossing Improvement. Project, execute a Funds Transfer Agreement with Caltrans, negotiate and enter into a Construction Agreement with Metrolink, and accept $4.5 million in state funding. Council Member/Director Litster seconded the motion.
Minutes
10. 10A.
8 April 10, 2023
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Council Members/Directors Rhodes, Litster, Cavanaugh, and Mayor/Chair Thomas
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Mayor Pro TemNice-Chair Judge
Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge returned t~ the dais at 7:32 p.m.
REPORTS:
City Council/Board Member/Trustees/Special District Member Reports:
Council Member Rhodes commented he received a special training from Clean Power Alliance on their funding mechanism to lower costs. He reported he attended the Southern California Association of Governm~nts (SCAG) Community Economic and Human Development Committee meeting, the SCAG Regiona.1 meeting, a Clean Power Alliance meeting, and the grand opening of Kalaveras.
Council Member Litster reported she met with the owner .of a Simi Valley business, the Aquarium Connection. She spoke about the Simi Valley Ronald Reagan Presidential Library being selected for the location of the Bilateral Summit with U.S.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsaf Ing-wen. Council Member Litster reported she attended (remotely) the SCAG Energy and Environment Committee meeting, the Simi Valley Education Foundation Teacher of the Month Award, the Simi Valley Youth Council Talent Show, the grand opening of Kalaveras, and she recognized the Passover and Easter holidays.
Council Member Cavanaugh spoke about a variety of assistance available to Simi Valley businesses through the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). She stated Ventura County is celebrating 150 years and there will be many events throughout the year. She reported she attended the EDC Executive Board meeting, the Simi Valley Police Foundation Clays For K9's Trap Shoot fundraiser, and she recognized the Passover and Easter holidays.
Mayor Pro Tern Judge reported he attended the Rotary Club of Simi Valley noontime meeting where a donation in excess of $20,000 was presented to the Simi Valley Police Foundation. He reported he attended the SCAG Regional Council and Transportation Committee meeting, the Simi Valley Police Foundation Clays For K9's Trap Shoot fundraiser, and the Council On Aging Committee meeting. Mayor Pro Tern Judge recognized Passover, Easter and Ramadan holidays:
Minutes
10B.
9 April 10, 2023
Mayor Thomas reported he attended the Simi Valley Police Foundation Clays For K9's Trap Shoot fund raiser, and commented that he was recovering from Bronchitis during much of this time period. ·
City Council/Board Member/Special District Member Requests for Future City Council Agenda Items: None
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor/Chair Thomas adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. to the meeting of May 1 at 6:30 p.m. There being no objections, the motion carried through acclamation .
Blanco, City Clerk/Dis rict Secretary
Fred D. Thomas, Mayor of the City of Simi
Valley, California, Chair of the Ventura
County Waterworks District No. 8