Final Minutes Approved 5- 24- 22
CITY OF SOUTH EL MONTE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 - 6: 00 PM
1. ROLL CALL
Mayor Olmos called the meeting to order at 6: 00 PM
PRESENT: Councilmember( s): Angel, Delgado ( Via Zoom), Retamoza, Mayor Pro Tern Acosta, and Mayor Olmos
STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Barbosa, City Manager; Anthony R. Taylor, City Attorney; Donna G. Schwartz, City Clerk; Rene Salas, Deputy City Manager; Colby Cataldi, Community Development Director; William Fox, Interim Finance Director; Jayson Perez, Recreation Coordinator and Paola Lara, Deputy City Clerk.
Zoom was provided for the Public to participate during public comment via teleconference.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Councilmember Gracie Retamoza led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. INVOCATION — Pastor Don Antelo, Calvary Chapel of South El Monte offered the Invocation.
4. PRESENTATIONS: None.
4. a. Mayor Olmos read a proclamation proclaiming May 15 - 21, 2022, as National Public Works Week.
4. b. City Council presented a plaque to the El Monte/ South El Monte Chamber of Commerce, In Recognition of Their "100th Anniversary" and 57 Years of Partnership with the City of South El Monte.
4. c. City Council received a presentation from Scott Bradshaw, SiFi Networks, on FiberCity.
5. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND WAIVER OF FULL READING OF
ORDINANCES
Mayor Olmos requested to move General Business item 9. b. to be discussed before item 9. a.
A motion was made by Councilmember Angel, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Acosta, to approve the agenda as amended to move General Business item 9. b. to be discussed before item 9. a. Motion carried 5- 0, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember( s): Angel, Delgado, Retamoza, Mayor Pro Tern Acosta and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember( s): None
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Olmos opened public comment.
1. Blanca Villa, President and Alex Preciado, Cheer Coordinator for El Monte/ South El Monte Jets, spoke in support of General Business item 9. b.
2. Ruby Rose Yepez ( via zoom), resident, spoke in favor of the SiFi Networks Fiber City program and suggested jobs for the program be offered locally and training be offered through the Chamber of Commerce for construction laborers.
3. Paul Hernandez ( via zoom), Executive Director for Water Education for Latino Leaders, invited the City Council to a conference on critical issues regarding water on June 10 — 11, 2022.
4. Heidi Carillo, resident, spoke in opposition of allowing cannabis businesses to operate in the city.
There being no further comment, Mayor Olmos closed public comment.
Councilmember Delgado thanked Paul Hernandez for the invitation to the conference and announced El Monte Union High School District is offering a construction management program for students.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Councilmember Angel, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Acosta to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5- 0 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember( s): Angel, Delgado, Retamoza, Mayor Pro Tern Acosta, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember( s): None
7. a. Approved Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting held April 26, 2022.
7. b. Adopted Resolution No. 22- 32, approving warrants for the period of April 27, 2022, through May 10, 2022, totaling $907, 394. 50.
7. c. Adopted Resolution No. 22- 33, proclaiming a local emergency persists and authorizing the use of alternative meeting procedures by the City' s legislative bodies, such as utilizing a virtual platform ( e. g. Zoom) for the period of May 10, 2022 through June 8, 2022.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
9. GENERAL BUSINESS
ITEM 9. b. MOVED UP FOR DISCUSSION UNDER APPROVAL OF AGENDA
9. b. FACILITY FEE WAIVER REQUEST FROM EL MONTE/ SOUTH EL
MONTE JETS FOR THE USE OF THE SOUTH EL MONTE COMMUNITY
CENTER FACILITY, NEW TEMPLE PARK FIELDS, AND SHIVLELY
PARK FIELD
Mayor Olmos announced the item.
Jayson Perez, Recreation Coordinator, presented the staff report.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tern Acosta, seconded by Councilmember Angel to approve the facility reservation fee waiver requested by the Jets in the amount of $ 14, 060. 00. Motion carried 5- 0 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember( s): Angel, Delgado, Retamoza, Mayor Pro Tem Acosta, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember( s): None
9. a. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION CONCERNING
POTENTIAL FUTURE CANNABIS REGULATIONS AND TAXES
Mayor Olmos announced the item.
City Attorney Anthony R. Taylor introduced Robert Khuu, Attorney with Aleshire & Wynder, LLP, who presented a PowerPoint on Federal, State and Local Regulation on Cannabis including: Federal Regulation, California' s Path to Cannabis Legalization — Medicinal Use, California Law Today, State Cannabis Regulation Under MAUCRSA, State License Types — Retailer, Distributor, Manufacturer, Cultivator, Testing Laboratory, Microbusiness, Cannabis Events, Local Regulations, Establishment, Implementation, and Cannabis Taxation — State and Local.
Discussion ensued among City Council, City Attorney Anthony R. Taylor, and Robert Khuu on three options presented to City Council:
1. Take no action and continue to ban cannabis businesses in the City.
2. Direct city staff to prepare and agendize for a future Planning Commission and council meeting consideration of new business and zoning regulations to govern cannabis cultivation and sales.
3. Direct the City Attorney to draft a measure in the next 30 days that the City Council could submit to the voters for the November 2022 election that includes provisions relating to the implementation of cannabis business taxes and zoning regulations.
Councilmember Angel recommended to approve option 2. Mayor Olmos concurred with Councilmember Angel adding the amendment that the item be brought to City Council for discussion before Planning Commission. City Attorney Anthony R. Taylor stated that all that was needed was a consensus by Council.
Mayor Olmos reiterated the consensus.
Councilmember Delgado felt a motion needed to be made and motioned to approve option 2 directing city staff to prepare and agendize for a future Planning Commission, and City Council meeting consideration of new business and zoning regulations to govern cannabis cultivation and sales, and to include that City Council be the ultimate body making the decisions and regulations for cannabis businesses. Motion died due to lack of a second.
Another motion was made by Councilmember Delgado to approve option 1 to take no action and continue to ban cannabis businesses in the City. Motion died due to lack of a second.
City Council as a consensus went with option two and directed city staff to prepare and agendize for a future City Council, Planning Commission, and City Council meeting consideration of new business and zoning regulations to govern cannabis cultivation and sales with the exception of the item being brought before Council for discussion before being approved by the Planning Commission and coming back to Council for approval and adoption.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS, INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tern Acosta announced his attendance at the City of South El Monte' s Senior Center Grand Re -Opening, City of South El Monte' s National Day of Prayer, City of South El Monte' s Cinco de Mayo Festival and Boxing Show, Community Services Senior Center Cinco de Mayo Luncheon and Mother' s Day Luncheon.
Councilmember Retamoza announced her attendance at the Epiphany School Sheriff' s Meet and Greet, Hilda Solis' Asian Pacific Islander Celebration, City of South El Monte' s Staff Development and Team Building event, City of South El Monte' s Cinco de Mayo Festival and Boxing Show, and Rush Street and Rosemead Boulevard Enhancement Plan Ad Hoc meeting.
Councilmember Delgado announced his attendance at the Foothill Transit Governing Board meeting.
Councilmember Angel announced his attendance at the City of South El Monte' s Cinco de Mayo Festival and Boxing Show, City of South El Monte' s Staff Development and Team Building event, and City of South El Monte' s Senior Center Grand Re -Opening.
Mayor Olmos announced her attendance at the Community Kickoff to Create a New Commission for the Advancement of Women and Girls, City of South El Monte' s Staff Development and Team Building event, City of South El Monte' s National Day of Prayer, Epiphany School Sheriff' s Meet and Greet, Rush Street and Rosemead Boulevard Enhancement Plan Ad Hoc meeting, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments meeting, Community Services Senior Center Cinco de Mayo Luncheon and Mother's Day Luncheon, and Hilda Solis' Asian Pacific Islander Celebration.
11. CORRESPONDENCE:
11. a. LETTER FROM SOUTH EL MONTE NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE
SEMNLL) REQUESTING A FEE WAIVER FOR THE LABOR COST TO
INSTALL ONE BASEBALL AND TWO SOFTBALL FIELD FENCES
Mayor Olmos announced the item.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tern Acosta, seconded by Councilmember Angel to approve the fee waiver request by South El Monte National Little League for the labor cost of installing one baseball and two softball field fences in the amount of $ 1, 150. 00. Motion carried 5- 0 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember( s): Angel, Delgado, Retamoza, Mayor Pro Tern Acosta, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember( s): None
12. COUNCILMEMBERS' AGENDA: None
13. CLOSED SESSION:
At 8: 19 p. m. City Attorney Anthony R. Taylor recessed Council into closed session.
13. a. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957. 6
City Negotiator: City Manager
14. Employee Organizations: South El Monte Employees Association and the South El Monte Executive Management Team Association
At 9: 29 p. m. Mayor Olmos reconvened to open session.
City Attorney Anthony R. Taylor announced City Council discussed item 13. a. No action taken, nothing to report.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business coming before this body, at 9: 29 p. m. Mayor Olmos adjourned the meeting to a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 6: 00 p. m.
Dorfna G. SchW rtz, CK, City
Gloria Olmos, Mayor