CITY OF SOUTH EL MONTE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 - 6:00 PM
1415 Santa Anita Avenue, South El Monte, California 91733 Mayor Olmos called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
1. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
ABSENT: Councilmember(s): None
STAFF PRESENT: Anthony R. Taylor, City Attorney; Donna G. Schwartz, City Clerk; Masami Higa, Director of Finance; Guillermo Arreola, Director of Community Development; lyob Tessema, Director of Human Resources & Risk Management; John Poehler, Director of Public Works; Ariana De La Cruz, Director of Community Services. and Sabrina Muhne, Deputy City Clerk.
STAFF ABSENT: Rene Salas, City Manager.
Zoom was provided for the Public to participate during public comment via teleconference.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Mayor Pro Tem Rudy Bojorquez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. INVOCATION — Mayor Gloria Olmos offered the invocation.
4. PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Olmos requested Agenda Item 4.a. be presented after Agenda Items 4.b. through 4.d.
4.a. Mayor and City Council presented "Certificates of Recognition" to South El Monte High School Students, Recipients of the 2024 El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce State of the City Scholarships.
4.b. Mayor and City Council presented a proclamation proclaiming the Month of May 2024 as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.
4.c. Council received a report from Sheriffs Department Report for the Month of April 2024.
4.d. Council received a report from Code Enforcement and Public Safety Department Report for the Month of April 2024.
5. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND WAIVER OF FULL READING OF
ORDINANCES
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, seconded by Councilmember Delgado to approve the agenda. Motion passed 5-0, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember(s): None
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Olmos opened public comment.
1. Cindy Wu, Mountain View School District Board Member, on behalf of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, thanked Council for declaring May as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, and for serving and hosting the AAPI community at the centers (which is 17% of the city's population), and expressed looking forward to continuing working together to enhance the communities and collaborate together.
2. Jenny Camarena, resident, through a translator, voiced concern with her elderly neighbor receiving a notice from Code Enforcement for their living space and requested the City's help with addressing the specific issues that the City has expressed concern with.
3. Lizette Sanchez, resident, announced the reading "i Pasaje!" seen last April at the Senior Center has become a full professional musical with a five -week run at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in October, originally written by South El Monte High School students in 2011. She the public to attend the final preview on October 3, 2024.
4. Lydia Caracoza, resident, (via Zoom) spoke in regard to Agenda Item 9.a., opposing the removal of existing dedication plaques at the centers.
There being no further comments, Mayor Olmos closed public comment.
At 6:38 p.m. Councilmember Delgado left the chambers.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember Delgado, seconded by Councilmember Angel to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion passed 55-00, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember(s): None
Paue 2 of 7
CONSENT CALENDAR (CONTINUED)
7.a. Approved Minutes of the May 14, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting.
7.b. Adopted Resolution No. 24-167, authorizing payment of City expenditures for the period of May 15, 2024, through May 28, 2024, totaling $2,158,963.45.
7.c. Adopted Resolution No. 24-173, approving the proposed MOU between the City and Rio Hondo; and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement.
7.d. Adopted Resolution No. 24-174, approving Amendment No. 1 renewing and extending the current agreement between the City and Ecolane for two (2) additional one (1) year terms; and authorized City Manager or designee to execute agreement.
7.e. Adopted Resolution No. 24-175, authorizing the installation of a new playground structure at the Mini Center.
7.f. Received and filed the report and granted permits to allow for four (4) firework stands and for which applications have been received in conjunction with the Fourth of July 2024. The Planning Division has reviewed the applications and find that they comply with Chapter 8.08 of the South El Monte Municipal Code.
7.g. Adopted Resolution No. 24-176, approving a Site -Host Agreement with Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions (EVCS) for the installation of electric vehicle chargers for public use; and authorized City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute the agreement.
7.h. Rejected the single proposal received and authorized the City's Engineering Division to conduct a further assessment of the City's sewer condition. This assessment will involve utilizing past studies conducted by the City, along with county data, to gain a better understanding of the sewer's current condition
7.i. Adopted Resolution No. 24-177, approving a Subaward Agreement Number ENP 242509 with the County of Los Angeles Aging and Disability Department for the Elderly Nutrition Program Services from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and authorized City Manager or designee to execute agreement.
7.j. Adopted Resolution No. 24-178, accepting the completion of the Curb Address Number Painting Services, authorized City Clerk to send the Notice of Completion for recordation to the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office, and to release retention accordingly.
CONSENT CALENDAR (CONTINUED)
7.k. Adopted Resolution No. 24-181, approving an amended and restated agreement with Council for Watershed Health (CWH) with a maximum contract sum of $1,508,202. Phase I has been completed pursuant to the original contract and funded by Prop 1 grant funds. The resolution addresses the cost and funding associated with Phase II, the Merced Avenue Greenway North Construction Documents and shall not impose a 10% retention requirement, extend performance period to 2 years from effective date of contract, and authorized City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute the agreement.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.a. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-179,
APPROVING ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (LACDA) AND ALLOCATION
OF FUNDS TO THE PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION
PROGRAM
Mayor Olmos announced the item.
Mayor Olmos opened the public hearing.
Mayor Olmos opened public comment, there being none, closed public comment.
Mayor Olmos introduced Masami Higa, Director of Finance who turned it over to Guillermo Arreola, Director of Community Development. who presented the staff report.
At 6:44 p.m. Councilmember Delgado returned to the chambers.
Motion by Councilmember Acosta, seconded by Councilmember Angel approving the finding that the proposed action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 20165 of CEQA and Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines and, as such, no environmental document pursuant to CEQA is required; adopting Resolution No. 24-179, approving the 2022-23 allocation of Community Development Block Grant -Permanent Local Housing Allocation (CDBG-PLHA) Program Year 4 funds, as outlined; and authorizing City Manager or designee to execute any and all documents necessary to further the potential projects approved herein, including but not limited to amendments and modifications for CDBG projects with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). Motion passed 5-0, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember(s): None
9. GENERAL BUSINESS
9.a. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-180, APPROVING THE PLACEMENT OF
COMMEMORATIVE DEDICATION PLAQUES AT THE SOUTH EL
MONTE SENIOR CENTER AND COMMUNITY CENTER
Mayor Olmos announced the item and introduced Ariana De La Cruz, Director of Community Services, who provided the staff report and photos of existing and proposed commemorative dedication plaques.
Discussion ensued between Council and staff with concerns of removing existing plaques with the history of prior dedications and replacing them with new plaques. Council agreed to continue the item for further evaluation.
Motion by Councilmember Bojorquez, seconded by Councilmember Delgado to continue the item for further evaluation. Motion passed 5-0, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember(s): None
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS, INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS
Councilmember Acosta announced he attended the following: California Contract Cities Association Annual Municipal Seminar, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference, the City's Memorial Day Ceremony, and the South El Monte baseball team's first State tournament.
Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez announced he attended the following: California Contract Cities Association Annual Municipal Seminar, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference, and the City's Memorial Day Ceremony, Flags of Valor event, and thanked Larry Rodriguez for his committee's efforts to raise funds for the veterans.
At 7:23 p.m. Councilmember Angel left the chambers.
Councilmember Delgado Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez announced he attended the following: California Contract Cities Association Annual Municipal Seminar, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference, South El Monte High School senior Angel Munoz' third professional fight, City's Memorial Day Ceremony, thanking Mark Tavera for his speech, the Flags of Valor event, and expressing thanks to Larry Rodriguez.
At 7:24 p.m. Councilmember Angel returned to the chambers.
Councilmember Angel announced he attended the following: California Contract Cities Association Annual Municipal Seminar, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference, South El Monte High School's Golden Eagle Scholarship Night, the City's Memorial Day Ceremony, and the Chick-fil-A grand
opening in El Monte as well as presenting a plaque on behalf of the City of South El Monte.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS (CONTINUED) Mayor Olmos announced she attended the following: California Contract Cities Association Annual Municipal Seminar, announced Southeast Area Animal Control (SEAACA) still has pets for adoption, ICSC Conference, the South El Monte High School's Golden Eagle Scholarship Night, Healthy El Monte/South El Monte Leadership Council, the City's Memorial Day Ceremony, and thanked veterans for their service.
11. CORRESPONDENCE
11.a. LETTER FROM EPIPHANY CATHOLIC SCHOOL REQUESTING A
FACILITY FEE WAIVER FOR THE USE OF THE SENIOR CENTER TO
HOST AN ALUMNI MIXER
Mayor Olmos announced the item.
Motion by Councilmember Angel, seconded by Councilmember Delgado to approve the facility fee waiver request by Epiphany in the amount of $950.00; and waiving all the associated rental fees for the reservation in the amount of $1,488.00. Motion passed 5-0, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember(s): None
11.b. LETTER FROM EPIPHANY CHURCH REQUESTING TO WAIVE ALL
FEES RELATED TO STAFF TIME AND TEMPORARY USE PERMIT TO
HOLD A PROCESSION ALONG CITY STREETS ON SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2024
Mayor Olmos announced the item.
Motion by Councilmember Acosta, seconded by Councilmember Angel to approve the request made by Epiphany church to waive all city fees to hold a procession along city streets. Motion passed 5-0, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
NAYS: Councilmember(s): None
12. COUNCILMEMBERS' AGENDA - None
13. CLOSED SESSION
At 7:37 p.m. Anthony R. Taylor, City Attorney, recessed Council into closed session.
13.a.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
City Negotiator: City Manager
Employee Organizations: South El Monte Employees Association
13.b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
City Negotiator: City Manager
Employee Organizations: South El Monte Executive Management Team Association
At 7:52 p.m. Mayor Olmos reconvened the meeting with all Councilmembers p
resent.
City Attorney Anthony Taylor announced closed session items 13.a. and 13.b. were discussed with no reportable action at this time.
14. RECESS COUNCIL MEETING:
Mayor Olmos recessed the meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Mayor Olmos adjourned the Successor Agency meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Mayor Olmos reconvened the City Council Meeting at 7:55 p.m.
15. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business coming before this body, at 7:56 p.m. Mayor Olmos adjourned the meeting in memory of Alejandro "Alex" Armenta, prior City Manager for the City of South El Monte and Ernest "Ernie" Omana, South El Monte business owner and resident, to a Regular City Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Sabrina Muhne, Interim City Clerk
Gloria Olmos, Mayor