Final Minutes Approved 10-8-24
CITY OF SOUTH EL MONTE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - 6:00 PM
1415 Santa Anita Avenue, South El Monte, California 91733 Mayor Olmos called the meeting to order at 6:02 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Councilmember(s): Acosta, Angel, Delgado, Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, and Mayor Olmos
ABSENT: Councilmember(s): None
STAFF PRESENT: Rene Salas, City Manager; Anthony R. Taylor, City Attorney:
Sabrina Muhne, Interim City Clerk; Masami Higa, Director of Finance; Ariana De La Cruz, Director of Community Services (via Zoom); Iyob Tessema, Director of Human Resources & Risk Management; John Poehler, Director of Public Works; and Robert Molina, Interim Deputy City Clerk.
Zoom was provided for the Public to participate during public comment via teleconference.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Councilmember Hector Delgado led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. INVOCATION — Pastor Charlie Corum, South El Monte Community Outreach, offered the invocation.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a. Mayor and City Council presented a Proclamation proclaiming Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
4.b. Mayor and City Council acknowledged the Finance department for receiving the Government Finance Officers Association's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
4.c. Chris Knight, Chief Executive Officer, provided a presentation on the El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce Second Quarter Update, and presented a 2024 Community Profile & Business Resource Guide.
4.d. Mayor and City Council received the Sheriffs Department Report for the Months of July and August 2024.
4.e. Mayor and City Council received the Code Enforcement and Public Safety Department Report for the Months of July and August 2024.
PRESENTATIONS (CONTINUED)
4.f. Josh Vredevoogd. Steering Committee Member, Streets for All, provided a presentation on the Hill to Sea Corridor and requested a letter of support for the project.
5. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND WAIVER OF FULL READING OF
ORDINANCES
Anthony Taylor, City Attorney, announced matters that are publicly available but modify the existing agenda that was posted. Agenda Item 9.c., the City Clerk Employment Agreement is publicly available and the item has been updated, under Agenda Item 9.d. there is a corrected ordinance. the anti -camping ordinance, is publicly available, and under Agenda Item 9.e., the tobacco regulatory ordinance, there were additional discussions and analysis, adding another section to add the intent to add additional protections for minors, and to prevent discounts that would cause minors to buy tobacco products when they shouldn't, and the addition reads as, "A retailer is prohibited from selling any tobacco product to a consumer through an individual tobacco product discount or otherwise provide any such tobacco product discount to a consumer for less than the full price in consideration for the purchase of any tobacco product being sold separately from the original packaging from the manufacturer. The required minimum package size for tobacco products can be established by the City Council through a resolution," and a request to hear Agenda Item 9.e. to be moved up and heard after Public Comment.
Motion by Councilmember Delgado, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, to approve the agenda as amended. 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.
Staff presented a cake to Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez for his birthday.
1. Estella Pineda, resident and member of the Breathe Clean Coalition South El Monte, spoke in support of Agenda Item 9.e.
2. Manuela Saldana, resident and member of the Breathe Clean Coalition South El Monte, spoke in support of Agenda Item 9.e.
3. Yaneth Rodriguez, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, shared information from a research article that was emailed to Mayor and City Council, and spoke in support of Agenda Item 9.e. The supplemental email is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
PUBLIC COMMENT (CONTINUED)
4. Dr. Julia Ruedas, Senior Program Manager & Policy Analyst, LAC+USC Medical Center Foundation, thanked Council for allowing their team to present during the last City Council meeting, acknowledged the Breathe Clean Coalition South El Monte and Healthy South El Monte Leadership Council for their support, and spoke in support of Agenda Item 9.e.
5. Cindy Wu, Mountain View School District Board of Education Member, and member of the Breathe Clean Coalition South El Monte, spoke in support of Agenda Item 9.e.
6. Sil Ruiz, Library Manager, South El Monte Library, thanked the Mayor and City Council for their support and for recognizing the contributions of student volunteers during the last City Council meeting, promoted the 45th Annual Bookmark Contest for children in kindergarten through 12th grade to design a bookmark for Los Angeles County libraries, and announced library events and programs.
7. Eduardo Sauceda, resident, commended the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and spoke on asking kids to lead the Pledge of Allegiance during City Council meetings, the Hill to Sea presentation, and on The Rustic & Chic Co.
8. Juliette Martinez, Vice President of Community Impact, American Heart Association, spoke in support of Agenda Item 9.e.
9. The Interim City Clerk read an emailed public comment from Gerson Leon in support of Agenda Item 9.e. A printout of the email is available for public viewing in the City Clerk's Office.
There being no further public comment, Mayor Olmos closed public comment.
Agenda Item 9.e. was heard at this time.
9.e. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 1278,
AMENDING CHAPTER 8.40 OF TITLE 8 OF THE SOUTH EL MONTE
MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING TOBACCO AND ELECTRONIC
CIGARETTE RETAIL PERMITTING REGULATIONS
Anthony Taylor. City Attorney. presented a report.
Motion by Councilmember Angel, seconded by Councilmember Delgado, to find that California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 21065 of CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15378 applies, conducted the first reading of Ordinance No. 1278 to amend SEMMC Chapter 8.40 to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco and electronic cigarettes products, the repackaging of tobacco products, and establishing a radius requirement between a tobacco retailer and youth -oriented areas in order to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of all community members (especially
minors) and to enforce all Federal and State tobacco regulations to the fullest extent permitted by law, and to set adoption of said ordinance at the next regular city council meeting. 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
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember Acosta, seconded by Councilmember Delgado, to approve the Consent Calendar. 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
7.a. Approved the Minutes for the September 10, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting.
7.b. Authorized payment of City expenditures for the period of September 11, 2024, through September 24, 2024, totaling $2,386,159.42.
7.c. Adopted Resolution No. 24-224, approving Amendment No. 1 to the existing agreement Subaward ENP242509 between the City and County, and authorized the City Manager or designer to execute the agreement.
7.d. Approved the construction bid package to solicit bids for the South El Monte Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Safety Project, ATP Cycle 5.
7.e. Adopted Resolution No. 24-225 approving a professional services agreement with San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps to plant 133 trees, as part of its youth job training program, for the Merced Avenue Greenway South Project, and authorized the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute the agreement.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS — None
9. GENERAL BUSINESS
9.a. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 1276,
AMENDING CHAPTER 2.04 OF TITLE 2 OF THE SOUTH EL MONTE
MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING COMPENSATION OF MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS
Anthony Taylor, City Attorney, read the title of the ordinance and presented a report.
Motion by Councilmember Angel, seconded by Councilmember Delgado, to waive first reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1276, regarding the compensation of
Councilmembers pursuant to California Government Code section 36516. 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.b. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-226,
APPROVING COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS NOT SUBJECT TO A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
Mayor Olmos introduced Rene Salas, City Manager, who presented a report.
Motion by Councilmember Acosta, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez, to adopt Resolution No. 24-226, approving cost of living adjustments of 5% for the City's executive and part-time non -represented employees for FY 2024-25, FY 2025-26, and FY 2026-27. 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.c. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-227,
CONSENTING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF ADRIAN GARCIA AS CITY
CLERK AND APPROVAL OF CITY CLERK EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
Anthony Taylor, City Attorney, announced the key terms of the agreement's compensation and benefits. Rene Salas, City Manager, introduced Adrian Garcia who was in attendance.
Motion by Councilmember Angel, seconded by Councilmember Delgado, to.
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.d. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 1277,
ADDING CHAPTER 8.22 OF TITLE 8 OF THE SOUTH EL MONTE
MUNICIPAL CODE THEREBY AMENDING THE CITY'S HEALTH AND
SAFETY REGULATIONS IN RELATION TO CAMPING AND STORAGE
OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
Anthony Taylor, City Attorney, read the title of the ordinance and presented a report.
Motion by Councilmember Acosta, seconded by Councilmember Delgado, to find that the ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Regulation 15061(b)(3), based on the analysis provided in the attached ordinance, waive first reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1277, set adoption of said ordinance at the next regular city council meeting.
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.e. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 1278,
AMENDING CHAPTER 8.40 OF TITLE 8 OF THE SOUTH EL MONTE
MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING TOBACCO AND ELECTRONIC
CIGARETTE RETAIL PERMITTING REGULATIONS
This item was skipped due to being heard earlier in the meeting, before General Business Item 9.a.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS, INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS
Councilmember Acosta announced he attended the following: the grand opening of the Susan Rubio Zocalo Park & Civic Center Plaza in Baldwin Park, the 8t" Annual Rosemead Moon Festival, and the Community Bike Ride to Celebrate Women and Girls.
Mayor Pro Tem Bojorquez announced he attended the following: the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, Mexican Independence Day Fiesta, and the Planning Commission Meeting.
Councilmember Delgado announced he attended the following: the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District Board of Trustees Meeting, the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, and the Mexican Independence Day Fiesta.
Councilmember Angel announced he attended the following: the grand opening of the Susan Rubio Zocalo Park & Civic Center Plaza in Baldwin Park, the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, the Mexican Independence Day Fiesta, and the swearing in of South El Monte Seniors 3L Club Officers.
Mayor Olmos announced she attended the following: the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, the grand opening of the Susan Rubio Zocalo Park & Civic Center Plaza in Baldwin Park, the Mexican Independence Day Fiesta, the swearing in of South El Monte Seniors 3L Club Officers, the Planning Commission Meeting, the California Contract Cities Association Board of Directors Meeting, the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEACCA) Commission Meeting, and the Latina Golfers Association Golf 101 event.
11. CORRESPONDENCE — None
12. COUNCILMEMBERS' AGENDA — None