CITY OF SOUTH GATE
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023
CALL TO ORDER Maria del Pilar Avalos, Mayor called a Special City Council Meeting to order at 5:19 p.m.
ROLL CALL Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
PRESENT
1 CERTIFICATES
Mayor Maria del Pilar Avalos, Vice Mayor Gil Hurtado, Council Member Joshua Barron, Council Member Maria Davila, and Council Member Al Rios; City Treasurer Jose De La Paz, City Manager Chris Jeffers, City Attorney Raul F. Salina
The City Council issued Certificates of Appreciation to the South Gate Police Department's Citizen Academy.
2 PROCLAMATIONS The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring May 2023 as Wellness and Mental Health Awareness Month.
3 PROCLAMATIONS The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring May 9, 2023, as National Teacher Appreciation Day, and May 7 - 13, 2023, as National Teacher Appreciation Week.
4 PROCLAMATIONS The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring the week of May 21 - 27, 2023, as National Public Works Week.
5 PROCLAMATIONS The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring the week of May 15 - 21, 2023, as National Police Week.
6 PROCLAMATIONS The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring the week of May 6 - 12, 2023, as National Nurses Week.
CLOSED SESSION
The Council Members recessed into Closed Session at 6:17 p.m. and reconvened at 6:55 p.m. with all Members of Council present. City Attorney Salinas reported the following:
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 9, 2023
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — PENDING
LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a),
54954.9(b)(3)(C)
a. NR Development v. City of South Gate
b. Gabriela Perez Negrete v. City of South Gate
c. Deonesia Abreau, Latoya Simpson, and Sanaa Ellis v. City of South Gate d. Erich Hellebrandt v. City of South Gate
Item 1(a) was not discussed in closed session.
Item 1(b) is a slip and fall on a city corner near Firestone and Garfield.
The city participated in mediation and received a proposed settlement offer in that case. Staff presentation was made in closed session. On a motion made by Vice Mayor Hurtado and seconded by Mayor Avalos and on a vote of 5-0, the City Council moved to recommend approval of that settlement subject to the approval of the city's insurance cooperative. The amount of that settlement is still pending and thus cannot be disclosed at this time.
Item 1(c) involves a collision with a city vehicle and the subsequent lawsuit against the city in connection with that accident. There was a motion made by Vice Mayor Hurtado and seconded by Council Member Davila and on a vote of 5-0, the City Council authorized the City Attorney's Office to defend that matter.
Item 1(d) was a slip and fall on a driveway apron in a residential section.
The matter was set to go to trial at the end of the month. There were settlement discussions and there was a recommendation by the City Attorney to propose a settlement which has not yet been accepted by Mr.
Hellebrandt's attorney. The motion to recommend settlement was made by Council Member Davila and seconded by Mayor Avalos and the vote was 5-0.
2. CONSIDER THE EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
a. City Manager
There was a discussion concerning the evaluation and performance in association with the Office of the City Manager. Upon completion of that discussion, there was no reportable action taken.
Mayor Avalos asked if anyone in the audience and zoom wished to speak on these items.
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 9, 2023
A South Gate resident and a coalition of businesspeople, community people and people involved with non-profit organizations provided City Council for their review a portion of the signatures that read as follows:
We the undersigned request that the South Gate City Council not renew the contract with Chris Jeffers for City Manager.
Mario Dominguez, Jr., was surprised to hear people want Mr. Jeffers out of the position as City Manager. He requested cost amounts for these cases.
Thomas Buckley requested informing participants on zoom that Council are in closed session. He called the courthouse inquiring on the NR Development case and the court clerk was not able to locate the case. He is asking for the case number once again.
Having no one else come forward, Mayor Avalos closed the audience portion.
Raul F. Salinas, City Attorney stated that he does not have NR Developments case number. It is pending in the Norwalk court. He will provide the case number to Mr. Buckley and the audience.
Mr. Salinas stated that the cost to the city in these cases varies depending on the nature and extent of the physical injuries.
Mr. Salinas stated being a City Attorney for the past 20 years, along with Council Member Davila. We are on the seventh city manager. The city has always used an outside consultant (search firm) specializing in searching for city managers. The city is on notice already that Mr. Jeffers has one additional year.
ADJOURNMENT Council Member Rios unanimously adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m. and seconded by Vice Mayor Hurtado.
PASSED and APPROVED this 27 th day of June 2023.
ATTEST:
Maria del Pilar Avalos, Mayor Yodit G1 ze, City Clerk