CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024
CALL TO ORDER Gil Hurtado, Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:51 p.m.
INVOCATION Pastor Marta Moscoso, Faith and Hope Lutheran Church
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE: Evelyn Mejia, City Hall Receptionist
ROLL CALL Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
PRESENT Mayor Gil Hurtado, Vice Mayor Maria Davila, Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos, Council Member Joshua Barron, and Council Member Al Rios; City Treasurer Jose De La Paz, City Manager Robert Houston, City Attorney Raul F. Salinas
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE - NON-AGENDA
ITEMS Mario Dominguez expressed frustration of projects he has pitched and does not feel support from council members.
Thomas Buckley requested minutes from the committees be put up on our website. He also spoke on trash and illegally parked vehicles. He expressed his concern about removing zoom from our meetings.
Michelle Martinez, in an email, stated she supports childcare services and feels residents need this service in the community.
Linda Timmons, in an email, also stated support for childcare services and hopes council members also support.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Meredith Elguira, Director of Cornrnunity Development, announced that the approved meetings will be posted by the end of day Wednesday the 13th.
Glenn Massey, Parks Superintendent, aru'iounced upcoming events and construction happening in the playground.
Arturo Cervantez, Director of Public Works, had nothing to report.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Wendy O'Kelly, Director of Finance, reported on the LIWAP event and announced one last event happening in March.
Jon Hamilton, Director of Human Resources, announced new job listings posted on the South Gate City Website.
Darren Arakawa, Chief of Police, went over their success on their current hiring. He also spoke on the fentanyl crisis and the people he has asked to speak to push the legislation.
Robert Houston, City Manager, spoke on the camera set-up as he is in support of live streaming the city council meetings and removing the zoom meeting option.
Raul F. Salinas, City Attorney, had nothing to report.
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk, reminded the public of the primary elections vote centers, their hours of operation and the mail in ballot drop box locations.
She also responded to the inquiry on minutes from the different committee and stated that she will reach out to the head of those committees in order to have them available to the public.
Jose De La Paz, City Treasurer, expressed his support for video services coming to council meetings.
Council Member Barron asked for an update of the playground under construction and the timeframe. He also asked Mr. Cervantez about the medians on Garfield Ave and when the landscaping will be taking place.
He also asked about street light upgrades and seeing if there could be a possibility of solar system lighting. He also announced a reminder of sign- ups for the Junior Athletic Association.
Mr. Massey responded with the updates and when it is expected to be completed.
Mr. Cervantez answered by saying there will be an update on the website soon. He also answered about solar system lighting but feels that solar technology has not been proven to work but will look into it.
Council Member Rios asked Community Development on the commission quorum. He also stated his support for the childcare emails that were received and if there could be more information on that. He also spoke on
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D the increase of tree planting as he feels that would add value to the cornrnunity.
Mr. Cervantez provided an update on the tree work happening on Long Beach Blvd.
Council Member Avalos asked Mr. Cervantez what the lifetime of solar light is. She spoke on an incident about the last council meeting and how 9 nurses were terminated from their workplace and felt the need to apologize to the community. She also reminded the public on voting in upcoming elections.
Mr. Cervantez responded that they need to do further testing of it and the information would be provided soon.
Vice Mayor Davila spoke on Vector Control and how we must be careful.
She congratulated employees on their recognition at the Employee dinner.
Mayor Hurtado spoke on the street light issue and the possibility of getting grants. He also addressed certain issues on Long Beach and Garfield. He then spoke on the Chinese New Year event he attended and described his time. He expressed his appreciation for the employees and staff as well.
CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are Consent Calendar Items.
Mario Dominguez asked on item 6 and if it was still operational. On item 7, he expressed his frustration as to why his comments would have to be printed on the minutes.
Thomas Buckley commented on the environment of the council meetings and the threats made.
Mr. Salinas spoke on the use of the first amendment and denouncing foul language that has been used.
Agenda Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were approved by motion of Council Member Avalos and seconded by Vice Mayor Davila.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes (recused from voting on item 5),, Mayor Hurtado, yes (recused from voting on item 1).
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024 l
STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council made a finding and adopted Resolution No. 2024-08- CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, State of California, declaring an emergency still exists and authorizing repair, replacement or maintenance activities of public facilities related to the Urban Orchard, City Project No. 539-PRK, without public bidding, pursuant to the emergency contracting procedures of the South Gate Municipal Code and the California Public Contract Code approved during consent calendar.
2 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-09-CC Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, initiating the annual proceedings for the levy of the Fiscal Year 2024/25 assessments and ordering the preparation of an Engineer's Report for the Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1 during consent calendar.
PARKS The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during consent calendar:
a. Resolution No. 2024-10-CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, approving project application(s) for Specified Grant funds from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation; and b. Delegating the authority to the Director of Parks & Recreation, or designee, to conduct all negotiations, sign and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests which may be necessary for the completion of the grant scope(s).
WASTEWATER MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during consent calendar:
a. Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2023-86-CC with Lee and Ro, Inc., to revise the scope of work for the Concrete Sewer Pipelines Rehabilitation, City Project No. 709-SWR, at no additional cost; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2023-86-CC in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024 5 WATER The City Council unanimously approved items A, B, C & D during consent calendar:
Agreement (Contract No. 2024-16-CC) with All Cities Engineering, Inc., for the construction of the Water Main Replacement, Phase I, City Project No. 689-WTR, in an amount not-to-exceed $3,354,019;
Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney;
5 WATER CONT'D Determined the Water Main Replacement, Phase I, City Project No. 689-WTR, as categorically exempt under Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15302; and Approved the Notice of Exemption for the construction of the Project and directing the City Clerk to file it with the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's Office.
6 LJCENSES & PERMITS The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during consent calendar:
License Agreement (Contract No. 2024-1 7-CC) with Dish Wireless, LLC.("Dish"), for the installation of antennas and a base station on the water tower located at 2700 Ardmore Avenue, for an initial five-year term with four (4) successive automatic five-year extensions, under which aru'iual revenue will be collected in the amount of $66,000 which will increase annually by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI") in the minimum sum of three percent (3%),, and
Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
7 MINUTES The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
Special and Regular Meeting minutes of December 12, 2023; Special and Regular Meeting minutes of January 9, 2024; and Special and Regular Meeting minutes of January 23, 2024.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024 8 LAW ENFORCEMENT The City Council unanimously received and filed a summary report on the state of the city as it pertains to crime in South Gate for the calendar year 2023 by motion of Mayor Hurtado and seconded by Vice Mayor Davila.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes.
Chief Arakawa presented on the crimes that occurred in 2023. He spoke on the details of Part I offenses and Part 2 offenses.
Mario Dominguez commented on the severity of the drug issue and on the other incident reports.
Thomas Buckley commented on the murder rates and asked the Chief what the difference is betsveen units and pills on the fentanyl issue as well as how the city is working on the murder cases that have risen.
Mayor Hurtado asked about false alarms in homes and the impact it has on units being sent out.
ChiefArakawa responded by saying he does not have the exact number, but they do respond.
Council Member Rios asked about suicide rates and keeping track of that.
Council Member Barron asked how many officers are on shi'tt during the day and help of mental health.
Council Member Avalos commented in regard to Mental Health. She also commends all the officers who respond to those suffering with mental health issues.
Vice Mayor Davila thanked Chief Arakawa for this report and the Police officers for their efforts.
Mayor Hurtado commented on the incident report and asked if any accidents are because of DUI.
Chief Arakawa explained the Watson process and how it applies to certain incidents.
Chief Arakawa addressed questions from earlier comments on where fentanyl might be produced and transported. He also addressed comments on homicides and stated that public safety is their priority, but there are incidents that cannot be prevented.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEF,TING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024 9 WARRANTS The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for February 27, 2024, by motion of Vice Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
Total of Checks:
Less: Voids
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions
Grand Total:
$4,050,693.64
$ (0.00)
$ (262,653.26)
$3,788,040.38
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes.
Thomas Buckley spoke on tax dollars being used on an expenditure of over $10,000, stating he disagrees. He noted $40 for zoom is a fantastic amount of money for the public to be involved in council meetings.
Mario Dominguez thanked the council in case this is the last zoom meeting.
Mr. Houston addressed the expenditures question on equipment for video services.
Mr. Houston clarified that there is no relation to the City Treasurers video equipment and the expenditure of the city purchasing their own equipment.
ADJOURNMENT Council Member Avalos adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m. and seconded by Council Member Rios.
PASSED and APPROVED this 26fh day of March 2024.
ATTEST:
Gil Hurtado, Mayor Yodit aze, City Clerk