CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
CALL TO ORDER Gil Hurtado, Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:50 p.m.
INVOCATION Steve Costley, Director of Parks & Recreation
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE Daysi N. Alonzo
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, Acting City Manager Steve Costley, City Attorney Raul F. Salinas
EXCUSED/ ABSENT City Manager Rob Houston
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE - NON-AGENDA
ITEMS Michael Ramirez, President of MEA - We feel offers proposed by the city are not in good faith. We believe that the Me-Too Clause is holding up negotiations. Progress made was undone with the leadership of Chris Jeffers. Employees are working out of class, higher responsibilities due to vacancies.
Brandon Willians, Vice President of MEA - Explains the role of employees and requesting council review the latest counter proposal and work in good faith.
Charles Leon, Coordinator with SEIU 721- Workers are asking to be treated with respect. Asking council to look into their budget and asking for a fair contract.
Silvia Matsushige, Resident - Council should be very proud of your employees, and they deserve to be taken care of.
Humberto Valles, Employee - I am here for my comrades to show we are needed here in South Gate. We work together and stay united to serve the CltY.
Lisa Luna, Veteran of SEEACA - Complaints regarding the facilities conditions, short staffing, delays in delivering adopted animals, safety hazards, and has felt retaliated against by management. Management receiving raises and front-line work for the bare minimum.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUI)IENCE - NON-AGENDA
ITEMS CONT'D Michelle Petterson, SEEACA - 15-year veteran employee. Staffing is in dire straits and field officers are less than half. Some calls cannot be handled. Staffing is the cause of why residents are complaining. People do not apply due to the pay scale. We will appreciate you looking into this.
Emails: Alejandro Mesa, Equipment Maintenance Superintendent - I would like to prioritize support and the well-being of our employees. Their efforts are essential in maintaining the quality of service our community deserves.
Ashford Balls, Management Analyst - I recognize the hard work and the sacrifice of time by the employees to support our mission. Our employees are essential to the city's progress and ask for fairness.
Mario Dominguez, Resident - City Attorney often claims he has nothing to report. He should disclose payouts and settlement agreements from lawsuits against our city.
Disappointed that the LA Philharmonic sold out on ticket leaving many residents without a chance to attend.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
puoycrryoppicthts ArturoCervantes,DirectorofPublicWorks-GarfieldAvenue&Long Beach Streets Projects are wrapping up completion.
Broke ground on the Hollydale and Circle Park Renovation Projects.
Urban Orchard - Expecting a letter from L.A. County.
Residential Resurfacing, Phase IV Project -Accomplishing fixing residential streets adjacent to schools and parks.
AMR Water Meter Replacement Projects - Working on enhancing and replace meters.
Meredith Elguira, Director of Community Development - Nothing to report
Wendy O'Kelly, Director of Administrative Services - Water bill credit reimbursement program will be coming to Council in November.
Jon Hamilton, Director of Human Resources - Thanks all employees who showed up to the meeting.
Jobs available on our website with various closing dates.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Darren Arakawa, Chief of Police - Reminder of our 2nd Annual Car Show at South Gate Park.
Thank you to Mayor Hurtado for the Certificate which was presented to Deaf Latino Organization.
Will be at the Criminal Courts Bldg. regarding the death of Isaiah on San Juan. Bringing closure to the family. Asking for prayer.
Steve Costley, Director of Parks & Recreation - We have completed the fence project. We have brightening up the park.
L.A. Philharmonic will be playing tomorrow. Number of tickets will be available. First come first serve.
Raul F. Salinas, City Attorney - Nothing to report.
A response to the email comment. Settlements cannot be reported on and do not come back to those cases. Agreements are never confidential, and they are public documents.
Jose De La Paz, City Treasurer - Nothing to report.
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk -Attended Naleo Institute on a scholarship they provided last week. Worked with Latino leaders from over 10 states and throughout the nation. I was very proud to represent the City of South Gate.
Maria del Pilar Avalos, Councilmember - Happy Hispanic Heritage Month Protect yourselves from the West Nile Virus.
Joshua Barron, Councilmember - Mariachi Festival and students were amazing. We need to work on informing our residents for a better turnout.
Announcement: Car Show event at Ford Park and Key Club in Bell Gardens.
College & Career Fair October 15, 2024, from 10-4pm at the South Gate Auditorium - 23 confirmed colleges.
Thank you to Janice Hahn's Office for providing $1000 grant for scholarships the day of event and 1 (one) laptop as well.
Phone calls received from several businesses around the area. Sofive at South Gate Park. They were told to submit application, and it will get
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICI ALS
CONT'D through the process. Six (6) months later they were told their application would be withdrawn. Needs clarification :trom Community Development.
AI Rios, Councilmember - Attended Mariachi Festival and it was enjoyable.
Congratulations to Joshua Barron for all his work in the college fair.
Rick Loya, Ex-Mayor of Huntington Park. He was instrumental in joining many city mayors and bring colleges to our areas.
Maria Davila, Vice Mayor - Thank you to the employees that are present today.
Last week in Washington D.C. to advocate for funds regarding the Gateway Line.
Joshua Barron, Councilmember - Congratulations to City Treasurer Jose de la Paz for his son Noah moving to UCI.
Gil Hurtado, Mayor - Thank you to members of SEIU for attending this meeting. Grateful for all your hard work.
Been in contact with the South Gate Youth Football League - Aztecs.
Every year is an issue with the score board and they get fined. LAUSD has dropped the ball on that one. We are trying to get additional funding.
RECESS City Council recessed at 7:46 p.m., and reconvened at 7:52 p.m., with all Members of Council present
CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and IO were approved by motion of Council Member Avalos and seconded by Vice Mayor Davila. Item 9 was pulled for separate discussion.
Emails:
On item 4, Mr. Dominguez is disappointed that the City Council Members allocated $5million from the general fund for major repairs at city hall and the police department but not include a splash pad in the CIP.
On item 6, Mr. Dominguez is requesting the city to negotiate with Southern California Edison to convert the easement into the parking lot for Urban Orchard Park.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBF,R 24, 2024
CONSENT CALENDAR
CONT'D On item 8, Mr. Dominguez is requesting the city to remove the unsightly palm trees on the west side of the Hawkins Reservoir.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes (recused from items 1, 6 & 8).
I
STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council made a finding and adopted Resolution No. 2024-68-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 during Consent Calendar.
FINANCIALSERVICES The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 2020-19-CC with RSG, Inc., to continue providing as-needed services to the Community Development Department effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with potential two one-year extensions in an amount not to exceed $200,000; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 4 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
WATER The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during Consent Calendar:
a. AmendmentNo.4toContractNo.2022-25-CCwithSAAssociatesto prepared design and construction documents for the Watermain Replacement, Phase III, City Project No. 702-WTR for an amount not to exceed One Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($190,000); b. Authorized the City Manager to approve and execute amendments up to a cumulative amount of $100,000; and
c. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Professional Services Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 CITYFACILITIESMGMT TheCityCouncilunanimouslyapproveditemsA,B&CduringConsent Calendar:
a. AmendmentNo.2toContractNo.2022-41-CCwithHoneywell
International Inc., to purchase and/or replace major HVAC equipment for the systems serving the South Gate Police Department and South Gate City Hall, at a not to exceed cost of $192,359; b. Authorized the City Manager to approve amendments to Contract No. 2022-41-CC with Honeywell International Inc., up to an additional cumulative amount of $500,000 in budgeted funds to purchase and/or replace major HVAC equipment for the systems serving the South Gate Police Department and City Hall, to be funded with General Funds budgeted in the FY 2024/25 Capital Improvement Program; c. Authorized the sole source purchase of a 30-ton chiller from the Carrier Corp., for the South Gate Police Department's HVAC system, because of their quality, durability, safety features, components, their fitness for a particular use, and their ability to satis:[y the City's need for standardization of supplies, equipment or services; pursuant to South Gate Municipal Code section 1.54.510, at a cost not to exceed $85,776, (Exhibit B); and
d. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 2022-41-CC in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. 5 COMMUNITYDEV/
HOUSING The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 2022-85-AC with BDO USA, LLP., to continue providing as needed accounting and financial services to the City of South Gate Housing Authority ("SGHA") effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $25,000; and b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
WATER The City Council approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. The Southern California Edison License Agreement, Contract No.
9.8335 (Contract No. 2024-74-CC), which authorizes the City to use their property for Water Division operations and maintenance activities; and
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 6 WATER CONT'D b. Authorized the Mayor to execute the License Agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
7 TOWING POLICIES/
SERVICES The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2024-75-CC) with Mr. C's Towing of South Gate, Inc. ("Mr. C's"), for tow and storage services for a five-year term, with a City option for two, one-year extensions; and b. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
8 WATER The City Council approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Accepted completion of construction of the Hawkins North and South Tank Rehabilitation, City Project No. 645-WTR by Unified Field Services Corporation ("UFSC"), effective September 24, 2024; and b. Directed the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's Office.
9 REVENUE & TAXATION The City Council unanimously approved items A & B by motion of Council Member Avalos and seconded by Mayor Hurtado:
a. Authorized the total FY 2023-24 supplemental appropriations in the amount of $760,804 using various funds as outlined in this report and Attachment A in addition to any changes approved by the City Council.
b. Reallocated $596,896 in American Rescue Plan Act ("ARPA") Funds from FY 2024-25 Police Department Salaries to FY 2023-24 ARPA programs for mental health services.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 10 MINUTF.S The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during Consent Calendar:
a. The Special and Regular Meeting minutes ofAugust 13, 2024; b. TheSpecialMeetingminutesofAugust21,2024;and
c. TheSpecialandRegularMeetingminutesofAugust27,2024.
11 CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTMENTS Council Member Avalos requested to add item "d." Ratifying the nomination by Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos to appoint Lorena Morales to the Citizens' Advisory Committee
a. Ratifying the nomination by Council Member Joshua Barron of Daysi N. Alonzo to the Citizens' Advisory Committee;
b. Ratifying the nomination by Council Member Joshua Barron of Andres Gonzalez to the Tweedy Mile Advisory Board; c. Rati§ing the nomination by Mayor Gil Hurtado to reappoint Sylvia Masushige to the Tweedy Mile Advisory Board; and
Vice Mayor Davila motioned to approve items a, b, c and the add on by Councilwoman Avalos and seconded by Mayor Hurtado.
ROLL CALL: Council MemberAvalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, 12 WARRANTS
yes.
The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for September 24, 2024, by motion of Vice Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
Total ofChecks: $4,115,734.66
Less:Voids $ (358,126.00)
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (508,755.76)
GrandTotal: $3,248,852.90
Cancellations: 107168, 107308, 107329, 107331
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 ADJOURNMENT Vice Mayor Davila unanimously adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m. and seconded by Mayor Hurtado.
PASSED and APPROVED this 22nd day of October 2024.
ATTEST:
Gil Hurtado, Mayor Yodit City Clerk