CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2024
CALL TO ORDER Gil Hurtado, Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:43 p.m.
INVOCATION Steve Costley, Director of Parks & Recreation
PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE Angela Lucero, South Gate Resident and Tweedy Mile Advisory Board Member
ROLL CALL Sonia Guerrero, Recording Secretary
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 Rob Houston, City Attorney Raul F. Salinas
EXCUSED/ABSENT Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
l
EMERGENCY /DISASTER
PLANNING/PROGRAMS Following the conclusion of the Public Hearing, the City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2024-69-CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, adopting the updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan describing the City's efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
ChiefArakawa stated Lieutenant Camacho will be presenting the item.
Lieutenant Camacho stated he is here as the City of South Gate's Emergency Services Manager and gave a presentation.
Mayor Hurtado asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak on this item or if any emails received. Seeing no one step forward nor any emails received; Mayor Hurtado closed the audience portion.
Mr. Camacho stated that this item does not address the school district directly but we are in constant contact with the school district.
Mayor Hurtado asked how the city collaborates with the school district to address these issues.
Councilwoman Avalos asked how many staff are in the EOC. Are we prepared for any major incidents.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2024 l
EMERGENCY/DISASTER
PLANNING/PROGRAMS
CONT'D Mr. Camacho stated everyone present is a member of the EOC team. And all city employees bare responsibilities to address the matter.
Councilmember Barron asked how the collaboration with local businesses is in case of an emergency.
Mr. Camacho stated not only through code enforcement but building and safety and resources through the county are available.
Councilmember Barron asked Ms. Elguira if the city is including businesses during their application process of what type of materials are being housed and what we require as a city.
Meredith Elguira, Director of Community Development stated those types of conversations are not held with businesses as they come in. She recommends having an informal separately asking the businesses if they are willing to partner with the city.
Vice Mayor Davila asked how the CERT program and the EOC works.
Mr. Camacho stated that CERT is not part of the EOC. CERT is more for individuals to take of their families and neighbors.
Councilmember Rios has two concerns; one regarding schools during an emergency and a business with chemicals.
Chief Arakawa stated that this is a general plan. Informing the government we have a plan in place.
Chief Arakawa also stated that all the chiefs in the county and sheriff have had discussions in case of emergencies.
Staff's recommendations were unanimously approved by motion of Council MemberAvalos 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.
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE - NON-AGENDA
ITEMS Ignacio Cano, Resident - Issues with 3-4 trees that need trimming. Phones are not answered. Appointment was made - Worker a no-show. Needs assistance.
Mayor Hurtado asked Art Cervantes for assistance and update.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2024
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE - NON-AGENDA
ITEMS CONT'D Jeru'iifer Daly, Environmental Activist - Issue with trucks and truck yards operating without a TUP or CUP, Traffic, No Parking, Pollution, and dangerous driving.
Parent, AYSO Team - Issue with No Lights at Hollydale Park. Lights only get turned on when football team practices. No light access to the 47 AYSO teams.
Nicole Kim, Parent (AYSO) - Issue with No Lights at Hollydale Park.
There are also needs for safety due to homeless near riverbed.
Jose Garcia, Parent (AYSO) - Issue with transients jumping over fence into the Hollydale Park Area with No Police presence.
Maria Cortez, Regional Commissioner (AYSO) - Issue with No Lights at Hollydale Park. Requests lights at all areas at park. Fields are being damaged, and trash is being left behind.
Ana Elizarraras, Director of Chamber of Commerce - Invitation to the Christmas Lane Parade. Parade no longer on Tweedy Blvd due to construction. Parade: Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 12 noon.
Mayor, Gil Hurtado - Requests notifying residents of these changes to reduce potential negative impact.
Ana Elizarraras - Will be delivering door hangers to homes on Southern Avenue and surrounding streets.
Armando Velasquez, Resident - Update on the South Gate Kiwanis Club.
Reporting Club President, Ms. Emrna Vega effective October 1, 2024.
Invite to various events in October 2024.
EMAILS: Veronica, Resident - Requesting a pedestrian sign on Long Beach Blvd and Orchard Place.
Erik Trujillo, Concerned Resident - Requests Hollydale Park renovation will be completed as soon as possible. Also, requesting lights at park.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
pnoycnyoppicihts ArturoCervantes,DirectorofComrnunityDevelopment-Willinvestigate Mr. Cano's trees issue and the crosswalk requested on Long Beach Blvd and Orchard Place.
Presentation - Update on CIP. Approval was received from the County to move forward with the Urban Orchard Project. BIDs open. Construction expected to begin November 2024.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Update on Tweedy Mile Project. Completion expected March 2025.
New project being presented for State Street Improvements.
Steve Costley, Director of Parks and Recreation - Events: Saturday, October 12, 2024, Annual Artwalk at 2pm.
Response regarding Hollydale Regional Park - Parks have not had lights for 36 years. Parks will continue to work with AYSO to accommodate teams.
Rob Houston, City Manager - We will continue to work with and plan a pilot program (not a permanent one) to see a way to assist.
Meredith Elguira, Director of Community Development - Following up with Ms. Daly regarding illegal trucking. - Nothing else to report.
Mayor, Gil Hurtado - Requested an update to all Council from Meredith Elguira.
Wendy O'Kelly, Director of Administrative Services - Nothing to report.
Jon Hamilton, Director of Human Services - Various employment opportunities available on our city's website.
Darren Arakawa, Chief of Police - Email sent regarding a letter received from the FBI Director regarding a trucking company from Mexico. Large drug trafficking bust by our narcotics team. Proud of our team.
Rob Houston, City Manager - Nothing to report.
Raul Salinas, City Attorney - Attended a conference with the Hispanics Chamber of Commerce in Kansas City.
Jose De La Paz, City Treasurer - Nothing to report.
Sonia Guerrero/Fila Avelar-Vasquez for City Clerk Yodit Glaze - Nothing to report.
Maria Del Pilar Avalos, Councilmember - Thank you to the AYSO parents for coming out. Agrees that the park is very dark.
Congratulates to the new president of the South Gate Kiwanis.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Shares false allegations against her and anonymous letter received 10/01/2024.
Joshua Barron, Councilmember - Thank you to the residents present and parents of the AYSO participants. You are seen and heard.
Councilmember asks Art Cervantes regarding residents' issues with the sidewalks.
South Gate Kiwanis the SELA to Sinaloa bike ride which is overl,100 miles. The purpose is to raise funds for the Kiwanis Children's Fund.
Thank you to the Parks & Recreation Director and staff for the support during the Bell Gardens
Eddie Cochran Car Show. $17,000 were raised to help Bell Gardens High School start their own Key Club.
Al Rios, Councilmember - Thank you to those present at this meeting.
Open enrollment at local colleges to register new students.
Would have loved to hold the Christmas Parade in the Hollydale area.
Maria Davila, Vice Mayor - Thank you to those who are speaking about their concerns at our parks. There is a need to take children out to our parks. We want them involved and busy.
Next week will attending a 3-day conference in Long Beach.
Attended the Classic Car Show and it was very successful.
Attended a meeting with all school Principals in South Gate along with the police department.
Mayor, Gil Hurtado - Thank you to all present today. Mayor is aware of the challenges everyone faces within the City Parks. Many phone calls and iSsueS regarding issues have been addressed with Southern Ca. Edison.
Phone calls not being returned to our residents is an issue. Would like to ask staff to return calls to all callers.
Reads letter written by City Clerk Yodit Glaze in response to allegations made against her through anonymous letter.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2024
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Joshua Barron, Councilmember - Asked City Attorney for clarification as to why the anonymous letter could not be read at the October 1, 2024, Special Meeting.
City Attorney - Letter was received the day of the special council meeting and due to the Brown Act we were unable to read comments not on the agenda.
CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 were approved by motion of Vice Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Barron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes (recused from item 2).
2 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPmG The City Council made a finding and adopt Resolution 2024-70-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.
3 PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT
& SELECTION The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2024-71-CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California during Consent Calendar:
1. Retitling the job classification of Water Distribution Foreman to Water Distribution Supervisor in the Public Works Department; and
2. Updating the consolidated salary schedule to replace the position of Water Distribution Foreman with Water Distribution Supervisor.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2024 4 COMM. DEV. ADMIN The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during Consent Calendar:
a. AmendmentNo.2toContractNo.2023-130-ACwithWilldan
Engineering, Inc., throughApril 30, 2025;
b. Approved use of salary savings for as-needed services in the Planning Division, Housing Authority, and Code Enforcement not to exceed $400,000; and
c. Authorized the Mayor to execute Agreement No. 2 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
5 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during Consent Calendar:
a. Amended the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Capital Improvement Program ("CIP") to add the State Street Complete Streets, City Project No. 729- ST.
b. Appropriated $50,000 in Prop C Funds to the State Street Complete Streets, City Project No. 729-ST, to fund project management to initiate the design phase.
c. Appropriated $1,197,204 in Surface Transportation Program - Local ("STPL") Funds to the State Street Complete Streets, City Project No. 729-ST, to partially fund the construction phase.
6 CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTMENTS The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C by motion of Vice Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos:
a. Ratified the nomination by Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos of Adolfo Varas to the Citizens' Advisory Committee;
b. Ratified the nomination by Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos of Flavio Morales to the Tweedy Mile Advisory Board; and c. Ratified the nomination by Vice Mayor Maria Davila to reappoint Angela Lucero to the Tweedy Mile Advisory Board.
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 OCTOBER 8, 2024 7 WARRANTS The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for October 8, 2024, by motion of Vice Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
Total of Checks:
Less: Voids
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions
Grand Total:
$2,679,963.05
$ (0.00)
$ (389,278.55i
$2,290,684.50
r")
ROLLCALL: CouncilMemberAvalos,yes;CouncilMemberBarron, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Davila, yes; Mayor Hurtado, yes.
ADJOtJRNMENT Vice Mayor Davila unanimously adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.rn. and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
PASSED and APPROVED this 26" day ofNovember 2024.
ATTEST:
Yodit City Clerk
LJ