CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025
CALLTO ORDER Maria Davila, Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:39 p.m.
INVOCATION Pastor Bobby Scott, Community of Faith Bible Church PLEDGE OFALLEGIANCE Sophie Ryan
ROLL CALL Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
PRESENT Mayor Maria Davila, Vice Mayor Joshua Barron, Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos, Council Member Gil Hurtado and Council Member Al Rios; City Manager Rob Houston, City Attorney Rail F. Salinas EXCUSED/ABSENT City Treasurer Jose De La Paz
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE (NON-AGENDA
ITEMS) Ofelia Ryan, Resident - Requesting support for Senate Bill 48 by Lena Gonzalez and assistance with the creation of an immigrant student support unit within LAUSD.
Homer Lopez, Resident - Addressing issue with parking lot on Southern Ave and Calden Ave being used as a trash dump and vehicles driving circles in the same parking lot. Can it be locked and/or have surveillance.
Francisco Gallegos, Resident on Otis - Issues with residents having car parts/cars stolen and the neighborhood being taken over with no parking enforcement. People double parking, blocking fire hydrants, and selling vehicles in home parking driveways.
EMAIL: Mario Dominguez, Resident - Expresses concern about the recent fires and would like to know if the city is prepared. Also, requesting a citywide campaign encouraging residents to trim overgrown trees to avoid fire hazards.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS Arturo Cervantes, Director of Public Works - Presented a CIP Update.
Urban Orchard to be completed June 5, 2025. Hollydale Community Park finalizing project.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2025
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Council Member Hurtado - Requested and explanation for the available funding for the city.
Arturo Cervantes, Director of Public Works - Residential Street funding is very limited. Resources are limited.
Council MemberAvalos -Agrees with Mr. Lopez regarding pothole issues in our city streets.
Arturo Cervantes, Director of Public Works - Will investigate the issues in this area and will address.
Steve Costley, Director of Parks & Recreation - Father/Daughter event is sold out. Open House in the Sport Center was a success:tul event.
Wendy O'Kelly, Director of Administrative Services - Dept. of Administrative Services is currently working on the mid-year budget.
Nellie Cobos, Deputy Director of Human Resources - Announcement of open positions available within the City of South Gate.
Darren Arakawa, Police Chief - Currently working on year-end stats for 2024. Code Enforcement has issued thousands of citations and there is no lack of effort. The report of thefts of catalytic converters is not only a problem within South Gate. This issue is county wide, and we continue to ask residents to secure their vehicles.
Thank you to our officers for your contribution to the current fires in Los Angeles. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Rob Houston, City Manager - Has nothing to report.
Raul F. Salinas, City Attorney - Has nothing to report.
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk - Has nothing to report however expressed her thoughts and prayers to those suffering from these fires.
Council MemberAvalos -Attended Vector Control meeting regarding 12 cases of Dengue and expresses for residents to dump out standing water.
Also, expresses sympathy to those that have lost their homes or family.
Reach out to a counselor if needed.
Council Member, Rios - Responds to Mr. Lopez regarding parking lot by the college. In the past chains and locks were placed to secure parking but have been removed. A gate has been purchased and will soon be installed.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OFJ ANUARY 14, 2025
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Council Member, Hurtado - Expresses concern about scammers and looting during this difficult time. Support for Wildfire Recovery Organizations have been posted on the city's website if you would like to donate.
Responds to Mrs. Ofelia Ryan regarding Senate Bill 48. We have been contacted regarding this bill. This situation has our community in fear, and we are hopeful of having resources available for our students/family.
Vice Mayor, Barron - Informs community to use the City of South Gate App to report any issue within the city. CaldenAve is a difficult area that gets hit with illegal dumping, etc.
Residents are not informed regarding Bulky Items resources available through UWS. Renters can now call in to receive these services as well.
UWS is offering scholarships for our South Gate students. For more details, please go to UWS website. Deadline is January 31, 2025.
Attended the South Gate Kiwanis - Day of Service at the Salvation Army from 9am-lpm. Approximately 900 boxes were filled and delivered to some of the victims of the Los Angeles Fires.
Mayor, Davila - Very important to inform our South Gate students of the $2000 scholarships being offered by UWS. For more details, please go to UWS website. Deadline is January 31, 2025.
CONSENTCALENDAR Agenda Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 were approved by motion of Council Member Rios and seconded by Council Member Hurtado.
ROLL CALL: Council MemberAvalos, yes (recused from item 7); Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes (recused from item 7); Mayor Davila, yes. 1 PERSONNEL RF.CRUITMENT
& SELECTION The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-01-CC entitled Resolution to approve the update to the compensation for the position of Director of Cornrnunity Development in the Community Development Department, and to add the hourly equivalent position of Director of Community Development to the Consolidated Salary Schedule during consent calendar.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF J ANUARY 14, 2025 2 PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT
& SELECTION The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-02-CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, approving and adopting an updated consolidated pay schedule for all full-time, part-time, and elected officials within the CalPERS guidelines during consent calendar.
3 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-03-CC entitled 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.
WASTEWATER MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a. Amendment No. 6 to Contract No. 2020-09-CC with A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc., for On-Call Municipal Water and Sewer Systems Maintenance Services to fund emergency repairs completed on the municipal water, sanitary sewer and storm drain system, for an amount not to exceed $130,615;
b. Appropriated $50,000 from the Water Fund, $50,000 from the Sewer Fund and $30,615 from the Measure W fund for urgent repairs; and c. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 6 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
CITY FACILITIES MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A, B, C & D during consent calendar:
a. Amendment No. l to Contract No. 2023-13-AC with Black, O"Dowd andAssociates DBABOAArchitecture ("Agreement"), to prepare design and construction dociunents for the (i) City Hall Roof Repairs, City Project 732-ARC, and (ii) Henry C. GonzalezAuditorium Roof Replacement, City Project No. 695-PRK, for an amount not to exceed $96,000;
b. Amended tlie Fiscal Year 2024/25 Capital Improvement Program to add the City Hall Roof Repairs, City Project No. 732-ARC,;
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2025 5 CITY FACILITIES MGMT
CONT'D
c. Transferred $1,000,000 in the Building and Infrastructure Maintenance Fund from the South Gate Police Department HVAC Replacement Project, City Project No. 667-GEN to the City Hall Roof Repairs, City Project No. 732-ARC; and
d. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
6 PF,RSONNF,L - LABOR
RELATIONS The City Council unanimously approved an updated employment contract agreement (Amendment No. l to Contract No. 2023-1 59-CC) between the City of South Gate and City Manager Robert Houston for the term of December 1, 2023, through November 30, 2027, detailing the terms of his appointment and any changes thereto effective January 26, 2025, during consent calendar.
WATER The City Council approved items A, B, C, D & E during consent calendar:
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2025-02-CC) with JA Salazar Construction & Supply Corp., to replace 1,730 water meters under the Automatic Meter Reading ("AMR") Upgrade, Phase IV, City Project No. 685- WTR, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,608,555;
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney;
c. Appropriated $250,000 from the Water Fund to fiilly fund the AMR Upgrade, Phase IV, City Project No. 685-WTR;
d. Approved the Notice of Exemption for the AMR Upgrade, Phase IV City Project No. 685-WTR; and
e. Directed the City Clerk to file the Notice of Exemption with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2025 8 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a. Agreement(ContractNo.2025-03-CC)withT.Y.LinInternational Group, to provide construction management and inspection services for the Citywide Residential Resurfacing, Phase IV, City Project No. 699-ST ("the Residential Resurfacing Project IV"), in an amount not- to-exceed $230,000;
b. Authorized the City Manager to approve amendments to the proposed Agreement up to a cumulative amount of $75,000 to avoid delaying services during construction; and
c. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
9 SOLID WASTE MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a. A three-year term Agreement (Contract No. 2025-04-CC) retroactively to January 1, 2025, with Go2Zero Strategies, LLC for solid waste management services for a not-to-exceed amount of $282,330; b. Appropriated$94,110inRefuseCollectionFundstopayforYearl services; and
c. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
10 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2025-05-CC) with NV5 to prepare the Comprehensive Safety Action and Local Roadway Safety Plan, City Project No. 731-RPT, in an amount not-to-exceed $119,680; b. Appropriating $170,000 in Proposition C Funds to fully fund the Comprehensive Safety Action and Local Roadway Safety Plan, City Project No. 731-RPT; and
c. Authorizing the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2025 LAW ENFORCEMENT The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a, A 5-year Lease Agreement (Contract No. 2025-06-CC) with Lease Servicing Center, Inc., dba NCL Government Capital ("NCL") for the lease of one 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee and one 2025 Honda Passport vehicle to be used as Administration/Services Division vehicles for the Police Department, in the amount of $23,522 per year; for a total amount of $118,110 including a $500 closing fee;
b. Approved lease payments in the amount of $23,522 to be budgeted annually, subject to and in accordance with the City's budget process, for five (5) years in the Asset Seizure Fund starting in Fiscal Year 2024/2025 and including a $500 closing fee in Fiscal Year 2024/2025; and
c. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement, and any other documents that may be necessary to acquire the vehicles in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
LAW ENFORCEMENT The City Council unanimously approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a. A 5-year Lease Agreement (Contract No. 2025-07-CC) with Lease Servicing Center, Inc., dba NCL Government Capital ("NCL") for the lease of one (1) 2025 Dodge Durango vehicle to be used as a patrol vehicle for the Police Department in the amount of $13,262 per year for a total amount of $66,810, including a $500 closing fee; and b. Approved lease payments in the amount of $13,262 to be budgeted annually, subject to and in accordance with the City's budget process, for five (5) years in the General Fund starting in Fiscal Year 2024/2025 and including a $500 closing fee in Fiscal Year 2024/2025; and c. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement, and any other documents that may be necessary to acquire the vehicles in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OFJ ANUARY 14, 2025 13 CITY COt+NCIL
APPOINTMENTS The City Council unanimously approved the following appointments by motion of Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Hurtado:
a. Appointed representatives to various outside boards and agencies of which the City of South Gate is a member; and
b. Ratified the appointment of the City Council Auditor by the Mayor, as stipulated under South Gate Municipal Code Section 1.04.170 (Auditor). (Appointed during the December 10, 2024, meeting).
Organization Representative
and Alternate
I Appointment Date
County Sanitation
Districts (Dist. l& 2)
Rep: Davila
Alt: Barron
12-10-2024
01-14-2025
Independent Cities
Association (ICA)
Rep: Rios
Alt: Barron
01-14-2025
01-14-2025
School Safety
Collaborative
Rep: Davila
Alt: Rios
04-12-2011
01-14-2025
ROLL CALL: Council MemberAvalos, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Mayor Davila, yes.
14a
WARRANTS The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for December 24, 2024, by motion of Council Member Avalos and seconded by Council Member Hurtado.
Total ofChecks: $ 4,571,093.92
Less:Voids $ (2,264.24)
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (436,985.38)
GrandTotal: $ 4,131,844.30
Cancellations: 108177, 108259
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Mayor Davila, yes.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2025 14b
WARRANTS The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for January 14, 2025, by motion of Council Member Avalos and seconded by Council Member Hurtado.
Total ofChecks: $1,790,176.50
Less:Voids $ 0.00
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (401,301.26)
GrandTotal: $1,388,875.24
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Mayor Davila, yes.
ADJOURNMENT Council MemberAvalos unanimously adjourned the meeting in memory of the late President, Jimmy Carter. President Carter's unparalleled dedication to service and humanitarian causes, particularly through his support of Habitat for Humanity, leaves a legacy that continues to inspire us. His commitment to building a world where everyone has a decent place to live has touched countless lives, including here in California at 7:58 p.m. and seconded by Council Member Hurtado.
PASSED and APPROVED on this 25' day of February 2025.
Maria Davila, Mayor
ATTEST:
Yodit G , City Clerk