CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025
CALLTO ORDER Joshua Barron, Vice Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:52 p.m.
INVOCATION Tina Fierro, Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation PLEDGE OFALLEGIANCE Manuel Arana, Police Captain
ROLL CALL Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
PRESENT Vice Mayor Joshua Barron, Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos, Council Member Gil Hurtado and Council Member AI Rios; City Treasurer Jose De La Paz, City Manager Rob Houston, City Attorney Raul F. Salinas
ABSENT/EXCUSED Mayor Maria Davila
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE - NON-AGENDA
ITEMS Mario Dominguez, South Gate resident, concerned that the Wi-Fi in the Council Chambers keeps failing. Mr. Dominguez is not happy with the new design for the ELAC presentation.
Students on a group assignment for USC provided pictures of Frontage Road which needs a lot of repair work. The fencing that divides the street and the 710 freeway has been torn and ripped, which is dangerous for the homeless population. Also, trucks and truckers dump trash.
Roberto Rodriguez, South Gate resident, informed the Council that the residents were not informed of the increase in trash services.
F.MAILS Jennifer Daily, urging the Council to hold the Planning Commission's unanimous decision on March 18, 2025, to reject Engle's appeal for continued metal processing operations and zone change at 8530 Alameda.
Roberto Sanchez expresses his frustration with how the city handles community participation, particularly with emails and call-in features for the Council meetings. He accuses Council Members and City staff using these tactics to sensor participation. He criticizes the state of Tweedy Boulevard and the library as hazardous due to crime.
Maria Chavez expresses frustration with city management citing several issues regarding financial mismanagement. She criticizes the proposed Utility User Tax as a bailout for the City Council and city staff. She REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 8, 2025 EMAILS CONT'D regards the Tweedy Mile Business District ongoing repairs as slopy and poorly executed. She questions the additional taxpayer monies spent on Urban Orchard Park due to inadequate planning. She highlights design flaws on the Long Beach Boulevard improvements regarding dangerous rocks placed on the sidewalks and then later removed.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS Arturo Cervantes, Director of Public Works stated receiving questions on Frontage Road, as well as emails to be addressed. Mr. Cervantes stated that the city takes pride in maintaining its roadways. The challenges are simply funds. Mr. Cervantes stated Frontage Road is scheduled for repair.
Public Works has completed the designs. Mr. Cervantes stated the designs for Tweedy are to meet safety and ADA standards. The city did run into a procedural and regulatory issue on the Urban Orchard Project with LA accounting. The Urban Orchard Project is not being funded through the general fund but through grants. Regarding the rocks designed on Long Beach Boulevard, the use of those rocks or stones is industry standard and many cities are being used. The design was for places where the public does not walk in, but the city understands the potential for safety issues, so the design is being replaced with another design.
Vice Mayor Barron asked Mr. Cervantes to speak about the increase in the trash.
Mr. Cervantes stated that the city has a franchise agreement with UWS to provide solid waste and part of that there is an annual rate increase. The community is notified by UWS, not by the city. He doesn't understand why certain individuals don't get to see them.
Vice Mayor Barron asked if trucks are allowed to park on Frontage Road adjacent to the 710 freeway.
Manuel Arana, Police Captain, believes the city does not allow trucks to park on the street. The police department have had meetings with businesses owners that allow truck drivers to park on the street.
Tina Fierro, Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation, mentioned a couple of events scheduled for this weekend.
David Crabtree, Interim Director of Community Development - nothing to report.
StevenAragon, Acting Budget and Finance Manager - nothing to report.
Jon Hamilton, Director of Human Resources - nothing to report.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 8, 2025
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Manuel Arana, Police Captain, stated the topic about homelessness at the library is a complex topic because the library is a county facility. The reason the homeless are at the library is because of the wi-fi open to the public. The captain made it clear that being homeless is not a crime, however due to the school being close the police department have contacted these individuals to provide resources.
Rob Houston, City Manager, made a general comment on the community's concerns.
Vice Mayor Barron asked the City Manager to verify why the city's website was not working to report a pothole. He also asked City Manager to speak on the length of time approved by Council to work on the Tweedy Boulevard.
Rob Houston, City Manager, will verify the city's website. He also spoke on the Tweedy Boulevard project.
Raul F. Salinas, City Attorney, stated that the Public Records Brown Act allows for the surnmarization of emails.
Council Member Avalos stated attending a meeting with the Southeast Water Coalition last Thursday. Three important issues were discussed regarding WRD's practices. WRD is scheduled to have a public hearing meeting on April 29'h at 10:00 a.m. to discuss water rate increase.
Council Member Avalos will also be attending the Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District meeting tomorrow. Vector Control are also seeking to increase their rates. Vector Control are scheduled to make a presentation at the May 13th City Council meeting. She thanked City Manager for the South Gate app. She encourages the community to use it. She cornrnended the Public Works Department for fixing a light pole that had its wire pulled out.
Jose De La Paz, City Treasurer, stated that the International Studies Learning Center, high school robotics team has made it to the Robotics World Championship in Houston, TX next week. He mentioned that if the team wins the World Championship it gives them an opportunity to compete globally against other countries.
Vice Mayor Barron wishes the team well and whether they win or not they should attend a council meeting to be honored.
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk - nothing to report.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 8, 2025
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D Council Member Hurtado stated receiving a lot of complaints from residents that city employees are taking too long to come out when it has to do with loud music, vehicles parked on lawn, people working as mechanics on their properties.
Council Member Hurtado mentioned that the general fund was not used for the Urban Orchard Project. He would like for the residents to reach out to Council and discuss mismanage of city funds. He thanked Mr. Crabtree for his time as Interim Director of Community Development.
Council Member Rios asked if the city participated in the Homeless Count. Mentioned that at the last City Council meeting the LACCD had a presentation. He walked Tsveedy Boulevard and made some observations.
He inquired if the prices for the activities at the park for the children be reduced.
Vice Mayor Barron spoke about mismanagement of funds. He stated that the Finance Department has been awarded three times in a row an accountant reward. He mentioned that the budget hearings are held every year, and no one attends the meetings.
Vice Mayor Barron attended a meeting with the other eighty-eight (88) Mayors of LA County hosted by Mayor Karen Bass regarding amazing events in LA County coming soon, including FIFA World Cup in 2026, Super Bowl in 2027 and the Olympics in 2028.
Vice Mayor Barron supports ELAC being in this community
EXCUSF,D FROM
MEETING At this time, 7:47 p.m., Council Member Avalos, was excused from the meeting and departed from the Council Chambers.
CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Items 1 and 2 were approved by motion of Council Member Hurtado and seconded by Council Member Rios.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Council Member Avalos, excused; Mayor Davila, excused.
INVESTMENTS The City Council received and filed the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, during Consent Calendar.
INVESTMENTS The City Council received and filed the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, during Consent Calendar.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 8, 2025 3 MUNICIPAL CODE
ADMIN The City Council approved items A, B & C by motion of Council Member Hurtado and seconded by Council Member Rios:
a. Received and filed the Annual Military Equipment Report; b. FindingthismattertobeexemptunderCEQAperSectionl5061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines; and
c. Renewed South Gate Municipal Code 1.39.010 (Military Equipment Policy),
ROLL CALL: Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Council Member Avalos, excused; Mayor Davila, excused.
4 WARRANTS The City Council approved the Warrant Register for April 8, 2025, was approved (with the exception of Warrant No. 109714) by motion of Council Member Rios and seconded by Council 'Member Hurtado.
Total ofChecks: $ 4,894,475.02
Less:Voids $ (28,428.48)
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (290,397.82)
GrandTotal: $4,575,648.72
Cancellations: 104813, 104826, 104827, 104851, 104857, 104884, 105021, 105298, 105656, 105819, 105820, 105829, 105875, 105876, 105924, 105939, and 109449
Arturo Cervantes, Director of Public Works requested Invoice No. 345592, A, B, C (Warrant No. 109714) be pulled for further review and be brought back at a future time.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Council Member Avalos, excused; Mayor Davila, excused.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OFAPRIL 8, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Council Member Hurtado adjourned the meeting in memory of Manuel Rivera, longtime South Gate resident at 8:27 p.m. and seconded by Coiu'icil Member Rios.
PASSED and APPROVED on this 27" day of May 2025.
ATTEST:
Mari-a Davila, Mayor Yodit aze, City Clerk
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