LINESTY CONNY
CITY OF WEST COVINA
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
JANUARY 7, 2025, 7:00 PM
REGULAR MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1444 W. GARVEY AVENUE SOUTH
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA 91790
Mayor Tony Wu
Mayor Pro Tem Letty Lopez-Viado
Councilman Ollie Cantos
Councilwoman Rosario Diaz
Councilmember Brian Gutierrez
MINUTES
INVOCATION
Led by Chaplain Kelly Dupee from the West Covina Police Department
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Councilman Gutierrez
ROLL CALL
Council Members
Present: Council Members Rosario Diaz, Ollie Cantos, Brian Gutierrez, Mayor Pro Tem Letty Lopez Viado, Mayor Wu
Absent: None
REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session
PRESENTATIONS
• Proclamation Acknowledging National Human Trafficking Prevention Month • Grant Donation to Friends of West Covina Police K-9
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager's report on current City projects.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Five (5) minutes per speaker
John Shewmaker
R. Robinson
Wen Wen Zhang
Bill Elliott
CONSENT CALENDAR
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Gutierrez and Second by Councilwoman Diaz, 5-0 to: Approve Consent Calendar Item 1 (Item number 2 was pulled Councilman Gutierrez)
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Gutierrez and Second by Councilwoman Diaz, 5-0 to: Approve Consent Calendar Item 2 (Item number 3 was pulled by Councilmember Gutierrez)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
1) CONSIDERATION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA)
FOR COLLECTING AND REPORTING DATA FOR THE NATIONAL TRANSIT
DATABASE
Carried 5-0 to: authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) for collecting and reporting data for the National Transit Database (NTD), in substantially the form as attached and in such final form as approved by the City Attorney.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
2) CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM US FOODS, INC.
Carried 5-0 to: take the following actions:
1. Authorize the City Manager to issue an amendment to purchase orders to US Foods, Inc. for miscellaneous food under the State of California Statewide Contract (Contract No. 1-22-89-15A) for the duration of the contract term, including any extensions.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute any purchase order change orders within the grant budget for the Elderly Nutrition Program.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
DEPARTMENTAL REGULAR MATTERS
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
3) CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT OF POLICE CHIEF
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Gutierrez and Second by Mayor Pro Tem Lopez-Viado, 5-0 to:
1. Approve the appointment of Antonio Cortina to the position of Police Chief
2. Administer the Oath of Office to Antonio Cortina.
MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS
None
CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION • Cantos:. I ask that the Council approve of a Mother-May-l to direct City Manager Paulina Morales to instruct staff to look into the feasibility of the City establishing a Section 115 Pension Trust, intended over the long run to enable the City to meet all its pension liabilities as the City of Cypress is on track to do by 2030 (having set up its fund in 2017). This should entail reaching out to Cypress City lanager Peter Grant and City Finance Director Matt Burton, gatherin formation about the nature of Section 115 pension trusts and its investmer returns in comparison to funds being managed by the State Treasury, and laying out various scenarios for the Council to consider in order to improve our City's long-term financial health. This should be done by the second Council meeting in February. No objection
• Cantos: Look into existing practices (if any) concerning issuance of exemptions from parking tickets on street sweeping days for home healthcare workers who visit senior residents or residents with disabilities. and to report back to us by the first Council meeting in April 2025. Considering how a significant number of community members are from the senior population or have disabilities, if other municipalities have addressed this topic, it may be worth our identifying those approaches and subsequently to determine what may be best for our City. No majority
• Lopez-Viado: Request that West Covina City Business are a priority when purchasing and services are used including City credit card, priority to West Covina business during the RFP process- the MC should reflect this process. - (Gutierrez: And take an expanded look into section 2-335 a review of that process - By July 1, 2025). No Objection
• Lopez-Viado: Project management software to manage the many projects example: Mother May I requested. No Objection - No due date. • Diaz: Look into a program that will help with parking permits for restricted parking.- Compton has a program. (Cantos asked to verify what the existing penalties are for fraudulent parking permits, and perhaps the use of a QR Code No objection. Report back by the end of February.
• Diaz: Fines for littering - Look at the Municipal Code and work with the Police Department and Code. Possible increase to the fine - No objection March 4* Meeting
• Diaz: No solicitation signs - Installing and implementing signs. Have Code/PD provide a report to council. Want signs posted so the public is aware. - Signage to be posted in prime street locations, and inform the business - No Objection - March 4th Meeting
• Wu: Car Accident on Cortez -Have engineering look into posting yellow flash signs on Cortez - No objection.
• Wu: Streamline business applications/ and licensing. - No objection. Report on the number of businesses that apply and how staff can help and what the consultant does report back at the 2nd meeting in February • Gutierrez: Letter signed by all Council Members to Supervisor Hilda Solace for additional funding for PD's Hope Team and LA CADA. - January 21st Council Meeting. - No objection
• Gutierrez: Work with the Traffic Committee to enact safety solutions on, on Bromer and Rowland, such as speed monitor signs include blue and red lights.
Use public works staff to install the red and blue lights. No objection. • Gutierrez: Update of SLERF Funds by 2024 First meeting in Feb - no objection • Guiterrez: Present an update on the State audit report: why the contracting policies won't be updated until July 2025 and why the City remains at high risk and what measures the City Manager will take by the 1st meeting in February. No objection.
• Guiterrez: Direct City Manager to work with Assistant City Manager Lerma and Deputy Director Suzie Perez to present at the 1st meeting in February the current income being generated, the expenses, and a review of the field rental costs at the sportsplex. No objection.
• Guiterrez: Update by Dr. Basil on the current status of the City's application to become a Public Health Department. Present updates to the current rising health issues affecting LA County, the State of California, and the United States. What community outreach that been accomplished and how the public can reach him.
Additionally, the cost associated with the Health Department, by the February 18th meeting. No objection.
• Guiterrez: To expand the grant writer presentation with an option to hire an Assistant City Manager for Grant Administration - overseeing all grands within all City Departments the City at the January 21st Meeting. No Objection • Guiterrez: To Orangewood Park Development funds (1.3 million dollars) to implement a new state of the art ADA playground refurnish the basketball court and replace the current pavilions, redo the skate park design and incorporate ADA Accessibility and remodel the public restrooms and create an ADA Accessible route to and from the front to the back of the park. In collaboration with the Community and Senior Services Commission submit an RFP no later than March 13t and bring it back to the Council for award by the May 20th Meeting. No objection.
• Cantos: Funding source/support for a crossing guard at Telesis Academy. No objection
• Guiterrez: Renew or proclaim a City of Emergency on homeless - City Attorney will look into it. Similar to the City of Los Angeles when they declared a City of Emergency. No objection
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
• Gutierrez: Again congratulated our new Police Chief, and reminded the resident of West Covina that this Council is committed on rebuilding and beautifying our public parks and living environments for our firefighters, and the police officers will have the resources to create a safe environment.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting was made at 10:02 PM The next regularly scheduled Regular City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1444 West Garvey Avenue South, West Covina, California.
Assistant City Clerk
Mayor