7 WEST CONNA
CITY OF WEST COVINA
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
FEBRUARY 18, 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 Diaz
Councilmember Brian Gutierrez
MINUTES
Led by Al Richardsan from Now Beginning Christian Fellowship West Covina
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Councilwoman Diaz
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
City Attorney Thomas Durate reported that no action was taken during the Closed Session Meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
• Certificates of Appreciation: Student Government Day
• Presentation by East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center and Certificate of Appreciation recognizing Pearl Omiya
• Presentation by Dr. Basil on Current Health Issues
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager's report on current City projects.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Three (3) minutes per speaker
Albert Ochoa
Douglas Fore
Joanna Gee
Bill Elliot
Sherry Fischer
Mario Sobalvarro
R. Robinson
CONSENT CALENDAR
ACTION: Motion by Councilwoman Diaz and Second by Councilmember Gutierrez, 5-0 to: Approve Consent Calendar Item 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 (Item number 3 was pulled by Councilwoman Diaz and Item Numbers 6 and 7 was pulled by Councilmember Gutierrez)
Motion by Councilwoman Diaz and Second by Councilmember Gutierrez, 5-0 to:
Approve Consent Calendar Item 3 (Item number 3 was pulled by Councilwoman Diaz) Motion by Councilwoman Diaz and Second by Mayor Pro Tem Lopez-Viado, 5-0 to: Approve Consent Calendar Item 6 (Item number 6 was pulled by Councilmember Gutierrez)
Motion by Councilman Cantos and Second by Councilwoman Diaz, 5-0 to:
Approve Consent Calendar Item 7 (Item number 7 was pulled by Councilmember Gutierrez)
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
1) CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 17, 2024, CITY
COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES, THE FEBRUARY 4, 2025, CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES AND THE FEBRUARY 4, 2025, CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY CLOSED SESSION MEETING MINUTES.
Carried 5-0 to: approve the December 17, 2024, City Council/Successor Agency Regular Session Meeting Minutes, the February 4, 2025, City Council/Successor Agency Regular Session Meeting Minutes and the February 4, 2025, City Council/Successor Agency Closed Session Meeting Minutes.
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
2) CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2528 AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE
WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DECORUM DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND RESOLUTION NO. 2025-15
CHANGING THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS
Carried 5-0 to: take the following actions:
1. Introduce the following ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 2528 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING PROVISIONS OF DIVISION 2 (MEETINGS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE) OF ARTICLE II (CITY COUNCIL) OF CHAPTER 2 (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE WEST COVINA
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DECORUM
AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
2. Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-15 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, CHANGING THE ORDER OF
BUSINESS FOR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
3) CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF TRAFFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MEETINGS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2024 THROUGH JANUARY 2025
Carried 5-0 to: approve the Traffic Committee recommendations detailed in the staff report for traffic engineering improvements Citywide from the meetings held between November 2024 through January 2025.
4) CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF WORK FOR SOUTHSIDE SEWER CIPP LINING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT - PROJECT NO. 24004
Carried 5-0 to: take the following actions:
1. Accept the work performed by Southwest Pipeline and Trenchless Corp. for the Southside Sewer CIPP Lining Improvements Project (Project No. 24004) with a final cost of $816,644.01;
2. Authorize the City Manager and Assistant City Clerk to execute the Notice of Completion and file the Notice of Completion with the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to release a retention once appropriate.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
5) CONSIDERATION OF ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) AND OTHER RELATED REPORTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 Carried 5-0 to: receive and file the following for the year ended June 30, 2024:
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report ("ACFR");
• Government Auditing Standards Letter;
• Audit Communication Letter; and
• Community Financial Report.
6) CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASING REPORT AND REJECTION OF
UNAWARDED BIDS AND REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
Carried 5-0 to: take the following actions:
1. Receive and file the listing of all contracts and purchase orders that have been awarded by the City Manager from April 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025.
2. Reject the unawarded bids and requests for proposals detailed within the staff report.
7) CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT AND BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25
Carried 5-0 to: take the following actions:
1. Receive and file the Second Quarter Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25; and
2. Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-12. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2024
AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 (SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL
REPORT)
8) ANNUAL REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POLICIES
Carried 5-0 to: adopt the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-13 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA STATEMENT OF INVESTMENT POLICY
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-14 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE FUND
BALANCE POLICY
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
HEARINGS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
9) CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2525 (CODE AMENDMENT NO. 24-01) TO AMEND CHAPTER 26 OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE TO MAKE
CORRECTIONS AND INCORPORATE REQUIRED UPDATES TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW, AND TO AMEND THE "COMMERCIAL" PORTION OF THE PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NO. 1 (PCD-1) FOR THE WEST COVINA PORTION OF WOODSIDE VILLAGE TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE PCD-1 ZONING
CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT ZONING
Public Comments in Favor
None
Public Comments Neither in Favor nor Opposed
R. Robinson
Public Comments in Opposition
None
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: Motion by Councilmember Gutierrez and Second by Councilwoman Diaz, 5-0 to: take the following actions:
1. Conduct the public hearing; and
2. Introduce the following Ordinance; and
3. Amend the call-up procedures as presented by staff with a change to the notification radius of 1000 feet.
ORDINANCE NO. 2525 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CODE AMENDMENT NO. 24-01, THE DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE CLEAN UP, AMENDING CHAPTER 26 (ZONING) OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE, AND
AMENDING THE COMMERCIAL PORTION OF PLANNED COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT NO. 1 (PCD-1) FOR THE WEST COVINA PORTION OF
WOODSIDE VILLAGE
DEPARTMENTAL REGULAR MATTERS
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
10) Health Department Update
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the report. 11) Presentation of the City of West Covina's current Emergency Operations Plan It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the report.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
12) City Hall CCTV & Metal Detector Implementation
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the report.
PUBLIC WORKS
13) PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the report. 14) MEDIAN BEAUTIFICATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the report.
MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS
None
CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION • Gutierrez: Install orange lights (similar to Cortez Ave) (while staff and City Attorney access liability on red and blue lights) on Amar Road and Westport Street, Orange Ave. and Sweeney, and Merced between Orange and Sunset Ave. within a month. - No objection
• Gutierrez: City attorney brief the council surrounding the red and blue strobe lights - First meeting in April. Closed session
• Gutierrez - Del Note Park RFP to be posted by Monday 2/24. - No objection • Gutierrez: Contact Edison to install overhead light in the alley behind Glendoria Ave. Report back by end second meeting in March. - No Objection • Gutierrez: Bring to the City Council the recent item that went to Planning Commission on February 11th regarding psychiatric unit at the hospital in West Covina, with a notice radius of 1000 feet. Including reports by West Covina Fire Department, West Covina Police Department, and West Covina Health Department. No objection
• Gutierrez: Staff to identify positions to change the hiring requirements to a high school diploma or equivalent hiring experience, in line with state and federal hiring practices. No objection.
• Gutierrez: Change the vote to remove a commissioner with four votes with or without cause. Motion by Gutierrez and second by Diaz 4-1 No: Cantos. • Gutierrez: Recommendation that Student Government Day also includes Nogales High School. No objection.
• Cantos: In a spirit of full transparency for the public, I ask that the City Council place for approval on the agenda of the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday 03/04/2025, a resolution to establish as formal policy the need for all new proposed expenditures relating to the establishment of the West Covina Health Department to be presented to the City Council for review and consideration for adoption. By intent, this necessarily means public disclosure of full details, including specific pros and cons of actions as proposed by staff. In that spirit, to continue optimizing transparency, it must be noted that any further budgetary reallocations relating to the Health Department does not occur until after this agendized item is discussed during an open session of the Council. (Outside of the current contract) - No objection
• Cantos: I ask that the City Council place for approval on the agenda of the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday 03/04/2025, a resolution to establish as formal policy that no funds shall be diverted from the General Fund, either through direct or circuitous means, to continue financing of the Health Department or any aspects of its potential operation or further consideration. To be clear, this expressly includes but is not limited to dedication of financial resources through TransTech or any other contractor or subcontractor to cover for staffing, office, and other expenses; the movement of funds from different accounts to cover expenses relating to the Health Department; or reimbursement of business expenses to any or all persons who provide in-kind support whose expenditures exceed the amount already dedicated to Health Department work as previously allocated from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)funds and as laid out in the agenda packet distributed in connection with tonight's meeting. To be clear, this necessarily entails that, particularly since the Council already committed the last of ARPA money to other purposes in December 2024, out of any ARPA funding that still remains unspent other than what has already been earmarked for the Health Department and related work, additional allocation of ARPA money is not authorized. - There is no second, the request did not pass.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
• Cantos: With positive relationship with AT&T laptop computers will be provided to the Senior Center
• Gutierrez: Would like to make sure departments are applying for federal grants and meet deadlines.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting was made at 11:52 PM. The next regularly scheduled Regular City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1444 West Garvey Avenue South, West Covina, California.
Assistant City Clerk
Mayor