CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY January 5, 2022
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Pursuant to the State of California Executive Order N-29- 20 related to coronavirus( COVID- 19), the CityCouncilof the Cityof Westminster, Californiaconvenedon January5 at 3:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, California and via teleconference/ web conference.
3: 00 P. M.
ROLL CALL: MAYOR TRI TA, VICE MAYOR CARLOS MANZO, COUNCIL MEMBERS TAI DO ( arrived at 3:20 p.m.),
KIMBERLY HO, CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
PRESENT: TA, MANZO, DO, HO, NGUYEN
ABSENT: NONE
STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Manager Christine Cordon, Interim Assistant City Manager Adolfo Ozaeta, City Attorney Christian
Bettenhausen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Jake
Ngo, Interim Community Services and Recreation
Director Vanessa Johnson, Interim City Clerk Lucie
Colombo, Assistant City Clerk Abigail Y. Alcala,
Administrative Assistant Tanya Ramirez
SALUTE TO FLAG: Vice Mayor Manzo
INVOCATION: Council Member Nguyen
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR MATTERS ONLY ON THE AGENDA
1. Robert Harrison expressed concerns regarding the monument being presented and stated inaccuracies in depiction, input being excluded, and the inadequate representation of American forces.
2. Mark Lawrence, Westminster, spoke about the divisiveness of the Quang Tri Monument Committee and the exclusion of American soldiers in the monument design, and spoke in opposition of putting the monument in city parks.
3. Terry Rains, Westminster, spoke in opposition of virtual meetings; expressed concerns including unofficial Quang Tri Monument Committee meetings, revising the designs via email, and committee members not speaking in English; stated the design is not ready, does not accurately depict history, and is too large; and spoke in opposition of placing the monument in any local park but supported placing it on private property.
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING January 5, 2022
4. Krissy Land and Elizabeth DeGeytere, on behalf of the District 62 Challenger League, expressed concerns regarding the placement of the monument on Westminster Park and noted challenges in parking and obstruction to the green space in the park. ( E- Comment)
5. Bill Vetter spoke in opposition of placing the monument in any public park, stated it should be placed on a private location in Little Saigon, and expressed concern regarding the patches and design of the monument. ( E- Comment)
6. Wayne and Suzy Elliott, Westminster, spoke in opposition of a monument and stated it is a non- essential expense. ( E- Comment)
7. Anonymous, Huntington Beach, spoke in opposition of building on any part of Liberty Park. ( E- Comment)
8. Joanne Paull, Westminster, spoke in opposition of the proposed Quang Tri Monument and stated it is enormous, tasteless, and grammatically inaccurate. ( E- Comment)
9. Patty Leemhuis, Westminster, opined the city is wasting time on this monument project and asked that other issues such as homelessness be considered. ( E- Comment)
10. Janice Davis, Westminster, spoke in opposition of placing the monument in any public park and stated parks are for families to come and play. ( E- Comment)
11. John Virata, Westminster, stated the city should deal with pressing issues such as the looming bankruptcy and the monument should be placed on private property.
E- Comment)
12. Greg Sachnewycz expressed concern regarding the lack of acknowledgement of the U.S. military forces and being relegated to a minor role, and stated the voices of the U. S. Vietnam veterans should be heard in the design of this monument. ( E- Comment)
13. Lori Eilers Day, Westminster, expressed opposition in the monument and stated the city should return to a beautifully diverse community that celebrates all its citizens.
E- Comment)
14. Sandra McClure, Westminster, expressed opposition in placing the monument in any of the parks and stated the need to maintain what little park space is left for families and citizens to enjoy. ( E- Comment)
15. Jessica Lostaunau, Westminster, stated the topic of the Quang Tri Monument has absorbed quite a bit of time and resources and that the design of the monument is divisive, and encouraged the monument be conditionally approved pending the text on the side of the monument. ( E- Comment)
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING January 5, 2022
16.D'vorah Mariscal, Westminster, stated a 3 p.m. meeting is difficult for residents who work day jobs to attend, urged a sales tax measure be placed on the ballot, thanked the police department, stated the monument is not in the best interest of the city, and encouraged the City Council to focus on the well- being of all the residents. ( E- Comment)
17.Roger Mindrum, Westminster, stated the Quang Tri battle and monument have nothing to do with the city and the monument should not be placed in any city park or public property. ( E- Comment)
REGULAR BUSINESS
1. Resolution Reaffirming Proclamation No. 2020- 01 and Resolution No. 4983, Which Declared the Existence of a Local Emergency.
Motion was made by Council Member Nguyen, and seconded by Mayor Ta to adopt Resolution No. 5090 entitled, " A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, REAFFIRMING PROCLAMATION NO. 2020- 01 AND RESOLUTION NO. 4983 WHICH DECLARED THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY."
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: TA, MANZO, DO, HO, NGUYEN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
2. Resolution Authorizing the Conduct of Remote " Telephonic" Meetings During the State of Emergency.
Motion was made by Council Member Ho, and seconded by Council Member Do to adopt Resolution No. 5091 entitled, " A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER MAKING THE LEGALLY REQUIRED
FINDINGS TO CONTINUE TO AUTHORIZE THE CONDUCT OF REMOTE TELEPHONIC" MEETINGS DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY."
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: TA, MANZO, DO, HO, NGUYEN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING January 5, 2022
3. Depiction and Design of the Proposed Quang Tri Monument.
Public Works Director/ City Engineer Ngo presented the report and provided a timeline of the Quang Tri Monument Committee' s processes and efforts. He spoke about the subcommittees formed to manage fundraising and monument construction. He described the specifications and design of the monument, including the size, placement of flags, and the description on the monument base. Regarding the language on the base, Public Works Director/ City Engineer Ngo noted text revisions to the monument were submitted as Late Communication. He added the committee will return with finalized language at a later date for approval.
Council Member Ho asked for clarification for what is being approved.
Public Works Director/ City Engineer Ngo responded the committee is requesting the Council to approve the design and depiction of the monument at this time, and stated the text and writing on both sides and at the base of the monument will be brought back for final approval at a later date.
Council Member Ho responded to concerns regarding the patches and asked if the location of the patches are also being considered for approval at this time.
Vice Mayor Manzo suggested bringing back a new placement and narrative.
Kenny Hoang, Vice Chair of the Quang Tri Committee, responded that the logos have already been approved. He stated it is hard to change all the logos on the front side, noting there is not enough room, and stated they could be added to the back side.
Discussion ensued regarding the design and placement of the logos and patches.
Council Member Ho stated she would approve the design but not the emblems and wording. She noted the importance of the upcoming anniversary of the battle in September and expressed the urgency in the deadline and timeline in meeting this 50th
anniversary.
Motion made by Council Member Ho to approve the depiction and design of the monument, except for the wording and patches.
Council Member Do commented on the need to consider input from all sides and not just one side, and stated he would like the majority to take into consideration the American side. He noted the number of public comments were from the non- Vietnamese community.
Vice Mayor Manzo spoke about concerns raised by residents regarding the monument and stated there were exclusions on the monument. He spoke about the emblems and stated if this is what the committee wants, so be it, but he expressed concern regarding the size of the monuments. He stated he does not want to approve
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING January 5, 2022
the design with the current emblems and asked that the emblems and correct narrative be brought back.
Motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Manzo.
Council Member Ho encouraged the committee to use sources outside of the committee and stated the grammar needs to be correct.
Vice Mayor Manzo commented on concerns regarding the Brown Act and asked who is in charge of informing the committee and addressing any allegations.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ngo stated former Community Services Director Diana Dobbert was in charge of delegating information to the committee initially. He stated the Brown Act violation in question was from the December 21, 2021 meeting, which was a misunderstanding of a vote; and he read a statement at that meeting regarding the Brown Act.
Discussion ensued regarding the Brown Act.
Council Member Nguyen asked for clarification regarding why a statement was read regarding the Brown Act, asked about ethics training for the committee members, inquired about city funds toward the project, and asked for clarification regarding a press conference request by the committee.
City Attorney Bettenhausen explained he quickly put together a statement for staff to relay given there were allegations in emails, and stated it was important to help them understand.
Interim City Manager Cordon stated the committee members are required to take AB 1234 Ethics Training, but not all the certificates have been received.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ngo stated that it is necessary to have staff present at the committee meetings to conduct the business of the city since the committee is a city committee. In regards to the monument, he stated if the committee cannot raise the funds, staff will bring back a report for further direction.
He addressed that press conference requests must go through the city.
Council Member Do advised the committee to listen to city staff as they move through the process and project.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: MANZO, DO, HO
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN TA, NGUYEN
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING January 5, 2022
Council Member Do exited at 4: 57 p. m.
Council Member Nguyen exited at 4: 57 p. m.
Council Member Ho addressed concerns regarding funding of the monument and stated the construction will not cost taxpayer monies.
4. COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Ta adjourned the meeting at 4:59 p.m.
Next Regular Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Tri Ta
Mayor/ Chair
Lucie Colombo, CMC,
Interim City Clerk