CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The City Council/ Successor Agency to the Westminster Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting convened on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, to Closed Session at 6:00 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
6: 00 P. M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Nguyen called the Special Closed Session Meeting of the City Council/ Successor Agency to the Westminster Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 6: 03 p. m., on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, via In-Person, at the City Council Chambers, 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: MAYOR CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
VICE MAYOR KIMBERLY HO, DISTRICT 3
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS MANZO, DISTRICT 2
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PHAN WEST, DISTRICT 1
COUNCIL MEMBER NAMQUAN NGUYEN, DISTRICT 4
City Clerk Arocho announced a quorum of the City Council present.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Christine Cordon
City Attorney Christian Bettenhausen
Assistant City Manager Adolfo Ozaeta
City Clerk Ashton Arocho
Police Chief Darin Lenyi
Deputy Police Chief Ron Weber
SALUTE TO FLAG Mayor Nguyen
Immediately following the flag salute, Mayor Nguyen commented on the call for the Special Meeting clarifying that staff had originally called for a Special Meeting to meet under Closed Session for the items listed on the agenda and that Mayor Nguyen called for the Open Session item due to recent actions of Council Member Phan West.
Mayor Nguyen highlighted the absence of Council Members Phan West and Nguyen and asked staff if they were given clarification regarding their absences.
City Manager Cordon commented on staff reaching out to members of the City Council to schedule the Closed Session in early June and had confirmed 4 of the 5 Council Members would be in attendance. City Manager Cordon commented that at the last minute, there was a cancellation received.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Vice Mayor Ho asked staff to further clarify who was the last-minute cancellation for the meeting.
City Manager Cordon stated that Council Member Phan West advised staff at the last minute that she could not attend the meeting, and that Council Member Nguyen had given staff advanced notice of his absence.
DiscussionensuedonCouncilMemberavailabilityto attendtheSpecialMeeting.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR CLOSED SESSION
Thefollowingindividualsspokeunderoralcommunicationsregardingthe itemlistedonthe Closed Session agenda:
1. MichaelVerrengiavoiced his concernson potentiallitigationcasesthat are up for discussion during Closed Session and highlighted the absence of Council Members Phan West and Nguyen.
2. Terry Rains asked City Attorney Bettenhausen to provide a more specific title for the Closed Session items pursuant to Government Code and the Brown Act.
Followingoral communications, MayorNguyenaskedstaff to re-clarifyfor the recordthat CouncilMemberPhanWest cancelledher attendanceto the meetingshe had originally confirmed attendance for and commented on a press release sent out during oral communications by Council Member Phan West.
City ManagerCordoncommentedon the originalavailabilityidentifiedby CouncilMember Phan West and when staff received her unavailability notice.
CLOSED SESSION:
City Clerk Arocho read the Closed Session title into the record:
1. Conference with Legal Counsel pursuant to
Government Code Section 54956. 9( d)( 2): Potential Litigation Number of Cases: Two ( 2)
The Mayor and City Council entered Closed Session at 6:16 p.m.
RECESS: Mayor Nguyen recessed the meeting at 8:10 p.m. from Closed Session.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The City Council/ Successor Agency to the Westminster Redevelopment Agency Special Meeting reconvened on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, to Open Session at 8:00 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING
8: 00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Nguyen called the Special Meeting of the City Council/ Successor Agency to the Westminster Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 8: 12 p. m., on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, via In- Person, at the City Council Chambers, 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: MAYOR CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
VICE MAYOR KIMBERLY HO, DISTRICT 3
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS MANZO, DISTRICT 2
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PHAN WEST, DISTRICT 1
COUNCIL MEMBER NAMQUAN NGUYEN, DISTRICT 4
City Clerk Arocho announced a quorum of the City Council present.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Christine Cordon
City Attorney Christian Bettenhausen
Assistant City Manager Adolfo Ozaeta
City Clerk Ashton Arocho
Police Chief Darin Lenyi
Deputy Police Chief Ron Weber
Sergeant at Arms Stewart DeJong
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Council Member Manzo led the flag salute.
INVOCATION
Vice Mayor Ho led the invocation.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Immediatelyfollowing, MayorNguyenclarifiedthereasoningforcallingtheSpecialMeeting to revisit Agenda Item No. 5.2 from the June 12, 2024, meeting.
Mayor Nguyen commented on his conditions outlined in the final motion taken on June 12th, spokeontheactionsof CouncilMemberPhanWestimmediatelyfollowingthe meeting, and voiced his support in strongly considering the censure.
CITY ATTORNEY/ CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Bettenhausen stated that the Mayor and City Council met under Closed Session on the items listed on the agenda, provided direction to staff, and took no reportable action.
1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS — AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
The following individuals spoke under oral communications:
1. D'Vorah Mariscal commented in support of censuring and sanctioning Council Member Phan West, spoke on the recent actions of Council Member Phan West, and urged the City Council to move forward with the censure immediately.
2. Michael Verrengia commented on the recent interview from Council Member Phan West on Council Member Nguyen's YouTube Channel immediately following the June 12 meeting, commented on recent press release from Council Member Phan West and urged the City Council to move forward with the censure immediately.
3. Roger Mindrum applauded Mayor Nguyen on his character during the June 12 meeting to allow Council Member Phan West time to change her behavior, spoke on the lack of recognition of the items done wrong by Council Member Phan West, spoke in support of changing the censure date to an earlier date, and commented on the expectations the community has towards decorum of the City Council.
4. Tim Hogan commented on the poor representation of District 1 by Council Member Phan West, highlighted the continued absence of Council Member Phan West for events or items directly related to District 1, and urged the City Council to move forward with the censure immediately.
5. Kim Springer thanked the City Council and staff for their attendance at the Special Meeting, voiced opposition of the lack of attendance by Council Member Phan West and Council Member Nguyen, spoke on the recent interview from Council Member PhanWest on CouncilMemberNguyen's YouTubeChannelimmediatelyfollowing the June 12 meeting, requested that community members listen to Council Meetings to understand the poor behavior displayed by Council Member Phan West, and urged the City Council to move forward with the censure immediately.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
6. Nguyen Hung commented on the June 12 meeting and requested that the Mayor and City Council move forward with the censure of Council Member Phan West, as conveyed in his written communication.
7. Jessica Lostaunau highlighted the final action taken at the June 12 meeting, spoke on the actions of Council Member Phan West immediately following the meeting, commented in disappointment of Council Member Phan West for not attending the Special Meeting and urged the City Council to move forward with the censure immediately.
8. Tauri Hammell commented in agreement with those who spoke prior, highlighted that there are no members present that spoke in opposition of Agenda Item No. 5.2 during the June 12 meeting, spoke on the character of Council Member Phan West, briefly commented on the recent press release by Council Member Phan West, and spoke in support of moving forward with the censure immediately.
9. Debbie Schwabl commented on the length of the June 12 City Council meeting, spoke in embarrassment of the representation of Council Member Phan West to District 1 residents and the entire Westminster community, voiced disappointment in the Council meetings regarding items that have nothing to do with the community, and spoke in support of moving forward with the censure immediately.
10. Ronnie Guyer commented on the decorum of the Chino Hills City Council versus the Westminster City Council, spoke in support of Council Member Phan West and highlighted the quick action of Council Member Phan West and the entire City Council on the denouncing of Jane Fonda Day with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
11.Terry Rains commented in support of the censure against Council Member Phan West, spoke on the actions and character of Council Member Phan West immediately following the June 12 meeting, outlined the multiple violations Council Member Phan West has committed, and urged the City Council to move forward with the censure immediately.
Following oral communications, Mayor Nguyen thanked members of the public who remained present during the full duration of the June 12 meeting and spoke in agreement with the comments made by the public on the recent actions of Council Member Phan West.
2. Revisit Agenda Item No. 5. 2 from the June 12, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting - Request for a Resolution of Censure, Based on Actions of Councilwoman Amy Phan West ( District 1).
Vice Mayor Ho commented on the length of the item at the June 12 meeting.
Mayor Nguyen left the dais at 8:53 p. m.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
CityClerkArochoannouncedthatthereisnolongeraquorumoftheCityCouncilpresent and recommended that Vice Mayor Ho call for a recess.
RECESS: 8:53 p.m.
CALLTOORDER: MayorNguyencalledthemeetingto orderat8:56p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: MAYOR CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
VICE MAYOR KIMBERLY HO, DISTRICT 3
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS MANZO, DISTRICT 2
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PHAN WEST, DISTRICT 1
COUNCIL MEMBER NAMQUAN NGUYEN, DISTRICT 4
City Clerk Arocho announced a quorum of the City Council present.
2. CONTINUED - Revisit Agenda Item No. 5.2 from the June 12, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting - Request for a Resolution of Censure, Based on Actions of Councilwoman Amy Phan West ( District 1).
Vice Mayor Ho asked City Manager Cordon what date and time Council Member PhanWestannouncedher lackof availabilityto attendthe SpecialMeeting.
City ManagerCordoncommentedon the cancellationreceivedby CouncilMember Phan West for the meeting and clarified that the entire City Council was informed of the Closed Session meeting back on June 4.
Vice MayorHoaskedifthis itemcouldbedelayeduntiltomorrow's RegularMeeting on June 26, 2024 due to the absence of Council Members Phan West and Nguyen.
Vice Mayor Ho continued to comment on the actions of Council Member Phan West immediatelyfollowingthe June 12 meetingand her lack of understandingof what she has done wrong.
Vice Mayor Ho commentedin supportof directingstaff to adjournthe meetingto Wednesday, June 26, to continue the discussion of the item and highlighted the lack of seriousness by Council Member Phan West on the subject matter.
Discussion ensued regarding the actions of Council Member Phan West.
Vice Mayor Ho voiced support in Council Member Phan West to take on full responsibility of any lawsuits that appear due to the violations listed in the staff report
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
by Council Member Phan West, and also voiced support in having punishments for Council Member Phan West, should she not comply with the items presented by the City Council.
Vice Mayor Ho proposed that staff bring the censure resolution for consideration at the August
14th
City Council Meeting rather than wait until the September 11th
City
Council Meeting and provide a list of intergovernmental agencies that Council Member Phan West serves on as a representative of the City Council.
Mayor Nguyen reminded Vice Mayor Ho that Council Member Manzo added some items to the list during the June 12 meeting and wanted to ensure that those were included in the proposed resolution.
Discussion ensued regarding the final motion of the June 12 meeting.
Council Member Manzo commented on his commitment as a Council Member, voiced his scheduling conflict for a personal matter, but outlined his commitment to all meetings of the City Council and spoke on the commitment that all Council Member' s should have towards their role on the Council.
Council Member Manzo responded to a comment made during oral communications regarding the decorum of other City Council' s and spoke on the disagreements and lack of respect shown amongst the Council Members.
Mayor Nguyen thanked Council Member Manzo for being present, especially during a challenging time with a loss in his family.
Mayor Nguyen commented on the process to censure a Council Member, identified that the next step is to bring a Resolution back for consideration and commented on the proposed direction outlined by Vice Mayor Ho.
Mayor Nguyen voiced his desire to adjourn the meeting to the Regular Meeting held on June 26, 2024, and commented on those who spoke during oral communications tonight would not be able to speak again tomorrow as the item is being continued.
Vice Mayor Ho suggested that the continued item be taken at the end of the Regular meeting.
City Attorney Bettenhausen commented on the proposed adjournment and asked the City Council to identify a time.
Discussion ensued regarding the proposed adjournment of the meeting.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Motion was made by Mayor Nguyen, seconded by Vice Mayor Ho, to adjourn the Special Meetingto Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. to continuethe following items:
CLOSED SESSION:
1. Conference with Legal Counsel pursuant to
Government Code Section 54956. 9( d)( 2): Potential Litigation Number of Case( s): One ( 1)
OPEN SESSION:
Revisit Agenda Item No. 5. 2 from the June 12, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting - Request for a Resolution of Censure, Based on Actions of Councilwoman Amy Phan West ( District 1).
The motion carried, 3-0-2-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: C. NGUYEN, HO, MANZO
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: PHAN WEST, N. NGUYEN
ABSTAIN: NONE
3. COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Nguyen adjourned the meeting at 9: 17 p. m. to the Adjourned Special Meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.
Res• ectfully submitted:
A' To N R. AROC 0, MMC
CIT CLERK
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
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AS' HT( N R. A' O 0, MMC
CIT' CLERK
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
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