CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MAY 14, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
The CityCouncilofthe CityofWestminster, California, convenedonWednesday, May14, 2025, at 4: 00 p. m. in a Study Session via In- Person, City Council Chambers, 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, California.
STUDY SESSION
4: 00 P. M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Nguyen called the Study Session Meeting of the City Council/Successor Agency to the Westminster Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 4: 18 p. m., on Wednesday, May14, 2025, via In-Person, atthe CityCouncilChambers, 8200WestminsterBoulevard, Westminster, California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: MAYOR CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
VICE MAYOR CARLOS MANZO, DISTRICT 2
COUNCIL MEMBER MARK NGUYEN, DISTRICT 3
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PHAN, DISTRICT 1
COUNCIL MEMBER NAMQUAN NGUYEN, DISTRICT 4
Arrived at 4:25 p. m.)
City Clerk Arocho announced a quorum of the City Council present.
Mayor Nguyen asked staff whether they had prior knowledge of the absences for District 1 Council Member Phan West and District 4 Council Member N. Nguyen prior to the meeting.
City Manager Cordon stated that District 1 Council Member Phan West informed staff that she would not be able to attend and District 4 Council Member N. Nguyen informed staff that he was running late.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Christine Cordon
Assistant City Manager Adolfo Ozaeta
City Clerk Ashton Arocho
City Attorney Scott Porter
Assistant City Clerk Ashley Kumar
Finance Director Erin Backs
Assistant Finance Director Jennifer Anderson
Community Services and Recreation Director Vanessa
Johnson
Maintenance and Utilities Manager Tuan Pham
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MAY 14, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Business Services Manager Karla Santillan
Interim Community Development Director Sheri
VanderDussen
Management Analyst Vanessa Johnson
Deputy Police Chief Ron Weber
Police Chief Darin Lenyi
Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Kyle Cain
Management Analyst Noelani Leal
Senior Administrative Assistant Tammy Huynh
Community Services & Recreation Supervisor Gina Nunes
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Vice Mayor Manzo led the flag salute.
INVOCATION
District 3 Council Member M. Nguyen conducted the invocation.
1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR STUDY SESSION
The following individual spoke under oral communications:
1. Terry Rains made suggestions on how the information should be presented to the City Council, highlightednew positionsbeingrequestedby staff, and expressed concerns with the absence of District 1 Council Member Phan West and District 4 CouncilMemberN. Nguyenfromthe StrategicPlanningMeetingonApril 28, 2025 and today' s budget meeting.
2. Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 Proposed Budget.
Finance Director Backs provided the presentation.
District4 CouncilMemberN. Nguyenenteredthemeetingat 4:25p.m.
Followingthe presentation, MayorNguyeninvitedthe CityCouncilto commentonthe presentation.
Vice MayorManzoinquiredaboutthe emergencyreserveof 17%.
Finance Director Backs provided further clarification on this matter.
Vice MayorManzoinquiredwhenthe next cost recoverywould be presentedto the City Council.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MAY 14, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Finance Director Backs stated that the expected date of presentation would be at the June 25, 2025 City Council meeting.
District 3 Council Member M. Nguyen questioned the rationale behind the Community Services Department shifting from part- time staffing to full- time.
Community Services Director Johnson stated that the high turnover among part-time staff increases training demands and that transitioning to full-time employees would reduce training hours and improve work quality due to better retention and training.
District 3 Council Member M. Nguyen asked if this was the case for the other departments that were planning on hiring full- time employees.
Community Services Director Johnson stated that she cannot speak on their behalf, but she believes that it would be consistent with her reasoning.
District 4 Council Member N. Nguyen left the dais at 4:56 p. m.
Mayor Nguyen commented on long wait times for water meter installations and inquired whether hiring additional staff would reduce the wait times.
Assistant City Manager Ozaeta stated that the Public Works Department would be able to appropriately address this question.
Maintenance and Utilities Manager Pham explained the request for full- time staff instead of part- time staff.
Assistant City Manager Ozaeta confirmed that hiring additional full-time staff would reduce the delay.
Maintenance and Utilities Manager Pham clarified that meter readings are a source of revenue for the City and highlighted the importance of having full- time staff dedicated to this task.
Discussion ensued regarding the impact of hiring additional full- time staff to address long wait times.
Mayor Nguyen commented on the General Fund Budget Projection and the increase in expenditure each year.
Finance Director Backs stated that the largest expense is the unfunded liability cost.
Mayor Nguyen asked for clarification if pending projects, such as the Westminster Mall and Billboards, were included in the budget projections.
CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MAY 14, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Finance Director Backs confirmed that these were not included in the budget.
District 4 Council Member N. Nguyen returned to the dais at 5:08 p.m.
Discussion ensued regarding General Fund Budget Projections.
Mayor Nguyen expressed the need for another Study Session.
City Manager Cordon provided additional context for the General Fund Budget Projections.
Following comments from City Manager Cordon, Mayor Nguyen stated that another Study Session would not be needed at this time.
Vice Mayor Manzo thanked staff for a balanced budget and commented on the need for more positions in the City.
COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Nguyen adjourned the City Council Special Meeting at 5:22 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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