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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2c: Resolution No. 6864 - Casting votes to elect WQA Board Member.F A�6ust cal STAFF REPORT Public Works Services Department DATE: March 19, 2013 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director Prepared by: Jacquelyn Mercado, Public Works Office Coordinator SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 6864 CASTING ITS VOTES FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER TO REPRESENT CITIES WITH PRESCRIPTIVE PUMPING RIGHTS AS ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER ON THE SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY Recommendation: Discuss and consider supporting a candidate SUMMARY The State Legislature under SB 1679 established the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (SGBWQA) to plan, finance, and implement groundwater treatment programs within the San Gabriel Valley. The SGBWQA is under the direction and leadership of a seven member board. There is currently one vacancy for an alternate board member up for election on April 17, 2013. The City may cast its votes for one of the nominated candidates who will represent the interests of cities with prescriptive pumping rights, including Arcadia. It is recommended that City Council discuss and consider supporting a candidate by adopting Resolution No. 6864 casting its six votes for a council member to represent Arcadia and other cities with prescriptive pumping rights as an alternate board member on the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. DISCUSSION The purpose of the SGBWQA is to plan, finance, and implement groundwater remediation activities to clean up contaminated groundwater in the San Gabriel Valley. Each city has one vote for each 10,000 residents or majority thereof, as determined by the 2010 U.S. Census data. The alternate board member will act in place of an absent board member or if a member has vacated the office. The City of Arcadia has six votes that may be cast for one candidate who will best represent cities with prescriptive pumping rights as an alternate board member. The following three candidates were nominated by cities with pumping rights for the office of alternate board member — full biographies provided by each candidate have been attached: Resolution No. 6864 — Casting Votes for an Alternate Board Member of the San Gabriel Valley Water Quality Authority Board March 19, 2013 Page 2 of 2 1) Council Member Robert Gonzalez has served on the Azusa City Council since 2007. At present, Council Member Gonzalez is the current Chair of the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the Former Redevelopment Agency for Azusa, as well as board member on the Azusa Light and Water Board. In his seat on the Azusa Light and Water Board he was instrumental in joining with 12 other publicly - owned utilities to complete construction on a state -of- the -art natural gas fueled power plant just outside Lodi, California. Council Member Gonzalez is actively involved in his community and is a founding member of the Community Building Beautification Program for the City of Azusa. 2) Council Member Bart Patel was voted into office as a member of the El Monte City Council in 2011 and is currently serving a four -year term. With over 15 years of city experience, Council Member Patel has been involved in several commissions for the City of El Monte that include the Property Maintenance Commission, Patriotic Commission, Personnel Appeals Commission, and the Planning Commission where he served as Chairman from 1997 until 2003. 3) Mayor Mary Ann Lutz was first elected to the Monrovia City Council in 2003 and has served as Mayor since 2009. From 2007 -2011, she served as Chairperson of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments ( SGVCOG) Environmental and Energy Committee and was elected as 1st Vice President of the SGVCOG in 2012. Additional current appointments include representative to the Gold Line Phase II Joint Powers Authority, representative to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, and member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Based on this information, it is recommended that the City Council discuss and consider supporting a candidate by adopting Resolution No. 6864 casting its votes for a council member to represent cities with prescriptive pumping rights as an alternate board member on the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. RECOMMENDATION Discuss and consider supporting a candidate by adopting Resolution No. 6864 casting its votes for a council member to represent cities with prescriptive pumping rights as alternate board member on the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. Approved- Qomir�CLazza__J'2� CWy Manager Attachments — Candidate Biographies Resolution No. 6864 Robert Gonzales Biography City of Azusa Council Member Robert Gonzales has been a life -long resident of Azusa, California, where he attended local public schools. After graduating form high school, Gonzales worked for the City of Azusa and the Azusa Unified School District respectively as a recreation supervisor. He later worked with special needs children while at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. In 2007, he was appointed to the Azusa City Council where his strong record of accomplishments and successes earned him his first re- election to the council. Since his re- election, Gonzales has brought valuable industry and jobs to the city of Azusa. Gonzales is the author of the safe routes to school campaign, "Home Alone." This program provided the city and its residents, especially its youngsters a viable monitoring program that would keep them safe from frightening or dangerous situations on their way to school and back. Further, Gonzales was a founding member and advocate of the community building beautification program Azusa Beautiful. His direction and hard wok have successfully established a community - building program that builds on the vision and outreach of the city council to elevate Azusa's quality of life. The mission of Azusa Beautiful is simple yet profound - -to promote a clean, safe and healthy Azusa. During his bid for re- election in 2013, Gonzales was the only candidate running for the office of city council member to receive the endorsement of Congresswoman, Grace Napolitano; California State Senator, Dr. Ed Hernandez, O.D; Azusa Mayor Joe Rocha; California Chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association and the Azusa Police Officers Association. By giving their endorsement, they knew that Gonzales would continue to honor the memory and service of our veterans and the men and woman who protect our American freedoms and traditions. And, that he is a big part of the Azusa City Council engine that will bring -in new and exciting commercial and residential developments throughout Azusa, which will in turn have a dramatic economic impact on the San Gabriel Valley and the region. Gonzales is currently the chair of the State of California's Oversight Committee for Azusa on behalf of the former redevelopment agency of the city. In his seat on the Azusa Light & Water Board he has been instrumental in joining with 12 other publicly -owned utilities to completed construction on a state -of -the -art natural gas fueled power plant just outside Lodi, California. The high efficiency natural gas - fueled plant will supply about 20% of Azusa's power needs and is part of the utility's strategy to reduce its green house gas emissions as dictated by state statutes. And although Electricity and Water sales were down in 2012 due to both conservation and the economy, his leadership on the board fought not to increase prices to make up for lower amount of retail revenues. Instead, the utilities further reduced costs and sold excess water and electricity to supplement retail revenues. Bart Patel Biography City of El Monte Council Member El Monte's my home, my four kids attend the same schools I did, my wife Anita and I love this town and want it to become the paradise we all seek. But our city spends more than it takes in and needs financial oversight I can bring as an accountant and business owner. I'll work to maintain good city services without increasing taxes. We've owned the hotel at 5- points for 16 years, employed hundreds of local residents, and promote tourism for all El Monte businesses. We donate room nights to the police to help families left homeless from fires or disasters. I've served the El Monte Planning Commission (3 -time Chairman), and the Patriotic and Property Maintenance commissions. I graduated Rio Hondo's Police Academy to become a Reserve El Monte Police Officer. The business community is key to El Monte's vitality and growth. My platform will attract revenue by being business friendly, fast - tracking worthy job - creating projects, and building a solid tax base. The world's largest Lexus and Toyota dealers generate $30- million in taxes annually. I'll make sure we don't over -spend our budget. Strong leadership creates a better image, a stable budget, and lays the ground work for long term meaningful success and prosperity. Bart Patel Resume of Bart D. Pate! Family: Bart has been married for 20 years Wife's name is Anita Three daughters: Shivani(17yrs), Maya (16 yrs) & Ariya(7 yrs) One son named Abhishek (4 yrs.) Business: Owns and operates several hotels in the San Gabriel Valley Owns and operates apartments Worked as a CPA from 1994 to 1995 in Private Industry Civic Concerns: Planning Commission of El Monte, CA 2007 to Present and 1997 to 2003 Planning Chairman(2010, 2003, 2001) Patriotic Commission of El Monte, CA 2005 -2007 Patriotic Chairman(2006) Property Maintenance Commission of El Monte, CA 1995 to 1997 Kiwanis Club of El Monte, CA 1996 - Present Presently on the Board of Directors, Past Treasurer International Organization to benefit children around the world San Gabriel Valley Hospitality Association(SGVHA) Original Founder, Created in 2005 Past President Educates Asian hoteliers and creates bridges of understanding and communication Surti Levua Patidar Samaj of Southern California — Life Time Member Presently on the Board of Directors (Locally Cultural Based Organization) Surti Levua Patidar Samaj — USA — Life Time Member (National Cultural Based Organization) AAHOA, member since 1995 Life Time Member Bart Patel has become one of the best examples of the high standards of excellence in Southern California as an hotelier whose devotion and commitment to his business and the community, and his strong leadership has significantly created a better image of the lodging industry and has demonstrated that the industry is committed to helping the communities it serves. For more than 16 years, Bart has been focused on developing his hotel and property interests not only to serve travelers, but to help the community at large understand the importance of the connection between the lodging industry and the growth of business in a city. Bart has demonstrated strong leadership in his career by serving on several important commissions in the City of El Monte, CA where he lives, and at the same time, working with other hoteliers to address issues affecting their industry. Bart served as the elected Chair of the city's Planning Commission until he was elected to City Council in November 2011, which conducts a thorough review of all proposed residential, commercial, and industrial projects, as well as building zone issues and updates to the city's General Plan. The Planning Commission is the largest and most important of the city's 11 commissions. The City of El Monte is a fairly large city with a population of 121,791 that sits at the junction of two major Los Angeles County crossroads, Interstates 10 and 605, about eight miles southeast of Pasadena, the city famous for the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade and the famous college football Rose Bowl. It is also 12 miles directly east of Downtown Los Angeles. The city is home to the largest Lexus and Toyota dealers in the world, generating about $30- million per year in revenue alone from these two businesses. The city is also one of the oldest communities in California, having been founded in 1849. Bart was instrumental, as a Planning Commissioner, in approving one the most significant regional transportation projects in the history of Los Angeles County. The Transit Village Project, valued at over Six Hundred Million Dollars when it was approved in 2007, is the center is one of the largest Bus Stations and commuter transfer sites in the United States and is also the largest scale project in the 160- history of the City of El Monte. It serves residents in the 33 cities of the San Gabriel Valley and beyond into Riverside and San Bernardino counties, often referred to as the Inland Empire. Bart not only stands out in the city as a business and community leader, but in a city where the Latino population is 73% and Asians are only about 15% of the demographic make -up, Bart is highly respected and is always encouraged to seek elective office. He is sought out as a role model in and out of the hotel industry for his problem- solving skills, his steady hand in handling difficult issues, and his outreach in helping others get into the hotel industry, helping raise funds for noble community needs. For example, when the city needed new flag poles at City Hall and there was no money in the budget for the $21,000 cost, as Chairman of the Patriotic Commission, Bart convinced local businesses to fund the project. He has always believed that the business community is the key to a city's vitality and its growth. As a candidate for City Clerk in 2009, Bart's platform was to attract businesses to the City by being business friendly, fast - tracking worthy projects to increase jobs for the community, and build a solid tax base. He also championed the better use of technology for local businesses to help the city reduce staff costs in processing the payment of basic fees and taxes via the Internet. He also lobbied for years and finally convinced the City of El Monte to accept credit card payments for the hotel industry's Bed Taxes and Permits. Public safety is always a cornerstone of all successful businesses and communities and once again, Bart is demonstrating strong leadership, his high standards of excellence, and is making significant contributions to the lodging industry by becoming a Reserve El Monte Police Officer. He completed the Rio Hondo Police Academy, the facility which trains police officers for Los Angeles County's 88 cities, except for LAPD and the 2 Sheriff. Rio Hondo promotes excellence thorough strong character and commitment through a grueling schedule that has afforded Bart the confidence to be a stronger role model in his community. This enables him to hone his guidance, mentor, and leadership skills in the community and in the hotel industry. Bart believes that running a hotel and helping to make your community better requires more than just managing employees and being a member of the Iocal chamber of commerce or a service club to generate business. One must be able to relate to people on a friendly basis so they get to know you and the things for which you stand. He believes that when people get to know your story, then it becomes very natural that business leads and opportunities will follow. Bart is also motivated by the fact that his hotel operations in El Monte, as well as those of his fellow hoteliers, have been difficult at times because of a 20 -year history of bad relations and contentious issues between former hotel operators and the city. Bart is always making a strong contribution to the lodging industry and is a founding member of the San Gabriel Valley Hospitality Association (SGVHA), non -profit organization whose mission is to promote charity and protect the interest of its hotel owner members by inspiring excellence through programs and initiatives in advocacy, leadership, professional development, in shrine benefits and community involvement. It is also focused on educating Asian hoteliers and creating bridges of understanding and communication -with other hotel property owners in Southern California. He was inspired to help start SGVHA because in 2005, the City of El Monte passed a sweeping ordinance called the "60 -day lodging ordinance" that was a knee-jerk reaction by the City in dealing with a problem lodging establishment. The 60 -day ordinance prohibited anyone from staying at any lodging establishment for 60 non- consecutive days in a six -month period. This was a debilitating restriction on the lodging sector in El Monte, a de facto quota restriction in the open market that had to be overturned. Asian hotel owners were the hardest hit and with Bart's leadership, SGVHA created a strong and positive visibility that brought credibility to the lodging sector by connecting with local leaders and the city's department heads. SGVHA advocates not only for the lodging industry in El Monte, but also the other 33 cities that make up the San Gabriel Valley of L.A. County. SGVHA modeled itself after the AAHOA template. After three years of negotiating with the city and taking a strong stand for its members, SGVHA met its goal of getting the 60 -day ordinance repealed in 2009. This was a great victory for the lodging industry because SGVHA was able to demonstrate to the city leaders that today's hotel owners in El Monte are mostly good and hard working Asian lodging operators. By repealing the 60 -day ordinance, Bart and his team proactively blunted other cities from considering the use of the 60 -day model in their communities. The relationships created by Bart and SGVHA with the City of El Monte that Bart also helped create a program called "Helping Hands Program of El Monte." Established in 2006 in conjunction with the El Monte Police Department, the program is designed to help families who need temporary lodging. There are nine participating local hotels that donate at least two complementary room nights per month to families who need a little help to re- secure their lives in the community. The Helping Hands Program has donated over $32,000 worth of room night since its inception in 2006. The program has garnered a lot of attention and recognition of SGVHA and its members by the El Monte City Council Meeting with certificates of appreciation. These kinds of activities have put the lodging industry in a completely different light and community and political leaders no longer consider the lodging industry as just "greedy business people ", but rather, people who care a lot for their communities. Bart also helped create the "Hotel- Police Quarterly Meeting'" in 2008. These meetings help to create an open dialogue with the Police Department where the department and hotel owners can share their views on issues common to both parties. The department also educates the hoteliers on how to read police statistics regarding hotels and motels and how to deal with difficult issues and this relationship has created trust and understanding between the local and regional hotel industry stakeholders and the police department. During his year as president of SGVHA 2009, Bart was also able to help other hoteliers in the greater Los Angeles area deal with some difficult issues. An Asian family° purchased a formerly shabby hotel property in Pasadena, CA and worked hard to turn it into a Days Inn. However, because the business permit had expired after they purchased the property and made the improvements was rejected by the Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission, the owners needed help. They reapplied for their business permits but their investment and hard work were still at great risk so they asked SGVHA for help. There was an aggressive and well organized local group opposed to any new hotels and motels in the area that asked the Regional Planning Commission to deny the business permits. However, working with SGVHA, the new owners secured the support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Appeal Board, the executive staff, and the permits were finally issued. Bart has been committed to having Asian hoteliers also use SGVHA as a vehicle for making an impact in non - hotel related areas. For example, a seminar last year focused on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) which affects all businesses. Seeing the importance placed by AAHOA on this piece of legislation, SGVHA hired an attorney well- versed in this area and taught members how to approach U.S. Senators and Congressmen regarding this issue. Members also were taught the history of the labor movement and its motivation for this legislation. Under Bart's leadership, SGVHA conducted a charity Golf Tournament last year where the proceeds benefited the City- of Hope, an internationally - recognized cancer institution, Rebuilding Together (an organization that builds homes for first time home buyers), and scholarships for students who will be studying in the hospitality and lodging industry. Bart Paters leadership as president of SGVHA, as well as his deep community involvement, has enabled others to recognize Bart's pivotal role as a leader, a role model, and a mentor by offering his experiences as an hotelier and as an active community leader. SGVHA has been able to show other hoteliers in other cities that it is crucial to be involved and it is important to give back to the community. The Helping Hands Program and Hotel - Police Quarterly Meeting have helped set up a road map where by other hoteliers can model the same programs and garner success long -term in their communities. These contributions by Bart have significantly helped the lodging industry. Bart is strongly rooted in his Asian culture and that of his peers in the hotel industry. In addition to being a Life Member of AAHOA since 1995, he is also a Lifetime Member of both Surti Levua Patidar Samaj of Southern California as well as being on the Board of Directors and the Surti Levua Patidar Samaj of USA. He has also been firmly committed to helping other Asians get started in the hotel business and he has partnered with hotel operators in other states. Bart's intensity to achieve the impossible goes beyond his business and community challenges. Last year, he achieved a personal milestone by climbing to the 19,400 -foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, a rare feat for any serious mountain climber. He also manages to not just balance his successful business and community involvement, but he makes sure his family remains his top priority. Trained as a Certified Public Accountant, the father of four and his wife are committed to the principal that business and community depend on each other for success. Bart's unbelievable level of commitment couldn't be accomplished without the unwavering support of his wife and children, but their shared belief that demonstrating strong leadership makes others strong so they can help those in need, that high standards of excellence in the hotel industry and the community can't help but generate significant contributions to the lodging industry, made Bart an obvious choice as a candidate for the El Monte City Council Race in November 2011 and the eventual winner of that contest. 4 Biography for Mayor Mary Ann Lutz City of Monrovia Mary Ann Lutz was first elected as Mayor of the City of Monrovia in 2009 and re- elected 2011 having served as a City Council Member since 2003 after a long history of volunteering within her community and region including the campaign in 2001 in which the citizens of Monrovia voted to purchase the foothills to create a Wilderness Preserve. She holds several key leadership roles, including: • Second Vice Chair, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments ( SGVCOG) • Founding Chair and current Vice Chair of the Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources Committee for the SGVCOG • Chair of the Water Resources Working Group for SGVCOG • Member Gold Line Joint Powers Authority • Alternate Board Member Metro Gold Line Construction Authority • Member, Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force • Member, Southern California AQMD Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group • Vice Chair, Women Mayors, United States Conference of Mayors Mary Ann attended Boise State University. Mary Ann is the owner of Lutz & Company, Inc., a court reporting consulting firm, in Monrovia. Her reputation as one of the busiest people in town is balanced with a personal life spent with husband Corey as they enjoy the theater, traveling and company of great friends. 06/09/11 map 10 aI 0 a 0 a ■ a a 10 1=10019 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CASTING ITS VOTES FOR A REPRESENT CITIES WITH RIGHTS AS ALTERNATE BOARD E SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER WHEREAS, on September 22, 1992, Senate Bill 1679 was signed into law by Governor Pete Wilson authorizing the creation of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority; and WHEREAS, the Board of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority is composed of seven members with three appointed members from each of the three municipal water districts, one elected city council person from cities in the San Gabriel Basin with prescriptive pumping rights, one elected city council person from cities in the San Gabriel Basin without prescriptive pumping rights, and two appointed members representing water producers in the San Gabriel -Mmme: WHEREAS, the City of Arcadia is one of the cities in the San Gabriel Basin with prescriptive pumping rights; and WHEREAS, the City of Arcadia may cast its six votes for a representative by resolution no later than March 25, 2013, at 12:00 p.m. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, FOLLOWS: 0 SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Arcadia casts its full votes for Council Member as the alternate representative for cities in the San Gabriel Basin with prescriptive pumping rights. SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. Passed approved and adopted this day of Y 2013, ATTEST: City Clerk Stephen P. Deitsch City Attorney 2 Mayor of the City of Arcadia