Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12a - Regular Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2019 1 09-17-2019 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Verlato called the regular meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Reverend Terry Keenan, The Santa Anita Church 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Girl Scout Troop #5021 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Amundson, Beck, Tay, Chandler, and Verlato ABSENT: None 5. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING CLOSED/STUDY SESSION ITEMS City Attorney Deitsch announced that there were no Closed or Study Session items listed on the posted agenda. 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto indicated that there was no supplemental information. 7. MOTION TO READ ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE THE READING IN FULL A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Chandler, and seconded by Council Member Tay to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only and waive the reading in full. 8. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation by Jeanette Soriano, Government Relations Manager of Southern California Edison regarding the 2019 Reliability Report for Arcadia and SCE’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan. 9. PUBLIC COMMENTS Roger Nemrava, an Arcadia resident, appeared and spoke about election integrity; he stated that the Arcadian’s Rights Protection Association to support Roger Chandler and Bob Harbicht for City Council was fined $4,000 by the Fair Political Practices Commission for illegal activities in the 2018 City Election; he referenced eight votes that were cast by people who did not reside in the City of Arcadia, and stated that the City and County must do their job to ensure that the City’s elections are free from voter fraud. In response to Mr. Nemrava’s comment, City Manager Lazzaretto clarified that the County Registrar Recorder’s office verified that the eight people who were alleged to be registered voters in the City, but did not live in the City, filled out new voter registration forms at their current 2 09-17-2019 address, and that the Chief Deputy City Clerk/Elections Official verified that those eight people did not vote in the 2018 election. Rob Bolster, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that he has known Council Member Chandler for many years, and that he has never seen any hint of racial bias on his part. Lucy Zhang, representing the Chinese Story Time Program, appeared and spoke about the importance of the program, and urged that staff work with them to keep the program at the Library. Stacy Rudzik, an Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed her appreciation for having a dog park in the City; she thanked the Mayor, and City staff for meeting with the public to express their concerns, and she also thanked Deputy Public Works Services Director Paul Cranmer for keeping them updated on issues related to the dog park; she also expressed her concerns regarding the budget and maintenance of the dog park including the grass, trees, lighting, and shade; and commented on the Pasadena Humane Society’s proposed high cost in services and hopes that the City does not go to a high kill shelter for services. John E. Frederick, an Arcadia resident, appeared and also expressed his concerns regarding the dog park, and indicated he would like to see the dog park open as soon as possible. Cathy Christiansen, a Monrovia resident, appeared and shared her concerns regarding the budget for the dog park; she asked the City Council to consider budgeting more money for trees and grass, and asked that renovation of the park be completed in a timely manner. Kelly Green, an Arcadia resident, appeared in support of the dog park renovations; and expressed her concerns regarding the lack of lighting and maintenance at the dog park. Malia Green, an Arcadia resident, appeared and also expressed her concerns regarding the dog park renovations, and provided some ideas for the renovation, including signage recommendations. Laura Nystrom, an Arcadia resident, appeared in support of the dog park renovations; she expressed her concerns regarding the maintenance of the park; and thanked the City Council for making the dog park a priority. Robert Tinker, a Monrovia resident, appeared in support of the dog park renovations, and the Arcadia residents who had spoken previously. Caroline Blake, an Arcadia resident, appeared and spoke about the recent ruling by the Fair Political Practices Committee against the Arcadian’s Rights Protection Association to support Roger Chandler and Bob Harbicht for City Council, and urged the City Council to place protective measures to protect the integrity of the 2020 City Election, and shared her concerns regarding the Association. At the request of Mayor Verlato, City Attorney Deitsch clarified that the City was not found at fault by the FPPC, and was not a party to the FPPC proceeding against the Arcadian’s Rights Protection Association to support Roger Chandler and Bob Harbicht for City Council; he indicated that the matter was properly dealt with by the FPPC, since they are the Agency that has the authority to handle these matters, not the City. 3 09-17-2019 At the request of Mayor Verlato, City Manager Lazzaretto provided an update regarding the dog park renovations, and explained the redesign of the park; he stated that there is no budget for lighting, and that lighting could possibly be added at a later time, if the budget allows for it or if money is raised. 10. REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CRK (including reports from the City Council related to meetings attended at City expense [AB 1234]). Council Member Tay stated that fundraising for lighting at the dog park is a great idea and encouraged everyone to work together to make it possible; he announced that Saturday is the Moonlight Festival at the City Hall Lawn, that October 2, is “Coffee with a Cop” at Bowlero at the Santa Anita Mall, and on October 19, the Arcadia Police Foundation is hosting a fundraiser at the Community Center. Mayor Pro Tem Chandler expressed his support for the dog park and the renovations; he shared his experiences at Alice’s Dog Park in Pasadena; and stated that dog parks are great for the community. Council Member Beck followed up on comments made by Roger Nemrava and Caroline Blake regarding elections, and requested two other votes to have a Study Session in order to discuss conducting a clean election in 2020, the City Council unanimously concurred; he quoted a paragraph from an article written by City Manager Lazzaretto regarding civility, and apologized for the lack of civility at the last City Council meeting; he announced that September 23, is the Taste of Arcadia event, and on September 25, there will be a horse sale at Santa Anita Park. Council Member Amundson announced that tickets for the Taste of Arcadia are not sold at the event and should be purchased ahead of time; he also announced that today is Constitution Day and spoke about the importance of our Constitution; he commented on an article he read in the Star News regarding Government Health Plans, and the proactive approach the City of San Diego has taken regarding homelessness; and announced that he attended the Faces of Arcadia fundraiser event. City Clerk Glasco announced that September 29, is Gold Star Mother’s Day; he indicated that it is not a public holiday, but it is a designated national observance, and explained the history behind Gold Star Mother’s Day. Mayor Verlato thanked Malia Green for her comments; she announced that Mahjong with the Mayor last week was well attended, and the next Mahjong with the Mayor is October 11; she also announced that she attended the Faces of Arcadia Fundraiser event, she noted that the Moon Festival is to be held on September 21, and the Taste of Arcadia on September 23; she reminded everyone of the Farmers Market every Sunday at the Library, and October 2, is “Coffee with the Mayor ” and “Coffee with a Cop”; she introduced her intern Elaine Cheng; she indicated that she will be a speaker at the League of California Cities and speak on the topic of Civility, and she apologized for the City Council’s display at the last City Council meeting. 11. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Regular Meeting Minutes of September 3, 2019. Recommended Action: Approve 4 09-17-2019 b. Resolution No. 7275 approving application(s) for Per Capita Grant Program Funds. Recommended Action: Adopt c. Professional Services Agreement with Scientia Consulting Group, Inc. to provide Information Technology Support Services. Recommended Action: Approve d. Purchase of a Microsoft Enterprise License Agreement from SoftwareOne, Inc. for Microsoft Office 365 and Project Migration, and approve the services of Scientia Consulting Group for professional migration services in the amount of $135,282. Recommended Action: Approve It was moved by Mayor Pre Tem Chandler, seconded by Council Member Amundson, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 11.a through 11.d. AYES: Chandler, Amundson, Beck, Tay, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 12. CITY MANAGER Mayor Verlato indicated that since Council Member Tay is leaving early, City Manager Item 12.b regarding Friendship Cities Program Policy is moved to this portion of the meeting. b. Friendship Cities Program Policy. Recommended Action: Approve Assistant to the City Manager Bruckner provided the staff report. After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council that language be included in the Friendship Cities Program Policy that “there shall be no financial gain or benefit to any elected official or employee as a result of entering into a Friendship City Agreement.” It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Chandler, seconded by Council Member Tay, and carried on a roll call vote, to adopt the Friendship Cities Program Policy, and amend the policy to include language that “no elected official or employee shall have any financial interest or derive any financial benefit from the City entering into a Friendship City Agreement” as dictated by the City Attorney. AYES: Chandler, Tay, Amundson, Beck, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None a. Designate Mayor Verlato as the Voting Delegate and City Manager Lazzaretto as the Alternate Voting Delegate for the 2019 League of California Cities Annual Conference and provide direction on Resolutions No. 1 and No. 2. Recommended Action: Approve and Provide Direction Assistant to the City Manager Bruckner provided the staff report. City Manager Lazzaretto noted for the record that Council Member Tay had left the meeting. 5 09-17-2019 Council Member Chandler made a motion to excuse Council Member Tay, the City Council concurred. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Chandler, seconded by Council Member Beck, and carried on a roll call vote to designate Mayor Verlato as the Voting Member and City Manager Lazzaretto as the Alternate, and recommended that the Voting Member or Alternate vote in support of both proposed resolutions. AYES: Chandler, Beck, Amundson, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: Tay 13. ADJOURNMENT The City Council meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m. to Tuesday, October 1, 2019, 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room.