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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/03/2019 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 CALL TO ORDER — Mayor Verlato called the Study Session to order at 6:02 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Amundson, Beck, Tay, Chandler, and Verlato ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENTS — No one appeared CLOSED SESSION a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 to confer with labor negotiators. City Negotiators: City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto, Administrative Services Director Hue Quach, and Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Jason Kruckeberg Employee Organizations: Arcadia Public Works Employees Association, Arcadia Employees Association, Arcadia Police Civilian Employees Association, Arcadia Police Officers' Association, Arcadia Firefighters' Association, and unrepresented employees: Department Heads, Division Managers, Supervisors, and part-time employees No reportable action was taken on the Closed Session Item. The Closed Session meeting ended at 6:39 p.m. Regular Meeting City Council Chamber, 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER— Mayor Verlato called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. 2. INVOCATION — First Reader, Kristin Bennett— First Church of Christ, Scientist 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Cub Scout Troop #122 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 prior to the regular meeting, the City Council met in a Closed Session to consider the one item listed on the posted agenda under Closed Session, and no reportable action was taken. 1 09-03-2019 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS 111 City Manager Lazzaretto noted that the City Council received approximately 25 emails from residents regarding the basketball courts at Eisenhower Park since the last City Council meeting, and those emails were distributed to the City Council. 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, seconded by Council Member Amundson to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only and waive the reading in full. 8. PRESENTATIONS a. Pasadena Humane Society presentation of an adoptable dog. b. Air Quality Update Presentation by Michael Cacciotti, Governing Board Member, South Coast Air Quality Management District. Mayor Verlato announced that due to the number of public comment cards, speakers will be limited to 3 minutes per person. 9. PUBLIC COMMENTS The following individuals appeared before the City Council regarding the Chinese Story Time program at the Library and urged the City Council for support to keep the program. YongPing Zhang Lucy Zhang Wen "Coco"Wen Fred Howe Isabelle Le Janet Chan Jennifer Gu, a second grader Rowena Zeng Elysia Ji, a second grader at Highland Oaks Sophia Xiao Ji Tina Lu City Manager Lazzaretto explained that the Chinese Story Time program started as a pilot program which has turned out to be very successful, and that staff will be meeting to discuss the situation; he further explained the differences between a City sponsored event and the requirements if it is considered an outside program. Due to the number of public comments, Mayor Verlato has moved City Manager Item 12.a regarding the basketball courts at Eisenhower Park to this portion of the meeting. 12.a Possible reconsideration of action taken at the City Council meeting on August 20, 2019, regarding the basketball courts at Eisenhower Park. Recommended Action: Provide Direction City Manager Lazzaretto explained the process before the City Council could discuss and reconsider their vote taken at the City Council meeting on August 20, 2019, regarding this matter. 2 09-03-2019 At this time, Mayor Verlato asked if a Council Member who voted against adding the basketball courts would like to make a motion to reconsider their vote taken at the August 20, 2019, City Council meeting. A motion as made by Council Member Beck, seconded by Council Member Amundson, and carried on a roll call vote to reconsider the prior action taken at the August 20, 2019, City Council meeting regarding the basketball courts within the Eisenhower Park Improvement Project. AYES: Beck, Amundson, and Verlato NOES: Tay and Chandler City Manager Lazzaretto explained options if the City Council were to include basketball courts at Eisenhower Park. Mayor Verlato opened this item to public comments, and announced that due to the number of speaker cards, speakers will be limited to 3 minutes per person. Christine Zito, an Arcadia resident and business owner, appeared and commented on Mayor Pro Tem Chandler's undesirable comments made at the last City Council meeting. Karen Suarez, a Monrovia resident, also appeared and expressed her concerns regarding the comments made by Mayor Pro Tem Chandler at the last City Council meeting, and asked that he resign. Patricia Araiza, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that she gathered 115-119 signatures on a petition in support of keeping the basketball courts, which was already submitted to the City Council; she further indicated that she and her neighbors did not receive enough notice regarding the renovation of the park; she requested that the City Council hear them out, and urged them to reconsider their vote. Ron Ely, an Arcadia resident, appeared and also expressed his concerns regarding comments made by Mayor Pro Tem Chandler at the last City Council meeting; and urged the City Council to replace both basketball courts. Sara Malla Thakuri, an Arcadia resident and student, appeared and indicated that she loves basketball and wants to continue playing basketball at Eisenhower Park with her friends, and encouraged the City Council reconsider putting the basketball courts back at Eisenhower Park. Aryamaan Prasad, a 8th grade student at First Avenue Middle School and Boy Scout, appeared and indicated that basketball is a big part of his life, and feels the basketball courts should be put back into the renovations; he indicated that he disagrees with Mayor Pro Tem Chandler's comments made at the last meeting, and encouraged the City Council to make the right decision. Angela Iniguez, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that she never received any notice of the park renovations. Sonia Martin, an Arcadia resident, appeared and read the remainder of Ms. Iniguez's comments regarding notifications, and commented on the design options of the basketball courts at Eisenhower Park that were made; and feels the basketball courts should remain at the park. Ms. Martin also indicated she was not notified that the park was being renovated or was going to be closed. 3 09-03-2019 Wing (Winnie) Liu, an Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed her disappointment for not keeping the basketball courts as part of the Eisenhower Park renovation, and encouraged the City Council to listen to the residents. Lena Hwang, an Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed her disappointment when she learned that the basketball courts were not going to be replaced at Eisenhower Park; she also indicated that she was appalled at the comments made by Mayor Pro Tern Chandler at the last meeting, and feels they were very offensive; and she strongly encouraged the City Council to reconsider their decision. Del Lile, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that he was in favor of the two basketball court design near the south end of the park, and thanked the City Council for reconsidering their vote because it is what the people want. Helen Morales, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that the City Council should reconsider its decision. Sraavan Donthineni, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that he is very upset; and he appealed to Council Member Beck regarding safety issues that he feels he can solve. Michelle Wu, an Arcadia resident and business owner, appeared and indicated that she is opposed to Options 2 and 3; she spoke about the pollution from the freeway and indicated that she is not in favor of replacing the basketball courts; and strongly urged the City Council to spend taxpayer money wisely instead of replacing the basketball courts. Gabriel Garcia, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that he agreed with the comments made by the previous speaker that Mayor Pro Tem Chandler should resign; and indicated that they want all the basketball courts back, not just one; and thanked the City Council for reconsidering this matter. Leigh Chavez, an Arcadia resident, appeared and thanked the City Council for keeping the discussion open; she indicated that she hopes the City Council reconsider their vote, and wished them good luck in making their decision. Dr. Shirley Chi, an Arcadia resident and business owner, appeared and thanked all the residents and concerned citizens for attending and talking about something everyone cares about; she indicated that Mayor Pro Tern Chandler's statements at the last meeting reek of discrimination, and feels that the basketball courts should be replaced and the voter's should consider what he said when he comes up for re-election. Elias M., an elementary school student, appeared and asked Mayor Pro Tem Chandler why he thinks people are undesirable. Ben Cooper, a freshman at Arcadia High School, appeared and pointed out that everyone is fighting over one basketball court, when there are a countless number of soccer and baseball fields, we should be trying to make more basketball courts, not just one, because there are not enough. Sara Rosenberg, an Arcadia resident, appeared and encouraged the City Council to let the basketball courts thrive. 4 09-03-2019 Gus Cooper, a 7th grade Foothills Middle school student, appeared and spoke about his experiences at Eisenhower Park including playing basketball, and encouraged the City Council to leave the basketball courts alone. Abe Cooper appeared and encouraged the City Council to keep the basketball courts. Ernest Woo, an Arcadia resident, appeared and urged the City Council to reconsider their decision. Robert McDaniels, an Arcadia resident, appeared and urged Mayor Pro Tern Chandler, Council Member Tay, and Council Member Beck to reconsider their vote. Liangyi Gu, an Arcadia resident, appeared and indicated that she was there to speak in support of the Chinese Story Time program but arrived late; she also indicated that she was sad to hear about the removal of the basketball courts at Eisenhower Park, and feels that there should be a basketball court at every park, and urged the City Council to allocate to each park a basketball court. At 8:55 p.m., the City Council recessed. The meeting resumed at 9:03 p.m. It was moved by Council Member Beck, seconded by Council Member Amundson, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Option 5 and allocate $250,000 for the installation of one basketball court to face east-west as part of the Eisenhower Park Improvement Project. 111 AYES: Beck, Amundson, and Verlato NOES; Tay and Chandler ABSENT: None 10. REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK (including reports from the City Council related to meetings attended at City expense(AB 1234]). Council Member Beck noted that he was surprised to learn that girls can be in the Cub Scouts; he also gave kudos to the kids that came out and spoke, and noted the 7-year-old who was reading off her phone. In response to Council Member Amundson's question, City Manager Lazzaretto indicated that the next planned park renovation is Newcastle Park. Council Member Amundson indicated that this morning he represented the City at the Arcadia Unified School District PTA meeting; he announced that on August 30, he attended the Annual Arcadia Chinese Association Installation Dinner, and he congratulated Jaime Lee for all her work and wished her the best as she takes on another year as President; he read an article from the Wall Street Journal regarding "California goes to the Rats"; he indicated that he has heard comments about Districts being divided and getting more attention than the other Districts, and stated that the City Council cares about the City as a whole, and it has nothing to do with Districts; he noted that Eisenhower Park is the oldest park in the City, and it was the first park on the list to get renovated before the City went to Districts. Council Member Tay described new age terms commonly used for political correctness regarding the way we identify people's race, color, sexual orientation, and disabilities. 5 09-03-2019 Mayor Pro Tern Chandler had no comments. City Clerk Glasco announced that on August 23, he and Mayor Verlato attended the ribbon cutting for the new San Gabriel Valley Community Veterans Outpatient Clinic. Mayor Verlato announced that last weekend she attended the Los Angeles County Sanitation District Inspection Tour, and on August 30, she also attended the Arcadia Chinese Association Annual Installation Dinner and indicated how grateful the City is to the ACA for all they do for the community; she further announced that this past Saturday she went on a Supportive Housing Tour which houses adults and children who were formerly homeless, and that on Sunday, she attended two eagle scout award ceremonies, and noted that both recipients were explorers with the Arcadia Police Department; she announced that this morning was "Coffee with the Mayor" and the next"Coffee with the Mayor" is October 2; she further announced the Woman's Club open house on September 4; and that First Avenue Middle School history teacher Ms. Nakamura has won the top history teacher in the nation award and is competing with other teachers in the nation for Teacher of the Year; she announced September 7 will be the Moon Festival at the Santa Anita Race Track, and on September 21, the City will be hosting the Moon Festival on the front lawn of City Hall, and announced Mahjong with the Mayor is on September 13. 11. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Regular Meeting Minutes of August 20, 2019. Recommended Action: Approve b. Professional Services Agreement with SunWest Engineering Constructors, Inc. for the City's Fleet Fuel Management and Extraordinary Repair Services in the amount of $18,639. Recommended Action: Approve c. Authorize Council Member Amundson as the City's official representative to attend an inspection trip to the Colorado River Aqueduct and Hoover Dam hosted by the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Recommended Action: Approve It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Chandler, seconded by Council Member Tay, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 11.a through 11.c. AYES: Chandler, Tay, Amundson, Beck, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 12. CITY MANAGER b. Resolution No. 7274 supporting Local Control of Energy Solutions. Recommended Action: Adopt City Manager Lazzaretto provided the staff report. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Chandler, seconded by Council Member Tay, and carried on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution No. 7274 supporting Local Control of Energy Solutions. 6 09-03-2019 AYES: Chandler, Tay, Amundson, Beck, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 13. ADJOURNMENT The City Council meeting adjourned at 10:02 p.m. in memory of Arcadia resident Alice Short- Tangney and Frank J. Claro, one of the founders of Claro's Italian Markets to Tuesday, September 3, 2019, 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. „op �,�/ 'v., rAci.,.: 4 1ayor of the City of Arcadia ATTEST: i f ql Chief ilia2111 puty City Clerk/ Records Manager I I 7 09-03-2019