HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/2019 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
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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.
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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 also
apologized for the City Council's display at the last City Council meeting.
Mayor Pro Tern Chandler also returned the apology.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Regular Meeting Minutes of September 3, 2019.
Recommended Action: Approve
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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. 111
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 Tern 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
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Assistant to the City Manager Bruckner provided the staff report.
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111 City Manager Lazzaretto noted for the record that Council Member Tay had left the meeting.
Council Member Chandler made a motion to excuse Council Member Tay, the City Council
concurred.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern 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.
M i.r of the City of Arcadia
ATTEST:
hief Duty City Clerk/
Records'Manager
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