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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12a - Regular Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2022 03-01-2022 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022 CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Tay called the Study Session to order at 6:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS Brenda Trainor, Board Member of Madia Tech Launch, requested support from the City Council to assist in improving and expanding high speed internet access in the Downtown with the use of ARPA Funds. Martin Gandall, President of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association, requested support from the City Council to improve broadband services in the Downtown. STUDY SESSION a. Report, discussion, and direction regarding the proposed projects for the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) Funds. Recommended Action: Approve Use of ARPA Funds City Manager Lazzaretto provided the PowerPoint presentation. After City Council discussion, a motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng, seconded by Council Member Beck, and carried on a roll call vote to conceptually approve Staff’s proposed use of ARPA Funds. AYES: Verlato, Beck, Cheng, and Tay NOES: None ABSENT: None CLOSED SESSION a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 to confer with labor negotiators. City Negotiators: City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Jason Kruckeberg, and Administrative Services Director Hue Quach. Employee Organizations: Arcadia Public Works Employees Association, Arcadia City 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. The Closed Session item was not held and will be postponed to a future Council meeting. The Study Session ended at 6:46 p.m. 03-01-2022 Regular Meeting City Council Chamber, 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Tay called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Reverend Eva Thai-Erwin, Church of the Good Shepherd 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Cadette Troop 2881 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Beck, Verlato, Cheng, and Tay 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 Study Session to receive a report, have a discussion, and provide direction regarding the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) Funds, and that the City Council unanimously directed that the presentation made by Staff to City Council regarding the proposed use of ARPA Funds be conceptually approved at this time; he further noted the Closed Session item on the posted Agenda was not held and will be postponed to a future Council meeting. 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto reminded the audience to submit public comment cards in the new box prior to the Mayor calling for public comment. 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 Cheng, and seconded by Council Member Verlato, to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only and waive the reading in full. 8. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation to the City Council to accept a gift of $13,000 from the Friends of the Museum for Museum Programming, Marketing, and Archival Supplies. b. Presentation of Proclamation to the Girls Scouts of Greater Los Angeles in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in our area. c. Presentation of Proclamation to American Red Cross declaring March 2022 as American Red Cross Month. It was the consensus of the City Council that the Consent Calendar Items 12a. through 12f. be moved to this portion of the Agenda. 12. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Regular Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2022. 03-01-2022 Recommended Action: Approve b. Gift of $13,000 from the Friends of the Museum for Museum Programming, Marketing, and Archival Supplies. Recommended Action: Accept Gift c. Resolution No. 7415 amending the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Water Operating Budget authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation for Laboratory Testing Services of City water samples in the amount of $35,000, offset by a reduction in the Water Reserve Fund, and approving a Change Order to the Purchase Order with Weck Laboratory, Inc. Recommended Action: Adopt and Approve d. Waive expenses related to Traffic Control Services for the Twenty-Sixth Annual Santa Anita Derby Day 5K to be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, and authorization to waive such costs annually. Recommended Action: Approve e. Accept all work performed by Cedro Construction, Inc. for the Water Main Replacement Project as complete. Recommended Action: Approve f. Find that, due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, state and local officials continue to recommend measures to promote social distancing, and therefore the City Council and all other City Boards and Commissions may meet virtually. Recommended Action: Make Findings It was moved by Council Member Beck, seconded by Council Member Verlato, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 12.a through 12.f. AYES: Beck, Verlato, Cheng, and Tay NOES: None ABSENT: None 9. PUBLIC HEARING a. PUBLIC HEARING MUST BEGIN AT 7:30 P.M. Public Hearing to receive input from the Community and take possible action on draft maps regarding the redrawing of City Council Election District Boundaries. Recommended Action: Receive Public Input and Provide Direction on a Final Map City Manager Lazzaretto presented the staff report. Jeff Simonetti from National Demographics Corporation presented a slideshow for the Public Hearing regarding the revised maps. Mayor Tay opened the Public Hearing. Marilyn Wilander, an Arcadia resident, encouraged the City Council to consider AAV Map A which honors southwest Arcadia as a cohesive district rather than splitting it up. 03-01-2022 Edmund Liu, an Arcadia resident, appeared and urged the City Council to not consider Maps 114, 115, and 116; he indicated that he is in support of Map 103. Peter Amundson, former City Council Member/Mayor, appeared and stated that one of his biggest mistakes as a former Council Member was choosing the current district map; he asked the City Council to correct the mistake that the last City Council made and shared his support for Map 115. Susan Guo, an Arcadia resident, appeared and reiterated the motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng at the last City Council meeting that the City Council had until February 22, 2022, to submit two maps each; she stated that if a map had to be amended following that deadline that it should not be accepted as it was not complete by the deadline; she expressed her objection to Maps 114 and 115; and asked the City Council not to delay the map selection any longer. Roger Nemrava, an Arcadia resident, appeared and shared his frustration with the map selection process and the gerrymandering that seems to be happening; he agreed with Peter Amundson and also shared his support for Map 115. Phyllis Nemeth, an Arcadia resident, appeared and shared her support for the map that Peter Amundson recommended. William Chenoweth, a former Arcadia resident, appeared and stated that he would not select any of the maps submitted as they do not represent the districts properly as the percentage of ethnic groups is not equally divided by registered voters. Lynne Curry, an Arcadia resident, appeared and shared her support for the map presented by Council Member Verlato and stated that she does not support the gerrymandering of the districts as proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng. Sonia, an Arcadia resident, appeared and asked the City Council what they are doing to protect the Hispanic vote and the future of minority votes; she stated that all residents should be represented fairly; she asked the Mayor to drop his lawsuit and consideration of running for a third term. Srav Donthineni, an Arcadia resident, appeared and requested that no maps submitted by Mayor Sho Tay be selected as he has attempted to walk over democracy by requesting to run for a third term. A motion to close the Public Hearing was made by Council Member Beck, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng, and seeing no objection, Mayor Tay declared the Public Hearing closed. It was the consensus of the City Council to have the demographer update Maps 114 and 115 to ensure they meet legal requirements. After City Council discussion, a motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng and seconded by Council Member Verlato to bring back Maps 103, 114 (amended),115 (amended), 116, and 118 for the next Public Hearing on March 15. AYES: Cheng, Verlato, and Beck NOES: Tay ABSENT: None 03-01-2022 b. Resolution No. 7412 Historic Landmark No. HL 21-01 with a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) to landmark the Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue. Recommended Action: Adopt Planning Services Manager Fiona Graham presented the PowerPoint presentation. Mayor Tay opened the Public Hearing. Marilyn Daleo, First Vice President of the Arcadia Woman’s Club, provided the history of the Arcadia Woman’s Club; and thanked the City Council for the consideration of the Arcadia Woman’s Clubhouse landmark application. A motion to close the Public Hearing was made by Council Member Beck, seconded by Council Member Verlato, and seeing no objection, Mayor Tay declared the Public Hearing closed. A motion was made by Council Member Verlato and seconded by Council Member Beck to adopt Resolution No. 7412 Historic Landmark No. HL 21-01 with a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) to landmark the Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue including the findings. AYES: Verlato, Beck, Cheng, and Tay NOES: None ABSENT: None 10. PUBLIC COMMENTS Marilyn Wilander, an Arcadia resident, appeared and spoke about term limits and the laws of term limits and stated that there is no compelling reason for the current Mayor to run for a third term under the current laws. Susan Guo, an Arcadia resident, appeared and stated that she is aware that the City is reviewing the City Charter; she recommended that the City consider reviewing the term limits as times have changed since the last Charter was adopted. Angie Gren, an Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed her frustration with lack of transparency from the City Council and the suspicion of the intent in disclosing the residents with pertinent information. Lynn Curry, an Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed that Mayor Tay should be termed out and not exceed the term limits based on the Election Code; she further stated that Mayor Tay should follow President Washington’s example of following term limits. Srav Donthineni, an Arcadia resident, appeared and stated that Roger Chandler was a loyal public servant to the City of Arcadia; he expressed his concern that the current City Council does not follow democratic norms; and asked that the current term limits be respected and followed accordingly. 11. REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK (including reports from the City Council related to meetings attended at City expense [AB 1234]). 03-01-2022 Council Member Beck made a plea for residents to stop the attacks on the City Council; he announced that today is the first day of Mardi Gras; he stated that he missed having the young residents come in and say the Pledge of Allegiance and thanked the Girl Scouts for coming in; he further thanked Joyce Platt and the Friends of the Library for raising money for the Museum. Council Member Verlato expressed her gratitude for making the Woman’s Club a Historic Landmark; she thanked the Friends of the Museum for their donations; she further expressed her gratitude for the Santa Anita Assembly Center; and further thanked the Orchestra Benefit Dinner Committee that she attended on Saturday night; she announced that she attended Little League Opening Day on Saturday; she congratulated her daughter for making the varsity softball team at Arcadia High School; and she further shared her heartache for the events taking place in Ukraine. Mayor Pro Tem Cheng thanked Mayor Sho Tay for doing such a great job as being a leader; he further thanked Roger Nemrava for articulating his thoughts in an opinion piece; he spoke about the discussion that City Council had at the November 30, Goal Setting Meeting regarding filling the District 5 vacancy and commented on discussions that have ensued since. City Clerk Glasco expressed his happiness for his return to an in-person City Council Meeting after his extended absence. Mayor Tay shared a picture that he has in his office that depicts everyone has a different point of view and just because you think your view is the right one, it doesn’t mean that the other view is wrong; he announced that he has not submitted any maps; he further announced that he started WeChat to answer questions and educate residents on information that they are not knowledgeable about in the City of Arcadia. 13. CITY MANAGER a. City of Arcadia Fire Hazard Reduction and Habitat Restoration Project. Recommended Action: Receive and File Fire Chief Spriggs presented the PowerPoint presentation. A motion was made to receive and file the report. AYES: Verlato, Beck., Cheng, and Tay NOES: None ABSENT: None 14. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned at 9:57 p.m. to Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. Rachelle Arellano Deputy City Clerk