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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12a - Regular Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2022 1 05-17-2022 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Beck called the Closed Session to order at 6:05 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Beck, Cheng, Verlato, Tay, and Danielson ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENTS – No public comments. CLOSED SESSION City Attorney Deitsch recommended that the City Council add a Closed Session item to the agenda regarding a new case that was filed against the City (HQH Chinese American Equalization Association v. City of Arcadia) as permitted by the Ralph M. Brown Act regarding late breaking items; he indicated that in order to add the emergency agenda item there must be two factual findings; he explained those findings; and stated that the item can be added on a motion. A motion was made by Mayor Beck to add a Closed Session item to the agenda as recommended and to make the findings as outlined by the City Attorney. The City Council concurred. a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) to confer with legal counsel regarding potential litigation – one (1) case. b. (added item) Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) to confer with legal counsel regarding the matter of HQH Chinese American Equalization Association, an unincorporated association v. City of Arcadia, a Charter City of California; City Council of the City of Arcadia; and Does 1-20, inclusive (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22STCP01878). No reportable action was taken on the Closed Session Items. The Closed Session ended at 6:49 p.m. Regular Meeting City Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Beck called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Pastor Terrence Shay, First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut/Arcadia Resident 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Girl Scouts Troop 6911 2 05-17-2022 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Danielson, Tay, Verlato, Cheng, and Beck 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. He stated that a Closed Session item was added to the agenda as permitted by the Ralph M. Brown Act regarding late breaking items; and that no reportable action was taken on the Closed Session items. Mayor Beck stated that there are two pending litigation matters; he indicated that Council Member Tay and Council Member Danielson must recuse themselves from discussion. City Manager Lazzaretto explained that staff recommends given the complexity of the lawsuits and time being of the essence, that the City Council form an Ad Hoc Committee to deal with the two lawsuits. He recommended that the City Council add an item to the agenda to consider such formation; and indicated that in order to add the emergency agenda item there must be two factual findings and explained those findings. A motion was made by Mayor Beck, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng, and carried on a roll call vote to add an item to the agenda as recommended and to make the findings as outlined by City Manager Lazzaretto. AYES: Beck, Cheng, Danielson, Tay, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 5a. CONSIDERATION OF A COUNCIL AD HOC LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Council Member Danielson and Council Member Tay recused themselves from discussion. Mayor Beck noted for the record that Council Member Danielson left the Council Chambers and Council Member Tay muted his phoneline. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng, seconded by Council Member Verlato, and carried on a roll call vote to form an Ad Hoc Committee to oversee the two recent City Council lawsuits appointing Mayor Beck and Council Member Verlato to serve as members of the Ad Hoc Committee in order to discuss the two lawsuits. AYES: Cheng, Verlato, and Beck NOES: None ABSENT: None 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto noted for the record that regarding Public Hearing Item 9.b regarding the proposed Charter Amendments, a section in the redline version of the City Charter was updated to reflect part of staff report related to term limits and distributed to the City Council; and 3 05-17-2022 he recommended the City Council pull Consent Calendar Item 12.e regarding Third Amendment to Employment Agreement for separate discussion. 7. MOTION TO READ ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE THE READING IN FULL A motion was made by Council Member Verlato and seconded by Council Member Danielson to read all ordinances and resolutions by title only and waive the reading in full. 8. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation of Operation Hometown Heroes. b. Presentation of 2022 Spring Home Awards. c. Presentation of Mayor’s Cup trophy to the Development Services Department. 9. PUBLIC HEARING a. Resolution No. 7427 establishing and/or adjusting various fees for City services; and finding that this resolution is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). Recommended Action: Adopt Financial Services Manager/Treasurer Chen presented the staff report. Mayor Beck opened the public hearing. No one appeared. A motion to close the public hearing was made by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng. The City Council concurred. After discussion a motion was made by Mayor Beck, seconded by Council Member Verlato, and carried on a roll call vote to move the annual Consumer Price Index review from March to January, set the Vacant Home Annual Registry Fee to $0, set the notary fee at $15, adopt Resolution No. 7427 with those amendments; and find that this resolution is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). AYES: Beck, Verlato, Danielson, Tay, and Cheng NOES: None ABSENT: None b. Public Hearing to receive input from the Community regarding proposed amendments to the Arcadia City Charter. Recommended Action: Receive Input and Provide Direction Deputy City Manager Bruckner presented the staff report. Mayor Beck opened the public hearing. No one appeared. 4 05-17-2022 A motion to close the public hearing was made by Council Member Verlato. The City Council concurred. After City Council discussion no action was requested or taken on this item. 10. PUBLIC COMMENTS Tom Love, General Manager of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, appeared and spoke about the need for water restrictions. He indicated that the State, the Metropolitan Water District, and the San Gabriel Valley Water District have very limited supply of water. He reported on the actions being taken to conserve water; and encouraged local water providers, including the City, to implement new watering restrictions that would reduce outdoor irrigation to two days a week. In response to Council Member Verlato’s inquiries, Mr. Love indicated that the Turf Removal Rebate program still exists and spoke about other programs available to help conserve water and spoke about water recycling projects. Tony Fellows, Director of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, appeared and announced that he will be hosting a Townhall in Arcadia to inform the community about the severity of low water supplies. Sonia Martin called in to the meeting and expressed her frustration regarding Mayor Pro Tem Cheng’s endorsement of Ben Zhang for Arcadia Unified School Board. She indicated that Mr. Zheng is not qualified to run for the Board. She questioned Mayor Pro Tem Cheng’s motives for the endorsement; and stated that the community cannot allow the School Board to be politicized by City Council Members supporting their friends for positions they are not qualified for. Grace Young, on behalf of herself and Sabrina Ramirez, from Girl Scout Troop 2851 appeared and shared information regarding period poverty; Ms. Young requested City Council support in an effort to have a bill authored to end period poverty. Celine Lockerbie, Leader of Girl Scout Troop 2851, appeared and requested symbolic support from the City Council for the work that Ms. Young and Ms. Ramirez are doing to end period poverty. Raymond Chung, an Arcadia resident, appeared and commented on City Manager Item 13.a regarding community connections during emergencies. He spoke about the Community Emergency Response Team program (“CERT”); and urged the City Council to consider a part- time or full-time position for a CERT Program Manager. Dean Sloan appeared and requested the City Council provide an update at the next City Council meeting regarding the new ownership of Methodist Hospital and the future of its employees. In response to Mr. Sloan, Mayor Beck clarified that the City does not have any input with matters pertaining to Methodist Hospital. 11. REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK (including reports from the City Council related to meetings attended at City expense [AB 1234]). City Clerk Glasco announced that May 28 is the Annual Salute a Veteran and their Families Event at County Park. He indicated that the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument Remembrance Ceremony 5 05-17-2022 begins at 1:00 p.m. and commended Eagle Scout Chris Tran of Arcadia Troop 104 for the great job with the landscape at the monument. Council Member Tay reported that last week he attended the League of California Cities, City Leaders Summit. He then addressed comments made by Sonia Martin regarding political views; and asked that everyone respect each other’s opinions and views. Council Member Danielson announced that he had a wonderful time hosting “Coffee with the Mayor” and thanked the speakers that waited so long to provide their comments; and provided a statement expressing his concerns about the upcoming Arcadia Unified School District School Board election. Mayor Pro Tem Cheng had nothing to report. Council Member Verlato thanked Mr. Love and Mr. Fellows for providing information regarding water conservation. She thanked Ms. Young for bringing awareness to period poverty and announced that Saturday is Purdy’s birthday and the Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive benefiting the Foothill Unity Center. She also announced that May 22 is the Arcadia Field of Honor Event presented by Arcadia Rotary and May 28 is the Tribute to Veterans and Military Families at 10:00 a.m. with the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument Remembrance Ceremony at 1:00 p.m.; and encouraged everyone to attend. Mayor Beck noted that there is a serious water problem and encouraged everyone to set their water sprinklers to two days a week and conserve water. He announced that on May 7, he attended the Community Bike Ride Event. He further explained that on Saturday he and Council Member Danielson are attending the Kid-Fit Family Fun Run 5k, followed by Purdy’s Birthday/Food Drive Event. He said that later that day he is attending the Arcadia Historical Society’s Spring Garden Party hosted by the Tomkins Family; and that on May 21 and June 11 is the Mulch Giveaway Event. 12. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Special Meeting Minutes of April 29, 2022, and Regular Meeting Minutes of May 3, 2022. Recommended Action: Approve b. Resolution No. 7430 repealing Resolution No. 7138 concerning outdoor irrigation and prohibited water uses and adopting new restrictions on outdoor irrigation and prohibited water uses. Recommended Action: Adopt c. 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 d. Extension to the Professional Services Agreement with TRIO Community Meals to provide meals to the Senior Meals Program for Fiscal Year 2022-23 in an amount not to exceed $100,800. Recommended Action: Approve e. Third Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement. 6 05-17-2022 Recommended Action: Approve f. Authorize participation in a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement with the cities of Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre to create the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Watershed Management Joint Powers Authority. Recommended Action: Approve g. Purchase Order with Waterline Technologies, Inc. for the purchase and delivery of Sodium Hypochlorite for the Disinfection of the City’s Municipal Water Supply in the amount of $95,100.75. Recommended Action: Approve h. Purchase of Portable Handheld Radios from Day Wireless Systems for the Police Department in an amount not to exceed $104,000. Recommended Action: Approve i. Allocate $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) Funds to the Homeless Prevention and Diversion Program. Recommended Action: Approve It was moved by Council Member Verlato, seconded by Council Member Cheng, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 12.a through 12.d and 12.f through 12.i. AYES: Verlato, Cheng, Danielson, Tay, and Beck NOES: None ABSENT: None Mayor Beck pulled Consent Calendar Item 12.e. for separate discussion. City Attorney Deitsch stated that the Ralph M. Brown Act requires that there be an oral report of the proposed compensation and benefits involving an executive officer employed by a governing body. He provided an oral summary of proposed compensation and benefits and recommended that the City Council determine that this action is exempt under CEQA; and approve the proposed compensation and benefits; and direct the Mayor to execute the third Amendment to the Employment Agreement in a final form to be approved by the City Attorney. A motion was made by Council Member Verlato, seconded by Council Member Danielson, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Item 12.e. Third Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement. AYES: Verlato, Danielson, Tay, Cheng, and Beck NOES: None ABSENT: None 13. CITY MANAGER a. Report, discussion, and direction regarding options for community connections during emergencies. Recommended Action: Provide Direction Deputy Fire Chief Suen presented the Staff Report. 7 05-17-2022 The City Council directed staff to further explore the following options for community connections during emergencies; and bring back a report for discussion at a future City Council meeting: 1. Request the Senior Commission to increase recruitment and register to Arcadia Connect. 2. Adopt a City resolution that requires all caregivers in the City to encourage their patients to register with Arcadia Connect. 3. Request the Arcadia Chinese Association register new non-English speakers to Arcadia Connect. 4. Explore the Community Emergency Response Team (“CERT”) Program. 14. ADJOURNMENT City Clerk Glasco provided Mr. Bond’s eulogy. The City Council adjourned in memory of Troy Bond, a long time Arcadia resident and WWII US Navy Veteran, at 10:33 p.m. to Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. Linda Rodriguez Assistant City Clerk