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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10a - Regular Meeting Minutes of January 16, 2024 1 01-16-2024 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Verlato called the Closed Session to order at 6:03 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Kwan, Wang, Cao, and Verlato ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENTS – No one appeared. CLOSED SESSION a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1) to confer with legal counsel regarding the matter of City of Whittier, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court (Case No. 23STCP03579) No reportable action was taken. The Closed Session ended at 6:45 p.m. Regular Meeting City Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Verlato called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Pastor Terrence Shay, Arcadia Police Department Chaplain 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Girl Scout Troop 921 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Kwan, Wang, Cao, and Verlato ABSENT: None 5. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING CLOSED/STUDY SESSION ITEMS City Attorney Maurer reported that prior to the Regular Meeting the City Council met in Closed Session to discuss the one item listed on the posted agenda; and indicated that no reportable action was taken. 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto noted for the record an email from Sonia Martin regarding Agenda Item 12.b – Law Day 2024, recommending the City Council continue with Law Day without the support of the Arcadia Chinese Association; he also noted an email from the Law Firm of Mitchell M. Tsai on behalf of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters regarding Agenda Item 11.b – Ordinance No. 2398; he reminded the City Council that the item relates to zone changes and not 2 01-16-2024 The Derby Mixed-Use Project itself; and requested Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Kruckeberg provide more information. Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Kruckeberg stated that tonight is the second reading of Ordinance No. 2398 related to zoning changes; he explained that there were two resolutions that were approved by the City Council at the previous Meeting, one of which was the final Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”); he indicated that the letter received today was reviewed against the letters that had been previously submitted by the same entity on this subject, and that the letter had been previously responded to; he stated that the entity was present when the City Council approved the EIR in the previous resolutions; that the letter should not be part of the administrative record; and that no further action is needed on the letter tonight. 7. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation of Mayor’s Certificates of Commendation to the 2024 Tournament of Roses Royal Court (Queen Naomi Stillitano of Arcadia High School and the Rose Princesses). b. Presentation of the Los Angeles County United Mental Health Promoters program by Mei-Yin (Sylvie) Wang. c. Presentation of Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association Annual Report by Donna Choi. 8. PUBLIC HEARING a. Resolution No. 7538 updating the City’s business license fees to reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt Business License Officer Smith presented the Staff Report. Mayor Verlato opened the Public Hearing. No one appeared. Mayor Verlato closed the Public Hearing. After City Council discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Wang, seconded by Council Member Kwan, and carried on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution 7538 updating the City’s business license fees to reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). AYES: Wang, Kwan, Cheng, Cao, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None b. Resolution No. 7540 authorizing the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Funds for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and approving a Statement of Objectives and Projects for use of CDBG Funds. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt and Approve 3 01-16-2024 Management Analyst Brogan presented the Staff Report. Mayor Verlato opened the Public Hearing. No one appeared. Mayor Verlato closed the Public Hearing. After City Council discussion a motion was made by Council Member Kwan, seconded by Council Member Wang, and carried on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution No. 7540 authorizing the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Funds for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and approving a Statement of Objectives and Projects for use of CDBG Funds. AYES: Kwan, Wang, Cheng, Cao, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 9. PUBLIC COMMENT Kevin Mak appeared and urged the City Council to remove the Oleander located on the east side of First Avenue between Huntington Drive and Wheeler Avenue; he stated that Oleander can be harmful to humans and pets; and he explained why he believes it should be removed from the City. Donna Choi, Executive Director of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association, appeared and requested the City Council waive City fees for the 2024 Lunar New Year Festival. Council Member Kwan requested City Council support to place an item on the February 6, 2024, City Council meeting agenda to discuss waiving City fees for the 2024 Lunar New Year Festival. Mayor Verlato and Council Member Wang concurred. Steve Rhee, Secretary of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association, appeared and requested the City Council waive City fees for the 2024 Lunar New Year Festival; he thanked the City Council for their support; and he encouraged everyone to attend the upcoming festival. Wenyu Zhuang and Alva Cha, owners of Satori Strings dba AMAC Violin Center, appeared and expressed their appreciation to the Arcadia Police Department for their quick response during a soft air gun attack that struck the building where their business is located. 10. REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK (including reports from the City Council related to meetings attended at City expense [AB 1234]). Mayor Pro Tem Cao announced that, on January 24, the City Council Health Subcommittee is hosting its first Citywide Health Seminar and encouraged everyone to attend; he provided a report on the various events that he attended or will be attending as a representative of the City; he requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to discuss how to improve language accessibility and translation services, and what is currently being done to provide these services; the City Council unanimously concurred. Council Member Wang provided a report on the various events that she attended or will be attending as a representative of the City. 4 01-16-2024 Council Member Kwan commented on the presentation by the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association (“DAIA”); she reminded everyone that Mayor Verlato played a key role in founding the Downtown Association and thanked her and the DAIA for organizing events that bring the community and local businesses together. Council Member Cheng provided a report on the various events that he attended or will be attending as a representative of the City; he thanked Arcadia Police Officers for their service and recognized women in Arcadia’s law enforcement and women in the workforce. Mayor Verlato announced that she met with Supervisor Barger regarding property owned by Los Angeles County on Lucille Street, and with Jeff Lee, co-owner of the self-storage building on Huntington Dr., to discuss future development at those sites; and she provided a report on the various events that she attended or will be attending as a representative of the City. 11. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Regular Meeting Minutes of December 19, 2023. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve b. Ordinance No. 2398 amending the zoning designation of the properties at 233 & 301 E. Huntington Drive from “CG-General Commercial” to “DMU-Downtown Mixed Use” with a Height Overlay of H7 with respect to the “Derby Mixed-Use Development” and make revisions to the Zoning Map to reflect the zone changes for these properties. CEQA: Certified Environmental Impact Report Recommended Action: Adopt c. Resolution No. 7539 adopting a Records Retention Schedule, authorizing destruction of certain City records. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt d. Resolution No. 7542 amending Resolution No. 7383 establishing compensation and related benefits for City Council, Executive Management, Management, and Unrepresented Confidential Employees for July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024 (Principal Civil Engineer, City Engineer, and Building Official). CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt e. Contract with Carrier Corporation for the Council Chambers Chiller Replacement Project in the amount of $116,359. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve f. Accept all work performed by Kordich Construction, Inc. for the Sewer Main Replacement Program as complete. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve Mayor Verlato allowed public comments for Consent Calendar Item 11.b – Ordinance No. 2398. Juan Luna, Member of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, appeared and explained why he believes he will be affected by the environmental impact of the proposed project. 5 01-16-2024 It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Cao, seconded by Council Member Wang, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 11.a through 11.f. AYES: Cao, Wang, Cheng, Kwan, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 12. CITY MANAGER a. Report, discussion, and direction regarding City fireworks sponsorship of the Patriotic Festival in Downtown Arcadia. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Provide Direction Deputy City Manager Bruno presented the Staff Report. Mayor Verlato stated that she is a member of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association (“DAIA”), that she owns property in Downtown Arcadia within the boundaries of the District, and that she does not believe that the sponsorship itself will have a financial impact on her business or real property interest. Council Member Kwan stated that she resigned from the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association effective December 2023, that her spouse owns property within the boundaries of the District, that her business is located within the boundaries of the District, and that she does not believe that the sponsorship will have a financial impact on her business or her spouse’s real property interest. City Attorney Maurer clarified for the record that there is a conflict of interest rule that requires disclosure if an affected Council Member is potentially entering into a contract with a nonprofit organization that they have some sort of relationship with; and indicated that the disclosure of Mayor Verlato and Council Member Kwan does not rise to the level of a disqualifying conflict of interest that would prohibit them from taking action on item 12.a – Patriotic Festival Sponsorship. Mayor Verlato clarified for the record that neither Council Member Kwan nor she received any monetary compensation for the events put together by the DAIA. A motion was made by Council Member Kwan to move forward with Option C presented in the staff report – firework sponsorship and waiving City expenses related to Police, Fire, and Public Works Services in the amount of $34,600. Mayor Pro Tem Cao made a motion to continue with what was approved by the City Council in May 2023, approving firework sponsorship in the amount of $30,500 and waiving expenses related to public safety services. Both motions failed for lack of a second while discussion ensued. After further discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Cheng, seconded by Council Member Wang, and carried on a roll call vote to sponsor the 2024 Patriotic Festival in the amount of $20,000 and waive City expenses related to police, fire, and public works services. AYES: Cheng, Wang, Kwan, Cao, and Verlato NOES: None 6 01-16-2024 ABSENT: None b. Report, discussion, and direction regarding Law Day 2024. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Resume City Role of Organizing Law Day Deputy City Manager Bruno presented the Staff Report. After City Council discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Cheng, seconded by Council Member Wang, and carried on a roll call vote to add back Law Day as an official City- lead event, and continuing the partnership with the Arcadia Chinese Association to provide this free event to the public annually. AYES: Cheng, Wang, Kwan, Cao, and Verlato NOES: None ABSENT: None 13. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned at 10:12 p.m. to Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. Linda Rodriguez Assistant City Clerk