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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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