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Home My WebLink About02/04/2025ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 CALL TO ORDER — Mayor Cao called the Closed Session to order at 6:05 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Fu, Wang, Kwan, and Cao ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENTS — No one appeared. CLOSED SESSION a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) to confer with legal counsel regarding potential litigation — one o) case. The Closed Session ended at 6:50 p.m. No reportable action was taken on the Closed Session item. Regular Meeting City Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER — Mayor Cao called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION — Religious Affairs Director Riaz Kahn, Mosque of San Gabriel 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Steve Hodgson, Marine Veteran and Arcadia Resident 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Fu, Wang, Kwan, and Cao ABSENT: None 5. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING CLOSED/STUDY SESSION ITEMS Assistant City Attorney Martz reported that prior to the Regular Meeting, the City Council met in a Closed Session to discuss the one item listed on the posted agenda and that no reportable action was taken. 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto had nothing to report. 7. PUBLIC HEARING a. Resolution No. 7613 updating the City's business license fees to reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index "CPI" from October 2024. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt 1 02-04-2025 Business License Officer Smith presented the staff report. Mayor Cao opened the Public Hearing — no one appeared. Mayor Cao closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Fu, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Kwan, and carried on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution No. 7613 updating the City's business license fees to reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI") from October 2024. AYES: Fu, Kwan, Cheng, Wang, and Cao NOES: None ABSENT: None 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS Sonia, an Arcadia resident, appeared and commended the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association for organizing the Lunar New Year Festival; she stated that the Association partnered with the Arcadia Unified School District, Arcadia Education Foundation, the Arcadia Parent Teacher Association, and the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, raising $100,000 to support staff and families from the Arcadia Unified School District who were impacted by the Eaton Fire. She expressed her disappointment over the lack of support for Mayor Pro Tern Kwan's request to agendize a discussion on hiring wildfire prevention experts to evaluate Arcadia's risk for mudslides and wildfires. Michelle Wu, an Arcadia resident, appeared and requested that Council Member Wang resign from office, expressing her reasons why she should step down; she noted an email she sent to the City Council on this topic and stated that she is awaiting a response. The following speakers appeared in support of Mayor Pro Tem Kwan's proposal, which was made during the January 21, 2025, Regular Meeting, to allocate funding to hire wildfire prevention experts to evaluate Arcadia's wildfire and mudslide risk, encouraging the City Council to support her proposal: Lilia Xiu John Xiu Katherine Duan Joovy Chen Kayla Acuna Ashley Du Seung Sue Cue Irene Leung Vicky Chiu Olivia Tan Kenneth Tan 9. REPORTS FROM MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY CLERK (including reports from the City Council related to meetings attended at City expense CAB 1234J). Mayor Cao provided a report on the various events that he attended or will be attending as a representative of the City; he shared that he attended the January 29 Lario Park Townhall meeting, where elected officials from federal, state and local levels, along with residents from the San Gabriel Valley, were in attendance to express their concerns about the cleanup of household hazardous waste materials from the Eaton Fire. He expressed his concerns over the lack of outreach and consultation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to local jurisdictions about site selection and the transportation path of this hazardous waste, from the Eaton Fire to Lario Park. He explained that Lario Park is located in Azusa, but impacts the surrounding Cities of Duarte, Irwindale, and Baldwin Park, along with other cities along the path of travel, which include Arcadia and Monrovia. He further indicated that officials were able to shift the 2 02-04-2025 transportation route from local arterial roads to the 210 freeway instead, a positive change; he emphasized that when officials collaborate to address natural disasters, effective change can occur; and he requested that Fire Chief Suen speak about his experience with the recent wildfire response. Fire Chief Suen thanked the speakers for appearing and sharing their experiences during and following the Eaton Fire; he addressed their concerns and shared the Department's response to the wildfires; he spoke about the Fire Hazard Severity Maps that are expected to be published by Cal Fire in the coming month; and noted that once the maps are published, the City will begin a public education and engagement process. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Kwan's inquiries, Fire Chief Suen explained the training process undertaken by firefighters to effectively fight wildfires; and indicated that the Fire Department would not be impacted by the recent state law that reduces funding for wildfire prevention. In response to public comments made regarding home insurance cancelations, City Manager Lazzaretto noted that the State issued a one-year moratorium on insurance cancelations in the areas affected by the fires. He stated that if someone's insurance has been canceled, the City can assist in connecting them with the California Department of Insurance. Mayor Pro Tern Kwan expressed disappointment in the lack of support to allocate funding to hire wildfire prevention experts to assess Arcadia's risk of wildfire and mudslides, initially raised at the January 21, 2025, City Council Meeting. She addressed comments made during the last meeting by Council Member Fu regarding fire prevention; and she requested City Council place an item on a future agenda to discuss a proposal for a fire prevention plan. Mayor Pro Tern Kwan's request failed to obtain the required support from two additional City Council Members (Council Member Wang concurred). Council Member Fu announced that he attended a training for newly elected officials, hosted by the League of California Cities; he shared his experience at the training and reiterated the City Council's commitment to the community; and he thanked Mayor Pro Tern Kwan and Council Member Wang for providing their suggestions regarding wildfire prevention. He explained that the City Council frequently participates in various events in support of the community and emphasized that they work together as a team to improve the City; he thanked the speakers for expressing their concerns; and he expressed his appreciation to the community for their efforts to make the City better. Council Member Wang provided a report on the various events that she attended or will be attending as a representative of the City; and thanked the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association for organizing the Lunar New Year Festival. Council Member Cheng thanked his colleagues for their support; he thanked first responders for their efforts in combatting the Eaton Fire; he noted that members of the City Council attended a debriefing on the fire; and he thanked City staff and the community for their continued efforts in protecting the City. 10. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2025. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve b. Resolution No. 7612 approving participation in Year 5 of the Los Angeles Urban County Permanent Local Housing Allocation ("PLHA") Program; identifying proposed 3 02-04-2025 activities for $130.263 in PLHA fundin • and authorizing the Mayor, or designee, to sign a reimbursable contract with the Los Angeles County Development Authority LLACDA" CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt c. Resolution No. 7615 declaring that weeds. brush, rubbish, and refuse upon or in front of specified property in the City are a seasonal and recurrent Public nuisance, and declaring an intention to provide for the abatement thereof. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt d. Contract with Superior Pavement Markings, Inc. for street striping and pavement marking services in the amount of $240,825. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve e. Purchase Order with Stryker for the purchase of electric gurneys with power loading systems in the amount of $331,460. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve f. Purchase Order with 72 Hour LLC dba National Auto Fleet Group for the purchase of two 2025 Ford Explorers in the amount of $103,956.80. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve It was moved by Council Member Fu, seconded by Council Member Cheng, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 10.a through 10.f. AYES: Fu, Cheng, NOES: None ABSENT: None 11. CITY ATTORNEY Wang, Kwan, and Cao a. Fourth Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement and updated Salary Schedule_ CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve Assistant City Attorney Martz presented the staff report. A motion was made by Council Member Cheng, seconded by Council Member Wang, and carried on a roll call vote to approve the Fourth Amendment to the City Manager's Employment Agreement and updated Salary Schedule. AYES: Cheng, Wang, Fu, and Cao NOES: Kwan ABSENT: None 4 02-04-2025 12. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned at 8:20 p.m. to Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room. ATTEST: City Clerk W "C�4�Cz. Mayor of the City of Arcadia 5 02-04-2025