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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11a - Special Meeting Minutes of March 15, 2025, and Regular Metting Minutes of March 18, 2025 1 03-15-2025 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Cao called the Special Meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Fu, Wang, Kwan, and Cao ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENTS – no one appeared. STUDY SESSION (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) a. Consideration, discussion and establishment of goals and priorities. The City Council met to discuss goals, working relationships, and collaborative efforts. A discussion ensued regarding goals and priorities for the year and staff responded to various questions, comments, and suggestions. The City Council provided direction and objectives on America's 250th Birthday Celebration, a City Health Commission, Community Event Sponsorships, Certificates and Proclamations, Language Access and Translation, Artificial Turf, Homelessness Case Management Services, the Unoccupied Residence Registry, and Economic Development. The Special meeting ended at 12:21p.m. Linda Rodriguez City Clerk 1 03-18-2025 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Cao called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Reverend Jolene Cadenbach, Arcadia Congregational Church 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – George Tegart, Army Veteran and Arcadia Resident 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Fu, Wang, Kwan, and Cao ABSENT: None 5. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto noted that the City Council will recess this meeting to the State of the City, which will be held this Thursday, March 20; he further indicated that there will be one Public Comment period this evening for all items on the posted Agenda, including Item 11. - State of the City. 6. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation of the 250th Anniversary of the United States Army Proclamation to Lieutenant Colonel Victor Shen. b. Presentation of Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation to the Assistance League of Arcadia in celebration of their 70th Anniversary. c. Presentation of Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation to the Fruit for Homeless volunteers. d. Presentation of Mayor’s Certificates of Commendation to Scouting America Troops 104 and 333G of Arcadia for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. e. Presentation of the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association Annual Report by Executive Director Donna Choi. 7. PUBLIC HEARING a. Appeal of the Planning Commission’s Approval of the Arcadia Town Center Mixed- Use Development with 181 residential units and 13,130 square feet of commercial space, which includes a Tentative Tract Map, Minor Use Permit, Site Plan & Design Review, and Certificate of Demolition at 5-19 W. Huntington Drive and 25-75 N. Santa Anita Avenue. CEQA: Adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration with the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 7618 denying the Appeal and upholding the Planning Commission’s Approval. 2 03-18-2025 Mayor Pro Tem Kwan and Council Member Fu left the City Council Chambers at 7:33 p.m. City Attorney Maurer indicated that Council Member Fu and Mayor Pro Tem Kwan have recused themselves on this item due to a potential Conflict of Interest. Council Member Fu had a source of income conflict as he does business with the project applicant, and Mayor Pro Tem Kwan’s family owns property within 1,000 feet of the subject property of this hearing. City Manager Lazzaretto indicated that this is a De Novo hearing. Senior Planner Chipres presented the staff report. Mayor Cao opened the Public Hearing for this item and invited the Applicant to address the City Council with any statements. Ben Zhang, the Applicant, appeared and indicated that the Arcadia Town Center project is intended to revitalize the Santa Anita and Huntington Drive intersection with 121 condominium units and 13,000 commercial square feet. Haley Uno appeared on behalf of the Appellant, Supporters Alliance For Environmental Responsibility (“SAFER”), and requested that the City Council grant SAFER’s appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”) for the Arcadia Town Center project, and asked the City Council to require an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); she provided a PowerPoint presentation and indicated that SAFER had multiple experts conduct research for adverse environmental impacts and shared those key conclusions for biological, noise, and air impacts. Mayor Cao opened Public Comment for Public Hearing item 7.a. Evan Johnson, Arcadia Elks Lodge Manager, appeared and indicated support of the project, but expressed concerns about the visibility of the Elks Lodge due to the proposed project’s height; the number of parking spaces proposed for the project; and potential noise impacts of the project. Council Member Cheng asked Mr. Johnson for clarification on the noise and parking concerns. Mr. Johnson responded to Council Member Cheng, indicating that the parking concerns are due to the shared parking agreement the Elks Lodge has for the spaces on the proposed project site, expressing an interest in identifying other parking solutions for Elks members; he further noted that the noise concerns were for the residential units proposed in the project, as the Elks Lodge uses their facility for large party events, which may generate noise for project tenants. Eddie Beltran, Attorney from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, appeared and spoke on behalf of the Applicant; he responded to the CEQA issues raised by the Appellant, noting that the City’s environmental consultant addressed those concerns and provided a thorough response that was included in the City Council Meeting packet. Council Member Cheng asked if the Applicant, Ben Zhang, would be willing to work with the Arcadia Elks Lodge regarding their parking and noise concerns. Ben Zhang responded to Council Member Cheng and indicated that he would be willing to work with the Arcadia Elks Lodge to address their concerns. Mayor Cao closed Public Comment and proceeded with the Public Hearing. 3 03-18-2025 A motion was made by Council Member Cheng, seconded by Council Member Wang, and placed on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution No. 7618, denying the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission’s approval of the Arcadia Town Center Mixed-Use Development with 181 residential units and 13,130 square feet of commercial space, which includes a Tentative Tract Map, Minor Use Permit, Site Plan & Design Review, and Certificate of Demolition at 5-19 W Huntington Drive and 25-75 N. Santa Anita Avenue, and adopting the initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adding an amendment that the Developer will meet with the Arcadia Elks Lodge members within the next 30 days. AYES: Cheng, Wang, and Cao NOES: None ABSENT: None Mayor Pro Tem Kwan, and Council Member Fu returned to the dais at 8:06 p.m. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS Michelle Wu, an Arcadia resident, appeared and requested that Council Member Wang resign from office, expressing her reasons why she should step down. Fenglan Liu, an Arcadia resident, appeared and raised a question about designated seating for the audience in the City Council Chambers. Sina Mohajer and Vic Kerasimian, Board Members of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, appeared and announced that on March 20, “Rise and Shine” will take place at the Santa Anita Park Chandelier Room; that on March 26, a “Learning Lab” will be held at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce office; and that on March 27, “Networking at Noon” will take place at The Derby; he indicated that the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce hosts a “Hoppy Hour” the last Thursday of every month, with the next event held on March 27, at 5 p.m. at Hop Cafe on Las Tunas; and that the 3rd Annual Arcadia Chamber Golf Tournament will be held May 1, at Brookside Golf Club; and he further announced that the Arcadia State of the City will be held March 20, at Le Meridien, and indicated that the Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to partnering again with the City to address the community. 9. 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 Kwan congratulated former City Council Member April Verlato on receiving a “Local Hero Award” from the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association; and she provided a report on the various events that she attended or will be attending as a representative of the City. Council Member Fu provided a report on the various events that he attended or will be attending as a representative of the City; he thanked the Downtown Aradia Board of Directors for allowing him to participate in their meeting and shared his thoughts on how to attract businesses to the Downtown that Arcadians want to see. Council Member Wang provided a report on the various events that she attended or will be attending as a representative of the City. 4 03-18-2025 Council Member Cheng thanked his City Council colleagues for their extensive involvement and participation in local events; he shared a story about his 2020 City Council election campaign; and he thanked Mayor Cao and all local Veterans for their service. Mayor Cao provided a report on the various events that he attended or will be attending as a representative of the City; and he shared that March is Healthcare Professionals Month, thanking physicians and health care providers for their service. City Manager Lazzaretto responded to the public comment made by Fenglan Liu, clarifying that there is no assigned seating for members of the audience in the City Council Chambers; he noted that members of the public may find areas where staff congregate to be slightly disruptive due to frequent interruptions and their need to participate in the meeting. 10. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Regular Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2025. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve b. Declare a vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees according to the Arcadia City Charter. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve c. Contract with American Asphalt South, Inc. for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Slurry Seal Project in the amount of $1,182,734.45. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve d. Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to include a Water and Sewer Capacity Fee Study in the amount of $19,960. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve e. Purchase Orders with American Right of Way, Inc. and Swarco, Inc. for the purchase of new traffic signal poles and four new traffic signal cabinets for the Centennial Way and El Monte Avenue & Duarte Road/Campus Drive Traffic Signal Project, in the amount of $180,457.17. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kwan, seconded by Council Member Cheng, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 10.a through 10.e. AYES: Kwan, Cheng, Fu, Wang, and Cao NOES: None ABSENT: None 11. STATE OF THE CITY The City Council recessed at 8:42 p.m. to the State of the City Address, to be held on Thursday, 5 03-18-2025 March 20, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at Le Meridien, 130 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California. The City Council reconvened at 4:00 p.m. at Le Meridien. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Fu, Wang, Kwan, and Cao ABSENT: None Mayo Cao provided a speech and presented a video highlighting Arcadia’s major accomplishments over the past year and discussed significant initiatives for Arcadia’s future. The following speakers provided remarks: • Sina Mohajer, Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Board President • Michael Sagely, Air Sections Pilot, Los Angeles County Fire Department The State of the City ended at 5:45 p.m. Rachelle Arellano Assistant City Clerk