HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-1 - Minutes Regular Meeting, September 19, 2022CITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO THE FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY,
THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMPBER 19, 2022 – 6:30 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Azusa met in regular session at the above date and time in the Azusa Auditorium located
at 213 E. Foothill Boulevard, Azusa, CA 91702.
Mayor Gonzales called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Cornejo.
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH, GONZALES, MENDEZ
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE.
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo
Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Martinez, Chief of Police Wenrick, Economic Development
Specialist Campos, Planning Manager Munoz, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia, and Deputy City Clerk II Hernandez
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
CLOSED SESSION –
1.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to California
Government Code, Section 54956.9(d)(1) Case Name: Daniel Gallardo-Lopez v. City of Azusa; GL Claim
No. 3005406
2.PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Pursuant to California Government Code,
Section 54957. Title: City Manager
3.CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS - Pursuant to California Government Code, Section
54957.6. City Negotiator: Marco Martinez, City Attorney Organizations: Unrepresentative
Employee/City Manager
REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Gonzales called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Cornejo.
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH, GONZALES, MENDEZ
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Annie Covart.
Invocation was delivered by Pastor Griffin Harrel from Sandals Church, in Azusa.
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo.
Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Martinez, Chief of Police Wenrick, Economic Development
Specialist, Planning Manager Munoz, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia, and Deputy City Clerk II Hernandez
CONSENT ITEM
E-1
APPROVED
CITY COUNCIL
11/7/2022
CLOSED SESSION REPORT –
The City Council convened at 6:30 P.M.; City Attorney Martinez reported the following regarding Closed Session: Item 1
– City Council provided direction to the City Attorney’s office and staff, no reportable action was taken; Items 2 and 3 –
City Council provided direction towards negotiators, no reportable action was taken.
CEREMONIAL –
1. Mayor Gonzales presented Certificates of Appreciations to all who contributed to the 2022 Kathy’s Cool Cuts event.
2. Mayor Gonzales introduced the Canyon City Foundation. The foundation’s board members highlighted the work
these recipients have done for the Azusa community. The award recipients were YMCA – Gabriel Gonzales, 4C Lab
– Marisa Herrera, Neighborhood Homework House – Jennifer Hicks, Azusa Pacific University – Dr. Margaret Lee,
Azusa Pacific University – Dr. Todd Pheifer, City of Azusa, Library Services – Ann Graf, and last but not least, City
of Azusa, All in for Azusa – Miki Carpenter.
3. Mayor Gonzales presented a Proclamation proclaiming September 15, 2022 – October 12, 2022 as National Hispanic
Heritage Month in the City of Azusa.
PUBLIC COMMENT –
Diana Reyes Williams and Yvonne Rosas, from the Azusa Women’s Club, shared that the Club will be hosting the
Golden Days Kick Off Event.
Linda Escalara, a resident from Azusa, thanked Council for their work on the Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
Juan Paul Arevalo, a resident from Soldano Senior Village, shared the need for positive energy to be reflected at the
senior complex.
Sergio Palmieri, expressed concerns for the potential impacts from the Azusa Greens Project and the need to hire local
contractors for projects within the City.
Christine Ramirez, a co-founder of the Azusa Connect foundation, shared about their upcoming Chalk Festival as a part of
the Golden Days Parade.
Arturo Ortega, Superintendent of the Azusa Unified School District, provided some updates on decisions regarding Azusa
High School. He shared that a new mascot will be chosen for Azusa High School by a new committee of 20 seats
consisting of students, parents, staff, and members of the indigenous community. He thanked the Azusa Police
Department for conducting trainings for school staff members.
REPORTS, UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF/COUNCIL
City Manager Communications
City Manager Gonzalez reported that information for the Golden Days festivities will be shared on social media
platforms.
Council Comments
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez thanked the Rotary Club for hosting the Field of Glory event last week.
Councilmember Alvarez reported that he attended the League of California Cities conference. He reported that he
attended the Ethics training, the SB1383 discussion, and the session on Prop 47.
Councilmember Avila reported that he attended the League of California Cities conference. He reported that he also
attended the Ethics training, the session of Prop 47, and the Essential Breakdown of Development Impact Fees. He also
requested for Staff to look into allowing a re-do of the September yard sale due to the extreme temperatures on September
3rd and 4th.
Councilmember Beckwith reported that he attended the League of California Cities conference. He attended Going Green
by 2025 session, the Prop 47 Session, and Creating a Youth Friendly City workshop. He also congratulated the Rotary
Club, the Azusa Chamber of Commerce, and Azusa Beautiful on the events they recently hosted.
Mayor Gonzales thanked his colleagues for reporting out.
Mayor Gonzales requested to move up Items E, F, and G before the scheduled Public Hearing.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Beckwith pulled Item E-6 for further discussion.
1. The minutes of the Regular Meetings of May 31, 2022, June 6, 2022 and June 20, 2022 were approved as written.
2. Resolution No. 2022-C58 allowing certain claims and demands and specifying the funds out of which the same are to
be paid was adopted.
3. Personnel Action Requests in accordance with the City of Azusa Civil Service Rules and applicable Memorandum of
Understanding(s) were approved.
4. Acceptance of the grant award from California State Library; and Approval for necessary budget amendments and
adjust the current fiscal year budget accordingly was approved.
5. An agreement with Azusa Pacific University for Azusa Reads, Writes, Counts and Discovery Club; and Authorization
for the City Manager to execute the amendments, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City
were approved.
6. Professional Services Agreement with MIG to provide planning, environmental, and community outreach consultant
services for the Dhammakaya International Meditation Center Specific Plan Amendment in an amount not to exceed a
total cost of 68,885 ($59,900.00 [Original Contract Amount] + $8,985.00 [15% Contingency]); and Authorization for
the City Manager to prepare and execute the agreements, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the
City was pulled for further discussion.
7. Professional Services Agreement Second Amendment with Historic Resources Group that would extend the contract
term from December 2021 to December 2023; and Authorization for the City Manager to prepare and execute the
Agreements, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City were approved.
8. Waiving of Purchasing Procedures under Municipal Code Sec. 2-539 and Waiving of Purchasing Procedures in best
interest of the City; and Authorization for the City Manager to execute a renewable professional services agreement
with Data Ticket for the processing, collection and provision of hearing services related to administrative citations
issued by the City for services in a not to exceed amount of $25,000 for the balance of fiscal year 2022-23 was
approved.
9. An MOU between the City of Azusa and LACMTA for participation in the NTD for report year 2020; and
Authorization for the City Manager to execute, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, the MOU on behalf of the
City was approved.
10. Resolution No. 2022-C59 identifying the equipment the City will fund with its apportionment of 2022-2023 RMRA
funds was approved.
11. Authorization for the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement in a form acceptable to the City
Attorney, on behalf of the City was approved.
12. The renewal of the Operating Contract for the Azusa City Jail with the Allied Universal Corporation for a one-year
term effective July 1, 2022 was approved.
13. The contract between the San Bernardino County Sheriff/ Coroner/ Public Administrator and the City of Azusa, for
use of range facilities not to exceed the $5,000.00 was approved.
14. Authorization for the new payment schedule based on the new invoicing by the COMNET JPA was approved.
15. Resolution No. 2022-C60 re-appointing Edith Russek to the Cultural & Historic Preservation Commission;
Resolution No. 2022-C61 re-appointing James Ramirez to the Cultural & Historic Preservation Commission;
Resolution No. 2022-C62 re-appointing Michelle Pastrano to the Cultural & Historic Preservation Commission;
Resolution No. 2022-C63 appointing Sabrina Bow to the Cultural & Historic Preservation Commission; Resolution
No. 2022-C64 re-appointing Joyce Hsiao to the Library Commission; Resolution No. 2022-C65 appointing Kimberly
A. Antol to the Library Commission; Resolution No. 2022-C66 re-appointing Gerard Batista to the Parks &
Recreation Commission; Resolution No. 2022-C67 re-appointing Pam Mercado to the Parks & Recreation
Commission; Resolution No. 2022-C68 re-appointing Rossana Helbert to the Parks & Recreation Commission;
Resolution No. 2022-C69 re-appointing Victor Eduardo Munoz to the Personnel Board; Resolution No. 2022-C70
appointing Angela Dreyer to the Personnel Board; Resolution No. 2022-C71 re-appointing Elizabeth Ramirez to the
Planning Commission; and Resolution No. 2022-C72 re-appointing Robert Donnelson to the Planning Commission
were all adopted.
16. Resolution No. 2022-C73, ratifying the proclamation of a State of Emergency by Governor Newsom (March 4, 2020),
and authorizing remote teleconference meetings of the Legislative Bodies of the City of Azusa pursuant to Assembly
Bill 361 was adopted.
17. The City Treasurer’s Reports of Receipts, Disbursements and Fund Balances for the months of May 2021 through
September 202 was received, reviewed, and filed.
18. Resolution No. 2022-C74, authorizing Staff to accept the Award was adopted; Approval and authorization for the City
Manager to execute a Standard Agreement and any subsequent amendments with the Department of Housing and
Community Development, in substantial form, subject to minor modifications acceptable to the City Attorney on
behalf of the City; Authorization for the City Manager to approve local Program Guidelines and specifications in
compliance with the CalHome Program Final Guidelines; Waive the purchasing procedures as authorized under
Azusa Municipal Code section 2-539 Waiving of purchasing procedures; and a Professional Service Agreement in an
amount of $160,000 annually for a total contract amount not to exceed $480,000 with Global Urban Strategies Inc.
for CalHome grant administrative services in a form acceptable to the City Attorney on behalf of the City were
approved.
19. Rejection of all bids for the Arrow Highway Street Resurfacing and Highway Safety Improvement Project, Federal
Project No. HSIPL-5112(019); Authorization for staff to solicit a Notice of Inviting Bids for the Arrow Highway
Street Resurfacing and Highway Safety Improvement Project; Federal Project No. HSIPL-5112(019) separately in
two Phases; and Approval for revised Construction Documents to show the scope of work within the City of Covina
as an additive “Bid Alternate Item” were approved.
20. Agreement for Completion of Public Improvements between The Avenue LLC and the City of Azusa was approved.
21. The City Treasurer’s Report for the month of July 2022 was received, reviewed, and filed.
22. A Site Placement Agreement with Azusa Pacific University, School of Nursing, to create a placement site in the City
of Azusa; and Authorization for the City Manager to execute an Agreement with Azusa Pacific University, School of
Nursing, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City were approved.
23. Release of a Request for Proposal for Senior Center Remodel – Architectural, Interior Design, Engineering &
Construction Services was approved.
24. The Cities for Workforce Health Wellness Grant in the amount of $5,000 was accepted.
25. The Fiscal Year 2021/22 fourth quarter financial report ending June 30, 2022 was received, reviewed, and filed.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Items E-1 to E-5 and E-7 to E-25, was made by Councilmember Beckwith, seconded
by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez, and carried by the unanimous vote of Council.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH, GONZALES, MENDEZ
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
Discussion ensued regarding Consent Calendar Item D-6.
Councilmember Beckwith requested information on the changes that have been made and the project itself.
Planning Manager Munoz provided clarification on the decreasing project scope, modifications to the preliminary plans,
and the amendments.
In response to questioned posed by Mayor Gonzales, Planning Manager Munoz clarified that Dhammakaya Meditation
Center can continue to make amendments to their specific plan.
Mayor Gonzales provided direction to Staff to get this project moving along.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Item E-6 was made by Councilmember Beckwith, seconded by Councilmember
Avila, and carried by the unanimous vote of Council.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH, GONZALES, MENDEZ
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
Mayor Gonzales provided direction to Staff to review the onboarding process for new Commissioners and Board
Members and bring back enthusiasm to these positions.
SECOND READING ORDINANCES
1. Reading of title only, second reading and adoption, Ordinance No. 2022-03. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE
XI, DIVISION 2, CHAPTER 18 OF THE AZUSA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE CITY OF AZUSA
MOBILEHOME RENT STABILIZATION REGULATIONS
Motion to approve Second Reading Ordinances Item F-1 was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez, seconded by
Councilmember Beckwith, and carried by the unanimous vote of Council.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH, GONZALES, MENDEZ
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
City Manager Gonzalez reported that Staff is working with the City Attorney’s office to draft a summary of the Ordinance
which will then be mailed to all seniors living in these facilities.
CONSENT CALENDAR – Successor Agency Related Business
1. Adoption of Resolution No. 2022-R10 allowing certain claims and demands to be paid out of Successor Agency
Funds.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Item G-1 was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez, seconded by Councilmember
Beckwith, and carried by the unanimous vote of Council.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., BECKWITH, GONZALES, MENDEZ
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
SCHEDULED ITEMS – CITY COUNCIL
City Attorney Martinez reported that Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez will be recusing himself from the Public Hearing due to
owning property within 500ft of the boundaries of the project. He also reported that Councilmember Beckwith will be
recusing himself from the Public Hearing due to owning property within 1000ft of the boundaries of the project. He
reported that Councilmember Beckwith may be included in future discussions, depending on how Council proceeds with
the scheduled public hearing, environmental documents, and further evaluation of the project.
1. PUBLIC HEARING ON PRELIMINARY PLAN REVIEW NO. 2022-01 FOR THE PROPERTIES
LOCATED AT 919 WEST SIERRA MADRE AVENUE (APNS: 8617-001-005, 8684-013-030, 8617-001-013, 8617-
013-001, 8617-011-001, 8684-043-002, AND 8684-043-002) - A REQUEST TO DEVELOP EXISTING GOLF
COURSE PROPERTY WITH SIX (6) INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, 230 SENIOR HOUSING UNITS, AND THE
REDESIGN OF THE REMAINING PROPERTY AS A NINE (9) HOLE GOLF COURSE.
Planning Manager Munoz provided a staff report. Pete Cassiano, from Overton Moor Properties, provided a revised
project proposal.
Councilmember Alvarez shared that he supports the concept to incorporate affordable housing. He inquired about the
parking concept for the golf course.
Mr. Cassiano reported that his team will develop a solution to address parking needs.
Councilmember Avila Jr. thanked Mr. Cassiano for making modifications to the project proposal.
Discussion ensued regarding the number of dwelling units, requests for increase in acreage, and incorporating local
vendors into the project.
Mayor Gonzales opened the Public Hearing.
City Clerk Cornejo stated all noticing requirements had been met and held the proof of publication in the San Gabriel
Valley Tribune on September 9, 2022.
Two letters of opposition were received from James and Susana Tate and Brenda Brubecker.
A letter from Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Union was also received, providing information and recognizing
certain workforce policies and requirements to benefit local areas and to be added to the project.
Public Testimony:
Ted Jimenez, a member of the Carpenters Union, shared his concerns for the need to hire locally.
Jacklyn Swenson, a resident of Azusa, inquired about the reduction in open recreational space.
Kim Atal inquired which sections of the project would be for sale and for rent.
Cathy Gambino shared her concerns on the potential impacts of the project.
Roni Nanning shared her concerns on maintenance of the golf course and extra parking.
Andrea Schuppe shared her concerns on the potential impacts of the project.
Motion to close the Public Hearing was made by Councilmember Avila, seconded by Councilmember Alvarez, and
carried by the unanimous vote of Council.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., GONZALES,
NOES: AGENCY MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: AGENCY MEMBERS: BECKWITH, MENDEZ
ABSENT: AGENCY MEMBERS: NONE
Mayor Gonzales stated the Public Hearing is closed.
Motion to approve Agenda Item D-1 – 1) Direct staff to continue processing the subject application was carried by the
following roll-call vote of Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., GONZALES
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, MENDEZ
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ADJOURNMENT
It was the consensus of the Council to adjourn the meeting in solemn honor of Azusans who lost their lives to Covid-19.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:36 P.M.
* Items heard out of order
__________________________________________
CITY CLERK
NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-C74
NEXT ORDINANCE NO. 2022-04
NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-R11
NEXT MEETINGS:
October 3, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting.
October 17, 2022, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting