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Home My WebLink About10-4-2021, Minutes Regular MeetingCITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 – 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 7:30 P.M. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Cornejo. PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, AVILA, ALVAREZ, MENDEZ ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ONE VACANT POSITION ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo. Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Martinez, Deputy City Manager De Anda-Scaia, Director of Administrative Services Talika M. Johnson, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia. PUBLIC COMMENT None CLOSED SESSION None 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: GONZALES, AVILA, ALVAREZ, MENDEZ ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ONE VACANT POSITION The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Yolanda Peña, Azusa School Board member. Invocation was delivered by Pastor James Abraham, Winners Outreach Church, in Azusa California. ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo. Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Martinez, Chief of Police Bertelsen, Director of Administrative Services Johnson, Director of Utilities Robledo, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Delgadillo, Deputy City Manager DeAnda-Scaia, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia, Miki Carpenter, Director of Community Resources CLOSED SESSION REPORT The City Council convened at 7:30 P.M.; Mayor Gonzales reported there was no Closed Session, therefore no closed session report. CEREMONIAL 1. 2021 Golden Days Events and Presentation to Interact Clubs Miki Carpenter, Director of Community Resources reported on the Golden Days Event 2021 and presented the event calendar, adding that more information can be found at Azusaca.gov/civicrec. In addition, she recognized the students from Azusa and Gladstone High schools Interact Clubs, who helped put together the mental health awareness video in May, stewards of parcel in the community garden, helped advise on teen programming, and created the logo and slogan for this years Golden Days event – United We Shine. Certificates were presented to the club advisors Mary Turner, Darla Elliot, Myra Rico, Ray Keirny, Sully Asmar and Roger Catarez. The Mayor read the certificates for both high school clubs. PUBLIC COMMENT None REPORTS, UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF/COUNCIL City Manager Communications City Manager Gonzalez gave an update on the aggressive Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and asked residents to please remain patience while they improve the City. The resurfacing plan has begun. Council Comments Mayor Pro-Tem Avila announced September 22-24, he attended the League of California Cities. There were 479 California cities represented with over 1800 attendees. He attended the General Session, Land Use California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) update, Housing Crisis, and Working Better With Our Colleagues classes. They had to leave early to attend the funeral service for former Councilmember Macias, who’s sister Blanca who expressed her gratitude to all the city staff members and departments for planning and contributing to the services, as well as the people from Foothills Funeral Services. Jennie Avila stepped down from the Library Commission after 12 years of service. Mayor Pro-Tem Avila thanked her for all the work she’s done through the years. Chief of Police Bertelsen reported that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The pink patches and shirts can be purchased through the Police Department at Movies In The Park on Friday October 8th, Concerts In The Park on October 9th, and Coffee event on October 12th, 2021 and a drive through event on October 30th. All proceeds benefit cancer research, specifically City of Hope. Councilmember Alvarez stated he also attended the League of Cities 2021. The Foothill Transit will be moving forward with the Mount San Antonio College (SAC) transit center, it is due to open in February 2023, Foothill transit will be servicing the UCLA games and the Rose Bowl from Pasadena. Currently, Foothill Transit is being challenged by a lack of staff and are having to cancel 2% to 3% of their lines due to not having the staff to work them. Ridership in August was at 56% of pre-Covid, in September they were at 61%. The Express service was only at 24% in August compared to pre- Covid, and 25% in September. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has extended the mandatory mask-wearing mandate on bus lines through January 18, 2022. Councilmember Mendez welcomed everyone to the modified Golden Days week and stated in the 72 years this event has been running they’ve only had to cancel the parade three times, twice the last two years. The committee and staff did a great job in putting everything together with all the on-going changes happen with Covid. He thanked the Patriot Guard Riders who participated in former Councilmember Macias’ funeral, along with American Legion, St. Francis Rome Church for streaming for those who could not attend, Los Angeles County Fire Department Quint 153 for the giant American Flag which was a beautiful touch, Engine 32, Chief of Police Bertelson and your team for your support and procession, the officers who served for the Honor Guard at the church Officer Hildebrandt, Officer Shepherd, Officer Rodriguez, and Officer Garcia. Councilmember Mendez continued it’s exciting to see the changes on Block 36, however, the trees look to be very thin, and requested fuller trees might need to be added to increase shade. City Manager Sergio Gonzalez replied they have received proposals from design firms to help with sidewalk furniture, treescapes and shade trees for the canopy area on block 36. Councilmember Mendez also requested staff look into more ornamental energy- efficient lighting in the Auditorium. In addition, questioned if the Community Emergency Response Program (CERP) is still an active program. Chief Bertleson responded in the past they have worked with the Los Angeles County Fire Department in a CERP program, however it has been years since one was in place for Azusa. Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Fire Chief Carl Flores stated the CERP program is a nationwide program that the county sometimes helps to fund, adding that if the City is interested in putting one together it is a lengthy process but they would support the efforts in doing so. Chief Bertelson stated the Instant Reward program for graffiti tipsters is a program through the Municipal Code that allows them to pay a $100 reward and is still ongoing, the arresting officer generally circles back to make contact with the tipster. Lastly, Councilmember Mendez asked City Council if they were interested in repeating the previous years Santa Sleigh Ride that is hosted by the City Police and Fire Departments. Mayor Gonzales stated he believed having that discussion is premature having just canceled the Golden Days parade due to Covid numbers. PAGE TWO – 10/4/2021 Mayor Gonzales reported October 4th through October 7th is Public Power Week, and there will be an LED bulb give- away on the second floor of the Public Works building. October 13th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. the City of Azusa is hosting a Spanish Heritage Concert by Mariachi Herencia Michoacana at the Gazebo. Wednesday October 27th between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. is the Fall Festival at Vernon’s Park, there will be a costume contest at 5 p.m. Mayor Gonzales also attended the League of Cities conference. He sat in on many sessions and was particularly impressed by a Governance Session which had a Governance Manual and requested the City Manager work on putting one together for Azusa, noting both the City Manager and City Attorney have been reviewing Governance Manual templates. The Mayor enjoyed the networking and learned that the RMC Joint Powers Authority is dissolving and asked the City Manager to report back with the pros and cons of this action and how it will affect Azusa. Adding, he would also like the developer working on the Orchard Project to return with an update on where they are with that project. Mayor Gonzalez and Councilmember Alvarez attended two Riverbed Working Group meetings and they have made significant progress in the project; however, more resources are needed to complete the project. He would like to see the problem resolved rather than relocated to another city and requested the City Manager add an update for Council to a future Agenda about resources for transitional bed and temporary housing. He would like to adjourn the meeting in memory of Jesus Silvestri who owned Jesse’s Barbershop. Mr. Silvestri was a World War II veteran and lifelong resident of Azusa. SCHEDULED ITEMS – CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA REPEALING SECTION 18-1003 OF THE AZUSA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO LONG TERM OCCUPANCIES Ordinance No. 2021-06 was introduced repealing Section 18-1003 of the Azusa Municipal Code relating to Long Term Occupancies. Moved by Councilmember Alvarez to approve, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Avila, and carried by unanimous vote of the Council to approve the introduction of Ordinance No. 2021-06 repealing Section 18-1003 of the Azusa Municipal Code relating to Long Term Occupancies. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, ALVAREZ, AVILA, MENDEZ NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: ONE VACANT POSITION CONSENT CALENDAR Consent Calendar Item E-6 was pulled from the Agenda by Mayor Gonzalez. Motion to approve the Consent Calendar Items E-1 to E-5 and E-7 to E-9 by Mayor Gonzalez, seconded by Councilmember Mendez, and carried by unanimous vote of the Council. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, ALVAREZ, AVILA, MENDEZ NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: ONE VACANT POSITION 1. The minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 19, 2021 were approved as written. 2. Resolution No. 2021-C44 was adopted authorizing payments of warrants by the City dated September 16, 2021 through September 29, 2021 and approved. 3. Grant Number PT22143 was approved for California office of Traffic Safety for the “Selective Traffic Enforcement Program” (STEP) 2021-2022; with the Mayor Authorized to execute the grant agreement. 4. Waive purchasing procedures as authorized under Azusa Municipal Code Section 2.539 and approve the purchase of a Crafco, Inc. Supershot 125DC with 100cfm Air Compressor and proposed attachments in the amount not to exceed $88,024.26 from Crafco, Inc.; and Authorize the City Manager to execute a purchase agreement with Crafco, Inc. for the purchase of the Supershot 125DC with 100cfm Air Compressor and proposed attachments was approved. 5. The community at large will receive a public benefit from the expenditure of funds for the Business Retention and Expansion Survey; and will receive of fifty (50) credits towards business license renewal fees of $50.00 each as rewards on an opportunity basis for survey participants for a total of $2,500 was approved. 6. Special Call Item 7. Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 1 will increase the monies and project scope with Stantec to provide planning and environmental consultant services for The Great Park and Residential Project; and Authorizing the City Manager to prepare and execute the agreements, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City, was approved. 8. The City Treasurer's Report was received, reviewed, and filed for the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 fourth quarter financial report ending June 30, 2021. PAGE THREE– 10/4/2021 9. The project improvements for the remodeling of Suite 2B in the Azusa Light and Water building were Accepted; and Authorizing Staff to file a Notice of Completion on the Relocation of the Public Works Division, was approved. Special Call Item *6. The Agreement for Installation and Maintenance of Public Art Template for future development projects; and Authorizing the City Manager to execute, in a form acceptable to City Attorney, on behalf of the City, was approved. Motion to move Consent Calendar Item E6 by Mayor Gonzales seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Avila and carried by unanimous vote of the Agency to approve: The agreement for installations and maintenance of public art template and authorizing City Manager Gonzalez to execute, in a form acceptable to City Attorney, on behalf of the City. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, ALVAREZ, AVILA, MENDEZ NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: ONE VACANT POSITION CONSENT CALENDAR - SUCCESSOR AGENCY RELATED BUSINESS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF WARRANTS BY THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY DATED SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29, 2021. Mayor Gonzalez offered Resolution No. 2021-R13 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY OF THE FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF AZUSA ALLOWING PAYMENT OF WARRANTS TO BE PAID OUT OF SUCCESSOR AGENCY FUNDS. Moved by Mayor Pro-Tem Avila, seconded by Agency Member Alvarez and carried by unanimous vote of the Agency to adopt Resolution No. 2021-R13. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, ALVAREZ, AVILA, MENDEZ NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: ONE VACANT POSITION ADJOURNMENT It was the consensus of the Council to adjourn the meeting in solemn honor of those Azusans who lost their lives to Covid-19 and Jesus Silvestri. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 8:23 P.M. __________________________________________ CITY CLERK NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2021-C46 (City) NEXT ORDINANCE NO. 2021-07 NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2021-R14 (Former Redevelopment Agency) NEXT MEETINGS: October 18, 2021 and November 1, 2021 * Items heard out of order PAGE FOUR – 10/4/2021