HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-6-2023, 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, FEBRUARY 6, 2023 – 7:30 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Azusa met in Closed and Regular session at Azusa Auditorium located at 213 E.
Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA 91702.
CLOSED SESSION
None
REGULAR MEETING
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: BECKWITH, AVILA Jr., ALVAREZ, MENDEZ, GONZALES
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ALSO PRESENT
Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo.
Staff Members: Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, Assistant City Attorney Martinez, Chief of Police Wenrick,
Director of Administrative Services Johnson, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Delgadillo, Deputy City
Manager DeAnda-Scaia, Director of Community Resources Carpenter, IT and Library Services Director Graf, General
Manager Singh, Director of Economic & Community Development Jimenez, Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia, and
Planning Consultant Vizcarra.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Stephanie Martenzi.
The Invocation was led by Pastor Rick McDonald of the Azusa House of Prayer.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Marco Martinez reported there was no Closed Session.
CEREMONIAL
Proclamation for February as Black History Month read by Mayor Gonzales.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Ms. Stephanie Martenzi spoke regarding the City’s Planning fees, specifically the detailed breakdown of the
Conditional Use Permits (CUP) fees and questioned if the CUP will cover extended business hours or will there be a
separate minor use permit fee, in addition to the outdoor dining fee, and requested clarification if the CUP will
encompass all, or will there be a need for the minor use permit. Additionally, Ms. Martenzi provided comments
regarding the Utility Discount information being difficult to find on the City’s website and it might be beneficial to add
it in circulation to promote Azusa as being a great city to start a business.
Emily Wall with the Student Government for Azusa Pacific University provided updates on upcoming visitors and
events with the University, updates on their website at https://www.apu.edu, and invited the Council and the
community to join them at their upcoming annual event The Table. Information can be found by emailing
SGA@apu.edu.
City Council February 6, 2023 Page | 2
City Clerk Cornejo stated there were no further in person comment cards submitted however, there were two emails
submitted. One from Victor Munoz regarding the interpretation of the role of the personnel board, a copy was provided
to the Councilmembers. The second email was from Trish Gonzales regarding her concerns for Item D3 on the Consent
Calendar, that email was also provided to Councilmembers.
Mayor Gonzales announced the Granicus streamline system is currently down, the live stream for the meeting will be
uploaded tomorrow morning. Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia responded there was a glitch at the beginning of the
meeting which has since been worked out.
City Manager Gonzalez indicated the topic of CUP fees would be covered and more appropriately responded to during
the discussion of the Agenda item for those fees.
REPORTS, UPDATES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF/COUNCIL
1. City Manager Communications.
City Manager Gonzalez stated he has no announcements for the evening.
2. City Clerk: Request to designate voting delegate and alternate to the Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) General Assembly scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Oral Report provided by Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia.
Motion by Mayor Gonzales, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mendez to Appoint Councilmember Avila Jr. as the voting
delegate for SCAG.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., MENDEZ, GONZALES
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
Motion by Mayor Gonzales, seconded by Councilmember Avila Jr. to Appoint Councilmember Beckwith as the
alternate voting delegate for SCAG.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., MENDEZ, GONZALES
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez provided an update for the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for the Construction Authority of the
Gold Line. The Glendora to Pomona section is still fully funded and still on track for early 2025 completion. There has
been a request made to CALS Transit Authority for $798 million dollars for the extension to Montclair and then
beyond from Pomona that was not approved. It will still run to Pomona, just at this time, not beyond. Mayor Pro Tem
thanked Redeemed Life Church and the AMA for the invitation to their Pray For Us Azusa event hosted. He attended
the Independent Cities Association (ICA) event in Santa Barbara. Some of the agenda items were working with the
media, discussing potential liabilities that could affect the city and the warning signs of domestic violence. It was a
very robust conference.
Mayor Pro-Tem Mendez read two announcements for Mayor Gonzales. The first is the City of Azusa Community
Resources Department is hosting Youth Soccer which is $30 per player, there are multiple divisions and the season is
from April – May and there is Mighty Might T-Ball for boys and girls grades from Kindergarten through second grade
and has a spring registration which opens on February 27th. All you need is love Valentine’s Movie night will be
playing Twilight on Friday February 17th, doors open at 5:30 and the movie starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Azusa Youth and
Family Center at Memorial Park.
Councilmember Alvarez announced APU is having the VITA Program during tax season which is the Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance program which will be on Saturday’s February 4, 11, 18 and 25 and March 18, 25 and April 1st
and 8th. The last tax day is April 18, 2023. The program will be on those Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Wilden
Hall building on Campus. More information and a map can be found on their website APU.edu. Or you can contact
LSA@apu.edu. The school of Business and Management is having Financial Literacy Workshop, no registration is
required, February 4th is Tax Management, February 25th is Career Development for financial wellbeing. March 18th is
Credit Card and Credit Management and April 8th is Long Term Financial Planning, also in the Wilden Hall building at
10:00 a.m. in Room 111. The American Legion Canyon City Post 180 in Azusa is celebrating their 97th anniversary on
February 18th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 819 N. Loren Avenue. Please keep the victims in Monterey Park in your prayers.
City Council February 6, 2023 Page | 3
Councilmember Avila Jr. spoke about attending the ICA conference in Santa Barbera. It was a good event to network
with other electives and a good chance to learn some of the challenges other cities are facing and he walked away
feeling Azusa is in good standings compared to many other communities. He attended many of the same groups that
Mayor Pro Tem attended, another good one was Guns, E-bikes, water and sidewalks. Friday will be the 17th annual
Casino Night; it has been his pleasure to help the Mayor with this event. All the proceeds are donated to Azusa’s youth
organizations, Raiders, Little League Baseball and Azusa Parks and Recreation. For $20 you get a thousand dollars in
play money to play Casino games. When you turn your thousand into five thousand, you’ll receive raffle tickets for
over 60 raffle prizes that have been donated. Some of the fun ones include a drone, a big screen TV, a laptop computer,
and many other fun items. It will be at the VFW on First Street at 6:00 p.m. Pony League baseball will be having sign
up for ages 13 and 14, the cost is $85 per person and the registration is open until March 2023 or until all teams are
filled. It’s at Gladstone Park and you can register online. They are also sponsoring Bonko Baseball which is 11-12
years old, the cost is also $85 dollars per player. Go to Azusa.ca.civic.rec for more information. Councilmember Avila
Jr. Thanked the AMA for bringing together different pastors in the community, it was a great event, and he looks
forward to next year’s event.
Councilmember Beckwith commented about attending the ICA conference and the previously mentioned seminars and
heard from Sherriff Luna which was interesting conversation. It was good to connect with neighboring communities
for networking. One Legacy One Walk registration just opened up for the April 29th event. He has flyers from the
Azusa Chamber of Commerce for their quarterly Breakfast on Thursday February 16th at 7:30 a.m. at Max’s. Chief
Wenrick will be the quest speaker. The Library will be having their Creating Connections on Tuesday February 7th at
5:00 p.m. The Senior Center Valentine’s Dance will be on February 9th at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. It is $15 dollars per
person. Music will be by DJ Soul Life.
Mayor Gonzales commented on the many events that are happening and thanked the Councilmembers for helping with
the flyers. Sunday February 26th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Courtyard Gazebos at Veteran’s Freedom Park the Vet at
the Park Event will take place. Free vet exams, free flea medication, free vaccines, free deworming, free microchips,
and free pet food will be provided and sponsored by the LA County Care Control and the City of Azusa. Please come
join them at Casino Night. One hundred percent of the money goes to Azusa youth programs for families who can’t
afford to play. No child should be excluded from participating because they can’t afford it, this has been a great
success in the past and over the course of the last 17 years well over $100,000 has been raised and donated to the youth
of the community. There will be an auction for a meal with Chief Wenrick and another person who has yet to be
determined. The Mayor spoke in regard to also attending the ICA conference and felt it was well attended considering
the weather and it being the first of the year. He is happy to be the Mayor of the City of Azusa. There are many cities
with far greater challenges, and it speaks volumes towards the work of Azusa’s staff on a daily basis.
Mayor Gonzales requested the City Manager begin the process for the City’s dog park and what creating the group
Friends of the Dog Park might look like to help navigate that process. In addition, he requested staff look at a local
preference ordinance specific for construction jobs to help promote hiring locals.
SCHEDULED ITEMS
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-C07 AMENDING AND RESTATING RESOLUTION NO. 2010-C20
CONCERNING THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND TERM OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND
SELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM.
Recommended Actions:
1) Adopt Resolution No. 2023-C07, amending and restating Resolution No. 2010-C20 Concerning the
Selection Criteria and Term of the Mayor Pro Tem; and
2) Approve the selection of Councilmember Dennis Beckwith, as Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term,
expiring January 2024
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia provided a staff report of the change of dates for the selection of Mayor Pro Tem from
March to the 3rd Monday in January of every year and the selection of Councilmember Beckwith as the next Mayor Pro
Tem and responded to questions.
Motion by Pro Tem Mayor Mendez, seconded by Councilmember Avila Jr. to approve the Adoption of Resolution No.
2023-C07, amending and restating Resolution No. 2010-C20 concerning the selection criteria and Term of the Mayor
Pro Tem; and Approve the selection of Councilmember Dennis Beckwith, as Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term,
effective starting the next City Council meeting and expiring January 2024.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., MENDEZ, GONZALES
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
City Council February 6, 2023 Page | 4
2. AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA AMENDING
SECTION 88.42.190 OF THE AZUSA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, REPEALING SECTION
88.51.034 RELATED TO DISCRETIONARY PERMITS FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT THAT
DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR MINISTERIAL APPROVAL, AND DETERMINING THE ORDINANCE
TO BE EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA).
Recommended Action:
1) Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 2023-01 Amending Section 88.42.190 of the Azusa Municipal Code
related to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, repealing section
88.51.034 related to Discretionary Permit for Accessory Dwelling Unit That Does Not Qualify for
Ministerial Approval and determining the ordinance to be exempt from CEQA.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
Jose Jimenez, Economic and Community Development Director, introduced Planning Consultant Vizcarra who
presented the information on the Urgency Ordinance: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Junior Accessory Units
(JADU), provided information on the latest State Legislation regarding ADU’s and responded to Councilmember
questions.
All Councilmembers expressed a concern regarding the restricted ability for local municipalities to govern the
flexibility for ADU’s and JADU’s within their city limits.
Motion by Councilmember Avila Jr., seconded by Councilmember Beckwith to Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 2023-
01 Amending Section 88.42.190 of the Azusa Municipal Code related to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior
Accessory Dwelling Units, repealing section 88.51.034 related to Discretionary Permit for Accessory Dwelling Unit
That Does Not Qualify for Ministerial Approval and determining the ordinance to be exempt from CEQA.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., MENDEZ, GONZALES
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
3. DISCUSSION REGARDING PLANNING FEES, INCLUDING POSSIBLE SEGMENTING OF
BUILDING FEES FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (“ADUs”).
Recommended Action:
1) Receive and File report on Fees.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
Director Jimenez presented the item for discussion regarding planning fees, including the possible segmenting of
building fees for ADUs and the fees for Condition Use permits and Minor Use permits and responded to
councilmember questions.
Mayor Gonzales commented he was happy to see staff put clarity to some of the cities used as comparisons since a lot
of neighboring cities are already built out. Azusa needs to figure out how to help get businesses to come into Azusa
and subsidies aren’t the only option.
Mayor Pro Tem Mendez commented he believes there will be ample opportunity with ADUs to entice people to come
into Azusa and the City needs to make it cost effective as possible. Staff has continued to work through a lot of past
grievances regarding permitting and possibly a consultant and a PR campaign might be an option to help show that.
Councilmember Alverez commented that past frustrations of working with Azusa for permitting has improved and
there are other incentives such as utilities are cheaper. He supports the all-encompassing fee; however, he feels staff’s
report caters on the side of big businesses and smaller businesses need to also see incentives within their reach. He
would have appreciated information on where Azusa stands in comparisons to other cities once those other cities have
made changes to their fee requirements.
Councilmember Beckwith agrees with previous Councilmembers in that there are things that could improve and ways
to better communicate those improvements and was happy to see the utility discount information added to the City’s
City Council February 6, 2023 Page | 5
side of the website and not just on the utility side and agreed that the name could be changed for easier identification.
He agreed more comparable information would be helpful once the other cities have updated their fee structures.
Councilmember Avila Jr. stated the theme today seemed to be better communication and how to better lure businesses
into Azusa. When an ADU is built it is considered a small business. There is a lot of turnover within the City, there
needs to be a more uniform way of communicating fee information to permit applicants.
Mayor Gonzales suggested taking downtown as a starting point and considering a 25% discount for permit fees in the
downtown area, or something of that sort. Azusa is in a position to help that process in some way.
City Manager Gonzalez responded they first need to establish that the fees are appropriate, prior to considering a
specific discount, that way qualifications can also be established. The study will inform the maximum that can be
charged and will provide a better understanding of what can be incentivized and by how much. Azusa just received a
$4.8 million dollar grant from CALHOME, and staff will be working to promote that 18 grants will be available for 18
ADUs for about $100,000 dollars each.
CONSENT CALENDAR – CITY COUNCIL
1. Minutes of the Regular meetings December 12, 2022, AND December 19, 2022 was approved as written.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
2. Resolution No. 2023-C08 allowing certain claims and demands and specifying the funds out of which
the same are to be paid.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
3. Personnel Action Requests in accordance with the City of Azusa Civil Service Rules and applicable
Memorandum of Understanding(s) was approved.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
4. Adopt the proposed 2023 City’s Legislative Platform; and Approve the proposed 2023 State and Federal
Legislative Priorities was approved.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
5. Receive and file the list of purchase orders approved by the City Manager and Central Stores for the
months of December 2022 and January 2023 was approved.
Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
6. Award a contract in the amount of $266,680, which includes a 10% contingency for potential change
orders as needed, to Alliant Construction Services, Inc.; and Authorize the Mayor to execute contracts, in
a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City was approved.
Total Cost: $266,680 (Including 10% Contingency) Is the cost of this item budgeted? Yes
Fund/Account No: 46-80-000-651-7125 / 65123B
7. The maintenance agreement with Motorola Solutions for all current software programs for the period of
December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2023, in the amount of $93,297.21; Approve this renewal and
annual automatic renewals with the dollar amount slightly increasing until canceled; and Authorize the
City Manager to execute the maintenance agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf
of the City was approved.
Total Cost: $93,297.00 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes
Fund/Account No: 10-20-941-000-6415
8. Retroactively approve Purchase Order #038466 to the Department of Industrial Relations in the
amount of $65,919.34 was approved.
Total Cost: $65,919.34 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes
City Council February 6, 2023 Page | 6
Fund/Account No: 42 Self-Insurance-42-50-923-000-6745
9. Authorize the City Manager to sign two agreements between the City of Azusa and State of
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in a form acceptable to the City Attorney; Accept
the funding from Caltrans for two Clean California Community Day Events in amount not-to-exceed
$17,000; and Approve necessary budget amendment and adjust the current fiscal year budget
accordingly was approved.
Total Cost: N/A Is the Cost of this item budgeted? N/A
Fund/Account No: N/A
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Mendez, seconded by Councilmember Beckwith to approve the Consent Calendar Items E-
1 – E-9.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, MENDEZ, ALVAREZ, AVILA Jr., MAYOR GONZALES
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
Mayor Gonzales stated next week is Valentine’s Day and he’s seeing a lot of flower vendors. He believes it’s unfair for
the businesses who have paid their dues to be pushed out by street vendors and requested staff work weekends to help
squash the illegal street vendors selling flowers.
City Manager Gonzalez responded he and Director Jimenez recently spoke about that and they are resurrecting their
weekend detail for exactly that purpose.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gonzales adjourned the meeting in memory of Joey R Sanchez, a Life-Long Azusa Resident and in solemn
honor of those Azusans who lost their lives to Covid-19.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 8:58 P.M.
* Items heard out of order
___________________________________
CITY CLERK
NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-C09 (City)
NEXT ORDINANCE NO. 2022-02
NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-R04 (Former Redevelopment Agency)
NEXT MEETINGS:
February 21, 2023, 6:30 p.m. Closed Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
March 6, 2023, 6:30 p.m. Closed Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting