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Home My WebLink AboutE-1 - Minutes Regular Meeting, June 5, 2023CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY CLOSED SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023 – 6:30 P.M. The City Council of the City of Azusa met in Closed and Regular session at Azusa Auditorium at 213 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA 91702. CLOSED SESSION Mayor Gonzales called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by City Clerk Cornejo. PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: MENDEZ, AVILA Jr., ALVAREZ, MAYOR PRO-TEM BECKWITH, MAYOR GONZALES ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo. Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Castillo, Chief of Police Wenrick, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Delgadillo, Deputy City Manager DeAnda-Scaia, Director of Community Resources Carpenter, Interim Director of IT Guadagnino, Director of Economic & Community Development Jimenez, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia. SCHEDULED ITEMS 1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL -WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIM Pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54956.95. Case Name: Jennifer Tangs v. City of Azusa; WC Claim No. 402126A89G0001 2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54956.9(d)(1) Case Name: Walberto Saldivar v. City of Azusa; LA County Superior Court Case No. 20STCV48956 3. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS – Pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54956.8. City Negotiators: Sergio Gonzalez, City Manager Property Address: 975 W. Foothill, APNs 8605-019-906 and 907. Negotiating Parties: Al Cabraloff, Spectrum Properties Under Negotiation: Price and Terms PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY, THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY 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: MENDEZ, AVILA Jr., ALVAREZ, MAYOR PRO-TEM BECKWITH, MAYOR GONZALES ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE CONSENT ITEM E-1 City Council June 5, 2023 Page | 2 ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: City Clerk Cornejo. Staff Members: City Manager Gonzalez, City Attorney Castillo, Chief of Police Wenrick, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Delgadillo, Deputy City Manager DeAnda-Scaia, Director of Community Resources Carpenter, Interim Director of IT Guadagnino, Director of Economic & Community Development Jimenez, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Garcia. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Julie Gonzalez. The Invocation was led by Trisha Pardo, Youth Minister at Saint Frances of Rome Church. CLOSED SESSION REPORT City Attorney Martinez reported there was a Closed Session, there were no reportable actions. CEREMONIAL 1. Proclamation proclaiming the Month of June 2023 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the City of Azusa. Mayor Gonzales read the Proclamation proclaiming the Month of June 2023 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the City of Azusa. 2. Swearing-In Ceremony for Police Personnel. New Hires: • Cardenas, Jose - Police Officer • Estrada, Angel – Police Officer • Ford, Jake – Police Officer • Garcia, Sergio – Police Officer • Ortega, Mark – Police Officer • Sandoval, Kiana – Police Officer The Police Officers were sworn in by City Clerk Cornejo and received their badges. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Joyce Hsiao provided public comment regarding vandalism by homeless to city property and the occupants of the Rose Gold Line building. Alisa D. Lorenza provided comment regarding how the new dog park will impact the City financially, potential parking challenges, and saving the trees during building. Stephanie Martinzy provided public comment regarding the dog park and keeping the old trees on the property and the current plan is a million dollars over the original plan and the future maintenance costs for upkeep. Emails were received and forwarded to City Council by Maria Amador Velasquez and Pam Ricardo regarding the dog park. REPORTS, UPDATES, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF/COUNCIL *3. ‘Pet of the Month’ Presentation by Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control. Officer Contreras from Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control presented Mando as the dog of the month and provided information on the dog and how to adopt him. Mayor Gonzales thanked them for the presentation reminded everyone to adopt – not shop and requested Mando be put on the City’s website. *2. Azusa Chamber of Commerce Year End Report and Presentation. Steve Castro, Chamber CEO, presented the Year End Report and financial presentation for the Azusa Chamber of Commerce and responded to Council questions. Mayor Gonzales requested the Chamber report out to the Council more than once a year in order to provide better collaboration between the City and the Chamber of Commerce. City Council June 5, 2023 Page | 3 *1. City Manager Communications. City Manager Gonzalez introduced new staff members in the Community Resource department, new lifeguards for the City pool for the summer and staff for the day camp, and staff members for economic development. COUNCIL COMMENTS Mayor Pro-Tem Beckwith reported he attended two conferences in the past week for city contracts and International Convention for Shopping Centers (ICSC), and he attended the Pioneer Cemetery event for Memorial Day. Thank you to staff for the effort in the 28 Palm Ceremony and Public Works week. Congratulations to the seniors graduating and the APU women’s track team for winning the Division 2 National Championship. The re-opening of the James Slauson Community Pool will be on Saturday June 10th with a ceremony at 11 a.m. Lunch and recreation will be provided. Councilmember Alvarez congratulated all the new hires and police officers. He attended the Foothill Transit meeting, please check Foothilltransit.org for new routes and updated times. Summer concert series is back, the first one is scheduled for June 22, the last one will be August 10, it will run for eight weeks. Bands will be playing every Thursday evening at Memorial Park from 7-9 p.m. Please call 626-812-5280 for more information. The Flag Exchange event will be Saturday June 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall. Councilmember Avila Jr. welcomed all the new employees; on June 17 City Council Veteran’s ad-hoc committee, VFW Post 8070 and American Legion Post 180 will present the American Flag Retirement Ceremony at 11 a.m. at City hall for the flags collected at the Exchange event, please bring your own lounge chair. The library is kicking off their summer programs, every Monday through Friday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. a free lunch will be provided for all children from 0- 18 years of age. There will be performances every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Park. Scheduled events will be Arty the Lune Show on June 13, a hula-hoop show on June 20, a magic show on June 27, a puppet show on July 18 with a magician. Councilmember Mendez attended the contract cities conference, there was much to be learned and a great opportunity for networking. Gladstone and Azusa High Schools will be graduating this week. Azusa High will have fireworks show at approximately 8:10 on Tuesday. Wednesday Gladstone High at 7 p.m. it will be closing. Kids Summer Day Camp will be providing lunches with weekly field trips, arts and crafts, and swimming options. The admission is zero dollars for members of Azusa Unified School Districts, it will begin on June 12th through August 11th. Mayor Gonzales congratulated all the graduates this year. He attended the Contracts City’s Conference and completed two training sessions. He had the opportunity to network with the CEO of Metro Stephanie Wiggins and discussed the challenges Azusa has been facing with the Prominade, he was invited to meet with her officially at Union Station on June 13 at 8 a.m. Please be mindful of children playing outside during the summer and please watch your speeds. Please also remove standing water to help control mosquitos. Mayor requested the City Manager to schedule an al fresco meeting in the courtyard at some point during the summer. SCHEDULED ITEMS 1. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING A LOCAL EMERGENCY CAUSED BY THE HOMELESS CRISIS. Recommended Action: 1) Consider and provide direction regarding adopting a resolution declaring a Local State of Emergency Caused by the Homeless Crisis. Total Cost: N/A Is the Cost of this item budgeted? N/A Fund/Account No: N/A Lucy Demirjian, Project Manager, provided a presentation about a resolution in response to the homeless crisis due to Metro clearing all their trains nightly for cleaning, and responded to Council questions. Motion: by Councilmember Mendez, seconded by Councilmember Alvarez to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2023- C27 declaring a Local State of Emergency for Azusa. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, AVILA JR., MENDEZ, MAYOR GONZALES, ALVAREZ NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 5-0-0 City Council June 5, 2023 Page | 4 2. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF FINAL DOG PARK DESIGN PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF W. CRECENT DRIVE AT SUNSET AVE. Recommended Action: 1) Approve final concept design; and 2) Authorize staff to compile a bid package, including plans, specifications, and engineering criteria. Total Cost: $0 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? N/A Fund/Account No: N/A Director of Community Resources Miki Carpenter introduced the item of the final dog park concept design for the property located at the intersection of W. Crecent Drive as Sunset Avenue with a brief background of the project, cost estimates, and responded to Council questions. Doug Grove President RHA Landscape Architects - Planners, Inc gave staff’s presentation detailing the design and amenities, explained the differences in cost from the original design and current design, and responded to Council questions. Motion: by Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith, seconded by Councilmember Mendez to approve the design of the Dog Park located at the intersection of W. Crecent Drive at Sunset Avenue. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, AVILA JR., MENDEZ, MAYOR GONZALES, ALVAREZ NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 5-0-0 CONSENT CALENDAR – CITY COUNCIL Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith pulled item E-9 for Special Call. Mayor Gonzales pulled item E-10 for Special Call. Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith and Councilmember Alvarez Abstained from item E-6 due to proximity relative to his residence. 1. Minutes of the Regular meeting April 3, 2023 and April 17, 2023 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-C25 authorizing payments of warrants by the City dated May 11, 2023 through May 25, 2023 was approved. Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A Fund/Account No: N/A 3. Approve the following 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. Authorize the payment to Foothill Transit in the amount of $164,376.37 for the Azusa Intermodal Transit Center maintenance invoices for FY19/20, FY20/21 and FY21/22 was approved. Total Cost: $164,376.37 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Partially ($50,000) Fund/Account No: 17-25-521-301-6815 5. Award a professional services agreement to Page & Turnbull for $375,405 for architectural design services; Approve a contingency of $40,000 for additional specialized services that may be required during the design and pre-construction phase of the project; and Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, on behalf of the City was approved. Total Cost: $415,405 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes Fund/Account No: Expenditure Account # 46-10-110-000-6645 City Council June 5, 2023 Page | 5 6. Resolution No. 2023-C26 identifying the projects the City will fund with its apportionment of 2023-2024 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account; and Authorize staff to carryover existing RMRA funds from the 2022 & 2023 Residential Roadway Rehabilitation Project to 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget and CalSMART system was approved. Total Cost: N/A Is the cost of this item budgeted? N/A Fund/Account No: N/A 7. The purchase of High Frequency radio equipment offered through the reimbursable CAL OES High Frequency Communications Equipment Grant Program using the sole source provider NVIS Communications. Not to exceed $59,143.59 was approved. Total Cost: $59,143.59 (Grant Allotment: $60,000) Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes Fund/Account No: 28-20-310-102-7140 8. A Second Amendment to the existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments for an amount not to exceed $29,979 for the implementation of the San Gabriel Valley Regional VMT Analysis Model was approved. Total Cost: Not to exceed $15,000 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes Fund/Account No: 1035-611000-6399 Motion: by Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith, seconded by Councilmember Alvarez to approve the Consent Calendar Items E- 1-5 & E-7-8 and E-6 with the abstentions from Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith and Councilmember Avila Jr. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, AVILA JR., MENDEZ, MAYOR GONZALES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, MAYOR PRO TEM BECKWITH (ítem E-6) ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 5-0-0 SPECIAL CALL ITEMS 9. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with JLee Engineering, Inc. to provide the Planning Division support; Extend the term of the agreement by one month: and Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment, in a form acceptable to the City attorney on behalf of the City was approved. Total Cost: $120,000 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes Fund/Account No: 1035-611000-6399 Staff responded to Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith’s questions. Motion: by Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith, seconded by Councilmember Mendez to approve the Consent Calendar Item E-9. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, AVILA JR., ALVAREZ, MENDEZ, MAYOR GONZALES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 5-0-0 10. Receive and file purchase orders issued with contract agreements executed by the City Manager was approved. Total Cost: $529,965.20 Is the Cost of this item budgeted? Yes Fund/Account No: Various Accounts in Fund 10 and 48. City Manager Gonzalez and Director of Community resources Miki Carpenter provided information and responded to Mayor Gonzales’ questions. Motion: by Mayor Gonzales, seconded by Councilmember Alvarez for the City Manager to look into terminating the contract with Ray W. Pulver dba Upbeat parade Productions AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: AVILA JR., ALVAREZ, MAYOR GONZALES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, MENDEZ ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 3-2-0 (Beckwith and Mendez voted NO) City Council June 5, 2023 Page | 6 Motion: by Mayor Gonzales, seconded by Councilmember Mendez to receive and file the Consent Calendar Item E-10. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, AVILA JR., ALVAREZ, MENDEZ, MAYOR GONZALES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 5-0-0 CONSENT CALENDAR - SUCCESSOR AGENCY RELATED BUSINESS. 1. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF WARRANTS BY THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY DATED MAY 11, 2023 THROUGH MAY 25, 2023. RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 2023-R07 allowing certain claims and demands to be paid out of Successor Agency Funds. Motion: by Councilmember Mendez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Beckwith to Adopt Resolution No. 2023-R07 allowing certain claims and demands to be paid out of Successor Agency Funds. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BECKWITH, AVILA JR., ALVAREZ, MENDEZ, MAYOR GONZALES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Motion passed 5-0-0 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Gonzales adjourned the meeting. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:55 P.M. * Items heard out of order __________________________________________ CITY CLERK NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-C28 (City) NEXT ORDINANCE NO. 2023-03 NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-R08 (Former Redevelopment Agency) NEXT MEETINGS: June 19 2023, 6:30 p.m. Closed Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting July 3, 2023, 6:30 p.m. Closed Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting - Cancelled