HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-26-2023, Minutes Special MeetingCITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2023 – 6:48 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Azusa met in Closed and Special session at Azusa Light & Water at 729 N. Azusa
Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702, following the Utility Board meeting.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Gonzales called the meeting to order at 6:52 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.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Diana Reyes-Williams, President of the Women’s Club of Azusa, provided public comment regarding the Study Session
on the Special Agenda to address the increased unsheltered problem as a result of the train’s amended schedule, and
suggested that the community would be more likely to be in support of any decision City Council made on this problem
if they involve the community through outreach. Pomona’s program Hope for Home seems like a viable solution because
the unhoused needs permanent housing, not temporary.
SCHEDULED ITEMS
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION - Pursuant to California
Government Code, Section 54956.9(d)(1).
Case Name: Praxedes E. Running et al v. Covina Irrigating Company et al.; L.A. County Sup. Court Case No.
BC623542.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Gonzales called the meeting to order at 7:19 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 Martinez, 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, Chief Deputy City
Clerk Garcia, and Project Manager Demirjian.
Special City Council June 26, 2023 Page | 2
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Martinez reported there was a Closed Session and there were no reportable actions.
STUDY SESSION
1. STUDY SESSION: ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AND IMPACTS RELATED TO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND DISCUSSION ON ESTABLISHING A LOCAL RESOURCE
CENTER TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND SERVICES FOR THE UNHOUSED POPULATION.
Recommended Action:
1) Provide input in regard to the City’s efforts to address impacts related to unsheltered individuals; and
2) Direct staff to explore most-feasible location to establish a local resource center with estimated costs for
construction and ongoing operations, and project schedule.
City Manager Gonzalez explained he invited the Director’s of every department because the challenges of this situation
touch every department. He also invited several guests from organizations that have programs for the unsheltered. Project
Manager Lucy Demirjian gave the presentation and responded to Council questions, with representatives from City Net
and the Council of Government (COG) on hand.
Matt Bates, Executive Vice President of City Net, provided 2022 homeless census data.
Brielle Salazar, Manager of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, provided information about strategies and
programs that with San Gabriel Valley Council of Government, offer programs for interim and permanent housing which
assist the unsheltered through the use of bridge housing and programs to help them build upon life skills such as work
development, and responded to Council questions.
Jamilah Haygood, with SRK Architects, presented information to the Council regarding the projects they have worked on
to build homeless shelters and tiny home communities for the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing trust, and responded
to Council questions.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Pro-Tem Beckwith commented he agreed with Councilmember Mendez being his first preference as option #3, if
the access could be worked out. It’s the property that has the least value keeping the City’s stewardship in mind. It also
has a few residential to the south, but if the project was kept on the north side of the parcel, it would be further away
from the residential area and the private school is also on the south side. The church next to the north end does not have a
school associated with it. His second choice would be property #2, again, if they could use the backside of the parcel. His
request would be to have staff look into an access negotiation that could be pursued with property #3, if that could be
worked out easily, it would raise the score of that option; also evaluate how much of the northern portion of #2 that
would still allow development on the rest of the parcel along Route 66. He would be curious to have staff reach out to the
school district about possibly using an empty school. Mountainview has been closed for some time and is in an area that
is industrial with less residential.
Councilmember Alvarez commented believes property #3 isn’t going to work because it’s the most expensive and scored
so low, along with property #1 because they are both surrounded by residents. Property #2 would be a better idea because
they’ve been trying to develop it anyway. It’s been vacant for many years. He believed fifteen modular homes would be
a good start because many will refuse the help that is offered. They could put the homes in one section of the property
and still develop the other portion of the site. He doesn’t agree with property #3 due to the proximity of a private school.
Councilmember Avila Jr. commented that #1 is out because of the proximity to a private school. Option #3 is out because
it’s sandwiched between a private and a public school. Option #2 would be a solution if they could cut out a portion of
the parcel and have the rest left for development. Each option is going to receive resistance, it’s a matter of taking the
path of least resistance. Economically the foundation is there for property #2.
Councilmember Mendez commented that he’s more in favor of property #3 first and property #1 second. Property #2
would be negligent from an economic standpoint. In the spirit of transparency, it would be a good idea to have an
outreach session on the property chosen and allow the community to provide input and be a part of the solution. There’s
frustration with the timeline, what shocked him the most was the number of phone calls for police service at the Gold
Line station. It’s a tremendous burden on police station and it’s an economic tragedy that residents are going to other
cities to shop at target. He agrees with something modular that can be quick and relocated if necessary and he agreed
with the Mayor that if they are going to fail, they need to fail quickly.
Special City Council June 26, 2023 Page | 3
Mayor Gonzales commented that he has no interest in looking towards the school districts for a site. It would take too
long, and they would end up spending most of the budget on rent. The Azusa Avenue site, even though it scored the best,
he believes that with the amount of engineering and other things that have to be put into the site to use it, he doesn’t
believe that would be the most economical. Option #2 doesn’t worry him because whatever if put in will be portable.
Additionally, they could still develop the rest of the property. Pushing the project to the back portion of the site would be
ideal. There are also less residential in the immediate area. He agrees there is no perfect site, but they can’t let perfect get
in the way of good. He asked staff to look for a possible secondary site that the temporary resolve now might be
relocated to down the road. He does not want to give up on the idea of developing the parcel at some point.
City Manager commented that their goal is to open doors by the end of the year. If the parcel on Foothill is used, and it
was placed on the backside, people wouldn’t even notice it. They do owe it for transparency to engage with the
community prior to making a final choice. If they look at a three-year goal for a brick-and-mortar type place, property #3
could be a good site for affordable housing for young families. He believes within two months they could give an
estimate on a site and the type of product they could use. The riverbed is going to continue being a challenge, but they
may get a few takers for services, but the priority should be with the city proper, with a requirement that they have an
Azusa affiliation in some fashion. He believes 25 would be a good number to start with. Two-person tours of the
different options of portable housing wouldn’t require an Agendized tour and would be easier to schedule around
Council’s individual scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gonzales adjourned the meeting.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:19 P.M.
* Items heard out of order
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CITY CLERK