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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 03 07 CC MIN MINUTES BALDWIN PARK CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MARCH 7, 2018, 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER - 14403 E. Pacific Avenue, Baldwin Park, 91706 These minutes are presented in Agenda order. Various announcements or discussions may have occurred before or after the title under which they are presented. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Lozano at 7:08 p.m. INVOCATION The invocation was provided by Pastor Flores. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lozano. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: • Council Member Cruz Baca Council Member Monica Garcia Council Member Ricardo Pacheco Mayor Pro Tem Susan Rubio Mayor Manuel Lozano REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION Mayor Lozano reported out of Closed Session that no action was taken on items discussed. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Lozano asked that the meeting be closed in memory of Rudy Escalera a former member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and a resident of Baldwin Park for many years who recently passed away. Council Member Baca requested that the meeting be closed in memory of Jackie Braceda who recently passed away. Council Member Rubio thanked the staff of Parks and Recreation for their support with the Women's Conference. Council Member Baca offered her gratitude to Council Member Rubio for coordinating a great event- The Women's Conference. She also thanked staff for assisting with the Homeless Workshop. She stated that the next Homeless Workshop will be on March 20 at the ARC. Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco announced the City's annual egg hunt will be held on Saturday, March 31 at the Esther Snyder Community Center. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS & PRESENTATIONS • CIP Update Presentation by Sam Gutierrez, Interim Director of Public Works. (Item moved to the 5:30 p.m. Study Session). • Job Fair Presentation by Victor Viramontes, Management Analyst. Mr. Viramontes made a brief presentation regarding the annual job fair and announced the list of companies that will participate in addition to making comments relative to the positive partnerships built with many of the participants. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Lozano opened Public Communications at 7:16 p.m. and noted that each speaker is permitted a total of three (3) minutes to speak. Thomas Kerri made remarks about the fees charged by Royal Coaches and expressed concern about their high fees; made comments about the rules of decorum; and sanctuary cities, which caused ICE to visit the City. Eunice Allen spoke about the Kaiser Permanente proposed job relocations out of Baldwin Park and urged the City Council for assistance in this matter. Corine Martin also commented on the pending Kaiser Permanente job relocations and asked the City Council to write a letter of support. • Daniel Lavanos representing One Legacy Donate Life spoke about the importance of organ donation and urged the community to join the registry of organ donors; stated that April is National Donate Life month and requested a proclamation in that regard. Arturo R. Luna commented about the energy proposal that the City Council was entertaining and stated that he was not in favor of it. • Jason Snow spoke about the dial-a-ride contract and explained the circumstances surrounding the concerns expressed by the City Council and Baldwin Park residents over the last couple of months. Maggie Pierce Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente addressed the Council relative to the concerns expressed earlier by a couple of speakers regarding the job relocations. • John Rios made comments about the energy proposal that the City Council had on the agenda and stated that he was not in favor and that this should be put before the voters. Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 2 of 11 Terri Muse with Waste Management provided reminders about, the State of the City, the March 16 deadline for scholarship applications, March 22 having a national job fair; tour of the Azusa recycling facility. Greg Tuttle spoke about the provisions of the Public Contracting Code and that the City must do competitive bidding for contracts; made brief comments about Royal Coaches; and the tow contract. Stated that personal items should stay out of Council's discussions. Dr. Jay Potter Chief Operating Officer for Nichen Technologies stated that he had a lot of experience with green technologies with his company and that he wanted to bring this technology to this community, which focuses on clean green energy. Rogelio Magana President of Nichen Technologies also addressed the Council regarding Nichen Technologies and his desire to get the Council's support for his proposal, which dealt with green and sustainable technologies. Sarah Contreras outreach coordinator for the Housing Rights Center, announced that they will be having a workshop to educate the community about landlord-tenant issues, federal and state housing laws, counseling, outreach and education on March 15, with said workshop being coordinated in partnership with the City of Baldwin Park; that the event will be held at the Esther Snyder Community Center and that everyone was welcome. Christina Larios made some brief announcements such as the social etiquette workshop on March 13 for teens, the Native American Pottery workshop on Sunday, March 17 for adults as well as on every Friday in March, the computer basics workshop. • Martha Alvarez announced that she had lost a German Shepard and wanted to spread • the word. Council Member Garcia responded to a comment made by a member of the public during public comment about the use of the cell phone while speakers were at the podium by stating that while she was sitting at the dais, she had received communication regarding an important work matter that she needed to attend to and therefore, she would have to go back to her office after the meeting to take care of it. She commented that members of the City Council also hold professional jobs and that sometimes they had to multi-task and urged the community that before rushing to judgement to be mindful of those facts. Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco presented some more of the City's most recent accomplishments. • Council Member Rubio thanked Mr. Snow from Southland Transit for being present to address some of the Council's recent concerns. Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 3 of 11 Council Member Baca stated that she was not in agreement nor did she vote on going out to RFP on the dial-a-ride contract and asked whether or not these issues could be mutually resolved. Mayor Lozano recognized some of the SEIU members who spoke and stated that Kaiser was a team; that Kaiser was an excellent partner with the City and had had a tremendous impact upon the community; he stated that he hoped both SEIU and Management would come to an amicable solution on the issues raised during public comment. Council Member Baca stated that she was a union supporter and that her hope was that both parties could mutually resolved these disputes. Seeing no others wishing to speak, Public Communications closed at 7:58 p.m. CONSENT CALENDAR Council pulled Item Nos. 4, and 5 from Consent Calendar for further discussion. • A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Pacheco and carried (5 — 0) to move items 6 (Accounting Policies & Procedures) and 7 (Renewal of Grant Writing Services Contract with California Consulting, LLC.) to the Council meetingto be held on March 21, 2018. next CityCou c AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Garcia, and carried (5 —0) to approve the rest of the consent calendar. AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. ABSENT: None. • ABSTAIN: None. ' 1. WARRANTS AND DEMANDS Staff recommends City Council ratify the attached Warrants and Demands Register. A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Garcia, and carried(5—0) to ratify the Warrants and Demands Register. • AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 4 of 11 2. MEETING MINUTES Staff recommends that Council receive and file the following Meeting Minutes: A. Meeting Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on January 17, 2018. B. Meeting Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting held on February 7, 2018. • Meeting Minutes of the Special and Regular City Council Meetings held on February 21, 2018 A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Garcia, and carried (5—0) to receive and file the minutes. AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. • ABSENT: None. ' ABSTAIN: None. 3. AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR PROFESSIONAL PYROTECHNIC SERVICES RELATED TO THE 4TH OF JUY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION. Staff recommends the City Council to: Authorize the advertisement of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional • pyrotechnic services related to the 4th of July Fireworks celebration. A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Garcia, and carried (5—0) to authorize the advertisement of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional pyrotechnic services related to the 4th of July Fireworks celebration. AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio • NOES: None. • ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. 4. AMENDMENT OF OFFICIAL POLICE TOW TRUCK SERVICES ORDINANCE. Staff recommends that the City Council waive further reading and adopt Ordinance No. 1407 by title only, entitled, 'AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN PARK, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 100 OF TITLE X FOR OFFICIAL POLICE TOW TRUCK SERVICES." (SECOND READING AND ADOPTION) (PULLED) Council Member Baca expressed continued concerns with this item and asked if this could be brought back to another meeting since she still had some questions that had not been answered; she inquired as to what will the city be losing or gaining by the 25% of its gross revenue so that the Council could have an idea how this percentage was going to impact the City. Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 5 of 11 A substantial discussion ensued relative to the specific provisions of the ordinance with some members of the Council expressing a desire to move forward while others a desire to bring back for further study. A motion was made by Baca, seconded by Rubio, and failed (2 — 3) to bring back this item at the next City Council meeting to be held on March 21, 2018. AYES: Baca, Rubio NOES: Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Pacheco, and carried (5 — 0) to waive further reading and adopt Ordinance No. 1407 as presented. AYES: Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco NOES: Baca, Rubio ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. 5. APPROVE PROPOSAL FOR COLLECTION SERVICES. (PULLED) Staff recommends the City Council to: 1. Review and approve the Professional Services Agreement with CB Merchant Services for Collection Services; and 2. Authorize the Mayor to sign Professional Services Agreement with CB Merchant Services; and 3. Authorize the Director of Finance to include the collection fees in the City of Baldwin Park Schedule of Fees which will be presented at the public hearing in the near future Council Member Rubio asked staff if they could briefly speak about the benefits of this proposal. Chief Executive Officer/City Manager Yauchzee stated that Finance Director Tam could speak on this matter; he further stated that the proposal was to enable the City to assist the Police Department in collecting some of the outstanding fees such as booking fees and DUI fees that were not being collected; that this was also a recommendation of the audit. Chief Taylor further explained that collecting these fees was a time consuming endeavor; that the folks at the Police Department did not have the expertise as professional bill collectors. Finance Director Tam further stated that she had sent the RFP to five collection agencies and that she had received five proposals back; that after careful analysis and review and discussions with the companies, in her professional Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 6 of 11 judgement she was recommending CB Merchant Services due to the lowest fee as well as experience and that they have many municipal clients including the City of West Covina. A motion was made by Rubio, seconded by Baca, and carried (5 — 0) to accept staff recommendations and approve proposal as presented. AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Mayor Pro Tem Pacheco requested staff to obtain a copy of the City of West Covina's Tow Truck contract and provide it to all members of the City Council. 6. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. Staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the following accounting policies and procedures: Purchasing Policies and Procedures Credit Card Policies and Procedures Travel Policies and Procedures Federal Award Administration Policies and Procedures ACH and Wire Transfer Policy and Procedures Item to be brought back on March 21, 2018. 7. RENEWAL OF GRANT WRITING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CALIFORNIA CONSULTING, LLC. Staff recommends the City Council to: 1. Approve the Consultant Services Agreement with California Consulting, LLC; and 2. Authorize the Director of Finance to appropriate funds to cover the cost related to the grants applied for including but not limited to General Fund, Prop A Fund, or Future Development Fund; or 3. Provide staff direction. Item will be brought back on March 21, 2018. 8. REQUEST FROM RUKLI, INC. (CAN 17-06) TO ADD SECOND LOCATION FOR CANNABIS DISTRIBUTION OPERATION (4150 PUENTE AVENUE). Staff recommends the City Council to approve the Change of Location application for RUKLI, Inc. (CAN 17-06) to add an authorized location to operate • an additional cannabis distribution operation at 4150 Puente Avenue pursuant to Ordinance No. 1400, Section 127.09. Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 7 of 11 A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Garcia, and carried (5 — 0) to add a second location for cannabis distribution operation (4150 Puente Avenue). AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS 9. CONTINUED FROM FEBRUARY 21, 2018. A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL CODE (SIGN REGULATIONS) ADDING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR ELECTRONIC READER BOARD SIGNS (LOCATION: COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND MIXED USE ZONED PROPERTIES; APPLICANT CITY OF BALDWIN PARK; CASE NUMBER AZC-188) Staff and the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council open the public hearing, accept testimony and following the public hearing: . Introduce for first reading, by title only and waive further reading, Ordinance No. 1405, entitled, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN PARK, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 153.170.090.C, AMENDING TABLE 153.170.080 AND AMENDING THE TITLE OF SUBSECTION 153.170.090 RELATING TO ELECTRONIC READERBOARD SIGNS." Mayor Lozano opened the public hearing at 8:23 p.m. and entertained public comment. Amy Harbin, City Planner presented the staff report. Seeing no speakers, Mayor Lozano closed the public hearing at 8:25 p.m. A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Baca, and carried (5 — 0) to introduce by title only and waive further reading proposed Ordinance No. 1405. AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. 10.PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FUND (HOME) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the public hearing, accept testimony, and following the public hearing approve the allocations for the FY 2018-2019 CDBG public service public service programs by selecting one of the Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 8 of 11 following options: OPTION 1: Approve the Joint Commission's recommendations for funding; or OPTION 2: Revise allocations as the City Council deems appropriate Mayor Lozano opened the public hearing at 8:27 p.m. and entertained public comment. Suzie Ruelas presented the staff report. Pastor Flores spoke in support of the CDBG allocations; and advocated for his grant proposal from the Church of the Redeemer. Council Member Baca asked if it would be possible to expand the food bank program from just one Saturday per month to a couple of Saturdays a month. Council Members Rubio and Garcia thanked Pastor Flores for all he does for the community. Suzie Ruelas commented that Mr. Michael Wards from Saint John could not be present. John Rios stated that there were other churches in the area that provide similar services and that we should look to provide funding to all of them. Seeing no other speakers, Mayor Lozano closed the public hearing at 8:3 p.m. A motion was made by Rubio, seconded by Baca, and carried (5 — 0) to accept staffs recommendation and approve option 1 as presented. AYES: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio NOES: None. . ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. • REPORTS OF OFFICERS 11.CONSIDERATION OF TECHNICAL STUDY PREPARATION TO CREATE THE BALDWIN PARK COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION. Staff recommends that Council: Approve and adopt Resolution No. 2017-202, entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN PARK, CALIFORNIA, TO CONDUCT A TECHNICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE A COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION WITH CALIFORNIA CHOICE ENERGY AUTHORITY (CCEA);" AND Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 9 of 11 1. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to engage California Choice. Energy Authority to conduct a Community Choice Aggregation Technical Study for a cost not to exceed $63,000; and 2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, or his designee, to request the release of load data from Southern California Edison (SCE); and 3. Authorize the Finance Director to appropriate $63,000 from the Future Development Fund (Fund 200) and perform the required budget adjustment for this project. A motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Garcia, and carried (5 — 0) to approve and award the contract to Lucas Builders, Inc., in the amount of $59,000, and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract. Mayor Lozano opened the public hearing at 8:37 p.m. and entertained public comment. Mr. Sal Ramirez, Government Affairs Manager with SCE introduced his colleague Ranbik Sekhon, Director of Portfolio Planning who briefed the council on the CCA formation and explained that based on CPUC rules he could only brief the Council on factual matters and not give recommendations. Mr. Sekhon provided a summary of the history of CCA formation and answered Council's questions. Mr. Michael Chapin representing the California Choice Energy Authority also made a presentation relative to the proposal before the Council for consideration. • There was a substantial discussion on the merits of the proposal with some Council Members expressing a desire to have workshops to explain this to the community particularly to seniors before moving forward. Mayor Pro Tem Pacheco stated that his matter had been discussed before and that a great deal of information had been presented to the Council. A motion was made by Pacheco, seconded by Lozano, and carried (3 —2) to approve proposal as presented. AYES: Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco NOES: Baca, Rubio ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. CITY COUNCIL/ CITY CLERK/ CITY TREASURER/ STAFF REQUESTS & • COMMUNICATIONS Request by Council Member Cruz Baca for discussion and consideration: • Direction to Staff to review the "Parking Ordinance", which would also include any new future developments in "Transit Oriented District" (TOD). Council Member Baca asked staff to take a look at the parking ordinance; she stated that the high density of all the developments currently in the City could have an impact Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 10 of 11 on the parking situation in the City; that we need to study such impacts and develop a plan. Council Member Baca asked if the Council could bring back the Southland Transit matter back to the Council for consideration. A motion was made by Baca, seconded by Rubio, and failed (2 — 2) to bring the Southland Transit item back for further consideration. • AYES: Baca, Rubio NOES: Lozano, Pacheco ABSENT: Garcia (left dais prior to the roll call) ABSTAIN: None. Mayor Lozano requested that a letter of support be sent to the Veterans of Post 113 in the City of Irwindale on behalf of the City Council. Council Member Rubio requested that a letter in support of Kaiser Employees SEIU members be sent to Kaiser Permanente urging both parties to come to a speedy resolution. Council Member Baca expressed that as a business friendly person, she felt the Council had made a hasty decision in the case of Southland Transit by not bringing the matter back and not allowing them to rectify the issues discussed at this meeting or at least allowing them to fully explain what they had done to mitigate the issues raised. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to discuss, and all other matters having been addressed, a motion was made by Lozano, seconded by Pacheco, to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. -yor • A T: / Manuel Lozano, Mayor �;�A ice:i i��� r Al- andr. Avila, City lerk • 3/a 4/1y APPROVED: Regular Meeting of 3/7/18 Page 11 of 11