HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 12-13-18 Special MeetingMINUTES OF
COUNCILCITY OF OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING
DECEMBER 1
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special City Council Meeting on December 13,
2018, at 6:38 p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue,
Downey, California, Mayor Ashton presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Sean Ashton Mayor
Rick Rodriguez Mayor Pro Tem
Claudia Frometa Council Member
Blanca Pacheco Council Member
Alex Saab Council Member
ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager
Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
John Oskoui, Assistant City Manager
Vaniah De Rojas, Assistant to the City Manager
Dean Milligan, Chief of Police
Mark Gillaspie, Fire Chief
Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director
Pam Passow, Parks and Recreation Director
Aldo Schindler, Community Development Director
Anil Gandhy, Finance Director
Michael Harary, Human Resources Director
Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk
Mayor Ashton welcomed the audience to the City Council Meeting.
The Invocation was delivered by Greg Welsh, Downey Police Chaplain. The Flag Salute was led
by Southeast Military and Law Enforcement Academy.
Mayor Ashton acknowledged former City of Downey elected official and dignitaries in the
audience: Meredith Perkins, Kirk Cartozian, David Gafin, Mario Guerra, and Roger Brossmer. He
recognized City Commissioners and Committee Members in the audience.
Senator Bob Archuleta presented Mayor Ashton with a certificate of appreciation in recognition
of his Mayoral year.
Mayor Pro Tem Rodriguez presented Mayor Ashton with a gavel plaque, a Past Mayor's Pin,
and the Mayor's Scrap Book.
Mayor Ashton received certificates of appreciation in recognition of his Mayoral year from:
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard; Assembly Member Garcia; Senator Lara; Supervisor Hahn; the Cities of
Lakewood, Artesia, Bellflower, Norwalk, Gardena, and Huntington Park; Cerritos College; Downey
Unified School District Board of Education; Downey Chamber of Commerce; Downey Latino; Jeannie
Wood, Downey resident; and, Central Basin Municipal Water Board.
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting — December 13, 2018
Mayor Ashton recognized former Mayor Vasquez in the audience.
Mayor Ashton recollected on this past year as Mayor and how busy he was. He thanked the
residents of Downey for entrusting him to be on the Council and his Council colleagues for entrusting
him as Mayor. He thanked his family for their support, and recognized his two sons and wife, Tammy
Ashton present in the audience.
Mayor Ashton commented regarding the various accomplishments this past year: The passing
of a balanced budget; improvement of the City's credit rating to AA; completion of over $17 million in
Capital Improvement Projects which includes 13 miles of roadway repaving; Eco Transit Line which is
coming to fruition; Imperial Highway Traffic Signal Communication System upgrades; Brookshire
Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project; Lakewood Boulevard Street Lighting Improvement Project;
City Wide Traffic Signal upgrades; Residential Streets Pavement Rehabilitation Project; Slurry Seal
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PrOject; kalLy-wide Concrete Repairs and ^ D ^ irnprovennents, Lakewood Boulevard improvement Project
(Phase 3C) providing widening in each direction and included a bioswale in the parkway for storm water
retention; Residential Street Lighting upgrade project; Energy Efficiency Project; City recognized by the
Institute for Local Government with the Beacon Platinum Award; Downey Fire Department Fire Memorial
to be installed in March, 2019; and the Measure S Improvements which include the renovation of the
City's Library and Fire Stations. He thanked and contributed the completion of all the projects to the
assistance of City staff and his Council colleagues,
Mayor Rodriguez thanked former Mayor Ashton, his Council colleagues, City Manager Livas,
City Clerk Duarte, City staff, Department Heads, Chief of Police Milligan, and Fire Chief Gillaspie for
their work and work with the Council. He provided a brief history of how he made his decision to run for
office and, as his first official act as Mayor he asked everyone present to join him in prayer for the City
of Downey. He thanked his wife, Lupe; his children; grandchildren; brother; sister; and his mother for
their support.
Mayor Rodriguez provided a video presentation of his candidacy for City Council and discussed
some of his goals for his upcoming year as Mayor which include: a Military Banner Program; Pets for
Troops; Veteran Housing; Military Service Day; Volunteer Program Outreach; Clergy Council; Downey
Care Cooperative; Gang Prevention; Combating Homelessness; High School Internships; Preparation
for Higher Education Institutes and Achievable Career Options; College, Military, Trade School, and/or
Employment; Downey Business Watch in collaboration with Downey Chamber of Commerce and
Downey Police Department; Downey City Library and Fire Stations Renovation; Mayor's Downey's
Finest Award; and, the Mayor's Servant Heart Award.
Mayor Rodriguez acknowledged Ivan Sulic, Sally Hazzard, Former Mayor Mario Guerra,
Senator Bob Archuleta; Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Calvary Chapel Members,
Former City of Artesia Council Member Victor Manalo, Jennifer Lopez, Monica Copeland, Dr. Jose
Fierro, Library Commissioners, Friends of the Library, Lisa Fox, and Alex Gaytan in the audience.
Mayor Rodriguez thanked the residents for allowing him to sit in his Council seat.
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Special Meeting — December 13, 2018 2
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City Council ITlinutes —
Special Meeting — December 13, 2018 3