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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 11-10-20 - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DO EY REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 10, 2020 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on November 10, 2020, at 6:45 p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, with Mayor Pacheco presiding. 12a*1AM •- Blanca Pacheco Mayor Claudia M. Frometa Mayor Pro Tern Sean Ashton Council Member (teleconference) Rick Rodriguez Council Member Alex Saab Council Member ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager John Oskoui, Assistant City Manager Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney Vaniah De Rojas, Assistant to the City Manager Dean Milligan, Chief of Police Mark Gillaspie, Fire Chief Aldo E. Schindler, Community Development Director Anil Gandhy, Finance Director Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director James McQueen, Human Resources Director Jason Chacon, Recreation Manager Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk The Invocation was delivered by Greg Welch, Downey Police Department haplain. he le tif Allegiance was led by Michael Calvert, Director, Downey Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Pacheco with assistance from Pam Chambers presented a Certificate of Recognition tt Jolene Greystone Araiza. CITY • MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS Council Member Saab welcomed members of the public participating in the meeting. He acknowledged Michael Calvert and Nolveris Frometa in the audience. He -.• all Veterans, past and present, for their service and reminded the audience that City Hall will be closed in recognition of Veteran's Day on November 11, 2020. He stated the Old River School Rd. Street Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to begin Monday, November 16, 2020 and will continue through March 2021. He reported participating in the virtual Christmas Parade. He wished the audience a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Mayor Pro Tern Frometa welcomed members of the public participating in the meeting. She congratulated Mayor Pacheco on winning the election. She acknowledged Michael Calvert and Nolveris Frometa in the audience. She requested staff address illegal dumping of bulky items and asked staff to work with Calli to provide free bulky item pick up for residents in apartment buildings. She stated COVID-19 cases continue to rise and she encouraged the audience to continue to follow safe health practices and refrain from participating in large gatherings. She reported attending the Neighborhood City Council Minutes Regular Meeting - November 10, 2020 Congestion Relief Study Grant. He stated the environmental analysis was conducted in accordance with Sections 15070-15075 of the California Environmental Quality Act. The Initial Study evaluated several environmental categories such as: aesthetics, air quality, biological and cultural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, geology and soils, hazards/hazardous materials, hydrology/water quality, noise, transportation and others. It was concluded, based on the Initial Study, that the project will have a less than significant impact on each of the categories. The Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared in accordance with Section 21092 of the Public Resources Code and sent to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse and other applicable organizations. He stated a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program was prepared and will be implemented during the construction phase to avoid any significant environmental impacts. He stated the 30 -day comment period ended September 11, 2020 and letters were received from the City of Norwalk, Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, neither of the letters received contained any significant comments. He concluded the presentation with staff's recommendation to the City Council to adopt a Resolution adopting the Mitigation Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Lakewood Blvd. at Florence Ave. Intersection Improvements. Council Member Rodriguez asked if the intersection will have diagonal crosswalks. City Manager Livas stated the diagonal crosswalks are recommended for intersections with heavy congestion and the intersection does not meet that requirement. Council Member Saab asked if decorative sidewalks and corners will be including in the project. City Manager Livas stated the project does include decorative concrete crosswalks and pavers. Director Consunji confirmed the decorative crosswalks will be on the approaches of the existing sidewalks and the sidewalks will not be replaced due to funding constraints. Director Consunji stated staff is currently working with South Bay Cities Council of Governments on the Florence Ave. Complete Street Concept and once the concept is completed the City will apply for grants to implement decorative sidewalks. Mayor Pacheco, at 7:47 p.m., opened this item for public comment. Mayor Pacheco asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment on the Public Hearing Item. Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if there were any written comments received regarding the Public Hearing item. Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if there was anyone on the teleconference line who would like to comment regarding the Public Hearing item. Armando Herman, resident, commented regarding project aesthetics, inclusion of bike lanes and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commented regarding landscaping, project timeline and funding sources. Brian Heyman, resident, commented in support of the project. He stated his concerns regarding how the construction will impact traffic congestion at the intersection and if staff has identified preventative measures to control the flow of traffic. He stated the need to identify and correct potential trip and fall hazards on sidewalks and complete the maintenance during the project. City Manager Livas stated the City has spent more funding on sidewalk and street repairs in the last five years than the City has in the previous 15 years combined. The issue of insufficient funding to maintain and repair streets and sidewalks is not isolated to Downey rather it is a nationwide. He explained the city wide sidewalk repair rotation process. He stated staff has done an excellent job in acquiring grant funding and the challenge is balancing funding earmarked for pavement improvements while complying with the Americans with Disability Act requirements. Director Consunji stated every year the City spends between four to five hundred thousand dollars in Americans with Disability Act improvements apart from the repairs conducted in Capital Improvement Projects. He added the State does not have any funding specific to Americans with Disability Act improvements. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — November 10, 2020 3 City Manager Livas stated staff has actively applied for grants and the information is provided in the City's Annual Report. He said staff will continue to work with consultants to identify grants earmarked for street and sidewalk repairs. Having no one else come forward, Mayor Pacheco closed the Public Hearing at 8:02 p.m. It was moved by Council Member Saab, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Frometa, and carried 5- 0, to adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Downey adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Lakewood Boulevard at Florence Avenue Intersection Improvement Project in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. Eel Having no one else, Mayor Pacheco closed Non -Agenda public comment. Mayor Pacheco asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment on Consent Calendar items. Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if there were any written comments received regarding Consent Calendar items. Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if there was anyone on the teleconference line who would like to comment on Consent Calendar items. Armando Herman, resident, commented regarding Item No. 9 and requested to view the Police records proposed for destruction; and, commented regarding Item No. 6. Mike Greenspan, non-resident, congratulated Mayor Pacheco on her reelection to the City Council. He commented regarding Item Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Lee Squire, resident, congratulated Mayor Pacheco on her reelection to the City Council He commented regarding Item No. 10. Council Member Saab stated he noticed that although the Paramount Blvd. construction project was completed the contractor's marking on the asphalt and concrete have not been removed. City Manager Livas stated the contractors use a special paint which is supposed to fade over time or wash away with the rain and staff would ensure the markings are being removed. Council Member Saab abstained from Item No. 6, due to the close proximity to his place of business. Mayor Pacheco abstained from Item No. 4, due to the close proximity to her place of business. City Clerk Duarte stated in regards to Item No. 9, there is an amendment to the Resolution attached to the Staff Report. The amendment is under Section 1, the Police Department will add the language: the department shall ensure that the City Clerk's Office has responded to any California Public Records Request for the subject records which were received before the adoption of this resolution prior to destroying the subject records. City Attorney Abich Garcia stated with regards to Item No. 9, the addition of the language to the Resolution will allow the City Council to take action on the item subject to staff clearing any Public Records Requests. It was moved by Council Member Saab, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Frometa and carried 5-0, to approve the Consent Calendar with Council Member Saab abstaining from Item No. 6; and, Mayor Pacheco abstaining from Item No. 4. 2. WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 347297 - 347641; EFT Nos. 10219 10246; Payroll Wire Nos. 30004045 - 30004048; Manual Wire Nos. 2065 - 2072, the total amount of $2,965,973.46: Finance. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — November 10, 2020 5 AND THE PREPARATION • AN • STATEMENT AND • MATTERS RELATED TWEITAET0. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: None. STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS City Manager Livas stated tonight the City Council received an update on COVID-19 and as a result of the increase of COVID-19 cases staff has altered methods to conduct daily operations including providing information to residents and engaging the community. He stated he appreciates all the hard work and efforts staff has and will continue to do throughout the pandemic to ensure Downey residents are cared • Mayor Pacheco thanked the Directors and staff for their efforts to ensure the community is engaged, informed and safe. me 1011101, - City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — November 10, 2020 7 - - z