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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes 07-13-21 Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNE REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2021 1 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on July 13, 2021, at 6:37 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Frometa presiding. Claudia M. Frometa Mayor Blanca Pacheco Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Alvarez Council Member Sean Ashton Council Member (excused) Mario Trujillo Council Member (excused) ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager John Oskoui, Assistant City Manager Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney Aldo E. Schindler, Deputy City Manager/Community Development Leslie Murray, Police Captain Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief Anil Gandhy, Finance Director Ed Norris, Public Works Deputy Director Jason Chacon, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation James McQueen, Human Resources Director Vaniah De Rojas, Assistant to the City Manager Alicia Duarte, CIVIC, City Clerk The Invocation was delivered by Pastor Dan Dutch, Desert Reign Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Livas. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS Council Member Alvarez welcomed members of the public to the meeting. She encouraged the public to continue to be engaged and to contact her by phone, email or in person at City Hall. She requested City issued cellphones for Council Members to conduct City business. Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco welcomed members of the public to the meeting. She acknowledged Michael Calvert, Jeremy Clifton, Jennifer DeKay and Kelley Roberts, Jr. in the audience. She reported attending the Downey Chamber of Commerce Installation Luncheon; and, congratulated Sheila Tetangco-Bartolone on her installation as the President of the Chamber of Commerce. She announced upcoming events: Coffee with a Cop, Twilight Summer Concerts at Furman Park and Keep Downey Beautiful Clean Up. She requested the Fire and Police Departments provide a report regarding efforts to address illegal fireworks on the 4th of July; and, provide options to deter the use of illegal fireworks such as increase fines. Mayor Frometa welcomed members of the public to the meeting. She reported attending the Downey Chamber of Commerce Installation Luncheon to install incoming President Sheila Tetangco- Bartolone, and Stay Gallery's re -opening exhibit. She encouraged the community to visit the exhibit through August. She also reported attending the Police Appreciation Parade. She thanked Captain Murray and the Downey Police Department for keeping the City safe. She reported the Police Department issued 38 citations for illegal fireworks on the 4 th Of July. She also reported attending the City Council Minutes Regular Meeting - July 13, 2021 1 Twilight-r Concerts at Furman She announced upcoming events: _ • _ • Out • August• -• • • attend - • -••-iHector• • -• Welch in the audience. She requested Deputy Director of Public Works Norris provide an regarding Rio San Gabriel DeputyDirector N• rrr provided brief overview of - current conditionof - Park grounds. He stated the staff has a series of improvements scheduled to include grading the entire Park to level the playing field and will overhaul the irrigation system. The Park is scheduled to be closed for two weeks during the improvements; however, the dog park and playground will remain open. In addition, the Park will be hydro -seeded in the fall. He stated staff will continue to identify grants to fund additional • • I!1ayor Frometa thanked Deputy Director Norris for the update. She reported attending a rally with 300 Cuban Americans in solidarity of the people in Cuba. She stated Downey has the largest Cuban population in the western United States. She requested staff provide additional patrols at City Parks for transient activity and requested staff address the homeless encampment behind the Financial Partners -•it Union building. Mayor Frometa presented the Mayor's Champion Award to Kelley Roberts, Jr., Downey Rose Float Association. 2. Mayor Frometa presented a Certificate of Appointment to Carmela "Carrie" Uva, Planning Commission, 0 0 , . : I 4*610 r - r 2) Authorized the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager, and/or the Finance Director to execute the following documents, and any other related documents, necessary to issue the Bond Objective is to provide funding for the City's Pavement Rehabilitation Projects program fro future Measure M and R sales tax revenues and no General Funds will be used to repay the debt.. presented the timeline for the preliminary financing and staff's recommendation to introduce t Ordinance in connection with issuance and sale of the Measure M and R Sales Tax Revenue Bon, and authorize the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and/or Finance Director to execute t .1 required documents. Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco thanked staff for the innovated idea to expedite the residential stre,�-� improvements. I nflayor Frometa requested staff confirm no General or Reserve funds will be used to repay t1t sales tax revenue bonds. Director Gandhy confirmed no General or Reserve Funds will be used arl the bonds will be secured by and payable by future Measure M and R sales tax revenues. 0 Iflayor Frometa, at 7:30 p.m., opened this item for public comment. Mayor Frometa asked there was anyone present who would like to comment on the Public Hearing item. Mayor Frome asked City Clerk Duarte if there were any written comments received regarding the Public Hearing ite City Clerk Duarte confirmed no written comments were received. I Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding Measure S projects, ADA compliancli infrastructure, and misuse of public funds. Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding the legalities regarding the issuance and sale of Maura Catero, resident, commented regarding reallocation of bond funds to provide simultaneous interpretation for Spanish speakers. ffiike Greenspan, non-resident, commented regarding the history of transportation projects anirl' the timeline to complete projects. Mario Gomez, resident, thanked the City Council for the maintenance and repair of City streets. He commented regarding record keeping of underground utility lines and the City's plan to make repairs to the underground infrastructure prior to repaving the streets. City ffianager Livas stated the City's prides itself on the maintenance of its subsurface infrastructure and the repairs of the subsurface infrastructure are conducted prior to undertaking any street project. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding renewable sustainable materials used in street repaving projects to reduce carbon emissions. Joey Martinez, resident, commented regarding use of taxpayer funds to repair private streets. He commented in opposition of the freeway expansion project. He thanked Council Member Ashton for voting no on freeway expansion projects. Barbaro Rodriguez, resident, commented regarding the millions of tax dollars used to repair residential streets and the need hold the contractors accountable when repairing the underground infrastructure and, the use of local contractors for City projects. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — July 13.2O21 4 Sandra, resident, submitted written comments regarding the Restorative Care Center for the mentally ill, homelessness, and illegal dumping at Apollo Park. Miguel Solano, resident, submitted written comments in support of a no confidence vote against District Attorney George Gasc6n. DeeDee M., resident, submitted written comments in support of a no confidence vote against District Attorney George Gasc6n. Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding Americans with Disabilities. Ana Brown, resident, commented in support of a no confidence vote against District Attorney George Gasc6n. She thanked the City Council for their support of Cuban Americans. Bill Adrian, no name provided, commended the Downey Police and Fire Departments for their excellent service to the community. He commented in support of a no confidence vote against District Attorney George Gasc6n. Resident, no name provided, commented in support of a recall for Council Member, District 3. She commented regarding the U.S. Flag and the Constitution. City Attorney Abich Garcia stated for the record City Clerk Duarte is not authorized to accept recall papers on behalf of any Council Member. The Election Code is clear that the proponents of the recall must personally serve the Council Member directly and not through the City Clerk. Resident, no name provided, commented in support of a recall for Council Member, District 3. John Lacey, resident, commented to acknowledge the excellent job the translator is doing. He thanked the City Council, City Manager Livas and staff for all the hard work to continue to provide services to the community during the pandemic. He commented regarding modifying the qualifications for a candidate running for an elected position by adding a requirement to disclose any criminal background in order to maintain transparency. Dorothy Pemberton, resident, commented in support of a recall for Council Member, District 3. Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding a Proclamation for Disability Pride Month. He commented regarding Civil Rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding the establishment of rent control due to unjust rent increases by landlords. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding a rent control ordinance, code enforcement violations, and the City provide simultaneous interpretation for Spanish speakers. Resident, no name provided, commented in support of STEM education and expanding STEM programs and events. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding rent control and fair housing for tenants. Wendy Galvan, resident, commented regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, code enforcement violations, tenant protections and a rent control ordinance. Joey Martinez, resident, commented in support of the LGBTQ community. He commented regarding the separation of church and State; the invocation; city Council ethics; and, water contamination. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting - July 13, 2021 6 Mayor Frometa stated her opposition to fly the Pride Flag at City facilities is in no way representative of her support of the LGBTQ community. She added if the City flies flags representing specific groups it takes from the unity in which the Nation's flag represents. She commented regarding the Public Comment period affording the public the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions to the City Council. Alex Vargas, resident, commented regarding the assistance the Clergy Council provided to Downey families during the pandemic. Bruce Crow, resident, commented regarding disrespectful comments made regarding the Country and City, the Declaration of Independence and systemic equality. Resident, no name provided, commented in support of a recall of Council Member, District 3. Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commented in support of a no confidence vote against District Attorney George Gasc6n, gun control and code enforcement violations. He commented in opposition to rent control and nepotism. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding simultaneous interpretation for Spanish speakers, tenant evictions during the pandemic, government corruption and code enforcement violations. RECESS/RECONVENE Mayor Frometa recessed the City Council meeting at 9:12 p.m. Mayor Frometa reconvened the City Council meeting at 9.18 p.m. with Council Members Ashton and Trujillo absent. Barbaro Rodriguez, resident, commented in support of a recall for Council Members in Districts 2 and 5; and, in support of a no confidence vote against District Attorney George Gasc6n. He commented regarding code enforcement violations, rent control, increased crime and catalytic converter theft during the pandemic, unjust rent increases and the Police Department's response time. Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, non-resident, commented to extend his support to Council Member, District 3. He commented regarding placing rent control on the ballot, tenant's rights violations, protection for low income residents and Spanish speaker's rights. Resident, no name provided, thanked the Police Department for their excellent service and dedication. Having no one else, Mayor Frometa closed Non -Agenda public comment. � 0 �11 I �, �_Ik 0 �_.: Mayor Frometa asked City Clerk Duarte if there were any written comments received regarding Consent Calendar items. City Clerk Duarte confirmed no written comments were received. Mayor Frometa asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment on the Consent Calendar items. Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commented in support of background checks for all Commissioners prior to their appointment and in support of National Night Out. Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding Item No. 10, Commissioner's ethics and Planning Commissioner's duties; and, Item No. 14. Joey Martinez, resident, commented regarding lack of a quorum, City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — July 13, 2021 7 APPOINTMENT9. • THE PERSONNEL Ar • BOARD, rISTRICT 3: Council Member '1 '' • • * •' • r r • . r i • • 0 : f . I 1• • • i • • JI I J • •` • r 11. APPOINTMENT TO THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT BOARD, DISTRICT 5: Council Member •' r•-' r • • • :1 I - • • • • • 12. ADOPTED THE INVESTMENT POLICY FOR PUBLIC FUNDSOF OF DOWNEY AND RELATED ENTITIES: Finance. •- r • - - w • E 1 r , - 0 : ` • - • . - zlelel ZU ills 1114&*0114 , • • - 14. AUTHORIZED STREET CLOSURE INTERSECTION OF DRIVE r.: 3 RD STREET FOR THE CITY OF DOWNEY'S 8TH ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ON TUESDAY,1 Police. r � • REGULATION15. OF •TOBACCO AND TOBACCO PRODUCTI Administration/City Prosecutor. 16.13ISCUSSION REGARDINGEXPANDING •r FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: Council Members Alvarez and Ashton. Item No. 16 was tabled to the next Regular City Council Meeting of August 10, 2021. Mayor Frometa announced out of i - and courtesy to Council• `Trujillo the City community'sCouncil will not discuss Downey's position in regards to District Attorney George Gasc6n until Council Member Trujillo's retirement. She announced the City will host a Town Hall meeting to address the public safety. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — July 13, 2021 UOTOIN-ZIUMT, T47 H Mayor Fro eta adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 9:45 p.m. in memory the victims of tragedy in Surfside, Florida; and, the lives lost due to COVID-1 9. AU �ALI `lADUA�Ri , C C� _61LAN eK' HECO City Clerk or Pro Tern City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — July 13, 2021 10