HomeMy WebLinkAbout01c. Minutes - 04-26-22 - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 26, 2022
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on April 26, 2022, at
6:37 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey,
California, Mayor Pacheco presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Blanca Pacheco
Catherine Alvarez
Claudia M. Frometa
Mario Trujillo
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tern
Council Member
Council Member
ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager
Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Crystal Landavazo, Interim Director of Community Development
Leslie Murray, Chief of Police
Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief
Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director
Jason Chacon, Interim Director of Parks & Recreation
Anil Gandhy, Director of Finance
Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk
The Invocation was delivered by Fr. Samuel Ward, St. Raymond Catholic Church. The Pledge of
Allegiance was led by Ericka Gonzalez and Marvin Cano from St. Raymond School.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS;
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Trujillo welcomed the audience to the City Council meeting. He commented
regarding the appointment process for the Interim City Manager and Interim City Attorney. He welcomed
members of the Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis President Stephen Chu, and Public Works Committee Member
Efferem Sanchez in attendance. He commented regarding increased code enforcement. He welcomed
Planning Commissioner Horacio Ortiz, Woman of the Year Honoree Paula Mejia, and former Downey
Police Captain Mark McDaniels in attendance. He congratulated graduates of the Youth Academy and
former Mayor Rick Rodriguez for the opening of the Downey Veterans Center. He thanked visitors of the
Downey Theater.
Council Member Frometa thanked the audience for joining the City Council meeting and
commented regarding public engagement. She reported attending Student Government Day, the
Downey Police and Fire Luncheon, the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) Policy
Institute on Emergency Preparedness, the 67th Annual Iridescent Ball, and the Grand Opening of the
Downey Veterans Center. She noted that she was unable to attend the One Day of Service but shared
that 300 fruit trees were distributed to the community. She announced that her Town Hall event was
postponed and invited the public to attend the Public Hearing to interview applicants for the Council
District 2 vacancy. She requested that the Police Department continue with speed enforcement in main
thoroughfares in the City. She thanked Public Works staff for their work with the Street Management
Pavement Plan. She acknowledged a Boy Scout in attendance who emailed her regarding bike lines and
commended his civic -mindedness. She requested that Code Enforcement staff address residential issues
City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting — April 26, 2022
such as cars parked on lawns and trash and furniture placed outside. She directed staff to draft an
ordinance to regulate drones.
Mayor Pro Tern Alvarez thanked the audience for attending the City Council meeting.
Mayor Pacheco thanked the audience for participating in the City Council meeting. She
acknowledged Kiwanians, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michael Calvert, Gangs Out of
Downey President Hector Sosa, former Mayor Kirk Cartozian, and Burbank School Board Member
Armond Aghakhanian in attendance. She reported attending Brunch with the Bunny, the Downey Theatre
Open House, Stay Gallery Paint Day, the Grand Opening of the Veterans Center, the Police and Fire
Luncheon, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Women's Guild Spring Tea, the Downey Police
Department's Youth Academy Graduation Ceremony, Downey One Day of Service, Arbor Day Tree
Planting, Southeast Bar Association Gala, and Student Government Day. She thanked the Kiwanians
and Rotarians attending the meeting. She invited the public to attend the Touch a Truck event at
Independence Park. She announced that pickleball courts would be coming to Furman Park and
Independence Park.
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1. Proclamation in honor of Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
2. Proclamation in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.
3. Certificates of Recognition to St. Raymond School Third Grade Class.
4. Mayor's Impact Award to Principal Claudia Rodarte, St. Raymond School.
5. Certificates of Recognition to Businesses that participated in the Shop with a Cop event.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA, CONSENT CALENDAR AND NON -AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pacheco asked City Clerk Duarte if any written public comments were received regarding
Agenda, Consent Calendar and Non -Agenda items. City Clerk Duarte confirmed one written comment
was received.
Clara Cruz commented in opposition to Ojos Locos Sports Cantina due to concerns regarding
degrading women and girls.
Mayor Pacheco asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment regarding Agenda,
Consent Calendar and Non -Agenda items.
Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding the Street Management Pavement
Rehabilitation Program, First Amendment rights, and Item Nos. 7, 8, and 9.
Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commenting regarding Brunch with the Bunny, Ojos Locos Sports
Cantina, the State Assembly Primary Election, and elected officials.
Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding Holocaust Remembrance Day, National Police Week,
and National Crime Victims Week.
BC, resident, commented in opposition to Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, in support of the Police
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Regular Meeting — April 26, 2022 2
Department, regarding the effort to recall Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascon and pandemic
mandates.
Joaquin Beltran, resident, commented regarding his campaign for the 42nd Congressional District.
Jang Lee, resident, commented in opposition to LGBT events in Downey and transgender
athletes.
Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, non-resident, commented in support of young people in the community
running for office and candidates for the June 7 Primary Election.
Barbaro Rodriguez, resident, commented regarding a mistake that occurred with his name at the
previous City Council meeting, Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, funds from the Patel case, Mayor Pacheco's
performance and campaign for State Assembly, Council Member Trujillo, and gang activity.
Juan Martinez, resident, commented regarding candidates for the June 7 Primary Election, the
separation of members of staff and City Council, Assistant City Manager John Oskoui, potential lawsuits
regarding housing and water, comments made at the previous City Council meeting, the violation of First
Amendment rights, and the time allotted for public comment.
No name provided, commented regarding Council Member Trujillo, Mayor Pacheco, former Mayor
Rick Rodriguez, freedom of speech, contamination of water, air, and soil, corruption, and Council Member
Claudia Frometa.
Having no one else, Mayor Pacheco closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Trujillo abstained from Item No. 1, Special Meeting Minutes of March 29, 2022,
as he was absent.
It was moved by Council Member Frometa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Alvarez, and carried 4-
0, to approve the Consent Calendar.
1. APPROVED MINUTES: Special Meetings of January 25, 2022; February 8, 2022; February 22, 2022;
March 29, 2022, and April 14, 2022: City Clerk.
2. WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 358911 — 358208; Payroll Wire Numbers 30004214, 30004217
& 30004219 — 30004222; EFT Nos. 11387—11425; Manual Wire No. 2231 —2232; in the total amount
of $7252,436.64: Finance.
3. AWARDED CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $584,000 TO ONYX PAVING COMPANY, INC. FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF 5T" ST. PAVEMENT REHABILITATION; APPROVED ADDITIONAL
APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 IN MEASURE R BOND FUNDS IN ACCOUNT NO. 59-1-6830;
AND, AUTHORIZED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER TO EXECUTE ANY
CHANGE ORDERS OR ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS PROJECT DEEMED
NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE UP TO THE APPROVED PROJECT BUDGET (CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 21-06): Public Works.
4. AWARDED CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,897,382.75 TO SEQUEL CONTRACTORS, INC.
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL STREETS PAVEMENT REHABILITATION - AREA 2;
AND, AUTHORIZED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER TO EXECUTE ANY
CHANGE ORDERS OR ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS PROJECT DEEMED
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Regular Meeting — April 26, 2022 3
NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE UP TO THE APPROVED PROJECT BUDGET (CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 22-16): Public Works.
5. AWARDED CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,227,000 TO ONYX PAVING COMPANY, INC.
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL STREETS PAVEMENT REHABILITATION - AREA 8;
AND, AUTHORIZED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER TO EXECUTE ANY
CHANGE ORDERS OR ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS PROJECT DEEMED
NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE UP TO THE APPROVED PROJECT BUDGET (CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 22-17): Public Works.
6. ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 6 OF ARTICLE VII OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE
AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 6 ("STREET TREE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION") TO
ARTICLE VII ("STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS"): Public Works.
INTRODUCED AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
REPEALING CHAPTER 6 OF ARTICLE VII OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE AND
ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 6 ("STREET TREE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION") TO
ARTICLE VII ("STREETS AND PUBLIC WORKS")
7. ZONE CODE AMENDMENTS TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR TATTOO ESTABLISHMENTS
AND AMEND HOME OCCUPATION STANDARDS: Community Development.
ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 22-1481, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING TITLE IX ("LAND USE") TO AUTHORIZE BODY ART
FACILITIES IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONES OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY; TO AMEND THE
CONDITIONS ON THE OPERATION OF HOME OCCUPATIONS; AND, TO PROHIBIT
SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES AS HOME OCCUPATIONS
8. ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH AN INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM: Community
Development.
ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 22-1482, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DOWNEY AMENDING ARTICLE I OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD
CHAPTER 5 INCLUSIONARY HOUSING TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
FOR AN INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM APPLICABLE TO MULTI -FAMILY
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OF 10 UNITS OR MORE
9. RATIFIED THE BY-LAWS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: Public Works.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
10. APPROVE THE RENAMING OF A CITY FACILITY OR OTHER SITE WITHIN THE CITY OF
DOWNEY AFTER CITY MANAGER GILBERT LIVAS: Council Member Trujillo.
City Manager Livas expressed his appreciation of the gesture and declined the offer to rename a
City facility or other site within the City of Downey in his honor.
City Manager Livas left the dais at 8:42 p.m. to allow the Council to discuss the item.
Council Member Trujillo shared that he was asked to place the item on the Agenda after speaking
to residents who would like to honor City Manager Livas's legacy in renovating the City's parks. He
mentioned he reached out to the Downey Historical Society but did not have the opportunity to discuss
the history of Dennis the Menace Park.
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Regular Meeting — April 26, 2022 4
Council Member Frometa commented that she did not support the item in light of the events
leading to Mr. Livas's resignation. She commented regarding the contributions City Manager Livas had
made over his tenure with the City. She shared her hope that a special plaque be installed at the Downey
Promenade to honor City Manager Livas's work in navigating the City through the Great Recession and
the economic development of the City.
Mayor Pro Tern Alvarez shared that she spoke to City Manager Livas about the matter and asked
to respect his decision.
Mayor Pacheco commented regarding City Manager Livas's character and performance as City
Manager. She expressed her desire to respect him and his decision not to rename a facility after him.
She stated that she was not in support of renaming a City facility or other site after City Manager Livas.
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pacheco adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:50 p.m. on April 26, 2022 in
memory of Detective Alexis Gonzalez, South Gate Police Department; Shirley Conte, former Executive
Secretary for the Downey City Council; the victims of the Ukraine crisis; and, the lives lost due to COVID-
19.
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CIVIC BLANCA PACHECO
City Clerk Mayor
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Regular Meeting — April 26, 2022 5