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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes 11-09-21 Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 2021 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on November 9, 2021, at 6:36 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Frometa presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Claudia M. Frometa Mayor Blanca Pacheco Mayor Pro Tern Catherine Alvarez Council Member Sean Ashton Council Member (absent) Mario Trujillo Council Member (absent) 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 Dean Milligan, Chief of Police Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director Jason Chacon, Interim Director of Parks & Recreation Anil Gandhy, Director of Finance Vaniah De Rojas, Assistant to the City Manager Alicia Duarte, CMC, City Clerk The Invocation was delivered by Veronica Lopez, Desert Reign Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEM CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS I Council Member Alvarez thanked the audience for attending the City Council meeting. Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco thanked the audience for attending the City Council meeting. She acknowledged Mark D. Morris, Nancy Swenson, and Martha Sodetani, Michael Calvert, Jeannie Wood, and William Craig in attendance She reported attending the Police Department's Citizen's Academy Graduation Ceremony, the Dia de los Muertos event, the Annual Halloween Pumpkin Patch, the Employee Service Awards Ceremony, the Downey Fire Department StachetoberFest event, and the Police Department Special Olympics Torch Run. She invited the public to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony and the Fire Department Sound the Alarm event. She reported attending the Public Hearing regarding the County of Los Angeles redistricting process. Mayor Frometa welcomed the audience to the City Council meeting. She reported attending the Police Department's Citizen's Academy Graduation Ceremony, the NALEO Legislative Summit, the Dia de los Muertos event, the Annual Halloween Pumpkin Patch, the Police Department Special Olympics Torch Run, the Downey High School v. Warren High School game, a tour hosted by the Downey Conservancy and Downey Historical Society, the Employee Service Awards Ceremony, and the Downey United Lodge 150th Anniversary Celebration. She commented regarding vaccination rates in Downey. She invited the public to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help blood drive, and the City's 65 th Anniversary Celebration. She requested staff draft a historic City Council Minutes Regular Meeting - November 9, 2021 preservation ordinance. She also asked staff to address issues of trash and debris at the CVS on Florence Ave. and Paramount Blvd. She requested staff monitor encampments and thanked Downey Police Department for patrolling Apollo Park. I. Mayor Frometa presented the Mayor's Legacy Award to Xotchitl Ortiz, Principal of Columbus High ScWool. 4. Mayor Frometa presented a Proclamation in Honor of the U.S. Marine Corps 246 th Birthday Celebration. Mayor Frometa asked City Clerk Duarte if any written public comments were received regarding Non -Agenda items. City Clerk Duarte confirmed one written comment was received. Christopher Perez, Field Deputy for Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, introduced himself and provided his contact information. Mayor Frometa asked if there was anyone present who would like to comment on Non -Agenda [AR6161 F.1 rorriTsli I iM OUR Mayor Frometa announced limited English language proficiency speakers may receive additional time for language interpretation and reminded speakers regarding respectful conduct at the City Council meeting. LennJhon Alvarez, resident, commented regarding Council Members and assistance of homeless persons. BC, resident, commented regarding government assistance, homelessness, elected officials, affordable housing, and the vaccine and mask mandates. Juan Martinez, resident, commented regarding City staff, elected officials, and Kaiser healthcare workers. jjr�11��1�1111 City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — November 9, 2021 RECESS/RECONVENE Mayor Frometa recessed the City Council meeting at 8:02 p.m. Mayor Frometa reconvened the City Council meeting at 8.07 p.m. with Council Members Ashton and Trujillo absent. Jang Lee, resident, commented regarding COVID-19 restrictions, the vaccine, and conduct at the City Council meeting. Speaker, no name provided, commented regarding Council Members. Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding the Marine Corps Birthday Celebration, Veterans, and the U.S. flag. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding Council Members. U�15Q*T�_ 0 k►�k Mayor Frometa recessed the City Council meeting at 8:21 p.m. Mayor Frometa reconvened the City Council meeting at 8:32 p.m. with Council Members Ashton and Trujillo absent. Mayor Frometa commented regarding the clearing of the Council Chambers. City Attorney Abich Garcia commented regarding disruptions of the City Council meeting and the Brown Act. Resident, no name provided, commented regarding First Amendment rights, Council Members, and City staff. Barbaro Rodriguez, resident, commented regarding Council Members, freedom of expression, and City staff compensation. Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, resident, commented regarding access to City Council, conduct of the City Council meeting, First Amendment rights, and discrimination. City Attorney Abich Garcia commented regarding the right of the public to submit public comment and the provision of the Brown Act allowing the room to be cleared to proceed with Council business without disruption. Speaker, no name provided, commented regarding the right to assemble and elected officials. Having no one else, Mayor Frometa closed Non -Agenda public comment. RECESS/RECONVENE Mayor Frometa recessed the City Council meeting at 8:56 p.m. Mayor Frometa reconvened the City Council meeting at 8:58 p.m. with Council Members Ashton and Trujillo absent. For*] 7k, FbT_,U: Mayor Frometa announced Item No. 6 would be continued to the November 16, 2021 adjourned City Council meeting. City Attorney Abich Garcia clarified that the City Council would convene on November 16 and the November 23 Regular City Council meeting would be cancelled. 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 Consent Calendar items. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — November 9, 2021 3 Mike Greenspan, non-resident, commented regarding Item Nos. 3, 7, and 13, and express concerns regarding the timeframe and funding allocated to the projects and Committee Memb appointments. Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding Item Nos. 3, 9, and 13, and 14. Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding item No. 13, appointment of and qualifications f] Committee Members. Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, non-resident, commented regarding Item No. 13 and qualifications Committee Members. Speaker, no name provided, commented regarding Item No. 13 and the Independent Citizens' Oversight Co,mittee. Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco asked whether the tabling of Item Nos. 7 and 8 would affect the work of the Public Works Department. Director Consunji responded that postponement of the items would mean staff would be unable to advertise the projects for bidding. Mayor Frometa questioned the impact on residents. Director Consunji responded the •Z •&-& (Iftra. streets. Mayor Frometa asked for the reason for tabling Item Nos. 7 and 8. Council Member Alvarez commented in support of street repaving and expressed her intent to review the project specifications, which were not included in the staff report. Director Consunji explained the plans and specifications are a component of the bid packet and specify quantities, materials, construction methods, and requirements for bidders. He stated that the plans and specifications are boilerplate documents with little difference that would require Council review. Mayor Frometa requested to confirm that certain information would not be available until the bidder is selected. Director Consunji responded unit prices will be provided when the bid is awarded and the award of the contract will be brought to the City Council for review. He shared that the project will return to the City Council when the project is awarded and when the project is completed and the City Council accepts the work as complete. City Manager Livas added that the acceptance of plans and specifications is part of the preliminary process and more information will be provided to the City Council. Council Member Alvarez questioned the effects of tabling the items. City Manager Livas advised that approval of the items would allow staff to prepare the bid documents and City Council may review the projects again once the bids have been awarded. He noted that tabling of Items Nos. 7 and 8 would cause delays in the start date and completion of the projects. Mayor Frometa added that approval of the plans and specifications is standard procedure for the City Council. Council Member Alvarez noted that tabling of the item would add 10 days to the process. City Manager Livas responded regarding staff's intent to start projects before the end of the year and avoid possible supply chain issues. He reiterated the Council's additional opportunities to review the projects. Council Member Alvarez questioned the tabling of Item No. 6. City Manager Livas responded Item No. 6 was tabled due to a lack of quorum. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting - November 9, 2021 '• r i='r i • • 11 i'!' ••'l r 'l •' i it •;- r� • i' . 1I.APPROVED AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DOWNEY AND CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AN ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AND, AUTHORIZED THE MAYORTO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT: Administration. '• r • • 1'i i` ri r • • `• r Ir -i rILI kr r • Member13. APPOINTMENT TO THE INDEPENDENT CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT BOARD, DISTRICT 3: Council Alvarez. 14. APPROVED THE PARADE PERMIT/STREET CLOSURE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE DOWNEY CHAMBER OF •` FOR THE ANNUAL HOLIDAYr ON r+ DECEMBER 5, 2021:Administration. r: ITT15N, 94LTH Mayor Frometa adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 9:23 p.m. in memory of the lives lost due to VI -1. 4AIAA �IC'l �DA �MC - C PAC C City Clerk Mayor City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — November 9, 2021 6