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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes 09-27-22 Regular MeetingMINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 The City Council of the City of Downey held a Regular City Council Meeting on September 27, 2022, at 6:34 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor Pacheco presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Blanca Pacheco Mayor Catherine Alvarez Mayor Pro Tern (absent) Claudia M. Frometa Council Member Donald E. La Plante Council Member Mario Trujillo Council Member (absent) ALSO PRESENT: Mark Scott, Interim City Manager Vaniah De Rojas, Interim Assistant City Manager Melissa Crosthwaite, Interim Assistant City Attorney Leslie Murray, Chief of Police Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director Jason Chacon, Director of Parks & Recreation Anil Gandhy, Director of Finance Crystal Landavazo, Interim Community Development Director Maria Rivas, Interim Assistant to the City Manager Alicia Duarte, CIVIC, City Clerk The Invocation was delivered by Council Member Frometa. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jeannie Wood, Recreation and Community Services Commissioner. Mayor Pacheco announced Item No. 15 would be continued to the October 11, 2022 City Council meeting. COUNCILCITY • REQUESTS•. FUTURE AGENDA CONFERENCE/MEETINGREPORTS Council Member Frometa welcomed the audience to the City Council meeting. She reported attending the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. She commented regarding the Downey City Library's Beyond the Book event and invited the public to attend Havana Nights. She commended the Police Department for monitoring speeding. She commented regarding concerns from residents regarding Tacos Don Goyo and requested staff continue to address speeding and racing incidents near schools. Council Member La Plante reported attending the Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies of Temple and Crawford Parks and thanked staff for their work. He welcomed students from Calvary Chapel Christian School and Orange Lutheran High School to the meeting. He shared an encounter with California State Senator Bob Archuleta. He commented regarding speed enforcement on Stewart and Gray Rd. and the issue of speeding near schools. He commended Interim City Manager Scott for his work with Tacos Don Goyo concerns. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — September 27, 2022 Mot 3=- 1 Mr, mul-pleTeratemi I 4 0 Interim City Manager Scott commented regarding the role of the City Manager. He provided an John Oskoui. He acknowledged the great job the Interim City Manager Vaniah De Rojas is doing. He reported visiting the Downey Chamber of Commerce luncheon and shared staff s efforts to address concerns in the residential neighborhood near Tacos Don Goyo. He commented regarding items to be discussed at the October 11 and October 25 City Council meetings. 1. Mayor Pacheco presented the Mayor's Impact Award to Tim Hutcherson, Dealer Principal, Downey Nissan. I 0 fl� LY163 a wl�lfq 11-40161VI-i X_-T6 MUNI-01,11011111111 - . . I I— __ i - - - - - 111�96m- MTielisilLoiiieli I I A 4. mi I awl kT1:_U_:W4;WR U910 K&E)p i RM., WriNW-WIT I Kum" - - — 71.0 7-177 Agenda, Consent Calendar and Non -Agenda items. Alan Halstensgaard, resident, commented regarding the Institute for Creation Research, the Roe v. Wade ruling, abortion, and Bible readings. Armando Herman, non-resident, commented regarding First Amendment rights, the housing crisis, homelessness, and auto dealerships in Downey. F4311=171P P I I lip Lee Squire, resident, commented regarding First Amendment rights, City staff, and the Centri Basin Municipal Water District. Victoria Smith, resident, commented regarding the effort to recall Mayor Pro Tern Alvarez. BC, resident, commented regarding the Central Basin Municipal Water District, City staff, al — candidates in the upcoming State Assembly election. "TTEM City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — September 27, 2022 2 Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, non-resident, commented regarding rent control and elected officials. Juan Martinez, resident, commented regarding community engagement, Council Members, recalls, City staff, the Central Basin Municipal Water District, and the Drone Ordinance. Chris Rowland, resident, commented regarding Tacos Don Goyo and expressed concerns. Faith Rodriguez commented regarding the FDA Women's Health Center and abortion. Joaquin Beltran, resident, commented regarding his background and community involvement in Downey. Girik Issaian commented regarding housing assistance at City Hall. Jose Luis Gomez, resident, commented regarding Tacos Don Goyo and expressed concerns. Alfred Tovar, resident, commented regarding the housing crisis, lack of housing supply, and presented strategies to increase housing in Downey. Olena Les, resident, commented regarding Tacos Don Goyo and expressed concerns. RECESS/RECONVENE Mayor Pacheco recessed the City Council meeting at 7:50 p.m. Mayor Pacheco reconvened the City Council meeting at 8:01 p.m. with Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez and Council Member Trujillo absent. Eileen Cardona commented regarding crime occurring at retail businesses. Having no one else, Mayor Pacheco closed public comment. It was moved by Council Member Frometa, seconded by Council Member La Plante, and carried 3-0, with Mayor Pro Tern Alvarez and Council Member Trujillo absent, to approve the Consent Calendar. 1. APPROVED MINUTES: Regular Meeting of August 23, 2022: City Clerk. 2. WARRANTS ISSUED: Warrant Nos. 362284 — 362564; Payroll Wire Nos. 30004268 — 30004271; EFT Nos. 11801—11833; and, Manual Wire Nos. 2292 — 2295, in the total amount of $5,589,129.51: Finance. • _rA=I0J&1mI=E 1:4• - • • City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — September 27, 2022 3 5. AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO APPROVE A REQUESTED RATE CHANGE FOR SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY r i PC: Finance. i •` i' ! i r •' i'' i f i f i + r i i i • • i • i • i i Lail AWGIA ■• ' i i `•r+ r i • i i . • r • « • . i•' i•' •' r i f► 9. RECEIVED AND FILED THE 2022i •' FOR FPPC FORMit FILERS: City Clerk. 11. APPROVED THE APPOINTMENTOF i TO THE 2022-2023DOWNEY YOUTJ • • Recreation. we i a i • • i, 0 0 • • Be i • r `i ` •' i • i ii i i • 1 + r` • • i • - M. • FOR OUT OF DOWNEY ANNUAL GOLF• ON OCTOBER MayorPacheco. RECEIVED14. AND FILED REPORT AND PROVIDED DIRECTION TO STAFF FOROPTIONS i REGULATING THE PARKING, • AND STANDING OF OVERSIZED VEHICL (INCLUDINGi ON r HIGHWAYS: Police/Cii Prosecutor. City Prosecutor Eckart presented the staff report for Item No. 14. He explained the standards for what would constitute oversized vehicles and shared health, safety, and welfare concerns.detailed eliminationoptions for regulation of oversized vehicle parking including a complete ban, restricted hours such as of overnight parking, restricted areas, and implementation of a parking permit program Councilrestricting the number of permits or the duration of the permit. He shared regulations enacted by other City jurisdictions. He noted the ordinance would address the health, safety, and welfare concerns, and ancillary issues associated with oversized vehicle parking and stated that other laws prohibit sleeping in vehicles and illegal dumping. Council Member Frometa thanked Mr. Eckart for his report. She commented regarding existing law and addressing resident concerns regarding oversized vehicle parking. She commented in support of prohibiting oversized vehicle parking in residential areas with limited exceptions with 12-15 permits issued to authorize parking of recreational vehicles for a period of up to 72 hours per year. She expressed concerns regarding persons living in their recreational vehicles, trash, and criminal activities. Mr. Eckart clarified certain vehicles such as delivery vehicles would be exempt but the City may impose certain limitations such as requiring parking a certain distance from the delivery location. He added contractor vehicles for construction and vehicles with disability placards would be exempt. Council Member Frometa commented regarding restrictions and prohibitions in Long Beach, Santa Monica, and South Gate and commented in support of prohibiting oversized vehicle parking. Council Member La Plante expressed his support for addressing overnight parking and establishing a permit process for persons using recreational vehicles. He commented regarding street width and accommodation of large vehicles. He commented in support of reasonable accommodation without total prohibition of oversized vehicle parking. He commented regarding persons living in oversized vehicles. Mayor Pacheco inquired regarding recreational vehicles parked in residential and commercial areas and establishing a permit program allowing recreational vehicles to be parked temporarily. Mr. Eckart clarified that the Council is interested in establishing a recreational vehicle permit program for residential areas, not commercial areas. Mayor Pacheco and Council Member Frometa confirmed his statement. Council Member Frometa reiterated support for an ordinance to prohibit overnight parking in all residential and commercial areas with limited exceptions of no more than 72 hours and up to 15 permits per year citywide. Council Member La Plante requested staff return to the City Council with a proposal of areas to be determined by the Council upon further detail. Mr. Eckart responded staff would return to the Council with a proposed ordinance within the parameters expressed by the City Council and additional guidelines regarding the number of permits issued and the duration of the permit. He suggested staff return with a full ordinance to allow for publication of the ordinance without too much modification. Council Member Frometa commented in support of specifying numbers in the ordinance and allowing staff to draft an ordinance based on the parameters set by the City Council. Mr. Eckart summarized the parameters requested by the City Council and requested to clarify whether the Council would support a complete ban or a ban on overnight parking. Mayor Pacheco and Council Member Frometa commented in support of a complete ban on oversized vehicle parking. Council Member La Plante expressed his opposition to a complete ban and expressed concerns regarding residents who need to park rented recreational vehicles during the day. Council Member Frometa responded his concerns are addressed through the permitting of recreational vehicles in residential areas. Council Member La Plante responded he did not have an objection to prohibiting oversized vehicle parking in commercial areas and expressed his opposition to requiring a permit to park a recreational vehicle temporarily during the day. Interim City Manager Scott responded staff would prepare a description of how the permit program would operate and the City Council could review and City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — September 27, 2022 5 modify the program. He noted that not every oversized vehicle is a recreational vehicle and stated staffs :ntent was not to be overly prohibitive. It was moved by Council Member Frometa, seconded by Council Member La Plante, and carri 3-0, with Mayor Pro Tern Alvarez and Council Member Trujillo absent, to receive and file the report; gi direction to staff to bring back an ordinance regulating the parking, stopping, and standing of oversiz vehicles (including recreational vehicles) on public streets and highways and creating a Recreation Vehicle Permit Program. Item No. 15 continued to the October 11, 2022 City Council meeting. 15. QUALIFICATION OF REFERENDUM PETITION REPEALING DOWNEY'S MUNICIPAL COD1, SETTING A MINIMUM WAGE OF TWENTY-FIVE ($25.00) PER HOUR FOR QUALIFYIN HEALTHCARE WORKERS WORKING IN THE CITY OF DOWNEY: City Clerk. 1) DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT ORDINANCE NO. 2" 1485 TO THE DOWNEY VOTERS AT THE NEXT REGULAR MUNICIP ELECTION (NOVEMBER 5, 2024) OR A SPECIAL ELECTION (MARCH 7, 2023 0 NOVEMBER 7, 2023); OR, 2) DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL ORDINANCE NO. 22- 1485. Interim City Manager Scott announced the City Council adopted a policy regarding Coun Members' requests for items to be placed on City Council agendas and requested direction on ite previously requested by Council Members. He stated a motion is not required for each but each ite must receive the concurrence of at least one other Member of the City Council in order to be placed a future agenda by minute action. He stated that items may be carried over for discussion in the followi week. I Mr. Scott requested concurrence for a request for a memo from staff discussing the history of support from the City for the YMCA. Council Member La Plante stated his understanding of the request to be for assistance in the new YMCA project. The Council deferred discussion of the request. 0 - I - - a 6 1 - 0 . - 01411 6 1W-49111 lie 0111 N.144116-1 06 .6 romiT:.vAtfj27ErZ,7.VJUi'MrWorrir*Yomwtm;Tre �W 11-oll-MIN I I WIN I =00110'01N�:T4 ISR N I I Member Trujillo was concerned with the-poiholes at the entrance of the northbound 710 Freeway at Firestone Blvd. and noted the potholes have been filled. Mr. Scott shared that Council Member Trujillo toured areas of concern, which encompassed additional locations. The Council deferred discussion of the request. City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — September 27, 2022 it Mr. Scott requested concurrence for a request for a memo from staff describing the funding support for the Downey LINK Transit System, including discussion of flexibility that may exist for alternate uses of the funding. Council Member La Plante commented regarding Council support of the item. The Council provided concurrence to place the item on a future agenda. Mr. Scott requested concurrence for a request for a report discussing possible Senior program enhancements at the Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center. Council Member La Plante requested to confirm that the item would consist of a simple staff report and commented in support of discussing the item. The Council provided concurrence to place the item on a future agenda. Mr. Scott requested concurrence for a request for consideration of discounts for recreational classes for families with multiple enrolled children. Council Member La Plante requested to confirm that the item would consist of a simple staff report and commented in support of discussion of the item. The Council provided concurrence to place the item on a future agenda. Mr. Scott requested concurrence for a request for discussion of the City of Bell Gardens' new rent stabilization ordinance. The Council provided concurrence to place the item on a future agenda. U-61961UM7,7TTillu Mayor Pacheco adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:32 p.m. in memory of Shirley Girardin, longtime Downey resident; and, the lives lost due to COVID-19. MLIC�IADUA4,�MC �BLANCA PACHECO City Clerk Mayor City Council Minutes Regular Meeting — September 27, 2022 7