HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12-02-08 - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 2, 2008
The City Council of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting for the purposes
of Reorganization at 6:11 p.m., December 2, 2008, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall,
11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, Mayor David R. Gafin presiding.
PRESENT:Council Members:
David R. Gafin
Mario A. Guerra
Anne M. Bayer
Rick Trejo
Kirk O. Cartozian
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
ALSO PRESENT:Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk
Susan Domen, Deputy City Clerk
Other City employees were present in the audience.
The Invocation was delivered Alexander Salazar, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles. The
Flag Salute was led by Downey Police Explorers. The National Anthem was sung by Phil Davis,
Director, Support Programs and Career/Vocational Education, Downey Unified School District.
Mayor Gafin welcomed everyone and recognized special guests, including former
Mayors and Council Members Diane Boggs, Gary McCaughan, Keith McCarthy, Meredith Perkins
and Bob Winningham; and representatives from the State, County and the community. He also
acknowledged City Board, Commission and Committee members in the audience.
1.WELCOME AND FINAL ADDRESS: Outgoing Mayor David R. Gafin.
Mayor Gafin presented a Power Presentation thanking fellow Council Members Trejo and
Cartozian for their 8 years of service to the City; he welcomed new Council Members Brossmer and
Marquez; and he thanked Council Member Bayer and Guerra for their work on the Council. He
continued by thanking staff for their assistance in the past year, especially noting City Council
Secretary Conte, City Manager Caton and Assistant Deputy City Manager Pomrehn; he thanked his
secretary from his office as well as his wife and son for their support; and he thanked the citizens for
putting their trust and support in him by electing him to Council. He highlighted events from the past
year such as the Measure G election, Imperial Highway Phase II, On-site parking requirements
(multi-family residences), Traffic Calming Program, Police Cadet Program, the 2008-09 Budget,
Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch, Lakewood Boulevard, Discovery Sports Complex, Columbia
Space Science Learning Center, complete increases in Sworn Police Officers, Farmers Market,
video broadcasting of Council meetings, Phoenix Award for clean-up of NASA site, conversion of the
transit system; and noted upcoming projects such as Johnie’s Broiler conversion to Bob’s Big Boy,
BJ's Restaurant moving into Stonewood Center, a Fresh & Easy supermarket going in the old
Albertsons, Porto’s Bakery in the downtown area; the opening of the Discovery Sports Complex and
the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center; Downtown Downey Vision, and the
redevelopment of Downey Studios and Rancho Los Amigos property. He implored future mayors to
remember that they are here to serve the citizens by leaving their personal feelings out of their
decisions and to act in the interest and wants of the citizens.
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2.FINAL ADDRESSES:
A. Retiring Council Member Kirk O. Cartozian:
Council Member Cartozian recognized his parents, his girlfriend, and other family members
in the audience. He noted his excitement for the two new Council Members and stated that being on
the Council allows you to make decisions on behalf of the citizens. He feels he is lucky for having
great role models in former Council Members Winningham, Perkins, and McCarthy as well as City
Manager Caton. He thanked the 3“’ Floor staff especially City Council Secretary Conte and noted
that it was exciting to be a part of the development of the new park and learning center. He
recognized and thanked staff that was in attendance and mentioned how important being on the
Gangs Out of Downey and Orangeline Development Authority were to him these past 8 years.
B. Retiring Council Member Rick Trejo:
Council Member Trejo thanked his family and friends for their support, especially his wife and
children. He thanked the Commissioners that served as his appointees as well as the City Manager,
Department Heads, City Council Secretary Conte, City Clerk Midstokke and her staff, City Manager
Secretary Hruden, Assistant Deputy City Manager Pomrehn and Assistant City Manager Powell. He
concluded by noting that this wonderful journey has gone by quickly and wished good luck to future
Council Members.
3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
Special presentations were made to outgoing Mayor Gafin and outgoing Council Members
Cartozian and Trejo by Congress Member Lucille Roybal-Allard's representative Kim Tachiki;
Senator Lowenthal representative Luis Marquez; Assembly Member Charles Calderon; Assembly
Member DeLaTorre representative Mike Hollon; Los Angeles County Supervisor Knabe
representative Connie Sziebal; Gateway Cities Council of Governments representative Anne Bayer;
League of California Cities representative Christine Guerrero; City of Bellflower Council Member
Scott Larson; City of Cerritos Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Barros; City of Paramount Vice Mayor Diane
Martinez; City of Pico Rivera Mayor Pro Tem Ron Beilke and Council Member Bob Archuleta; City of
South Gate Council Member Bill DeWitt; Downey Unified School District Board President Tod Corrin,
other Board Members and Superintendent Doty; Downey Chamber of Commerce President Robert
Zavala; and Downey Sister Cities Association President Leonard Zuniga.
4.ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 08-7095, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DOWNEY RECITING THE FACT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION, HELD ON NOVEMBER
4, 2008, DECLARING THE RESULT AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS PROVIDED BY
LAW: City Clerk
It was moved by Council Member Cartozian, seconded by Council Member Trejo and
unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution.
5. ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF
ELECTION TO NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS:
A. David R. Gafin – District One;
Brenda Gafin administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council Member David R.
Gafi n
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B. Roger C. Brossmer – District Three;
Esther Brossmer administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Council Member Roger C.
Brossmer.
C. Luis H. Marquez – District Five
Assembly Member Hector de la Torre administered the Oath of Office to newly elected
Council Member Luis H. Marquez.
6. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL:
A. Approve proposed sequence of rotation of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem as
prepared by City Clerk:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra, seconded by Council Member Brossmer and
unanimously carried to approve.
B. Election of Mayor:
City Clerk Midstokke declared the Office of Mayor open and asked for nominations.
It was moved by Mayor Gafin to nominate Mayor Pro Tem Guerra as Mayor of the City of
Downey. There being no further nominations, the City Clerk declared the nominations closed.
It was unanimously carried to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Guerra as Mayor of the City of
Downey.
C. Election of Mayor Pro Tem:
Mayor Guerra declared the Office of Mayor Pro Tem open and asked for nominations.
It was moved by Mayor Guerra to nominate Council Member Bayer as Mayor Pro Tem of the
City of Downey. There being no further nominations, Mayor Guerra declared the nominations
closed
It was unanimously carried to appoint Council Member Bayer as Mayor Pro Tem of the
City of Downey.
7.ADDITIONAL PRESENTATIONS TO OUTGOING MAYOR AND INCOMING MAYOR:
Mayor Guerra presented Council Member Gafin with a Certificate of Election as
Mayor, a Gavel Plaque, and the traditional Mayor's scrapbook commemorating activities during his
term as Mayor.
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8. ADDRESS BY INCOMING MAYOR:
Incoming Mayor Guerra recognized his wife, children, family members, church members and
business associates in the audience. He presented former Council Members Trejo and Cartozian
with UCLA T-shirts and commended Council Member Gafin on his leadership as Mayor for the past
year. He recognized Mayor Pro Tem Bayer for her service and commended former Council
Members Cartozian and Trejo for their service to the community. He feels that Downey is blessed to
have the staff that we do, especially under the leadership of City Manager Caton. He explained his
amazement of becoming the 43'd Mayor of Downey and noted his theme for the year is bridging
Downey’s shining past with a bright future through the legacy of the aerospace industry and fiscal
responsibility. He presented Power Point presentation outlining his goals for the year as: fiscal
responsibility; implementing a Green Task Force, implementing a Citizen Patrol group, focusing on
emergency preparedness, starting a Youth Commission, transit yard consolidation, presenting a
servant award called Diakonia, improving Public Information; continuing the economic development
of the Downtown area, and conducting planning workshops with the Council
9.INTRODUCTION OF FAMILIES, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS:
Mayor Pro Tem Bayer recognized her mother, friends and Soroptimist members in the
audience.
Council Member Brossmer recognized his wife and other family members in the audience.
He thanked the citizens for electing him; the outgoing Council Members for their work the past 8
years; and stated he is looking forward to working on the Council and with staff.
Council Member Marquez noted he is honored and humbled to serve on the Council. He
recognized his wife and other family members in the audience and thanked his friends for being in
attendance. He thanked Senator Lowenthal, Assembly Member de la Torre and former Council
Member Cartozian for their support during the election. He thanked staff for all of their assistance.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT:
Noreen Kimura, president of the Downey City Employees Association, congratulated the new
Council and thanked the outgoing Council Members for their support of the employees.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:04 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., December 9, 2008.
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DAVID R. g/VaN: MayorKATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk
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