Council - Regular Meeting

Madam Mayor Pro Tem, we're live.

Thank you. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Baldwin Park City Council Finance Authority Housing Authority regular meeting for July 15th, 2026. The time right now is 715. And if we could please stand for the invocation, if I can have Pastor Jackson and Pastor Flores join us. Please stand, if you're able.

Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you all for the opportunity to give us to pray over our city, and thank you for all those participating today. Yo quiero leer en Salmo capítulo 33, versículo 12, dice, Bienaventurada la nación cuyo Dios es Jehová, el pueblo que él escogió como heredad para sí. We thank you today, Lord, for the United States of America, as we celebrate 250 years, Lord, as a nation, one nation under God, indivisible. Gracias, Señor, por su propósito, a su nación. Gracias, Señor, a su pueblo, Señor, aquí en Baldwin Park. Gracias, Señor, por el liderazgo, Señor. Ayuda el liderazgo en esta noche, Señor, para usar su sabiduría, Señor, para... Ayuda a la comunidad y al pueblo aquí en Baldwin Park. En el nombre de Jesucristo.

Amen. Heavenly Father, we come to you right now in the name of the Lord and giving you praise, glory, and honor. Thank you for letting us come to your throne of grace that we may find grace and help in time of need. I'm lifting up our city council before you, Father God. Every one of them, Lord, that you will give them wisdom and knowledge and understanding in how to govern this city, Father. And also, Lord God, our police department, Lord, that It's tough out there, Lord God, that you divinely protect them, Lord, as they go forth to serve and protect Heavenly Father, our fire department, Lord, and many other things, Lord God, that we need your attention in, Lord. There's many young people that are here this evening, Lord God, and they need your divine protection and help, Lord God, in their schools, Lord God, breaking the power of drugs that comes before them and gangs that comes for them and bringing forth unity within their homes with their parents and in their schools, Heavenly Father, that they will learn to be a productive citizen in this nation that you have gracefully given to us for these 250 years. Touch our businesses, Lord God. Our businesses need your attention as well. And we realize and recognize that we are in some perilous times now, Lord, and our nation need your divine protection, Lord God. Our cities need your protection, Lord God. So just release your holy angels around our city, Lord God, and around our nation, Lord God, that it would be protected from any hurt, harm, or danger from foreign or domestic enemies. In the name of the Lord, we pray. Amen.

Amen. Please join us in the flag salute, Pledge of Allegiance.

Put your right hand over your heart.

Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Thank you. We can have a roll call, City Clerk Seitz. I'm sorry.

It's okay. Sorry. Deputy? Yes, madam. Mayor Damien?

I am here and I am participating remotely as a reasonable accommodation for a physical condition pursuant to government code section 54953C2A. No other person 18 years of age or older is present in the room with me.

Mayor Pro Tem Ayala.

Here. Council Member Avila. Here.

Council Member Estrada.

Here.

Council Member Lozano.

Here.

We have quorum.

Thank you. City Attorney, if we could report out from closed session.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. There were six items on the closed session agenda. We had a discussion on each one of them, and there was direction given. There's nothing further to report.

Thank you. I have a brief announcement that the City Council are also members of the Board of Directors of the Housing Authority and Finance Authority, which are concurrently convening with the City Council this evening, and each council member is paid an additional stipend of $30 for attending the Housing Authority meeting and $50 for attending the Finance Authority meeting. We're moving on to proclamations, commendations, and presentations. And we're very excited to make these presentations today. And I'm going to pass it over to my council colleague, Council Member Avila. We're going to be presenting the certificate recognition to all our participants of the 2026 NextGen Youth Workforce Program.

Mayor Pro Tem, if you don't mind, do you mind closing this?

Oh, sorry about that. I'm going to motion to close the special meeting. I'll move. For a second. Roll call.

Mayor Damien.

Yes.

Mayor Pro Tem Ayala.

Yes.

Council Member Lozano.

Yes.

Council Member Estrada. Yes. Council Member Avila.

Yes.

Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. Now we're moving on to our presentations. So I'm going to go ahead and give the microphone to council member Avila. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Before I start the presentation, I want to welcome Baldwin Park Unified School District staff that's in attendance. I have Norma Olmos, president of the board. Thank you for being here. Superintendent Dr. Frode-Mendoza. Also, Director of Support Services, Senior Director of Support Services, Noreen Iwaito. Also, Chief Technology Officer, ETS, Rick Hasler, as well as Director of Student Services, Alisa Fields. Thank you for being here. I want to start off by thanking everybody that has participated in this program that started in 2022. The NextGen, it kind of tells you already what it's about. It's our next generation. The NextGen program has been a program that started in 2022 that has been able to provide services for our students where they can get work experience. The Baldwin Park NextGen program is a flagship initiative that reflects our city's deep commitment to the Youth Development Center and career readiness and local economic growth. Because as you know, the youth is... the future of Baldwin Park. So we need to invest in them. And we started back in 2022 with this program. It is the fifth year since the next gen, and it continues to invest in Baldwin Park's greatest resources, which is the youth and our young adults. The program addresses critical need by offering youth ages 14 to 18 real work experience, professional development, a steady income, which they love because now they have money to spend, and long-term career success. A lot of students and teens do not get this opportunity, do not get to work For example, in City Hall, to work at a school district, at a store, they never even thought or even imagined themselves working in such settings. But this program gives them the opportunity and opens their eyes to what may be out there for them if they're interested. So it has been very exciting when we started this program since 2022 to see the excitement in the students And some of them have come back from the first year to continue the next year. So we continued, as I said, we started in 2022 with 181 students. In 2023, we had 154 students. 2024, unfortunately, we started to go down 70 students. 2025, 72. And 2026, 43 students with a total of 520. Although the numbers have decreased, we are working on increasing this number. It's working together with the school district to make sure that the students are aware of these opportunities that they have now as youth. So as I said before, they can move into the future to maybe make it a career for them. So at this time, I want to be able to present the certificates. And after I present the certificates to the students, we're also going to present a certificate to Manage Career Solutions with Ms. Ayala. She will be presenting the certificates to them. So I will leave that part to you. So again, I wanna thank the students, and I hope that you took this opportunity and you got a lot of experience being at your workplace, that you got to meet people, that you asked questions, and now that you have a little bit more of an idea what's out there for you. There's a lot more. And I wish we could offer more, but with time, I'm sure we will do that. But this is just the beginning of what your future can look like, of what you're capable of doing, and that the future is yours. You hold the future in your hands. And if you have a dream, it's up to you to seek it. We will give you the tools, and we will guide you. But ultimately, it is up to you. And I think most of you that have been part of this program have learned a lot. I know for a fact, and Manny probably has a better number, that we now have staff members within our city that started off at NextGen. We have it in HR. We have them in Parks and Recreation. Do you have an idea, Manny, how many about that?

In terms of full-time staff?

Just for the city itself.

The city itself, we have a handful of full-time staff. And in regards of permanent part-time staff, we have dozens. of staff members that have evolved into the city ranks. Thank you.

And in HR as well. So it's exciting to see that this youth started off here in our city as a program that helped them make extra money in the summer. They learned how to budget the money. They learned the cost of things. Now they understand it's not just easy to stick out your hand and say, hey, mom, dad, can I have money? Now they know. It takes work to get that money. It's not that easy to just ask for money because now they know they had to work for it. So thank you, students, for those of you that participated. And thank you to the school district because you helped us get these students out here to work for this program and help to get to know themselves because a lot of them learned about themselves and what they were capable of doing just by being part of this program. So what I'm going to do, if I can have... Somebody from MCS that knows the students, I'm gonna name them out and then you can pass the certificates to them because you know them so well. Who do I have here from MCS to pass out the certificates? Anybody? No? We don't have a representative? From Managed Career Solutions?

We don't.

No. Mrs. Fields, maybe you know them.

Are you up here? You want to come up here?

She knows all our students. Coming up here. You can come down here, Ms. Fields. We have a microphone, right?

I'm going to call out their names, and then you have to.

So I will call out the participants' names. I want you to come up here. We're gonna line up and we're gonna take a picture and Mrs. Fields will hand you your certificate. Okay. Are you ready, Ms. Fields? Okay. Emmanuel, if you can go up there. Joanna, Chris. Okay, first we have Idelys Cante Cruz, Alexis Salazar, when I call up your name, so if you can just come up here, please. Alexis Salazar, Alan Parra, Alisa Rogel, Amaya Martin, Anais Cisneros, Anthony Guerrero. Ashley Gonzalez. Asiel Aguilar. Brisa Cardenas. Cassandra Subida. Daisy Flores. Damaris Rivera. Daniel Parias. Dana Garcia Negrete. Emily Gonzalez. Ethan Salazar. Gabriel Valles. Guadalupe Sanchez Garcia. Isabel Ramos. Isabella Pacillas. Jaylene Gonzalez. Johnson Cao, Joseph Zamora, Devani Ortiz, Karen Flores, Leah Diaz, Lizandro Tello Ruiz, Luis Martin, Miguel Olvera, Natalia Guerra, Nazareth Ortega. Orlando Hernandez. Paul Rubio. Riley Avedis. Ruby Hernandez Peralta. Santiago Zagoya-Dominguez. Shannon Battles. Vanessa Sanchez. Victor Gomez, Victor Tellez, Jimena Miranda, Jacqueline Blanco Martinez. Let's give them all a big hand, please. I also want to thank Rosa Caballero and Shirley, our city clerk, because they have worked closely with this program to make sure everything flows. Rosa, can you stand up please? She's our administrative secretary. Things don't function in the city without her. So thank you, Rosa, for always organizing this and making sure that our youth gets the best. So thank you for all the work that you do. As I said before, these students have worked really hard to earn their paycheck. Is there any students that I did not announce? Can you come up here, please? If I did not say your name, come up here and tell me your name and I will announce your name, please. Come up here. Ms. Alicia, what is your name?

Angel Casasola.

Angel Casasola. Nathan Ortiz. Emiliano Aguilar. Nathan Rivera. Braulio Mendez. Tei Juan. Islay Gonzalez. Isaac Gonzalez. Oscar Lanteria. Richard Zaragoza. Eduardo Renteria, and my apologies. But all of this youth, again, they have worked really hard. They were going to school. They were doing homework. They were applying for this program. And now in the summer, they are working, getting up in the morning, coming out into the heat, working, making new friends, but especially making money for themselves and learning the value of money. So thank you again, everybody, for participating in this program.

Can we go this way? You guys go. Okay. We need one, two, three. Okay. Council member, I need you guys.

I need you guys and that's somebody behind him.

I need you guys. One, two, three. Thank you.

I'd like to read the recognition for Managed Career Solutions Incorporated. They're the operator of the East San Gabriel Valley America's Job Center of California. In recognition of their partnership and unwavering dedication to making the 2026 NextGen Youth Workforce Program successful for all our participants, city staff, and school district, we want to thank you for your commitment to providing job opportunities for the youth of our community. We value the trust and joint effort that we have built and look forward to continuing our collaboration in making this program grow each year. Presented this 15th day of July, 2026. by our Mayor Daniel Damien, myself, your Mayor Pro Tem Jean Amayala, Council Members Alejandra Avila, Emmanuel J. Estrada, Manuel Lozano, our City Clerk Christopher Sainz, and City Treasurer Joanna Valenzuela. So we want to recognize Manage Career Solutions, MCS, and thank them for their commitment. Is that you, sir? Oh, come on up. I saw your hand waving, but I was like, I'm sure. We're going to take a picture with the managed careers.

My hair. Oh, you didn't raise your hand. Are you ready?

Here we go.

Thank you so much.

from Manage Career Solutions for his company and his collaboration. No, no. We're gonna move forward. Thank you so much. We're gonna move forward with public communications. I'll just allow our friends to, step outside if they need to thank you again congratulations what a wonderful program. we're going to move forward with public communications and i'd like to ask city clerk, if there are any. Any people looking to speak.

Yes, Mayor Pro Tem, we have three speaker cards. And at this time, if there's anybody in the zoom platform that would like to speak, please raise your hand. We will call you when it is your time. Thank you so much. At this time, I call mistress transgender, you have three minutes.

Hello. I just want to ask the city regarding clarification about a service animal. Recently, me and my friends, we go to the restaurant to eat. It's a Baldwin Park buffet restaurant. However, the restaurant owner or manager, whatever, they are saying that that is a buffet restaurant. So they do not allow the dog anywhere near there because it's a buffet setting because it's the buffet restaurant. So we were very confused. because we do not understand the law. And then they say that they understand the law, but we do not trust them just because they say so. We are under the impression that service animal, you cannot illegally deny service to a service animal if the owner of the service animal wants to eat in the restaurant. It's not something like, does the rule of we have the right to deny service to anyone, does that rule applies to service animal or is that a certain kind of discrimination cases involved here. So basically, I don't know the law. I'm not an attorney. My friend is not an attorney. My friend doesn't know the law. And we were just trying to looking for some official answers from the city. because we have been to many restaurants in the Baldwin Park. Actually, nevermind, the whole Los Angeles County, this is the first time ever that we were being asked to leave. And if we refuse to leave, they are calling 911 to the police to kick us out. So we were, because we don't know the law, so I know someone from the city, they know the law, and I wish that if someone from the city can provide a better answer to educate me, educate everybody who has a service animal, so we can understand in the future that what kind of restaurant we are allowed to go and eat, what kind of restaurant that we are not allowed to go, otherwise we will be arrested by the Baldwin Park Police. So it's just our understanding is always service animal. You just cannot deny service animal. So we were basically just something hoping or I was hoping the city can clarify something. So that way I know the correct answer in the future from now on. But right now I can only Google. I can only research online. I can only use chat GBT. to tell me that they cannot deny service animal, but those are not the real answer. So I was just looking and asking for a real answer regarding the service animal in the restaurant related issue.

Your time is up. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we call Irma Morales with the L.A. County Library.

Hello, good evening. I just wanted to get you updated on the library is an emergency cooling center for the last couple of days, including tomorrow. The library's hours will be 10 to 7. Our normal hours are 10 to 6, and then from 6 to 7, we will be a cooling center. During cooling center hours, we do have minimum services, but people are allowed to come in, use our Wi-Fi. So One of the important things I want to remind the community is that, as always, please look at the library's website, lacountylibrary.org, and all the information about things that have happened. If there's, you know, emergencies, that information will be on the website. So yesterday and today we have been cooling centers. We opened an hour early. So it's always good to keep up with that. Also along with other programs that we have going on in the library, as always, we have our summer discovery program going on through August the 9th, that children, teens and adults can read independently and get prizes for reading. As part of our summer discovery program, we have a DIY science program where the kids are going to make a kaleidoscope. And that's on Wednesday, July the 22nd from 3 to 4 p.m. That's ages 4 to 12. And there's a program on Saturday, July the 25th. It's called Wow, That's STEM, Microbot Workshop. Both of these workshops don't need registration, and you can go again to our website, LA County Library website, look under Baldwin Park, and it'll give you all the current programs that are going on. Lastly, we have some programs for teens, so that's ages 14 through 17. On Friday, July the 24th, we're having a glow-in-the-dark slime program from 4.30 to 5.30. And on Friday, July the 31st, from 4.30 to 5.30, it's a sewing program for teens. And just a reminder, always look at the library's website for information that is going on that you can see upcoming programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Irma.

We have a motion to adopt item number eight, moved by Mayor Brotem Ayala, seconded by Council Member Avila. Council Member Avila.

Yes.

Council Member Estrada.

Yes.

Council Member Lozano.

Yes.

Mayor Brotem Ayala.

Yes.

Mayor Damien. Yes. Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. Let's move on to number 10, Mayor Damien.

thank you for that mayor pro tem um i sent an email to daniel and manny a few days ago regarding the contract for award for bid i just i and i don't know because i didn't get i looked online for the staff report but i didn't see the the contract update there unless it was given to the council on the dais i just want to verify that under section 1.8 of the contract that it has been updated to remove the section that says that the contract officer can approve an increased amount of up to 25% over the contract amount. Has that been already changed before the contract is executed?

good evening mayor um so what we were planning on doing is once um we will make that change as as the staff report says to approve the 10 contingency um i plan on updating uh... the agreement uh... tomorrow morning and and then sending it out to the contractor to to sign and he would then provide his bonds and his insurance and then it would come to the city for signature so i will definitely address um that mistake on the contract i believe the 25 that's in there came from the sidewalk project where the council approved a 25 contingency on the project that's that's why that mistake was in there and that was um you know my mistake and apologies for that but it is in fact 10 and it will be corrected prior to the city's execution

Perfect. Thank you for that, Daniel. Yeah, no, don't worry about it. I just wanted to make sure that was addressed. So when it comes back to the city for execution, will I be the one executing that along with the city clerk? yes perfect okay and then uh the second thing is and i don't know if this language can be added to the contract or not uh but this is pertaining to the exhibits um and i know that we have a projected and i'll say projected start date of possibly uh 10 working days after receiving um the notice to proceed which we're estimating to be july 27th and we're anticipating a completion deadline of 180 working days Um, and then on top of that, there is a $2,000 in, um, daily liquidated damages, correct? Is there a way that that can be added to the contract or is that just as an exhibit?

I think the contracts, um, the contract references, you know, the plans and specifications, um, we, you know, I think we, we can add it. We can, maybe I can talk to Christian about it. Um, I don't see why we could not, but it does reference the specifications, and the specifications clearly communicates 180 working days or nine months, and it does have those liquidated damages in there multiple times. So we can do it if that's your preference.

Yeah, and that's part of the 1,100-page email that you sent, correct? Yes.

Yeah, the plans and specs are pretty lengthy.

Yeah, no, I went through as much as I could possibly go through, but I did see it in there. I just want to make sure that, you know, because it's a lot of pages and I don't know, to be honest with you, if this contractor is going to actually go through every single one of those pages. But I just want to make sure that they are aware of the project start date and the project deadline and that all of these areas are covered.

Yes, Mayor. No, I appreciate those concerns. The contractor, CWS, is here with us tonight. So I think we hear you loud and clear. Typically, we touch on these points in our pre-construction meeting. And this is, I'm sure the contractor is aware because these are very critical components of the project. And that's why those are headings or subheadings in the contract. But I think that's not a problem to include those items directly in the contract.

Perfect. Thank you, Daniel. And thank you for the hard work that you did on this. That's the only questions that I have, Mayor Potem.

If I may, Section 7.7 does deal with liquidated damages in that contract. So the main contract does have some language. It doesn't specify the amount. But if you wanted to include in your motion that we would modify that Section 7.7. to appropriately include liquidated damages in any amount, that would be, you could make that part of your motion. And in addition, part of your motion, the Section 1.8 changed to, as I understand it, changed 25% to 10%, correct?

Correct. So it currently does have, Section 1.8 does currently have, so, well, before I make a motion, I'll ask my council colleagues if they have any questions. Yes.

If I may, so the staff report shows the 10% contingency, and that's the recommended action is to approve a 10% construction contingency. And it also has the amount of the contract, which is just the contractor's bid amount as the as the contract amount.

Do any of my colleagues have any questions?

It would be helpful. Do we have a specified amount for liquidated damages per day?

Yes, it's $2,000 per day. OK. Or maybe if we're going to add that to the motion, maybe we can just say the working days and the liquidated damages as specified in the project specifications.

Well, the agreement isn't finalized. This is looking for council approval of the contract. We're hearing your direction. So just, it sounds like I would make as part of your motion changing the 25 to 10% and 1.8 on the contingency funds. And then in section 7.7 direction to staff to insert appropriate language to ensure that liquidated damages are appropriately reflected in the contract.

Correct, because Section 1.8 currently has the 10% contingency, and then it also has the contract officer to approve up to 25% of the overall cost. So the contingency is there, but we just need to remove that up to 25% from the contract amount. So if anything that's going to come back, if let's just say we exceeded the 10% contingency, then they should come back to the city council for additional approval amount.

Okay, we will make that change.

Okay. So I'll make a motion to approve item 10 with the change on the section 1.8 of the contract to remove the language of giving authority to the contract officer for an up to 25% over the approved amount. So we're basically just approving the 10% contingency and then bringing back language on section 7.7 to address the daily liquidated damages of $2,000 and then the completion deadline of 180 working days.

I'll second.

We have a motion to adopt item number 10 as amended. Motion made by Mayor Damien, second by Mayor Pro Temayala. Council Member Avila.

Yes.

Council Member Estrada.

Yes.

Council Member Lozano. Yes. Mayor Pro Temayala.

Yes.

Mayor Damien. Yes. Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. We're moving on to public hearing or proposed extension of the moratorium on the approval establishment or operation of battery energy storage systems facilities. I'm going to open the public hearing. Is that correct?

That's correct.

Okay. I'm going to open the public hearing. So if there's anyone here in the audience who would like to speak.

I'll give the first part and then you can have them speak.

Awesome. Thank you.

Okay, so on June 3 the city council adopted an interim urgency ordinance under government code 65858 that allows you to establish a moratorium when there are issues that the city has to study in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare. And in this case, a 45-day moratorium was set on the approval, establishment, or operation of a BESS facility in all zones of the city. A BESS facility is a battery energy storage system. These are these battery storage facilities. And these are on the rise because of the need for clean energy and other reasons they're trying to store more and more energy. but they do have significant impacts on the community. So we need to study this and make sure our code appropriately addresses them before they're authorized. So that's the goal here. We just need some time. We did an initial 45 days in accordance with the government code, but now we need to bring it back and extend it. And if you were to approve the urgency ordinance tonight, It would extend the moratorium another 10 months and 15 days up to that, allowing staff more time to complete their review and preparation of an ordinance and regulations. This would need to be approved by a four-fifths vote. And the 10 months and 15 days added onto the 45 days brings it to a total of a year. So a year from June 3rd when it was originally approved. So with that, you can...

I can open that. I'm going to go ahead and open up the public hearing if there's anyone here wanting to speak on the issue.

If there's anybody online that is looking to speak either for or against item 16, please raise your hand and you'll be called upon. At this time, we call Mistress Chen's transgender...

makes the feeling about this item is because um we all support clean energy uh we all support sustainability but at the same time every single city nearby, like Alhambra, Monterey Park, Covina, El Monte, just to give you a feel, everybody reject this item.

So I was just feelings like this item is, feels like, because I, I really have a hard time to communicate my thought in a correct way. But when everybody, when every city denies it,

You probably have a delayed development of sustainability of your green energy. But if you allows them, that means nobody can have a better sleep or maybe everybody who prefer all the seniors and whatever their regular daily life will be interrupted. So I mean, I wish the city can have a whole year to study because I don't believe just give you a couple of days that you can come here with a solution. And then the most important, the funny things about this item, it reminds me about the coyote item. The reason why I say that is because before human were here, All the lands, they are coyotes. It's the human are the one who interrupted the coyote's life, not the other way around. So when we were trying to develop new energy, when we were trying to develop a green energy, all electricity, no more gasoline vehicle and all of those, but at the same time, every city are trying to reject the building of the battery facility. So that will just keep circling around a certain mind like in my head that you want this, but you don't want that. But the thing is you cannot have both. Or sometimes like everybody, like another example I can provide it is that every city are saying that, hey, we need to just like our mayor Pro Temp just said, we need to making sure the police get rid of the homeless people. Every city get rid of the homeless people, but they are not going away. Eventually the coyote, the homeless people, the battery plant, somehow they have to find a way to survive. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. It's complicated.

Next, we call JT. We are going to unmute you. Once you start speaking, you will have three minutes.

Hello. As an IT person, the next city or neighbor, Covina, already basically closed off the deal for the battery bank. best belief. And as for environmental, I think it's a pretty bad idea. So I don't even know the environmental for it. Overall, I think it's just bad for the community. Again, like the last speaker, I don't see what the benefit is. You're pretty much bringing more bad environmental stuff to the ground and to like, as battery backup, I believe is just not essential for the for the city, especially for our city. That's my opinion from this. Like I said, I don't think there's no research needs to be done. We've already rejected that. So that's just my opinion. So thank you.

Thank you.

May I pretend that concludes all speakers?

Thank you city clerk and do any of my colleagues have anything that they would like to add or questions or anything to say.

councilmember Avila.

into this item, I think it's important that we do continue to review and that we do extend the monitorium because we need to make sure that everything we're proposing is by law and that we're not doing anything that we shouldn't. It is clear that by us putting this monitorium in place is because we have many concerns. And until you do the study and your research, I think we would understand it better and we can make a better decision. So thank you for doing that.

Thank you. Anyone else?

I kindly request that you close the public hearing.

Oh, thank you. I'm going to have a motion to close the public hearing. I'm just going to close the public hearing. Anyone else? Okay, I too agree with the moratorium on this, on the battery energy storage systems facilities. But I'm going to go ahead and continue to read this. I'm going to go ahead and wave for the reading. And adopt and adopt ordinance 1528 entitled an ordinance of the city of Baldwin park California extending an urgency ordinance establishing a moratorium. On the approval establishment or operation of battery energy storage systems facilities to consider adopting regulations for battery energy storage system facilities pursuant to government code section 65858. Am I making a motion? City Attorney?

Yes. Is there a second? Second.

We have a motion to adopt item number 16, motion made by Mayor Pro Temayala, seconded by Councilmember Estrada. Councilmember Avila? Councilmember Estrada?

Yes.

Councilmember Lozano?

Yes.

Mayor Pro Temayala?

Yes.

Mayor Damien?

Yes.

Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. Moving on to item 17. This is the first reading and introduction of an ordinance that amends title 15 chapter 153 of the ballpark municipal code relating to residentially zoned lots in the city of Baldwin park. Before I open the public hearing, do we have a report of some sort.

Yes, Jesus, our associate planner will be giving a brief summary report for Council. This item is a matter of housekeeping for the city.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for that, Okina. I'll keep my report relatively brief. So good evening, Honorable Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and members of the City Council. Before you all tonight is a proposed zoning text amendment to revise Chapter 153, the Municipal Code, otherwise referred to as the City's Zoning Ordinance, to address recent changes in state law relating to housing developments and consistency in development standards overall to residential zone lots. The staff report enclosed with tonight's item provides a detailed breakdown of each standard that is requested to be amended, but the bulk of the changes center around an overall theme of compliance with recent changes to state housing law, requiring for clearing concise development standards across all residential development types, as well as providing for opportunities to suggest improvements to certain standards to help keep up with changing development trends and industry standards. This cleanup ordinance would serve to to provide increased clarity to residents, developers, and city staff when reviewing new housing developments and additions to residential homes. Lastly, city staff would like to bring to the council's attention that the Planning Commission did review the changes enclosed in this item staff report during the regularly scheduled June 10th planning Commission meeting and unanimously voted to recommend approval of these noted amendments city staff recommend that the Council introduced by first reading by title only and way for the reading ordinance 1527 and are available to answer any questions or comments regarding this item, thank you.

Thank you. Do any of my colleagues have any questions. and I'm going to go ahead and open up. I should have done that. Sorry about that. I should have done that first. Thank you. Is there anybody in the public who would like to speak for or against this item? It's I'm going to open up the public hearing.

If there's anybody online that would like to speak on this public hearing item, please raise your hand.

I see no interest online as well. I'm going to go ahead and introduce by first reading. I'm going to by title only.

Close the public hearing.

I'm sorry. I'm going to close the public hearing. Thank you. And I'm gonna continue by first reading by title only and wait for the reading ordinance 1527 entitled an ordinance of the city council of the city of Baldwin Park, California amending the Baldwin Park municipal code title 15 land usage chapter 153 zoning zone sections. I don't know, do I need to read all those sections? Yes? Do I read all those sections? I mean, I can if you would like me to.

What's been our practice in terms of?

I will, sections 153.1030.010. 153.040.010. 153.041.020. 153.040.030. 153.040.040. 153.040.070. 153.040.080. 153.040.030. 153.130.050, 153.150.130, 153.160.040, 153.200.190, and 153.210.170 relating to consistency of development standards of all residentially zoned parcels and making a finding of exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act. Motion.

Second. Second.

We have a motion to adopt item 17, motion made by Mayor Pro Temayala, second by Councilmember Lozano. Councilmember Avila?

Yes.

Councilmember Estrada?

Yes.

Councilmember Lozano? Yes. Mayor Pro Temayala? Yes. Mayor Damien?

Yes.

Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. Moving on to item 18. This is the public hearing and adoption of resolution 2026. dash 018 a resolution of the City Council of the City of baltimore California ordering the annual levy and collection of assessment associated with the city wide landscaping. And lighting maintenance assessment district for the fiscal year of 2026 2027 and authorizing the Los Angeles county assessor to add this special assessment to the property tax bills. Somebody going to speak on this.

Yes, our public works director will say a few words.

Thank you, Daniel.

Yes. Good evening again, Mayor Pro Tem, Council. As you mentioned, this is regarding the citywide landscaping and lighting maintenance assessment district.

Mayor Pro Tem, do you mind opening the public hearing to give ample time for anybody on Zoom to

Sure, I will. I'm going to go ahead and open up the public hearing. So if there's anyone who would like to call in, I'm sorry, go ahead. I'm going to go ahead, Director Padilla.

All right. As you mentioned, Mayor Pro Tem, this is for the Citywide Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District for fiscal year 26-27. I don't have too much of a presentation, just what's in the staff report. um the recommendation is the council hold the public hearing and adopt the resolution um to add these this these assessments uh to the property tax bills i'm available to answer any questions the city council may have i'm going to go ahead and see if there's anyone in the audience though that would like to um address this issue either for or against

See no interest, is there anyone online.

No, at this time we do not see any interest online.

Okay i'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing and if any of my colleagues have any questions or comments. Seeing none. I am going to motion to adopt. The resolution number 2026-018.

You already kind of read it out. You can just say a motion to approve the resolution as recommended.

Okay. Motion to approve the resolution as recommended. That's my motion. Second. Second.

We have a motion to adopt item number 18 as recommended. Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Ayala, second by Council Member Lozano. Council Member Avila? Yes. Council Member Estrada? Yes. Council Member Lozano? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Ayala?

Yes.

Mayor Damien? Yes. Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. Moving along to item 19. Public hearing and adoption of resolution number 2026-019. The resolution of the City Council and the City of Ball Park, California ordering the annual levy and collection of assessment associated with the Citywide Park Maintenance Assessment District for fiscal year 2026-2027 and authorizing the Los Angeles County Assessor to add this special assessment to the property tax bills. Before I ask if there's any presentation, I'm gonna go ahead and open up the public hearing.

If there's anybody online that would like to speak, please raise your hand.

Or if there's anyone in the audience who would like to speak. Okay, I'm gonna move forward to the presentation. I don't know who's speaking about that.

No, Daniel will give a brief presentation. Okay. Daniel.

AGAIN, JUST TOUCHING ON THE STAFF REPORT BRIEFLY, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HOLD THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-019, ORDERING THE ANNUAL LEVIANT COLLECTION OF THE ASSESSMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CITYWIDE PARK MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 26-27 AND ADDING AN AUTHORIZING L.A. COUNTY ASSESSOR TO ADD THIS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO THE PROPERTY TAX BILLS. and authorizing the director of finance to make the necessary appropriation and budget adjustments, which is just, you know, repeating what you just mentioned, Mayor Pro Tem. And I'm open to answer any questions the council may have.

Were there any calls in? No. So are there any questions? We have one call.

At this time, we have one speaker, JT. We are going to unmute you. You have three minutes.

I have a question. So you're saying this is going to be another property tax bill. So what is the increase for that? Because mine already went up $300 this year alone. So are we talking about maybe, what, $50, $75? I don't know, because this seems like it's going to be a lot of... property tax. So if you can answer that, that'd be fine. Thank you.

Sure. Thank you. Thank you, JT, for the question. So this citywide park maintenance assessment district, when it was established, it does have a CPI increase. And this year, the increase to this component of your property tax bill is 3.397%. And this is not a new assessment on your property tax bill. It's already it's been on your property tax bill. So again, you'll see an increase of 3.397%.

Okay, thank you for that information. Any of my colleagues have any questions? Yes, i'd like to close the public hearing. And i'd like to ask my colleagues again if they have any questions or comments. Okay, if not, then i'm going to make a motion to adopt the resolution as recommended. Can I get a second.

Mayor first time I believe there's a question.

Sorry i'm not seeing anything about the on item number 19 right correct. Yes, I don't see anything about an increase on. On the. Report.

Let's get further clarification. For the clarification.

So to elaborate on what I mentioned earlier, so earlier you approved the landscape and lighting maintenance district. That one is not increased because when it was established, it didn't provide for a CPI increase, which is why we have to help that fund with either gas tax or the general fund. But this one that we're discussing now, for the park maintenance district when it was established it allowed and it includes a cpi increase and this year the increase is 3.397 percent and that will help us um not need um general fund or gas tax so this one is a little more self-sufficient and it does allow for a cpi increase um and that's what's um proposed um tonight and it's been um this this way for at least um 10 or 15 years if not more okay so it's it's it's mentioned in your executive summary on the engineers report where it's at that's correct and it's part of the it's part of how we determine the assessment district revenue

Is there any other. Questions or comments now okay. I made a motion to adopt. Item 19 the resolution as recommended can I get a second.

You look at you look at the property taxes.

So, and I will add that, you know, this assessment is just a portion of your overall property tax bill. So this isn't your entire property tax bill. This is a component of it. And this component of it will contain that 3.39%, 7% increase.

Will it show on the property taxes so I'll be able to see it?

Yes.

as a new tax attitude?

No, it's already, it's the same. It's already been at, it's already there. It's just that specific component of it will increase by 3.397%. I'm trying to... I'm trying to pull up an approximate dollar amount per residence, but I'm having a little trouble opening it on my phone.

Quick question, Daniel. So, as you know, everybody got an increase in their property taxes. We all saw it. In addition to the increase we received, there's going to be the additional 3%, 3.3%.

So this three point three nine seven is just a part of the of your overall property tax bill.

Right. Of the one we just got because we just got an increase. Is that already there or this is going to be an addition to that to the increase we just got?

I'm not sure if it's already included in your property tax bill or not. And I'm going to I'm going to. Hopefully I can pull up the specific dollar amount But I guess if the city I guess one alternative if the if the council does not want to do that increase, you know Perhaps we don't do that increase. We would just have to offset that amount by the general fund So I believe so more gas tax if we have it available and all I can let maybe Rose Help with with this a little bit Yeah Daniel so I believe

I think on the table too, it's a $47.63 per unit for the fiscal year 2026-27 assessment. So I think that's the total cost. So I don't know what the, I guess it was.

Can you repeat that please? You're looking at your tax bill?

I don't know. I'm looking at the engineer's report. So there's, it says fiscal year 2026-27 assessment, $47.63 a unit. And that's for single family residential. So it varies based on the parcel and the type of,

Whether you're a corner lot, it depends, right?

So, Mayor, I'm looking at my tax bill right now, and it has a section that says Boulder Park Maintenance. Is that what it's worded like, Daniel, do you know? Yes.

So there should be two of them, the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District, and then the Park Assessment Maintenance District.

Yeah, so it'd be about $1.59 hit to the increase.

For the whole bill? $1.59?

Yeah, so it would increase the bill about $1.59 for that specific assessment.

That's not bad. Okay. Thank you for looking at your bill. I don't have mine in front of me.

That's part of life. I see. Okay. That was...

A good clarification.

Yeah, that was good clarification.

Yeah, like the mayor clarified, I mean, going back to that, yeah, it is $1.44 on your entire tax bill, less than $2. Again, that's the Parks Maintenance District and then the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District. That one, there is no increase, which is why that needs to be more heavily subsidized by the general fund. and other special revenue funds, because if the revenue doesn't increase, your expenditures keep increasing, so it can't keep up. It's not self-sustaining. This parks assessment district is more self-sustaining and does not have to be subsidized.

thank you for explaining that daniel and it is very important that that we do this at least on my part i pay property taxes but that helps us maintain our parks as you said and we all take a lot of pride in our parks and we have a lot of parks being in the works of being the builds and so i think it's important that we we pass this if I don't know. Did you make a motion? I did make a motion. I was waiting for a second. I would like to second that because I'm in complete agreement. Not that you explained it. And now that you've said the amount, it totally makes sense to help us continue to keep the maintenance of our parks. Thank you.

If I could quickly add to just. In a lot of cities, this is an issue because assessment districts are adopted a long time ago and they're set at a certain amount and you're unable to increase that amount. And so those costs go up and up and up. And eventually the general fund is funding more and more and more of it. And this is really supplying something that is for the residents in terms of parks and maintenance types issues. So it's helpful if we can increase it.

I agree, thank you. Okay, you have a motion and a second.

We have a motion to adopt item number 19 as recommended. Motion made by Mayor Brotamayala, seconded by Council Member Avila. Council Member Avila. Council Member Estrada.

Yes.

Council Member Lozano.

Yes.

Mayor Brotamayala.

Yes.

Mayor Damien. Yes. Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you. Moving on to reports of officers. The approval of employment agreement. With Keith Cain for the position of accounting manager. Manny?

Yes. This is the summary of the staff report, the attached employment agreement for a county manager. Keith Kang is presented for approval by the city council. So the contract is in front of you. Rose could provide a little bit more information. I believe Rose, from my memory, it is, I'm not looking at the staff report, but it's step five or step four. You're right.

We offer him step four, then we are going to give him and the city opportunity to give him a review in six months. If he meet the satisfactory, we are going to move him to step five.

Okay. and pursuant to um the guidelines i i will go ahead and and read the agreement the agreement set the monthly base compensation for the county manager at eleven thousand four hundred and sixty three dollars and forty seven cents per month annually 137 561.64 annually which is step four of the salary range as per the city of ballpark comprehensive comprehensive salary schedule the county manager position is expressly defined as at will and the employee shall serve at the pleasure of the chief executive officer and city council city attorney do i need to read any more in regards to this individual no okay Any, this concludes staff's presentation.

No questions? Okay, so I'm gonna make a motion to approve.

We have a motion. Very diligently with staff and all departments try to see what we can utilize With the APA fund, as you may see, we have a law.

Motion to adopt number 22, item 22.

Second.

Roll call.

I have a first and a second. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ayala, seconded by Council Member Estrada, Council Member Avila.

Presentation or report.

Good evening again, honorable mayor and city council members. This item is part of the effort to reallocate our path.

Do anything, but just wanted to end on a positive note because I think a lot of what I mentioned was a bit of Debbie Downer. Excellent. Just want to know there's a lot of resources that are available.

Thank you, city clerk. Anyone else?

I don't know if you were going to announce the...

You could go ahead and announce that.

Okay. Just as a reminder, we have the Pride of the Valley, the 5K and 10K on Saturday, August 1st. If you haven't already signed up, you can go online and sign up to be part of this great event and start training if you haven't already started. Also, we have on Saturday, August the 8th at the Esther Schneider Community Center, a boxing show. The weigh-in is a 9 to 1030 and the doors open at 12. So also log into the city website for more information. And the most exciting part of this is the Barnes Grand Opening reopening. It's going to be Saturday, July 18th, this Saturday at 10 a.m. There is a code that you can scan here on this flyer. You can also get it from the web page. Hopefully we'll see you there for the reopening of Barnes Park. It's exciting.

Yes, it is. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Avila. Anyone else?

Yes. I just want to, first of all... recognize all the staff members, 4th of July. So happy that the actual fireworks went off compared to what happened as we know the last time. So I just want to thank police department, all the participants that were there. What an awesome opportunity to be able to celebrate this. I did speak to a lot of residents and myself. I would prefer we have 4th of July on 4th of July. It just seems a lot better. I'm not going to make an issue about it now, but let's think about that for next year because it's been like that for decades and part of it. And it's been part of the 70 years celebration. Every city celebrates it on 4th of July. Second, can we have a follow-up with the Caltrans, the exits, the entrance of the freeways? Because they're still just very ugly. I mean, they're just trash. And I just can't believe it, how we have, how that even exists that way. And also, we could provide a plaque for the San Gabriel Market Association. I had told the owners that we would recognize them at one of the concerts, so let's do that before the end of the concerts. We're working on that. Okay, good. To be able to bring them in. I've spoken with them. Have you? Okay, good. Because I was there at their event that they had, and I had promised them that we would have it, so I just want to make sure we do that before the concerts end. And that's about it. Let's make it a good evening.

Thank you, Council Member Lozano.

Real quick, I just want to also close on behalf of Ms. Betty Nixon as well, because this family has contributed immensely to our community. So thank you.

Thank you. I just want to thank everybody. We came out a little bit later than I was shooting for, but we tried our best. But I want to thank everybody, and we will see everybody at the park opening. But also, I want to remind you about our concerts tomorrow and also to utilize the cooling centers that are at the park and also at the public library. And I, too, want to... motion for adjournment in honor of Mrs. Betty Nixon, a legacy, I would say, and an icon here in our community. And she and her family are part of, like Councilmember Lozano said, a part of this community and those of us that knew her well. And so thank you. And I close on behalf of her. That's my motion for adjournment. Do you have a second? Second. Roll call.

Councilmember Avila?

No?

Yep. Strada? Lozano?

Yes.

Mayor Brottamagala? Here. Yes. Mayor Damien?

Yes.

Motion carries 5-0. We're now adjourned. Thank you.