City Council - Regular Meeting

ready.

All right. I would like to call the regular meetings of the public financing authority, water utility authority, housing successor, successor agency, and city council to order. Roll call.

Council member Martin here. Council member Mora here. Council member Rounds here. Mayor Pro Tim Rodriguez here. And Mayor Zamora here. Members of the public financing authority and water utility authority receive $150 for their attendance at these meetings. Uh invocation. I would like to call upon Arlene Salazar to lead today's invocation. So, please stand. Thank you, mayor. Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing on this council as we meet tonight. Grant us both wisdom and compassion as we make decisions about the future of our community. We ask this in your holy name. Amen. Amen.

I would like to call upon the youth leadership uh to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Please place 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. Um, go ahead and uh state your school subject, sports, or any activities you're involved with. Hi, my name is Valeria Corona. I'm a senior at Santa Fe High School. Um, I'm in tennis, filming, and achieving greatness. And that's pretty much it. Thank you for being here,

Mr. Bob. Are there any changes? Yep. Yes, we have two changes,

yes, Mayor. We We have two walk-on items tonight. Both of these items came to the attention of city staff after the agenda was posted, and there is some deadlines associated with these two items. So, we do need to take action tonight. The first item is the appointment of an alternative to the Southeast Water Coalition and Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority. If we can move that item to item number 16 on the consent calendar agenda. The second item is on call professional engineering service agreement with the J JMD A approve amendment number two. And if we can move that item, mayor, to uh the consent calendar as item number 17. If the public would like copies of these um these documents, um they're available by the city clerk. Thank you.

Do we need a vote on that or we just move it? Just as long as there's no objection, we'll we'll add those two items to the consent calendars, items 16 and 17. Mr. Mayor, if we can just uh item 16 to the uh consent and item four to regular agenda because you do have to uh nominate a alternate. Okay, if that's okay. Like I said, what what the city manager said. Thank you. I mean, it did state u Mr. Vod, are there any changes to the agenda? I didn't know it was Mr. Olivas, but hey,

we app we appreciate it. All right. Public comments on the non-aggenda non-public hearing agenda items. Public um comments are now open. The public may address the city council on any non-public hearing item on the agenda or or on any other matter within the council's jurisdiction. You will have an opportunity to speak for three minutes once the city clerk announces your name. City clerk, do we have any speakers?

Mayor, yes, we do. We have Yanet Navaro. Santa Fe Spring. Good evening everyone to everyone present. It's a pleasure to be here at this city as this council meeting. First, we want to thank each of our little ones who are part of the Florico Ballet. They're young children, but incredibly talented. And of course, I want to thank their parents who are key to their development and training. Thank you for taking the time and effort to bringing them to school every day. Thank thanks also for the floor core teacher Jasmine Ray who with great patience and and passion for this beautiful discipline teaches us this dance that is part of our human humanity's culture heritage. And last but not least, thank you so much for the city to the city of Santa Fe Springs which opened its doors to us and not only that but has embraced and welcomed us so warmly that this could be possible. Thank you. Thank you.

Gracias. Gracias. Oh, thank you guys. Any other speakers? Yes, Mayor Lee Squire.

How you doing, Lee? I'd like to ask the assistant city manager to stand in honor of the Army National Guard as part of my presentation. The Squire Vietname veteran, US Army civil rights advocate, mayor and city council. Voter ID and proof of citizenship honors the blood shed for voting rights in America. Also March is the voting rights march from Selma, Alabama and from and the voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. In March of 1965, the voting rights march was to protest the voting rights violations for the 15th amendment to the US Constitution. President Johnson federalized the Alabama Army National Guard and brought in US troops to ensure and in defiance of white racist Alabama Governor George Wallace and to ensure that this was in fact a peaceful protest and to protect those protesters. Where are all of the self-righteous Democrats honoring March as voting rights month to honor the black's right to the voting for the 15th amendment to the US Constitution and the Voting Rights March and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Same as to the Voting Rights Act for the 26th Amendment for ages 18, 19, and 20 born out of the Vietnam War. We are old enough to die for this country. We are old enough to vote for this country. President Trump, as commander-in-chief of the US military, do not bring dishonor to every military member from the American Civil War to president who shed their blood for the 15th and 26th amendments to the Constitution and the 19th Amendment granting women their voting rights. God bless also March the 29th of 2026 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Also, God bless America and God bless the nation of Israel. Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir. Any other speakers? Mayor, we do not. I will now close public comments and move on to the next item. Mr. Boadia, any staff communications? We have one staff communication. our public our parks and rec director, Gus Hernandez. Thank you, sir.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor and members of the city council. It is with great pleasure that I report to you today that earlier this morning, the mayor, our city manager, assistant city manager, and myself attended a presentation at the Kenneth Han Hall of Administration, and we were awarded $1.5 million towards park improvement projects. Those projects are $500,000 for the design of the Clark Estate expansion project, $500,000 for the design of Lake Center Athletic Park uh modernization project, and $500,000 for the river river parcel project. And so we're very excited about that. This will certainly set us uh uh in a good position to apply for future grant funding for for development of those sites. Thank you very much. Also, just to add, um, this is measure A money and we've never received measure A money in the 10 years of its right inception. So, the the fact that we were able to get something, you know, thank you guys. Well, thanks to Gus and his team for parks and wreck for writing up these grants in successfully, you know.

Absolutely. Thank you very much. Yeah. Not to be confu confused with the homeless measure A. This is a parks measure A, so different funding source. Um, but I do also want to thank our staff who diligently applied for this grant and uh we're very thankful that we received it. Thank you very much. And mayor, if I may, um, we were the only city that received three awards. Um, I think the a nonprofit received four awards.

U, we were the only city with three. Um, these are planning design grants. So the goal is to get the seed money to design it, plan it, design it, and then once they're designed, you go back and apply for, uh, money for construction. So, uh, we're in great shape to receive future funding. And we were just excited to had the privilege of receiving three grand awards. Not to steal one of your lines, but to be shovel ready, right? Any other communications? Yeah, mayor. All right. Public hearing. I will call on the city attorney to read the public hearing.

Thank you, mayor. The item on the agenda is a public hearing for first reading of ordinance number 1167 to amend sections 155.1235.1535. There's going to be a lot of numbers. 175.255 1835 2135.243 243 and add section 155.725 within title 15 chapter 155 of the Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code and determination that the project is exempt from SQA.

Now in Spanish No, I'm just kidding. I would like to call on Mr. Bovadia.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This public hearing before you um outlines a new process for uh truck parking. Uh in the past, the city really did not have a temporary use permit type of of use. Um so this will provide us an opportunity to um provide this interim use for parcels uh that are vacant that will be developed in the future. We can now uh make use them as an interim base for truck parking. One of the things we found in a lot of our vacant properties, not just the the vagrancy, the weeds, the homelessness that exists, um we spent a lot of time and effort with law enforcement, our code enforcement, um our PSOS going out and and patrolling andor getting folks out of these private properties or city-owned property. This would will now uh allow us to park trucking that will be secure. It'll prevent that type of activity from happening on those properties. So, not only is it an opportunity for us to prevent some of that, but also to provide opportunities for for truck parking, as you know, we are that city that has a lot of industry and a lot of truck that traverse through our city and giving them a place to park uh and have a home base is is important in a city like ours. So, uh before you is is public hearing to um give us the opportunity to allow that. Um we're here for any questions the council may have. Mr. Mayor, thank you. Also, can you add um about the what we would call in the tra in the trash lingo the tipping fee or any type of fees that will be assigned to it?

Yeah, as we as we traverse through the um the approval process, there's opportunities for um for that type of u community benefit that we will have discussions with applicants as they apply for these. All right. So, the public hearing is now open. Anyone wishing to be heard, approach the podium and state your name. City clerk, do we have any speakers? Mayor, we do not. I would like to close the public hearing. Is there any discussion or motion of the approval of item number one? I'll move. Second. We have a motion by round, seconded by Rodriguez. All those in favor say I. I.

Those opposed? So ordered. public hearing to consider approval of an of an operating uh covenant agreement with the Olive Banquet, Inc. and the Olive Banquet SS LLC. I would like to call upon Mr. Bobia. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I think in honor of uh St. Patrick's Day as Maggie's is celebrating a big celebration today and a lot of folks uh were over there today celebrating uh at Maggie's Pub and Maggie's Pub has been a staple in our community for a very very long time. Um, even back to my college days, uh, going to Maggie's was was always fun. Um, about a year and a half ago, u Maggie's was entertaining selling the property. Um, we had a a potential tenant that, uh, came to see us and was interested in, um, buying the property. Uh, we were unaware that it was even for sale or even contemplated being sold. Um, so we immediately contacted the property owner and said, "Hey, if you're really interested in selling, give us an opportunity to talk to you about something that maybe we we can do here that uh might be a little bit more beneficial to our community." Um, so in conversations with um, Maggie's and trying to figure out if if that's something they they were interested in, we've worked for about a good eight months to a year trying to figure out how we could structure um, a deal that would be in the best interest of our community, in the best interest of the property owner. Um, in that time frame, we uh were in contact with the Olive Resto Bar. Um, it's a restaurant in city of Downey. Um, they also have a another restaurant in Downey on Lakewood, which is a bit smaller. Uh, it's Mediterranean uh type restaurant. Um, and we felt that that interest really blossomed to into a potential conversation about them coming here to Santa Fe Springs um, and purchasing Maggie's. So in that time frame, we've been working with all

parties to see if that's an interest of the rest of bar to buy um Maggis, which I understand is in progress. Um this operating agreement would allow us to uh provide funding for the reconstruction of a new facility that would not just have a restaurant, but a full banquet room. I think I believe two banquet rooms with a rooftop bar, which we believe would be an amazing uh attribute to this community. and and and another restaurant opportunity for for Santa Fe Springs. Um if approved, we're able to at least consummate the deal from our side to add value to the project.

Um which uh would be in a covenant uh in in terms of an operating agreement. So So before you is that agreement. Um I do want to preface that there is still another facet of this because we are not the prop the buyer of the property. The the purchase of the property is being uh transacted between two private parties. our um skin in the game per se is this operating agreement that gives u the excess funds to ensure this property gets built uh to a standard that we believe would would benefit our community. And with that, Mr. Mayor, I All right. Before that, I would uh the public hearing is now open. Uh anyone wishing to be heard, please approach the podium and state your name. Any speakers? City clerk,

mayor, we do not have any speakers. I would like to close the public hearing at this time. I will like to entertain any uh you know questions, discussion or even a motion. We have a motion from Martin. Second. Second by Mora. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Those opposed. So ordered. Regular business. um fiscal year 2025 2026 uh mid-year budget adjustments. I would like to call on Mr. Bulvadilla. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council. Uh two council meetings ago, was it two council meetings ago? We presented to you the midyear budget. Um we have now uh been able to present to you um the changes that are are needed to uh get get us through the rest of the year. Um, in the staff report, there's some highlights of one-time purchases we're we're making. Um, particular at the GVNC, the Gus Valasco Neighborhood Center. Uh, we're making some improvements. Uh, there's some vehicle purchases. And there's also an economic development position that uh or manager that we're that we'd like to hire that would be also beneficial to um a lot of the work that we're doing. So, um, our finance director is here as well to uh answer any questions you may have about this item uh or give us any any highlights. Julio, if you may. I think as you you noted on that, my apologies, my voice is kind of going. Um, thank you so much. I think the mo first and foremost the most important one is the economic development coordinator. I feel that position although we don't have offsetting revenues is the one that is most likely to have an impact the city on long-term basis. Really, it's one to look at transforming our economic development opportunities based on potential sales tax. So it's really someone who can help coordinate the efforts that Kuang and Renee uh are always working on diligently on daily basis. In addition to that, I think um Arlene is taking over as you know a number of functions and one is transferring uh six public safety aids, a new code enforcement officer, part-time enforcement officer that was offset by savings in part-time. So her net financial impact was was limited. We do have some onetime costs also that we need for the Gus Velasco Center and some

for um excuse me parks and Rex that totals about 225,000. So the net impact is nominal. I think the the most significant one is that change of adding one FTE, but that's the one that I feel most strongly about that is going to have a significant impact on the city's budget in the future. I think that's one that's really investing for the future. Any questions? I'm working on changing my voice. Mayor, I can tell. I mean, it's better than when we saw him at the budget meeting, you know, looking at everybody. I mean, I felt bad for some of the employees. 2 minutes and 8 seconds. Exactly. All right. Is there any discussion or motion for the approval item number three? I'll move. Second.

U moved by Rodriguez, second by Rounds. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? So ordered. Appointment of an alternate to the Southeast Water Coalition and the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority. Would anyone like to serve as an alternate to either one of these organizations? I would. Which one? Uh the Southeast Area. Oh, Southeast Water Coalition. The Southeast Water Coalition. All right. If there's no opposition to that, we're okay. What about the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority?

So, currently um Council Member Moore is on that. So, an alternate supplement, Mr. Moore. I'll be an alternate. Okay. Okay. Any opposition to that? No. So, Martin. All right. So, ordered with that. Uh is there uh any discussion or motion for the approval of the appointments for the item number four? I think we can just order it. That's it. We can just s order the city address. All right.

All right. We're good to go. All right. So, now we're at consent calendar. Public finance authority, water utility authority, housing successor, successor agency, and city council consent calendar. Um, public financing authority, water utility authority, housing successor, successor agency, and city council consent calendar. We have a total of 12 consent items, numbers 5 through 16, including walk-on item number 16. Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar? Is there your second? I'll move. Moved by Martin, second by Mora. All those in favor say I. I.

Those opposed? So ordered. Okay. Okay. Appointments to boards and committees. Council member Martin, tonight. Thank you, sir. Council member Mora, tonight. Council member Rounds, none tonight. Mayor Mayor Pro Tim Rodriguez, none tonight. And I have none also. Okay. Council U comments. AB1234. Council conference reporting. Council member Martin.

No. Uh, no conference reporting. Just want to say good meeting. Um, it's nice, pretty exciting, but we're still here. So, we are accomplishing a lot. budget meeting that we had the other night was great. Thank you, Julio. It's It was really Where did you go? Really good. All the departments did a great job. All the departments did an awesome job. Very uh transparent and has everything in black and white. Thank you so much. Um I went to the uh Gonchos with the cops and Arlene, you're doing wonders over there. Thank you. Thank you for taking that over and uh you could see a difference. Thank you. Um and the folklorico, I mean, she left already, but it's pretty cool that we have that here in the city. It's

awesome to bring that back and stuff. And AOA has a lot. I mean, if you guys don't know everything that AOA does, they do a lot. Um, dual citizenships, all that. It's stuff that you don't realize it. Um, actually, they were just in another city and they're just getting them. I mean, we should take advantage of it. It's in our city where it's so easy for us just to go over that building and do it. So, I really encourage anybody that wants their dual citizenship just to go over there. So, thank you so much, Council Memora.

Yeah. Yeah, no meanings to attend. But yeah, again with that budget meeting, Julio and staff, team, Renee, you know, those that were in attendance, I was hoping there would be a little well, a few more people, but everything is out in the open. What comes in, what goes out, where the city's moving, our direction. Uh, and you know, we've got a great team, uh, you know, for uh, in all the departments. So, that meeting was really, really, uh, good. Um uh myself and Wanita and Bill attended our first ever um birthday patrol on one of our residents who was 99 99

99 years old. Um I see what that but you know we used to have these birthday patrol um uh back in my heyday as a guard. But we're not going to talk about those because they were nothing like this one. This is kind of cool. You show up almost like a posters clearing house type of deal. present uh cake and you know she was an amazing lady. I did not know her that well. Uh Mr. Alms did so I'm sure he might make a comment on that. I think I heard that Mon'nique got a woman of the year if I'm not mistaken. She's not here but we should definitely recognize her. And then Gus and your team that grant was awesome. Uh so good job on that and happy Easter everybody. Council member Runs.

Thank you. Um, the day after our last council meeting, I had the privilege and honor uh to read across America with the kids. Always a great great thing. I was able to read to a Lake View uh T TK class and also a Jersey Elementary uh TK class. The the kids, I just love doing that because they're so attentive and looking at you and and uh it's always it's always an honor. Uh congratulations uh Gus to you, the staff and the city on um it was a team effort putting all that together and to get three grants in one day to help out with the parks. That's amazing. That's that's amazing. Good job. Uh Arlene, thank you for Koncha with the cops. Uh that was amazing also. I mean that was I've never seen so many police officers there at one time. And it it was nice and you know what and it was it was a really good uh event. Uh a lot of people showed up. They had the the seniors were there. Perfect timing to do it with the seniors there. So I know everybody had a great time. Uh, and also as far as our 99-year-old resident, uh, yes, I knew her very well that I played little league with her son back in the day. And, uh, found out that her and her husband bought that house in 1951. Original owners on Sunglow and 99. She's still driving against the will of her her her children, but she still drives. She's still sharp as attack. And, uh, it was Renee, I shared with Renee afterwards. It was kind of amazing to see how many of our employees were related to this family. We didn't know that for some of them, but that was kind of kind of interesting. I I asked one of our former employees. I said, "So, how do you know Sadi?" It's my grandma. Really? But uh

so that was kind of cool. So, once again, kudos to to Julio for the budget meeting. And I like the the improv uh water budget meeting yesterday with the the seniors. And I liked I told him I said, "You got this is a great way to to show how the cost of water is. Got a bottle of water. If we pumped our own water, we this would be a dollar. If we have to buy it, this is $5. So we pay $5, you pay $1." I mean, what a greater analogy than that. That's the easiest way to put it. You can put all the figures on the on the screen, but it nothing says it better than that. I'm glad they gave me water.

Yeah, they did give him water. I don't know where it was from, but uh um but um and again, happy Easter, everyone. Have a great time. Mayor Proam Rodriguez.

Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everyone. I want to say uh thank you to everyone for being here. Uh, I wanted to thank our staff for everything that you do. And Gus, uh, I was told that you went and got that big check and Renee and you guys, we are just so proud of all of you. All these grants that are coming into our city and making us so proud with all our parks and, you know, just fixing everything up. This is what we've been waiting for for such a long time. So, I want to thank all of our staff for pushing and believing in our city and believing in each other that we could do this type of work. We're doing great work and we're so proud. And also the budget meeting. Uh I mean, I don't know about you, but I just thought that the the coffee machine was the best thing ever. And it had hot cocoa, too. So, I want to thank you for that. It was just so good. and Arlene, I had the privilege of driving home with her for about an hour and just getting to know her and all the experience that she has. It's no wonder that uh she's knows so much about uh everything in our city because if you sit and talk with her, she'll tell you the stories of her life and she's she's been doing a lot you so I want to thank you for sharing and uh I want to uh say the city manager report had the Nakamura sign at the uh the aquatic center. It's beautiful and I know that you're just so proud just so proud. Um, I wanted to see tell you that it's a great picture and we have our commissioner Isabelle Cervantes in a picture too. So, we're uh some of some of them are small. You got to really look get a magnifying glass but you're in there. But anyway, I want to wish everybody a happy Easter and uh have a great evening. Thank you.

Uh I would like to first start off that I did not attend any conferences like everyone else. Um I know we have a couple conferences coming up soon. So, um, I also had a long trip. I guess since Mr. Rodriguez brought it up, I'm going to bring up my long road trip with uh, you know, uh, Mr. Rick Oliv, who was our driver. Uh, we got a assistant, um, city manager, Mr. Nicholas Rozo, who was navigating, who was our navigational guide. And then I had, um, Mr. John Morris sitting to my right. He was actually sitting to my right in the vehicle, too. So he was there for comfort and um so you know so and reassurance that Rick needed to slow down, right? If he was going a little too fast or not. I mean just to make sure to keep him, you know. Uh other than that, I mean we had a great road trip. Um I'm glad we had some great questions that weren't answered yet, but I know in the future, you know, these individuals will be able to answer these questions that I that I asked, but it's more of a private matter. I mean, I know they're laughing about it or they don't want to talk about it, but uh it just shows the relationship that we have. Uh you need to get to know people. I mean, you can network with a lot of different individuals, but in all in all, I mean, you don't really know who someone is until you take the time to actually ask them. And that's what it's about. Life is about knowing what others are going through. Whether it be uh my aunt today um she just celebrated her 100th birthday. um you know and when you talk to her I got a chance to talk to her on the phone she still remembers a lot you know and um it's great to see that where you know uh God just finds favor with some individuals to live a longer life and in others instance we have people who probably have um their life is you know uh is shorter um so with that being said I mean I don't want to share a lot of the other stuff that everybody else

shared um we all attended the budget meeting. But I do want to recognize uh Mr. Ruben Avenia, senior. Um I I think we probably recognized him last time where we adjourned the meeting. But I also want to res uh recognize uh today when I was sitting at our event for the check presentation. I got about three, four, five, six, seven, eight different texts telling me my best friend passed away. So you still have to keep your composure. You still have to know that I serve a living God. And I know where someone is not, you know, when there's no hope for people, then what is there? And you know, that's why you have to have that hope in your friends, have that hope in your family. You may not be able to choose your family, but you can choose the different people who come into your life. So, I do want to just thank even though he's not here to listen to me or hear this out, I'm glad I got to see him Thursday at the hospital, but um Lewis Castro U was not only my best friend, he was my little brother's best friend. Um he took my little brother on and made sure that whenever we went to events, he was always watchful. Um and um so Lewis Castro was not only a a husband, a father, um a son, um he was a mentor, he he coached a little league at Metro Little League for I think over 15 years of his life. He was a a baseball coach there where he just sacrificed countless hours and countless times just teaching our kids. So um he's gonna be missed. He actually did some of the electrical stuff here. And later on when I found out that he got the contract, he was like, "Hey man." And you know, he was all happy about it. But I mean, he has 27 years of service when it comes to electrical. So I told him, "You better have some kind of knowledge." But it was great to know.

Um, he was just a truly genuine individual. So I do want to adjourn this meeting in the name of Lewis Castro. And at this time, Mr. before you adjourn. Mhm. Um a good friend of mine um he's an Amani police officer. Mhm.

Uh was a police police force for over 25 years. Uh passed away on Friday or actually on Saturday. He went to the hospital for a routine nerve issue in his neck. Um and he went cold blue and um he didn't make it. Um I went to high school with him. He was um played basketball with him. really good friend. Um really good in the community. He grew up in the community and stayed working in his community and u Mando leaves behind a wife and and two kids. So um God bless Mondo and his family. Thank you, sir. Um with that being said, just those of you who um go get checked up, you know, whether it be your heart, whether it be different aches and pains, if you got medical medical coverage, there's no excuse that you're not using it. Um, this is why it was important for the city council um, directors to make sure that we go to checkups once a year because we're dealing with over a hundred million dollar budget. You want to make sure that we're all in the right state of mind, that we all have our health and, you know, and we do the things that we need to to keep ourselves sane. Um, sometimes this can be heart-wrenching when you're here, but it's better to have it heart-wrenching where you wake up tomorrow than to have it where your heart just goes out on you. So, um, my friend, um, he lost his battle not to a heart, but to organ failures one day to the next. Next thing you know, he was in the hospital and and the doctors didn't even know. Then they realized had to bring him back a couple weeks later. Then he had sepsis or that he didn't have sepsis. So, they were just going the doctors didn't realize nobody knew what was what was wrong and until he finally passed. So I mean he's not suffering and the you know so I just want to once again salute him and just the fact of what he was and how productive he was in our community. So with that being said our meeting is adjourned at 6:38 p.m. Thank you all. Have a good night and God bless.

Um,