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CC - Minutes - 04-22-2025MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING APRIL 22, 2025 The special meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Clark at 6:00 p.m., in the Rosemead City Council Chamber, located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PRESENT: Mayor Clark, Mayor Pro Tem Armenta, Council Members Dang and Low ABSENT: Council Member Ly (on Military Leave) 1. CLOSED SESSION A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Government Code Section: 54957 Title: City Clerk B. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Government Code Section: 54957 Title: City Manager City Attorney Richman announced that two items would be discussed during the Closed Session and stated that she would report out if any reportable actions were taken. Mayor Clark adjourned the special meeting to Closed Session. REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. The regular meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Clark at 7:00 p.m., in the Rosemead City Council Chamber, located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PRESENT: Mayor Clark, Mayor Pro Tem Armenta, Council Members Dang and Low ABSENT: Council Member Ly (on Military Leave) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Council Member Dang INVOCATION was led by Mayor Clark STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Kim, City Attorney Richman, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Chua, Director of Community Development Valenzuela, Director of Parks and Recreation Boecking, Director of Public Works Gutierrez, Director of Public Safety Murakami, and City Clerk Hernandez Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page l of 25 City Attorney Richman reported that the City Council conducted a closed session at a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. During that session, two performance evaluations were conducted. The City Clerk received a rating of 'Substantially Exceeds Expectations' by a 4-0 vote. Additionally, the City Manager also received a rating of 'Substantially Exceeds Expectations,' also by a 4-0 vote. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT Jonathan Pujols, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and founder of the nonprofit Spire and Rise, shared concerns about access to Rosemead Park for the youth his organization serves. The group supports under -resourced youth in the San Gabriel Valley through academics and sports and has helped some participate in international showcases. Despite applying for a permit in February, Spire and Rise has repeatedly been denied access to the park and asked to leave, as priority appears to be given to established, "grandfathered" groups. Pujols clarified that his group is not looking to displace anyone but wants fair access. They even proposed installing a removable fence to help manage field use. While the City offered Garvey Park as an alternative, it presents transportation challenges for the group's children, many of whom live nearby and rely on walking or local pickups. Pujols is asking the City to convene a meeting with all stakeholders, including existing leagues, to find a fair, shared -use solution for Rosemead Park. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta requested that staff look into the matter and the status of RYA (Rosemead Youth Association), as it is reportedly, are the only organization grandfathered into park use. It was noted that RYA is not active. Yesenia Pujols stated she had over 240 signatures of parents supporting other teams to use the park space. She emphasized that many kids participate in multiple sports, including both soccer and baseball, and they do not want to take the field away from anyone. They are simply asking to share the space fairly, noting that it's used for various activities like flag football and volleyball as well. The following anonymous comment was emailed and entered for the minute record. A concerned resident expressed strong objections via email to the city's hiring of former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Tim Murakami. The email cites close association with the former Los Angele County Sheriff. The resident questioned whether similar leniency would be shown to other job applicants and urged the City to reconsider the hire. 3. PRESENTATIONS A. Introduction of the Newly Hired Public Safety Director, Tim Murakami and City Engineer, Romany Basilyous City Manager Kim introduced Tim, and stated he brings a deep history, strong understanding, and unwavering dedication to the City of Rosemead. He is excited to welcome him to the Rosemead team. His extensive knowledge, proven experience, and exceptional leadership will be invaluable assets to the City, and his Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 2 of 25 long-standing commitment to the community further underscores his readiness to serve. The City Council welcomed the new Public Safety Director Murakami. Director of Public Works Gutierrez introduced Romani Basilyous as the newest team member, bringing over 12 years of experience, including roles in West Covina, Hermosa Beach, and Baldwin Park. The City Council welcomed the newly hired City Engineer, Romany Basilyous. B. Proclamation Declaring the Week of May 4-10, 2025, as "Municipal Clerks Week" City Clerk staff was presented with a proclamation declaring the Municipal Clerks Week. 4. PUBLIC HEARING A. Public Hearing and Approval of the FY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, FY 2025- 2029 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, FY 2025-2029 Citizen Participation Plan, and FY 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Programs The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds to the City of Rosemead. As part of the process to receive funding, the City must undertake the development and submission of the FY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan (ConPlan), FY 2025-2029 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), FY 2025-2029 Citizen Participation Plan (CPP), and the FY 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP). The City's current documents are set to expire on June 30, 2025. These documents outline extensive strategies aimed at uniting community needs and resources together to achieve statutory goals, thereby addressing decent housing, creating a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities for the City's residents, particularly for low- and moderate- income persons. Recommendation: That the City Council take the following actions: 1. Conduct a public hearing and receive public comments and or testimony on the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan, FY 2025-2029 Al, FY 2025-2029 CPP, and FY 2025- 2026 AAP; 2. Approve and authorize the submittal of the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan, FY 2025- 2029 Al, FY 2025-2029 CPP, and FY 2025-2026 AAP, including CDBG, HOME, and CDBG-CV funding recommendations; Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 3 of 25 3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all appropriate and necessary documents to receive funding and implement approved use and make necessary budget adjustments based on HUD's final allocation amount; and 4. Authorize the City Manager to execute sub -recipient agreements with the non- profit organizations receiving CDBG, HOME, and CDBG-CV allocations in the Annual Action Plan. Priscila Davila, Housing Consultant reported out the City was holding a public hearing to approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, Citizen Participation Plan, and Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership programs. The second requirement for reporting is the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. This report evaluates current housing conditions, gathers community input on housing accessibility, and identifies actions the City can take to reduce barriers to fair housing. The third document is the Citizen Participation Plan, which establishes the policies and procedures for engaging residents and other stakeholders in an advisory role throughout the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs funded by CDBG and HOME. The final requirement is the Annual Action Plan, the City's yearly application to HUD for program funding. This plan outlines how CDBG and HOME funds will be used in the upcoming year and ensures those activities align with the priorities set in the five-year Consolidated Plan. Ms. Davila provided an overview of the steps involved in developing the City's 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan: Community and stakeholder surveys were conducted from December 2, 2024, to February 11, 2025. Public input and community engagement were gathered through both virtual and in-person meetings to discuss community needs and priorities for the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. The process includes two public hearings and a 30 -day public review and comment period. During the upcoming fiscal year 2025 to 2026, the City of Rosemead anticipates receiving approximately $584,000 in grant funds for the CDBG program. She referred to the slide presentation, noting that the City's CDBG allocation for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, totaling $584,000. HUD allows the City to use up to 20% of the total allocation for planning and administration, which amounts to $116,800. Under Economic Development, $200,000 is proposed for the Commercial Improvement Program. In the Housing category, $179,600 is proposed for the Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program. HUD also permits up to 15% of the allocation to be used for public services. This amounts to $87,600, which will be distributed among the following agencies: • Fair Housing Services • Senior Nutrition Program • Summer Youth Employment • Heart of Compassion • Family Promise • Goodwill of Southern California Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 4 of 25 She continued to explain that the HOME Investment Partnerships Program provides federal funding to support affordable housing for low-income families. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the City of Rosemead expects to receive $228,200, with funds allocated for planning and administration, a required contribution to a Community Housing Development organization, and the City's residential loan program. Additionally, the City has $338,505 in one-time CDBG-CV funds from the CARES Act to address COVID-19 impacts. These funds are proposed to be used for planning and administration, a small business assistance program, and public service agencies such as Wealth by Health, the Asian Youth Center, Goodwill of Southern California, and the Senior Nutrition Program. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta referred to slide no. 9, that funding was being proposed under public services for Goodwill of Southern California. She asked for clarification of what specific service they are providing. She noted that Goodwill typically operates by accepting donated items and reselling them for profit and was a first-time applicant for CDBG grant with the City. Ms. Davila replied that staff received an application from Goodwill SoCal for the first time. Staff was recommending the allocation of CDBG and CDBG-CV funds for the next program year. Management Analyst Garcia stated one job fair is held each quarter in partnership with 41 organizations. Additional services include job placement assistance, financial literacy training, case management, r6sumd preparation, and transportation to job interviews. The high allocation of CDBG-CV funds is due to their expiration at the end of the 2026 fiscal year. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta expressed concerns that when dealing with a for-profit organization that receives free items and resells them, it raises concerns. Opined, they're not really providing a direct service to the community. There are other organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce, which offer job fairs and provide similar services. She stated she was not comfortable with allocating $90,000 to a for-profit entity on top of their existing business model. City Manager Kim stated that we're all familiar with Goodwill as an organization and the stores they operate, where they accept donations of household items and sell them through their thrift stores. However, they also have a separate division that runs services. The funds being propose would be allocated to support those services, which align with HUD's CDBG and CDBG-CV criteria. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta stated that when an organization already has a negative perception surrounding its operations, it concerned her that the City was considering giving them $90,000. Where is the supporting background or evidence that they will be held accountable for what they say they will do? What kind of record-keeping measures are in place to ensure transparency and accountability? Ms. Davila replied that the record-keeping process involves reviewing their application to ensure they meet all of HUD's requirements to qualify for public service funds. Like all other nonprofits, they will be required to submit backup Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 5 of 25 documentation when requesting funding. This includes client intake forms to verify they are assisting Rosemead residents. Additionally, we will monitor their progress to ensure they are adhering to the scope of work outlined in their agreement for the upcoming program year, and we will ensure they meet all necessary qualifications. Mayor Clark opened the public hearing comment portion of the meeting. Christina Sandoval, representing Heart of Compassion spoke and expressed gratitude for both the past and future partnership with the City and the funding consideration. This past fiscal year, we served 342 individuals. With a smaller allocation for the upcoming year, this amounts to just $19 per person for the entire year. If there are any changes, we would greatly appreciate additional funding to support Heart of Compassion as we continue to serve and feed the Rosemead community. Ms. Sandoval shared a flyer of an upcoming Mother's Day event. Council Member Dang asked Ms. Sandoval where Heart of Compassion was located and what their mission was. Ms. Sandoval replied they provide food rescue and distribute general merchandise. With over 200 vendors, they serve approximately 250 families each Tuesday and Wednesday from their location in Montebello. They also partner with other organizations that pick-up food on Thursdays and Fridays to distribute to their own cities or locations. They are able to help and support a wide range of communities. Andrea Geis, representative of Goodwill SoCal, addressed some of Mayor Pro Tem Armenta's concerns by stating that she understood that people often have misconceptions when they hear the name "Goodwill." Contrary to what some may believe, Goodwill SoCal is not a for-profit organization running thrift stores for profit. They are nonprofit and operate as an employment social enterprise. The revenue they generate from thrift stores is used to train individuals and help them pursue career pathways in the jobs they aspire to. For many people, Goodwill serves as their first job, where they gain valuable experience in soft skills, customer service, and retail operations. These skills are nationally recognized and can open doors for future career opportunities. In addition, Goodwill operates as part of the County of Los Angeles' AJCC system and the City of Los Angeles' WorkSource Centers. We manage seven employment centers across Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, further expanding our reach and support for job seekers. We have extensive experience in providing career services, which is the primary focus of our application. The recommended $6,500 award will be used to serve individuals in Rosemead through career fairs. The $90,000 allocation is specifically intended to support the homeless population by offering comprehensive, intensive career services for an entire year. Mimi Hess, representative of Goodwill SoCal stated they were founded in 1916 as a part of Goodwill Industries International but became an independent organization within a few years. Catherine Higgins, the founder, utilized recycled goods and integrated worker services, creating an employment social enterprise. This Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 6 of 25 nonprofit model aimed to put people to work immediately, even before women had the right to vote. Ms. Hess further explained they have expanded quickly into the San Gabriel Valley, as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, before 1930. Currently, they were awarded a $250,000 from the City of La Puente to provide wraparound services, including job placements for Opportunity Youth Training, transportation assistance, and similar business services in the San Gabriel Valley. They also operated the East San Gabriel Valley ADCC, which served as the main hub for connecting job seekers and employers and offer satellite services in Baldwin Park and El Monte. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta stated she had data from 2022, noting Goodwill's total revenue was $7.4 billion as a whole, with $149 million coming from non-cash contributions. Ms. Hess explained that Goodwill is a separate nonprofit organization, a distinct 501(c)(3) entity. Goodwill Southern California is headquartered in Lincoln Heights and also have a significant presence in the San Gabriel Valley through the Tri - County Services and employment programs. Sometimes, online sources may not clearly separate the financials for each individual Goodwill organization, but it's important to note that each Goodwill is its own independent entity. Therefore, there is no aggregation of financials with other Goodwill organizations. Mayor Clark asked when people are paying for the clothing and things from thrifts stores, where does that money go? Ms. Hess replied that ninety-seven cents of every dollar goes directly back into the programs and supports hiring people for roles in the stores, distribution centers, e- commerce, transportation logistics, print shop, and recycling operations. Additionally, some of the funds are reinvested into the programs. Many individuals who started as participants have worked their way up through the system, eventually becoming intake managers, case managers, and even regional directors. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta stated that Goodwill Industries of Southern California had a total revenue of $280 million, with the majority coming from retail stores, generating $143 million, and non-cash contributions amounting to $99 million. Ms. Geis explained that their CDBG application, they are leveraging their own staff and services, including transportation, printing, outreach, and the staff who coordinate the job fairs. The budget includes over 140% of what they are requesting, valued at $6,500, which is covered by Goodwill through staff time, cell phones, incidentals, insurance, marketing, and outreach. Furthermore, she explained that everything they do is aimed at giving back to the community. They focus on serving the hardest -to -reach individuals, including those who have been incarcerated, long-term unemployed, or are homeless, housing unstable, or food insecure. Many of these people have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Getting people off the streets and into stable, gainful employment, not just providing temporary housing, clothing, or food, is a considerable challenge. They Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 7 of 25 supplement this effort through store sales and additional staff and resources, helping people transition into steady jobs where they can increase their wages. This requires a substantial investment of resources and aims to leverage the funding receive from various grantors, such as state programs in California and cities like La Puente, by contributing twice as much from the sales to support the effort. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta asked how many Rosemead residents will be helped with the $90,000 funding? Ms. Hess replied between 20 to 25 individuals. She stated that helping someone transition off the streets and providing all the necessary support is a lot of work. They have experience working with veterans, the unhoused, and justice -involved individuals. They are very familiar with the number of hours and resources required to help someone secure stable employment. Ms. Geis interjected and stated that the funds also include a dedicated case worker. While they could share a case worker and request half the amount, their experience shows that individuals who are living on the streets, or who have experienced homelessness, face significant barriers to finding employers. For this reason, having a dedicated case manager is essential. This person can build strong relationships with employers and businesses in Rosemead, understanding the challenges involved and helping to bring these individuals into the workforce. Mayor Clark asked when you help someone transition off the streets and secure employment, do you provide any training or have any requirements in place to ensure they are clean and sober? Ms. Hess replied that they are partnering closely with LACADA for this and have established many other partnerships in the regions where they work. These partnerships allow them to refer participants and collaborate on case management with organizations that have expertise in addressing those needs. Ms. Geis reiterated that an exciting aspect of this project is that the City of Rosemead already has a strong relationship with LACADA. She added that this allows them to focus the funding specifically on the business services and job placement training aspects. They can leverage the resources that Rosemead offers, collaborate with LACADA, and dedicate this funding and effort to a staff member who is specially trained and experienced in job placement. Mayor Clark asked if Goodwill SoCal was using wraparound services or getting them into treatment? Ms. Geis stated if treatment is needed, participants are referred directly to LACADA, as it is their area of expertise. They hold weekly meetings with them to track the progress of each individual case. However, the treatment itself is managed by LACADA. There being no more speakers, Mayor Clark closed the public hearing comment portion. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 8 of 25 Council Member Low reiterated the City has allocated money through both CDBG and CDBG-CV (COVID fending). She asked do we have at least a brief description or mission statement for each organization included in the staff report? She noted that some of the names of the organizations she was not familiar with. Ms. Davila stated that the Annual Action Plan was a table that lists the projects. The table includes the names of the nonprofits, the proposed funding amounts, the number of people they intend to serve, and the specific types of services they are providing. Council Member Low suggested that detailed information about each organization be included in the staff report in the future to facilitate the information being considered. She noted that these organizations were selected based on their applications and in accordance with the rules and regulations. She asked how staff determined how much funding each organization is allocated. Ms. Davila stated it's not just about meeting the requirements; staff also evaluated whether they align with the City's five-year priorities and goals. They must meet that criterion as well. Typically, staff reviews the nonprofits funded in previous years, looking at their actual achievements versus their stated goals. This helps staff adjust funding accordingly. If an organization hasn't met its goals consistently, they are allocated less funding. For Goodwill, they were evaluated by their application and the number of Rosemead residents they would assist. Based on this, staff estimated it would cost about $3,600 per person they help, which seemed reasonable given the case management involved, and the effort required to secure full-time employment for each individual. This is why we are recommending $90,000 in CDBG-CV funds for Goodwill. Council Member Low asked if more organizations apply for the CDBG-CV funding and only six for the CDBG funding. Ms. Davila confirmed the organizations noted in the staff report were the only ones that applied for funding. Management Analyst Garcia explained all CDBG-CV applicants applied to the CDBG Notice of Funding Availability and are asked to receive CDBG-CV funding based on their application. There is no formal application for CDBG-CV funding. Ms. Davila also stated that we are limited by the regular CDBG funds, which allow allocation of a maximum of 15% of the yearly allocation to public services. We recognize the high demand for public services, but the funding available is quite limited. This year, we looked at the applications and tried to maximize the use of CDBG-CV funds to extend the amount of support we can provide to residents. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 9 q(25 Management Analyst Garcia replied all six applicants who applied received a proposed amount of funding. Ms. Davila explained that staff issued a Notice of Funding Availability, which is advertised in the newspaper and on the City's website. These are the applications we received for the program year. Council Member Low stated that based on her understanding, Council Member Armenta was not comfortable with allocating funds to Goodwill of Southern California. Mrs. Low asked how we can address this concern and gather more information to better understand the situation. She asked if it was possible to hold off on the decision until Council had more data or a clearer understanding. She noted that they were allocating CDBG funding to Goodwill and they are a large organization with significant funds, do they really need this money? City Manager Kim asked City staff if there were any timeline restraints if the Annual Action Plan was delayed. Ms. Davila replied the Annual Action Plan was due to HUD by May 15th. However, noted that HUD does not have any regulations limiting how much money a non- profit can earn in a year. This was not a HUD requirement. The City of Rosemead can decide if they want to impose such a limit or request additional financial disclosure from non -profits if needed. Council Member Low stated she was not singling out Goodwill, but since there's a concern, she'd like to see more data to make an informed decision. Mayor Clark agreed with Councilmember Low. City Manager Kim stated that the item would be brought to the May 13th City Council meeting for consideration with more data. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta asked if Family Promise applied to receive CDBG funds. Ms. Davila replied that Family Promise is recommended to receive $20,000 in CDBG funds. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta asked if there was the ability to reallocate additional funds to an organization or Council had to approve what staff was recommending. Ms. Davila explained that the City Council had the option to approve the current recommendation as is or adjust, such as reallocating funds from one organization to another. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 10 of 25 Mayor Pro Tem Armenta agreed with Council Member Low to table the item until more information was available. She noted that the City has worked with the other organizations before, but we've never partnered with Goodwill of Southern California, so we're less familiar with the services they provide. We do know what the other organizations offer. For example, Family Promise focuses on placing people into long-term housing, and we've seen their success firsthand. It's also difficult to compare allocating $20,000 to one organization and $90,000 to another without a clearer understanding of the expected outcomes. Council Member Dang asked if the May 150' deadline was a recommended deadline. Ms. Davila replied it is a recommended deadline; however, the statutory deadline was August 16"'. Council Member Dang asked if there was an organization that wasn't aware of this program, is it too late for them to be introduced and possibly apply for the grant at this point. City Manager Kim replied yes, it is too late at this point. The Notice of Funding Availability is released in January or February each year, and the City has to follow a strict timeline after that. Since that period has already passed, new organizations can no longer apply for this grant cycle. He explained its similar to the RFP process, after a deadline, no additional proposals can be accepted after the deadline. Once that deadline passes, the rest of the review and selection process begins. Council Member Dang asked if next year, there will be the same amount of funding allocation. Ms. Davila replied that allocation to cities has gone down in past years. City Manager Kim explained that funding has been gradually decreasing each year, but the Notice of Funding Availability process is a standard practice that every city receiving HUD funding, whether CDBG or HOME follows. These organizations are usually very familiar with the process and are well aware of when the Notice of Funding Availability is released and when applications are due. Council Member Dang explained that he recently volunteered at University of the West in Rosemead, which hosts free medical and dental clinics similar to the Wealth by Health organization. All services are provided by unpaid volunteer doctors, including his wife, and the university donates space and equipment. He emphasized that these programs offer immediate, tangible results, unlike longer- term wraparound services that may take years to show impact. He preferred funding organizations, where every dollar goes directly to helping people in Rosemead without overhead costs for staff. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 11 of25 Ms. Davila clarified, CDBG-CV funds are a one-time funding source and must be used specifically to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus. Since we are now further removed from the height of the pandemic, many public service organizations are finding it difficult to document how their current services are directly tied to COVID-19 impacts. This is an important consideration for the Council when deciding on allocations. As mentioned earlier, the Council has full discretion to approve some, all, or none of the proposed allocations, or to reallocate the funds. Management Analyst Garcia explained that Family Promise reported struggling to spend their \$20,000 funding last fiscal year because their program only serves families with minor children. In contrast, Goodwill, which assists individuals, indicated it would be easier for them to use funds to help unhoused Rosemead residents affected by COVID-19, as most of the people they support have been impacted by the pandemic. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta asked Management Analyst Garcia where the data was as she would like to see that. Mayor Clark asked if there were still COVID-19 expenditures. Ms. Davila replies yes. All the sub -recipients that are receiving CDBG-CV funds, must provide documentation to on how it ties back to the coronavirus. Council Member Low clarified her request to staff. She asked to get a brief description of each organization's mission statement and what they do. Additionally, would appreciate it if staff could provide more details on what qualifies an organization to use CDBG-CV funding. Mayor Pro Tem Armenia asked for staff to include information on how many Rosemead residents each organization will be serving. This is important because we want to ensure that the funding is allocated specifically to Rosemead residents, not for those in other cities. Council Member Low agreed with Mayor Pro Tem Armenia for an estimate of how many Rosemead residents each organization expects to serve in the upcoming year. Council Member Dang asked for clarification if Councilmember Armenta was asking for data from the prior year. Council Member Low stated to clarify the direction from the City Council, to bring back two sets of data. One is the historical data showing how many Rosemead residents these organizations have served in the past, and the second is the projected number of Rosemead residents they plan to serve in the upcoming year. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 12 of 25 Council Member Dang stated that there are two funding pots: one is the CDBG fund, which is about $584,000, and the other is the CDBG-CV fund, which is $338,000. He asked City staff if we could allocate money from the CDBG-CV pot into services that are also part of the CDBG programs. Ms. Davila replied no, the CDBG fund is separate and it's for the three different groups, it is to help low- and moderate -income individuals within the city of Rosemead, but the CDBG-CV has an extra layer where you have to be low and moderate income, but you also must have been impacted by COVID-19. Management Analyst Garcia stated that in addition to the three programs we could also put the funds into the small business assistance program. City Manager Kim added that the Small Business Assistance program, still has to tie into the COVID-19. Council Member Low asked for clarification that the $338,000 under the CDBG- CV funding, excluding administration costs, can be distributed by the City Council as they see fit. Ms. Davila stated that it was correct. Council Member Dang reiterated that he would have liked to introduce another organization that could help with the allocation. Ms. Davila suggested to the City Council to approve the Consolidated Plan, the Analysis of Impediments, and the Citizen Participation Plan, and deferring the approval of the Annual Action Plan, since they are all different and separate reports. Council Member Low stated for the record that the Annual action plan is the only report that has the funding distribution that is being questioned. All the other three documents have nothing to do with that. Council Member Dang made a motion to approve all items in the recommendation with the exception of the Annual Action Plan. Mayor Pro Tem Armenia made a second motion. City Attorney Richman clarified that Councilmember Dang was suggestion tc approve all recommended actions except for the annual allocation was acceptable. City Manager Kim explained the staff recommendations would be approved with the removal of the Annual Action Plan mentioned in any of the recommendations. The Annual Action Plan and funding request will be tabled to the next City Council meeting. The amended motion would read as follows: Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2025 Page 13 of 25 ACTION: Motion by Council Member Dang and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Armenta to approve the amended staff recommendation and remove the Annual Action Plan in any of the recommendations and bring back at the next City Council meeting: 1. Conduct a public hearing and receive public comments and or testimony on the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan, FY 2025-2029 AI, and FY 2025-2029 CPP; 2. Approve and authorize the submittal of the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan, FY 2025- 2029 AI, and FY 2025-2029 CPP; 3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all appropriate and necessary documents to receive funding and implement approved use and make necessary budget adjustments based on HUD's final allocation amount; and 4. Authorize the City Manager to execute sub -recipient agreements with the non- profit organizations receiving CDBG, HOME, and CDBG-CV allocations in the Annual Action Plan. Motion was carried out by the following votes: AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, and Low; NOES: None; ABSENT: Ly 5. CONSENT CALENDAR ACTION: Motion by Council Member Low and Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Armenta to approve Consent Calendar Items A — C. Motion was carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, and Low; NOES: None; ABSENT: Ly A. Claims and Demands • Resolution No. 2025-21 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $2,106,140.18 CHECKS NUMBERED 118988 THROUGH NUMBER 119108, DRAFTS NUMBERED 7989 THROUGH NUMBER 8034 AND EFT NUMBERED 53187 THROUGH NUMBER 53201 INCLUSIVELY Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-21. B. Minutes Recommendation: That the City Council approve the regular meeting minutes of January 24, 2023. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 14 of 25 C. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 1028 - Amending Chapter 12.44 of Title 12 of the Rosemead Municipal Code Relating Park and Recreation Areas Hours of Use and Enforcement On April 8, 2025, meeting, the City Council of the City of Rosemead introduced for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 1028, amending chapter 12.44 of Title 12 of the Rosemead Municipal Code relating to park and recreation areas hours of use and enforcement. The Ordinance will establish park and recreation hours and provide an enforcement process to exclude violators in addition to criminal violations. Recommendation: That the City Council approve the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1028 by title only, entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 12.44 OF TITLE 12 OF THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PARK AND RECREATION AREAS HOURS OF USE AND ENFORCEMENT 6. MATTERS FROM CITY MANAGER & STAFF A. Citywide Compensation Study and Related Actions At the April 8, 2025 meeting, the City Council discussed the Citywide Compensation Study and took the following actions: 1. Motion approved to receive and file the Citywide Compensation Study. 2. Motion failed to approve Resolution No. 2025-20 to amend the salary listing for full-time and part-time positions adjusting salary ranges to align below- market classifications with market -average rates for: 1) unrepresented Executive Group, 2) unrepresented Mid -Management, Professional & Confidential Group, and 3) unrepresented Part -Time Group. Motion approved to bring back a Resolution when additional council member(s) is in attendance. 4. Tabled the salary adjustment for the represented Rosemead Employee Association (REA) after meet and confer with REA/AFSCME Local 321 representatives. Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-22, to amend the salary listing for full-time and part-time positions, adjusting salary ranges to align below-market classifications with market rates for the unrepresented Executive Group, the unrepresented Mid -Management, Professional -Confidential Group, unrepresented Part -Time Group, and represented REA, entitled: Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 15 of 25 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE SALARY SCHEDULE TO MEET THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS TITLE 2, SECTION 570.5 AND 571 TO REFLECT APPROVED RATES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Chua reported that at the April 8th Council meeting, a presentation was made to the City Council regarding the Citywide Compensation Study. The City's objective was to review Rosemead's overall compensation structure to determine how its salaries compare to the competitive market. During the meeting, the City Council discussed the study and took several actions. They approved receiving and filing the Citywide Compensation Study. However, a motion to approve Resolution 2025-20, which would have amended the salary listings for full-time and part-time positions by adjusting salary ranges to align below-market classifications with market average rates for the executive group, mid -management, professional and confidential groups, and part-time group failed. The Council then approved of bringing back the resolution when additional Council members were in attendance. As a result, the salary adjustment for the Representative Rosemead Employee Association was tabled due to the failed motion. City staff met and conferred with representatives from the Rosemead Employee Association to discuss the proposed salary adjustments aimed at aligning below- market classifications with market average rates for their members. The Association expressed agreement with the proposal. Therefore, a salary adjustment resolution is presented for consideration. It includes adjusting salary ranges to align below-market classifications with market rates for all groups, except the City Manager and City Clerk, whose contracts are separate. The estimated cost for the remainder of the fiscal year is $13,300 for all groups. On an annual basis, the estimated cost is approximately $80,000. This expenditure will be managed and fully absorbed within existing budgets. ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Armenia, seconded by Council Member Low to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2025-22, to amend the salary listing for full-time and part-time positions, adjusting salary ranges to align below-market classifications with market rates for the unrepresented Executive Group, the unrepresented Mid -Management, Professional -Confidential Group, unrepresented Part -Time Group, and represented REA. Motion was carried out by roll call vote: AYES: Armenia, Clark, and Low; NOES: None; ABSENT: Ly; ABSTAIN: Dang Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 16 of 25 B. Audiovisual System Upgrades to the City Council Chambers — City Project No. 31030 Staff is seeking City Council direction on design elements for the City Council Chambers audio and video (audiovisual) upgrades project. This project aims to implement permanent audiovisual improvements to enhance public meetings and virtual accessibility. Upgrades include replacing the existing equipment with state- of-the-art equipment, including new display(s) system(s), enhanced audio system with all new direct -beam microphones, wireless connectivity, two video cameras with pan -tilt -zoom capabilities, a broadcast video switcher, new speaker amplifier, web conferencing equipment, and a PC workstation with 27 -inch monitor. Recommendation: That the City Council review the proposed design options and provide direction on the preferred audiovisual and branding upgrade configuration. Director of Public Works Gutierrez reported that staff is working on an audiovisual system upgrades for the City Council Chamber. The project is intended to modernize the meeting environment and to improve both in-person and virtual participation. A vendor has been selected through the RFP process. The existing system was originally installed in 2008, and it has served the city council well but now it presents several operational challenges, from poor visual clarity to ongoing audio feedback issues that we have to address. There is a patchwork of COVID era solutions, which were never intended to be permanent. All of these serve the City well at a time where they needed to pivot and do virtual meetings. The goal of the project is to replace the outdated equipment with permanent, future - proof, future -ready systems. This includes a modern audio-visual environment, better accessibility for hybrid meetings, and professional -grade technology to support the meeting process. The project was included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 CIP and it was allocated, so we do have funds to start to work with. A Request for Proposal was issued last August. Staff selected Studio Spectrum Inc. as the selected designer. They are also the current vendors that maintain the system and understand the infrastructure. As staff developed the project, five core components were looked at. Number one, advanced display systems. Staff also looked at wireless presentation tools, high quality audio, integrated video conferencing and a centralized control and automation system. The upgrades will include two video cameras, so we'll replace this camera with two video cameras. We also propose an enhanced audio system by replacing all of the microphones with new modern direct beam, meaning it only picks your direct voice as speak to it and not the hot mic issue. Also, a broadcast Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 17 of 25 video switcher, a new speaker amplifier, web conferencing equipment, including a new PC workstation to control everything. Staff put together three options using the good, better, best framework. the first option includes, at estimated $84,000, two dual 98 inch LCD displays, PTZ cameras, these are cameras that have pan, tilt and zoom controls, and a basic X- RON control system, which is a little bit better than the system we have right now. It's cost effective and meets essential needs for display, streaming and audio clarity. The better option has everything that the good option has but it upgrades to dual 110 -inch LED screens. Council Member Low asked what the size of the projector screen display is. Director of Public Works Gutierrez replied that it is more comparable to the 98 - inch smaller size. The best option includes dual 109 inches, which is 110 inches, it's just the bezel that is slightly different, are micro LED displays. They come with premium visuals and the ability to display multiple video sources. The last option, the best, is like putting four 55 -inch screen TVs into one, meaning that you can have four broadcast sections on that TV. You can have the council meeting going on in the background and if somebody's doing presentation they can take that lower quadrant and whoever's looking at the person can see both the council and presenter. This option is designed for long-term use, which is 24 hours 7 days a week if we wanted to run it for 10 years to 15 years on 24/7. It is best suited for long-term investment high profile presentations and future proofing the council chambers with cutting-edge technology. Lastly, a non -audio-visual direction seeking from the City Council the use of the City Seal or a logo lettering on the wall of the Chamber. The seal projects authority and tradition compared to the logo, which is more modern, has an identity. Council Member Dang asked what the material of the logo was made of. Director of Public Works Gutierrez replied to the logo lettering is aluminum material. Council Member Low asked for clarification of the LCD TVs versus the micro - LED TVs. Director of Public Works Gutierrez explained the 98 -inch displays LCD technology doesn't last very long or can be run for that long. Those run about seven to ten years without becoming washed or having some background lighting go off and they're Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 18 of25 not as bright. The LED technology, which lasts much longer, so the second and the better and best options upgrade to LED, which is more of a longer lasting technology. Council Member Low asked what the modem visuals and the limited inputs is. Director of Public Works Gutierrez explained the difference between the better option and the best option is that the better option has one input, meaning we can only shoot one thing at a time. If we wanted to switch to a different video source, we would have to switch the entire screen to that source. The best option has four inputs, which means we can shoot four things to display on four separate screens. City Manager Kim added that when there are presentations, we have the speaker and then when we have a display up, like materials on the screen. The better option is just one. Whereas, if we had the best option, because it's broken up into four quadrants, you can have the display up in one quadrant, and you can have the speaker on another quadrant. Council Member Low stated that her choice for the non -audio visual was the City seal for the wall. Mayor Clark also agreed that the City Seal was the best option for the wall. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta inquired if the ability to provide translated information was incorporated or looked into the audio and visual upgrades. Director of Public Works Gutierrez stated yes, the new systems will have the capability to use this system, but we still would need a translator doing the translation and then we can broadcast it through the headphones. City Engineer Basilyous explained that anyone with a phone will be able to log in to get wi-fi network and use their own headphones to listen instead of using the City's headphones. Mayor Clark stated the last time the system was upgraded was in 2008, which was 17 years ago. Asked if the new system will be able to provide different things on the screens. Director of Public Works Gutierrez replied yes, depending on the meeting or the item, you can show four different things. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2015 Page 19 of 25 Mayor Pro Tem Armenta agreed with Council Member Low to use the actual seal, which is the official seal on the wall. The logo lettering is the branding and technically it's not official. Council Member Dang expressed support for the Chamber upgrades and believed it's long overdue. He emphasizes the importance of multi -screen technology, noting he personally uses three monitors during teleconferencing to manage different tasks simultaneously. He understands the frustration viewers face when screens constantly switch between speakers, making it hard to follow and is visually tiring. Mr. Dang supports using quadrant screen options for a smoother viewing experience. Additionally, he'd prefer a clean, modern aesthetic, favoring chrome, polished steel, and a fresh look for the wall. However, he would rather go with the City Seal on the wall for the Chamber. In addition, Council Member Dang stated that the chamber looks outdated and has always bothered him by the low placement of Bill Alarcon's photo on the former Councils wall. He suggested evaluating the arrangement of photos and recommend considering additional updates like painting. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta agreed that the display in the corner needs improvement, noting it features Rosemead's founding fathers and one founding mother. She suggested adding a sign, such as "Former Council Members," to clarify who the individuals are. Director of Public Works Gutierrez reiterated the City Council's direction, to install the City Seal on the wall chamber, proceed with the best option for audio visual upgrades, and upgrade the former City Council wall photo frames. 7. MATTERS FROM MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL A. Point Scale Discussion for Request for Proposals (RFPs) — Community Benefit Points for Companies that Voluntarily Give Back At the March 11, 2025 meeting, the City Council discussed Council Member Dang's request to add a Community Benefits points system in the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for bidders that demonstrate a commitment to giving back to Rosemead community through local partnerships, volunteer work, or other forms of civic engagement. The Council was supportive of the request. As directed to staff, a draft Council Policy (No. 50-10) is before the Council for consideration and adoption. Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Council Policy No. 50-10 or provide other direction to staff. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 20 of25 Point scale discussion for requests for protocols, community benefit points for companies that voluntarily give back. City Manager Kim explained that staff received direction from the City Council and prepared a draft of City Council Policy Section 50 and believe all council comments have been incorporated. The draft is now presented for the Council's review and City Council can suggest changes or, if satisfied, proceed with a motion to adopt the policy, which the Mayor would then sign. Council Member Low asked if there are other cities that require the community benefit point rating for their vendors. City Manager Kim replied that staff contacted 10 cities and were unable to find cities that are doing similar practice. Council Member Dang expressed strong support for the policy, emphasizing its importance to both residents and Council Members in recognizing community contributions. He originally brought the item forward and still wished the designated percentage currently set at 4% was higher, ideally around 8%. However, he is willing to move forward without further discussion. Council Member Low stated the proposed percentage by staff is fair. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta agreed with the proposed policy stating that this will give the City some structure and consistency when evaluating proposals. ACTION: Motion by Council Member Dang, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Armenta to approve Council Policy No. 50-10. Motion was carried out by roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang and Low; NOES: None; ABSENT: Ly B. Discussion Regarding Letter of Opposition of Assembly Bill 52 (Aguiar-Curry) Native American Resources This item is presented to the City Council at the request of Mayor Margaret Clark to discuss the opposition of Assembly Bill ("AB") 52 (Aguiar-Curry) Native American Resources. The proposed amendments to AB 52 pose a direct threat to the sovereignty, cultural integrity, and participation rights of non -federally recognized California Native American Tribes. Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide direction to City staff Mayor Clark stated the discussion was regarding a letter of opposition to Assembly Bill 52 (Aguirre -Curry), which concerns Native American resources. She expressed importance to the bill because it would change who must be consulted when decisions are made about land. Currently, both federally recognized tribes and those with ancestral ties to the area are included in the consultation process. However, this bill would limit consultation to only federally recognized tribes, excluding those with historical ties who have not yet gained official recognition. She shared Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes ofApri122, 2015 Page 21 of25 that this matter is also personal to her now that she has a grandson -in-law and two great-grandchildren who are Navajo. Mrs. Clark stated she hopes the Council will be willing to send the letter in support of those being left out. There are significant amounts of money involved, often directed to federally recognized tribes likely for casinos or other purposes which makes it especially unfair to those with ancestral ties who haven't yet received federal recognition. She stated she advocated for a tribe with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and still hasn't been granted recognition. There are actually two tribes in this area that would be negatively impacted by this bill, so it's not a matter of favoring one group over another. She pleaded that Council support in sending the letter, so we can stand up for those who need our help. Council Member Low stated she was not familiar with the process enough or why are there tribes not being recognized by the federal government to support the letter. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta explained that one of the tribes affected is the Tongva tribe, which is not federally recognized. This is partly due to internal disputes between different groups like the Kish section of the Gabrielinos and the Tongva over who rightfully owns the land. These disagreements have made recognition difficult. She shared about knowing someone whose father was the last chief of the Tongva, with family roots in the Montebello area. Because the Tongva lacked federal recognition, they don't have access to certain rights and protections. The proposed bill could make it even harder for tribes like the Tongva in the San Gabriel Valley to gain recognition or move forward, which is why they need support and protection. Council Member Low asked for clarification on how non -federally recognized groups are affected by the bill. Mayor Clark replied the bill removes the non -federally recognized groups from being consulted on what the land should be. Mayor Pro Tem Armenia added that the bill removes the non -federally recognized groups from having a seat on the table and be taken into consideration on decisions. Council Member Dang emphasized that the bill is simply about giving tribes a voice at the table. He noted that being a state -recognized tribe isn't enough, only federally recognized tribes qualify. He saw no harm in supporting the opposition letter. ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Armenta, seconded by Council Member Dang to approve the letter of opposition of Assembly Bill 52 (Aguiar-Curry) Native American Resources, and direct staff to send the letter to Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. Motion was carried out by roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang and Low; NOES: None; ABSENT: Ly Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 1025 Page 22 of 25 C. Discussion Regarding Letter of Opposition of Senate Bill 634 (Pdrez) Homelessness: Civil and Criminal Penalties This item is presented to the City Council at the request of Mayor Margaret Clark to discuss the opposition of Senate Bill (SB) 634 (Pdrez) Homelessness: Civil and Criminal Penalties. The proposed legislation would severely limits cities' ability to respond to the growing homelessness crisis in communities across California by prohibiting local governments from adopting any regulation, policy, or guidance that imposes civil or criminal penalties on a person experiencing homelessness. Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide direction to City staff. City Manager Kim stated that Senate Bill 634, Perez, is regarding homelessness and civil and criminal penalties. The request is a letter in opposition to the bill, from the League of California Cities. However, the Mayor did add one paragraph which is the third paragraph to the template letter, basically opposing the bill which would limit the city's ability to enforce our ability to regulate the enforcement measures recently adopted. Mayor Clark stated the League of Cities has taken a position on the letter, and she added the third paragraph. The issue is also being discussed by the Contract Cities Legislative Committee, as it involves a significant loss of local control. In the third paragraph, she noted the following statement: "Our outreach teams have repeatedly encountered situations where individuals experiencing homelessness particularly those with addiction and mental health issues refuse to leave their encampments. With no means to incentivize them to accept help, this has, tragically, resulted in deaths due to drug overdoses, possibly involving fentanyl. They instead refuse the help that could save their lives, so taking away any tools to incentivize them is not compassionate, but actually cruel. We have no intention or desire to incarcerate them. We want to get them into lifesaving treatment and turn their lives around." Mrs. Clark shared she is very passionate about this issue. As mentioned before, they took in a family through their church and grew very close to a 12 -year-old boy. He died because his older brother, who struggled with drug addiction, gave him something, possibly fentanyl that ultimately killed him. This crisis is no longer just about the stereotypical image of an older man talking to himself on the street. Homelessness today is deeply intertwined with drug addiction and mental health struggles, and it's affecting families and young people in devastating ways. If this legislation passes, cities will lose critical tools to encourage people to leave the streets and get the treatment they need. It will make the situation worse, especially if California does not comply with the Grants Pass decision. Word will Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 1025 Page 23 of 25 spread in the homeless community that we have no authority to intervene not even to initiate a conversation because they'll be seen as having the absolute right to remain wherever they are. She reiterated she does not want to see people jailed; but get treatment and have a chance to turn their lives around. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta stated she sits on the California Contract Cities Legislative Committee, noted that the committee will be reviewing the same bill. She emphasized that the bill threatens local control, which is crucial because each city handles its homeless population differently. However, she expressed concern with one paragraph in the letter, particularly the mention of "possibly fentanyl." She believes any claims made in official letters must be backed by solid data and documentation. While drug overdoses do happen, there are many reasons why individuals experiencing homelessness may die and making generalized or speculative statements like attributing deaths to possible fentanyl use could harm the letter's credibility. She stressed the importance of accuracy and accountability when representing facts in advocacy letters. Mayor Clark stated she was fine in deleting the third paragraph she added. Council Member Dang expressed strong opposition to state legislation that overrides local authority, emphasizing that local governments know best how to handle their own communities. He thanked Mayor Clark for raising the issue and expressing support of the opposition letter with the third paragraph removed. ACTION: Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Armenta, seconded by Council Member Dang to approve the letter of opposition with the omission of paragraph three (3). Motion was carried out by roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang and Low; NOES: None; ABSENT: Ly D. Council Comments Council Member Dang asked to add an agenda item to discuss installing a large structural banner over Valley Boulevard. He suggested it would be an effective way for the City to advertise special events and important announcements. Noting that other cities like Alhambra use similar banners as focal points, and that Valley Boulevard's heavy traffic makes it an ideal location for advertising. City Manager Kim stated that staff is working on options to present to the City Council for discussion and direction at a future meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Armenta added that staff should look into digital billboards as well to place at city facilities like parks and City Hall. In addition, she shared concerns about the deteriorating appearance of some businesses in Rosemead, noting issues like faded signage, unpainted buildings, and long -neglected properties, including a burned building left untouched for over a year. While the city aims to be business - friendly, she believes leniency has led to non-compliance with ordinances, negatively impacting property values and prompting resident complaints. She thanked the city manager for being responsive and proactive in seeking solutions, emphasizing the need to balance fairness with accountability for property owners. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 24 q(25 Council Member Low shared a story about a peacock that wandered into her neighborhood from Arcadia. While it initially seemed amusing, it raised concerns about what to do. After contacting the Public Safety Supervisor, she was advised not to feed the peacock, although a neighbor had already done so. Mrs. Low highlighted the need to continue educating residents not to feed peacocks or any wild animals. Lastly, thanked the Community Development Department for their work, noting the recent grand opening of Chatao Mui, a Thai tea business. She mentioned more businesses are on the way and expressed excitement about future openings, congratulating the team and looking forward to continued growth in the city. Mayor Clark adjourned in memory of James "Jimmy" Wang, a respected community member and business leader. Bom in 1936 in Taiwan, Jimmy immigrated to Los Angeles in 1979 and co-founded CH Auto in 1983, one of the first high-quality used car dealerships for the Chinese community. He was deeply involved in numerous community organizations, including the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, where he served in various leadership roles and received multiple awards. Jimmy also contributed to the Asian Youth Center, LA County Sheriffs Department, Rosemead Sister Cities Committee, and more. Remembered for his humility, generosity, and dedication, he left a lasting legacy through both his business and community service. Shriley, dauehter of Mr. Wang, stated her father passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 12th, surrounded by three generations, his wife, two granddaughters, and herself. She expressed gratitude to the community and everyone who showed love and support for their family during this time. 8. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Clark adjourned the meeting in memory of James Wang at 9:34 p.m. Ericka emandez, City C*_erk -_ = � J = .: - APPROVED: �� C&"k Margare Clark, Mayor Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 Page 25 of 25