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CC - Minutes - 09-26-2023 Special Joint & RegularMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL & REGULAR JOINT MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 The special meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Ly at 6:10 p.m., in the Rosemead City Council Chamber located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PRESENT: Mayor Ly (teleconferenced), Mayor Pro Tem Clark, Council Members Armenta, Dang, and Low ABSENT: None 1. WORKSHOP A. Public Safety Overview by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department— Temple Station will provide an update on current crime trends, public safety measures, and community policing efforts in the City. Captain Jorge Meza introduced himself as the new Captain of the Temple Sheriff s Station. He shared that he has 24 years of experience with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, serving in various assignments that prepared him for his current role. Captain Meza previously served as a Sergeant at Lakewood Station, later served as a Chief s Aide with the Special Operations Division, and was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant and served as the Operations Lieutenant at Temple Sheriffs Station for two years. Following the promotion of the Station's previous Captain, he served as Acting Captain beginning in April and officially assumed the position in August. Captain Meza highlighted his involvement in crime prevention efforts, community relations, and partnerships with city officials, residents, and local business owners. He also shared his commitment to the community through more than 10 years of coaching youth football and over five years of coaching basketball. Captain Meza holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to lead Temple Sheriff's Station, noting his personal ties to the surrounding communities and his strong connection to the area. Mayor Ly welcomed Captain Meza and thanked him for his introduction. Captain Meza presented an overview of the City's crime statistics, crime trends, response times and crime mitigation strategies. He reported a 7% decrease in Part I crimes over the past year, with decreases in several major crime categories attributed to implemented crime prevention strategies. He noted increases in aggravated assaults, deaths, and auto thefts. Most aggravated assaults were associated with domestic violence incidents. Captain Meza also reported several shootings in the prior month, which he characterized as isolated incidents; some Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 1 of 30 remained under active investigation, with no reported shootings since August 6. He highlighted a significant decrease in burglaries, from 261 during the same period in 2022 to 161 currently, while noting a recent spike that warranted additional attention. The five-year crime history showed Part I crimes decreasing from 1,039 to 971 compared with the previous year. Regarding calls for service, Captain Meza reported an increase during the summer months. Emergency response times remained under four minutes, while priority calls remained under 1 I minutes. Routine calls decreased over the previous two months after a special -assignment deputy was replaced with an additional patrol unit. Captain Meza explained the different types of calls for service: priority calls generally involve crimes or incidents that have just occurred and require a timely response, while routine calls typically involve reports of crimes that have already occurred. In response to Council Member Low's question of what the distinction between the calls is, Captain Meza clarified that a noise disturbance reported after midnight would generally be considered a routine call. He explained that calls are prioritized based on the nature and urgency of the incident, with emergent calls receiving attention first. Council Member Low referenced her prior noise disturbance call, noting that she had to call three times before deputies arrived and that the response took approximately one hour. Mayor Ly inquired if there were extenuating circumstances when responding to Council Member Low's call for service. Captain Meza noted that Chief Tiwari had been asked to review the matter. Council Member Low indicated that she would follow up with additional questions after Captain Meza finished his presentation. Captain Meza reported that Temple Station consistently leads its division in arrests, which he attributed to strong morale, leadership, and deputies' commitment to public safety. Council Member Armenta noted that despite the number of arrests, some cases are not prosecuted, resulting in repeat offenders and a revolving -door effect. Mayor Ly added that establishing a city prosecution team could potentially address some of these concerns and noted that the matter would be discussed later on the agenda. Captain Meza reported an overall 30% decrease in burglaries, while noting a recent increase in commercial burglaries, from 12 in July to 24 in August. He explained Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 2 of 30 that many occurred on Sundays between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., when staffing levels are lower. Businesses such as restaurants and beauty salons have been targeted in smash-and-grab incidents. Captain Meza also reported a decrease in petty thefts, from 27 in July to 19 in August, with 73 reported incidents over the prior three months. He noted that many incidents involve shoplifting and that larger businesses sometimes delay reporting multiple incidents. He stated that the Department is working with the District Attorney's Office to seek filings involving repeat offenders. Captain Meza discussed the new bail schedule taking effect October 1 and explained the four categories of release: cash bail for serious offenses, cite -and - release for lower -level offenses, booking -and -release, and magistrate review. He noted that magistrate review requires deputies to contact a magistrate within two hours of booking to determine the least restrictive release conditions. Mayor Pro Tem Clark asked where the magistrate review policy originated. Captain Meza responded that it was established by the Los Angeles County Superior Court and offered to provide additional information through Lieutenant Tiwari for distribution to the Council. Captain Meza outlined targeted suppression efforts based on crime analysis, including parole and probation searches, burglary suppression operations, smash- and-grab enforcement, and catalytic converter operations. He also discussed collaboration with service providers regarding unhoused individuals and reported an anticipated correlation between increases in homelessness and thefts. Planned strategies include late-night operations, increased engagement with local businesses, enhanced security and surveillance, window -protection measures, and reminders to businesses not to leave cash on-site. Captain Meza emphasized crime prevention as a key priority. He also highlighted youth and community engagement through the Sheriff's Explorer Program, Community Area Watch meetings, Coffee with the Cops, and Neighborhood Watch meetings. He reported that Temple Station recently had 11 Explorer graduates, the highest number among Sheriff s stations, with additional participants currently in training. Captain Meza announced that a motor deputy is expected to join Temple Station on October 29, which will increase visibility and traffic enforcement. He also emphasized efforts to improve transparency with the city through weekly reports, monthly calendars, and expanded patrol coverage. Mayor Ly acknowledged the challenges faced by the Sheriff's Department while emphasizing the importance of its continued efforts to protect the community. He then opened the floor for questions and comments from the Council. Council Member Low asked whether multiple incidents reported by a business at one time are counted separately in crime statistics. She also asked why businesses sometimes delay reporting incidents. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 3 of 30 Captain Meza confirmed that each incident is counted separately. He explained that some businesses have internal "hands-off' policies due to concerns about employee safety, injuries, and potential liability. He noted that businesses may choose when to report incidents based on their internal policies. Chief of Police Lt. Tiwari explained that large retailers often have loss -prevention personnel who document incidents internally and determine when to report them to law enforcement. He provided an example in which deputies arrested a suspect with merchandise from another business that had not yet reported a theft, requiring the Sheriffs Department to contact the business to determine whether an incident had occurred. Council Member Low asked whether delayed reporting contributes to businesses choosing to report several incidents at once because routine calls may take longer to receive a response. Captain Meza clarified that crimes in progress are treated as priority calls and deputies are dispatched immediately. He stated that delayed reporting makes apprehension more difficult because deputies must investigate incidents after the fact and suspects may no longer be nearby. Council Member Low suggested the city work with the business community, potentially through the Chamber of Commerce, to encourage businesses to report crimes promptly and better understand the reasons for delayed reporting. Captain Meza agreed and noted that the Sheriff's Department is already engaging with businesses and planning reverse operations with loss -prevention personnel to address crimes in progress. Council Member Low asked whether having only two to three patrol units overnight, generally from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., is sufficient given nighttime criminal activity. She referenced her previous incident in which only two deputies were available because one deputy was unavailable, potentially leaving other calls waiting while deputies handled an active incident. City Manager Kim asked when the decision was made to reassign a special - assignment deputy to patrol and how crime and call -volume data are considered. Chief of Police Lt. Tiwari explained that the reassignment was based on call volume and response -time data. The PM shift had the highest call volume and longest response times, so the additional patrol unit was assigned to that period. He explained that calls are triaged according to priority. He further noted that, since July, the third patrol unit has been unavailable only seven times. An overlap unit operates during peak hours, and three patrol units generally cover the overnight period after 2:00 a.m., when call volume and crime are typically lower. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 4 of 30 Captain Meza provided additional detail on patrol deployment, explaining that staffing is increased during peak crime and call -volume periods, particularly from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. After 2:00 a.m., three patrol units generally remain in service based on historical call and crime patterns. Council Member Armenta noted the ongoing recruitment and retention challenges affecting the Sheriffs Department and recalled that the City had requested additional deputies during the prior budget cycle but was unable to secure additional personnel. City Manager Kim confirmed that the city was unable to add deputies and that one special -assignment position was subsequently transitioned to patrol. Council Member Low asked whether the deputy shortage remains an issue. Captain Meza confirmed that the shortage continues and that additional patrol positions cannot currently be added to the City or other contract cities requesting personnel. Chief of Police Lt. Tiwari described a new Community Service Officer program being developed with the City to supplement patrol resources. City employees will be assigned Sheriffs Department equipment and vehicles and will respond to routine calls, report calls, traffic accidents, and similar lower -level matters. This will allow sworn deputies to remain available for priority and emergency calls while providing a lower cost means of supplementing service. Lt. Tiwari also noted that the City's overnight patrol program, implemented by City Manager Kim during the increase in overnight burglaries, has provided additional eyes and ears in the community and helped mitigate burglaries. The program allows trained personnel to communicate with deputies and report emergencies. Captain Meza expressed support for the Community Service Officer program, noting that having personnel handle routine reports allows deputies to remain in the field and focus on proactive policing and higher -priority calls. Council Member Dang thanked Captain Meza for providing data and explaining the rationale behind patrol deployment and staffing strategies. Mayor Ly welcomed Captain Meza and commended his enthusiasm and leadership at Temple Sheriffs Station. He noted that improvements at the Station benefit the City because of its contract relationship with the Station. Mayor Ly expressed support for exploring alternatives to address the deputy shortage and requested a more comprehensive discussion or presentation regarding sworn and non -sworn staffing, response times, and comparisons with neighboring cities. He also emphasized opportunities to further integrate the Sheriffs Department with the City's police resources. Mayor Ly thanked Captain Meza and Chief of Police Lt. Tiwari for their presentation. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 5 of 30 Captain Meza thanked the Mayor and City Council for their support and reaffirming his commitment to working with the community to improve public safety. Mayor Ly recessed the meeting until 7:00 p.m. The regular meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Ly at 7:05 p.m., in the Rosemead City Council Chamber located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PRESENT: Mayor Ly (teleconferenced), Mayor Pro Tem Clark, Council Members Armenta, Dang, and Low ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Kim, City Attorney Richman, Interim Director of Community Development Wong, Director of Finance Chua, Director of Parks and Recreation Boecking, Director of Public Works Wang, and City Clerk Hernandez PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Mayor Pro Tem Clark INVOCATION — Council Member Armenta 2. PUBLIC COMMENT There being no speakers, Mayor Ly opened and closed the Public Comment period. 3. PRESENTATIONS A. Introduction of New City Employees: Assistant Planner, Yasmin Dabbous; Administrative Assistant, Linda Lam; City Engineer, Amal Sedrack; and Public Works Inspector Gabriel Ramirez Deputy Community Development Director Valenzuela introduced Assistant Planner Yasmin Dabbous and Administrative Assistant Linda Lam. Director of Public Works Wang introduced City Engineer Amal Sedrack and Public Works Inspector Gabriel Ramirez. The City Council welcomed Ms. Dabbous, Ms. Lam, Ms. Sedrack, and Mr. Ramirez to the Rosemead family. B. Proclamation Declaring September 15 through October 15, 2023, as "National Hispanic Heritage Month" in the City of Rosemead The City Council presented the Proclamation declaring the month of September 15 through October 15, 2023, as "National Hispanic Heritage Month". Council Member Armenta thanked the City Council for adopting the proclamation and continuing the annual recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. She Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 6 of 30 emphasized the City's commitment to embracing its diversity and ensuring that all residents feel welcome. Council Member Low expressed support for the proclamation and recognized the City's diverse community and the significant contributions of its Hispanic residents. Council Member Dang shared his personal experience growing up in a Hispanic neighborhood and expressed appreciation for the contributions, beauty, and diversity of Hispanic heritage. He stated that he was proud to support and sign the proclamation. Mayor Pro Tem Clark expressed her support and noted that she has Hispanic members of her family. Mayor Ly echoed the Council's comments and stated that Rosemead is strengthened by its diversity and Hispanic and Latino community members. He emphasized that the City celebrates its diversity through community events and expressed support for recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month. Council Member Armenta noted that the proclamation coincides with the City's upcoming Fall Fiesta celebration. Mayor Ly agreed and stated that the proclamation would likely be recognized during the Fall Fiesta event. C. Proclamation Declaring the Month of September 2023 as "National Preparedness Month" in the City of Rosemead Public Safety Supervisor Wong explained that September is designated as National Preparedness Month to emphasize the importance of disaster preparedness. She encouraged residents to maintain emergency kits with essential supplies, including batteries, flashlights, battery-operated radios, water, canned food and a manual can opener, first-aid supplies, and medications. She recommended that residents prepare to be self-sufficient for approximately 7-21 days. Ms. Wong announced upcoming preparedness activities, including a Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Service countywide communications exercise on October 14 at the Rosemead Pool parking lot; an evacuation drill for seniors at Garvey Community Center on October 18; the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill on October 19; and an amateur radio class and examination on November 3-4. She encouraged residents to participate in the ham radio program, noting that the City has its own FCC club call sign. She also reported that the City's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is being updated and is expected to be submitted to Cal OES for review before being forwarded to FEMA and ultimately presented to the City Council for adoption. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 7 of 30 The City Council presented the Proclamation declaring the month of September 2023, as "National Preparedness Month". Mayor Ly thanked Ms. Wong for her emergency preparedness efforts and commended the City's staff and Executive Team for their readiness and response during Tropical Storm Hilary. Mayor Pro Tem Clark thanked Public Safety Supervisor Wong for her continued emergency preparedness efforts and encouraged residents to participate in the free ham radio training. She emphasized the importance of alternative communication methods during a major disaster when traditional communication systems may be unavailable. Council Member Armenta expressed appreciation to Public Safety Supervisor Wong and recognized her expertise and contributions to emergency preparedness, noting that neighboring communities also seek her guidance. Council Member Low thanked Ms. Wong for her continued work and dedication to the city. Council Member Dang asked whether the City would participate in the Golden Guardian exercise this year. He explained that Golden Guardian is a statewide emergency preparedness exercise administered by Cal OES that simulates major disasters and tests coordination among cities, counties, emergency responders, and other agencies. Public Safety Supervisor Wong explained that Rosemead previously participated in a Golden Guardian exercise led by Los Angeles County, which included simulated emergency scenarios and required the City to develop responses to various "injects." She stated that the County had not yet announced this year's exercise scenario but that the City could participate if requested. She added that the City could also conduct its own exercise and activate its Emergency Operations Center. She further announced an upcoming Initial Damage Estimate training offered by Cal OES and encouraged City staff to participate. D. Presentation by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments on Programs, Accomplishments, and Goals for the Coming Year Turner Lott, Management Analyst, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG) presented an overview of the COG's 2023 updates including its vision, programs, projects, and regional accomplishments. He explained that the COG consists of 31 cities, including Rosemead, two supervisorial districts, and three water districts, and administers programs addressing homelessness, transportation, food recovery, wildlife management, broadband access, and other regional needs. Mr. Lott highlighted the COG's Food Recovery Program, which assists cities with compliance with SB 1383 food recovery requirements; noted that Rosemead recently joined the program and that approximately 110 local businesses are Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 8 of 30 expected to be inspected during the upcoming year. He discussed the San Gabriel Valley Transit Feasibility Study, which is evaluating bus rapid transit alternatives to improve regional mobility; shared one proposed route includes a 2.4 -mile segment along Garvey Avenue between Rosemead Boulevard and New Avenue, with potential improvements including dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, increased service frequency, limited stops, and enhanced stations. Management Analyst Lott shared about the regional Coyote Program, which provides wildlife management and public education; stated that the program responded to 276 calls throughout the region, including 10 calls in Rosemead. He also discussed the regional Broadband Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan, which will identify underserved communities and opportunities to improve broadband access. Mr. Lott reported that the COG secured approximately $74 million in federal, state, and county funding for regional projects and programs during the previous year. Accomplishments included serving more than 2,800 clients through regional homelessness programs, breaking ground on the State Route 57/60 Interchange Improvement Project and completing the Fairway Grade Separation Project. Management Analyst Lott outlined upcoming projects, including construction of the Turnbull Canyon and Montebello Corridor Grade Separations, completion of the Transit Feasibility Study, establishment of three regional food recovery hubs, expansion of the Efficient SGV Home Energy Program, and expansion of the SGV Care Mobile Crisis Program to additional cities. Management Analyst Lott recognized the Council Members for their service on various COG committees and thanked the City Council and staff for their continued partnership and advocacy. Mayor Pro Tem Clark thanked Mr. Lott and the COG for its programs and regional work. She shared her appreciation for the knowledge gained through serving on COG committees and encouraged continued community participation. Council Member Armenta thanked Mr. Lott for the presentation and noted that Rosemead is not currently a member of the San Gabriel Valley Housing Trust. She expressed hope that the City Council would consider joining the Housing Trust in the future. Mr. Lott expressed pride in the Housing Trust's work and offered to connect the Council with the project manager to continue the discussion. Council Member Low thanked Mr. Lott for the presentation. Council Member Dang thanked the COG staff for presenting in person and recognized the COG's role in coordinating regional efforts and addressing issues affecting cities throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Mayor Ly thanked Mr. Lott and the COG for its presentation and highlighted its longstanding regional impact, particularly in transportation, economic Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 9 of 30 development, infrastructure, and quality -of -life improvements. He recognized the COG'S contributions to major regional projects, including transportation improvements and the Gold Line extension, and expressed appreciation for its continued work across multiple policy areas. 4. PUBLIC HEARING CEOA: The following item is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, unless noted on the item. A. Public Hearing to Review and Approve the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for FY 2022-23 The City of Rosemead's Community Development Department has completed its Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the period July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. The CAPER describes the overall use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds received from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in relationship to the needs of the community as outlined in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23, Annual Action Plan. The City's overall objective in the CDBG and HOME programs is the development of viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expansion of economic opportunities primarily for low -to -moderate income persons. Recommendation: That the City Council take the following actions: 1. Conduct a public hearing to receive community feedback on the FY 2022-23 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report; and 2. Approve its submission to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Deputy Director of Community Development Valenzuela introduced Priscila Davila, our contracted Housing Consultant, to present the report. Housing Consultant Davila presented the CAPER, which covers the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, and reports on the City's use of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She explained that the funds support activities benefiting low and moderate income Rosemead residents and must meet applicable federal national objectives. HOME funds support safe, decent, and affordable housing. She reviewed the expenditures, accomplishments, and progress toward the goals outlined in the City's five-year Consolidated Plan and requested that the Council conduct the public hearing, receive community feedback, and approve submission of the CAPER to HUD. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 10 of 30 Mayor Ly inquired if Council had any questions or technical clarifications before opening the public hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Clark asked about the status of the First -Time Homebuyer Program and whether residents had applied for assistance. Deputy Director of Community Development Valenzuela confirmed that the city continues to offer the program and has received applications. Housing Consultant Davila clarified that the program is now called the Homeownership Assistance Program and is funded through CDBG and HOME funds. She reported that the city currently has two applications and has conducted outreach to prospective homebuyers but has not had an applicant ready to proceed. City Manager Kim added that the Council had approved four affordable units as part of the Mission Village project and that the city is awaiting completion of the units. Deputy Director of Community Development Valenzuela confirmed that Shea Homes began marketing the four affordable units the previous week. Mayor Ly opened the public hearing. There being no comments, Mayor Ly closed the public comment portion of the hearing. ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Clark and seconded by Council Member Low to approve its submission to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, after conducting a public hearing and receiving community feedback on the FY 2022-23 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report. The motion was carried out by the following roll call vote AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, Low, Ly NOES: None ABSENT: None 5. CONSENT CALENDAR ACTION: Moved by Council Member Low and seconded by Council Member Armenta to approve the Consent Calendar Items A and B. Mayor Pro Tem Clark pulled Item C. The motion was carried out by the following roll call vote AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, Low, Ly NOES: None ABSENT: None CE A: The following items are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, unless noted on the item. A. Claims and Demands • Resolution No. 2023-57 Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 11 of 30 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $2,315,117.97 CHECKS NUMBERED 114941 THROUGH NUMBER 115057, DRAFTS NUMBERED 6749 THROUGH NUMBER 6761 AND EFT NUMBERED 51873 THROUGH NUMBER 51884 INCLUSIVELY Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2023-57. B. Minutes Recommendation: That the City Council approve the special meeting minutes of August 8, 2023 and September 12, 2023. ITEMS PULLED FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION C. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 1019 — Amending Municipal Code Section 1.12.010, Moving the Date of the City's General Municipal Election Date from Statewide Primary of Even -Numbered Years to the Date of the Statewide General Election in Even -Numbered Years Beginning with the November 3, 2026 Election On September 12, 2023, the City Council introduced for first reading, Ordinance No. 1019, amending Municipal Code Section 1. 12.010 moving the date of the City's General Municipal Election date from Statewide Primary of even - numbered years to the date of the Statewide General Election in even -numbered years beginning with the November 3, 2026 election. Recommendation: That the City Council approve the second reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 1019, entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 1.12.010, CHANGING THE DATE OF THE CITY'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FROM THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY OF EACH EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS TO THE DATE OF THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION IN EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS AND ADJUSTING THE TERMS OF OFFICE ACCORDINGLY Mayor Pro Tem Clark stated for the record that she pulled the item to reiterate the reasons she provided at the previous meeting and to remain consistent with her prior position. ACTION: Moved by Council Member Low and seconded by Council Member Armenia to approve the second reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 1019, entitled: Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 12 of 30 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 1.12.010, CHANGING THE DATE OF THE CITY'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FROM THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY OF EACH EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS TO THE DATE OF THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION IN EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS AND ADJUSTING THE TERMS OF OFFICE ACCORDINGLY The motion was carried out by the following roll call vote AYES: Armenta, Dang, Low, Ly NOES: Clark ABSENT: None 6. MATTERS FROM CITY MANAGER & STAFF - None 7. MATTERS FROM MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL A. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-59 for Nomination to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority Board Member The San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA) was established by the State Legislature (SB 1679) on February 11, 1993, to develop, finance and implement groundwater treatment programs in the San Gabriel Basin. The WQA is under the direction and leadership of a seven -member board. The board is comprised of one member from each of the overlying municipal water districts, one from a city with prescriptive water pumping rights, one from a city without prescriptive water pumping rights, and two members representing water producers in the San Gabriel Basin. The cities without prescriptive water pumping rights include Baldwin Park, Bradbury, Duarte, La Puente, La Verne, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, Temple City, and West Covina. Mayor Pro Tem Margaret Clark has expressed interest on a nomination to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. Recommendation: That the City Council take the following actions: 1. Consider a nomination for Board Member to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority Board and Adopt Resolution No. 2023-59, entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, NOMINATING COUNCIL MEMBER TO REPRESENT CITIES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTIVE WATER PUMPING RIGHTS ON THE BOARD OF THE SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY; and 2. Direct staff to send Resolution No. 2023-59, naming a nomination for Board Member to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 13 of 30 City Clerk Hernandez reported that the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority opened the nomination period for a city representative without pumping rights to serve as a delegate or alternate on the Water Quality Authority Board of Directors for the term beginning January 2024. She noted that the nomination letter had been provided to the City Council and that Mayor Pro Tem Clark was the only Council Member who had expressed interest in being nominated. She stated that the Council must adopt a resolution by October 19, 2023, with nominations to be collected and voted upon by the Water Quality Authority at its December 20, 2023 meeting. There were no objections to nominating Mayor Pro Tem Clark as the City's representative. ACTION: Moved by Council Member Dang seconded by Mayor Ly to take the following action: 1. Nominate Council Member Margaret Clark for Board Member to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority Board and Adopt Resolution No. 2023-59, entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, NOMINATING COUNCIL MEMBER MARGARET CLARK TO REPRESENT CITIES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTIVE WATER PUMPING RIGHTS ON THE BOARD OF THE SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY; and 2. Direct staff to send Resolution No. 2023-59, naming a nomination for Board Member to the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. The motion was carried out by the following roll call vote AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, Low, Ly NOES: None ABSENT: None Mayor Pro Tem Clark thanked the Council and expressed her appreciation. B. Discussion Regarding Letter of Support of Senate Bill 710 (Durazo) Sale of Excess State Highway Property: State Highway Route 710 Terminus — As Amended At the September 12, 2023, City Council meeting, the City Council directed City staff to bring back the amended text of Senate Bill 710 for further review. The City Council will discuss the continued opposition or support of Senate Bill (SB) 710 (Durazo) Sale of excess state highway property: State Highway Route 710 Terminus as amended. Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide further direction to City staff. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 14 of 30 Mayor Ly stated that Item 7B could be removed from the agenda because the legislation had already been signed by the Governor and enacted into law on September 13. With no objections, the Council moved to the next item. C. An Ordinance Amending Section 2.33.070 of the Rosemead Municipal Code Relating to Duties of the Parks Commission and Updating Administrative Policy 50-08 At the request of the City Council, staff was directed to bring an ordinance to amend Section 2.33 of the Rosemead Municipal Code relating to duties of the Parks Commission. The amendment would give the Parks Commission decision- making authority to the naming of park benches, trees, gardens, and other items within the parks. With this amendment to the Rosemead Municipal Code, staff is also recommending a change to Administrative Policy 50-08, giving the Parks Commission the authority to make final decisions as to the Memorial Bench, Tree, and Garden Program. Recommendation: That the City Council take the following actions: 1. Approve the first reading by title only, Ordinance No. 1021, entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.33.070 OF THE ROSEMEAD MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE PARKS COMMISSION; and 2. Approve the updated Administrative Policy 50-08. Director of Parks & Recreation Boecking explained that the program was established with the Parks Commission authorized to make recommendations to the City Council, with the Council retaining final decision-making authority. At the Mayor's request, the proposed amendment would grant the Parks Commission decision-making authority over park naming and dedication matters. Staff recommended approval of Ordinance No. 1021 and the updated Administrative Policy 50-08. Mayor Ly explained that the proposed change was intended to reduce bureaucracy and give the Parks Commission decision-making authority, noting that the Council had not experienced the concerns that originally prompted Council ratification requirements three years ago. Council Member Armenta supported giving the Parks Commission authority to review and recommend matters but expressed concern that granting it "final decision" authority could eliminate the Council's ability to intervene. She asked whether an appeal mechanism could preserve the Council's authority. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 15 of 30 Mayor Ly explained that the Planning Commission has similar authority, subject to a Council appeal period, and proposed applying a comparable process to Parks Commission decisions. City Attorney Richman confirmed that an appeal provision could be added allowing any Council Member to request Council review within 10 calendar days of a final Parks Commission determination. Council Member Low opposed the proposed change, stating that the Council should retain ultimate decision-making authority. She expressed concern that granting final authority to one commission could set a precedent for other commissions and noted that these items do not occur frequently enough to create a significant burden on the Council. Mayor Ly reiterated that the proposed change would apply to relatively minor matters, such as dedication of park benches or trees, rather than significant policy or infrastructure decisions. He stated that the existing three-year experience showed no problems but acknowledged that the Council could retain the current process if there was no consensus. Mayor Pro Tem Clark concurred with Council Members Armenta and Low that the Council should retain final authority. She expressed concern about setting a precedent for other commissions and stated that she preferred to remain informed about and approve park naming and dedication matters. Council Member Dang agreed that the existing process works well. He stated that the Parks Commission can provide recommendations and the Council can act on them relatively quickly, so there is no need to expedite the process by granting final authority to the Commission. Mayor Ly ascertained that there was no consensus to approve the proposed change and indicated that the existing policy would remain in place. Council Member Armenta requested clarification on whether the Council was considering keeping the current process entirely or allowing the Parks Commission to make recommendations while retaining Council approval. Mayor Ly clarified that the current process requires Parks Commission review and recommendation followed by Council approval. His proposal would have allowed the Parks Commission to approve matters subject to a 10 -day Council appeal period. He noted that the change could also address situations where a Council Member recommends a dedication and would otherwise need to recuse themself from the Council vote. Council Member Armenta suggested revisiting the proposal, focusing on the "final decision" component and whether Council Members could review Parks Commission approvals through an appeal process. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 16 of 30 Mayor Ly confirmed that the proposed process would allow Council review upon appeal but acknowledged that there was insufficient support among the Council to proceed. Council Member Dang reaffirmed his preference for the existing process, noting that Council review allows Members to understand the background of honorees, remain informed about community dedications, and avoid the possibility of controversial individuals being honored without Council review. Council Member Low agreed, adding that requiring the Council to file an appeal after a Parks Commission approval could create an awkward appearance. She preferred that the Council receive the information upfront and make the final decision. Mayor Ly concluded that there was no consensus to approve the proposed amendment. He thanked Director of Parks and Recreation Boecking for the report. D. Discussion on Establishing a Charter for the City The City Council has had discussions related to creating a charter for the City upon which the residents could then vote on to approve or deny. As a part of the discussion a committee was established which included Mayor Ly and Council Member Armenta. The Committee conducted two meetings with the City Attorney and the City Clerk and reviewed and discussed charter provisions as well as the information provided by the League of California Cities on the various items that could be included in a new city charter. The Committee presented questions that were looked into by the City Attorney to allow for further discussion as well. At the conclusion of those meetings, it was determined that before taking further review and consideration on the overall Charter, there were items which the Committee wanted to have a discussion with the full Council on to see if they wanted to include certain provisions in the Charter different than what State law provides, where so authorized. In addition, the Committee wanted to share with the Council its thoughts on various other subject matters and to hear from the full Council. Recommendation: That the City Council discuss the Charter and provide direction to staff on any next steps it would like to take. City Attorney Richman stated that a Committee consisting of Mayor Ly, Council Member Armenia, the City Attorney, and the City Clerk was established to discuss creating a charter for the City. The Committee held two meetings to review potential charter provisions and information from the League of California Cities. Before further consideration of the charter, the Committee wanted input from the full City Council on provisions that could differ from state law where permitted. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 17 of 30 City Attorney Richman noted that the Committee used the League's charter checklist, which was also provided to the Council. The Staff Report included an updated version with an additional column summarizing responses to the Committee's questions and identifying the Committee's position on each provision, including whether to defer to state law or seek full Council input. Items the Committee wanted to discuss further were highlighted in yellow and marked with two asterisks, including elections, term limits, contracting services, and the authority to establish a City Prosecutor's Office to prosecute misdemeanor violations of state law. City Attorney Richman also explained that the Elections Code limits when a charter measure can be submitted to voters. The County Elections Office confirmed that the measure would need to be placed on a statewide general election ballot, with the applicable election occurring in November 2024 and the submission deadline 88 days before the election, or August 9, 2024. Mayor Ly thanked Ms. Richman for the overview; emphasized that the goal was to develop a consensus proposal supported by the entire City Council. He explained that election -related provisions were removed from the proposal because they lacked consensus and would be considered separately. For the remaining provisions, the Committee generally recommended deferring to or following state law. Mayor Ly added that he and Council Member Armenta were not comfortable making recommendations on term limits, contracting services, or prosecution of state law violations and invited Council Member Armenta to share her thoughts. Council Member Armenta stated that the Committee's discussions, including term limits and the option of hiring a City Prosecutor, were reflected in the materials. She explained that the pandemic highlighted limitations faced by general law cities and that becoming a charter city could provide Rosemead with greater local control over its operations, including areas such as public health. Ms. Armenta emphasized that the Committee carefully reviewed the differences between general law and charter cities to determine which provisions Rosemead should retain, modify, or establish independently where permitted. She added that the City could continue following general law provisions, including those related to Council compensation, and stressed that the goal was not personal financial benefit but establishing safeguards to protect Rosemead in the future. Mayor Ly opened the Public Comment period. Mayor Ly read the following Public Comment received from Brian Lewin, Resident: "Good evening Mayor and City Council. I hope this meeting finds you all well. I have to say that I am a little surprised that Council is looking at trying again to become a charter city, considering how things went last time it was tried. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 18 of 30 I am undecided on the general concept, but can say that I will strongly oppose any proposed charter that: 1) Does not include term limits with a maximum of three consecutive terms allowed before a break, with no more than one additional term allowed for any sitting councilmember who has already served three or more terms; and 2) Does anything other than prescribe the city council election date to be the statewide general election date in November, which has the highest turnout. I would also recommend that multiple public workshops be held before finalizing a proposed charter to get public feedback and recommendations. Thank you for your time and consideration." Mayor Ly read the following Public Comment received from Barbara Murphy, Resident: "I hope the discussion regarding General Law city to Charter city includes term limits on City council members. I believe all elected positions in USA government positions - Federal, States, Counties, city councils, school boards - should have term limits. Four of our current council members have been in office more than 3 four- year terms. Being an elected official should not be a lifetime career. If you cannot accomplish what you ran on in 12 years, it's time to give someone else an opportunity to advance their ideas." There being no additional comments, Mayor Ly closed the Public Comment period. Mayor Ly started the discussion with the three areas requiring guidance as term limits, contracting, and establishing the ability for the City to have its own city prosecutor. Mayor Pro Tem Clark asked whether any neighboring charter cities have a city prosecutor with the authority to address matters that the current District Attorney may not be prosecuting. City Attorney Richman responded that she was aware that the cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles have had city prosecutors for some time, but she would need to research which other cities may also have them. Mayor Pro Tem Clark inquired whether those city prosecutors are actually prosecuting crimes that the current District Attorney is declining to prosecute. City Attorney Richman explained that those cities have the authority to do so, but she would need to determine how that authority is being used in practice. Mayor Pro Tem Clark stated that she would like to know whether those cities are able to exercise that authority and whether there are any limitations. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 19 of 30 Mayor Ly clarified that the question was not whether the cities have authority, but whether they are actually using that authority. Mayor Pro Tem Clark asserted that both questions were important. Mayor Ly reiterated that, in his understanding, the cities have the authority to do so and asked City Attorney Richman to confirm. City Attorney Richman confirmed that the cities have the authority, but she did not know whether they were exercising it or whether the District Attorney was creating any difficulties. Ms. Richman stated that she could research the matter further. Mayor Pro Tem Clark said she wanted to understand what authority the City could have, particularly given the concerns discussed earlier in the meeting. She noted that residents were frustrated by what they perceived as lenient treatment of offenders and said that the ability to establish a City Prosecutor could give the City greater authority to address these concerns, which she viewed as a strong reason to pursue it. Council Member Armenta explained that several smaller cities had been considering joining together to hire a regional or multi -city prosecutor. She noted that the city prosecutor would operate independently of the Los Angeles County District Attorney and would not be required to follow the District Attorney's recommendations or practices. She added that the prosecutor could independently decide to pursue a case without the District Attorney's authorization, based on her understanding from her involvement with the Contract Cities legislative committee. Mayor Pro Tem Clark asked about the health department, wondering whether Pasadena was one of the cities that had its own health department. Council Member Armenta explained that Pasadena, Long Beach, and Los Angeles have their own health departments and could have adopted health restrictions different from those imposed by Los Angeles County. However, the cities chose to coordinate their policies to maintain consistency and avoid confusion for residents traveling between neighboring jurisdictions. She noted that while the cities were not required to follow County restrictions, they worked together to present a united approach. Mayor Ly thanked Council Member Armenta and acknowledged that there was more to consider regarding the issue of establishing a health department. He explained that the topic was somewhat separate from the current charter discussion because the proposed charter did not take a specific position on whether the City should establish its own health department. Mr. Ly said that if the City wanted to pursue that authority after becoming a charter city, the charter would not prevent it from doing so. Mayor Ly noted that, for example, West Covina's efforts to establish its own health department involved having the authority to conduct its own restaurant grading and other related functions. Rosemead City Council Speciat & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 20 of 30 Council Member Armenta noted that establishing a health department would involve significant costs. Mayor Ly agreed that it would involve substantial costs and then asked whether there were any additional comments specifically regarding the three items that still required clarification. Mayor Pro Tem Clark raised one additional issue concerning the State's recent laws that have reduced local control over zoning. Mrs. Clark said she had previously asked City Attorney Richman about the matter and appreciated the information she provided, but she was still wondering whether becoming a charter city would give the City any additional flexibility in that area. City Attorney Richman explained that the recent series of housing laws enacted by the Legislature over the past four to five years have been identified by the State as matters of statewide concern, particularly regarding housing and increasing the number of housing units being built. She explained that the State does not consider these matters to fall under home rule, which is where charter city powers would generally apply. City Attorney Richman noted that some charter cities, including Huntington Beach and Torrance, have attempted to challenge some of these laws, but those challenges have not been successful thus far. Ms. Richman said that, based on the State's position and the findings included in the legislation, challenging those laws would likely be an uphill battle. However, she added that the City could pursue such matters if it chose to do so. Mayor Pro Tem Clark asked about a lawsuit that was currently pending and noted that, if charter cities prevailed in that lawsuit, Rosemead could potentially be unable to benefit from the outcome if it remained a general law city. Mrs. Clark suggested that this could be another reason for the City to consider becoming a charter city. City Attorney Richman agreed and explained that one of the matters discussed by the Committee was including a broad opening statement in the charter providing that, whenever an issue is determined to be subject to home rule, the City would retain the authority to legislate and operate in those areas. She explained that this approach would not preclude the City from exercising additional authority in the future and would provide flexibility if such opportunities became available. Mayor Pro Tem Clark thanked City Attorney Richman for the explanation. Council Member Low asked whether, based on the various subject matters discussed, the proposed charter would generally follow current state law, with the exception of the items highlighted in the Committee's matrix. Mayor Ly explained that the Committee's recommendation was that, for many of the items, there was no need to deviate from state law. He said that, in his opinion, Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 21 of 30 the City did not have a need to establish different provisions in those areas. Mayor Ly added that if any Council Member disagreed with the recommendation, the matter could be discussed further by the full Council. He stated that many of the provisions were considered noncontroversial or were matters that did not significantly affect the City. As a result, the Committee believed that continuing to follow prevailing state law on those matters was appropriate. Council Member Low asked whether the only areas where the Committee was recommending a departure from current state law were the highlighted items concerning elections, term limits, and other provisions. Mayor Ly clarified that the highlighted items included elections, term limits, contracting, and the establishment of city prosecutorial services. Council Member Low asked for additional information regarding the contracting provision. Mayor Ly explained that the Committee wanted to consider giving the City Manager greater authority by increasing the contracting threshold at which the City Manager could approve contracts. He said the Committee also wanted to consider allowing the City to establish certain contracting preferences, provided they complied with equal opportunity requirements. Mayor Ly emphasized that having the ability to establish appropriate preferences in the charter was important to him. He said these considerations were the primary reasons for including the contracting provision and asked City Attorney Richman if he had missed anything. City Attorney Richman agreed with Mayor Ly's explanation and added that the City had also been waiting for the results of a consultant's review of the City's policies and practices. She explained that the City wanted to consider the consultant's recommendations before determining whether certain provisions should be included directly in the charter or whether the charter should instead reference the City's authority to address those matters through an ordinance. Ms. Richman said that this review was also part of the reason for the timing of the contracting discussion. Council Member Low stated that she believed becoming a charter city was probably a good idea, particularly given the numerous restrictions being imposed by the State. However, Ms. Low said she wanted to proceed carefully because the provisions established in the charter could remain in place for a long time. Council Member Low said the Council should carefully consider the respective authority of the City Manager and City Council and ensure that the charter included provisions that would protect the City well into the future. Mayor Ly asked whether Council Member Low was suggesting that the charter should not be decided by only two Council Members and that the provisions should instead be brought before the full City Council for discussion. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 22 of 30 Council Member Armenta stated that she and Mayor Ly had carefully considered how to avoid concentrating too much authority in the City Council or any individual position. She said the Committee discussed the issue extensively during its two meetings and retained many provisions from the existing rules for general law cities where no changes were necessary. Ms. Armenta emphasized that the Committee's goal was to establish appropriate safeguards and a balance of authority without giving the City Council more power than it currently has. She added that input from the full City Council was important in ensuring these provisions were appropriate for Rosemead's future. Council Member Low asked if we need to decide tonight? Mayor Ly replied that a decision was not required that evening, noting that the City had up to 88 days before the election to place the item on the agenda. He explained that he wanted the full Council present and emphasized the importance of reaching unanimous consensus before presenting the measure to voters. He stated that this was the first of several important discussions and suggested that, once a draft charter was prepared, it could be presented at public forums for community review before being finalized. Council Member Low commented I just want to have a little bit more time to think about this. Council Member Dang referred to page 5 of the matrix, which addresses quorum and voting requirements. He stated that, based on the discussion, items highlighted in yellow were proposed deviations from state law or general statutes. He asked for clarification because he could not follow the quorum and voting requirements after reviewing the analysis in the right column. Mayor Ly responded long story short, we have to follow the Brown Act in regard to quorum and voting requirements. City Attorney Richman affirmed that Mayor Ly was correct, explaining that the next column indicates that the City cannot adopt practices contrary to the Brown Act. She stated that the item was not highlighted because the Committee had determined that it was not within the charter's legal authority. Mayor Ly provided an example, noting that although Council Members may participate remotely with proper notice, the pre-COVID rules require a majority of the Council to be physically present in the City of Rosemead to conduct a meeting. He questioned whether that requirement should matter given the availability of teleconferencing but acknowledged that the Brown Act and applicable Sunshine rules require the City to follow it regardless. Council Member Dang stated that he agreed with Council Member Low that they needed more time to digest the information, but said he felt positive about the proposal so far. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 23 of 30 Mayor Pro Tem Clark referenced Mr. Lewin's comments about the City of Bell, noting concerns about the potential abuse of charter city authority, including the lack of competitive bidding requirements for public works projects. Ms. Clark emphasized the importance of establishing safeguards to prevent corruption or the concentration of power and stated that, with those safeguards in place, she was supportive of the proposal. Council Member Armenia stated that the Committee spent two lengthy meetings carefully establishing safeguards to protect the City's future and ensure that no Council Member, including the Mayor, would have greater authority than others. She emphasized that the goal was to prevent concentration or abuse of power and ensure an appropriate balance of authority for Rosemead. Mayor Ly proposed continuing the discussion of the highlighted charter items at the next Council meeting to allow Council Members additional time to review the items. Council Member Low and Mayor Pro Tem Clark agreed, and Council Member Dang supported moving the discussion to the next meeting. Mayor Ly asked whether there was consensus regarding the proposed authority for the City to establish a city prosecutor. Council Member Armenta clarified that including the authority in the charter would not require the City to immediately establish a city prosecutor; rather, it would provide the City with the option to do so in the future. Council Member Low expressed support for having authority, while noting that the potential cost should be considered. She also emphasized the importance of clear language and safeguards to ensure the authority is appropriately exercised by fixture Council. Council Member Armenia noted that establishing a city prosecutor could also allow the City to partner with other cities and share costs. City Attorney Richman explained that the proposed charter language would authorize the City to establish a city prosecutor program, but implementation would require adoption of an ordinance. She noted that the ordinance could establish the selection process and other safeguards, including an RFP process or other appropriate method of selecting a city prosecutor. Council Member Dang expressed preliminary support for the concept but noted that he had not yet conducted a thorough review. Mayor Ly clarified that the purpose of the discussion was to determine whether there was sufficient consensus to remove the item from further discussion, rather than to direct staff to begin implementation. He explained that the City had already Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 24 of 30 conducted two Committee meetings on the matter and that at least one additional Council discussion would likely be necessary. Mayor Ly stated that he understood the Council to be generally supportive of retaining the proposed City prosecutorial authority in the charter and that he heard no objections. Council Member Dang reiterated that, based on his preliminary review, he supported retaining the proposed authority but would continue to review the matter before the next Council meeting. Mayor Ly then moved the discussion to the contract home services item, noting that Council Members appeared to need additional time to consider the matter. Mayor Ly introduced the discussion regarding term limits and asked Council Members for their views. Council Member Low expressed support for considering term limits but noted that she would need to consider the appropriate length. Council Member Armenta stated that she generally supports term limits but believed further discussion was needed regarding when the limits would take effect. Mayor Ly clarified that any term limits would apply going forward rather than retroactively. Council Member Low explained that newly elected Council Members often need their first term to learn the responsibilities of the position and understand the long-term impacts of policy decisions. She expressed the view that longer limits, such as 12 to 16 years, could allow sufficient time to develop and complete long- term projects. Mayor Ly stated that he does not favor term limits because voters already have the ability to determine whether elected officials should remain in office. He noted that many municipal projects require several years to develop, secure funding, build consensus, and reach implementation, and he expressed the view that elected officials should have the opportunity to continue pursuing long-term priorities if they retain the support of voters. Council Member Armenta pointed out that elected officials already have a form of term limit because they must be reelected to remain in office. Council Member Low acknowledged that incumbents have an advantage in elections due to name recognition and existing community relationships, which can make it more difficult for challengers to compete. She also noted that finding qualified candidates who can make sound long-term decisions for the City can be challenging. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 25 of 30 Mayor Pro Tem Clark stated that she does not support term limits and noted that voters can remove elected officials through the electoral process. She explained that serving for an extended period allows officials to build relationships with regional agencies and other governmental bodies, which can be important in advancing projects and securing resources for the community. Mayor Pro Tem Clark provided examples of regional and state -level initiatives in which she had participated, emphasizing that developing long-term relationships with other public officials and regional organizations can help elected officials effectively advocate for their communities. She reiterated that term limits could limit an official's ability to develop those relationships and accomplish long-term objectives. Mayor Ly noted that there was no consensus regarding term limits and encouraged the Council Members to continue considering the issue with the goal of reaching consensus on the charter provisions at the next meeting. Mayor Ly stated that he had no further questions and asked whether there were any final comments before closing the item and continuing the discussion at the next meeting. Council Member Armenta thanked City Attorney Richman and City Clerk Hernandez for their hard work in ensuring that the Council's input was accurately reflected in the proposed charter provisions. Mayor Ly thanked City Attorney Richman and City Clerk Hernandez for their work and noted that additional meetings would be necessary to continue the charter discussion. E. Introduction of Ordinance No. 1020 — Setting City Council Salaries Pursuant to Senate Bill 329 Since 2006, when Ordinance No. 841 was passed, the salaries of the City Council have remained unchanged at $1,118.63 per month. On June 29, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 329 (SB 329), which raises the maximum salary that council members may receive. This bill aimed to increase the compensation schedule for council members in cities governed by general law, which had not been updated since 1984. SB 329 allows cities to increase the compensation to adjust for inflation in order to help keep city councils more diverse by allowing people from across different income levels to serve the public and support their families. Recommendation: That the City Council approve for first reading, waive further reading, and introduce by title only, Ordinance No. 1020, entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.010 RELATED TO COUNCIL SALARIES AS AUTHORIZED BY SENATE BILL 329 Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 26 of 30 Director of Finance Chua provided an overview of Ordinance No. 1020, which would adjust City Council salaries pursuant to Senate Bill 329. He explained that SB 329, signed into law by Governor Newsom on June 29, 2023, increased the maximum compensation allowed for council members in general law cities and permitted adjustments for inflation. Mr. Chua stated that City Council compensation had last been adjusted in 2006 and had remained at $1,118.63 per month. Based on a 51.65% increase in the California Consumer Price Index, an inflation-adjusted salary would be $1,696.40 per month; however, the maximum permitted under the SB 329 schedule for a city with a population between 50,000 and 75,000 is $1,600 per month. Director of Finance Chua explained that approval of Ordinance No. 1020 would increase monthly Council compensation from $1,118.63 to $1,600. Although SB 329 becomes effective January 1, 2024, the salary increase will not take effect until at least one Council Member begins a new term, which would occur in March 2024. Mr. Chua recommended that the City Council approve the first reading, waive further reading, and introduce Ordinance No. 1020 by title only. Mayor Ly asserted that Council Members' compensation should be realigned to better reflect the significant time and responsibilities required of the position, including attending meetings, participating in community events and associations, conducting research, and performing other uncompensated work. He supported the additional $500 increase because it would help future Council Members afford to serve while attracting individuals who can dedicate sufficient time to the position. Mayor Ly noted that the current $1,600 monthly compensation is substantially below what the time commitment would amount to a minimum wage. He explained that serving on the Council can require significant sacrifices in members' family lives or professional careers. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that serving on the Council provides a meaningful opportunity to accomplish positive things for the community. Mayor Ly acknowledged that $1,600 is a relatively small amount given current inflation and rising costs but said the increase would nevertheless provide meaningful financial and symbolic support. Council Member Armenta questioned whether all Council Members currently receive the same $1,118.60 monthly salary, noting that she recalled seeing differences in Council Members' compensation. Director of Finance Chua clarified that the base monthly salary is $1,118.60 for all Council Members and explained that differences in total compensation may result from benefits, such as cafeteria medical benefits and the additional $200 medical expense allowance. Council Member Armenia stated that she would follow up with City Clerk Hernandez regarding a previous compensation survey that appeared to show different Council salaries. Mayor Ly also recalled a period when Council compensation schedules differed. Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 27 of 30 City Attorney Richman clarified that under state law, the salary increase would apply to all Council Members when any Council Member begins a new term following an election. Council Member Low questioned why there would have been differences given that the last salary increase occurred in 2006. Director of Finance Chua reiterated that while base salaries are the same, individual benefit packages can result in different total compensation amounts. Council Member Armenta confirmed that her primary concern was ensuring that all Council Members receive the same salary. Director of Finance Chua confirmed that if Ordinance No. 1020 is approved, all Council Members will ultimately receive the $1,600 monthly salary once a Council Member is elected to a new term in March. Mayor Pro Tem Clark read the following from Cal Cities letter supporting the legislation: "Lengthy time commitments and limited pay discourage, many especially low-income residents, single parents, people of color and young people from running for public office for many being Council Members of whole time commitment, with part-time pay, Cal Cities is proud to sponsor this important legislation that lessens barriers for those interested in governing at the local level. This overdue reform is another tool that communities can choose to use that can help ensure our city councils are reflective of the residents who live work and play in their communities." Mayor Pro Tem Clark also shared that she had received notice from Ca1PERS that her premiums would increase. She noted that she greatly values the medical coverage, particularly given her husband's ongoing battle with cancer, but explained that the increased premiums would further reduce her already limited Council salary. She expressed her appreciation for the proposed $500 increase and said it would be meaningful for Council Members. City Attorney Richman read the title of the ordinance for the record. ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Clark and seconded by Mayor Ly to approve for first reading, waive further reading, and introduce by title only, Ordinance No. 1020, entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.010 RELATED TO COUNCIL SALARIES AS AUTHORIZED BY SENATE BILL 329 The motion was carried out by the following roll call vote AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, Low, Ly NOES: None ABSENT: None Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 28 of 30 F. Discuss and Confirm the Interview Panel for the Selection of a Chief of Police At the request of Mayor Steven Ly, he would like to discuss and confirm the interview panel for the selection of a Chief of Police as outlined in Administrative Policy 50-10, which was approved on February 28, 2023. Administrative Policy 50-10 section B. (b) designates the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Manager and Chair of the Public Safety Commission to the interview panel. Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide direction to City staff. Mayor Ly discussed the establishment of an interview panel for the Chief of Police position and asked City Manager Kim about the anticipated timeline. City Manager Kim reported that interviews were expected to take place toward the end of October, with the newly selected Police Chief anticipated to be available to the City around November 8. Mayor Ly stated that the interview panel would consist of himself, Mayor Pro Tem Clark, and the Chair of the Public Safety Commission, as established by the Administrative Policy. He requested that Council Members and Public Safety Commissioners have an opportunity to submit important questions for the candidates in advance, so the panel has time to review the submitted questions before the interviews. Mayor Ly explained that a single interview may not provide enough information to determine whether a candidate would be an effective Chief of Police. He suggested that written responses to questions on important issues could provide additional insight into the candidates' qualifications and perspectives, particularly for candidates who may not perform as well in an interview setting. Council Member Low asked when the questions should be submitted. Mayor Ly deferred to City Manager Kim, who requested that questions be provided approximately one week before the interviews, once the interview date is confirmed. Council Member Low asked that the deadline be communicated once the date is Z. established. - — _ Mayor Ly also requested that the candidates' resumes, biographies, and related piaterials be provided to the Council as soon as they are available so members can begin reviewing them in advance. G. Council Comments Council Member Dang welcomed new Public Works Director Noya Wang and noted her impressive qualifications. He recognized the significant capital improvement projects and available funding under her department and expressed Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 29 of 30 confidence that she would help advance these projects. He also congratulated staff for organizing a well -attended and successful Moon Festival. Council Member Armenta apologized for missing the Moon Festival because she was out of town. She reported attending the League of California Cities Annual Conference and the AIPAC Leadership Summit in Denver through a scholarship that did not require City funding. Council Member Armenta also requested that the City improve advance advertising for upcoming events, particularly the Fall Fiesta. She noted that she had seen little promotion and emphasized that earlier and broader advertising would help increase attendance. Ms. Armenta inquired if Savannah Cemetery would be participating as they had expressed interest. Director of Parks and Recreation Boecking confirmed that Savannah Cemetery would participate in the Fall Fiesta, with the cemetery open for activities and event signage directing attendees there. Council Member Armenta asked whether the City planned to close the street without significantly disrupting traffic between Loma Avenue and Encinita Avenue to improve pedestrian access and safety between the park and cemetery. Mr. Boecking explained that the street would not be closed this year because of parking and event -layout considerations, but the City would evaluate the possibility for next year. Mayor Pro Tem Clark reported attending the League of California Cities conference in Sacramento, where housing and Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) sessions were particularly well attended. Council Member Low reported missing the Moon Festival because of business travel but thanked staff for the successful Moon Festival. She noted that the event was well attended and appreciated staff s efforts to bring it back after several years. Mayor Ly stated he was looking forward to seeing everyone at the Fall Fiesta 8. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Ly adjourned the meeting at 9:24 p.m. The next City Council meeling wiittal e '- place on October 10, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rosemead City Hall Council Chamber. Ericka Hernandez, City Clerk APPROVED: Sandra Armenta, MayoV Rosemead City Council Special & Regular Joint Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2023 Page 30 of 30