CC - Minutes - 03-30-20 Special MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MARCH 30,2020
The special meeting of the Rosemead City Council was called to order by Mayor Armenta at
5:14 p.m. in the Rosemead City Hall Conference Room located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard,
Rosemead, California.
PRESENT: Mayor Armenta, Mayor Pro Tem Low, Council Members Clark (teleconferencing
from 3109 N. Prospect Avenue, Rosemead, CA 91770), Dang, and Ly (teleconferencing from
13825 Hinson Street, Sloan,NV 89054)
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Molleda, Assistant City Manager Kim, City Attorney
Richman, and City Clerk Hernandez
1. PUBLIC COMMENT -None
2. PRESENTATIONS
A. Administration of the Oath of Office to Sandra Armenta to Assume the Position of
Mayor
City Clerk Hernandez administered the Oath of Office to Sandra Armenta to
assume the position of Mayor.
B. Administration of the Oath of Office to Polly Low to Assume the Position of Mayor
Pro Tern
City Clerk Hernandez administered the Oath of Office to Polly Low to assume the
position of Mayor Pro Tem.
City Manager Molleda noted the ceremonial portion will be postponed to a
future date.
3. MATTERS FROM CITY MANAGER AND STAFF
A. Consideration of an New Urgency Ordinance Temporarily Prohibiting Eviction of
Residential and Commercial Tenants Arising from Financial IMPACTS OF THE
covid-19 Pandemic in Response to the Governor's March 27th Order
Recommendation: That the City Council take the following actions:
1. Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061
(b)(3), the General Rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an
affection to the environment; and
2. Adopt by a 4/5 vote Urgency Ordinance No. 994, entitled:
Rosemead City Council Special Meeting
Minutes of March 30, 2020
Page 1 of 6
•
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD TEMPORARILY
PROHIBITING EVICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL TENANTS ARISING FROM INCOME
LOSS OR SUBSTANTIAL MEDICAL EXPENSES 111
RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
City Attorney Richman noted at the March 24, 2020 regular council meeting,
the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 993 temporarily prohibiting evictions of
residential and commercial tenants arising from financial impacts of the COVID-
19 Pandemic;stated on March 27,2020,Governor Newsom issued Executive Order
N-37-20, which created certain protections against eviction for residential tenants,
but such Order did not address commercial tenants, nor did it provide as much
protection for residential tenants as the County's March 19, 2020 Order, or the
City's, nor did it preclude adoption by local entities of protections that are greater
than those set for in the Governor's order. Ms. Richman asserted in order to keep
in place the protections afforded in Ordinance No. 993, as well as to clarify that the
protections enacted by the Council on March 24, 2020 in Ordinance No. 993 are
not eliminated by the Governor's March 27, 2020 Executive Order, adoption of an
urgency ordinance is required and shall take effect immediately due to the
immediate need to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Council Member Clark indicated support for this Urgency Ordinance; stated at the
COG's Executive Board meeting held earlier today, the attorney present brought
forth the potential liability; requested the City ensures there is verbiage in
the ordinance emphasizing that this is only a postponement of the rent, not a
permanent write-off.
City Attorney Richman responded that the City has done their due diligence to
make it clear that the Urgency Ordinance No. 994 is a temporary moratorium and
deferment of rent,further clarified nothing in this Ordinance shall relieve the tenant
of liability for the unpaid rent; asserted this moratorium is effective until May 31,
2020, however should the Governor extend Executive Order N-28-20, this
Ordinance will automatically continue beyond May 31, 2020 to the date of the
Governor's extension, unless superseded.
•
Mayor Armenta referenced an article "Rosemead Bans Evictions Due to
Coronavirus but you have to Show Proof' from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune;
stated it was her understanding that a letter to the landlord or management company
stating you are having financial hardship due to COVID-19,would suffice as proof.
City Attorney Richman concurred it does not have to be extensive documentation;
stated for defend ability purposes, the financial hardship must demonstrate
connection to COVID-19.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tern Low and seconded by Council Member Dang to
take the following actions:
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Minutes of March 30, 2020
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1. Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061
(b)(3), the General Rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an
affection to the environment; and
2. Adopt by a 4/5 vote Urgency Ordinance No. 994, entitled:
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD TEMPORARILY
PROHIBITING EVICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL TENANTS ARISING FROM INCOME
LOSS OR SUBSTANTIAL MEDICAL EXPENSES
RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark,Dang, Low and
Ly ABSENT: None
B. Authorization of Agents to Execute on the Behalf of the City for the Purpose of
Obtaining State and Federal Financial Assistance Through Emergency
Management Assistance Program
Recommendation: The City Council City Council approve Resolution 2020-10,
entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING
AND APPROVING AUTHORIZED AGENTS TO
EXECUTE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF •
ROSEMEAD FOR THE PURPOSES OF OBTAINING
STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE CAL
OES" FORM 130 AND SUBMIT ALL RELATED
DOCUMENTATION
Assistant City Manager Kim stated on March 13, 2020, the City Council adopted
Resolution 2020-08 proclaiming the existence of an emergency situation and local
emergency due to the worldwide spread of the Coronavirus; noted public funding
assistance is being made available at the Federal and State levels to combat the
spread of COVID-19; ascertained in order for the City to request the funding
assistance, the City Council must designate City agents responsible for providing
required assurances and executing agreements with FEMA and Cal OES on behalf
of the City and approve the corresponding Cal OES Form 130; recommended that
the form designate agents by position, instead of specific names, and be effective
for all open and future disasters declared by the state or federal government up to
three years following the date of approval by City Council so as to expedite
processing of requests in the future.
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Minutes of March 30, 2020
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Mayor Armenta inquired if an interim Finance Director would be allowed to sign
such documents.
City Manager Molleda responded the City does not currently have an Interim
Finance Director, rather a consultant assisting us as needed.
Assistant City Manager Kim responded for now the City Manager and Assistant
City Manager positions will suffice for signing any- documents, however the
Finance Director will be included for future requests.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Dang and seconded by Council Member
Clark approve Resolution 2020-10, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING
AND APPROVING AUTHORIZED AGENTS TO
EXECUTE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
ROSEMEAD FOR THE PURPOSES OF OBTAINING
STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
THROUGH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE CAL
OES FORM 130 AND SUBMIT ALL RELATED
DOCUMENTATION
Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark, Dang, Low and
Ly ABSENT: None
4. MATTERS FROM MAYOR& CITY COUNCIL
A. Mayor's Appointments for 2020-2021
Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and approve the Mayor's
Appointments for 2020-2021 and direct the City Clerk to prepare and file
Form 806.
Each year, a listing of City Council Member appointments to a variety of Regional
and State committees and boards is prepared and submitted to the Mayor. Once the
appointments have been made, the City Clerk's office will prepare Form 806 as
required by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), immediately file the
form with the FPPC, and post it on the City's website.
Mayor Armenta noted for the record that the SR 60 Coalition is obsolete as they
are moving forward with the Washington Alignment.
Council Member Ly concurred with Mayor Armenta on the obsoletion of the
SR 60 Coalition.
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Minutes of March 30, 2020
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Mayor Armenta ascertained the only requests received from Council were the
following: 1) Mayor Pro Tern Low expressing interest in remaining on the
California JPIA; 2) Council Member Ly withdrawing his assignment to COG and
expressing interest in being appointed to SCAG; and 3) Council Member Ly
recommending Council Member Clark to be appointed as the Delegate to the COG.
Council Member Clark stated she would not mind serving as the Delegate of the
LAX Community Noise Roundtable if there is an option to participate in the
meeting remotely via teleconference.
Mayor Pro Tern Low asked staff to inquire what the LAX Community Noise
Roundtable's current meeting setup is.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Clark and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Low to ,
approve the Mayor's Appointments for 2020-2021 and direct the City Clerk to prepare and
file Form 806. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Armenta, Clark,
Dang,Low and Ly ABSENT: None
B. Council Comments
Mayor Armenta stated although Council Comments' was not agendized for tonight's
Special meeting, she is going to allow them at this time.
Council Member Clark suggested postponing the next regular scheduled City Council
meeting to give staff a reprieve, unless there is an urgent item to agendize.
Council Member Ly expressed opposition to cancelling the regular meeting as the public
relies on these meetings for important information.
Mayor Armenta opined this is the most important time for City Council to be present for
the community.
Council Member Dang thanked staff for keeping the City functioning during this
pandemic;noted that staff is working at City Hall and can assist the public by appointment
only; asked,for clarification as to what safety steps are required by Rosemead residents;
inquired if parks are closed to the public.
City Manager Molleda responded it is highly encouraged that people stay home but they
can leave for an essential visit such as grocery shopping, and practices social distancing
of six feet. Ms. Molleda stated closure of parks was extended from April 19th to April 30th;
asserted signage has been posted at the parks and staff are driving around to advise of
closure and ensure compliance, however they are not issuing citations; also noted that
Code Enforcement are visiting businesses to verify that they are not serving the public
in their dining rooms.
Mayor Pro Tern Low thanked staff for their commitment to the City and community;
encouraged the public to stay home and be safe. .
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Mayor Armenta reiterated her previous request to ensure we are notifying residents
properly of the temporary no eviction moratorium and tracking system for seniors.
City Manager Molleda asserted that the Press Release and Ordinance was translated in the
designated languages and posted for transparency purposes; stated a list of our seniors who
participate in the Senior Lunch Program was provided to Captain Flores and a list of
residents who are 60 and over, and with any special needs has also been compiled.
Mayor Armenta inquired if a phone line specifically for senior concerns can be created.
City Manager Molleda indicated that should not be an issue as we can assign a current
phone line to address senior concerns.
Mayor Pro Tem Low suggested reaching out to churches within Rosemead to offer
our resources; opined it may be tough to do with most of our staff working from home,
however we should keep it in mind for the future and possibly involve our youth.
Mayor Armenta suggested staff utilize a mail merge for all the churches that way it saves
staff time and the churches itself are forwarding to their communities.
City Manager Molleda stated she will ensure the list of nonprofit organizations that receive
our E-News through the city's website is updated.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Armenta adjourned the special meeting at 6:07 p.m., in memory of all those that
have lost their lives to COVID-19. The next City Councilmeeting is scheduled to take
place on April 14, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rosemead City Hall Council Chamber.
Ericka Hernans ez, City Clerk
APPROVED:
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Sandra Armenta, Mayo,
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Minutes of March 30, 2020
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