HomeMy Public PortalAboutM 2009-06-09 - CC_spLYNWOOD CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
June 9, 2009
The City Council of the City of Lynwood met in a special meeting in the Council
Chambers, 11330 Bullis Road on the above at 5:08 p.m.
Mayor Santillan presiding.
Council Members Flores, Morton, Rodriguez, Castro and Santillan were present.
Also present were City Manager Haley, City Attorney Galante, City Clerk Quinonez, and
Treasurer Alatorre.
City Clerk Quinonez announced that the Agenda had been duly posted in accordance
with the Brown Act.
Item #6. COUNCIL RECESS TO:
LYNWOOD REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 5:09 p.m.
LYNWOOD UTILITY AUTHORITY 5:10 p.m.
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Regarding Agenda Items Only)
Harry Gibbens commented on Item #8 -MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
He recommended that the City Council keep the same name, Ham Park, because the
park was originally named after a city council member who generously donated the land
for the park. He also stated that he noticed items number 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 2, 3, 5, 6 are
missing from the minutes and he wants to know what happened to them.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item #7. ADOPTION OF THE FY 2009-2010 BUDGET
City Manager Roger Haley introduced the item regarding the adoption of the FY 2009-
2010 Budget.
It was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by Council Member Morton, to
open the public hearing.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
combine all three items of all three agendas regarding the budget hearing.
City Manager Roger Haley made a budget presentation.
Paulette Bradley stated that she is against budget cuts to facilities such as the Senior
Center, which, if left without repairs will quickly deteriorate. She also stated that it was
not prudent or wise to fill vacant positions when the City knew there was a budget
shortfall and the positions would later have to be deleted.
Kimberly Gonzalez stated that she is one the staff members that will be affected by the
proposed position deletions. She asked council to consider allowing her position to
remain and pointed out that there are currently three vacant positions that could be
deleted instead. She stated that she also believed that her position was not deleted due
to budgetary reasons.
Eric Gonzalez spoke about his wife, Kimberly Gonzalez's dedication to the City of
Lynwood. He asked council to be sure to have the correct information before they voted
to delete her position.
David Spears stated that he was against the deletion of his position as projected in the
09-10 budget proposal. He proposed cutting pay and cutting vacant positions instead of
laying off hardworking employees.
Lorene Reed stated that there should be an alternative to laying people off, especially
when the positions generate revenue for the city. She stated that she believed there are
too many managers and the city should mirror corporate America and cut from the top
instead of from the bottom.
City Treasurer Sal Alatorre stated that one of his office's responsibilities is to regulate
licenses and if the City wants to keep revenue, it needs to maintain the licensing
positions. Additionally, he stated that consultants have exceeded their allocated
budget.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
close the public hearing.
The council decided to vote individually by department, the vote went as follows:
City Council
It was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by Mayor Santillan to approve
the City Council proposed budget with a reduction of $37,681.00
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City Clerk
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Mayor Santillan to approve the
City Clerk proposed budget with a reduction of the operating supplies allowance from
$6,000 to $3,000, office supplies allowance from $4,248 to $3,000, advertising &
printing allowance from $19,000 to $17,500, and auto allowance from $6,000 to $3,000.
Mayor Pro Tem Castro incorporated striking the proposed 10% Deputy City Clerk salary
increase in her original motion.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City Treasurer
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
approve the City Treasurer's proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City Manager
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Mayor Santillan, to approve the
City Manager's proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Finance and Administration
It was moved by Council Member Flores, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
approve the Finance and Administration proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Human Resources
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Mayor Santillan, to approve the
Human Resources proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Neighborhood Services
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
approve the Neighborhood Services proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Public Safety
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Mayor Santillan, to approve the
Public Safety proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Public Works
It was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, to
delete the Environmental Specialist position.
Mayor Pro Tem Castro made a subsequent motion, seconded by Council Member
Rodriguez to delete the Environmental Specialist position instead of the Public Works
Inspector position.
Mayor Santillan made a subsequent motion, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez,
to make the Environmental Specialist position part time, to eliminate the Public Works
Inspector Position and to approve the Public Works proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZAND
SANTILLAN
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER CASTRO
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Recreation and Community Services ;
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Flores, to delete
the Marketing and Grants Manager position.
City Manager Haley clarified that the deletion of the Marketing and Grants Manager is
already a proposed cut in the proposed budget.
It was moved by Mayor Santillan, seconded by Council Member Flores to bring the
Recreation and Community Services budget back to the next meeting.
City Manager Haley made a correction to pg. R4 of Recreation: instead of 4 proposed
Recreation Coordinator positions, there should be 3.
It was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, to
approve the Recreation and Community Services proposed budget with this correction.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Redevelopment
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Morton, to
approve the Redevelopment proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Development Services
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
approve the Development Services proposed budget and to keep the current Business
License Specialist position.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Capital Improvement Project
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Castro, seconded by Council Member Flores, to
approve the Capital Improvement Project proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Lynwood Utility Authority
It was moved by Mayor Santillan, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to approve
the Lynwood Utility Authority proposed budget.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item #13. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Regular Meeting -April 21, 2009
Regular Meeting -June 2, 2009
It was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by Council Member Morton to
approve the item.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO AND
SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Item #9. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT EXTENSION
City Manager Haley introduced this item regarding Law Enforcement Services Contract
Extension.
It was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro to
adopt the resolution.
RESOLUTION 2009.105 ENTITLED:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD AUTHORIZING A
ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO THE ATTACHED LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT WITH THE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO AND
SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Item #9A. SUBSEQUENT NEED ITEM -AMENDMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP) APPLICATION AND JOINT AGREEMENT
City Attorney Galante introduced the item and stated that the item needed a vote of
4/5ths to be added to the agenda.
It was moved by Council Member Morton, seconded by Council Member Rodriguez, to
add the item to the agenda.
City Attorney Galante disclosed that his law firm also represents the City of Carson.
After discussion, it was moved by Council Member Flores, seconded by Mayor
Santillan, to approve the item.
RESOLUTION NO. 2009.106 ENTITLED:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP) APPLICATION AND
JOINT AGREEMENT
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
COUNCIL ORALS
Council Member Rodriguez thanked everyone for coming to the Special Meeting. He
stated that the budget process was extremely difficult, especially eliminating positions.
He noted that this is not the first time he has had to cut a position and he admitted that it
is very hard to do so. He stated that his responsibility is to the 79,000 people in the city,
not just to one or two individuals in the city. He said hearing about the laid off
employees breaks .his heart but council has to do what they have to do. He stated that
he believed he was making the right decision for the city. Lastly, he thanked everyone
for attending.
Council Member Flores added to what Council Member Rodriguez said that difficult
decisions are decided with the mindset of the greater good. He stated that he has been
on both sides acknowledged that it feels bad. He continued by saying that tough
decisions must be made in order to move the City forward. He then reminded everyone
that the promise he made to residents was to move the City forward, not backward. He
then thanked everyone.
Council Member Morton stated that council represents every resident in the City of
Lynwood and every decision has to be made with that in mind. He stated that it was
agonizing to know about how the position deletions will affect individuals but it is
council's job to make these hard decisions. He thanked everyone for attending and
expressed his wish to save all the employees. He stated his appreciation for all the
hard work that the city employees give to the City.
Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated that she would not apologize for any decisions she had.
made. She said she did her homework, went line by line, and met with the Finance
Director and City Manager. She directed staff to lead by example and expressed her
support for their cutting the auto allowances in half and declining of pay increases such
as the Council and the City Manager have done. She stated that her first responsibility
is to the residents of the City. She also asked employees to follow their own procedures
and not contact council for help because it is not fair.
Mayor Santillan asked the Directors of Quality of Life and Public Works to get out on the
field and make sure they are more visible. She repeated the rest of Council's sentiments
by saying that layoffs are very difficult but unavoidable during these times. She
reported that the City has saved 7 million dollars through cost cutting since January
2007, which has limited the number of layoffs that are necessary at this time.
City Manager Haley thanked Assistant City Manager Robert Torrez; Director of Human
Resources Alfredo Lopez and the entire Budget Team for working hard on the budget
and compiling the budget packet.
CLOSED SESSION
The Council recessed to closed session at 7:31 p.m. by general consent.
The City Council reconvened at 7:40 p.m.
City Attorney Galante stated that the Redevelopment Agency met in closed
session and with respect to the following matters:
Item #2. WITH RESPECT TO EVERY ITEM OF BUSINESS TO BE DISCUSSED
IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 54956.9:
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 11490 Wright Road
Agency Negotiator: Roger Haley, Executive Director; Fred Galante, Legal Counsel
Negotiating Party: Lee Associates, Chuck Bertoni
Under Negotiation: Price and terms
The Lynwood Redevelopment Agency held discussion and no reportable action
was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Having no further discussion, it was moved by Council Member Rodriguez, seconded by
Council Member Flores, and carried to adjourn the special Lynwood City Council
meeting at 7:41 p.m.
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Maria Santillan, Mayor
Maria Quinonez, CityCity Cle~