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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-22-CC-SS-MIN 1 CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING (STUDY SESSION) MINUTES April 22, 2025 5:00 p.m. Council Chambers 1315 Valley Drive Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Members Present: Mayor Dean Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Rob Saemann, Councilmember Mike Detoy, Councilmember Ray Jackson, Councilmember Michael D. Keegan Staff Present: City Manager Suja Lowenthal, City Attorney Patrick Donegan, Interim Deputy City Manager Leo Zalyan, Administrative Services Director Brandon Walker, Community Resources Director Lisa Nichols, Police Chief Paul LeBaron, Public Works Director Joe SanClemente, Acting City Clerk Reanna Guzman, Planning Manager Alexis Oropeza _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER—CLOSED SESSION 5:00 PM 2. ROLL CALL Mayor Pro Tem Saemann was absent during Roll Call. Mayor Pro Tem Saemann arrived at the dais at 5:04 p.m. Acting City Clerk Reanna Guzman announced a quorum. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDA Councilmember Detoy provided comments regarding item 4.d. Mayor Francois provided comments. Councilmember Jackson provided comments. In Person Public Comment:  John Cordova  David Wallace  Steve Collins 2  Dr. Susan Wildes  Eric Oakes  Andrea Valcourt  Michael Grijana  Landon Phillips  Mick Gaglia  Eric Cahalan  Luis Pineda  Rachel Nyback  Jennifer Cole  Rick Poplin  Russ Gilbert  Justin Massey  Stephen McCall  Joe SanClemente  Jose Bacaus  Mary Campbell  Brian Sousa  Ashley Tull  Trent Larson  Scott Hayes  Jani Lange Virtual Public Comment:  Carlos Rubio  Matt McCool  Anthony Higgins  Craig Cadwallader Mayor Francois provided comments. City Attorney Patrick Donegan provided comments. 3 The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 6:27 p.m. 4. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION 4.a APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF CLOSED SESSION HELD ON APRIL 8, 2025 4.b PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION 4.c PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT 4.d PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION 5. CALL TO ORDER—STUDY SESSION 6:00 PM Mayor Francois called the Open Session to order at 9:30 p.m 6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by David Grethen. 7. ROLL CALL Acting City Clerk Reanna Guzman announced a quorum. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS—UPCOMING CITY EVENTS Councilmember Detoy requested that the CIP Study Session meeting be pushed to a future agenda. Mayor Francois provided comments. Councilmember Detoy provided comments. Mayor Pro Tem Saemann provided comments. Moved by: Councilmember Detoy Seconded by: Mayor Pro Tem Saemann To continue Items 10,11,12,13,14, and 15 to a future Special Meeting, and hear Item 16. Ayes (5): Mayor Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Saemann, Councilmember Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, and Councilmember Keegan Motion Carried 9. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS 9.a RECOGNIZING CONGRESSMAN TED LIEU FOR HIS SUPPORT OF TWO VITAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: HBCARES AND REAL TIME CRIME CENTER (RTCC) Mayor Francois recessed for a break at approximately 6:30 p.m. The City Council reconvened from recess at approximately 6:45 pm. 4 City Manager Suja Lowenthal introduced members of the HB Cares team. Chief LeBaron provided comments about the Real Time Crime Center. Congressman Ted Lieu provided comments. Mayor Francois provided comments. The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 7:05 p.m. 10. PUBLIC COMMENT ON STUDY SESSION AGENDA ONLY Mayor Francois opened Public Comment. In Person Public Comment:  Craig Cadwallader  Tony Higgins  Kristin Marino 11. OPENING REMARKS Item 11 was continued with the CIP Study Session. 12. STUDY SESSION TOPIC 12.a FISCAL YEAR 2025–26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STUDY SESSION - 25-PW-025 Moved by: Councilmember Detoy Seconded by: Mayor Pro Tem Saemann To continue item 12.a to a future agenda. Ayes (5): Mayor Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Saemann, Councilmember Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, and Councilmember Keegan Motion Carried 13. COUNCIL QUESTIONS ON STUDY SESSION TOPIC ONLY Item 13 was continued with the CIP Study Session. 14. PUBLIC COMMENT ON STUDY SESSION TOPIC ONLY Item 14 was continued with the CIP Study Session. 15. COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON STUDY SESSION TOPIC ONLY Item 15 was continued with the CIP Study Session. 16. OTHER MATTERS 16.a REVIEW OF CIP 619–KELLY COURTS IMPROVEMENTS - 25-PW-026 5 Community Resources Director Lisa Nichols and Public Works Director Joe SanClemente provided a staff presentation. Mayor Francois asked various questions. Director Nichols provided information. Director SanClemente provided information. Councilmember Jackson provided comments. Director SanClemente provided information. Councilmember Detoy asked various questions. Director SanClemente provided information. In Person Public Comment:  Scott Hayes Virtual Public Comment:  Tony Higgins  Anna Liza Garcia  Joshua Steiner Mayor Francois asked various questions. City Manager Lowenthal provided information. City Manager Lowenthal provided comments on the CIP Study Session. Moved by: Councilmember Detoy Seconded by: Councilmember Keegan To review Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project 619–Kelly Court Improvements; and authorize the Director of Public Works to readvertise CIP 619–Kelly Courts Improvements. Ayes (5): Mayor Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Saemann, Councilmember Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, and Councilmember Keegan Motion Carried 16.b REPORT TO COUNCIL REGARDING A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER SENT BY FRANK ANGEL; REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND SEND RESPONSE LETTER City Attorney Patrick Donegan provided a staff presentation. Mayor Francois asked a question. 6 City Attorney Donegan provided information. Mayor Francois provided comments. No Public Comment was provided for this item. Moved by: Councilmember Detoy Seconded by: Councilmember Keegan To acknowledge receipt of the Cease and Desist Letter, and, to reflect the City’s commitment to transparency, authorize the Mayor to execute and send a response letter (in substantially the same form attached hereto as Attachment 1) in order to avoid unnecessary litigation, but without admitting any violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act in connection with the challenged action; or provide alternative direction to staff. Ayes (5): Mayor Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Saemann, Councilmember Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, and Councilmember Keegan Motion Carried 16.c REPORT TO COUNCIL REGARDING AN ANONYMOUS CURE AND CORRECT LETTER - 25-CA-012 City Attorney Donegan provided a staff presentation. There was no public comment for this item. Moved by: Councilmember Detoy Seconded by: Councilmember Keegan To receive a report on the anonymous “cure and correct” letter sent to the City and direct the City Attorney to send a response letter pursuant to Government Code section 54960.1(c)(2) informing the anonymous drafter that the City Council determined that the “cure and correct” letter asserts Brown Act violations where no violations occurred and that the City Council will not cure and correct the challenged action; or provide alternative direction. Ayes (5): Mayor Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Saemann, Councilmember Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, and Councilmember Keegan Motion Carried Moved by: Councilmember Jackson Seconded by: Councilmember Keegan To continue the preliminary budget to May 29, 2025. Ayes (5): Mayor Francois, Mayor Pro Tem Saemann, Councilmember Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, and Councilmember Keegan 7 Motion Carried 17. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m. in memory of Greg Browning.