REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA

Present:

• Councilmember Cardenas, 
• Councilmember Galvez, 
• Deputy Mayor McCann, 
• and Mayor Casillas Salas

Absent:

• Councilmember Padilla

Also Present:

• City Manager Kachadoorian, 
• City Attorney Googins, 
• City Clerk Bigelow, 
• and Assistant City Clerk Turner

The City Council minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the City Council Agenda. Agenda items may be taken out of order during the meeting.

The agenda items for this meeting were considered in the order presented.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 5:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California.

2.

ROLL CALL

City Clerk Bigelow called the roll.

3.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE

Deputy Mayor McCann led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Casillas Salas announced that Item 7.1 would be pulled and re-noticed for a future date and that Item 8.2 was pulled by City staff for further analysis.

4.

SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

4.1

COVID-19 Update by the City of Chula Vista Emergency Services Manager Marlon King

Emergency Services Manager King gave a presentation on the item.

4.2

Presentation of a Proclamation to Public Works Tree Trimmer Supervisor Mike Leake on 40 Years of Service to the City of Chula Vista

Mayor Casillas Salas read the proclamation and Councilmember Galvez presented it to Mike Leake.

4.3

Presentation of a Proclamation Proclaiming October 25, 2021 as Larry Itliong Day in the City of Chula Vista

Mayor Casillas Salas read the proclamation and Councilmember Cardenas presented it to members of the Filipino American Educators Association, the Filipino Resource Center, and San Diego County AAPI Democratic Club members. Joanne Fields and Maria Fontimayor spoke regarding the item.

4.4

Presentation of International Friendship Commission's Video for the 40th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony with Chula Vista's Sister City Odawara

Nimpa Akana, International Friendship Commission Vice Chair gave a presentation on the item.

5.

CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 5.1 through 5.10)

• Moved by Councilmember McCann
  Seconded by Councilmember Cardenas

  To approve the recommended action appearing below consent calendar Items 5.1 through 5.10. The headings below were read, text waived. The motion carried by the following vote:

  Yes (4)

  Mayor Casillas Salas, Councilmember Galvez, Councilmember McCann, and Councilmember Cardenas

  Result, Carried (4 to 0)

5.1

Waive Reading of Text of Resolutions and Ordinances

• Approve a motion to read only the title and waive the reading of the text of all resolutions and ordinances at this meeting.

5.2

Consideration of Requests for Excused Absences

• Consider requests for excused absences.

  No requests were received at this meeting. 

  
  

5.3

City Budget: Various Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2020/21 Year-End Budget to Adjust for Variances and Appropriating Funds for that Purpose

• Accept the Quarterly Financial Report for the quarter ending June 30, 2021; and adopt a resolution making various amendments to the Fiscal Year 2020/21 budget to adjust for variances and appropriating funds for that purpose. (4/5 vote required)

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-189 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA MAKING VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020/21 BUDGET TO ADJUST FOR VARIANCES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

  
  

5.4

Employee Compensation and Positions: Approve the Addition and Deletion of Various Position Titles and Amended Position Counts in Various Departments, a Revised Compensation Schedule, and Budget Amendments

• Adopt resolutions (A) amending the Compensation Schedule and Classification Plan to reflect the addition and deletion of various position titles and amending the authorized position count in various departments; (B) approving the revised Fiscal Year 2021/22 Compensation Schedule effective November 5, 2021, as required by the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5; and (C) making various amendments to the Fiscal Year 2021/22 budget for appropriating funds therefor.

  A) RESOLUTION NO. 2021-190 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE COMPENSATION SCHEDULE AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN TO REFLECT THE ADDITION AND DELETION OF VARIOUS POSITION TITLES AND AMENDING THE AUTHORIZED POSITION COUNT IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITH AN INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED STAFFING

  B) RESOLUTION NO. 2021-191 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE REVISED FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 COMPENSATION SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5, 2021, AS REQUIRED BY CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 2, SECTION 570.5

  C) RESOLUTION NO. 2021-192 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA MAKING VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2021/22 BUDGET FOR APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)

  
  

5.5

Grant Award: Accept Grant Agreement with California Office of Traffic Safety

• Adopt a resolution accepting $455,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety and appropriating $352,536 to the Police Grants Section of the Federal Grants Fund for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. (4/5 vote required)

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-193 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING $455,000 FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY AND APPROPRIATING $352,536 TO THE POLICE GRANTS SECTION OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS FUND FOR THE SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.  

  
  

5.6

Grant Acceptance and Appropriation: Accept Funds from the San Diego Foundation Age Friendly Communities Municipal Grant to Implement a CV Senior Connect Informational Telephone Line for Seniors and Their Caregivers

• Adopt a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $49,850 from the San Diego Foundation Age Friendly Communities Municipal Grant to implement goals in the Communication & Information and Health & Community sections of the Age-Friendly Action Plan, and appropriating funds for that purpose. (4/5 vote required)

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-194 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS FROM THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES MUNICIPAL GRANT TO IMPLEMENT GOALS IN THE COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION AND HEALTH & COMMUNITY SECTIONS OF THE AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

  
  

5.7

Auditing Services Agreement: Approve an Agreement with Hinderliter de Llamas (“HdL”) to Provide Sales and Use Tax Auditing Services

• Adopt a resolution approving a sales and use tax audit services agreement with HdL for Fiscal Years 2021/22 and one option to extend for 2022/23.

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-195 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING SALES AND USE TAX AND TRANSACTIONS TAX AUDIT & INFORMATIONS SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND HINDERLITER, DE LLAMAS AND ASSOCIATES

  
  

5.8

Janitorial Services Contract: Award a Contract to Source Facility Solutions for Janitorial Services

• Adopt a resolution awarding a contract for janitorial services to Source Facility Solutions in an amount not to exceed $1,250,000 for up to five years and approve a budget transfer of $165,000 from the Public Works Department’s Personnel Services expense category to the Supplies and Services expense category in the fiscal year 2021-22 budget. (4/5 vote required)

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-196 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY AND SOURCE FACILITY SOLUTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.  

  
  

5.9

Grant Acceptance, Appropriation & Agreement Approval: Accept Grant, Allocate Funds and Approve Agreement with T-Mobile USA to Continue to Provide WiFi Hotspot Service to Disadvantaged Families

• Adopt a resolution accepting Emergency Connectivity Funding in the amount of $480,000, allocating $144,000 from PEG funds, and authorizing the City Manager to renew an agreement with T-Mobile USA to continue providing WiFi hotspot service to disadvantaged families, and appropriating funds for that purpose. (4/5 vote required)

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-197 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ACCCEPTING EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $480,000 AND ALLOCATING $144,000 IN PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT (PEG) FUNDS, FOR A TOTAL OF $624,000, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH T-MOBILE USA TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WIFI HOTSPOT SERVICE TO DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES. 

  
  

5.10

Ratification of Appointment: City Manager’s Appointment of the Director of Animal Services – John Skeel

• Adopt a resolution ratifying the City Manager’s appointment of John Skeel as the Director of Animal Services.

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-198 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER’S APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES – JOHN SKEEL

  
  

6.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Julia Rodriguez

Hola, pongo mi comentario porque me enfada que suban los precios de la renta. Yo estoy jubilada y recibo menos de $700 al mes. Si no me ayudaran mis hijos a pagar renta, yo estubiera honeless. Orita mucha gente se esta quedando sin casa porque llegan nuevos dueños que sacan a la gente y suben renta. Mientras vivimos en la casa no nos quieren arreglar nada, pero nomas arreglan algo y quieren corrernos para rentarle a alguien mas que pague el doble o hasta el triple. Ya hay mucha gente jubilada o que gana el sueldo minimo y no podemos pagar las rentas. Necesitamos protecciones para que no nos corran, y que en chula vista los dueños no puedan correr a los renteros nomas porque estan haciendo arreglos. Ustedes ni se imaginan que les pueda pasar esto, y nunca sabran como se siente el terror y la ansiedad de tener miedo de que los corran porque tienen sus puestos y ganan un buen sueldo de los impuestos que pagamos, ya tienen su propia casa, y no tienen que preocuparse por que esto les pase a sus hijos. Pero la mayoria de gente que renta en chula vista, no puede comprar su propia casa y vive ese miedo todos los dias. Exijo que hagan su trabajo y pasen una ley que proteja a los renteros, y no permita que nos corran o incrementen la renta demasiado cuando estamos haciendo nuestros pagos a tiempo.

Nancy Cruz

Protection for tenants! Dear chula vista council members. I am submitting my public comment because we need protections for renters. Rents in Chula Vista have increased considerably in the last decade and future generations need stability. Landlords should not be allowed to kick out people who have consistently rented homes or apartment units. Right now there is a huge movement to "flip" properties to increase rent prices or sell at a higher price, and in the process families are being kicked out of their homes. This greatly affects chula vista community members and children. We need more stability for families and individuals and I urge you to adopt a policy that protects tenants from being displaced arbitrarily. Best, Nancy cruz

Manuel Enriquez

Protections for tenants! Dear council, my name is Manuel Enriquez and I have been living in chula vista for all my life, living in the same house on Moss street for about 30 years. It should be unlawful for home owners to throw out families on the street just to make profit. My best friend is currently facing this issue. As council member Galvez knows, and as many of you probably have heard; the apartment complex he lives in, near the H street mall has been bought by an investor who evicted many of the families during the pandemic. Having nowhere to go, my friend and his family, as well as another neighbor have been asking to stay, however they have been constantly harassed and have been served false eviction notifications by the new owner. We need a policy in chula vista that does not allow homeowners to evict renters arbitrarily. While I am sharing my friend's story, I know that this is the case in many places in Chula Vista, where developers come to remodel and inflate rent prices for homes and apartments. I urge you to work with community members who are advocating fir a new housing policy at the city level. Thank you, Manuel Enriquez

Richard Roy

Mayor Salas and Council Members: When is the city going to stop kicking the can down the road and get a homeless shelter up and running? I've have been asking since the UT article was written. What gives? When I was younger I had to sleep on the streets. This was not because I had a choice, a mental illness, or an addiction. Has anybody from the council or Mayor Salas stayed the night on the streets with the homeless? Why don't we have a night out with them and see what they're going through? Not just an hour, let's make it all night, we'll start at dusk till dawn. Who's in? If you're running for mayor, you better raise your hand now. John? Jill?

6.1

Public Comments Received for 10/26/2021

The following members of the public expressed concern regarding rent control and homelessness in the City:

• Cathy Welsh, Chula Vista resident, spoke on behalf of Diana Arns, Maria Moreno, Salvador Cabrera, Cristina Lopez, Lydia Beanes, Maria Rodriguez, Esau Munoz, Sylvia Munoz and Salvador Salazar. 
• Rosy Vasquez representing Community Through Hope. 
• Katie Leon
• Isabelle Martinez
• Richard Schubert
• Sebastian Martinez representing Community Through Hope
• James McVeigh
• Luis Castro
• Gloria Flores
• Maria Luisa Varga
• Charles Canizales

Trisha Tolentino submitted written documentation regarding rent control but was not present when called.

Ignacio Alvarez, Chula Vista resident, spoke regarding sewer service billing. 

Bracken Heidenreich spoke in support of amendments to the Sunbow II development plan and provided additional suggestions for the project.

Mayor Casillas Salas recessed the meeting at 6:30 p.m. The Council reconvened at 6:40 p.m., with all members present.

7.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

7.1

Land Use Amendments: Amendments to the Chula Vista General Plan, the Sunbow II General Development Plan, and the Sunbow II Sectional Planning Area Plan to Rezone an Existing Vacant Parcel from Industrial to Residential Use Resulting in 718 New Units

Notice of the hearing was given in accordance with legal requirements, and the hearing was held on the date and no earlier than the specified in the notice. 

Mayor Casillas Salas announced that the item would be continued to a future date. 

8.

ACTION ITEMS

8.1

Workforce Housing Policy: Approve a “Workforce Housing Policy” to Enable the City to Consider Joint Power Authority Proposals to Provide Moderate Income Rental Projects

Acting Housing Manager Kurz, Deputy City Attorney Silva, and Development Services Director Allen gave a presentation on the item and responded to questions of the Council.

Council discussion ensued. 

The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:

• Jon Penkower representing the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA)
• Lauren Seaver representing Opportunity Housing Group
• Derek Landry 
• John Stoecker representing California Municipal Financing Authority

• Moved by Mayor Casillas Salas
  Seconded by Councilmember McCann

  To adopt Resolution No. 2021-199, heading read, text waived. The motion carried by the following vote:

  Yes (4)

  Mayor Casillas Salas, Councilmember Galvez, Councilmember McCann, and Councilmember Cardenas

  Result, Carried (4 to 0)

  RESOLUTION NO. 2021-199 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADOPTING A CITY COUNCIL POLICY ENTITLED “WORKFORCE HOUSING POLICY TO SERVE MODERATE INCOME RENTAL HOUSEHOLDS”

  
  

8.2

Housing Proposal: Consideration of Proposal to Convert the CasaLago Eastlake Rental Community into “Workforce Housing” via a Joint Powers Agency Agreement With CSCDA Community Improvement Authority

9.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS

There were none.

9.1

Fire Department Ambulance Transport System Update

Fire Chief Muns and Principal Management Analyst Folker gave a presentation on the item and responded to questions of the Council.

Council discussion ensued.

10.

MAYOR’S REPORTS

Mayor Casillas Salas spoke regarding rent control and resident hardship in the community.

11.

COUNCILMEMBERS’ COMMENTS

Councilmember Galvez spoke regarding her attendance at the following recent events: Mmm... Cakes ribbon-cutting; the 18th Annual Beautify Chula Vista Day; Bonita Optimists Meeting; San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Iluminada Gala; March and Ash Grand Opening; visit to Chula Vista High School's garden; meeting with Castle Park High School's Trojans Loving their Community (TLC) club; San Ysidro Health ribbon-cutting; 100-year exhibit for the Chula Vista Fire Department; the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension Tour and South Bay Community Services Change Their Lives Gala. She wished Chula Vista Arborist Mike Leake a Happy Retirement.

Councilmember McCann spoke regarding his attendance at the annual Beautify Chula Vista Day. 

Councilmember Cardenas announced that a cool mural would be coming to Castle Park soon. 

12.

CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORTS

12.1

Charter Project

City Attorney Googins spoke regarding the project. 

13.

CLOSED SESSION

There were no items heard in Closed Session. 

14.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m.

Minutes prepared by: Tyshar Turner, Assistant City Clerk