La Mesa City Council

Minutes of a Regular Meeting

Meeting #:
Date:	Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 6:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.
Location:	City Council Chambers, 8130 Allison Avenue La Mesa, California

Present:

• Mayor Arapostathis
• Vice Mayor Shu
• Councilmember Baber
• Councilmember Lothian
• Councilmember Parent

Staff:

• City Manager Humora
• Assistant City Manager Tomaino
• City Attorney Sabine
• City Clerk Wiegelman

This meeting was conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with Government Code Section 54953, as amended by Assembly Bill 361, in relation to the COVID-19 State of Emergency and recommended social distancing measures.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

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

The Agenda Items were considered in the order presented.

Mayor Arapostathis called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

1.1

INVOCATION - COUNCILMEMBER BABER

1.2

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2.

REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION

City Attorney Sabine announced there were no reportable actions.

3.

CITY MANAGER COMMENTS

City Manager Humora introduced the new Director of Public Works, Michael Throne.

Director of Public Works Throne gave a brief summary of his professional background.

The Mayor and Council welcomed Director of Public Works Throne to the City.

4.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN REPORTS

The Mayor, Council and staff made announcements and reported on various events taking place in the City. No action was taken.

5.

ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.

6.

PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)

Brother Steven Gerard spoke regarding pro-life and recommended the City of La Mesa become a charter city.

7.

CONFLICT DISCLOSURES

There were no conflict of interest disclosures.

8.

BOARD AND COMMISSION INTERVIEWS

8.1

INTERVIEW OF APPLICANTS FOR UNSCHEDULED VACANCIES ON THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION

City Clerk Wiegelman briefly explained the interview process.

The following applicants spoke regarding their qualifications and interest in being appointed to the Youth Advisory Commission:

Zaida Donnelly

Mustafa Dost

City Clerk Wiegelman said the appointments would be made at the April 26th City Council meeting.

Following the interviews, no action was taken.

9.

CONSENT CALENDAR

(Items 9.1 through 9.3)

• Moved by Councilmember Baber
  Seconded by Mayor Arapostathis

  Approve Consent Calendar Items 9.1 through 9.3.

  Yes (5)

  Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Shu, Councilmember Baber, Councilmember Parent, and Councilmember Lothian

  (5 to 0)

9.1

APPROVAL OF MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE TEXT OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS AT THIS MEETING

• Approve.

9.2

RESOLUTION DIRECTING REVIEW OF THE CITY OF LA MESA CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE

• Resolution No. 2022-025

  Adopt Resolution.

9.3

ABANDONMENT OF IRREVOCABLE OFFER OF DEDICATION OF REAL PROPERTY

 

RESOLUTION ORDERING THE ABANDONMENT OF IRREVOCABLE OFFER OF DEDICATION OF REAL PROPERTY OVER 4005 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE BEING THE EASTERN 25 FEET OF PARCEL 2, DEDICATED PER DOCUMENT 88-271586, RECORDED JUNE 7, 1988 AS SHOWN ON PARCEL MAP 15264, IN THE CITY OF LA MESA

• Resolution No. 2022-026

  Adopt Resolution.

10.

ORDINANCE: FIRST READING

10.1

CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING LA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 10.30 REGULATING THE RESIDENTIAL STORAGE OF FIREARMS; AND CONDUCTING AN ASSOCIATED PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM

Lori Van Orden

Secure storage of firearms will save lives--preventing unintentional shootings, homicide, domestic violence and suicide. In addition, a safe storage ordinance should be used to educate the public--the proposed public information program, which includes social media, printed information for community events, and information in the City Newsletter, is exactly what is needed. With reminders to the public via each of these methods regularly throughout each year, many lives will be saved and gun thefts prevented. Thank you.

Victoria Koenitzer

California state law does not address many homes with guns and their safe storage requirements. A local La Mesa law will uniformly require all guns of all owners to be securely stored. San Francisco’s safe storage law was upheld as constitutional by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Jackson v. City and County of San Francisco, 746 F.3d 953 (9th Cir. 2014).

Rosalba Ciampi

I support the ordinance and public information campaign. Guns that are stored securely are much less likely to be stolen. We parents of teens know too well how difficult it is at their age to foresee and assess the consequences of their actions and how challenging it is for them to resist temptations. Let us help our kids and keep them safe.

Celia Taghdiri

Guns that are stored securely are much less likely to be stolen. Stolen guns are then too often used in crimes, by those who could not legally buy a gun.

Jane Meyers

I support the consideration of the ordinance for safe storage of guns by owners and information going to the community.

THOMAS KEENER

I strongly support this ordinance and public information campaign - as a Vietnam Vet and a husband, father and grandfather, all of us living in San Diego, it's critically important that safe storage becomes reality in La Mesa.

Susan Ehrhardt

In California as well as across the United States, we see endless gun violence. We need to do the important things to reduce this mayhem. A safe storage ordinance would educate the public to help keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Carol Landale

Firearms in the home must be safely stored so that children, a person in crisis or a thief cannot access them, State law does not adequately address safe firearm storage, and this ordinance will require fill the loopholes and will make La Mesa safer. I strongly support this ordinance.

John Mann

Please do whatever it takes to ensure that firearms are stored safely, unavailable to children and miscreants.

Chief Sweeney provided an overview of the draft Ordinance and public information program.

Council questions and comments ensued.

The following members of the public spoke or submitted a comment in support of the proposed Ordinance and public information program:

Louis Knowlton on behalf of La Mesa First United Methodist Church Community Outreach Committee

Therese Hymer

Mick Rabin

Dianne Osterling

Lori Van Orden

Victoria Koenitzer

Rosalba Ciampi

John White

Celia Taghdiri

Jane Meyers

Thomas Keener

Susan Ehrhardt

Carol Landale

John Mann

The following members of the public spoke in opposition to the proposed Ordinance:

Kenneth Van Tassell 

Gary Wyer

City Attorney Sabine read the title of the Ordinance.

• Moved by Vice Mayor Shu
  Seconded by Councilmember Parent

  Approve the introduction and first reading of the Ordinance.

  Yes (2)	Vice Mayor Shu, and Councilmember Parent
  No (3)	Mayor Arapostathis, Councilmember Baber, and Councilmember Lothian

  Failed (2 to 3)
• Moved by Councilmember Parent
  Seconded by Vice Mayor Shu

  Direct staff to conduct a public information program to inform residents of the federal, state, and local laws for the safe storage of firearms.

  Yes (5)

  Mayor Arapostathis, Vice Mayor Shu, Councilmember Baber, Councilmember Parent, and Councilmember Lothian

  Approved (5 to 0)

11.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 MINUTE LIMIT)

The Mayor and Council reported on various outside boards, commissions and committee meetings they attended. No action was taken.

12.

AB 1234 REPORTS (GC 53232.3 (d))

Councilmember Parent reported on his trip to Washington D.C. on March 27 – 30, 2022 for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce 2022 Mission to Washington D.C. event.

13.

CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS

There were no remarks.

14.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Arapostathis adjourned the meeting at 6:58 p.m.