INCORRORATED
JULY 26. 1957
ACTION MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF BRADBURY
CITY OF
REGULAR MEETING
BRADBURY Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 7:00 P.M.
BRADBURY CIVIC CENTER
600 Winston Avenue, Bradbury, CA 91008
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Bradbury was called to order by Mayor Hale at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL -
PRESENT: Mayor Richard T. Hale, Councilmember Bruce Lathrop, Councilmember Richard G. Barakat and Councilmember Melodie Szymkowski.
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Bruny.
STAFF: City Manager Kevin Kearney, City Attorney Cary Reisman, City Clerk Diane Jensen, and Management Analyst Paulina Reyes.
Councilmember Barakat made a motion to excuse Mayor Pro Tem Bruny from the meeting with Mayor Hale seconding the motion. The motion passed 4:0 APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilmember Barakat made a motion to approve the agenda with Mayor Hale seconding the motion which passed unanimously, 4:0. The Council proceeded with the City of Bradbury business.
DISCLOSURE OF ITEMS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 1090 & 81000 ET. SEQ. In compliance with the California Political Reform Act, each City Councilmembers has the responsibility to disclose direct or indirect potential for a personal financial impact as a result of participation in the decision-making process concerning agenda items.
City Attorney Reisman stated he was not aware of any potential conflicts.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Hale opened the meeting to Public Comment. Debra Opp of 1849 Royal Oaks Drive discussed an ongoing noise problem from inhabitants of the rental house next door and requested the Council's suggestions on how to handle the problem. She will continue to report the noise to the Sheriff department and work with the City Manager.
CC Minutes
September 16, 2025
ACTION ITEMS*
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the Consent Calendar are considered by the City Council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless a Council Member requests otherwise, in which case the item will be removed and considered by separate action. All Resolutions and Ordinances for Second Reading on the Consent Calendar, the motion will be deemed to "to waive the reading and adopt." A. Minutes: Regular Meeting, August 19, 2025.
B. Monthly Investment Report for the month of September, 2025.
C. Resolution No. 25-22, Demands & Warrants for September, 2025.
Mayor Hale made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar and Councilmember Barakat seconded the motion which passed 4:0.
3. HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAM 8.C. - DEVELOP PRE-APPROVED PLANS FOR
DETACHED ADUS TO STREAMLINE APPROVAL
The City of Bradbury must develop pre-approved plans for detached ADU's in order to comply with the Housing Element's checklist. Through an RFP process to find architects, renderings and drawings, the City could choose to develop its own ADU plans or it can partner with groups like the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (SGVHfH), who already have pre-approved ADU plans and are willing to share them with the City of Bradbury at no cost. Also, the City Council would like to include ADU building plans that have more fire-resistant features such as sprinklers and metal roofs.
Ultimately, the City Council would like the ADU building plans to require more fire- resistant materials such as sprinklers.
4. APPROVAL OF SERVICES WITH VERONICA TAM AND ASSOCIATES FOR HOUSING
ELEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE FOR A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $17,600
The City's Housing Element includes State-mandated programs. To assist with will not exceed $17,600.
Councilmember Barakat made a motion to approve the services of Veronica Tam and Associates, not to exceed $17,600.00 and Councilmember Szymkowski seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously 4:0.
CC Minutes
September 16, 2025
5. APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY SYSTEM UPGRADE TO EVERBRIDGE AT A YEARLY COST OF $5,000
Staff compared the current emergency notification system, Blackboard Connect, with Everbridge. At the Public Safety Committee meeting on August 14, 2025, it was recommended that City Council approve the Everbridge $5000.00 purchase and subsequent annual billings. They, and for City Council to authorize its $5,000 purchase.
Councilmember Szymkowski made a motion to approve the purchase which was seconded by Councilmember Lathrop. The motion passed unanimously, 4:0.
6. DISCUSSION ON USE OF CALRECYCLE FUNDS
The City has $19,662.17 in restricted funds from the Cal Recycle Beverage Container Recycling Grant. Council directed the City Manager to consult with the City of Duarte for project ideas or potential partnerships on their new Royal Oaks Trail project. If another water station is installed, the top of Mount Olive Drive and the Lemon Cut-Thru Trail are the best two locations due to water availability.
Councilmember Barakat also recommended regular maintenance of all water stations to address hard-water buildup and debris.
7. MATTERS FROM THE CITY MANAGER: Out of office 09.17.25 to 09.19.25.
8. MATTERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY None.
9. MATTERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL: None.
10. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS: "Downsizing" and SB9.
CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
The Closed Session of the City Council of the City of Bradbury was called to order by Mayor Hale at 7:45 p.m.
ROLL CALL -
PRESENT: Mayor Richard T. Hale, Councilmember Bruce Lathrop, Councilmember Richard G. Barakat and Councilmember Melodie Szymkowski.
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Bruny.
STAFF: City Manager Kearney and City Attorney Reisman.
Councilmember Barakat made a motion to excuse Mayor Pro Tem Bruny from the meeting with Mayor Hale seconding that motion. The motion passed 4:0 CC Minutes
September 16, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENT - REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ONLY
No members of the general public in attendance.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION REGARDING:
A. CITY'S NEGOTIATIORS TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OR REAL PROPERTY by or for the City, in order to grant authority to its negotiators regarding the price and terms of payment for the purchase or lease of the property described as Assessor's Parcel Numbers 8527-001-001, 8527- 001-008, 8527-001-009, and 8527-001-012 (formally Oak View Estates Project) City negotiators: Kevin Kearney and Cary S. Reisman; Person(s) to negotiate with: Property owner(s) or their agents.
The Council instructed the City Manager as how to proceed. No formal purchase offers or other instructions were issued at this time.
B. PENDING LITIGATION
Pending Litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) (Litigation to which the City is a party has been initiated formally: City of Bradbury, etc. v. Marlene Robertson et al. - Los Angeles Superior Court case no. 25NNCP00569).
Informative only. No formal votes were requested or taken.
C. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Government Code Section 54957 (b)(4)
Title: City Engineer (RKA Consulting Group)
The Council instructed the City Manager as to how to proceed with the evaluation.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 8:25 p.m., Councilmember Lathrop made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Councilmember Barakat seconded that motion, which passed unanimously 4:0. The Regular Meeting was adjourned to a Regular Meeting at the Bradbury Civic Center, 600 Winston Avenue, Bradbury, CA 91008 on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Welled 10.21.2025
DATE
Mayor, City of Bradbury
ATTEST:
10.21.2025
Diane Jensen DATE
City Clerk, City of Bradbury
CC Minutes
September 16, 2025