INCORPORATED
ACTION MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
FICITY OFF OF THE CITY OF BRADBURY
REGULAR MEETING
BRADBURY Tuesday, November 18, 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, Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Bruny, Councilmember Bruce Lathrop, Councilmember Richard G. Barakat and Councilmember Melodie Szymkowski.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF: City Manager Kevin Kearney, City Attorney Cary Reisman, and Management Analyst Paulina Reyes.
CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION: According to Bradbury Municipal Code Section
2.01.060, the City Council reorganizes annually and from its members, selects a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Candidates for Mayor Pro Tem must self-nominate by writing a statement of intent. The City Clerk's office received a Statement of Intent from Councilmember Melodie Szymkowski. (attached)
Councilmember Lathrop motioned to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Bruny to Mayor and Councilmember Szymkowski to Mayor Pro Tem. This motion was seconded by Councilmember Barakat and carried unanimously.
NEW ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Elizabeth Bruny, Mayor Pro Tem Melodie Szymkowski, Councilmember Bruce Lathrop, Councilmember Richard G. Barakat and Councilmember Richard T. Hale, Jr.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilmember Barakat made a motion to approve the agenda with Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconding the motion which passed unanimously, 5:0. The Council proceeded with the City of Bradbury business.
CC Minutes
November 18, 2025
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 Bruny opened the meeting to Public Comment.
Vicky Paul, Field Deputy representing Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office, presented a Commendation to outgoing Mayor Richard T. Hale, Jr., for his accomplishments during his Mayorship.
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, October 21, 2025.
B. Monthly Investment Report for the month of November, 2025.
Resolution No. 25-24, Demands & Warrants for November, 2025.
Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with Councilmember Barakat seconding the motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
PRESENTATION - SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS: 2025 PRESIDENT'S INTRODUCTION DISCUSSION ON UPZONING AND SENATE BILL 9 The SGVCOG's President and Claremont City Council Member, Ed Reese, presented updates on the organization depicted through various slides.
4. LEMON CUT-THRU TRAIL - PROJECT UPDATE
Following discussions during the August 2025 City Council meeting, Staff presented a scope of work and quote in the amount of $44,130.00 for the trail's recommended improvements.
Councilmember Hale made a motion to approve the SOW and Staff's quoted amount with Councilmember Barakat seconding the motion, which passed unanimously.
CC Minutes
November 18, 2025
RESOLUTION NO. 25-25: ADOPTION OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT On October 22, 2025, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. PC 25-329 recommending the City Council adopt the updated Health & Safety Element and find it exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Guidelines § 15061(b)(3).
Councilmember Hale made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 25-25, adopting the updated Element while confirming the CEQA exemption. Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
6. DISCUSSION OF AN ANNUAL APPRECIATION EVENT
Staff reported that two venue options were presented to the City Council at its meeting of October 21, 2025. Following further review of both locations, Staff recommended selecting Domenico's Restaurant, noting that it best met the Council's parameters regarding overall cost, ease of coordination, and proximity for attendees. The proposed event date and time are January 21, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Councilmember Hale made a motion to approve the Domenico's event location with Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconding the motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
7. CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 25-26 PERTAINING TO THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
Each year, City Council designates City Council members as liaisons to organizations and associations. Council decided to keep the assignments to the committees "as is" with no changes.
Councilmember Hale made a motion to approve Resolution No. 25-26 pertaining to the appointments to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
ASSOCIATION/ORGANIZATION 2025/26 LIAISON 2025/26 ALTERNATE California Contract Cities Assoc. (CCCA) Vacant Vacant
League of California Cities M. Szymkowski B. Lathrop
LA County City Selection Committee Mayor Vacant
LA County Sanitation District Mayor R. Barakat
CC Minutes
November 18, 2025
So. Cal. Joint Powers Insurance Authority Mayor City Manager So. Cal Assoc. of Governments (SCAG) Vacant Vacant
Foothill Transit R. Barakat E. Bruny
San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control R. Barakat M. Szymkowski District
Duarte Community Education Council (CEC) B. Lathrop E. Bruny Duarte Education Foundation E. Bruny B. Lathrop
San Gabriel Valley COG M. Szymkowski R. Barakat
8. MATTERS FROM CITY MANAGER: Nothing to report.
9. MATTERS FROM CITY ATTORNEY: Nothing to report.
10. MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL: Councilmember Barakat provided an update for the County Sanitation District and the
County Sanitation District.
11. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS: Councilmember Lathrop requested Frontier Internet to provide a presentation.
CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
The Closed Session of the City Council of the City of Bradbury was called to order by Mayor Bruny at 7:37 p.m.
ROLL CALL -
PRESENT: Mayor Elizabeth Bruny, Mayor Pro Tem Melodie Szymkowski, Councilmember Bruce Lathrop, Councilmember Richard G. Barakat and Councilmember Richard T. Hale, Jr.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF: City Manager Kevin Kearney and City Attorney Cary Reisman.
CC Minutes
November 18, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENT - REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ONLY
No members of the general public in attendance.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION REGARDING:
A. 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).
Council met in Closed Session. Informative only. No formal votes were taken or requested.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 7:42 p.m., Councilmember Hale made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Councilmember Barakat seconded that motion, which passed unanimously 5:0. The Regular Meeting was adjourned to a Regular Meeting at the Bradbury Civic Center, 600 Winston Avenue, Bradbury, CA 91008 on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
SIGNED BY:
12.16.2025
ElncherABan
Elizabeth Bruny DATE
Mayor, City of Bradbury
ATTEST:
12.16.2025
Diane Jensen DATE
City Clerk, City of Bradbury
CC Minutes
November 18, 2025