INCORPORATED
JULY 261957
ACTION MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF BRADBURY
RICITY OFFL
SPECIAL MEETING
BRADBURY Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - 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 Elizabeth Bruny at 7:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL A quorum was established by 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, City Attorney Cary Reisman, City Clerk Diane Jensen and Management Analyst Paulina
Reyes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Action: Councilmember Hale made a motion to approve the agenda with Councilmember Lathrop seconding the motion which passed unanimously, 5:0.
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.
Action: City Attorney Reisman stated he was not aware of any potential conflicts.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Bruny opened the meeting to Public Comment. No members of the general public in attendance.
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026
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, June 16, 2026.
B. Monthly Investment Report for the month of July, 2026.
C. Resolution No. 26-19, Demands & Warrants for July, 2026.
D. Resolution No. 26-20: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Bradbury, California, Allocating Funds from the Citizen's Options for Public Safety ("COPS") Program, and Documenting the Determinations Required by the Supplemental Law Enforcement Oversight Committee.
E. Resolution No. 26-21: A Resolution to Incorporate a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Funded by SB 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act Action: Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hale. The motion passed unanimously, 5:0.
3. DISCUSSION ON TRUCK RESTRICTIONS ON ROYAL OAKS DRIVE NORTH City Council discussed strategies to mitigate heavy truck traffic and noise on Royal Oaks Drive North and Winston/Lemon Avenues, focusing on early morning backup alarms.
Public Comment:
• Tony Agoncillo, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, Royal Oaks Manor Martha Faith, ambassador Royal Oaks Manor
Action: City Council deferred final action, directing Royal Oaks Manor management to eliminate delivery arrivals prior to 8:00 a.m. Councilmember Hale introduced a motion to revisit the agenda item in 60 days to evaluate the results of this operational change before making a final determination. Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconded the motion, which passed by a unanimous vote of 5-0.
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026
4. PRESENTATION: CITYWIDE CONCRETE REPAIRS
Following a citywide compilation of concrete repair locations consisting of damaged sidewalks, curbs & gutters, drive approaches, and pavement, David Gilbertson, City Engineer, presented a breakdown of the projected Citywide at approximately $230,000.00 vs. only Gardi Street at approximately $85,000, including the City's arborist being present during the concrete rehabilitation to determine the extent of tree root removal.
Action: Councilmember Hale made a motion for the City's Engineering group, RKA, to prepare citywide formal bid specifications, obtain citywide formal bids and then return to City Council for a formal award of bid. The City to use funding from Measures R & M, Props A & C and the Gas Tax approved earlier tonight. Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconded this motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
5. CHARGING FOR USE OF CREDIT CARDS AT CITY HALL
Implementation of a 3% convenience fee for Visa and Mastercard credit card transactions to recover merchant processing costs.
Action: Mayor Bruny made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-22, approving a 3% convenience fee for all Mastercard and Visa credit card transactions. Councilmember Lathrop seconded the motion, which passed Council approved single transactions over $5,000.00 at the City Manager's discretion, eliminating the need for future Council approval to raise transaction limits.
6. DISCUSSION: FIRST FRIDAY CLOSURES
This item is a continuation from the June 2026 meeting to decide whether the First Friday Closure schedule should remain.
Public Comment: Diane Jensen, City Clerk, City of Bradbury.
Action: Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski made a motion to continue the First Friday Closure schedule with Councilmember Hale seconding the motion.
Official Vote 3:2:
AYE: Mayor Bruny, Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski, Councilmember Hale NO: Councilmembers Lathrop & Barakat.
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026
4. PRESENTATION: CITYWIDE CONCRETE REPAIRS
Following a citywide compilation of concrete repair locations consisting of damaged sidewalks, curbs & gutters, drive approaches, and pavement, David Gilbertson, City Engineer, presented a breakdown of the projected costs.
Citywide at approximately $230,000.00 vs. only Gardi Street at approximately $85,000, including the City's arborist being present during the concrete rehabilitation to determine the extent of tree root removal.
Action: Councilmember Hale made a motion for the City's Engineering group, RKA, to prepare citywide formal bid specifications, obtain citywide formal bids and then return to City Council for a formal award of bid. The City to use funding from Measures R & M, Props A & C and the Gas Tax approved earlier tonight. Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski seconded this motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
5. CHARGING FOR USE OF CREDIT CARDS AT CITY HALL
Implementation of a 3% convenience fee for Visa and Mastercard credit card transactions to recover merchant processing costs.
Action: Mayor Bruny made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-22, approving a 3% convenience fee for all Mastercard and Visa credit card transactions. Councilmember Lathrop seconded the motion, which passed Council approved single transactions over $5,000.00 at the City Manager's discretion, eliminating the need for future Council approval to raise transaction limits.
6. DISCUSSION: FIRST FRIDAY CLOSURES
This item is a continuation from the June 2026 meeting to decide whether the First Friday Closure schedule should remain.
Public Comment: Diane Jensen, City Clerk, City of Bradbury.
Action: Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski made a motion to continue the 12-day annual city staff furlough schedule with Councilmember Hale seconding the motion. Official Vote 3:2:
AYE: Mayor Bruny, Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski, Councilmember Hale NO: Councilmembers Lathrop & Barakat.
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026
7. DISCUSSION ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUNDS
At the June 16, 2026 City Council meeting, Staff asked direction from City Council on how to expend the budgeted $4,000.00 for homelessness.
Action: After reviewing past charities, Mayor Bruny made a motion to donate $2,000.00 to Union Station Homeless Services and $2,000.00 to the Elizabeth House in Pasadena. Councilmember Barakat seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
8. MATTERS FROM CITY MANAGER:
• Special Meeting, Monday, August 3, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to sign environmental contracts.
• Elections November 3, 2026 for District 3 & District 5 MATTERS FROM CITY ATTORNEY: Nothing to report.
10. MATTERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Bruny - Nothing to report.
Mayor Pro Tem Szymkowski - Nothing to report.
Councilmember Hale - Nothing to report.
Councilmember Barakat - Summarized LA County Sanitation and SGV Mosquito & Vector Control meetings.
Councilmember Lathrop - Nothing to report.
11. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS:
• Very high fire severity zone definition.
• COG receptive to forming committees for very high fire areas.
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026
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 8:19 following a five-minute break.
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 Kearney and City Attorney Reisman.
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).
B. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Government Code Section 54957 (b) (4)
Title: City Manager
C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Agency Negotiator: Cary S. Reisman, City Attorney
Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
Authority Gov't Code Section: 54957.6
Action: At 9:34 p.m., City Attorney Reisman stated that Council met in Closed Session to discuss the three items:
1. Litigation: The report from Staff was information only. No votes were requested or taken.
2. Evaluation: Council instructed the City Attorney as to what to prepare.
3. Salary: There was discussion but no formal votes were taken. It will be discussed on the next agenda in "Open Session."
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:35 p.m., Mayor Bruny made a made a motion to adjourn the meeting to an Adjourned meeting at the Bradbury Civic Center, 600 Winston Avenue, Bradbury, CA 91008 on Monday, August 3, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmember Barakat seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 5:0.
SIGNED BY:
Elizabet A Bran Rabeth Brany.
Signature Name
Mayor 8.18.2026
Date
ATTEST:
8.18.2026
Diane Jensen Date
City Clerk, City of Bradbury
CC Minutes
July 14, 2026