CITY OF CARSON
MINUTES
CARSON CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026, 2:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER: CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/HOUSING AUTHORITY (5:00 pm) The meeting was called to order at 2:05 P.M. by Mayor Pro Tempore Cedric Hicks, Sr. in the Helen Kawagoe Council Chambers, Carson City Hall, located at 701 E. Carson Street, Carson, California 90745.
ROLL CALL (CITY CLERK)
City Clerk, Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw noted the roll:
Council Members Present:
Mayor Pro Tempore Cedric Hicks, Sr.Council Member Jim DearCouncil Member Dr. Jawane HiltonCouncil Member Arleen Rojas Council Members Absent:
Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes (Entered at 2:10 P.M. during Closed Session) Also Present:
David C. Roberts, Jr., City Manager; Dr. Robert Lennox, Assistant City Manager; Thomas Toman, Deputy City Manager; Armine Chaparyan, Deputy City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Shukan Patel, Assistant City Attorney; Gary Carter, Director of Information Technology and Security; William Jefferson, Director of Finance; Michael George, Government Affairs Officer; Kourtney Cullors, Chief Deputy City Clerk; and Shevae Palmer, Senior Clerk
FLAG SALUTE
Council Member Dear led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
Council Member, Dr. Hilton gave the invocation.
CLOSED SESSION
1.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (CITY COUNCIL) — A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(a), to confer with legal counsel regarding pending litigation to which the City is a party. The title of such litigation is as follows: Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company, LLC; Tesoro Logistics Operations LLC v. City of Carson, Second Appellate District Case No. B335686.
ACTION: City Attorney William Wynder presented a privileged and confidential settlement terms and conditions that have been proposed by the Tesoro Marketing and Refining. The City Council reviewed each of the terms and conditions of the proposed settlement. The City Council has approved the same "in concept" subject to bringing back a fully executed signed settlement and annual payment agreement. The total sum of which will involve 370 million dollars to the City of Carson. As a consequence of that, there will need to be a public action taken which will be on the next meeting agenda.
2.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (CITY COUNCIL) — A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) or (d)(3) and (e)(1), because there is a significant exposure to litigation in one case.
ACTION: No reportable action was taken
REPORT ON ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (CITY CLERK) None.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (CITY ATTORNEY)
City Attorney William Wynder announced the Closed Session items.
RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION UNTIL THE END OF CLOSED SESSION (Items 1 - 2) The meeting was recessed at 2:08 P.M. by Mayor Pro Tempore Hicks, Sr. to Closed Session.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (CITY COUNCIL)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (CITY COUNCIL) RULES OF DECORUM:
A recording of the Rules of Decorum was presented earlier in the meeting.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION AT THE END OF CLOSED SESSION
The meeting was reconvened at 2:31 P.M. by Mayor Davis-Holmes.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS (CITY ATTORNEY)
City Attorney William Wynder gave the Closed Session report.
INTRODUCTIONS (MAYOR)
None.
PRESENTATIONS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA (MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC) (LIMITED TO
ONE HOUR)
The following individuals offered comments regarding Item No. 3.
James Holland
Steven Clenard
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None.
CONSENT
None.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
DISCUSSION (Item 3)
3. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-096, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 26-086 FOR THE
PURPOSE OF WITHDRAWING THE ORDER OF ELECTION ON A PROPOSED OIL REFINERY TAX MEASURE AT THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 ELECTION, AND RESCINDING RELATED RESOLUTIONS (CITY COUNCIL)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
— 1. Consider waiving further reading and adopting Resolution No. 26-096, entitled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 26-086 FOR
THE PURPOSE OF WITHDRAWING THE ORDER OF ELECTION ON A PROPOSED OIL REFINERY TAX MEASURE AT THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 ELECTION, AND RESCINDING RELATED RESOLUTIONS." City Attorney Wynder stated in light of the settlement agreement that has been reached in principle between Tesoro, a marathon subsidiary, and the City Council which is subject to documentation, the City Attorney's Office is recommending that the Council rescind and withdraw the proposed per-barrel tax measure that they have provisionally placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot. He provided a draft resolution.
He made it clear that the settlement agreement that has been agreed to between the parties and principals reimburses the city in full not only for the tax that has been impounded but for the cost of the litigation, the city attorney's fees, the city's consultant fees, penalties and interests on the impounded fund. Once the agreement is executed, the city will be made entirely whole from this litigation.
City Attorney Wynder referred to draft Resolution No. 26-097 and referred to the following:
Second Whereas clause in the first blank, insert words one hundred twenty million dollars in settlement of certain litigation by and between the parties
Second blank, insert the number 250 million dollars the same to be paid over 15 years Second to the last Whereas clause, insert the date August 10, 2026 Remainder of the resolution rescinds and asks for the withdrawal of all resolutions relating to the per-barrel tax measure that is in Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5
Last section which is very important until we have agreement and principle, until we have a signed agreement signed by Tesoro then this resolution in Section 8 is made conditional upon the execution of a final and complete settlement agreement to the satisfaction of all parties He further stated that he would like to have this completed by tomorrow, have a draft of the agreement to complete after the meeting, send to Tesoro's counsel today, signed tonight, approve the agreement tomorrow, and will deliver to the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's Office. Also, he recommends the City Council to adopt Resolution No. 26-097 as completed by filling in the blanks as he noted and outlined in his staff report.
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-097, as read by title only, which incorporates the language presented by the City Attorney and made conditional upon the execution of a final and complete settlement agreement, submitted by Council Member, Dr. Hilton seconded by Council Member Dear resulting in 5-0-0-0-0 Mayor Davis-Holmes ordered a City Council Special Meeting to be held August 11, 2026 at 4:00 P.M. in the Helen Kawagoe Council Chambers, Carson City Hall, located at 701 E. Carson Street, Carson, California 90745.
ORDINANCE SECOND READING
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR MATTERS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA (MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC) None.
COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS TO ADD ITEMS TO FUTURE AGENDAS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (COUNCIL MEMBERS)
None.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNFINISHED OR CONTINUED CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (AS NECESSARY) None.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
None.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
None.
REPORT OF ACTIONS ON UNFINISHED OR CONTINUED CLOSED SESSION ITEMS None.
MEMORIAL ADJOURNMENTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 P.M. by Mayor Davis-Holmes. __________________________________
Lula Davis-Holmes
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw
City Clerk