City of Commerce
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 6:00 PM
CONCURRENT JOINT MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COMMERCE, JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY AND THE GOVERNING BODY
OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COMMERCE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION
6:00 P.M. - CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lainez called the regular City Council meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Lainez
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia
Councilmember Altamirano
Councilmember Argumedo
Councilmember Rebollo
Present: 5 -
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director of Community Services Serrano led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia offered the invocation.
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City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
APPEARANCES AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Certificates of Recognition to Commerce Ballet Folklórico Mayor Lainez provided a brief summary for the presentation to the Commerce Ballet Folklorico. Certificates of recognition were provided to all the dancers.
Councilmember Rebollo thanked the Ballet for keeping the Mexican culture alive within our City during these difficult times. She further thanked the instructor for her dedication and the parents for their support.
Councilmember Argumedo thanked the instructor for her dedication, and the dancers for representing the City.
Councilmember Altamirano stated that the group was remarkable.
He acknowledged the parents for their leadership.
Councilmember Garcia thanked the instructor for putting the program together.
2. 66th City Birthday Celebration & Cake Cutting Ceremony Mayor Lainez provided the history of the City of Commerce. He thanked the City Council, dedicated staff, business community and the residents for their continued commitment for making Commerce a strong, welcoming, and forward-thinking City.
The entire City Council cut the cake then they were accompanied by the Ballet Folklorico for pictures.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Frank Martinez asked about the new City lighting project and how the City’s contractor planned to secure the new assets and protect against the theft of the new copper wires. He would like to know if the City had a security plan and who would pay for the new wires in the event they were stolen. He further mentioned a social media post regarding a consultant publicly criticizing the City and asked how the City handled the hiring of consultants.
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City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 5 was pulled by Councilmember Argumedo for a separate discussion.
Item 7 was removed from the agenda and placed on the February 10, 2026 meeting.
Councilmember Rebollo moved, seconded by Councilmember Argumedo to approve Consent Calendar Items 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9. The motion carried by the following vote:
3. Approval of Warrant Register Nos. 10A, 10B, and 10C
Action Taken: Approved the bills and claims set forth in Warrant Registers No. 10A dated January 27, 2026, 10B for the period of January 14, 2026 through January 21, 2026, and 10C for the period of January 8, 2026 through January 12, 2026.
4. Approval of Minutes
Action Taken: Approved the minutes of the Special City Council meeting of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, held at 5:00 p.m. and the City Council meeting of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, held at 6:00 p.m.
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5. Approval of Resolution No. 26-1 Updating Appointment Authority for City Commissions, Committees, and Boards and Repealing Resolution No. 14-115 Councilmember Argumedo pulled this item for separate discussion.
Councilmember Argumedo requested clarification on what was being done with this item.
City Attorney Tapia explained that this resolution would supersede the previous resolution and provide for the customary Council appointment process that does not include Council consent.
Councilmember Argumedo moved, seconded by Councilmember Rebollo to adopt Resolution No. 26-1 of the City Council of the City of Commerce, California, updating appointment authority for city commissions, committees, and boards and repealing Resolution No. 14-115.The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Lainez, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Argumedo, and Councilmember Rebollo
5 -
City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
Ayes: Mayor Lainez, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Argumedo, and Councilmember Rebollo
5 -
6. Award of Construction Contract to All American Asphalt for the Slauson Avenue Corridor from I-5 to I-710 and Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 Improvements at Various Locations Project
Action Taken: Adopted Resolution No. 26-2 awarding a Construction Contract to All American Asphalt for the Slauson Avenue Corridor from I-5 to I-710 and Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 Improvements at Various Locations Project, approving a Professional Services Agreement with Geo-Advantec, Inc. for material testing, and authorizing Construction Management and Inspection Services by Transtech Engineers, inc. pursuant to their On-Call Professional Consulting Services Agreements.
7. Resolution of Intention to Amend the City’s CALPERS Contract to Provide Up to Two (2) Years of Additional Service Credit (“Golden Handshake”) and to Receive and Disclose the Actuarial Cost Analysis Pursuant to Government Code Sections 20903 and 7507
This Item was removed from this agenda and scheduled on the February 10, 2026 meeting.
8. Re-Establishment of the City Clerk Position and Amendment to the Classification and Compensation Plan
Action Taken: Adopted Resolution No. 26-3 re-establishing the City Clerk position and amending the City’s Classification and Compensation Plan accordingly.
9. Organizational Assignments for Councilmembers
Action Taken: Made the appropriate delegate and alternate appointments to the outside boards and agencies.
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10. Presentation/Update from the Sheriff's Department of Public Safety in the City of Commerce
Sergeant Cortez provided the crime statistics update for the dates of January 1, 2026 to January 15, 2026. He further announced that the City hired two public safety officers one officer was currently working and the second officer would start in February.
Councilmember Argumedo stated that there was a significantly lower number of crimes and he wanted to know if there was any analysis and what was being done to achieve these lower numbers.
Sergeant Cortez stated that he was new to this position; therefore no analysis was done and attributed the higher crime number in December to the holiday season.
Mayor Lainez requested that an information sheet be provided to the residents on whom to call for city services.
Councilmember Rebollo stated that the City of Bell or Bell Gardens created an index card with all their City services information.
Mayor Lainez reported a homeless encampment on Washington by the 5 freeway.
Sergeant Cortez stated that there was a homeless encampment operation scheduled for Wednesday (1/28) and this matter would also be addressed.
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SCHEDULED MATTERS
City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
11. Support for Households in Immigration Emergencies & Legal Defense (SHIELD)
City Manager Hernandez provided a brief summary on this item.
Mayor Lainez requested this item be agendized due to what had been happening over the past six to seven months which had been disappointing to him. He was aware that a growing portion of our community felt helpless and unsupported. He wanted to ensure that the community felt they were here to support them.
Councilmember Rebollo thanked Mayor Lainez for really thinking about the needs of our community. We needed to do the work and protect the members of our community. Our commitment had always been to our community.
Mayor Lainez stated this item was a reflection on all the Council Members and thanked City Manager Hernandez.
Mayor Lainez moved, seconded by Councilmember Argumedo, to approve an allocation of $25,000 towards free legal aid to City of Commerce residents in need. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Lainez, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Argumedo, and Councilmember Rebollo
PUBLIC HEARING
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13. Resolution No. 26-04 of the City Council of the City of Commerce, California, Authorizing the Allocation for the 52nd Year of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Fiscal Year 2026-27 - Public Hearing This item was taken out of order and before item no. 12.
Community Development Director Serrano introduced Ana Lenoue, Avant Garde representative who provided the summary for the presentation on this item.
Councilmember Rebollo asked if the existing applications would be rolled over or would applicants need to start all over again with a new application? Ms. Lenoue stated that the applications were processed as they come in and there were six that have been approved.
City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
Mayor Lainez asked if the reason for the increase was due to supply and demand.
Ms. Lenoue clarified that the $5,000 increase was due to the increased cost of the construction materials and labor.
Mayor Lainez wanted to leave the grant amount at $25,000.
Mayor Lainez opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. There being no speakers, Mayor Lainez closed the public hearing at 7:12 p.m.
Councilmember Rebollo asked how the program was being promoted.
Ms. Lenoue stated that there had been 21 applications and six have been approved due to eligibility.
Community Development Director Serrano stated that it was currently on the City's website and with this new funding, staff would ensure that it was advertised.
Councilmember Argumedo requested the eligibility criteria.
Ms. Lenoue stated that there was an income threshold that needed to be met; however, the biggest challenge was the withdrawal of applications.
The withdrawals were due to the property needing to have no violations or any property violations needed to be remedied before they received this money.
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Mayor Lainez moved, seconded by Councilmember Rebollo to:
1· Conduct a public hearing to receive public input on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program; 2· Adopt a resolution no. 26-4 authorizing the allocation for the 52nd Year of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Fiscal Year 2026- 2027;
3· Authorize the City Manager or designee to prepare, execute, and submit the Planning Summary, agreements, and all required documents for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 CDBG Program; and
4. Provide the grants in the amount of $25,000.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Lainez, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Argumedo, and Councilmember Rebollo
5 -
City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
12. Adoption of Resolution No. 26-05 Implementing the City of Commerce Home Beautification Program and to Amend an Agreement with Avant Garde Inc. for the Implementation and Administration of the City of Commerce Home Beautification Grant Program (HBGP)
This item was taken after the Public Hearing item no. 13.
Community Development Director Serrano provided a brief summary for the presentation on this item.
Mayor Lainez stated that the City should create a City funded program that helped property owners that did not qualify for other programs. We all wanted to beautify our neighborhoods.
Councilmember Rebollo asked if this program helped with problems in the attic such as asbestos.
City Manager Hernandez, clarified that this program addressed the exterior, and Councilmember Rebollo's example did not qualify under the existing parameters.
Mayor Lainez requested a checkpoint at the six-month mark of this program.
Mayor Lainez moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Garcia to adopt Resolution No. 26-05 as amended to keep the $25,000 per household and
1. Approving the implementation of the City of Commerce Home Beautification Grant Program (HBGP) using an initial budget appropriation from the project management fund in the amount of $325,000, $75,000 of which would be allocated for program implementation and administration;
2. Authorizing the City Manager or designee to develop and adopt policies and procedures for distributing funds for qualified expenses to property owners participating in the HBGP, eligibility criteria, allowed expenses, and application process, among others;
3. Authorizing the City Manager to amend an existing agreement with Avant Garde Inc. to increase the budget, scope and term for the implementation and administration of the HBGP; and
4. Taking any additional related action as deemed necessary.
The motion carried by the following vote:
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Ayes: Mayor Lainez, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Councilmember Altamirano, Councilmember Argumedo, and Councilmember Rebollo
5 -
City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY REPORTS
Councilmember Rebollo wished the City of Commerce a happy birthday.
Councilmember Argumedo wished the City of Commerce a happy birthday and thanked Parks & Recreation and everyone involved in the Commerce Snow Day it was well attended and everyone had a great time.
Councilmember Altamirano requested a meeting with the City Manager, Mayor, and staff that was running the program with the arts at the Senior Center. He would like to have an arts showcase for the seniors to exhibit their artwork.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia thanked social services, public safety and our sheriff’s department that came out for the homeless point in time count. She requested a presentation of these statistics and the services the City provides.
Mayor Lainez stated that he also attended the Snow Day on Saturday, it was amazing. He thanked Parks & Recreation for their work on that event and the Transportation department for the use of their building. He further thanked the community for attending. Additionally, he thanked both Parks & Recreation and Transportation for the work they did to help the community enjoy the Clippers game this past Sunday. He wished the City of Commerce and all Commerce residents a happy birthday.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Lainez adjourned the meeting at 7:28 p.m.
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