AGENDA
Garden Grove City Council
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
5:30 PM
Community Meeting Center
11300 Stanford Avenue
Garden Grove, California 92840
Stephanie Klopfenstein
Mayor
George S. Brietigam
Mayor Pro Tem – District 1
Phillip Nguyen
Council Member – District 2
Cindy Tran
Council Member – District 3
Joe DoVinh
Council Member – District 4
Yesenia Muñeton
Council Member – District 5
Ariana Arestegui
Council Member – District 6
Meeting Assistance: Any person requiring auxiliary aids and services, due to a disability, to address the City Council, should contact the City Clerk's Office 72 hours prior to the meeting to arrange for accommodations. Phone: (714) 741-5040.
Agenda Item Descriptions: Are intended to give a brief, general description of the item. The City Council may take legislative action deemed appropriate with respect to the item and is not limited to the recommended action indicated in staff reports or the agenda.
Documents/Writings: Any revised or additional documents/writings related to an item on the agenda distributed to all or a majority of the Council Members within 72 hours of a meeting, are made available for public inspection at the s ame time (1) in the City Clerk's Office at 11222 Acacia Parkway, Garden Grove, CA 92840, during normal business hours; (2) on the City's website as an attachment to the City Council meeting agenda; and (3) at the Council Chamber at the time of the meeting.
Public Comments: Members of the public who attend the meeting in -person and would like to address the City Council are requested to complete a pink speaker card indicating their name and address, and identifying the subject matter they wish to address. This card should be given to the City Clerk before the meeting begins. General comments are made during "Oral Communications" and should be limited to matters under consideration and/or what the City Council has jurisdiction over. Persons wishing to address the City Council regarding a Public Hearing matter will be called to the podium at the time the matter is being considered.
Manner of Addressing the City Council: After being called by the Mayor, you may approach the podium, it is requested that you state your name for the record, and proceed to address the City Council. All remarks and questions should be addressed to the City Council as a whole and not to individual Council Members or staff members. Any person making impertinent, slanderous, or profane remarks or who becomes boisterous while addressing the City Council shall be called to order by the Mayor. If such conduct continues, the Mayor may order the person barred from addressing the City Council any further during that meeting.
Time Limitation: When any group of persons wishes to address the City Council on the same subject matter, the Mayor may request a spokesperson be chosen to represent the group, so as to avoid unnecessary repetition. At the City Council's discretion, a limit on the total amount of time for public comments during Oral Communications and/or a further limit on the time allotted to each speaker during Oral Communications may be set.
PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES DURING THE MEETING.
1
AGENDA
ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBER NGUYEN, COUNCIL MEMBER TRAN, COUNCIL MEMBER DOVINH, COUNCIL MEMBER MUÑETON, COUNCIL MEMBER ARESTEGUI, MAYOR
PRO TEM BRIETIGAM, MAYOR KLOPFENSTEIN
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICA
PRESENTATIONS
1. Local Emergency Declaration Update.
[Item 214/2026]
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND CITY MANAGER
2. Adoption of resolution ratifying the proclamation of a local emergency on May 22, 2026, concerning the expected failure of chemical tanks on property located 12122 Western Avenue. (Action Item)
[Item 213/2026]
ADJOURNMENT
2 Item 212/2026
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Omar Sandoval
Dept:
City Manager Dept: City Attorney
Date: 5/26/2026
Subject: Adoption of resolution ratifying the proclamation of a local emergency on May 22, 2026, concerning the expected failure of chemical tanks on property located 12122 Western Avenue. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
For the City Council to adopt a resolution ratifying the proclamation issued by the City Manager acting as the Director of Emergency Services declaring the existence of a local emergency on May 22, 2026, due to the expected failure of chemical tanks on property located at 12122 Western Avenue.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On May 22, 2026, effective 9:30 a.m., the City Manager acting as the Director of Emergency Services adopted a proclamation declaring a local emergency due to the expected failure of chemical tanks on property located at 12122 Western Avenue.
At the time of the proclamation, one of three chemical tanks with approximately 34,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate showed evidence of failure with releases of vapors and the possibility of an explosion leading to major damage to surrounding properties a nd possible contamination of the local air quality at levels hazardous to humans and animals. The Orange County Fire Authority issued an evacuation order within the area bounded by Garden Grove Blvd. to the south, Springdale St. to the west, Orangewood Av e. to the north, and Dale St. to the east, affecting the City of Stanton in addition to Garden Grove. This area was later expanded to Valley View St. to the west, Trask Ave. to the south, and Ball Rd. to the north, also affecting the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Seal Beach, and Westminster, with approximately 40,000 residents in the expanded area.
Pursuant to State Law and Section 6.08.070 of the Garden Grove Municipal Code, the Director of Emergency Services is empowered to proclaim a local emergency when the City Council is not in session, provided that the City Council takes action to ratify the proclamation within seven days thereafter.
3 Item 212/2026
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total financial impact associated with the emergency response is currently unknown. The Finance Department has set up a special account to track all costs incurred by the City in responding to the emergency, which include support provided by multiple departments assisting the City’s public safety responders, and services provided to t he members of the public through the evacuation center at Garden Grove Park, and a call center established at the City Hall.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Adopt the resolution ratifying the proclamation of a local emergency on May 22, 2026, concerning the expected failure of chemical tanks on property located 12122 Western Avenue.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. City Manager/Emergency Services Director’s Proclamation
2. Resolution
4 1785565.1
A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE, CALIFORNIA, ACTING AS THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY EFFECTIVE 9:30 A.M. PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME ON MAY 22, 2026 WHEREAS, Garden Grove Municipal Code Section 6.08.070(A)(1) empowers the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, to declare the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the City Council is not in session; and WHEREAS, Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), authorize the City Manager to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City that are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and WHEREAS, one of three chemical tanks with approximately 34,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate at a local business located at 12122 Western Avenue in the City of Garden Grove is showing evidence of failure with releases of vapors and the possibility of an explosion leading to major damage to surrounding properties and possible contamination of the local air quality at levels hazardous to humans, animals, and other living organism; and WHEREAS, Garden Grove is a densely populated city within Orange County, which is the sixth largest county in the United States, with one of the highest population densities; and WHEREAS, conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons, animals, and property have arisen due to the potential chemical explosions; and WHEREAS, such conditions are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to respond; and WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, ability to coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid, and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments will be critical to successfully responding to any potential health and safety conditions in the City; and WHEREAS, the City Manager, as the City's Director of Emergency Services, has the power to declare a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and Garden Grove Municipal Code section 6.08.070(A)(1). 5 City of Garden Grove Local Emergency Proclamation12122 Western Ave. Chemical Tanks May 22, 2026 Page 2NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED by the City Manager of the City of Garden Grove as follows: A. As contemplated in the Emergency Services Act contained in Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), and Chapter 6.08 of Title 6 of the Garden Grove Municipal Code, as of 9:30 a.m. on May 22, 2026, a local emergency exists based on the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons, animals, and property caused by the possibility of a chemical explosion as detailed in the recitals set forth above. B. The area of the City which is endangered/imperiled is the radius of Garden Grove Blvd. to the south, Springdale St. to the west, Orangewood Ave. to the north, and Dale St. to the east. C. During the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law and by ordinances, resolutions, and orders of this City, including but not limited to the City of Garden Grove Emergency Operations Plan. D. The City Council shall review and ratify this proclamation within 7 days of its effective date as required by state law, and if ratified, shall continue to exist until the City Council proclaims the termination of this local emergency. The City Council shall review the need for continuing the local emergency as required by state law until it terminates the local emergency, and shall terminate the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. E. That a copy of this proclamation be forwarded to the Director of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services requesting that the Director find it acceptable in accordance with State Law; that the Governor of California, pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, issue a proclamation declaring an emergency in the City of Garden Grove; that the Governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State and Federal resources and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs. 6 City of Garden Grove Local Emergency Proclamation12122 Western Ave. Chemical Tanks May 22, 2026 Page 3 Executed this 22ndday of May, 2026, to take effect at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on the 22nd day of May, 2026 Lisa L. Kim, City ManagerATTEST:City ClerkAPPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney 7 GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ___
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER/DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES’
PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY ON MAY 22, 2026, DUE TO THE EXPECTED FAILURE OF CHEMICAL TANKS ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 12122 WESTERN AVENUE.
WHEREAS, Garden Grove Municipal Code Section 6.08.070(A)(1) empowers the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, to declare the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the City Council is not in session; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 8550 et seq. , including Section 8558(c), authorize the City Manager to proclaim a local emergency when the City is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City that are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and
WHEREAS, one of three chemical tanks with approximately 34,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate at a local business located at 12122 Western Avenue in the City of Garden Grove were showing evidence of failure with releases of vapors and the possibility of chemical leaks and/or an explosion leading to major damage to surrounding properties and possible contamination of the local air quality at levels hazardous to humans, animals, and other living organism; and WHEREAS, Garden Grove is a densely populated city within Orange County, which is the sixth largest county in the United States, with one of the highest population densities; and
WHEREAS, conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons, animals, and property has arisen due to the potential chemical leaks and/or explosions; and WHEREAS, such conditions were beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City and require d the combined forces of other political subdivisions to respond; and
WHEREAS, the mobilization of local resources, ability to coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid, and allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments was critical to successfully respond to the potential health and safety conditions in the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find that the conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons, animals, and property described in the City Manager/Director of Emergency Services’ Proclamation attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated hereto by reference, did warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency in the City of Garden Grove; and
8 Resolution No. ___
WHEREAS, the City Manager acting as the City's Director of Emergency Services did proclaim the existence of a local emergency as authorized by Government Code section 8630 and Garden Grove Municipal Code section 6.08.070(A)(1); and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Fire Authority, providing the incident command for the incident, ordered evacuations from the danger zones affecting approximately 40,000 residents in Garden Grove, and the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Seal Beach, and Westminster; and
WHEREAS, on May 23, 2026, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Orange County in response to the ongoing chemical incident in Garden Grove.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Garden Grove that the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency and evacuation orders, as issued by the City Manager acting as the Director of Emergency Services, and the Orange County Fire Authority, is/are hereby ratified and confirmed.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED ON this 26
th day of May, 2026.
9