MINUTES
Regular Meeting Notice
Gardena City Council
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
The Regular Meeting Notice and Agenda of the Gardena City Council of the City of Gardena, California wascalled to order at 7:01 p.m. on May 12, 2026, in the Council Chamber at City Hall 1700 West 162ndStreet, Gardena, California, Mayor Tasha Cerda presiding.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tasha Cerda; Mayor Pro Tem Mark E. Henderson; Council Member Rodney G. Tanaka; Council Member Paulette C. Francis; and Council Member Wanda Love. Other City Officials and Employees present: City Manager Clint Osorio; City Attorney Carmen Vasquez; City Clerk Mina Semenza; Deputy City Clerk Becky Romero; and Records Management Coordinator Katherine Rhee. City Treasurer Guy Mato was not present.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
None.
3. CLOSED SESSION
3.A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation, pursuant to subdivision (d)(2) of Government Code Section 54956.9 One Potential Case
RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION ROLL CALL
City Clerk Semenza called roll at 7:40 p.m. after Council returned from Closed Session and reported that all Members of the Council were present.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
When Mayor Cerda asked City Attorney Vasquez if there was anything to report out of Closed Session, City Attorney Vasquez reported that all Members of the Council were present and the Council met with regards to Item 3.A, but no reportable action was taken.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Zoe Herrera and Amarah Woods, both in the 6th grade, attend 156th Street Elementary School. Zoe's hobbies include: dancing, volleyball and jump roping. Her favorite subjects are Art and English Language Arts. She is super kind and friendly and always keeps her promises and commitments. When Zoe grows up, she wants to be an actress. Amarah's hobbies include: volleyball, dancing and cheer. Her favorite subject is Art. When Amarah grows up she wants to be an ultrasound technician, nurse, nail tech or a hair stylist.
5. INVOCATION
Pastor Ataru Nakagawa, of Gardena Japanese-American Seventh-day Adventist Church, led the Invocation.
6. PRESENTATIONS
6.A. Gardena Events Video Presentation
The video presentation highlighted the Recreation and Human Services Department's current and future events.
7. PROCLAMATIONS
7.A. "Older Americans Month" - May 2026 (to be proclaimed only) Older Americans Month was proclaimed only.
7.B. Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month - May 2026 (to be proclaimed only)
Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month was proclaimed only.
7.C. Public Works Week - May 17-23, 2026
Public Works Interim Director Kevin Kwak accepted the Certificate. He thanked the Council for the recognition and their support and also thanked the Public Works staff for an outstanding year. Appropriate photos were taken.
8. APPOINTMENTS
There were no appointments.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no public comments.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A. Waiver of Reading in Full of All Ordinances Listed on this Agenda and that they be Read by Title Only
CONTACT: CITY CLERK
10.B. Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting of the City Council, April 28, 2026 CONTACT: CITY CLERK
10.C. Approval of Minutes - Study Session of the City Council, May 6, 2026 CONTACT: CITY CLERK
10.D. Receive and File Minutes - Regular Meeting of the Planning and Environmental Quality Commission, April 7, 2026
CONTACT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
10.E. Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, May 12, 2026 CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
10.F. Personnel Report P-2026-8 05-12-26
CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
10.G. Annual Lobbyist Report 2026
CONTACT: CITY CLERK
It was moved by Council Member Tanaka and seconded by Council Member Francis to Approve the Consent Calendar items. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0 (Yea: Tanaka, Francis, Cerda, Henderson, and Love).
11. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION ACTION SHEET
11.A. May 5, 2026 MEETING ITEM 6.A
6.A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #19-24, SITE PLAN REVIEW #4-24, AND TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP #2-24; The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission reviewed a request to approve Environmental Assessment (EA #19-24), Site Plan Review (SPR #4-24), and Tentative Parcel Map (TPM #2-24; Tentative Parcel Map No. 85142) to allow the construction of four (4) three-story condominium units in the Medium Density Multi-Family Residential (R-3) zone portion of a split zoned R-3 and Single-Family Residential (R-1).
Environmental Consideration: The proposed project is being considered for a categorical exemption from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Guidelines Section 15303(b) (Class 3 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), in that it consists of the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures.
APPLICANT: Steve Stepakis
LOCATION: 1031 Magnolia Avenue, APN (6113-035-015).
Commission Action: The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission continued the public hearing for Environmental Assessment #19-24, Site Plan Review #4-24, and Tentative Parcel Map #2-24, to a date certain of July 7, 2026, by vote of 4-0, with one commissioner recusing their vote.
City Council Action: No City Council action required.
No City Council action was required.
11.B. May 5, 2026 MEETING ITEM 6.B
6.B. ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT #1-26
The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission reviewed a recommendation to amend Chapter 18.13 of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs).
Environmental Consideration: The Zone Text Amendment and Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 which exempts ordinances implementing accessory dwelling unit ordinances.
LOCATION: City Wide
Commission Action: The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission adopted Resolution No. PC 5-26, by vote of 5-0, recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance for Zone Text Amendment #1-26.
City Council Action: No City Council action required. Zone Text Amendment #1-26 will be reviewed and considered by the City Council at a future City Council meeting.
No City Council action was required.
12. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (LIMITED TO A 30-MINUTES PERIOD)
12.A. PUBLIC COMMENTS
1) Andrea Simental, Community Library Manager of the Mayme Dear Library, came to give updates regarding the Mayme Dear and the Masao W. Satow Libraries;
2) Paul Randall, Director of Mama Rosa's Food Pantry, came out to address Council regarding comments made at the last Council Meeting and provide requested clarification and paperwork for Mama Rosa's Food Pantry; 3) Jason Gibson, resident, came out to share his concerns regarding ongoing issues with AT&T and lack of cable service;
4) Cecil Davis, resident, came out to speak on Agenda Item 11A, he suggested an environmental report be done and shared concerns of parking, speeding, and potential hazards for fire and police personnel.
13. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
No Items.
14. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
14.A. PUBLIC HEARING: Citizen Participation Plan (CPP), 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan, and 2026-2027 Action Plan to Guide the Investment of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Funds
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda opened the Public Hearing at 8:18 p.m and asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any questions or comments, there were no public speakers and no comments from Council. Mayor Cerda then closed the Public Hearing at 8:18 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Tanaka and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson to Approve the Draft Citizen Participation Plan (CPP), 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan, and 52nd Year Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, authorize the City Manager to execute and submit all required certifications and related documents and agreements to implement the One-Year Action Plan (FY 2026-2027) in compliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0 (Yea: Tanaka, Henderson, Cerda, Francis, and Love).
15. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ELECTED & CITY MANAGER'S OFFICES No Items.
16. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - POLICE
No Items.
17. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - PUBLIC WORKS
17.A. PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION NO. 6726, Confirming the Diagram and Assessment contained in the Engineer's Report Dated April 2, 2026, for the Gardena Artesia Boulevard Landscaping Assessment District and Ordering the Levy of Assessments on the Same for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda opened the Public Hearing at 8:20 p.m. and asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any questions or comments, there were no public speakers.
Questions and comments were made by Council Member Francis. City Manager Osorio answered all questions.
Mayor Cerda then closed the Public Hearing at 8:22 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Francis and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson to Adopt Resolution No. 6726. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0 (Yea: Francis, Henderson, Cerda, Tanaka and Love).
17.B. PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION NO. 6727, Confirming the Diagram and Assessment contained in the Engineer's Report Dated April 2, 2026, for the Gardena Consolidated Street Lighting Assessment District and Ordering the Levy of Assessments on the Same Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda opened the Public Hearing at 8:24 p.m. and asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any questions or comments, there were no public speakers.
Questions and comments were made by Council Member Love. City Manager Osorio answered all questions.
Mayor Cerda then closed the Public Hearing at 8:25 p.m.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson and seconded by Council Member Tanaka to Adopt Resolution No. 6727. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0 (Yea: Henderson, Tanaka, Cerda, and Francis and Love).
17.C. Award Construction Contract for the Various Streets Rehabilitation Project, JN 526 & 548 to Hardy and Harper Inc. in the amount of $2,125,000.00. Additionally Award Construction Management and Inspection Services to Transtech Engineers Inc. in the amount of $149,640.00, and the Material Testing Services to Terracon Consultants Inc. in the amount of $10,295.00. Approve the Project Plans & Specifications, 15% Project Contingency of $318,750.00, and Declare California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption
City Manager Osorio presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Cerda asked if anyone had asked to speak on this item and if the Council had any questions or comments.
There was one public speaker, Cecil Davis.
Questions and comments were made by Council Member Love and Mayor Cerda. Interim Director of Public Works Kevin Kwak answered all questions.
A motion was made by Council Member Love and seconded by Council Member Tanaka to Award the Construction Contract; Award Construction Management and Inspection Services; Award Material Testing Services; Approve the Project Plans & Specifications; Approve Project Contingency and Declare California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption . The motion passed by a vote of 5-0 (Yea: Love, Tanaka, Cerda, Henderson and Love).
18. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES
No Items.
19. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - TRANSPORTATION
No Items.
20. COUNCIL ITEMS
No Items.
21. COUNCIL DIRECTIVES
Mayor Cerda
Subject: Move forward with our dog park, by putting it on our CIP list.
Purpose – To help residents, so they could have a place to take their dogs.
Reason – The community needs somewhere to take their dogs out for exercise.
Benefit – Most people have a dog and could benefit from it.
Council Member Tanaka seconded it.
22. CITY MANAGER REMARKS RE: DIRECTIVES / COUNCIL ITEMS City Manager Osorio stated a memorandum providing an update of the Gardena Boulevard Revitalization Plan was in the Council's packet.
23. COUNCIL REMARKS
1) MAYOR PRO TEM HENDERSON – He started with an apology to Mr. Paul Randall in regards to the remarks he made. However, they still have not seen the grant to get a letter of support in order to try to get some collaboration going. Since the last meeting, he attended Candidate forums; the ABCs of City Finance; the PAC Fest; and the Bonsai Tree Exhibit. He participated in the Cinco de Mayo parade; and Youth and Government Day. He also attended the Boys to Men Conference; the SCAG General Assembly in Palm Desert; and he had an opportunity to work with the General Counsel of another city in regard to open government ethics. Also, at the SCAG meeting, he finished his term as a member of the Legislative and Management Committee. They serve a one-year term as a new president.
Ray Marquez from Chino Hills, who is now the president of SCAG. He wished a Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers who celebrated Mother's Day. He thanked all the volunteers for all the events that they put on here in the community, as well as the staff who work 8 days a week, 366 days a year, 24 hours a day. He did his business and community visits. He thanked Mr. City Manager and Greg Tsujiuchi for providing that memo regarding the process of the revitalization of Gardena Boulevard. He attended with a few colleagues the EV chargers ribbon cutting; and a meeting regarding drone delivery of food, medical supplies, and medicine as it starts to come to the region. 2) COUNCIL MEMBER TANAKA – Since the last meeting, he attended and participated in the Hollypark Candidate forum and the Cinco de Mayo parade. He thanked the Medinas and their committee. He attended his West Basin Water quarterly meeting, which the City of Carson hosted; he attended the Study Session at Nakaoka Community Center. He thanked Mr. City Manager and the Financial Department staff. He attended the Kiwanis Club Gardena Scholarship Awards Luncheon. He thanked the Kiwanis Club for presenting him with the Distinguished Kiwanis Award for service. He attended and participated in the Boys to Men with Mayor Pro Tem Henderson. He attended the PAC Fest; the Bonsai Tree Exhibit; the COG's Transportation meeting; the COG's Steering Committee meeting; Coffee with a Cop; and the ribbon-cutting event for our first Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations over here in our parking lot next to the PD Department. Lastly, he hopes all the mothers had a great Mother's Day. It’s always a sad time because he lost his mom a few years ago, but then mentioned you look at your daughters and your granddaughters, and you look at other people with their moms and stuff, so you have to just be blessed that you had time. He hopes you all enjoyed Mother's Day.
3) COUNCIL MEMBER LOVE – Since the last Council meeting, she attended the Sounds and Bites event; the Candidates forum at Hollypark Association; the Cinco de Mayo parade; the Second Time Around Club, Mother's Day luncheon at Rowley Park; the Tire Recycling event hosted at Rowley Park; the City's Mother's Day event at Rowley Park; the PAC Fest event; the Bonsai Tree Exhibit; and the ABCs of Finance that was kind of informative, but she still didn't get her question answered.
4) MAYOR CERDA – Since the last Council meeting, she was asked to be a speaker at Keller Williams Real Estate in Torrance. She attended Youth and Government Day; the retirement ceremony for our Public Works Director, Allan Rigg; the Hollypark Homeowners Association Candidates Forum; a tour of Hawthorne Airport with the new electric plane. She also attended the Cinco de Mayo parade; the Second Time Around Club, Mother’s Day Luncheon; the memorial ride for our former Police Officer, Toshio Hirai; the Special Study Session with our Finance Department and the presentation from our City Manager; the Kiwanis Scholarship Luncheon; she observed the Boys to Men Workshop; she attended the Sounds and Bites Event; the City of Refuge Mother's Day Tea; the PAC Fest event; and she was a speaker at another Mother's Day event for Empowered Nutrition located here in Gardena. Then she spoke at City of Refuge for their Sunday Mother's Day service. She presented a Certificate to the Federal Credit Union in celebration of its 90th Anniversary. She also attended Coffee with a Cop; the EV chargers ribbon cutting; and the City Clerk's week event.
5) COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS – Since the last meeting, she attended the Hollypark Homeowners Association Candidates forum; the Study Session ABC's of Finance; the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Culture Committee meeting; the Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District meeting; the Cinco de Mayo parade; the ribbon cutting for the EV charging station; and the Sounds and Bites event on Gardena Boulevard. She also attended the Second Time Around Club Mother's Day Sip and Paint; the Bonsai Tree Exhibit; and the PAC Fest event. Lastly, she mentioned that if you're around Rowley Park on May 23rd, please stop by because the Dr. Martin King Jr. Culture Committee is having a rummage sale, it is a fundraiser, and it's going to benefit their scholarship program and their commemorative programs. She hopes everybody had a wonderful Mother's Day. As her mother would say, every day is Mother's Day.
24. ANNOUNCEMENT(S)
1) Kids to Park Day, Saturday, May 16, 2026 1st session from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bell Park, Thornburg Park, and Freeman Park, 2 session from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Mas Fukai Park, Johnson Park, and Rowley Park; 2) World Cup 2026 Passport Destinations, from May thru July, Travel around to our City Events and Collect the stamps on your passport for a chance to win an amazing prize; 3) Gardena Job Fair, Thursday, May 19, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Nakaoka Community Center; 4) Willows Wetland Preserve Scavenger Hunt, Sunday, May 24, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Willows Wetland Preserve; and
5) Honor our Heroes Memorial Day Event, Monday, May 25, 2026 starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Roosevelt Memorial Park Cemetery.
25. REMEMBERANCES
Mrs. Irene Russ, 95 years old, a beloved Gardena resident for 64 years, passed away leaving behind a legacy of community service, friendship, and devotion to family. She was married to Edmond J. Russ for 72 years and proudly served as First Lady during his terms as Mayor of Gardena from 1969-1970 and 1974-1982. Mrs. Russ was actively involved with the Gardena Valley YMCA, the Gardena Sister City Association, and the sister-city relationship with Huatabampo. Mrs. Russ deeply cherished the Gardena community and always appreciated the opportunities, friendships, and support it provided her and the Russ family.
26. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:06 p.m., Mayor Cerda adjourned the Gardena City Council Meeting to the closed Session portion of the City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m., and the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
APPROVED:
___________________________________
Tasha Cerda, Mayor
MINA SEMENZA
City Clerk of the City of Gardena and
Ex-officio Clerk of the Council
By:__________________________________
Becky Romero, Deputy City Clerk