CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Maria Teresa Del Rio, Mayor Pro Tem
Victor Farfan, Councilmember
Luis Roa, Councilmember
Ernie Vargas, Councilmember
Dandy De Paula, Mayor
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Regular Meeting, 6:00 PM
Ernesto Marquez,City Manager
Norma Tabares, City Attorney
Pablo Rubio, City Clerk
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council meeting was called to order on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM.
INVOCATION
The invocation was led by Pablo Rubio, City Clerk.
FLAG SALUTE
The flag salute was led by Mayor De Paula.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Councilmember Farfan
Councilmember Roa
Councilmember Vargas
Mayor De Paula
ABSENT
1 Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio
Pablo Rubio, City Clerk, announced a quorum.
PUBLIC COMMENTS GENERAL OR ITEMS ON OR OFF THE AGENDA Irene Zapata, Hawaiian Gardens Library Manager, introduced herself.
PROCLAMATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
There were no Proclamation or Certificates.
PRESENTATIONS
1. SWEARING IN CEREMONY – JAIME RIVAS, A HAWAIIAN GARDENS RESIDENT WHO GRADUATED FROM PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY AND PASSED THE BAR This ceremony was continued to the Wednesday, June 11, 2025 City Council meeting.
AGENDA ORGANIZATION
There were no changes to the Agenda Organization.
A. PUBLIC HEARING(S) / HEARING(s)
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PRESENTATIONS
1. SWEARING IN CEREMONY – JAIME RIVAS, A HAWAIIAN GARDENS RESIDENT WHO GRADUATED FROM PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY AND PASSED THE BAR This ceremony was continued to the Wednesday, June 11, 2025 City Council meeting.
AGENDA ORGANIZATION
There were no changes to the Agenda Organization.
A. PUBLIC HEARING(S) / HEARING(s)
1. Recommendation to continue the Public Hearing for the Year 5, Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA), to the meeting of Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Elise McCaleb, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor De Paula closed the Public Hearing.
A motion was made by Councilmember Farfan, seconded by Councilmember Roa, to continue the hearing to the City Council meeting of Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
B. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. WAIVE READING IN FULL OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ON THE AGENDA That the City Council waive reading in full of all ordinances and resolutions on the agenda and declare that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
2. Recommendation to receive and file the Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division Report for the month of April 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the ConsentCalendaraspresentedinitsentirety
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AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
2. Recommendation to receive and file the Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division Report for the month of April 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
3. Recommendation to receive and file the Community Development Department, Code Enforcement Division Report for the month of April 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
4. Recommendation to receive and file the Community Development Department, Planning Division Report for the month of April 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
5. Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute a cooperative services agreement with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc. to provide oncall and emergency hazardous materials removal services.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
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The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
5. Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute a cooperative services agreement with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc. to provide oncall and emergency hazardous materials removal services.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
6. Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Commercial Aquatic Services, Inc. (HASA) for splashpad maintenance, chemical balance, and associated services.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
7. Recommendation to receive and file the Public Works Department Permits Report for the month of April 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
8. Recommendation to receive and file warrants processed during the period of May 3 to May 16, 2025.
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A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
8. Recommendation to receive and file warrants processed during the period of May 3 to May 16, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
9. Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. 0092025, approving the preliminary Engineer's Report for Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. HGLLA1 and declaring the City Council’s intent to levy an assessment for fiscal year 20252026, and setting a public hearing on the proposed levy at the regular City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
10. Recommendation to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting of Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motioncarried:4–0–1–0
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SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Councilmember Farfan, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
C. DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
1. Recommendation to receive and file the update on the City of Hawaiian Gardens' submitted SCAG STBG grant, and to approve Willdan Engineering’s proposal in the amount of $100,160 for the provision of engineering design and federal grant administration services for the Citywide Surface Transportation Block Grant Project.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Manager, presented the staff report.
A motion was made by Councilmember Farfan, seconded by Councilmember Roa, to approve recommendation.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
2. Recommendation to approve plans and specifications and award a construction contract to Courtney, Inc. in the amount of $507,240 for the City Hall Roof Replacement, Project 118.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Manager, presented the staff report.
A motion was made by Councilmember Farfan, seconded by Councilmember Roa, to approve recommendation.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
D. NEW BUSINESS
There were no New Business items.
E. ORAL STAFF REPORT(S)
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AYES: 4; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 1; Del Rio
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 4–0–1–0
D. NEW BUSINESS
There were no New Business items.
E. ORAL STAFF REPORT(S)
Joe Jimenez, Recreation and Community Services Director, announced that the Summer Program starts June 2, 2025, announced Lee Ware Park Pool hours and days for kids camp and that both registrations are full. Summer kickoff Pool Party will be held on May 31, 2025.
Steve Gomez, Public Safety Director, announced that a gun buyback event will be held on May 30, 2025.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Manager, announced that a community block cleanup will be held on June 14, 2025; and a tire recycle event will be held on June 14, 2025.
F. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT(S)
There were no Oral City Attorney Reports.
G. ORAL COUNCIL REPORT(S)
There were no Oral Council Reports.
H. CLOSED SESSION
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Manager
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code section 54957
Title: City Attorney
Norma Tabares, City Attorney, read the Closed Session items into the record.
The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 6:17 PM.
The City Council reconvened from Closed Session at 8:49 PM.
Pablo Rubio, City Clerk, conducted a roll call and announced a quorum.
Norma Tabares, City Attorney, stated no reportable action was taken, direction was given, from Closed Session.
I. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 8:50 PM to the next Regular City Council meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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Norma Tabares, City Attorney, stated no reportable action was taken, direction was given, from Closed Session.
I. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 8:50 PM to the next Regular City Council meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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