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, October 8, 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, October 8, 2025 at 6:00 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 Pro Tem Del Rio
Mayor De Paula
ABSENT
None
Pablo Rubio, City Clerk, announced a quorum.
PUBLIC COMMENTS GENERAL OR ITEMS ON OR OFF THE AGENDA Irene Zapata, Hawaiian Gardens Library Manager, spoke.
Jesus Mendoza spoke.
PROCLAMATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
There were no Proclamations or Certificates.
PRESENTATIONS
1. UPDATES BY LAKEWOOD SHERIFF’S STATION CAPTAIN DANIEL HOLGUIN Captain Daniel Holguin, Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, provided an update.
Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio spoke.
Councilmember Roa spoke.
Councilmember Farfan spoke.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2025 Page 1
There were no Proclamations or Certificates.
PRESENTATIONS
1. UPDATES BY LAKEWOOD SHERIFF’S STATION CAPTAIN DANIEL HOLGUIN Captain Daniel Holguin, Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, provided an update.
Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio spoke.
Councilmember Roa spoke.
Councilmember Farfan spoke.
Ernesto Marquez, City Manager, spoke.
Councilmember Vargas spoke.
Mayor De Paula spoke.
AGENDA ORGANIZATION
There were no changes to the Agenda Organization.
A. PUBLIC HEARING(S) / HEARING(s)
There were no Public Hearings.
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 Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
2. Recommendation to receive and file warrants processed during the period of September 13 to September 26, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2025 Page 2
2. Recommendation to receive and file warrants processed during the period of September 13 to September 26, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
3. Recommendation to receive and file Treasurer's Report for August 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
4. Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. 0272025, approving the exchange of FY 20252026 Proposition A funds between the City of Hawaiian Gardens and the City of La Habra Heights, California and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
5. Recommendation to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting of Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
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REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2025 Page 3
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
5. Recommendation to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting of Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Roa, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
C. DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
1. Recommendation to discuss and provide staff direction on potential assistance the City of Hawaiian Gardens can provide to the community in the event of a raid conducted by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) Unit.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Ernesto Marquez, City Manager, provided the staff report.
Scott Smith, Communications Officer and Dr. Mayra Lozano, Director of Schools TK6 Grade, spoke.
Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio spoke.
Councilmember Vargas spoke.
Councilmember Roa spoke.
Councilmember Farfan spoke.
Mayor De Paula spoke.
Ernesto Marquez, City Manager, spoke.
This item was received and filed.
2. Recommendation to adopt Resolution No. 0282025, approving the blanket authority to file applications for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for Measure A funding for projects and programs.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Linda Hollinsworth, Finance Director, presented the staff report.
Councilmember Vargas spoke.
Mayor De Paula spoke
Ernesto Marquez, City Manager, spoke.
A motion was made by Councilmember Farfan, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to approve recommendation and adopt Resolution No. 0282025.
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REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2025 Page 4
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Linda Hollinsworth, Finance Director, presented the staff report.
Councilmember Vargas spoke.
Mayor De Paula spoke
Ernesto Marquez, City Manager, spoke.
A motion was made by Councilmember Farfan, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio, to approve recommendation and adopt Resolution No. 0282025.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5; Farfan, Roa, Vargas, Del Rio, De Paula
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 0;
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 5–0–0–0
D. NEW BUSINESS
There were no New Business items.
E. ORAL STAFF REPORT(S)
Joe Jimenez, Recreation and Community Services Director, announced the dates for four events: Golf Tournament, October 13; Red Ribbon Rally, October 22; Halloween Spooktacular, October 31; Veterans Day Concert, November 10.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Manager, announced that the Gateway Cities Regional Fiber Optic project is getting stared in a couple of weeks; provided an LA County Sanitation District sewer trunk improvement project update; announced that SCAG STBG Street Rehabilitation bids were received and will be awarded at the next meeting; and provided an update on the City Hall reroofing project.
Elise McCaleb, Community Development Director, reported that she attended the International Council of Shopping Centers Western Dealmaking event last week and met with shopping center owners; and that a ribbon Cutting event was held for 3 Caprichos Cafe on October 3.
Linda Hollinsworth, Finance Director, provided an update on the YEP program, and announced that HDL began handling the business license process.
Ernesto Marquez, City Manager, called on Sergeant Bitolas, who introduced the newest members of the SAO Team, Deputy Rosales and Deputy Jackson.
F. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT(S)
There were no Oral City Attorney Reports.
G. ORAL COUNCIL REPORT(S)
Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio welcomed the new deputies to Hawaiian Gardens, and reported that she attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for 3 Caprichos Cafe.
Councilmember Vargas welcomed the new deputies to Hawaiian Gardens.
Mayor De Paula urged residents to support local businesses; and announced that he got appointed as a Commissioner to the LA County Commission for Children and Families.
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F. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT(S)
There were no Oral City Attorney Reports.
G. ORAL COUNCIL REPORT(S)
Mayor Pro Tem Del Rio welcomed the new deputies to Hawaiian Gardens, and reported that she attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for 3 Caprichos Cafe.
Councilmember Vargas welcomed the new deputies to Hawaiian Gardens.
Mayor De Paula urged residents to support local businesses; and announced that he got appointed as a Commissioner to the LA County Commission for Children and Families.
H. CLOSED SESSION
There were no Closed Session items.
I. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 7:27 PM to the next Regular City Council meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
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