CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Luis Roa, Mayor Pro Tem
Dandy De Paula, Councilmember
Victor Farfan, Councilmember
Ernie Vargas, Councilmember Maria Teresa Del Rio,
Mayor
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
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, April 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM.
INVOCATION
The invocation was led by Pablo Rubio, City Clerk.
FLAG SALUTE
The flag salute was led by Councilmember De Paula.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Councilmember De Paula
Councilmember Vargas
Mayor Del Rio
ABSENT
2 Councilmember Farfan
Mayor Pro Tem Roa
Pablo Rubio, City Clerk, announced a quorum.
PUBLIC COMMENTS GENERAL OR ITEMS ON OR OFF THE AGENDA One eComment was received from Irene Zapata, Community Library Manager; there were no verbal Public Comments.
PROCLAMATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
1. RECOGNITION OF SHAVON MOORECAGE FOR RECEIVING THE SENATE DISTRICT 36 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARD
Mayor Del Rio presented the certificate.
Madison MarksNoble, District Representative, Senator Tony Strickland, spoke.
Lauren Yokomizo, Field Deputy, Supervisor Janice Hahn, spoke.
Aydan Pena, District Staff Assistant, Congressman Derek Tran, spoke.
Isabella Carbajal, Field Representative, Assemblywoman Sharon QuirkSilva, spoke.
Captain Daniel Holguin, Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, spoke.
YolandaCastroSELACOWorkforceDevelopmentBoardspoke
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2026 Page 1
Mayor Del Rio presented the certificate.
Madison MarksNoble, District Representative, Senator Tony Strickland, spoke.
Lauren Yokomizo, Field Deputy, Supervisor Janice Hahn, spoke.
Aydan Pena, District Staff Assistant, Congressman Derek Tran, spoke.
Isabella Carbajal, Field Representative, Assemblywoman Sharon QuirkSilva, spoke.
Captain Daniel Holguin, Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, spoke.
Yolanda Castro, SELACO Workforce Development Board, spoke.
Shavon MooreCage, Executive Assistant, 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 De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
2. Recommendation to receive and file warrants processed during the period of March 14 to March 27, 2026.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2026 Page 2
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
3. Recommendation to approve the minutes for the City Council meeting of Wednesday, March 25, 2026; and the Special Meeting of Thursday, March 19, 2026.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
4. Recommendation to receive and file the Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting Minutes for the month of February 2026.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, in its entirety.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
C. DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
1. Recommendation to receive and file the report regarding the City of Hawaiian Gardens Annual Parade scheduled for April 18, 2026.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Joe Jimenez, Recreation and Community Services Director, presented the staff report.
Councilmember De Paula spoke.
Mayor Del Rio spoke.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to approverecommendation.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2026 Page 3
1. Recommendation to receive and file the report regarding the City of Hawaiian Gardens Annual Parade scheduled for April 18, 2026.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Joe Jimenez, Recreation and Community Services Director, presented the staff report.
Councilmember De Paula spoke.
Mayor Del Rio spoke.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to approve recommendation.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
2. Recommendation to accept the construction improvements by Sequel Contractors for the SCAG STBG Street Rehabilitation, Project 121 (Federal Project No. STPL5387017), and authorize the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to approve recommendation.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
3. Recommendation to review the results of the communityselected live Christmas tree option and provide direction to staff on planting a live Christmas tree at the City Hall parking lot.
SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve Recommendation.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
Councilmember De Paula spoke.
Mayor Del Rio spoke.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to approve recommendation.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE:0;
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2026 Page 4
Councilmember De Paula spoke.
Mayor Del Rio spoke.
A motion was made by Councilmember De Paula, seconded by Councilmember Vargas, to approve recommendation.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 3; De Paula, Vargas, Del Rio
NOES: 0;
ABSENT: 2; Farfan, Roa
RECUSE: 0;
Motion carried: 3–0–2–0
D. NEW BUSINESS
There were no New Business items.
E. ORAL STAFF REPORT(S)
Joe Jimenez, Recreation and Community Services Director, reminded residents about the upcoming annual carnival and parade from April 1719.
Neema Ghanbari, Public Works Director, thanked residents who participated in the last block cleanup; announced that they will hold the next block cleanup on June 27; and that the Earth Day event on April 22 will feature the planting of a live Christmas tree.
F. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT(S)
There were no City Attorney Reports.
G. ORAL COUNCIL REPORT(S)
Councilmember De Paula announced he attended open houses at Furgeson and Hawaiian Elementary Schools and expressed gratitude to families for their student support.
Mayor Del Rio announced that she attended the yearly Easter Egg Hunt and thanked staff for organizing it.
H. CLOSED SESSION
There were no Closed Session items.
I. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 6:45 PM to the next Regular City Council meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 8, 2026 Page 5