MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
February 9, 2026
Closed Session Opening Ceremonies
Call Meeting to Order - At 5:30 p.m., Mayor Bergman called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro Tempore Greg Steffire, and Council Members Carol Engelhardt, John Pespisa, and Norm Zezula
Absent: N/A
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar
3. Public Comment on Closed Session
4. Adjourned to Closed Session
At 5:31 p.m., the City Council, City Manager, adjourned to Closed Session to discuss the following:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) Potential Cases: One
At 6:27 p.m. Closed Session ended.
Regular Business at 6:30 P.M.
Call Meeting to Order - At 6:35 p.m., Mayor Brian Bergman called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
Roll Call
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 9, 2026 FEBRUARY 9, 2026
Present: Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro Tempore Greg Steffire, Council Members Carol Engelhardt, John Pespisa and Norm Zezula
Absent: N/A
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, Assistant City Manager Angie Martinez, Fire Chief Edward Martin, Deputy Fire Chief Greg Terrill, Fire Marshal Ryan Jorgensen, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Lieutenant Sherif Morsi, Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Giovanni Sera, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar
Also Present via Zoom: None
Flag Salute
Presentations, Commendations and Proclamations
A. Southern California Gas Representative - Clarissa Serpas Public Comments
6. Committee Comments
City Council Comments
8. Administrative Reports
A. City Manager's Report
B. City Attorney's Report
Action: No Reportable Action from closed session reported by City Attorney.
C. Community Development Report
D. Fire Chief's Report
Sheriff's Department Report
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Steffire), and voted (5-0) to approve consent items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
Waive Reading in Full of all Ordinances, Resolutions, and Meeting Minutes on the Agenda
10. Approval of Treasurer's Report for December 2025
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 9, 2026 FEBRUARY 9, 2026
11. Approval of Warrant Report for January 2026
12. Minutes: January 10, 2026 - Special City Council Meeting
13. Minutes: January 12, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting
14. Project update and deadlines
Council Member Engelhardt pulled item #15.
15. Authorization to purchase fire helmets and accept donation from the La Habra Heights Improvement Association (LHHIA)
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to approve consent item 15.
- End of Consent Calendar
Administrative Items
16. FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Amendments
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Pespisa) to approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mid- Year Budget Amendments.
17. 2026 Brush Clearance Program
Resolution No. 2026-04: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, declaring that weeds, rubbish, refuse, or other combustible materials growing upon or in front of properties constitute a public nuisance. In addition, dirt/debris runoff from private property upon public roadways also constitutes a public nuisance. further declaring its intention to provide for the abatement of such nuisance, and setting a date for a public hearing
Action: Moved (Stefflre), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to adopt Resolution No. 2026-04 that in addition to weeds, rubbish, refuse, or other combustible materials, dirt/debris runoff from private property upon public roadways in front of properties are a public nuisance, declare its intention to provide for the abatement of such nuisance and set the date as April 13, 2026, for public hearing.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 9, 2026 FEBRUARY 9, 2026
18. Approval of Hacienda Road Safety Improvement Project Change Orders and Notice of Completion
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to approve change orders 1 through 8 in the total amount of $73,124.23, accept Hacienda Road and Avocado Crest Road Traffic Signal and Safety Striping Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) as complete and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office.
19. Striping improvements at the intersection of East Avocado Crest Road & Citrus Road, Westbound East Avocado Crest Road East of Hacienda Road, and the intersection of Canada Sombre Road East of Hacienda Road Action: Moved (Pespisa), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to authorize a budget amendment to increase Public Works account 101-450PWD-6650 by $12,502.50 for striping improvements at the intersection of East Avocado Crest Road and Citrus Road east of Hacienda Road, and the intersection of Canada Sombre east of Hacienda Road and authorize staff to schedule CAT Tracking, Inc. to complete the work.
20. Installation of traffic loops at East Road and Hacienda Road intersection Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to authorize a budget amendment to increase account 101-450PWD-6650 by $15,200 for the installation of the traffic loops on East Road and Hacienda Road and authorize staff to schedule the City of Santa Fe Springs to complete the work.
21. Removal of trees at the 1300 Block of East Road
Action: Moved (Steffre), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to authorize a budget amendment to increase Public Works account 101-450PWD-6960 by $8,250 for the removal of trees on East Road by California Arborist Complete Tree Care, Inc. and authorize staff to schedule the work with California Arborist Complete Tree Care, Inc.
At 7:53 p.m. Council Member Pespisa recused from the dias.
22. Authorization for night work and temporary road closures for Southern California Edison (SCE) grid resiliency project on Hacienda road Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Steffire), and voted (4-0) (Recused Pespisa) to authorize SCE to close Hacienda Road between Canada Sombre Drive and south of Reposado Drive for up to three non-consecutive nights to safely allow SCE to replace covered conductors and utility poles.
At 7:58 p.m. Council Member Pespisa returned from the dias.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 9, 2026 FEBRUARY 9, 2026
23. Agreement extension with EMS Ql partners, LLC. for EMS Coordinator Services
Action: Moved (Pespisa), seconded (Steffire), and voted (5-0) to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement extension with EMS QI Partners, LLC. For EMS Coordinator Services for the Fire Department, effective through January 31, 2027, in the
24. Disposition of 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and 2008 Ford Edge Action: Moved (Steffle), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to authorize the consignment of the Public Works truck and Brush Inspectors SUV to General Auction Company for an auction sale.
25. Subscription Services Agreement with Firescore.Al for community risk reduction (continued from January 12, 2026)
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to approve a five-year subscription service agreement with Firescore. Al for an annual amount of $13,600 and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract in a form approved by the City Attorney.
26. Request to purchase firefighter self-contained breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment
Action: Moved (Steffre), seconded (Pespisa) to approve the purchase of 17 self- contained breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment by February 17th.
Action: Moved (Pespisa), seconded. (Zezula), voted (4-1) (opposed: Engelhardt) added the modification to the original motion of adding purchasing equipment not to exceed the amount of $150,000 and amend the budget line item 260-710FIR-6912.
27. Memorandum of agreement and termination document with Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to approve the Memorandum of Agreement and Termination Document.
28. City Manager/City Clerk First Amended Employment Agreement Action: Moved (Stefflre), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to approve the First Amended Employment Agreement with Rafferty Wooldridge as City Manager/City Clerk. - End of Administrative Items ---
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 9, 2026 FEBRUARY 9, 2026 Individual Council Member information items and/or required Meeting Attendance Reports
Action: No action taken.
30. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda (One Minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 8:55 p.m., Mayor Bergman adjourned the meeting.
Submitted for Council Approval:
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 9, 2026 FEBRUARY 9, 2026