MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LA PALMA CITY COUNCIL
January 13, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor N. Patel called the Regular Meeting of the La Palma City Council to order at 5: 30 p. m in the Council Chambers of La Palma City Hall, 7822 Walker Street, La Palma, California.
CLOSED SESSION
CS- 1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to paragraph ( 1) of subdivision ( d) of California Government Code Section 54956. 9)
Name of Case: David Casey, et al. v. City of Buena Park, et al.
Case No. OCSC 30- 2025- 01497184- CU- PA- NJC
CS- 2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to paragraph ( 1) of subdivision ( d) of California Government Code Section 54956. 9)
Name of Case: Ross Byer v. City of La Palma
Case No. OCSC 30- 2024- 01394359- CU- OE- CJC
CS- 3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to paragraph ( 1) of subdivision ( d) of California Government Code Section 54956. 9)
Claim Received December 9, 2025, from Hoa Jessie Cao Regarding Vehicle Damage CS- 4. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956. 8)
Property: 8415 Meadowlark, La Palma, California 90623
Agency Negotiator: Peter Kim, City Manager
Joseph Cisneros, Deputy City Manager
Negotiating Parties: AT& T
Under Negotiations: Price and/ or terms of a lease
Mayor Patel recessed the Open Session and convened the Closed Session at 5: 30 p. m.
OPEN SESSION TO BEGIN AT 6: 30 P. M.
Mayor N. Patel reconvened in Open Session at 6: 30 p. m. and asked for a report out of Closed Session.
City Attorney Ajit Thind reported there was no reportable action for any of the items.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tern Baker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Council Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2026
INVOCATION
Council Member Keo Conklin conducted the Invocation.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present: Mayor Pro Tern Baker, Council Member Keo Conklin, Mayor N.
Patel, Council Member V. Patel, and Council Member Waldman City Officials Present: Peter Kim, City Manager
Ajit Thind, City Attorney
Joe Cisneros, Deputy City Manager
Jesse Amend, Interim Police Chief
Norma I. Alley, City Clerk
PRESENTATIONS
Presentations were heard out of order of the Agenda.
Mayor N. Patel presented a proclamation recognizing Korean American Day, received by Korean American Federation of Orange County President James Cho.
Council Member Keo Conklin presented a certificate recognizing Radiant Futures, received by Director of Legal Services Dan Sanders,
Mayor N. Patel presented the Business of the Quarter Award to Honey Pharmacy, received by the Owners Dr. Lauren Min, Pharm. D., and Agela Kwon, Pharm. D.
Mayor N. Patel presented certificates to the John F. Kennedy High School Girls Golf, Girls Cross Country, Girls Tennis, and Boys Water Polo Teams for achieving League Championship titles.
Mayor N. Patel and Interim Police Chief Amend presented the Employee of the Year Proclamation to Police Officer Ricardo Gonzalez.
Mayor N. Patel and Interim Police Chief Amend presented the Supervisor of the Year Proclamation to Police Sergeant Justin Braasch.
Deputy City Manager introduced new employees Community Services Supervisor Jason Hong and Recreation Coordinator Colby Deterding.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor N. Patel called for public comment.
Keith Nelson spoke to the City' s financials and leadership.
Seeing no further comments, Mayor N. Patel closed public comment.
City Council Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Waived the reading of all Ordinances in their entirety and read by title only.
2. Approved the Minutes of December 9, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes.
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 01 approving the Registers of Demands for December 16, 2025, and January 6, 2026.
4. Approved the placement of Ron and Elfriede Mac Iver in the Community Commemorative Area.
5. Adopted the City of La Palma' s 2026 State and Federal Legislative Platform.
6. Received and filed the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report ( ACFR) of the City of La Palma for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2025.
7. Received and filed the First Quarter Operating Report, Fiscal Year 2025- 26.
8. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-02 amending the Memorandum of Understanding for the La Palma General Employees Association and authorized the City Manager, or designee, to sign the Side Letter on behalf of the City.
9. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 03 approving a Side Letter Amendment with the La Palma Police Association regarding hiring bonuses and authorized the City Manager or designee to sign the Side Letter on behalf of the City.
10. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 04 amending salaries for certain part-time positions.
11. Authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Gladwell Governmental Services, Inc., GGS) to provide professional consulting services to update the Citywide Records Management Policy and Schedule for an amount not to exceed $ 13, 200.
12. Authorized the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with Casc Engineering Inc., for the management of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) Stormwater Permit Program and the countywide Fats, Oils, and Grease ( FOG) Program for an amount not to exceed 112, 800.
Mayor Pro Tem Baker made a motion to approve Consent Calendar Items. The motion was seconded by Council Member V. Patel and carried on the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Pro Tern Baker, Council Member Keo Conklin, Mayor N. Patel, Council Member V.
Patel, and Council Member Waldman
NOES: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no Public Hearing items for consideration.
City Council Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2026
REGULAR ITEMS
13. Council Member Request — Discuss Moving La Palma's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Date Deputy City Manager Cisneros provided a brief summary of the staff report. Mayor Pro Tern Baker stated the need to move the date no longer stands and wished to retract the request. By Council consensus, the request to retract was accepted and no further consideration was taken on the matter.
COUNCIL MEMBER AB1234 REPORTS, REPORTS FROM CITY -AFFILIATED COMMITTEES, AND
COUNCIL REMARKS
Council Member Waldman wished everyone a Happy New Year and noted there were no other items to report.
Council Member Keo Conklin wished everyone a Happy New Year; reported she attended two new business ribbon cuttings, thanked staff for their work with the ribbon cuttings, congratulated Radiant Futures and expressed appreciation to have the recognition agendized, congratulated staff on their promotions, congratulated all those that were recognized that evening, thanked her personal staff for their support, and reminded people to show compassion and to be kind to one another.
Council Member V. Patel reported he attended Senator Strickland' s Holiday Party, City Employee lunch hosted by the Mayor, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control Board.
Mayor Pro Tern Baker reported she attended the OC Supervisors Open House; Cypress College Foundation' s Americana Kick Off; ACC- OC, League of California Cities (Cal Cities) OC Division, OCBC, and OC Tax' s Holiday Mixer; Cal Cities Board of Directors Meeting; Orange County Sanitation District OC San) Board of Directors Meeting; Cal Cities OC Division Quarterly Meeting; Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District ( OCMVCD) Board of Trustees Meeting; Cal Cities City Leaders Summit Planning Meeting, Cal Cities OC Division Board of Directors Strategic Planning Meeting; Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Made Coffee, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Before n After; Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Shik Do Rak.
Mayor N. Patel spoke to the Council' s role of looking at the big picture and which positions the City Council hires, City Manager' s role in hiring staff, and the varied reasons people leave an organization; reported he attended a meeting the Anaheim Union High School District ( AUHSD), hosted Magnolia ILC High School students for a visit at City Hall, ACC-OC mixer, Cypress College Foundation Americana kick- off event, Superintendent Matsudu' s retirement celebration and presented a proclamation, AUHSD Board Meeting, hosted a City employee lunch, AUHSD meeting with AIMES Program, meeting with Supervisor Nguyen and other cities, and three ribbon cutting ceremonies; and congratulated all those that were recognized that evening.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
City Manager Kim thanked the City Council and staff for all the accomplishments achieved throughout 2025.
CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
City Attorney Thind had nothing to report.
City Council Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor N. Patel adjourned the Regular Meeting of the La Palma City Council at 7: 42 p. m.
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Norma I. Alley, MMC, Ci04erk
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Debbie S. Baker, Mayor Pro Tern
City Council Meeting Minutes
January13, 2026 Page
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