MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE LA PALMA CITY COUNCIL
April 7, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor N. Patel called the Regular Meeting of the La Palma City Council to order at 6: 15 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
Mayor N. Patel recessed the Open Session and convened the Closed Session at 6: 15 p. m. Mayor N.
Patel recessed Closed Session at 6:20 p. m.
Council Member Keo Conklin arrived at 6: 17 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 Thind reported there were no reportable actions for Items CS- 1 or CS- 2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Waldman led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
La Palma Christian Center Pastor Peter Hernandez conducted the Invocation.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present: Mayor Pro Tern Debbie Baker, Council Member Janet Keo Conklin, Mayor Nitesh Patel, Council Member Vikesh Patel, and Council Member Mark Waldman
City Officials Present: Peter Kim, City Manager
Ajit Thind, City Attorney
City Council Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2026
Joe Cisneros, Deputy City Manager
Todd Mattern, Interim Police Chief
Jake Chavira, Acting Community Development & Public Works Director Norma I. Alley, MMC, City Clerk
Alan Rivera, Management Analyst
PRESENTATIONS
Interim Police Chief Mattern introduced the new Dispatcher Megan Martinez -King. City Manager' s Office Management Analyst Rivera introduced Interns Emily Sandstrom and Arthur Castro.
Mayor N. Patel presented a proclamation recognizing Centralia Elementary School District Superintendent Norma Martinez for her achievement as Superintendent of the Year.
Mayor N. Patel presented a proclamation recognizing Precision Cutting Tools as the recipient of the Business Spotlight Award.
Mayor N. Patel and Council Member Keo Conklin presented a proclamation recognizing April as Cambodian Heritage Month.
Mayor N. Patel presented certificates to Young Leaders of Orange County volunteers for their dedication and volunteerism.
Orange County Sanitation District Director of Engineering Mike Dorman presented an update regarding the La Palma Avenue and Denni Street Rehabilitation Project.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor N. Patel called for public comment.
Abe Waheed provided accolades to the Community Activities and Beautification Committee for their hard work.
Seeing no further comments, Mayor N. Patel closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Waived the reading of all ordinances in their entirety and read by title only.
2. Approved the Minutes of March 3, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes.
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 13 approving the Registers of Demands for March 17, 2026, and April 7, 2026.
4. Received and filed the Second Quarter Operating Report, Fiscal Year 2025-26.
5. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 14 approving the updated Statement of Investment Policy.
6. Approved and authorized the City Manager to execute the Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise WISE) Agreement between the County of Orange and City of La Palma and the Franchise Hauler Acknowledgment with EDCO Disposal to allow for the continued importation of waste at the County' s landfills through June 30, 2036.
7. Authorized the City Manager to execute a Vehicle Fleet Purchase Agreement for the Police and Public Works Departments.
City Council Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2026
8. Approved and authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with ABM Industry Groups, LLC, for citywide janitorial services.
9. Approved a Cal OES- FPD- 130 Resolution form designating the City Manager, the Police Chief, and the Deputy City Manager as authorized agents to execute on behalf of the City of La Palma for the purpose of obtaining public assistance grants from Cal OES and FEMA in a post -disaster setting.
10. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 15 approving a street closure for the " Every 15 Minutes" Campaign on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
11. Authorized the City Manager to execute the event agreement and any related documents with James Events Productions, Inc., for the provision of vendor booths, rides, attractions and game booths at the Festival of Nations community event on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
12. Approved and authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Precision Concrete Cutting for Citywide Sidewalk Survey.
Mayor Pro Tern Baker made a motion to approve Consent Calendar Items. The motion was seconded by Council Member Waldman 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 to be heard.
REGULAR ITEMS
13. Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 16 amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget.
Deputy City Manager Cisneros introduced the item and provided a brief summary of the staff report.
Mayor N. Patel called for public comment. Seeing no one come forward, he closed public comment.
Mayor Pro Tern Baker made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2026- 16 approving amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025- 26 Budget. The motion was seconded by Council Member Keo Conklin 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
14. Presentation on Senate Bill ( SB) 707: Brown Act Changes, adoption of Council Policy No. 9:
Teleconference Disruption Policy, and Direction for Installation of Video Conferencing Equipment City Clerk Alley and City Attorney Thind provided a presentation, accompanied by a PowerPoint. Staff recommended adoption of Councill Policy No. 9: Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Meetings Policy and requested direction from Council regarding installation of video conferencing equipment prior to December 23, 2026.
Mayor Pro Tern Baker requested some formatting changes to Council Policy No. 9.
City Council Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2026
Staff fielded inquiries from the City Council confirming the City was currently in compliance with SB 707, applicability of Council Policy No. 9 to the public' s participation in- house or through teleconference, public's speaking time limits and no yielding or sharing of time, Mayor' s discretion on setting the public comment time limit, and SB 707' s requirement was for public participation telephonically and not by video.
Concern was shared for accuracy of the public' s translation of the City' s agenda and procedures for the public comment queuing process.
Mayor N. Patel made a motion to adopt City Council Policy No. 9, to include formatting changes to the Definitions section, and directed the City Manager to return to a future Council Meeting with options for implementation of video conferencing in the City Council Chambers prior to the August 4, 2026, Council Meeting. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Baker 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
COUNCIL MEMBER AB1234 REPORTS REPORTS FROM CITY -AFFILIATED COMMITTEES, AND
COUNCIL REMARKS
Council Member Keo Conklin thanked the Mayor and City Council for supporting the Cambodian Heritage Month Proclamation, welcomed new staff members, and congratulated all the evening award recipients. She reported she attended the Cypress College Foundation Americana Awards Gala; Cal Cities Housing, Community, and Economic Development Policy Meeting; and an Association of California Cities Orange County (ACC-OC) Childcare webinar.
Council Member Waldman had nothing to report.
Council Member V. Patel reported he attended the Young Leaders of Orange County Math Competition and Awards Ceremony, Neighborhood Watch Banquet, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control Board Meeting, Cypress College Foundation Americana Awards Gala, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti SMAP Celebration. He congratulated the new employees and all the evening award recipients.
Mayor Pro Tern Baker reported she attended the Swearing in Ceremony for Officer Cody Henshaw; Southern California Association of Governments ( SCAG) Community, Economic, and Human Development ( CEHD) Committee Meeting; SCAG Regional Council ( RC) Meeting; Association of California Cities -Orange County ( ACC- OC)/ Waste Management' s Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting at the new Orange Recycling Center; Young Leaders of Orange County ( YLOC) Math Competition and Awards Ceremony; presentation of a $ 850K check from Congressman Derek Tran; La Palma Community Foundation ( LPCF) Board Meeting; Moderated the League of California Cities ( Cal Cities) Mayors and Council Members Roundtable; Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) Administration Committee Meeting; Read Across America event at Los Coyotes Elementary School; Cal Cities Orange County Division' s Quarterly Meeting; Cal Cities Orange County Division Board of Directors Meeting; City Council' s Business Engagement/ Economic Development Ad Hoc Meeting; Cypress College Foundation Americana Awards Gala; filmed the video of our Business Spotlight Award recipient, Precision Cutting Tools, with Mayor Nitesh Patel; OC San Board of Directors Meeting; Cal Cities Community Services Policy Committee meeting; Centralia School District' s Alumni Reception; Orange City Council Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2026
County Transit Authority' s Mayors Forum; John F. Kennedy High School' s Senior Capstone Showcase:
My Kennedy Story". She thanked the Community Development Staff for the production of the Business Spotlight Award video and all their hard work, spoke regarding being a Centralia Elementary School District Alum and participating in their recent Alumni event, highlighted her experience at the JFK High School Capstone event, congratulated the evening award recipients, and welcomed the new employees.
Mayor N. Patel reported he attended the Orange County Fire Association ( OCFA) Local 3631 Union Meeting, OCFA Fire Chief Recruitment Subcommittee Meeting, attended the Measure K Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee Meeting, Young Leaders of Orange County Math Competition and Awards Ceremony, Chaired OCFA Budget Committee Meeting, presentation of a $ 850K check from Congressman Derek Tran, OCFA Fire Chief Recruitment Subcommittee Meeting, Chaired OCFA Budget and Finance Committee Meeting, Building Industry Association of Southern California Meeting, Neighborhood Watch Banquet, City Council' s Business Engagement/ Economic Development Ad Hoc Meeting, Association of California Cities Orange County ( ACC- OC) Board Meeting, OCFA Agenda Review Meeting, filming of Business Spotlight Award recipient Precision Cutting Tools, OCFA Board Meeting, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti SMAP Celebration, Chaired OCFA Budget Committee Meeting, and John F. Kennedy High School' s Senior Capstone Showcase: " My Kennedy Story". He highlighted his experience at the SMAP Celebration and JFK High School Capstone events and thanked the Community Development Staff for the production of the Business Spotlight Award video and all their hard work.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
City Manager Kim reported the ballot drop box was to get a rewrap, announced upcoming events, and did a shout out to the Community Development Staff for all their hard work on the Business Spotlight Award video and ensuring highlights on the City' s social media outlets.
CITY ATTORNEY REMARKS
City Attorney Thind had nothing to report.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor N. Patel adjourned the Regular Meeting of the La Palma City Council at 8:25 p. m. itesh P. Patel, Mayor
ATTEST:
irmA-11
Norma I. Alley, MMC/,tlty Clerk
City Council Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2026