CITY OF LA VERNE
MINUTES OF THE CLOSED SESSION & REGULAR
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2, 2026
ACTION MINUTES
"SEE ITALICS"
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA - 5:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER - meeting called to order at 5:30 PM
ROLL CALL Council Member Steven F. Johnson, Council Member Wendy Lau, Council Member Rick Crosby, Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita, and Mayor Tim Hepburn.
Council Members Present: Crosby, Johnson, Lau, Kashifalghita, and Hepburn.
Council Members Absent: None
Advisory Staff Present: City Manager Domer, Assistant City Manager Ranells, and Assistant City Attorney Ivy Tsai (arrived via Zoom late).
CLOSED SESSION TOPIC(S)
City Manager Domer read the closed session items for the record. It is anticipated there will be no report out.
Conference with Labor Negotiators, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6:
Negotiators: City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and City Attorney.
Employee Organization(s): La Verne City Employees Association, La Verne Fire Middle Management Association, La Verne Police Middle Management Association, and all Unrepresented Employees.
Conference with Legal Counsel, Existing Litigation pursuant to California Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) - Five (5) cases:
Guerrero v. City of La Verne, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 2:23-cv-00644-JAK-E Ramirez v. City of La Verne, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24PSCV00767 Ruiz v. City of La Verne, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 23PSCV02495 Smith v. City of La Verne, et al. ., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 2:23-cv-00644-JAK-2 Gonzales v. City of La Verne, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24STCV34625 Mayor Hepburn called for Public Comment: There was none.
The City Council recessed at 5:33 PM and will reconvene at 6:30 PM for the regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:30 PM - meeting was called to order at 6:36 PM.
Minutes City Council 2/2/2026 Page 2
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - DANIELLE LEWIS, ARMY SERGEANT (E-5) Mayor Pro Tem Kashifalghita, on behalf of the City Council, presented Danielle with a Pride of La Verne certificate
ROLL CALL Council Member Steven F. Johnson, Council Member Wendy Lau, Council Member Rick Crosby, Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita, and Mayor Tim Hepburn.
Council Members Present: Crosby, Johnson, Lau, Kashifalghita, and Hepburn.
Council Members Absent: None
Advisory Staff Present: City Manager Domer, Assistant City Attorney Tsai via Zoom link, and Assistant City Manager Ranells.
PRESENTATIONS
University of La Verne Women's Volleyball - The 2025 University of La Verne women's volleyball team delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in program history, finishing 30-3 overall and 15-1 in SCIAC while earning the No. 1 national ranking for seven consecutive weeks and remaining in the Top 10 all season. The Leopards captured the SCIAC Regular Season Championship and were led by Head Coach Jeff Hendershot, who surpassed 100 career wins and was honored, along with his staff, as SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year. National accolades followed, highlighted by Mya Ray being named NCAA Division III National Player of the Year and becoming the program's first 2,000-kill athlete, alongside multiple All-American and All-Region selections. In the postseason, La Verne claimed the Regional Championship, advanced through the Elite Eight and Final Four, and returned to the NCAA National Championship match for the first time since 2008, finishing as the 2025 National Runner-Up. With 30 wins, record-breaking performances, and a return to the national stage, the Leopards didn't just make history — they launched a new era of La Verne volleyball.
Players: Kimi Watanabe- America Reynaga Mortan Watkins
Mayhew
Vanessa Marquez Emma Yogan lova Craig Zacky Coaston
Lauren Gott Valerie Gallegos Lexi Giacobbe Kaitlyn Bloomer Bella Hargrave Mariah Ray Malia Capistrano Abigail Montana Keilani Mumolo Kamea Vongfak Mya Ray Alanna Jones
Brisa Necochea Isabella Emanuele Sophia-Allessandra
Nunez
Coaches: Jeff Hendershot Randi Taylor-Toomay Mario Meza Jack Coberly Ayana Mier
Minutes City Council 2/2/2026 Page 3
Support Staff: Kaitlyn Patterson Josh Davis
City Council presented each player with a Pride of La Verne certificate and an In-N-Out gift card.
Jasmine Cheng from Senator Rubio's office presented the Team with a certificate.
Fire Chief Swearing In - City Council will conduct the ceremonial oath of office for Fire Chief Coatney.
Chief Coatney was sworn in by Assistant City Manager Ranells and presented with a certificate from Adriana Perez, the Representative from Assemblymember Harabedian's office as well as a certificate from Senator Rubio's office presented by Jasmine Cheng.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
(Any person who wishes to make a brief announcement of a future community event that is open to the public may do so at this time.)
Public Announcements received from: Adrian Romero LV Library Manager Staff Announcements: City Manager Domer
Council Announcements received from: Mayor Hepburn
CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items on the Consent Calendar are routine and will be enacted by one motion unless a member of the Council or member of the audience requests separate discussion.) After confirming no items were pulled, Council Member Johnson recused himself from Consent Calendar item #5, due to a conflict of interest as a property on the list is next door to his business.
It was then moved by Crosby, seconded by Lau to approve Consent Calendar items 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 these items were approved by a vote of 5-0. Item #5 was approved 4-0, with Council Member Johnson recusing himself due to a conflict of interest.
1. City Council Minutes of the Closed Session & Regular meeting of January 20, 2026.
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the minutes. Approved
2. City Council Special Meeting Minutes of December 16, 2025.
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the minutes of the special meeting. Approved Register of Audited Demands in the amount of $1,244,095.25 dated 01/07/26, and in the amount of $2,570,761.26 dated 01/14/26, and in the amount of $382,493.02 dated 01/21/26.
Recommendation: That the City Council approved the audited demands. Approved
4. Quarterly Treasurers Report Ending December 31, 2025. The Quarterly Treasurer's Report provides an overview of the City's cash and investment holdings as of December 31, 2025. The Minutes City Council 2/2/2026 Page 4
report confirms compliance with the City's investment policy as set forth in Administrative Regulation Number 215, the Statement of Investment Policy, and the State of California's Government Code (GC) Section 53646.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the Quarterly Treasurer's Report for the period ending December 31, 2025. Approved
Declaration of Intention to Provide Weed Abatement on Specific Properties. Each year, the County of Los Angeles Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures conducts inspection for weeds, brush, rubbish, and refuse on public and private property that may be considered a seasonal and recurrent nuisance. A list of properties is provided to the City for review. City Council is then required to declare its intention to provide for this abatement and set a public hearing for affected property owners to register objections to said abatement.
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt a Resolution titled, "A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING THAT WEEDS,
BRUSH, RUBBISH AND REFUSE UPON OR IN FRONT OF SPECIFIED PROPERTY IN THE
CITY ARE A SEASONAL AND RECURRENT PUBLIC NUISANCE AND DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE ABATEMENT THEREOF" declaring the intention to provide for the abatement of weeds, brush, rubbish and refuse and setting a public hearing for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Approved by a 4-0 vote, Johnson abstained.
6. Making Determination of Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act Pursuant to the Common Sense Exemption of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (B) (3) and Second Reading and Adoption of "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE SPECIFIC PLAN TO REVISE THE MINIMUM DENSITY REQUIREMENT IN THE MIXED-USE 1 LAND USE DISTRICT FROM 38 TO 20 DWELLING UNITS/ACRE." Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Old Town La Verne Specific Plan for a minimum density of 20 dwelling units to the acre in the Mixed Use 1 District and making California Environmental Quality Act determinations.
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt an Ordinance, entitled "AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE OLD
TOWN LA VERNE SPECIFIC PLAN TO REVISE THE MINIMUM DENSITY REQUIREMENT IN THE MIXED-USE 1 LAND USE DISTRICT FROM 38 TO 20 DWELLING UNITS/ACRE" and find that the adoption is exempt from the California Environment Quality Act pursuant to the common sense exemption of CEA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3). Approved
PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
Update and Discussion on Increased Wireless/Cellular Coverage in North La Verne. The City Council requested an update on the efforts to increase wireless/cellular coverage in the North La Verne area due to service holes and concerns over public safety.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file this report and provide Staff appropriate direction to encourage greater wireless coverage in North La Verne.
Minutes City Council 2/2/2026 Page 5
City Manager Domer reported on this item.
Council Discussion/Comments: Council engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the many facets of this project and the ultimate desired outcome.
Public Comments: Richard Bowen.
Council gave direction to continue working with Verizon and Crown Castle to increase the amount of small cell wireless facilities and extend a fiber run up into North La Verne.
8. Tri-City Mental Health Authority Governing Board Representative Appointment. Tri-City Mental Health Authority is seeking to fill a Governing Board vacancy following the November 2025 resignation of Carolyn Cockrell. Tri-City Mental Health Authority Liaisons Councilmembers Lau and Johnson reviewed the applications and recommend appointing Trent West to the Governing Board.
Recommendation: That the City Council appoint Trent West to serve as La Verne's Tri-City Mental Health Authority Governing Board representative.
City Manager Domer reported on this item.
Council Discussion/Comments: Council congratulated Mr. West on his appointment.
Public Comments: None
It was moved by Lau, seconded by Johnson, and approved 5-0 to appoint resident Trent West to the Tri-City Mental Health Authority Governing Board.
Newly appointed Tri-City Board Member Trent West stated he was pleased to accept the nomination to serve, with the goal of helping bring hope to families dealing with mental illness in their families.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time set aside for anyone wishing to address the City Council on items not listed in any other place on the agenda and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Under the provisions of the Brown Act, the legislative body is prohibited from talking or engaging in discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. However, your concerns may be referred to staff or [email protected]. Your public comment will be shared with the City Council and included as art of the permanent record. There is a 3-minute time limit on public comments Public Comments received from: None
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Each Council Member may address the Council and public on matters of general information and/or concern. This is also the time for Council Members to report on conferences and/or meetings they have attended per Assembly Bill 1234.
Minutes City Council 2/2/2026 Page 6
Council Member Crosby thanked Lupe's family for attending and expressed his condolences from the bottom of his heart on the passing of this wonderful lady and reminded everyone of the upcoming Sweethearts Dance for those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Council Member Johnson also recognized Lupe as a favorite of his family, an important person who will be missed, and spoke on the volunteer firefighter program of which his grandfather was the first paid Fire Chief in the City.
Council Member Lau reminded everyone of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which ULV is hosting, also the Strategic Planning Session is on Saturday, February 7h at 9:00 am, also the State of the City is on February 18t at the University of La Verne, the ULV Scholarship Gala is on May 2nd and will be honoring the Women's Volleyball team. Lupe will be very much missed, she was the person who swore her in on the Planning Commission, and assisted as she ran for the City Council, condolences and sympathy to her family, she will be missed.
Mayor Pro Tem Kashifalghita commented on upcoming graduations and the future leaders, some taking the path of military service, some taking the path of learning a trade as long as you re noving forward that's all that matters. Lupe was probably one of the sweetest people in the City she swore Kash in and she kept him out of trouble, she was a wonderful person. Just a spark of life, always happy, always friendly who loved her family.
Mayor Hepburn remembers Lupe as always being kind, with a happy smile, always friendly and always a spark, she will truly be missed, truly an amazing person.
ADJOURNMENT- meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM in honor of long-time city employee Lupe Gaeta Estrella who passed away on January 18, 2026.
Respectfully submitted,
Wella Eute
Debra Fritz, CMC O
Deputy City Clerk