20251104
825-04
MINUTES OF THE CLOSED SESSION AND REGULAR MEETINGS
NORWALK CITY COUNCIL
NORWALK, CALIFORNIA
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
CLOSED SESSION MEETING
Mayor Ayala called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Norwalk City Hall, 12700 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk, California . Responding to roll call w ere Councilmember Rios, Vice Mayor Perez, and Mayor Ayala. Councilmembers Ramirez and Valencia arrived after roll call. Also present were Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager; Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman, City Attorney; and Theresa Devoy, City Clerk.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR CLOSED SESSION MATTERS
There were no persons wishing to address City Council on the matters to be discussed in closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
City Council immediately convened to closed session for discussion on the following matters:
I. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE §54956.9(d)(2) – Significant exposure to litigation in one case.
II. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE §54956.8, Assessor Parcel Numbers 8047 -006-924 and 8047-006-925 (The Walk Project); Negotiating on behalf of the City: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager; Negotiating Party: Primestor; Under Ne gotiation: Price and Terms of Payment.
III. PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE § 54957.6; CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR. Negotiating on behalf of the City: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager; regarding negotiations with the Norwalk City Employees Association.
IV. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION PURUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE §54956.9(d)(2) in one case.
RECESS
City Council recessed at 5:55 p.m. pending the commencement of the regular meeting.
Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular Meetings
Norwalk City Council
November 4, 2025
2 REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Ayala called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Norwalk City Hall, 12700 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk, California . Responding to roll call were Councilmembers Ramirez, Rios, and Valencia, Vice Mayor Perez, and Mayor Ayala. Also present were Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager; Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman, City Attorney; and Theresa Devoy, City Clerk.
The invocation was delivered by Pastor Hector Gonzalez, Church of New Hope; followed by the flag salute, led by Giovanni Armendarez, Southeast Academy High School.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
The City Attorney indicated there was no reportable action taken on Item Nos. I, II and III.
Item No. IV was not discussed.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Rios reported on her attendance at the ribbon cutting event s for Kevani Billboards and Weingart Rose housing development grand opening; thanked staff and the community for their support with the Paint the Town Pink Breast Cancer awareness campaign and invited all to attend the wrap up event on November 5. Councilmember Valencia wished everyone a happy Veterans Day and thanked Veterans for their service; invited all to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11 , the Kiwanis Family Fun night at Mr. Rosewoods on November 13, and the Norwalk Lions Club Thanksgiving Feast; reported on her attendance at the International Festival at St. Francis Episcopal Church. Vice Mayor Perez wished all a happy November, shared that the Norwalk Now Newsletter is now available; thanked staff for a great First Responders Appreciation Luncheon; congratulated the Nowalk Chamber of Commerce for a great fall kickoff event; reported on her attendance at the California Contract Cities City Manager Summit , held at the University of Southern California, and the ribbon cutting ceremony for Weingart Rose housing development , sharing it is currently at 100% occupancy; thanked the community for their support during the Paint the Town Pink campaign and Public Safety and the Sheriff’s Department for protecting the community. Wished Mayor Ayala a happy birthday and c ongratulated Councilmember Rios on the birth of her new grandchild.
Mayor Ayala wished Vice Mayor Perez a happy birthday; reported on his attendance at the Dia De Los Muertos event held at Los Alisos Middle School; thanked the Community Promotion and Public Safety commissions for a great First Responder’s Luncheon; invited all to att end the City’s Veterans Day Ceremony; and highlighted the City of Norwalk ’s Emergency Food Pantry available thru the Social Services Department ; and asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Martha Mercado.
Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular Meetings
Norwalk City Council
November 4, 2025
3 CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Mr. Gomez introduced Albert Mendoza, the new Director of Public Services and City Engineer.
Allan Perdomo, Director of Recreation and Park Services, provided an update on the Hermosillo Park Project, indicating that it would be closed for two years.
Videos were shared highlighting the State of the City 2025 Event , First Responders Luncheon 2025, Halloween in Norwalk 2025, and the “Bi-Weekly Update.”
Mr. Gomez highlighted resources available to the community affected by the ICE raids.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent calendar items are considered routine matters which may be enacted by one motion and roll call vote. Councilmember Valencia moved and Councilmember Rios seconded to approve the consent calendar as recommended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Councilmembers Ramirez, Rios, and Valencia, Vice Mayor Perez, and Mayor Ayala
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
WAIVE READING IN FULL OF ALL ORDINANCES ON THE AGENDA - City Council waived reading in full of all ordinances on the agenda and declared that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
MEETING MINUTES
City Council approved the minutes of the meetings of October 17, 2025 and October 21, 2025. 825-04
PAYROLL FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 – OCTOBER 11, 2025
City Council approve d gross payroll in the amount of $1,301,989.78; the payroll Check Nos. 38587 – 38596 and the Voucher Nos. 351191 – 351703, in the total net amount of $977,489.82 for the payroll period September 28, 2025 – October 11, 2025. 630
Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular Meetings
Norwalk City Council
November 4, 2025
4 COMMERCIAL DEMANDS
City Council approved the warrant register period October 14, 2025 – October 27, 2025, in the total amount of $4,489,939.04. 640
PLANNING COMMERCIAL SYNOPSIS – OCTOBER 22, 2025
No action was taken. 320
ORDINANCE NO. 25 -1760 - AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 15.54 (ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING) WHICH SETS FORTH AN EXPEDITED,
STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
STATIONS
City Council accepted for second reading and adopted Ordinance No. 25 -1760, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILD INGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 15.54 (ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS) WHICH SETS FORTH AN EXPEDITED,
STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEMS. 305-01-01
CONFIRM EMERGENCY WORK AT AQUATIC PAVILION
City Council confirmed the emergency service repair work at the Norwalk Aquatic Pavilion completed by Waterline Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $128,293.43. 955
PROJECT NO. 7934 - ACCEPT WORK FOR LOCAL STREETS REHABILITATION PROGRAM ZONE 7 ASPHALT IMPROVEMENTS, ENGINEER'S REPORT NO. 25-25
City Council accepted the work of Manhole Adjusting, Inc. in the amount of $1,061,657.42 for Local Streets Rehabilitation Program Zone 7 Asphalt Improvements. 1005-04-7934
RESOLUTION NO. 25 -51 BUDGET AMENDMENT – ON-CALL CITYWIDE GRANT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, ENGINEERS REPORT NO. 25-24
City Council:
a. adopted Resolution No. 25 -51, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF NORWALK AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 ADOPTED BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR ON -CALL CITYWIDE GRANT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, in the amount of $50,000; and Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular Meetings
Norwalk City Council
November 4, 2025
5 b. approved agreements with Advanced Avant -Garde Corporation, Southstar Engineering & Consulting, Inc., and Blais & Associates, LLC to provide on -call grant management services for a term of three years from the date of execution, in an amount not-to-exceed $150,000 annually; and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreements, as well as any extensions or amendments, provided there is funding in the budget and it is within the City Manager’s signing authority, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney. 610/310-06
APPOINTMENTS
ADVISORY BODY APPOINTMENTS
Councilmember Ramirez moved and Councilmember Valencia seconded to confirm Councilmember Ramirez’s appointment of Elmer Brizuela to the Senior Citizen Commission. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Councilmembers Ramirez, Rios, and Valencia, Vice Mayor Perez, and Mayor Ayala
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE NO. 25 -1761 – ADOPTING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING,
RESIDENTIAL, FIRE, WILDLAND -URBAN INTERFACE, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL,
MECHANICAL, ENERGY, EXISTING BUILDING, AND GREEN BUILDING
STANDARDS AND AMENDMENTS AND AMENDING THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE
Following a report by Faye Yuan, Building and Safety Manager, Vice Mayor Perez moved and Councilmember Rios seconded to:
a. introduce for first reading by title only, Ordinance No. 25 -1761, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORWALK ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 EDITIONS OF
THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, FIRE, WILDLAND -URBAN
INTERFACE, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, ENERGY, EXISTING
BUILDING, AND GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODES AND RELATED MODEL CODES, WITH APPENDICES AND AMENDMENTS THERETO; AND AMENDING THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE, and schedule for adoption; and b. set a public hearing date for November 18, 2025.
Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular Meetings
Norwalk City Council
November 4, 2025
6 MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Councilmembers Ramirez, Rios, and Valencia, Vice Mayor Perez and Mayor Ayala
NOES: None
ABSENT: None 305-01
RESOLUTION NO. 25 -52 – APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE
GROUND LEASE, AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT, AND COVENANTS, CONDITIONS,
AND RESTRICTIONS FOR THE WALK PROJECT SITE
Alex Hamilton, Interim Director of Community Development, provided a brief report.
Following comments by Brian Tindall, Vice Mayor Perez moved and Councilmember Rios seconded to adopt Resolution No. 25-52, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF NORWALK APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO A GROUND
LEASE BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORWALK AND PRIMESTOR NORWALK ENTERTAINMENT, LLC; AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT; AND COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS; and authorize d the City Manager to execute the Second Amendment to the Ground Lease Agreement, the Easement Agreement, and the Covenants, Conditions , and Restrictions and any other ancillary documents and amendments, in a form approved by the City Attorney. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Councilmembers Ramirez, Rios, and Valencia, Vice Mayor Perez and Mayor Ayala
NOES: None
ABSENT: None 1405-04
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Addressing City Council were Brian Tindall, Paki Maetel, Cody Woolard, Belle Boyd, Andy U., Jack Cornejo, Jeff Hardy, Tony Holton, and Britney Spears.
Minutes of the Closed Session and Regular Meetings
Norwalk City Council
November 4, 2025
7 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m., in memory of Martha Mercado.
____________________________
THERESA DEVOY, CMC
CITY CLERK
ATTEST:
_____________________________
TONY AYALA
MAYOR