20260523
825-04
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
NORWALK CITY COUNCIL
NORWALK, CALIFORNIA
MAY 23, 2026
Mayor Perez called the special meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. in Conference Room No. 4, Norwalk City Hall, 12700 Norwalk Boulevard, Norwalk, California. City Council was present in its entirety with Councilmembers Ayala, Ramirez, and Valencia, Vice Mayor Rios, and Mayor Perez responding to roll call . Also present were Jesus M.
Gomez, City Manager; and Theresa Devoy, City Clerk.
REPORT
FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 PROPOSED BUDGET
The City Manager reported that staff prepared a proposed budget outlining a 10% reduction city-wide. Jana Stuard, Director of Finance/Treasurer, presented an overview of the proposed budget for F iscal Year (FY) 2026/27, discussing expenditures and identifying department budget reductions.
City Council expressed their desire to continue providing essential programs/services to the community , but recognized with the uncertainty of continued funding, they would have to make difficult decisions regarding reductions in funding. They thanked staff for proposing cuts as requested. City Council agreed to make the following revisions to staff’s proposed reductions:
City-Wide Contract Services:
Approved the following reductions: City Attorney - $46,000; Communications - $50,000, Management Services - $8,000; MIS - $72,705; Public Safety – Administration - $25,000; Public Safety – Administration Parking Consultant - $40,000; Finance – Animal Canvassing – $30,000; Public Services Traffic Engineer - $85,000, P ublic Works Inspector - $125,000, Surveyor - $50,000, and Environmental - $97,000; Social Services - $3,000, Recreation - $32,667, and LA County Sheriffs (vacant positions/Overtime) - $1,892,129.
Services maintained at 100% were: Street Sweeping and Tree Trimming.
Professional Development:
Approved reduction to the City Council Out of State conferences - $14,500. No other reductions to departments were made. City Council stressed the importance of staff development and asked staff to provide a detailed report on the types of conferences and trainings per department.
Minutes of the Special Meeting
Norwalk City Council
May 23, 2026
2 Software Expenses:
Approved the following reductions: Communications – Community Survey - $13,000; Recreation - fewer Adobe Pro & Creative Illustrator licenses - $10,500, and Senior Center – moving funding for Case Management Software to grant funds - $3,360. No other proposed reductions were approved, as City Council indicated elimination would significantly impact day-to-day operations.
Operations:
Approved the following reductions : Administration - $10,000, Finance - $8,000, Public Services Traffic Maintenance - $5,500, Park Maintenance - $1,500, City Owned Street Light repair/replacement - $411,000, Senior Center - $24,750, and Social Services - $16,800. City Council requested City Owned Street Lights be revisited at mid-year.
Special Programs and Events - General Government:
Approved the following reductions : Int ernational Friendship Commission - $5,000, Communications City-wide events - $6,400, and F inance - Cat Neutering program - $8,800. City Council commented on the importance of informing the public , and shared that the community newsletter was rated high in the most recent survey results for how residents receive City information. City Council also commented on the importance of employee morale. Direction was given to fully fund the newsletter and employee luncheon.
Special Programs and Events – Public Safety:
City Council discussed the importance of safety and preventative programs and keeping residents safe as a priority and directed staff not to move forward with the proposed reductions to Public Safety’s Special Programs and Events.
Special Programs and Events: Social Services:
Approved reductions to: Mentoring Programs - $10,200, Senior Center Tours - $11,250, Events - $10,000, Classes - $4,500, and Nutritional Program Subsidy - $300,350 (moving from general fund to grant funding).
Special Programs and Events - Recreation and Parks Services:
Approved reductions to the following: Park Pals After School Program - $49,035, Boxing - $39,210, Cultural Art Center - $22,990, Teen Center - $37,580, Halloween Festivals - $17,317, Las Posadas (combine with Tree Lighting event) - $11,681; and approved canceling the following: Kids & Cops - $10,113, Beach Bus - $11,184, Front Street Friday Nights - $67,287, Movies in the Parks - $14,953, Norwalk 5K - $110,076, Halloween Parade - $95,480, and Santa Sleigh - $30,211.
The reductions agreed upon by City Council total $3,858,330. At the conclusion of the discussion, City Council requested additional information be provided at the regular Minutes of the Special Meeting
Norwalk City Council
May 23, 2026
3 meeting on June 2, to finalize considerations for the proposed budget, and indicated the budget would be re-visited at mid-year to review the finances and expenses.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no persons wishing to address City Council on the matters of this special meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
____________________________
THERESA DEVOY, CMC
CITY CLERK
ATTEST:
____________________________
JENNIFER PEREZ
MAYOR