MINUTES
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
A regular meeting of the City Council was held in the Auditorium, Pico Rivera Senior Center, 9200 Mines Avenue, Pico Rivera, California
Mayor Garcia called the regular meeting to order at 6.02 p.m. on behalf of the City Council.
PRESENT. Camacho, Lara, Lutz, Garcia
ABSENT: Sanchez
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT.
• Justin Schmidt, Planning Commission
• Daniel Garcia, Veterans Commission
INVOCATION. Delivered by Councilmember Lara
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Led by Elena Sanchez Transitional Kindergartener student from Montebello Gardens Elementary
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
• Certificates of Recognition were presented to the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps for their incredible work and contribution in beautifying the City with more than 200 new trees.
• A Crystal Award was presented to David Torres as the recipient of the Volunteer Recognition Program — Mayor's Volunteer of the Year Award
PUBLIC HEARING
City Council:
1 Public Hearing — Adopt the 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. (1000) Mayor Garcia opened the public hearing and noted that there were no written communications were received to provide public testimony Oral Communication(s).
Esther Mejia
• Addressed the City Council to express her concern. that the survey for the local hazard mitigation plan was limited to community members and suggested that future surveys include participation from local houses of faith
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City Manager Carmona responded that this is a living document and that the City will continue to engage local stakeholders. He noted that this represents the first of many steps toward developing a well-balanced plan to ensure the safety of all City residents.
Motion by Councilmember Lara, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Camacho to 1) Approve Resolution No 7445 adopting the draft 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and authorize staff to submit the document to the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for final approval; and 2) Found the LHMP exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) Motion carries by the following roll call vote.
Resolution No 7445 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PICO RIVERA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE 2025 LOCAL
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (LHMP) AND AUTHORIZE ITS SUBMITTAL
TO THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (CAL OES)
AND THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
FOR FINAL APPROVAL
AYES Camacho, Lara, Lutz, Garcia
NOES None
ABSENT Sanchez
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Angelica Fregoso
• Addressed the City Council regarding smoke -free multi -unit housing in the City Esther Mejia, Community Health Alliance Coalition
• Addressed the City Council regarding smoke -free multi -unit housing in the City Lauren Talbott:
• Addressed the City Council regarding the library updates for the month of November
Written communication was received by the following
Angelica Fregoso
• Addressed the City Council regarding a potential City ordinance for smoke -free multi -unit housing
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
City Council.
2. Minutes
• Approved City Council regular meeting of October 14, 2025
3. Approved 5th Warrant Register of the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year (700)
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Check Numbers. 298736-298849
Special Check Numbers. 17454
4. Resolution Updating the Job Descriptions for the Full -Time Equipment Mechanic I, II, and III/Lead. (200)
1 Approved Resolution No 7446 updating the job descriptions for the full-time Equipment Mechanic I, II and III/Lead .positions.
Resolution No 7446 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PICO RIVERA, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING THE JOB
DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE FULL-TIME POSITIONS OF EQUIPMENT
MECHANIC I, II, AND III/CREW LEADER
5. Consideration and Approval of Hardship Waiver — LEBA, Inc. (500) 1 Approved a Hardship Waiver for LEBA, Inc. for the fiscal year 2025-26 1st and 2nd quarters.
6. First Quarter Treasurer's Report and the Monthly Investment Transaction Report as of September 30, 2025 — Fiscal Year 2025-2026. (700) 1 Received and filed the Treasurer's Report for the quarter ending September 30, 2025, which represents balances and activities for the first quarter (July through September) of the 2025-26 fiscal year; and
2 Received and filed the Treasurer's Monthly Investment Transaction Report as of September 30, 2025
Motion by Councilmember Lutz, seconded by Councilmember Lara to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 2 through 6 Motion carries by the following roll call vote.
AYES Camacho, Lara, Lutz, Garcia
NOES None
ABSENT Sanchez
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS PULLED FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION None REGULAR AGENDA.
City Council
7. First Reading and Introduction of an Ordinance of the 2025 California Building Codes, Title 24, Parts 1-12, and a Resolution for Required Amendments to Title 15, Building and Construction, of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code. (1300)
City Manager Carmona provided a brief introduction
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Camacho, seconded by Councilmember Lutz to 1) Introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance adopting the 2025 California Building Code, Title 24, Parts 1 through 12, and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, 2)
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Approve Resolution No 7447 amending Title 15, Building and Construction, of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code, and 3) Set November 12, 2025, as the date for the public hearing of objections hereto Motion carries by the following roll call vote.
Ordinance No 1200 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PICO RIVERA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SPECIFIED
CHAPTERS OF TITLE 15 OF THE PICO RIVERA MUNICIPAL CODE
ADOPTING BY REFERENCE PARTS 1 THROUGH 12 OF TITLE 24 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS AND THE 2024
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE (FIRST READING
AND INTRODUCTION)
Resolution No 7447 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PICO RIVERA, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS FOR REQUIRED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING
STANDARDS CODES RELATIVE TO LOCAL CLIMATIC, TOPOGRAPHIC
AND GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS
AYES Camacho, Lara, Lutz, Garcia
NOES None
ABSENT Sanchez
8. Citywide Artificial Intelligence Policy (100)
Assistant City Manager Graves delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining the purpose and significance of an Artificial Intelligence (Al) policy for the City The presentation highlighted the importance of responsible Al use, defined the City's approach to ethical and responsible implementation, presented guiding principles for responsible use, explained the rationale for selecting Microsoft Copilot, and concluded with the proposed next steps
Councilmember Lara expressed concern regarding the protection of the host containing the City's vital information He questioned whether implementing full security measures might limit the amount of information that can be retrieved from the Al platform Assistant City Manager Graves explained that there are two practical applications of AI in the City's platform The first involves tasks within the Al policy, and the second pertains to routine research, such as comparing practices across other cities or agencies using publicly available information This type of research does not require Al tools, and validation is still necessary
Furthermore, she explained that generative Al comes into play when summarizing validated information For example, if staff have produced multiple reports over several years, the Al can quickly compile and summarize this data —a task that would typically take 4-6 hours —allowing staff to dedicate that time to other priorities.
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Councilmember Lara recommended that the City Manager provide city staff with training specifically in prompt engineering and engage a consultant to support the citywide implementation of Al
Councilmember Lutz inquired about the City's general liability regarding the use of Al and the potential risk of residents' information being compromised In response to Councilmember Lutz' inquiry, Assistant City Manager Graves explained that customer information and the generative Al. platform operate on separate databases, ensuring the security of residents' personal data. Regarding risk management, she noted that a cybersecurity plan had been developed, tested, and refined prior to the implementation of the Al policy
Motion by Councilmember Lara, seconded by Councilmember Lutz to 1) Approve an Artificial Intelligence Policy; and 2) Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to implement the policy and make minor administrative updates as needed Motion carries by the following roll call vote.
AYES Camacho, Lara, Lutz, Garcia
NOES None
ABSENT Sanchez
CITY MANAGER/STAFF REPORTS
Assistant City Manager Graves provided a brief overview of the impacts of the Federal Government shutdown, including a summary of the shutdown itself, services that remain operational, local impacts, and services at risk or experiencing delays as a result. She also discussed the effects on local recipients, the City's communications plan for residents, the potential impacts of the proposed federal budget, anticipated program eliminations affecting the City, and the next steps moving forward City Manager Carmona added that he has been in discussions with Supervisor Hahn's office regarding the potential establishment of a food distribution center to assist residents impacted by changes to CalFresh and SNAP federal benefits City Manager Carmona introduced Senior Analyst Garcia, who provided a brief legislative update The presentation included an overview of the conclusion of the legislative session, a recap of state advocacy efforts, and the status of priority bills sent to the Governor —including SB 79 —as well as ,a federal update outlining recent developments and upcoming legislative priorities.
GOOD OF THE ORDER (INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY MEETINGS, AB -1-234) Councilmember Lutz reported on his recent attendance at the HomeCo=Headquarters- Grand Opening Ceremony, the Alta FC Stadium Tour and Game Night; and the City of - Montebello State of the City event. He also highlighted the upcoming Holiday Drive-ThruT Food Giveaway
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Mayor Garcia reported on his recent attendance at several events, including the Los Angeles Sanitation District meeting, the Trunk or Treat event held in collaboration with the Pico Rivera Sheriffs Station and Walmart, the Pico Rivera Halloween Spooktacular, the welcoming of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, at the Armenian Mesrobian School, the HomeCo Headquarters Grand Opening Ceremony, and the Lights on Afterschool celebration at Magee Academy of the Arts and Sciences. He concluded by congratulating the nine (9) Pico Rivera Dons Youth Football teams that made the playoffs this year and reminded residents that the November City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 12th, due to the Veterans Day holiday Recessed to Closed Session at 7 47 p.m.
ALL FOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT
Reconvened from Closed Session at 8:23 p.m.
ALL FOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT
CLOSED SESSION(S)
a. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956 7
Property. Smith Park
Agency Negotiator Parties Steve Carmona, City Manager
Negotiating Parties El Rancho Unified School District
Under Negotiation Terms of Joint Use/Cooperative Agreement City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman stated that direction was provided, no further action was taken and there was nothing further to report.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Garcia adjourned the City Council regular meeting at 8:24 p.m There being no objection it was so ordered
AYES Camacho, Lara, Lutz, Garcia
NOES None
ABSENT Sanchez
John IL
Garcia, Mayor
ATTEST.
Cynthi yala; CMC, City Clerk
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I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct report of the proceedings of the City Council regular meeting dated October 28, 2025, and approved by the City Council on November 12, 2025
Cynthia Ayala-CIDIC, City Clerk