CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2026 6:00 PM
SAN DIMAS COUNCIL CHAMBER
CONFERENCE ROOM
245 EAST BONITA AVENUE
A public agenda packet is available for review on the City’s website www.sandimasca.gov or by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at [email protected].
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Emmett Badar, Mayor Pro Tem Eric Weber, Councilmember Rachel Bratakos, Councilmember Eric Nakano, Councilmember Ryan A. Vienna
CALL TO ORDER AND FLAG SALUTE
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
(Members of the audience are invited to address the City Council on any item on this agenda. Public comment will not be taken during each individual agenda item, except for public hearing items.
Comments on public hearing items will be heard when that item is scheduled for discussion. Under the provisions of the Brown Act, the legislative body is prohibited from engaging in discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. However, your concerns may be referred to staff or set for discussion at a later date. Each speaker will be limited to speaking once for up to (3) three minutes.) STUDY SESSION
1. Discussion on City Council Attendance at Council Meetings
ADJOURNMENT
Notice Regarding Americans with Disabilities Act: In compliance with the ADA, if you need assistance to participate in a city meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (909) 3946216. Early notification before the meeting you wish to attend will make it possible for the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting [28 CFR 35.10235.104 ADA Title II].
Copies of documents distributed for the meeting are available in alternative formats upon request. Any writings or documents provided to the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public review Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Administration Department and San Dimas Library. In addition, most documents are posted on the City's website at www.sandimasca.gov.
Notice Regarding Americans with Disabilities Act: In compliance with the ADA, if you need assistance to participate in a city meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (909) 3946216. Early notification before the meeting you wish to attend will make it possible for the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting [28 CFR 35.10235.104 ADA Title II].
Copies of documents distributed for the meeting are available in alternative formats upon request. Any writings or documents provided to the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public review Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Administration Department and San Dimas Library. In addition, most documents are posted on the City's website at www.sandimasca.gov.
Posting Statement: I declare under penalty of perjury that on February 6, 2026, I posted a true and correct copy of this agenda on the bulletin board in the Civic Center Plaza of City Hall at 245 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas Library 145 N. Walnut Ave., San Dimas Post Office 300 E. Bonita Ave., Von’s Via Verde Shopping Center 1160 Via Verde Ave. .and on the City's website www.sandimasca.gov/agendasminutes/as required by law.
February 6, 2026 Debra Black
Debra Black, City Clerk
Agenda Item Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
For the Meeting of February 10, 2026
From: Brad McKinney, City Manager
Prepared by: Debra Black, City Clerk
Subject: Discussion on City Council Attendance at Council Meetings ____________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY
At the request of the City Council, staff has prepared this informational report to facilitate a study session discussion regarding City Council attendance at council meetings. This item is intended to provide background information, outline general best practices used by other local agencies, and support policy-level discussion. No direction or action is requested as part of this study session.
RECOMMENDATION
City Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Receive information and discuss City Council attendance at council meetings.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
No
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for the recommended action.
BACKGROUND
Regular attendance at City Council meetings is fundamental to effective governance, public trust, and the ability of the Council to conduct City business. Councilmember attendance ensures quorum requirements are met, allows for full participation in deliberations, and provides consistent representation for residents. Like many cities, the City of San Dimas operates under applicable state law, the City’s Municipal Code, and adopted Council procedures. While state law establishes certain requirements related to vacancies and quorum, many cities supplement those
City Council Attendance at Council Meetings Page 2
For the Meeting of February 10, 2026
requirements with local policies or procedural guidelines addressing attendance expectations, excused absences, and documentation.
In 2024 the City Council updated the Boards Commissions and Committee Handbook that included addressing attendance. Section IV. H Attendance - was updated and reads in part that a member may be removed when absent from two meetings in a rolling year or when a pattern of repeated absences becomes apparent except in the case of illness or excused absences by prior permission of the commission, committee or board.
Three unexcused absences result in the automatic removal of a commissioner, committee member, or board member and starts the recruitment process by the Councilmember who nominated such member.
This study session provides an opportunity for the City Council to discuss Council attendance considerations in a non-action setting.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
Staff’s role for this item is to support Council discussion by summarizing common practices observed among other local agencies, which may include:
• Attendance Expectations: Many councils articulate an expectation that members attend all regular meetings unless prevented by illness, emergency, or official business. • Excused vs. Unexcused Absences: Some agencies distinguish between excused and unexcused absences, with procedures for notification and documentation. • Recording Attendance: Attendance is typically recorded in the official minutes for transparency and historical recordkeeping.
• Statutory Considerations: Government Code 36513 (a) If a city councilmember is absent without permission from all regular city council meetings for 60 consecutive days from the date of the last regular meeting they attended, their office becomes vacant and shall be filled as any other vacancy.
• Flexibility: Policies often balance accountability with flexibility for unforeseen circumstances.
This study session is intended to allow Councilmembers to exchange perspectives, ask questions, and consider whether future policy development, clarification, or no change is desired.
ALTERNATIVES
As this item is presented for discussion only, the City Council may consider the following alternatives:
1. Receive the information and take no further action. The Council may determine that existing practices and applicable state law are sufficient and that no additional local policy or clarification is needed.
2. Provide direction to staff to return with additional information. The Council may request further research, such as a comparison of attendance policies from similarly situated cities or additional legal analysis related to council attendance.
3. Provide direction to draft a formal policy or procedural clarification for future consideration. The Council may direct staff to prepare proposed language addressing council attendance expectations, excused absences, or documentation practices for review at a future meeting.
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For the Meeting of February 10, 2026
4. Continue the discussion at a future study session. The Council may choose to continue deliberation without taking action or providing direction at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), CEQA does not apply to this item because there is no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no additional environmental review is needed at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Black
City Clerk