CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING – 5:15 P.M
REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 P.M.
MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2025
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
117 MACNEIL STREET
SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA 91340
COUNCILMEMBER JOEL FAJARDO
REMOTE TELECONFERENCE LOCATION
21333 POEMA PLACE
CHATSWORTH, CA 91311
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL – SPECIAL MEETING 5:15 P.M. (CLOSED SESSION) Mayor Mary Mendoza called the Special Meeting to order at 5:39 p.m.
Present:
Council: Mayor Mary Mendoza, Vice Mayor Mary Solorio and Councilmembers Victoria Garcia, and Patty Lopez
Staff: Interim City Manager Kanika Kith and City Attorney Richard Padilla
Absent: Councilmember Joel Fajardo
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Councilmember Lopez, seconded by Councilmember Garcia to approve the agenda.
The motion carried, with Councilmember Fajardo absent.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS None
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION (5:40 P.M.)
By consensus, Councilmembers recessed to Closed Session.
A) CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957(A) - SECURITY, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND CITY SERVICES:
Consultation with the Chief of Police
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – Special and Regular Meeting August 4, 2025
B) CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(4) - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
One (1) matter
C) CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(1) - EXISTING
LITIGATION
CASE NAME: BRAND ESTATES, LLC V. CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
LACSC CASE NO.: 25STCP02636
RECONVENED FROM SPECIAL MEETING AND REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION City Attorney Padilla noted that Councilmember Fajardo joined the Closed Session meeting at 5:42 p.m., stated Councilmember Fajardo recused himself from Closed Session Item No. C. and noted there was no reported action as a result of July 7, 2025 Closed Session meeting.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL – REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M. (OPEN SESSION) Mayor Mary Mendoza called the regular meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
Present: Council: Mayor Mary Mendoza, and Councilmembers Joel Fajardo (remote location), Victoria Garcia, and Patty Lopez
Staff: Interim City Manager Kanika Kith, City Attorney Richard Padilla, Police Chief Fabian Valdez, Director of Administrative Services Erica Melton, Director of Public Works Wendell Johnson, Director of Recreation and Community Services Julio Salcedo, and City Clerk Julia Fritz
Absent: Vice Mayor Mary Solorio
TELECONFERENCING REQUESTS/DISCLOSURE
None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by City Clerk Julia Fritz
Mayor Mendoza announced that tonight’s meeting is scheduled to conclude by 10:30 p.m., and that all future Council meetings will also aim to adjourn by 10:30 p.m.
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – Special and Regular Meeting August 4, 2025
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Councilmember Garcia , seconded by Councilmember Fajardo to approve the agenda.
The motion carried, with Vice Mayor Solorio absent.
PRESENTATIONS
A. PRESENTATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN LUZ RIVAS REPRESENTATIVE FOR CALIFORNIA’S 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ON FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Carolyn Lemos asked the City Council for support regarding Kidney Quest Foundation events and requested that the events be advertised on the City’s social media outlets.
Lupita Gonzalez spoke regarding a recent public safety incident associated with an individual experiencing homelessness.
Ricardo Benitez spoke regarding the need to carry a passport for identification purposes and spoke in general on deportation statistics and is in support of un-document immigrants.
Councilmember Lopez submitted correspondence in favor of Item No. 18.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Garcia requested to pull Consent Item No. 7 for discussion.
Motion by Councilmember Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Lopez to approve Item Nos. 1 through 6 and 8, 9, 11 and 12:
1) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES:
a. May 5, 2025 – Special & Regular CC Meeting b. May 19, 2025 – Regular CC Meeting 2) CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NOS. 25-072 AND 25-081 APPROVING THE WARRANT REGISTERS OF JULY 21, 2025, AND AUGUST 4, 2025, RESPECTIVELY 3) RECEIVE AND FILE STATUS UPDATES FOR ENHANCEMENTS, PROJECTS, AND CITY COUNCIL
PRIORITIES
4) CONSIDERATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO MY VALLEY PASS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF
A CITY MARKETING CAMPAIGN
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – Special and Regular Meeting August 4, 2025
5) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE AMENDMENT TO THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM TO INCLUDE THE CATEGORY OF “IMMIGRATION”
6) CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING FUNDING FOR A FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, AND STAFF OVERTIME FOR A
RAPID RESPONSE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
8) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES HEALTHY EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
IN SCHOOL READINESS AND QUALITY SERVICES
9) CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING SENATE BILL 1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 FUNDS AND APPROVING THE PROJECT LIST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026
10) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE CITY’S 2025 CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PLAN AND
ADOPT A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CONTROL PLAN AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD (ITEM PULLED FROM AGENDA AND CONTINUED TO THE
NEXT REGULAR MEETING)
11) CONSIDERATION TO AWARD CONTRACTS TO WILLDAN ENGINEERING FOR SANITARY SEWER MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND TO PREMIER PIPE, INC. FOR SEWER
CCTV SERVICES
12) CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION SETTING THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF A
MAJORITY PROTEST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER RATES INCREASE AND PROCEED WITH PROPOSITION 218 PROCESS
The motion carried, with Vice Mayor Solorio absent.
7) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH IGNITE THE LIGHT
OF HOPE FOUNDATION FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND HOME GROCERY DELIVERY Motion by Councilmember Garcia, seconded by Councilmember Lopez to approve a contract services agreement with Ignite the Light of Hope Foundation (Contract No. 2412) to provide food distributions and direct to home grocery delivery in San Fernando and authorize the City Manager or designee to make non substantive changes and execute the agreement. The motion carried, with Vice Mayor Solorio absent.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
13) DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE A SECOND READING TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1735 AMENDING CHAPTER 90 (TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES) OF THE SAN
FERNANDO MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM
AND TO MODIFY PARKING RESTRICTIONS OF CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDING FOR USE AS
HUMAN HABITATIONS
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – Special and Regular Meeting August 4, 2025
Director of Public Works Wendell Johnson, Police Commander CJ Chiasson, and Interim Management Analyst Isabella Tapia presented the staff report and responded to Councilmember questions.
Motion by Councilmember Lopez, seconded by Mayor Mendoza to adopt Ordinance No. 1735 that was introduced for first reading at the City Council meeting of July 7, 2025, in title only, and waive all further readings titled, “An Ordinance Of The City Council of the City Of San Fernando, California, Amending Chapter 90 (Traffic And Vehicles) of the San Fernando Municipal Code to implement a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) Program and to modify parking restrictions of Campers, Recreational Vehicles, Utility Trailers and other Vehicles including those used for human habitation”. The motion failed as the ordinance requires a majority vote by the Council and below are the following vote results:
ROLL CALL
AYES: Lopez, Mendoza - 2
NAYES: Garcia - 1
ABSTAIN: Fajardo - 1
ABSENT: Solorio - 1
The City Council City Council directed staff to return to the next meeting with separate ordinances (Residential Parking Permit, Parking Meters, and RV Parking Restrictions as stand-alone ordinances).
14) RECEIVE AND FILE AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT REGARDING FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AWARD THRESHOLDS
Assistant to the City Manager Will Pettener presented the staff report and responded to Councilmember questions. The City Council received and filed the report and confirmed maintaining the maximum threshold at $250 per individual and $500 per family. 15) DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING LALO GARCIA FOR
HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO ART, CULTURE, AND THE COMMUNITY Councilmember Patty Lopez presented the staff report.
Motion by Councilmember Lopez, seconded by Councilmember Fajardo to direct staff to revise the resolution and convert the wording into a Certificate of Proclamation. The motion carried, with Vice Mayor Solorio absent.
16) DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING SALVADOR
RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS ARTISTIC LEGACY AND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS Councilmember Patty Lopez presented the staff report.
Motion by Councilmember Lopez, seconded by Councilmember Fajardo to direct staff to revise the resolution and convert the wording into a Certificate of Proclamation. The motion carried, with Vice Mayor Solorio absent.
17) DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION TO SUPPORT THE SAN FERNANDO WRESTLING YOUTH
CROSSROADS PROGRAM
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – Special and Regular Meeting August 4, 2025
Councilmember Victoria Garcia presented the staff report and responded to Councilmember questions.
Motion by Councilmember Garcia, seconded by Mayor Mendoza to direct staff to reach out, either formally through a letter or informally by a City representative, to LAUSD to request a waiver of the fee charged to San Fernando Wrestling Youth Crossroads to use the facilities at San Fernando High School. The motion carried, with Vice Mayor Solorio absent. 18) DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING GUIDELINES AND LIMITATIONS FOR
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION, PROCLAMATIONS, RESOLUTIONS PER MEETING Mayor Mary Mendoza presented the staff report and responded to Councilmember questions.
The City Council directed staff to bring back a report Direction to bring staff report with proposed revisions to the City Recognition Requests Policy/Procedure. These revisions will add clear descriptions (e.g. formatting, design and frame) and guidelines for City Council issued Proclamations, and other forms of written recognition; to potentially include an option to adopt a resolution as a form of recognition, funding analysis, and include this project in the Council Enhancements Update staff report. By consensus, the City Council agreed that presentation certificates requests per Councilmember be limited to three (3) for the quarterly Recognition Celebration Special meetings.
STAFF COMMUNICATION INCLUDING COMMISSION UPDATES
City Clerk Fritz had no updates to report.
Interim Director of Community Development Garcia commented on community outreach progress efforts for the City’s Climate Action Resilience Plan and the Housing Implementation Program.
Director of Recreation and Community Services Salcedo provided updates to upcoming recreation and community service activities and events.
Director of Public Works Johnson mentioned construction occurring at the Pacoima Wash Bikeway project related to the removal of bollards.
Director of Administrative Services Melton had no updates to report.
Police Chief Valdez had no updates to report.
Interim City Manager Kith expressed appreciation to the Public Works team for their quick response to the incident at the lower water reservoir, which prevented any interruption to the City’s water distribution.
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – Special and Regular Meeting August 4, 2025
GENERAL CITY COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND LIAISON UPDATES Councilmember Fajardo had no updates to report.
Councilmember Garcia thanked staff for the recognition celebration special meeting, noted she attended the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Annual Conference, and the Veterans Ad Hoc and FIFA Committee meetings, the Movies at the Park event and commented on the City BBQ event.
Councilmember Lopez expressed appreciation for the recognition celebration special meeting, noted that business cards and email accounts should be prepared for her appointed Commissioners, commented on park cleanliness and beautification, mall repairs, and expressed concern regarding the increase in homelessness. She requested a future agenda update from the Police Department on patrols related to homelessness and public safety.
Mayor Mendoza noted she attended the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials(NALEO) Annual Conference. Commented on the recognition celebration special meeting and acknowledged staff for stepping up during the City Manager transition.
ADJOURNMENT (8:02 p.m.)
Mayor Mendoza adjourned the regular meeting to the special meeting of August 18, 2025.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and
correct copy of the minutes of the August 4, 2025,
Regular meeting and approved by the San Fernando
City Council at the meeting of October 6, 2025.
_________________________________________
Julia Fritz, CMC
City Clerk