CITY OF SAN FERNANDO
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 P.M.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
117 MACNEIL STREET
SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA 91340
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL – REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M. (OPEN SESSION) Mayor Mary Mendoza called the regular meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Present: Council: Mayor Mary Mendoza, Vice Mayor Mary Solorio and Councilmembers Joel Fajardo, Victoria Garcia, and Patty Lopez
Staff: City Manager Kanika Kith, City Attorney Richard Padilla, Police Chief Fabian Valdez, Director of Administrative Services Erica Melton, Director of Recreation and Community Services Julio Salcedo, Interim Director of Community Development Ron Garcia, and City Clerk Julia Fritz
Absent: None
TELECONFERENCING REQUESTS/DISCLOSURE
None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by City Clerk Julia Fritz
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Councilmember Fajardo, seconded by Councilmember Lopez to approve the agenda.
The motion carried, unanimously.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Jeff Wood, Vice Mayor of the City of Lakewood presented outgoing Mayor Mary Mendoza a Certificate of Recognition for her service as the Mayor.
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES –Regular Meeting December 1, 2025
Sonya Blake from the Valley Economic Alliance spoke about workforce and community development, acknowledged Mayor Mendoza for her service as Mayor, and acknowledged Vice Mayor Solorio’s service as Vice Mayor.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember Fajardo, seconded by Vice Mayor Solorio to approve the Consent Calendar:
1) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES:
a. October 6, 2025 – Special & Regular CC Meeting b. October 7, 2025 – Special CC Meeting 2) CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE WARRANT REGISTER 3) RECEIVE AND FILE STATUS UPDATES FOR CITY PROJECTS AND CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES 4) CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE CALENDAR YEAR 2026 BUSINESS PERMITS FOR CERTAIN
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY CODE
5) CONSIDERATION TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO BAKER TILLY FOR
STRATEGIC PLAN CONSULTING SERVICES AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING FUNDS
6) CONSIDERATION TO AUTHORIZE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO LA METRO FOR THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5310 GRANT PROGRAM 7) CONSIDERATION TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH SA ASSOCIATES FOR PREPARATION OF THE CITY’S 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN The motion carried, unanimously.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
8) ANNUAL REORGANIZATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE SELECTION OF MAYOR AND
VICE MAYOR
City Clerk Julia Fritz presented the staff report and opened nominations for Mayor.
Councilmember Lopez nominated Councilmember Victoria Garcia for the position of Mayor, and the nomination was seconded by Councilmember Garcia.
Mayor Mendoza nominated Councilmember Joel Fajardo for the position of Mayor, and the nomination was seconded by Councilmember Fajardo.
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES –Regular Meeting December 1, 2025
Vice Mayor Mary Solorio nominated herself for the position of Mayor. The nomination was not seconded.
There were no other nominations for Mayor. Motion by Councilmember Fajardo to close the nomination period.
A roll call vote was conducted for the nomination of Councilmember Joel Fajardo as Mayor as follows:
ROLL CALL
AYES: Fajardo, Mendoza - 2
NAYES: None
ABSTAIN: Solorio - 1
A roll call vote was conducted for the nomination of Councilmember Victoria Garcia as Mayor as follows:
ROLL CALL
AYES: Lopez, Garcia - 2
NAYES: None
ABSTAIN: Solorio - 1
City Clerk Fritz announced a tie vote between Councilmember Joel Fajardo and Councilmember Victoria Garcia for Mayor.
Motion by Councilmember Fajardo, seconded by Councilmember Garcia to direct the City Clerk to draw names out of a bag to break the tie vote between Joel Fajardo and Victoria Garcia for the position of Mayor. The motion carried, unanimously.
City Clerk Fritz drew the name of Joel Fajardo from the bag and announced Joel Fajardo was selected to serve as the Mayor.
Councilmember Mendoza nominated Councilmember Victoria Garcia for the position of Vice Mayor, and the nomination was seconded by Councilmember Lopez.
Vice Mayor Solorio nominated Councilmember Patty Lopez for the position of Vice Mayor, however, Councilmember Lopez declined the nomination.
There were no other nominations for Vice Mayor. Therefore, Victoria Garcia being the sole nominee, was automatically selected to serve as the Vice Mayor.
STAFF COMMUNICATION INCLUDING COMMISSION UPDATES
Interim Director of Community Development Garcia provided updates regarding the San Fernando Together Food Distribution events, announced the Citywide Employee Holiday Luncheon event on December 10, the Valley Economic Alliance Annual Meeting event on December 11 and Foodzilla on December 13, 2026.
SAN FERNANDO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES –Regular Meeting December 1, 2025
GENERAL CITY COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND LIAISON UPDATES Councilmember Mendoza talked about starting a new tradition to invite Commissioners and Department Heads to the Tree Lighting event for introductions to the public and wished everyone a happy holiday season.
Councilmember Solorio extended congratulations to her colleagues and wished everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
Councilmember Lopez extended best wishes to newly appointed Mayor Fajardo and Vice Mayor Garcia. She also noted that she submitted correspondence that outlined work that she worked on during her first year as a Councilmember and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Vice Mayor Garcia thanked her colleagues for their support, stated she is looking forward to her new role and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Mayor Fajardo recognized outgoing Mayor Mary Mendoza and thanked colleagues for their support, spoke about his commitment to the duties of the Mayor, commented on how to bring the City Council together to collaborate on matters such as initiatives related to water infrastructure and other key projects and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
ADJOURNMENT (713 p.m.)
Motion by Mayor Fajardo, seconded by Councilmember Lopez to adjourn the regular meeting to the next regular meeting of January 5, 2026.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and
correct copy of the minutes of the December 1, 2025,
Regular meeting and approved by the San Fernando
City Council at the meeting of January 20, 2026.
_________________________________________
Julia Fritz, CMC
City Clerk