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MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 2026
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN GABRIEL CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Menchaca called the regular meeting of the San Gabriel City Council to order at 6:31 P.M. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, California, 91776.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Wu.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tony Ding, Jorge Herrera Avila, John Wu, Vice Mayor
Eric Chan, and Mayor Denise Menchaca.
None.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, Assistant City Attorney
Martin Koczanowicz, Community Services Director
Rebecca Perez, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark, Fire Chief Steven Wallace, Finance Director William Kaholokula,
Police Chief Edward Elizalde, Community Development
Director David Sanchez, Public Works Director Michael
Sledd, and Assistant City Clerk Adam Yang.
Mayor Menchaca wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.
Chief City Clerk Clark provided information for the public on how to view the meeting.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER
Mayor Menchaca approved the agenda order.
2. PRESENTATIONS- None.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Randye Kay, spoke in opposition to the construction of an Al data center in Monterey Park and requested a San Gabriel urgency ordinance for a moratorium on data centers.
Grace Yang, San Gabriel Library Manager, invited all to pick up a red envelope and bookmark at the Library in celebration of the Year of the Horse and Lunar New Year; and to attend Paint Like Alma Thomas on February 21, 2026, from 3:00 -4:30 P.M. and Places in the Sun on February 25, 2026, from 3:00 - 4:00 P.M. in honor of African American and Black History Month.
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Denise Gotch, resident, solicited the community for names of veterans who were born or lived in San Gabriel for inclusion on the future San Gabriel Veterans Memorial.
Chasity Jennings-Nunez, resident, wished all a Happy Lunar New Year, reported on a reception for the Black History Month Art Exhibition at Blossom Market Hall, and expressed displeasure with the City Council for their silence on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.
Mandy Luu and Sherry Luu, residents, commented on a notice of code violation they received, expressed dissatisfaction with their interaction with City code enforcement staff, and requested an extension to clean up their property.
Athens Services Senior Vice President John Harrington introduced Athens' Vice President of Governmental Affairs Luis Ayala.
Michael Cervantes, resident, requested that the Silent Film Festival series at the Mission Playhouse be expanded.
Mary Garcia, resident, requested that Public Works address raised curbs at 1026 Euclid and 1036 S. Pine Street.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Wu, seconded by Council Member Ding, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A - 4E as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
DING, HERRERA AVILA, WU, CHAN, MENCHACA
NONE
NONE
NONE
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved:
1. Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of February 3, 2026.
2. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 3, 2026.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved January 23 and 30, 2026, Material Demands for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT - JANUARY 2026
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for January 2026.
D. EXCHANGE OF PROPOSITION A FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 The City Council approved and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement with the Foothill Transit Authority authorizing the exchange of $500,000 in Proposition A Funds for $375,000 in General Fund revenue.
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E. APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND STATEMENT OF
WORK WITH CIVICPLUS FOR CITY WEBSITE REDESIGN, HOSTING, AND
RELATED DIGITAL SERVICES
The City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement and associated Statement of Work with CivicPlus for the redesign, hosting, and ongoing support of the City of San Gabriel website, including related digital services.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - None.
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. REVIEW VETERANS MEMORIAL CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS AND PROVIDE
DIRECTION TO STAFF AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DAVID VOLZ DESIGN
CREATIVE
Community Services Director Perez made the staff presentation and Director of Design Gary Vasquez of David Volz Design Creative, presented the designs.
Clarifying discussion included design elements, plant materials, lighting, security, anti-vandalism measures, manner and placement of veteran and sponsor names, and inclusion of Mission San Gabriel input.
Theresa Olivas Justiniani, resident, founding member of the San Gabriel Veterans' Memorial Coalition, Michael A. Cervantes, President of the San Gabriel Veterans' Memorial Coalition, and Denise Gotch, resident and Coalition member, commented on various aspects of the Memorial.
Discussion included design preferences, qualifications for veteran name inclusion, landscape maintenance, and soliciting input from City Commissions.
Mayor Menchaca reopened public comment.
The following made additional comments regarding design elements, Coalition inclusion and communication, pedestrian safety, and a sign at the future site announcing the project: Mary Garcia, Debbie Cordero, Michael Cervantes, Patricia Foltyn, and Denise Gotch.
There was a consensus of the City Council for Design 2 and staff was directed to solicit design input from the Design Review and Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Commissions.
8. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Lazzaretto wished all a Happy Lunar New Year.
9. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Vice Mayor Chan reported on his attendance at the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Guiji Tea House at Tawa Gateway, IPAC officer's installation dinner, grand opening for Milk & Co Cafe in Monterey Park, Black History Month Art Exhibit at Blossom Market Hall, League of Women Voters 90th Anniversary Gala event at the Arcadia Community Center, Public Safety Summit hosted by Temple City Mayor Sternquist at CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Page 3 of4 February 17, 2026 I
the Temple City County Library; hoped everyone had a great President's Day; and wished all a Happy Lunar New Year.
Council Member Herrera Avila wished all a Happy Chinese Lunar New Year.
Council Member Ding reported on his attendance at the Guiji Tea grand opening, Auchel World/Grant Prospects Financial and Insurance Services event at the San Gabriel Sheraton, a cultural event hosted by a Pasadena church choir, attended the IPAC Officer's installation dinner, Guandong University event at San Gabriel Hilton, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) 2028 Olympics Ad Hoc Committee meeting, Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce Lunar New Year Celebration; and Hakka Cultural Celebration event.
Council Member Wu reported on his attendance at a Lunar New Year Celebration at Hsi Lai Temple, Ramona Parlor dinner as a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, a meeting of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) 2028 Olympics Ad Hoc Committee, and the inauguration of the American Chinese Cuisine Association at the Hilton San Gabriel; suggested moving San Gabriel's Dumpling and Beer Fest to July for the Olympics; and wished all a Happy New Year.
Mayor Menchaca thanked staff for decorating the Council Chamber for Lunar New Year, wished all a Happy Lunar New Year, announced a Ramona Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West fundraiser, reported she met with new management at the San Gabriel Hilton Hotel regarding the 2028 Olympics, and reported her attendance at a 211 LA nonprofit lunch, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) 50th Anniversary event, and a League of Women Voters event.
10. CLOSED SESSION - None.
I 11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:01 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
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SHARON F. CLARK,
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Chief City Clerk
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day of March, 2026: ,,,
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