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MINUTES OF AUGUST 18, 2026
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN GABRIEL CITY COUNCIL
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chan called the regular meeting of the San Gabriel City Council to order at 6:33 P.M. on Tuesday, August 18, 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 Menchaca.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jorge Herrera Avila, Denise Menchaca, John Wu, Vice
Mayor Tony Ding, and Mayor Eric L. Chan.
None.
City Manager Mark Lazzaretto, City Attorney Keith
Lemieux, Chief City Clerk Sharon Clark, Fire Chief Steven Wallace, Human Resources/Risk Management Director
Edward Macias, Police Chief Edward Elizalde,
Community Development Director David Sanchez,
Public Works Director Michael Sledd, Acting Finance
Director Linda Tang, and Assistant City Clerk Adam
Yang.
Chief City Clerk Clark provided information for the public on how to view the meeting.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER
Mayor Chan approved the agenda order.
2. PRESENTATIONS
A. LION DANCE - ONLINE ARTS CHARITY
Cyrene Wu introduced the group and Mayor Chan presented Certificates of Recognition to the dancers.
B. RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY YOUTH COALITION Founder Aaron Shen introduced the organization, and Mayor Chan presented a Certificate of Recognition.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
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A written comment was received from Wing Chan, resident, expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of her request for Police records.
A written comment was received from R. Yiu, resident, requesting increased security measures for U.S. Post Offices.
Sue Fitzsimmons, resident, announced a financial education seminar on fraud and identity theft to be held on August 20, 2026, from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. at the Bank of America.
Harry Wong, resident, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of a code enforcement violation on his property.
Yolanda Alvarez, resident, stated she is going through the same situation as Harry Wong, expressed support for him, and asked Council to look into the matter.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Vice Mayor Ding, to approve Consent Calendar Items 4A-4K as presented.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU, DING, CHAN
NONE
NONE
NONE
I A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council approved:
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1. Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of July 21, 2026.
2. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of July 21, 2026.
B. MATERIAL DEMANDS
The City Council approved July 9, 16, 24, and 30, 2026, Material Demands for the payment of City expenditures.
C. CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT-JULY 2026
The City Council received and filed the Cash and Investment Report for July 2026.
D. RESOLUTION NOS. 26-31 AND 26-32 SETTING THE RATE AND AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR THE 2026-27 FISCAL YEAR RETIREMENT LEVY
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-31, setting the tax rate at 14 cents per $100 assessed valuation, and Resolution No. 26-32, fixing the amount of property taxes to be generated for the City's employees' retirement cost for fiscal year 2026-2027.
E. VOTING DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO VOTE ON THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTION PACKET
The City Council gave approval for the voting delegate and voting alternate to use their discretion to vote on the proposed resolution.
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F. RESOLUTION NO. 26-45 APPROVING A REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE ON THE 800 BLOCK OF COMMERCIAL AVENUE
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-45, approving a temporary street closure on the 800 block of Commercial Avenue, from South Gladys Avenue to the end of the cul-de-sac, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
G. APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SAN
GABRIEL VALLEY REGIONAL FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-46 TO EFFECTUATE THE NECESSARY BUDGETARY
APPROPRIATIONS
The City Council:
1. Approved transfer of the funds necessary for the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA);
2. Authorized the City Manager to execute the MOA between the City of San Gabriel and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments for continued participation in the Regional Food Recovery Program; and
3. Authorized the issuance of a purchase order.
H. RESOLUTION NO. 26-43 RATIFYING THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SAN GABRIEL FIRE MANAGEMENT GROUP FOR THE JULY 1, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027, PERIOD AND INCREASING
GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS FOR FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS The City Council:
1. Adopted Resolution No. 26-43, which ratifies the two-year successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and San Gabriel Fire Management Group for the period covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, and appropriates $305,814 in the General Fund to cover increased Fire Department salaries and benefits in Fiscal Year 2026-27; and
2. Authorized the City's negotiators to execute the MOU.
I. SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM (STEP) GRANT APPROVAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 [RESOLUTION NO. 26-40]
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-40 approving and accepting the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) contract funding as outlined in the Staff Report and increasing the Revenue Budget Account #147-3229 by an estimated $113,000 to reflect receipt of the grant funds and increasing appropriations in the Police Department Expenditure Budget by $113,000, account 147-751-00 cost center, which will be used to account for the grant expenditures. The OTS grant fund revenue budget estimate will increase by $113,000 with a corresponding increase in the expenditure budget of $113,000.
J. APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 FIRE DEPARTMENT SUPPLIES AND
EQUIPMENT OPEN PURCHASE ORDERS OF UP TO BUDGETED AMOUNTS OF $90,000 AND $65,000
The City Council:
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1. Authorized the City Manager or designee to issue an open purchase order of up to the budgeted amount of $90,000 for Life Assist, Incorporated.
2. Authorized the City Manager or designee to issue an open purchase order of up to the budgeted amount of $65,000 to Municipal Emergency Services.
K. RESOLUTION NO. 26-44 AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027
OPERATING BUDGET TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC
INFORMATION SPECIAL PROJECT
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-44 amending the Fiscal Year 2026- 2027 Operating Budget to increase appropriations by $103,000 for the Public Information Special Project.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - None.
6. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR GRANT WRITING
AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONSULTING SERVICES TO TOWNSEND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, INCORPORATED
Assistant to the City Manager Iliana Flores made the presentation and introduced Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (Townsend) Chief Executive Officer Cori Takkinen.
Discussion included criteria for grants, communication is adapted to City preference, individuality of grant metrics between cities, upcoming grant opportunities, measurable benchmarks for assessing Townsend performance, advocacy for grant creation/funding, performance metrics, state and federal reach, and termination of the current consulting agreement for grant writing.
There was no public comment.
A motion was made by Council Member Menchaca, seconded by Council Member Herrera Avila, to:
1. Award a Professional Services Agreement to Townsend Public Affairs, Incorporated for Grant Funding and Government Affairs Consulting Services in an amount not to exceed $120,000 annually;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement and any related documents, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. 26-47, with a correction of the account number to 121- 721-00-22-813.
Motion carried by a vote of 5-0 as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
HERRERA AVILA, MENCHACA, WU, DING, CHAN
NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
8. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
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City Manager Lazzaretto thanked Council for their patience working with new technology during the meeting.
9. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS
Council Member Wu reported on his attendance at San Gabriel's National Night Out and grand openings for 986 Pharmacy at SF Supermarket and Oh Sip! cafe.
Vice Mayor Ding reported on his attendance at a City summer concert at Vincent Lugo Park, 9th US Legacy International Arts Festival Closing Ceremony & Awards Gala, First Mandarin NAMI Family Support Group Fundraiser - San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles Dapeng Alumni Association Air Force 814 Victory Day; 500 block Daroca Avenue neighborhood block party; San Gabriel National Night Out; grand openings for Miniso, Pharmacy 986, Al Robotic Wellness Center, and Oh Sip! cafe; Los Angeles Elite Lions Club 6th Installation and Fundraiser Gala and Los Angeles Overseas Lions Club Joint Installation Ceremony; and a meeting with Senator Perez regarding Ride SG.
Council Member Menchaca thanked the Police Department for National Night Out; reminded the community that they can still have neighborhood block parties; reported on her attendance at a neighborhood block party; gave a shout-out to Economic Development Manager Karen Ko and Assistant to the City Manager/Public Information Officer Iliana Flores for no-cost grand openings for businesses; and commended the Community Services Department's first Cardboard Boat Regatta.
Council Member Herrera Avila reported on his attendance at the Mexican American Policy Alliance Summit in Mexico City, and announced his League of California Cities presidential appointment to serve on the Resolutions Committee.
Mayor Chan reported on his attendance at a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors City Selection Committee meeting, San Gabriel National Night Out, grand opening/ribbon cuttings for Miniso, 986 Pharmacy, Al Robotics Wellness Center, and Oh Sip! cafe, China-US Business Summit at the San Gabriel Sheraton, monthly Chinese American Citizens Alliance dinner meeting, neighborhood block party at the 500 block of Daroca Avenue, Arcadia Chamber of Commerce mixer, and the Los Angeles Overseas Lions Club Joint Installation Ceremony at the San Gabriel Hilton.
10. CLOSED SESSION - None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
JU
Approved this 1st day of September, 2026:
ERIC L. CHAN, Mayor
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