2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal Hill, California 90755-3799
CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
SIGNAL HILL CITY COUNCIL
July 08, 2025
A Regular Meeting of the Signal Hill City Council was held in-person in the Council Chamber on July 8, 2025.
(1) CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 P.M.
(2) ROLL CALL
PRESENT: MAYOR KEIR JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLIE HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER LORI WOODS
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT COPELAND
LATE ARRIVAL: VICE MAYOR TINA HANSEN
(3) CLOSED SESSION
a. A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957(B)(1) TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
TITLE: CITY ATTORNEY
(4) PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS There was no public business from the floor.
(5) RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:01 P.M.
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT to recess to Closed Session.
July 08, 2025
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting
Vice Mayor Hansen arrived at 6:03 p.m.
(6) RECONVENED REGULAR MEETING – 7:02 P.M.
Mayor Jones reconvened the meeting and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
(7) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
(8) CLOSED SESSION REPORT
The City Attorney reported on the closed session item; there was no reportable action taken.
(9) PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA Signal Hill residents Zach Sturiale and Mary Gonzales addressed the City Council inquiring about the status of the Signal Hill Petroleum Conditional Use Permit 97-03.
Ms. Gonzales also expressed concerns about City governance. Long Beach resident Dedrick Thomas addressed the City Council about rent control availability. Signal Hill resident Abraham Chira addressed the City Council thanking everyone for the work done on the recent water rate adjustment process.
(10) PRESENTATIONS
a. LIBRARIAN GELLI NOCON WILL PRESENT ON THE SCHEDULED
PROGRAMMING TO COMMEMORATE WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY.
Librarian Gelli Nocon presented agenda item 10a.
b. MAYOR JONES WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO THE PARKS,
RECREATION, AND LIBRARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF IN
RECOGNITION OF JULY AS PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER MONTH.
Mayor Jones presented agenda item 10b.
c. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHILDREN’S CLINIC WILL PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TO SIGNAL HILL RESIDENTS.
Diane Nichols from TCC provided a presentation and overview of the services that the organization provides.
(11) CITY MANAGER REPORTS
a. EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT WITH RED MOUNTAIN GROUP Assistant to the City Manager/Economic Development Manager Alfa Lopez provided a presentation on this item and answered questions from the City Council about wells in the subject area. Sherry DeVoge, Senior Vice President of Project Management with Red Mountain Group, also introduced herself and thanked the City Council for this opportunity. Signal Hill resident Zach Sturiale July 08, 2025
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting
addressed the City Council asking that pedestrian safety be kept in mind with any possible development projects. It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT to approve the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement between the City of Signal Hill and Red Mountain Group for the development of the Cherry Site, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR JONES
VICE MAYOR HANSEN
COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
ABSTAIN: NONE
b. PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT WITH KORMEX CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR
THE WILLOW MEDIAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Public Works Director/City Engineer Thomas Bekele provided a presentation on this item. It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS and seconded by VICE MAYOR HANSEN to authorize the City Manager to enter into a Public Works Contract with Kormex Construction, Inc. for the construction of the Willow Median Improvements Project, authorize a contingency and time extension to accommodate additional work if needed, authorize execution of the Member Agency Administered Program Reimbursement Agreement, and adopt Resolution No. 2025-07-6890, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 26.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR JONES
VICE MAYOR HANSEN
COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
ABSTAIN: NONE
c. THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Deputy City Manager/Director of Parks, Recreation and Library Services Yvette Aguilar introduced this item. Signal Hill resident Mary Gonzales addressed the City Council inquiring about whether the proposed salary for the City Manager July 08, 2025
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting
was inline with other cities, to which the response was given that it is at the median of comparator agencies. Vice Mayor Hansen and Council Member Honeycutt acknowledged City Manager Carlo Tomaino's contributions to the City. It was moved by VICE MAYOR HANSEN and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS to approve the Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement for the City Manager, adopt a Resolution approving and adopting a City-wide Pay Schedule as required by CalPERS and repealing all prior related Resolutions, and adopt a Resolution approving and adopting salaries and benefits for management personnel and repealing all prior related Resolutions.
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-07-6891, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING A CITY-WIDE PAY SCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS), AND REPEALING ALL PRIOR RESOLUTIONS.
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-07-6892, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, AND REPEALING ALL PRIOR RESOLUTIONS.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR JONES
VICE MAYOR HANSEN
COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
ABSTAIN: NONE
d. DISCUSSION OF PURPOSE AND SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
SUSTAINABLE CITY COMMITTEE AND DIVERSITY COALITION COMMITTEE City Manager Carlo Tomaino provided a presentation on this item. After a detailed discussion that included comments and questions of staff, the City Attorney, Signal Hill residents, and Diversity Coalition Committee members, the City Council directed staff to develop a framework for the purpose of all City Commissions/Committees to be presented to the City Council in the next few months for further discussion.
(12) CONSENT CALENDAR
a. MAINTENANCE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CCS FACILITY SERVICES
FOR CUSTODIAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES
b. FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE HILLBROOK PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT July 08, 2025
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting
(PROJECT NO. 80.23007) PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT
WITH GREEN GIANT LANDSCAPING, INCORPORATED
c. FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
RCS INVESTIGATIONS & CONSULTING, LLC FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT
BACKGROUND AND PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS
d. CONTRACT AMENDMENT REGISTER DATED JULY 8, 2025
e. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
f. WARRANT REGISTER PRESENTED JULY 8, 2025
It was moved by VICE MAYOR HANSEN and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS to approve the Consent Calendar.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR JONES
VICE MAYOR HANSEN
COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
ABSTAIN: NONE
(13) COUNCIL AGENDA--NEW BUSINESS
Council Member Woods reminded all that the Concerts in the Park are taking place each Wednesday in July from July 9 to July 30.
Council Member Honeycutt indicated that the Police Foundation would have a booth at the Concert in the Park and there is an upcoming golf tournament.
Mayor Jones shared that National Night Out will be taking place on August 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in Signal Hill Park. Mayor Jones also asked Lieutenant Kelli Crigler to provide the details on the history of the Police Department event being held in the History Room at the Library on July 10, 2025 at which Ms. Crigler will be presenting. (14) ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HONEYCUTT to adjourn tonight's meeting to the next Regular meeting of the City Council on August 26, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
July 08, 2025
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting
MAYOR JONES adjourned the meeting at 9:21 p.m.
_____________________________
KEIR JONES
MAYOR
Attest:
_____________________________
DARITZA GONZALEZ
CITY CLERK
July 08, 2025
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting