CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal Hill, California 90755-3799
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
SIGNAL HILL CITY COUNCIL
February 24, 2026
A Regular Meeting of the Signal Hill City Council was held in-person in the City Council Chamber at City Hall.
CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
ABSENT: MAYOR HANSEN
CLOSED SESSION
A CLOSED SESSION WAS HELD PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8.
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
PROPERTY: APPROXIMATELY 1.9 ACRES OF CITY-OWNED LAND LOCATED AT THE 2400 BLOCK OF GARDENA AVENUE; HERITAGE SQUARE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLAN; APNS: 7214-005-900, 7214-005-901, 7214-005-902, 7214-005-903 AND 7214-005-904
AGENCY NEGOTIATORS: MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER
NEGOTIATING PARTIES: CITY OF SIGNAL HILL; AVANT REAL ESTATE; SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM; AND THEIR AUTHORIZED AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES UNDER NEGOTIATION: PRICE AND TERMS OF PAYMENT
PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
There was no public business from the floor.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
The Council recessed to Closed Session at 6:01 p.m. Mayor Hansen joined the Closed Session at 6:04 p.m.
RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING – 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Hansen reconvened the meeting. City Clerk Perez called the Roll.
PRESENT: MAYOR HANSEN
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
ABSENT: NONE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Hansen led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
The City Attorney stated there was no reportable action.
PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA (SPEAKERS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES FOR EACH DISTINCT ITEM) Robin Thorne, Signal Hill resident, introduced herself as a new resident and stated she manages a non-profit organization designed to familiarize girls with non-traditional careers such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Ms. Thorne volunteered to bring her non-profit programs to the City.
PRESENTATIONS
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT AWARD FOR DIANA PHILLIPS
Mayor Hansen presented Diana Phillips, Member of the Diversity Coalition Committee, with the Black History Month Spotlight Award. Mia Hernandez Perez, representing State Senator Lena Gonzalez, further recognized Ms. Phillips for her contributions to diversity, in honor of Black History Month.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
e. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PLACEWORKS TO PREPARE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) ANALYSIS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY STUDY AREAS This item was taken out of order.
Acting Community Development Director Carlos Luis presented the staff report. He stated the agreement was for professional environmental services under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Opportunity Study Area (OSA) project. Responding to Council inquiry, City Manager Tomaino stated the funding for the professional services is authorized from the General Fund. A representative from PlaceWorks spoke as to the methodology of the contract, as well as the benefits of conducting an overall CEQA analysis prior to individual projects being proposed in the OSA.
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER JONES to authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $500,000.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR HANSEN
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE POLICY: DIVERSITY COALITION AND SUSTAINABLE CITY COMMITTEE PROPOSED STRUCTURE Deputy City Manager Yvette Aguilar and Acting Community Development Director Carlos Luis presented the staff report. Responding to Council inquiry, City Attorney Richardson clarified the differences between standing committees and ad hoc committees, noting the Diversity Coalition (DCC) and Sustainable City Committees (SCC) are by structure considered ad hoc, are not subject to the Brown Act and members of the City Council may serve on these committees. He further noted that Council Members would not generally have to recuse themselves should a matter once considered by one of the Committees subsequently be heard by the Council, commenting that matters of conflict or bias would be extremely rare.
Responding to Council inquiry, Deputy City Manager Aguilar stated the DCC has a full incumbency at this time and therefore there is no proposal for recruitment or the filling of vacancies, as there was for the SCC. She noted should a vacancy occur before the termination of the committee staff would advertise the vacancy and bring the matter back to the Council for appointment. With regard to the SCC, Acting Community Development Director Luis stated the recruitment was for three members, as the committee membership consisted of seven members and three alternates, with three current vacancies due to terms expiring. He reviewed the purpose of alternate members.
Council discussion ensued.
The following member of the public offered comment:
Sonia Savoulian, Chair of the SCC, spoke regarding possible expansion of the scope of the SCC. She further expressed her belief that alternate members were not necessary.
Responding to Council inquiry, Deputy City Manager Aguilar reviewed the process for removing a member. City Attorney Richardson explained the process for the committees’ tenure ending, and stated as long as a new committee is formed, with new subject matter jurisdiction, the committee remains an ad hoc committee.
Council discussion continued.
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER JONES to approve the proposed formation structure for the Diversity Coalition Committee and the Sustainable City Committee, as amended. The DCC will remain with all incumbents, completing its task by February, 2027. The SCC will recruit three community members, to be appointed by the Council following the close of applications in April, 2026. There will be no alternates appointed and the Committee will be comprised of seven members – one representative from the City Council, one representative from each City Commission, and three community members. The SCC will focus on the topic of the Farmer’s Market for its remaining four meetings, presenting its report in February, 2027.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR HANSEN
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW AND RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 GENERAL FUND OPERATING POSITIVE FUND BALANCE; CURRENT YEAR APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BUDGET AND RELATED FUNDING; TRANSFERS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS; AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BUDGET Finance Director Siamlu Cox, Accounting Manger Debbie Pacheco, and other members of the Finance Department team presented the staff report. Responding to Council inquiry, City Manager Tomaino reported there have been no changes in state mandates regarding electric vehicles and should policy change, staff would return with an update on proposed vehicles for purchase to comply with new state requirements. Also responding to Council inquiry, Finance Director Cox stated that consumer spending remained steady year over year and despite a statewide decline in automobile sales tax, locally the automobile sales tax has increased. She noted these micro changes between global, state, and local trends allow staff to project future revenues with greater accuracy.
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER JONES and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND to: 1) Approve the proposed appropriations and reserve transfers from FY 2024-25 to FY 2025-26 operating budget and reserve balances, utilizing the current FY 2024-25 General Fund operating positive fund balance of $7,039,019; and 2) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-02-6921, entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 GENERAL FUND OPERATING POSITIVE FUND BALANCE, CURRENT YEAR APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BUDGET AND RELATED FUNDING TRANSFERS, AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 BUDGET.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR HANSEN
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION TO SCHEDULE A BIENNIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP Consensus was reached to conduct the biennial budget workshop on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., subject to confirmation of the cancellation of the May 19, 2026, Planning Commission meeting.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY SERVICES Finance Director Siamlu Cox and Management Analyst David Castro presented the staff report. Responding to Council inquiry, City Manager Tomaino stated the purpose of the item was to make the Council aware of the RFP, as the scope of services for the proposed contract reflects a change in how the City manages its investments.
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER JONES and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS to approve the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Investment Management and Advisory Services and authorize its release.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR HANSEN
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
CONSENT CALENDAR
The following Consent Calendar items were routine and non-controversial. Items were acted upon by the Council at one time without discussion, unless removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2026-02-6922 ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT POLICY AND AMENDING ALL PRIOR BUDGET AMENDMENT POLICIES AND GUIDELINES.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AND MONTHLY TRANSACTION REPORT
WARRANT REGISTER PRESENTED FEBRUARY 24, 2026
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES – FEBRUARY 10, 2026
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER JONES and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND to approve the Consent Calendar.
The following vote resulted:
AYES: MAYOR HANSEN
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
COUNCIL AGENDA--NEW BUSINESS
COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS – NONE
COUNCIL MEMBER JONES – NONE
COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND - NONE
VICE MAYOR HONEYCUTT – Noted recent efforts by the League of California Cities to support legislation redistributing sales tax and thanked the City Manager for his efforts in lobbying against that proposal.
MAYOR HANSEN - NONE
ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by COUNCIL MEMBER COPELAND and seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER JONES to adjourn tonight's meeting to the regular meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
MAYOR HANSEN adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m.
_____________________
MAYOR TINA HANSEN
Attest:
_____________________
DARITZA PEREZ
CITY CLERK
City Council Minutes of a Regular Meeting
February 24, 2026