Gloria Olmos, Mayor/Chair
Rudy Bojorquez, Mayor Pro Tem/ Vice Chair
Manuel Acosta, Councilmember/
Boardmember
Hector Delgado, Councilmember/
Boardmember
Larry Rodriguez, Councilmember/
Boardmember
Rene Salas, City Manager/Executive
Director
Susie A. Altamirano, City Attorney/
General Counsel
Adrian Garcia, City Clerk/Secretary
Masami Higa, Director of
Finance/Treasurer
CITY OF SOUTH EL MONTE
REGULAR MEETING OF THE SOUTH EL MONTE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE SOUTH EL MONTE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AGENDA
October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM
1415 Santa Anita Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733
PUBLIC COMMENT
Those wishing to participate during Public Comment may do so in person at the South El Monte City Hall Council Chambers, or may submit written public comments by emailing [email protected]. Emailed public comments are due by 5:00 p.m., and should be limited to no more than 250 words. Written public comments will be provided to the City Council and will be part of the record but will not be read aloud.
Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. Time limits may not be shared with other speakers. This is the only opportunity for public input except for scheduled public hearing items. All comments or queries shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any specific member thereof. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(a)(2), the Ralph M. Brown Act, no action or discussion by the City Council shall be undertaken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except to briefly provide information, ask for clarification, provide direction to staff, or schedule a matter for a future meeting.
To participate during public comment via teleconference, see below:
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86581711880
Webinar ID: 865 8171 1880
Or call in: 1 669 900 6833, when prompted, enter 86581711880#
LIVE STREAMING OF MEETINGS
The City of South El Monte live streams the City Council Meetings over the Internet at https://www.cityofsouthelmonte.org/129/Meeting-Agendas-Minutes. After the meetings, recordings are immediately posted. NOTE: Your attendance at this public meeting may result in the streaming and recording of your image and/or voice.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
City Council Members with a conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act are required to make disclosure of financial interest when the item is called and recuse themselves.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if you require a disability-related modification or accommodation to attend or participate in this meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please call the City Clerk’s office at (626) 579-6540 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
MEETINGS
The City Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
Regular meetings start at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1415 Santa Anita Avenue, South El Monte, California. Special and Adjourned Regular meetings start times are to be determined.
POSTING LOCATIONS OF AGENDA AND/OR CANCELLATION NOTICES Regular meeting agendas will be posted at least 72 hours before the meeting (GC 54954(a)(1)). Agenda and Cancellation Notices can be viewed online and are also posted at the following three (3) locations: City Hall located at 1415 Santa Anita Avenue, Senior Center located at 1556 Central Avenue and the Community Center located at 1530 Central Avenue, South El Monte, California.
VIEWING OF AGENDA PACKETS
Full agenda packets can be viewed either at
https://www.cityofsouthelmonte.org/129/Meeting-Agendas-Minutes or in the City Clerk’s Office during normal business hours Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closed on Fridays and major holidays.
ISSUES RELATED TO AGENDA
For issues related to the agenda, including a disability-related accommodation necessary to participate in this meeting, please contact:
Adrian Garcia, MMC, City Clerk
Ph (626) 443-4928
Cell (626) 926-3071
Sabrina A. Muhne, Deputy City Clerk
Ph (626) 652-3121
Cell (626) 374-1998
LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to the Levine Act (GC 84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the City Council is required to disclose on the record any campaign contribution, including aggregated contributions, of more than $500 made by the party or the party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official. Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well. The disclosure should be made when the agenda item is called and must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution, the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made. Councilmembers are also required to make such disclosures and recuse themselves.
AGENDA BEGINS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Councilmembers/Boardmembers: Acosta, Delgado, Rodriguez, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Bojorquez, and Mayor/Chair Olmos
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Manuel Acosta
3. INVOCATION
Mayor Gloria Olmos
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a. Presentation of Plaque to Rocio Flores Canchola for 39 years of dedicated service to the Valley Lindo School District.
4.b. Sheriff's Department Report for the month of September 2026.
4.c. Code Enforcement and Parking Enforcement Report for the month of September 2026.
5. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND WAIVER OF FULL READING OF
ORDINANCES
By motion of the City Council, this is the time to notify the public of any changes to the agenda, remove items from the consent calendar for individual consideration and/or rearrange the order of the agenda.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Speakers may provide public comments on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, including items on the agenda. Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. Unless a majority of the Council objects, the Mayor may provide speakers more or less time to speak. All comments or queries shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any specific member thereof.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(a)(2), the Ralph M. Brown Act, no action or discussion by the City Council shall be undertaken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except to briefly provide information, ask for clarification, provide direction to staff, or schedule a matter for a future meeting.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR - CITY COUNCIL
Items on the consent calendar are considered to be routine and customary and are enacted by a single motion with the exception of items previously removed by a member of the City Council during "Approval of the Agenda" for individual consideration. Any items removed shall be individually considered immediately after taking action on the Consent Calendar.
7.a. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-072, APPROVING WARRANTS FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1,
THROUGH OCTOBER 14, 2026
Authorizing payment of City expenditures for the period of October 1, 2026, through October 14, 2026, totaling $1,549,353.92.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-072, authorizing payment of City expenditures.
7.b. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 26-073,
AWARDING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) WITH
THE LA GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC. (THE
WELLNESS CENTER)
Staff is seeking approval from the City Council of a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with The Wellness Center to assist the City of South El Monte with administering the State of California’s Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Tobacco Grant Program (DOJ-PROP56-2025-26-1-057). The Wellness Center will assist the City to provide community education about the dangers of tobacco use and youth access to tobacco products.
Outreach efforts will include social media, press releases, and direct retailer’s members engagement, consistent with grant guidelines. This initiative aims to increase community awareness and ensure that both retailers and residents understand the legal and health impacts associated with underage tobacco use.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-073, awarding a Professional Service Agreement with The Wellness Center in the amount of $187,200; and
2. Authorize the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute the Agreement for the Tobacco Grant Program for a three-year term (Fiscal Years 2025/2026 through 2028/29) between the Wellness Center and the City of South El Monte
7.c. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 26-074,
REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 24-123 AND AMENDING THE CITY OF
SOUTH EL MONTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE
This agenda item intends to complete the Code Review of the City of South El Monte Conflict of Interest (COI) code. The last time the City of South El Monte (“City”) revised its COI Code was on February 2024. Since that time, there have been several new designated positions added. This change required the amendment of the City’s COI Code.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council proceed with the completion of the Code Review for the City and consider adopting Resolution No. 26-074, repealing Resolution No. 24-123 and amending the City's Conflict of Interest Code which formally codifies the revisions to the Code for the City.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR - SUCCESSOR AGENCY - NONE
Items on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and customary and are enacted by a single motion with the exception of items previously removed by a member of the Board during "Approval of the Agenda" for individual consideration. Any items removed shall be individually considered immediately after taking action on the Consent Calendar.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
9.a. AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH EL
MONTE, CALIFORNIA, CONTINUING A TEMPORARY CITYWIDE
MORATORIUM PROHIBITING APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF
NEW DATA CENTER LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL TEN (10) MONTHS AND FIFTEEN (15) DAYS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858
The proposed interim urgency ordinance would extend the existing 45-day moratorium on the approval and acceptance of new Data Center land use applications for an additional ten (10) months and fifteen (15) days while the City continues to evaluate appropriate land use classifications, zoning regulations, and development standards. The extension would provide additional time for the City to address potential impacts associated with Data Center development, including intensive energy and water demands, infrastructure capacity limitations, noise, air quality, and public health and safety concerns.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Determine that Urgency Ordinance No. 1301-U is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption); and
2. Introduce by title only, and waive further reading of, Urgency Ordinance No. 1301-U extending Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 1299-U and the temporary citywide moratorium on the approval and acceptance of new Data Center land use applications for an additional ten (10) months and fifteen (15) days.
9.b. AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH EL
MONTE IMPOSING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM PROHIBITING
APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF NEW BATTERY ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEM LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR AN ADDITIONAL
TEN (10) MONTHS AND FIFTEEN (15) DAYS PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858
The proposed interim urgency ordinance would extend the existing 45-day moratorium on the approval and acceptance of new Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) land use applications for an additional ten (10) months and fifteen (15) days while the City continues to evaluate appropriate land use classifications, zoning regulations, and development standards. The extension would provide additional time for the City to address potential impacts associated with BESS development, including fire and explosion hazards, hazardous material releases, emergency response challenges, infrastructure requirements, and public health and safety concerns.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Determine that Urgency Ordinance No. 1302-U is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption); and
2. Introduce by title only, and waive further reading of, Urgency Ordinance No. 1302-U extending Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 1300-U and the temporary citywide moratorium on the approval and acceptance of new Battery Energy Storage System land use applications for an additional ten (10) months and fifteen (15) days.
10. GENERAL BUSINESS - NONE
11. COMMITTEE REPORTS, INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS
AB 1234, section 53232.3(d) requires Members of a legislative body to provide brief reports on meetings attended at the expense of the local agency (i.e., League of California Cities Conferences, ICSC conferences, etc.) at the next regular meeting of the legislative body.
12. CORRESPONDENCE
12.a. CORRESPONDENCE FROM EPIPHANY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
REQUESTING A FEE WAIVER OF THE APPLICATION FEE FOR THEIR
ANNUAL CAR SHOW
Epiphany School/Church is requesting $1,355 to waive the temporary use permit, including the banner permit fee.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council discuss and provide direction.
13. COUNCILMEMBERS’ AGENDA
13.a. Mayor Gloria Olmos
Discussion of complaints from several people that a particular candidate is putting up signs without permission, particularly on corner homes.
Lots of complaints from other candidates that signs are on the right of way and why hasn't code enforcement done anything about that to enforce the rules.
13.b. Councilmember Manuel Acosta
Use of City Computer.
14. CLOSED SESSION
14.a. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of case: GLORIA OLMOS, an individual, Plaintiff v. CITY OF SOUTH
EL MONTE
15. ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING:
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
CERTIFICATION
I, Adrian Garcia, MMC, City Clerk of the City of South El Monte, or my designee, hereby certify under penalty of perjury that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on this October 15, 2026, seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting per Government Code 54954.2 at the following locations: City of South El Monte City Hall, Senior Center and Community Center and made available at www.cityofsouthelmonte.org.
Adrian Garcia, MMC