CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2025
CALL TO ORDER Maria Davila, Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
INVOCATION Tina De La Rosa, Deputy Director of Parks PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE RomanArnador,PoliceCaptain
ROLL CALL Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
PRESENT Mayor Maria Davila, Vice Mayor Joshua Barron, Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos, Council Member Gil Hurtado and Council Member Al Rios; City Treasurer Jose De La Paz, City Manager Rob Houston, City Attomey Raul F. Salinas
RECOGNITION The City Council unanimously recognized Retiring Director of Parks & Recreation, Steve Costley.
PRESENTATION The City Council unanimously received and filed the Public Works and Community Development Departments tracking plan projects presentation.
PRESENT ATION The City Council unanimously received and filed information about how the Utility Users Tax (UUT) Works presentation.
RECESS The City Council recessed at 9:23 p.m., and reconvened at 9:25 p.m., with all Members of Council present.
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCF.-NON-AGENDA
ITEMS Mario Dominguez, South Gate resident, had concerns about not having access to city staff.
Maria Cortez, Regional Cornrnissioner form South Gate AYSO, thanked everyone for their support to the program and Council Member Rios for going out this weekend. She emailed and did not receive a response regarding youth agreements.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTF,S OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE-NON-AGENDA
ITEMS CONT'D Liz Ruiz, Kauffman Avenue, stated that at the last meeting she was asked to hold back on commenting on an item that could come back to the plaru'iing commission. She brings this up because she was mentioned on social media, South Gate Reak Talk run by Robert Montalvo stating she was being censored. She does not Feel she was being censored. She also mentioned getting a resolution with UWS settled, although she is still not too excited about the company.
Evelyn Chacon has worked for the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica, and they have always done furloughs. This will bring in money into the city.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
pnoxcrryoppaicxats ArturoCervantes,DirectorofPublicWorks,nothingtoreport.
Tina De La Rosa, Acting Director of Parks and Recreation, stated the AYSO agreement will be sent out.
Gabriel Perez, Director of Cornrnunity Development, stated the city is losing a senior member of the Community Development team, Rodrigo Pelayo, to another agency.
Luis Frausto, Director of Administrative Services, nothing to report.
Jon Hamilton, Director of Human Services, nothing to report.
Manny Arana, Police Chief, nothing to report.
Rob Houston, City Manager, responded to comments about the budget and the people he works with in this city are very dedicated and care about this community.
Mr. Houston apologized and stated the agreements for the AYSO and JAA's will be sent out. Mr. Dominguez' concern about not having access to city staff and that it is not his job. He stated that it is his job to avoid a hostile workplace for the public servants. City staff and public servants are not in the same category as elected officials.
Raul F. Salinas, City Attorney, concurred with City Manager. Local governments have an obligation to protect their employees from harassment even from members of the public. He appreciates Liz Ruiz comments. Her comments are always well thought out, very detailed. It's unfortunate that a member of the public has chosen to misinterpret his exchange with Ms. Ruiz. His job as City Attorney is to advise city commissioners and city council when there are matters of public hearings.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICLALS
CONT'D Jose De La Paz, City Treasurer, stated last week he met with City Manager and went over the quarterly budget update. This item will be coming before City Council in January. He wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk, wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Maria Davila, Mayor, stated that for the past two weeks she has been busy participating in different food distributions. She attended the SELA Kiwanis installation on Friday. She specifically thanked all the nonprofits, businesses, Senator Lena Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jose Solache that participated in the turkey giveaways. She thanked city staff for their work. She wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. The Family Day at the Park was well attended and happy it was held in the auditorium due to the weather.
Council MemberAvalos thanked the YMCA for funding and organizing the one thousand turkey giveaway including pies. She thanked Assembly Member Solache for partnering up with the YMCA. She thanked the food bank who donated boxes of produce. She acknowledged the South Gate staff that were out there patrolling and guiding all the cars. She wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. The Family Day at the Park was well attended.
Council Member Hurtado stated receiving a notification that lights were out in Hollydale, but a concern was raised that the streetlights were reported to staff via emails and a response was not received. It is important to respond to the request by either email or phone. The Family Day at the Park was well attended and happy it was held in the auditorium due to the weather. He thanked everyone that participated in the turkey giveaway. He wished a belated happy birthday to Councilwoman Avalos. He also wished City Treasurer Jose De La Paz happy birthday. He wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving
Council Member Rios thanked the Cortez family for their participation withAYSO. He thanked everyone for their contribution towards giving away turkeys. He is sadden by the way the immigrant community are being treated.
Council Member Hurtado will be forwarding an email to city manager regarding LAUSD resolution that's been asked for the city to consider.
Vice Mayor Barron is grateful to the Police Department, Parks & Recreation Department and city staff for having The Family Day at the Park in the auditorium due to the weather. On the same day, the Kiwanis had their Kiwanis Day of Service and received a last-minute call needing
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT'D volunteers for food boxes from the LA Community Service Group. On November 20Ih, he had the pleasure of hosting a mock city council meeting with the Southeast High School Political Club in the Council Chambers and the topic was the Utility Users Tax (UUT). The SELA Kiwanis had their installation banquet on November 21s' which they call "A Taste of SELA" and they had 17 restaurants. He especially thanked the following South Gate businesses Vera's Bakery in Hollydale, Teriyaki Sushi House near Long Beach and Tweedy, Pupuseria Lemus on Firestone, Polio Dorado on Firestone, Brown Soul Brewery on Tweedy, and Buena Mesa on Firestone. They were able to give out five college scholarships to students that participated in the SELA Kiwanis College and Career Fair funded through the Jose Solache Office and Janice Hahn Office. On Saturday, he participated in a food distribution with the LA Community Service and all local unions and were able to distribute over 2,000 turkeys. He wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
CONSENTCALENDAR AgendaItems 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 were approved by motion of Mayor Davila and seconded by Council Member Hurtado. Items 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17 and 19 were pulled for separate discussion.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes (voted no on items 6, 9 & 19); Council Member Hurtado, yes (voted no on item 4 and recused from voting on item 14); Council Member Rios, yes (voted no on item 4, recused from voting on item 5, and abstained on item 19); Vice Mayor Barron, yes (recused from voting on item 15); Mayor Davila, yes (recused from voting on item 11).
4 CITY COIINCIL
APPOINTMENTS The City Council waived the reading in full and adopted Ordinance No. 2025-02-CC entitled Ordinance of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, amending Section 1.25.020 (Membership) of Chapter
1.25 (Citizen's Advisory Committee), of Title 1 (Administration and Personnel), of the South Gate Municipal Code to reduce the number of appointed committee members to ten (10) entitling each Council Member to appoint two (2) cornrnittee members from among qualified residents of the city who are eighteen years of age or older. Before taking office, each committee member shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the City Council during Consent Calendar.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025 5 TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES The City Council approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. ResolutionNo.2025-38-CCentitledResolutionoftheCityCouncilof the City of South Gate, California, adopting the Transit Services Division 2025 Title VI Program Update for the GATE Fixed Route Services, effective September 1, 2025; and
b. Directed staff to submit and implement Title VI Program Update. 6 PERSONNEL BENEFITS/
RETIREMENT ADMIN/
MOU BETW CITY &
EMPLEE GROUPS The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-39-CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, approving the Executive Updated Terms for the term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, during Consent Calendar.
7 PERSONNEL ADMIN The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-40-CC entitled A Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate directing staff to amend the City's consolidated pay schedule to update the hourly pay rates for certain hourly positions to conform to California's minimum wage law effective January 1, 2026, during Consent Calendar. s
FINANCIAL MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 3218, Professional Services Agreement with BMO Bank, extending the banking services contract through June 30, 2026; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 4 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
9 PERSONNEL - LABOR
RELATIONS The City Council approved an update to the employment contract agreement (Contract No. 2023-159-CC) between the City of South Gate and City Manager Robert Houston for the term of December 1, 2023, through November 30, 2027, detailing the terms of his appointment and any changes thereto effective November 30, 2025, during Consent Calendar.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025 10 CITY FACILITIES MGMT/
ART/MUSEUM/AUDITORIUM
FACILITIES/PROGRAMS The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Ai'nendment No. 2 to Contract No. 2023-13-AC with Black, O'Dowd and Associates DBA BOAArchitecture, to fund the preparation of design and construction documents for the (i) City Hall Roof Repairs, City Project 732-ARC and (ii) Henry Gonzalez Municipal Auditorium Roof Project, City Project No. 695-PRK, for an amount not to exceed $16,500; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
It
STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. AmendmentNo.2toContractNo.2024-57-CCwithGannettFleming, Inc. ("Agreement"), to fund five (5) days of additional construction management and inspection services through the completion of construction for tlie Tweedy Mile Complete Streets Project, City Project No. 614-ST, Federal Project No. ATPL-5257(039), in an amount not to exceed $13,635.18; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
12 PUBLIC WORKS/
ENGINEERINGADMIN The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2023-111-CC with G. Zirnmerman Engineering, Inc., to provide traffic engineering and staff augmentation services for an additional one-year term, for an amount not to exceed $170,000; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2023-111-CC in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
Page6ofl0
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025 CITYFACILITIF.SMGMT TheCityCounciliu"ianimouslyapproveditemsA&BduringConsent Calendar:
a. Amendment No. I to Contract No. 2025-10-AC with NV5, Inc. to provide additional design services and comprehensive construction support services for the SGPD HVAC Replacement Project, City Project No. 667-GEN, in an amount not to exceed $40,000; and b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2025-10-AC in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. 14 TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING/ ADMIN The City Council approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2022-30-CC with TranSystems to provide construction support services for the I-710 Freeway/Firestone Boulevard Southbound On-Ramp Modification Project, Federal Project No. HP21L 5257 (036), City Project No. 354-ST, in an amount not-to-exceed $110,133; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2022-30-CC with TranSystems in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
WASTEWATER MGMT The City Council approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
a. Approving Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 2024-101-CC with Willdan Engineering, to fund additional construction management and inspection services performed on the Sewer Pipeline Rehabilitation, City Project No. 709-SWR, for a not to exceed amount of $90,000; and
b. Authorizing the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Contract No. 2024-101-CC in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025 16 CITY FACILITIES MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A, B, C, D & E during Consent Calendar:
a. Agreement(ContractNo.2025-87-CC)withAthenaEngineeringInc., for the construction of the SGPD HVAC Replacement, City Project No. 667-GEN, in an amount not to exceed $427,642; b. Authorized the City Manager to approve change orders administratively up to a cumulative amount of $200,000 to avoid delaying construction if change order work is needed; c. Authorized the City Manager to approve pre-payments of construction progress payments for the construction contract to meet compliance with state legislation that requires payments within 30 days; d. Declared HVAC Project, City Project No. 667-GEN, to be Categorically Exempt under Title 14 of the Califomia Code of Regulations, Section 15301 Class 1 of the California Enviroru'nental Quality Act ("CEQA"); and
e. Authorized the Mayor to execute the %reement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
17 ART/MUSEUM/AUDITORIUM
FACILITIES/PROGRAMS The City Council unanimously approved items A, B, C, D, E & F during Consent Calendar:
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2025-88-CC) with Southland Roofing Inc., for the construction of the Herq C. Gonzalez Municipal Auditorium Roof Improvements, City Project No. 695-PRK, in an amount not to exceed $823,020;
b. Authorized the City Manager to approve change orders administratively up to a cumulative amount of $200,000 to be funded with project contingency funds, to expedite approval of change order work to avoid construction schedule delays;
c. Authorized the City Manager to approve pre-payments of construction progress payments for the construction contract to meet with state legislation that requires payments within 30 days; d. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGT[,AR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025 17 ART /MUSEUM/AUDITORIUM
FACILITIES/PROGRAMS
CONT'D
e. Declared Henry C. Gonzalez Municipal Auditorium Roof Improvements, City Project No. 695-PRK., to be Categorically Exempt under Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15301 Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"); and
f. Approved the Notice of Exemption for the construction of the Henry C. Gonzalez Miu'iicipal Auditorium Roof Improvements, City Project No. 695-PRK. and directing the City Clerk to file it with the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's Office.
18 PUBIJC WORKS/
ENGINEERINGADMIN TheCityCouncilunanimouslyapproveditemsA,B&CduringConsent Calendar:
a. Professional Services Agreement (Contract No. 2025-89-CC) with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to perform a Public Works Cost ReductionAnalysis, in the amount of $36,850;
b. Authorized the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Raftelis in a form approved by the City Attorney; and c. Appropriated $35,000 in Gas Tax and $10,000 in Street Sweeping Funds to fund the study and a contingency.
19 PARKS The City Council approved items A, B, C & D during Consent Calendar:
a. Appropriated $35,000 from the General Fund to City of South Gate account number 100-413-61-6101 (Professional Services) to fund the Annual 4'h of July Fireworks Show for July 2026; and b. Approveda(1)yearextensiontoFiestaDeCarnivalContractNo. 3153 extending the contract through December 31, 2026; and c. Authorized the City Manager to sign the extension letter in a form acceptable to the City Attorney; and
d. Authorized the Director of Parks & Recreation to execute any additional documents as may be required to properly implement and manage the program.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25, 2025 20 MINUTES The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during Consent Calendar:
/-, -J
a. Special and Regular Meeting minutes of October 14, 2025; and b. Special and Regular Meeting minutes of October 28, 2025. 21 CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTMENTS The City Council unanimously ratified the appointment by Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos of Eric Trujillo to the Parks & Recreation Commission and seconded by Council Member Hurtado.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Mayor Davila, 22 WARRANTS
yes.
The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for November 25, 2025, by motion of Council Member Rios and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
Total ofChecks: $ 3,247,834.27
Less:Voids $ (1,696.21)
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (446,079.471
GrandTotal: $2,800,058.59
Cancellations: 109244, 109165, 109113, 109822, 109797, 109770, 109821, and 108746
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Council Member Rios, yes; Vice Mayor Barron, yes; Mayor Davila, yes.
ADJO{JRNMENT The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED on this 27" day of January 2026.
ATTEST:
ayor Yodit City Clerk
L J