CITY OF SOUTH GATE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026
CALL TO ORDER Joshua Barron, Mayor called a Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.
INVOCATION Tina De La Rosa, Acting Director of Parks & Recreation
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Manuel Arana, Chief of Police
ROLL CALL
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk
PRESENT Mayor Joshua Barron, Vice Mayor Al Rios, Council Member Maria del Pilar Avalos, Council Member Maria Davila and Council Member Gil Hurtado; City Treasurer Jose De La Paz, City Manager Rob Houston, City Attorney Raúl F. Salinas
1 BUDGET ADMIN/
ELECTION ADMIN The City Council considered receiving and filing a presentation on South Gate's Budget Status and the Components Required to be Completed to Design a Utility Users Tax Measure.
a. Adopting a Resolution declaring a Fiscal Emergency;
b. Adopting a Resolution calling a Special Election, request that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ("Board of Supervisors") authorize the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk ("County Elections Official") to render all services necessary to conduct the Election, allow for Ballot Arguments, and an Impartial Analysis; and
c. Reviewing the draft Ordinance for voter consideration of the Utility Users Tax.
RECESS Prior to the conclusion of item 1, the City Council recessed at 8:55 p.m., and reconvened at 9:01 p.m., with all Members of Council present.
Item 1 was unanimously continued to the City Council Meeting of January 27, 2026, by motion of Council Member Avalos and seconded by Council Member Hurtado.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Davila, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Vice Mayor Rios, yes; Mayor Barron, yes.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026
COMMENTS FROM THE
AUDIENCE-NON-AGENDA
ITEMS – EMAIL Mario Dominguez criticizes the city’s long-standing failure to properly manage the Department of Community Development because it has not functioned as an economic engine or supported viable business community. He urges the City Council to bring in outside experts to overhaul and properly staff the department.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS Arturo Cervantes, Director of Public Works – nothing to report.
Tina De La Rosa, Acting Director of Parks & Recreation – nothing to report.
Gabriel Perez, Director of Community Development - nothing to report.
Luis Frausto, Director of Administrative Services - nothing to report.
Jon Hamilton, Director of Human Services - nothing to report.
Manny Arana, Chief of Police - nothing to report.
Raúl F. Salinas, City Attorney - nothing to report.
Yodit Glaze, City Clerk - nothing to report.
Councilmember Avalos reported attending a Vector Control meeting in accordance with Assembly Bill 1234, where new officers, including a President and Secretary-Treasurer, were appointed and newly elected trustees were sworn in. She noted that committee assignments within Vector Control will be determined. She reminded residents, due to recent rainfall, to remove standing water around their homes to help prevent mosquito breeding and related illnesses. She also encouraged the community to remain mindful of their health, noting ongoing illness in the community, and to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and others.
Councilmember Davila had no report and extended congratulations to Vice Mayor Rios on his retirement.
Councilmember Hurtado expressed concern regarding recent copper thefts affecting Spectrum and Southern California Edison, noting multiple service outages in the past week and recent weeks. He suggested exploring ways to address the issue, including coordination with the City Attorney, Police Department, and District Attorney’s Office, particularly focusing on holding purchasers of stolen materials accountable. He also raised public safety concerns related to service disruptions impacting residents’ home security systems and recommended providing information to the REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
FROM CITY OFFICIALS
CONT’D community through the City’s social media platforms. He concluded by congratulating Vice Mayor Rios on his retirement.
City Attorney Salinas stated he has been working on this issue with major telecommunications company. He has an in-person meeting with Sheriff Luna tomorrow afternoon to discuss what they’re doing regarding these thefts. There is an Assembly Bill by Mark Gonzalez AB 376 that came into effect January 1.
Vice Mayor Rios commented on recent service outages that prevented residents from accessing internet services, noting similar issues in neighboring cities. He suggested exploring whether residents may be eligible for compensation due to the service interruptions. He also expressed concern regarding the continued closure and delayed reopening of local libraries and suggested the City consider providing a temporary safe space, such as at a park or community facility, where students could study and complete homework. Lastly, he inquired about recent activity by federal immigration authorities (ICE) in the community and whether the Police Department had been contacted regarding their presence.
Chief Arana stated ICE did contact the Police Department regarding an enforcement, but enforcement can mean looking for a criminal as opposed to immigration.
Mayor Barron thanked the department directors for their presentations and requested that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Renee Good, acknowledging the tragic loss of her life.
CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 were approved by motion of Council Member Davila and seconded by Vice Mayor Rios. Items 2, 5, 8, 9 and 10 were pulled for separate discussion.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes (voted no on 5, 8, 9 & 10); Council Member Davila, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Vice Mayor Rios, yes; Mayor Barron, yes.
2 STREETS/SIDEWALKS/
LANDSCAPING The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2026-01-CC entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, initiating the annual proceedings for the levy of the Fiscal Year 2026/27 assessments and ordering the preparation of an Engineer’s Report for the Street Lighting and Landscaping Maintenance District No. 1 during consent calendar.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026
3 PERSONNEL BENEFITS/
RETIREMENT ADMIN The City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2026-02-CC entitled A Resolution of the City Council of the City of South Gate, California, during consent calendar certifying that:
a. Employee is substantially incapacitated from the performance of the essential duties of his position;
b. Employee’s incapacity is a result of industrial (work-related) causes;
c. Employee is eligible to receive Industrial Disability Retirement (“IDR”) benefits through CalPERS; and
d. The City is not contesting the medical determination of industrial disability.
4 COMMUNITY DEV/
HOUSING The City Council unanimously adopted a list of qualified consultants that staff can select from an as-needed basis to provide various services for planning, landscaping, environmental, and economic development issues during consent calendar.
5 WATER
The City Council approved items A, B, C & D during consent calendar:
a. Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 2024-65-CC with Tetra Tech to provide additional design services to enhance the design and performance of the PFAS Treatment Plant System for the South Gate Park Water Wells, City Project No. 666-WTR, in an amount not to exceed $142,500;
b. Appropriate $150,000 in Water Funds to fully fund the design phase on the PFAS Treatment Project;
c. Authorized the City Manager to approve and execute amendments up to a cumulative amount of $100,000 from the Water Fund; and
d. Authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 2024-65-CC in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026
6 CITY FACILITIES MGMT The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during consent calendar:
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2026-02-CC) with Interwest Consulting Group, Inc., to provide inspection services for the construction of the SGPD HV AC Replacement, City Project No. 667-GEN, in an amount not to exceed $84,000; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
7 EMERGENCY/DISASTER
PLANNING/PROGRAMS The City Council unanimously approved items A & B during consent calendar:
a. Professional Services Agreement (Contract No. 2026-03-CC) with BOA to prepare design and construction documents for the South Gate Emergency Operational Center, City Project No. 582-ARC, for an amount not to exceed $129,800; and
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
8 WATER The City Council approved items A, B, C & D during consent calendar:
a. Professional Services Agreement (Contract No. 2026-04-CC) with Harper & Associates Engineering, Inc., to prepare design and construction documents for the West Side Reservoir Rehabilitation Project, City Project No. 742-WTR, in an amount not to exceed $48,380;
b. Amended the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Capital Improvement Program to add the West Side Reservoir Rehabilitation Project and appropriate $88,380 in Water Funds to fully fund its design phase;
c. Authorized the City Manager to approve and execute amendments as needed to complete the design phase; and
d. Authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026
9 WATER The City Council approved items A, B & C during consent calendar:
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2026-05-CC) with Willdan, Inc. to perform construction management and inspection services on the Automatic Meter Reading Upgrade, Phase V , City Project No. 740-WTR, in an amount not-to-exceed $149,574;
b. Authorized the City Manager to approve and execute amendments to the Agreement up to a cumulative amount of $50,000;
c. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
10 WATER The City Council approved items A, B, C, D & E during consent calendar
a. Agreement (Contract No. 2026-06-CC) with Gentry General Engineering, Inc., to replace 1,659 water meters under the Automatic Meter Reading Upgrade, Phase V , City Project No. 740-WTR, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,558,203;
b. Authorized the Mayor to execute the Agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney;
c. Appropriated $2,012,649 from the Water Fund to fully fund the Automatic Meter Reading Upgrade, Phase V , City Project No. 740- WTR;
d. Authorized the City Manager to approve and execute amendments to the Agreement up to a cumulative amount of $100,000; and
e. Approved the Notice of Exemption for the Automatic Meter Reading Upgrade, Phase V City Project No. 740-WTR.
11 DATA PROCESSING
SERVICES The City Council unanimously authorized the issuance of a Purchase Order with Pulsiam to renew the Software Maintenance and Support Services agreement for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 for the Police Department in the amount of $128,189.53 during consent calendar.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026 12a
WARRANTS The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for December 23, 2025, by motion of Council Member Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
Total ofChecks: $ 3,058,670.14
Less:Voids $ (8,419.58)
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (465,486.36)
GrandTotal: $2,584,764.20
Cancellations: 111173, 110819, 112663, 110796, and 111326 12b
WARRANTS The City Council unanimously approved the Warrant Register for January 13, 2026, by motion of Council Member Davila and seconded by Council Member Avalos.
Total ofChecks: $ 3,945,893.83
Less:Voids $ (0.00)
Less: Employee Payroll Deductions $ (913,503.07)
GrandTotal: $ 3,032,390.76
Cancellations: None
ROLL CALL: Council Member Avalos, yes; Council Member Davila, yes; Council Member Hurtado, yes; Vice Mayor Rios, yes; Mayor Barron, yes.
ADJOURNMENT Council Member Davila unanimously adjourned the meeting in memory of Renee Good at 11:31 p.m. and seconded by Vice Mayor Rios.
PASSED and APPROVED on this 24" day of Februaty 2026.
ATTEST:
o"-n,Mayor Yodit G , City Clerk