CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The City Council/Successor Agency to the WestminsterRedevelopmentAgencymeetingconvenedon Monday, October6, 2025, to a Special Meeting at 9:00 a.m.
SPECIAL MEETING
9: 00 A. M.
CALL TO ORDER
MayorNguyencalled the SpecialMeetingof the City Council/SuccessorAgencyto the Westminster Redevelopment Agency Meeting to order at 9: 35 a. m., on Monday, October 6, 2025, via In- Person, at the City Council Chambers, 8200 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster, California.
ROLL CALL MAYOR CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
PRESENT: VICE MAYOR CARLOS MANZO, DISTRICT 2
COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PHAN WEST, DISTRICT 1
COUNCIL MEMBER MARK NGUYEN, DISTRICT 3
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER NAMQUAN NGUYEN, DISTRICT 4
City Clerk Arocho announced a quorum of the City Council present.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Christine Cordon
Assistant City Manager Adolfo Ozaeta
City Attorney Scott Porter
City Clerk Ashton Arocho
Police Chief Darin Lenyi
Sergeant at Arms Jerad Kent
Public Works Director Jake Ngo
Economic Development Manager Caroline Velarde
Human Resources Director/ Risk Manager Jodie Griner
Community Services Director Vanessa Johnson
Finance Director Erin Backs
Interim Community Development Director Steven Mendoza
Senior Management Analyst Shaunna Hunter
Principal Planner Ken Fichtelman
Interim Code Enforcement Manager Sergio Verino
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Vice Mayor Manzo led the flag salute.
INVOCATION
District 3 Council Member M. Nguyen conducted the invocation. 1 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Nguyen apologized to the public for the delay in starting the meeting and commented on the return to the Council Chambers after recent renovations.
1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP Prior to the start of oral communications, Mayor Nguyen reminded members of the public that oral communications should be focused on the strategic planning workshop, only.
1. Tony Bui commented on the importance of strategic planning for the City and spoke on a previous agenda item that was heard before the City Council regarding his removal from the Planning Commission.
Mayor Nguyen interrupted the speaker reminding him that this is the time to address the City Council regarding the strategic planning item on the agenda.
1. Tony Bui continued to speak on a previous agenda item that was heard before the City Council regarding his removal from the Planning Commission, highlighting the lack of transparency and accountability from the Mayor to the community.
Mayor Nguyen interrupted the speaker reminding him that this is the time to address the City Council regarding the strategic planning item on the agenda.
1. Tony Bui continued stating that the City Council has an important role in ensuring transparency and accountability for the community and closed with extending an invite to the entire City Council for an upcoming event hosted by Mr. Bui.
2. Terry Rains thanked the City for remaining on schedule with the strategic plan follow- up meeting, requested that the strategic plan matrix and all respective updates be posted on the city' s website, highlighted that achieving financial stability is the top priority as goal # 1, commented on past implementation of tax measures, highlighted various revenue generating ideas from staff that were rejected by the City Council, spoke on the lack of increase towards the Transient Occupancy Tax ( TOT) to remain current with surrounding cities, requested an update on the Midway City island annexations, reminded the City Council that any objectives set must benefit the entire city and all residents and provided feedback on a few changes in Council Chambers following the renovations.
Mayor Nguyen made brief comments following oral communications.
2. Strategic Planning Workshop Facilitated by Tripepi Smith President Ryder Smith.
Tripepi Smith President Ryder Smith introduced himself, briefly went over the April 2025 Strategic Plan meeting and discussed the agenda for today's workshop. 2 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
At the beginningof the presentation, Vice MayorManzoaskedif therewould be any discussion on the objectives that are marked ` completed.' City Manager Cordon commented on the three identified goals for the three- year strategic plan, along with the 6- month objectives and target completion dates.
Vice Mayor Manzo restated his question and directed it to the City Council, not staff and further commented on the lack of progress being done from the City Council regarding fiscal responsibility, highlighted lack of increase in the City's Transient Occupancy Tax ( TOT), lack of follow- up regarding potential revenue from cannabis tax and commented on potential staff loss due to not remaining competitive with staff wages and benefits.
Mayor Nguyenremindedmembersof the City Councilthat this meetingis a Study Session with no action being made by the City Council.
Mayor Nguyen responded to comments made by Vice Mayor Manzo, highlighting the previous strategic planning workshop in April and spoke on the reason behind the current meeting to review objectives and deadlines met or missed.
District 1 Council Member Phan West reiterated the purpose of the Study Session.
Facilitator Smith thanked Vice Mayor Manzo for raising his questions about the revenue generating objectives and ideas.
District 1 Council Member Phan West reiterated the purpose of the Study Session and collaboration between the City Council, staff and Tripepi Smith.
Discussion ensued from the dais regarding statements made.
Vice Mayor Manzo asked Tripepi Smith President Smith to confirm if the City Council provided any direction to staff or the consultant on engaging in any action related to the revenue measures outlined under Goal # 1: Achieving Financial Stability.
Facilitator Smith stated that following the April strategic plan workshop, staff presented a report in June outlining different proposals related to the revenue generating measures and at that time, the City Council did not provide staff with any direction to move forward.
Discussion ensued regarding the lack of direction to staff from the City Council. 3 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Motion was made by Vice Mayor Manzo, to direct staff to present the City Council with proposals for Transient Occupancy Tax ( TOT) and Cannabis Tax.
Discussion ensued and a disruption occurred at the dais City Attorney Porter reminded the City Council that this is a Study Session and the City Council will take no action at the meeting.
Facilitator Smith continued to discuss the objective under Goal # 1: Achieve Financial Stability.
Mayor Nguyen encouraged the facilitator to proceed further.
Vice Mayor Manzo stated that he is not comfortable being recorded from the dais by another member of the City Council.
Discussion ensued regarding recording from the dais.
Motion was made by Vice Mayor Manzo, seconded by Mayor Nguyen, to request District 1 Council Member Phan West to stop recording from the dais.
District 1 Council Member Phan West briefly responded to the motion on the floor.
Discussion ensued regarding the motion on the floor.
During the roll call vote, District 1 Council Member Phan West commented about the live broadcast feed.
The motion carried, 3-1-1-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: C. NGUYEN, MANZO, M. NGUYEN
NOES: PHAN WEST
ABSENT: N. NGUYEN
ABSTAIN: NONE
Following the passing of the motion, City Attorney Porter requested for the Mayor to call for a brief break.
RECESS: Mayor Nguyen called for a recess at 10: 07 a. m.
RECONVENE: Mayor Nguyen reconvened the meeting at 10:14 a.m. 4 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
ROLL CALL MAYOR CHI CHARLIE NGUYEN
PRESENT: VICE MAYOR CARLOS MANZO, DISTRICT 2
COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PHAN WEST, DISTRICT 1
COUNCIL MEMBER MARK NGUYEN, DISTRICT 3
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER NAMQUAN NGUYEN, DISTRICT 4
City Clerk Arocho announced a quorum of the City Council present.
Mayor Nguyen commented on the distraction that occurred during the meeting prior to the recess break and asked District 1 Council Member Phan West to refrain from distracting other Council Members by recording from the dais.
Discussion ensued.
City Attorney Porter commented on the concerns raised by members of the City Council due to the recording from the dais.
Mayor Nguyen commented on his desire to adjourn the meeting and reschedule the meeting to a future date.
Discussion ensued.
Motion was made by Mayor Nguyen, with no second, to adjourn the Special Meeting and reschedule the meeting for a future meeting date.
Vice Mayor Manzo commented on the importance of the meeting, spoke on his desire to continue the meeting and apologized to the facilitator.
Mayor Nguyen withdrew his motion.
2. CONTINUED - Strategic Planning Workshop Facilitated by Tripepi Smith President Ryder Smith.
Facilitator Smith reintroduced himself and the agenda for the workshop.
City Manager Cordon briefly commented on past discussions and reports presented to the City Council regarding Transient Occupancy Tax ( TOT) and Cannabis Tax.
Discussion ensued regarding consensus on pursuing opportunities related to TOT and Cannabis Tax.
District 1 Council Member Phan West asked for each tax to be voted upon separately. 5 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Further discussion ensued regarding the model of a Study Session and what is being asked of the City Council regarding the two specific taxes.
District 1 Council Member Phan West commented on her interest in the TOT but is not in favor of the Cannabis Tax at this time.
Further discussion ensued regarding Cannabis Tax.
Facilitator Smith commented on different research tools and public engagement opportunities to gauge public input related to the two proposed taxes.
Discussion ensued regarding the need to review and update various fees throughout the City.
District 1 Council Member Phan West commented on TOT and Cannabis Tax.
Discussion ensued regarding the consensus around TOT and Cannabis Tax.
District 1 Council Member Phan West stated for the record that she is not interested in looking into Cannabis Tax and spoke in opposition of bringing on additional taxes.
City Attorney Porter clarified that the City Council is not voting on any taxes but providing consensus for staff to come back with further research on potential tax revenue opportunities.
District 3 Council Member M. Nguyen asked staff for an update on the Business Improvement District.
Assistant City Manager Ozaeta provided an update.
Facilitator Smith continued to go down the list of objectives and asked for feedback from the City Council, where applicable.
Discussions ensued regarding potential annexations.
District 1 Council Member Phan West left the meeting at 10:53 a.m.
City Manager Cordon briefly commented on the proposed taxes for revenue.
Facilitator Smith continued to review the Goal # 2: Implement and Support Effective Land-Use Policies that Encourage Quality Development objectives and updates. 6 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
Facilitator Smith continued to review the Goal # 3: Attract, Develop, and Retain Well- Qualified Staff Members objectives and updates.
Facilitator Smith continued to review the Goal # 4: Improve Customer Service Delivery to the Community objectives and updates.
3. COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Nguyen adjourned the Special City Council Meeting at 12:19 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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TANY AMIREZ
ADMINI1 TRATIVE ASSISTANT
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CHI CHARL U E 1
MAYOR
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TANYA RAMIREZ
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
7 CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA WESTMINSTER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OCTOBER 6, 2025
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
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