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2026-07-07 - City Council

Summary

Built from the approved minutes (read from a scanned document), so names and figures were checked against the page text and anything garbled was left out. No video found.

  • Regular meeting; all seven members present for the open session (some joined the closed session late). Opened 5:37 PM, adjourned 8:26 PM in memory of a longtime community member.
  • Closed session covered labor negotiations with two SEIU units and existing litigation; no reportable action was announced.
  • Consent calendar (items 3 to 20) passed 7-0 with items 5, 13 and 18 pulled; item 12 passed 5-1-1 and items 19 and 20 were voted separately (see below).
  • Continued the Watermarke Sandpointe density bonus agreement to the August 4 meeting, 6-0-1 (Phan recused).
  • Approved the Alton and Raitt density bonus agreement (36 homes) 6-1.
  • Adopted the second reading dissolving five advisory commissions, 5-2.
  • Called a November 3 ballot measure to remove the local sales tax rate reduction and sunset, 5-2.
  • Heard Mayor Pro Tem Penaloza's proposal to replace residential parking permit stickers with hanging placards and Councilmember Lopez's request for a resolution on Southern California Edison rates; no vote recorded on either.
  • No emergency declaration.

Dissolution of five advisory commissions

  • Ordinance NS-3097 (second reading) dissolves the Arts and Culture, Environmental and Transportation Advisory, Historic Resources, Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and Youth Commissions and reallocates their duties. First reading June 16 passed 5-2. Passed 5-2. YES: Bacerra, Hernandez, Phan, Vazquez, Amezcua. NO: Lopez, Penaloza.
  • During public comment several speakers opposed changes to Chapter 26 (park rules, vendors in parks); that chapter was not on the agenda.

Local sales tax sunset ballot measure

  • Resolutions 2026-035 and 2026-036 place a measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot to remove the rate reduction and sunset on the local transactions and use tax, and authorize written arguments. Passed 5-2. YES: Bacerra, Hernandez, Phan, Vazquez, Amezcua. NO: Lopez, Penaloza (who cited fiscal management concerns). Lopez spoke in opposition. Presented by the Assistant City Manager.

Watermarke Sandpointe Mixed-Use Development

  • Density Bonus Agreement No. 2026-03 (400 homes, 20 affordable to extremely low-income households, 13,887 sq ft commercial, 200 East Sandpointe Avenue) was pulled from consent and continued to August 4. Passed 6-0-1; Phan recused because the developer is a client of her employer. Moved by Amezcua, seconded by Lopez.

Alton and Raitt Density Bonus Agreement No. 2026-04

  • 36 single-family detached homes at 2100 West Alton Avenue, three affordable to very low-income and three to moderate-income households, 55-year covenant; Resolution 2026-034. Passed 6-1 as part of consent (Bacerra NO).

Residential Permit Parking Program

  • Resolution 2026-033 expanding the Mabury Park Permit Parking District passed on consent.
  • Penaloza proposed replacing the sticker system with hanging rearview-mirror placards. The Police Chief explained enforcement checks the license plate and part of the VIN; the Acting Public Works Director said the request for proposals for a permit management system had closed and was under evaluation; the City Manager said a study update would come in October. No vote.

Utility Affordability and Accountability

  • Lopez asked for a resolution supporting state bills to lower Southern California Edison rates and for evaluation of intervening in Public Utilities Commission proceedings. Amezcua, Hernandez and Vazquez supported; Phan asked that it be delegated to staff; the City Attorney said Council direction on legislation was needed. Penaloza asked to add AB 2493. Direction only; no vote recorded.

Police Surveillance Camera Data Sharing

  • In council comments Bacerra addressed recent public statements about the City's license plate reader data-sharing policies.

Other business

  • Appointed the Ward 6 representative to the Rental Housing Board for a partial term (pulled by Hernandez over appointing people who are running for office; substitute motion passed 5-2, Hernandez and Vazquez NO; the City Attorney said no legal or ethical prohibition applies). Oath administered.
  • Appointed the Ward 1 representative to the Measure X Oversight Committee (consent).
  • Approved on consent the response to the Orange County Grand Jury report on wildfires, a sewer manhole coating contract (up to $100,000 a year, $500,000 total), added two office furniture vendors, a legal research subscription ($167,790 through June 2029) and a software amendment ($14,604), a $3,369,000 Local Street Preventative Maintenance construction contract (total project cost estimate $4,211,250), landscape maintenance amendments, and three leases of office space at the Regional Transportation Center (item 13 pulled and passed 7-0 after discussion of recruiting commuter-serving businesses).
  • Approved 5-1-1 a memorandum of understanding with Republic Services on the refuse rate stabilization plan under the County waste system agreement (Lopez NO, Penaloza recused over a campaign contribution).
  • Designated Bacerra as voting delegate and Lopez as alternate for the Cal Cities General Assembly (7-0).
  • Ceremonial presentations to a youth baseball all-star team and a community contributor.

Agenda

Sources