2026-07-06 - City Council

Summary

Built from official minutes. No video posted.

Regular meeting at City Council Chambers, 7:00 PM to adjournment; quorum present, Mayor Ganim presiding (Mayor called meeting to order).
Public Speaking Forum (6:30-7:00 PM) featuring remarks on municipal governance, ethics commission appointments, education and training consolidation, and public access concerns.
Moment of silence for First Lady Mother Kadijah Farrakhan; Council Member Nelson clarified she had no input on Ethics Commission information released publicly.
Public hearing on Baldwin Plaza easement held with no public comment.
Minutes from May 4 approved unanimously.
Grant submissions and communications referred to committees.
Public Safety Committee smoke shops moratorium withdrawn (zoning issue).
CEFIA Solar Agreements for three schools passed in consent calendar.
Baldwin Plaza easement removed from consent calendar and tabled unanimously.
Ethics Commission appointments votes: Rosella Criss appointment failed 6-9 with 2 abstentions; Faith Sweeney appointment withdrawn per City Attorney legal opinion; Kristen Mennillo appointment failed 6-9 with 2 abstentions.

Vote required 14 affirmative votes (two-thirds of full Council).
Rosella Criss (U) appointment failed: 6 in favor (Murray, Spell, Smith, Boyd, Nieves, Valle), 9 opposed (Taylor-Moye, Cruz, Herron, Dubac, Ortiz, Medina, Pereira, Martinez, Newton), 2 abstentions (Nelson, McBride-Lee).
Faith Sweeney (D) appointment withdrawn on Council President Herron's motion after City Attorney issued seven-page legal opinion concluding Sweeney was ineligible; existing members may be reappointed.
Kristen Mennillo (U) appointment failed: 6 in favor, 9 opposed, 2 abstentions (same votes as Criss).
Extended debate on process, independence of Commission, political involvement, and qualifications of candidates.
Concerns raised about Charter requirements, minority party status of unaffiliated voters, and whether process compromised Commission independence.