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Home My WebLink AboutItem 09a - Special and Regular Meeting Minutes of September 1, 20261 09-01-2026 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Cheng called the Special Meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cao, Han, Fu, and Cheng ABSENT: None Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b), Council Member Kwan attended the City Council Meeting via teleconferencing at 5:33 p.m., and notice was properly posted as required by law. PUBLIC COMMENT David Bigalow, an Arcadia resident, appeared and asked questions regarding the deployment of tactical drones, including their associated costs and the need to potentially restrict drones in certain areas. STUDY SESSION a. Report, discussion, and direction regarding tactical and civilian drone policies. Interim Police Chief Cieadlo provided a PowerPoint presentation. Following discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Cao, seconded by Council Member Han, and carried on a roll call vote to establish a City Council Subcommittee to evaluate potential drone policies, and appoint Mayor Pro Tem Fu and Council Member Han to serve on the Committee. AYES: Cao, Han, Kwan, Fu, and Cheng NOES: None ABSTAIN: None CLOSED SESSION a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) to confer with legal counsel regarding the Workers’ Compensation matter of Kristin Gavrity, Workers’ Compensation Claim #22-166154 and #23-171671. 2 09-01-2026 b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1) to confer with legal counsel regarding the matter of Victor Pena v. City of Arcadia, a public entity; County of Los Angeles, a public entity; and Does 1-25, inclusive (Case No. 26NNCV01580). The Special Meeting ended at 6:39 p.m. No reportable action was taken. Rachelle Arellano Assistant City Clerk 1 09-01-2026 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Cheng called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Reverend Eva Thai-Erwin, Church of the Good Shepherd 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Referend Eva Thai-Erwin, Church of the Good Shepherd 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cao, Han, Kwan, Fu, and Cheng ABSENT: None Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b), Council Member Kwan attended the City Council Meeting via teleconferencing, and notice was properly posted as required by law. 5. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING CLOSED/STUDY SESSION ITEMS City Attorney Maurer reported that prior to the Regular Meeting, the City Council met in a Special Meeting to discuss a potential drone policy and that a City Council Ad-Hoc Committee was established to study the issue further, with Mayor Pro Tem Fu and Council Member Han appointed as its members. He further reported that the City Council met in a Closed Session and that no reportable action was taken. 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto had nothing to report. 7. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation of an adoptable dog by Kevin McManus of the Pasadena Humane Society. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS The following speakers appeared and expressed their opposition to the proposed removal of 34 protected native oak trees at Santa Anita Park for the LA28 Olympic equestrian cross- country course: 2 09-01-2026 N. Ma Katelyn Liu (participated remotely) Phyllis Namete Suzanne Lukather Jessica Richards Lauren Dowd Grace Lee, Arcadia resident, appeared and announced her candidacy for City Council District 3, and spoke about her hopes of bringing positive change to Arcadia. K. Ford, Arcadia resident, appeared and spoke about her disappointment with the City Council for not agendizing items requested by another Council Member. Pete Siberell, representing Santa Anita Park, appeared and thanked Pasadena Humane for their work in Arcadia and the surrounding cities; he further thanked the community for attending the meeting held on August 27, regarding the LA28 cross country course; and he indicated that the community concerns were heard and will be helpful in the course design process. Randa Kiysselete, Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed her opposition to the use of Flock cameras, stating that they are an invasion of privacy. Raymond Cheung, Arcadia resident, appeared and expressed his deepest condolences for the passing of former City Clerk and veteran Gene Glasco; and he suggested that the City Council consider naming the Council Chambers after Gene. Burton Brink, Arcadia resident and candidate for District 2, appeared and expressed his deepest condolences for the passing of former City Clerk and veteran Gene Glasco; and he shared remarks about Gene’s vision for the Vietnam War Monument at Arcadia County Park, and how that vision ultimately came to fruition. In response to the public comment made regarding agendizing an item for the Oak tree removal at Santa Anita Park, Mayor Cheng noted that Santa Anita Park had already scheduled a meeting for August 27, and that there was no need to add a second meeting on the topic and that the matter may or may not still come before the City Council. In response to a public comment made regarding campaign contributions he received in 2024 for $2,500, Mayor Cheng indicated that the money was legally received and reported; he further indicated that he had no knowledge that James Su or EDI Media were registered as an agent of a foreign government. 9. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Special and Regular Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2026. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve 3 09-01-2026 b. Resolution No. 7707 amending Resolution No. 7594 establishing compensation and related benefits for employees represented by the Arcadia City Employees’ Association (“ACEA”) for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 (Senior Plans Examiner). CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt c. Resolution No. 7709 approving Arcadia Strategic Transit Service Assessment Final Report and recommended service changes. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt d. Accept all work performed by Gentry Brothers Inc. for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Pavement Rehabilitation Project as complete. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve e. Accept all work performed by Horizons Construction Co. Int’l Inc. for the Peacock Fountain Resurfacing Project as complete. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve A motion was made by Council Member Cao, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Fu, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 9.a through 9.e. AYES: Cao, Fu, Han, Kwan, and Cheng NOES: None ABSENT: None 10. City Manager a. Resolution No. 7710 amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program Budget, authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation for the design and construction of the Orange Grove Wells Treatment Project in the amount of $1,876,227.30, offset by a reduction in the PFAS Settlement Fund; and approve a design-build contract with Pacific Hydrotech Corporation for the design and construction of the Orange Grove Wells Treatment System and Facility Improvements Project in the amount of $5,407,800, plus a 10% contingency. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Adopt and Approve Assistant City Manager/Public Works Services Director Cranmer presented the Staff Report 4 09-01-2026 After discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Cao, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Fu, and carried on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution No. 7710 amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program Budget, authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation for the design and construction of the Orange Grove Wells Treatment Project in the amount of $1,876,227.30, offset by a reduction in the PFAS Settlement Fund; and approve, authorize, and direct the City Manager to execute a design-build contract with Pacific Hydrotech Corporation for the design and construction of the Orange Grove Wells Treatment System and Facility Improvements Project in the amount of $5,407,800, plus a 10% contingency, and determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) AYES: Cao, Fu, Han, Kwan, and Cheng NOES: None ABSENT: None 11. AB 1234 REPORTS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL (limited to legally required reports). City Council had nothing to report. 12. REQUEST FOR FUTURE ITEMS Council Member Kwan requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to have a discussion regarding her role and involvement with an energy company. Mayor Pro Tem Fu and Council Member Han concurred. Council Member Kwan requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to review the allegations surrounding a member of the Chinese Consulate and/or foreign governments visiting her residence. No support was expressed for this request. Mayor Cheng and Mayor Pro Tem Fu noted that Council Member Kwan may produce the information she seeks to discuss or provide clarification in her individual capacity online or through other means. Council Member Kwan requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to hire an independent third-party auditor to review the campaign contributions received by all current City Council Members. Mayor Pro Tem Fu and Council Member Cao requested clarification about whether the City Council is able to investigate campaign contributions, as requested by Council Member Kwan. 5 09-01-2026 City Attorney Maurer clarified that the Fair Political Practices Commission or the District Attorney are the enforcement entities for campaign filings; he further expressed concerns over the City Council conducting a review of this nature as it involves First Amendment concerns and the discussion of campaigns during a local election period. Based on the response from the City Attorney, Mayor Cheng confirmed that no support was received for Council Member Kwan’s request to hire an independent third-party auditor to review the campaign contributions received by all current City Council Members. Council Member Cao requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to discuss the commemorative naming of a City facility in honor of former City Clerk Gene Glasco. Mayor Cheng and Mayor Pro Tem Fu concurred. Mayor Pro Tem Fu requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to review the City Council’s rules of procedure and meeting protocols. Council Member Cao and Mayor Cheng concurred. Council Member Kwan requested City Council support to place an item on a future agenda to receive a report from the past five-years of how Arcadia’s protective tree ordinance is being applied to homeowners and developers, including the number of requests for removal, approvals vs. denials, and turnaround time on decisions received from developers and homeowners. No support was expressed for this request. ADJOURNMENT The City Council adjourned in memory of former City Clerk Gene Glasco, at 8:50 p.m. to Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Rachelle Arellano Assistant City Clerk