Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 9a - Special and Regular Meeting Minutes of January 20, 2026 1 01-20-2026 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026 CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Kwan called the Special Meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cao, Cheng, Fu, Wang, and Kwan ABSENT: None PUBLIC COMMENT – No one appeared. City Attorney Maurer announced that the following Closed Session Item would not be discussed and that it would be removed from the agenda: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) Facts and Circumstances: Government Code Section 54956.9(e)(2). CLOSED SESSION a. Confer with legal counsel regarding existing litigation. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1) to confer with legal counsel regarding the matter of Elias Hernandez v. City of Arcadia, a government entity; Yiming Ou, an individual; and Does 1-30, inclusive (Case No. 24NNCV05154). b. Confer with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) Facts and Circumstances: Written threat of litigation (1case). Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) Facts and Circumstances: Receipt of claims pursuant to the Government Claims Act (4 cases). The Special Meeting ended at 6:36 p.m. No reportable action was taken. Linda Rodriguez City Clerk 1 01-20-2026 ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026 1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Kwan called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION – Terrence Shay, Arcadia Police Department Chaplain 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Terrence Shay, Arcadia Police Department Chaplain 4. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cao, Cheng, Fu, Wang, and Kwan ABSENT: None 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 Closed Session to discuss the three items listed on the posted agenda and that no reportable action was taken. He also noted that for item (b.) of the Closed Session Agenda, it was announced that subsection (e)(2) would not be discussed and that item subsequently removed from the agenda. 6. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM CITY MANAGER REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS City Manager Lazzaretto announced the launch of the City’s new website; he noted that the agenda packet link previously sent to the City Council may be inaccessible while technical issues are resolved and provided guidance for accessing the agenda. 7. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation of Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation to former Arcadian Phil Hendrie, in recognition of 50 years in radio and comedy and induction into the Radio Hall of Fame. 8. PUBLIC HEARING a. Ordinance No. 2411 amending Article VI of the Arcadia Municipal Code regarding the Businesses, Professions, Trades, and Occupations (Business License) Code. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Introduce Economic Development Manager Vuong presented the Staff Report. 2 01-20-2026 Mayor Kwan opened the Public Hearing – no one appeared. Mayor Kwan closed the Public Hearing. After discussion, Council Member Fu made a motion to introduce Ordinance No. 2411, amending Article VI of the Arcadia Municipal Code regarding the Businesses, Professions, Trades, and Occupations (Business License) Code, requesting that the appellant procedure be amended to keep the current two-tiered appeal process. City Manager Lazzaretto recommended tabling this item to allow staff time to rewrite that section. Council Member Fu amended his motion to table this item and provided direction to bring this item forward at a future meeting with his requested revisions. City Attorney Maurer clarified for the record that ordinances require two readings prior to adoption and that Ordinance No. 2411 will be re-introduced at a future meeting. It was moved by Council Member Fu, seconded by Council Member Cao, and placed on a roll call vote to table this item to allow staff time to rewrite the appellant procedure section to maintain the current two-tiered appeal process, and reintroduce Ordinance No. 2411 at a future meeting. AYES: Fu, Cao, Cheng, Wang, and Kwan NOES: None ABSENT: None b. Report on vacancies, recruitment, and retention efforts in compliance with Assembly Bill 2561. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Receive and File Human Resources Manager Stepanian presented the Staff Report. Mayor Kwan opened the Public Hearing – no one appeared. Mayor Kwan closed the Public Hearing. Mayor Kwan posed questions to City Manager Lazzaretto and Chief Nakamura regarding the Police Department’s hiring, recruitment, and retention efforts. Council Member Fu and Council Member Cao raised a Point of Order to City Attorney Maurer regarding the questions and discussion from Mayor Kwan. City Attorney Maurer confirmed the questions and foregoing discussion were within the bounds of the posted agenda. 3 01-20-2026 After discussion, the report was received and filed by the City Council. 9. PUBLIC COMMENTS City Attorney Maurer announced that Public Comment for Item 13. State of the City will be taken at this time – during general Public Comment. April Verlato, former Arcadia Mayor and resident, appeared and announced that the State of the City Address will be held on January 22; she commended Mayor Kwan for her work; she expressed her concerns about an incident involving an Arcadia Police officer, a resident, and herself; and requested that City Manager Lazzaretto and Police Chief Nakamura address the concerns outlined in her email to them. 10. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Special and Regular Meeting Minutes of December 16, 2025. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve b. Resolution No. 7671 amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 General Fund Budget, authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation for confidential employment matters in the amount of $300,000, offset by a reduction in the General Fund Reserve; and approve two Purchase Orders with Debra L. Reilly, APLC in an amount not to exceed $60,000 total, one Purchase Order with JL Group, LLC in an amount not to exceed $55,000, and one Purchase Order with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore in an additional amount of $125,000, for professional services related to confidential employment matters. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Adopt and Approve c. Donation from Dialed Labs for a sauna and ice bath unit. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Accept d. Contract with Enfra MCC, LLC for HVAC preventative maintenance and repair services at various City facilities in an amount not to exceed $391,886.19. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve e. Contract with Mackone Development, Inc. for the Community Center Walk-In Refrigerator Refurbishment and Kitchen Tile Replacement Project in the amount of $71,395.41. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve 4 01-20-2026 f. Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with American Business Machines to include the Arcadia Police Department jail camera system and upgraded monitoring station in the amount of $101,276.29. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve g. Purchase Order with Envision DTE FD Auto LLC for the purchase of one 2025 Ford Maverick in the amount of $36,796.50 CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve h. Purchase Order with Colley Ford for the purchase of one 2025 Ford Escape Plug- In Hybrid in the amount of $37,782.80. CEQA: Not a Project Recommended Action: Approve i. Accept all work performed by Axiom Group for the design and construction of the Newcastle Park Renovation Project as complete. CEQA: Exempt Recommended Action: Approve Mayor Kwan pulled Consent Calendar Item 10.b for separate discussion. In response to Mayor Kwan’s inquiries, Human Resources Director Williams indicated that the volume of confidential matters in Fiscal Year 2025-26 was higher than anticipated. City Manager Lazzaretto noted that although this year’s budget was similar to previous years, this fiscal year has required a greater level of professional services in this area. Human Resources Director Williams explained that $65,000 was set aside in prior budgets for these services, and the requested appropriation is intended to cover anticipated needs for the duration of the fiscal year; she also noted that while the $300,000 appropriation has not been fully expended, confidential and unanticipated personnel matters have been substantial compared to prior years. City Manager Lazzaretto provided examples of personnel matters that could be addressed through the proposed contracts. It was moved by Council Member Fu, seconded by Council Member Cao, and carried on a roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Items 10.a through 10.i. AYES: Fu, Cao, Cheng, Wang, and Kwan NOES: None ABSENT: None 5 01-20-2026 11. AB 1234 REPORTS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL (limited to legally required reports). Council Member Fu announced that he attended the Arcadia Chinese Association Annual Gala; and he thanked the association for their continued support of the community. Council Member Cao announced that he attended the Arcadia Chinese Association Annual Gala; he thanked the association for their continued support and noted that the event was held in honor of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Council Member Cheng announced that he attended the Arcadia Chinese Association Annual Gala, the Arcadia Association of Realtors Awards and Installation Event, and the Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band 59th Annual Spaghetti Dinner. Mayor Pro Tem Wang announced that she attended the Arcadia Chinese Association Annual Gala; she thanked the association for their support and she thanked her colleagues for their support of the association. Mayor Kwan announced that she attended the Arcadia Chinese Association Annual Gala; she commended the association for their work and she thanked her colleagues for their support of the association. 12. REQUEST FOR FUTURE ITEMS There were no requests for future items. 13. STATE OF THE CITY The City Council recessed at 8:35 p.m. to the State of the City Address, to be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel, 123 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California. The City Council reconvened at 4:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel. ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Cheng, Fu, Wang, and Kwan ABSENT: Cao Mayor Kwan provided a speech and presented a video highlighting Arcadia’s major accomplishments over the past year and discussed significant initiatives for Arcadia’s future. The following speakers provided remarks: • Karen Mac Nair, Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer 6 01-20-2026 • Charisma Chen, Guest Speaker • Nicole Chang, Guest Speaker The State of the City ended at 6:00 p.m. Linda Rodriguez City Clerk