South El Monte — 2026-07-21

City Council

#A Order of Business 10
10.a. APPOINTMENT OF SOUTH EL MONTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Appointments to be made to the South El Monte Community Foundation (“Foundation”) Board of Directors, which is a five-member board serving staggered terms. Three Directors shall initially serve a four (4) year term and two Directors shall initially serve a two (2) year term. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommend that the City Council: 1. Appoint five individuals to the Foundation Board of Directors; 2. Establish initial staggered terms whereby three (3) Directors will serve an initial four-year term expiring June 30, 2030, and two (2) Directors will serve an initial two-year term expiring June 30, 2028. GENERAL BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
#B Order of Business 10
10.b. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION (I) CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, TO SUBMIT TO SOUTH EL MONTE VOTERS A MEASURE TO ENACT CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITS; (II) REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION OF SUCH ELECTION WITH THE COUNTY-ADMINISTERED GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DAY; (III) REQUESTING THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO AUTHORIZE THE REGISTRAR- RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO PERFORM ELECTION SERVICES; AND (IV) SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING WRITTEN ARGUMENTS AND REBUTTALS REGARDING THE CITY MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS In accordance with the City Council’s direction at its July 7, 2026 meeting, this item returns to the City Council for consideration and approval of the attached Resolution, which includes a proposed Ordinance for City electors to vote on regarding City Council term limits. If approved by a majority of South El Monte voters during the November 3, 2026 election, the proposed Ordinance would enact term limits on the City Council for terms of office beginning on or after November 3, 2026. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council: 1. Adopt Resolution 26-057, (I) Calling and giving notice of a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026 to submit to the City of South El Monte voters a measure to enact Term limits; (II) Requesting consolidation of such election with the County-administered General Municipal Election to be held on the same day; (III) Requesting the County Board of Supervisors to authorize the Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk for the County of Los Angeles to perform election services; and (IV) Setting priorities for filing written arguments and rebuttals regarding the City measure and directing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis; 2. Provide direction on how partial terms should be counted towards the proposed term limits for City Councilmembers; 3. Move to approve the first reading of an Ordinance effectuating the same subject to voter approval; 4. Decide who will author the ballot argument; and 5. Take such additional, related, actions that may be desirable.
#C Order of Business 10
10.c. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION (I) CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE SUBMISSION TO SOUTH EL MONTE VOTERS OF A BALLOT MEASURE TO REVERT THE ELECTIVE OFFICE OF MAYOR TO AN APPOINTIVE POSITION SELECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS; (II) ACKNOWLEDGING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE EFFECTUATING THE FOREGOING AMENDMENTS; (III) ORDERING THAT THE BALLOT MEASURE BE SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE CITY’S NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION; (IV) REQUESTING THAT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INCLUDE THE BALLOT MEASURE AS PART OF CITY’S PRIOR ELECTION CONSOLIDATION REQUEST; (V) REQUESTING THAT THE REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK PROVIDE SPECIFIC ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, INCLUSIVE OF THE BALLOT MEASURE; AND (VI) SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING WRITTEN ARGUMENTS AND REBUTTALS REGARDING THE BALLOT MEASURE AND DIRECTING PREPARATION OF AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS In accordance with City Council’s direction at its July 7, 2026 meeting, this item returns to the City Council for consideration and approval of the attached Resolution, which includes a proposed Ordinance submitting to the City electors the question of whether to return to a selected Mayor. If approved by a majority of South El Monte voters during the November 3, 2026 election, the proposed Ordinance would eliminate the elected office of Mayor, return the seat to a City Council seat, and reestablish the selection of the Mayor by the City Council from among its own members. The current incumbent would be allowed to serve the remainder of their term as Mayor through November 2028. The attached Resolution calls an election for this purpose, to be consolidated with the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election, and the attached Ordinance effectuates the change to the South El Monte Municipal Code subject to voter approval. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council: 1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-058, (I) Calling and giving notice of a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026 to submit to the City of South El Monte voters a measure to revert the elective office of Mayor to an appointive position selected by the City Council from among its members; (II) Acknowledging City Council approval of an Ordinance effectuating the foregoing amendments; (III) Ordering that the ballot measure be submitted as part of the City’s November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election; (IV) Requesting the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors include the ballot measure as part of the City’s prior election consolidation request; (V) Requesting that the Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk provide specific election administration services, inclusive of the ballot measure; and (VI) Setting priorities for filing written arguments and rebuttals regarding the ballot measure and directing preparation of an impartial analysis; 2. Move to approve the first reading of an ordinance effectuating the same subject to voter approval; 3. Decide who will author the ballot arguments; and 4. Take such additional, related, actions that may be desirable.
#A Order of Business 13
13.a. COUNCILMEMBER MANUEL ACOSTA Discussion and possible action regarding the City’s response to the Walk for Justice Public Records Act request, including whether the six identified and withheld records should be released to promote transparency and strengthen public trust during a time of heightened concern over federal immigration enforcement.
#A Order of Business 14
14.a. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION - Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1) EL MONTE CLOSED SESSION (CONTINUED)
#B Order of Business 14
14.b. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: APN 8119-005-911 Agency negotiator: Rene Salas, City Manager Negotiating parties: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment as it relates to interests in real property
#C Order of Business 14
14.c. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: APN 8113-009-800, 8113-022-800, 8113-022-801, & 8113-022- 802 Agency negotiator: Rene Salas, City Manager Negotiating parties: Southern California Edison Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment as it relates to interests in real property
#D Order of Business 14
14.d. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS - Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 PROPERTY: 9617 Alpaca St, South El Monte, California 91733Agency Negotiator: Rene Salas, City Manager Negotiation Parties: Alpaca Park LLC Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment as it relates to interests in real property.
#E Order of Business 14
14.e. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION - Pursuant to California Government Code Sections 54956.9(d)(2) and 54956.9(e)(1): One Matter
#F Order of Business 14
14.f. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION - Pursuant to California Government Code Sections 54956.9(d)(2) and 54969(e)(1): One Matter.
#A Order of Business 4
4.a. Sheriff's Department Report for the month of June 2026.
#B Order of Business 4
4.b. Code Enforcement and Parking Enforcement Report for the month of June 2026.
#A Order of Business 7
7.a. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 2, 2026, AND JUNE 16, 2026 Staff is requesting approval of the minutes for the June 2, 2026, and June 16, 2026, Regular City Council Meetings. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff is requesting approval of the minutes for the June 2, 2026, and June 16, 2026, Regular City Council Meetings. CONSENT CALENDAR (CONTINUED)
#B Order of Business 7
7.b. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-054, APPROVING WARRANTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, THROUGH JULY 15, 2026 Authorizing payment of City expenditures for the period of July 1, 2026, through July 15, 2026, totaling $1,569,262.32. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-054, authorizing payment of City expenditures.
#C Order of Business 7
7.c. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF PROPOSED DARK COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2026 Staff is requesting City Council "go dark" on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and Tuesday, August 18, 2026, as the City Council will be taking a recess during the month of August 2026. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council approve "going dark" on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and Tuesday, August 18, 2026
#D Order of Business 7
7.d. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-055, SUPPORTING NOMINATION OF FOUR CENSUS TRACTS FOR FEDERAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE 2.0 DESIGNATION recommend the nomination of four qualifying census tracts to the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) for designation as Federal Opportunity Zones 2.0. This designation is a critical strategic component of the City’s robust economic development efforts, designed to leverage millions of dollars in recent and planned capital improvement projects to attract high-value industrial and commercial investment, including new headquarters and overseas business operations. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution No. 26-055, recommending the nomination of four identified census tracts for Opportunity Zone 2.0 designation by the State of California.
#E Order of Business 7
7.e. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 26-056 APPROVING AMENDED CITY-WIDE SALARY SCHEDULE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CALPERS REQUIREMENTS retirement benefits for its employees. CONSENT CALENDAR (CONTINUED) Item 7.e. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-056 approving and adopting the City-wide Publicly Available Pay Schedule for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for all full- time and part-time employee positions in accordance with the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), and Section 570.5 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR); and 2. Authorize and direct staff to provide CalPERS with detailed information about all City job classifications so that pension computations can be drawn up, and to direct staff to make the adopted resolution containing pay schedules publicly available on the City’s website in accordance with applicable CalPERS requirements.
#A Order of Business 8
8.a. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING MINUTES FOR JUNE 16, 2026 Staff is requesting approval of the minutes of the June 16, 2026, Successor Agency Meeting. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff is requesting approval of the minutes of the June 16, 2026, Successor Agency Meeting.
#A Order of Business 9
9.a. CONTINUED FROM THE JULY 7, 2026, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING: CONSIDERATION TO WAIVE FULL READING AND INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 1292 AFFIRMING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT (NO. 26-02) TO AMEND SOUTH EL MONTE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 17.03.230 TO IMPOSE A 1,000-FOOT BUFFER DISTANCE FROM ALL SENSITIVE USES, OTHER MASSAGE BUSINESSES, AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES. Consideration to waive full reading and introduce by title only Ordinance No. 1292 amending Section 17.03.230 (“Massage Establishments”) of Chapter 17.03 (“Permit Approval Procedures”) of Title 17 (“Zoning”), approving Zone Text Amendment No. 26-02 (“ZTA-26-02”) and establishing a 1,000-foot buffer distance from all sensitive uses, other massage establishments in the City, and the City's jurisdictional boundaries to protect and preserve the public health, safety, and welfare. PUBLIC HEARINGS (CONTINUED) Item 9.a. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends City Council: 1. Conduct a public hearing; 2. Take public testimony; 3. Determine that Ordinance No. 1292 is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) ("Common Sense Exemption"); and 4. Waive full reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1292 by title only to amend the South El Monte Municipal Code (SEMMC) Section 17.03.230 (“Massage Establishments”) to establish a 1,000-foot buffer distance from all sensitive uses, other massage establishments in the City, and from the City’s jurisdictional boundaries.