| 20260112 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
4.
ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF NITROUS OXIDE
AND DETERMINATION THAT THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA – F2M25-7,
O2M26-4856
On October 27, 2025, Councilmember Maza requested more information about the
increase in nitrous oxide related arrests by the Alhambra Police Department (APD), the
sale of nitrous oxide in the City and a draft Ordinance to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide.
There was full support from the Council on this request. Nitrous oxide, commonly known
as “laughing gas” or “whippets,” has become a growing public health and safety concern
in Alhambra and throughout California. The APD, along with communities across the
nation, have seen an increase in arrests and incidents related to the sale of nitrous oxide.
Currently, there are 5 authorized smoke shops in the City of Alhambra, of those, one is
not open to the public and APD has found the 4 remaining sell nitrous oxide, presumably
for recreational use. California Penal Code § 381b prohibits possession or use of nitrous
oxide for intoxication, and the recreational sale of nitrous oxide is not harmless. Short-
term effects include disorientation, nausea, blackouts, and impaired motor control-creating
immediate risk to users and the public, particularly when combined with driving. Chronic
misuse poses even more serious consequences including brain damage, irreversible
nerve damage, paralysis, cognitive impairment, and even death. Due to the public safety
risk, there has been an increase in Southern California jurisdictions adopting ordinances
prohibiting the sale, distribution and recreational use of nitrous oxide, including the cities
of; Rialto, Bell, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Fullerton and
County of Orange.
Recommended Action:
City Council declare introduced for its first reading the
following ordinance entitled:
Ordinance No. O2M26-4856: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of
Alhambra, California, amending Title IX (Public Peace and Safety) of the
Alhambra Municipal Code to include Chapter 9.19 (Prohibition on Sale or
Distribution of Nitrous Oxide) and determining adoption of this Ordinance is
exempt from CEQA
which ordinance will return for a second reading and adoption the next regular
City Council meeting. |
January 12, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#4
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| 20260112 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
3.
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
ALHAMBRA MUNICIPAL CODE BY MODIFYING TITLE 20 THEREOF ADOPTING BY
REFERENCE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, ELECTRICAL,
MECHANICAL,
PLUMBING,
ENERGY,
HISTORICAL
BUILDING,
EXISTING
BUILDING, AND GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODES, WITH CERTAIN
AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS THERETO – F2M25-60, N2M25-181,
O2M25-4853
Staff is requesting that the City Council conduct a public hearing and, after receiving public
testimony, consider second reading and adoption of an ordinance adopting by reference
the 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy,
Historical Building, Existing Building, and Green Building Standards Codes, with certain
amendments, additions, and deletions thereto. Every three years, the California Building
Standards Commission (CBSC) publishes an updated edition of Title 24 of the California
Code of Regulations, known collectively as the “California Building Standards Code”. The
2025 edition of Title 24 was published on July 1, 2025, and became effective January 1,
2026, statewide. California Codes can be viewed at: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes.
State law (California Health and Safety Code § 18938.5) requires all cities to enforce these
updated codes. Cities may also adopt local amendments, where justified by local climatic,
geological, or topographical conditions, and such findings must be filed with the California
Building Standards Commission. For this code adoption cycle, City of Alhambra is
adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code directly, without incorporating the
Los Angeles County amendments. Recent state legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 130
(2025), placed a moratorium on the adoption of new residential building code modifications
that exceed State minimum standards. The proposed ordinance fully complies with AB
130. No new local amendments to the Building Code or Residential Code are being
introduced as part of this adoption. The proposed ordinance also reorganizes Title 20 of
the Alhambra Municipal Code to improve clarity and efficiency. The proposed ordinance
was introduced for first reading at the December 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
Recommended Action:
City Council conduct a public hearing and, after receiving
public testimony, declare introduced for its second reading and adopt the following
ordinance entitled:
Ordinance No. O2M25-4853: An Ordinance of the Alhambra City Council
amending the Alhambra Municipal Code by modifying Title 20 thereof adopting
by reference, the 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical,
Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building, Existing Building, and Green Building
Standards Codes, with certain amendments, additions, and deletions thereto
PRESENTATIONS |
January 12, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#3
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| 20260112 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
24. The 2025 California Fire Code and the 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code
became effective statewide on January 1, 2026. Local jurisdictions are required to adopt
these codes and may amend them where necessary due to local climatic, geological, or
topographic conditions. The Fire Department has reviewed the 2025 California Fire Code
and recommends the adoption of the code along with the previously approved
amendments outlined in the January 12, 2026 staff report by the Fire Chief and Deputy
Fire Marshall. Only the section numbers have been updated to align with the new code
arrangement. California Codes can be viewed at https://www.dqs.ca.qov/BSC/Codes. The
findings required by the Health and Safety Code §18941.5 accompany the proposed
ordinances as Exhibit A. These updates are necessary to maintain consistent and
enforceable fire-safety standards within the City.
Recommended Action:
City Council, by one motion, take the following actions:
1.
Declare introduced for its first reading the following urgency ordinance
entitled:
Ordinance No. O2M26-4854: An Urgency Ordinance of the Alhambra City
Council amending the Alhambra Municipal Code by modifying Title 19 thereof
and adopting by reference the 2025 California Fire Code, 2025 California
Wildland-Urban Interface Code with certain amendments, additions and
deletions thereto
and adopt same by a 4/5 vote of the City Council, after which such ordinance
shall go into effect immediately; and,
2.
Declare introduced for its first reading the following ordinance entitled:
Ordinance No. O2M26-4855: An Ordinance of the Alhambra City Council
amending the Alhambra Municipal Code by modifying Title 19 thereof and
adopting by reference the 2025 California Fire Code, 2025 California Wildland-
Urban Interface Code with certain amendments, additions and deletions
thereto
which ordinance will return for a second reading and adoption at a public
hearing at the January 26, 2026 Council meeting. |
January 12, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#24
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| 20260112 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
23.
ADOPTION OF AN URGENCY ORDINANCE AND INTRODUCTION AND FIRST
READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ALHAMBRA MUNICIPAL CODE BY
MODIFYING TITLE 19 THEREOF AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE
CODE, WITH CERTAIN AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS THERETO –
F2M25-60, O2M26-4854, O2M26-4855, N2M26-1
Every three years, the State of California updates the California Code of Regulations, Title
12 |
January 12, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#23
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