| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
4.
RIDERSHIP TRANSPORTATION STUDY RE-EVALUATION FOR THE ALHAMBRA
COMMUNITY TRANSIT – F2M23-16, M2M26-19
Increasing ridership of the Alhambra Community Transit (ACT) bus system has been a
priority in the City Council’s Strategic Plan since 2020. To advance this goal, the City
undertook a series of route and ridership studies aimed at improving service efficiency
while expanding transportation options for the community. In January 2025, Kimley-Horn
was contracted to prepare a Ridership Transportation Study for ACT, with results
presented to the City Council on June 23, 2025. The recommendations included rerouting
the Blue Line to operate on Hellman Avenue and Garfield Avenue, and improving service
coverage in northeast Alhambra. The Green Line was only slightly modified in the
clockwise direction, while the counter-clockwise route remained unchanged. Community
workshops were held in October and November 2025 to introduce the proposed routes
and outline the implementation strategy. During the workshops, some residents expressed
concerns regarding the Blue Line modifications in northeast Alhambra and requested
additional review to reassess ridership. In response, the City Council directed staff to
conduct further analysis. The City and its consultant completed additional study and
presented the proposed routes and supporting analysis to the Transportation Commission.
The meeting provided an opportunity for public input and for Commissioners to discuss
the proposed routes and analysis in detail. Seven public comments were received,
including expressions of support for the proposed changes, requests for expanded service
hours, concerns regarding the Blue Line transition, and concerns about potential parking
removal. Following the discussion, the Transportation Commission approved the item (five
in favor, two abstentions) recommending it for City Council approval with the installation
of bus stops on both sides of Granada/ Mission. Staff will present details regarding the
proposed route recommendations from the City’s Ridership Study re-evaluation of ACT.
Recommended Action:
City Council review and approve the proposed route
recommendations from the City’s Ridership Study of the Alhambra Community Transit
(ACT); and, direct staff to undertake the steps necessary to finalize Council’s action.
(M2M26-19) |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#4
|
| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
3.
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION 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, O2M26-4855, N2M26-1
Staff is requesting that the City Council conduct a public hearing and, after receiving public
testimony, consider second reading and adoption 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. Every three years, the State of California
updates the California Code of Regulations, Title 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 ordinance as Exhibit A. These updates are necessary
to maintain consistent and enforceable fire-safety standards within the City. The proposed
ordinance was given first reading at the January 12, 2026 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. 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
PRESENTATIONS |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#3
|
| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
22.
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE SALE
AND DISTRIBUTION OF NITROUS OXIDE AND DETERMINATION THAT THE
ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA – F2M25-7, O2M26-4856
Staff is requesting that the City Council consider second reading and adoption of an
ordinance 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. 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. The proposed ordinance was given first reading
at the January 12, 2026 City Council meeting.
Recommended Action:
City Council declare introduced for its second reading and
adopt 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 |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#22
|