| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
9.
AWARD CONTRACT: DEPUTY BUILDING INSPECTOR SERVICES FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER – F2M22-65, N2M25-176, C2M26-4,
M2M26-13
On December 8, 2025, the City Council authorized the issuance of a Notice Inviting Bids
for deputy building inspector services for the Alhambra Community Center project. On
January 13, 2026, the Parks & Recreation Department received nine bid proposals for the
services. The bid proposal from Koury Engineering & Testing Inc. is the lowest responsive
bid received.
Recommended Action:
City Council award a contract, subject to final language
approval by the City Manager and City Attorney, by and between the City of Alhambra and
Koury Engineering & Testing, Inc. for deputy building inspector services for the Alhambra
Community Center in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00; and, direct staff to undertake
the steps necessary to finalize Council’s action. (M2M26-13) |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#9
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| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
6.
AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE SMOKE SHOPS AND OTHER USES
– F2M26-22
At the January 12, 2026 City Council meeting, the Council adopted an ordinance
prohibiting the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide and directed staff to return with
information related to regulating smoke shops and other uses. Smoke shops fall within
the “General Retail” use category, which is permitted by-right in the CBD (Central
Business District), CMU (Commercial Mixed-Use), EMC (East Main Corridor), PO
(Professional Office), and I (Industrial) zones, as well as certain Specific Plans. There are
six existing and proposed smoke shop locations in the City. The plan moving forward will
be to amend Chapter 5.90 (Tobacco Retail License) of the Alhambra Municipal Code to
establish additional operation requirements for smoke shops that will become effective
immediately following adoption of the amendment. New proposed operational standards
would limit smoke shops hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and limit the area of
sales for tobacco paraphernalia and smoke products to no more than 5% of gross floor
area of the store. Additionally, an amendment will be made to the Zoning Code requiring
all existing and new smoke shops to obtain a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
Recommended Action:
City Council direct staff to amend the Municipal Code to
regulate smoke shops.
CONSENT AGENDA (Item Nos. 7 – 22): (TIME LIMITATIONS: 5 MINUTES PER SPEAKER
FOR ONE ITEM, 10 MINUTES PER SPEAKER FOR 2+ ITEMS)
All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered by the City Council to be routine and
will be enacted by one motion unless a citizen or Council member requests otherwise; in which
case, the item will be removed for separate consideration. |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#6
|
| 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
|
| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
17.
TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS – F2M24-33, M2M26-22
The City adopted the Traffic Calming Guidelines on May 12, 2025 to address
neighborhood concerns related to motorized traffic and pedestrian safety. The guidelines
establish a structured and transparent framework for evaluating and implementing
appropriate traffic calming measures on residential streets. As of January 2026, the City
has received two eligible traffic calming requests that required Transportation
Commission’s review and City Council’s approval: 1) Crosswalk at South Almansor
Avenue and Park Street and 2) Speed Humps on North Marguerita Avenue between
Alhambra Road and Pine Street. These traffic calming requests were reviewed and
discussed at the Transportation Commission meeting on January 14, 2026. The meeting
also provided an opportunity for public input regarding the traffic calming measures
requested by residents. The Commissioners concurred with the findings and unanimously
approved the proposed measures recommended in the traffic studies and are
recommending approval to the City Council. Following final approval by the City Council,
staff will prepare plans and specifications for implementation.
Recommended Action:
City Council approve the traffic calming measures for South
Almansor Avenue and Park Street, and North Marguerita Avenue; and, direct staff to
undertake the steps necessary to finalize Council’s action. (M2M26-22)
10 |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#17
|
| 20260126 |
LA County |
Alhambra |
City Council |
Item |
10.
APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER TO CONTRACT WITH PRECISION
ENVIRONMENTAL
FOR
ADDITIONAL
ABATEMENT
AT
THE
ALHAMBRA
COMMUNITY CENTER – F2M22-65, C2M25-45, M2M26-14
On October 13, 2025, the City Council awarded a contract to Precision Environmental for
building demolition services for the Alhambra Community Center in an amount not to
exceed $424,000.00. The project was originally proposed to provide demolition services,
but during the demolition process, staff and the contractor identified additional asbestos
material in the crawl space and within the building walls that was no previously detected.
The additional work includes the disposal of all asbestos material and ensuring that the
decontaminated building is prepared for demolition.
Recommended Action:
City Council approve Change Order No. 1 for the contract
with Precision Environmental for demolition services for the Alhambra Community Center
(Contract No. C2M25-45), increasing the contract amount by $308,393.06 and bringing
the total revised contract value to an amount not to exceed $732,393.06; appropriate funds
in Alhambra Community Center account number 310.60.6010.92338 in the amount of
$308,393.06 to complete the project; and, direct staff to undertake the steps necessary to
finalize Council’s action. (M2M26-14) |
January 26, 2026
LA County
Alhambra
City Council
Item
#10
|