City of Gardena

City Council

GARDENA CITY COUNCIL

Regular Meeting Notice and Agenda

Council Chamber at City Hall

1700 West 162nd Street, Gardena, California

Website: www.cityofgardena.org

 

 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Open Session 7:30 p.m.

TASHA CERDA, Mayor

MARK E. HENDERSON, Mayor Pro Tem

RODNEY G. TANAKA, Council Member

PAULETTE C. FRANCIS, Council Member

WANDA LOVE, Council Member

MINA SEMENZA, City Clerk

GUY H. MATO, City Treasurer

CLINT OSORIO, City Manager

CARMEN VASQUEZ, City Attorney

LISA KRANITZ, Assistant City Attorney

IVY TSAI, Assistant City Attorney


If you would like to participate in this meeting, you can participate via the following options:

  1. VIEW THE MEETING live on SPECTRUM CHANNEL 22 or ONLINE at 

    youtube.com/CityofGardena

  2. PARTICIPATE BEFORE THE MEETING by emailing the Deputy City Clerk at publiccomment@cityofgardena.org by 5:00p.m. on the day of the meeting and write "Public Comment" in the subject line.
  3. ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON

    PUBLIC COMMENT: The City Council will hear from the public on any item on the agenda or any item of interest that is not on the agenda at the following times:

    • Agenda Items - At the time the City Council considers the item or during Oral Communications
    • Non-agenda Items - During Oral Communications
    • Public Hearings - At the time of the Public Hearings listed on the Agenda

    If you wish to address the Council, please complete a “Speaker Request” form and present it to the City Clerk or Sergeant of Arms. You will be called to the podium by name when it is your turn to address the Council. The City Council cannot legally take action on any item not scheduled on the Agenda. Such items may be referred for administrative action or scheduled on a future Agenda. Members of the public wishing to address the City Council will be given three (3) minutes to speak.

  4. The City of Gardena, in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend and/or participate in the City meeting due to disability, to please contact the City Clerk's Office by phone (310) 217-9565 or email cityclerk@cityofgardena.org at least 24 business hours prior to the scheduled general meeting to ensure assistance is provided. Assistive listening devices are available.

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS

  • Treat everyone courteously;
  • Listen to others respectfully;
  • Exercise self-control;
  • Give open-minded consideration to all viewpoints;
  • Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate; and
  • Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive public process, and tools for forging sound decisions

Thank you for your attendance and cooperation


1. ROLL CALL

2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION

3. CLOSED SESSION

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION ROLL CALL

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION

4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

5. INVOCATION

6. PRESENTATIONS

6.A. South Bay Cities Council of Government's Energy and Climate Recognition Program Award

6.B. Certificate of Commendation in Special Recognition of Retirement and Long-Time Service to the City of Gardena for Louis Alford III - Bus Operator with the Transportation Department - 23 years of service

6.C. Certificate of Commendation in Special Recognition of Retirement and Long-Time Service to the City of Gardena for Rita Lopez- Permit/Licensing Technician II with the Community Development Department- 20 years of service

6.D. Certificate of Commendation in Special Recognition of Retirement and Long-Time Service to the City of Gardena for John Moore - General Building Inspector with the Community Development Department - 11 years of service

6.E. Certificates of Commendation presented to Ashley Lotman, Kali Bragg, and Josiah Davis, for their Heroic Efforts

6.F. Presentation of the "Holiday Home Decoration Contest 2025" Winners

6.G. Gardena Events Video Presentation

7. PROCLAMATIONS

7.A. "Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week," January 12 through 19, 2026 (to be accepted by Councilmember Paulette C. Francis, Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena)

8. APPOINTMENTS

Council Appointments to Commissions, Committees, Councils and Boards (Appointees to be Ratified and Sworn In)

9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR

10. CONSENT CALENDAR

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC- Roll Call Vote Required On The Consent Calendar All matters listed under the Consent Calendar will be enacted by one motion unless a Council Member requests Council discussion, in which case that item will be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately following this portion of the agenda.

10.A. Waiver of Reading in Full of All Ordinances Listed on this Agenda and that they be Read by Title Only

CONTACT: CITY CLERK

10.B. Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting of the City Council, December 9, 2025

CONTACT: CITY CLERK

10.C. Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, December 23, 2025

CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

10.D. Approval of Warrants/Payroll Register, January 13, 2026

CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

10.E. Monthly Investment Report, November 2025

CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

10.F. Personnel Report P-2026-1 01-13-26

CONTACT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

10.G. Acceptance and Notice of Completion for the Park Electronic Signage Project, Rowley Park, JN 529

CONTACT: PUBLIC WORKS

10.H. Acceptance and Notice of Completion for the Fire Station No. 159 Roof Replacement Project, JN 569

CONTACT: PUBLIC WORKS

11. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION ACTION SHEET

11.A. DECEMBER 16, 2025 MEETING - Cancelled

11.B. JANUARY 6, 2026 MEETING - Cancelled

12. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (LIMITED TO A 30-MINUTES PERIOD)

Oral Communications by the public will be heard for one-half hour during the oral communication segment of the agenda. Any additional speakers will be allowed to speak at the end of the meeting after Council Remarks. Speakers are limited to three minutes, unless otherwise stated by the Mayor. The timer will be displayed on the screen. Your cooperation is appreciated.

12.A. PUBLIC COMMENT

13. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

14. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

14.A. PUBLIC HEARING: Substantial Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan

Staff Recommendation: - Conduct a public hearing and receive testimony; - Allow three (3) minutes for each speaker; - Approve the proposed 2025-2026 Annual Action Substantial Amendment which includes reallocating $90,624 from the Fair Housing Services and Community Food Pantry Services Programs and $603,358 from the prior year rollover funds for a total of $693,982 to the Residential Rehabilitation Program; and Authorize the City Manager to execute and submit the plan, amendment and any other necessary and related documents to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

15. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ELECTED & CITY MANAGER'S OFFICES

16. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - POLICE

17. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - PUBLIC WORKS

17.A. Consideration of a Request to Approve the Assignment of the Amended and Restated Agreement Between City of Gardena and Waste Resources of Gardena for Solid Waste Handling Services to USA Waste of California, Inc. and Approve Consent to Assignment and First Amendment to Agreement for Integrated Solid Waste Management Services

Staff Recommendation: Approve the Assignment of the Amended and Restated Agreement between the City of Gardena and Waste Resources of Gardena for Solid Waste Handling Services to USA Waste of California, Inc. and Approve Consent to Assignment and First Amendment to Agreement for Integrated Solid Waste Management Services

18. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - RECREATION & HUMAN SERVICES

19. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - TRANSPORTATION

20. COUNCIL ITEMS

20.A. Discuss and Consider the City Council Policy Guidelines for Proclamations, Certificates, Commendations, and Congratulatory Letters

Staff Recommendation: Discuss and Consider Adoption of the City Council Policy Guidelines for Proclamations, Certificates, Commendations, and Congratulatory letters

21. COUNCIL DIRECTIVES

22. CITY MANAGER REMARKS RE: DIRECTIVES / COUNCIL ITEMS

23. COUNCIL REMARKS

1. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS 2. MAYOR PRO TEM HENDERSON 3. COUNCIL MEMBER TANAKA 4. MAYOR CERDA 5. COUNCIL MEMBER LOVE

24. ANNOUNCEMENT(S)

25. REMEMBERANCES

Mr. Jessie James Ingram, 81 years old; longtime Gardena resident.

26. ADJOURNMENT

The Gardena City Council will adjourn to the Closed Session portion of the City Council Meeting at 7:00pm followed by the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:30pm on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda was posted in the City Hall lobby not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting. A copy of said Agenda is available on our website at www.CityofGardena.org.

 

       /s/ MINA SEMENZA         

MINA SEMENZA, City Clerk

Date Posted: January 9, 2026