February 10, 2026 City Council Meeting

What happened

Timestamps, item boundaries and summaries on this page come from an automatic (speech-to-text) transcript of the city’s YouTube recording, checked against the posted agenda. Times may be off by a few seconds, the transcript does not identify speakers, and names and numbers may be misheard. The approved minutes are the official record. Methods

• The council approved a $145,000 pilot music program (S.O.N.G.) with the Andy Vargas Foundation, 5-0, after Mr. Vargas spoke. It also awarded a $1,307,800 contract to Elegant Construction for air conditioning at the Rivera Park and Pico Park gyms.
• Residents described safety problems at a vacant property in their neighborhood. Public Works gave a status update on 12 capital projects (the two-year CIP budget is $143.3 million).
• Lara asked staff to look for matching funds for a reward in the Marc Sweet homicide, seconded by Sánchez. The $20,000 reward was approved Feb 24. Sánchez asked for a vote to formally oppose the county's half-cent sales tax measure on the June ballot.

Agenda items, in order

1. Opening, invocation, pledge and presentation

   Invocation by Council Member Lara; pledge led by a Rivera Elementary student. Recognition for Public Works Supervisor George Ramos on 42 years of service and his retirement.

   Outcome: All five members present.

   ▶ Watch 0:09 · ▶ Recognition 6:30 · Read in transcript

2. 1. Exempt surplus land and summary vacation of a public alleyway (public hearing)

   No public testimony. Declares a city parcel exempt surplus land and vacates an alley at no fee.

   Outcome: Resolution 7460 approved, 5-0 on a roll call (minutes). Motion by Sánchez, second by Garcia. The vote is not clearly audible in the auto-transcript.

   ⚠ Unclear: The auto-transcript is unclear here; this relies on the minutes.

   ▶ Watch 14:14 · Read in transcript

3. Public comments

   Speakers and one written comment (see the Public comments tab). The Mayor asked staff to report back at the next meeting on the vacant property residents described.

   Outcome: Comments only; no action.

   ▶ Watch 15:07 · ▶ Mayor's response 29:30 · Read in transcript

4. 2–5, 7. Consent calendar (items 2–5 and 7)

   Item 6 was pulled for a presentation. Approved together:

   • 2. Minutes of Jan 27, 2026
   • 3. 10th warrant register of FY 2025-26
   • 4. Inland Empire Stages: as-needed recreation transportation, up to $240,000 over three years ($80,000 a year)
   • 5. Elegant Construction: HVAC at the Rivera Park and Pico Park gyms, $1,307,800 plus $200,000 contingency
   • 7. FY 2026-27 budget calendar

   Outcome: Approved 5-0. The minutes list a motion by Lutz, a second by Garcia and a roll call. On the video it is a voice vote (“all those in favor… aye”). A council member praised item 5 before the vote.

   Contract C383 (Elegant Construction) · Contract C382 (Inland Empire Stages)

   ▶ Watch 30:34 · ▶ Comment on item 5 30:47 · Read in transcript

5. 6. Andy Vargas Foundation: S.O.N.G. (Sounds of New Generations) pilot, $145,000

   Parks and Recreation Director Yugar presented the program; Andy Vargas, a vocalist with Santana, spoke about mentoring young musicians. Funded by moving $145,000 from the REACH program.

   Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call. Motion by Garcia, second by Lutz (minutes).

   ⚑ Andy Vargas Foundation is a new city vendor (C384). No campaign-finance link to council members was found in the filings reviewed (selected periods). · Vendor: Andy Vargas Foundation

   Contract C384 · Vendor: Andy Vargas Foundation

   ▶ Watch 32:27 · ▶ Andy Vargas speaks 39:07 · ▶ Roll call, 5-0 45:48 · Read in transcript

6. City Manager and staff reports: capital projects update

   Director Negrete reviewed 12 projects, including the dog park (done), the council chamber (March 2026), Smith Park aquatics (award pending), Rio Hondo Park (design 90%) and PFAS treatment at Plant 3 (design 75%). He said the two-year CIP budget is $143,277,604 and $44 million of projects were finished in two years. Members discussed lowest-bidder procurement, grant tracking and deadlines.

   Outcome: Monthly CIP reports and an online project tracker were planned. The City Manager announced notary services at the City Clerk's office and an $800,000 grant from Congresswoman Linda Sánchez for the VFW property.

   ▶ Watch 48:13 · Read in transcript

7. Good of the Order (AB 1234)

   Members reported (see the Public comments tab, Council reports).

   Outcome: Lara asked staff to find matching funds for the Sheriff's reward in the Marc Sweet homicide, seconded by Sánchez. Sánchez asked to bring a vote to formally oppose the county half-cent sales tax measure (June 2026 ballot), possibly with a presentation.

   ⚑ The minutes say only that Sánchez “commented on” the county sales tax measure. On the video she asks for a council vote to formally oppose it and asks for a second (4659–4705 s). Whether it was seconded is not clear on the recording. ▶ 1:17:39

   Feb 24: $20,000 reward approved

   ▶ Watch 1:11:46 · ▶ Reward request 1:13:17 · ▶ Sales tax request 1:17:39 · Read in transcript

8. Closed session and adjournment

   Anticipated litigation: initiation of litigation in one matter. Recessed 7:24 p.m., reconvened 7:42 p.m.

   Outcome: The City Attorney said direction was given and there was nothing to report. Adjourned at 7:43 p.m. (minutes).

   ▶ Watch 1:21:21 · Read in transcript

Connections, recusals and disclosures

Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety.

• The minutes say only that Sánchez “commented on” the county sales tax measure. On the video she asks for a council vote to formally oppose it and asks for a second (4659–4705 s). Whether it was seconded is not clear on the recording. ▶ 1:17:39 (item)
• Andy Vargas Foundation is a new city vendor (C384). No campaign-finance link to council members was found in the filings reviewed (selected periods). · Vendor: Andy Vargas Foundation (item)

Records for this meeting

Key votes

Contracts

Roll calls heard on the video

Parsed from the auto-transcript; partial parses are common. The approved minutes are the record of the vote.

Public comments

Names follow the approved minutes (first names only where the minutes give only first names). The property's street address is not shown. The exact boundaries between the three residents' comments are approximate.

Council member comments and reports

Members are identified by the minutes and the Mayor's introductions; uncertain starts are marked inferred.

Full transcript

Automatic speech-to-text transcript, without speaker names; it may contain errors. Click any line or timestamp to watch that moment on YouTube. Home addresses are removed.