April 14, 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

• Closed session was moved to the start of the meeting. Afterward the City Attorney reported that the city had sued the Epic Hotel and its operator and was seeking a restraining order. The council directed counsel to proceed aggressively.
• Five residents spoke about homelessness, debris and safety around the Epic Hotel.
• The council introduced the new purchasing and alternative-bidding ordinances and adopted revised procurement policies (3-0). It also amended the PRIME power generation rates and authorized a residential bill assistance program (3-0).
• Lutz proposed replacing the old “If you lived in Pico Rivera, you would be home now” entry signs, seconded by Garcia.

Agenda items, in order

1. Opening, invocation and pledge

   Lara and Sánchez absent. Invocation by Council Member Garcia; pledge led by a Montebello Gardens Elementary student.

   Outcome: Three members present; quorum.

   ▶ Watch 19:34 · Read in transcript

2. Closed session (moved to the start): litigation including the Epic Hotel

   Two existing-litigation items: City of Pico Rivera v. Termination Strategy in Group XIII Properties LP, and City of Pico Rivera v. Super Lodging Services, LLC et al. (the Epic Hotel).

   Outcome: The City Attorney reported that the city had filed a lawsuit against the hotel and its operator and was seeking a restraining order; counsel was directed to pursue all legal remedies. The Mayor also gave a report (minutes).

   ▶ Watch 24:07 · ▶ Return from closed session 56:56 · Read in transcript

3. Proclamation: Arbor Day and Earth Day

   Presented to the Office of Sustainability ahead of the Apr 18 Earth Day event.

   Outcome: Presentation only.

   ▶ Watch 56:56 · Read in transcript

4. 1. PRIME power generation rates and residential bill assistance (public hearing)

   Public Hearing – Resolution Amending Customer Power Generation Rate Schedule for Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy and Develop a Residential Bill Assistance Program

   No public testimony.

   Outcome: Resolution 7463 approved and a bill assistance program authorized, 3-0 on a roll call (Lara and Sánchez absent). Motion by Garcia, second by Lutz (minutes).

   ▶ Watch 1:00:08 · ▶ Roll call, 3-0 1:00:42 · Read in transcript

5. Public comments

   Seven speakers and four written comments, most about the Epic Hotel (see the Public comments tab). The Mayor then responded on the fiber optic project.

   Outcome: Comments only; no action.

   ▶ Watch 1:00:53 · ▶ Mayor's response 1:14:17 · Read in transcript

6. 2–6. Consent calendar (items 2–6)

   Approved together:

   • 2. Minutes of Mar 24, 2026 and the Apr 7, 2026 special meeting
   • 3. 14th warrant register of FY 2025-26
   • 4. FY 2026-27 investment policy (Resolution 7464)
   • 5. Hot asphalt patch truck, $270,000
   • 6. Notice of completion: Alebrije Dog Park (Green Giant Landscape)

   Outcome: Approved 3-0. The minutes list a motion by Garcia, a second by Lutz and a roll call. On the video it sounds like a voice vote.

   Contract C398 (patch truck) · Contract C399 (Green Giant)

   ▶ Watch 1:16:44 · Read in transcript

7. 7. Purchasing and alternative-bidding ordinances; revised procurement policies

   Ordinances Amending Chapter 3.20 Purchasing and Amending Chapter 3.48 Alternative Bidding Procedures for Public Projects of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code, and a Resolution Adopting the Revised Procurement Policies and Procedures

   No presentation or questions.

   Outcome: Ordinances 1206 and 1207 introduced and Resolution 7465 approved, 3-0 on a roll call. Motion by Lutz, second by Garcia (minutes). Adopted Apr 28.

   ⚑ These procurement ordinances set the piggyback (cooperative purchasing) rules that were debated during the West Coast Arborists contract in June and July 2026. They were introduced with only three members present. · Jul 14, 2026 procurement presentation

   ▶ Watch 1:17:04 · ▶ Roll call, 3-0 1:17:49 · Read in transcript

8. City Manager report

   Pico Rivera was named a Tree City USA for the first time, recognized as a Caltrans “Clean California Community” and given SCAG's Climate Leadership award.

   Outcome: Report only.

   ▶ Watch 1:17:57 · Read in transcript

9. Good of the Order (AB 1234)

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

   Outcome: Garcia asked for more patrols near the Epic Hotel during school hours and for e-bike rules at parks. Lutz's motion to replace the old entry signs was seconded by Garcia.

   ▶ Watch 1:20:58 · ▶ Entry sign request 1:23:48 · Read in transcript

10. Adjournment

    Closed session had already been held.

    Outcome: Adjourned at 7:14 p.m. (minutes).

    ▶ Watch 1:25:50 · Read in transcript

Connections, recusals and disclosures

Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety.

• These procurement ordinances set the piggyback (cooperative purchasing) rules that were debated during the West Coast Arborists contract in June and July 2026. They were introduced with only three members present. · Jul 14, 2026 procurement presentation (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. Home and property addresses are not shown.

Council member comments and reports

Lara and Sánchez were absent.

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.