May 12, 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 smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinance (1208) was introduced, 4-0, after a public hearing. A renter asked for a one-year grace period and an owner asked to exclude owner-occupied duplexes.
• The third-quarter budget report moved $5.8 million in road money into slurry seal, cape seal and curb/ADA projects. It also added $25,000 to the immigration (ICE) legal aid fund; staff said this is in addition to $25,000 already spent, under a council authorization of up to $100,000. Approved 4-0.
• The City Attorney said the court had issued a temporary restraining order barring new reservations at the Epic Hotel, with a preliminary-injunction hearing set for May 20.
• Several speakers asked the city to keep the Rio Hondo Park handball courts and mural in the park renovation. Sánchez asked staff to explore that.

Agenda items, in order

1. Opening, invocation, pledge and presentations

   Lara absent. Invocation by Pastor Ochoa of Hope Community Church; pledge led by a Birney Tech Academy student. Certificates for the Pico Rivera Dons youth football teams; proclamations for Municipal Clerks Week and National Public Works Week.

   Outcome: Four members present (minutes).

   ▶ Watch 11:56 · Read in transcript

2. 1. Smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinance (public hearing)

   Public Hearing – Ordinance Adding Chapter 8.70, Smokefree Multi-Unit Housing to Title 8, Health and Safety of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code

   Two speakers and two written comments (see the Public comments tab).

   Outcome: Ordinance 1208 introduced, 4-0 on a roll call (Lara absent). Motion by Lutz, second by Sánchez (minutes). Adopted May 26.

   ▶ Watch 56:29 · ▶ Roll call, 4-0 1:05:49 · Read in transcript

3. Public comments

   Three speakers and three written comments (see the Public comments tab).

   Outcome: Comments only; no action.

   ▶ Watch 1:07:32 · Read in transcript

4. City Attorney update: Epic Hotel litigation

   At the Mayor's request the City Attorney gave a public update on the Epic Hotel case before the consent calendar.

   Outcome: A temporary restraining order bars new reservations; a preliminary-injunction hearing was set for May 20 (minutes). The minutes record this update after closed session.

   ⚑ On the video the Epic Hotel update is given in open session before the consent calendar. The minutes record it after closed session. The order differs; the substance matches. ▶ 1:18:13

   ▶ Watch 1:18:13 · Read in transcript

5. 2–4. Consent calendar (items 2–4)

   Approved together:

   • 2. Minutes of Apr 28, 2026 and the May 5, 2026 special meeting
   • 3. 16th warrant register of FY 2025-26
   • 4. Citywide Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and Vision Zero policy (Resolution 7475)

   Outcome: Approved 4-0. The minutes list a motion by Garcia, a second by Sánchez and a roll call. On the video it is a voice vote (“All those in favor… No opposition or abstentions”).

   ▶ Watch 1:23:20 · Read in transcript

6. 5. FY 2025-26 third-quarter budget report

   Fiscal Year 2025-26 Third Quarter Budget Report as of March 31, 2026

   Deputy Director Alcaraz presented revenues, spending and year-end projections. Staff said the figures did not yet reflect fuel prices from the conflict in Iran. Members discussed L.A. County Measure ER. Sánchez asked about the $25,000 for immigration legal aid.

   Outcome: Received and filed with budget amendments, 4-0 on a roll call. The amendments: $5.8 million from road resurfacing to slurry seal ($2.3M), cape seal ($3M) and curb/ADA repairs ($0.5M); $325,000 in Measure R for crosswalks at Marjorie Street and Passons Boulevard; two clerk reclassifications; $25,000 to the ICE legal aid fund. Motion by Sánchez, second by Garcia (minutes).

   ▶ Watch 1:23:54 · ▶ Legal aid question 1:40:07 · ▶ Roll call, 4-0 1:41:38 · Read in transcript

7. City Manager report

   The city received SCAG's 2026 Sustainability Award (Climate Leadership) for its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

   Outcome: Report only.

   ▶ Watch 1:41:53 · Read in transcript

8. Good of the Order (AB 1234)

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

   Outcome: Camacho proposed an ongoing residents' committee on the Whittier Narrows Dam project during construction, seconded by Garcia. Sánchez asked staff to look at keeping the handball courts and mural.

   ▶ Watch 1:42:54 · Read in transcript

9. Closed session and adjournment

   Closed session: existing litigation, City of Pico Rivera v. Super Lodging Services, LLC et al.

   Outcome: Discussed; no reportable action. Adjourned at 8:30 p.m. (minutes).

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

   ▶ Watch 1:53:07 · Read in transcript

Connections, recusals and disclosures

Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety.

• On the video the Epic Hotel update is given in open session before the consent calendar. The minutes record it after closed session. The order differs; the substance matches. ▶ 1:18:13 (item)

Records for this meeting

Key votes

Roll calls heard on the video

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

Key moments

Public comments

Names follow the approved minutes. Home addresses are not shown.

Council member comments and reports

Members are identified by the Mayor's introductions and the minutes. 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.