May 26, 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 Mayor announced that a court granted the city a preliminary injunction against the owners and operators of the Epic Hotel on Rosemead Boulevard. The injunction bars unlicensed uses, including unlicensed care or rehabilitation facilities.
• The council approved the consent calendar together, 5-0. It included final adoption of the smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinance (1208), a $500,000 CARB grant, a North Star Alliances marketing contract (up to $250,000 in year one, by piggyback) and an ABM HVAC extension.
• The West Coast Arborists tree contract (item 8) was pulled and continued. It came back on Jun 9, Jul 14 and Jul 28.
• Lara proposed an ad hoc committee on using artificial intelligence to process permits, seconded by Camacho. Camacho asked staff for information on data centers and an inventory of businesses that handle hazardous materials.

Agenda items, in order

1. Opening, invocation, pledge and presentations

   Invocation by Council Member Garcia; pledge led by a STEAM Academy at Burke student. Certificates for the AYSO Region 603 Girls U12 All-Star team and the Red Mambas.

   Outcome: All five members present (minutes).

   ▶ Watch 0:00 · ▶ Certificates 22:56 · Read in transcript

2. Mayor's statement: Epic Hotel litigation

   The Mayor read an update on the city's lawsuit against the owners and operators of the Epic Hotel near Beverly and Rosemead Boulevards.

   Outcome: The court granted the city a preliminary injunction (statement only; no vote). The minutes place this update under closed session.

   ⚑ On the video the Epic Hotel update comes before public comment. The minutes record it after the closed-session report. The order differs; the substance matches. ▶ 43:52

   ▶ Watch 43:52 · Read in transcript

3. Public comments

   Five speakers (see the Public comments tab). Staff were asked to look at bus-stop lighting on Beverly Boulevard and at the Rio Hondo Park handball courts.

   Outcome: Comments only; no action.

   ▶ Watch 46:31 · Read in transcript

4. 1–12. Consent calendar (items 1–7 and 9–12)

   Item 8 was pulled. Approved together:

   • 1. Minutes of May 12, 2026
   • 2. 17th warrant register of FY 2025-26
   • 3. Ordinance 1208: smoke-free multi-unit housing, second reading
   • 4. SB 1 road repair project list for FY 2026-27 (Resolution 7476)
   • 5. CARB Clean Transportation Futures grant, $500,000, with a $100,000 match
   • 6. Side letters with employee unions: holiday name change (Resolution 7478)
   • 7. North Star Alliances: marketing and outreach, up to $250,000 (year one) via piggyback
   • 9. ABM Building Solutions: HVAC maintenance, $115,600 a year plus $20,000 for repairs
   • 10. Title VI implementation plan (FHWA)
   • 11. Treasurer's investment report (Apr 30, 2026)
   • 12. RoseWood (Rosemead and Lakewood Boulevards) Complete Corridor Vision Plan

   Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call. Motion by Garcia, second by Lutz (minutes). The vote is not audible in the auto-transcript.

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

   Contract C403 (North Star Alliances) · Contract C405 (ABM)

   ▶ Watch 1:01:18 · Read in transcript

5. 8. Tree maintenance: West Coast Arborists

   Pulled from the agenda.

   Outcome: Continued to Jun 9, 2026; no vote.

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

   ⚑ West Coast Arborists: connection review FL09 found an indirect overlap. Labor unions (not the vendor) linked by a self-reported labor affiliation gave to council members, so the link is circumstantial. Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety. · Vendor: West Coast Arborists

   Contract C404 · Jun 9, 2026 meeting

   ▶ Watch 1:01:18 · Read in transcript

6. Good of the Order (AB 1234)

   No City Manager reports. Members reported (see the Public comments tab, Council reports).

   Outcome: Lara asked for an ad hoc committee on AI for permit processing, and for drainage grants to be discussed at the infrastructure ad hoc committee. Camacho asked for information on data centers (he said none is proposed in the city) and an inventory of businesses that handle hazardous materials.

   ▶ Watch 1:02:57 · ▶ Data center request 1:15:37 · Read in transcript

7. Adjournment and closed session

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

   Outcome: Council was briefed; nothing further to report (minutes). Adjourned at 7:30 p.m. in memory of Cheryl Ramos.

   ▶ Watch 1:20:20 · Read in transcript

Connections, recusals and disclosures

Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety.

• West Coast Arborists: connection review FL09 found an indirect overlap. Labor unions (not the vendor) linked by a self-reported labor affiliation gave to council members, so the link is circumstantial. Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety. · Vendor: West Coast Arborists (item)
• On the video the Epic Hotel update comes before public comment. The minutes record it after the closed-session report. The order differs; the substance matches. ▶ 43:52 (item)

Records for this meeting

Contracts

Key moments

Public comments

Names follow the approved minutes. Home addresses and street details 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.