July 28, 2026 City Council Meeting
- Date
- 2026-07-28 6:00pm
- Type
- Special/Regular Meeting
- Agenda
- Agenda (PDF)
- Packet
- Agenda packet (PDF)
- Record page
- Meeting record
- Video
- YouTube recording
- Transcript
- 1382 auto-generated segments
minutes approved Outcomes below use the video and the approved minutes of the special and regular meetings (printed in the Sep 8, 2026 agenda packet).
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
- A short special meeting (5-0) restored a second July meeting and cancelled both August meetings. The regular council and Water Authority meeting followed.
- The council adopted the updated General Plan Safety Element and introduced an emergency preparedness ordinance, 5-0.
- Item 9: the council rescinded its June 9 direction to seek proposals and awarded West Coast Arborists a $1,690,900 tree-maintenance contract through a cooperative (piggyback) purchase, 4-1, with Sánchez voting no. Sánchez's motion to keep the RFP failed for lack of a second.
- Also approved: an $8,025,049 citywide resurfacing contract with Onyx Paving after Sequel Contractors withdrew its bid (5-0), and a sister-city friendship with Puerto Vallarta (5-0).
Agenda items, in order
Special meeting: July and August meeting schedule
Resolution 7501 rescinding Resolution 6827, which restores the second July regular meeting and cancels both August meetings. No public comment.
Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call. Motion by Garcia, second by Camacho (minutes).
Regular meeting: opening, roll call, invocation and pledge
Item 11 was removed from the consent calendar for separate action and item 12 was pulled. Invocation by Council Member Garcia; pledge led by Sister City Commissioner Perez.
Outcome: All five members present.
Special presentations: youth softball and baseball teams
Certificates for the Pico Rivera Girls Fastpitch 8U all-star team and the Pico Rivera Hitmen 10U travel baseball team (USSSA International World Series champions).
Outcome: Presentations only; no vote.
1. General Plan Amendment 66: Safety Element and emergency preparedness ordinance
Public Hearing – General Plan Amendment No. 66 – Update to the General Plan Safety Element, an Ordinance to Amend Title 2, Administration and Personnel, Chapter 2.52 Emergency Preparedness of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code
A consultant (Atlas Planning Solutions) and staff presented the Safety Element update, the Emergency Operations Plan and the code changes. Members asked about training, EOC locations and coordination with the school district and County Fire. No public testimony.
Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call: Ordinance 1211 introduced, Resolutions 7496 and 7497 approved. Motion by Sánchez, second by Garcia (minutes).
▶ Watch 1:06:53 · ▶ Roll call, 5-0 1:31:01 · Read in transcript
Public comments
Two speakers; a third speaker addressed item 11 when it was taken up (see the Public comments tab).
Outcome: Comments only; no action.
⚑ Victor Gonzalez spoke as West Coast Arborists' vice president about item 9. A person with the same name filed a 2026 council candidate intention statement (FL10). This is a name match only; it is not verified that they are the same person. ▶ 1:31:23 · Connections
2–15. Consent calendar (items 2–5, 7, 8, 10, 13–15)
Items 6 and 9 were pulled for discussion, 11 was taken separately and 12 was continued. Approved together:
- 2. Minutes of Jul 14, 2026; receive and file commission minutes
- 3. 2nd warrant register of FY 2026-27
- 4. Job description: Parks Maintenance Supervisor (Resolution 7502)
- 5. Job description: Customer Service Representative/Backflow Tester (Resolution 7503)
- 7. Fourth-quarter Treasurer's report and monthly investment report (Jun 30, 2026)
- 8. MOU with Rio Hondo College
- 10. G2 Construction: catch basin retrofit, $213,592.50 plus $21,360 contingency
- 13. Second amendment to City Manager Steven Carmona's employment agreement
- 14. Water Authority minutes (Jun 23, 2026)
- 15. John Deere backhoe loader via Sourcewell, up to $208,000
Outcome: Approved 5-0. The minutes list a motion by Lutz, a second by Lara and a roll call. On the video it sounds like a voice vote (“any opposed… so moved”).
Contract C422 (G2 Construction) · Contract C425 (John Deere)
6. Sister-city friendship with Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Invitation from the City of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, to Establish a Sister City Relationship
Pulled from consent. Sánchez asked that city invitations be shared more widely and earlier. Commissioner Perez supported the partnership and youth exchanges.
Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call (Resolution 7504). Motion by Garcia, second by Lara (minutes).
▶ Watch 1:36:38 · ▶ Roll call, 5-0 1:38:53 · Read in transcript
9. Tree maintenance: West Coast Arborists (piggyback contract)
Tree Maintenance Services with West Coast Arborists, Inc.
Pulled from consent. The council had directed an RFP on June 9. Sánchez objected to rescinding that direction and asked for competitive bidding. The Public Works Director said the rate was only 1% above the rate set five years ago and the contract covers about 11,000 trees.
Outcome: Approved 4-1 on a roll call (Sánchez no): the June 9 direction was rescinded and a three-year contract (plus two optional years) up to $1,690,900 was awarded. Motion by Garcia, second by Lara. Sánchez's earlier motion to keep the RFP failed for lack of a second (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. Sánchez cast the only no vote. Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety. · Vendor: West Coast Arborists
Contract C421 · Vendor: West Coast Arborists
▶ Watch 1:45:41 · ▶ Roll call, 4-1 1:53:53 · Read in transcript
11. Citywide resurfacing and reconstruction: Onyx Paving
Citywide Resurfacing and Reconstruction Project, CIP No. 50106
The City Attorney said Sequel Contractors had withdrawn its bid (letter dated June 5), so the recommendations about Sequel were struck. Sequel's attorney confirmed the withdrawal.
Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call: a contract up to $8,025,049 with Onyx Paving (lowest responsive bidder) plus $802,505 contingency. Motion by Lara, second by Garcia (minutes).
▶ Watch 1:54:10 · ▶ Roll call, 5-0 1:57:14 · Read in transcript
12. Smith Park Aquatic Center AV/IT services
Pulled from the agenda.
Outcome: Continued to a future meeting; no vote. (Awarded on Sep 8, 2026.)
City Manager reports and Good of the Order (AB 1234)
No staff reports. Members reported (see the Public comments tab, Council reports). Parks and Recreation Director Yugar previewed the summer events.
Outcome: Lara asked to bring the city's piggyback purchasing procedures back for review and proposed a Sister City ad hoc committee, which the Mayor established.
⚑ The Mayor established a Sister City ad hoc committee at Lara's suggestion. It later handled the Changting County proposal (Oct 13 and Oct 27, 2026). ▶ 1:58:06 · Oct 27, 2026 meeting
Adjournment
No closed session.
Outcome: Adjourned at 7:41 p.m. (minutes).
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. Sánchez cast the only no vote. Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety. · Vendor: West Coast Arborists (item)
- Victor Gonzalez spoke as West Coast Arborists' vice president about item 9. A person with the same name filed a 2026 council candidate intention statement (FL10). This is a name match only; it is not verified that they are the same person. ▶ 1:31:23 · Connections (item)
- The Mayor established a Sister City ad hoc committee at Lara's suggestion. It later handled the Changting County proposal (Oct 13 and Oct 27, 2026). ▶ 1:58:06 · Oct 27, 2026 meeting (item)
Records for this meeting
Key votes
Contracts
| Date | Item | Vendor | Amount | Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | Tree Maintenance Services with West Coast Arborists, Inc. (500) | West Coast Arborists, Inc | $1,690,900 | Approved | documented |
| 2026-07-28 | Pico Rivera Catch Basin Retrofit Project, CIP No. 50049. (500) | G2 Construction, Inc | $213,592 | Approved | documented |
| 2026-07-28 | Citywide Resurfacing and Reconstruction Project, CIP No. 50106. (500) | Onyx Paving Company, Inc | $8,025,049 | Approved | documented |
| 2026-07-28 | Smith Park Aquatic Center Renovation Project, CIP No. 50043 – Audio Visual and Information Technology Integration Services. (500) | INA Display | $234,228 | Pulled / continued (no vote recorded) | documented |
| 2026-07-28 | Purchase of a 2026 John Deere 410 P-Tier Backhoe Loader. (700) | John Deere | $208,000 | Approved | documented |
Roll calls heard on the video
Parsed from the auto-transcript; partial parses are common. The approved minutes are the record of the vote.
| Time | Kind | Parsed | Tally | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40:59 | vote | Camacho: AYE, Sánchez: AYE, Lara: AYE, Garcia: AYE | 5-0 | ▶ |
| 41:51 | vote | Camacho: AYE, Sánchez: AYE, Lutz: AYE, Garcia: AYE | ▶ | |
| 1:31:01 | vote | Camacho: AYE, Sánchez: AYE, Lara: AYE, Lutz: AYE, Garcia: AYE | 5-0 | ▶ |
| 1:38:53 | vote | Camacho: AYE, Sánchez: AYE, Lara: AYE, Lutz: AYE, Garcia: AYE | 5-0 | ▶ |
| 1:53:53 | vote | Camacho: AYE, Sánchez: NO, Lara: AYE, Lutz: AYE, Garcia: AYE | 4-1 (computed from parsed positions) | ▶ |
| 1:57:14 | vote | Camacho: AYE, Sánchez: AYE, Lara: AYE, Lutz: AYE, Garcia: AYE | 5-0 | ▶ |
Key moments
| Kind | Quote | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| contract / procurement concern | “the June 9th majority vote already in order to, in favor of a piggyback contract. So that's the number one concern” 🔗 | ▶ 1:46:26 |
| contract / procurement concern | “accountable to the residents and these are our tax dollars so I just have a concern that perhaps this is setting a precedent of rewarding large no-bid contracts and perhaps it's best to get an RFP bec” 🔗 | ▶ 1:48:38 |
| contract / procurement concern | “out to get us to here? Certainly Mayor. Originally when the item came before Council it was given direction to staff to do an RFP. Subsequent to that there was a question on the process which we ultim” 🔗 | ▶ 1:49:57 |
| contract / procurement concern | “We got eight bidders. We just piggybacked off of somebody else. It wasn't like we're giving somebody a sole source. And again if we bid this today we're gonna get a higher price. I can guarantee you t” 🔗 | ▶ 1:51:14 |
| contract / procurement concern | “Harvest was not providing the service to us or too expensive, I would be the first to say no. However, I did my due diligence and I think this piggyback or recommendation that staff came up with, I re” 🔗 | ▶ 1:53:34 |
| contract / procurement concern | “Thank you. The second item is the item regarding the piggyback. I'd like to kind of bring that back” 🔗 | ▶ 2:00:46 |
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.
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Public comments
Names and affiliations 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. Where the video order differs from the minutes, the item is marked inferred.