October 27, 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 recognized three volunteers and proclaimed Red Ribbon Week, continued the tract-map hearing to Nov 10, and approved the Prohousing application and the Syserco energy contract 5-0 on roll calls.
• Eight people spoke in public comment; five spoke in favor of the proposed sister city in China, and others raised a gutter repair, a nail found on a Smith Park field, and library news.
• The consent calendar (items 4-12) passed on a voice vote with no objections heard. The legislative update was received and filed.
• On the sister-city item, the City Attorney advised that Lutz and Sánchez not take part (FPPC rules). The three remaining members voted 3-0 to continue it, asking staff to bring back a plan with safeguards. The closed session item was continued.

Agenda items, in order

1. Opening, agenda changes and roll call

   Staff added a Red Ribbon Week proclamation and said the closed session item was continued. Roll call followed.

   Outcome: All five members present. Lutz's roll-call answer is garbled in the auto-transcript, but he is heard voting later.

   ▶ Watch 11:54 · Read in transcript

2. Special presentations

   Volunteer Recognition Program Award Recipients

   Volunteer awards to Christina Trujillo (Pico Rivera Christmas Baskets), Rocio Gonzalez (AYSO) and Rosaura Camacho Gonzalez (REACH after-school program). Then a Red Ribbon Week proclamation (Oct 23–31) requested by a young Marine who wrote to Council Member Garcia.

   Outcome: Presentations only; no vote.

   ⚠ Unclear: The auto-transcript calls the young Marine both “Ethan” and “Dylan”, so his name is not confirmed.

   ▶ Watch 15:08 · Read in transcript

3. 1. Tract map: 8540 Whittier Blvd (3 lots)

   Tentative Tract Map No. 082864 Subdivide Two (2) Existing Parcels into Three (3) Lots Located at 8540 Whittier Boulevard

   Public hearing on splitting two commercial parcels into three lots.

   Outcome: Continued to the Nov 10, 2026 meeting at staff's request. No vote.

   ▶ Watch 44:04 · Read in transcript

4. 2. Prohousing designation application

   Application to Participate in the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program

   Public hearing on a resolution to apply to the state's Prohousing Designation Program (HCD).

   Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call. No written or oral communications. A second is heard; the mover is not identifiable.

   ▶ Watch 44:25 · ▶ Roll call, 5-0 44:50 · Read in transcript

5. 3. Syserco energy services contract

   Public Hearing – Award an Energy Services Contract with Syserco Energy Solutions for Energy and Facility Improvements

   Public hearing on an energy services contract with Syserco Energy Solutions. Phase 1 appropriates $5,989,324, moved from the PRIME Fund and the General Fund.

   Outcome: Approved 5-0 on a roll call. Motion and second are heard, but speakers are not identifiable. Lara's answer is not distinct in the auto-transcript; the clerk announced 5-0.

   Contract C441 · Vendor: Syserco

   ▶ Watch 45:12 · ▶ Roll call, 5-0 45:40 · Read in transcript

6. Public comments

   Eight speakers (see the Public comments tab).

   Outcome: Comments only; no action. Two speakers were asked to stay after the meeting to meet with staff.

   ▶ Watch 45:56 · Read in transcript

7. 4–12. Consent calendar (items 4–12)

   Approved together without discussion:

   • 4. Minutes; receive and file the commission minutes
   • 5. 6th warrant register of FY 2026-27
   • 6. First-quarter Treasurer's report and monthly investment report (receive and file)
   • 7. FY 2026-27 MOU with the Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce
   • 8. License agreement with Barnard Construction for use of 3260 Fairway Drive (former golf course)
   • 9. Crosswalk and ADA improvements at Marjorie St and Passons Blvd: $135,987 contract to LCR Earthwork & Engineering, plus $27,200 contingency
   • 10. Robert Half Amendment No. 1: temporary staffing, not to exceed $350,000, extended through June 30, 2028
   • 11. Water Authority minutes (Sep 22, 2026)
   • 12. Water Authority: $100,000 purchase order with Automated Water Treatment for disinfectant supplies

   Outcome: Approved on a voice vote: motion and second, then “any opposed… any abstentions… hearing none.” No roll call, so individual votes are not recorded on the video.

   ⚑ Item 7 (Chamber of Commerce MOU): Lutz and Camacho are listed as the council's Chamber representatives, and Sánchez's 2024 committee paid the Chamber $300. Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety. No recusal was heard on the voice vote. · Connection FL11 · Vendor: Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce

   Contract C446 (Chamber MOU) · Contract C442 (Barnard) · Contract C445 (LCR) · Contract C443 (Robert Half) · Contract C444 (Automated Water Treatment)

   ▶ Watch 1:08:30 · Read in transcript

8. 13. Legislative update: end of state session

   Legislative Update – End of State Session

   A senior analyst in the City Manager's office reported the city tracked 300+ of 1,846 state bills and sent about 50 letters. It opposed 7 bills (6 signed) and supported 19 (17 signed). Mayor Pro Tem Sánchez asked for a federal update; staff said a fuller update could come later.

   Outcome: Received and filed; no vote.

   ⚠ Unclear: Bill numbers in the auto-transcript may be misheard.

   ▶ Watch 1:09:01 · Read in transcript

9. 14. Sister city: Changting County, Fujian (China)

   Recommendation From the Pico Rivera Sister City Commission to Accept an Invitation from the Changting County, Fujian Province of the People's Republic of China, to Establish a Sister City Relationship

   Sister City Commission recommendation to start a sister-city relationship with Changting County. Citing FPPC rules, the City Attorney advised that Lutz and Sánchez not take part in the discussion or vote.

   Outcome: Continued, 3-0 (Garcia, Lara, Camacho yes; Lutz and Sánchez did not participate). Lara moved to “table” until a full council and Garcia seconded. The Mayor restated it as a continuance, with staff to bring back a plan of action, safeguards and a timeline. Later, at the clerk's and City Attorney's suggestion, “table” was changed to “continue” with no objection.

   ⚑ Recusals: the City Attorney advised that Lutz and Sánchez not take part. In her report, Sánchez said both had been sponsored by the People's Republic of China to travel. She said this was legal but bars them from voting on related items for 12 months. ▶ 1:43:44

   ⚑ Several public speakers thanked Council Member Lutz for coordinating the summer student trip to China. Lutz brought the sister-city item forward. ▶ 47:02

   Lutz: recusals and video findings · Sánchez: recusals and video findings

   ▶ Watch 1:23:52 · ▶ City Attorney's FPPC advice 1:24:38 · ▶ Roll call, 3-0 1:30:05 · ▶ Wording changed from “table” to “continue” 1:39:39 · Read in transcript

10. City Manager and staff reports

    Staff reported on Spooktacular at Pico Park (about 5,000 attendees; staff said revenue was up 96%; an $8.5 million Pico Park grant will be sought) and the start of overnight grinding and paving on Rosemead Blvd under the $45 million road program. Also the Veterans Day ceremony on Nov 11 at 10 a.m. at the Eternal Flame Memorial.

    Outcome: Reports only; no action.

    ▶ Watch 1:31:00 · Read in transcript

11. Good of the Order (council reports, AB 1234)

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

    Outcome: No action. Sánchez proposed an ad hoc committee on city social media policy; no vote was taken.

    ▶ Watch 1:38:54 · Read in transcript

12. Closed session

    Conference with legal counsel – existing litigation

    Existing-litigation conference listed on the agenda.

    Outcome: Continued (announced at the start). The meeting adjourned at about 2:02:00 on the video.

    ▶ Watch 2:01:52 · Read in transcript

Connections, recusals and disclosures

Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety.

• Recusals: the City Attorney advised that Lutz and Sánchez not take part. In her report, Sánchez said both had been sponsored by the People's Republic of China to travel. She said this was legal but bars them from voting on related items for 12 months. ▶ 1:43:44 (item)
• Several public speakers thanked Council Member Lutz for coordinating the summer student trip to China. Lutz brought the sister-city item forward. ▶ 47:02 (item)
• Item 7 (Chamber of Commerce MOU): Lutz and Camacho are listed as the council's Chamber representatives, and Sánchez's 2024 committee paid the Chamber $300. Documented connection, not evidence of impropriety. No recusal was heard on the voice vote. · Connection FL11 · Vendor: Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce (item)

Records for this meeting

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.

Key moments

Public comments

Speaker names are as the Mayor read them from comment slips and as speakers said them, from the auto-transcript, and may be misspelled. Home addresses are not shown.

Council member comments and reports

The Mayor called on members in order from his right. The second speaker is not named on the video; it is attributed to Lara by elimination and because he refers to his own use of “table” (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.