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Wednesday, June 3, 2026

city counciltranslated

↗ Agenda PDF ↗ Packet PDF

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What Happened

The Compton City Council held its annual AB 2561 public hearing on workforce vacancies, with HR reporting the city's vacancy rate dropped from 27.8% to 20.1% after 136 successful hires this fiscal year. The Fire Fighters union raised concerns about 15 fire department vacancies and the loss of 239 years of combined experience from 22 departures over the past decade. Multiple residents urgently demanded action on World Oil refinery emissions near Cesar Chavez Park, citing repeated citations, a facility fire, and ongoing health effects including nosebleeds and nausea affecting families and children. A proposed memorandum of understanding with SLA Inc. for a Raymond Street Park equestrian project failed on a 2-2-1 vote after concerns about the lack of a competitive bidding process. Council Member Bowers was appointed the new Mayor Pro Tem for District 3, and the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget public hearing was rescheduled to June 16.

Meeting Sections

Call to Order and Roll Call

0:02:11

The public hearing was opened at 4:35 PM and roll call was taken with all five council members present.

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Public Hearing on City Vacancy Report

0:02:57

The city presented its annual staffing vacancy report as required by state law AB 2561. Compton's vacancy rate dropped from 27.8% to 20.1%, with 136…

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Closed Session Items and Recess

0:51:40

The council opened a closed session to discuss eight legal matters including the city manager position, multiple existing lawsuits, anticipated…

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Regular Meeting Roll Call and Pledge

0:59:45

The regular council meeting was formally opened at 5:30 PM with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Quarterly Investment Report Presentation

1:02:18

The city treasurer presented the third quarter investment report showing $3.1 million in quarterly interest earnings and $9.1 million year-to-date,…

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Public Comments on Various Issues

1:10:07

Residents raised urgent concerns about toxic odors and black smoke from the World Oil Refinery near Cesar Chavez Park, reporting health effects…

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Fire Department Operations Update

1:49:49

The fire department presented updates on hiring 11 new firefighter-paramedics, processing 100 additional candidates, completing six captain…

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Budget Public Hearing Rescheduled to June 16

1:57:25

The council unanimously approved moving the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget public hearing from June 9 to June 16 at 5:45 PM in the council chambers.…

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Ethics Training Scheduled for Council and Commissioners

1:58:57

The council approved scheduling mandatory ethics and Brown Act training for all council members and commissioners on two dates — June 20 and June 27…

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New HR Positions Added to City Staff

2:07:39

The council unanimously approved adding three new Human Resources positions — operations coordinator, assistant, and coordinator — to help the…

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Raymond Street Park Equestrian Project Fails

2:11:13

A nonprofit proposed a grant-funded project to convert part of Raymond Street Park into a combined equestrian and pedestrian park at an estimated…

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New Mayor Pro Tem Appointed

2:26:47

The council voted 4-0 with one abstention to appoint a new Mayor Pro Tem from District 3, following the standard rotation established by city…

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Closed Session Report and Adjournment

5:33:55

The council reconvened at 10:04 PM and reported that direction was given on all closed session items including the city manager position, multiple…

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Agenda Items

Item PUBLIC HEARING. AB 2561 Annual Public Hearing on VacanciesPublic Hearing

AB 2561 Annual Public Hearing on City Employment Vacancies

Item PUBLIC HEARINGPublic Hearing

AB 2561 Annual Public Hearing on Vacancies

Item 1Discussion

Public Employment Discussion - City Manager

Item 2Discussion

Legal Conference - Martinez v. City of Compton

Item 3Discussion

Legal Conference - American Reclamation v. City of Compton

Item 4Discussion

Legal Conference - Westmoreland Law Firm v. City of Compton

Item 5Discussion

Legal Conference - Anticipated Litigation

Item 6Discussion

Legal Conference - Anticipated Litigation

Item 7Discussion

Legal Conference - Anticipated Litigation

Item 8Discussion

Legal Conference - Anticipated Litigation

Item 10Consent

Approval of Minutes - March 24, 2026

Item 12Action

Request to Reschedule Budget Public Hearing

Item 13Action

Request to Schedule Citywide Ethics Training

Item 14Action

Request to Schedule Housing Authority Joint Public Hearing

Item 15Action

Resolution Adding Human Resources Classifications

Item 16Action

Resolution for Raymond Street Park MOU with SLA Inc.

Item 17Action

Resolution Appointing New Mayor Pro Tem

Closed Session — Legal Matters

Cases the council discussed in closed session. The public agenda only lists "Closed Session"; these specifics come from the agenda packet. Litigation tracker →

Item 8Legal

Anticipated Litigation — One Case Pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(4)

The City Council will confer with legal counsel in closed session regarding anticipated litigation in one case, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4).

Item 5Legal

Anticipated Litigation — Significant Exposure to Litigation (One Case)

The City Council will confer with legal counsel in closed session regarding anticipated litigation due to significant exposure to litigation in one case, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9.

Item 1Legal

Closed Session: Public Employment Discussion — City Manager

The City Council will meet in closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1) to discuss a matter of public employment regarding the City Manager position.

Item 3Legal

Existing Litigation: American Reclamation, Inc. v. City of Compton (LASC Case No. 25STCV31042)

The City Council will confer with legal counsel in closed session regarding existing litigation in the case of American Reclamation, Inc. v. City of Compton, et al., LASC Case No. 25STCV31042, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9.

Item 2Legal

Existing Litigation: Jose Manuel Martinez v. City of Compton (LASC Case No. 25CU001331C)

The City Council will confer with legal counsel in closed session regarding existing litigation in the case of Jose Manuel Martinez v. City of Compton, LASC Case No. 25CU001331C, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9.

Item 4Legal

Existing Litigation: Westmoreland Law Firm, P.C. v. City of Compton (LASC Case No. 26STCP00887)

The City Council will confer with legal counsel in closed session regarding existing litigation in the case of Westmoreland Law Firm, P.C. v. City of Compton, LASC Case No. 26STCP00887, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9.

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Questions Asked · 55

infrastructure

What are the Public Works Engineering department's priorities for fiscal 2026-2027?

21:08

Focus areas are strategic infrastructure investment, faster project delivery, and addressing high-priority streets and stormwater needs. The department plans to complete 40 streets in Phase 10, with over 2.5 miles of street improvements in District 1.

What will developers do to ensure new development plumbing doesn't cause problems with old house plumbing systems?

80:32

When will the city install street signs that residents have been requesting?

80:32

A three-year street sign program is proposed for funding tonight with $500,000 allocated for the first year.

Will the city budget for protective balusters along Wilmington Avenue to prevent vehicles from entering residential properties?

85:27

Can the city use the $7 million in unallocated grant funds for safety balusters on Wilmington Avenue?

85:27

Can a parking audit be conducted to prevent unnecessary parking citations?

119:55

When will the parking permits study happen for District 1?

124:04

Where exactly would horses enter Raymond Street Park?

140:58

Horses would enter on the west side of Raymond Street and also on the Canal Street side, with a single access point to keep safety in mind and maintain separation from pedestrian areas.

What are the rubber foam products being purchased for?

170:51

The rubber foam products are traffic calming devices used for trap devices on thoroughfares, and will also be used for installing two roundabouts in neighborhoods.

Where will the two roundabouts be installed?

172:22

One roundabout will be installed near Longfellow, and the other at Slater and 134th.

Is the funding for the street name sign installation program still available, and what happened to previous approvals?

195:24

Staff indicated that a predecessor ordered signs, but they were regulatory/street sweeping signs, not street name signs. The council had approved street name signs previously but they were never installed.

Can staff provide a list of which streets will receive street name signs in the first year of this three-year program?

198:12

Staff agreed to provide the names of streets. The program is structured as a three-year funding plan, with the first year covering specific streets to be identified.

What parcel is the dirt being removed from?

201:27

16208 South Atlantic, at the intersection of the 710 Freeway and Atlantic Avenue.

Why are we removing dirt from empty lots instead of having developers do it?

204:44

The site is an eyesore and impediment to development with debris beyond dirt; it needs remediation before development can proceed, with potential affordable housing planned.

Will the $67,000 cost provide for securing the property as well as cleaning it up?

209:08

The cost is for cleanup only; securing the property with signage and fencing is pending separately.

finance

What are the historical revenue projections versus actuals for the general fund?

13:02

Historical revenues show steady increases: $58.4M (2022), $66.3M (2023), $76.5M (2024), $77.6M (2025), projected $74.9M (2026), and $83.7M (2027). Key drivers include utility users tax ($15M), property tax ($7.3M), property in lieu of vehicle license fees ($16.5M), general fund sales tax ($10.2M), and Measure P sales tax ($19.3M).

When will sheriff's contract salary negotiations be completed?

16:09

Negotiations are ongoing with the sheriff's department. The increase for the upcoming year is $1.5M, but the following year's increase is expected to at least double as unions have been out of contract for two years and are currently at an impasse.

How will the city fund camera system maintenance after grant funds expire in two years?

83:08

Where is the approximately $3-4 million funding coming from for the Raymond Street Park project?

137:13

The project would be 100% grant funded with no financial commitment from the city, utilizing Prop 4 funds and other available grants that SLA Inc. would identify and apply for.

Which employee position classes are included in the salary schedule amendment?

174:30

Controller, Director of HR, Deputy Director of HR, Assistant City Manager, council liaisons, part-time park staff, HR specialists, Public Information Officer, and Public Information specialist.

Will union negotiations for salary be completed after this resolution?

176:33

Yes, all union salary negotiations are finished as of now, with the last union contracts expiring June 30, 2029.

Do salary amounts apply to the current fiscal year, upcoming fiscal year, or through 2029?

177:15

The salary amounts apply through 2029, with all union contracts expiring June 30, 2029.

Were part-time and unclassified positions included in union negotiations?

178:24

No, these positions are not represented by unions but typically mirror whatever salary increases unions receive as an informal practice.

Have all Cal Cards been canceled in the city?

189:22

The Cal Cards have not been canceled but have all been collected and secured in the city manager's office.

Why aren't we using Valley Vista dumping services instead of paying $67,000?

205:32

The response indicates Valley Vista contract issues with noticing; this is a companion item to a city council item from two weeks prior.

governance

What is AB 2561 and what are its requirements for local government?

3:45

AB 2561, signed in September 2024 and effective January 1, 2025, requires cities to hold annual public hearings on vacancy data, show recruitment and retention efforts, allow unions to present, and demonstrate public accountability before budget adoption due to widespread local government vacancies causing burnout and turnover.

What was Compton's vacancy rate in 2023 and what challenges did HR face?

5:20

In 2023, Compton had a 27.8% vacancy rate with outdated job specs from the 1970s, personnel rules from 1979, no formal training process, and expired MOAs. The city also had an incomplete classification plan.

What improvements has Compton made to its vacancy rate and hiring in 2024-2025?

6:00

Compton reduced its vacancy rate from 27.8% to 20.1%, made 136 successful hires with an 87.7% acceptance rate, implemented NeoGov, overhauled personnel rules, and increased budgeted positions from 399 to 413 while reducing vacancies from 111 to 83.

How many job applicants did Compton receive and what was the conditional offer acceptance rate?

8:00

Compton received 6,972 total applicants across 86 recruitment cycles, made 155 conditional offer letters, and had 136 candidates accept and pass background checks, resulting in an 87.7% acceptance rate.

What new MOA contract terms did Compton negotiate with its unions?

9:00

Compton negotiated new MOAs with 25% raises covering the next five years, which is unprecedented contract length with funding allocated for each year. All five bargaining units ratified the agreements in fiscal year 2025.

What concern does HR have about workforce attrition in the coming years?

9:40

HR is concerned about an anticipated retirement wave in the next three to five years among senior classifications due to the new contract with raises. The department plans to survey staff about retirement intentions.

What are Compton's HR goals for the next one to two years?

10:00

Compton aims to complete personnel rules revisions, refresh class specifications, establish hiring benchmarks by department, reduce vacancy rate below 20%, fully modernize HR infrastructure, create standing pipelines for high-turnover positions, and develop metrics to track progress.

Can the city have the official approved budget book available for purchase after budget approval in September?

83:08

Can the city establish a formal budget hearing schedule process starting in December instead of condensing it into two weeks?

83:08

Why is it feasible for the liaison to have a city credit card?

117:47

How many hours is the ethics training and is it mandatory for council and commissioners?

120:12

The training is two hours long and is mandatory for all council members and commissioners.

Who will notify the commissioners about the ethics training?

120:27

The City Clerk's office, typically Tamara Ben, will notify commissioners with assistance from staff.

Can the ethics training date be rescheduled if a council member is unavailable on June 27th?

120:48

Yes, the date was modified to offer two training sessions on June 20th and June 27th to accommodate scheduling conflicts.

Why is it important to complete ethics training before July 1st, 2026?

121:06

SB707 is implemented as of July 1st, and the training will comprehensively cover the new law including Brown Act training.

If Henry was absent from the personnel board meeting, how did he make the motion to approve exemption appointments?

129:13

Henry may have walked away from the dais during that time, which likely explains the discrepancy in the meeting minutes.

Was Ganther still on the commission at the time of the April 16, 2026 meeting?

130:30

The new commission members had only been present for about three meetings by early May, indicating Ganther's term had changed before the April meeting.

How did the city choose SLA Inc. without reviewing the concept or having work history with them?

133:40

The conceptual drawings and project ideas were included with the agenda item. Staff did not require prior work history to pursue new partnerships, as the MOU simply gives permission to explore the project further without financial commitment.

Shouldn't the Raymond Street Park project be put out for RFP so other organizations can present competing concepts?

134:56

Staff confirmed this is a reasonable approach, though emphasized the MOU is not a competitive process but rather approval to allow SLA Inc. to pursue identifying grant funding.

If the city approves the MOU, does it give SLA Inc. exclusive rights to that location?

136:00

The MOU gives SLA Inc. the exclusive right to apply for identified funds, but does not commit the city to work with them beyond that unless the city makes an additional commitment.

Who is making the recommendation for Mayor Pro Tem?

147:19

Based on the resolution and staff report, the Mayor Pro Tem position would rotate from District 2 to District 3 per ordinance, with District 3 holding the position for 25 days and then the remainder of the term, in line with established rotation procedures.

If we adopt a censure resolution, what does that entail and how is it enforced?

188:12

A censure resolution is a formal admonishment of conduct that revokes the council member's Cal Card rights and sends documents to law enforcement and the district attorney's office. The council member can still speak and attend meetings.

public safety

What is the purpose of the $2 million crime analysis program in Public Safety budget?

18:55

The $2 million crime analysis program will bring in staffing to monitor all cameras installed in the upcoming year and cover camera installation costs after the trial period.

Can the city schedule a meeting with AQMD to teach the community about fines and how to report air quality violations?

73:20

A meeting with AQMD has already been suggested to the community to allow them to speak with residents.

What are residents living closest to World Oil Refinery being exposed to on a daily basis?

78:53

Why does Compton pay more for sheriff services than other comparable jurisdictions?

83:08

Would the city conduct a feasibility study to determine costs of establishing a municipal police department?

83:08

community

Can the city provide written information and mailers to the community about how to report air quality incidents?

73:20

Who will be responsible for paying damages when high-speed vehicle accidents damage private residential property?

85:27

What actions will the city take regarding the abandoned dwelling at 2209 Rosecrans Ave where dogs are being kept without proper care?

88:48

What part of Raymond Street Park would be the equestrian side, and would it impact children's play areas?

139:04

The equestrian area would be approximately 30% of the park on the west side of Raymond Street with exclusive entrance/exit on Raymond Street and Canal Street, separated by fencing from the main family playground to prevent interaction.

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