Tuesday, June 24, 2025

The council approved the FY 2025-2026 budget totaling $262.32 million across all funds — including $89.71 million from the General Fund — 4-1 with Councilmember Darden dissenting, and authorized a right-of-way agreement for the Gateway Cities regional fiber optic network associated with a $103 million contract with the California Department of Technology and an incoming $46.1 million CPUC grant, approved 4-0 with Spicer absent. Angeles Contractor, Inc. — a repeat vendor appearing across three line items totaling approximately $1.97 million — received council chambers remodeling contracts under two separate agenda items (both 5-0); Alliant Insurance Services was authorized for a $4.5 million annual insurance portfolio renewal (5-0); and The Titan Group, also flagged as a repeat vendor in two line items on the same agenda totaling $335,716, received a $300,000-per-year Human Resources investigative services contract plus $35,716 for prior outstanding invoices (5-0). Further approvals included $199,790 to St. Nick's Christmas Lighting and Decor for holiday decorations (pulled for brief discussion then approved without changes, 5-0), $164,550 to Weaver and Tidwell LLP for ERP implementation project management (4-0, Spicer absent), $200,000 in CDBG funds for a senior Meals on Wheels program divided between Cuernavaca's Grill ($185,000) and Everytable ($15,000), a $202,456 subsequent-need payment to DUDIC for groundwater remediation (5-0), and $96,000 to Townsend Public Affairs — $4,000 below the $100,000 council approval threshold, passed through the consent agenda with no council discussion (5-0); the planned appointment of Councilman Spicer as Mayor Pro Tem was tabled after Councilmember Bowers requested legal advice before voting. Approximately nine members of the public spoke at the CDBG and HOME public hearing, raising concerns about the city's self-imposed matching funds requirement, a staff decision to redirect $15,000 originally recommended for Restoration Diversion into a council discretionary program, and whether CHIRLA should receive federal grant funding given public allegations of an ongoing federal investigation; the FY 2025-2026 Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan were approved with Spicer absent and Bowers' vote not recorded in the transcript.