Tuesday, September 9, 2025

The council's largest spending approval was an open purchase order not to exceed $75,000 to Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation for investigative and legal services, passed 5-0; the city manager stated the firm had already performed services without a contract due to 'logistical errors' and was unable to provide the outstanding prior-year invoice amount when asked — the firm appeared across three separate line items totaling $75,780, a split-payment pattern flagged in the structured agenda. A $70,670 agreement with UCLA Center for Prehospital Care for fire department nurse educator services, split across two line items ($70,560 and $110), was approved 5-0. A General Fund budget amendment passed 4-1 (Darden the sole no vote), allocating three amounts including $96,324 — flagged as sitting just below the $100,000 council approval threshold — along with $85,501 and $4,953; Darden objected to resolution sections placing city attorney-related positions within the mayor and council's budget department. The City Treasurer's fourth quarter investment report, showing $10.74M in interest earnings on a $315.56M portfolio, was received and filed 5-0 and was not a spending approval. Approximately thirteen residents addressed the council during public comment, with several raising fire department paramedic staffing shortages; the fire chief, brought forward by the city manager, disputed the severity of the staffing situation described by Battalion Chief Hernandez.