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Sep 1, 2026

city council

The Compton City Council approved a $322,105 citywide parking rate study after debate over why a higher-priced vendor was selected over a lower bid, with staff explaining the lowest bidder's six-month timeline was deemed impractical for a comprehensive 18-24 month study. The council tabled a resolution to terminate preferential parking in Richland Farms for two weeks despite a petition with over 50% of residents' signatures that had sat unprocessed in the city clerk's office since March. A $4.77 million road repair contract (Phase 10) with All American Asphalt was approved covering streets across all districts. In closed session, the council authorized a $95,500 settlement in the Guzman v. City of Compton lawsuit and approved initiating litigation in one additional matter. New City Controller Lawrence Chu was introduced, and multiple residents voiced concerns about repeated business break-ins, city cleanliness, sewer maintenance failures, graffiti, and inconsistent code enforcement.

Aug 4, 2026

city council

The Compton City Council rejected a proposed warehouse and industrial business license tax of up to $1 per square foot that would have appeared on the November 2026 ballot and was estimated to generate $10 million annually. The motion to adopt the ordinance (Item 9) died for lack of a second, and all three related resolutions (Item 8) also failed, with council members citing concerns about business retention, lack of outreach to affected businesses, no sunset clause, and comparisons to Measure P. The council also voted to extend the Charter Review Committee through December 31, 2027 — one year shorter than the requested 2028 deadline — to allow more time for public input on potential charter revisions. Three council members were approved to attend the [League of California Cities](https://www.calcities.org) conference in September.

Jul 28, 2026

city council

The Compton City Council held a public workshop on air quality concerns from the World Oil Recycling facility, where [AQMD](https://www.aqmd.gov) confirmed 8 violations and over 130 odor complaints in 2026 alone, with residents and children reporting nosebleeds, headaches, and nausea. World Oil did not attend in person, drawing sharp criticism from residents and commissioners. The council also received a presentation on a 90-day drone first responder pilot program launching August 19 at Compton Station, approved a $30,810 pipeline franchise fee review, authorized a state financing application for a [PFAS](https://www.epa.gov/pfas) water treatment plant, and approved purchasing a $127,000 remote-controlled mulching machine for city maintenance. A contentious discussion over Richland Farms permit parking enforcement ended without formal action, with the city manager directed to present a consultant selection for a citywide parking study in September.

Jul 21, 2026

city council

The Compton City Council again delayed a decision on awarding $870,000 in [HUD](https://www.hud.gov)/ARPA funds to the Empowering Reach Foundation, a nonprofit that only incorporated in 2024, after multiple council members raised concerns about the organization's legitimacy, lack of local presence, and questioned why established Compton-based organizations were not chosen instead. The council directed staff to return next week with a recommendation that could split the funds among multiple organizations from the original RFP respondent list. In other action, the council unanimously approved $524,177 for Johnson Controls to replace a failing cooling tower at City Hall, with a temporary system to provide relief within days, and council members personally donated money to cover costs for the repass of July 4th shooting victim Eric Washington. A proposed $3,810 pipeline franchise review was tabled after a council member requested the consultant attend to answer questions. Public commenters raised concerns about World Oil environmental impacts, sheriff's department transparency and staffing, and the need for youth gang intervention over homeless spending.

Jul 14, 2026

city council

The Compton City Council's July 14, 2026 meeting saw an $870,440 contract for homeless supportive services (using federal HOME ARP funds) die for lack of a second, prompting Councilwoman Darden to warn that failing to use [HUD](https://www.hud.gov) funds could jeopardize future federal allocations and request the item be brought back. Multiple residents raised concerns about an undisclosed survey sent from the city manager's office that asked residents about a warehouse tax and their opinions of specific elected officials, demanding to know how the vendor was selected, how it was funded, and why council was not informed. Special counsel presented on all-mail ballot election law, clarifying that while Compton's charter authorizes mail ballots, consolidation with county and state elections requires voting centers to remain open — though residents continued to allege widespread election fraud. The council also declared key city properties surplus land to advance commercial development, scheduled a September 15 public hearing for the Compton 2045 General Plan, and approved a three-year medical director contract for the fire department.

Jul 14, 2026

city council closed session

The Compton City Council held a special closed session on July 14, 2026, convening at 12:36 PM. No members of the public signed up to comment on the closed session items. The council voted to convene into closed session at 12:37 PM to discuss a public employment matter regarding the City Controller position, pursuant to [Government Code Section 54957](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=54957.)(b)(1). The council planned to report out on the closed session when reconvening at 4:00 PM, with a subsequent meeting scheduled for later that day.

Jul 7, 2026

city council

The July 7, 2026 Compton City Council meeting was dominated by devastating public testimony from the family of Mia Bordenave Jenkins, a 19-year-old UNLV student killed in a July 4th mass shooting at the Wilmington Arms apartments, whose body was left uncovered on the ground for approximately 12 hours while officers and bystanders stepped over it. Councilwoman Duhart formally requested an Internal Affairs investigation into deputies' conduct, and the mayor directed staff to develop a community safety and violence prevention action plan. In closed session, the council accepted City Manager Willie Hopkins' resignation and appointed Acting City Manager Grooms as interim city manager at $334,070 annually (3-1 votes). The council certified the June 2026 election results 3-1 despite public objections, approved $137,170 to complete the long-overdue General Plan 2045 update, and postponed a ballot measure to permanently ban fireworks after learning no enforcement task force had been deployed on July 4th.

Jun 16, 2026

city council

The Compton City Council held a public hearing on the proposed $287.2 million FY 2026-27 budget, which includes $48.3 million toward unfunded pension liability, $65 million for infrastructure including 52 street repairs, and $72 million for public safety. Council members requested a cost analysis on bringing animal control services in-house, an audit of sheriff deputy patrol staffing, and a [CalPERS](https://www.calpers.ca.gov) presentation on pension paydown options by September. The council also approved $645,000 in litigation settlements, a $249,000 Taser upgrade for the Public Safety department, and water utility purchase orders, while Councilman Spicer alleged a potential 'gift of public funds' involving colleagues' plan to let an organization owing the city $200,000 use a city facility rent-free. Budget adoption is expected next week.

Jun 15, 2026

charter committee

The Compton Charter Review Committee met on June 15, 2026, to discuss previously tabled charter sections and develop proposed amendments. The most significant debate centered on Section 504, where commissioners recommended increasing council and mayoral compensation from $600 to $3,000 per month while eliminating car allowances, cell phone stipends, and lifetime medical/dental benefits, with disagreements over whether changes should take effect immediately or be phased in with future elections. Commissioners also debated extending the 30-day residency requirement for candidates to 60 days or one year, discussed what population data source should trigger redistricting at the 100,000-resident threshold, and recommended changing redistricting criteria from 'registered voters' to 'residents.' The committee only completed Sections 500-505, falling short of its goal to cover Sections 100-700, prompting acknowledgment that additional special meetings on June 22 and 24 will be needed. Public commenters criticized the committee's rushed timeline and lack of community workshops, arguing the charter review process needs broader public engagement.

Jun 3, 2026

city council

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.

Jun 1, 2026

charter committee

The Charter Review Committee completed its initial review of Compton's city charter sections 1200 through 1700, voting unanimously to table the vast majority of sections for future discussion and potential revision, while keeping only a handful as-is. The committee confirmed additional special meeting dates on June 15, 22, 24, and 29 to begin substantive discussions on tabled items, and announced that the city council has agreed to extend the committee's deadline through late July. Commissioner Gideon formally requested that the committee's term be extended beyond its current less-than-one-year lifespan, arguing the short timeline has historically prevented meaningful charter reform. A member of the public raised concerns that meetings are not being prominently live-streamed or posted on the city's social media, and staff committed to improving visibility. A mandatory citywide ethics and [Brown Act](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=54950.) training for all commissioners and council members was announced for June 27.

May 19, 2026

city council

Attorney David Fleischman presented findings from an investigation into the city's credit card program, concluding that four council members' usage was consistent with policy while Council Member Spicer's usage included charges outside the policy and purchases lacking backup documentation. Mayor Sharif moved to refer the matter to the police department and District Attorney's office, but the vote (3 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain) failed to reach the two-thirds threshold required for a same-night agenda addition; the item will be agendized for next week. The council held public hearings on the $4.2 million Landscape and Lighting Assessment and the $925,575 Sewer Service Charge Assessment for FY 2026-2027, with no rate increases in either. The council unanimously approved a $4.79 million cost-sharing agreement with LA County for the Compton Boulevard resurfacing project, and Compton College President Dr. Keith Curry reported the new fire academy is on track to open in fall 2026.

Apr 27, 2026

city council closed session

The Compton City Council held a closed session to discuss the evaluation and potential dismissal of the City Manager. The council reaffirmed a prior 3-2 vote from April 7 to place the City Manager on paid administrative leave, with Council Members Spicer and Duhart dissenting. The council also voted to appoint Jerry Grooms, a retired annuitant, as acting City Manager during the leave period, with a contract to be brought back for ratification. During public comment, multiple residents raised concerns about transparency, alleged [Brown Act](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=54950.) violations, a disputed $300,000 check related to [Republic Services](https://www.republicservices.com), and demanded the removal of appointed Council Member Spicer. Council Member Duhart stated on the record that she disagreed with the actions, citing a state audit that highlighted instability in the City Manager position.

Apr 16, 2026

personnel board

The Compton Personnel Board unanimously approved eligible lists for seven city positions, including 13 firefighter vacancies focused on paramedic-certified candidates narrowed from nearly 200 applicants. The board also approved three temporary appointments, abolished six outdated eligible lists, and granted temporary exemptions from classified service for three positions in the Water and General Services departments. HR Director Jones acknowledged an oversight in failing to bring an exempt appointment before the board previously and apologized for the lapse. Battalion Chief Jason Henderson was recognized for commanding the response to a major fire at a metal processing facility that drew national news coverage, and board members urged city leadership to prioritize inspections of high-risk industrial buildings.

Apr 7, 2026

city council

The council's two largest expenditure approvals were a combined $1,129,333 to Savi Construction, Inc. — structured as an $847,000 three-year citywide red curb painting contract plus a separate $282,333 first-year purchase order to the same vendor — approved 5-0 with Councilmember Bowers voting yes while stating 'reluctantly'; and a $801,642 two-year sole-source lease with Flock Safety, Inc. for 74 automatic license plate readers and 37 PTZ cameras, approved 5-0 despite opposition from at least four public speakers who cited privacy concerns, potential conflicts with California's SB 34 and SB 54, and the sole-source designation of the contract. The consent agenda — which included a $62,100 contract to Mariposa Eco Consulting for SB 1383 implementation, acceptance of a $32,208 LA Dodgers Foundation grant paired with a $24,000 contract to Harold Johnson (an amount that sits just below the $25,000 council approval threshold), and two sets of meeting minutes — passed 5-0 after item 7, a $5,662 Grainger purchase order for portable evaporative coolers at Wilson Park Gymnasium, was pulled for separate discussion and then approved 5-0. At the close of the meeting, following a reconvened closed session, council reported that the city manager was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Item 12, a discussion on facilities honoring Cesar Chavez, received no council direction and died; item 11, scheduling public hearings for the FY 2026-27 budget, was tabled to be returned with printed dates.

Mar 19, 2026

personnel board

The Compton Personnel Board unanimously approved six items at its March 19, 2026 meeting, with the most significant being the authorization of temporary firefighter appointments to address a severe staffing shortage in the fire department. Fire Chief Donald reported 10 current vacancies across captain, engineer, and firefighter ranks, with retired fire captains and firefighter paramedics being brought in temporarily while the department works to fill 20 positions. The board also approved eligible lists for city clerk technician, street maintenance supervisor, and associate civil engineer positions, abolished a building inspector eligible list due to unsuitable candidates, and extended the fire captain eligible list for six months. Compton College's upcoming fire academy, expected to launch in fall 2026, was noted as a future pipeline for local firefighter recruitment.

Mar 17, 2026

city council

The council's largest spending action was approving Road Repair Project Phase IX, which encompasses a $5.58 million contract with Hardy & Harper, Inc. for construction and six separate line items to Bowman Infrastructure Engineers Ltd. totaling approximately $1.22 million for construction management and inspection services; the council voted specifically on a Bowman contract amendment stated in the resolution as $204,116.70, passing 4-0-1 with one abstention unnamed in the record — Bowman also held a $257,977 construction management contract approved in October 2024 for the same project type, and that identical figure reappears among the current Bowman line items. The council also approved a $98,375 contract with [Selbert Perkins Design](https://selbertperkins.com/) for municipal branding and marketing consulting services, 5-0 after council discussion; the amount falls $1,625 below the $100,000 approval threshold. The full consent agenda — including a $250,000 recurring purchase order with Springbrook Holding Company LLC for utility billing software (a vendor the city has paid continuously since at least 2009, when comparable orders were under $52,000), $182,182 to the LA Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management JPA for water quality monitoring, and $63,112 to Advanced Compliance Engineering for fuel pump maintenance — passed 5-0 without discussion. More than fifteen residents addressed the council during public comment on non-spending matters including pothole damage claims, parking enforcement disputes, and code enforcement concerns; no members of the public spoke to any of the spending items on the agenda.