By Brett Callwood
At the City Council meeting on the evening of Tuesday, July 8, item 7A called for the selection of a new Mayor Pro Tem, replacing outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka.
The staff note read, “Mayor Pro Tem appointments are rotated annually. A list of the names of City of Gardena Councilmembers who have served in the position of Mayor Pro Tem from April 1956 to July 2025 is provided. The Councilmember selected to serve will be seated, as Mayor Pro Tem, at the August 12, 2025, City Council Meeting.”
This will be Henderson’s fourth spell as Mayor Pro Tem, having previously held the position 2016-17, 2020-21 and, most recently, 2023-24, immediately prior to Tanaka.
Councilmember Paulette Francis raised concerns about a councilmember returning to the position of Mayor Pro Tem so quickly, and she was informed that there are no rules prohibiting it.
The vote went 4-1, with Councilmember Wanda Love the one no vote.
Later, Transportation item 18A called on the council to, “Approve a Five-Year Digital Radio System Maintenance Agreement and Software Subscription with COMMline, Inc. at a Cost of $105,697.92 and a Project Total of $116,267.71.”
The staff note read, “In 2020 GTrans purchased a new digital radio system from the Gardena-based COMMLine, Inc., which included radio handsets, vehicle radios, radio recording equipment, and base modules. COMMLine also installed, configured, and provided annual maintenance services under the original contract. GTrans’ current software maintenance and subscription contract with COMMLine is expiring, and GTrans wishes to enter into a new five-year maintenance and software agreement with this company, as they are the most familiar with the GTrans system as well as the INSB network. COMMLine provides the infrastructure and support to the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority (SBRPCA), also referred to as the Regional Communications Center (RCC), providing police, fire, and 911 dispatch for the South Bay region, under which GTrans’ radio system operates.”
The service will cost $19,128.72 in year one, $20,085.12 in year two, $21,089.28 in year three, $22,143.84 in year four, and $23,250.96 in year five.
That item passed unanimously.