By Brett Callwood
At the City Council meeting on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 25, former clerk Mina Semenza was appointed to the Rent Mediation Board.
Item 13A called for, “Acceptance of the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 40th Consecutive Year.” That was received and filed.
Community Development Item 14A called for, “Introduction Of Ordinance No. 1892, An Ordinance of the City of Gardena, California, Amending Portions of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code Relating to the Review Process and Standards for Mechanical/Robotic Parking Structures and Finding the Action Statutorily Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act Pursuant to the Common Sense Exemption of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).”
That passed unanimously (5-0), as did 14B: “Introduction Of Ordinance No. 1893, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gardena, California Amending Chapter 18.13 of the Gardena Municipal Code Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units and Making a Determination that the Ordinance is Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17.”
Item 14C also passed unanimously: “Consideration of a contract with spcaLA for Animal Sheltering and Services.” Staff recommended that the council, “Approve the contract between the City and spcaLA for a 12 month term beginning September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027.”
Police Item 16A called for, “Notification of Eligibility for Funding in the Amount of $131,000 Under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Award for the 2026-2027 Grant Cycle.”
Staff recommended that the council, “Accept the $131,000 Grant Award from the State of California, Office of Traffic Safety, for Expenditures to be Funded under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for 2026-2027 Grant Cycle.”
That passed unanimously, as did 16B: “Introduction Of Ordinance No. 1894, Adopting a Military Equipment Use Policy of the City of Gardena, California Governing the Use of Military Equipment Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481.”
Every year, according to state law, the police have to get their use of equipment deemed “military” reapproved by the council. This year, it passed without much debate yet again.
Public Works Item 17A called on the council to, “Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Funding Agreement Amendment with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA) in the Amount of $5,675,000 and Approve a Contract Change Order to the Professional Services Agreement with Cannon Corporation, in the Amount of $184,793 for the Redondo Beach Blvd Arterial Improvements, JN 945.”
That passed unanimously, as did 17B: “Award a Contract to F.M. Thomas for the City Hall HVAC Controller System Replacement in the amount of $78,362.00.”
Transportation Item 19A called on the council to, “Approve Contract with MOEV Inc. for Microgrid Management Software at a Cost of $235,000 and a Project Total of $258,500.”
That passed unanimously, as did 19B: “Approve Proposed Modification of GTrans Line 7X From All Sundays to Game Day Sundays Only.”
Finally, Council Item 20A called for, “Designation of Voting Delegate / Representative for the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo – September 23-25, 2026.”
Staff recommended Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka as the delegate, with Mayor Tasha Cerda as the alternate. That passed unanimously.
