By Brett Callwood
At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 27, Item 14A was a request for the, “City Council’s Approval of Employment Agreement promoting Deputy Police Chief Todd Fox, to Police Chief, effective June 6, 2025 through June 1, 2027.”
With Chief Mike Saffel retiring, Deputy Chief Fox is the City’s choice to step up. The staff note read, “With over two decades of distinguished service to the Gardena community, Deputy Chief Fox brings a wealth of operational experience, executive leadership, and an unwavering commitment to organizational excellence and public trust. As a trusted key executive leader, Deputy Chief Fox plays a role in managing the department’s budget, authors reports and contract recommendations for City Council consideration, as well as coordinates with Human Resources and third-party administrators on matters related to risk management, civil liability, and worker’s compensation. The proposed agreement is for two years, and the annual salary is $272,235. The City will save an estimated $220,000 over the term of this agreement.”
The promotion and compensation was approved, and Fox took the council’s congratulations.
Summary from Council Meeting
Finally, item 16A called on the council to, “Approve Grant of Easements to Southern California Edison to Provide Electricity for Electric Vehicle Chargers at Arthur Johnson Park, Rowley Park and Police Department’s Public Parking Lot on 162nd Street.” That passed unanimously.
Item 12A saw the council receive and file the proposed amended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026.
“This proposed amended budget is the second fiscal year of the originally adopted biennial budget in June 2024,” the staff note reads. “This proposed amended budget includes the General Fund, Enterprise Funds, Special Revenue Funds and all Other Fund Types. This proposed amended budget is being presented to the City Council, and it is available for public review and comment until the June 24, 2025 City Council meeting. It is available on the City’s website at www.cityofgardena.org/city-budget/ and a hard copy is available at the counter in the City Clerk’s Office.”
The amended budget shows General Fund Revenue Totals to be down 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, General Fund expenditures are down 1.8 percent. Therefore the trend is that there’s projected to be a $73,046 surplus in the general fund. The originally adopted budget had a surplus of $119,570, so that’s a reduction on the surplus of $46,524.
With the proposal received and filed, the budget will now return to the council in a month for the final vote.
Item 12B called for, “Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Regarding the Proposed Citywide User Fee Schedule and Proposed Facility Rental Fees.
The staff note read, “The City of Gardena is responsible for providing a variety of services to its residents. Services that support the general public, such as public safety are supported by tax and other non-fee revenues, while services that are more elective in nature and benefit specific individuals are typically supported by user fee charges. User fee related services are provided by many City departments, but tend to be more concentrated in the Community Development and Public Works departments. By law, user fees must not exceed the cost of the service provided. The City Council can choose to set fees that fully recover the cost of service or place said fees at lower recovery level and subsidize it, or alternatively, reduce costs by reducing the level of service provided.” That item passed unanimously.
Item 13A called on the council to add, “Chapter 9.72 (Vacant Registry Program) to Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to properties that are vacant, abandoned or in foreclosure proceedings.”
The staff note read, “Adoption of this ordinance does not qualify as a project per CEQA Guidelines section 15378 and is not subject to CEQA because there is no potential for any physical change in the environment. Even if CEQA were applicable, the adoption of this Ordinance would be exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) commonsense exemption as there is no possibility of any significant effect on the environment.”
After some questions from Council Members Wanda Love and Paulette Francis about whether the ordinance is necessary, given the small number of homes in question (approximately five), the item passed 3-2, with Love and Francis the two no votes.
Item 13B called on the council to amend, “the Gardena Municipal Code Chapter 18.13 relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.”
The staff note read, “On May 6, 2025, Ordinance No. 1883 was presented to the Planning Commission for consideration of a recommendation to the City Council, addressing amendments to the Zoning Code to align with state legislation, AB 2533 and SB 1211, and making an environmental assessment in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), During this meeting, the Commission adopted Resolution No. PC 7-25 (Attachment A), recommending that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1883 and determined that adoption of the ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.17, which provides that CEQA does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance to implement ADU law.” That item passed unanimously.
Item 13C was another state-mandated public hearing, calling on the council to amend, “the Gardena Municipal Code Chapters 18.04 (E Definitions), 18.12 (Single-Family Residential Zone (R-1)), 18.57 (Low Barrier Navigation Centers), and 18.76 (Supportive Housing for Homeless as a Use by Right) of Title 18 (Zoning Code), and Chapter 17.08 (Procedures and Standards of Title 17 (Subdivisions) to implement State Laws relating to housing.” That too passed.
