GARDENA CITY COUNCIL

Regular Meeting Notice and Agenda

Council Chamber at City Hall

1700 West 162nd Street, Gardena, California

Website: www.cityofgardena.org

 

 

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Closed Session 7:00 p.m.

Open Session 7:30 p.m.

TASHA CERDA, Mayor

RODNEY G. TANAKA, Mayor Pro Tem

MARK E. HENDERSON, Council Member

PAULETTE C. FRANCIS, Council Member

JEFF FUKASAWA, Council Member

BECKY ROMERO, City Clerk

KALE MORITA, City Treasurer

CLINT OSORIO, City Manager

CARMEN VASQUEZ, City Attorney

LISA KRANITZ, Assistant City Attorney

IVY TSAI, Assistant City Attorney


If you would like to participate in this meeting, you can participate via the following options:

 

  1. VIEW THE MEETING live on SPECTRUM CHANNEL 22 or ONLINE at 

youtube.com/CityofGardena

  1. PARTICIPATE BEFORE THE MEETING by emailing the Assistant City Clerk at publiccomment@cityofgardena.org by 5:00p.m. on the day of the meeting. Written public comments will be provided to the City Council and will be made part of the record but will not be read aloud.
  2. PARTICIPATE DURING THE MEETING

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The City Council will hear from the public on any item on the agenda or any item of interest that is not on the agenda at the following times:

    • Agenda Items - At the time the City Council considers the item
    • Non-agenda Items - During Oral Communications
    • Public Hearings - At the time of the Public Hearings listed on the Agenda
    • Each speaker will be given three (3) minutes to speak unless otherwise decided by the Mayor

A. PARTICIPATE IN PERSON

    • If you wish to address the Council, please complete a “Speaker Request” form and present it to the City Clerk or Sergeant of Arms. You will be called to the podium by name when it is your turn to address the Council. The City Council cannot legally take action on any item not scheduled on the Agenda. Such items may be referred for administrative action or scheduled on a future Agenda. Members of the public wishing to address the City Council will be given three (3) minutes to speak.

B. PARTICIPATE REMOTELY VIA DIAL-IN CALL/PHONE:

    • Dial 1-669-900-9128
    • When prompted, enter the meeting ID 832 2624 2089, followed by #
    • Press # to skip when asked to enter participant ID number.
    • If you wish to speak live on a specific agenda item during the meeting:
      1. Press *9 to “Raise your Hand” when you are ready to speak on a specific agenda item
      2. When prompted to speak, press *6 to “Unmute”.
  1. DISRUPTIONS OF TELEPHONIC OR INTERNET SERVICE DURING A CITY COUNCIL MEETING:

To report disruptions to the City’s telephonic or Internet Service during a City Council meeting, email:

disruptions@cityofgardena.org

  1. The City of Gardena, in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend and/or participate in the City meeting due to disability, to please contact the City Clerk's Office by phone (310) 217-9565 or email cityclerk@cityofgardena.org at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled general meeting to ensure assistance is provided. Assistive listening devices are available.

 

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS

  • Treat everyone courteously;
  • Listen to others respectfully;
  • Exercise self-control;
  • Give open-minded consideration to all viewpoints;
  • Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate; and
  • Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive public process, and tools for forging sound decisions

 

Thank you for your attendance and cooperation.


1. ROLL CALL

2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION ROLL CALL

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION

4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Denker Avenue Elementary School Noah Garcia

5. INVOCATION

Calvary Life Pastor Jimmy Orrellana

8. APPOINTMENTS

Council Appointments to Commissions, Committees, Councils and Boards (Appointees to be Ratified and Sworn In)

9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR

10. CONSENT CALENDAR

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC- Roll Call Vote Required On The Consent Calendar All matters listed under the Consent Calendar will be enacted by one motion unless a Council Member requests Council discussion, in which case that item will be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately following this portion of the agenda.

11. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION ACTION SHEET

11.A.

September 1, 2026 - 6.A ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. PC 11-26 AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO APPROVE THE MODIFICATION TO AMEND SITE PLAN REVIEW #1-19, ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT #3-26, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #7-26 TO ALLOW FOR A 15% REDUCTION IN THE REQUIRED GUEST PARKING SPACES AND RECONFIGURE THE SHARED RESIDENTIAL AND GUEST PARKING WITHIN THE EXISTING 113-UNIT TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT AT 2129 ROSECRANS AVENUE PER SECTION 18.50.020.A OF THE GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THAT THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15332 (CLASS 32 – FOR AN INFILL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT)

On August 18, 2026, the Planning and Environmental Quality Commission reviewed a request to approve the 2nd Modification/Amendment to Site Plan Review #1-19 and Administrative Adjustment #3-26 and directed staff to prepare an approval resolution for consideration at the next Planning and Environmental Quality Commission meeting. Environmental Consideration: The project was considered for a categorical exemption from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15332 (Class 32 –infill development project). APPLICANT: Samantha Merchant LOCATION: 2129 W. Rosecrans Avenue (4061-028-049) Commission Action: The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission adopted Resolution No. PC 11-26, approving the 2nd Modification/Amendment to Site Plan Review #1-19 and Administrative Adjustment #3-26, by a vote of 5-0. City Council Action: Receive and file; OR Call for review (by way of two votes from the City Council)

11.B.

September 1, 2026 - 7.A CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #8-26; ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT #3-26; CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT #4-24; TO OPERATE A RELIGIOUS FACILITY AND TO ALLOW A 6% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED PARKING SPACES WITHIN AN EXISTING 15,456 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING LOCATED IN THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONE (C-3) AT 1045 REDONDO BEACH BOULEVARD

The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission heard public comments and continued the public hearing for a Conditional Use Permit to operate a new religious facility in Suites 100-140 within an existing 15,456 square-foot building space located in the General Commercial Zone (C-3) zone, and an administrative adjustment to the off-street parking requirements for the site for a 6% reduction in the number of required spaces (from 577 to 544 spaces) per Section 18.50.020.A of the Gardena Municipal Code. Environmental Consideration: The project is being considered for a categorical exemption from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 (Class 1- Existing Facilities). APPLICANT: Mario A. Hodge (Representative on behalf of City of Refuge) LOCATION: 1045 W. Redondo Beach Boulevard (6114-028-050) Commission Action: The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission continued Environmental Assessment #8-26, Administrative Adjustment #3-26, and Conditional Use Permit #4-24 to an unspecified future Planning and Environmental Quality Commission meeting date by a vote of 5-0. City Council Action: No City Council action required.

12. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (LIMITED TO A 30-MINUTES PERIOD)

Oral Communications by the public will be heard for one-half hour during the oral communication segment of the agenda. Any additional speakers will be allowed to speak at the end of the meeting after Council Remarks. Speakers are limited to three minutes, unless otherwise stated by the Mayor. The timer will be displayed on the screen. Your cooperation is appreciated.

14. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

15. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - ELECTED & CITY MANAGER'S OFFICES

16. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - POLICE

19. DEPARTMENTAL ITEMS - TRANSPORTATION

20. COUNCIL ITEMS

21. COUNCIL DIRECTIVES

22. CITY MANAGER REMARKS RE: DIRECTIVES / COUNCIL ITEMS

23. COUNCIL REMARKS

1. COUNCIL MEMBER FUKASAWA 2. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS 3. COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON 4. MAYOR CERDA 5. MAYOR PRO TEM TANAKA

24. ANNOUNCEMENT(S)

25. REMEMBERANCES

Doris Jean Austin, longtime Gardena resident. Wonder Deneece Watt, 65 years of age and former Part-Time, On-Demand Operator with the City of Gardena's Transportation Department. Alfonso Velasco, 81 years of age, real estate broker in the City of Gardena and longtime community member.

26. ADJOURNMENT

The Gardena City Council will adjourn to the Closed Session portion of the City Council Meeting at 7:00pm followed by the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:30pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

 

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda was posted in the City Hall lobby not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting. A copy of said Agenda is available on our website at www.CityofGardena.org.

 

       /s/ BECKY ROMERO         

BECKY ROMERO, City Clerk

Date Posted: September 4, 2026