Ollie Cantos

The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance following an invocation by Pastor Samuel Martinez. The agenda featured presentations and discussions related to community engagement, specifically recognizing the America 250 initiative and West Covina's role in celebrating 250 years of American resilience. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to presenting the Marinelli Brothers Circus, which is performing in West Covina through March 9, 2026. Furthermore, the event recognized students who participated in the annual Student Government Day, partnering with the West Covina Kiwani Club to familiarize them with local government operations, including a mock city council meeting. Certificates of recognition were presented to participating students from various high schools.

The session commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. A significant portion of the meeting involved reporting out from closed session regarding litigation against a council member related to a California Public Records Act request and document preservation obligations, resulting in a motion to file suit. The main agenda included presentations recognizing the retirement of Lieutenant Mike Weatherman after 28 years of service, highlighting his extensive career across various roles including motor officer, canine handler, and training sergeant. The council members offered commendations regarding his leadership and legacy. Additionally, recognition was given to a student from San Jose Charter Academy for leading the pledge of allegiance, and a presentation was made by UEI regarding supporting students in reaching their future goals.

The Traffic Committee meeting addressed several traffic-related matters. The first item involved a curb marking review regarding a request for an ADA parking space near 1541 West Harbor Street; the committee recommended against installation due to available on-site accessible parking, resulting in a $0 fiscal impact. The second item concerned a school circulation review for Cameron Elementary School's updated drop-off and pick-up route along Mobc Street, which resulted in a recommendation for new school zone signage, a right turn only sign, and approximately 65 feet of red curb, with an estimated fiscal impact of $7,000. The third item reviewed a request to remove the U-turn restriction at the intersection of North Lark Ellen Avenue and West Bedo Street for eastbound traffic to facilitate access to the North Lark Ellen Village Apartments; based on traffic simulations showing encroachments for larger vehicles and collision data involving left turns, the committee recommended not removing the restriction.

The meeting addressed the approval of minutes from the October 22nd regular meeting. The agenda included oral communications, followed by the consent calendar, which involved approving an extension of time for Conditional Use Permit number 11-13 for Grace Chinese Alliance Church. The public hearing segment focused on Conditional Use Permit 13-12 and Administrative Use Permit 13-46 for Pauline Paulina Chu, concerning a large addition to an existing residence, which required review due to exceeding maximum allowable unit size and the proposed balcony size. The Commission ultimately approved both permits with specified conditions to mitigate privacy impacts. The study session covered Code Amendment 13-05 regarding donation drop boxes, proposing to prohibit unmanned boxes and allow manned ones with an Administrative Use Permit. Commissioners discussed the appropriateness of unmanned boxes and staff confirmed that enforcement actions had been taken on unapproved existing boxes.

The meeting included several presentations and reports. Key discussions involved recognizing Jacob Vanido, a two-time national USA Boxing Champion, and honoring Dave Wick as the Citizen of the Year for his decades of service to the youth, seniors, and military in West Covina. Recognition was also given to Emily De La Torre for organizing the 2024 Film It West Covina Film Festival, which was noted as being entirely student-run this year. The City Manager's report highlighted the recent acquisition of two new fire engines costing $1.8 million, bringing the total spent on new fire equipment to over $5.2 million for the year, and the launch of the West Covina Chamber, which has received strong support. Updates were provided on upcoming events, including the Second Annual Mega West Covina Moon Festival and ongoing heatwave preparedness efforts, which include advising residents to use designated cooling centers. A council member inquired about the disposal plan for older fire department equipment, which the City Manager stated is currently being held in reserve.