City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

Look at this.

Yes, Mayor Quorum is present for the City Council, Successor Agency, Housing Authority, Parking Authority, and Joint Powers Authority. Mayor, your mic.

OK, before we start, I have a special commendation for Sylvia Fernandez, who is retiring after 25 years of service to the city of Inglewood. Whereas Sylvia L. Fernandez began her illustrious career with Citi on April 4, 2001, and whereas Sylvia L. Fernandez has served the city of Inglewood in several human resources leadership Okay, so we're going to start this over. We have a special commendation presented to Sylvia L. Fernandez, who began her luscious career with the City of Inglewood on April 24, 2001. And whereas Sylvia L. Fernandez has served the City of Inglewood in several human resources leadership and professional roles throughout her distinguished career, and whereas Sylvia's years of dedicated service coupled with her unwavering commitment to the city have not gone unnoticed and are deserving of recognition and commendation. And whereas Sylvia L. Fernandez has diligently performed her duties in a professional, courteous, and exemplary manner throughout her tenure, while contributing to enhancing the quality of life for all. And whereas although Sylvia's service with the city of Inglewood is coming to an end, it's not ended yet. And while her retirement marks the conclusion of an outstanding chapter, it also signifies the beginning of a new and exciting journey for an extraordinary woman. And whereas Sylvia L. Fernandez is to be honored not only for her years of dedicated service, but also for being an exceptional supervisor, mentor, and team player whose leadership has positively impacted countless colleagues and employees, Now, therefore, be it known that the mayor and council members, together with the City of Englewood family, hereby salute, commend, honor, and thank Sylvia L. Fernandez for her 25 years of exemplary service to the city. We extend our deepest gratitude for her dedication, professionalism, and contributions to the community and wish her continued success in all future endeavors. May she be blessed with good health, happiness, prosperity, and many rewarding years ahead. Presented this 30th day of June, 2026. They got the first down because that's really, I think, her last day.

Very nice.

Sylvia, this is your opportunity if you want to say a few words.

She was on her way out. She's like, I'm out of here.

Oh, that's so nice.

Come on up to the mic. Come on.

I was not prepared for this. I was not prepared. That's why I did it. But I do want to thank everybody who I worked for my 25 years. Many of you, we've been, you know, through the good times, but in good times. But I end up in a very good, I end up with the city on a very good note, and I'm very proud to be a city employee. We are proud to have worked this 25 years with everybody, with this distinguished members of the council, our mayor, all our executives, and everybody that works for the city. I'm excited. I'm leaving because I look forward to my future and my next phase in life. But I am sad to leave you guys. So that's where I'm going to miss the people. And I want to thank you. Thank you, Jose. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council Members. Thank you, City Manager. I really appreciate you all. Thank you. Thank you.

Congratulations.

All right. Felicidades, Sylvia. Felicidades.

That was very good impromptu, Sylvia. OK.

Thank you.

And so with that, we're going to go to public comments. Persons wishing to address City Council. successor agency housing authority park authority jp on items on the agenda other than the public hearing may do so at this time oh mayor um there were some public comments and they were passed out so all right go ahead mr brown

In most communities, it is traditional that the community gets to hear what those public comments were. But again, we're in Englewood. I guess one of the things that really frustrates me that I would not have thought of, that woman just gave you 25 years of her life. She should have had the opportunity to have had a picture with her family. but whatever. Okay, so I'm gonna go on down to several of these items that are just beyond frustrating to me. We have a watershed program coming up. I believe that water is terribly, terribly important. I can't tell you how disappointed I am that when you took into consideration how you were going to do the medians, you decided that suddenly water was only important near the park. because all of the rainwater now goes directly into the storm drains along our major streets, and that's very distressing. Oh, I'm not surprised. Is that any better? Do we have the microphone on? Okay. As we designed the improvements, in quotes, to all of our medians, we forgot to take into consideration the watershed. That should have been made so that rainwater could go into the ground. Instead, we are focusing on only one location. While that is the reason many came to this community to begin with, was the springs of Sentinella, I wish we had been better caretakers of that through the years. That is very frustrating to me. So as we move forward, I have another question or two, which is because I'm focusing on the parks today, how do we get to the point that we have to completely destroy and rebuild a facility rather than repair it along the way? That's kind of distressing to me. But since I'm there for the facilities, maybe we should take into consideration having a review of all the city facilities and all the city equipment. Because I know through the community, there are many pieces of equipment that I've been told are not functional at this time because they don't have the parts. Yes, that was linked to facilities. I know, mind boggling. So with that, I would hope that we are more mindful as we allow other institutions to come into this community. We consider how much of a drain they are on our water.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS MR. ACE, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF VINGAWOOD FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. I'VE ALSO SERVED AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AT CROWSER MIDDLE SCHOOL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, SO I'M HERE TODAY TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS.

LAST SUNDAY... SIR, SIR, WHICH ITEM ARE YOU SPEAKING ON?

I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, SIR.

OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT AT THE END BECAUSE IT'S NOT AGENDIZED.

ALL RIGHT, SO JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN I CAN SPEAK. THANK YOU, MAYOR BUTTS.

ABSOLUTELY. Okay, with that, we'll close public comment. Item 1, CSA 1 and H1.

Want registered?

Receive and file. Madam Clerk, what's the next scheduled matter?

Yes, Mayor, the next scheduled matter is a public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution adopting the city's 2025 Urban Water Management Plan.

Has the notice of the hearing been given in the time, form, and manners required by law, and do you have the affidavit on file?

Yes, Mayor. Notices have been given and the affidavit is on file.

Have any communications been received on the matter?

Yes, Mayor. Communications have been received and passed out to everyone on the dais.

Is there a staff report on the matter?

There is, Mr. Mayor. Senior Civil Engineer Adrian Lee will be providing the staff report.

Welcome, Mr. Lee. Thank you. Good afternoon, Mayor and members of the City Council. Adrian Lee, Senior Civil Engineer. The California Urban Water Management Planning Act of 1983 requires urban water suppliers servicing 3,000 or more connections or supplying more than 3,000 acre feet of water annually to submit an Urban Water Management Plan, or UWMP, and Water Shortage Contingency Plan, or WSCP, every five years by July 1st of the following plan year. These plans support Inglewood's long-term resource planning to ensure adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs. Adopting the UWMP and WSCP is required for the city to be eligible for state grants, loans, and assistance related to water projects. The requirements of the UWMP and WSCP are found in California Water Code and require urban water suppliers to, one, provide an assessment of the reliability of water resources over a 20-year planning time frame. Two, describe the demand management measures and water shortage contingency plans. Three, report progress towards meeting a targeted reduction in per-person water consumption. And four, discuss use and planned use of recycled water. deadline for adoption of the 2025 uwmp and wscp is july 1st 2026. both the uwmp and wscp must be submitted to dwr within 30 days of adoption after which they will be made available on the city website hard copies are also available to the public at the inglewood public works department on the third floor of city hall that concludes my report and i'll be happy to answer any questions thank you sir

With that, is there a motion?

I move 2, 3, and 4.

Second. Madam City Clerk.

Mayor, did you want to call for public comment before you take the motion?

Oh, you're right.

Yes, sir.

Is there any public comment on the item?

I just have a quick question. The City adopted new water rates recently, yet we're just now hearing about the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, which contains updated projections in future demand, supply, and development. Why weren't these updated planning documents available to residents before the rate increase?

Thank you. The urban water management plan is due in July 1. We had the rate increase quite a while back. And the planning document for preparing the urban water management plan wasn't available to the city until a couple months ago. So the rate increase happened before we started working on the urban water management plan.

All right. All right, with that, we'll close public comment. Is there a motion?

There's a motion on the floor, Mayor.

Madam City, is there a second?

Yes, there were, yes.

Madam City Clerk.

Council Members Gray. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Morales. Aye. Salk. Aye. Mayor Butts.

Aye. M1.

Approval of the minutes of the meetings held on January 15, 2026 as a special and May 19, 2026.

Move approval. Second. Second. Madam City Clerk.

Council members Gray.

Epstein.

Padilla. Aye. Morales. Aye. Fogg. Aye. Mayor Butts.

Aye. Consent calendar. Going to pull item three. Going to vote on items two through two, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

Ten eleven and twelve eleven and twelve so move second madam city clerk council members gray I put the eye around the fog. I'm here buds.

I Move item three second one on one second. I pulled it for discussion. I know you can discuss right and so I There's a first and a second. We received a complaint from an entity that this section should have been given all three options. And unfortunately, the certification from the county registrar's office did not come until after the book was printed. And so we're voting to TAKE THIS AS IS OR TO HOLD IT FOR ANOTHER MEETING. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL VOTE ON THE FIRST AND THE SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, GRAY.

WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON?

VOTING TO APPROVE THE ITEM. APPROVED. AS IS IT.

YES. PADILLA. AYE. MORALES.

AYE.

FOG. AYE. MAYOR BUTTS.

AYE. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO DR1.

Staff report recommending the mayor and council members adopt a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2025 through 2026 operating budget to add a program assistant housing protection, excuse me, assistant housing protection affordable housing position.

Move one and two. Second. Madam City Clerk.

Council members Gray, Padilla, Morales, Fogg, Mayor Butts.

Aye. A1. Thank you, Mayor, members of the City Council. The record to reflect that the City Council met in closed session to discuss items CS1 through CS4. With respect to all items, the City Council received a briefing from City staff and the attorneys. Feedback was provided, but there was no final action taken in closed session. Thank you.

A2.

Nothing to report, Mayor. Thank you. CM1.

Mr. Mayor, I'd just like to say good luck to Sylvia Fernandez. She was great to work with for the last 14 years that I've been here. And she's always been a great colleague and always responsive to everything that we needed from the Public Works Department. Thank you, Sylvia. CC1.

Thank you, Mayor. A few things. I also want to echo the sentiments of what our city manager said about Sylvia. She was definitely, or she is, a great person to work with, always thorough and very helpful. So again, she will be missed, and I'm looking forward to her exciting adventures away from the city. Also, I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Mr. Roberto Chavez, our HUD manager in this office. A young lady came to my office yesterday seeking some help. She didn't get any help, and so she came down to my office frustrated, and so when i went upstairs to get her some assistant roberto was right there to offer that assistance and i wanted to say thank you because it really really made her day she came back down with a smile on her face that was unbelievable so you are to be commended and thanked for your extended hospitality and your help with her thank you so much mr chavez also i wanted to make mention mayor that nomination period um will start july 13th through august 7th 8 a.m when the counts when the county opens and five o'clock p.m is when they close not city of inglewood but it's the county of registered recorder's office if you're interested please contact miss christine padilla in my office at 310-412-5280 to make an appointment and lastly the count the the city treasurer AND MYSELF, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING OUT AND CELEBRATING WITH OUR COUNCILWOMEN FOR THE MUSIC FEST ON THIS SATURDAY. WE WILL BE OUT THERE READY TO PUT OUR DANCING SHOES ON. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, COUNCILWOMEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. CSA 2. YES. EXCUSE ME, CT 1.

YES, SIR. MONTHLY TREASURY REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING MAY 31, 2026. RECEIVE AND FILE.

CSA 2.

Approval of the minutes of the meeting held on May 19, 2026. Move approval.

Second. Madam City Clerk, CSA 3.

Successor agency members, Gray. Aye. Padilla.

Aye.

Morales.

Aye. Fogg.

Aye. Chairman Butts.

Aye. CSA 3.

Monthly Treasurer's Report for the month ending May 31, 2026.

Steven Fowle. Accessory agencies adjourned. Housing authorities in session H2.

Approval of the minutes of the meeting held on May 19, 2026. So moved. Second.

Madam City Clerk.

Housing authority members Gray. Abstain. Padilla.

Aye.

Morales.

Aye.

Fogg. Aye. Chairman Butts.

Aye. H3.

Monthly treasury report for the month ending May 31, 2026.

Receive and file. The Housing Authority is adjourned. The Ingrid Parking Authority is in session. P1.

Approve of the minutes of the meeting held on May 19, 2026.

So moved. Second. Madam City Clerk.

Parking Authority members Gray. Aye. Padilla.

Aye. Morales. Aye. Fogg.

Aye. Chairman Butts.

Aye. The Parking Authority is adjourned. The JPA is in session. JPA 1.

Approval of the minutes of the meeting held on May 19th, 2026. Move approval. Second.

Madam City Clerk.

Joint Powers Authority Members Gray.

Epstein.

Padilla.

Aye.

Morales.

Aye.

Fogg. Aye. Chairman Butts.

Aye. JPA, too.

Monthly Treasurer's Report for the month ending May 31st, 2026.

Receiving file during the JPA no appointments to boards commissions and committees We're ready for public comment persons wishing to dress City Council on any matter Connected with city business not elsewhere considered on the agenda may do at this time may do so at this time for one minute

Mayor, but ever since Brian was killed in police custody, we stood in this room every Tuesday and every week you have looked through my family, talked over us, and dismissed us. Brian was never charged, never booked. You said he died in the back of the police vehicle, stamp pending, booking, like he was nothing more than paperwork you hadn't finished yet. Your own medical examiner documented altered rigor mortis. fluid in both lungs and bleeding behind both eyes. Yet this was an accident. Your department waited nine hours to notify the medical examiner. The law requires one hour. They also stated it was unknown what level of force was used by the officers due to them not being able to interview the officers. You claim you couldn't share the video with them because of poor quality. Still no names, no use of force details, and no accountability. This is not transparency. This is a cover-up, and we have documents to prove it.

Thank you ma'am.

To the council members and buts, to the chief of police, welcome back to our movement. After reviewing the report from the medical examiner, the timeline does not make sense. Why does it show that paramedics engine number 171 arrived at the scene at 2131 and medically cleared Brian to be transported? At 2145, he was transported to Englewood Police Station. What happened to him in that 14-minute delay when it only took five minutes to drive him to the station arriving at 2150 to then discover that he was unresponsive after being cleared? The names of the officers who still have not been released claim that they initiated chest compressions and then called Engine 171 again, where they supposedly tried to resuscitate him to no avail. This doesn't make sense. Release the tapes from the police station that showed him receiving chest compression from unnamed officers and engine 171. Where are the videotapes that were confiscated from surrounding businesses? We want answers and the evidence to support the truth of what happened. According to John Lewis, this is unchecked power. Look it up.

Thank you, ma'am.

This family has to once again come and stand in front of this dishonorable body because they stole the life of Brian Bostic. Englewood PD killed Brian Bostic and then you all are trying to cover it up in the same way that we have seen around the country time and time again and are simultaneously trying to assassinate the character of a person's loved one. Of someone's son, someone's brother, someone's cousin, someone's nephew. And you all set up their stone face and pretend like this doesn't matter. And then you wonder why a family disrupts your meeting. You disrupted their lives. That's why they are here. They would much rather be doing something else. Brian Bostick, say his name.

I'm a longtime citizen, a voter, resident of Englewood, and a proud resident during this time of our FIFA games. I would first of all say that Englewood, for me, because I don't have a car and haven't had one since I've been here, has been safe. for me to walk around as a senior citizen. Now, I'm not going to say there aren't seniors getting mugged and stuff stolen from them and things of that nature. But what I'm here today is to ask you to do something more than allow my family to come and visit me for a few hours and then fight for a parking space. So I would like to have you work out some kind of system where I can get a parking for myself as a non-driver without, I don't have a vehicle to register my car. So one of the requirements is to get a parking pass that I have to have a registered car. I don't drive. So I just would like to appeal to you around that nature, seniors that don't drive for parking space.

So what is it you were trying to get, ma'am?

A parking permit for myself, I live here, but I don't have a car, but I have relatives that come visit and they can't get a parking permit to come here to visit and see their grandma.

It's my understanding that you're entitled to one or two parking permits for visitors. All you have to do is give their license plate so that it gets entered into the system. Well, we're going to try and work that out for you now.

Yeah, I think you should think about that, hammer that out real good.

Well, ma'am, it does exist, but... But I want to see my family more than once a month. But we're not saying you can only see them once a month.

Your considerations now restrict me and my family of freedom of visitation, of freedom of parking. I don't have a car to register, so that's why I don't qualify.

I totally understand. If you would give your information to the sergeant, He'll have someone contact you, and we'll see what we can do.

I've been upstairs. Your department is very friendly, very organized, very proficient. That one little glitch does exist.

So if you give the sergeant your name, we'd be glad to. Yeah. All right. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you so much. Thank you, ma'am.

Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council. I had another question, but I wasn't able to ask it about the water thing, but I only have 55 seconds, so I'll just ask. Councilwoman Gray at a later time. The LA County Medical Examiner's Report now lists Brian Bostic's death manner as accident slash homicide. At a minimum, that means that the report does not rule out homicide, so it raises some serious questions. THE COMMUNITY HAS WAITED MONTHS AND MONTHS FOR TRANSPARENCY, YET THE CONFIDENCE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO DECLINE. WHEN THE PUBLIC TRUST IS DAMAGED, LEADERSHIP MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. I AM CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL OF OUR CHIEF OF POLICE AND BEGIN RESTORING CONFIDENCE in this council and in the police. The Brian Bostic family deserves this justice. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Yes, how are you guys doing today?

We come up here every Tuesday and we ask for justice. You guys pledge allegiance and you ask for justice. You say justice for all. And then Mayor Butts, you come here and you appeal right up on justice. That just sounds crazy to me. You got your hand across your heart. You pledge allegiance, justice for all, right? So why can't we get transparency? You told us wait for a toxology report. We waited and waited. Questions that we had didn't have anything to do with a toxology report. I can't, this is just craziness to me. I can't see how we ask simple questions like, what happened during the police stop? Why was the paramedics there? Why was they at both, why was the coroner at the scene and at the scene of the crime and up at the thing? You can't answer none of our questions. It doesn't make any sense. You are here to give us justice. What are you sitting up there for? What do we got you here for? Why are you here, Mayor? We want to know why are you here. If you can't help us, what the hell are we paying you for?

Thank you, ma'am. You guys, the snapping the fingers really is not, it's distracting. So please, I'm just asking you please, I'm just asking you please, you want to hear what people have to say? Go ahead, ma'am.

I'm an Englewood teacher and I want to return to something that happened at the last meeting. As a teacher, I would never spend 10 minutes reading rules of decorum to high school students before allowing them to speak. I treat them with respect and I expect them to rise to that expectation. The adults of Englewood deserve at least that same respect. What troubles me even more is the city's priorities. We've watched schools close when it was financially convenient, sending a message that education isn't the priority it should be. Yet when residents come here to demand accountability after the death of Brian Bostic, we're met with a lecture before we're given a voice. I believe tragedies like this don't happen in a vacuum. They happen in communities where systematic inequalities are left unaddressed and where too many people feel unheard. I know you saw us out there this past Sunday over where Brian was killed and trust we will be out there every Sunday. So we'll see you next Sunday.

Thank you, ma'am. Sorry.

I'm tall. We've all seen Donald Trump's racist policies as president, his attacks on immigrant black and Latino workers, his attempt to shield ICE and other law enforcement agencies, and his takeaway of civil rights. Some of us may not have expected to see similar actions in our own communities, the police stopping people for driving while black, Shielding police officers from answering questions about what level of force was used. And preventing people from speaking out against these repressive actions. Are we going to allow on the local level here in Inglewood the same kind of attacks that are happening on a national level? The family of Brian Bostic and supporters say no, we are not going back.

Thank you, sir.

My name is Philip Singer, a military veteran. My name is Philip Singer, a military veteran. On December the 10th, 2021, I suffered a grand mal seizure at U.S. Vets. The ambulance transport by McCormick & Smith has never been properly accounted for. I believe my hospital discharge paperwork was falsified. At my medical crisis, I was arrested and experienced a face bash, but I held it in police custody. As a disabled military veteran with neurological impairments, I believe I was denied reasonable accommodation. For nearly five years, I've repeatedly asked for answers. Watch Commander Carter Hurt, Scott Collins, Wilmer Fernandez, Nicole Lottemilk failed to properly investigate my reports. I still have not been told who the watch commander and the men working in holdings were on December 10th and December 11th in 2021. Last year, I also experienced being body bashed by your police officers inside police records after attending community councils. Multiple agencies are now being reviewed. Multiple agencies are now reviewing aspects of my complaints, including the Medical Board of California, which is investigating my complaint against the signature of Dr. Christopher Libby at the hospital on my discharge paperwork. A civil lawsuit is in the making, Mayor Butts. I'm just asking, sir, when will I get my answers? Who are the men working and holding on December 10th and 11th, sir, on 2021? Sir, I'm crippled for life.

Sir, you're at time. Sir. Sir.

Sir.

Sir. Sir, you're at time. Sir, give your name to the sergeant in arms so that we can look into your problem. Sir, I don't. And sir, please, now. Thank you.

So I'm here as a public school administrator fighting for the rights of our African-American students. I'm here today because I witnessed something that raised some serious concerns about fairness and equal treatment. At the corner of Crenshaw and Century, black student-aged boys were selling bottled water and were approached by police and code enforcement and told they had to leave. At the same time, other vendors nearby selling hot dogs and tacos appeared to continue operating without being asked to leave. What made this even more concerning was that the food vendors I observed were not wearing gloves, hairnets, not have access to running water. Those conditions appear to present a greater public health concern than young people selling sealed bottled water. I'm asking for anyone to be singled out. I'm asking for consistency. If the law is going to be enforced, it should be enforced fairly and equitably for everyone. When one group is removed while others remain, it creates an appearance of unequal enforcement and undermines the public trust. There were young people trying to earn money. They deserve to be treated with the same dignity, respect, and fairness as everyone else. I respectfully ask this council to review this incident, examine the enforcement practices that were followed, and ensure that laws are applied consistently, transparently, and without discrimination. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. I just returned from Senatobia, Mississippi, where a one-year-old child Cohen Wiley was shot by police. We know the name of the officer, Foster Hunter. It was a tragedy. The whole city is heartbroken. It's devastating to see a one-year-old casket Here I am in Inglewood asking for the same degree of transparency and accountability that the people of Senatobia, Mississippi are asking for. They want the names of the officers who killed Brian Bostic. They want all of the data released and they want transparency and accountability. That is something that is happening around the world. People are demanding transparency and accountability. and the people who sit in public office can make sure it happens that's your responsibility and just like the people in cenotopia mississippi and just like the people here in inglewood we are demanding full transfer transparency and full accountability for the family of brian bostick thank you sir ma'am you we're we can't do this all right

OK, we're going to have to adjourn the meeting. All right? We're adjourning.