🔗 Aug. 3 City Council Meeting Agenda
🔗 Aug. 3 City Council Meeting Agenda Packet

Before the regular meeting Aug. 3, Council held a Study Session on the Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB)—an invasive beetle that's been killing oak trees across Southern California. County Fire and the County Agricultural Commissioner will update Council on what it's doing to La Verne's tree canopy.

Story on this coming soon!

✅ Consent Calendar

All items on the Consent Calendar were approved 4-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita absent.

City Council Minutes from the July 20 meeting
Register of Audited Demands—$14,150,090.35 in City bills, covering payments dated June 3 through July 26.

Catch Basin Connector Pipe Screen Retrofit Project—a $115,947 construction contract to G2 Construction Inc. to retrofit catch basin screens, plus authorize up to 10% in change orders ($127,541 total possible cost) and a $30,000 inspection-services contract with RKA Consulting Group. The project is funded through Measure W.

Durward Way Bus Pad Improvement Project—A $168,380 contract to CT&T Concrete Paving Inc. to replace and expand the bus pad on Durward Way, add sidewalk and ADA accessibility upgrades, and install solar lighting. It's funded by Foothill Transit grant money and Proposition C Local Return funds.

Photography Permit: More Media, Inc.—A commercial shoot for a project titled "INO" will film at Bonita High School grounds and the La Verne Skate Park on Aug. 13, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. No stunts, no pyrotechnics, no street closures. More Media will pay $1,750 in permit fees and deposits.

Resolution Canceling the Aug. 17 City Council Meeting—The second August meeting was canceled due to lack of business items.
*Next City Council meeting is Sept. 14.

📢 Public Hearings

First Reading: Gilead Sciences Development Agreement Amendment

Gilead's development agreement for its La Verne manufacturing campus technically expired May 5, but the company filed for its one-time, five-year extension before that deadline. Council is asked to extend the agreement retroactively through May 5, 2031, and update the impact-fee language so fees on future development lock in at 2027 rates. No changes to what's approved to be built, no new land uses, no bigger buildings. The Planning Commission recommended approval on June 10.

Why it matters: This locks in the rules of the road for Gilead's campus for five more years—it doesn't change what gets built, just how long the current deal lasts and which year's impact fees apply.

First reading approved 4-0; ordinance introduced by title only and further readings waived. Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita was absent.

First Reading: Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Nonconforming Lots

A technical fix to City code. Right now, if you own two substandard ("nonconforming") lots next to each other, the City generally requires you to merge them into one. This amendment creates a limited exception to the lot merger requirement for nonconforming lots when merger would interfere with a qualifying affordable housing project, specifically affecting the First Street property associated with the Lutheran High School project.

First reading approved 4-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita absent.

Discussion Calendar

Citywide Street Sweeping: One-Year Agreement with CMA

The City's longtime street sweeping vendor, Athens Services, declined to renew its contract and wanted an 18% rate increase. Rather than pay that, staff lined up CMAX Commercial Maintenance, Inc. to step in at the current rate. Because it's an interim, one-year fix (not-to-exceed $173,000, including a $13,000 contingency), staff is asking Council to waive the City's usual formal-bidding requirement so service doesn't lapse while a full competitive process is run for a longer-term contract later this year.

Approved 4-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita absent. Formal bidding waived for one-year interim agreement.

2026 Christmas Morning Community Partnership Agreement

La Verne's Christmas Morning tradition is shifting from a City-run event to a community-led one. The newly formed Community Foundation of La Verne will serve as fiscal sponsor, with the Christmas Morning in La Verne Committee—led by longtime volunteer Scott Dilley—handling planning, fundraising, and day-of logistics. The City will still provide six lead vehicles with lights, sirens and radios, and help coordinate insurance. The event will keep its traditional six routes but run longer, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and bring back goodie-bag distribution—about 12,000 bags of peanuts, oranges and candy. The Committee has raised $3,400 so far. Council was asked to approve up to $16,000 in City seed funding toward the roughly $25,000 event budget.

➡️ Read more about this sweet tradition returning to Christmas morning in La Verne

Approved 4-0 with $13,000 seed funding to committee, city costs to be absorbed from remaining $3,000; city manager authorized to finalize agreement. Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita was absent.

What's next: The City manager was authorized to finalize the agreement with the Christmas Day celebration committee. The committee will continue fundraising toward its $25,000 budget. The council expects a report-back on costs under the Admin Reg 129 requirements.

Declaration of 20 MPH School Zone Speed Limit

State law (AB 382) will drop school zone speed limits from 25 to 20 mph everywhere by 2031, but cities can adopt it early. After consulting with the Bonita Unified superintendent, staff recommended La Verne do exactly that.

An inventory of all school zone speed limit signs was conducted, and through a hybrid approach with better material pricing, replacement of all signs is estimated at approximately $5,000 or less. The plan is to have signs installed before school starts on Aug. 17. The speed limit will be enforced when children are present.

Resolution adopted 4-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita absent.

What's next: Enforcement by the La Verne Police Department will begin as soon as all the new speed limit signs are properly installed, according to an email from Captain Travis Tibbetts. The statewide default 20 MPH school zone speed limit goes into effect Jan. 1, 2031 regardless of local action.

🔥 Hot Topic

Goldline Pedestrian Bridge—the price just went up, and nobody knows by how much yet.

This is the bridge that will carry pedestrians and cyclists over Arrow Highway and the Metrolink tracks, connecting the La Verne/Fairplex transit station to the Fairplex property. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) has been leading design and construction since a 2024 agreement, with $1.8 million in City funding already committed through the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District.

➡️ Learn more about the bridge

Amendment approved 4-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Meshal "Kash" Kashifalghita absent. Council reserves the right to revisit if bids exceed budget.

What's next: Bid results are due by Aug. 20. Council reserves the right to revisit the $28 million project if bids come in significantly over budget.

Upcoming Dates to Note

👥 Civic Meetings

10 a.m.–11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19
Senior Advisory Committee Meeting
La Verne Community Center, 3680 D St, La Verne

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19
Finance Commission Meeting
La Verne City Hall, 3660 D St., La Verne

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8
City Council Meeting
La Verne City Hall, 3660 D St., La Verne
How to attend: In person, via Zoom at LaVerneCA.gov/zoom, or by phone by calling 1-669-900-6833 and enter ID when prompted. *ID will be available in the meeting agenda.