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Home My WebLink About01-27-2026 Council MinutesAPPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 10, 2026 MINUTES City of Orange Orange City Council January 27, 2026 The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in a Regular Meeting in the Council Chamber, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California. 5:00 PM CLOSED SESSION 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Slater called Closed Session to order at 5:02 p.m. 1.1 ROLL CALL Present: Bilodeau, Barrios, Dumitru, Gutierrez, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and Slater Absent: None 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS None 3. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 5:04 p.m. with all Members present to discuss the following: a.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL— EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) & (d)(1)— One case Name of Case: John Nelson, et al. v. City of Orange Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2025-01531627 b.CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6. City Negotiator: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager; Monica Espinoza, Human Resources Director; Cody Kleen, Assistant Human Resources Director Employee Organizations: Top Management, Orange Management Association, Orange Municipal Employees' Association, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW) Local 47 (Maintenance and Crafts and Water Division), Orange City Firefighters, Orange Fire Management Association, City of Orange Police Association, City of Orange Police Management Association 4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT None Page 1 of 6 Orange City Council Minutes January 27,2026 5. ADJOURNMENT Closed Session was adjourned at 6:05 p.m. 6:00 PM REGULAR SESSION 1. OPENING/CALL TO ORDER Mayor Slater called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. 1.1 INVOCATION Given by Pastor John Manzewitsch from Grace at the Circle. 1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Councilmember Kathy Tavoularis. 1.3 ROLL CALL Present: Bilodeau, Barrios, Dumitru, Gutierrez, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and Slater Absent: None 1.4 PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS Orange Police Department Presentation of Life Saving Medal to Corporal Greggory Cates. Orange High School Student Liaison Jacob Gonzalez provided Council with a brief update on school happenings. El Modena High School Student Liaison Dylan Platfoot provided Council with a brief update on school happenings. Orange Public Library Foundation Presentation to the Orange Public Library. Proclamation honoring City of Orange Fire Chief Sean deMetropolis for more than 30 years of dedicated service. 1.5 REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS None 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public Speakers: Greg Arrowsmith spoke about fraud in California. Reggie Mundekis thanked City staff for recent street repairs and commented on the need for increased revenue to maintain a standard of living in the City. Michael Ristig referenced an article regarding federal immigration issues. Mary Oberschlake spoke about federal immigration issues. Kimberly O'Neill spoke about the need for accountability related to recent fatal incidents in Minnesota. Page 2 of 6 Orange City Council Minutes January 27,2026 Mel Vernon spoke about violence surrounding federal immigration issues. Grace Hills spoke about pedestrian safety issues in the Plaza and at the traffic light on Almond and Maple. Written Public Comments Janice Brownfield emailed about the importance of Santiago Creek and surrounding trails. Leslie Manderscheid submitted an eComment about including fiscal impact information on the agenda. 3. CONSENT CALENDAR All items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and are enacted by one motion approving the recommended action listed on the Agenda. Any member of the City Council, staff, or the public may request an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion or separate action. Unless otherwise specified in the request to remove an item from the Consent Calendar, all items removed shall be considered immediately following action on the remaining items on the Consent Calendar. 3.1. Waive reading in full of all ordinances on the Agenda. ACTION: Approved. 3.2. Agreement with Hinderliter, DeLlamas & Associates for Tax Administration Services. ACTION: Approved the agreement with Hinderliter, De Llamas & Associates for the Business License Administration and Discovery & Compliance, Transient Occupancy Tax Administration and Audit, and Short-Term Rental Administration Services; and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City. 3.3. Appropriation of $5,000 in designated donation funding received from the Orange Public Library Foundation. ACTION: 1) Accepted into the City's General Fund (100) revenue budget $5,000 in donation funds from the Orange Public Library Foundation to: 100-2101-48101-262102-48 Donations 2) Authorized the appropriation of$5,000 to General Fund (100): 100-2101-53101-262106-20 Operating Materials & Supplies Literacy Program 3.4. Appropriation of $10,000 in designated donation funding received from Carnegie Corporation of New York. ACTION: 1) Accepted into the City's General Fund (100) revenue budget $10,000 in donation funds from Carnegie Corporation of New York to: 100-2101-48101-262103-48 Donations 2)Authorized the appropriation of$10,000 to General Fund (100): 100-2101-80101-262103-20 Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment 3.5. Second Reading and adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Orange amending various sections of Orange Municipal Code Chapter 3.08. Ordinance No. 20-25. ACTION: Adopted Ordinance No. 20-25. Page 3 of 6 Orange City Council Minutes January 27,2026 3.6. Second Reading and adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Orange adding Chapter 9.45 of the Orange Municipal Code prohibiting the sale and distribution of kratom products. Ordinance No. 01-26. A speaker card was submitted for Item 3.6; therefore, the item was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration. Public Speakers: Abdullah Mamon spoke in opposition of adoption and recommended further review before approval. Christina Bramson spoke in opposition of adoption. Written Public Comments The following submitted eComments opposing adoption of the ordinance as currently written: Mariana Otero, Paul Todisco, Jordan Richard, Bunny Baker, Christopher Deaney, Anthony Rosa, Lora Romney, Michelle Eagan-White, Jeff Michaels, Justin Wolf, David Woolf, Marcelle, Stephen McIntosh, Jennifer Gillis, and Misty Brown. The following submitted eComments in support of adopting the ordinance: DeNae Jones, Dan Gibbs, Susan Cave, Susan Eppard, Holly Trouville, Tia, and Wendy Chamberlain. During discussion, staff confirmed there currently are no regulations in California for any form of kratom. ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Gyllenhammer, seconded by Councilmember Tavoularis, to adopt Ordinance No. 01-26. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Bilodeau, Barrios, Dumitru, Gutierrez, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and Slater Noes: None Absent: None 3.7. City Traffic Commission Activity Report for 2025. ACTION: Received and filed. 3.8. Adoption of a finding of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act for a grant application package submitted by the Orange County Water District for the City of Orange Well 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Treatment Plant Project. Resolution No. 11655. ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 11655. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange adopting the exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for Well 29 PFOA and PFOS Treatment Plants Construction and Operation. Approval of the Consent Calendar Item 3.6 was removed from the Consent Calendar and heard separately. All other items were approved as recommended. A motion was made by Councilmember Tavoularis, seconded by Councilmember Gyllenhammer, to approve the Consent Calendar as recommended. The motion carried by the following vote: Page 4 of 6 Orange City Council Minutes January 27,2026 Ayes: Bilodeau, Barrios, Dumitru, Gutierrez, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and Slater Noes: None Absent: None END OF CONSENT CALENDAR 4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR SLATER None 5. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Gutierrez spoke about recent incidents involving federal immigration agencies, and thanked Orange Police Department for allowing residents to protest peacefully. She requested the Council adjourn the meeting in memory of Alex Pretti. 6. AB 1234 REPORTS None 7. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER 7.1. Open Finance Transparency Platform Presentation City Manager Hildenbrand introduced the item. Finance Director Trang Nguyen provided a brief presentation showcasing the new finance transparency platform that will be live on the City's website in a few weeks. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 8.1. Discussion of potential traffic modifications and safety enhancements to the Orange Plaza. Larry Tay provided a staff report utilizing a PowerPoint presentation. Public Speaker: Reggie Mundekis spoke in support of adding bollards and any other physical barriers. Council discussed adding enhanced bollards and modifying the lighting in the Plaza to protect innocent life. They discussed phasing in other safety measures in the future such as splitter islands and raised crosswalks if funding becomes available. A motion was made by Councilmember Barrios, seconded by Councilmember Gyllenhammer, to move forward with lighting adjustments and addition of bollards as recommended by staff. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Bilodeau, Barrios, Dumitru, Gutierrez, Gyllenhammer, and Slater Noes: Tavoularis Absent: None Page 5 of 6 Orange City Council Minutes January 27,2026 9. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:27 p.m. in Memory of Alex Pretti of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, with Closed Session beginning at 5:00 p.m., if necessary. PAMELA COLEMAN DANIEL R. SLATER CITY CLERK MAYOR Page 6 of 6