City Council — April 6, 2026

Honorary Resolutions and Proclamations

• The council recognized Gina Troncalli-Adams as the 2026 Community Volunteer of the Year for her extensive service.
• April 2026 was officially declared Fair Housing Month and Earthquake Preparedness Month through formal proclamations.
• Gamaliel "Gama" Duran was honored as the April Employee of the Month for his emergency response and work history.

Committee Appointments and Selections

• Seven nominees were unanimously approved for appointment to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee.
• Council Member Ayala and Mayor Pro Tem Litzter were selected to interview applicants for the ADA Paratransit Advisory Committee.

Youth Employment Services Report

• The YES Board presented an annual report highlighting workshops on entrepreneurship and the 38th annual Job & Career Fair.
• Staff noted that the board measures program engagement through exit surveys rather than specific job placement statistics.

Flock License Plate Recognition System

• Officials clarified that the system captures still photos only and has federal data sharing disabled with specific filters enabled.
• The presentation detailed the deployment of 32 cameras and confirmed that weekly internal and external audits are conducted.
• Council members questioned audit definitions and data access protocols for out-of-state agencies during the discussion.

Public Statements and Community Feedback

• Residents raised concerns regarding Flock camera data privacy and requested a formal agenda item on movable tiny homes as ADUs.
• Speakers debated short-term rental regulations, with proponents citing economic benefits and opponents citing neighborhood stability.
• Community members discussed immigration enforcement near schools and requested support for local events and veteran outreach.

Pay Schedules and Labor Agreements

• A resolution approving updated citywide pay schedules effective January 12, 2026, was approved via the consent calendar.
• The council voted to consider a proposed three-year MOU with the Simi Valley Engineers Association for final adoption on April 20, 2026.

Closed Session

• No closed session report was provided in the meeting summary.

Meeting Call to Order and Administrative Matters

• The meeting was called to order with a Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call confirming the presence of all council members. Mr. Fowler announced that Item 1D2, an honorary resolution for the 2026 City Volunteer of the Year, was postponed due to the honoree's absence. A motion was made and seconded to read all resolutions and ordinances by title only and waive further reading; the motion passed unanimously. No conflicts of interest were declared. Mr. Fowler also informed the council of technical difficulties with the voting system and microphones, resulting in a decision to conduct voice votes for all action items to ensure transparency.

Item 1D1: Honorary Resolution for 2026 Community Volunteer of the Year

• The City Council presented an honorary resolution to Gina Troncalli-Adams, recognizing her as the 2026 Community Volunteer of the Year. The resolution highlighted her service with the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, the Day of Peace Planning Committee, and the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Foundation Board. Ms. Troncalli-Adams accepted the award and addressed the council regarding the importance of volunteerism.

Item 1D3: Proclamation for Fair Housing Month

• Deputy Environmental Services Director Cynthia McCullough presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Fair Housing Month. The proclamation recognized the 58th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and the city's commitment to equal housing opportunities, including partnerships with the Housing Rights Center.

Item 1D4: Employee of the Month

• Public Works Director Ron Fujiwaki presented Gamaliel "Gama" Duran as the April Employee of the Month. Mr. Duran was recognized for his response to a major incident involving a fallen tree and utility lines, as well as his exemplary work history. He accepted the award and thanked his crew and supervisor.

Item 1D5: Proclamation for Earthquake Preparedness Month

• Emergency Services Manager Eileen Connors presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Earthquake Preparedness Month. The presentation encouraged residents to download emergency apps, register for alerts, and participate in CERT training. Representatives from the Tech Reserve and Disaster Service Worker Volunteers accepted the proclamation.

Item 2: Public Statements on Appointments, Special Presentations, and Informational Reports

• Sarah Wilczewski addressed the council regarding Flock camera data privacy, raising concerns about contract terms, data protection clauses, security vulnerabilities, and potential data sharing with immigration enforcement agencies. She requested clarification on processes guaranteeing data privacy and transparency.

Item 3A1: Appointment to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee

• Deputy Environmental Services Director Cynthia McCullough presented seven nominees for appointment to the committee, representing various neighborhood councils, the Youth Council, the Council on Aging, and the community. A motion was made and seconded to approve the seven nominees. The motion passed unanimously.

Item 3A2: Selection of Council Members for ADA Paratransit Advisory Committee Interviews

• Deputy Public Works Director of Transit Ben Gonzalez presented a request for the City Council to select two members to interview applicants for the ADA Paratransit Advisory Committee. A motion was made and seconded to appoint Council Member Ayala and Mayor Pro Tem Litzter to conduct the interviews. The motion passed unanimously.

Item 3B1: Informational Report by Youth Employment Services (YES) Board

• YES Board Chair Anthony Angelini presented an annual report detailing board activities, including workshops on entrepreneurship, interview skills, and financial literacy, as well as the 38th annual Job & Career Fair. Council members and staff discussed the program's impact, noting anecdotal success stories. The board utilizes exit surveys to measure engagement rather than tracking specific placement statistics.

Item 3C1: Presentation on Flock Data

• Sergeant Patrick Zajac, Chief Shorts, and a Flock representative presented an update on the Flock License Plate Recognition (LPR) system. The presentation detailed the number and location of cameras (23 city-owned, 6 sheriff-owned, and 3 flexible units) and clarified that the technology captures still photos only, with no audio, video, or facial recognition capabilities. The system is used to solve crimes including homicides, burglaries, and financial scams. It was stated that federal sharing is disabled and filters for immigration and reproductive care searches are enabled. Sergeant Zajac noted that internal and external audits are conducted weekly. Council members asked questions regarding audit definitions, system modes, and data access by out-of-state agencies.

Item 4: Public Statements

• Due to a high volume of speakers, the time limit for each was reduced to two minutes. Ben Davis, President of Picolet Tiny Homes, addressed the council regarding movable tiny homes as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), requesting the issue be placed on the public agenda for further discussion to address affordable housing needs.

Public Comment

• Multiple speakers addressed the regulation of short-term rentals (STRs). Proponents argued that STRs provide economic benefits, support local businesses, and offer housing flexibility, requesting a regulated approach rather than a ban. Opponents expressed concerns regarding property values, neighborhood stability, and crime, citing petitions and a Planning Commission recommendation to ban STRs. Some speakers questioned the methodology and cost of an independent survey on STR sentiment.
• Several speakers discussed immigration enforcement and public safety, alleging incidents of individuals being taken by immigration authorities near schools. They requested funding for community support organizations and policies to prevent enforcement actions on city property. One speaker specifically addressed the use of taxpayer funds for Flock safety cameras, citing privacy concerns.
• Other community issues raised included a request for support for an event honoring 911 dispatchers, a fundraiser for the Samaritan Center, a request to distribute retired banners for veteran outreach, a complaint regarding delays in fiber optic cable installation, and comments on public comment procedures. Deb Dickerson announced her candidacy for City Council District 4.
• Council members acknowledged the speakers. Mayor Pro Tem Litster confirmed staff is preparing a report on movable tiny homes and addressed allegations regarding an incident near Bearwood Elementary, stating the school principal confirmed no such incident occurred. Council members expressed support for the dispatcher appreciation event, the Samaritan Center fundraiser, and the proposal to utilize retired banners for veteran outreach.

Consent Calendar

Item 3: Resolution 2026-08

• A resolution approving updated citywide publicly available pay schedules effective January 12, 2026, was presented. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

Labor Agreement

Item 9a: Simi Valley Engineers Association (SVEA) Memorandum of Understanding

• Staff presented a proposed three-year MOU with the SVEA, covering salary adjustments, a one-time payment, and market median adjustments with an estimated three-year cost of approximately $1.1 million. Staff recommended placing the matter on the April 20, 2026, agenda for final adoption. A motion was made and seconded to consider the proposed terms, allow public input, and place the matter on the April 20, 2026, agenda for final determination. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Member Reports

Item 10a: Council Member Reports

• Council members provided updates on their recent activities, including attendance at Southern California Edison legislative forums, officer swearing-in ceremonies, community events, meetings with Big Brothers Big Sisters, visits to mobile home communities, chamber meetings, and various committee meetings regarding public safety, transportation, and environmental quality.

Council Member Requests for Future Items

Item 10b: Future Items

• Council Member Ayala inquired about the process for distributing retired flags/banners to a business for veteran outreach. Staff indicated the matter could be handled internally regarding current retirement procedures, with a commitment to return to the Council if policy changes were required. No formal motion was made.

Adjournment and Memorial

• The meeting concluded with a discussion regarding the renewal of a letter to maintain active duty status for specific individuals. The meeting was then adjourned in memory of Levi Vargas, a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and Lee Johnson, a local business owner and resident. No formal motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this segment.