City Council — April 7, 2026

Honorary Resolutions and Proclamations

• Gina Troncalli-Adams received the 2026 Community Volunteer of the Year award for her extensive cultural and community service.
• The 2026 City Volunteer of the Year resolution was postponed because the recipient could not attend the meeting.
• The Council issued proclamations designating April 2026 as both Fair Housing Month and Earthquake Preparedness Month.
• Gamaliel "Gama" Duran was recognized as Employee of the Month for leading critical utility restoration efforts after a tree fell.

Committee Appointments and Selections

• Seven nominees were unanimously approved to serve on 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 workforce development programs and the 38th annual Job & Career Fair.
• Council members discussed the program's positive impact on youth employment and the utility of interview skills resources.

Flock License Plate Recognition System

• Public speakers raised concerns regarding data privacy, potential third-party sharing, and immigration enforcement implications.
• Staff clarified that the system captures still photos only, with federal data sharing disabled and specific privacy filters enabled.
• The presentation confirmed the City controls 26 cameras and detailed internal and external audit procedures for data compliance.

Public Statements on Community Issues

• Speakers offered divided opinions on Short-Term Rentals, with some citing economic benefits and others raising neighborhood stability concerns.
• Concerns were voiced regarding ICE activities in the community, prompting a Council clarification that a reported school incident did not occur.
• Additional topics included advocacy for tiny homes as ADUs, support for 911 dispatchers, and questions about HOA easements.

Engineers Association Labor Agreement

• Staff presented a proposed three-year memorandum of understanding for the Simi Valley Engineers Association covering salary and benefit adjustments.
• The Council voted to consider the proposed terms and schedule the matter for final determination on the April 20, 2026 agenda.

Council Member Requests

• Council Member Judge requested staff to explore policy implications for distributing retired veteran banners to a local business.

Closed Session

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

Meeting Summary: Simi Valley City Council

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

• Discussion: Staff presented an honorary resolution to Gina Troncalli-Adams, recognizing her service with the Rotary Club, the Day of Peace Planning Committee, the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Foundation, and various cultural festivals. The Mayor and Council acknowledged her contributions to the Cultural Arts Center and the broader community. Ms. Troncalli-Adams accepted the award, emphasizing the importance of volunteerism in building community.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was recorded for the presentation of the resolution; the item was presented as a recognition.

Agenda Item 1D2: Honorary Resolution for 2026 City Volunteer of the Year

• Discussion: Staff noted that the recipient of this resolution was unable to attend the meeting.
• Decision: The item was postponed to a future meeting.

Agenda Item 1D3: Proclamation for Fair Housing Month

• Discussion: Staff presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Fair Housing Month. The presentation highlighted the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, California's expanded protections, and the City's partnership with the Housing Rights Center to investigate discrimination and educate residents.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was recorded for the presentation of the proclamation; the item was presented as a recognition.

Agenda Item 1D4: Employee of the Month

• Discussion: Public Works Director Ron Fujiwaki presented Gamaliel "Gama" Duran as the April Employee of the Month. The presentation detailed Duran's leadership in clearing a massive fallen tree that had severed power, gas, and water lines, coordinating repairs with utility companies to restore service. Duran accepted the award and thanked his crew and supervisor.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was recorded for the presentation of the award; the item was presented as a recognition.

Agenda Item 1D5: Proclamation for Earthquake Preparedness Month

• Discussion: 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.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was recorded for the presentation of the proclamation; the item was presented as a recognition.

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

• Discussion: Two speakers addressed the Council regarding the Flock License Plate Recognition (LPR) system. Concerns were raised regarding data privacy, changes to Flock's terms of service, potential data sharing with third parties or federal agencies, and the transparency of audit logs. Speakers questioned the City's ability to guarantee that data would not be used for immigration enforcement.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was taken on these statements.

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

• Discussion: Staff presented seven nominees to serve on the committee, representing the four neighborhood councils, the Youth Council, the Council on Aging, and the community at large. The terms were set to commence immediately and conclude upon the awarding of FY 26-27 funding.
• Motion: A motion was made to approve the seven nominees.
• Second: The motion was seconded.
• Vote Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

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

• Discussion: Staff requested the Council select two members to interview applicants for four open positions and one alternate position on the ADA Paratransit Advisory Committee.
• Motion: A motion was made to nominate Council Member Ayala and Mayor Pro Tem Litzter to conduct the interviews.
• Second: The motion was seconded.
• Vote Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

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

• Discussion: YES Board Chair Anthony Angelini presented an annual report detailing workforce development programs, including interview skills workshops, financial literacy sessions, and the 38th annual Job & Career Fair. The report highlighted partnerships with local businesses, schools, and the Chamber of Commerce. Council members discussed the program's impact, anecdotal success stories of youth employment, and the value of the interview skills handbooks.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was taken; the item was informational.

Agenda Item 3C1: Presentation on Flock Data

• Discussion: Sergeant Patrick Zajac and a Flock representative presented an update on the LPR system. The presentation clarified that the City controls 26 cameras (23 fixed, 3 flexible) and has access to 6 additional cameras maintained by the Sheriff's Department. It was confirmed that the system captures still photos only, with no audio, video, or facial recognition capabilities. The presentation addressed data privacy, confirming that federal sharing is disabled and filters for immigration and reproductive care searches are enabled. Internal and external audit procedures were discussed, noting improvements in data entry compliance.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was taken; the item was informational.

Agenda Item 4: Public Statements

• Discussion: Twenty-three speakers addressed the Council on various topics.
• Short-Term Rentals (STRs): Multiple speakers supported STRs, citing economic benefits, family support, and strict adherence to rules. Others opposed STRs, citing concerns over property values, neighborhood stability, and code enforcement costs. Some speakers called for a ban, while others advocated for a regulated approach.
• Tiny Homes: A speaker advocated for movable tiny homes as an ADU option to address housing needs.
• ICE and Immigration: Several speakers expressed concern over ICE activities in the community, citing alleged abductions and requesting policy changes to protect residents and staff.
• Flock Cameras: Speakers reiterated concerns about privacy and data usage, urging the Council to terminate the contract.
• Other Topics: Speakers promoted events for 911 dispatchers and the Samaritan Center, discussed veteran support programs, raised concerns about HOA easements for fiber optic installation, and commented on public comment time limits and mental health crisis response protocols.
• Council Response: Council members acknowledged the speakers, confirmed that staff is preparing a report on tiny homes, and addressed specific concerns regarding the ICE incident at a local school, stating that the school principal confirmed the event did not occur as described.

Agenda Item 7: Consent Calendar

• Discussion: The Council considered Resolution 2026-08, approving updated citywide publicly available pay schedules effective January 12, 2026, in compliance with California regulations.
• Motion: A motion was made to approve the consent calendar.
• Second: The motion was seconded.
• Vote Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

Agenda Item 9A: Memorandum of Understanding with Simi Valley Engineers Association (SVEA)

• Discussion: Staff presented a proposed three-year labor agreement for the engineers group, covering 20 active employees. The agreement includes salary adjustments, a one-time payment, and market median adjustments over the term, with an estimated total cost of over $1.1 million.
• Motion: A motion was made to consider the proposed terms and conditions and place the matter on the April 20, 2026, agenda for final determination after public input.
• Second: The motion was seconded.
• Vote Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

Agenda Item 10A: Council Member Reports

• Discussion: Council members reported on recent activities, including attendance at legislative forums, Southern California Edison presentations regarding power shutoffs, fire safety demonstrations, officer swearing-in ceremonies, and meetings regarding film permitting and housing.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was taken.

Agenda Item 10B: Council Member Request for Future Items

• Discussion: Council Member Judge requested to explore the possibility of distributing retired veteran banners to a local business for veteran outreach. Staff indicated they would consult on policy implications and current procedures before bringing a formal item back to the Council.
• Action: No formal motion or vote was taken.

Adjournment

• Discussion: The meeting was adjourned in memory of Deputy Levi Vargas of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and local resident Lee Johnson.