What La Palma is about to decide

The council convenes Tuesday at 5:30 PM in closed session, with the open session beginning at 6:30 PM, Council Chambers, La Palma City Hall, 7822 Walker Street. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — not outcomes. Every item links to the official record.

Source: official agenda (PDF) · meeting page

✅ What actually passed (per the draft minutes): The city’s draft minutes of the September 1 meeting — printed on pages 9–12 of the October 6 agenda packet for approval, not yet adopted — record all five members present (Mayor Nitesh Patel, Mayor Pro Tem Baker and Council Members Keo Conklin, Vikesh Patel and Waldman). Consent Calendar Items 1 through 10 were approved 5–0 on a motion by Baker, seconded by V. Patel (Ayes: Baker, Keo Conklin, N. Patel, V. Patel and Waldman; Noes: none). That vote authorized the Southern California Edison license agreement for right-of-way use for park and public recreation purposes “in the amount of $143,883.26 for five years, paid in annual installments”; a three-year OpenGov, Inc. agreement for permitting, licensing and code enforcement software “in an amount not to exceed $198,597.59”; the cooperative agreement with Buena Park and Cerritos for the Valley View Pavement Rehabilitation Project; the response letter to the Grand Jury’s PFAS report; and Resolutions No. 2026-29 through 2026-32. On the one regular item, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026-33 establishing the Economic Development and Business Engagement Ad Hoc Committee, adopted amended City Council Policy No. 8, and appointed Mayor Nitesh Patel and Mayor Pro Tem Debbie Baker to it — also 5–0. The City Attorney reported no reportable actions from the three closed-session items. There were no public hearings. We will update this page if the council amends the minutes before approving them.

The headline: the council will consider a three-year agreement with OpenGov, Inc., not to exceed $198,597.59, to run the Community Development department's permitting, licensing, and code-enforcement software from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 — the system builders and business owners would use to pull permits in La Palma. The lone regular item would create a new Economic Development and Business Engagement Ad Hoc Committee, amend Council Policy No. 8, and seat two council members on it.

🏗️ For contractors & vendors

A three-year agreement with OpenGov, Inc. for Community Development permitting, licensing, code enforcement, and related software services and implementation, in an amount not to exceed $198,597.59, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Item 10
A cooperative agreement with the cities of Buena Park and Cerritos for the Valley View Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project. The council would also authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to make non-monetary changes to the contract and cooperative agreement, and authorize the City Manager and Acting City Clerk to sign. No dollar figure is listed on the agenda. Item 7
A license agreement with Southern California Edison for use of SCE right-of-way for park and public recreation purposes, in the amount of $143,883.26 over five years, paid in annual installments. Item 6
A receive-and-file report on an emergency purchase order; the agenda does not state the amount or vendor. Item 9

🤝 A new economic development committee

The only regular business item: a resolution (No. 2026-XX) establishing an Economic Development and Business Engagement Ad Hoc Committee, adoption of an amended Council Policy No. 8 governing economic development and business engagement, and the appointment of two council members to the new committee. Item 11

💰 Money & administration

A resolution approving the Register of Demands for August 4, August 18, and September 1, 2026. Item 3
Two resolutions updating the authorized signatories for the city's banking and investment transactions and for the state Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF). Item 4
A resolution amending the city's biennial Conflict of Interest Code to update the list of designated employees and citizen committee members. Item 5

🔒 Closed session (5:30 PM)

Two existing-litigation conferences with legal counsel: David Casey, et al. v. City of Buena Park, et al. (OCSC 30-2025-01497184-CU-PA-NJC) and Misty Torres v. City of La Palma (OCSC 30-2026-01561451-CU-OE-NJC / USDC 8:26-CV-01754-FWS-KESx). Items CS-1–CS-2
A public employee performance evaluation for the City Manager. Item CS-3

🪑 Also on the agenda

Authorizing the Mayor to sign and submit the city's response to the 2025-26 Orange County Grand Jury report, "PFAS and Public Awareness: A Closer Look at Orange County Drinking Water." Item 8
Approval of the August 4, 2026 council meeting minutes and the standard motion to read ordinances by title only. Items 1–2
Presentations: introductions of new employees Sea Shelton (Assistant City Manager), Dvaughn Jackson (Police Officer), and Johnny Smith (Water Service Worker I); designation of Alisha Farnell as Acting City Clerk; proclamations for Constitution Week (September 17-23) and Hunger Action Month; and recognition of John F. Kennedy High School's league-champion track and field, volleyball, and swimming teams.
The agenda notes that video streaming of council meetings, approved June 2, 2026, is expected to begin with the October 6, 2026 meeting because of equipment delays.