[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6496369,"mediaKeyId","5681398-1ea62f39969dd7627d4c2c89ea4894c0","parentId",5681398,"title","South Gate water system meets state standards; council to file 2025 public health goals report, PFAS treatment planned","audioSeconds",202,"startMs",3558000,"endMs",3760000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681398-1ea62f39969dd7627d4c2c89ea4894c0&start=3558&end=3760","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681398-1ea62f39969dd7627d4c2c89ea4894c0/thumbnail_3558000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496369/South-Gate/Los-Angeles-County/California/South-Gate-water-system-meets-state-standards-council-to-file-2025-public-health-goals-report-PFAS-treatment-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496369-8a5fa55de41566b8bf1095eb3b200e7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142283&Signature=ShGmU3iw3AQcBomFDuU5zoDfkfv1DzEcAz~tBIEH5DhxNt1O9zWtucSUdOtK8Z4Gd93a1gCcrk7aCHU91u9cNWRB6t6GfS4MKUSIVzUyIq2LdSeVKzwo9esKxLhC-Up9BL7Y0kv666Q~JgfnEVsFUZ3qs2EHdEhNKSHcB0O1YW5Wm2MzI52HwF7byaKZe-jrVjoEeHpRISn~0wKUcZ1fPPlHRbq5FjqwOCb6uDEtKFxbTuwFl8o1cJNK-9O67KUcvfXHtc2A71imHuVctkXgPFj9r8j61zls8KRGouHjV4T82SU94UlhztYZfnSgP8fn11uroLFtwolTCev74JX9-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Gate, CA","date","2025-08-27T04:26:17Z","article","The City Council voted Aug. 26 to receive and file the City of South Gate’s 2025 Public Health Goals Report, a statutorily required review of drinking-water compounds and potential treatment costs for a three-year reporting period.

City water manager Chris Castillo told the council the municipal water system serves more than 14,300 service connections, operates six active groundwater wells and two treatment facilities, and stores about 14 million gallons of water. Castillo said routine testing — about 2,000 samples per year — shows the system meets state and federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs).

Nut graf: the report compares measured concentrations with nonbinding public health goals (PHGs). Several compounds were reported above their PHGs but remained below legal MCLs; staff recommended treating PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as the priority because of the emerging regulatory focus and available funding opportunities.

Castillo identified 10 compounds that exceeded PHGs while remaining below enforceable MCLs. Those included arsenic, copper, certain solvents (TCE/PCE), gross alpha and beta activity, uranium, hexavalent chromium and PFAS (specifically PFOA and PFOS). The report presents ranges across wells (lowest-to-highest detection); a single well can show the highest value even while the system average stays well under MCLs.

On PFAS, Castillo said the city detected PFAS in two wells. He said PHG exceedances require public notification and that staff distributed a door-to-door flyer to meet a 30-day notice requirement. Castillo described PFAS levels in parts-per-trillion and said the recommended course is to treat for PFAS; staff estimated a high-level cost for PFOA/PFOS treatment and ongoing operation at roughly $286,286 per year (presented as a system-level planning figure rather than a per-customer fee).

City staff said treating all PHG exceedances — including arsenic, uranium and others — would be far more costly and not required because measured values remain under MCLs; staff estimated an illustrative cost of about $1,800 per customer per year to treat for the entire list of PHG exceedances, which the report described as not realistic or necessary given current MCL compliance.

Council member questions and public comments focused on clarity and outreach. Council member Rios asked whether the $286,286 figure is a one-time or recurring cost; Castillo said it represents an ongoing operation-and-maintenance (O&M) expense and design/construction amortization. Council members and staff said the city is pursuing grant funding and has already joined regional efforts; Vice Mayor Baron noted settlements and federal allocations (3M and congressional funds) contributing to PFAS remediation efforts in the region.

Resident Reese Kaufman, an environmental scientist, praised the city’s preemptive testing and urged continued public education. Castillo directed residents to the city’s annual water quality report and said the city will file the public-health-goals report with the state as required.

Action and next steps: the council voted to receive and file the report and authorized staff to proceed with filing and to continue design and grant-seeking for PFAS treatment. Staff said they expect to pursue construction funding and to implement PFAS treatment within roughly two years, contingent on grant availability and design completion.

Ending: City officials emphasized that the water system meets enforceable state and federal standards today, that PFAS is an emerging statewide issue being addressed by the city, and that residents will receive routine notifications and outreach as treatment planning proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Gate City Council Meeting 8/26/25","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council voted Aug. 26 to receive and file the City of South Gate’s 2025 Public Health Goals Report, a statutorily required review of drinking-water compounds and potential treatment costs for a three-year reporting period.","taxTitle","South Gate, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",5784,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6496374,"Unions, city employees press South Gate City Council over stalled contract talks; closed session held with no reportable action",7911,710000,8621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681398-1ea62f39969dd7627d4c2c89ea4894c0&start=710&end=8621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681398-1ea62f39969dd7627d4c2c89ea4894c0/thumbnail_710000.jpg","/articles/6496374/South-Gate/Los-Angeles-County/California/Unions-city-employees-press-South-Gate-City-Council-over-stalled-contract-talks-closed-session-held-with-no-reportable-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496374-044d5fce4845425430390b187875fc69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142283&Signature=C~9SSXh~3dwlm2J-dfUP0yZLf9z6kkkavR8alBgLR4Ks~AYvodM88kdR9ZIgYx5xPdmHV22Zo5P2gdvuVu0HY0qLW7F70bHjAzcUoa972gR1RsA0ElfaJT-gpSAoZA9tRMZlfr7xmsF7otJg1LxQgG8tdbzKwXUNwqGTXDhtYlPyTlQzkeITVCA1L~vbZaUOWDK8A8X1NXUziSOYEaoh3A9HfqoMlF2PsoFfMrYSsCX3rDyxnBm5xfT1VEV7bTX-1XsjwcMKuZd2ysA5KOf0oeOuTcoOEXCuXqApBm6Jf4c4q6ctnnqG1BG4tlSo17xMgBegaDupEmDmEuUZ8bk19A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the South Gate Municipal Employee Association and allied bargaining units told the City Council on Aug. 26 that protracted contract talks and offers that would cap benefits are driving resignations and harming services.

The message came during public comment before a closed session on conference with labor negotiators. A coalition letter read at the podium said, in part, “We will not accept a narrative or a proposal that attempts to place the burden of the city's financial deficit on the shoulders of its workforce.” The statement was presented on behalf of the Municipal Employee Association (MEA), Police Officers Association (POA), Police Management Association (PMA) and Professional Mid-Management Association (PMMA).

The council later met in closed session under Government Code section 54957.6 to discuss labor negotiations and under Government Code section 54957 to consider the evaluation of a public employee (city manager). When the council returned, city staff reported “no actions to report out.”

Why it matters: public-safety and maintenance services depend on filled positions. Speakers at the meeting repeatedly tied staffing shortages to the quality of city services and urged the council to avoid proposals that reduce take-home pay or cap medical coverage.

City employees and union leaders described a long-running retention problem. Lisa Bautista, identified in public comment as a 39-year South Gate employee and one of the city’s most senior 9-1-1 dispatchers, said dispatcher staffing fell from 10 full-time positions a year ago to six today — “we're now working with 40% of our workforce,” she said — and called current proposals effectively a pay cut. Several other employees and union leaders described similar recruitment and retention pressures across departments.

Speakers also criticized delays in bargaining. The union coalition’s letter and subsequent public comments said the city repeatedly postponed sessions and that that delay effort amounted to bad-faith bargaining. Charles Leon, regional coordinator with SEIU Local 721, said the city had taken months to respond and that vacancy data showed roughly 1 in 5 municipal positions were vacant in the MEA unit.

Council and staff responses were procedural in this meeting: the city clerk read the closed-session items required by law, the council heard public comments, went into closed session, and later reported no actions. The clerk also summarized emailed public comments: 24 emails were received on the labor item, with 15 supporting employees, one opposing, and several anonymous submissions from residents and employees raising concerns about proposed benefit caps.

Several speakers urged alternatives to cuts. Kelly Guzman and other speakers who identified themselves as long-term city residents and employees said that if the city must raise revenue — for example, by a utility users tax — it should earmark some proceeds for visible, local improvements such as parks and street beautification.

The meeting closed with no formal vote on labor terms. The council did not announce any direction or tentative agreements in public after the closed session.

Ending: Union leaders said they would continue public outreach and urged the council to return to bargaining with offers that protect employee pay and benefits while addressing the city's structural budget issues.","Representatives of multiple city bargaining units and dozens of city employees urged the City Council to resume good-faith bargaining and preserve employee benefits, saying recruitment and retention are already strained. Council held closed-session labor negotiations and a city manager evaluation but reported no actions afterward.","actionData","errors"]

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South Gate water system meets state standards; council to file 2025 public health goals report, PFAS treatment planned

Unions, city employees press South Gate City Council over stalled contract talks; closed session held with no reportable action