Garden Grove council adopts water public‑health goals report and approves multiple contracts; proclamations recognized

Garden Grove, Calif. — At its Sept. 9 meeting the Garden Grove City Council conducted a public hearing and adopted the city’s 2025 Drinking Water Public Health Goals Report, and voted to award several contracts tied to homeless services, capital projects and building maintenance. The council also adopted ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month and National Service Dog Month and approved successor agency and consent items.

Drinking water report: The council held a public hearing and adopted the city’s 2025 Drinking Water Public Health Goals Report, required under state and federal drinking water laws. Water Director Bill Murray told the council the report flags low but reportable detections of contaminants including arsenic, bromate, chromium, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and uranium. Murray said the city has installed treatment at wells where PFOS and PFOA exceeded state response levels adopted in 2019 and is designing additional treatment to meet new enforceable maximum contaminant levels that take effect in 2029. The council approved the report following a brief public comment period (motion passed 6‑0).

Central Cities Navigation Center property management contract: The council approved a one‑year contract with Silverstone Property Management Company to provide comprehensive property management services for the Central Cities Navigation Center. Director Ursula Luna Reynosa said the city conducted a six‑month pilot with Silverstone, extended it another six months, and budgeted for the work; the approved contract is for $100,000 with future one‑year options subject to budget appropriations. Council members who toured Silverstone‑managed properties praised the firm’s upkeep. The motion passed 6‑0.

On‑call construction inspection services: The council awarded on‑call construction inspection contracts to Willdan Engineering, NV5 Inc., and Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects LLC. Staff said each contract is for $400,000 (each contract to be used as needed and charged to individual capital projects, with no impact to the general fund). Staff recommended multiple vendors to meet construction demand; contracts would allow the city to begin using vendor services in October. Council approved the awards (motion passed 6‑0).

Roof replacements at Community Meeting Center and H. Lewis Lake Senior Center: The council awarded a construction contract to Best Contracting Services Inc. for roof replacements at the Community Meeting Center and H. Lewis Lake Senior Center on Stanford Avenue. Staff said the buildings’ roofs had reached the end of useful life; Best was the lowest responsible bidder with a contract just under $615,000 and work expected to begin next month and be completed before the rainy season. The motion passed 6‑0.

Proclamations and other consent items: The council approved proclamations recognizing the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce’s 2025/2026 Man and Woman of the Year (Mark Sermanian and Maria Stipe), National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15, 2025), and National Service Dog Month. The council also approved successor agency minutes and consolidated consent items numbered 3–10 as presented.

Votes at a glance - 2025 Drinking Water Public Health Goals Report (agenda item 11): Motion to adopt report; mover/second recorded; vote 6‑0; outcome: adopted. - Agreement with Silverstone Property Management Company (agenda item 12): One‑year property management contract for Central Cities Navigation Center; contract amount $100,000; vote 6‑0; outcome: approved. - On‑call construction inspection services contracts (agenda item 13): Awards to Willdan Engineering, NV5 Inc., Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects LLC; contract value $400,000 per firm; vote 6‑0; outcome: approved. - Roof replacement contract (agenda item 14): Award to Best Contracting Services Inc. for roof replacements at Community Meeting Center and H. Lewis Lake Senior Center; low bid ~ $615,000; vote 6‑0; outcome: approved. - Proclamation recognizing Mark Sermanian and Maria Stipe as Garden Grove Chamber Man and Woman of the Year (consent item 2): vote recorded as 6 yes (with Council Member Breidingham absent on roll calls where noted); outcome: approved. - Proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month (agenda item 3): vote 6‑0; outcome: approved. - Proclamation recognizing National Service Dog Month (agenda item 15): vote 6‑0; outcome: approved.

What the votes mean: The adopted water report is a required disclosure and will remain on file; PFOS/PFOA treatment has been installed at affected well sites and additional treatment work is being designed ahead of stricter state maximum contaminant levels effective in 2029. The Silverstone contract continues the city’s property‑management approach at the navigation center; staff said future year options will require standard budget appropriations. The on‑call inspection contracts and roof work are intended to support the city’s capital improvement program and building maintenance schedule.

Council members thanked staff for the reports and site visits; staff said work on the awarded projects will begin in coming weeks or months depending on procurement and scheduling.