City council adopts 2025–26 budget, approves CAL FIRE hazard‑map ordinance; authorizes public‑health contract introduction

The San Gabriel City Council took multiple formal actions June 3, including adopting the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget and capital improvement program, adopting an ordinance to accept California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) hazard severity maps for local responsibility areas and introducing (first reading) an updated contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. All recorded votes on the formal motions were 5–0.

Why this matters: the budget sets the city’s spending and capital priorities for the coming year; the CAL FIRE map adoption aligns local ordinances with the state’s wildfire mapping update; and the public‑health contract updates a decades‑old arrangement that governs how public‑health services are delivered to San Gabriel residents.

Budget adoption: Finance Director Kahulokula presented the proposed FY 2025–26 operating budget, a capital improvement program (CIP) and the city’s appropriations limit. Total all‑fund expenditures were presented as $86.54 million; the general fund budget was balanced with a projected surplus of about $933,000 pending any approved salary adjustments. The council adopted resolutions to: adopt the FY 2025–26 operating budget, approve the FY 2025–26 CIP (including $2.72 million in new CIP funding for seven projects, notably $1.47 million for Mission and Las Tunas intersection improvements), and adopt the FY 2025–26 appropriations limit. The motion to approve the staff recommendation passed 5–0.

CAL FIRE hazard map (Ordinance No. 719): Fire Chief Steve Wallace summarized the March 2025 update of CAL FIRE Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zone maps and told the council that San Gabriel contains no areas designated moderate, high or very high under the state update. Chief Wallace noted localized vegetation concerns along wash corridors (for example, portions of the Alhambra and Rubio washes and some vacant parcels) and said the city coordinates mitigation with partners including the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Council introduced and waived full reading of Ordinance No. 719, and then voted (5–0) to adopt the ordinance at second reading as scheduled; the ordinance becomes effective 30 days after adoption.

Public health contract (Ordinance No. 720, introduction/first reading): Assistant to the City Manager Ileana Flores explained that Los Angeles County updated the standard service agreement it uses with 85 county cities to modernize statutory references and clarify terms; San Gabriel’s last contract with the county dated to 1996 and had not been updated since. Staff said the revised agreement continues to provide comprehensive public‑health services to contracted cities and that opting out would require creating an independent city health department with substantial ongoing costs. The council introduced Ordinance No. 720 and conducted the first reading by title; the motion to introduce and set the second reading for the next regular meeting passed 5–0.

Consent calendar and other votes: The council approved the consent calendar in one motion (5–0). The meeting included proclamations and presentations (Community Emergency Response Team completion, National Mosquito Control Awareness Week and a June LGBTQ+ Pride proclamation), and public comments during which several speakers urged the council to do more to support LGBTQ youth and local LGBTQ organizations.

Ending: Councilmembers gave unanimous approval to the budget, the CAL FIRE ordinance and the county public‑health contract introduction. Staff will return for ordinance adoption (second reading) where applicable and continue implementation steps for budgeted CIP projects.