La Verne board approves budget amendment, adopts 2024 building codes and advances road and sewer policies

The La Verne Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Feb. 3 approved a second-reading amendment to the fiscal-year 2026 general fund budget, advanced multiple municipal code updates and passed a string of resolutions addressing subdivision acceptance, land acquisition for a road-widening project and sewer-project property interests.

In the meeting’s most consequential vote, the board approved Ordinance 02/2001, a second reading amending the fiscal-year 2026 general fund budget after a motion from Alderman Haas. The transcript records the motion as carried; a complete numerical roll-call tally is not specified in the transcript packet provided.

The board also took a first reading on Ordinance 2026-03 to adopt the 2024 International Codes — including fire, building, plumbing, fuel gas, energy conservation, mechanical, residential, property maintenance and existing building codes — and to amend the city’s property maintenance regulations. Mayor called the motion to advance the ordinance and the board approved the first reading.

Another first-reading ordinance, 2026-04, to amend rules governing mobile food vendors was introduced and advanced. The board approved a separate resolution amending the employee handbook (Resolution 2026-04) and accepted Uptown Subdivision Lot 1 from Richland South LLC, located at 5343 Murfreesboro Road (Resolution 2026-05). The planning commission had recommended acceptance on Oct. 28, 2025.

The board approved Resolution 2026-06 to establish a land-acquisition policy needed to acquire property interests for the South Walden Road widening project and later approved Resolution 2026-08 to acquire interests needed for the Fergus Interceptor Sewer Project. The meeting record indicates both motions passed; the transcript does not provide complete numerical vote tallies for those items.

Mayor also put forward a resolution declaring specified city property surplus for disposal, which the board approved, and the board confirmed three appointments: Brett Windrow to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Felicia Anderson to the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals, and Deborah Hardy to the La Verne Housing Authority.

The meeting opened with a brief presentation recognizing parks and recreation employee Bobby Thompson. David McGowan, parks and recreation staff, praised Thompson’s service and military background, calling him “an asset to the city” and thanking him for his work on community events.

Public-safety and departmental reports preceded the business agenda. Police Chief Mays summarized monthly statistics and said, “the robbery shows a 100% increase, it's really just an increase of 1,” noting overdoses were down 25 percent and injury crashes fell from 17 to 3 (an 82.4 percent drop). Deputy Chief Nick Matthews reported January’s run numbers and described a spike in hazmat calls (26) and roughly 32 power-line-related calls during the recent multi-day ice storm; he said computer-aided dispatch issues prevented precise response-time calculations.

Finance staff reported city funds totaling approximately $114.4 million, with the general fund at about $36.7 million and water/sewer accounts near $14.4 million; staff reminded residents that Feb. 28 is the last day to pay taxes without penalty. The library reported growing circulation and programming, including two Feb. 14 events — a 9 a.m. “Coffee with a Cop” and a 10 a.m.–2 p.m. “Share the Love — Take Your Child to the Library” celebration — and parks staff previewed community events including a Feb. 7 father–daughter dance.

Board members used their closing remarks to thank public-works crews and first responders for storm response, promote upcoming community fundraisers and events, and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript) - Ordinance 02/2001 (second reading) — Amend FY 2026 general fund budget: Approved (motion carried; transcript does not contain a complete numerical roll-call tally). - Ordinance 2026-02 (second reading) — Amend municipal code for Parks & Rec advisory committee: Approved (transcript records the motion and recorded voice votes but does not supply a full numeric tally). - Ordinance 2026-03 (first reading) — Adopt 2024 International Codes and amend property maintenance regulations: Advanced on first reading. - Ordinance 2026-04 (first reading) — Mobile food vendors: Advanced on first reading. - Resolution 2026-04 — Amend employee handbook: Approved. - Resolution 2026-05 — Accept Uptown Subdivision Lot 1 (5343 Murfreesboro Road): Approved; planning commission recommended approval 10/28/2025. - Resolution 2026-06 — Land acquisition policy for South Walden Road widening: Approved. - Resolution 2026-08 — Acquire property interests for Fergus Interceptor Sewer Project: Approved. - Property-surplus resolution: Approved. - Appointments: Brett Windrow (Board of Zoning Appeals), Felicia Anderson (Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals), Deborah Hardy (La Verne Housing Authority): Approved.

What’s next: Most items were routine approvals or first readings; ordinances advanced on first reading will return for further readings as required by city code. The board did not set specific dates for additional hearings on those items in the transcript provided.

(Reporting note: this article uses direct quotations and vote outcomes as recorded in the meeting transcript. Some roll-call tallies were not specified in the transcript; where a full numeric tally is absent the article notes that fact rather than inferring counts.)