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Residents press for cheer facilities and smoke-shop enforcement; city attorney says court action set to challenge Epic Motel use
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Summary
Parents and residents urged the council for indoor space, practice mats and scheduling to support competitive cheer programs; a coalition asked the city to help curb illicit sales at local smoke shops. The city attorney said the city will seek a temporary restraining order against the Epic Motel operator for operating without a permitted business license.
Pico Rivera — During public comment at the April 1 City Council meeting, residents urged the city to help local competitive cheer teams with indoor practice space and safety equipment, while a coalition representative urged enforcement against smoke shops selling illicit products. Separately, the city attorney briefed the council on imminent court action aimed at the Epic Motel.
Parents and team supporters said the cheer teams — recent state and national champions — face training challenges once the football season ends because many indoor spaces are unavailable. Tony Islas, who identified himself as a Pico Rivera resident of 28 years and the father of two, asked the council to "look into budget or your resources to help out our girls" so champions who earn scholarships can continue to practice locally. Cecilia Islas described travel to neighboring districts for mat space, said practices outside during winter have made athletes sick, and urged the city to consider scheduling and equipment assistance.
City staff invited residents to speak with Parks and Recreation Director Pam Ugar after the meeting to explore solutions.
In public-comment items on public health, Jonathan Grayson of Helpline Youth Counseling, representing the Southeast Community Alliance (CECA), described a Smoke Shop Project that surveyed 59 smoke shops across the SPA 7 planning area in 2025 and reported that more than half were selling illegal products; he said one of three smoke shops visited in Pico Rivera offered illegal substances. Grayson asked the council to collaborate with the coalition on education and enforcement and to provide reporting channels to county and state public-health agencies.
On enforcement, a resident raised questions about upcoming fiber construction impacts and Project Homekey placements, seeking clarity and transparency around meetings and approvals.
The city attorney briefed the council that Epic Motel and its operator do not have a permitted business license and that their conversion of the motel to an unauthorized care facility is the subject of ongoing legal action. He said the city will appear in court the following morning in Department 82 and seek a temporary restraining order against the operator and owner. The city attorney emphasized that no city, county or state approvals had been issued for the motel's current use.
Several residents also raised the removal of handball courts at Rio Hondo Park, asking why the courts were taken out without community notice and expressing concern that converting the space to parking could attract people living along the riverbed to the park.
Lauren Talbot, the community library manager, provided program updates and noted Rivera Library was closed for construction while Pico Rivera Library remained open with limited hours and several upcoming teen and family programs.
The council said staff would follow up with residents; the meeting record shows no immediate policy changes arising directly from public comment, but the city attorney announced court action on the motel enforcement matter.
