San Fernando’s New Council Takes Office as Pacoima Wash Path Nears Next Approval Stage

San Fernando’s governing body changed in early July, just as a city-linked walking and bicycling project approached its next scheduled approval stage. Mary Mendoza, Mary Solorio and Sean Rivas were sworn in as councilmembers, and the council selected Victoria Garcia as mayor and Patty Lopez as vice mayor.

Separately, a California Transportation Commission project record identifies the City of San Fernando Pacoima Wash Bike/Ped Path, Phase 1. The record expected construction to be complete by August 2026 and anticipated City Council approval in September 2026.

A new council leadership team

The July transition brought three councilmembers into office. A July 8 report from The San Fernando Valley Sun covered the swearing-in ceremony for Mendoza, Solorio and Rivas.

Garcia’s selection as mayor and Lopez’s selection as vice mayor establish the council’s leadership for the period covered by the source packet. The change affects the city’s governing body as it continues its regular meeting schedule.

The City of San Fernando’s official meeting page lists council meetings on July 20, August 3, August 17, September 8 and September 21, 2026. Those agendas, minutes and recordings are the city’s primary place for confirming council actions and upcoming approvals.

What the project record says

The transportation commission record names the Pacoima Wash Bike/Ped Path, Phase 1, as a City of San Fernando project. It describes construction completion as expected by August 2026, rather than confirming that construction was finished.

The same record anticipates City Council approval in September 2026. That makes September the next known decision point in the official project record. If approved and completed, the path could affect local walking and bicycling access, but the packet does not establish that the path is open or that final approval has occurred.

The available materials also do not provide a project funding amount, a confirmed opening date or a final construction status. They do not establish that the new council has changed any regional transit route. A broader transit-project context, including a 6.7-mile southern segment, should not be attributed to the San Fernando path project.

For residents following the project, the September 8 and September 21 council dates are the scheduled milestones listed after the anticipated August construction-completion point. The city’s official records will be needed to determine whether construction was completed and whether council approval remained on schedule.