The La Puente City Council met at City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13 for its regularly scheduled meeting and held a special moment to honor the city’s current Police Chief Lt. Pete Cacheiro.

Mayor Violeta Lewis said that the honoring was long overdue, and the police chiefs of West Covina, Covina, and the Hacienda La Puente School District presented Cacheiro with awards and certificates of recognition.

Among Cacheiro’s numerous accomplishments, his dedication to continual improvement in the city of La Puente for over 10 years was mentioned often.

Cacheiro’s family was in attendance and were also recognized by the council.

After the festivities, the council voted unanimously to begin negotiations to add a member to the La Puente Special Assignment Team, headed by Cacheiro.

The possible addition of a deputy had been a topic of discussion in previous council meetings and negotiations will begin to take place in the coming months.

The council also voted unanimously to keep Council member Valerie Muñoz as the city’s representative for the Water Quality Authority Board.

Muñoz said she was eager to continue working with other representatives at the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority.

The council voted unanimously to extend their contract with Barr & Clark Inc. for asbestos and lead-based paint testing services.

Barr & Clark Inc. will remain the city’s service provider for one more year while the city will increase payment by $15,000. Even with the increased payment, the council deemed the rates to still be competitive.

The council held an additional moment of recognition for the La Puente High School girls’ volleyball team who won a Division 9 CIF-SS championship.

The team presented the council with a decorative plaque and the council presented every player with certificates of recognition.

With the championship victory, the volleyball team ended a 30-year title drought.

The city council will meet again on Tuesday, Dec. 11.