California Record
Cypress
RSC

Rachel Strong Carnahan

Council Member, At-Large2025-11-01 – 2026-11-01 (month-level start: November 2025 per city council page 'Council Member since November 2025' (appointed to the vacancy left by Scott Minikus); month-level end: November 2026 per city council page 'Term Expires: November 2026')

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Nov 1, 2026.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
16
Total speaking time
1:09:10
Avg per meeting
4:19
Segments
853

Want every word Carnahan has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Carnahan said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical↓Jul 2026[29]

Los Alamitos Race Course Specific Plan 3.0 Buildout

The agreement covers infrastructure and EIR mitigation measures for the racetrack property development.

medium↑Jun 2026[27]

Labor Negotiations Closed Session

New executive positions and updated salary ranges add to the city's personnel budget.

high↑Apr 2026[21]

Quimby Act Park Fees and Park Facilities Ordinance

Unknown; some parent organizations are raising funds themselves, with one proposing $200 per family.

medium↓May 2026[21]

Baroldi Sycamore Park Expansion Design

About $2 million was earmarked in the CIP; concepts will be designed to budget.

medium↑Oct 2026[20]

Economic Development Action Plan

critical↑May 2026[19]

General Plan Safety Element Update

Unknown; improvements would likely require signal or crossing upgrades.

medium↑Sep 2026[19]

Town Center Development Accountability

high↓Sep 2026[16]

112-unit townhome development at 4691 Katella Avenue

The homes are market rate, roughly $800,000 to $1 million each, with no affordable units included.

medium↓Sep 2026[13]

Playground Design Standards

Most existing parks don't meet the 50% shade rule, so playground replacements will be phased through the CIP budget.

low↑Oct 2026[10]

OC Sanitation Rate Increase

Sanitation rates billed through property taxes are expected to go up.

medium↓Aug 2026[10]

Tree canopy and shade coverage

Trimming more often would cost more; the city reportedly cut its tree maintenance budget.

critical↓Mar 2026[9]

FY 2026-27 City and Park District Budgets

Forgives roughly $6.4 million in total interest the district would otherwise pay; $614,000 affects this fiscal year's books.

high↓May 2026[8]

Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Ordinances

Fines could reach $6,000 per violation, plus the city can recover enforcement costs — revenue for the city, big bills for offenders.

medium↓May 2026[7]

Short-Term Rental Enforcement Complaint

medium↓Aug 2026[6]

Planning Commission Debate

high↓Jun 2026[6]

General Municipal Election November 3, 2026

Consolidating with the statewide election saves the city money on election costs.

high↓Aug 2026[5]

Discolored Tap Water and Emergency Communication

low↓Sep 2026[5]

Police Equipment Purchases

Roughly $190,660 combined for the four vehicles.

medium↓Sep 2026[5]

Lack of affordable housing in market-rate projects

Any affordable housing incentive program could require subsidies or a consultant study at city expense.

high↓Feb 2026[3]

Seven-Year Capital Improvement Program

Your streets, parks, and utilities get upgrades this year — plus faster project delivery thanks to the streamlining pilot.

Decisions during term (89)

Recorded while Carnahan was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approved5-0Oct 13, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-5

approved5-0Oct 13, 2026

Park Development Impact Fee Nexus Study and Fee Program Update (Item 6)

approvedVoted yes5-0Sep 22, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-7 (minutes, strategic plan update, financial report and budget adjustments, investment reports, user fee study RFP, warrants register, Grand Jury response letters)

approvedVoted no3-1-1Sep 22, 2026

Site Plan Review No. 2025-01 and Tentative Tract Map No. 19413 — 112-unit townhome development at 4691 Katella Avenue

approved5-0Sep 22, 2026

Approve Minutes of the August 25, 2026, City Council Workshop, the August 25, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting and August 26, 2026, Strategic Planning Meeting

approved5-0Sep 22, 2026

Receive an Update on the Strategic Plan Objectives

approved5-0Sep 22, 2026

Receive and File Register of Warrants, Transfers, and Wires Issued for the Period of August 8, 2026 through September 4, 2026

approvedVoted yes5-0Sep 8, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-4 and 7-8

approvedVoted yes3-2Sep 8, 2026

Item 5 — Amended City/District Loan Agreement with Interest Forgiven

approvedVoted no3-1-1Sep 8, 2026

Item 6 — Ordinance No. 1235, Los Alamitos Race Course Development Agreement

tabledVoted yes5-0Sep 8, 2026

Item 9 — Playground Design Standards Continued

approved5-0Aug 25, 2026

Consent Calendar (Agenda Items 1-14)

approvedVoted no3-1Aug 25, 2026

Los Alamitos Race Course Specific Plan 3.0 — EIR, Tract Map, Development Agreement

tabledAug 25, 2026

League of California Cities Voting Delegate (Item 16)

approved5-0Aug 25, 2026

Approve Minutes of the July 14, Regular City Council Meeting

approved5-0Aug 25, 2026

Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1233 Correcting and Amending Section 17-53 and 17-54 of the Municipal Code Related to Penalties for Violation and Civil Remedies for the Illegal Discharge of Fireworks

approvedAug 25, 2026

Receive an Update on the Strategic Plan Objectives

approvedAug 25, 2026

Receive and File Register of Warrants, Transfers, and Wires Issued for the Period of June 6, 2026 through August 7, 2026

approvedAug 25, 2026

Receive and File the Investment Reports for the Months Ended June 30, 2026 and July 31, 2026.

approved5-0Aug 25, 2026

Confirm Approval of Amendment Seven to the Cooperation Agreement with the County of Orange for Continued Participation in the Urban County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs for Fiscal…

Voting record (74)

67 yes7 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

approve Consent Calendar Items No. 1 through 5

Voted yesOct 13, 2026

adopt the Resolution, introduce the Ordinance for first reading, continue consideration of the second reading to the November 10, 2026, City Council Meeting and found that the project was not subject

Voted noSep 22, 2026

adopt the Resolutions approving Site Plan Review No. 2025-01 and Tentative Tract Map No. 19413 for a 112-unit townhome development at 4691 Katella Avenue

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-7 (minutes, strategic plan update, financial report and budget adjustments, investment reports, user fee study RFP, warrants register, Grand Jury response letters)

Voted noSep 22, 2026

Site Plan Review No. 2025-01 and Tentative Tract Map No. 19413 — 112-unit townhome development at 4691 Katella Avenue

Voted yesSep 22, 2026

approve Consent Calendar Items No. 1 through 7

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approve Consent Calendar Items No. 1 through 4, and 7 through 8

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

approve Agenda Item No. 5 with the modification to forgive interest for the duration of the loan

Voted noSep 8, 2026

approve Agenda Item No. 6

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

continue Agenda Item No. 9 with instructions that the Recreation and Parks Commission and staff address the issues raised by Mayor Pro Tem Chang and Council Member Burke

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

for city staff to continue their work with MIG, and that MIG to prepare three concept development plans for Baroldi Sycamore Park

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-4 and 7-8

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Item 5 — Amended City/District Loan Agreement with Interest Forgiven

Voted noSep 8, 2026

Item 6 — Ordinance No. 1235, Los Alamitos Race Course Development Agreement

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Item 9 — Playground Design Standards Continued

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Item 10 — Baroldi Sycamore Park Concept Plans

Moved the motion to proceed with MIG concept plans.

Voted noAug 25, 2026

Los Alamitos Race Course Specific Plan 3.0 — EIR, Tract Map, Development Agreement

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items No. 1 through 9

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

reopen the public hearing and continue consideration of the item to the City Council meeting of Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve the first reading of an ordinance correcting and amending Sections 17-53 and 17-54 of the Municipal Code related to penalties for violations and civil remedies for the illegal discharge of fir

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

approve the Solid Waste Franchise Agreement Performance Review and Amendment

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

adopt a resolution renewing Cypress Corporate Center Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 for FY 2026-27, pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972

Voted yesJul 14, 2026

Item 11 — Los Alamitos Race Course Specific Plan 3.0 Buildout (EIR, Tract Map, Development Agreement)

Believed residents would benefit from more time to review materials and submit feedback

Voted yesJun 23, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items No. 1 through 14

Voted yesJun 23, 2026

appoint City Commissioners and affirm the current Boards, Commissions, and Committees Policy Manual

Voted yesJun 23, 2026

introduce the first reading of an ordinance amending Section 17-52 of the Municipal Code related to the illegal discharge of fireworks, interlineating the penalty provisions modified to establish fine

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

adopt the FY-2026-2027 to 2032-33 seven-year capital improvement plan

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items No. 1 through 6

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-6

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Item 7: Receive Report on Vacant Positions and Recruitment

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

approve the first reading of an ordinance updating the order of business for City Council meetings

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

receive the report as presented

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

adopt the City of Cypress and the Cypress Recreation and Park District Fiscal Year 2026-27 budgets

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

approve the settlement agreement and authorize the City Manager to serve as the signatory

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

direct staff to return with a proposed ordinance addressing illegal fireworks enforcement for Council consideration

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Item 8: Adopt FY 2026-27 City and Park District Budgets (Resolutions 7052, 7053)

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Item 9: Adopt FY 2026-27 to 2032-33 Seven-Year Capital Improvement Program (Resolution 7054)

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Item 10: Approve Settlement Agreement in Marquez v. City of Cypress

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Item 11: First Reading of Ordinance Updating Order of Business

Voted yesJun 9, 2026

Item 12: Penalties for Illegal Fireworks — Direction to Staff

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items No. 1 through 9

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

adopt a Resolution ratifying a proclamation of a local emergency in regard to the Garden Grove chemical leak

Voted noMay 26, 2026

direct staff to prepare the necessary changes to the City Council meeting agenda structure as discussed

Voted noMay 26, 2026

Changes to City Council Meeting Agenda Structure (Item 12)

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items No. 1 through 7

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

approve the leasing and upfitting of five replacement vehicles

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 1-7

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

Leasing and Upfitting of Five Replacement Vehicles (EV Fleet Pilot)

Voted yesApr 28, 2026

approve plans and specifications and award contract for City Hall Executive Board Room improvements, Project 392

Voted yesApr 28, 2026

approve Consent Calendar items No. 1 through 11, and 13 through 14 with the correction to Agenda Item No. 1