CITY OF
BIG BEAR LAKE California
SICORPORATED INS
Regular Meeting Minutes - March 11, 2026
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Big Bear Lake was called to order by Mayor Putz at 4:10 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Civic Center, 39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, California.
OPEN SESSION
Flag Salute: Led by Councilmember Hicks
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Randall Putz
Mayor Pro Tem Kendi Segovia
Councilmember Rick Herrick
Councilmember Charles Hicks, Jr.
Councilmember Perri Melnick
Others Present: City Manager Erik Sund
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Erica Stephenson
Administrative Services Manager Rachel Bowman
City Attorney HongDao Nguyen
CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Daniel Gulbranson, Big Bear Lake resident, expressed his dissatisfaction with the City's leadership.
At the hour of 4:13 p.m., Mayor Putz called for a recess to Closed Session.
At the hour of 5:09 p.m., Mayor Putz resumed Open Session.
RESULTS OF CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney HongDao Nguyen, announced that the City Council discussed the following item in Closed Session and stated that no reportable action was taken by the City Council.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Name of Negotiators: City Manager Erik Sund and Assistant City Manager Erica Stephenson Name of Organization: Teamsters Local 1932
PRESENTATIONS
• The following New Employee Introductions were made at this meeting:
• Jake Sheffield, Information Technology Manager - Management Services Department • Michelle Bogner, Accountant II - Finance/Treasury Department • Presentation of a 10-year Employee Service Award to Cynthia Valenzuela, Street Maint. Worker II, in the Public Works Department.
• Presentation of a 5-year Employee Service Award to Tim Richards, Street Maint. Worker I, in the Public Works Department.
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March 11, 2026
• Presentation of a 5-year Employee Service Award to Casidey Samples, Management Analyst, in the Management Services Department.
• Presentation of the City's 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) by Director of Finance Dena Heald.
OPEN SESSION PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Daniel Gulbranson, Big Bear Lake resident, expressed his frustration with the City's management and operations; stated he supports the City establishing a Caltrans Ad Hoc Committee.
Linda Lapidus, Big Bear Lake resident, provided background information related to her rental property and expressed her concerns regarding how the eviction process was being handled for this property.
Norman Lapidus, Big Bear Lake resident, provided additional thoughts and information related to the eviction process for his rental property.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Councilmember Hicks, seconded by Councilmember Melnick to pull Item 1.5 from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Said motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Segovia, Hicks, Melnick, Herrick, Putz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
A motion was made by Councilmember Herrick, seconded by Councilmember Melnick to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar as follows:
1.1 APPROVE DEMANDS - CHECK ISSUE DATE 1/23/26 THROUGH 2/28/26 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,452,125.39 AND THE JANUARY 2026 TREASURER'S REPORT Approved.
1.2 APPROVE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 11, 2026 SPECIAL
MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
Approved.
1.3 APPROVE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 11, 2026 REGULAR
MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
Approved.
1.4 APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY, PROCEDURES, AND
RULES OF ORDER MANUAL
Approved and adopted the following resolution entitled:
Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2026
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-04
RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY,
PROCEDURES, AND RULES OF ORDER MANAUAL
1.5 APPROVE ESTABLISHING A CALTRANS AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar.
1.6 AUTHORIZE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT - BEAVER BADGER
PARKING LOT PROJECT
Approved and adopted the following resolution entitled:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-06
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH SWA DESIGN GROUP FOR DESIGN SERVICES
RELATED TO THE BEAVER BADGER PARKING LOT PROJECT
The Consent Calendar, ex lud and Couns was apted by the olowing mote, with Councilmember AYES: Herrick, Melnick, Segovia, Hicks, Putz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
1.5 APPROVE ESTABLISHING A CALTRANS AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Hicks, seconded by Councilmember Melnick, for further discussion.
Councilmember Hicks requested to be appointed to serve on the Caltrans Ad Hoc Subcommittee along with the City's San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Delegate Councilmember Herrick
Following City Council's comments, a motion was made by Councilmember Hicks and seconded by Councilmember Herrick, to adopt a resolution approving the establishment of a Caltrans Ad Hoc Subcommittee and appoint Councilmember Herrick and Councilmember Hicks to serve on this committee in 2026.
Approved and adopted the following resolution entitled:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-05
RESOLUTION CREATING AND APPOINTING A
CALTRANS AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE
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March 11, 2026
Said motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Melnick, Herrick, Segovia, Hicks, Putz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
2. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
2.1 APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT City Manager Erik Sund made a brief staff presentation for this item.
Following the presentation, Mayor Putz invited up speakers who wanted to make a public comment on this item. The following individual approached the City Council:
Daniel Gulbranson, Big Bear Lake resident, congratulated the new City Attorney; inquired about municipal regulations.
After Public Comment, a motion was made by Councilmember Melnick, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Segovia, to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Agreement with Best Best & Kreiger (BBK) to provide City Attorney Legal Services, thereby appointing BBK Partner HongDao Nguyen as the City Attorney.
Said motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Segovia, Melnick, Hicks, Herrick, Putz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
EXCUSED: None
2.2 LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY BILL (AB) 1708 (SOLACHE)
Economic Development Analyst Jessika Leverich made a staff presentation for this item.
Following the presentation and City Council questions, Mayor Putz invited up speakers who wanted to make a public comment on this item. The following individuals approached the City Council:
Theodore Trentman, Big Bear resident, requested the City Council approve this Letter of Support.
Daniel Gulbranson. Big Bear Lake resident, indicated that he opposes this item.
Kyle Biethan. Big Bear Lake resident, stated that he thinks the previous two speakers provided good input related to this item.
After Public Comment and City Council discussion, a motion was made by Councilmember Melnick, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Segovia, to approve a Letter of Support for AB 1708 (Solache) Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) Pathways for Cities Act.
Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2026
Said motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Segovia, Herrick, Melnick, Putz
NOES: Hicks
ABSTAIN: None
EXCUSED: None
2.3 AUTHORIZE SUBMISSION OF THE 2025 GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING
ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS
Community Development Manager Andrew Mellon made a staff presentation for this item.
Following the presentation, Mayor Putz invited up speakers who wanted to make a public comment on this item. The following individual approached the City Council:
Daniel Gulbranson, Big Bear Lake resident, expressed his frustration regarding the state's mandates on local government.
After Public Comment, a motion was made by Councilmember Herrick, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Segovia, to approve staff's recommendation and adopt the following resolution entitled:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-07
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THE 2025
GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTS
Said motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Melnick, Herrick, Hicks, Segovia, Putz
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
EXCUSED: None
3. COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, & ADDITIONAL CITY BUSINESS
• CITY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Assistant City Manager / City Clerk Stephenson congratulated HongDao Nguyen on her appointment as the City's new City Attorney.
City Attorney Nguyen thanked the City Council for approving her appointment to the City Attorney position.
City Manager Sund, also congratulated City Attorney Nguyen on her new role with the City; and announced that the General Plan amendment process officially "kicked off" during the March 10 Special Meeting.
• COUNCILMEMBER BOARD/COMMITTEE REPORTS & COMMENTS
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March 11, 2026
Mayor Pro Tem Segovia took the opportunity to welcome City Attorney Nguyen; announced that she participated in the recent West End Redevelopment Advisory Committee meeting; and provided an update on the GPAC meetings.
Councilmember Melnick provided an update on the West End Redevelopment Advisory Committee re-launch meeting.
Councilmember Herrick reported on a SBCTA meeting; he also shared that he attended a BBARWA budget workshop; and provided information on a Nay Foundation meeting.
Mayor Putz shared that he attended a SCTA and LAFCO Selection Committee meeting last week; he announced that he attended a League of California Cities Board meeting; he further shared that he participated in the annual North Shore Elementary School Read-A-Thon; and he also provided an update on the GPAC meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council at this Regular Meeting, Mayor Putz adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m., in memory of Hans Bandows, Sandy Steers and Dave Griffiths.
Euca Stephenson
Erica Stephenson, City Clerk