2024-212
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF CHINO HILLS
OCTOBER 8, 2024
REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE MEETING AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Moran called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and requested City Clerk Balz to call roll.
PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: CYNTHIA MORAN
ART BENNETT
BRIAN JOHSZ
RAY MARQUEZ
PETER J. ROGERS
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ALSO PRESENT: BEN MONTGOMERY, CITY MANAGER
ELIZABETH CALCIANO, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
CHERYL BALZ, CITY CLERK
DANIEL BOBADILLA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
CHRISTA BUHAGIAR, FINANCE DIRECTOR
BRANDON FONACIER, COMMUNITY RELATIONS ANALYST II
NICOLE FREEMAN, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WENDI GENSEL, DEPUTY CITY CLERK II
ROD HILL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
MARIO JUAREZ, LIEUTENANT, CHINO HILLS POLICE
DEPARTMENT
NICHOLAS LIGUORI, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR
LYNNAE SISEMORE, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
DAVE WILLIAMS, FIRE CHIEF, CHINO VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG [01:16]
Led by Mayor Moran.
INVOCATION [01:53]
Led by Father Elmer, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church.
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CHINO HILLS CITY COUNCIL 2024-213 REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 8, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION - FIRE PREVENTION WEEK [04:24]
Mayor Moran presented a Proclamation proclaiming October 6-12, 2024, as Fire Prevention Week to Fire Chief Dave Williams.
Fire Chief Williams thanked the Council for the recognition and thanked his staff for mitigating fires, educating the public on fire prevention measures, and encouraged residents to check the batteries in their smoke alarms during daylight savings.
PROCLAMATION - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH [08:11] Mayor Moran presented a Proclamation proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to Chief Development Officer, Rhonda Beltran and Chief Executive Officer, Pat Bell of House of Ruth.
Ms. Bell and Ms. Beltran thanked the Council for the Proclamation and spoke about the prevalence of domestic violence and added that the House of Ruth resources are available to the public and the youth by calling their hotline or by visiting their website.
They invited the public the candlelight vigil on Thursday, October 24th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 599 North Main Street, Pomona, CA to honor those that have lost their lives to domestic violence.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER REPORT [11:58]
Public Information Officer (PIO) Freeman announced the following information:
• NEW MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
o The City is in the process of transitioning to a new emergency alerts mass notification system that is expected to go live by the end of the week
o This new platform allows users to receive critical emergency alerts and warnings, city news and events, agenda notices, and bid notifications via email or text in their preferred language
o Over 60 languages are available including English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish
o The new system also allows users to enter their Chino Hills address to receive tailored-location-specific alerts that may only affect small area of the City
o Users who are already subscribed to the City’s Notify Me alerts will be transferred to the new system and will continue to receive alerts
• RECREATION NEWS
o Residents and families are invited to join us in their best costumes for a free trick or treat event at The Shoppes on Thursday, October 31 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
o Children can enjoy trick-or-treating, craft stations, and a costume contest which will begin at 4:00 pm
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o Please remember to bring your own treat bag and more information can be found online at www.chinohills.org/Events
• GRAND AVENUE RINK/COURTS RESURFACING PROJECT COMPLETE o Grand Avenue Park hockey rink/pickleball courts resurfacing project is now complete and residents can enjoy the upgraded amenity with up to five courts for pickleball play as well as dedicated hours for roller hockey and roller derby
o To view the shared amenity schedule visit www.chinohills.org/Grand Following the announcement a short video was shown of the shared amenity.
PUBLIC COMMENTS [14:32]
Jim Gallagher, resident, shared his personal story regarding breast cancer within his family and suggested bringing the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk into the community next year to observe breast cancer awareness locally.
Mayor Moran stated that the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will be in the City of Chino this year.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST / LEVINE ACT ANNOUNCEMENTS [16:59] There were no conflict-of-interest or Levine Act announcements to record.
CITY DEPARTMENT BUSINESS
CONSENT CALENDAR [17:02]
Mayor Moran announced the Consent Calendar items and asked the Council if there were any items to pull.
Hearing none, a motion was made by Council Member Rogers and seconded by Council Member Marquez to approve the following Consent Calendar Items:
MINUTES
The City Council approved the September 24, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes, as presented.
PAYMENT REGISTER
The City Council ratified payments over $25,000 totaling $6,283,640.55 for the month ended August 31, 2024, as presented.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT
The City Council received and filed the Monthly Financial Report for the month ended August 31, 2024, as presented.
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CHINO HILLS CITY COUNCIL 2024-215 REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 8, 2024
CHINO HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - ORDINANCE ADOPTED The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 410 to amend the Chino Hills Municipal Code sections to reflect current practices of the City entitled: "An Ordinance of the City of Chino Hills, Amending Title 1 - General Provisions of the Chino Hills Municipal Code Chapter 1.18 - Administrative Citations; Title 2 - Administrative and Personnel Chapter
2.04 - City Council, Chapter 2.16 - City Treasurer, Chapter 2.36 - Planning Commission and Chapter 2.44 - Disaster Relief to Conform With Current Practices Including Outdated References, Official Record Proceedings, Certain Procedures; and Determine Project is Exempt From Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act" for second reading (introduced September 24, 2024).
CITY COUNCIL SALARY ADJUSTMENT - ORDINANCE ADOPTED
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 411 entitled: “An Ordinance of the City of Chino Hills, Amending Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.120 of the Chino Hills Municipal Code to Establish City Council Salary at One Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($1,900.00) Per Month (Operative December 14, 2024) for second reading (introduced September 24, 2024).
CHANGE ORDER NO. 3 TO AGREEMENT NO. A2024-043 - SIERRA VISTA DRIVE
AND DEL NORTE AVENUE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The City Council (1) authorized execution of Change Order No. 3 to Agreement No. A2024-043 with Hillcrest Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $44,620.50; (2) authorized the City Manager, at his discretion, to approve additional cumulative change orders up to $61,882.05 ten percent of the original contract amount; and (3) determined the project to be exempt from review as a Class 1(c) Categorical Exemption under California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as amended, Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. Seq ("CEQA") pursuant to Section 15301 of CEQA Guidelines.
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AGREEMENT NO. A2023-166 - SHADY VIEW
RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
The City Council authorized the execution of Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. A2023-166 with RMA Group, to provide Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Engineering Services for the Shady View Residential project, a 159-unit residential development located at the southern terminus of Shady View Drive, in the amount of $31,500, increasing the total agreement to a not-to-exceed amount of $120,700.
AGREEMENT - SERENITY GROVE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
The City Council authorized the execution of Agreement No. A2024-168 with RMA Group to provide Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Engineering Services for the Serenity Grove Residential Development Project located west of Canyon Hills
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Road and south of Esquilime Drive and Alpine Drive, for a total agreement not-to- exceed amount of $161,700, contingent upon the City's receipt of funding from the RMA Group.
Motion carried by electronic vote as follows:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MORAN, BENNETT, JOHSZ, MARQUEZ, ROGERS
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ITEMS INITIATED BY COUNCIL
PUBLIC SAFETY AD HOC COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED [17:34]
City Manager Montgomery briefed the Council on the staff report which is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Mayor Moran stated that she requested this committee be formed at the Safety Element workshop and expressed her interest in serving on the committee. She clarified the goal is to strengthen the City’s partnership with Chino Valley schools in case of an emergency during school hours and she would like to meet with the Superintendent and members of the Chino Valley Unified School Board on coordination efforts.
Council Member Rogers stated that although they would all like to be on it, he believes that Mayor Moran and Council Member Johsz would be appropriate to serve on the Committee and made the motion to appoint them.
Council Member Marquez requested more be done after this ad hoc Committee is established such as an on-going Public Safety Committee
Mayor Moran added that it can be revisited and discussed after six months.
Council Member Bennett added that the schools do not know what to do regarding an evacuation of the students and that this is important to coordinate.
Following discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Rogers and seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett to (1) establish a Public Safety ad hoc Committee to discuss and review various issues related to the General Plan Safety Element update; and
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(2) appointed Mayor Moran and Council Member Johsz to serve on the Public Safety ad hoc Committee.
Motion carried by electronic vote as follows:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MORAN, BENNETT, JOHSZ, MARQUEZ, ROGERS
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
PROCLAMATION - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH [21:05]
Mayor Moran presented a Proclamation proclaiming October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to Kimberly Carew of Peace, Love, and Tote.
Ms. Carew thanked the Council for the Proclamation and spoke about her personal story of battling breast cancer and how she started the Peace, Love, Tote Foundation and helping others in the community.
PLANNING COMMISSION MATTERS [24:17]
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. CUP-0004-2024 - 4050 CHINO HILLS PARKWAY Conditional Use Permit No. CUP-0004-2024 - 4050 Chino Hills Parkway, within the Chino Hills Shopping Center, Boqian, LLC, applicant: The Planning Commission adopted a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. CUP-0004-2024 to determine that the sale of alcoholic beverages for offsite consumption at Boqian Galleria Market, located at 4050 Chino Hills Parkway, serves the public convenience or necessity, and determining that the project is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, subject to Conditions of Approval.
There was no action taken on the foregoing Planning Commission item.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. CUP-0002-2024 - 2983 CHINO AVENUE SUITE A7 Conditional Use Permit No. CUP-0002-2024 - MS Lady Med Spa, 2983 Chino Avenue, Suite A7, located within the Rolling Ridge Plaza, Hong Juan Shan, applicant:
The Planning Commission adopted a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. CUP-0002-2024 for the operation of a massage establishment (MS Lady Med Spa) at 2983 Chino Avenue, Suite A7, and determining that the project is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, subject to Conditions of Approval.
There was no action taken on the foregoing Planning Commission item.
PUBLIC COMMENTS [24:50]
Janel Ruiz, Public Affairs Manager at Southern California Gas, formally introduced herself to the City Council. Council Member Marquez inquired with Ms. Ruiz about touring the first hydrogen house in Downey. Ms. Ruiz said she would gladly organize a tour.
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Daniel Vela, resident, spoke about the Code Enforcement violation letters received related to the Alterra Homeowners Association election signs and his previous request for a formal apology letter be sent to the homeowners translated in English, Spanish and Mandarin stating that no fines will be imposed, and the cases are closed which has gone unanswered and requested again for a letter to be sent.
Jasser, spoke about Gaza and Breast Cancer Awareness of Palestinians.
Assistant City Attorney Calciano stated that this was not about City business and asked the speaker to limit comments to City business.
Jasser continued to speak about Gaza and Palestinian cancer patients and asked the City to divest from the Caterpillar bond.
Sarah acknowledged the Tongva people and stated that today marks a year of the Genocide in Gaza.
Mayor Moran stated that the Council gives a lot of latitude to the speakers and that speakers can try to connect anything to anything. She asked that speakers be mindful of what the City Attorney is saying and to stick to City business.
Assistant City Attorney Calciano asked Sarah if she was speaking on divestment, and Sarah answered affirmatively.
Sarah continued her comments stating that the City to date has not taken steps to divest from Caterpillar, requested an apology for previous Islamophobic remarks made in the Council Chambers, and made additional comments not related to City business.
Assistant City Attorney Calciano asked that the last ten seconds of the speakers’ comments be disregarded as the comments were not related to City business.
SAFETY UPDATES [36:12]
Fire: Fire Chief Williams thanked the City Council, staff, and the community for attending the Chino Valley Fire District’s (CVFD) Open House on October 5th. He added that with the recent earthquakes and ongoing fires, he reminded the community about the importance of wildfire safety and emergency preparedness, more information can be found at www.readwildfire.org. He shared that CVFD actively participates in community events to provide fire safety information and will be at the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on Saturday, October 19th. He invited the City Council and staff to attend the CVFD State of the Fire District on Thursday, October 24th at Fire Station No. 61 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lastly, he shared that the CVFD in partnership with fire agencies, organized their first Annual Inland Empire Girls Empowerment Camp for girls ages 14 through 18 with purpose to engage teens to learn more about the field of fire service and career opportunities.
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Police: Lieutenant Juarez stated that San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department introduced their new Blue Envelope Program which is an initiative to enhance communication between law enforcement and community members. The program provides the individual with easy identifiable blue envelope or wearable products with program logo to allow them to be identified by law enforcement as having a condition or disability that require additional accommodations. The envelope will hold important information such as identification, emergency contact information and essential vehicle documents and can hold handwritten notes on how to communicate with the contact person. Lastly, this program is at no cost and volunteer and does not involve registration. Blue Envelopes are available at the Chino Hills station.
Council Member Johsz asked if at a future Council Meeting a blue envelope can be brought to show as an example.
COUNCIL REPORTS [40:24]
Mayor Moran
• CALIFORNIA INSTUTITION FOR MEN AND WOMEN’S CITIZEN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Mayor Moran attended the California Institution for Men Citizen Advisory Committee meeting, and said the Committee discussed the tattoo removal program, added that they hold fundraisers and give back to the committee, and spoke about the recent Re-entry Fair where those incarcerated can connect with outside resources in preparation for their upcoming release.
Council Member Johsz
• OMNITRANS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Council Member Johsz attended the Omnitrans Board of Directors meeting and said it was a standard meeting with the bulk of it being closed session regarding labor negotiations.
Council Member Marquez
• SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BOARD
Council Member Marquez attended the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Board meeting, and said the Board approved the US 395 Phase II Project to consider Resolution of Necessity for 12 properties in Hesperia and Victorville, approved an agreement with California Highway Patrol for Freeway Service Patrol and discussed the San Bernardino Council of Governments (COG) workplan and policies.
Council Member Rogers
• CHINO BASIN DESALTER AUTHORITY BOARD
Council Member Rogers attended the Chino Basin Desalter Authority Board and said the Board discussed closed session items.
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COUNCIL COMMENTS [42:19]
Marquez: Council Member Marquez spoke about attendance at Southern California of Associated Governments Imperial County Mobile Workshop tour in El Centro where they discussed Geothermal and a process to obtain lithium with anticipation to produce more lithium than what is produced in China. He attended the League of California Cities Latino Caucus Board of Directors meeting where he was appointed to the Advancing Equity Advisory Committee. He also attended Chino Hills State Park Discovery Center’s 10th Anniversary. He inquired with Community Services Director Marshall regarding the tennis courts at Ayala High School. Community Services Director Marshall responded that Ayala High School is working on a schedule for dates that courts will be available for use. He followed up and inquired about Vellano Park and the additional parking spaces. Community Services Director Marshall responded that now that the Grand Avenue Project is complete, the resurfacing and expansion of the parking at Vellano Park will commence on November 18th with a 4-6-week timeframe and during that time they will take advantage of the park closure to resurface the Pickleball courts. Lastly, he inquired with City Manager Montgomery regarding e- bikes going 25 mph on the sidewalks and if anything is being done about this. City Manager Montgomery responded that staff, the City Attorney’s office, and Police Department have all been researching how to regulate e-bikes and what makes sense and added that something regarding this topic will be brought back to Council in the future.
Johsz: Council Member Johsz congratulated Chino Hills High School for winning the Battle of the Bone football game.
Bennett: Vice Mayor Bennett announced the 17th Annual Music in Motion event is being held on October 12th at Ayala High School with bands from all over California.
He wished residents a Happy Yom Kippur and acknowledged Monday as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Lastly, he stated all Council Members will be at the Annual League of California Cities Conference in Long Beach next week.
Rogers: Council Member Rogers announced the 13th Annual Wine Walk at the Shoppes hosted by the Community Foundation on October 12th.
Moran: Mayor Moran asked the students in the audience to come to the podium and introduce themselves.
Mason Ford and Jack Perry, Seniors at Ayala High School, are attending the City Council Meeting for their government class to observe how Council meetings are conducted.
Cal Poly Pomona, Freshman student, stated he is attending the meeting for intro to California Government class.
Ashley, San Antonio Community College, stated he is attending for her American Politics class.
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Ayala High School, student, spoke about his class and learning how the government works and to give observations of how the meeting was run.
Mayor Moran recognized familiar faces, Sharon Stuewe, Joanne Genis, Bob Goodwin, Fire Board Member Sarah Ramos-Evinger and Fire Battalion Chief DeSoto in attendance at the meeting. She wanted to respond to the public comment earlier regarding the Alterra Homeowners Association (HOA) and stated that the last time she was Mayor she attempted to attend an HOA meeting, and she would like to attend a future meeting as their City representative.
ADJOURN IN MEMORIAM [54:07]
Mayor Moran adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. with deep gratitude, respect, and appreciation for the brave individuals who serve and have served in the Armed Forces.
Their selfless contributions protect us all. May we as a community continue to support and honor them.
Respectfully submitted,
CHERYL BALZ, CITY CLERK
APPROVED:
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