CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, February 22, 2022,— 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Conducted Via Zoom and Video Recording is Archived on the City Website https://www.ci.claremont.ca . us/government/city-council/watch-city-council-meetings
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Leano called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Pro Tempore Reece.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT VIA ZOOM COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, LEANO, MEDINA, REECE, STARK
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: NONE
ALSO PRESENT VIA ZOOM Adam Pirrie, City Manager; Alisha Patterson, City Attorney; Jamie Earl, Assistant City Manager; Aaron Fate, Police Chief; Brad Johnson, Director of Community Development; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Human Services; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no closed session meeting to report on.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jacqueline Castro, Accounting Supervisor; Eric Ey, Human Services Supervisor; and Raymond Garcia, Human Services Special Events Coordinator; were introduced.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Items - None
Council Assignment Reports
This item starts at 8:33 in the archived video.
Councilmember Reece reported he has been elected Chair of the Transportation Committee of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and provided updates on transportation projects and challenges. He invited the community to contact him if they wish to join the meetings as a public guest.
Mayor Leano reported that Tri -City Mental Health Authority will conduct an approximate two-month long recruitment for their Executive Director position for interested candidates.
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 11:11 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie reported that construction for the Oak Park Cemetery expansion will begin this week and continue through August 2022; announced the City's annual 4th of July event and festivities will return this year; and provided information on the small business grant program for businesses impacted by the COVID pandemic.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 14:00 in the archived video.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Joseph Lyons, Claremont resident, spoke on the draft 2021-2029 Housing Element and its inconsistencies with the 2006 General Plan, the Plan's subsequent revisions, and the Sustainability Plan, and asked the City Council facilitate the provision of low income housing to residents of Claremont.
Bryan Trunik, Claremont resident, raised concern regarding the negative issues as a result of residing near Motel 6, and the recent Eucalyptus tree removal from the motel property, despite restrictions.
Priscilla Espinoza, Claremont Helen Renwick Library, shared upcoming events taking place at the Library.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Leano closed public comment.
City Manager Pirrie responded that the tentative schedule for bringing the draft Housing Element and associated EIR forward to the Planning Commission is April 19, 2022. May 3, 2022 is being held as a possible second meeting date for the Planning Commission. City Council review is then tentatively scheduled for the May 24, 2022 meeting.
Councilmember Medina provided information regarding concerns arising at Motel 6.
City Manager Pirrie stated that the City Council at the recent workshop established improving the general motel area as a priority.
Councilmember Calaycay inquired if the corporate offices of Motel 6 have been informed as this operator negatively affects their brand as a family -friendly chain.
City Manager Pirrie stated an approach is under development and contacting thhe parent companies is an excellent idea.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 27:10 in the archived video.
Mayor Pro Tempore Reece removed Item No. 7 from the Consent Calendar.
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
Mayor Leano invited public comment on Consent Calendar Items No. 1-6 and 8.
There were no requests to speak.
Mayor Leano closed public comment.
1. Resignation of Architectural Commissioner Paul Slaney Accepted with regret the resignation of Paul Slaney from the.Architectural Commission.
2. Adoption of a Resolution Approving City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2022-12, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AND SPECIFYING THE FUNDS OUT OF WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE PAID, dated February 17, 2022.
3. City Council Minutes of February 5, 2022 and February 8, 2022 (Special and Regular) Approved and filed the special City Council meeting minutes of February 5, 2022, and the regular City Council meeting minutes of February 8, 2022.
4. Resolution Reconfirming the Existence of a State of Emergency Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Adopted Resolution No. 2022-13, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, RECONFIRMING THE EXISTENCE OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
5. City of Claremont Annual Financial Reports for the Year Ended June 30, 2021 Received and filed the following letters and financial reports for the year ended June 30, 2021:
A. Audit Communication and Management Letters;
B. Auditor Letter on Internal Controls;
C. Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR);
D. Transportation Fund Financial Statements;
E. Area Agency on Aging (Senior Nutrition Program) Financial Statements; and F. Auditor Letter on GANN Limit Calculation.
6. Reject Bids for Residential Electronic Waste Collection Services and Update the Bulk Item Pickup Guidelines to Allow Electronic Waste Disposal (Funding Source: Sanitation Fund) Directed staff to reject all bids received for residential electronic waste collection services and update the City's Bulk Item Pickup Guidelines to allow electronic waste disposal.
7. Award of Contract to Dash Construction Company. Inc., for the 2021-22 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project to Provide Sidewalk Repair and Replacement Services (Funding Source: Measure R Fund)
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar.
8. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizina Willdan Financial Services to Prepare the 2022-23 Landscape and Lighting District Annual Report (Funding Source: Landscape and Lighting District Fund)
Adopted Resolution No. 2022-14, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, AS ENGINEER OF RECORD, TO PREPARE AND FILE THE 2022-23 ANNUAL REPORT
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
PERTAINING TO LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. LL001 (PURSUANT TO THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972).
Councilmember Calaycay moved to approve Consent Calendar Items No. 1-6, and 8, seconded by Councilmember Reece.
Councilmember Stark expressed gratitude to the Finance Department for the annual reports, and Community Services for taking a -waste in-house to save the community money.
The motion carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
7. Award of Contract to Dash Construction Company, Inc., for the 2021-22 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Proiect to Provide Sidewalk Repair and Replacement Services (Funding Source: Measure R Fund)
This item starts at 30:03 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie responded to questions from Councilmember Reece related to supplemental budgeting to address the initial phase of sidewalk repair work caused by the windstorm; potential for an additional funding request for sidewalk repair in the future; and the Claremont Boulevard sidewalk and street ADA design project and possible expansion in scope of the project.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
There were no requests to speak.
Mayor Leano closed public comment.
Councilmember Stark moved to:
A. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with DASH Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $289,377, and authorize a project contingency of $30,623, for a total of $320,000 to provide sidewalk repair and replacement services between Scripps Drive and the 210 Freeway between Towne Avenue and Mountain Avenue, Mountain Avenue between Base Line Road and Foothill Boulevard, and other identified locations throughout the City; B. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with RKA Consulting Group in the amount of $25,000 for monument preservation and project inspection services; and
C. Appropriate an additional $45,000 in Measure R Funds to fully fund the project.
Seconded by Councilmember Reece, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM
10. - 2021-22 Mid -Year Budget Report
This item starts at 34:00 in the archived video and was taken out of numerical order due to the time specific nature of Public Hearing Item No. 9, which is heard later in the meeting.
City Manager Pirrie gave a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions from the City Council regarding workers compensation insurance premium payment accounting, possible Cal OES funding for windstorm disaster reimbursement, and the ability to identify transit occupancy tax by hotel.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Joseph Lyons commended the City Council on its selection of Adam Pirrie as City Manager, and Mr. Pirrie for his ability to oversee the finances of the City and expressed hope to reinstitute relationships with community-based organizations and the homelessness program.
Sue Keith asked what reserves are for if not for emergencies like this and hopes to reinstate what Mr. Lyons discussed without using reserves; she urged the City Council to work with the Human Services Department to perform an assessment of the needs in the community.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Leano closed public comment.
City Manager Pirrie responded to questions related to the reserve policy as it pertains to natural and fiscal emergencies, the recommendation for the use of those reserves in the interim while waiting for Cal OES determination; however, as a policy and practice staff will continue to look to increase reserves until at least the twenty-five percent threshold is reached to be properly funded and to be prepared for potentially an even more devastating event.
The City Council received and filed the 2021-22 Mid -Year Budget Report.
The City Council recessed at 7;41 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 8:03 p.m.
Mayor Leano thanked the Human Services Department for leading the Point in Time homeless count this evening, which is a critical component in the City's effort to address homelessness and provide critical analysis of efforts and solutions.
PUBLIC HEARING
9. Discussion and Selection of Draft Redistricting Map(s) for Further Consideration (Funding Source General Fund)
This item starts at 1:30:40 in the archived video.
Shelley Desautels, City Clerk, highlighted the staff report.
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
Doug Johnson, National Demographic Corporation ("NDC"), gave a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions from the City Council regarding district representation of minority groups, the Santa Monica districting lawsuit challenge, jurisdictions with an at -large seat combined with by -district seats, and the ability to return to an at -large election method.
Robert McEntire, NDC, gave an online presentation of the draft maps presented and their associated demographics.
Doug Johnson and Robert McEntire received input and responded to questions from the City Council regarding adjustments to Maps 102 and 104 to more accurately capture community input related to neighborhood orientation, and Maps 104 and 105 to capture the historic Village area; whether census blocks have the potential to work against keeping neighborhoods together; amendment to Map 105 to place South Village in District 5; maximum allowable deviation among the districts; and keeping the historic Arbol Verde community together in District 5
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Joseph Lyons spoke in support of at -large elections but expressed support for Map 106 because it appeared to be the least impactful.
Karen Rosenthal, Claremont resident, stated the historic Village area south of Foothill, east of Mountain, west of College, and down to First Street in the existing map was split into two districts, and all the proposed maps have the area split into several districts, and further stated Indian Hill should not be a dividing point for the districts; horizontal districts would be preferred; and the existing map and the draft maps cause her neighborhood to be completely disassociated from historic Claremont and the Village.
Jim Keith, as a District 5 resident, he believes there are benefits to having districts.
Councilmembers focus on issues in their area, and previously there were not many commission members from the District 5 area.
Jennifer Jaffe stated she was discouraged that none of the concerns she had expressed were addressed until City Councilmember comments this evening and asked that lateral communities of interest be examined as well as longitudinal ones. She also inquired how the college student population was factored in.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Leano closed the public hearing and returned the discussion to the City Council.
Councilmember Calaycay asked if College Avenue across to Mountain and south of Foothill, and as far as First Street or Harrison Avenue could be shown united as part of constituents' requests.
Councilmember Stark expressed she was having difficulty with these maps, and districting in general because a community the size of Claremont has so many shared interests. She inquired if her colleagues were interested in drawing a map that does not keep Councilmembers in their respective districts for the sake of discussion, possibly altering Map 101.
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
Councilmember Calaycay expressed his desire to see a change in the law or wait for the courts to rule in a way to provide a path for the City to return to at -large elections. He also expressed concerns that significant alterations to current districts, such as those proposed in Map 101, would require certain Councilmembers whose terms end in 2022 to wait until 2024 to run for office again, so voters would not have the opportunity to re-elect representatives they had elected in 2020. This would mean a Latino candidate (Mayor Pro Tempore Reece) would not be eligible to run in the 2022 election, which seems contrary to the purpose of the California Voting Rights Act. Councilmember Calaycay asked that consideration be given to address concerns raised to the extent possible but wanted to exercise caution to avoid creating other issues.
Mayor Pro Tempore Reece supported comments made by Councilmember Calaycay regarding dramatically changing districts, and if any draft maps were to be eliminated, he was inclined to eliminate 101 and 101 -revised.
Councilmember Medina indicated that he believed the intent of the current districts was to ensure all Councilmembers would have a stake in the Village and college community, but the Village does not appear to be identified as a community of interest. He feels the Village should be identified as a community of interest and believes that while Councilmembers represent the City from corner to corner, districting has produced a second candidate from south of the railroad tracks, and also creates different vantage points and an ability to walk and drive through the micro -communities.
Councilmember Stark proposed also eliminating Map 103 which cuts out Arbol Verde and Village South from District 5 and brings District 1 all the way to Arrow Highway.
Doug Johnson and Robert McEntire responded to questions regarding Map 103 boundaries and ethnic composition in comparison to Map 104.
Doug Johnson proposed that after receiving City Council feedback, that NDC revise Maps 101 through 105 to incorporate the ideas and goals expressed.
Mayor Leano expressed appreciation for NDC's recognition that the finer points need to be incorporated into adjustments and would like to see other options.
Councilmember Calaycay stated that conducting district elections is also problematic because it precludes candidates from being able to run in back-to-back elections and have an opportunity to serve the community, and he reiterated his hope to work with legislators to see if there can be clean-up legislation to allow smaller cities, like Claremont to have at - large elections.
Mayor Pro Tempore Reece requested NDC return with a selection of revised maps, including one with minimal changes and other more compacted maps addressing concerns raised.
Councilmember Stark agreed with Councilmember Calaycay regarding at -large elections and stated the City should continually commit to providing a way for the City to have a diverse City Council, including using the commission process as is way to "build the bench", providing interested persons a way to be tapped for service. She supported Mayor Pro Tempore Reece's ideas for revised maps.
City Council Minutes
February 22, 2022
Councilmember Medina revisited the goals for drawing maps, including keeping communities of interest together.
Mayor Leano noted that when you population balance, there is an unavoidable amount of voter disruption, and asked NDC to quantify how many voters are to be affected with each new proposed map. He also asked that if maps re -orient the vertical foundational schematic that was used when the original district map was voted on, he would like that information to also be provided.
Councilmember Stark noted that the current map that the City Council approved in 2019 was not selected by a unanimous vote.
Councilmember Calaycay identified new housing developments in the City that will lead to population growth in certain districts in the near future.
The City Council provided direction to National Demographic Corporation to revise the draft maps based on City Council feedback and community input, and that a second public hearing on the draft maps be conducted on March 8, 2022.
ORDINANCES - None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM
10. 2021-22 Mid -Year Budget Report
This item was heard earlier in the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Leano adjourned the meeting of the Claremont City Council at 9:52 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., via Zoom.
Mayor
AT EST:
uty City Clerk