CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 —6:30 p.m.
Meeting Conducted In Person and Via Zoom. 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
MOMENT OF SILENCE — In honor of Nancy Weingartner, Dick Ellsworth, Dr. Dennis Nicholson, Don Sturgis, and Scott Quackenbos.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, LEANO, MEDINA, STARK ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: NONE
LATE ARRIVAL COUNCILMEMBER: REECE (ARRIVED AT 6:32)
ALSO PRESENT Adam Pirrie, City Manager; Alisha Patterson, City Attorney; Jamie Earl, Assistant City Manager; Aaron Fate, Police Chief; Brad Johnson, Director of Community Development; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no closed session to report on.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council recognized Shoes That Fit 30th Anniversary.
Thomas Andersen, Planning Commissioner, and Melinda Gonzalez, Planning Commissioner, were introduced.
Nishil Bali, Finance Director; Melanie Martinez, Administrative Assistant; Brad Fliehmann, Building Official; Daniel Kim, Assistant Planner; Jennifer Earl, Community Improvement Officer; Stacy Lee, Planning Aide; Tamara Lezama, Administrative Assistant; Samuel Noah Flores, Sanitation Maintenance Craftsworker; Kyle,Jennings, Maintenance Craftsworker; and Lauren Bracamontes, Youth Program Coordinator; were introduced.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
Holidays This Month and Upcoming:
Labor Day, September 5th
Columbus Day, October 10th
City Council Minutes
September 13, 2022
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Item
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1. Appointments of Members to City Commissions
This item starts at 26:51 in the archived video.
Mayor Leano and Councilmember Reece highlighted the staff report.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
There were no requests to speak.
Councilmember Stark moved to make the following appointments:
Architectural Commission
Appoint Miles Bennett to a term to expire August 31, 2026 Appoint Juan Cervera to a term to expire August 31, 2026 Traffic and Transportation Commission
Appoint Buff Brown to a term to expire August 31, 2026
Seconded by Councilmember Calaycay, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
Council Assignment Reports
Councilmember Calaycay serves on the Clean Power Alliance Board of Directors and reported on battery infrastructure in Claremont.
Councilmember Stark thanked the community for conserving energy during the recent Flex Alerts.
Councilmember Reece reported on the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority related to necessary funding.
Mayor Leano announced that September is National Suicide Awareness Month. He encouraged all to participate in Tri City Mental Health's month-long programming for suicide awareness.
Councilmember Stark added that Tri City Mental Health is working to advocate for safe and sane gun laws and safe keeping of firearms. She also reported on the annual League of California Cities conference where they discussed local control.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 36:35 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie invited all to attend the City's 2022 Halloween Spooktacular on October 29, and provided information on the upcoming November 8, 2022 election.
City Council Minutes
September 13, 2022
' PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 39:42 in the archived video.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Jose Ochoa, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to help residents who are threatened with eviction.
Elaine Thompson shared that the owner of Claremont Vista Apartments (Monarch Terrace) intends to evict its residents to allow for renovations and a rent increase. She asked the City Council to help change no fault eviction laws.
Pamela Lee, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt an ordinance that will address no fault evictions and implement rent control.
Roberto Munoz, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to help residents who will be displaced by the owner of Monarch Terrace.
Lydia Hernandez asked the City Council to provide rental protection to its residents and specifically address the law regarding no fault evictions.
Joseph Lyons spoke in support of all Council candidates and asked that citizens hold incumbents and future incumbents accountable for their campaign promises.
Priscilla Espinoza, Claremont Helen Renwick Library, highlighted upcoming events taking place at the Library.
Anna Alvarez shared her concerns if evicted by Monarch Terrace.
Brian Trunik questioned when the City Council will review the Police Commission's hotel ordinance and raised concern regarding the issues taking place around the 10 Freeway.
Christine Alfaro asked the City Council to help address the law regarding no fault evictions.
Jessica Shears, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the comments made regarding no fault evictions as well as the concerns raised by Mr. Trunik. She asked the City Council to address human trafficking taking place in Claremont.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mr. Pirrie responded that the City is aware of issues taking place at the Monarch Terrace Apartments and is looking at options to assist residents.
Chief Fate highlighted actions of the Police Department to address issues that are taking place around the 10 Freeway.
Mr. Pirrie added that the proposed motel ordinance must first be reviewed by the Planning Commission. That meeting is tentatively scheduled for October. After Planning Commission review in October, the ordinance will be brought before the City Council for review.
City Council Minutes
September 13, 2022
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 1:20:19 in the archived video.
Councilmember Medina pulled Item No. 8 from the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Leano invited public comment on Consent Calendar Items No. 2-7 and 9.
There were no requests to speak.
2. Resignation of Police Commissioner Frank Bedoya
Accepted with regret the resignation of Frank Bedoya from the Police Commission.
3. Adoption of Resolutions Approving the City Warrant Register A. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-54, 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 August 4, 2022;
B. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-55, 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 August 18, 2022; and
C. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-56, 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 September 1, 2022.
4. City Council Minutes of July 26, 2022 (Regular) and August 30, 2022 (Special) Approved and filed the regular City Council meeting minutes of July 26, 2022 and the special City Council meeting minutes of August 30, 2022.
5. Resolution Reconfirming the Existence of a State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Adopted Resolution No. 2022-57, 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.
6. Appointment of Nishil Bali, City Treasurer, and Bibi Ameer, Deputy Treasurer Adopted Resolution No. 2022-58, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPOINTING A CITY TREASURER AND DEPUTY TREASURER.
7. Award of Contract to Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc., DBA West Valley MRF, LLC for Construction and Demolition Debris Processing (Funding Source: Sanitation Fund) Awarded a three-year contract with two optional one-year extensions to Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc. dba West Valley MRF, LLC for construction and demolition debris processing in an amount not-to-exceed $75,000 annually, and authorized the City Manager to execute the contract.
City Council Minutes
September 13, 2022
8. Award of Contract to Victor Stanley, Inc., for the Purchase of Dual-Stream Waste Receptacles at Identified Bus Stops Within the City (Funding Source: Foothill Transit Bus Stop Enhancement Program Grant and Proposition C Fund)
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar.
9. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funding from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park Wildfire Prevention Project (Funding Source: San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy)
Adopted Resolution No. 2022-59, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT
FUNDS FOR THE SAN GABRIEL AND LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVERS AND
MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY'S WILDFIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR THE CLAREMONT HILLS WILDERNESS PARK WILDFIRE PREVENTION PROJECT.
Councilmember Reece moved to approve Consent Calendar Items No. 2-7 and 9, seconded by Councilmember Calaycay, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
Item Removed from the Consent Calendar
8. Award of Contract to Victor Stanley, Inc., for the Purchase of Dual-Stream Waste Receptacles at Identified Bus Stops Within the City (Funding Source: Foothill Transit Bus Stop Enhancement Program Grant and Proposition C Fund)
Councilmember Medina pulled the item from the Consent Calendar to thank Councilmembers Calaycay and Reece for working with Foothill Transit to bring the receptacles into the community.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of the comments made by Councilmember Medina.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
There were no requests to speak.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to:
A. Award a contract to Victor Stanley, Inc. and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement in the amount of $43,936.41 for the purchase of fourteen dual- stream waste receptacles; and
B. Appropriate $40,000 in Foothill Transit Bus Stop Enhancement Program funding and$3,936.41 from the City's Proposition C Fund to fully fund the purchase; Seconded by Councilmember Medina, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
ORDINANCES - None
City Council Minutes
September 13, 2022
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM
10. City Council Direction Regarding the American Rescue Plan Act — Funded Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program (Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act) Alex Cousins, Management Analyst, gave a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions from the City Council regarding the average cost to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), average rent, ADU restrictions, incentive programs for existing ADUs, current number of ADUs constructed, potential covenants, goal of the potential grant program, affordability options, definition of homeowner, verification of homeowner, rent protection, Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) construction costs, and income level requirement.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Hilary Jacobs, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to include Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in its grant program.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council to consider a longer time period for the grant program instead of suggested three years.
Sarah Gilman believes there is a desperate need for housing and suggested the City consider Section 8 rentals. She questioned the rental requirements of the grant program and if the homeowner could rent out the main house and reside in the ADU.
The City Council recessed at 8:26 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 8:34 p.m.
There were no other requests to speak.
Councilmember Stark would like staff to look into affordable covenants for ADUs that have already been built and suggested that the grant program be income based so moderate- income households can contribute to solving the housing program.
Mr. Cousins continued to respond to questions from the City Council regarding income requirements and changes to income requirements that may need to be made.
Councilmember Reece believes that if the goal is to increase housing stock, everyone should be incentivized; however, he is okay prioritizing lower income applicants.
Councilmember Calaycay will reserve any judgement on the program until staff brings back a more concrete program to review. He raised concern regarding high rental rates and the inability to screen applicants to make sure the grants are being used properly.
Due to technical difficulties, public comment was reopened to allow for the comments made by Jim Jackson.
Jim Jackson stated that the City of Pasadena is offering loans to homeowners where the loan does not need to be repaid until the property is sold. He raised concern regarding the City's Inclusionary Housing Program and believes grants will go to developers.
City Council Minutes
September 13, 2022
City Manager Pirrie responded to Mr. Jackson's suggestion regarding loans being paid back after the sale of the property. That concept would not apply to this program as the funding will need to be expended by 2026.
Councilmember Medina shared that he is concerned with long term regulation of ADUs as well as short term rentals, which would be a burden to staff.
Mayor Leano stated that he has no issue with an income qualification program if the program is fully subscribed. If there is no subscription he would like to make sure the funds available are put towards housing.
City staff will take the City Council's direction regarding the American Rescue Plan Act-Funded Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program and bring back a draft program for City Council review at a future meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Leano adjourned the meeting of the Claremont City Council at 9:04 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., in the Claremo t Council C mber.
Mayor
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