CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, September 27, 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
ROLL CALL
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, LEANO, MEDINA, REECE, STARK
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: NONE
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; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Human Services; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Leano stated there was no reportable action from the 5:15 p.m. closed session meeting.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council recognized the Kiwanis Club of Claremont for their 2022 Monday Night Concert Series Event Sponsorship and the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Men's Golf Team for their 3rd Place finish at the 2022 NCAA Division III Champions.
Juan Cervera, Architectural Commissioner, and Buff Brown, Traffic and Transportation Commissioner, were introduced.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
Holidays This Month and Upcoming:
Columbus Day, October 10th
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Item
Council Assignment Reports
This item starts at 1:33:25 in the archived video.
City Council Minutes
September 27, 2022
Councilmember Calaycay announced that Foothill Transit will be rerouting Line 188 in the upcoming month.
Councilmember Stark announced that on October 5 all rides will be free on Foothill Transit in honor of Clean Air Day.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 1:35:13 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie reported on the City's utility box art project, the upcoming flu vaccine clinic on October 17, and the City's accessibility project on Claremont Boulevard and Monte Vista Avenue.
Councilmember Stark announced that the LA County Food Pantry will host a food distribution for senior adults on October 19 at the Joslyn Center.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 1:37:33 in the archived video.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Russ Binder encouraged all to listen to his podcast, Claremont Speaks.
Unidentified speaker encouraged all to participate in the next Planning Commission meeting regarding the draft motel/hotel nuisance ordinance. He provided the City Council a copy of the City of Long Beach's nuisance motel ordinance.
Elaine Thompson, Claremont resident, encouraged the City Council to adopt an ordinance that would address renovation and renewal evictions as well as no fault evictions.
Lydia Hernandez encouraged the City Council to adopt an ordinance that protects renters and helps address out of control rent increases.
Octavio Alfaro asked the City Council to help those residing at Monarch Terrace Apartments and spoke in support of rent control.
Priscilla Espinoza, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager, shared events and programs taking place at the Library.
Atlas spoke in support of renter protections and urged the City Council to enact rent stabilization.
Arim urged the City Council to adopt an ordinance that would address no fault evictions and enact rent stabilization.
Andy Schuster, Claremont resident, spoke in support rental-stability so those may remain in Claremont.
Jose Ochoa, Claremont resident, spoke in support of rent stabilization.
Gwen Tucker urged the City Council to enact rent stabilization and address the loophole in no fault evictions.
City Council Minutes
September 27, 2022
There were no other requests to speak.
City Manager Pirrie shared that staff is working on a draft ordinance to provide some renter protections and expects that ordinance to be brought before the City Council for review in October.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 2:04:21 in the archived video.
Mayor Leano announced that an errata sheet was distributed for Item No. 5 to address typographical errors in the report.
Mayor Leano invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
There were no requests to speak.
1. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2022-60, 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 15, 2022.
2. City Council Minutes of September 13, 2022 (Regular) Approved and filed the regular City Council meeting minutes of September 13, 2022.
3. Resolution Reconfirming the Existence of a State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Adopted Resolution No. 2022-61, 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.
4. Authorization to Amend the Professional Services Agreement for Legal Services with Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth to Increase Compensation (Funding Source: Successor Housing Fund)
A. Authorized the City Manager to amend the agreement for professional legal services with Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth to increase compensation in an amount not-to- exceed $200,000; and
B. Appropriated $100,000 from the Successor Housing Fund to fund the agreement.
5. Sustainability Annual Report 2021 (Funding Source: Various) Received and filed the 2021 Sustainability Annual Report.
Councilmember Stark moved to approve the Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilmember Calaycay, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
City Council Minutes
September 27, 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
6. Community Development Block Grant Program — Budget Amendment for 2022-23 and Housing Rehabilitation Program Guideline Modification (Funding Source: Community Development Block Grant Fund)
This item starts at 2:06:29 in the archived video.
Alex Cousins, Management Analyst, provided a PowerPoint.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
There were no requests to speak.
Councilmember Reece moved to:
A. Approve the 2022-23 Community Development Block Grant budget amendment to reallocate $50,000 from the Community Development Block Grant unallocated balance to the Housing Rehabilitation Program;
B. Approve the Housing Rehabilitation Program Guideline with the proposed modifications; and
C. Appropriate$50,000 in Community Development Block Grant unallocated balance to the Housing Rehabilitation Program;
Seconded by Councilmember Calaycay and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
ORDINANCES - None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM
7. Consider Approving a School Resource Officer Program Framework and a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Claremont and the Claremont Unified School District for a School Resource Officer Program to Operate within the Approved Framework (Funding Source: General Fund)
This item starts at 2:10:17 in the archived video.
Katie Wand, Assistant to the City Manager, highlighted the staff report.
Ms. Wand; Dr. James Elsasser, Claremont Unified School District (CUSD) Superintendent of Schools; Brad Cuff, CUSD Assistant Superintendent, Student Services; and Claremont Police Officer Brittany Sornborger, School Resource Officer(SRO); responded to questions from the City Council regarding programs and services currently offered by CUSD, CUSD relationship with Tri City Mental Health Authority, framework changes as proposed by CUSD, potential collaboration on the proposed framework, CUSD Equity Advisory Council, CUSD's involvement in the School Resource Officer Program, CUSD involvement in the working group, School Resource Officer involvement on school campuses, student and parent access to the School Resource Officer, interactions, and impact to other programs.
Lynn King-Tolliver and Medina Collie, representing the School Resource Officer Working Group, shared the working group's process and responded to questions from the City
City Council Minutes
September 27, 2022
Council regarding patrol on campuses, the working group's process for approving the proposed framework, and if public comment was received on the final framework.
The City Council recessed at 8:16 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 8:21 p.m.
Mayor Leano invited public comment.
Dr. Elsasser, CUSD Superintendent of Schools, added that he hoped Mr. Cuff had been more involved in the process as he believes Mr. Cuff would have been a value to the working. group.
Linda Mawby questioned the need for the SRO program to be reimagined and spoke in support of an SRO being present on school campuses.
Rick Reyes spoke in support of an SRO being present on campus.
Mary Lopez, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group.
Aithan Peterson, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as it addresses the concerns raised by students.
Noah Winnick asked the City Council to support the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as the proposed framework was created through a procedural process.
Jim Keith spoke against the proposed SRO Working Group framework as it goes against the City's community policing guidelines.
Bennett Rea spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group and questioned why the City would produce a different recommendation than that of the SRO Working Group.
Josue Barnes spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as it focuses on equity and antiracism.
Becky Maraiotta encouraged the City Council to approve the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as it focuses on equity.
Annie Gebhardt, Claremont resident, thanked the SRO Working Group for their efforts and spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group.
Stephani Sutherland, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as it reflects data and evidence shown to improve safety.
There were no other requests to speak.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as the group created a framework which previously did not exist. She would like the SRO to be used as a relationship builder and not be an intimidating presence on school campuses.
City Council Minutes
September 27, 2022
Councilmember Medina believes the term "large events" should be further defined and the framework should provide the SRO with clear and narrow guidelines.
Councilmember Reece believes that the SRO framework should work for both parties involved and added that the SRO officer is a 50-50 partnership.
Councilmember Calaycay spoke in support of the framework developed by the SRO Working Group as he does not want to undo the process.
City Manager Pirrie responded to additional questions from the City Council regarding the possibility of a CUSD rejection of a City Council approved framework, possibility for reviewing the program more than once a year as proposed, and City Council ability to work with CUSD on the proposed framework.
City Manager Pirrie suggested that the City Council consider re-enacting the six-pack, which would be comprised of two members of CUSD, two members of the City Council and two members of staff to review the framework.
Councilmember Stark would like the SRO Working Group to be involved with any additional review. -
Councilmember Reece agreed that the SRO Working Group should be involved with any further review. However, he is concerned that the CUSD Board of Education may reject the SRO Working Group's framework unless a negotiating team is created to review and finalize the framework.
Mayor Leano believes there is consensus from the City Council to honor the intention and goals of the SRO Working Group; however, now the City Council must find a way to negotiate an agreement with CUSD..
Councilmember Stark asked all to remember the time and dedication spent on this item by the Police Commission and the Working Group and would like to see if there is a majority to support the framework proposed by the SRO Working Group.
Councilmember Medina added that the framework could be rejected by CUSD and the City Council would end up reviewing the framework an additional time.
Councilmember Reece would like to find a way to finalize the contract so that it is not returned to the City Council.
Police Chief Fate confirmed that CUSD cannot implement their own school resource officer.
That position would be provided by the City even if CUSD fully funded the position.
Councilmember Stark moved to:
A. Approve the framework created by the School Resource Officer Working Group for the School Resource Officer Program; and
B. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Claremont Unified School District for the School Resource Officer program to operate within the approved framework, subject to approval by the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education, and authorize the City Manager to make non-substantive changes as need; Seconded by Councilmember Calaycay, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
City Council Minutes
September 27, 2022
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Stark
NOES: Councilmember— Reece
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Leano adjourned the meeting of the Claremont City Council at 9:44 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., in the Claremo Council amber.
Mayor
ATTEST:
•
D putt' City Clerk