CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 —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-cou ncil-meetings
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Reece called the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE— In honor of Sandy Baldonado.
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; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Nishil Bali, Finance Director; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Human Services; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Patterson stated there was no reportable action from the 5:15 p.m. closed session meeting.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council recognized Brian Bowcock, for his service as Three Valley Municipal Water District Board Member.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Item
1. Appointment of Members to the Sustainability Committee This item starts at 1:45:43 in the archived video.
Mayor Reece highlighted the staff report.
Mayor Reece invited public comment.
There were no requests to speak.
City Council Minutes
March 14, 2023
Councilmember Stark moved to appoint Ethan Reznik, Isabel Ebiner, and Heather Meier to the Sustainability Committee, each to a four-year term, which will expire on January 31, 2027, 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
This item starts at 1:48:27 in the archived video.
Mayor Reece reported that he attended the American Public Transportation Association Legislative Conference.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 1:49:46 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie reported that the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park will remain closed until the rain has ceased and the park can be evaluated. He invited all to attend the City's Spring Celebration on April 8 and the Heart of the Foothills event on April 23.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 1:51:44 in the archived video.
Mayor Reece invited public comment.
Jose Ochoa asked that the tenant protection ordinance address no-fault evictions, harassment protections, potential rent caps, and property owners charging for trash and water.
Lydia Hernandez spoke in support of the upcoming tenant protection ordinance and asked that the ordinance address no-fault evictions, harassment, and rent stabilization.
Unidentified speaker spoke in support of the comments made regarding the upcoming tenant protection ordinance.
Amelia Thompson asked that the draft language in the tenant protection ordinance favor the tenant, not the landlord.
Priscilla Espinoza, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager, shared upcoming events taking place at the Library.
Barnabas Path, Claremont resident, raised concern regarding the Italian Stone Pine, Red Ironbark Eucalyptus, and Canary Island Pine mitigation plan, as the plan did not follow or address the City's Tree Policy Manual.
Ross Pringle, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the comments made by those regarding tenant protections.
City Council Minutes
March 14, 2023
Daniel Torres expressed concern regarding excess fees renters are being charged for water and trash and looks forward to working with the City Council on this issue.
There were no other requests to speak.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 2:13:19 in the archived video.
Mayor Reece invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
Buff Brown, Claremont Streets For People, spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 9 and asked the City Council to vote against staff's recommendation as the proposed design is car driven and detrimental to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Ross Pringle spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 9 and spoke in support of the comments made by Mr. Brown.
There were no other requests to speak.
Councilmember Calaycay pulled Item No. 9 from the Consent Calendar.
2. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2023-17, 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 March 2, 2023.
3. City Council Minutes of February 28, 2023 (Regular) Approved and filed the regular City Council meeting minutes of February 28, 2023.
4. Claremont Tourism Business Improvement District Annual Report (Funding Source:
General Fund)
Received and filed the Claremont Tourism Business Improvement District Annual Report.
5. Claremont Dial-A-Ride Agency Safety Plan (Funding Source: Transportation Fund) A. Adopted the Claremont Dial-a-Ride Agency Safety Plan; B. Directed staff to notify Caltrans that the City of Claremont has adopted its own safety plan and is opting out of the Caltrans-developed plan; and C. Directed staff to submit the Claremont Dial-a-Ride Agency Safety Plan to the Federal Transit Administration.
6. Claremont Dial-A-Ride Short-Range Transit Plan (Funding Source: Transportation Fund) Approved the 2022-24 Short-Range Transit Plan.
7. Award of Contract to National Auto Fleet Group for the Purchase of One Ford Explorer Police Patrol Unit(Funding Sources: Motor Fleet Fund and Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund)
A. Awarded a contract to National Auto Fleet Group in the amount of $55,100.32 for the purchase of one Ford Police Interceptor Utility and authorized the City Manager to execute the contract; and
City Council Minutes
March 14, 2023
B. Appropriated $55,100.32 from the Motor Fleet Fund and $22,400 from the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund to complete the purchase and upfitting of the new vehicle.
8. Historical Property (Mills Act) Agreement #22-MA03 Between the City of Claremont and Emilie and Daniel Reagan, Property Owners of 353 West Sixth Street A. Approved a Historical Property(Mills Act)Agreement between the City of Claremont and Emilie and Daniel Reagan, property owners of 353 West Sixth Street; and B. Found that this item is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
9. Authorization to Enter Into a Professional Services Agreement with Advantec Consulting Engineers for Professional Engineering Services for the First/Last Mile Traffic Signal Improvements at Arrow Highway and Bucknell Avenue (Funding Source: Proposition C Fund)
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Stark moved to approve Consent Calendar Items No. 2-8, seconded by Councilmember Leano, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember- Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember- None
Item Removed from Consent Calendar
This item starts at 2:20:13 in the archived video.
9. Authorization to Enter Into a Professional Services Agreement with Advantec Consulting Engineers for Professional Engineering Services for the First/Last Mile Traffic Signal Improvements at Arrow Highway and Bucknell Avenue (Funding Source: Proposition C Fund)
City Manager Pirrie and City Engineer Maria Tipping responded to questions from the City Council regarding design process, input from the Traffic and Transportation Commission, coordination with other cities, other companies available to perform these services, bicycle flow, community engagement on future street design, and Arrow Highway street improvements.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to:
A. Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with Advantec Consulting Engineers in the amount of$57,370 for the preparation of engineering plans and specifications for the traffic signal improvements project, and authorize a ten percent contingency in the amount of$5,737 for a total amount not to exceed$63,107;
B. Appropriate $63,107 from the Proposition C Fund to fully fund the design of the project; and
C. Find this item exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA);
Seconded by Councilmember Medina, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember- Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember- None
City Council Minutes
March 14, 2023
PUBLIC HEARING
10. Amendment to Claremont Municipal Code Title 16 That, If Adopted, Will: (1) Repeal Section
16.051.050 Titled Hotels/Motels; (2) Replace Section 16.051.050 with Chapter 16.101, Titled Hotels/Motels; and (3) Amend and Add New Sections to Chapter 16.900 (Definitions) Pertaining to Hotels and Motels (Collectively Referred to as the "Hotel/Motel Ordinance") This item starts at 2:39:24 in the archived video.
Katie Wand, Assistant to the City Manager, gave a Point Presentation.
Mayor Reece invited public comment.
Andrew Behnke spoke against the proposed ordinance as written. He believes the ordinance should have been a nuisance ordinance targeting hotel/motels that are problematic instead of negatively affecting hotels/motels that are following the rules.
Bryan Trunik spoke in support of the proposed ordinance, except for the provision that if physical improvements are required, hotels/motels may be granted an extension of up to one additional year.
Sonja Stump spoke in support of the proposed ordinance; however, asked that Section
16.101.070, Paragraph E, be removed from the proposed ordinance as the volume of calls for service should be used as evidence that a hotel/motel is a public nuisance.
Jim Keith, Safe and Healthy Housing Committee Chair, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance and asked that Section 16.101.070, Paragraph E, be removed.
Wendy Romallo spoke in support of the proposed ordinance and looks forward to enforcement of the ordinance. She also suggested that Section 16.101.070, Paragraph E, remain in the ordinance as the statement is broad.
Virginia, Claremont resident, shared her negative experiences residing near Motel 6 and asked that the ordinance remove the section regarding the possibility of an extension.
Caleb Mason, Police Commissioner, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance; however, asked that Section 16.101.070, Paragraph E, be removed.
Nona Tirre Miranda, Police Commissioner, spoke in support of the comments made by Mr.
Mason.
Jimmy Elrod, Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters, asked that the ordinance be amended to include a provision that the City require the use of a local workforce.
Charles Hepperle, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance; however, asked that Section 16.101.070, Paragraph E, be removed or amended.
Sue Keith shared negative experiences of those residing near Motel 6.
There were no other requests to speak.
City Council Minutes
March 14, 2023
The City Council recessed at 8:58 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 9:06 p.m.
City Attorney Patterson; Aaron Fate, Chief of Police; and Ms. Wand continued to respond to questions from the City Council regarding Section 16.101.070 E in the proposed ordinance, re-renting of a room, minimum stay, calls for service, process for Conditional Use Permit exceptions, possible penalties or fines, and possibility of a discounted Conditional Use Permit application fee.
Councilmember Calaycay suggested removing Section 16.101.070 E, reducing the Conditional Use Permit application fee for hotels/motels to a flat fee of $1,250, half of the current application fee, and expediting the Conditional Use Permit process.
City Manager Pirrie confirmed that City staff will prioritize Conditional Use Permit applications received from hotels/motels and if the Conditional Use Permit application is received within the first sixth months after adoption of the proposed ordinance, the City will reduce the application fee to a flat fee of$1,250.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of an expedited process for hotels/motels that are in good standing and reducing the Conditional Use Permit application fee for hotels/motels.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of reducing fees, streamlining the Conditional Use Permit process, and suggested the City Council receive an update on the hotel/motel ordinance and Conditional Use Permit process in the next six months to a year.
Councilmember Medina spoke in support of the proposed ordinance as it is comprehensive and will be beneficial to the community. He spoke in support of an expedited Conditional Use Permit process as well as reducing the application fee charged for a Conditional Use Permit.
Mayor Reece spoke in support of the comments made by his fellow Councilmembers and added that the proposed helps address quality of life issues.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to:
A. Introduce for first reading, and that reading be by title only AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 16 OF THE CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE TO: (1) REPEAL SECTION 16.051.050 TITLED "HOTELS/MOTELS"; (2) REPLACE SECTION 16.051.050 WITH A NEW CHAPTER 16.101 TITLED "HOTELS/MOTELS"; AND (3) AMEND EXISTING AND ADD NEW SECTIONS TO CHAPTER 16.900 (DEFINITIONS) PERTAINING TO HOTELS AND MOTELS, deleting Paragraph E of Section 16.101.070; and
B. Find this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA);
C. Direct staff to expedite the Conditional Use Permit process for any hotels/motels that may apply in the next six months and charge a flat fee of $1,250 for the Conditional Use Permit application; and
D. Direct staff to bring back to the City Council in March 2024 an update on the hotel/motel ordinance.
Seconded by Councilmember Medina, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
City Council Minutes
March 14, 2023
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
ORDINANCES — None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS — None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Reece adjourned the meeting of the Claremont City Council at 10:06 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 6:30 p.m., in the Clar cil Cha
Mayo
ATTEST:
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