CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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 Medina called the meeting to order at 6:50 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, LEANO, MEDINA, REECE,
STARK
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: NONE
ALSO PRESENT
Adam Pirrie, City Manager; Jamie Earl, Assistant City Manager; Alisha Patterson, City Attorney; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Brad Johnson, Director of Community Development; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Human Services; Aaron Fate, Chief of Police; Jeremy Starkey, Director of Finance; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Medina stated there was no reportable action from the 5:15 PM closed session meeting.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council received a presentation from Katherine Loeser, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
Presidents' Day, February 19, 2024
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Item
1. Appointment of a Member to the Planning Commission
This item starts at 1:39:05 in the archived video.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
There were no requests to speak.
City Council Minutes
February 13, 2024
Councilmember Stark moved to appoint K.M. (Marie) Williamson to the Planning Commission for a term to commence immediately and terminate on August 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 1:41:47 in the archived video.
Councilmember Leano reported on the Tri City Mental Health community garden and invited all to participate in its upcoming stakeholder process.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 1:43:00 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie reported on the City's small business grant program, invited all to the Architectural Commission meeting on February 14 to review the proposed historic preservation ordinance, announced March 5 is Election Day with vote centers opening on February 24, and shared that City offices will be closed February 19 in observance of Presidents' Day.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT ON NEW LEGISLATION
This item starts at 1:45:58 in the archived video.
City Attorney Patterson gave a PowerPoint presentation on new legislation.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 2:04:22 in the archived video.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced seven written public comments had been received.' Douglas Lyon asked the City Council not to include more road diets in its priority list.
Marya Kane, Claremont resident, shared her negative experiences of renting in Claremont and asked the City Council to increase tenant protections.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Adim Nash asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Nazik, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
City Council Minutes
February 13, 2024
Nita Vanergy, Claremont resident, stated that the war taking place in Gaza is unprecedented and a ceasefire fire is needed now.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council their stance on the war taking place in Gaza.
Daniel Siegel asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
John Luma, Claremont resident, spoke in support of stronger tenant protections by establishing a rental registry and enacting rent stabilization.
Kenny Le urged the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Cindy Aragon, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Unidentified speaker, Claremont Tenants United, asked the City Council to protect its renter community from harassment and high rent increases.
As it has been over 30 minutes, the time set aside for general public comment, additional public comment was taken later in the meeting.
The City Council recessed at 7:52 PM.
The City Council reconvened at 7:59 PM.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 2:44:05 in the archived video.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
Mayor Medina invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
There were no requests to speak.
2. Resignation of Police Commissioner Rafik Mohamed
Accepted with regret the resignation of Rafik Mohamed from the Police Commission effective immediately.
3. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2024-07, 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 1, 2024.
4. City Council Minutes of January 23, 2024 (Regular) and January 27, 2024 (Special) Approved and filed the regular City Council meeting minutes of January 23, 2024 and the special City Council meeting minutes of January 27, 2024.
City Council Minutes
February 13, 2024
5. Resolution Approving a Negotiated Exchange of Property Tax Revenue Associated with the Annexation of One Single -Family Home Located at 1123 Alamosa Drive (APN 8671-002-009) Into County Sanitation District No. 21 to Receive Off -Side Disposal of Sewage Into the City Sanitary Sewer System (Annexation 773) A. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-08, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT'S REQUEST FOR A NEGOTIATED
EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH ANNEXATION NO. 773, CONSISTING OF OFF -SITE DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE FOR ONE SINGLE- FAMILY LOT WITH ONE EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 1123 ALAMOSA DRIVE (APN 8671-002-009); AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A JOINT RESOLUTION WITH ALL AFFECTED AGENCIES; and
B. Found this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
6. Authorization to Execute an Amended Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement Between the City of Claremont, Restore Neighborhoods, LA. Inc. (RNLA), and Other Funding Agencies of the 956 Base Line Road Affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing Development (Funding Source: Successor Housing Fund)
Authorized the City Manager to execute an amended Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement between the City of Claremont, RNLA, and other funding agencies of the 956 Base Line Road affordable and permanent supportive housing development.
7. Authorization to Amend the Existing Agreement with Epsilon Engineering, Inc. to Increase Compensation for the Police Department Dispatch and Detective Bureau Remodel Proiect and Appropriation of Funds (Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act Fund) A. Authorized the City Manager to execute an amendment to the existing agreement with Epsilon, Inc., increasing compensation by $15,075, for a total not -to -exceed contract amount of $102,245 for the Police Department Dispatch and Detective Bureau Remodel Project; and
B. Appropriated $15,075 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund to fully fund the cost of the project.
Councilmember Reece moved to " approve the Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilmember Stark, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
PUBLIC HEARING
8. Community Development Block Grant Program — Approval of the 2024-25 Budget (Funding Source: Community Development Block Grant Fund)
This item starts at 2:45:59 in the archived video.
Alex Cousins, Management Analyst, gave a PowerPoint presentation and responded to a question from the City Council regarding flexibility of reallocating the funds.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
City Council Minutes
February 13, 2024
There were no requests to speak.
Councilmember Reece moved to approve the program budget for the 2024-25 Community Development Block Grant programs as proposed, and authorize staff to proportionately increase or decrease each program budget based on the final Community Development Block Grant allocation, 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 ITEMS
9. 2023-24 Mid -Year Budget Report
This item starts at 2:50:16 in the archived video.
Jeremy Starkey, Finance Director, gave a PowerPoint presentation and responded to a question from the City Council regarding an increase in expenditures in the General Services category.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
There were no requests to speak.
The City Council received and filed the 2023-24 Mid -Year Budget Report.
10. Human Services Department Name Change (Funding Source: General Fund) This item starts at 3:02:35 in the archived video.
Melissa Vollaro, Human Services Director, highlighted the staff report and responded to a question from the City Council regarding communication and outreach necessary for the name change.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
There were no requests to speak.
Councilmember Reece spoke in support of the proposed name change as it provides clarity.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of the proposed name change as the proposed name is significantly clearer.
City Council Minutes
February 13, 2024
Councilmember Stark moved to rename the "Human Services Department" to "Recreation and Human Services Department", seconded by Councilmember Calaycay, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 3:09:51 in the archived video.
Mayor Medina invited continued public comment from those who were not able to speak earlier due to the 30 -minute time limit.
Athena Tan, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Alicia Brady, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
MD Shaheed asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Abar Mundi asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Jenna asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council to support its local renters as well as those in Gaza.
Buff Brown, Claremont resident, spoke in support of a ceasefire and active transportation.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont Tenants United, spoke in support of tenant protections that include anti -harassment policies.
Unidentified speaker, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Unidentified speaker, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire fire resolution in Gaza.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Medina stated the City Council has a long-standing practice of refraining from issuing proclamations or resolutions which express political positions or statements.
Councilmember Stark requested the City Council discuss and review its long-standing practice as shared by Mayor Medina at an upcoming meeting in order to be responsive to the community.
City Manager Pirrie confirmed Councilmember Stark's request.
City Council Minutes
February 13, 2024
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Medina adjourned the meeting of the Claremont City Council at 9:01 PM. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 6:30 PM, in the Claremont Council Chamber.
Mayor
ATTEST:
C&Iderify-
C) uty City Clerk