CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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 Medina called the meeting to order at 6:32 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; Jeremy Starkey, Director of Finance; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Recreation and Human Services; Aaron Fate, Chief of Police; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk; Jamie Costanza, Deputy City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no closed session.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council recognized Samantha Bosco, Gold Medalist in the Women's C4 Road Cycling Time Trails 2024 Paris Summer Paralympic Games.
Paul Wheeler, Traffic and Transportation Commissioner, was introduced.
The City Council received an update from Katherine Loeser, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
Columbus Day, October 14, 2024
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Items - None
Council Assignment Reports — None
City Council Minutes
October 8, 2024
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 12:32 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie invited the community to attend the upcoming hike with the Mayor on October 13; meet and greet with K-9 Pria and Corporal Chilson on October 22; and the City's Halloween Spooktacular on October 19. Lastly, he reported on the slurry seal street maintenance project and shared vote by mail ballots will be arriving shortly.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 16:39 in the archived video.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
Darvin Gomez raised concern regarding the proposed development at the Motel 6 tennis courts as the developer, City Ventures, is not sensitive to the concerns of the surrounding community.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont Tenants United, requested the City Council hold a town hall meeting to discuss short term rentals and asked for the creation of an anti -harassment ordinance that supports tenants First Amendment rights.
John Umar, Claremont Tenants United, spoke in support of the City's current ban on short term rentals as the ban supports tenants.
There were no other requests to speak.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 26:06 in the archived video.
Mayor Medina invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
City Clerk Desautels announced one written public comment had been received on the Consent Calendar.
Douglas Lyon, Claremont resident, spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 4, and expressed concern that the Local Roadway Safety Plan does not address bicyclists or pedestrians who do not follow the rules of the road or pay attention to their surroundings.
There were no other requests to speak.
Councilmember Stark moved to approve the Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilmember Leano and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
City Council Minutes
October 8, 2024
1. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2024-52, 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 26, 2024.
2. City Council Minutes of September 24, 2024 (Regular) Approved the regular City Council meeting minutes of September 24, 2024.
3. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update and Fund Balance Received and filed the American Rescue Plan Act Update and Fund Balance report.
4. Local Roadway Safety Plan Completion and Next Steps (Funding Source: Proposition C) Received and filed the Local Roadway Safety Plan report.
PUBLIC HEARINGS — None
ORDINANCES — None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
5. Lewis Park Playground Improvements (Funding Source: Park Dedication Fund) This item starts at 30:53 in the archived video.
Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services, provided a PowerPoint presentation, and responded to questions from the City Council regarding bids received for the project and how long playground equipment will be unavailable.
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced four written public comments had been received on this item.
Natasha Moskow, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the process and community engagement on this project. She asked that future park projects have the same robust community engagement.
Katie Toole spoke in support of staff's recommendation and questioned the process for the park improvement plan.
Grant Collette spoke in support of the proposed playground design and looks forward to the new playground.
Noah Jacobson spoke in support of the proposed playground design and looks forward to its completion.
Anna Jacobson, Claremont resident, spoke in support of a park improvement plan and asked that a future playground funding plan be created and maintain the robust community engagement for future park projects.
City Council Minutes
October 8, 2024
Natalie Flores, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the playground design as it is innovative and sustainable.
Anna Collette spoke in support of the community engagement for this project and looks forward to future playground improvements.
There were no other requests to speak.
Councilmember Calaycay spoke in support of staffs recommendation and is encouraged to see the community engagement and forward motion to address City parks.
Councilmember Reece spoke in support of staffs recommendation and looks forward to seeing more updated playgrounds throughout the community.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of staffs recommendation as well as the meaningful community process and engagement.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of staffs recommendation as well as the community engagement especially the engagement from young children in the community.
Mayor Medina asked City staff to communicate to residents that parks throughout the City will differ in their needs and community engagement. He looks forward to the completion of this project as well as the future of the City's existing parks and playgrounds.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to:
A. Approve the playground design for Lewis Park as submitted by KOMPAN; B. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with KOMPAN for Lewis Park Playground equipment installation for $499,948, and authorize a ten percent contingency of $49,995; and
C. Appropriate $549,943 from the Park Dedication Fund 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
6. Report on the Anticipated Requirements to Relinquish Blaisdell Ranch Preserve to the Blaisdell Ranch Homeowners Association (Funding Source: General Fund) This item starts at 57:56 in the archived video.
City Attorney Patterson gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Ms. Patterson and City Manager Pirrie responded to questions from the City Council regarding other parks not owned by the City, how the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park is defined, parks listed in the General Plan, establish of the Blaisdell Ranch Preserve as a condition of approval, maintenance costs since the park was built, private/gated communities with private amenities, CEQA analysis and determination, impacts to land use entitlement documents, density bonus reassessment, playground equipment istallation, investments in park space, potential consequences of relinquishment of the park, mitigation measures to address issues at the park, water costs, and park descriptions in the General Plan.
City Council Minutes
October 8, 2024
Mayor Medina invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced six written public comments had been received on this item.
Unidentified speaker spoke against the relinquishment of public space as the preserve provides outdoor space that everyone can enjoy.
Anna Jacobson expressed concerns regarding the relinquishment of the preserve and believes privatization of the preserve should not be used as a tool to address neighborhood concerns.
Liz Spenrad, Claremont resident, shared she frequents the preserve with her young children and urged the City Council to keep the preserve open to the public.
Ava Garcia, Claremont resident, raised concern regarding the potential relinquishment of the preserve as many members of the public rely on open green space available to all.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont resident, spoke against relinquishment of the preserve as it may jeopardize grant funding opportunities and asked that policy not be changed to benefit a wealthy few.
Nancy Buenger spoke against the potential relinquishment due to the risks and suggested use of the preserve be reviewed and develop guidelines to resolve existing concerns.
Gabe Mollar, Claremont resident, spoke against relinquishment of the preserve and suggested policies be in place to address neighboring concerns while keeping the preserve a public space.
Unidentified speaker shared that if the residents of Blaisdell Ranch are paying for the majority of the maintenance costs of the preserve then the preserve should be limited to those residents or at least negotiate a fairer distribution of maintenance costs.
There were no other requests to speak.
City Attorney Patterson responded to additional questions from the City Council regarding Government Code 38501 and process for relinquishment.
Councilmember Reece asked that the process and estimated costs to relinquish the park be shared with the HOA and determine if they would like to continue down the relinquishment path.
Councilmember Calaycay stated that if the City does not move forward with relinquishment, the City should consider funding the full costs associated with the preserve.
Councilmember Stark stated there are many City easements on private land and the preserve was mandated to be open public space as part of a density bonus given at that time.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of the comments made by Councilmember Reece and would like to see policy used to address on -going issues in and around the preserve.
City Council Minutes
October 8, 2024
Mayor Medina spoke in support of the comments made expressing concern for relinquishment of public space as this open space is valued.
The City Council directed staff to:
A. Discuss with the Blaisdell Ranch Homeowners Association the anticipated requirements and costs to relinquish the Blaisdell Ranch Preserve: and B. If the Blaisdell Ranch Homeowners Association would like to proceed with possible relinquishment, bring an item back to the City Council for discussion to include how the relinquishment could impact grant opportunities, if relinquishment would result in a deficiency in the General Plan's requirements for the ratio of park acres per 1,000 residents, and identification of policies to better manage the Blaisdell Ranch Preserve.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Medina adjourned the regular meeting of the Claremont City Council at 8:49 PM. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 6:30 PM, in the Claremont Council Chamber.
Mayor
ATTEST:
01 It
Deputy City Cler