CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 6:30 PM
Video Recording is Archived on the City Website
https://www.claremontca.gov/Government/City-Council/Watch-a-Meeting
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Calaycay called the meeting to order at 6:39 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE — In honor of Anne Carver Chabre, Frances Lynnette Gilfry, Deanna Despard Rusch, Kenneth Jay Nowels, and David Wonn Armstrong.
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 Human Services; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk; Jamie Costanza, Deputy City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Calaycay stated there was no reportable action from the 5:15 PM closed session meeting.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council recognized the California Conservation Corps for trail maintenance efforts in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park and City of Claremont Reserve Park Rangers for their service to the community.
Amanda Alvarez, Community Services Office Assistant, was introduced.
The City Council received an update from Katherine Loeser, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES
New Year's Day, January 1, 2025
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., January 20, 2025
Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Item
1. Appointment of a Community Member to the Tri-City Mental Health Governing Board This item starts at 1:42:34 in the archived video.
Mayor Calaycay highlighted the staff report.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received on this item.
Ron Vera, outgoing Tri-City Mental Health Governing Board Community Member, congratulated Ms. Grajeda and invited all to Tri City's upcoming forum to discuss funding on January 29, 2025.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Councilmember Reece moved to appoint Sandra Grajeda to the Tri-City Mental Health Governing Board for a term commencing February 1, 2025, and expiring on January 31, 2026, seconded by Councilmember Leano, and carried on a vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember — None
Council Assignment Reports
This item starts at 1:46:01 in the archived video.
Councilmember Leano thanked Mr. Vera for his service and encouraged all to attend Tri City's forum on January 29, 2025 to discuss possible funding.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 1:47:20 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie reported the Los Angeles County Homeless Count has been scheduled for February 19, encouraged students to participate in the 35th annual Making Change contest, and shared the Claremont Police Department will be holding a sobriety check point on January 31.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 1:48:57 in the archived video.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced one written public comment had been received.
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
Unidentified speaker requested an update on the Mountain Avenue complete streets project.
Vickie Noble, Claremont resident, expressed concern regarding the 10 Freeway westbound offramp and asked the City Council to make sure Caltrans is fulfilling their responsibilities.
Robin Bernardini, Claremont resident, requested the City Council allocate additional funding to sports fields to address maintenance issues.
Jose Ochoa, Claremont Tenants United, encouraged the City Council to enact renter protections and invest in a rental registry.
Sol Guerra, Claremont resident, requested the City Council address maintenance issues and the infrastructure of its sports fields.
Alice asked the City Council to invest in its youth by addressing the City's sports fields.
Brian Trunik expressed frustration regarding Motel 6 and asked the City Council to hold Motel 6 accountable for completing its conditions of approval placed on them by the Architectural Commission.
Elaine, Claremont Tenants United, asked the City Council to address rent stabilization, create a rental registry, and adopt an anti -harassment ordinance protecting renters.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont Tenants United, asked the City Council to postpone its upcoming discussion regarding short-term rentals, keep the current moratorium on short-term rentals in place, and instead create a rental registry, an anti -harassment ordinance, and adopt a rent stabilization ordinance.
Rachel Forester, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the comments made by Ms. Hernandez and asked the City Council prioritize the creation of a rental registry and a rent stabilization ordinance.
Unidentified speaker, Claremont resident, urged the City Council to keep in mind that property owners also feel the effects of increased costs not just renters.
Sam Sousa, Claremont resident, spoke in support of a rental registry as well as the current moratorium prohibiting short term rentals.
Unidentified speaker shared it is difficult to be a property owner at this time and read comments by Bill and Francine Baker regarding landlord/tenant issues.
Unidentified speaker spoke against the previous speaker and believes being a tenant is harder than it is to be a landlord.
Russ Binder, Claremont resident, asked Claremont Tenants United to submit a public document that specifies exactly what they are looking for.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
Maria Tipping, City Engineer, responded to a comment made during the public comment period and shared that the Mountain Avenue Complete Streets Project design phase is almost complete.
City Manager Pirrie confirmed City staff will work with Caltrans to address the issues taking place along the 10 Freeway and affirmed City staff is working with Motel 6 to address Mr. Trunik's concerns.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 2:29:51 in the archived video.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comments had been received on the Consent Calendar.
There were no requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Councilmember Reece moved to approve the Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilmember Medina, and carried on a vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
2. Resignation of Traffic and Transportation Commissioner Buff Brown Accepted with regret the resignation of Buff Brown from the Traffic and Transportation Commission effective January 24, 2025.
3. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2025-05, 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 January 16, 2025.
4. City Council Minutes of January 14, 2025 (Regular)
Approved the regular City Council meeting minutes of January 14, 2025.
5. Investment Report — Quarter Endinc December 31, 2024 Received and accepted the Investment Report for the quarter ending December 31, 2024.
6. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manacer to Execute Agreements to Transfer Administration of the City's Pension Section 115 Trust to Shuster Advisory Group, LLC., Transfer the Trust's Assets to Charles Schwab Trust Bank, and to Name Alta Trust Company as Directed Trustee (Fundinc Source: General Fund) Adopted Resolution No. 2025-06, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS TO TRANSFER ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY'S PENSION SECTION 115 TRUST TO SHUSTER ADVISORY GROUP, LLC, AND TO TRANSFER THE TRUST'S
ASSETS TO CHARLES SCHWAB TRUST BANK AND TO NAME ALTA TRUST COMPANY AS DIRECTED TRUSTEE.
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
7. Award of Contract to CCS Facility Services, Inc. for Custodial Services at City -Owned Buildings (Funding Sources: General Fund and Cemetery Fund) A. Awarded a contract to CCS Facility Services, Inc. for custodial services at City -owned buildings and authorized the City Manager to enter into a three-year agreement with two optional one-year extensions with CCS Facility Services, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $269,786.76 per year, and authorized a contingency of $10,000, for a total of $279,786.76 annually, or $1,398,933.80 during the maximum term of the agreement; B. Appropriated $48,719.24 in 2024-25 and 2025-26 from the unassigned General Fund balance to fully fund the agreement for custodial services at City -owned buildings through June 30, 2026; and
C. Appropriated $20,219.52 in 2024-25 and 2025-26 from the unassigned Cemetery Fund balance to fully fund the agreement for custodial services at City -owned buildings through June 30, 2026.
PUBLIC HEARING
8. Community Development Block Grant Program — Approval of the 2025-2026 Budget (Funding Source: Community Development Block Grant Fund) This item starts at 2:31:07 in the archived video.
Alex Cousins, Senior Management Analyst, gave a PowerPoint presentation.
City Manager Pirrie responded to a question from the City Council regarding impacts to the senior case management program if the Federal Government removes funding.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comments had been received on this item.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment and opened the public hearing.
There were no requests to speak; therefore, the public hearing was closed.
Councilmember Stark moved to approve the program budget for the 2025-2026 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 Reece, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember - Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
ORDINANCES — None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
9. Update on City Council Priorities and 2024-26 Ob'ectives (Funding Source: Various) This item starts at 2:37:58 in the archived video.
Katie Wand, Deputy City Manager, and Kristin Mikula, Community Services Manager, provided a PowerPoint presentation.
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
Ms. Wand, Ms. Mikula, City Manager Pirrie, Mike Ciszek, Police Captain, responded to questions from the City Council regarding enterprise funds, number of multifamily units, current bulky item program and rates, average number of bulky item pickups in multifamily units, variation of programming costs, average cost of a bulky item pickup, staff time and cost for income qualification, definition of a multifamily account, illegal dumping.
Councilmember Reece requested that Auto Center Drive be added to the task to maintain cleanliness of business districts.
City staff continued to respond to additional questions from the City Council regarding a sports field improvements plan, police methods used to combat prostitution/sex trafficking, professional development, and possibility of a Sustainability/Natural Resource Commission.
City Clerk Desautels announced two written public comments had been received on this item.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment and opened the public hearing.
Douglas Lyon, Claremont resident, requested the City Council not allow anymore road diets, bulb outs, or Class 4 bicycle lanes.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont Tenants United, asked the City Council to address the cost inequity of a bulky item pickup for property owners versus renters.
Vickie Noble, Claremont resident, spoke about her experience of illegal dumping at a multifamily unit.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of developing a subsidized bulky item program for income -eligible residents and creating a new bulky item pick up where a resident pays for the program if they choose to use it.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of the comments made by Councilmember Leano.
City Manager Pirrie confirmed Councilmember Leano's suggestion is to do away with the current bulky item pickup program and create a new program where every resident will pay for a pickup if requested. The fee will no longer be included in the single-family residential sanitation rate.
Mayor Calaycay spoke in support City Manager Pirrie's confirmation.
Councilmember Medina spoke in support of Councilmember Leano's suggestion.
Councilmember Reece stated that if bulky item pickups are now no longer included in the current rate, a rate decrease would be possible for the single-family residential sanitation fees. He asked that City staff provide the City Council with a list of current essential/core services currently provided by the City.
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
City Manager Pirrie confirmed Councilmember Reece's requested information will be presented during the next budget and priority setting cycle. He added that part of the next budget presentation will include if the item is a core service or service enhancement.
Mayor Calaycay asked that the charge for a bulky item pickup be the same cost for everyone and spoke in support of adding sports fields to the priorities.
The City Council:
A. Directed staff to add a priority item to assess sports fields in City parks identifying the costs of performing necessary improvements in order to bring the sports fields to an acceptable standard;
B. Received and filed the update on the 2024-26 City Council Priorities and Objectives;
C. Directed staff to develop a subsidized bulky item program for income -eligible residents; and
D. Directed staff to evaluate the current bulky item program and perform research and analysis on creating a new program where all residents would pay a set fee for a bulky item pick up instead of the fee being incorporated into the existing rate structure.
The City Council recessed at 9:05 PM.
The City Council reconvened at 9:16 PM.
10. Updates to the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual (Funding Source: General Fund) This item starts at 4:00:32 in the archived video.
Cari Dillman, Community Services Manager, Konami Ohtani, Dudek, gave a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions from the City Council regarding the City's Urban Forest Management Plan, expanded tree wells, definition of a hazardous tree, appeal process, notification process and outreach, risk assessments, and insurance companies tree concerns.
City Clerk Desautels announced six written public comments had been received on this item.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment and opened the public hearing.
Barnabus Path, Claremont resident, expressed concern regarding the proposed manual as the update seems to be searching for a problem that does not exist.
Steve Morgan, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the efforts to maintain the urban forest; however, expressed concern regarding pine trees located along Mountain Avenue.
Jess Johansson, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the comments made by Mr.
Morgan and highlighted the need for proper tree maintenance. He asked that pine trees be replaced and if they are to remain, be trimmed and pruned appropriately.
Mark Warren, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the comments made by Mr. Martin and Mr. Johansson and suggested the creation of a program to remove and replace pine trees in the Claraboya neighborhood.
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
Fred Roth stated that as a certified arborist he suggests the City inspect its trees before being planted and purchase high quality trees.
Nancy Brower, Chair of the Tree Committee, highlighted the process and spoke in support of the proposed manual as it helps protect and address the City's urban forest.
Unidentified speaker spoke in support of the proposed manual; however, suggested trees be purchased from reputable nurseries and address lack of tree watering. Lastly, he suggested the City arborist review trees before planting to make sure they are the appropriate type of tree.
Unidentified speaker spoke in support of removing canary island pines in the Claraboya neighborhood.
Douclas Lyon spoke in support of root inspection before planting, the importance of watering, and pruning.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
City Manager Pirrie and Community Services Manager Dillman responded to additional questions from the City Council regarding website language translation, communications and campaigns, 90 day return policy for City trees, West Coast Arborist contract provisions, examination of newly planted trees, and inspection of trees before planting.
Councilmember Reece suggested the manual be updated to include language that states a tree shall be inspected before it is planted.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of Councilmember Reece's suggestion and spoke in support of the manual specifically the section that allows residents a choice when selecting a tree. She spoke in support of the creation of an environmental commission/committee.
Ms. Dillman continued to respond to a question from the City Council regarding expediting a mitigation process when ADA issues are involved.
City Manager Pirrie confirmed City staff will evaluate pine trees along Mountain Avenue and in the Claraboya neighborhood.
City Manager Pirrie continued to respond to additional questions from the City Council regarding the use of other nurseries, and litigation and cost of repairs due to tree damage.
Mayor Calaycay spoke in support of the proposed manual as well as directing staff to evaluate pine trees as requested.
Councilmember Reece suggested pine trees along Kemper Avenue also be evaluated.
Councilmember Reece moved to approve the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual amending the first bullet point under the section "Nursery Stock Standards" to also include that all nursery stock shall be inspected prior to planting as well as prior to
City Council Minutes
January 28, 2025
the warranty period expiring, seconded by Councilmember Leano, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember- Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Calaycay adjourned the regular meeting of the Claremont City Council at 11:06 PM. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 6:30 PM, in the Claremont Council Chamber.
Mayor
ATTEST:
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