CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 10, 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 6:31 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE — In honor of Robert Brian Worley, Virginia Kennedy Bergfalk, and Phyllis Jean Huss.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, LEANO, MEDINA (participating remotely), REECE, STARK
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: NONE
ALSO PRESENT Adam Pirrie, City Manager; Jamie Earl, Assistant City Manager; Alisha Patterson, City Attorney; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Human Services; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Brad Johnson, Director of Community Development; Jeremy Starkey, Director of Finance; Mike Ciszek, Chief of Police; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk; Jamie Costanza, Deputy City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT — None
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Council recognized Natasha Kohls, Benita Fierro, and Katie Wheatley, for their contributions to the City's Special Needs and Inclusion Program.
The City Council received an update from Katherine Loeser, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager, on upcoming Library events.
FEDERAL HOLIDAYS
Juneteenth, June 19, 2025
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Items — None
Council Assignment Reports — None
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 15:09 in the archived video.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 2025
City Manager Pirrie reported on the City's Storefront Vandalism Prevention Business Grant Program, the decision of whether to allow cannabis store front retail will be brought before the City Council on July 22, 4th of July events, and announced the City of Claremont team won the City to City Connect bowling tournament.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 19:11 in the archived video.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no general written public comments had been received Lydia Hernandez, Claremont Tenants United, shared the security gate at Monarch Terrace Apartments is not currently working and there is still no on -site manager at the property. Lastly, she shared about a housing program that was used to control rent prices during WWII.
Joe Ramallo, Claremont resident, spoke about the City's Housing Element, and questioned why the development of the La Puerta School site was treated differently than the Motel 6 tennis court site.
Colin Tudor, President of the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy, reported that 80 acres have now been protected and added to the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.
Lissa Petersen, Claremont Wildlands Conservancy Board Member, thanked the City Council for supporting the Wildlands Conservancy in acquiring open space.
Wendy Ramallo, Claremont resident, spoke about public safety and expressed health concerns in the neighborhoods located in south Claremont.
Unidentified speaker expressed frustration regarding a lack of trust between residents and the City Council, City staff, and Commissioners.
Unidentified speaker inquired if the City worked with the property owner of Motel 6 to keep the tennis courts as open space, and develop the tennis courts into a pocket park for the neighborhood.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 52:45 in the archived video.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received on the Consent Calendar.
Unidentified speaker spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 5 and askedwhen paving under the 10 Freeway will take place.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 2025
Wendy Ramallo spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 5 and questioned if the funds are still available and what the potential funding would be used for.
Unidentified speaker spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 3 and questioned if a dedicated right-of- way runs through a neighboring City.
Unidentified speaker spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 7. He questioned the City's street repaving schedule and highlighted deteriorating streets in south Claremont.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Maria Tipping, City Engineer, and Cari Dillman, Community Services Manager, responded to questions raised during the public comment period.
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
Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City Warrant Register Adopted Resolution No. 2025-24, 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 June 5, 2025.
2. City Council Minutes of May 27, 2025 (Regular)
Approved the regular City Council meeting minutes of May 27, 2025.
3. Approval of Final Parcel Map No. 84366 Which Modifies Two Parcels (APN: 8308-025-001 and 8308-025-013) and Dedicates Right -Of -Way for Claremont Boulevard and a Related Traffic Signal at Ninth Street and Claremont Boulevard. Applicant — Claremont McKenna College
A. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-25, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE FINAL PARCEL MAP NO. 84366; and
B. Found that this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
4. Award of Contract to B&D Construction Co. Inc. for the Citvwide Sanitary Sewer Condition Assessment and Closed -Circuit Television Project (Funding Source: Sewer Fund) A. Authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with B&D Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of $599,353.38 for the Citywide Sewer Condition Assessment and Closed - Circuit Television of the City's sanitary sewer system; and B. Authorized a fifteen percent project contingency in the amount of $89,903.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 2025
5. Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the San Jose Avenue and Indian Hill Boulevard Complementary Safety Plan and Strategies Adopted Resolution No. 2025-26, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR A SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL (SS4A) GRANT WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION FOR SAN JOSE AVENUE AND INDIAN HILL BOULEVARD COMPLEMENTARY SAFETY PLAN AND STRATEGIES.
6. Appropriate Transportation Development Act -Article 4 Funds (TDA), State Transit Assistance Funds (STA) Senate Bill 1 State Transit Assistance Funds, and Proposition C 40% Discretionary Municipal Operator Service Improvement Program Funds for Claremont Dial -A -Ride Program Operations (Funding Source: Transportation Fund) A. Directed staff to amend its 2019-20 and 2020-21 TDA and STA Claims to reserve and request the allocated funds for Claremont Dial -a -Ride operations; and B. Appropriated $206,172 from the Transportation Fund to cover the anticipated 2024-25 shortfall for the Claremont Dial -a -Ride Program.
7. Award of Contract to Superior Pavement Markings, Inc. for the Street Striping Improvement Project Which Includes San Jose Avenue, Base Line Road, and Identified Crosswalks Adjacent to Schools (Funding Sources: State Gas Tax and Proposition C Funds) A. Awarded a contract to Superior Pavement Markings, Inc. in the amount of $297,979 for the 2024-25 Street Striping Improvement Project and authorize a five percent contingency in the amount of $14,898.95, for a total contract amount of $312,877.95, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement; and B. Appropriated $95,092.55 from the State Gas Tax Fund to fully fund the project.
8. Authorization to Enter Into an Aareement with Toter. Inc. to Purchase Refuse and Recvclin Containers (Funding Source: Sanitation Fund)
Authorized the City Manager to execute a four-year contract with Toter, Inc. for the purchase of sanitation containers in an amount not to exceed $141,000 annually, or $564,000 over the term of the agreement.
9. Authorization to Amend the Existing Agreement with Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc. to Increase Compensation for Processing Construction and Demolition Debris (Funding Source: Sanitation Fund)
Authorized the City Manager to amend the agreement with Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc. for processing construction and demolition debris, increasing the not -to -exceed annual contract value to $110,000.
10. Revisions to the Grant Allocation Policy for the Community Based Organization General Services and Homeless Services/Critical Need Program (Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act)
Approved the revisions to the Community Based Organization Grant Allocation Policy.
PUBLIC HEARING
11. Approval of the District Engineer's Report and Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the 2025-26 Landscape and Lighting District Annual Assessment of $226.13 Per Assessment Unit (Funding Source: Landscape and Lighting District Fund) This item starts at 1:22:54 in the archived video.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 2025
Cari Dillman, Community Services Manager, gave a PowerPoint presentation, Mayor Calaycay opened the public hearing and invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced one written public comment had been received.
Unidentified speaker questioned how much funding is dedicated to the area south of the 10 Freeway.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
City Manager Pirrie responded to the question raised during the public comment period stating the assessment is not divided by area.
Mayor Calaycay will be voting against staffs recommendation as he has done previously regarding approval of the Landscape and Lighting District assessment.
Councilmember Stark moved to:
A. Accept the Engineer's Report prepared by Willdan Financial Services; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-27, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, CONFIRMING A DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENT, AND LEVYING THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE 2025126 FISCAL YEAR IN CONNECTION WITH LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. LL001 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF PART 2 OF DIVISION 15 OF THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE;
Seconded by Councilmember Leano, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark
NOES: Councilmember— Calaycay
The City Council recessed at 8:01 PM.
The City Council reconvened at 8:10 PM.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
12. Continued Review of Tentative Tract Map No. 84564 for the Proposed Subdivision of 3 Acres of Land (2.67 Net Acres After Dedications) for a 70-Unit Townhome Condominium Development Proposed on Vacant Land and A Decommissioned Tennis Club Located at 840 South Indian Hill Boulevard. Applicant: City Ventures (Claremont 2 INV, LLC) This item starts at 1:39:11 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie highlighted the staff report.
Councilmember Leano confirmed he has familiarized himself with the proceedings from the May 27 City Council meeting and is ready to deliberate with his fellow Councilmembers.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 2025
City Attorney Patterson responded to additional questions from the City Council regarding adverse impacts, impacts on public health and safety, risk if project is denied or continued, enforcing objective standards, threats of litigation, decertification of the City's Housing Element, existing litigation in other cities, legal definition of "bad faith", fact specific adverse impacts, and definition of conditions.
Councilmember Reece shared that even though he does not fully support the project, he will be voting in support of staffs recommendations as he believes approval of the project is fiscally responsible.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of the proposed project as the State is currently experiencing a housing crisis and hopes that any new housing is seen as an improvement.
Councilmember Stark spoke in support of staffs recommendations as there is a need for more housing to help solve the current housing crisis.
Councilmember Medina stated he will be voting against staffs recommendations and expressed frustration with State law as well as the developer of the project.
Mayor Calaycay spoke against the proposed project as he believes policies, such as housing, should be driven by the people, not City Hall or Sacramento. He believes there is a housing crisis due to a lack of affordable housing and does not agree with the developer's choice to use AB 1633 to their benefit.
Councilmember Leano moved to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-28, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP No. 84564 FOR THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION OF 2.67 ACRES OF LAND FOR A 70-
UNIT TOWNHOME CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT ON A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 840 SOUTH INDIAN HILL BOULEVARD. APPLICANT: CITY VENTURES (CLAREMONT 2 INV, LLC); and
B. Concur with the Community Development Director's determination that this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
Seconded by Councilmember Stark, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Leano, Reece, Stark
NOES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Medina
ORDINANCES — None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS — None
City Council Minutes
June 10, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Calaycay adjourned the regular meeting of the Claremont City Council at 9:17 PM. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 6:30 PM, in the Claremont Council Chamber.
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