CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, November 25, 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 6:30 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE — In honor of Lorri Angus and Katie Gerecke.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, MEDINA, REECE, STARK
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: LEANO
ALSO PRESENT Adam Pirrie, City Manager; Jamie Earl, Assistant City Manager; Alisha Patterson, City Attorney; Mike Ciszek, Chief of Police; Jeremy Starkey, Director of Finance; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Recreation and Human Services; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Brad Johnson, Director of Community Development; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk; Jamie Costanza, Deputy City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no closed session meeting.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
This item starts at 6:10 in the archived video.
Senator Sasha Renee Perez presented a State of the State to the City Council.
Julio "Alex" Lara, Traffic and Transportation Commissioner, was introduced.
Katherine Loeser, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Manager, provided an update on upcoming Library events.
Assistant Fire Chief Cabrera reminded all to be fire safe during the upcoming holiday season.
FEDERAL HOLIDAYS — Thanksgiving, November 27, 2025
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Items — None
Council Assicnment Reports
This item starts at 44:34 in the archived video.
City Council Minutes
November 25, 2025
Mayor Calaycay reported that he and Councilmember Medina represented the City in Guanajuato, Mexico to officially reinstate the City's Sister City relationship.
Councilmember Medina further reported on his travels and meetings that took place at the City's Sister City, Guanajuato, Mexico.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 48:49 in the archived video.
City Manager Pirrie reminded all that City offices will be closed Wednesday at 12:00 PM and will reopen Monday, December 1 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, trash collection will be delayed, and overnight parking restrictions will be waived Thanksgiving night. He also reported on upcoming City events taking place in December.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 51:23 in the archived video.
City Clerk Desautels announced no general written public comment had been received.
Mayor Calaycay invited public comment.
Evvaggelos Vallianatos, Claremont resident, expressed concerns regarding the Claremont Helen Renwick Library charging for room rentals.
Natalie Sweiss, Marigold Coffee Collective, asked the City Council to allow all vendors to remain at the Farmers Market until the conditions of the existing Farmers Market permit are amended to address the non -compete clause and allow prepared food vendors.
Sylva spoke in support of mobile businesses and shared how mobile businesses positively impact the community.
Asher Sweiss spoke about Marigold Coffee and the financial impacts to the business if not allowed to participate in the Farmers Market.
Issa spoke in support of Marigold Coffee and highlighted negative impacts if the Farmers Market permit is not amended. He spoke about a community petition that included over 130 signatures in support of prepared food vendors at the Farmers Market.
Samanta De La Cruz, Pack a Bowl Acai, spoke in support of allowing prepared food vendors at the Farmers Market.
Renee, Beignet booth owner, spoke in support of allowing prepared food vendors at the Farmers Market.
Barnabus Path spoke about Katie Gerecke and the positive impacts she made on the Claremont community.
Brian, Claremont resident, asked the City Council to be transparent in its decision regarding the Farmers Market.
City Council Minutes
November 25, 2025
Unidentified speaker spoke about the poor condition and frequent loitering at the public restroom outside the Council Chamber, the proposed overnight parking program at the Claremont United Church of Christ, and asked the City Council to support the Claremont Homeless Advocacy Program in restarting its program.
Unidentified speaker highlighted the negative impacts due to the increase in homelessness issues taking place in and around the Claremont village.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont Tenants United, questioned why the City's surplus funds were not dedicated to renter assistance, why the City refuses to enact a rental registry, and why the City has not enacted a rent cap.
As it has been over 30 minutes, the time set aside for general public comment, Mayor Calaycay announced public comment would be continued to later in the meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 1:33:40 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 Items.
Ursula Klanacke, Claremont resident, spoke in support of Consent Calendar Item No. 3.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Councilmember Reece moved to approve the Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilmember Stark, and carried on a vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Medina, Reece, Stark
NOES: Councilmember- None
ABSENCES: Councilmember— Leano
1. Adoption of a Resolution the Approvinc City Warrant Recister Adopted Resolution No. 2025-51, 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 November 20, 2025.
2. City Council Minutes of November 12, 2025 (Special) and November 13, 2025 (Special Meeting with the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education) Approved the special City Council meeting minutes of November 12 and November 13, 2025.
City Council Minutes
November 25, 2025
3. Award of Contract to We R Builders, Inc. for the Mills Avenue Between Moreno Street and Arrow Hichway Improvements Project, C.I.P. 2025-07 (Funding Sources: ARPA Fund, Measure M Fund, and TDA Fund)
A. Awarded a contract to We R Builders, Inc. and authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with We R Builders, Inc. in the amount of $207,476, and authorized a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $20,748, for a total of $228,224 for the Mills Avenue Between Moreno Street and Arrow Highway Improvements Project, C.I.P. 2025- 07; and
B. Found this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
4. Authorization to Amend the Agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore to Increase Compensation for Special Legal Services (Fundinc Source: General Fund' A. Authorized the City Manager to execute an amendment to the existing agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore for special legal services pertaining to employment relations matters, increasing compensation by $150,000 for a not -to -exceed amount of $250,000; and
B. Appropriated $150,000 from the unassigned General Fund balance to fully fund the agreement.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5. Public Hearing and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Claremont Municipal Code Title 15, Incorporating the 2025 California Building Codes by Reference and Continuation of Local Amendments (Funding Source: General Fund
This item starts at 1:37:37 in the archived video.
Joe Caro, Building Official, highlighted the staff report.
Mayor Calaycay opened the public hearing and invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
There were no requests to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Councilmember Stark moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-07, AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24); INCLUDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2023 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE; THE 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN
City Council Minutes
November 25, 2025
INTERFACE CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE; THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE; IN ADDITION ADOPTING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE; TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ADDITIONS, INSERTIONS, DELETIONS AND CHANGES THERETO; AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2026 LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE CODE (LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, TITLE 32) INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE), seconded by Councilmember Medina, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Medina, Reece, Stark
NOES: Councilmember— None
ABSENCES: Councilmember— Leano
6. Community Development Block Grant Program — Approval of the 2026-27 Budget and Amendment to the Housing Rehabilitation Program Guidelines (Funding Source:
Community Development Block Grant Fund)
This item starts at 1:41:18 in the archived video.
Alex Cousins, Senior Management Analyst, gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Calaycay opened the public hearing and invited public comment.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received.
There were no requests to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
Councilmember Stark moved to:
A. Approve the Community Development Block Grant program budget for the 2026- 27 programs as proposed, and authorize staff to proportionally increase or decrease each program budget based on the final Community Development Block Grant allocation;
B. Approve the 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant budget amendment to allocate $100,000 from the Community Development Block Grant unallocated balance to the Housing Rehabilitation Program and appropriate $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant unallocated balance to the Housing Rehabilitation Program;
C. Approve the 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant budget amendment to allocate $5,000 from the Community Development Block Grant unallocated balance to the Job Creation and Business Incentive Program and appropriate $5,000 in Community Development Block Grant unallocated balance to the Job Creation and Business Incentive Program; and
D. Approve the Housing Rehabilitation Program Guidelines with the proposed modifications;
Seconded by Councilmember Medina, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Medina, Reece, Stark
NOES: Councilmember— None
ABSENCES: Councilmember- Leano
City Council Minutes
November 25, 2025
ORDINANCES — None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS — None
CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 1:49:41 in the archived video.
Mayor Calaycay invited continued public comment from those who were not able to speak earlier due to the 30 -minute time limit.
Bailey Southerland asked the City Council to reassess the City's skate park in order for necessary improvements to be made.
Anna Jacobson asked the City Council to invest in spaces where young people gather, like the Claremont skate park.
Jaqueline Estrada spoke in support of the existing Farmers Market vendors.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Calaycay closed public comment.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Calaycay adjourned the regular meeting of the Claremont City Council at 8:27 PM. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on December 9, 2025.
M yor
uty City Clerk