CLAREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 — 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 Stark called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE — In honor of Richard Newton.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBER: CALAYCAY, LEANO, MEDINA, REECE, STARK ABSENT COUNCILMEMBER: NONE
ALSO PRESENT
Jamie Earl, Acting City Manager; Alisha Patterson, City Attorney; Mike Ciszek, Chief of Police; Jeremy Starkey, Director of Finance; Melissa Vollaro, Director of Recreation and Human Services; Brad Johnson, Director of Community Development; Jeremy Swan, Director of Community Services; Shelley Desautels, City Clerk
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
There was no closed session meeting.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
This item starts at 05:11 in the archived video.
Jamie Earl, Acting City Manager, announced Public Hearing Item No. 10 will be pulled from tonight's agenda to allow staff to solicit additional input from auto dealerships who have expressed interest in the Municipal Code amendment.
Katherine Loeser, Claremont Helen Renwick Library Librarian, provided an update on upcoming Library events.
UPCOMING FEDERAL HOLIDAYS — Memorial Day, May 25.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Council Items — None
Council Assianment Resorts
This item starts at 10:12 in the archived video.
City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
Councilmember Leano reported that he attended the Southern California Association of Governments General Assembly meeting and announced retirements taking place at Tri-City Mental Health Services.
Councilmember Reece reported that he also attended the Southern California Association of Governments conference as well as the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Olympic and Paralympic Ad Hoc Committee meeting.
Mayor Stark reported that she also attended the Southern California Association of Governments conference as well as the Joint Powers Insurance Authority conference.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
This item starts at 15:07 in the archived video.
Acting City Manager Earl provided information on upcoming commencement activities and street closures, Memorial Day services, and invited all to participate in the annual 41" of July parade.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This item starts at 17:08 in the archived video.
City Clerk Desautels announced seven general written public comments had been received.
Mayor Stark invited public comment.
Isabel spoke about incident involving Diego Rios.
Unidentified speaker spoke about the incident involving Diego Rios.
Unidentified speaker spoke about lease termination options, costs associated with signing a new lease, and moving costs.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Stark closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
This item starts at 30:14 in the archived video.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received on the Consent Calendar.
Mayor Stark invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
Unidentified speaker spoke to Consent Calendar Item No. 6 and questioned if Indian Hill Boulevard from San Jose Avenue to American Avenue could be incorporated into the agreement to address medians, freeway off -ramp and on -ramp maintenance, and the lacking City entry sign.
There were no other requests to speak.
City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
Mayor Stark closed public comment.
City Engineer Maria Tipping responded to the suggestion made during public comment statubg the work for Item No. 6 has already concluded; however, some of the items mentioned will be addressed by the new development in the area.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to approve the Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilmember Medina, 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. 2026-18, 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 May 7, 2026.
2. City Council Minutes of April 28, 2026 (Regular)
Approved the regular City Council meeting minutes of April 28, 2026.
3. Biennial Review of the City's Conflict of Interest Code (Funding Source: General Fund) Directed the City Attorney to conduct a review of the City's Conflict of Interest Code and file a written statement as to the outcome of the review with the City Clerk no later than September 1, 2026.
4. Resolution Approving the 2026-27 Landscape and Liqhtinq District Enqineer's Report and Setting a Public Hearing (Funding Source: Landscape and Lighting District Fund) A. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-19, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE ENGINEER'S REPORT
PREPARED BY WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES AS FILED, DECLARING ITS
INTENTION TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS WITHIN LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT NO. LL001 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 PURSUANT TO THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972 FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND
SERVICING OF LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING, AND GIVING NOTICE OF AND
SETTING THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LEVY OF THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS; and
B. Set a public hearing date of June 9, 2026, for the purpose of hearing any comments on the proposed 2026-27 LLD assessment and for the ordering of the annual levy.
5. Authorization to Enter Into an Agreement with Arts Bridging the Gap and Appropriation of Funds for a Teen Community Mural (Funding Source: Public Art Fund) A. Authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Arts Bridging the Gap in the amount of $10,000 for the facilitation of community engagement events, mural design, and installation; and
B. Appropriated $10,000 from the Public Art Fund to fund the purchase and installation of the artwork.
City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
6. Authorization to Enter Into an Agreement with Hirsch & Associates Inc. for the Design and Preparation of Plans and Specifications for the Indian Hill Boulevard Rehabilitation Project (Funding Source: State Gas Tax)
A. Authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Hirsch & Associates Inc. in the amount of $108,075, and authorized a ten percent contingency in the amount of $10,808, for an amount not to exceed $118,883;
B. Appropriated $118,883 from State Gas Tax funds; and
C. Found this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
7. Authorization to Amend the Aareements with Hardv & Harper Inc., and LAE Associates for the Arrow Highway Transit Improvement Project, First Street Rehabilitation Project, and Indian Hill Boulevard at 1-10 Improvement Project, C.I.P. 2025-01, C.I.P. 2025-02, and C.I.P. 2025-03 (Funding Source: State Gas Tax Fund)
A. Authorized the City Manager to amend the contract with Hardy & Harper Inc. in the amount of $73,723, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,499,309; B. Authorized the City Manager to amend the contract with LAE Associates in the amount of $34,944, for a total contract amount not to exceed $128,220; C. Appropriated $108,667 in State Gas Tax funds to fund the contract amendments; and D. Found this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
8. Authorization to Enter Into an Aareement with Interwest Consultina GrouD for Public Works Inspection Services Related to Claremont McKenna College Improvements on Claremont Boulevard (Funding Source: Applicant — Claremont McKenna College) Authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Interwest Consulting Group in the amount of $200,847 to provide contract inspection services for the Claremont Boulevard improvements associated with the Claremont McKenna College Development projects.
9. Award of Contract to TE Roberts. Inc. for Sewer On -Call Repair Services (Fundina Source Sewer Fund)
Authorized the City Manager to execute a three-year contract with two optional one-year extensions with TE Roberts, Inc. for on -call sewer repair services, in an amount not to exceed $150,000 annually.
PUBLIC HEARING
10. Amendment to the Claremont Municipal Code to Permit Rotating Auto Display Platforms in the Commercial Freeway (CF) Zone with Approval of a Special Use and Development Permit
This item was removed from the agenda and not discussed.
ORDINANCE
11. Ordinance Adopting the 2026 Citywide Radar Speed Survey Implementing Decreased Speed Limits for Certain Streets (Funding Sources: Measure M & Proposition C) This item starts at 42:05 in the archived video.
Vince Ramos, Associate Engineer, gave a PowerPoint presentation.
City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
Mr. Ramos; John Dorado, Advantic Consulting Engineer; and Mike Ciszek, Police Chief; responded to questions from the City Council related to the timeline and implementation of the new speed limits, proposed speed limits on First Street, Indian Hill between American and San Jose, collision activity on Indian Hill between American and San Jose, education of new speed limits, and crashes per million vehicle miles.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received on this item.
Mayor Stark invited public comment.
Vickie Noble, Claremont resident, stated that she is discouraged to hear that data collected on Indian Hill Boulevard does not seem to be a true reflection of current traffic conditions.
Unidentified speaker asked the City Council to keep the speed limits as they currently are as he believes the existing speed limits are well balanced.
Unidentified speaker, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the comments previously made, and questioned why the speed limits were being lowered when the data does not support that action.
Unidentified speaker spoke in support of reducing the speed limit on Mountain Avenue around El Roble Middle School in order to make the streets safer.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont resident, spoke in support of the modest speed reductions as proposed.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Stark closed public comment.
Mr. Ramos continued to respond to additional questions from the City Council regarding enforcement and legal requirements, speed survey standards, grace period for the change in speed limits, and the number of remaining streets to be evaluated.
Councilmember Calaycay spoke in support of the proposed ordinance as written and asked the City Manager to recycle and reuse the existing speed limit signs.
Mr. Ramos confirmed that the Engineering Division will work with the City's Maintenance Division to utilize as many existing signs as possible.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of the comments made previously and asked that consideration also be given to disabled individuals living in and around the City when determining speed in those areas.
Councilmember Reece spoke in support of staffs recommendation and added that speed limits can always be re-evaluated if needed.
Councilmember Medina spoke in support of staff's recommendation as the Commission recommended approval unanimously; however, expressed safety concerns in and around the area of the 10 Freeway.
City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
Mayor Stark spoke in support of the comments made by her fellow Councilmembers and believes the proposed speed limits are actionable items used to help keep the community safe.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to:
A. Introduce for first reading, and that reading be by title only, AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE TO SECTION 10.48.010 RELATING TO THE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STREETS; and
B. Authorize staff to move forward with the implementation of the speed survey, with the preparation of plans and specifications;
Seconded by Councilmember Leano, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Reece, Stark NOES: Councilmember— None
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM
12. Resolution Establishing Policy and Procedures for Recessing and Reconvening City Council Hybrid Meetings as a Result of a Disruption in a Remote Participation (Funding Source:
General Fund)
This item starts at 1:44:52 in the archived video.
Shelley Desautels, City Clerk, highlighted the staff report.
City Attorney Patterson responded to questions from the City Council regarding "zoom bombing" and the City of Industry meeting disruption policies and protocols.
City Clerk Desautels announced no written public comment had been received on this item.
Mayor Stark invited public comment.
Unidentified speaker spoke in support of utilizing remote participation.
Lydia Hernandez, Claremont resident, questioned if the use of cameras or announcement of names could be made mandatory for remote participants.
Andrew Alonzo, Claremont Courier, questioned if there was a way to prohibit a person from speaking twice, once in remote participation and once in the Council Chamber on the same item.
There were no other requests to speak.
Mayor Stark closed public comment.
City Attorney Patterson responded to questions raised during the public comment period and shared that the Brown Act allows public speakers to remain anonymous and confirmed there is no technology to determine if a member of the public speaks more than once.
City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
Councilmember Medina clarified that the City Council is voting on something that is State mandated; therefore, a dissenting vote would make no difference. He looks forward to the opportunity for increased participation.
Councilmember Reece stated that California Contract Cities Association did not support Senate Bill 707 as it could potentially expose the public to language unbecoming of a business meeting. As such he will not be voting in support of the proposed resolution.
Councilmember Calaycay spoke in support of the proposed policy as it would help regulate the City's process for allowing remote participation.
Councilmember Leano spoke in support of the proposed resolution but is reminded that oftentimes the negative behavior is an attempt to lead the City into a free speech violation.
Mayor Stark spoke in support of the use of remote participation as it would provide additional access for public participation.
Councilmember Calaycay moved to adopt Resolution No. 2026-20, A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING
THE POLICY FOR RECESSING AND RECONVENING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT AND SENATE BILL 707 IN THE EVENT OF A DISRUPTION IN REMOTE PARTICIPATION, seconded by Councilmember Leano, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Councilmember— Calaycay, Leano, Medina, Stark
NOES: Councilmember— Reece
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Stark adjourned the regular meeting of the Claremont City Council at 8:46 PM. The next regular meeting of the Claremont City Council will be held on May 26, 2026.
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