City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Highland was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Mayor Lilburn at the Donahue Council Chambers, 27215 Base Line, Highland, California.
The invocation was given by Pastor Al LeBrun, Immanuel Baptist Church, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Public Works Director/City Engineer Duran Jr.
ROLL CALL
Present: Lilburn, McCallon, Saldana, Timmer
Absent: Hogan
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City AttorneyMarroquinstatedthe City Councilmet in closedsessionpursuantto Government Code Section § 54956.9(c) to discuss the possibility of initiating litigation.
Directionwas providedto moveforwardwith this process, and once litigationis initiated andthe propertyownersare served, it will becomea matterof publicrecords.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
MayorLilburnpresenteda Proclamationproclaimingthe monthof Marchas American Red Cross Month.
MayorLilburnintroducedLuciaMendez, AssistantEngineerwithinthe Cityof Highland Public Works Department.
PUBLIC COMMENT ( ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
Jane Bouchand ChrisNielsenrepresentingthe HighlandChamberof Commercespoke regarding upcoming events.
MickeyAlexandraspoke regardingconcernsabout Mello-Roos and RedlandsSchool District taxes.
JodyScottspokeregardingthe city's stanceon sanctuarypoliciesandconcernswith parking at Cole Elementary School.
SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMEMBER
CityClerkMunozsworein newlyappointedCouncilmemberJimmySaldanafor District
2. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. Review and Revise Current Membership on City Council Subcommittees, Ad Hoc Committees, and AgencyAppointmentsFollowingthe CouncilmemberAppointmentfor District 2
Pagel of 6
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025
Councilmember Saldana will retain membership in the Public Facilities and Public Safety Subcommittees.
Subcommittees Members
Community Day of Service Hogan, Timmer
Finance/ Personnel McCallon, Timmer
Legislative Lilburn, McCallon
Public Facilities Saldana, Lilburn
Public Safety Saldana, Lilburn
Public Works McCallon, Timmer
Agency Appointments Members
Omnitrans Lilburn, Alt- McCallon
SANBAG McCallon, Alt- Lilburn
SBIAA Lilburn, Alt- McCallon
SCAG McCallon, No Alternate
Santa Ana River Wash Area Coordinated Planning Hogan, Alt- Timmer Activities Committee
Staff Agency Appointments Members
Gangs & Drugs Task Force Chief of Police
California Intergovernmental Risk Authority ( CIRA) Nava- Cruz, Alt- Zamano
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tern McCallon, seconded by Councilmember Timmer, to approve the consent calendar as submitted. Motion carried on a roll call vote, 4-1, withCouncilmemberHoganbeingabsentandCouncilmemberSaldanaabstaining fromItemNo's. 3, 4 and5; meetingsoccurredpriorto hisswearing-in.
2. Waive the Reading of All Ordinances
WaivedthereadingofallOrdinancesintheirentiretyandreadbytitleonly.
3. Minutes - February11, 2025 RegularCityCouncilMeeting Approved the Minutes as submitted.
4. Minutes - February11, 2025SpecialCity CouncilMeeting Approved the Minutes as submitted.
5. Minutes - February18, 2025SpecialCity CouncilMeeting Approved the Minutes as submitted.
6. Warrant Register
ApprovedWarrantRegisterNo. 775for March11, 2025, in the amountof$ 3,446,423.46 and Payroll of$ 217, 857. 30.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025
7. Treasurer' s Report for January 2025
Received and filed Treasurer's Report for January 2025.
8. Claim Consideration - Gilberto Martinez
Rejected claim.
9. Claim Consideration - Carol Garrity
Rejected claim.
10. 2024 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant ( JAG) Program Award 1) Accepted the 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant( JAG) award in the amount of$ 25, 854;
2) Authorizedtheappropriationofgrantfundsforspecialprojectovertime; including gang sweeps, DUI checkpoints, quality- of- life enforcement, and burglary suppression efforts; and
3) Authorized the City Manager, or their designee, to execute any necessary. documents related to the grant award and administration.
11. Agreementfor Automaticand MutualAid withSanBernardinoCountyFireProtection District
1)
ApprovedanAgreementforatermuptofiveyearswithSanBernardinoCounty Fire Protection District ( SBCFPD);
2) Authorizedthe FireChiefto approvethe OperatingPlan; and 3) Authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement.
12. Easement Acceptance/ 4Masbaseball, Inc. ( Jose Mas) - Single Family Residential ( 2) Project ( 7966 and 7972 Cortez Street)
1)
AcceptedGrant of Easementfor CortezStreet right-of-way dedicationfrom 4Masbaseball, Inc. ( Jose Mas); and
2) Directed the City Clerk to record the Grant of Easement
13. Designationof AuthorizedAgentsto Applyfor Federal/StateDisasterReliefFunds Adopted ResolutionNo. 2025-007, designatingauthorizedagents to sign forms and agreementsrelatedto Federal/StateDisasterReliefFundingon behalfof the CityofHighland.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025- 007
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND,
CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING AUTHORIZED AGENTS TO APPLY FOR
FEDERAL/ STATE DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025
14. Review of the City' s 2024 General Plan Implementation Annual Report in Accordance with Government Code § 65400 and § 65588
Received and filed the 2024 General Plan Annual Report.
CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE
15. 2025/ 2026 Work Program
A MOTION was made by Councilmember Timmer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McCallon to adopt . the 2025/ 2026 Work Program. Motion carried, 4- 1, with Councilmember Hogan being absent.
16. City Manager Report and Comments ( Work Program, Regional/ Legislative/ Development Issues, Subcommittees, etc.)
CityManagerZamanostatedtheHighlandSheriffsDepartmentforthemonthofFebruary received 2,995 calls for service, made 297 reports, 113 arrests, issued 125 citations, conducted 252 traffic enforcement stops, responded to 43 traffic collisions, 18 transient calls, and 24 towed vehicles.
The HighlandFire Departmentfor the monthof Februaryreceived564 callsfor service, some of which included: 440 medical aids, 32 traffic collisions, 4 structure fires, 3 vegetation fires, and 5 vehicle fires.
TheAdministrativeServices/FinanceDepartmentfor the monthof Februaryissued49 businesslicenses, renewed186businesslicenses, issued57doglicenses, 35yardsale permits, and 183 account payable checks.
Human Resources is currently recruiting for an Assistant Public Works Director, Maintenance Superintendent, and Engineering Technician I/II for the Public Works Department. Anyoneinterestedcan applyon our city website.
Three City of Highland staff members have been acknowledged for their exceptional work and contributions to the community. Jay Tuttle, Assistant Engineer, was named Employee of the Year at the Highland Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation Dinner. Angel Halloway, MaintenanceSuperintendentreceivedthe 2024UnsungHeroof the Year.
LeticiaNava-Cruz, DirectorofAdministrativeServices/CityTreasurerwashonoredbyCA State Senator Eloise Reyes of District 29 as one of the 2025 Woman of Distinction.
The Public Works Department announced the City of Highland was awarded a $ 1. 4 million federal grant for safety improvements to our traffic signal system citywide through the Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program ( HSIP). These improvements will involve the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Church Street/GlenheatherDrive/LoveStreetadjacentto ArroyoVerdeElementarySchool.
Additionally, all trafficsignalsin the city will receiveyellowreflectivebackplatesto improvevisibility. Theseupgradesreflectourongoingcommitmenttoensurethesafety of our communityand all roadwayusers. We anticipatethat these improvementswill be completed by Spring 2027 or sooner. The timeline is extended due to the extensive processes involved with federal funding.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025
Construction along Greenspot Road between Boulder Avenue and SR-210 is currently in progress. The city's Greenspot Improvement Project is nearing completion, with only a few outstanding task orders, including striping. Upcoming construction will involve the Highland Region Connector Project and the CDBG Highland Pavement Improvement Project. These initiatives will pave various streets throughout the city and implement new striping. City staff is coordinating with both contractors to schedule most of the pavement work duringspring break to minimizedisruptionsfor residentsand schoolsaffectedby the project.
Saturday, March 22, from 8: 00 a. m. to 12: 00 p. m., the Highland Improvement Team ( HIT) will host its Annual Citrus Harvest Festival Historic Community Cleanup event.
Monday, March 24, from 9: 00 a. m. to 5: 00 p. m., a Blood Drive will be held at the Highland Police Station.
Saturday, April 5, from 9: 00 a. m. to 2: 00 p. m., there will be a Used Oil Filter Exchange event at AutoZone located on Base Line and Palm Avenue.
Saturday, April 12, from 9: 00 a. m. to 2: 00 p. m., an Open House will be held at Fire Station 1 located at 26974 Base Line.
Forthe monthof February, Burrteccompleted154illegaldumpingworkorders.
The Historic and Cultural Preservation Board Committee convened on March 6 to finalize preparationsfor the upcomingCitrusHarvestFestivalscheduledfor Saturday, March29, from10:00a.m. to3:30p.m. Thiseventissettofeatureover120booths, anarrayof live entertainment, Aztecdancers, folkloricodancers, foodvendorsanda districtwalkingtour.
Costcois officiallyopen for business. A specialthank you to MayorLilburn, MayorPro TemMcCallon, andCouncilmemberSaldanafortheirattendanceattheGrandOpening event.
17. Councilmember Comments (Agency/Committee/AB 1234 Reports, District Updates, etc.) Councilmember Timmer welcomed Councilmember Saldana.
MayorProTernMcCallonstatedhe is lookingforwardto collaboratewith Councilmember Saldana.
Councilmember Saldana thanked everyone and expressed his gratitude to all Council members.
Mayor Lilburn congratulatedcity staff memberswho received awards and welcomed Councilmember Saldana.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025
CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Marroquin read the City Council into closed session regarding the following:
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957( b)
Title: City Manager
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957. 6
Unrepresented employee: City Manager
ADJOURN
Mayor Lilburn adjourned the meeting into closed session at 6: 35 p. m. in memory of George Scott.
Submitted By: Approved By:
Alond Munoz Penny Li u
City Clerk Mayor