City Council Special Meeting Minutes May 7, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Thespecialmeetingof the CityCouncilofthe Cityof Highlandwas calledto orderat 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Lilburn at the Donahue Council Chambers, 27215 Base Line, Highland, California.
ROLL CALL
Present: Hogan, Lilburn, McCallon, Saldana, Timmer
Absent: None
PUBLIC COMMENT ( LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA ONLY)
None
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
1. Ordinance Amending the City's Fireworks Regulations to Increase the Fines and Authorize the Enhancement of Enforcement Efforts ( HMC Chapter 1.20, Arrest and Citation Procedures, Chapter 2.56, Administrative Citation Process, and Chapter 8.58, Fireworks)
MayorLilburnopenedthepublichearingfortheordinanceamendingtheCity's fireworks regulations to increase the fines and authorize the enhancement of enforcement efforts.
City ManagerZamanostated staff proposesincreasingthe ordinancefireworksfine for violations within the City of Highland. Currently, the fine is set at $ 1, 000, and the recommendation is to raise the maximum allowable amount of $ 2,000. The goal is to deterindividualsfromengagingin fireworksactivitiesbyemphasizingtheseverityof consequences, therebyencouragingcompliancewith municipalcodes. Theseproposed changesarebasedoninsightsgainedfromaconferenceattendedlastyear, withtheCity of Bellflower. Theirapproachhasyieldedpromisingresults. As a pilotprogramforthis initiative, staffplansto conducta targetedenforcementeffortduringthe4thof July holiday. A team consisting of management, code enforcement officers, and vehicles equippedwith dash camswill patrolthe city duringthe evening. To maintaindiscretion, rentalvehicleswill be used to avoiddrawingunnecessaryattention. The objectiveis to observe fireworks activity and identify informationto establish clear evidence that violationsare occurringat properties. This datacollectionwill allowus to verify incidents andpreparecitationsfor themand mailto propertyownerswithinoneto two weeks. This enforcementstrategywillbeaneffectivetoolin reducingfireworksviolations. Thecityis eager to presentthis proposalto City Councilfor considerationto ensuretimely implementationfortheupcoming4thofJuly. Staffisrequestingthefirstordinancereading atthisspecialmeetingwithplansfortheordinancetotakeeffectJune12, 2025following a secondreadingscheduledattheCityCouncilRegularMeetingonMay13, 2025.
MayorLilburnaskediftherewereanyquestionsfromthepublic, seeingnone, sheclosed the publichearingand broughtit backto CityCouncilfor deliberation.
CouncilmemberSaldanaaskedifcitationsincludepicturesoftheviolationtakingplace?
City Council Special Meeting Minutes May 7, 2025
City Manager Zamano stated citations will not include pictures of individuals. Evidence will be retained city records.
MayorProTernMcCallonstatedsomeof thesefireworksare beingset off onthe streets.
How will staff identify the individuals responsible for igniting them? CityManagerZamanostatedstaffwill proceedat a carefulanddeliberatepaceto ensure accurateidentificationofareasandneighborhoodsstoppingas neededratherthandriving through. If any relevant information or observation arises, staff will document the corresponding addresses accordingly. Prior to this event taking place, staff will conduct outreach efforts to inform residents that fireworks are prohibitedwithin the City of Highland. This will include the utilization of digital message signs throughout the area, announcements in the City of Highland newsletter, and postings on our official website.
Additionally, we will collaborate with EastValley Water District (EVWD) to include a notice in their monthly billing statements and East Highland Homeowners Association ( HOA) is willing to assist with sending out notices.
MayorLilburnaskedif staffwill be responsiblefor mailingout the notices? City Manager Zamano confirmed yes.
CouncilmemberHoganaskedwhetherthiswouldbelimitedto a singleday.
CityManagerZamanostatedthiswillonlytakeplaceonthe4thofJuly.
CouncilmemberTimmeraskedifthecitationswillbemailedto thephysicaladdress? CityManagerZamanostatedthecitationswillbemailedtothepropertyowners.
CityAttorneyMarroquinmentionedit shouldbesentto thepropertyowner, asthat's the information the City of Highland has as opposed to the tenant.
MayorLilburnaskedif theSheriff's Departmentwouldbeavailableto assistor if they havethe capacityto issuea citationif they observeillegalfireworks? Captain Dean from the Sheriff's Department stated fireworks, without concrete evidence such as video footage, can be challenging to trace back to the responsible individuals.
Withsomeexperienceacrossmultiplejurisdictions, fireworkswhetherlegallypermitted orentirelybannedareanongoingissueeverywhere, includingtheCityof Highland. The Sheriff's Departmentscurrentstaffinglevelsarefull to commitassistingwithfireworks enforcementatthistime. Ourresourcesarefullyallocatedto otherevents, includingthe 4thofJulyParade, ImmanuelBaptistactivities, andtheeveningofJuly4. Asa result, our staffing on the streets prior to July 4, on a daily basis, is limited. However, if we can obtain verifiable evidence of fireworks being ignited, we will certainly take appropriate enforcement action.
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tern McCallon, seconded by Councilmember Saldana to:
City Council Special Meeting Minutes May 7, 2025
1) Introduce and conduct first reading of City Council Ordinance No. 468, amending Chapter 1.20, Arrest and Citation, Chapter 2. 56, Administrative Citation Process, and Chapter 8. 58 of the Highland Municipal Code to increase the administrative fine as allowable under the State Fireworks Law for use of illegal fireworks, and other amendments to authorize enhanced code enforcement efforts; and 2) Direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Motion carried, 5- 0.
City Clerk Munoz introduced Ordinance No. 468
ORDINANCE NO. 468
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, DELETING CHAPTER 1.20 ( ARREST AND CITATION PROCEDURES) OF TITLE 1 ( GENERAL PROVISIONS); AND AMENDING CHAPTER 2. 56 ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION PROCESS) OF TITLE 2 ( ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL) AND CHAPTER 8. 58 ( FIREWORKS) OF TITLE 8 ( HEALTH AND
SAFETY) OF THE HIGHLAND MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE
ENFORCEMENT OF FIREWORKS VIOLATIONS
Which title was read.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
CLOSED SESSION
CityAttorneyMarroquinreadtheCityCouncilintoclosedsessionat6:23 p.m. regarding the following:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuantto GovernmentCodeSection54957.6 regardingthefollowing:
Agency Negotiator: Carlos Zamano, City Manager
Employee Organization: Unrepresented employees
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITGATION
Pursuantto governmentCodeSection54956.9 (d)(2) regardingthefollowing:
Significant exposure to litigation: One case.
ADJOURN
Therebeingnofurtherbusiness, MayorLilburnadjournedthemeetingat7:38p.m.
Submitted By: Approved By:
Alondra unoz y Mc Ilon
City Clerk P. yor Pr Tern