Minutes for the Regular City Council
25541 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA 92354
August 13, 2024, 7:02 PM - August 13, 2024, 7:26 PM
Roll Call: (The following members were in attendance)
Phillip Dupper, Mayor
Ronald Dailey, Mayor pro tempore
Ovidiu Popescu, Councilmember
Rhodes Rigsby, Councilmember
Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, Councilmember
1. Call to Order
1A. Call to Order- 7:02 PM
1B. Roll Call- 7:02 PM
Staff Present:
T. Jarb Thaipejr, City Manager
Diane Robbins, City Attorney
Lynette Arreola, City Clerk
Sonia Fabela, Finance Director
Dan Harker, Fire Chief
Nate Boucher, Battalion Chief
Lorena Matarrita, Community Development Director
Andrew Sanchez, Customer Service Technician
Lt. Kaysie Smith, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department 1C. Closed Session/Workshop - 5:30 pm- 7:02 PM
City Attorney Robbins stated that the City Council met in Closed Session to discuss the items as noted on the agenda. She mentioned that direction was given to staff. 1D. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance - Council Member Popescu- 7:03 PM The Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Popescu. 1E. Items to be Added or Deleted- 7:03 PM
There were no items to be added or deleted.
1F. Oral Reports/Public Participation - Non-Agenda Items (Each Speaker limited to 3 minutes. Pursuant to the Brown Act, no action or discussion can be taken by City Council)- 7:04 PM
Lt. Kaysie Smith invited the Council, City staff, and the community to National Night Out on Aug. 28, 2924, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Citrus Trail Park.
Mayor Dupper shared that he received an email from a resident who wished to recognize two Public Works Water Department employees, Edward Aguilar and Carlos Flores. The resident explained that his phone had fallen out of his pocket, and Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Flores found it and returned it to his home. The homeowner expressed deep gratitude for their honesty and integrity, noting that their actions reflect the values of the City.
The Mayor also mentioned a letter he received from the Principal of Mission Elementary School, who expressed her appreciation for Fire Battalion Chief Nate Boucher for his support and leadership in guiding fifth graders through their Leadership Academy. He wanted to formally acknowledge his contributions at a future meeting.
In closing, the Mayor shared that he had the honor of celebrating the 100th birthday of a Loma Linda resident. He mentioned that the Fire Department staff were present for the celebration and thanked them for their dedication and service to the community. 1G. Conflict of Interest Disclosure- 7:08 PM
There were no items of Conflict of Interest among the Council.
2. Scheduled and Related Items
No scheduled items.
3. Consent Calendar
Motion by Ovidiu Popescu, seconded Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, and passing by a vote of 5-0-0-0-0 to Approve the Consent Calendar items as presented.
3A. Approve Demands Registers - July 23 and August 13, 2024 [Finance]- 7:08 PM Approved the demands registers dated:
3B. Treasurer's Report - July 2024 [Finance]- 7:08 PM
Accepted the Treasurer's Report for July 2024 for filing. 3C. Fire Department's Activity Report - July 2024 [Fire]- 7:08 PM Accepted the Fire Department's Activity Report for July for filing. 3D. Award Contract to Retain Services of Senior Management Recruiting Firm for Assistant City Manager position [City Manager]- 7:08 PM Awarded contract to Ralph Anderson & Associates in an amount not to exceed of $25,000.
July 23, 2024, with commercial demands totaling $1,065,883.64 and payroll demands dated July 18, 2024, totaling $471,649.71; and
August 13, 2024, with commercial demands totaling $3,989,782.71 and payroll demands dated August 1, 2024, totaling $564,993.17.
3E. Award Contract for Classification and Total Compensation Study [City Manager]- 7:08 PM
Awarded contract to Public Sector Personnel Consultants in an amount not to exceed of $63,000. 3F. Award of Contract for Water Valve Replacement 2024 [Public Works]- 7:08 PM Awarded contract to MCC Pipeline, Inc.in the amount of $174,632.91 and authorized a contingency allocation of $17,500; City staff will provide inspection and project management. 3G. Award Contract for Construction of Bus Stop Sidewalk at Various Locations (CIP 24- 123) [Public Works]- 7:08 PM
Awarded contract to Kormex Construction, Inc. in the amount of $67,210.00 and authorized a contingency allocation of $7,000. City staff will provide inspection and project management. 3H. Award Contract of Pavement Rehabilitation at Various Locations (CIP 23-117) [Public Works]- 7:08 PM
Awarded contract to All American Asphalt in the amount of $892,108.00 and authorized a contingency allocation of $89,000. City staff will provide inspection and project management. 3I. Award Contract for Emergency Operations Center Training for City Staff [Fire]- 7:08 PM Awarded contract to Jacob Green and Associates in an amount not to exceed of $38,800.00. 3J. Award Contract to Purchase and Install Kitchen Countertop at Fire Station 251 [Fire]- 7:08 PM
Awarded contract to Canam Ergonomics Inc. for $20,512.08 and authorized a 10% contingency allocation of $2,000.00.
3K. Declare Items Surplus and Authorize Appropriate Disposal [Information Systems/LLCCP]- 7:08 PM
Declare the list of equipment and miscellaneous items surplus and authorized appropriate disposal. 3L. Appropriate $ 25,000 from 2023-24 General Fund Reserves for Legal Services [Administration]- 7:08 PM
Approved appropriation from Fiscal Year 2023-24 of $25,000 from General Fund Reserve into expenditure account 0011940-51840, General Government Legal Services, to cover the expenses of Legal Services from Fiscal Year 2023-24.
3M. Re-appropriate $30,200 out of General, $10,000 out of Sewer Development Impact and $18,400 out of Water Enterprise Fund Balances into FY 2024-25 for items/services not received by fiscal 2023-24 year-end. [Public Works]- 7:08 PM Re-appropriated $30,200 from General; $10,000 from Sewer Development Impact; and $18,400 from Water Enterprise Fund Balances into FY 2024-25 for items/services not received by fiscal 2023-24 year-end.
3N. Re-appropriate $1,171,700 from Fiscal Year 2023-24 to Fiscal Year 2024-25 for the completion of the 1.6 Million Gallon Reservoir (CIP 20-656) [Public Works]- 7:08 PM Re-appropriated $1,171,700 from Fiscal Year 2023-24 to Fiscal Year 2024-25 for the completion of the
1.6 Million Gallon Reservoir (CIP 20-656).
4. Old Business
4A. Council Bill #O-2024-04 - Second Hearing - An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Loma Linda repealing Ordinance 712, which will remove Chapter 17.105 FormulaBased Fast Food Restaurants of the Loma Linda Municipal Code in its entirety, and amending Chapter 17.40 Commercial and Industrial Zones (BP, CO, C-1, C-2, and CM) to allow Fast Food Restaurant With Drive-Through in the BP, C-1, C-2, and CM Zones subject to a Conditional Use Permit and specific use regulations, and amending applicable definitions in Chapter 17.02 Introduction and Definitions for consistency purposes throughout the Development Code (Continued from July 9, 2024)- 7:09 PM Council Member Spencer-Hwang stated that she works for public health and provided her position on this item. She noted that individuals and the media have come to Loma Linda to learn more about what researchers and journalists have identified Loma Linda as a Blue Zone or longevity hotspot, which is the only community in the US and is one of five regions in the world with this designation.
She is an epidemiologist and research professor and over the past 10 years, she has been studying the lifestyle habits as well as experiences of Adventist centenarians and individuals who are 100+ in age. She had published an award-winning book in 2021. Through her research she noted that it is a habit that influences the lifestyle habits of the centenarians and is not dietary, but their time and nature in moving. She noted that the community worked together, helped each other, and put differences aside. She would like to work together to bring back the essence of being a thriving resilient and health-promoting City. She would like to attract businesses that will embrace the City's motto of health and prosperity.
Mayor pro tempore Dailey appreciated her comments. He noted that the Community Development Director sent a notification to the Council providing clarification on the proposed Ordinance.
Adopted Council Bill #O-2024-04.
ORDINANCE NO. 781
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA REPEALING ORDINANCE 712, WHICH WILL REMOVE CHAPTER 17.105 FORMULA-BASED FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS OF THE LOMA LINDA MUNICIPAL CODE IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND AMENDING CHAPTER 17.40 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES (BP, CO, C-1, C-2, AND CM) TO ALLOW FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WITH DRIVETHROUGH IN THE BP, C-1, C-2, AND CM ZONES SUBJECT TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SPECIFIC USE REGULATIONS, AND AMENDING APPLICABLE DEFINITIONS IN CHAPTER 17.02
INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITIONS FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT CODE.
Mayor Dupper shared that during his research on Ms. Ester Van Den Hoven, with whom he had the pleasure of celebrating her 100th birthday, she spoke extensively about her daily walks but didn’t go into much detail about her dietary habits.
Motion by Ronald Dailey, seconded Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, and passing by a vote of 3-2-0-0-0 Opposed by Ovidiu Popescu, Rhodes Rigsby
to Adopt Council Bill #O-2024-04, to Waive the full reading of the ordinance, and to read by title only.
5. New Business
No items.
6. Reports
6A. Reports of Council Members- 7:19 PM
Councilmember Popescu attended an ESRI Conference and shared that it was fascinating in many ways. He highlighted that Loma Linda sees more visitors than a Redlands Target, emphasizing the potential for the City to be strategic in identifying key areas of focus. He mentioned that ESRI provides valuable data on specific areas and noted the significant amount of work ahead, including grant opportunities. He suggested utilizing ESRI’s resources to attract the types of businesses the City wants. Councilmember Popescu also discussed the extensive data ESRI offers, which could greatly benefit the City. Additionally, he mentioned a conversation with an individual about the longevity of Adventists due to their diet and referenced an ongoing study focused on identifying healthy habits.
6B. Reports Of Officers- 7:26 PM
No reports from Officers.
7. Adjournment
Mayor Dupper noted that he would have a conflict with the September 10 and October 8, City Council meeting dates and asked to meet on the 4th Tuesdays of September and October. City Council concurred. The meeting adjourned at 7:26 pm.