REGULAR CITY COUNCIL, HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY JOINT MEETING MINUTES
25541 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA 92354
September 9, 2025, 7:04 PM - September 9, 2025, 8:00 PM Roll Call: (The following members were in attendance)
Phillip Dupper, Mayor/HA Chairman
Ronald Dailey, Mayor pro tempore/HA Vice-Chairman
Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, Councilmember/HA Board Member
Absent:
Ovidiu Popescu, Councilmember/HA Board Member
Rhodes Rigsby, Councilmember/HA Board Member
1. Call to Order
1.A. Call to Order - City Council [CC], Housing Authority Board [HA], and Successor Agency [SA]- 7:04 PM
It was noted at that the Closed Session scheduled at 5:30pm was cancelled due to no report updates on Labor Negotiations. The regular meeting was called to order at 7:04pm.
1.B. Roll Call- 7:05 PM
Councilmember Rhodes Rigsby and Ovidiu Popescu absent; all other Councilmembers present.
Staff present: T. Jarb Thaipejr, City Manager/HA Executive Director ; Diane Robbins, City Attorney/HA General Counsel; Lynette Arreola, City Clerk/HA Secretary; Sonia Fabela, Finance Director; Dan Harker, Fire Chief; Lorena Matarrita, Community Development Director; Hugh Campa, Information Systems Specialist; and Lt. David Frayeh, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
1.C. Closed Session/Workshop 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm or soon thereafter as possible- 7:05 PM Since the Closed Session was cancelled, City Attorney Robbins had nothing to report.
1.D. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance - Council Member Popescu- 7:05 PM The Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Mayor Dupper.
1.E. Items to be Added or Deleted- 7:06 PM
No items were added or deleted.
1.F. 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, Housing Authority or Successor Agency)- 7:06 PM
Christopher Jueden-pytel, 25624 State St., reported that the roots from the City street tree located in front of his property have caused damage to the waterline on his property and have lifted the sidewalk. He is requesting for the tree to be removed.
City Manger Thaipejr noted the City is aware of the situation, and City staff has been communicating with the Mr. Jueden-pytel.
2. Public Hearing Items
2.A. Public Hearing - Adopt Council Bill #R-2025-33 - A Resolution Ordering Annexations 80 and 81 to Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 (Tract 20403 – Eden at Covenant Point and Tract 20404 – Haven at Covenant Point) (Public Works) [CC]- 7:13 PM Public Hearing was opened at 7:14 PM and closed at 7:14 PM City Manager Thaipejr presented the report requesting approval of Annexations 80 and 81 into the Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 as recommended by staff. He noted the Official Assessment ballots to vote on the proposed assessment were mailed to affected property owners, and noted that the ballots would be opened by the City Clerk.
City Clerk Arreola noted that two ballots were received for Annexation 80 (Eden at Covenant Point - Tract 20403), opened the ballots and announced both voted in favor of the assessment; and that two ballots were received for Annexation 81 (Haven at Covenant Point Tract 20404), opened the ballots and announced both voted in favor of the assessment.
Motion by Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, seconded Ronald Dailey, passing by a vote of 3-0-0-0-2, Absent was Ovidiu Popescu, Rhodes Rigsby
to Adopt as recommended Council Bill #R-2025-33, RESOLUTION NO. 3271 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA CONFIRMING THE ANNEXATION OF ANNEXATION NO. 80 (EDEN AT COVENANT POINT – TRACT 20403) AND ANNEXATION NO. 81 (HAVEN AT COVENANT POINT – TRACT 20404) INTO LOMA LINDA LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1, THE DIAGRAM AND
ASSESSMENTS RELATED THERETO, OVERRULING ALL PROTESTS CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENTS,
AND ORDERING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS COMMENCING IN FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 (IF NOT MAINTAINED BY HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION)
2.B. Public Hearing - Adopt Council Bill #R-2025-34 - A Resolution Ordering Annexations to Streetlight Benefits Assessment District No. 1 (Tracts 20403 & 20404 – Eden at Covenant Point & Haven at Covenant Point) (Public Works) [CC]- 7:18 PM Public Hearing was opened at 7:18 PM and closed at 7:18 PM City Manager Thaipejr presented the report requesting approval of the Annexations into the Streetlight Benefits Assessment District No. 1 as recommended by staff. He noted the Official Assessment ballots to vote on the proposed assessment were mailed to affected property owners, and noted that the ballots would be opened by the City Clerk.
City Clerk Arreola noted that two ballots were received for Eden at Covenant Point - Tract 20403, opened the ballots and announced both voted in favor of the assessment; and that two ballots were received for Haven at Covenant Point - Tract 20404, opened the ballots and announced both voted in favor of the assessment.
Motion by Ronald Dailey, seconded Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, passing by a vote of 3-0-0-0-2, Absent was Ovidiu Popescu, Rhodes Rigsby
to Adopt as recommended Council Bill #R-2025-34 - RESOLUTION NO. 3272 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA CONFIRMING THE ANNEXATION OF TRACT 20403 (EDEN AT COVENANT POINT) AND TRACT 20404 (HA VEN AT COVENANT POINT) INTO LOMA LINDA STREET LIGHT BENEFIT ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 1, THE DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENTS RELATED THERETO,
OVERRULING ALL PROTESTS CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENTS, AND ORDERING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS COMMENCING IN FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027.
3. Scheduled Agenda Items
No items scheduled.
4. Consent Calendar
Mayor pro tempore Dailey pulled Agenda Item 4E wanting more information on the grant program.
Community Development Director Matarrita explained that Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s Office proposed this pilot grant program of $30,000 to award three businesses $10,000 each. The program is to attract new businesses into the City and to apply the grant funds towards applicant/permit costs. She noted that the City will administer the program that will include establishing the eligibility criteria, evaluating applications, and selecting the recipients. In response to an inquiry, she noted that the funds may be granted to existing businesses, but the intent of the program was to offer this incentive to new businesses.
Motion by Ronald Dailey, seconded Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, passing by a vote of 3-0-0-0-2, Absent was Ovidiu Popescu, Rhodes Rigsby
to Approve the Consent Calendar items as submitted.
4.A. Approve Minutes of August 12 2025 (City Clerk) [CC/HA/SA] Approved as presented the Minutes of August 12, 2025.
4.B. Approve the Demands Registers Dated August 26, and September 9, 2025 (Finance) [CC/HA]- 7:21 PM
Approved by City Council the Demands Register dated August 26, 2025, with commercial demands totaling $1,710,451.09, and Payroll dated August 14, 2025, totaling $479,638.60; and the Demands Register dated September 9, 2025, with commercial demands totaling $902,185.22, and Payroll dated August 28, 2025, totaling $458,188.36.
Approved by the Housing Authority Board the Demands Register dated August 26, 2025, with commercial demands totaling $506.93; and the Demands Register dated September 9, 2025, with commercial demands totaling $2,962.99.
4.C. Accept the Treasurer's Report - August 2025 (Finance) [CC]- 7:21 PM Accepted for filing the August 2025 Treasurer's Report.
4.D. Accept the Fire Department Activity Reports - August 2025 (Fire) [CC]- 7:21 PM Accepted for filing the August 2025 Fire Department's Activity Report.
4.E. Authorize the City Manager to Establish a New Restaurant Grant Program in Partnership with Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s Office, Accept up to $22,500 in Grant Funding, Authorize Execution of Funding Agreement; Approve a Supplemental Appropriation of $22,500 to the Miscellaneous Grant Fund revenues/expenditures accounts; and Approve a Supplemental Appropriation of $7,500 from General Fund Reserves for the City’s Match (Community Development) [CC]
Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to coordinate with Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s San Bernardino County Office to establish a new Restaurant Grant Program to offset start-up costs for new restaurants in Loma Linda; Accepted the $22,500 from the Restaurant Grant Program; Authorized the execution of the funding agreement, subject to any revisions deemed necessary by the City Attorney; and Approved the $22,500 supplemental appropriation to the Miscellaneous Grant Fund revenues/expenditures accounts and Approve a supplemental appropriation of $7,500 from General Fund Reserves to account no. 0011940-51830, representing the City’s 25% matching contribution toward the total grant amount of $30,000 as recommended.
4.F. Approve a Supplemental Appropriation of $88,100 and Award Contracts for Chief Plant Operator - Water System - to WaterworkForce, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $60,000 and to Eagle Aerial Solutions for Waterview Software Subscription in an amount not to exceed $28,100 (Public Works) [CC]- 7:21 PM
Approved a supplemental appropriation of $88,100 from the Water Enterprise Fund Balance into the expenditure accounts identified under the report's Financial Impact; Approved an extension of the contract with WaterWorkForce, Inc. of Yucaipa, in an amount not to exceed $60,000, to provide regulatory coverage ensuring minimum operational requirements mandated by the State of California, subject to any revisions deemed necessary by the City Attorney with the Agreement being retroactive to July 1, 2025, as the Contractor has been providing services since the start of the new fiscal year; and Awarded the contract to Eagle Aerial Solutions, in an amount not to exceed $28,100, for the WaterView Software Subscription, subject to any revisions deemed necessary by the City Attorney with the Agreement being retroactive to August 1, 2025, as the Contractor has been providing services since the start of the new fiscal year as recommended.
4.G. Consider Amendment to Employment Agreement with City Manager T. Jarb Thaipejr and Approve a Supplemental Appropriation of $17,800 for Salary and Benefits Costs for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (Administration) [CC]
Approved the Amendment to the existing Employment Agreement with City Manager T. Jarb Thaipejr providing for an increase in compensation and an extension of the term of the Employment Agreement to June 30, 2028, as recommended.
4.H. Declare Vacancies and Direct the Clerk to Post Vacancies for the Following Committes/Commissions(Administration) [CC]- 7:21 PM
Declared vacancies and directed the Clerk to post vacancy notice as presented.
5. Old Business
5.A. Adopt Council Bill #O-2025-03 - (Second Reading) Ordinance Amending and Adopting a New Chapter 19.12 of the Loma Linda Municipal Code Entitled "Flood Control Measures" to Comply with the New Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regulations to Adopt Flood Hazard Maps, to Designate a Floodplain Administrator, and Address for Other Purposes, Providing Severability, Establishing an Effective Date of October 9, 2025, and Repealing Ordinance Nos. 148, 369, 380, and 678 (Public Works) [CC]- 7:30 PM Mayor pro tempore Dailey understood that the City was required to amend the ordinance to maintain compliance but expressed concern that residents were not properly notified about the flood hazard map changes, which could have financial impacts on affected properties.
Discussion followed regarding the need to inform residents about these map modifications as well as the previously approved Fire Hazard Zone Map modifications and ensuring appropriate notifications are provided.
Motion by Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, seconded Ronald Dailey, passing by a vote of 3-0-0-0-2, Absent was Ovidiu Popescu, Rhodes Rigsby
to Adopt as recommended Council Bill #O-2025-03, ORDINANCE NO. 786 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING NEW CHAPTER 19.12 (FLOOD
CONTROL MEASURES) OF THE LOMA LINDA MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT FLOOD HAZARD MAPS, DESIGNATE A FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR, AND ADDRESS FOR OTHER PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBERS 148, 369, 380, AND 678; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF OCTOBER 9, 2025.
6. New Business
6.A. Consider Rescheduling Regular Meeting of November 25, 2025, (week of Thanksgiving) to November 18, 2025 (Administration) [CC/HA/SA] With the first regular meeting of November falling on Veteran's Day holiday (Nov. 11), the regular meeting of November was scheduled to the second regular meeting date of November 25, 2025, the week of Thanksgiving. Since that date was on a holiday week, there was discussion to reschedule the meeting to November 18, 2025. By consensus, the meeting of November 25, 2025, was rescheduled to November 18, 2025.
7. Reports
7.A. Reports of Council Members- 7:48 PM
Councilmember Spencer-Hwang reported a meeting she had with the owner of Two Lads Bakery, who requested outdoor dining to support her business; received a resident request to install a left-turn signal on Benton Street at Barton Road for safety purposes; and provided an update on the Revenue Generating Committee, noting their interest to conduct a community survey to identify what the community wants as far as eateries, businesses, and activities for enhancing the City.
Andrea De Leon from the Chamber of Commerce followed up on the community survey discussion, noting a company that offers a digital app-based survey, with costs starting at approximately $20,000 depending on the survey’s scope.
Mayor pro tempore Dailey observed that the monument sign at the retail center on Redlands Boulevard and Mt. View Avenue is faded and that landscaping improvements are needed especially since this center is at a key entrance to the City. Fire Marshal Ingalls stated that he had Code Enforcement send first notices to several business owners along Redlands Boulevard for voluntary compliance for proper property maintenance to enhance this main arterial in the City.
7.B. Reports Of Officers- 7:59 PM
Community Development Director Matarrita informed Council of upcoming events: 1) Coffee with the Mayor - Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Starbucks at Mt. View Ave. and Barton Rd. and 2) Loma Linda Founders Day - Monday, September 29, 2025, at City Hall Lobby Celebrating the City's 55th Anniversary. She acknowledged and thanked Josh, Outreach Coordinator for Starbucks, who is working with the City and donating coffee for these city events.
8. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:00pm.
Minutes approved at the meeting of October 14, 2025.