Minutes — Montclair City Council, October 7, 2024

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR JOINT MEETING OF THE MONTCLAIR

CITY COUNCIL, SUCCESSOR AGENCY AND MONTCLAIR HOUSING

CORPORATION BOARDS, MONTCLAIR HOUSING AUTHORITY

COMMISSION, AND MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
BOARD HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024, AT 7:00 P.M. IN
THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 5111 BENITO STREET,

MONTCLAIR, CALIFORNIA
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor/Chair Dutrey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

II. INVOCATION
Pastor Joe Cano, Gracious Living Church, gave the invocation.

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Johnson led meeting participants in the Pledge.

IV. ROLL CALL

Present: Mayor/Chair Dutrey; Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Johnson; Council Members/Directors Martinez and Lopez
City Manager/Executive Director Starr; Assistant City Manager/ Director of Human Services Richter; Director of Community Development Diaz; Director of Finance Kulbeck; Director of Public Works/City Engineer Heredia; Police Chief Reed; Fire Chief Pohl; City Attorney Robbins; City Clerk Myrick

Absent: Council Member/Director Ruh (excused)
V. PRESENTATIONS — None
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
 Xavier Mendez, resident, complimented the newly backlit Montclair logo mounted to the dais in the Council Chambers.

VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS — None
VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR
ACTION – Consent Calendar
ACTING: City Council
Successor Agency Board
Montclair Housing Corporation Board
Montclair Housing Authority Commissioners
Montclair Community Foundation Board
DISCUSSION: Items B–4 and C–1
MOTION: Approve the Consent Calendar as presented.

MADE BY:

SECOND BY:

Council Member/Director Lopez
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Johnson
AYES:

NOES:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

Lopez, Martinez, Johnson, Dutrey
None
None
Ruh
RESULT: Motion carried 4–0–1.

1. Adjourned Meeting — September 16, 2024
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item A–1
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

2. Regular Joint Meeting — September 16, 2024
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item A–2
ACTING: City Council
Successor Agency Board
Montclair Housing Corporation Board
Montclair Housing Authority Commissioners
Montclair Community Foundation Board
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

B. Administrative Reports

1. Consider Approval of Warrant Register and Payroll
Documentation
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item B–1
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

2. Consider Authorizing the Receipt of a $5,772.85 Grant from the Fiscal Year 2024 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest
Partnership Program to Assist with the Purchase of Ballistic Vests for the Police Department
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item B–2
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

3. Consider Finding the Arrow Highway and Fremont Avenue Improvement Projects Categorically Exempt from CEQA,
Making a De Minimis Finding of No Effect on Fish and
Wildlife, and Authorizing Staff to File a Notice of Exemption for these Projects
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item B–3
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

4. Consider Approving the Purchase of Whole Turkeys, and Assorted Items for the Montclair Holiday Food and Toy
Basket Program
Carolyn Raft, resident, asked if more baskets would be
distributed this year due to increased needs in the community.

Joint City Council/Successor Agency Board/Montclair Housing Corporation Board/Montclair Housing Authority Commission/ Montclair Community Foundation Board Meeting Minutes — October 7, 2024 Page 3 of 5 Assistant City Manager/Director of Human Services Richter indicated that the City will gain a clearer understanding of community needs based on the number of families that register for the program in November.

Xavier Mendez, resident, sought clarification regarding the criteria for identifying “disadvantaged children/families.” Assistant City Manager/Director of Human Services Richter explained that the program relies on the Federal Poverty Guidelines Schedule, which considers family size and income.

She encouraged all residents who are near this threshold to apply, noting that the evaluation process includes an in–person interview to assess each case individually for potential exceptions.

Vice Chair Johnson reported an increase in participation from businesses through the Chamber of Commerce’s donation
drive in support of this program, noting that 65 donation bins have been distributed so far this year, compared to a total of 29 last year.

ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item B–4
ACTING: Montclair Community Foundation Board
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

C. Agreements

1. Consider Approval of Agreement No. 24–75 with the
California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for Participation in the 2025 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and Acceptance of a Grant in the Amount of $61,000
Consider Authorizing a $61,000 Appropriation from the
Public Safety Grant Fund to Cover OTS STEP Activities
Xavier Mendez, resident, congratulated the City for receiving this grant.

ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item C–1
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

2. Consider Authorizing a $12,500 Appropriation from the Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund and an Allocation of $7,480.86 from the Information Technology Capital Outlay Fund to
Install Fiber Optic Connections for the Police Department Consider Approval of Agreement No. 24–78 with Matrix
Audio Visual Designs for the Purchase and Installation of Fiber Optic Connections
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item C–2
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

1. Consider Adoption of Resolution No. 24–3456 Authorizing Placement of Liens on Certain Properties for Delinquent Sewer and Trash Charges
ACTION – Consent Calendar – Item D–1
ACTING: City Council
RESULT: Approved on Consent Calendar; motion carried 4–0–1 (Ruh absent).

IX. PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS — None
X. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Department Reports

1. Human Services Department — Upcoming Events
Assistant City Manager/Director of Human Services Richter announced and provided details for the following
upcoming events in October: City of Montclair Health Fair on October 10th, Candidates’ Forum on October 16th,
Food Distribution on October 17th, Feeding America Food Pantry on October 23rd, deadline for appointments for the Food and Toy Distribution by October 17th, Montclair
After–School Program’s “Lights on After School” event on October 24th, and the City’s Halloween Spooktacular event on October 26th at the Montclair Place.

B. City Attorney
City Attorney Robbins requested the City Council meet in closed session concerning the following:

1. Request for City Council to Meet in Closed Session
Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(d)(1) Regarding
Pending Litigation
Cities of Ontario, Montclair, Chino v. Inland Empire Utilities Agency

2. Request for City Council to Meet in Closed Session
Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 Regarding
Conference with Designated Labor Negotiator Edward C.

Starr
Agency: City of Montclair
Employee Management Employees
Associations: Montclair City Confidential Employees Association General Employees – Teamsters Local 1932
Montclair Fire Fighters Association
Montclair Police Officers Association
C. City Manager/Executive Director — No comments
D. Mayor/Chair
Mayor/Chair Dutrey acknowledged holidays and celebrations in the month of October and requested to close the meeting in memory of Regina Davis, retired Police Services Specialist with the City of Montclair, and Bruce Lance, retired Attorney for Monte Vista Water District, and announced his attendance at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference in Palm Springs.

E. Council Members/Directors

1. Council Member/Director Martinez noted her attendance and commented on the great turnout at the Youth Talent Showcase and spoke on the conflict in the Middle East.

2. Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Johnson reflected on the great time she had at the Youth Talent Showcase; reported her attendance at the Women Inspiring the Next Generation of Sisterhood (WINGS) event held by Senator Susan Rubio and the ICSC
conference; and announced two upcoming Chamber of
Commerce ribbon cutting events taking place October 17th for OPARC and October 24th for Dentist of Montclair.

3. Council Member/Director Lopez commented in remembrance of Bruce Lance, spoke on the conflict in the Middle East that began one year ago, and congratulated his father, Tony Lopez, who is celebrating his birthday and his re–appointment to a new term on the Monte Vista Water District Board alongside Manny Martinez and Sandra Rose, whose seats were all uncontested due to a lack of challengers.

F. Committee Meeting Minutes
The following committee minutes were received and filed for informational purposes:

1. Personnel Committee — September 16, 2024
XI. CLOSED SESSION
At 7:31 p.m., the City Council went into closed session to discuss pending litigation and labor negotiations.

XII. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
At 8:22 p.m., the City Council returned from closed session. Mayor Dutrey announced that the City Council discussed pending litigation and labor negotiations; information was received and direction given to staff; and no further announcements would be made at this time.

XIII. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:22 p.m., the City Council, Successor Agency Board, Montclair Housing Corporation Board, Montclair Housing Authority Commission, and Montclair Community Foundation Board were adjourned.

Submitted for City Council/Successor Agency Board/Montclair Housing Corporation Board/Montclair Housing Authority
Commission/Montclair Community Foundation Board approval, Andrea Myrick,
City Clerk

Montclair City CouncilOctober 7, 2024

Montclair City Council
October 7, 2024