City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
CITY OF MURRIETA Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Council Chambers 5:00 PM CLOSED SESSION
1 Town Square 6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
Murrieta, CA 92562 MINUTES
The City of Murrieta intends to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Persons with special needs should call the City Clerk Department at (951) 461-6031 or email at [email protected] at least 72 hours in advance. Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the public counter at City Hall located at 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA during normal business hours.
Any presentation requiring the use of the City of Murrieta’s equipment must be submitted to the City Clerk’s department 72 hours prior to the scheduled City Council meeting at City Hall located at 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA; via email at [email protected] or call (951) 461-6031. Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the public counter at City Hall located at 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA during normal business hours.
Cindy Warren
Mayor
Jon Levell Lisa DeForest Mayor Pro Tem Council Member
Lori Stone Ron Holliday Council Member Council Member
Justin Clifton, City Manager
Tiffany Israel, City Attorney
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
MURRIETA CITY COUNCIL (CC)
MURRIETA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT (CSD)
MURRIETA FIRE DISTRICT (FD)
MURRIETA LIBRARY BOARD (LB)
MURRIETA REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY (RSA)
MURRIETA HOUSING AUTHORITY (HA)
MURRIETA FINANCING AUTHORITY (FA)
YOU MAY VIEW THE MEETING LIVESTREAMED VIA THE CITY’S WEBSITE AT https://murrieta.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
5:00 PM CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER 5:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Lisa DeForest
Council Member Lori Stone
Council Member Ron Holliday
Mayor Pro Tem Jon Levell
Mayor Cindy Warren
Absent: None
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENTS - CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ONLY None.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Ramirez announced the following Closed Session agenda:
CLOSED SESSION
CS1. Conference with Legal Counsel Anticipated Litigation The City Council will conduct a closed session, pursuant to Government Code sections 54956.9(d)(2), because there is a significant exposure to litigation in 2 cases.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION 5:03 p.m.
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER 6:02 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTION
City Attorney Tiffany Israel reported the following Closed Session Action: No reportable action for Closed Session Item No. CS1.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Lisa DeForest
Council Member Lori Stone
Council Member Ron Holliday
Mayor Pro Tem Jon Levell
Mayor Cindy Warren
Absent: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Kyle and Emma Warren
INVOCATION Shane Academia, Calvary Murrieta Church
PRESENTATIONS
Presentation: National Charity League Murrieta/Temecula Chapter
Presentation: Champion for Murrieta
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Action: It was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Council Member Holliday to approve the Agenda for March 4, 2025.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
CITY MANAGER - ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
2024 Annual Report: Bernard Molloy, Fire Chief
Community Update: Cristina Davies, Public Information Officer
GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE/BOARD (CCB)
REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member DeForest: Provided attendance/reported the following:
• Legislative Workgroup Subcommittee
Provided Governing Body Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Council Member Stone: Deferred Governing Body Reports/Announcements to the next meeting.
Council Member Holliday: Provided attendance/reported the following:
• Los Alamos Hills Sports Park Phase 2 Subcommittee
• Regional Conservation Authority (RCA)
• Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG)
• Regional Conservation Authority (RCA)
Provided Governing Body Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Mayor Pro Tem Levell:
Provided attendance/reported the following:
• Los Alamos Hills Sports Park Phase 2 Subcommittee
Provided verbal Governing Body Announcements.
Mayor Warren:
Provided attendance/reported the following:
• Legislative Workgroup Subcommittee
• Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)
• Southwest Riverside County Elected Leaders Collaborative • Riverside Transit Agency (RTA)
Provided Governing Body Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA)
Aimee Edgeworth: Spoke on the Pearl Arts Creative Center and asked the city to waive or reduce development fees for the project.
Monica Mestas: Spoke on concerns over the lack of available funding for aquatic public recreation and the establishment of the pool.
Kevin Coon: Spoke on behalf of the Murrieta Public Library Foundation and provided yard signs for the Murrieta Public Library fundraiser.
CONSENT CALENDAR - APPROVAL OF ITEMS 1 – 12
Action: It was moved by Council Member Holliday, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Levell to approve the Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-12.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
1. Waive Reading of All Ordinance Adoptions on the Agenda and Read by Title Only
Recommended Action:
Waive reading, by title only, of all Ordinances and Resolutions. Said Ordinances and Resolutions which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
2. Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the minutes of the February 18, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting.
3. Check Register January 2025
Recommended Action:
Adopt a Resolution 25-4812 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Ratifying the Check Register for the Month of January 2025 in the amount of $4,892,474.26 (Check Numbers 162901-163266).
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
4. Agreement for Commvault Services
Recommended Action:
Authorize the use of Cooperative Agreement #2018011-01 to purchase Commvault services and authorize CDW-G to administer the agreement;
Approve the agreement amount not to exceed $24,059.80 for Fiscal Year 2024/25; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the use of the agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney’s office, with CDW-G, and approve future amendments, in a form approved by the City Attorney’s office, in a total amount not to exceed $75,000.
5. Application for eBooks For All Collection Development Grant 2025-2026
Recommended Action:
Authorize the Library’s grant application for the eBooks for All Collection Development Grant 2025-2026, in the amount of $20,000, with a required matched funding of 25% or $5,000; and
If awarded, amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget as described in the fiscal impact statement; and Authorize the City Manager to execute all grant-related documents.
6. Lunch at the Library Summer 2025 Grant
Recommended Action:
Approve acceptance of the California State Library’s Lunch at the Library Summer 2025 grant, in the amount of $8,557, for the Murrieta Public Library; and
Amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget as described in the fiscal impact statement.
7. Amended Agreement with Architerra Inc., for On-Call As-Needed Landscape Services
Recommended Action:
Approve the First Amendment with Architerra Design Group for the Development Services Department for Landscape Plan Check and Inspection Services for an amount not to exceed $150,000 per fiscal year; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Amendment to the agreement.
8. Approve an Amendment to an Agreement with RICK to Fund Environmental Tasks Pertaining to the City’s Existing Agreement to Update the City’s General Plan
Recommended Action:
Approve a First Amendment with RICK increasing the amount of the Agreement by $390,443, for a total contract amount not to exceed $803,404, and update Exhibit A to include Work Tasks 4-6 from the General Plan Clean Up Proposal, Exhibit A-1; and
Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 for the reasons specified in this report.
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
9. Purchase of Police Department Vehicles
Recommended Action:
Approve the purchase of up to eight (8) Police Interceptor vehicles from Fritts Ford, the associated vehicle upfitting purchases, and installation of emergency equipment using the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget; and waive the competitive bidding requirements.
10. Administrative Services Agreement for County Service Area 152 Program Between the County of Riverside and the City of Murrieta for the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Program
Recommended Action:
Authorize the Mayor to execute the Administrative Services Agreement for the County Service Area 152 program between the County of Riverside and the City of Murrieta.
11. Acceptance of Public Improvements in Tract Map 30489
Recommended Action:
Accept the Public Improvements in Tract Map 30489, located north of Juniper Street, south of Berlie Street, and west of Hancock Avenue; and Direct the Department of Public Works to perform continued maintenance of the aforementioned public improvements in conformance with the City of Murrieta’s maintenance standard.
12. Parcel Charge for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Program
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-4813 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of Murrieta, California, Requesting that the County of Riverside Levy the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Community Service Area 152 Parcel Charge and Requesting Continued Participation in Community Service Area 152; and
Direct the City Clerk to certify approval of Resolution No. 25-4813 and submit a certified copy to the County of Riverside.
PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS None.
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
PUBLIC HEARINGS
13. Financing for Viscar Terrace Apartments Vista Murrieta Affordable Housing Project
City Planner Carl Stiehl provided the staff report and PowerPoint presentation. Provided information on non-recourse lending, and statistics on default rate for bonds.
Topics discussed by the City Council include:
• Underground power lines;
• Improvements in the area; and
• Approvals of financing mechanism versus the project.
The public hearing opened at 6:55 p.m.
Public Testimony:
None
The public hearing closed at 6:55 p.m.
Action: After discussion, it was moved by Council Member Holliday, seconded by Mayor Warren to adopt Resolution No. 25-4814 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Approving the Issuance by the California Municipal Finance Authority of the Exempt Facility Bonds in an Aggregate Principal Amount Not to Exceed $70,000,000, for the Purpose of Financing or Refinancing the Acquisition, Construction, Improvement and Equipping of Viscar Terrace Apartments.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
DISCUSSION
14. Fiscal Year 2024/25 Second Quarter Financial Status Report
Staff report and PowerPoint Presentation provided by Finance Director Javier Carcamo and Finance Manager Jennifer Terry.
Action: After discussion, it was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Levell to accept and file the report; amend the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget as referenced in the Fiscal Impact section of this report; and approve the updated Schedule of Authorized Positions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704
City Council Meeting Minutes March 4, 2025
15. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 613-25 regarding the City’s Participation in the Western Riverside County Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Program
Staff Report and PowerPoint Presentation provided by Development Director David Chantarangsu.
Development Director David Chantarangsu and Director of Public Works Bob Moehling were available to answer questions from the City Council
Action: After discussion, it was moved by DeForest, seconded by Council Member Holliday to Conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 613-25, entitled: An Ordinance of the City of Murrieta Amending and Superseding Ordinance No. 541-19 to Update Participation in the Western Riverside County Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Program and Making a Determination of Exemption Under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Holliday, Levell, Warren
Noes: Stone
Absent: None
RECONSIDERATION None.
COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS TO ADD ITEMS TO FUTURE AGENDAS None.
ADJOURNMENT 7:48 PM
_____________________________
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: C038A1CE-D6A0-4D68-802B-724CF060F704