Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
CITY OF MURRIETA Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Council Chambers 3:30 PM WORKSHOP
1 Town Square 5:00 PM CLOSED SESSION
Murrieta, CA 92562 6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
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
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
3:30 PM WORKSHOP
CALL TO ORDER 3:30 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Lisa DeForest
Council Member Lori Stone
Council Member Ron Holliday
Mayor Pro Tem Jon Levell
Mayor Cindy Warren
WORKSHOP
WS1. Hillside Updates (DCA-2021-2396) - Workshop 5
Staff report and PowerPoint presentation provided by Senior Planner Chris Tracy.
Development Services Director David Chantarangsu, Deputy Director of Development Services Jarrett Ramaiya, and GIS Analyst Cameron Butt were available to answer questions from the City Council.
The following topics were discussed:
• Retaining Wall Design Standards;
• Landscaping and Fire Code Requirements;
• Policy on Developed vs. Undeveloped Properties; and
• Defining Terms and Code Clarity
Public Comments:
Alan Long: Spoke on concerns over ambiguity in definitions, ordinance review process, and advocated for administrative flexibility.
Kassen Klein: Spoke on property development difficulties caused by the ordinance, concerns over policy goals and spoke in favor of providing incentives for removing invasive
trees.
Action: After discussion, staff was directed by consensus to ensure the language in the ordinance is clear, objective, and will withstand changes in city staff over time, provide clarification on the definition of "front yard" in rural areas versus tract home areas, explore options for giving credit to developers/homeowners for removing fire-prone trees, while still maintaining an urban forest, further discuss the treatment of already-disturbed properties versus undisturbed properties in the hillside areas and bring the Hillside Updates back to Council for further review.
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
5:00 PM CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER 5:07 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
PUBLIC COMMENTS - CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ONLY None
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
City Clerk Cristal McDonald announced the following Closed Session items:
CLOSED SESSION
CS1. Conference with Legal Counsel
The City Council will conduct a closed session with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Administrative Services Director and City Attorney pursuant to Government Code section 54956.95(b), to consider the following worker's compensation claim(s):
Weller (Claim No. 23-171302), and Schloss (Claim No. 25014888).
CS2. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation The City Council will conduct a closed session, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), because there is significant exposure to litigation for one case.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION 5:08 p.m.
6:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER 6:01 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTION
City Attorney Tiffany Israel reported the following Closed Session Action:
CS1.- CS2.: No reportable action.
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Lisa DeForest
Council Member Lori Stone
Council Member Ron Holliday
Mayor Pro Tem Jon Levell
Mayor Cindy Warren
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Police Chief Matthew Henry
INVOCATION Police Chaplain Monte Jones
PRESENTATIONS
Presentation: Champion for Murrieta
Presentations were taken out of order. The Champion for Murrieta was presented first.
Council Member Holliday left the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
Proclamation: Retirement - Corporal Matt Mozingo
Presentation: Waste Management - Recycling All Stars
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Action: It was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Council Member Stone, to approve the Agenda for November 18, 2025.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
Absent: Holliday
CITY MANAGER - ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
Community Services: Special Events, Community Services Director Brian Ambrose Docusign Envelope ID: F1675920-C6B6-4F02-8C19-6FF67C412305
Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE/BOARD (CCB)
REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member DeForest: Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Council Member Stone: Provided attendance/reported the following:
• Western Regional Council of Governments (WRCOG)
Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s
record.
Mayor Pro Tem Levell: Provided verbal Announcements.
Mayor Warren: Provided attendance/reported the following:
• Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)
•Town Square Park & Amphitheater Ad-Hoc
Subcommittee
Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s
record.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA)
Chelsea Richi: On behalf of the Laurel Cemetery, invited the City Council to the Wreaths Across America Ceremony on December
13th, 2025.
CONSENT CALENDAR - APPROVAL OF ITEMS 1 – 12
Action: It was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Levell to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-12.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
Absent: Holliday
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 November 4, 2025 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
3. Check Register September 2025
Recommended Action:
Adopt a Resolution 25-4893 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Ratifying the Consolidated Check Register for the month of September 2025.
4. Monthly Investment Transaction Report for September 2025 Recommended Action:
Receive and file the Monthly Investment Transaction Report for September 2025.
5. Treasurer’s Report - Quarter 1 of Fiscal Year 2025/26 Recommended Action:
Receive the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Treasurer’s Reports for Quarter 1 (July - September 2025).
6. Murrieta Children’s Library Expansion Project - Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment Recommended Action:
Authorize the purchase and installation of furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the Murrieta Children’s Library Expansion Project in an amount not-to-exceed $506,146.05; and
Authorize the City Manager and/or designee to execute all necessary documents to facilitate the purchase of the furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the Expansion Project.
7. Acceptance of a State of California Office of Traffic Safety Grant Award for Fire Department Vehicle Extrication Equipment
Recommended Action:
Adopt a Resolution No. 25-4894 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California Accepting a Grant Award through the Regional Crash Response and Extrication Improvement Program Administered by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety;
Accept a State of California Office of Traffic Safety Program Grant Award in the amount of $120,000;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the $120,000 in grant funds and carry over any unused grant budget to Fiscal Year 2026/27; and
Authorize the Fire Chief, and/or their designee, to execute all necessary documents and take actions required to accept, implement, and administer the grant, including ratification of the designee’s earlier execution of the grant agreement.
8. Acceptance of a Grant from the Office of Traffic Safety Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-4895 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California Accepting a Grant through the Alcohol Policing Partnership Administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control; and
Amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the grant funding.
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
9. Approve an Agreement with American Emergency Products for Police Vehicle Equipment Installation Services
Recommended Action:
Approve a five year on-call agreement with American Emergency Products for Police Vehicle Equipment Installation Service; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
10. Agreement for Right-of-Way Consulting Services for the Keller Road at I-215 Interchange Project, CIP No. 8449
Recommended Action:
Approve the Agreement for right-of-way consulting services for the Keller Road at I-215 Interchange, Capital Improvement Plan No. 8449, with Monument ROW, Inc., in the amount of $382,682.16;
Authorize a 10% contingency of $38,268.21; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and any amendments to the Agreement not-to-exceed 10% of the contract amount.
11. Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Reimbursement Agreement - Amendment No. 1 for Keller Road/Interstate 215 Interchange, CIP No. 8449 Recommended Action:
Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 Capital Improvement Plan to establish an appropriation for Capital Improvement Project No. 8449, as detailed in the fiscal impact statement;
Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Reimbursement Agreement with the Western Riverside Council of Governments for the Keller Road at I-215 Interchange Project, CIP No. 8449, WRCOG project number 16-SW-MUR-118; and
Authorize the Mayor to execute the Agreement Amendment No. 1.
12. Update City Public Works Standard Drawings
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 25-4896 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Adopting the City Public Works Standard Drawings.
PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
13. Public Hearing and Second Reading of Ordinance No. 625-25 Adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code
Staff report and PowerPoint presentation provided by Building Official Andy Krogh.
Development Services Director David Chantarangsu, Fire Chief Bernard Molloy, and Fire Marshall Doug Strosnider were available to answer questions from the City Council.
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
The public hearing was opened at 7:15 p.m.
Public Testimony: None
The public hearing was closed at 7:15 p.m.
Action: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Levell, seconded by Council Member DeForest, to conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 625- 25 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
Absent: Holliday
14. Second Reading of the 2025 Fire Code and California Wildland Urban Interface Code Staff report and PowerPoint presentation provided by Fire Marshall Doug Strosnider.
Fire Chief Bernard Molloy, Development Services Director David Chantarangsu, and Building Official Andy Krogh were available to answer questions from the City Council.
The public hearing was opened at 7:22 p.m.
Public Testimony: None
The public hearing was closed at 7:22 p.m.
Action: After discussion, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Levell, seconded by Council Member DeForest, to conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 626-25 entitled: Ordinance No. 626-25 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Adopting the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, Based on the 2024 International Fire Code Including Local Amendments and Additions; and Conduct the second reading and approve Ordinance No. 627 25 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council, Adopting the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code, Based on the 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code, Including Local Amendments and Additions.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: DeForest, Stone, Levell, Warren
Noes: None
Absent: Holliday
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Meeting Minutes
City Council November 18, 2025
NOTIFICATIONS
City Clerk Cristal McDonald announced the following notification:
Notice of Pending Approval of Final Parcel Map - PM 38310 RECONSIDERATION None
COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS TO ADD ITEMS TO FUTURE AGENDAS None ADJOURNMENT 7:24 p.m.
In Memoriam of Bob Brinks
___________________________________
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
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