Meeting Minutes
City Council February 17, 2026
CITY OF MURRIETA Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Council Chambers 4:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
1 Town Square CLOSED SESSION FOLLOWING
Murrieta, CA 92562 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.
Jon Levell
Mayor
Ron Holliday Lisa DeForest Mayor Pro Tem Council Member
Lori Stone Cindy Warren 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
4:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER 4:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Cindy Warren
Council Member Lori Stone
Council Member Lisa DeForest
Mayor Pro Tem Ron Holliday
Mayor Jon Levell
Absent: None
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City Council February 17, 2026
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Stone
INVOCATION Pastor Clay Maranville, Orchard Church of Murrieta
PRESENTATIONS
Certificate of Recognition: Good Samaritan - Dylan Safemaster
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Action: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Holliday, seconded by Council Member Stone, to approve the Agenda for February 17, 2026.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Warren, DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell
Noes: None
Absent: None
CITY MANAGER - ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
Fire Department: Annual Report - Fire Chief Bernard Molloy ***City Manager Clifton continued the Fire Department: Annual Report to a future meeting***
Fire Department: Insurance Services Office - Fire Chief Bernard Molloy
Police Department: Neighborhood Watch
Council Member Stone called for action and requested the City hold an informational session in Council Chambers.
GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE/BOARD (CCB)
REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Warren: Provided attendance/reported the following:
Riverside County Transportation Commission
(RCTC)
Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s
record.
Council Member DeForest: Provided attendance/reported the following:
Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency
(RCHCA)
Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s
record.
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City Council February 17, 2026
Council Member Stone: Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Mayor Pro Tem Holliday: Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Mayor Levell: Announced the Special City Council Annual Goals Workshop for February 26, 2026, at a time to be determined.
Provided verbal Announcements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA)
Janis Hanley: Requested covering over benches outside the Senior Center to help against the weather.
Kassen Klein: Spoke on past and future City Council meeting decorum.
Philip O’Reilly: Spoke on the City’s efforts regarding his prior inquiries pertaining to Los Alamos Road.
Molly Soliman: Provided a handout and invited the City Council to a fundraiser benefiting the SAFE Family Justice Center.
CONSENT CALENDAR - APPROVAL OF ITEMS 1 – 9
Action: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Holliday, seconded by Council Member Warren to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-9.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Warren, DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell
Noes: None
Absent: 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 from the February 3, 2026 Regular meeting.
3. Check Register December 2025
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 26-4909 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Ratifying the Consolidated Check Register for the month of December 2025.
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4. Monthly Investment Transaction Report for December 2025 Recommended Action:
Receive and file the Monthly Investment Transaction Report for December 2025.
5. Treasurer’s Report - Quarter 2 of Fiscal Year 2025/26 Recommended Action:
Receive the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Treasurer’s Reports for Quarter 2 (October - December 2025).
6. Authorization to Submit CalRecycle Grant Applications Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 26-4910 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Authorizing Submittal of Application(s) for all CalRecycle Grants for which City of Murrieta is Eligible.
7. Agreement with Johnson Equipment Co. for As-Needed Fleet Maintenance and Upfitting Services for the City of Murrieta
Recommended Action:
Award a contract services agreement to Johnson Equipment Co. for as-needed fleet maintenance and upfitting services for the City of Murrieta in an amount not to exceed $809,000, for a three (3) year term and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
8. Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution No. 26-4911 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Grant Funding from the State of California Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General in an Amount Not to Exceed $167,997 to Implement Strategies to Reduce Underage Tobacco Use; And Agreeing to the Terms of that Grant;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to allocate and appropriate the grant funding; and
Authorize the City Manager, and/or their designee, to execute the Memorandum of Understanding and all necessary documents to accept the grant.
9. Acceptance of Public Improvements in Parcel Map 38185 Recommended Action:
Accept the Public Improvements in Parcel Map 38185, located south of Clinton Keith Road, and east of Whitewood Road;
Authorize City Engineer to release ninety percent (90%) of the related security bonds in place; and
Request the Municipal Services Department to perform continued maintenance of the aforementioned public improvements in conformance with the City of Murrieta’s maintenance standard.
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PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS None
DISCUSSION
10. Homeless Services Funding Source Adjustment and Budget Amendment
Staff report and PowerPoint provided by Community Services Director Brian Ambrose and Homeless Services Manager Lindsay Sisti.
Public Comments:
Anne Umacht: Representing Project TOUCH spoke on City staff efforts on homeless services and those of neighboring cities.
Action: After discussion, it was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Holliday to authorize the use of existing Encampment Resolution Funding to support a two (2) member City Net street outreach team serving the cities of Murrieta and Wildomar;
Authorize the use of existing Encampment Resolution Funding to fund a limited number of emergency shelter beds at the Murrieta Emergency Shelter operated by Project Touch;
Authorize the use of existing Encampment Resolution Funding of approximately $109,252; and
Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 Operating Budget to establish an appropriation of $446,300 using General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Warren, DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell
Noes: None
Absent: None
RECONSIDERATION None
COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS TO ADD OR WITHDRAW ITEMS TO FUTURE AGENDAS
Council Member Warren: None
Council Member DeForest: Requested the discussion on Kratom be brought forward at the next regular City Council meeting and clarified the discussion on banning synthetic Kratom and a partial ban for natural Kratom for those under 21.
Consensus was received.
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City Council February 17, 2026
Council Member Stone: Requested that the City require signage in tobacco shops regarding the sale of goods to minors.
Consensus was received for the City Manager to report back on existing requirements.
Mayor Pro Tem Holliday: None
Mayor Levell: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA, AGENDIZED, CLOSED SESSION) None
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
City Clerk Cristal McDonald announced the following Closed Session Items:
CLOSED SESSION
CS1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation The City Council will conduct a close session, pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2), because there is a significant exposure to litigation in three (3) cases.
CS2. Conference with Labor Negotiators
The City Council will conduct a closed session, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6, with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Attorney, and the City’s Negotiators, regarding labor negotiations with the Murrieta Police Officers Association, Murrieta Police Management Association, Murrieta Firefighters Association, Murrieta Fire Management Association.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION 6:07 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER 7:22 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Cindy Warren
Council Member Lisa DeForest
Council Member Lori Stone
Mayor Pro Tem Ron Holliday
Mayor Jon Levell
Absent: None
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City Council February 17, 2026
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTION
City Attorney Tiffany Israel reported the following Closed Session Action:
CS1. (three cases): Case 1 – No reportable action.
Case 2 – No reportable action.
Case 3 – No reportable action.
CS2.: No reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT 7:28 p.m.
Aidan Zingg Commemoration
__________________________
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
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