Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
CITY OF MURRIETA Tuesday, March 3, 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
Mayor Jon Levell
Mayor Pro Tem Ron Holliday
Council Member Lori Stone
Council Member Lisa DeForest
Absent: None
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Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pro Tem Holliday
INVOCATION Bishop Connors, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation: Aaron Harwick, Retirement
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Action: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Holliday, seconded by Council Member DeForest, to approve the Agenda for March 3, 2026.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Warren, DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell
Noes: None
Absent: None
CITY MANAGER - ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE
GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE/BOARD (CCB)
REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Warren: Provided attendance/reported the following:
Southwest Elected Leaders Collaborative*
Riverside County Transportation Commission
(RCTC)
Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s
record.
Council Member DeForest: Provided Announcements to be made part of the City’s record.
Council Member Stone: Provided attendance/reported the following:
Southwest Elected Leaders Collaborative*
Western Riverside Council of Governments
(WRCOG)
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: Provided verbal Announcements.
*AB1234 Reporting
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Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA)
Connie McConnell: Provided updates on Murrieta Market Nights.
Kamber Rutz: Offered to provide input and feedback on the Equestrian Center.
Philip O’Reilly: Displayed photos and proposed a mural branding for the City along Jefferson Road.
CONSENT CALENDAR - APPROVAL OF ITEMS 1 – 3
Action: It was moved by Council Member Warren, seconded by Council Member DeForest to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 1-3.
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 17, 2026 Regular meeting.
3. Finding that Emergency Conditions Persist in Connection with the Hayes Avenue Bridge at Miller Canyon Creek
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution 26-4912, entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Declaring that Emergency Conditions Persist in Connection with the Hayes Avenue Bridge at Miller Canyon Creek.
PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS None
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Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
DISCUSSION
4. Fiscal Year 2025/26 Second Quarter Financial Status Report and Proposed Budget Adjustments
Staff report and PowerPoint provided by Finance Director Javier Carcamo, Finance Manager Jennifer Terry, and Financial Analyst Tanner Benson.
Fire Chief Bernard Molloy was available to answer questions from the City Council.
Public Comments: None
Action: After discussion, it was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Council Member Warren to receive and file the report;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget and approve the Second Quarter Proposed Budget Adjustments as referenced in the Fiscal Impact statement; and
Approve the Updated Schedule of Authorized Positions List.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Warren, DeForest, Stone, Holliday, Levell
Noes: None
Absent: None
5. Los Alamos Traffic Congestion Pilot Program
Staff report and PowerPoint provided by Public Works Director Bob Moehling, City Engineer Jeff Hitch, and Traffic Engineer Brian Stephenson.
Public Comments: None
Action: After discussion, the item was received and filed.
6. Approval of Ordinance No. 629-26 Regulating the Sale or Distribution of Kratom and Synthetic 7-OH
Staff report and PowerPoint provided by Council Member DeForest.
City Attorney Tiffany Israel was available to answer questions from the City Council.
Public Comments:
Dr. Michael DeSena: Spoke on Kratom and supported age restrictions and safety regulations.
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Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
Action: After discussion, it was moved by Council Member DeForest, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Holliday to conduct the first reading and introduce Ordinance No. 629-26 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Amending the Murrieta Municipal Code by Adding New Chapter
9.40, Regulating the Sale, Distribution, and Possession of Kratom and Synthetic 7-OH.
With the amendment the Ordinance to remove the word “Possession” throughout the Ordinance.
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: Request a discussion to review design standards for Downtown Murrieta.
Consensus was received.
Council Member DeForest: Requested a discussion to add the Southwest Riverside Higher Education Committee as a City-affiliated committee.
Consensus received.
Requested a discussion on a donation to support Roger
Shultz’s Mt. San Jacinto University Center project.
Consensus received.
Council Member Stone: Requested a discussion on the partnership with Tour de Murrieta.
Consensus received.
Mayor Pro Tem Holliday: Requested a discussion on an Ad Hoc subcommittee for the ballot measure mentioned at the City Council workshop on 2/26.
Consensus received.
Mayor Levell: Requested a discussion on an Equestrian Center Subcommittee.
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Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
Consensus received.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (NON-AGENDA, AGENDIZED, CLOSED SESSION) None
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
City Clerk Cristal McDonald announced the following Closed Session Items:
CS1. 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, and Murrieta Fire Management Association.
CS2. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation The City Council will conduct a closed session, pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(4), because the City is considering whether to initiate litigation in one (1) case.
CS3. 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 one (1) case.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION 6:38 p.m.
RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER 8:27 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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Meeting Agenda
City Council March 3, 2026
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTION
City Attorney Tiffany Israel reported the following Closed Session Action:
CS1.: No reportable action.
CS2.: No reportable action.
CS3.: No reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT 8:28 p.m.
__________________________
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
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