Split-screen / Notes
Video
MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
City Council Chamber – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALLED TO ORDER
5:04 PM
ROLL CALL
Greg Newton, Council Member
Robin Grundmeyer, Mayor
Katherine Aleman, Council Member
Kevin Bash, Council Member
Ted Hoffman, Mayor Pro Tem
DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM
A.
Certifying the Consolidated General Election held on November 8, 2022 Mayor Newton opened public comment.
Geoff Kahan had questions regarding the Resolution. City Clerk Roa and City Attorney Burns answered question.
Mayor Newton closed public comment.
M/S NEWTON/BASH Adopt Resolution No. 2022-82, reciting the facts of the regular Consolidated General Election held in the City of Norco on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, declaring the results thereof and such other matters as provided by law. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NEWTON, BASH, GRUNDMEYER, ALEMAN, AND HOFFMAN
NOES:
NONE
ABSENT:
NONE
ABSTAIN:
NONE
ISSUANCE OF OATH OF OFFICE
City Clerk Roa administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected City Council Members Greg Newton and Kevin Bash.
City Manager Sassoon presented each Council Member with their Certificates of Election.
REORGANIZATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
A.
Election of Mayor
M/S NEWTON/BASH Elect Council Member Robin Grundmeyer as Mayor for term January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, ALEMAN, BASH, AND HOFFMAN
NOES:
NONE
ABSENT:
NONE
ABSTAIN:
NONE
B.
Election of Mayor Pro Tem
M/S BASH/NEWTON Elect Council Member Ted Hoffman as Mayor Pro-Tem for term January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, ALEMAN, BASH, AND HOFFMAN
NOES:
NONE
ABSENT:
NONE
ABSTAIN:
NONE
C.
Presentation to and Comments by Outgoing Mayor Greg Newton Mayor Grundmeyer and Council Members presented outgoing Mayor Greg Newton with a gavel and plaque and gave him the ceremonial “Boot” filled with notes from City Council and staff. Mayor Grundmeyer and each Council Member recognized his accomplishments and dedication during his tenure as the Mayor of the City of Norco.
CLOSED SESSION - 6:00 PM
§54956.8 - Conference with Legal Counsel - Real Property Negotiation Property: APN: 152-060-011 (Balboa Cell Tower)
City Negotiator: City Manager Lori Sassoon
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
§54957.6 – Conference with Labor Negotiator
Negotiating Party: City Manager Sassoon
Norco General Employees Association, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO Local 606, Unrepresented Employees: Mid-Management, Confidential, and Management Employees
§54956.9 (d)(4) – Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Initiation of Litigation - Potential One Case
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION
7:02 PM
REPORT OF ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Burns stated there were no reportable actions held in closed sessions and that the item for Initiation of Litigation - Potential One Case was canceled.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Katherine Aleman
INVOCATION
Pastor Michelle Ehrenberg
The Redeemer's Community Church
PERFORMANCE
Norco High School Choir
PRESENTATIONS
Community Spirit Award
Council Member Aleman presented the Community Spirit Award to Karen Swanson for her outstanding commitment and service to the City of Norco.
Collaborative Homeless Programs and Services Update
Karen Roper from the City of Corona provided the City Council with an update on milestones achieved under three specific sub-actions from the Strategic Plan that are connected to the City’s Collaborative Homeless Programs & Services.
1. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS ON REGIONAL BOARDS
The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members provided reports on their recent individual participation in committees, commissions, regional boards and community organizations.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
a)
Approval of Consent Calendar
Council Member Aleman asked that item 2.I. be pulled for discussion.
M/S NEWTON/HOFFMAN Approve consent calendar as presented, with item 2.I. pulled for discussion. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, ALEMAN, BASH, AND HOFFMAN
NOES:
NONE
ABSENT:
NONE
ABSTAIN:
NONE
2.A.
Waive Reading of all Ordinance Adoptions on this Agenda and Read by Title Only Action: Waived reading, by title only, of all Ordinances and Resolutions. Said Ordinances and Resolutions which appear on the agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
2.B.
Approval of City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2022.
2.C.
Recap of Actions Taken by the Planning Commission at its Meeting Held on December 14, 2022 Action: Received and filed the recap of actions taken by the Planning Commission at its meeting held on December 14, 2022.
2.D.
Approval and Adoption of Salary and Benefits Related to Management and Mid-Management/ Confidential Personnel for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Action: Adopted
Resolution No. 2022-83
, to approve and update the Salary and Benefits for Management Personnel for Fiscal Year 2022-2023; and Resolution No. 2022-84
, to approve and update the Salary and Benefits for Mid-Management/ Confidential Personnel for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
2.E.
Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule Including Administrative Budget Action: Adopted
Successor Agency Resolution No. 2022-03
, approving the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule including Administrative Budget for the Fiscal Year 2023- 2024.
2.F.
Acceptance of the Hillside Avenue Reconstruction Project (First to Second Street) as Complete Action: Accepted the Hillside Avenue Reconstruction Project (First Street to Second Street) as complete and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside.
2.G.
Update Part-Time Employee Salary Schedule to Correspond with State of California Minimum Wage Requirements and Making Other Adjustments Action: Adopted
Resolution No. 2022-85
, to approve an update to Part-Time Employee Salary Schedule to Correspond with State of California Minimum Wage Requirements.
2.H.
Amendment of Fiscal Year 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to include additional funding for the Shawnee Lift Station Replacement Project; and accept bids and award contract for the Shawnee Lift Station Replacement Project Action: Accepted bids and awarded a contract to Kirtley Construction, Inc, dba TK Construction for the Shawnee Lift Station Replacement Project in the amount of $1,372,300; and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10 percent of the total bid amount; and increase Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2027 CIP Sewer Funding in the amount of $610,000 for the Shawnee Lift Station Replacement Project.
2.J.
Award of Professional Design Services Contract for the Mountain Avenue and Parkridge Avenue Sewer Main Replacement Project Action: Awarded contract to KWC Engineers for professional design services for the Mountain Avenue and Parkridge Avenue Sewer Main Replacement Project in the amount of $67,075; and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10 percent of the total proposal amount.
2.K.
Project Management Consultant Contract with Civic Solutions for the General Plan Update Action: Authorized staff to begin processing a Project Management Consultant Contract with Civic Solutions to complete an update to the City of Norco General Plan, in the amount of $244,800 over a two-year time frame.
2.L.
Approval of a Side Letter Agreement with Utility Workers of America Local 606 Concerning Salary and Benefits for Public Works Department employees Action: Approved Side Letter Agreement with Utility Workers of America Local 606 concerning salary and benefits for Public Works Department employees.
2.M.
Proposal from RKA Consulting Group for the Temescal Avenue School Circulation Study Action: Approved the proposal from RKA Consulting Group for the Temescal Avenue School Circulation Study, including the sharing of costs with the Corona-Norco Unified School District, and authorized the City Manager to take actions needed to execute the project and cost sharing arrangements.
3. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2.I.
Acceptance of Proposal for Rate Study Professional Consulting Services Council Member Aleman pulled item to discuss the rates, had questions as to other options before raising the rates and rate setting.
The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members had questions and concerns related to the proposal for the rate study.
City Manager Sassoon, Public Works Director Blais and City Attorney Burns answered questions and addressed concerns.
Following discussion the Mayor and City Council directed staff to continue the item off Calendar and look into alternative proposals for a rate study and third party assessment. Direction was also given to staff to look at the feasibility to combine the Water and Sewer fund at mid-year budget review. Direction was given to bring item back for discussion when further research is complete.
M/S ALEMAN/GRUNDMEYER 1. Continue this item off Calendar and 2. Direct staff to look at proposals for a Rate Study and Third-Party Assessment and the feasibility to combine the Water and Sewer fund at mid-year budget review. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, ALEMAN, BASH, AND HOFFMAN
NOES:
NONE
ABSENT:
NONE
ABSTAIN:
NONE
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments at this time.
5. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM(S)
5.A.
Discussion concerning Inclusion of Youth Members on City Commissions City Clerk Roa opened the discussion concerning the inclusion of Youth Members on City Commissions.
Mayor Grundmeyer opened public comment
Kade Barone spoke regarding the importance of youth participation in local government and the lack of engagement that cities provide with youth and their government.
Bill Naylor supported that Youth Members should be in advisory role only.
Geoff Kahan stated as his experience as a commissioner he was concerned if there would be issues with tie votes because of the youth voting and supported a full youth commission rather than a few sitting on current committees and commissions.
Mayor Grundmeyer closed public comment.
Council Member Aleman discussed the details of her research on Youth Members on Commissions. She stated that a full commission would take a significant amount of staff time and that having the youth on the various established committees and commission would be meaningful opportunities for our youth in the community.
She discussed that this was brought up and discussed at the Cal Cities Conference, supporting the youth voice at the table.
She suggested to start with one youth as a liaison to the community.
Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman discussed youth roles in Parks and Rec and Youth Programming.
Council Member Bash supported Youth Members on each of the Committees and Commissions.
He was concerned about their voting.
Council Member Newton he was not in favor of resurrecting the Youth Advisory Council at this time due to staffing but he did state he supported adding Youth Members on each of our committee and commissions.
He did state he liked them to vote but not count in the formal decision.
Council had questions as to role of Youth Commissioners with the Planning Commission since they are more than an advisory commission.
City Attorney Burns stated that the due process and decision making would still be the same and an advisory role only would not be a problem.
Mayor Grundmeyer supported the idea of Youth Members on subcommittees also and possibly having multiple students on each committee and commission.
She stated it was about getting the students involved and having Youth and Government Day was important.
Following discussion, motion was made.
Direct staff to create a program for the inclusion of youth members on City Commissions and Committees and bring back to City Council for review.
6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)
6.A.
Amendments to City’s General Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Finance Director Free reviewed the amendments to the City's General Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
The Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Council discussed rates, asked questions and discussed concerns.
Staff and the City Attorney addressed questions and concerns.
Mayor Grundmeyer opened the Public Hearing.
Bonnie Slager had to concerns about the increases in the arena's fees.
Mayor Grundmeyer closed the Public Hearing.
Following further discussion motion was made.
M/S BASH/ALEMAN Adopt Resolution No. 2022-86, updating and adjusting the City’s General Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, ALEMAN, BASH, AND HOFFMAN
NOES:
NONE
ABSENT:
NONE
ABSTAIN:
NONE
7. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Clerk thanked City Council and Staff for a great year.
City Manager Sassoon recognized City Clerk Roa for her graduation from Cal Baptist University with a Bachelors degree.
Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman discussed the Corona Norco Unified Meeting and Master Plan for George Ingalls Event Center.
Council Member Newton congratulated Mayor Grundmeyer and Mayor Pro Tem Hoffman on their election.
Council Member Aleman thanked the facilities and maintenance team for the Christmas Lights at City Hall.
She asked that training be done with the Committees and Commissions regarding their responsibilities and our Social Media Policy.
Council Member Bash wished everyone a Happy Holidays.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Grundmeyer adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. in memoriam of Senior Planner Josh Altopp. _________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk