MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
City Council Chamber – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER - CONF. A AND B
CITY HALL
4:00 PM
ROLL CALL - CITY COUNCIL Kevin Bash, Mayor
Greg Newton, Mayor Pro Tem
Katherine Aleman, Council Member
Robin Grundmeyer, Council Member
Berwin Hanna, Council Member
ROLL CALL - PLANNING
COMMISSION
Jeff Shyu, Chair
Fia Sullivan, Vice Chair
Danny Azevedo, Member
Patricia Hedges, Member
Tara Young, Member
Henry Langlois, Youth Commissioner
JOINT WORKSHOP WITH PLANNING
COMMISSION
General Plan Workshop
Civic Solutions Consultants Jean Ward and Peter VanderWal presented the information for the General Plan Workshop.
City Council and Planning Commission Members discussed the General Plan report with the Consultants. No action was taken.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comment.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comment.
Mayor Bash adjourned the Workshop at 5:57 PM.
CLOSED SESSION - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
Mayor Bash adjourned to closed sessions at 6:09 PM.
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
City Attorney Burns read the Closed Session Items into the record.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: (Fair Political Practices Commission v. City of Norco)
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: (Regional Water Quality Control Board v. City of Norco) §54954.5 Conference with Labor Negotiator
Agency designated representatives: City Manager Sassoon Employee organization: Norco General Employees Association, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO Local 606, Unrepresented Employees: Mid-Management, Confidential, and Management Employees
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: Silverlakes Sports Park
Agency negotiators: City Manager, Finance Director, Planning Director Negotiating parties: City of Norco and Balboa Management Group LLC.
Under negotiation: Price and Terms
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION - CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBER
7:02 PM
REPORT OF ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Burns stated that there were no reportable actions taken in Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Bash
INVOCATION Pastor Fred Griffin
Corona Church of the Open Door
PRESENTATIONS
Women's History Month Proclamation
Mayor Bash presented the Women's History Month Proclamation to the Norco Library Women Librarians.
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
Norco Library Associate II, Mia Bicerra, presented information on the Norco Library. 2023 City of Norco Accomplishments
Various City of Norco employees presented the City's 2023 accomplishments.
Tech Bridge Update
Navy Strategic Advisor, Troy Clarke, presented information on the Inland Empire Tech Bridge.
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. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Richard Hallam spoke regarding his time on the Veterans Committee before its establishment as a Commission and would like to be reinstated as a member of the Veterans Commission.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approval of Consent Calendar as presented
M/S HANNA/GRUNDMEYER Approve Consent Calendar as presented. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
3.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.
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
3.B. Approval of City Council Regular Meeting Minutes.
Action: Approved the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 6, 2024.
3.C. Acceptance of the First Street Rehabilitation Project as Complete Action: Accepted the First Street Rehabilitation Project as complete and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside.
3.D. 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR) for submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
Action: Received and Filed.
3.E. Acceptance of Bids and Award of Contract for the First Street Storm Drain Project
Action: Rejected the bid submitted by Pacific West Underground and accepted remaining bids and awarded a contract to the next responsible bidder, Kirtley Construction, Inc. dba TK Construction, for the First Street Storm Drain Project in the amount of $563,848 and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10 percent of the total bid amount.
3.F. Amendment of Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to include additional funding for the Western Avenue Waterline Replacement Project; and accept bids and award contract for the Western Avenue Waterline Replacement Project
Action: Appropriated additional funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2028 CIP water budget in the amount of $174,000 for the Western Avenue Waterline Replacement Project; accepted bids, awarded a contract to MCC Equipment Rentals, Inc. for the Western Avenue Waterline Replacement Project in the amount of $1,025,700.61; and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10 percent of the total bid amount.
3.G. Cancelation of City Council Regular Meeting of July 3, 2024.
Action: Canceled July 3, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting.
3.H. Recap of Actions Taken by the Planning Commission at its Meeting Held on
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
March 13, 2024
Action: Received and filed the recap of actions taken by the Planning Commission at its meeting held on March 13, 2024.
3.I. Consideration of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Norco declaring Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 129-180-005 as exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act
Action: Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-10.
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no items pulled from the Consent Calendar.
5. LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
5.A. Zone Code Amendment 2024-01 (City of Norco): Second reading and approval of Ordinance 1111 approving a City initiated amendment to Title 18, Section
18.30.46 – Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, updating provisions related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) to comply with state ADU Law Mayor and City Council Members had no questions for staff.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comments.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comments.
Motion was made.
M/S ALEMAN/GRUNDMEYER Adopt Ordinance No. 1111, approving Zone Code Amendment 2024-01. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
6. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM(S)
6.A. Discussion of Poultry/Fowl Laws
City Manager Sassoon introduced the Discussion of Poultry/Fowl Laws.
Council Member Aleman had questions and concerns.
Animal Control Superintendent Sparks III answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comments.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comments.
Mayor and City Council Members discussed their personal experiences regarding poultry/fowl running at large and agree the ordinance needs to be modernized.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S ALEMAN/HANNA Update Norco Municipal Code as it pertains to Title 8, Chapter 8.04 Running at Large, to remove Section 8.04.010 Poultry--Prohibited and Section 8.04.030 Impoundment. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
6.B. Discussion regarding Municipal Code Chapter 9.07 - Noise Regulations and enforcement options - Oral Report
City Manager Sassoon introduced the discussion on Municipal Code Chapter
9.07 - Noise Regulations and introduced Code Enforcement Supervisor Fiore and Administrative Intern Jackie Salgado.
Code Enforcement Supervisor Fiore and Administrative Intern Salgado presented the report.
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
Mayor and City Council Members had questions and concerns.
City Attorney Burns, City Manager Sassoon, Lieutenant Hall and Code Enforcement Supervisor Fiore answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comments.
Bill Naylor spoke regarding the importance of having the decibel meters for all officers, his concerns with having noise audible beyond the property line, and his support for the proposed timeline for citing violations.
Geoff Kahan had concerns regarding the type of noise that is permitted and not permitted regarding the noise regulations. He also had questions regarding a Special Event Permit for one-time events.
Greg Bowen spoke regarding his time in law enforcement and the importance of having an Ordinance that is strong and aids the officers in enforcing the violations.
Mike Thompson spoke regarding repeat offenders and his concern for some events occurring with no business license.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comments.
Following discussion, City Council's consensus was to make the changes discussed and to bring back to City Council for consideration.
7. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Sassoon reminded everyone of the March 21, 2024 CPUC Meeting for the decision regarding the RTRP Undergrounding.
Mayor Pro Tem Newton made a motion to ask the Planning Commission to study increasing the size of animal keeping areas by 40%, which is the amount of space in the animal keeping area that is permitted to be covered, and to then have the matter brought back to City Council.
M/S NEWTON/BASH Discussion with Planning Commission to increase the animal keeping areas by 40%. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
City Council Minutes - March 20, 2024
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Council Member Aleman had a question regarding the communication made to the community regarding the CPUC meeting.
Communications Manager Newton answered the question.
Mayor Bash made a motion to have the Veterans Commission Ordinance brought back to City Council to make an addition to the Commission Members to accommodate Richard Hallam as a member.
M/S BASH/GRUNDMEYER Bring the Veterans Commission Ordinance back to City Council for review of the addition of Commission Members to accommodate Richard Hallam. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Mayor Bash spoke regarding his concerns with the CPUC having appointed members and would like to discuss at a later date, the options for changing the CPUC into an elected body.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bash adjourned the meeting at 9:26 PM.
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Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk