MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
City Council Chamber – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 4:30 PM
ROLL CALL Kevin Bash, Mayor
Greg Newton, Mayor Pro Tem
Katherine Aleman, Council Member
Robin Grundmeyer, Council Member
Berwin Hanna, Council Member
WORKSHOP Bicycle Master Plan
A. Review of City of Norco's Draft Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Public Works Director Blais presented the item and introduced Alta Consultant, Tim Bevins, to present PowerPoint outlining the Norco Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.
Consultant Bevins presented the City of Norco Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.
City Manager Sassoon and Consultant Bevins answered questions and addressed concerns from the Mayor and City Council.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comment.
Jim Pollard spoke regarding not having bike lanes on Sixth Street, the installation of lighting near the schools and having bike lanes on Hamner Ave from Eastvale to the Metrolink in Corona.
Bill Naylor spoke regarding bike lanes on Hamner Ave and the widening of Hamner Ave and other streets to accommodate bike lanes. He agreed with the Consultant on the recommendation to not have bike lanes on Sixth Street and spoke regarding bike lanes on River Drive.
Bonnie Slager spoke regarding curb extensions being a problem for horse trailers and the already narrow streets. She commented on the River Drive trail fencing as a barrier and the lack of bike racks at City Hall. She also agreed with the Consultants on not having bike lanes on Sixth Street.
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
Mayor Bash closed Public Comment.
Following discussion and without formal motion, City Council provided feedback to Consultant Bevins on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Bash adjourned to Closed Session at 5:55 PM.
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
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATION
Property: APN:133-200-022
City Negotiator: City Manager
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9
Name of case: In the Matter of the Application of Southern California Edison Company (U338E) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the RTRP Transmission Project. A.15-04-013
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1 Potential Case
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION 7:00 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 Pro Tem Newton
INVOCATION Council Member Grundmeyer
PRESENTATIONS Norco College Update by Dr. Monica
Green
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
Dr. Monica Green provided an update on Norco College and answered questions from the City Council.
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
Bill Naylor spoke regarding his concern for more items to be brought to the Commissions before being brought to City Council for community input and further discussion.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval of Consent Calendar as presented.
M/S NEWTON/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.
3.B. Approval of City Council Regular Meeting Minutes and Special Meeting Minutes.
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
Action: Approved the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2024 and Special Meeting Minutes of March 13, 2024.
3.C. Purchase of 2025 Freightliner M2-106 Service Truck from PB Loader Corporation
Action: Accepted the quote from PB Loader Corporation, Fresno, CA, for one (1) 2025 Freightliner M2-106 Service Truck, authorized the City Manager to approve a purchase order in the amount of $237,338, and appropriated an additional $18,000 split evenly between the Water and Sewer Funds to fund the additional cost of the new service vehicle.
3.D. Additional Appropriation of Funds for the Citywide Flooring Project Action: Approved the additional contract amount of $21,500 for the change orders in excess of the original contract amount and the 10% authorized by the City Manager for costs associated with the addition of the flooring replacement at the Heritage Room.
3.E. Cooperative Funding Agreement between the City of Norco and the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District for the First Street Storm Drain Project
Action: Approved the Cooperative Funding Agreement between the City of Norco and Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (RCFC&WCD) to design and construct the First Street Storm Drain Project, subject to non-substantive changes and approval by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors; and authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement.
3.F. Amend the 2023-24 Measure R Capital Improvement Project Budget to Add Design Funding for Five Street Pavement Projects
Action: Amended the fiscal year 2023-24 Measure R Capital Improvement Budget to appropriate five street pavement projects to the FY 2023-24 Measure R Capital Improvement Program Budget; allocated Measure R Funding for the design costs for each project in the amount requested for each project; accepted the proposals from RKA and authorized the City Manager to issue purchase orders for each project not to exceed the amount quoted in each project proposal.
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no items pulled from the Consent Calendar.
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
5. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM(S)
5.A. Discussion on Code of Ethics and possible updates
City Clerk Roa introduced the discussion and called upon Administrative Intern Gabriel Blum to present PowerPoint.
Administrative Intern Blum presented report.
City Council Members had questions and concerns.
City Attorney Burns and City Clerk Roa answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comment.
Tami Friedrich spoke about the possibility of putting together a Board of Ethics Committee to review complaints of conduct about City Council, Commission Members and City Staff.
Michael Thompson spoke regarding defining opinion versus fact.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comment.
Mayor and City Council Members discussed opinions versus facts and the history of the Code of Ethics along with enforcement when a violation of the Code of Ethics occurs.
Mayor and City Council Members asked that a draft be made with updates to the Code of Ethics including violations and enforcement options and be brought back to City Council for further discussion.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S NEWTON/GRUNDMEYER to have the City Attorney return with enforcement options and updates of violations to the Code of Ethics and have a draft brought back to City Council for review. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
ABSTAIN: NONE
5.B. Discuss possible actions to encourage Corona-Norco Unified School District to include funding for Norco High School programs and facilities City Clerk Roa introduced the discussion.
Mayor Bash clarified his reasoning for having this item brought to City Council for discussion.
Mayor and City Council Members discussed the School Districts Envision 2033 Report and the support needed for the schools in Norco.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comment.
There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comment.
Mayor and City Council Members asked that the draft Envision 2033 Report, the budget and a draft letter be brought back to City Council for review.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S BASH/HANNA to have the Envision 2033 Report, 2024-2025 budget and draft letter brought back to City Council for review. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)
6.A. First Reading: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2.27 of the Municipal Code, Section 2.27.030 Appointment of Members to the Veterans Commission.
City Clerk Roa presented the report on Ordinance No. 1112.
Mayor Bash commented on the reason for having the amendment brought to
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
City Council.
Mayor Bash opened Public Comment.
Geoff Kahan, Chair of the Veterans Commission, spoke regarding his support of the amendment to the Appointment of Members to the Veterans Commission.
Mayor Bash closed Public Comment.
Motion was made and City Attorney Burns read the title of the Ordinance into the record.
M/S NEWTON/ALEMAN Adopt First Reading: Ordinance No. 1112 to Amend Chapter 2.27 of the Municipal Code, adding language to Section 2.27.030 Appointment of Members to the Veterans Commission. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH, NEWTON, ALEMAN, GRUNDMEYER, AND HANNA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
7. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Grundmeyer thanked staff for their hard work on the Easter Egg Hunt and quick changes due to the rain.
Council Member Aleman thanked staff for the Easter Egg Hunt and stated it was a great event.
Council Member Hanna commented on the great Easter Sunrise Service.
Mayor Bash had a question regarding Donate Life.
City Clerk Roa answered the question.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bash adjourned the meeting with a moment of silence in honor of fallen NYPD Officer, Jonathan Diller, at 8:48 PM.
City Council Minutes - April 3, 2024
_________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk