MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
City Council Chamber – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 5:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL Greg Newton, Mayor
Robin Grundmeyer, Mayor Pro Tem
Kevin Bash, Council Member
Fia Sullivan, Council Member
ABSENT Gregory Bowen, Council Member - Arrived
at 5:08pm
PLANNING COMMISSION ROLL CALL Patricia Hedges, Member
Jeff Shyu, Member
Tara Young, Member
ABSENT Danny Azevedo, Vice Chair
JOINT WORKSHOP - NEW LAWS
Erica Vega with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP presented information on the New Housing Laws for California.
City Attorney Burns presented information on New Laws for California.
Consultant Vega and City Attorney Burns answered questions and addressed concerns from Council Members and Planning Commission Members.
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
Mayor Newton thanked the Planning Commission and opened the Special Meeting to run concurrently with the Regular Meeting at 6:23 PM.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Newton adjourned to the Regular and Special Meeting Closed Session at 6:31 PM.
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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: FPPC v. City of Norco
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency designated representatives: Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore Unrepresented employee: City Manager
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (1 potential case) a property owner requesting a sound wall alleged via email City's actions violate federal guidelines and civil rights and also references damages.
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION 7:08 PM
REPORT OF ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Burns stated there were no reportable actions for Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation and Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation. Conference with Labor Negotiators and Special Meeting Closed Session Item, Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation, were not discussed and will be continued at the end of the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Bash
INVOCATION Chaplain Bruce Smith
Cowboys for Christ
PRESENTATIONS Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment
Status Update
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
Rocky Lowstetter spoke regarding his concerns for a citation that was received for
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pavers that were installed in front of his home due to erosion in the horse trail. He asked that the pavers be allowed to remain where they are.
Trisha Autrey spoke regarding her concern for the lack of communication equipment provided to Animal Control and asked that they be equipped with radios to allow for quick, reliable and safe communication among the Animal Control Officers.
Geoff Kahan thanked staff for the Candlelight Vigil that was held in honor of Deputy Corlew and thanked everyone who attended. He spoke regarding his concern for a list of fire hydrants within the city that are working and those that are in need of repair and having a list accessible on the website.
Mayor Newton directed Public Works Director Blais to speak with Geoff Kahan regarding the process of maintenance established for fire hydrants.
Bill Naylor spoke regarding his concern for the priority in which the fire hydrants are serviced and repaired. He also spoke in favor of purchasing radios for the Animal Control Officers and that they may be of use to Public Works and Facilities staff who are out in the field.
Dillon Wemple spoke regarding his concern for the power outages and urged the City Council to look into installing a solar power source at the Ingalls Event Center and provided information on the advantages of a solar project.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approval of Consent Calendar as Presented.
Public Works Director Blais requested item 3.H. be pulled for discussion.
Mayor Newton thanked all residents and staff involved in making item 3.F. possible.
M/S BASH/SULLIVAN Approve of Consent Calendar as Presented with item 3.H. pulled for discussion. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
3.A. Waive Reading of all Ordinance Adoptions on this Agenda and Read by Title
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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
Action: Approved the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of December 18, 2024.
3.C. Quitclaim and conveyance of Public Storm Drain Easements located within Tract 25779
Action: Approved the quitclaim and convey the offer of dedication of the public storm drain easements within Tract 25779, authorized the City Manager to sign the Quitclaim Deeds and directed the City Clerk to forward the executed Quitclaim Deeds to the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (RCFC&WCD) for acceptance and recordation.
3.D. Acceptance of Bids and Award of Contract for the Pikes Peak Park ADA Synthetic Poured-In-Place Surfacing Project (Project No. 4407.8) Action: Accepted bids and awarded contract to ORTCO, Inc. in the amount of $456,100; and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10% of the original contract.
3.E. Accept Proposal and Award Camera System and Wi-Fi Improvements for the Ingalls Event Center Camera System Project (Project No. 54410.10) Action: Accepted proposal and awarded contract to SHI International Corporation (through OMNIA Partners Contract No. 2024056) in the amount of $179,000 for the Ingalls Event Center Camera System Project.
3.F. Approval for the Installation of a Round Pen at Basin Park (3015 Dapplegray Lane, Norco, CA 92860)
Action: Approved the installation of a round pen at Basin Park.
3.G. Acceptance of the Citation Drive Storm Drain Project as Complete Action: Accepted the Citation Drive Storm Drain Project as complete and authorized the
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City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside.
3.I. Approval of an amendment to the existing contract with Willdan Engineering to include the provision of Code Enforcement services, and an amendment to the FY 2024-25 Contractual Services budget for the Community Development Department - Code Enforcement Division.
Action: Approved the requested amendment to the existing contract with Willdan Engineering to add the provision of Code Enforcement services, and appropriated additional funding in the amount of $102,900 for FY 2024-25 - contractual services in the Code Enforcement Division of the Community Development Department.
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
3.H. Appointments to Regional Boards, Standing Committees and Other City Council-Appointed Committees for Calendar Year 2025
Public Works Director Blais requested that Council Member Bowen be the Designee for the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) Board and to have himself as the Alternate.
Mayor Newton and Council Member Bowen had no concerns regarding the change.
Motion was made.
M/S NEWTON/BASH Approve the City Council appointments to the various standing committees and other governmental agencies for the 2025 calendar year with the amendment to the WRCRWA Board to have Council Member Bowen as the Designee and Public Works Director Blais as the Alternate. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
5. LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
5.A. Second Reading: Ordinance No. 1127, Code Amendment 2024-12, An Ordinance of the City of Norco amending Norco Municipal Code Chapter 3.50 to update participation in the Western Riverside County Transportation Uniform Mitigation (TUMF) Program, and Resolution 2024-56, a resolution to adopt the
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TUMF schedule.
Council Members had no questions or concerns.
Motion was made.
M/S BASH/GRUNDMEYER Adopt Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1127, amending and updating the City’s TUMF Ordinance.
The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)
6.A. First Reading: Ordinance, Zone Code Amendment 2024-04 (City of Norco): A City initiated amendment to Title 18, Chapter 18.43 (Hearings and Appeals Therefrom), Chapter 18.68 (Accessory Building Use Permits), and Chapter
18.40 (Site Plan Review), increasing the public noticing radius requirements from 300 feet with a minimum number of 25 properties captured, to 600 feet with a minimum of 40 properties captured, and to require noticing for Site Plan Review applications.
Community Development Director Robles presented information on Ordinance No. 1128.
Council Members had no questions or concerns.
Mayor Newton opened Public Hearing.
There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Newton closed Public Hearing.
City Attorney Burns read the Ordinance title into the record.
Motion was made.
M/S BASH/GRUNDMEYER Adopt First Reading: Ordinance No.1128, approving Zone Code Amendment 2024-04. The Motion was carried by the following roll call
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vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
7. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Public Works Director Blais provided an update on the Valley View Ave paving project between Third St and Fourth St.
Lieutenant Hall thanked everyone for attending Deputy Corlew's Candlelight Vigil on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, and provided information for the Memorial service at Harvest Church on January 23, 2025, and the procession to follow down Sixth Street at approximately 1:00 PM.
Council Member Bowen thanked staff for their hard work on Deputy Corlew's Candlelight Vigil and thanked everyone who attended.
Council Member Bash asked that the Don Pettinger letter be addressed and the Saddle Sore Riders be recognized.
Mayor Newton stated he would work with the City Manager and City Clerk on recognition for the Saddle Sore Riders. He thanked staff for their hard work on Deputy Corlew's Candlelight Vigil.
Mayor Newton asked that we keep City Clerk Roa and her husband in our thoughts as they recover from a car accident. He asked for a moment of silence for Aubrey Raney, the daughter of our Building Official who passed away earlier this month.
Mayor Newton made an honorary adjournment in honor of the passing of Deputy Timothy Corlew and readjourned to the Regular and Special Meeting Closed Session at 8:00 PM.
City Council returned from Closed Session at 9:04 PM and City Attorney Burns stated there were no reportable actions for the remaining Closed Session items.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Newton adjourned the Regular and Special Meeting at 9:05 PM.
City Council Minutes - January 15, 2025
_________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk