MINUTES
City Council
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
City Hall Conf. Room A and B – Norco
City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 4:00 PM
ROLL CALL Greg Newton, Mayor
Robin Grundmeyer, Mayor Pro Tem
Kevin Bash, Council Member
Gregory Bowen, Council Member
Fia Sullivan, Council Member
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Greg Newton
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments at this time.
2. WORKSHOP
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Priorities
Communications Manager Anderson introduced the purpose of the workshop and provided information on each Strategic Direction, facilitating the discussion between Staff and City Council Members.
Council Members asked questions of Staff regarding future department needs and discussed current budget information.
Following each Strategic Direction discussion, Council Members provided direction to Staff of the priorities moving forward with the budget. The following is a summary of the priorities discussed. The items to be funded are in Attachment A.
Strategic Direction No. 1 – Public Safety, Health & Wellness Consensus that all FY 2025-26 items are high priority items. Consensus to pursue grant funding for the Heli-Hydrant. Consensus to fund Homeless Services with General Fund Reserves. Some conversation on City promoting Norco College’s CERT Class, but no consensus to create our own program.
No consensus on increasing police or fire services.
City Council Minutes - March 18, 2025
o Some interest on adding an additional motor deputy.
o Mayor Pro Tem Grundmeyer requested that staff send RSO’s traffic data report to all Council Members.
o Council Member Bash requested information on setting aside development impact fees to fund a future ladder truck for Fire.
Strategic Direction No. 2 – Human Capital
Some consensus on wanting to see the overall budget picture before funding newly approved positions.
Consensus to budget salaries with a two-step increase. Consensus to reallocate current training and development allocations amongst divisions instead of additional funding.
Strategic Direction No. 3 – Economic Development & Financial Stability Consensus to keep Community Benefit in Reserves.
Consensus to run five-year report on Utility Billing Assistance Program and possibly decrease subsidy amount based on real expenditures. Consensus to work together to determine what type of economic development support Norco needs.
Consensus to pursue promotional efforts/opportunities to put Norco “on the map” for agriculture
o Discussed how events and programming should emphasize animalkeeping and agriculture to attract people to Norco.
Strategic Direction No. 4 – Communication & Stakeholder Experience Consensus that new Fire Safety positions need to be stationed at City Hall to better communicate with staff and the public.
Consensus to contract out agriculture classes through Community Services programming since EAT has waiting lists for each of their classes. Consensus to budget the actual, total cost of all events so that the City Council can review the true costs of the event. For all events, sponsorship donations should be expended first, followed by General Fund allocations. Consensus to change the sponsorship/partnership program. Consensus to purchase archiving equipment now, but work with the Historic Preservation & Agricultural Heritage Commission to improve processes before adding an additional employee.
Mayor Newton called for a recess before continuing to Strategic Direction No. 5.
Mayor Newton reconvened the meeting at 7:12 PM.
City Council Minutes - March 18, 2025
Strategic Direction No. 5 – Infrastructure & Asset Management Consensus to complete carryover projects versus starting new projects. Consensus to extend the Ingalls Event Center Master Plan project to a future year and look at other options for needs, tied in with Economic Development efforts.
Consensus to pay for one-time City Clerk projects with General Fund Reserves.
Consensus to pay for one-time IT projects with Measure R. Consensus to pay for recurring City Clerk and IT projects with General Fund.
Consensus to pursue opportunities for additional parking at the Ingalls Event Center.
Attachment A
City Council - March 18 2025 - Special Meeting - Minutes - Attachment A
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Newton adjourned the meeting at 8:48 PM.
_________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk
Department Item Amount Type Funding Source
Contract Management Annual Costs $ 25,000 Recurring General Fund Contract Management System Acquisition $ 50,000 One-Time General Fund Reserves Document Management Annual Costs $ 50,000 Recurring General Fund Document Management Assessment & Acquisition $ 250,000 One-Time General Fund Reserves Heritage Room Archiving Equipment $ 5,500 Recurring General Fund Insurance Premium Increase $ 300,000 Recurring General Fund Personnel Negotiations (Cost of Living Adjustment) $ - Recurring General Fund/Various Recently Approved Positions (5) $ 300,000 Recurring General Fund Salaries Budgeted with a Two-Step Increase $ - Recurring General Fund Utility Bill Assistance Program $ 250,000 Recurring General Fund Communications Event Costs & Sponsorships $ - Recurring General Fund Event Costs & Sponsorships $ - Recurring General Fund
Homeless Services $ 655,000 Recurring General Fund Reserves Homeless Services $ 200,000 One-Time Housing Fund
Event Costs & Sponsorships $ - Recurring General Fund
Weapons Policy at Large Events $ 10,000 Recurring General Fund Contract Increase $ 900,000 Recurring General Fund
Convert PT Fire Inspector & Upgrade to FT Specialist $ 110,000 Recurring General Fund Convert PT Fire Specialist to PT Deputy Fire Marshal $ 10,000 Recurring General Fund Emergency Management Department Support $ 50,000 Recurring General Fund Heli-Hydrant $ 196,000 One-Time Measure R
Wildland Protection Agreement $ 67,000 Recurring General Fund ERP/Financial System Assessment $ 60,000 One-Time Measure R IT Server Room Design & Project Management $ 200,000 One-Time Measure R Property Information System Renewal Increase $ 60,000 Recurring General Fund Security Upgrade at Satellite City Facilities $ 300,000 One-Time Measure R Telephone System Upgrade $ 80,000 One-Time Measure R
Sheriff Contract Increase (9.5% Increase) $ 400,000 Recurring General Fund Total Fiscal Impact $ 4,528,500
General Fund Impact $ 2,537,500
General Fund Reserves Impact $ 955,000
Measure R Impact $ 836,000
Housing Fund $ 200,000
Total Fiscal Impact $ 4,528,500
City Clerk
City Manager
Community Services
Facilities & Maintenance
Fire
Information Technology