MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
City Council Chamber – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL Greg Newton, Mayor
Robin Grundmeyer, Mayor Pro Tem
Kevin Bash, Council Member
Gregory Bowen, Council Member
Fia Sullivan, Council Member
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Newton adjourned to Closed Session at 6:01 PM.
City Attorney Burns read the Closed Session items into the record.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1 Potential Case - Letter from Attorney Gosney re Frontier project.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1 Potential Case
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 4043 Sierra Avenue, Norco
Agency negotiator: City Manager, City Attorney, Community Development Director Negotiating parties: City of Norco and Zhenyan Wang
Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION 7:00 PM
REPORT OF ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Burns stated there were no reportable actions taken in Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Bash
INVOCATION Chaplain Bruce Smith
Cowboys for Christ
City Council Minutes - April 2, 2025
PRESENTATIONS Girl Scout Gold Award - Elsie Ehrenberg
WORKSHOP
AB1061: Housing Opportunities is Historic Districts - Oral Report City Attorney Burns presented the report on AB 1061 and provided information on how it relates to the City of Norco.
Council Member Bash provided additional information and discussed a letter of opposition being worked on by Cultural Resources Consultant, Bill Wilkman.
Council Member Sullivan and Council Member Bowen spoke regarding protecting Norco's lifestyle and horse trails.
Mayor Newton had questions regarding open space and trails. He spoke regarding SB322 and protecting equestrian lifestyles.
City Attorney Burns answered questions and addressed concerns.
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 the pavers at the front of his home and requested the City Council reconsider allowing the pavers to remain.
Ed Pullen spoke regarding Mr. Lowstetter's pavers and provided pictures to the City Council of the pavers. He asked that the City Council allow the pavers to remain in front of Mr. Lowstetter's property.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approval of Consent Calendar as Presented.
M/S BASH/BOWEN Approve of Consent Calendar as presented The Motion was
City Council Minutes - April 2, 2025
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 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 Special Meeting Minutes and Regular Meeting Minutes
Action: Approved the City Council Special Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2025, and March 19, 2025, and Regular Meeting Minutes of March 19, 2025.
3.C. Approval of an Agreement with Civic Solutions, Inc. to Provide Professional Planning Services
Action: Approved an agreement with Civic Solutions, Inc. for professional planning services to support the Planning Division of the Community Development Department, not to exceed $60,000.
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no items pulled from the Consent Calendar.
5. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM(S)
5.A. Water, Sewer, and Recycled Water Rate Study Discussion and Recommendations
Interim Public Works Director Nelson introduced the item and Consultant, Dave Hyder.
Consultant Hyder, Senior Planner from Stantec Consulting Services Inc., presented the report for Water, Sewer and Recycled Water Rate Study recommendations.
City Council Minutes - April 2, 2025
Interim Public Works Director Nelson and Consultant Hyder answered questions and addressed concerns regarding recycled water, fees, future projects, housing density and cost burdens of residents.
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
Chad Blais addressed questions and concerns from the City Council regarding the process and rates and provided clarifying information.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
Interim Public Works Director Nelson, Consultant Hyder and City Attorney Burns answered questions and addressed concerns regarding the two scenarios presented, rate increases in relation to residential and commercial use and recycled water.
City Council Members discussed the study and scenarios A and B.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S BASH/GRUNDMEYER Receive the 2025 Water, Sewer, and Recycled Water Rate Study and recommendations and provide direction to implement the Proposition 218 noticing process for holding a public hearing on June 4, 2025 on changes to the Water, Sewer and Recycled Water rates.
The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
6. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Sullivan requested a discussion to be agendized regarding Ebikes.
M/S SULLIVAN/BASH to agendize a future discussion regarding E-bikes.
The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: GRUNDMEYER
ABSENT: NONE
City Council Minutes - April 2, 2025
ABSTAIN: NONE
Mayor Newton and Council Member Bash thanked staff for all of their hard work on the events from the past weekend.
Mayor Newton had a question regarding item 3.G. and requested the item be brought back for reconsideration. Motion was made.
M/S NEWTON/BASH to reconsider Item 3.G. on the Consent Calendar regarding pavers and to have any current code enforcement violations be put on hold until after the discussion. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
7. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Newton adjourned the meeting at 8:42 PM.
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Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk