MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
City Council Chamber – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 6:30 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 6:32 PM.
City Attorney Burns read the Closed Session item into the record.
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: Silverlakes Sports Park - APNs 152060004; 152060011; 152070001; 152070002; and 152070011
Agency negotiator: City Manager
Negotiating parties: City of Norco and Balboa Management Group LLC.
Under negotiation: Price and Terms
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION 7:02 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 Sullivan
INVOCATION Pastor Michelle Ehrenberg
The Redeemer's Community Church
PRESENTATIONS Legends FC Girls 2014 Flight 1 Soccer
Team
Fire Hazard Severity Zones Maps -
Supervising Fire Marshall, Frank Martinez
1. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS ON REGIONAL BOARDS
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
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
There were no public comments at this time.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approval of Consent Calendar as presented
M/S BASH/SULLIVAN Approve Consent Calendar as Presented. 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 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
Action: Approved the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes and Special Meeting Minutes of April 16, 2025.
3.C. Acceptance of Bids and Award of Contract for the Norco MDP Lateral S-5E Storm Drain Project
Action: Accepted bids and awarded a contract to Empire Equipment Services, Inc., for the Norco MDP Lateral S-5E Storm Drain Project in the amount of $603,791 and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10 percent of the total bid amount.
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
3.D. City of Norco’s Conflict of Interest Code Amendment Applicable to Designated Employees Pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-14, amending the City’s Conflict of Interest Code Applicable to Designated Employees Pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974
3.E. Approval to Award Contract for Annual Independent Audit Services to CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Action: Awarded contract for annual independent audit services to CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP (CLA).
3.F. Amendment of Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Measure R Fund to Include Additional Funding for the Second Street and Rocking R.M. Lane Rehabilitation Project; and Accept Bids and Award Contract for the Second Street and Rocking R.M.
Lane Rehabilitation Project
Action: Appropriated additional funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2028 Measure R CIP budget in the amount of $450,000 for the Second Street and Rocking R.M. Lane Rehabilitation Project; accepted bids, awarded a contract to All American Asphalt for the Second Street and Rocking R.M. Lane Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $2,173,457; and authorized the City Manager to approve contract change orders up to 10 percent of the total bid amount.
3.G. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Third Quarter Budget-to-Actual Report Action: Received and Filed Fiscal Year 2024-25 Third Quarter Budget-to-Actual Report.
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no items pulled from the Consent Calendar.
5. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM(S)
5.A. Rate Adjustments Proposed by Waste Management for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Interim Public Works Director Sam Nelson presented the report on the rate adjustments proposed by Waste Management.
Council Members had no questions or concerns.
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
Council Member Bash made a motion to approve.
Mayor Newton thanked Mayor Pro Tem Grundmeyer and previous Public Works Director, Chad Blais, for their hard work on the contract with Waste Management and the decision to set a maximum on the CPI percentage.
Council Members had no further discussion, a second was made for the motion to approve.
M/S BASH/GRUNDMEYER Adopt Resolution No. 2025-12, approving Waste Management Annual Rate Adjustment for FY 2025-26. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
5.B. Reinstate Resolution No. 2021-12, City of Norco Code of Ethics City Clerk Roa presented the report on reinstating Resolution No. 2021-12.
City Clerk Roa answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
Council Members had no further discussion, motion was made.
M/S NEWTON/BASH Reinstate Resolution No. 2021-12 regarding City of Norco Code of Ethics. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)
6.A. Continued Item - Appeal Hearing: An appeal of the Planning Commission approval of Site Plan 2022-01 and Conditional Use Permit 2022-02 (Dorbayan) - A request to approve an 11,780 square foot shopping center and a 1,384 square-foot drive-thru food service facility, located at 1461 Sixth Street within the C-4 (Commercial) Zone. APNs: 131-140-026, -033, -036, and -037.
Mayor Newton had procedural questions regarding the continuation of the item.
City Attorney Burns answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Newton clarified that all direction be given to staff.
Community Development Director Robles presented the report on the continuation of Appeal Hearing of Site Plan 2022-01 and Conditional Use Permit 2022-02.
City Attorney Burns and Community Development Director Robles answered questions and addressed concerns regarding setbacks.
Council Member Sullivan had concerns regarding the final design approval being completed by the Community Development Director.
City Attorney Burns clarified that the Community Development Director would sign off on the design following a discussion with two Council Members.
Council Members discussed their positions on the item, the history of planning projects and the role of the Planning Commission and staff and the upcoming General Plan.
City Manager Free clarified the update of the General Plan.
Mayor Newton and City Manager Free discussed the role of the Planning Commission and having a joint meeting.
Mayor Newton requested a change to condition #82 regarding the perimeter block wall, that it match condition #9 regarding the trash enclosure to have
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
decorative masonry block.
Community Development Director Robles clarified the numbering on the Resolution for the Site Plan will be fixed as there are duplicate numbers.
Mayor Newton asked if the applicant accepts all of the additional conditions of approval.
The applicant confirmed acceptance of all the conditions of approval.
Council Member Bash asked the applicant questions regarding the setback and architectural design.
Mayor Newton stated staff needs clear direction on western or agrarian equestrian architectural design.
Community Development Director Robles answered questions regarding the undeveloped area of the project and the setbacks.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S BOWEN/GRUNDMEYER Adopt Resolutions 2025-15 and 2025-16 approving Site Plan 2022-01 and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 2022-02 respectively, with modification to the Condition regarding the perimeter block wall to include decorative masonry block. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, BASH, AND BOWEN
NOES: SULLIVAN
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
7. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Clerk Roa spoke regarding the annual recruitment for boards and commissions. Applications to be accepted until 6 PM on May 22, 2025, for spots on the Measure R Citizens' Oversight Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission and the Historic Preservation and Agriculture Commission.
Council Member Bowen thanked Facilities and Maintenance Director Hamilton for all of their hard work during Horseweek and apologized to Community Development Director Robles and thanked her and the Planning Department for their hard work.
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
Mayor Pro Tem Grundmeyer thanked staff and volunteers for Horseweek. She informed the City Council that she would not be in attendance on the City Council Meeting of June 4, 2025, due to an obligation at work.
Council Member Sullivan thanked everyone involved and all staff for a great Horseweek.
Council Member Sullivan made a motion for two items to be agendized for future discussion, setback reductions with the inclusion of western elements for C4 zoned properties and equestrian access and horse tie up standards in new and future commercial developments.
M/S SULLIVAN/BASH Agendize for future discussion of setback reductions with the inclusion of western elements for C4 zoned properties and equestrian access and horse tie up standards in new and future commercial developments. The Motion was DEFEATED by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BASH AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NEWTON, GRUNDMEYER, AND BOWEN
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Council Member Bash asked the Council if they would be willing to discuss the size of buildings in Agricultural Residential zoned areas, specifically regarding nonresidential buildings in the A-1 and R-1 zoned properties.
Mayor Newton commented on the forty percent lot coverage.
Community Development Director Robles and City Attorney Burns clarified zoning and land use requirements.
Mayor Newton recommended the discussion be brought to the Planning Commission before the City Council.
Council Member Bash agreed to direct the discussion of permitted usage of nonresidential building sizes in the A-1 and R-1 zoned properties to the Planning Commission.
Mayor Newton thanked Facilities and Maintenance Director Hamilton on the opening of Pikes Peak Park Playground.
8. ADJOURNMENT
City Council Minutes - May 7, 2025
Mayor Newton adjourned the meeting at 8:56 PM.
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Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk