AGENDA
City Council
Wednesday, July 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
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED 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
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Sullivan
INVOCATION Pastor Rene Parish
Beacon Hill Assembly of God
PRESENTATIONS Parks Make Life Better Month
Proclamation
Horseweek Committee Donations
Darrell Wilton Runyan Recognition -
Chaplain Vincent Ball
1. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS ON REGIONAL BOARDS
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
This is the time when persons wishing to address the presiding governmental body regarding the Consent Calendar, Legislative Matters or items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. Please submit a speaker card to the Meeting Clerk. Please limit comments to three minutes or less. The Ralph M. Brown Act limits the governmental body’s ability to respond to comments on non-agendized matters at the time such comments are made. The governmental body shall not discuss or act relative to any general public comment.
City Council Agenda - July 2, 2025
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
All items listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and may be enacted by one motion. Prior to the motion to consider any action by the presiding governmental body, any public comments on any of the Consent Items will be heard. There will be no separate action unless members of the governmental body request specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar. Items removed from the Consent Calendar will be separately considered under Item 4 of the Agenda.
3.A. Waive Reading of all Ordinance Adoptions on this Agenda and Read by Title Only
RECOMMENDATION:
Waive 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.
Staff Report - Pdf
3.B. Approval of City Council Special Meeting Minutes and Regular Meeting Minutes
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the City Council Special Meeting Minutes of June 10 and 12, 2025, and Regular Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2025.
Staff Report - Pdf
3.C. Acceptance of the Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project as Complete (Project No. 54111.2)
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project as complete and authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside.
Staff Report - Pdf
3.D. Authorizing Designated City of Norco Officers to Invest Monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-44 to repeal Resolution No. 2022-66, and to authorize designated City of Norco officers to invest monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund.
Staff Report - Pdf
City Council Agenda - July 2, 2025
3.E. Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Recognition Program 2025 Recipient List RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Recognition Program 2025 Recipient List.
Staff Report - Pdf
3.F. Declaring exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act as amended by AB 1486.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-45 declaring Lonesome Dove Ct. in the City of Norco, Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 122-080-049, exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act as amended by AB 1486.
Staff Report - Pdf
3.G. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding for Norco General Employees Association (NGEA) and Salary Schedules for FY 2025-26
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-46 to approve Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Norco and Norco General Employees Association for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and adopt Resolution No. 2025-47 to approve the salary schedule for FY 2025-26.
Staff Report - Pdf
3.H. Approval of the FY 2025-26 Local Responsibility Area Wildland Protection Reimbursement Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-48 approving an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for services from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for Fire Protection Services within the Local Responsibility Areas within the City. In addition, authorize the City Manager to execute the Local Responsibility Area Wildland Protection Reimbursement Agreement with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Staff Report - Pdf
City Council Agenda - July 2, 2025
3.I. Resolution Approving Amendment No. 6 to the Chino Basin Desalter Authority Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution 2025-49 approving Amendment No. 6 to the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (CDA) Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement, subject to non-substantive changes and approval by all CDA Member Agencies.
Staff Report - Pdf
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
5. LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
No new evidence will be heard from the public as the public hearing has been closed regarding the items listed. If new substantial amendments are made to the Ordinance at this time, the Ordinance will require a "Third" reading and public comments will be allowed.
5.A. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1131, Code Amendment 2025-02: An Ordinance of the City of Norco amending Norco Municipal Code Title 15 (Building and Construction), Chapter 15.09 (Fire Code) Section 15.09.280 and Title 9 (Peace, Safety and Morals) Chapter 9.65 (Fire and Life Safety) Section 9.65.11 to designate and reflect the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map dated March 24, 2025, by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the second reading and adoption of an ordinance adopting the City of Norco Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map to designate moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones and amending Section 15.09.280 and Title 9 (Peace, Safety and Morals) Chapter 9.65 (Fire and Life Safety) Section 9.65.11 designate and reflect the 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Riverside County.
Staff Report - Pdf
6. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
7. ADJOURNMENT
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting is encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s Office at (951) 270-5623 or [email protected] at least 48 hours prior to the meeting so that reasonable arrangements can be made to ensure accessibility. Staff reports are on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the presiding governmental body regarding any
City Council Agenda - July 2, 2025
item on this agenda will be available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office during normal business hours at Norco City Hall, located at 2870 Clark Avenue in Norco. The meeting is recorded.
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.A.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Dana Roa, City Clerk
Prepared By: Sophia Mathiesen, Deputy City Clerk
Department: City Clerk
SUBJECT:
Waive Reading of all Ordinance Adoptions on this Agenda and Read by Title Only RECOMMENDATION:
Waive 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.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.B.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Dana Roa, City Clerk
Prepared By: Sophia Mathiesen, Deputy City Clerk
Department: City Clerk
SUBJECT:
Approval of City Council Special Meeting Minutes and Regular Meeting Minutes RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the City Council Special Meeting Minutes of June 10 and 12, 2025, and Regular Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2025.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
ATTACHMENT(S):
City Council - Jun 10 2025 - Special Meeting - DRAFT Minutes City Council - Jun 12 2025 - Special Meeting - DRAFT Minutes City Council - Jun 18 2025 - DRAFT Minutes
DRAFT - MINUTES
City Council
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
City Hall Conf Room – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 10:00 AM
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 Pro Tem Grundmeyer
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments at this time.
2. BUDGET WORKSHOP
2.A. Continued Discussion of Preliminary Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budgets
City Manager Free introduced the Budget Workshop and Finance Director Calhoun presented the report.
Facilities and Maintenance Director Hamilton, IT Manager Boudreaux, and Interim Public Works Director Nelson presented department related projects and answered questions.
Finance Director Calhoun reviewed the previous budget and presented the new reductions and projected budget deficit.
Council Members requested Staff review and make additional reductions to the budget.
City Manager Free and Finance Director Calhoun answered questions and addressed concerns.
Council Members directed Staff to review each of their departments and make the necessary reductions to reduce the deficit, with the exception of public safety and IT and without the use of Measure R funds.
City Council Minutes - June 10, 2025
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
Bill Naylor spoke regarding having staff bring levels of reductions in 5, 10 and 15 percentages for review. He also spoke regarding backyard trail maintenance and not using funds from the reserve or Measure R.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
Following discussion and direction to Staff to make additional budget reductions in each department to bring back for review at a future workshop, Mayor Newton closed the workshop discussion.
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Newton adjourned the meeting at 11:39 AM.
_________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk
DRAFT - MINUTES
City Council
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Norco City Hall – Norco City Hall
2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860
CALL TO ORDER 10:30 AM
ROLL CALL Greg Newton, Mayor
Robin Grundmeyer, Mayor Pro Tem
Gregory Bowen, Council Member
Fia Sullivan, Council Member
ABSENT Kevin Bash, Council Member
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Greg Bowen
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments at this time.
2. BUDGET WORKSHOP
2.A. Continued Discussion of Preliminary Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budgets
City Manager Free introduced the Budget Workshop and Finance Director Calhoun presented the report.
Finance Director Calhoun reviewed each line-item reduction and answered questions and addressed concerns.
Council Members discussed the reductions and provided a consensus on what reduced funds are acceptable to keep for each department.
Council Members discussed which departments need to make additional reductions and thanked Staff for their work on the budget.
Council Members requested that all final reductions be made for review at the regular scheduled City Council meeting of June 18, 2025.
Mayor Newton closed the discussion.
City Council Minutes - June 12, 2025
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Newton adjourned the meeting at 12:28 PM.
_________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk
DRAFT - MINUTES
City Council
Wednesday, June 18, 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.
City Attorney Burns read the Closed Session items 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
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: Clinton Ogier v. City of Norco
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code §54954.5
Agency designated representatives: City Manager and City Attorney Employee organization: Norco General Employees Association RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION 7:00 PM
REPORT OF ACTION(S) TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Burns stated there were no reportable actions taken during Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Bowen
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
INVOCATION Chaplain Bruce Smith
Cowboys for Christ
PRESENTATIONS
Waste Management:
Driver of the year
Scholarship Program Awards
Introduction: Leila Holtzen, Supervisor
Code Enforcement
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
There were no public comments at this time.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approval of Consent Calendar as Presented.
M/S BASH/SULLIVAN Approve of 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
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
Action: Approved the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of June 04, 2025.
3.C. Recap of Actions Taken by the Planning Commission at its Meeting Held on June 11, 2025
Action: Received and filed the recap of actions taken by the Planning Commission at its meeting held on June 11, 2025.
3.D. Acceptance of the MDP Line N-5 Storm Drain Project as Complete Action: Accepted the MDP Line N-5 Storm Drain Project as complete and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside
3.E. Acceptance of the MDP Line N-4 Storm Drain Project as Complete Action: Accepted the MDP Line N-4 Storm Drain Project as complete and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside.
3.F. Approval and Adoption of the Annual Appropriations Limit for the Fiscal Year 2025-26
Action: Adopted Resolution No.2025-36, approving the annual appropriations limit for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
3.G. Appropriation Amendment for FY 2024-25 Contractual Services Budget for Community Development
Action: Appropriated additional funding in the amount of $80,000 for FY 2024-25 for contractual services in Community Development/Building Division.
3.H. Ratification of Fiscal Year 2025-26 Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Budget
Action: Adopted Resolution 2025-41, approving the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Budget, establishing rates to be charged for conveyance, treatment and disposal of wastewater.
3.I. Approval of Five-Year Agreement with Nearmap US, Inc. for Aerial Imagery Services
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute a five-year agreement with Nearmap US, Inc. for aerial imagery services in an amount not to exceed $53,635 over the fiveyear term.
3.J. Reimbursement Agreement between the City of Norco and the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District for the West Norco Channel Extension Project
Action: Approved the Reimbursement Agreement with Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (RCFC & WCD) for design reimbursement for the West Norco Channel Extension Project, subject to approval by the RCFC & WCD; and authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement.
3.K. Approval of Fiscal Year 2025-26 Senate Bill 1 Project List Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-35, approving FY 2025-26 Project List to be funded by Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Revenue created by Senate Bill 1.
3.L. Approval of a New Three-Year Professional Services Agreement with RSG Inc., Inc to Provide the City of Norco with On-Call Housing Consulting Services Action: Approved a new three-year Professional Services Agreement with RSG to continue the provision of City of Norco on-call Housing Consulting Services.
3.M. Approval of Resolution Adopting an Amendment to the Agreement for Property Tax Consulting/Audit Services Between the City of Norco and HdL Coren & Cone Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-37, authorizing an Amendment to the Agreement for Property Tax Consulting/Audit Services between the City of Norco and HdL Coren & Cone.
3.N. Request to Extend the Annual On-Call Street Signal and Light Maintenance Services Contract Agreement for One Month
Action: Approved an extension for the Annual On-Call Street Signal and Light Maintenance Services Contract with Yunex Traffic for one (1) month.
3.O. Request to Extend the Annual On-Call Street Maintenance Contract Agreement for One Month
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
Action: Approved an extension of the Annual On-Call Street Maintenance Services Contract with Hardy & Harper, Inc. for one (1) month.
3.P. Approving Multiple Vendors to Provide Waterworks Parts Supplies for Fiscal Year 2025-26
Action: Authorized the City Manager to issue open purchase orders for the waterworks parts supplies in a not-to-exceed cumulative amount of $300,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-
26. 3.Q. Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the City of Corona and the City of Norco for Collaborative Homeless Programs and Services.
Action: 1. Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to approve and execute an Amendment to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Corona and the City of Norco for collaborative homeless services for a maximum amount of $568,360 for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
Action: 2. Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to approve non-substantive amendments, including agreement term extensions, line-item adjustments and hourly compensation rates within the approved program budget of the MOU Between the City of Corona and the City of Norco.
3.R. Additional appropriation for Multiple Vendors to Provide Waterworks Parts Supplies for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Action: Appropriated an additional budget appropriation in the amount of $50,000 and authorized an increase to the existing combined purchase order authority for Ferguson Waterworks, Core & Main, and Yofire to a not-to-exceed amount of $300,000 to provide waterworks parts supplies for FY 2024-25.
3.S. Approval and Adoption of Salary and Benefits Related to Management and Middle Management/Confidential Personnel for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and 2026- 27 Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-38, to approve and update the Salary and Benefits for Management Personnel for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27; and Resolution No. Resolution No. 2025-39, to approve and update the Salary and Benefits for Mid-Management/Confidential Personnel for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
3.T. Approve Resolution Fixing the Employee's Contribution Under the Public Employee's Medical and Hospital Act
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-40 to implement changes in the amount of health insurance contribution to be paid by the City for members of the Non-Represented MidManagement/Confidential, Management Employees, and City Council effective August 1, 2025.
4. ITEM(S) PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
No items were pulled from the Consent Calendar.
5. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEM(S)
5.A. 2025 Annual Commission Appointments
City Clerk Roa presented the report and the process for the 2025 Annual Commission Appointments.
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
City Clerk Roa stated Kenny Munic and Luis De la Hoya submitted their comments via email to the City Council.
The following spoke on their behalf regarding their desire to be appointed to the Commission vacancies: Tara Young, Jon Grundmeyer, Dean Chase, Chelsea Keene, Denny Hutnik, Michael Moller, Jason Boersma, Kenneth Pollich, Savannah Owens, Matthew Rico, and Shannon Chudzicki.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
City Attorney Burns requested a 5 minute recess at 7:48 PM.
Meeting resumed at 7:52 PM.
City Clerk Roa completed the random draw for the three vacant seats on the Measure R Citizens' Oversight Committee.
The following were chosen at random draw for the appointments to the three vacant seats on the Measure R Citizens' Oversight Committee: Sigrid Williams, John Glaccum, and Ronnie Gilman.
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
City Clerk Roa asked the City Council how they wished to proceed with the Planning Commission appointment.
Council Members provided their consensus to continue with appointment for the Planning Commission vacancy.
City Clerk Roa provided the ballots for the vacancies on the Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission and the Veterans Commission.
Mayor Pro Tem Grundmeyer stated she would be abstaining from voting on the Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission due to a personal conflict.
Ballots were completed for the Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission two seat vacancy and one Youth Commissioner vacancy; the Parks and Recreation Commission one seat vacancy; Planning Commission one seat vacancy; and the Veterans Commission Youth Commissioner vacancy with the following votes:
Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission - 2 Seats Chelsea Keene - 5
Angel Guerro - 1
Michael Moller - 4
Chelsea Keene and Michael Moller were appointed to the Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission for the terms ending in June 2029.
Parks and Recreation Commission - 1 Seat
Jon Grundmeyer - 4
Jon Grundmeyer was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission for the term ending in June 2029.
Youth Commissioner Vacancies - 1 Seat for Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission and 1 Seat for Veterans Commission Isaac Flores - 1
Aileen Quintero - 3
Savannah Shaw-Owens - 4
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
Savannah Shaw-Owens was appointed as Youth Commissioner for the Historic Preservation and Agricultural Heritage Commission for the term ending June 2027.
Aileen Quintero was appointed as Youth Commissioner for the Veterans Commission for the term ending June 2027.
Planning Commission - 1 Seat
Tara Young - 2
Shannon Chudzicki - 2
Due to the tie, City Clerk Roa addressed City Attorney Burns on the options to move forward.
With Jon Grundmeyer being appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission, he was asked if he would consider withdrawing his application from the Planning Commission. Mr. Grundmeyer agreed to withdraw his application from the Planning Commission.
Due to not having a conflict of interest, Mayor Pro Tem Grundmeyer proceeded to vote for the additional ballot casted for the Planning Commission vacancy.
Tara Young - 2
Shannon Chudzicki - 3
Shannon Chudzicki was appointed to the Planning Commission for the term ending June 2029.
5.B. Approval and Adoption of the City of Norco Operating and Capital Improvement Project Budgets for Fiscal Year 2025-26
Finance Director Calhoun presented the report on the Operating and Capital Improvement Project Budgets.
City Manager Free provided information on the Housing fund balance line item amendment.
Finance Director Calhoun and City Manager Free answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Newton opened Public Comment.
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Newton closed Public Comment.
Finance Director Calhoun and City Manager Free answered additional questions.
Finance Director Calhoun stated an amendment to Resolution No. 2025-42 in the total appropriations amount.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S NEWTON/GRUNDMEYER 1. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-42 approving and adopting the City Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and authorizing appropriations therefrom with the amendment of the total appropriations in the amount of $110,804,652 and $500,000 in Housing Funds and General Funds to be appropriated.
2.Adopt Resolution No. 2025-43 approving and adopting the City of Norco Capital Improvement Program Budget for Fiscal Years 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
6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)
6.A. Continued Public Hearing: Ordinance No. 1131, Code Amendment 2025-02: An Ordinance of the City of Norco amending Norco Municipal Code Title 15 (Building and Construction), Chapter 15.09 (Fire Code) Section 15.09.280 and Title 9 (Peace, Safety and Morals) Chapter 9.65 (Fire and Life Safety) Section
9.65.11 to designate and reflect the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map dated March 24, 2025, by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Assistant Fire Marshal Kylie Tillema presented the report on Ordinance No. 1131.
Assistant Fire Marshal Tillema answered questions and addressed concerns.
Mayor Newton opened the Public Hearing.
There were no public comments at this time.
City Council Minutes - June 18, 2025
Mayor Newton closed the Public Hearing.
Council Members discussed the requirement to adopt the Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map.
Following discussion, motion was made.
M/S BASH/GRUNDMEYER Introduce, by title only, and waive full reading of consideration of Ordinance No. 1131, the first reading of an ordinance adopting the City of Norco Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map to designate moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones and amending Section 15.09.280 and Title 9 (Peace, Safety and Morals) Chapter 9.65 (Fire and Life Safety) Section 9.65.11 designate and reflect the 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Riverside County. The Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: GRUNDMEYER, BASH, BOWEN, AND SULLIVAN
NOES: NEWTON
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
7. CITY COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Facilities and Maintenance Director Hamilton spoke regarding the Moreno Arena sound booth improvements and thanked City Council for their support for the Ingalls Event Center projects.
Council Member Bash thanked Facilities and Maintenance Director Hamilton for the maintenance and care of the Veteran's Memorial.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Newton adjourned the meeting at 9:05 PM.
_________________________________
Dana Roa, CMC
City Clerk
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.C.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Amanda Hamilton, Facilities and Maintenance
Director
Prepared By: Todd Shank, Superintendent
Department: City Council
SUBJECT:
Acceptance of the Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project as Complete (Project No. 54111.2)
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project as complete and authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County of Riverside.
SUMMARY:
The Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project addressed American with Disabilities Act (ADA) deficiencies and infrastructure upgrades identified in a 2021 Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report. Approved by the City Council in November 2024, the project began in January and was completed in May 2025 by R.G. General Engineering, Inc., with a final cost of $465,730. Staff recommends accepting the completed work and filing the Notice of Completion.
BACKGROUND:
On November 20, 2024, the City Council awarded a construction contract to R.G.
General Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $424,386. The Council also authorized the City Manager to approve change orders up to 10% of the contract value.
This project was initiated to correct accessibility deficiencies identified in the City’s 2021 Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report, which found the existing parking lot to be non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The scope of work included rehabilitating the parking lot, installing ADA-compliant walkways, ramps, and handrails, and adding a new drinking fountain. Additionally, a Filterra stormwater management system was installed to improve drainage and environmental performance.
Construction commenced in January 2025 and was completed in May 2025. Two change orders were issued during construction, resulting in a final project cost of $465,730. The change orders included:
Installation of additional curbing
Replacement of water mainlines beneath the parking lot Installation of a new domestic backflow preventer
Concrete repairs to isolate existing water lines serving the restrooms Following a final inspection, City staff confirmed the project was completed in full compliance with contract specifications. Staff recommends that the City Council accept the completed work and authorize the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office.
Photos documenting construction progress and completed improvements are attached to this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable for this item.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Directive No. 5 – Infrastructure and Asset Management: Ensure timely preservation, replacement, improvement and acquisition of infrastructure and capital assets.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project Photos
Notice of Completion_Parmenter Park Parking Lot Improvement Project
RECORDING REQUESTED BY: THIS DOCUMENT IS FILED AT THE REQUEST
REQUEST CITY OF NORCO OF THE CITY OF NORCO PURSUANT TO
WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO: SECTION 6103 OF THE GOVERNMENT
2870 CLARK AVENUE CODE. NO FEE IS CHARGED THEREFORE.
NORCO, CA 92860
ATTN: CITY CLERK
NOTICE OF COMPLETION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN BY THE CITY OF NORCO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT THE WORK DESCRIBED AS PARMENTER PARK PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (PROJECT NO. 54111.2) IN THE
CITY OF NORCO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND WRITTEN CONTRACT DATED BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORCO AND RG GENERAL ENGINEERING INC. WAS COMPLETED AND ACCEPTED BY THE CITY OF NORCO ON THE SECOND DAY OF JULY, 2025. (USE DATE OF MEETING CONTRACT ACCEPTED) THE WORK DONE: CONSISTED OF INSTALLING A NEW PARKING LOT, INSTALLING ADA-COMPLIANT WALKWAYS, RAMPS, AND HANDRAILS, AND ADDING A NEW DRINKING FOUNTAIN AND SAFETY FEATURES. (PROJECT NO. 54111.2)
THAT THE CITY OF NORCO, A PUBLIC BODY, CORPORATE AND POLITIC, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 2870 CLARK AVENUE, NORCO, CALIFORNIA, 92860 IS THE OWNER OF SAID IMPROVEMENT WORK; AND THAT SAID WORK WAS PERFORMED BEGINNING NOVEMBER 20, 2024, IN THE CITY OF NORCO. THE NATURE OF INTEREST IS VENDEE UNDER CONTRACT.
THAT SAID WORK OF IMPROVEMENT WAS SO PERFORMED BY RG GENERAL ENGINEERING INC. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID WRITTEN AGREEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 20, 2024, AND THE DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS WHICH WERE A PART OF SAID CONTRACT.
THIS NOTICE OF COMPLETION IS GIVEN BY THE CITY OF NORCO PURSUANT TO THE APPROPRIATE PROVISIONS OF TITLE XV, PART IV, DIVISION 1 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND UPON ORDER OF THE CITY OF NORCO.
JULY 02, 2025
DATED:
CITY OF NORCO
A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
BY: __________________________
DANA ROA, CMC
CITY CLERK
VERIFICATION FOR NON-INDIVIDUAL OWNER:
I, THE UNDERSIGNED, DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT I AM THE CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF NORCO; THAT I HAVE SIGNED THE SAID NOTICE, THAT I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS THEREOF, AND THAT THE FACTS STATED THEREIN ARE TRUE AND CORRECT.
JULY 02, 2025 ______________________________
DATE DANA ROA, CMC
CITY CLERK
CITY OF NORCO
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.D.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director
Prepared By: Julie Houser, Admin Analyst
Department: Finance
SUBJECT:
Authorizing Designated City of Norco Officers to Invest Monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-44 to repeal Resolution No. 2022-66, and to authorize designated City of Norco officers to invest monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund.
SUMMARY:
Update the City of Norco's authorized designated officers to invest in the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF).
BACKGROUND:
The State of California Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) requires that the City submit an updated list of the City staff authorized to deposit and withdraw money into, and out of, the State investment pool. LAIF is a State investment pool administered by the Treasurer of the State of California into which cities and local government entities may invest funds. By pooling the cash deposited by these local agencies, LAIF is able to invest through a diversified portfolio with savings on security purchase costs due to economies of scale. The pool invests in high quality securities to ensure portfolio safety and achieves exceptional yields considering its emphasis on safety and liquidity.
On February 20, 1985, the City Council approved Resolution 85-10A authorizing the City to invest in LAIF. Resolution No. 2022-66, approved on August 17, 2022, revised the officers designated to authorize these transactions. The designated officers, in the current Resolution No. 2022-66, are the City Manager, Finance Director and Accounting Manager. This proposed resolution updates the City Manager, Finance Director and Finance Manager as well as provides LAIF with updated signature authority.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable for this item.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Plan Direction No. 3 - Assure financial stability by expanding development efforts, diversifying revenue sources and continuing prudent financial management.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
Reso 25-44 - LAIF 7.2.25
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-44
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORCO,
CALIFORNIA, REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2022-66 AND
AUTHORIZING THE DESIGNATED CITY OF NORCO OFFICERS TO
INVEST MONIES IN THE LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND
WHEREAS, The Local Agency Investment Fund is established in the State Treasury under Government Code section 16429.1 et. seq. for the deposit of money of a local agency for purposes of investment by the State Treasurer; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Norco hereby finds that the deposit and withdrawal of money in the Local Agency Investment Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 16429.1 of the Government Code for the purposes of investment as provided therein is in the best interests of the City of Norco.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Norco, California, does hereby authorize the deposit and withdrawal of City of Norco monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund in the State Treasury in accordance with Government Code section 16429.1 et. seq. for the purpose of investment as stated therein.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following City of Norco officers or their successors in office are hereby authorized to order the deposit or withdrawal of monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund and may execute and deliver any and all documents necessary or advisable in order to effectuate the purposes of this resolution and the transactions contemplated hereby:
Lisette Free
(Name)
Joshua Calhoun
(Name)
Daphne Liu
(Name)
City Manager
(Title)
Finance Director
(Title)
Finance Manager
(Title)
(Signature) (Signature)
(Signature)
Resolution No. 2025-44 – Designated Officers to Invest
July 2, 2025
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 2, 2025.
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
I, Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on July 2, 2025, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California, on July 2, 2025.
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.E.
To: Honorable Chair and Commission Members
From: Amanda Hamilton, Facilities and Maintenance
Director
Prepared By: Amanda Hamilton, Facilities and Maintenance Director
Department: Facilities and Maintenance
SUBJECT:
Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Recognition Program 2025 Recipient List RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Recognition Program 2025 Recipient List.
SUMMARY:
The Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Recognition Program honors exceptional individuals who embody Kathy Azevedo’s bravery, patriotism, leadership, charisma, and unwavering loyalty to the Norco community. Each year, recipients are recognized with a commemorative engraved brick placed at the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Monument at the Ingalls Event Center. These bricks, unveiled during a special November ceremony near Kathy’s birthday, serve as a permanent tribute to each recipient’s legacy. At the regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on June 9, 2025, the Commission recommended City Council approval of the 2025 recipient list.
BACKGROUND:
The Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Recognition Program was established to honor individuals whose lives and contributions reflect the legacy of former Council Member Kathy Azevedo. The program celebrates individuals who exemplify her bravery, patriotism, leadership, charisma, and unwavering dedication to Norco.
In January 2025, the City opened the nomination period, promoting the opportunity via the City website, social media, and Top Stories. Nominations closed on March 1, 2025 with 10 submissions received.
On March 10, the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Subcommittee convened to review nominations and finalize ceremony logistics. To improve event conditions and increase
attendance, the Subcommittee proposed moving the event from summer to early November, aligning with Kathy Azevedo’s November 5th birthday to create a meaningful annual tradition.
On June 9, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously recommended that the Norco City Council approve the 2025 recipient list as finalized by the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Subcommittee.
CEREMONY DETAILS
Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Monument, Ingalls Event Center The timing and location of the ceremony reflect the emotional and historical significance of Kathy Azevedo’s life and service, with the monument bricks serving as a lasting tribute to each honoree.
2025 HONOREES
On April 24, the Subcommittee finalized the 2025 recipient list including nine individuals and one community group:
1. John Akins - John Akins has dedicated decades of volunteer service to the Norco community, often working behind the scenes. He served as President of the Norco Horseman’s Association and participated on every subcommittee, was a founding member of the revamped Norco Fair, and chaired multiple Horseweek committees.
Throughout his service, John has taken on every role imaginable. He has also been actively involved with the Norco Horsetown Hall of Fame and supported other local organizations, including the Lake Norconian Club Foundation. His long-term contributions are recognized with his inclusion in the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Plaza.
2. Joanne Akins - Joanne Akins is a dedicated and dependable volunteer known for her problem-solving skills and selfless commitment to the Norco community. She has chaired and served on multiple committees for the Norco Horseman’s Association, Horseweek, and the Norco Fair, while also supporting organizations like RURAL and the Lake Norconian Club Foundation. Preferring to work quietly behind the scenes, Joanne’s contributions have been invaluable, earning her recognition as the 2018 Norco Fair Grand Marshal alongside her husband. Her long-standing service is honored with her inclusion in the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Plaza.
3. Patricia Hedges - Pat Hedges has long served Norco as an effective Planning Commissioner and dedicated volunteer, helping shape and preserve the community she loves. A founding member of the Norco Animal Rescue Team and the Day of the American Cowboy, she has contributed to countless roles during Horseweek and the Norco Fair. Pat played a key role in preserving Norco’s unique way of life, served on the Norco Infrastructure Committee supporting major City improvements and Measure R, and co-founded the Support Sisterz, aiding women facing breast cancer. Known for her optimism and dedication, Pat’s decades of service reflect her deep commitment to maintaining Horsetown USA, earning her a well-deserved place in the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Plaza.
4. Glenn Hedges - Glenn Hedges served as President of the Norco Horseman’s Association during a crucial rebuilding period and was a dedicated advocate for preserving Norco’s unique character. A founding member of the Norco Animal Rescue Team, he led trail rides, organized clean-ups, raised funds through events like Casino Nights, and volunteered in many roles—from code enforcement officer to helping at fairs and cook-offs. Known for his commitment and generosity, Glenn even helped rescue horses during a San Diego fire. His long-standing service is honored with his inclusion in the 2025 Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco honorees.
5. Bobby Mendoza - Bobby Mendoza is a longtime Norco resident, dedicated educator, and Vietnam veteran who has devoted over 18 years to managing sound systems for veteran and community events, including the Horseweek Parade, Labor Day Parade, and Parade of Lights Parade. His family has a strong legacy of service to the City of Norco, with both his wife and son also involved in City work. Bobby has generously donated sound systems still in use today for these major events and has been actively involved in several community groups. A committed volunteer and ambassador for local parades, his unwavering dedication has made a lasting impact on Norco, earning him a well-deserved commemorative brick at the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco monument.
6. Mark Moore - Mark Moore embodies the Spirit of Norco volunteerism through his selfless dedication and willingness to take on any task, big or small, to support the community. Whether marking parking spaces in the heat, organizing volunteers, or moving equipment, Mark’s behind-the-scenes efforts have been crucial to the success of events like the Norco Fair, Horseweek, Craft Fair, Rural Ranch Tour, Rotary Car Show, and the Lake Norconian Club Foundation’s inaugural ride. He has received numerous awards for his service, served as Grand Marshal for both the Norco Fair and Horseweek, and is known by friends as a hardworking and dependable “all-around good guy.” His dedication is honored with his name laid in the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Plaza, a well-deserved recognition of his years of service.
7. Ed Dixon - Ed Dixon exemplifies the hardworking, quiet, and dependable Norco volunteer, consistently getting the job done efficiently. Known for his volunteer work at the Ingalls Event Center, supervising court workers, serving as a trail boss, rescuing horses during emergencies, and supporting numerous local organizations—including the Norco Animal Rescue Team, Lake Norconian Club Foundation, and Norco Fair—Ed has been a key figure in community events and initiatives. A founding member of the Day of the American Cowboy and inaugural member of the City of Norco Economic Development Committee, he and his wife Linda were honored as Grand Marshals of the Norco Fair Parade. An Air Force veteran and judo champion, Ed’s quiet strength and dedication have earned him well-deserved recognition in the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Plaza.
8. Linda Dixon - Linda Dixon’s dedication to Norco volunteerism has had a lasting impact on the community. As a founding member of the Lake Norconian Club Foundation and the City of Norco Historical Commission, she played a key role in preserving the town’s history and establishing its historic district. Linda helped raise thousands of dollars to save the Norconian and build the George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza. She served as treasurer of the re-established Norco Community Fair for ten years and as secretary of the Norco Horseman’s Association during challenging times. Linda also contributed to the Norco Infrastructure Committee, which led to major
street and trail repairs and helped pass Measure R to support the City’s future. Known for her no-nonsense approach, she has fearlessly stood up for Norco’s interests and remains driven by her passion for history and the community’s well-being. These contributions have earned her this well-deserved recognition.
9. Adrianna Showalter - Adrianna Showalter is a compassionate Norco resident and President/co-founder of Support Sisterz, a nonprofit offering emotional and financial support to women battling breast and gynecological cancers locally. With nearly 20 years of experience, she volunteers daily, providing oncology massage therapy and education. After her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2006, Adrianna became active with several cancer organizations. Under her leadership, Support Sisterz raised over $120,000 last year to help women with medical expenses and essentials. Adrianna's kindness and dedication have made a lasting impact on the Norco community. She is truly deserving of this commemorative brick at the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco monument.
10. Support Sisterz – Special Group Recognition - The Support Sisterz are a nonprofit organization founded by breast cancer survivors—including Kathy Azevedo— committed to empowering women battling breast and gynecological cancers. What began as a small support group among friends has grown into a 501(c)(3) serving women in Corona, Norco, Eastvale, and beyond.
Through emotional support gatherings and financial assistance for women in treatment, Support Sisterz has made a lasting impact—especially in Norco, where they have helped local residents, led by example, and extended their outreach to neighboring communities. Their compassion and dedication have made Norco proud.
In recognition of their work and Kathy Azevedo’s role as a founding member, Support Sisterz is honored with a brick at the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Monument.
ONGOING RECOGNITION PROCESS
The program is designed to honor up to five individuals each year. Based on insights from the inaugural year, the Subcommittee has decided to allow more than five bricks to be placed, enabling the individual recognition of awardees who are couples.
Honorees will receive commemorative engraved bricks installed at the monument, with ceremonies continuing each November. The City will coordinate brick production, installation, and maintain an archive of recipient biographies.
RECOGNITION GUIDELINES
Eligibility Criteria:
Must be a current or former Norco resident (living or deceased).
Must demonstrate one or more of the following:
Embody Kathy Azevedo’s bravery, patriotism, leadership, or charisma. Support preservation of Norco’s rural lifestyle.
Contribute meaningfully to a City program or asset.
Exhibit selfless dedication to community service.
Nomination and Selection Process:
Submit nomination and biography to the Facilities and Maintenance Department. Staff and Subcommittee conduct an initial review.
Parks and Recreation Commission issues recommendation. Final approval by Norco City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost associated with the escribed bricks are estimated at $500 and will be funded through the Kathy Azevedo Spirit of Norco Special Event Fund 121.720.71.34100.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Plan Direction No. 4 - Communication and Stakeholder Experience: Enhance the stakeholder experience, engage the community, and build brand awareness through proactive, effective and consistent communication.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.F.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Lisette Free, City Manager
Prepared By: Lisette Free, City Manager
Department: Administration
SUBJECT:
Declaring exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act as amended by AB 1486.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-45 declaring Lonesome Dove Ct. in the City of Norco, Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 122-080-049, exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act as amended by AB 1486.
SUMMARY:
The Successor Agency to the Former Norco Community Redevelopment Agency (“SA”) owns real property consisting of approximately 0.34 acres, located at Lonesome Dove Ct, in the City of Norco (APN 122-080-049) (“Property”).
The Property is zoned agricultural and has a horse trail that provides a connection to the nearby commercial areas which was a requirement of the commercial development.
The City wishes to acquire the Property from the SA in an agency-to-agency property transfer for public use.
BACKGROUND:
The SA intends to transfer the SA parcel to the City for its use for governmental purposes subject to the approval of such transfer by the Riverside Countywide Oversight Board and the California Department of Finance pursuant to the redevelopment dissolution statutes. Additionally, the City and SA must comply with the Surplus Land Act (as amended by AB 1486) and have hired Kosmont Real Estate Services to assist in that process. The first step in this process will be for the SA to declare the property as “exempt surplus land” pursuant to the Surplus Land Act.
On October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1486. AB 1486, which amended the Surplus Land Act (“SLA”), effective January 1, 2020, changed the existing, long-standing definition of “surplus land”; providing that land no longer
necessary for a local agency’s use shall be declared either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land” before taking any action to sell or lease land. To that end, AB 1486 also added a new limitation providing that an “agency’s use” “shall not include commercial or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development,” or “property disposed of for the sole purpose of investment or generation or revenue.” AB 1486 further prohibits the City from negotiation of any disposition of the Property prior to compliance with the procedural requirements of the SLA.
As indicated above, the SLA, Government Code sections 54220 et seq., requires that public agencies first declare land "surplus land" or "exempt surplus land" before it can negotiate any disposition of the land, either for sale or for lease.
The SLA identifies several categories of “exempt surplus land”. Government Code section 54221(f)(1)(D) identifies “surplus land that a local agency is transferring to another local, state, or federal agency…for the receiving agency’s use” as one of the categories of “exempt surplus land”.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Costs for the declaration of the Property as “exempt surplus land” are estimated at $1,000. This amount is included in the FY 2024-25 Operating Budget (121.724.34105).
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Direction No. 4 - Communication and Stakeholder Experience: Enhance the stakeholder experience, engage the community, and build brand awareness through proactive, effective and consistent communication.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution No. 2025-45
APN 122080049 EXHIBIT
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-45
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF NORCO AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TO THE FORMER NORCO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY,
CALIFORNIA, DECLARING PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTIONS 54221(b) and 54221 (f)(1)(D) THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY
OWNED BY THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY LOCATED AT LONESOME
DOVE CT IN THE CITY OF NORCO, ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER
(“APN”) 122-080-049 (THE “PROPERTY”) IS EXEMPT SURPLUS
WHEREAS, the Successor Agency to the former Norco Community Redevelopment Agency (“SA”) owns certain real property consisting of approximately
0.34 acres, located at Lonesome Dove Ct. (APN: 122-080-049) (“Property”); WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1486. AB 1486 significantly amended the Surplus Land Act effective January 1, 2020.
These amendments included, among others, changing the previous, long-standing definitions of “surplus land” and “exempt surplus land”; providing that property shall be declared either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land” before a local agency may take any action to dispose of it; and adding a new limitation providing that an “agency’s use” “shall not include commercial or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development” or “property disposed of for the sole purpose of investment or generation or revenue”;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 54221(b) of the Surplus Land Act, Government Code sections 54220 et seq., surplus land is land owned in fee simple by the SA for which the SA Board takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring the land is surplus and not necessary for the SA’s use. The land must be declared either surplus land or exempt surplus land;
WHEREAS, none of the characteristics listed in Government Code Section 54221, subdivision (f)(2) applies to this Property;
WHEREAS, the City of Norco (“City”) has requested the transfer of the SA parcel to the City for the City’s agency use;
WHEREAS, the SA intends to transfer the SA parcel to the City for its use for City purposes subject to the approval of such transfer by the Riverside Countywide Oversight Board and the California Department of Finance pursuant to the redevelopment dissolution statutes;
WHEREAS, the accompanying staff report provides supporting information upon which the declaration and finding set forth in the Resolution are based.
Resolution No. 2025-45
July 02, 2025
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Norco as Successor Agency to the former Norco Community Redevelopment Agency, California, do hereby resolve as follows:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are a substantive part of the Resolution.
2. The SA finds that, based on (i) the City’s request that SA transfer the SA Parcel to the City, and ( ii) the City’s representation that the SA Parcel will be used by the City for public park, open space, public recreation, public parking, and other public / semi-public uses, and therefore the SA Parcel is exempt surplus land pursuant to Government Code Section 54221( f)(1)(D) which includes surplus land that a local agency is transferring to another local agency for the agency’ s use.
3. For purposes of compliance with the SLA, Lonesome Dove Ct (APN:
122-080-049) in the CITY OF NORCO, is hereby declared exempt surplus land.
4. The City Manager, or his designee, is directed to proceed with the notification requirements of the SLA, as amended, and communicate / negotiate with the Oversight Board and Department of Finance, as needed, to facilitate the possible disposition and reuse of the property.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 02, 2025.
__________
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco
ATTEST:
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Resolution No. 2025-45
July 02, 2025
I, Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of Norco at a regular meeting held on July 02, 2025 by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California on July 02, 2025. ___________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.G.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Lisette Free, City Manager
Prepared By: Cindy Balderas, Human Resources Manager
Department: Human Resources
SUBJECT:
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding for Norco General Employees Association (NGEA) and Salary Schedules for FY 2025-26
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-46 to approve Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Norco and Norco General Employees Association for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and adopt Resolution No. 2025-47 to approve the salary schedule for FY 2025-26.
SUMMARY:
The current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the Norco General Employees Association (NGEA) expires June 30, 2025. Changes to the existing MOU include a COLA of 1.5% and updating the language for retiree health.
BACKGROUND:
Appropriate compensation, classification, and benefit alignment enhances employee engagement and satisfaction, and helps to attract and retain a diverse and highly qualified workforce.
Representatives from the NGEA met and conferred with the City’s management representatives to negotiate salaries and benefits. The NGEA met with management and conferred in good faith and agreed on the terms of the new MOU effective July 1, 2025. NGEA has agreed to a one-year contract.
The classifications in the NGEA will be provided a 1.5% COLA effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2025. An additional change is to the article on retiree health for employees hired on or after July 1, 2023. This article has been removed as it does not accurately reflect the current status of retiree health. However, the City takes this action
without prejudice to its ability to change its retiree health benefit in the future. Deletion of the health retiree provision shall not in any way create a vested right to a benefit.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost of a 1.5% salary adjustment including impacts on pension and Medicare contributions for Fiscal Year 2025-26 is $23,358. The estimated cost is included in the FY 2025-26 Operating Budget.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended MOU is consistent with Strategic Plan Direction No. 2 - Human Capital: Build a sustainable workforce to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution 2025-46 NGEA MOU 07.01.2025 to 06.30.2026
NGEA MOU July 1 2025 thru June 30, 2026 - Final
Resolution 2025-47 NGEA Salary Schedule Approval
Salary Schedule NGEA Effective 06.21.2025
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-46
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORCO,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORCO AND NORCO
GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Norco (“City”) and the Norco General Employees Association (“NGEA”) covering the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025 will expire; and
WHEREAS, the City and NGEA have met and conferred in good faith and have agreed on the terms and conditions set form in a MOU covering the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows:
SECTION 1: The City Council does hereby approve the terms and conditions set form in the attached MOU for the period covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 2, 2025.
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
I, DANA ROA, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 2, 2025, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Resolution No. 2025-46
July 2, 2025
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California on July 2, 2025.
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
JULY 1, 2025 – JUNE 30, 2026
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
CITY OF NORCO
AND
NORCO GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
JULY 1, 2025 – JUNE 30, 2026 NGEA 2
NORCO GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE 1 Preamble 4
ARTICLE 2 Recognition 4
ARTICLE 3 Salaries 4
ARTICLE 4 PERS Benefits
Employees Hired on/prior to December 31, 2012
4 ARTICLE 5 PERS Benefits
Employees Hired on/after January 1, 2013
5 ARTICLE 6 Health Insurance 5
ARTICLE 7 Dental Insurance 6
ARTICLE 8 Vision Insurance 6
ARTICLE 9 Life Insurance 6
ARTICLE 10 Long Term Disability Insurance 6
ARTICLE 11 Continuous Service Bonus 6
ARTICLE 12 Sick Leave 6
ARTICLE 13 Employee on Leave Compensation 7
ARTICLE 14 Annual Sick Leave Buy Back 7
ARTICLE 15 Sick Leave Buy Back on Separation 7
ARTICLE 16 Bereavement 7
ARTICLE 17 Jury Duty 8
ARTICLE 18 Holidays 8
ARTICLE 19 Vacation 9
JULY 1, 2025 – JUNE 30, 2026 NGEA 3
ARTICLE 20 Compensatory Time 9-10
ARTICLE 21 Standby 10
ARTICLE 22 Overtime 10
ARTICLE 23 Call Out 10
ARTICLE 24 Court Time Compensation 10
ARTICLE 25 Tuition Reimbursement 11
ARTICLE 26 Acting Pay 11
ARTICLE 27 Uniforms 11
ARTICLE 28 Deferred Compensation 12
ARTICLE 29 Employee Computer Purchase Progam 12
ARTICLE 30 State Disability Insurance 12
ARTICLE 31 Injury on Duty - Worker’s Compensation 12-13 ARTICLE 32 Fatigue Time Off 13
ARTICLE 33 Layoff and Re-employment Procedure 13
ARTICLE 34 Severance Pay - Layoff 13
ARTICLE 35 Management Rights 14
ARTICLE 36 Provisions of Law 14
ARTICLE 37 General Provisions 14
SIGNATURE PAGE 15
JULY 1, 2025 – JUNE 30, 2026 NGEA 4
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CITY OF NORCO AND
NORCO GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE 1 PREAMBLE
Representatives of the City of Norco and the Norco General Employees Association have met and conferred on salaries and benefits for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2025. The following items have been agreed upon. The term of this Agreement shall be for one (1) year for the period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
ARTICLE 2 RECOGNITION
1. The City recognizes the Norco General Employees Association as the exclusive representative of full-time employees in the following classifications:
Account Clerk I
Account Clerk II
Account Clerk III
Administrative Assistant
Animal Control Officer
Assistant Planner
Building Inspector
Bus Driver
Code Enforcement Officer
Community Development Specialist
Community Services Coordinator
Events Coordinator
IT Technician
LMD Inspector
Permit Technician
Senior Administrative Assistant
Senior Animal Control Officer
Senior Code Enforcement Officer
Senior Community Development Specialist
Senior Permit Technician
Senior Utility Compliance Coordinator
Utility Compliance Coordinator
2. The classifications listed above constitute all of the City employees that are represented by the Norco General Employees Association. The probationary period for all positions in the bargaining unit shall be one year.
3. Work Schedule. The City is currently on a 4-day, 9 hours per day workweek (36 hours per week).
City Hall is currently open to the public Monday through Thursday. At the discretion of the department head, depending on the needs of the City, an NGEA member’s schedule can be modified from the regular Monday through Thursday schedule (36 hours per week).
ARTICLE 3 SALARIES
There shall be a 1.5% COLA effective the beginning of the pay period that includes July 1, 2025.
ARTICLE 4 PERS BENEFITS / EMPLOYEES HIRED ON/PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 2012
1. For employees hired on or prior to December 31, 2012 and new hires who are “Classic” Members, the City has a contract with CalPERS to provide employees with the 2.7% at 55 Full Formula (Section 21354.5). The City has agreed to pay 100% of the employer contribution rates toward retirement and the employee will pay 8% of the employee contribution rates toward retirement through the CalPERS Retirement System.
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Other benefits in the CalPERS agreement include:
a. Section 20965: Credit for Unused Sick Leave. Unused accumulated sick leave at time of retirement may be converted to additional service credit at the rate of 0.004 year of service credit for each day of unused sick leave.
b. Section 21574: Fourth Level 1959 Survivors Benefits. This benefit provides a higher level of 1959 Survivor Benefits to survivors of a member who dies prior to retirement. c. Three-year final compensation (36 highest paid consecutive months).
2. City shall implement all other requirements mandated by the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013.
ARTICLE 5 PERS BENEFITS / EMPLOYEES HIRED ON/AFTER JANUARY 1, 2013
1. The new retirement formula for miscellaneous employees is 2% at 62, with a maximum benefit of
2.5% at 67.
2. Employees must contribute at least 50% of the normal cost rate for the defined benefit plan, rounded to the nearest quarter percent, currently 7.75%.
3. Employer may not pay any of the employee share of pension cost.
4. City shall implement all other requirements mandated by the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013.
ARTICLE 6 HEALTH INSURANCE
1. The City will participate with the State of California for health benefit programs available through CalPERS.
2. The City agrees to pay up to $1,500 a month for those employees and their dependents enrolled in any of the available CalPERS health plans.
3. Effective July 1, 2024, the City agrees to pay up to $1,550 a month for those employees and their dependents enrolled in any of the available CalPERS health plans.
4. Any eligible employee who elects to opt-out of health benefits will be paid a monthly cash amount equal to the lowest basic single rate premium in the CalPERS CalPERS Region 3 (Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino) in lieu of health benefits, providing the following requirements are met:
a) An election form to opt-out of health benefits is completed. b) Satisfactory proof of other coverage is provided.
5. RETIREE HEALTH: The retiree health for employees hired on or after July 1, 2023, has been removed as it does not accurately reflect the current status of retiree health. However, the City takes this action without prejudice to its ability to change its retiree health benefit in the future. Deletion of the health retiree provision shall not in any way create a vested right to a benefit.
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ARTICLE 7 DENTAL INSURANCE
The City will provide a choice between an HMO dental insurance plan, fully paid by the City for both the employee and dependent coverage, and a PPO dental insurance plan with the City’s contribution limited to the cost of the HMO dental insurance premium.
ARTICLE 8 VISION INSURANCE
The City will provide a vision care plan that is fully paid by the City for both employee and dependent coverage.
ARTICLE 9 LIFE INSURANCE
The City will provide term life insurance benefit equal to the employee’s annual salary (rounded to the nearest thousand) and $5,000 dependent life benefit, fully paid by the City for both employee and dependent coverage. The annual salary will be the monthly base salary times twelve.
ARTICLE 10 LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE
The City of Norco offers an optional Long-Term Disability plan at the employee’s expense.
ARTICLE 11 CONTINUOUS SERVICE BONUS
In recognition of years of service to the City, a Continuous Service Bonus shall be given on the anniversary date of the employee as follows:
• Five-year anniversary $100
• Ten-year anniversary $300
• Fifteen-year anniversary $500
• Twenty-year anniversary $700
• Twenty-five-year anniversary $1,000
• Thirty-year anniversary $1,250
• Thirty-five-year anniversary $1,500
ARTICLE 12 SICK LEAVE
1. Full-time general employees assigned to the 36-hour workweek shall accrue 8.1 hours of sick leave per month.
2. Employees may use up to half of their accumulated sick leave for immediate family or domestic partner illness or medical emergency and up to three days of accumulated sick leave in addition to the three days of bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member or domestic partner.
3. Employees may use accrued paid sick leave beginning on the 90th day of employment. Sick leave may be used for employee or a family member for diagnosis, care or treatment of an existing health condition or preventive care, or specified purposes for an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.
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ARTICLE 13 EMPLOYEE ON LEAVE COMPENSATION
An employee on leave without pay, excluding FMLA, CFRA, Military and Disability, shall receive no compensation, including pay for holidays, and shall accumulate no vacation or sick leave while on such leave but shall continue to receive the benefits of continuous service and insurance coverage.
The employee’s department head shall approve all leaves without pay. The City shall use any accrued sick or vacation accrual for payment of any elected benefit premiums.
MILITARY LEAVE PAY - Employees shall be entitled to receive normal salary while on Military Leave. Supplemental pay will be applicable to employees that are on active duty. The City shall provide compensation supplementing the employee’s current military pay in an amount sufficient to maintain the employee’s then current level of pay. Payroll will need adequate verification of employee’s military pay in order to calculate the supplemental pay for those on active duty.
For employees that are participating in mandatory trainings, the City will pay an employee 14 working days (126 hours) per fiscal year.
ARTICLE 14 ANNUAL SICK LEAVE BUY-BACK
1. At the option of the employee, the City shall pay to each employee on the payroll immediately following December 1 of the year, 40 percent (40%) of the employee’s unused sick leave for the previous 12 months with the time paid to be deducted from the employee’s total sick leave accumulation.
2. If the employee is enrolled in any City of Norco deferred compensation program, the employee will have the option of contributing the money in their deferred compensation account. Employee must submit a deferral change form to payroll for processing.
3. In order to be eligible for a sick leave buy back, the employee must have been employed with the City for one year and have successfully completed his/her probationary period as of December of each year.
4. Individuals on probation due to promotions are eligible for the buy back.
ARTICLE 15 SICK LEAVE BUY BACK ON SEPARATION
After ten years of service, the City shall pay 50 percent (50%) of any sick leave accumulation to the employee at the time of death, retirement or separation from the City up to a maximum of ninety days.
ARTICLE 16 BEREAVEMENT
1. Bereavement leave shall be provided in the amount of three days in the event of the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family. Such bereavement leave shall not be deducted from an employee’s accumulated sick leave.
2. Employees may use up to three (3) days of accumulated sick leave in addition to the three (3) days bereavement for the death of an immediate family member.
3. Immediate family shall be defined as any relative who is a member of the employee’s household, and any parent, grandparent, spouse, domestic partner, child, brother, sister, niece, or nephew of the employee. The parent, brother or sister of the employee’s spouse, domestic partner, ex-spouse, or deceased spouse, regardless of residence or employee’s current marital status, is also eligible.
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ARTICLE 17 JURY DUTY
1. An employee of the City who is requested to serve on jury duty shall notify his/her supervisor who shall in turn notify his/her department head.
2. While serving on jury duty, an employee shall receive his/her regular salary from the City. The employee shall remit to the City all compensation received as a result of serving on jury duty, except mileage reimbursement.
3. Jury duty limit will be 72 paid hours per fiscal year. An employee must submit documentation of court attendance. Jury duty will be paid for regularly scheduled work days up to the maximum of 72 paid hours per fiscal year.
ARTICLE 18 HOLIDAYS
1. Employees shall receive the following paid days off for holidays each year:
• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King’s Birthday
• President’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran’s Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Eve Day
• Christmas Day
• 4 Floating Holidays
New hires’ floating holidays will be pro-rated. If hired between July 1 – October 31 new hires will accrue three (3) floating holidays, if hired between November 1 – February 28 new hires will accrue two (2) floating holidays, if hired between March 1 – June 30 new hires will accrue one (1) floating holiday. New hires are not required to complete probation to use accrued floating holiday(s). Days off must have prior approval by immediate supervisor. All floating holidays must be used or will be lost by June 30 each year.
2. In the event any holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday, the Thursday preceding shall be observed as the holiday, or if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following shall be observed as the holiday.
3. The City shall pay nine (9) hours for each holiday.
4. During the period of Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, the City offices will be closed.
Employees may utilize accrued vacation, floating holidays, or compensatory time off in addition to the city-paid holidays, in order to receive full pay during the holiday closure.
JULY 1, 2025 – JUNE 30, 2026 NGEA 9
ARTICLE 19 VACATION
1. Full-time Norco General Employees shall receive vacation accruals as follows:
Vacation Accumulation Hours of Service Maximum
Accrual
86.4 hours per year / 3.32 hours per pay period Up to 7,488 (4 yrs) 192 hours 129.6 hours per year / 4.98 hours per pay period 7,489 – 16,847 (9 yrs) 288 hours 151.2 hours per year / 5.82 hours per pay period 16,848 - 26,207 (14 yrs) 336 hours 172.8 hours per year / 6.65 hours per pay period 26,208 – 99,999 384 hours
2. Employees will cease to accrue vacation hours when in any pay period they exceed their annual accrual as determined by their anniversary date.
3. Employees shall accrue vacation hours but may not use vacation hours until after 6 months of continuous employment, including any prior part-time employment when there is no break in service from part-time to full-time status.
4. VACATION CASH OUT -
1. Employees may be permitted to cash-out up to one week (36 hours) of accrued vacation hours on a fiscal year basis, provided that subsequent to the cash-out, the employee shall retain a minimum of one week (36 hours) of accumulated vacation leave.
2. Employees who are at the maximum vacation accrual limit or are within one week (36) hours of the limit may cash out up to an additional 18 hours, for a total of 54 hours of accrued vacation hours on a fiscal year basis.
3. Employees shall complete a “Request for Cash-Out” and submit the request to payroll.
ARTICLE 20 COMPENSATORY TIME
1. In lieu of overtime pay, employees may be granted compensatory time, if requested by the employee and approved in advance by the City Manager or designee. However, it is the City’s intent to minimize compensatory time authorization. Therefore, employees should not expect to have compensatory time authorized.
2. Compensatory time granted will accrue at a rate of one and one-half hours per overtime hour worked, except for overtime worked on holidays and the employee’s seventh scheduled day of a work week.
3. Compensatory time granted will accrue at a rate of two hours per overtime hour worked on holidays and the employee’s seventh scheduled day of a workweek.
4. Employees may accumulate up to 60 hours of compensatory time which can be used at the employee’s discretion with the approval of the immediate supervisor.
5. The decision to allow compensatory time in lieu of overtime is solely a management decision.
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6. Subject to the 60-hour limit above, management can be expected to approve an employee request for compensatory time in lieu of paid overtime if hours to be accumulated as compensatory time are not reasonably expected to result in the need to backfill resulting in lost productivity when the hours are taken off work, by necessitating a management decision to pay regular pay, overtime pay, or grant additional compensatory time to the requestor or another employee or require hiring temporary or consulting personnel.
ARTICLE 21 STANDBY
1. Assignment of personnel to standby shall be the prerogative of management and employees shall be subject to standby or call-out as deemed necessary.
2. Standby personnel must be able to respond, at least by phone, within thirty minutes of being called and if necessary, respond and be on scene within a maximum of one hour to handle call-out.
3. Employees required accepting standby assignment will be compensated at the rate of one and one half hours per weekday and three hours per 24-hour shift for weekends and holidays.
4. The definition of weekends shall include employee’s regularly scheduled days off.
5. Employees required to accept backup standby assignments will be compensated at the rate of one hour per day.
6. Employees who are not on assigned standby but are “called out” are required to respond if contacted and instructed to report to work.
ARTICLE 22 OVERTIME
1. For employees assigned to the 36-hour workweek, the City will compensate employees for overtime in excess of 36 hours per week paid at a rate of time and one-half, except for holidays and for overtime on the employee’s seventh scheduled day of their workweek.
2. The City will compensate employees for overtime on holidays and employee’s seventh day of their workweek at a rate of double time.
3. An employee’s scheduled workweek may or may not be a traditional Monday through Friday workweek.
4. The regular 36-hour workweek is considered to be 36 hours of paid time, which will include holidays, sick leave, vacation and compensated time off.
ARTICLE 23 CALL OUT
1. Employees will be compensated for a minimum of two hours when performing call-out work.
2. Employee compensation rate is addressed in Article 21 and Article 22.
ARTICLE 24 COURT TIME COMPENSATION
City employees will be compensated for City of Norco duty-related and required court appearances in those cases where the employee is required to report to the court when he/she is not scheduled to work.
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ARTICLE 25 TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
1. The City will provide tuition reimbursement in an amount not to exceed $400 per quarter, not to exceed $800 per year, for the purpose of offsetting costs of actual tuition and/or book expense incurred by such employee for college level courses from an accredited college or job-related certifications.
2. The benefit is intended only for courses and/or certifications related to the furtherance of employees’ careers with the City.
3. To be eligible for reimbursement, the course must be pre-approved by the Department Head prior to enrollment.
4. Receipts will be required prior to reimbursement.
5. All persons participating in the tuition reimbursement program must maintain a passing grade of “C” and submit satisfactory proof to the Department Head.
6. A grade of “B” will be required for master’s level class reimbursement.
7. Should an employee fail to obtain a passing grade of C (or B for master’s level courses) or fail to complete the course, he/she shall be obligated to reimburse the City for his/her reimbursement if prepayment had been made.
ARTICLE 26 ACTING PAY
1. General Employees shall be eligible for acting pay for temporarily filling a position of a higher classification beyond a period of ten consecutive workdays or for filling a position of a higher classification for an interim period during a vacancy.
2. Employees shall be compensated one step or at a rate of five percent higher than his/her current salary if his/her current position is in a range that overlaps the range of the higher classification being filled, or be compensated two steps or at a rate of ten percent higher than his/her current salary, if the position being temporarily filled is beyond subject employee’s pay range.
3. Eligibility for acting pay shall be determined by employee’s Department Head with the approval of the City Manager.
ARTICLE 27 UNIFORMS
1. The City shall purchase all special equipment and uniforms required of an employee in relation to the employee’s job duties.
2. All uniforms purchased by the City, and all identifying patches, badges, etc., must be returned to the City when an employee terminates his/her employment.
3. The City shall approve the store to be used for purchase of uniforms and boots.
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ARTICLE 28 DEFERRED COMPENSATION
1. The City of Norco offers several deferred compensation plans.
2. Any City full time employee may elect to participate. The plans provide employees the ability to defer current income from state and federal taxes to provide future payments upon death, disability retirement or separation from the City.
3. Employees may defer a minimum of $10 per payroll period up to a maximum that is determined by Internal Revenue Service Code 457(k).
4. The provisions of deferred compensation are subject to change in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 457(k).
5. ARTICLE 29 EMPLOYEE COMPUTER PURCHASE PROGRAM
Full-time employees that have completed their initial probation are eligible for the Employee Computer Purchase Program. This program provides eligible employees with an interest-free loan to purchase new products which are compatible with equipment or programs used at the workplace. The minimum interest free loan amount for each full-time employee is $300 with a maximum of $2,000. Loan must not exceed $2,000 every two years. A written agreement between the employee and the City is required. Employees will contact Human Resources to obtain more information on how to participate in the program.
ARTICLE 30 STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE
1. Employees of the City are covered under State Disability Insurance.
2. State Disability Insurance (SDI) shall provide benefits to employees consistent with state laws, and shall be paid per state law.
3. An employee may request to supplement his/her State Disability Insurance with his/her available sick leave or vacation time to maintain a regular salary while receiving disability benefits.
ARTICLE 31 INJURY ON DUTY – WORKERS COMPENSATION
1. An employee injured on the job must notify their supervisor and Human Resources immediately and submit claim form within one business day of injury and/or illness.
2. Unless an employee has completed a “Designation of Personal Physician” form prior to an injury and/or illness, an employee needing medical treatment should be referred to the City’s authorized clinic to be provided with medical care.
3. The City Worker’s Compensation Insurance Program shall provide compensation to employees injured on duty consistent with state laws and other worker’s compensation laws. An injury must meet the test of both arising out of employment and occurring during the course of employment to be compensable under worker’s compensation.
4. An injured employee under Worker’s Compensation may request to supplement his/her Worker’s Compensation payments with his/her available sick leave or vacation time to maintain a regular salary while on Worker’s Compensation.
5. Time for workers compensation doctor appointments and physical therapy will not be deducted from employees’ sick leave accrual. Employees are encouraged to schedule follow up visits outside of work hours to minimally disrupt the work day.
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6. In order to qualify for temporary disability benefits there must be a loss of earnings. There is a three (3) day waiting period before qualifying for wage loss benefits. Temporary disability pays 2/3 or .6667% of wages.
7. Temporary disability is paid through the City’s workers compensation administrator.
ARTICLE 32 FATIGUE TIME OFF
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and Healthful workplace. The City takes into consideration that long or unusual shifts are often required during response to an emergency or other special circumstance which may require an employee to work during the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Long work hours can lead to tragic mistakes endangering workers and the public. Due to the safety sensitive nature of animal control, driving and working after extended wakefulness may contribute to fatigue. Fatigue adversely affects performance. Effects of fatigue may lead to an increased risk of operator error, injuries and/or accidents. The symptoms of fatigue are both mental and physical, such as weariness, sleepiness, irritability, reduced alertness, lack of concentration and memory. If any of the above symptoms are apparent in an employee who has worked at least three consecutive hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and has a regularly scheduled shift later that same day, the City will require employee to delay reporting for his/her shift by the equivalent amount of hours employee worked between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Delayed report time will allow affected employees time for adequate rest and recovery. Employee may use sick or vacation accrued leave for hours not worked.
Employee may not extend the reporting time more than the equivalent amount of hours worked between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
ARTICLE 33 LAYOFF AND RE-EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURE
1. Individual layoffs within individual classifications shall be based on the affected job class.
2. In determining the order of layoff, the City shall take into account job performance, seniority, specialized skills, and the City’s need to operate.
3. Employees subject to layoff for economic or budgetary reasons shall not have the right of appeal.
4. For the purpose of providing reemployment opportunities for individuals who may be laid off from their employment with the City of Norco, the City shall establish a “reemployment list.”
5. General Employees shall remain on the reemployment list for a period of one year from the date of the receipt of notice of layoff.
6. The reemployment list shall be used for individuals who will be eligible for appointment to a position that he/she held at the time of layoff from the City, or to a specific classification previously held with the City should such a position become vacant.
7. The reemployment list shall have priority over open competitive examination employment lists established by the City for a position affected by the reemployment list.
ARTICLE 34 SEVERANCE PAY – LAYOFF
1. Severance pay will be provided upon layoff from the City.
2. The severance pay shall be one week of compensation at six months employment, two weeks compensation at eighteen months, three weeks compensation at thirty months employment, and four weeks compensation at forty-two months or more of employment.
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ARTICLE 35 MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
It is understood and agreed that the City retains all of its powers and authority to manage municipal services and the work force performing those services.
It is agreed that during the term hereof, the City shall not be required to meet and confer on matters which are solely a function of management, including the right to:
1. Determine and modify the organization of City government and its constituent work units.
2. Determine the nature, standards, levels, and mode of delivery of services to be offered to the public.
3. Determine the methods, means and the number and kinds of personnel by which services are to be provided.
4. Determine whether goods or services shall be made or provided by the City, or shall be purchased, or contracted for.
5. Direct employees, including scheduling and assigning work, work hours, and overtime.
6. Establish employee performance standards and to require compliance therewith.
7. Discharge, suspend, demote, reduce in pay, reprimand, withhold salary increases and benefits, or otherwise discipline employees, subject to the requirements of applicable law.
8. Relieve employees from duty because of lack of work or lack of funds or for other legitimate reasons.
9. Implement rules, regulations, and directives consistent with law and the specific provisions of this MOU.
10. Take all necessary actions to protect and public and carry out its mission in emergencies.
11. Determine the content of job classifications.
12. Contract out and transfer work out of the bargaining unit.
Decisions under this Article shall not be subject to the grievance procedure herein.
Failure by the City to exercise and/or implement any rights expressly provided for in this Agreement shall in no way extinguish and/or diminish the City’s right to do so in the future.
ARTICLE 36 PROVISIONS OF LAW
If any article or section of this agreement, or any addition thereto, should be held invalid by operation of law, or by a tribunal or office of competent jurisdiction, or if compliance with or enforcement of any article or section should be restrained by such tribunal or office, the remainder of this agreement shall not be affected thereby and all parties shall enter into immediate negotiations for the purpose of arriving at a mutually satisfactory replacement for such article or section.
ARTICLE 37 GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. The parties acknowledge that during the negotiations which resulted in this MOU, each had the right and opportunity to make demands and proposals with respect to subjects within the scope of representation. The understandings arrived at after the exercise of that right are set forth in this MOU and constitute the complete and total contract between the City and the NGEA with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.
2. Any prior or existing Memoranda of Understanding between the parties regarding matters within the scope of representation are hereby superseded and terminated in their entirety.
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CITY OF NORCO NORCO GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
____________________________________ ___________________________________ Lisette Free, City Manager Lacey David
____________________________________ ___________________________________ Cindy Balderas, Human Resources Manager Jacob Vogenberg Date: ______________________________ Date: ______________________________
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-47
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORCO,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING SALARY SCHEDULE FOR
NORCO GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, the City and the Norco General Employees Association (NGEA) have met and conferred in good faith and have agreed on the terms and conditions set form in a MOU covering the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and WHEREAS, the City and NGEA agreed to provide a 1.5% COLA a base salary adjustment to the NGEA classifications covered under the MOU between the City of Norco and NGEA effective the pay period that includes July 1, 2025; and WHEREAS, California Code of Regulations Section 570.5 requires a publicly available pay schedule for every classification that is subject to CalPERS membership; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Norco at a regular meeting held on July 2, 2025, approved:
1. NGEA Salary Schedule Effective July 1, 2025
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 2, 2025.
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Resolution No. 2025-47
July 2, 2025
I, DANA ROA, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 2, 2025, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California on July 2, 2025.
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Classification/Position Title
Salary
Range
No.
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6 STEP 7 STEP 8 STEP 9 STEP 10 STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6 STEP 7 STEP 8 STEP 9 STEP 10 Account Clerk I G15 $ 44,473 $ 45,584 $ 46,724 $ 47,892 $ 49,089 $ 50,317 $ 51,575 $ 52,864 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 23.7567 $ 24.3506 $ 24.9594 $ 25.5834 $ 26.2230 $ 26.8785 $ 27.5505 $ 28.2393 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 Account Clerk II G21 $ 51,575 $ 52,864 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 27.5505 $ 28.2393 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 Account Clerk III G27 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 Administrative Assistant G07 $ 36,501 $ 37,413 $ 38,349 $ 39,307 $ 40,290 $ 41,297 $ 42,330 $ 43,388 $ 44,473 $ 45,584 $ 19.4982 $ 19.9857 $ 20.4853 $ 20.9975 $ 21.5224 $ 22.0605 $ 22.6120 $ 23.1773 $ 23.7567 $ 24.3506 Animal Control Officer G19 $ 49,089 $ 50,317 $ 51,575 $ 52,864 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 26.2230 $ 26.8785 $ 27.5505 $ 28.2393 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 Assistant Planner G28 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 Building Inspector G32 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 78,477 $ 80,439 $ 82,450 $ 84,511 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 $ 41.9213 $ 42.9694 $ 44.0436 $ 45.1447 Bus Driver G15 $ 44,473 $ 45,584 $ 46,724 $ 47,892 $ 49,089 $ 50,317 $ 51,575 $ 52,864 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 23.7567 $ 24.3506 $ 24.9594 $ 25.5834 $ 26.2230 $ 26.8785 $ 27.5505 $ 28.2393 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 Code Enforcement Officer G23 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 Communications Specialist G22 $ 52,864 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 28.2393 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 Community Development Specialist G27 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 Community Services Coordinator G23 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 Events Coordinator G23 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 IT Technician G28 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 LMD Inspector G27 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 Permit Technician G25 $ 56,929 $ 58,352 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 30.4106 $ 31.1709 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 Senior Administrative Assistant G15 $ 44,473 $ 45,584 $ 46,724 $ 47,892 $ 49,089 $ 50,317 $ 51,575 $ 52,864 $ 54,186 $ 55,540 $ 23.7567 $ 24.3506 $ 24.9594 $ 25.5834 $ 26.2230 $ 26.8785 $ 27.5505 $ 28.2393 $ 28.9452 $ 29.6689 Senior Animal Control Officer G27 $ 59,811 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 31.9501 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 Senior Code Enforcement Officer G30 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 78,477 $ 80,439 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 $ 41.9213 $ 42.9694 Senior Community Development Specialist G30 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 78,477 $ 80,439 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 $ 41.9213 $ 42.9694 Senior Permit Technician G28 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 Senior Utility Compliance Coordinator G33 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 78,477 $ 80,439 $ 82,450 $ 84,511 $ 86,624 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989 $ 41.9213 $ 42.9694 $ 44.0436 $ 45.1447 $ 46.2733 Utility Compliance Coordinator G28 $ 61,306 $ 62,839 $ 64,410 $ 66,020 $ 67,670 $ 69,362 $ 71,096 $ 72,873 $ 74,695 $ 76,563 $ 32.7489 $ 33.5676 $ 34.4068 $ 35.2670 $ 36.1486 $ 37.0524 $ 37.9787 $ 38.9281 $ 39.9013 $ 40.8989
CITY OF NORCO
NORCO GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
APPROVED 07/02/2025; EFFECTIVE 06/21/2025
Annual Hourly
CLASSIFICATIONS & SALARY RANGES
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.H.
To: Honorable Chair and Committee Members
From: Lisette Free, City Manager
Prepared By: Lisette Free, City Manager
Department: Administration
SUBJECT:
Approval of the FY 2025-26 Local Responsibility Area Wildland Protection Reimbursement Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-48 approving an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for services from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for Fire Protection Services within the Local Responsibility Areas within the City. In addition, authorize the City Manager to execute the Local Responsibility Area Wildland Protection Reimbursement Agreement with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
SUMMARY:
Approve an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for services from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for Fire Protection Services within the Local Responsibility Areas within the City.
BACKGROUND:
The City may contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department) for fire protection of designated wildland area that is within the boundaries of the City. The coverage requires City Council adoption of a resolution and appropriation of funding on an annual basis. Wildland areas that are within incorporated cities, fire protection districts, and special districts with fire suppression responsibility are referred to as Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). All fire suppression activities within LRA wildland areas are the responsibility of the local agency.
Wildland fires are considered one of the highest natural disaster risks the City faces.
Because the City is located in an extremely dry and wind prone area, it is not uncommon for fires to grow beyond the capacity of resources assigned to protect the
City. When a wildland fire grows in size beyond the ability and capability of local resources, assistance is requested from CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department to provide wildland engine companies, inmate hand crews, bulldozers and aircraft. Without an agreement for protection of wildlands within an LRA between the City and the State of California, these additional resources are considered “assistance-by-hire” and the City is liable for the cost from the time of dispatch.
Within the City there are 1,227.7 acres designated as wildlands subject to the LRA designation. This 1,227.7 acre area includes portions of Norco Hills and the Santa Ana Riverbed. In an effort to reduce the City's liability for the cost of wildland fire suppression in the LRA, the City has annually renewed a Local Responsibility Area Wildland Fire Protection Agreement (Agreement) with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department.
This Agreement will provide state resources to control a wildland fire at no additional cost to the city. CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department will provide fire protection to the LRA as if they were still the sole agency with fire suppression responsibility. This Agreement will provide unlimited use of state engine companies, inmate hand crews, bulldozers and aircraft to supplement the daily level of fire protection provided to the City by the County of Riverside.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost to enter into the Agreement with CAL FIRE is $50.18 per acre plus a 10.77% administrative charge. The total annual cost for the 1,227.7 acres being covered is $68,241 and has been included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating Budget (121.761A.34100).
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Plan Direction No. 1 - Public Health, Safety and Wellness: Enhance quality of life by promoting public health, safety and wellness initiatives for all community members.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution No. 2025-48
Norco FY 25-26 Wildland Protection Agreement
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-48
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORCO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE
PROTECTION FOR SERVICES FROM JULY 1, 2025 THROUGH
JUNE 30, 2026, FOR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES WITHIN
THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS WITHIN THE CITY
WHEREAS, the City of Norco now has fire protection responsibility for certain wildlands areas within the City designated as Local Responsibility Areas (LRA); and WHEREAS, the City of Norco desires to enter into an agreement with the State of California for fire protection services within the LRA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Norco, California, does hereby approve the agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department) for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager of the City of Norco is hereby authorized to sign and execute said agreement on behalf of the City of Norco.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 02, 2025.
___________________________
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
__________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Resolution No. 2025-48
July 02, 2025
I, Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on July 02, 2025 by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California, on July 02, 2025.
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COOPERATIVE FIRE PROGRAMS
LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA WILDLAND PROTECTION
REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
LG-W REV 8/2024
AGREEMENT NUMBER 3CA07444
REGISTRATION NUMBER:
1. This Agreement is entered into between the State Agency and the Local Agency named below:
STATE AGENCY'S NAME
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – (CAL FIRE) LOCAL AGENCY’S NAME
City of Norco
2. The term of this Agreement is: July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026
3. The maximum amount of this Agreement is: $ 68,240.95 Sixty eight thousand, two hundred forty dollars and ninety five cents
4. The parties agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the following exhibits which are by this reference made a part of the Agreement.
Exhibit A – Scope of Work – Includes page 2 (contact page) in count for Exhibit A 2 pages Exhibit B – Budget Detail and Payment Provisions 2 pages Exhibit C* – General Terms and Conditions; DGS GTC Version: 02/2025 0 pages Exhibit D – Special Terms and Conditions (Attached hereto as part of this Agreement) 1 pages Exhibit E – Additional Provisions 13 pages
*Items shown with an Asterisk (*), are hereby incorporated by reference and made part of this Agreement as if attached hereto.
General Terms and Conditions can be viewed at: http://www.dgs.ca.gov/ols IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto.
LOCAL AGENCY California Department of General
Services Use Only LOCAL AGENCY’S NAME
City of Norco
BY (Authorized Signature) DATE SIGNED(Do not type)
PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING
Lisette Free, City Manager
ADDRESS
2870 Clark Ave., Norco, CA 92860
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
AGENCY NAME
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
BY (Authorized Signature) DATE SIGNED(Do not type)
PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING
Matthew Sully, Deputy Director, Cooperative Fire Protection ADDRESS P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
Contractor Name: City of Norco
Contract No: 3CA07444
- 2 -
EXHIBIT A
COOPERATIVE FIRE PROGRAMS
AGREEMENT FOR PROTECTION OF WILDLANDS WITHIN LOCAL AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY AREA
1. The project representatives during the term of this Agreement will be:
CAL FIRE Unit Chief: Riverisde Unit Local Agency: City of Norco Name: Bill Weiser Name: Lisette Free
Phone: 951-940-6900 Phone: 951-270-5617
Fax: 951-940-6910 Fax: 951-270-5621
All required correspondence shall be sent through U.S. Postal Service by certified mail and directed to:
CAL FIRE Unit Chief: Bill Weiser Local Agency: City of Norco Section/Unit: Riverside Unit Section/Unit: City Manager Attention: Scott Lane Attention: Lisette Free
Address: 210 W. San Jacinto Av,
Perris, CA 92570
Address: 2870 Clark Ave.
Norco, CA 92860
Phone: 951-940-6900 Phone: 951-270-5617
Fax: 951-940-6910 Fax: 951-270-5621
Send an additional copy of all correspondence to:
CAL FIRE
Cooperative Fire Services
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
2. AUTHORIZATION
This Agreement is entered into this 1 day of July, 2025, by and between the State of California, hereinafter called STATE and City of Norco, County of Riverside, State of California, hereinafter called Local Agency through its duly authorized officers. As used herein, Director shall mean Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Where the standard clauses for example in Exhibit C, use the word “Contractor” that word shall mean LOCAL AGENCY as LOCAL AGENCY is used in this Agreement.
Section 4142 of the Public Resources Code provides that the Director may enter into cooperative Agreements with local jurisdictions for the purpose of providing wildland fire protection.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
LOCAL AGENCY has the responsibility for protection of life, property, and wildland areas comprising 1227.7 acres of land as indicated on the map included under Exhibit E and desires to contract with the STATE to provide wildland fire protection to said area.
STATE has the ability to provide wildland fire protection for said area, of the type and degree, which it now provides on adjacent State Responsibility Areas.
Contractor Name: City of Norco
Contract No: 3CA07444
- 3 -
4. SERVICES BY STATE
A. STATE shall provide wildland fire protection for the areas defined in the above section.
B. For those areas, which are adjacent to State Responsibility Area, STATE will provide wildland fire protection at the same level of service it now provides on adjacent State Responsibility Area.
C. For those areas (islands), which are not adjacent to State Responsibility Area, the wildland fire protection provided by the STATE will be limited to those resources identified in the preplanned wildland response for the respective area. Any resources beyond those specified in the preplanned wildland response are assistance by hire and the financial responsibility of the LOCAL AGENCY.
5. ADMINISTRATION
A. LOCAL AGENCY agrees that STATE may dispatch fire protection resources available under this Agreement to other areas of the state when needed at the sole discretion of STATE.
B. STATE response will be subject to availability of resources.
C. Incident Management within the contract area shall conform to current Incident Command System criteria for Unified Command.
D. STATE and LOCAL AGENCY shall, through established dispatch procedures, immediately notify each other of any fire incident within the contract area.
6. MUTUAL AID
LOCAL AGENCY shall provide mutual aid response into the contract area for wildfires. Structural fire protection remains the jurisdictional and financial responsibility of LOCAL AGENCY.
7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement contains the whole Agreement between the parties. It cancels and supersedes any previous Agreement for the same or similar services.
Contractor Name: City of Norco
Contract No: 3CA07444
- 4 -
EXHIBIT B
BUDGET DETAIL, INVOICING, PAYMENT AND RECONCILIATION
1. Invoicing and Payment:
A. LOCAL AGENCY shall pay STATE for providing said protection at the rate of 50.18 per acre, plus an 10.77% administrative charge for a total of $68,240.95 upon presentation of an invoice by STATE. The rate per acre and administrative charge will be calculated by STATE prior to January 1, of each year and annually thereafter, for the succeeding fiscal year subject to approval by LOCAL AGENCY. This Agreement shall be amended each fiscal year to reflect new rates.
B. STATE shall provide thirty (30) day written notice to LOCAL AGENCY of the cost per acre and the administrative charge to be assessed for each subsequent fiscal year during the term of this Agreement; LOCAL AGENCY shall have thirty (30) days to approve said rate; if written approval is not received by STATE within said period, STATE’s obligations hereunder shall terminate; LOCAL AGENCY shall be liable for all amounts due up to and including the date of such termination.
C. To minimize the need for reconciliation payment is expected in full after the LOCAL AGENCY receives the STATE invoice. Payments made by the LOCAL AGENCY will cover the protection rate per acre and the administrative charge for the protection services rendered by STATE and including any other costs as provided herein, giving credit for all payments made by LOCAL AGENCY and claiming the balance due to STATE, if any, or refunding to LOCAL AGENCY the amount of any overpayment.
2. Budget Contingency Clause
A. If the LOCAL AGENCY’s governing authority does not appropriate sufficient funds for the current year or any subsequent years covered under this Agreement, which results in an inability to pay the STATE for the services specified in this Agreement, the LOCAL AGENCY shall promptly notify the STATE and this Agreement will terminate pursuant to the notice periods required herein.
B. If funding for any fiscal year is reduced or deleted by the LOCAL AGENCY for purposes of this program, the LOCAL AGENCY shall promptly notify the STATE, and the STATE shall have the option to either cancel this Agreement with no liability occurring to the STATE, or offer an agreement amendment to LOCAL AGENCY to reflect the reduced amount, pursuant to the notice terms herein
C. If the STATE Budget Act does not appropriate sufficient funds to provide the services for the current year or any subsequent years covered under this Agreement, which results in an inability to provide the services specified in this Agreement to the LOCAL AGENCY, the STATE shall promptly notify the LOCAL AGENCY, and this Agreement will terminate pursuant to the notice periods required herein.
Contractor Name: City of Norco
Contract No: 3CA07444
- 5 -
D. If funding for any fiscal year is reduced or deleted by the STATE Budget Act for purposes of this program, the STATE shall promptly notify the LOCAL AGENCY, and the LOCAL AGENCY shall have the option to either cancel this Agreement with no liability occurring to the LOCAL AGENCY, or offer an agreement amendment to LOCAL AGENCY to reflect the reduced services, pursuant to the notice terms herein.
E. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in paragraphs A and B above, the LOCAL AGENCY shall remain responsible for payment for all services actually rendered by the STATE under this Agreement regardless of LOCAL AGENCY funding being reduced, deleted or not otherwise appropriated for this program. The LOCAL AGENCY shall promptly notify the STATE in writing of any budgetary changes that would impact this Agreement.
F. LOCAL AGENCY and STATE agree that this Budget Contingency Clause shall not relieve or excuse either party from its obligation(s) to provide timely notice as may be required elsewhere in this Agreement.
Contractor Name: City of Norco
Contract No: 3CA07444
- 6 -
EXHIBIT D
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Cancellation
Failure of either party to meet any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including nonpayment of monies due hereunder, shall be cause for the termination of this Agreement; such termination shall become effective upon written receipt of 30 day notice of cancellation.
2. Audit
If the Agreement is over $10,000, the parties shall, in accordance with Government Code Section 10532, be subject to examination and audit of the State Auditor General for a period of three (3) years after final payment under the Agreement. Examination and audit shall be confined to those matters connected with performance of the Agreement including, but not limited to, cost of administering the Agreement The Contractor warrants by execution of this Agreement, that no person or selling agency has been employed or retained to solicit or secure this Agreement upon Agreement or understanding.
3. Operating Plan
Prior to April 1 of each year, STATE and LOCAL AGENCY shall establish a joint Operating Plan for the contract area, which shall be attached after Exhibit E. If LOCAL AGENCY received its structural fire protection from another local agency, the local agency providing the structural fire protection must be party to the Operating Plan.
4. Extension of Agreement
Unless there is written notice by LOCAL AGENCY to terminate this Agreement STATE shall extend this Agreement for a single one-year period from the original termination date. The cost of services provided by STATE during the extended period shall be based upon the rates published for the fiscal year in which the extended period falls had a new Agreement been entered into.
5. Modification
This Agreement may be amended at any time by written mutual consent of the parties hereto.
6. Indemnification
Each party, to the extent permitted by law, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other party, its officers, agents, and employees from any and all claims and losses accruing or resulting to any person, firm or corporation who may be injured or damaged by the indemnifying party.
Contractor Name: City of Norco
Contract No: 3CA07444
- 7 -
EXHIBIT E
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Attachments
Budget Plan
Topographic Map
Operating Plan
Annual Report
Norco
Page #: 8
AND THE CITY/TOWN OF A LOCAL AGENCY
Number of Acres 1227.7
General Fund Reimbursement $ 19.69 $ 24,173.41
Unit Budget $ 30.49 $ 37,432.57
Sub-Total $ 61,605.99
Admin Rate 10.77% $ 6,634.96
Total Protection Cost $ 68,240.95
FOR THE 2025/2026 FISCAL YEAR
LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA (LRA) WILDLAND PROTECTION REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT Program Cost Account (PCA #)
Contract Name:
Contract #:
Comments Section:
AGREEMENT COST CALCULATIONS:
THIS IS THE BUDGET PLAN FOR THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA (LRA)
WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY & FIRE PROTECTION (CAL FIRE) Norco
§¨¦15
§¨¦91
CORONA
EASTVALE
JURUPA VALLEY
RIVERSIDE NORCO
CHERRY HILLS
G
RAND
NORTH
MAIN
ARLINGTON
HAMNER
VICTORIA
LA
SIERRA
FULLERTON
HOLE
SHIRLEY
TYLER
PIERCE
MAGNOLIA
CALIFORNIA
RIVER
VAN BUREN
ARCHIBALD
Wildland Protection Agreement
Norco
0 0.75 1.5
Miles
µ
Map By FireGIS - CLindsay - Date: 2/13/2025
Norco WPA
Approx. 1,227.7 Ac
Eastvale WPA
Approx. 1,257 Ac
Corona WPA
Approx.1,872.3 Ac
Jurupa Valley WPA
Approx. 7,034.4 Ac
Norco
SRA
Cities
Riverside County
*Please note that all acreage totals are based on the complete WPA acreage and may not be reflected on this map for adjacent cities.
Contract Number: 3CA07444RRU Contract Acres: 1,227.7 Fiscal Year: 2025/2026 Pg. 9 Page 78 of 116 City of Norco
Contract Number: 3CA07444
P a g e | 10
__________________________________________________________________________________ Wildland Operating Plan
Between
The City of Norco
and
CAL FIRE/
Riverside Unit
City of Norco
Contract Number: 3CA07444
P a g e | 11
OPERATING PLAN
Table of Contents
Page
1. Overview…………………………………………………………………… 12
2. Authority…………………………………………………………………… 12
3. Purpose…………………………………………………………………….. 12
4. Definitions & Restrictions…………………………………………………. 12
5. Procedures………………………………………………………………….. 12-14
6. Administration……………………………………………………………… 14
7. Fire Prevention……………………………………………………………… 14-16
8. Approval…………………………………………………………………….. 17
APPENDIX
Preplanned Initial Attack Response –Unit……………………. B-1
Preplanned Initial Attack Response – Local Agency Fire Department……… B-2
City of Norco
Contract Number: 3CA07444
P a g e | 12
OPERATING PLAN
1. OVERVIEW
This Operating Plan, hereinafter referred to as PLAN, is between the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, Riverside Unit, hereinafter referred to as CAL FIRE and the City of Norco, Norco Fire Department, hereinafter referred to as CITY. It has been developed to specifically address the Agreement for Protection of Wildlands within a Local Agency, hereinafter referred to as AGREEMENT, between CAL FIRE and CITY for wildland fire protection within the city limits.
2. AUTHORITY
The PLAN is required of both CAL FIRE and CITY as part of the AGREEMENT dated July 1, 2025.
3. PURPOSE
This PLAN will provide the Unit Chief of CAL FIRE and the Fire Chief of CITY a means for executing the AGREEMENT and is hereby attached as Exhibit B with appendices B-1 and B-2 to that AGREEMENT.
4. DEFINITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
See AGREEMENT for definitions and descriptions of general terms. This PLAN does not allow either agency to operate outside the limitations in the AGREEMENT.
5. PROCEDURES
A. Fire Reporting/Reports-When CITY receives a report of a wildfire within the area of the AGREEMENT, it shall promptly notify the Riverside Unit Emergency Command Center (ECC). Each agency will process their appropriate reports and make the information available, upon request of the other agency, in no more than 60 days.
B. Incident Management-The Incident Command System (ICS) will be used to manage wildfires within the area of the AGREEMENT. Unified Command will be implemented with a CAL FIRE representative and a CITY representative.
City of Norco
Contract Number: 3CA07444
P a g e | 13
C. Fires within the area of the AGREEMENT-Each agency will maintain a preplanned initial attack response (PIAR) for fires within the area of the AGREEMENT. See Appendices B-1 and B-2. Immediate cooperation between agency dispatch centers will occur to ensure prompt response of appropriate resources into the area of the fire. CAL FIRE resources will be ordered according to the terms of the AGREEMENT through the ECC. Any augmentation of the preplanned CAL FIRE response, with CAL FIRE resources, shall be authorized by a CAL FIRE Incident Commander or Agency Representative. Augmentation of the preplanned response may require a post incident audit. The audit will seek to demonstrate that adjacent CAL FIRE Direct Protection Areas (DPA’s) were threatened, or that the augmentation was justified on a cost efficiency basis. Local government and private resources will be ordered through the CITY dispatch center (DISPATCH) to ensure proper utilization of the Master Mutual Aid Agreement.
D. Mutual Aid-All initial attack resources will be considered mutual aid for the purpose of this AGREEMENT.
E. Initial Attack-Initial attack resources will always be based on the closest resources concept identified in the PIAR. See Appendices B-1 and B-2.
F. Move-Up & Cover-Station coverage will be exchanged between both agencies when appropriate. To prevent long-term coverage problems to either agency, the covering agency’s engines will be replaced with the covered agency’s resources as soon as it is practical to do so.
G. Fire Information: Unified Command1. Both agencies will enter into a unified command structure to manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies.
This will be accomplished without losing or abdicating agency authority, responsibility or accountability. A Unified Ordering Point will be identified and established.
2. Representatives of both agencies will meet as needed to discuss procedures governing and locations of potential Information Centers. Both agencies will strive to maintain a roster of certified Public Information Officers for use during emergencies.
3. The Unified Command will determine which agency will provide the Lead Information Officer. Normally, it will be the agency with the greatest commitment of resources on the incident.
H. Representatives of CAL FIRE and CITY, of the rank of Battalion Chief or higher, may order resources directly from the ECC or DISPATCH when an immediate need arises.
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These resources may include engines, fire crews and bulldozers in accordance with the AGREEMENT. Resources sent in response to these requests will conform to the closet resources concept.
6. ADMINISTRATION
The CAL FIRE Unit Chief and the CITY Fire Chief, or their designees, along with representatives from the CAL FIRE ECC and CITY DISPATCH will meet annually to discuss, review, and update the following items; procedures for reporting fires, procedures to dispatch resources to fires within the area of the AGREEMENT, procedures to dispatch resources to fires along the boundaries of the area of the AGREEMENT, and exchange general or specific information which would might affect the other agency.
7. FIRE PREVENTION
.
A. POLICY
All fire prevention activities conducted on lands within the area of the AGREEMENT will be consistent with both agencies guidelines. CAL FIRE and CITY will be expected to conduct a year-round, aggressive fire prevention program using guidelines within the CAL FIRE Handbook 9000 and CITY Fire Prevention Guidelines. This will include, but is not limited to, annual analysis and planning sessions to generate an active fire prevention plan.
1. Public Information Program-This will include all types of fire prevention news releases through the available media. Other methods will include public meetings, fairs, rodeos, parades, services clubs and a regular schedule of school programs for all grades.
2. Protection/Planning Issues-Although the responsibility for enforcing fire safe ordinances pertaining to improvements in wildland areas within the city limits is the responsibility of CITY, a CAL FIRE representative will be available upon request to comment on these issues and assist in the enforcement of related ordinances.
3. Hazard Reduction Inspections
a. Home Inspection – CAL FIRE will work directly with CITY to enforce Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 4291, 4446, 4442, 4442, 4123, or the Uniform Fire Code sections when applicable.
b. Power line Inspections – CAL FIRE will work directly with CITY inspecting power lines over 750 volts, using PRC 4292 and 4293 as a guide.
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B. RESPONSIBILITY
CAL FIRE and CITY personnel will, in the performance of their duties, Give full consideration to the prevention of fires and public education. Both agencies Will allow staff to establish attainable fire prevention goals.
C. EXISTING AND PROJECTED DEMAND
Fire Prevention and suppression are the primary roles for both agencies. If the Demand for services increases in the future, both agencies will develop more intensive programs. Fire protection and prevention will be influenced by the following factors:
1. Increased recreational use.
2. Increased residential and commercial development.
3. Increased utilization of vacation residences.
4. Industrial activity.
D. OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the fire prevention plan is the reduction of fire suppression expenditures and damages from human-caused fires. The secondary objective is a current and comprehensive public education program for fire safety awareness and code enforcement.
E. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Both agencies will actively pursue public awareness programs through the following:
1. Public Education
a. School programs, ages K-12
b. Roadside sign program
c. Timely newspaper articles concerning fire awareness
d. Attendance at various local events which lend themselves to fire prevention displays.
2. Code Enforcement
a. Active PRC 4291 home inspection program in target areas. b. Enforcement of the Fire Safe Ordinances as they apply to construction
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in Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). CAL FIRE will take and advisory role with the CITY Fire Marshal within the areas of the AGREEMENT.
F. FUEL MODIFICATION
Both agencies will continue to encourage individual property owners and property Owner associations to establish and maintain a healthy fuel complex through the following:
1. Prescribed burning through available programs.
2. Forest practice inspections.
3. Fuel modification using mechanized systems, fire crews, and local resources
4. Biomass programs to control stems per acre, and remove dead and down materials.
G. BURNING PERMITS
Burning permits are to be required in the city limits and will be consistent with those guidelines established in adjacent areas. This will provide consistency in the burn hours and any controls needed for the overall program.
1. Burning Permit Issuance
The CITY has the responsibility of issuing burn permits within the city limits and the area of the AGREEMENT. Both agencies will agree to and establish burn permit guidelines by April 1 of each year. The guidelines will follow those established by CAL FIRE to ensure consistency in the burn programs in both the city and areas adjacent to
CAL FIRE.
2. Suspension of Permit Procedures
The suspension of burning permits in the area of the AGREEMENT will be directly related to the burning permit suspension procedures outside the area of the AGREEMENT to ensure area-wide consistency. Suspensions will be based on input from CAL FIRE and CITY.
H. MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Periodic monitoring and evaluation of the PLAN will provide the opportunity to make orderly and timely amendments and revisions of the PLAN. Monitoring will determine if the:
1. PLAN is being followed.
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2. PLAN objectives are being met.
3. PLAN is achieving desired results
8. APPROVAL:
This PLAN is approved and authorized as Exhibit B Attachment 3 of the AGREEMENT between CAL FIRE and CITY:
FOR CAL FIRE: FOR CITY:
California Department of Forestry City of Norco
& Fire Protection
Riverside Unit 2870 Clark Ave.
210 W. San Jacinto Ave. Norco, CA 92860
Perris, CA 92570
_________________________ __________________________
Bill Weiser, Unit Chief Lisette Free, City Manager
City of Norco
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PREPLANNED INITIAL ATTACK RESPONSE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION
NORCO WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
Dozer Engines Chief Officer Hand Crews Copter Air Attack Air Tanker Low 0 3 1 0 0 0 0
Med 2 4 2 2 1 1 2
High 2 7 2 4 1 1 2
State Resource Proximity
Fire Engines1
Facility Identifier Type
1 Corona Stn. 14, 1511 Hamner Ave., Norco, CA 92860 E3174 III 2 W. Riverside Stn 18, 7545 Mission Blvd., Riverside, CA 92509 E3164 III 3 Chino Hills Stn (Prado), 14467 Central Ave., Chino, CA 91710 E3566 III 5 Elsinore Stn 10, 410 W. Grahams Ave, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 E3166 & E3173 III 4 Devore Stn, 18365 Cajon Blvd., San Bernardino, CA 92407 E3559 III State Hand Crews 1
1 Norco, 3195 Western Ave, Norco, CA 92860 NRC1, NRC2 I 2 Prado, 14467 Central Ave., Chino, CA 91710 PDO1, PDO2 I 3 Pomona, 3530 W. Pomona Blvd. Build. 3, Pomona, CA 91768 PMO1 I 4 Los Pinos, 39251 Ortega Hwy, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 LPC1, LPC2, LPC3, LPC4 I State Bulldozers 1
1 San Bernardino HQ, 3800 N. Sierra Way, San Bernardino, CA 92405 TD3540 II
2 Perris HQ, 210 W. San Jacinto, Perris, CA 92570 TD3141 II 3 Beaumont FFS, 1550 E. 6th St., Beaumont, CA
92223 TD3142 II
State Air Attack 1
1 Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base, 4710 W. Stetson Ave, Hemet, CA 92545 A310
2 Romona Air Attack Base, 2498 Montecito Rd, Ramona, CA 92065 A330
State Rotor -wing 1
1 Prado, 14467 Central Ave., Chino, CA 91710 H608 I
2 Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base, 4710 W. Stetson Ave, Hemet, CA 92545 H609 I
State Fixed-wing 1
1 Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base, 4710 W. Stetson Ave, Hemet, CA 92545 T72/T73 III
2 Romona Air Attack Base, 2498 Montecito Rd, Ramona, CA 92065 T71/T90 III
APPENDIX B-1
1Depends upon the actual location of the incident
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PREPLANNED INITIAL ATTACK RESPONSE
JURUPA VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT
JURUPA VALLEY WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
ENGINES BRUSH ENGINES WATER TENDERS OFFICER
Low 3 0 0 1
Med 3 0 0 1
High 3 0 0 1
CAL FIRE resources not included in wildland response resources.
Local Government Resource Proximity
Fire Engines
Facility Identifier Type
1 Norco Stn 47, 3902 Hillside Ave., Norco, CA 92860 E47 III 2 Corydon Stn 57, 3367 Corydon Ave., Norco, CA 92860 E57 III 3 Eastvale Stn 27, 7067 Hamner Ave., Eastvale, CA 92880 E27 III Water Tenders
1 Eastvale Stn 27, 7067 Hamner Ave., Eastvale, CA 92880 WT27 II 2 Lake Matthews Stn 4, 16453 El Sobrante Rd., Riverside, CA 92503 WT04 II
3 Cherry Valley Stn 22, 10055 Avenida Mira Villa, Cherry Valley, CA 92223 WT22 II
Local Government Hand Crews
1 N/A
Local Government Bulldozers
1 N/A
Local Government Air Attack
1 N/A
Local Government Rotor-wing
1 N/A
Local Government Fixed-wing
1 N/A
APPENDIX B-2
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
3.I.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Dana Roa, City Clerk
Prepared By: Sophia Mathiesen, Deputy City Clerk
Department: Administration
SUBJECT:
Resolution Approving Amendment No. 6 to the Chino Basin Desalter Authority Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution 2025-49 approving Amendment No. 6 to the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (CDA) Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement, subject to non-substantive changes and approval by all CDA Member Agencies.
SUMMARY:
The City of Norco is a member of the CDA, which jointly exercises powers to own, operate and maintain water desalting facilities, commonly referred to as the Chino I and Chino ll Desalters. The CDA facilities are located within the Chino Basin, an adjudicated water basin that has been ordered by the court to meet the Optimum Basin Management Plan objectives. The CDA Board of Directors at their May 1, 2025 CDA Board Meeting, adopted Resolution 2025-02 approving Amendment No. 6 to the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement. The governing bodies of each of the Member Agencies must now approve proposed Amendment No. 6 by resolution in order for it to become effective.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Norco is a member of the CDA, which jointly exercises powers to own, operate and maintain water desalting facilities (Chino I and II Desalters). The original members of the CDA include the Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD), Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), Santa Ana River Water Company (SARWC), and the cities of Norco, Chino, Chino Hills, and Ontario, including recently added member Western Municipal Water District (WMWD). The CDA facilities include two treatment plants, twenty-one groundwater wells, over thirty miles of pipeline and various product water distribution facilities (pump stations, reservoirs and interconnections).
On March 18, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2009-13 approving Amendment No. 2 to the JPA agreement which included provisions for the Desalter Expansion project. Certain Desalter Expansion project timelines, implementing terms and agreements defined in Amendment No. 2 required refinement as the project moved forward prompting the CDA Board of Directors to approve Amendment No. 3 on February 18, 2010. On June 2, 2010, the City Council followed the direction of the CDA Board of Directors and approved Resolution No. 2010-24 approving Amendment No. 3.
The CDA Board of Directors at their January 5, 2012 Board meeting approved JPA Amendment No. 4. On February 1, 2012, the City Council followed the direction of the CDA Board of Directors and approved Resolution No. 2012-06 approving Amendment No. 4. On December 5, 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2012-80 approving Amendment No. 5 clarifying provisions in Section 2.11 of the Agreement, authorizing the CDA to hire and retain a Treasurer and Auditor.
Proposed Amendment No. 6 revises Section 2.6 of the Agreement to address the stipend amounts for both Directors and Alternate Directors of the CDA Board. The CDA Board approved the Amendment No. 6 on May 1, 2025, the governing bodies of each of the Members must now approve Amendment No. 6, by Resolution, in order for it to become effective.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this item.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Direction No. 4 - Communication and Stakeholder Experience: Enhance the stakeholder experience, engage the community, and build brand awareness through proactive, effective and consistent communication.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution No. 2025-49
Amendment No. 6 to Joint Powers Agreement
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-49
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORCO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 6 TO
THE JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT CREATING
THE CHINO BASIN DESALTER AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (“Original Agreement”) creating the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (“CDA”) was made and entered into as of the 25th day of September, 2001 by and among the Jurupa Community Services District (“JCSD”), the Santa Ana River Water Company (“SARWC”), the cities of Chino (“Chino”), Chino Hills (“Chino Hills”), Norco (“Norco”) and Ontario (“Ontario”) and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (“IEUA”) (collectively the “Original Members” and individually, an “Original Member”); and
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 1 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 1”) was entered into by the Original Members as of December 11, 2001; and WHEREAS, Amendment No. 2 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 2”), dated as of October 30, 2008, was entered into by the Original Members and Western Municipal Water District, a California water district (“WMWD”; the Original Members and WMWD are collectively referred to herein as the “Members”); and WHEREAS, the Members entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 3”), dated as of February 18, 2010; and WHEREAS, the Members entered into Amendment No. 4 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 4”), dated on or about March 21, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Members entered into Amendment No. 5 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 5”), dated on or about July 20, 2013; and WHEREAS, the Original Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 4, and Amendment No. 5 is referred to herein as the “Agreement”; and
WHEREAS, the Members now desire to enter into Amendment No. 6 to Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement creating the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (“Amendment No. 6”) to authorize the CDA Board of Directors to set the stipend to be paid to each Director or Alternate Director by resolution, as more particularly described in Exhibit A hereto; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Norco, California, hereby declares, finds, and determines as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are true and correct.
2. Amendment No. 6 attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby approved.
Resolution No. 2025-49
July 02, 2025
3. The Mayor, or his/her designee, and any other proper officer of the City of Norco, California are each hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver Amendment No. 6 and any and all documents and instruments and to do and cause to be done any and all acts and things necessary or proper to approve, authorize and/or implement Amendment No. 6 and this Resolution.
4. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, all terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given such terms in Amendment No. 6.
5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting held on July 02, 2025.
___________________________
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
__________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Resolution No. 2025-49
July 02, 2025
I, Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of Norco, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on July 02, 2025 by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California, on July 02, 2025.
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
-1-
AMENDMENT NO. 6 to
JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT
creating the
CHINO BASIN DESALTER AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (“Original Agreement”) creating the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (“CDA”) was made and entered into as of the 25th day of September, 2001 by and among the Jurupa Community Services District (“JCSD”), the Santa Ana River Water Company (“SARWC”), the cities of Chino (“Chino”), Chino Hills (“Chino Hills”), Norco (“Norco”) and Ontario (“Ontario”) and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (“IEUA”) (collectively, the “Original Members” and individually, an “Original Member”); and
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 1 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 1”) was entered into by the Original Members as of December 11, 2001; and WHEREAS, Amendment No. 2 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 2”), dated as of October 30, 2008, was entered into by the Original Members and Western Municipal Water District, a California water district (“WMWD”; the Original Members and WMWD are collectively referred to herein as the “Members”); and WHEREAS, the Members entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 3”), dated as of February 18, 2010; and WHEREAS, the Members entered into Amendment No. 4 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 4”), dated on or about March 21, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Members entered into Amendment No. 5 to the Original Agreement (“Amendment No. 5”), dated on or about July 20, 2013; and WHEREAS, the Original Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 4, and Amendment No. 5 is referred to herein as the “Agreement”; and
WHEREAS, the Members now desire to enter into this Amendment No. 6 to Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement creating the Chino Basin Desalter Authority (“Amendment No. 6”) to authorize the CDA Board of Directors to , as more particularly described below.
NOW THEREFORE, the Members hereto agree that the Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. Section 2.6 of the Agreement is hereby amended, restated and superseded by the following:
Stipend. The CDA shall pay a stipend to each of the
Members of the Board, including each ex-officio Member, in the amount(s) and for attendance at such meeting(s) as determined by the Board of Directors by Resolution. In
addition, a Director or alternate Director shall be
reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the conduct of the business of the CDA.
-2-
2. Initially capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
3. Except as expressly set forth in herein, nothing in this Amendment No. 6 shall constitute an amendment to any other provision of the Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have executed this Amendment No. 6 to Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement creating the Chino Basin Desalter Authority as of the dates set forth below.
CITY OF ONTARIO
DATED: __________ BY:
CITY MANAGER
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM
JURUPA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT
DATED: __________ BY:
PRESIDENT
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM
CITY OF CHINO
DATED: __________ BY:
MAYOR
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM
CITY OF CHINO HILLS
DATED: __________ BY:
MAYOR
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM
CITY OF NORCO
DATED: __________ BY:
MAYOR
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM
SANTA ANA RIVER WATER COMPANY
DATED: __________ BY:
PRESIDENT
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM
INLAND EMPIRE UTILITIES AGENCY
DATED: __________ BY:
PRESIDENT
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM
WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
DATED: __________ BY:
PRESIDENT
DATED: __________ ATTESTED: ______________________________
SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO )
City Council
STAFF REPORT
Date: July 2, 2025 Agenda Item:
5.A.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: William Otterman, Fire Chief
Prepared By: Sarah Muro, Emergency Services Assistant
Department: Fire
SUBJECT:
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1131, Code Amendment 2025-02: An Ordinance of the City of Norco amending Norco Municipal Code Title 15 (Building and Construction), Chapter 15.09 (Fire Code) Section 15.09.280 and Title 9 (Peace, Safety and Morals) Chapter 9.65 (Fire and Life Safety) Section 9.65.11 to designate and reflect the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map dated March 24, 2025, by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the second reading and adoption of an ordinance adopting the City of Norco Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map to designate moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones and amending Section 15.09.280 and Title 9 (Peace, Safety and Morals) Chapter 9.65 (Fire and Life Safety) Section 9.65.11 designate and reflect the 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Riverside County.
SUMMARY:
The establishment of Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) classifications in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) was initially prompted by Assembly Bill (AB) 337, also known as the "Bates Bill," which was enacted in response to the devastating 1991 Oakland Hills Fire. This legislation required the Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) to identify Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) in LRAs and provide recommendations to local governments for formal adoption.
From 2008 to 2011, CAL FIRE worked with local jurisdictions to designate areas as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within LRAs. Local governments were required to adopt these designations by ordinance while maintaining the ability to impose more restrictive fire safety measures if deemed necessary.
For many years, only Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones were required to be mapped and adopted in LRAs. However, in 2021, Senate Bill (SB) 63 expanded the scope of FHSZ classifications by mandating the identification of Moderate and High Fire
Hazard Severity Zones in addition to the existing Very High designation. This marked a significant policy shift by requiring a more comprehensive evaluation of wildfire hazards across all jurisdictions.
In 2022, Assembly Bill (AB) 211 further reinforced these mandates by requiring local agencies to formally designate, by ordinance, all three classifications—Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones—within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. Additionally, while local governments are allowed to increase the severity classification of a given area, they are not permitted to downgrade the hazard level established by the OSFM.
BACKGROUND:
The classification of Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in California has evolved significantly over the past several decades in response to the increasing threat of wildfires. The State of California, through the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and in collaboration with local jurisdictions, has developed a systematic approach to identifying and classifying areas based on their wildfire hazard potential.
Fire Hazard Severity Zones are designated based on the likelihood of fire occurring and its expected behavior over a 30 to 50-year period. These zones are determined using factors such as fuel loading, terrain, fire weather conditions, historical fire activity, and wind patterns.
The previous FHSZ maps in California were developed and adopted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to identify areas at significant risk of wildfires. These maps, which classify zones as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity, were originally created using fire history, topography, vegetation, and climate data. They were first implemented in 2007 for State Responsibility Areas (SRA), where CAL FIRE has primary jurisdiction, and later incorporated into Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) through local government planning and building regulations.
The adoption of these maps played a crucial role in guiding land-use decisions, establishing building codes, and informing mitigation efforts to reduce wildfire risks.
However, as fire behavior has evolved due to climate change, prolonged drought, and increased development in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas, the need for updated maps has become evident to ensure accurate risk assessments and effective fire prevention strategies.
The most recent updates to the FHSZ maps integrate new scientific models, climate data, and wildfire assessment methodologies to more accurately reflect fire hazards.
These updates are particularly important for urban areas adjacent to wildlands, where ember transport and vegetation density contribute to wildfire risks.
For local governments, these classifications have significant implications, including:
Building Code Requirements: California’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes (CBC Chapter 7A) apply to new construction within designated High and Very High FHSZs.
Defensible Space Standards: Properties within these zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, per Government Code Section 51182.
Land Use and Planning Considerations: Local agencies must incorporate FHSZ designations into their general plans, zoning ordinances, and emergency response strategies.
Real Estate Disclosures: Property owners within these zones are required to provide wildfire hazard disclosures during property transactions.
The designation of FHSZ under Government Code Section 51178 requires local agencies to engage in a transparent and participatory process to ensure that affected communities have access to updated wildfire hazard information. The updated FHSZ maps were released on March 24, 2025, triggering the requirement for local agencies to make this information available for public review and comment within 30 days of receipt.
In compliance with this requirement, these maps have been posted on the City’s website for public access and review. Additionally, they are being presented before you today during this presentation to facilitate discussion, provide clarification, and gather input from both the City Council and the community. This ensures transparency and encourages informed community engagement in the wildfire hazard designation process. The attached Ordinance reflects the changes to the Norco Municipal Code that would adopt and codify the March 24, 2025, updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps in the City of Norco.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this item.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN:
This item is consistent with Strategic Direction No. 1 - Public Health, Safety and Wellness: Enhance quality of life by promoting public health, safety and wellness initiatives for all community members.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Certified as to Availability of Funds: Joshua Calhoun, Finance Director Approved by: Lisette Free, City Manager
Approved as to Form: Harper and Burns, LLP, City Attorney ATTACHMENT(S):
CC Ordinance 1131 for Fire Hazard Severity Zones - Red Line CC Ordinance 1131 for Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Fire Hazard Severity Zone FHSZ Map Norco CA
ORDINANCE NO. 1131
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORCO AMENDING NORCO
MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 15 (BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION),
CHAPTER 15.09 (FIRE CODE) SECTION 15.09.280 AND TITLE 9 (PEACE, SAFETY AND MORALS) CHAPTER 9.65 (FIRE AND LIFE
SAFETY) SECTION 9.65.11 TO DESIGNATE AND REFLECT THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES MAP DATED MARCH 24, 2025, BY THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION.
CODE AMENDMENT 2025-02
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51178 establishes the responsibility of the State Fire Marshal to identify areas within the state as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, based on consistent statewide criteria and the severity of fire hazards expected to prevail in those areas; and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51175 requires California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to evaluate fire hazard severity within Local Responsibility Areas and to identify where the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones exist; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 63 (2021) expanded the State Fire Marshal’s evaluation requirements to include Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the Local Responsibility Areas; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps have been updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire, utilizing the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.5, the City of Norco made the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones map available for public review and comment within thirty (30) days of its receipt on March 24, 2025; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51179(a), the City is required to adopt the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones map by ordinance within one hundred twenty (120) days of its receipt on March 24, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as required by CAL FIRE pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and WHEREAS, the Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones map, as updated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, is hereby incorporated by reference; and NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Norco does hereby designate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178 and ordains as follows:
Ordinance No.1131 for Code Amendment 2025-02
July 02, 2025
SECTION 1: Norco Municipal Code Chapter 9.65 “Fire and Life Safety”, Section
9.65.11 “Urban-Wildland Interface Areas” is amended in its entirety as follows:
Chapter 9.65
FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
9.65.11 Urban – Wildland Interface Areas.
(a) Fuel modification shall be provided and maintained within a distance from buildings or structures as follows:
Interface
Area
Fuel Modification Distance
Moderate 30
High 100
Extreme 200
Areas shall be determined by the Fire Chief based on slope, fire weather, topography, and available water supply.
(b) Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map. In accordance with Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, the Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as shown on the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map dated March 24, 2025, and retained on file at the office of the Fire Chief, are hereby adopted by reference. This map supersedes any previously adopted Fire Hazard Severity Zones or related maps within the jurisdiction of the City of Norco.
SECTION 2: Norco Municipal Code Chapter 15.09 “Fire Code”, Section 15.09.280 “Addition-Section 4904.3, High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps” is amended in its entirety as follows:
Chapter 15.09
FIRE CODE
15.09.280 Addition – Section 4904.3, High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps.
Ordinance No.1131 for Code Amendment 2025-02
July 02, 2025
Section 4904.3 is added to read as follows:
4904.3 High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps. In accordance with Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones the Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are designated as shown on a map titled Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, dated December 24, 2009 March 24, 2025, and retained on file at the office of the Fire Chief, which supersedes other maps previously adopted designating high fire hazard areas.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final passage thereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California at a regular meeting held July 02, 2025.
__________________________
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Ordinance No.1131 for Code Amendment 2025-02
July 02, 2025
I, DANA ROA, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Norco, California, duly held on June 18, 2025 and thereafter at a regular meeting of said City Council duly held July 02, 2025, it was duly passed and adopted by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California, on July 02, 2025.
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
ORDINANCE NO. 1131
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORCO AMENDING NORCO
MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 15 (BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION),
CHAPTER 15.09 (FIRE CODE) SECTION 15.09.280 AND TITLE 9 (PEACE, SAFETY AND MORALS) CHAPTER 9.65 (FIRE AND LIFE
SAFETY) SECTION 9.65.11 TO DESIGNATE AND REFLECT THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES MAP DATED MARCH 24, 2025, BY THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION.
CODE AMENDMENT 2025-02
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51178 establishes the responsibility of the State Fire Marshal to identify areas within the state as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, based on consistent statewide criteria and the severity of fire hazards expected to prevail in those areas; and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51175 requires California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to evaluate fire hazard severity within Local Responsibility Areas and to identify where the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones exist; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 63 (2021) expanded the State Fire Marshal’s evaluation requirements to include Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the Local Responsibility Areas; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps have been updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire, utilizing the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model established by the Office of the State Fire Marshal; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.5, the City of Norco made the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones map available for public review and comment within thirty (30) days of its receipt on March 24, 2025; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51179(a), the City is required to adopt the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones map by ordinance within one hundred twenty (120) days of its receipt on March 24, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as required by CAL FIRE pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and WHEREAS, the Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones map, as updated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, is hereby incorporated by reference; and NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Norco does hereby designate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178 and ordains as follows:
Ordinance No.1131 for Code Amendment 2025-02
July 02, 2025
SECTION 1: Norco Municipal Code Chapter 9.65 “Fire and Life Safety”, Section
9.65.11 “Urban-Wildland Interface Areas” is amended in its entirety as follows:
Chapter 9.65
FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
9.65.11 Urban – Wildland Interface Areas.
(a) Fuel modification shall be provided and maintained within a distance from buildings or structures as follows:
Interface
Area
Fuel Modification Distance
Moderate 30
High 100
Extreme 200
Areas shall be determined by the Fire Chief based on slope, fire weather, topography, and available water supply.
(b) Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map. In accordance with Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, the Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as shown on the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map dated March 24, 2025, and retained on file at the office of the Fire Chief, are hereby adopted by reference. This map supersedes any previously adopted Fire Hazard Severity Zones or related maps within the jurisdiction of the City of Norco.
SECTION 2: Norco Municipal Code Chapter 15.09 “Fire Code”, Section 15.09.280 “Addition-Section 4904.3, High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps” is amended in its entirety as follows:
Chapter 15.09
FIRE CODE
15.09.280 Addition – Section 4904.3, Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps.
Ordinance No.1131 for Code Amendment 2025-02
July 02, 2025
Section 4904.3 is added to read as follows:
4904.3 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps. In accordance with Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, the Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are designated as shown on a map titled Fire Hazard Severity Zones, dated March 24, 2025, and retained on file at the office of the Fire Chief, which supersedes other maps previously adopted designating high fire hazard areas.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final passage thereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Norco, California at a regular meeting held July 02, 2025.
__________________________
Greg Newton, Mayor
City of Norco, California
ATTEST:
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
Ordinance No.1131 for Code Amendment 2025-02
July 02, 2025
I, DANA ROA, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Norco, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Norco, California, duly held on June 18, 2025 and thereafter at a regular meeting of said City Council duly held July 02, 2025, it was duly passed and adopted by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Norco, California, on July 02, 2025.
________________________
Dana Roa, CMC, City Clerk
City of Norco, California
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:
Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire
Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Waterbody
Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)
Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:37,000 at 11" x 17"
Km 0 1 2 3
Mi 0 1
Very High
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
Norco
15 UNINCORPORATED RIVERSIDECO.
UNINCORPORATED
RIVERSIDE CO.
CORONA
CORONA
EASTVALE
EASTVALE
JURUPA VALLEY
RIVERSIDE
RIVERSIDE
R I V E R S I D E
C O .
March 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF NORCO – RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility
Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024