City of Orange
Orange City Council
May 27, 2025
MINUTES - FINAL
The City Council of the City of Orange, California convened on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in a Regular Meeting in the Council Chamber, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b), Councilmember Gyllenhammer participated in this meeting via teleconference from the First Floor Lobby, Seattle Marriott Bellevue, 200 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. A copy of the agenda was posted at this location. 6:00 PM REGULAR SESSION
1. OPENING/CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Slater called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
1.1 INVOCATION
Given by Father Wadih Kaldawi from St. John Maron Maronite Catholic Church.
1.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Councilmember Jon Dumitru.
1.3 ROLL CALL
Present: Barrios, Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and Slater
Absent: Bilodeau, and Gutierrez
1.4 ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
1.5 REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
None
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public Speakers:
Doug Redding provided details and arrangements for The Wall the Heals visit on October 2.
Joe Avila, President, Orange Municipal Employees Association, advocated for honest negotiations with City employee bargaining groups.
Kerensa Schupmann urged Council to seek problem solving solutions and find a path forward with all City bargaining groups.
Orange City Council Minutes - Final May 27, 2025
Michelle Rubio urged fairness in negotiations with City bargaining groups.
Martin Varona asked the Council not to penalize employees for the current budget status.
Eric Perez urged Council to recognize the long term value in the City workforce.
Alyse DeCavallas read a statement from Darla Luzon which requested honest and fairness in negotiations with City bargaining groups.
Christine Walton highlighted the daily interactions staff performs to keep the City operating at the service level expected by residents.
Nicole Bovey, Orange resident, recognized the consistent efforts of staff to keep City operating.
Adam Ribota highlighted how negotiations with the City's bargaining groups factors into achieving the City's strategic goals.
Laurie Cesena questioned the legality of a structure built on a neighboring property.
Written Public Comment:
Janice Brownfield encouraged the City to adopt the Citywide Sustainability Plan.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and are enacted by one motion approving the recommended action listed on the Agenda. Any member of the City Council, staff, or the public may request an item be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion or separate action. Unless otherwise specified in the request to remove an item from the Consent Calendar, all items removed shall be considered immediately following action on the remaining items on the Consent Calendar.
This was Approved.
3.1. Waive reading in full of all ordinances on the Agenda.
ACTION: Approved.
3.2. Approval of minutes of the City of Orange City Council Special Meeting and Regular Meeting held on May 13, 2025; Special Meeting held on May 17, 2025; Adjourned Special Meeting held on May 18, 2025; and Special Meeting held on May 19, 2025.
ACTION: Approved minutes as presented.
3.3. Third Extension of Tolling Agreements between the City and Milan REI, LLC to further evaluate non -residential uses for the “Brandman site” and the “Creekside Village site.”
ACTION: Approved the extension of the Tolling Agreements with Milan REI X, LLC, for 90 days; and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreements on behalf of the City.
3.4. Second Reading and adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Orange amending Chapter 8.13.130 Subsection A of the Orange Municipal Code relating to the prohibition of Safe and Sane Fireworks in certain areas of the City .
Ordinance No. 04-25.
A speaker card was submitted for Item 3.4; therefore, the item was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
Orange City Council Minutes - Final May 27, 2025
Public Comments:
Jonathan Zimmerman inquired about the financial breakdown for the sale of safe and sane fireworks.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Dumitru, seconded by Councilmember Tavoularis to adopt Ordinance No. 04-25. The motion carried by the following vote:
Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and SlaterAyes:
BarriosNoes:
Bilodeau, and GutierrezAbsent:
3.5. Second Reading and adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Orange adopting the recommended map for local responsibility areas provided by the office of the California state fire marshal and as required by Assembly Bill 211. Ordinance No. 07-25.
ACTION: Adopted Ordinance No. 07-25.
3.6. Authorize purchase of consulting services from 1903 Solutions LLC.
ACTION: Approved the purchase of consulting services from 1903 Solutions LLC for $10,000.00.
3.7. Fiscal Years 2025-2030 Citywide Strategic Plan Quarterly Update.
A speaker card was submitted for Item 3.7; therefore, the item was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
Public Comments:
Maryanne Skorpanich urged the Council to hire a Historic Planner to help achieve the Strategic Goals related to preservation.
ACTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Barrios, seconded by Councilmember Tavoularis to receive and file an update on the Fiscal Years 2025-2030 Citywide Strategic Plan. The motion carried by the following vote:
Barrios, Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and SlaterAyes:
NoneNoes:
Bilodeau, and GutierrezAbsent:
Approval of the Consent Calendar
Items 3.4 and 3.7 were removed from the Consent Calendar and heard separately. All other items were approved as recommended.
A motion was made by Councilmember Dumitru, seconded by Councilmember Tavoularis, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Barrios, Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and SlaterAyes:
NoneNoes:
Bilodeau, and GutierrezAbsent:
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
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Orange City Council Minutes - Final May 27, 2025
4. REPORTS FROM MAYOR SLATER
Mayor Slater thanked staff for the successful Fleet Week event.
5. REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
None.
6. AB 1234 REPORTS
Councilmember Dumitru disclosed his attendance, at no cost to the City, at the annual Southern California Association of Governments Annual Conference April 30 through May 1.
Councilmember Barrios disclosed correspondence with multiple legislators regarding SB 79, the Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, proposed by Senator Weiner.
7. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER
None
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.1. Continued Public Hearing to consider introduction and First Reading of an ordinance re-zoning certain properties in the historic Cypress Barrio neighborhood to establish consistency between the Low Density Residential General Plan Land Use Designation in accordance with state law; and finding that Zone Change No. 1267-12(B) is within the scope of the previously certified Final Program Environmental Impact Report No. 1815-09 for the Comprehensive General Plan Update certified on March 9, 2010. Ordinance No. 06-25. ( Continued from May 13, 2025)
Public Comments:
Robert Boice spoke regarding the need to hear the item as part of the City's preservation efforts.
Written Public Comment:
The Kennedy Commission submitted a letter in opposition to a zone change for the Cypress Street Barrio.
A motion was made by Councilmember Tavoularis, seconded by Councilmember Dumitru to continue the Public Hearing to a date uncertain. The motion carried by the following vote:
Barrios, Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and SlaterAyes:
NoneNoes:
Bilodeau, and GutierrezAbsent:
Orange City Council Minutes - Final May 27, 2025
9. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
9.1. Fiscal Year 2025-2026 City of Orange Preliminary Budget and Five -Year Capital Improvement Program.
Budget Manager Michelle Kresan and Finance Director Trang Nguyen reviewed the powerpoint presentation and addressed Council's questions regarding fund balances, revenue increasing efforts and staffing level details.
Staff was directed to return with a list of FTE (Full-time Equivalent) positions by department indicating which are filled by third party contracts.
Public Comments
Robert Boice spoke about the need to keep a Historic Planner within the City's FTE positions.
A motion was made by Councilmember Barrios, seconded by Councilmember Dumitru to:
1) Review and approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget for General Fund, consisting of revenues totaling $ 147.0 million, and expenditures totaling $ 149.6 million, including transfers, with the following changes since the March 25, 2025 Budget Study Session:
a. $1.9 million decrease in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund Revenues, including transfers.
b. $1 million decrease in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund Expenditures, including transfers.
c. Approve a one -time use of the General Fund undesignated /unrestricted fund balance to support the shortfall in Fiscal Year 2025-2026. 2) Review and approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Preliminary Citywide Budget consisting of total revenues of $ 253.5 million and total expenditures of $ 280.1 million for all funds, including transfers.
3) Review and approve the staffing changes for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. 4) Review and approve the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program. 5) Direct staff to return on June 24, 2025, for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget adoption.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Barrios, Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gyllenhammer, and SlaterAyes:
NoneNoes:
Bilodeau, and GutierrezAbsent:
Orange City Council Minutes - Final May 27, 2025
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
The next Regular City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, with a Special Meeting for Closed Session beginning at 4:30 p.m.
_/s/ Jennifer Connally____ __/s/ Daniel R. Slater_______ JENNIFER CONNALLY DANIEL R. SLATER
DEPUTY CITY CLERK MAYOR