City of Pomona 505 S. Garey Ave
Pomona, CA 91766
Regular Meeting Minutes
City Council / Housing Authority / Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency
Mayor Tim Sandoval
Vice Mayor John Nolte
Councilmember Victor Preciado
Councilmember Nora Garcia
Councilmember Elizabeth Ontiveros-Cole
Councilmember Steve Lustro
Councilmember Robert S. Torres
VISION STATEMENT
Pomona will be recognized as a vibrant, safe, beautiful community that is a fun and exciting destination and the home of arts and artists, students and scholars, business and industry.
Monday, March 6, 2023 7:00 PM Council Chambers
CLOSED SESSION
A) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8)
Property: 8 Rio Rancho Road, Pomona, CA
(APN No.: 8344-402-013)
Negotiating Party: Rio Ventures Group, LLC
City's Negotiator: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Under Negotiation: Price and terms
B) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1))
City Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sandoval called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Henry Castillo stated there was no reportable action for Item A, and that Item B was moved to the next City Council meeting.
City Council / Housing Authority / Meeting Minutes March 6, 2023 Successor Agency to the
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Ontiveros-Cole led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Tim Sandoval
Vice Mayor John Nolte
Councilmember Victor Preciado
Councilmember Nora Garcia
Councilmember Elizabeth Ontiveros-Cole
Councilmember Steve Lustro
Absent: Councilmember Robert Torres
STAFF PRESENT
Mark Gluba, Deputy City Manager
Henry Castillo, City Attorney
Rosalia Butler, City Clerk
Diana Robles, Deputy City Clerk
Maricela Miotto, contracted by the City, provided translation services.
PRESENTATIONS
*Proclamation Declaring March 11, 2023 as Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Youth Day Mayor Sandoval presented the proclamation to MaLynda Cooper who gave thanks to the Pomona community who they have served since 2013.
*Certificate of Recognition to Arlene Lopez of Diamond Ranch High School Councilmember Preciado presented the certificate of recognition to Arlene Lopez in acknowledgement of her academic efforts. Arlene gave thanks to her parents, and stated she is pursuing a career as a neuropsychologist.
MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBER COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Garcia invited everyone to attend the Dr. Seuss Library event taking place at 4 p.m. on March 8 at the Pomona Library. She also announced there would be a Heart Walk at Phillips Ranch in honor of community member Gail Cook who passed away recently; the walk will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 11.
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City Council / Housing Authority / Meeting Minutes March 6, 2023 Successor Agency to the
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Councilmember Preciado announced there would be a Unity Walk on Saturday, March 11; registration begins at 9 a.m. Later that day there will also be a mini Mardi Gras event, and the Pomona Art Walk event in Downtown Pomona. He also invited everyone to attend the next CommUNITY Pull-Up event on March 7. He gave thanks to the organizers of the 909 Market for hosting a successful event this past Saturday. He attended a class hosted by Healed Women Heal Women, and looks forward to participating in future classes. Lastly, he announced Lopez Urban Farm would begin, in April, their junior farmer training for kids ages 2-12; the training will be free to Pomona families.
Mayor Sandoval stated there was a meeting this past Saturday held by residents, and other community stakeholders, that met to address human and sex trafficking in the City of Pomona. They meet every first Saturday of the month, beginning at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Montvue Elementary school and it is open to the community. He also invited community- based organizations to attend a community clean up event taking place on March 25; the event is a collaboration between the City and Clean California. The focus will be to remove litter from neighborhoods around Pomona high schools. Those who are interested in joining or have questions are welcome to reach out directly to Mayor Sandoval at (909) 762-1982.
CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS
Deputy City Manager Mark Gluba had nothing to report.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
At the direction of the City Council Emergency Sub Committee, beginning with the July 18, 2022 Council meeting, emailed comments will no longer be read into the record during Council meetings. However, they will be included as part of the record/meeting minutes.
Live Comments were as follows:
Gabriela Cortez, from Padres Unidos and Gente Community Garden, discussed the goal of the garden is to produce 40,000 pounds of annual harvest to be given out to Pomona families. The garden is a greenspace for people to nurture their well-being and mental health. She invited Councilmember Preciado to visit the garden.
Cathy Tessier expressed concern for owners of rental properties being ignored and left out of discussions concerning the formation of a housing ordinance. She does not support the City spending money on consultants, and believes the money should go to residents who truly need it. She commended the Mayor for his community clean-up efforts and reported trash build up near the intersection of Palomares and Monterey but believes property owners should be maintaining their sidewalks clean.
Greg Estel stated he believes the City favors Pomona United for Stable Housing, and ignores owners of property rentals. He requested the City cancel the urgency ordinance City of Pomona Page 3
City Council / Housing Authority / Meeting Minutes March 6, 2023 Successor Agency to the
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that places limitations on how much rents can be raised, and allow tenants and property owners to figures things out on their own.
John West expressed opposition to the City placing limits on increases of rental rates that property owners can issue because the City does not place limits on other businesses. He stated expenses such as water, garbage, gas and electricity continue to rise, and therefore renting is not actually a profitable business. He requested the City cancel the urgency ordinance limiting the rental rate increases so he can afford to make much-needed repairs on his rental properties and continue to make a living.
Beth Brooks stated she does not believe the urgency ordinance is necessary, and because some of the language in the ordinance is not very clear, but rather subject to interpretation, property owners and tenants are more likely to end up in courts to settle disputes. She requested the City cancel the urgency ordinance as well.
Kevin Gomez, a downtown Pomona business owner, stated his business has been broken into three times within a one-week period. He expressed concern that the required protocols and their timeframe to get approval for a gate installation are arduous and he is disheartened. He requested that City Council provide creative solutions or alternatives to what he has already tried to do.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ONTIVEROS-COLE, CARRIED 6-0 (COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT), to approve the entire Consent Calendar except for Item No. 4, pulled by Mayor Sandoval for a separate vote.
1. Approval of Tract Map TM 83474 for the Property Located at 2769 N. Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA, Assessor Parcel Number 8371-011-052, Related to the "Knoll Station Homes" 73 Unit Residential Condominium Development (Council District 6) It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-15 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING TRACT MAP TM NO. 83474 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2769 N. GAREY AVENUE, ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 8371-011-052
2) Authorize the City Engineer to sign the Tract Map TM No. 83474 on behalf of the City.
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City Council / Housing Authority / Meeting Minutes March 6, 2023 Successor Agency to the
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MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ONTIVEROS-COLE, CARRIED 6-0 (COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT), to adopt Resolution No. 2023-15.
2. Approval of Lot Merger LM10-2022 for the Property Located at 830-48 W.
Commercial Street, Pomona, CA, Assessor Parcel Numbers 8348-011-901, -902, and -903, Related to the Construction of a City Urban Green Space Project (Council District 1)
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-31 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING LOT MERGER
LM10-2022 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 830-48 W. COMMERCIAL STREET, ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBERS 8348-011-901, -902, and -903 2) Authorize the City Engineer to sign the Lot Merger LM10-2022 on behalf of the City of Pomona.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ONTIVEROS-COLE, CARRIED 6-0 (COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT), to adopt Resolution No. 2023-31.
3. Authorization to Apply for and Receive an Award of Housing Accelerator Funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for the East End Village Affordable Housing Project
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-33 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO BE A
CO-APPLICANT AND CO-RECIPIENT OF CALIFORNIA HOUSING
ACCELERATOR FUNDS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE EAST END VILLAGE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT IN THE CITY OF POMONA
3) Approve a Standard Agreement (STD213) in an amount not to exceed $46,386,823, to secure the California Housing Accelerator Loan from the California State Department of Housing and Community Development ("HCD") and to participate in the California Housing Accelerator program; and City of Pomona Page 5
City Council / Housing Authority / Meeting Minutes March 6, 2023 Successor Agency to the
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4) Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement and any extensions, subsequent non-substantive changes or corrections that may be required by HCD or amendments thereto, on behalf of the City, subject to review and approval as to form by the City Attorney.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ONTIVEROS-COLE, CARRIED 6-0 (COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT), to adopt Resolution No. 2023-33.
4. Pomona Choice Energy Rate Increase
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the report on Pomona Choice Energy rate increase.
MOTION BY MAYOR SANDOVAL, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, CARRIED 5-1 (COUNCILMEMBER ONTIVEROS-COLE OPPOSED, COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT), to receive and file the report on Pomona Choice Energy rate increase.
5. Approval of City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes
It is recommended that the City Council approve the following City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes:
February 22, 2023 Meeting Minutes
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ONTIVEROS-COLE, CARRIED 6-0 (COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT), to approve the City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes of February 22, 2023.
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
6. Finding of Public Benefit to the Community at Large-Recommended Expenditure(s) and Recap of Expended Funds
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Approve the expenditure(s) recommended and make the finding that the community at large will receive a public benefit from the expenditure of funds for the recommended items); and
2) Receive and file the recap of final amounts
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City Council / Housing Authority / Meeting Minutes March 6, 2023 Successor Agency to the
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Public Speakers Deanna Meza and Raylene Gonzalez spoke in support of Just Us 4 Youth's On Point program and the Senior Banquet event.
Public Speaker Tremale Edward Ratcliffe spoke in support of Just Us 4 Youth's Senior Banquet event.
MOTION BY MAYOR SANDOVAL, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER PRECIADO, CARRIED 6-0, (COUNCILMEMBER TORRES ABSENT) to make a finding of public benefit.
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council Meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. on March 6, 2023.
Respectfully submitted, ATTEST:
ROSALIA A. BUTLER, MMC TIM SANDOVAL
City Clerk/Secretary of the Pomona Mayor/Chair of the Pomona Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Redevelopment Agency
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