CITY OF POMONA
Community Life Commission
DRAFT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
For SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
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.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Houston called the Community Life Commission meeting to order at 6:15 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Martens led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Donna Houston, Mayor Appointed
Commissioner Kimberly M. Umanzor, District 1
Commissioner Donald Martens, District 3
Vice-Chair Debra Mendez, District 4
Commissioner Ava Phillips, District 5
Commissioner Ramon Carrizosa, District 6
Absent: Commissioner Deanna Gonzalez, District 2 (unexcused)
STAFF PRESENT
George Montano, Neighborhood Services Assistant Director Maria Siacunco, Housing Services Manager
Rosalia Butler, City Clerk
Andrea Rico, Governmental & Community Affairs Manager
Evanne Coleman, Housing Analyst
Tracy Byl, Commission Secretary
Acknowledgement
Commissioner Donald Martens was acknowledged and welcomed to the ATTACHMENT NO. 2
Community Life Commission. He was appointed by Councilmember Nora Garcia and has been a resident of Pomona since 2006.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Recommend the Community Life Commission approve the regular minutes for September 23, 2025.
Motion made by Commissioner Umanzor, second by Commissioner Phillips to approve minutes.
Motion approved
Yes 5; Abstain 1; Absent 1
DISCUSSION CALENDAR
Community Life Commission recommends the City Council to remove Commissioner Gonzalez from the Community Life Commission due to excessive absences.
Motion made by Commissioner Carrizosa, second by Commissioner Umanzor.
Motion approved
Yes 5; Abstain 1; Absent 1
California Waste Management Act
Due to budget cuts, this Initiative mandates a reduction of waste disposal away from landfills. The Los Angeles Regional Agency (LARA) is a consortium of 18 member cities in Los Angeles County to ensure the city meets and exceeds the waste diversion mandates set by the state.
Mayor’s Task Force – Andrea Rico, Government & Community Affairs Manager Frequency of meetings: Every Wednesday from 11:00 – 12:00; from 12:00 – 12:30 the mayor stays online as well as some staff to give community members an opportunity to discuss topics that might have been too sensitive to discuss in an open forum and to provide a safe space.
Purpose of task force:
Mayor Sandova l called commun ity leaders and non-pro fits to come togethe r unde r his leadership to discuss concerns pertaining to the Covid virus.
As the community fac es new fears of Immigration concerns and how they are impacting our community, including how families and students who are not attending school, due to the growing fears.
Meetings are not recorded but minutes are taken; based on last meeting, looking to create subcommittees include discussing the Compassion Fund and addressing financial instability of both residents and small businesses being impacted.
Second, a subcommittee is Health Access to Physical and Mental Wellbeing of the community and the impacts of what is going on and to design community interventions which include, but not limited to, therapeutic art, walk in school bus, safe routes to schools due to immigration enforcement.
Third, Access to Housing and Food, the essential necessities. As families start to be impacted economically, the fears can lead to a housing financial crisis or loss of benefits based on removal or changes in policy.
Fourth, Proposed Data Collection and communication include storytelling and narratives.
Subcommittee feels it’s important to give voice to the community; experiences put a name to a face. Qualitative and quantitative data as decisions are made, decisions can be made in real time and data driven decisions on how best to appropriate funds or bring initiatives or make suggestions.
To avoid future altercations or erasure of history, archiving and record keeping of historical events, as tragic as this may be, due diligence is imperative.
Avoid false messaging or misinformation getting out to the community; changes to policy potential to losses of benefits, one wrong story/post to incite fear. Looking to do better in having one collective message meaning if the school district has one message, same message would be shared with the city, and the city would repeat the message as would the non-profits and partners should do as well.
Ms. Rico invited commissioners to participate in the meetings, and asked commissioners to provide the Commission Secretary with emails to be placed on the mailing list. This method will show commissioners how they can participate if they choose to do so.
INVITES
October 15, 2025
Organizing Pomona’s conference of collaboratives who are doing work in the communities.
Budgets and staff are shrinking and making the biggest impact more resourceful and mindful on ho w we approach things . Event Brite, space is limited lunch provided a t the village.
November 13, 2025
2025 Mayors State of the City to be he ld at the Fo x Theater, doors open a t 5:00 pm , program at 6:00 pm.
Hear about the efforts and successes that have taken place and in the future. Celebration of Culture of Arts, including a mini taste provided by small business restaurants.
Rules for Subcommittee (Chair Houston)
OPTION 1
Anyone who does work in the community can participate in the Mayor’s Task Force.
Participation does not have to be under the umbrella of CLC and not discussing CLC business as long as you’re participating in a larger collaborative.
OPTION 2
Designate one or two commissioners to attend on a regular basis and report back avoiding Brown Act violations. Discuss who is interested, who has the time, or who schedule does it work for.
Commissioner Phillips
Are meetings recorded: No, only minutes are taken.
Commissioner Umanzor
How many peop le are current ly on the Task Force; 85 attendees so far.
Numbers come and go due to schedules . Foresee 40-70 on average every single, especially after structuring subcommittees.
Is there a limit to the Subcommittees: No limits. Proposing 4 from community and Mayor’s dialogue. Moving forward , breakout sessions of those subcommittees to have private conversations.
Is there an age limit: No but some topics are sensitive .
Do you have to be a Pomona resident: No.
Commissioner Mendez
Interested in the Housing and Food subcommittee
Place on agenda to follow up, log on to see if it is interesting, October meeting place on agenda. As a Community Life Commission, we have created a subcommittee; liaison local government and Pomona resident s.
Give each several opportunities to log on to the Mayor’s Task Force to see if interested in participating .
Quick Fact Sheet/ Recommendations
Combine Quick Fact Sheet and Reference Sheet and discuss a t nex t meeting in October.
Reminder:
• Commissioners to provide ideas/suggestions
• Brainstorm on how to promote the CLC
• Bounce off ideas not on agenda, bring back in October for discussion. • Create an agenda as to what this commission would like to accomplish and create a subcommittee
Add to October agenda, discussion regarding going dark on November 25th week of Thanksgiving and on December 23rd week of Christmas.
COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATION
Commission Umanzor
Took the Foothil l Gold line:
Clean
Security present
Free al l weekend
On Instagram
Commission Marten
Commission Marten attended Pomona Safety Action Plan meeting, looking at how to make pedestrian roads safer. Ron Chan is leading on project; meeting in Washington Park and future meetings coming up.
Survey ho w to make city roads safer [email protected] to contact R on Chan and ask for more information
Make things happen, donate to the Mayor ’s Task Force Compassion Fund The Pomona Valley United Nations Association is planning meeting for the UNA’s 80 th birthday celebration
Pomona College - October 30, 2025 .
Speaker talking about climate change internationa l buffet dinner sustainable goals cost $40.
Scholarship funds are being offered to high school/college students.
A meeting interrupted at 51.46 due to child ’s acting up commissioner Phillips granddaughter. child asked to step off the da is and accompany mother.
Commissioner Mendez
PEOC Fiestas Patrias cultural event Latin countries’ flags represented, dancers, harrowing due to an I.C.E. rai d at Home Depot in the City of Pomona .
Metro A-line on Friday
Every 7 minutes picking up and take to Santa Monica if desired .
Supervisor Solis attended to cut the ribbon.
PLUG: Family Stabilization HUB at 2040 N. Garey Avenue; wrap around servic e for families that are unstable. Workshops and mental health assist seniors who need help with technology .
Workshops for eviction mediations; lot of success to provide services that families aren’t aware of.
Commission Phillips
Board President Marriage and Family Therapist no time for anything one more year on the board .
Goal is to help residents find a way to assist with what is available to them.
African America Advisory Alliance
Representative to make a presentation to the commission .
Commissioner Carrizosa
During Cov id years, income requirements were not being verified as required Medicare/Medica id changes – may cause holders to lose benefits easier Income check requirements Trump administration are no w checking twice a year.
Open enrollment begins in October.
Pomona Valley Prude hosting GALA event on October 4, 2025 Masquerade event.
Chair Houston
Attended NAACP event 12 th Anniversary of being re-established .
Mart in Luther King, Jr., I Have A Dream Tribute hosted August 1962 original date, was well attended.
STAFF COMMUNICATION
Maria Siacunco
Survey Update annua l plan regarding use of federa l funds and what city goals are and to get ideas from residents who have community meetings and conduct a survey to gauge the community’s priorities .
Survey o n the city website
In person meeting on October 15, 2025, Ralph Welch community center starts at 6:30 pm.
Presentation, what annual plan is, what the resources are and what the 5-year plans are.
Rosalia Butler
City Clerk Commission Tour.
Trainings Brown Act speak with Contract Attorney, answer by end of year.
Tracy Byl
Commission secretary issued name badges to the commissioners.
Commission Ad in the Parks and Recreation is not correct per Chair Houston City Clerk Butler will address the issue. City clerk reviewed the website and found the ad to be correct and did notify the commission
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Houston adjourned the meeting at 7:2 4 pm. The next CLC meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 6:15.