1 CITY OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
November 13, 2024
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Pro Tempore Bradley J. McGirr, Council Members L. Anthony Beall, Anne D. Figueroa and Jerry Holloway (4).
Absent: Mayor Carol A. Gamble (1). The Salute to the Flag was led by Council Member Beall.
1. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS
Jennifer M. Cervantez, City Manager, announced the following:
1.1 NOVEMBER 27, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CANCELED
1.2 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2024 AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024 – CITY HALL CLOSED
2. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
2.1 COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Member Holloway thanked Dove Canyon Country Club who hosted a golf tournament for the first responders involved with the Airport Fire, along with many local vendors including Jersey Mike’s Subs, Santa Margarita Toyota, and Rose Canyon Cantina & Grill. Council Member Holloway advised that it would become a yearly event.
Council Member Figueroa congratulated and thanked city staff and the vendors who participated in a wonderful Halloween Event. Council Member Figueroa welcomed newly elected Council Member Keri Lynn Baert.
2.2 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT REPORTS
Received an Oral Report on the following City Council Committee Assignment:
1) ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD
Council Member Figueroa announced she attended the Orange County Public Library Advisory Board (LAB) meeting held on October 24, 2024. Council Member Figueroa reported the LAB heard a presentation on the departure of the City of Irvine from the Orange County Library system. Council Member Figueroa reported that over a decade ago the City of Irvine expressed interest in being responsible for their own libraries and on August 27, 2024, the Orange County Board of Supervisors officially approved the transfer of library services which will begin on July 1, 2025. The Orange County Library system will continue to receive property tax revenues from the City of Irvine which will be approximately $9 million dollars a City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024
year. The City of Irvine is currently busy working on hiring a new head librarian and r l working on their library infrastructure. I
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr invited the City Council forward and presented the following:
3.1 VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr invited the City Council and Lead CERT Trainer Jim Clements forward and presented the following:
3.2 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION - COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM CLASS #2 MEMBERS
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr announced the following eComment received:
Miles Raymond Gordon regarding the California Voting Rights Act Litigation.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Holloway moved, seconded by Council Member Figueroa to approve the Consent Calendar (Item Nos. 5.1 through 5. 7).
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
Council Members Beall, Figueroa and Holloway, and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr (4)
ABSTAIN:
None (0)
None (0)
ABSENT: Mayor Garn ble ( 1)
5.1 WAIVE READING IN FULL OF ALL ORDINANCES ON THE AGENDA Waived reading in full of all ordinances on the agenda and declared that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
5.2 APPROVAL OF CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
Approved Certificates of Recognition to the Community Emergency Response Team Class #2 members.
5.3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved the October 23, 2024 City Council Regular meeting minutes.
5.4 RESOLUTION AMENDING AND RESTATING CITY COUNCIL POLICY NO. 1.3
RELATED TO THE SELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE 2 l
City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024
5.5 Adopted Resolution No. 24-11-13-01 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO SANTA
MARGARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING AND RESTATING IN ITS ENTIRETY CITY COUNCIL POLICY NO. 1.3, ENTITLED "SELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE" REGARDING THE SELECTION OF A MAYOR PRO
TEMPORE AND REMOVING THE SELECTION OF A MAYOR
APPROVAL OF WARRANT REGISTERS DATED OCTOBER 21, 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 4, 2024
Approved the warrant registers totaling $829,004.06.
5.6 APPROVAL OF ANNUAL MEASURE M ("M2") EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24
Adopted Resolution No. 24-11-13-02 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE MEASURE M2 ("M2")
EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 FOR THE CITY OF
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CALIFORNIA
5. 7 AWARD OF A PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT TO STREETLIGHT RESTORATION SPECIALISTS, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $198,460 1) Approved the plans and specifications for the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Traffic Signal Enhancements Project; and
2) Found that the Project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as a Class 1 Existing Facilities, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301; and
3) Awarded a Public Works Construction Contract to the lowest responsive bidder for the Project to Streetlight Restoration Specialists, Inc. of Camarillo, California, in the low bid amount of $198,460; and
4) Authorized the City Manager to execute the proposed Public Works Construction Contract.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR - None.
6. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1 CITY OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA DRAFT LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION
PLAN UPDATE
3 City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr introduced Cheryl Kuta, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director, who invited Starla Barker with DeNovo Planning Group forward, both of whom provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr opened the item to City Council questions of staff.
Council Member Figueroa inquired if there were any assessments or changes made to section 4 or section 5 after the Airport Fire. Council Member Figueroa inquired if there is any way to get ahead or mitigate any impact caused by the ash.
Council Member Beall thinks it is a great report and thanked the project management team and staff.
Council Member Holloway asked for further clarification regarding human induced hazards; what safeguards the city has for human induced hazards. Council Member Holloway inquired how much of a role did Alert OC play with notifications during the Airport Fire and if there is a way of condensing and centralizing the information to one app or website, specifically for evacuation routes, that residents and businesses can go to. Council Member Holloway inquired if any evacuation routes have changed since the Airport Fire.
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr thanked staff for the presentation. Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr clarified that the Planning Commission recommendations still needed to be implemented to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr inquired if there were any objections to the Planning Commission's recommendations and if the city has any agreement with the County of Orange regarding an additional route through Coto de Caza in the event it is ever necessary.
Council Member Beall moved, seconded by Council Member Figueroa, to approve the following staff recommendations:
1) Received and filed the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and provide input as necessary; and
2) Authorized staff to submit the Draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Council Members Beall, Figueroa and Holloway, and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr (4)
None (0)
None (0)
Mayor Gamble (1)
8. CONTINUED ITEMS - None.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS- None.
10. CITY MANAGER REPORT- None.
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City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024
11. 12.
MATTERS PRESENTED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS - None.
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
The City Council convened in Closed Session, in the City Council Conference Room or Emergency Operations Center Conference Room, City Hall, to consider the following matters:
12.1 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Public Employee Title: City Manager - Annual Performance Evaluation
12.2 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: Mayor Pro Tern McGirr
Unrepresented Employee: Jennifer M. Cervantez, City Manager PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM - None.
ADJOURN TO CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM OR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM
CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION
The City Council convened in Closed Session at 8:02 p.m., to consider the matters listed above.
RECONVENE TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
The City Council reconvened in regular session at 9:49 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Gregory Simonian, City Attorney, announced Mayor Gamble arrived to the Regular meeting of the City Council late at 8: 10 p.m., and indicated there was no reportable action taken as a result of the Closed Session Agenda items.
13. NEW BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
13.1 CONSIDERATION OF COMPENSATION FOR CITY MANAGER
Mayor Gamble indicated the City Council completed the annual performance evaluation of the City Manager this evening in Closed Session. Mayor Gamble moved, seconded by Council Member Holloway, to approve the following City Council recommendations:
(1) That the City Council approve and authorize a 4% increase in the City Manager's annual base salary, effective July 1, 2024; and
5 City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024
(2) That the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare and ratify a resolution for approval by the City Council at the next regular meeting as required by the City Manager's Employment Contract.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ADJOURNMENT
Council Members Beall, Figueroa, Holloway, Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr and Mayor Gamble (5)
None (0)
None (0)
None (0)
Mayor Gamble adjourned the meeting at 9:51 p.m., to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, located at 22112 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
PREPARED BY:
Approved: December 11, 2024
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