CITY OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 22, 2025
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m . in the Council Chambers. Present: Mayor L. Anthony Beall, Mayor Pro Tempore Bradley J. McGirr, Council Members Keri Lynn Baert, Anne D. Figueroa and Jerry Holloway (5). Absent: None (0). The Salute to the Flag was led by Council Member Figueroa.
1. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS - None.
2. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
2.1 COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Member Baert announced she attended the ACC-OC Newly Elected Council Members Orientation and Training held on January 15, 2025, in Anaheim. Council Member Baert provided a brief overview of the training and reported that overall, the training offered a comprehensive and informative overview of the boards and agencies that serve Orange County and appreciates the opportunity to attend.
Council Member Holloway expressed his thoughts and prayers to all the victims from the most recent fires, and to the first responders fighting the fires.
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr announced RSM Cares is sponsoring the Arts Program at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center on February 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
2.2 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT REPORTS
Received an Oral Report on the following City Council Committee Assignment:
1) FOOTHILL/EASTERN TRANSPORATION AUTHORITY
Mayor Beall announced he attended the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Authority (TCA) meeting held on January 9, 2025. Mayor Beall reported the TCA provided an update on the 241 /91 Express Connector Project; the TCA reorganized the Board and selected a new Chair, Trish Kelley from the City of Mission Viejo, and new Vice-Chair, Scott Voigts from the City of Lake Forest.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
3.1 RSM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND UPDATES Mayor Beall introduced Sean Autry, RSM Chamber of Commerce President, to provide an update.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 22, 2025
3.2 2024 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR - SOFIA DJORDJEVIC, SENIOR MANAGEMENT
ANALYST
Mayor Beall invited City Manager Cervantez and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr forward to present a certificate of recognition to the 2024 Employee of the Year, Sofia Djordjevic, Senior Management Analyst.
3.3 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION - STUDENT RECOGNITION PROGRAM Mayor Beall and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr presented the following:
1) TIJERAS CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-ARAD TATLARI AND EMMA
PINCHER
2) ST. SERRA CATHOLIC SCHOOL- ETHAN HALL AND CARTER LIM Council Member Holloway left the Council Chambers at 7:59 p.m., and returned to the Council Chambers at 8:01 p.m.
3.4 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION TO THE RSM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR RANCHO FAMILY FEST 2024
Mayor Beall and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr presented certificates of recognition to the RSM Chamber of Commerce for the Rancho Family Fest 2024.
3.5 PRESENTATION COMMUNITY DONATION TO ORANGE COUNTY
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION LOCAL 3631 FOR THE FALLEN
FIREFIGHTER RELIEF FUND
Mayor Beall and the RSM Chamber of Commerce Board presented a donation check to Matthew Carlson with the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 for the Fallen Firefighter Relief Fund.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Beall announced the following eComment:
Julie Agin regarding the Boys and Girls Club.
The following individuals addressed the Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City Council:
Craig Innis, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, spoke regarding wildfire insurance costs, and encouraged the City Council to start an outreach program that will assist homeowners associations to navigate the environment.
Imelda Hernandez, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, spoke regarding crime prevention and asked that there be proactive measures in place.
Bonnie Hui-Callahan, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, expressed her support for the Boys and Girls Club.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 22, 2025
Renae Branch, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, expressed her support for the Boys and Girls Club.
Chris McLaughlin, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, expressed his support for the Boys and Girls Club; addressed law and order in relation to the January 6th insurrection; and spoke regarding election related violations.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Figueroa moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr to approve the Consent Calendar (Item Nos. 5.1 through 5.6).
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
Council Members Baert, Figueroa and Holloway, and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr, Mayor Beall (5)
None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: None (0)
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 the following Certificates of Recognition:
1) 2024 Employee of the Year to Sofia Djordjevic, Senior Management Analyst; and 2) Student Recognition Program:
a) Tijeras Creek Elementary School - Arad Tatlari and Emma Pincher b) St. Serra Catholic School - Ethan Hall and Carter Lim 3) RSM Chamber of Commerce for Rancho Family Fest 2024.
5.3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved the January 8, 2025 City Council Regular meeting minutes.
5.4 APPROVAL OF WARRANT REGISTERS DATED JANUARY 6, 2025 THROUGH JANUARY 13, 2025
Approved the warrant registers totaling $525,655.62.
5.5 INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2024
Received and filed the Investment Report for the month of December 2024. 3 City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 22, 2025
5.6 RESULTS OF FISCAL YEAR 2024 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, SUMMARY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION, REQUIRED AUDITOR COMMUNICATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT REPORT, AND ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024
Received and filed the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2024.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR - None.
6. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1 CR&R CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY AND SERVICE DELIVERY UPDATE Mayor Beall introduced Joe Parco, Public Works Director/City Engineer, who introduced Andrea Howhannesian, Environmental Programs Coordinator, and Julie Barreda, Senior Regional Vice Pre-sident with CR&R, both of whom provided a brief presentation.
Mayor Beall opened the item to questions of Ms. Barreda and City staff.
Council Member Baert inquired if residents will receive a senior discount postcard if they receive their bills via email, and inquired if the postcards will outline the steps to receive the senior discount.
Council Member Figueroa inquired regarding the number one reason for a missed collection; what is the grace period if a resident's method of payment is not working; and asked which legislation has had the most impact on the waste industry.
Council Member Holloway inquired if the senior discount postcards have been previously mailed out to Rancho Santa Margarita residents; inquired if missed pickups are due to equipment issues or human error; what was the timeframe of CR&R's personnel changes; suggested that CR&R use social media to advertise the senior discounts; and inquired if complaints typically get directed to the City or to CR&R.
Council Member Holloway asked City Manager Cervantez if the numbers of missed collections for 2024 are substantially higher than prior years.
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr inquired regarding the age restrictions related to the senior discounts.
Mayor Beall thanked Ms. Barreda for her presentation and inquired when CR&R started working in the City; spoke highly of CR&R's work; and inquired what Ms.
Barreda would forecast in 2025 in terms of performance.
The City Council received and filed the update.
8. CONTINUED ITEMS - None.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
10. CITY MANAGER REPORT - None.
11. MATTERS PRESENTED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS- None.
ADJOURNMENT
January 22, 2025
Mayor Beall adjourned the meeting at 9:11 p.m., to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m ., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, located at 22112 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
PREPARED BY:
A~ TY{ks
Approved: February 26, 2025
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