CITY OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
March 26, 2025
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present: Mayor L. Anthony Beall, Mayor Pro Tempore Bradley J. McGirr, and Council Member Jerry Holloway (3). Absent:
Council Members Keri Lynn Baert and Anne D. Figueroa (2). The Salute to the Flag was led by Council Member Holloway.
1. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS
Jennifer Cervantez, City Manager, announced the following:
1.1 ELECTRONIC WASTE DISPOSAL AND DOCUMENT SHREDDING EVENT - SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025, FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M., LOCATED AT APPLIED MEDICAL'$ R100 BUILDING PARKING LOT
2. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/REPORTS
2.1 COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS - None.
2.2 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT REPORTS
Received an Oral Report on the following City Council Committee Assignment:
1) FOOTHILL/EASTERN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Mayor Beall announced he attended the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) meeting held on March 13, 2025. Mayor Beall reported the TCA introduced the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Tim Byrne. Mayor Beall announced Amy Potter, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, has served the TCA for over 20 years and shared she is retiring and will be deeply missed. Mayor Beall mentioned the TCA also approved contract amendments to provide final design services for the 241/91 Express Connector project.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Beall and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr presented the following:
3.1 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION - STUDENT RECOGNITION PROGRAM 1) RSM INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL- COLLIN BROWN AND ELEANOR DIBBLE 2) ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY DIVISION - KIERA
REYNOLDS, ROSSLYN HAMIL TON AND AVERY TURNER
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025
3) ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, MIDDLE DIVISION - SAMANTHA STEWART
AND DUNCAN REYNOLDS
3.2 CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO JOHN FITZPATRICK, SANTA MARGARITA
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL COACH
3.3 CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION - COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM CLASS #3 MEMBERS
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Beall announced the following eComments:
Chris McLaughlin regarding plans for vacant space at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.
Gretchen Verdugo regarding the Boys and Girls Club.
The following individuals addressed the Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City Council:
Renae Branch, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, expressed her concerns regarding after school programs.
Jaclyn Martin, City of Rancho Santa Margarita resident, inquired what the Council's plans are regarding new affordable childcare options in the City.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Beall announced the City Council received the following eComments for Agenda Item No. 5.7:
Beth Heard regarding the General Plan.
Rhonda Lundberg regarding the General Plan.
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr moved, seconded by Council Member Holloway to approve the Consent Calendar (Item Nos. 5.1 through 5. 7).
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
Council Member Holloway, and Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr, Mayor Beall (3) None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: Council Members Baert and Figueroa (2)
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.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025
5.2 APPROVAL OF CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
Approved the following Certificates of Recognition:
1) Student Recognition Program:
a) RSM Intermediate School - Collin Brown and Eleanor Dibble b) St. John's Episcopal School, Elementary Division - Kiera Reynolds, Rosslyn Hamilton and Avery Turner
c) St. John's Episcopal School, Middle Division - Samantha Stewart and Duncan Reynolds
2) Certificate of Recognition to John Fitzpatrick, Santa Margarita Catholic High School Softball Coach; and
3) Community Emergency Response Team Class #3 members.
5.3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved the March 12, 2025 City Council Regular meeting minutes.
5.4 APPROVAL OF WARRANT REGISTERS DATED MARCH 10, 2025 AND MARCH 17, 2025
Approved the warrant registers totaling $1,905,032.76.
5.5 INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2025
Received and filed the Investment Report for the month of February 2025.
5.6 AWARD OF A PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY PROJECT TO HARDY & HARPER, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $619,000.00
1) Approved the plans and specifications for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Residential Overlay 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, responsible bidder Hardy & Harper, Inc. of Lake Forest, California, in the amount of $619,000.00, and reject all other bids; and
4) Authorized the Mayor to execute the proposed Public Works Construction Contract.
5.7 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTING FOR 2024
Received and filed the General Plan Annual Progress Reporting for 2024.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR - None.
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City of Rancho Santa Margarita
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025
6. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS - None.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1 FISCAL YEAR 2024/25 GENERAL FUND BUDGET UPDATE
Mayor Beall introduced Stefanie Turner, Finance Director, who provided a brief overview of the staff report.
Mayor Beall opened the item to City Council questions of staff.
Council Member Holloway asked what the level of concern is based on the status of the budget and if there are any other areas within the budget to increase revenue.
Mayor Pro Tempore McGirr thanked Finance Director Turner for a thorough report and thanked Council Member Holloway for all his questions.
Mayor Beall thanked Finance Director Turner for a thorough report. Mayor Beall noted that in May the City will be participating in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), an opportunity for the city to attract businesses that can generate or increase sales tax revenue. Mayor Beall hopes for continued economic growth nationwide which would translate into increased revenue into the city.
The City Council reviewed, received and filed report information and budget work papers presenting the actual budgetary performance through December 31 , 2024, and the projected amounts for full Fiscal Year 2024/25 General Fund operations.
8. CONTINUED ITEMS - None.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None.
10. CITY MANAGER REPORT- None.
11. MATTERS PRESENTED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS - None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Beall adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m., to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, located at 22112 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Califord,.. .c ff LANTH~LL,MAYOR
PREPARED BY:
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Approved: April 9, 2025
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