RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 Closed Session - 5:30 p.m.
Regular Session - 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL - 5:31 pm
Council Present:
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Attorney M. Koczanowicz; City Manager Strand; Public Works Director Reed; City Clerk Charlon; Acting Chief Tucker; Parks & Rec Director Wegener; Finance Director Freese APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Motion To Approve Agenda - Rajaratnam - Blades 5 Ayes NOTE: The vote is displayed in bold below each item. For example, Blades-Rajaratnam denotes Council Member Blades made the motion and Council Member Rajaratnam seconded the motion. Ayes, Noes, Absents, Abstentions follow.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION - None
CLOSED SESSION - CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNCIL
Conference with Legal Counsel - Potential Litigation (GC § 54956.9) - One case Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (GC Sec. 54956.9) Mojave Pistachios, LLC v Indian Wells Valley Water District, et al.
Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2021-01187275-CU-OR-CJC REGULAR SESSION - 6:08 pm
ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION - Rejection of Arellano claim
PRESENTATIONS
1. Parks & Recreation Update Wegener
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - R. Porter
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Regular Meeting Dated February 7, 2024 Charlon
3. Approval Of Loan Payoff And Release Of Promissory Note And Covenant For The High Desert Haven Project City Attorney
Motion To Approve Consent Calendar - Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS
4. Discussion Regarding The Board Of The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (WVGA) Hayman
Public comment - R. Porter
5. Appointment of A City Council Member to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Charlon
• Blades nominates Mayor Bruen
• Public comment - R. Porter
Motion To Approve Mayor Bruen as the appointee to LAFCO - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
6. Authorization To Enter Into A Two (2) Year Agreement With Flock Safety, Inc. (Not To Exceed $80.000.00 For FY24 And Not To Exceed $72,000.00 FY25) For Automated License Plate Reader Cameras (ALPR's) Acting Chief Tucker
• Staff report reviewed by Caroline Fraher, Hector Soliman-Valdez, Sargent Groves, Chief Tucker • Public comment - R. Porter
Motion To Approve Item 6 - Blades - Gorman 5 Ayes
7. A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Authorizing The Commencement Of Proceedings In Connection With The Proposed Financing Of Capital Improvements For The City, Expressing Its Official Intent Regarding Certain Capital Expenditures To Be Reimbursed With Proceeds Of Such Proposed Financing And Retaining A Municipal Advisor, Bond Counsel, Disclosure Counsel And Underwriter/Placement Agent And Directing Certain Actions With Respect Thereto Freese
• Staff report reviewed by Bud Levine, Brian Quint, Todd Smith, and Freese • Public comment - R. Porter
Motion To Approve Item 7 - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
8. Proposed Addition Of A Part-time Administrative Analyst 1 To The City Classification Plan And The Addition Of This Position To The Remaining FY24 Budget Strand • Public comment - R. Porter
Motion To Approve Item 8 - Hayman - Gorman 5 Ayes
PUBLIC HEARINGS
9. Conduct Public Hearing And Adoption Of A Resolution Establishing West Las Flores Avenue, Between North Mahan Street To North Down Street And On North Down Street, Between West Las Flores Ave To West Church Avenue As An Underground Utility Project District To Utilize SCE Rule 20A Funding Reed
• Open Public Hearing - 7:58 pm
• Staff Report Reviewed
• Public Comments - R. Porter
• Close Public Hearing - 8:17 pm
• Motion To Approve Item 9 - Rajaratnam - Blades 5 Ayes
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - February 21, 2024
ORDINANCES
10. Introduction And First Reading Of An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Concerning Accessory Structures And Make A Finding That The Amendment Of The Zoning Code Is Not Subject To Environmental Review Under CEQA Spurlock
• Staff Report Reviewed
• Public Comments - R. Porter
Motion To Introduce, By Title Only, An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Concerning Accessory Structures And Make A Finding That The Amendment Of The Zoning Code Is Not Subject To Environmental Review Under CEQA. Motion To Approve - Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
Motion To Waive Reading In Full An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Concerning Accessory Structures And Make A Finding That The Amendment Of The Zoning Code Is Not Subject To Environmental Review Under CEQA. Motion To Approve - Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
11. Introduction And First Reading Of An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Concerning R-4 Medium Density Multifamily Residential District And Make A Finding That The Amendment Of The Zoning Code Is Not Subject To Environmental Review Under CEQA Spurlock
• Staff Report Reviewed
• Public Comments - R. Porter
Motion To Introduce, By Title Only, An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Concerning R-4 Medium Density Multifamily Residential District And Make A Finding That The Amendment Of The Zoning Code Is Not Subject To Environmental Review Under CEQA.
Motion To Approve - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
Motion To Waive Reading In Full An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Concerning R-4 Medium Density Multifamily Residential District And Make A Finding That The Amendment Of The Zoning Code Is Not Subject To Environmental Review Under CEQA.
Motion To Approve - Gorman - Blades 5 Ayes
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Committee
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Scott Hayman
Meeting: 2nd Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Report from 02/13/24
Infrastructure Committee
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Kyle Blades
Meeting: 4th Thursday each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Next meeting 02/22/24
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - February 21, 2024
Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitor Bureau (RACVB)
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Megan McKenzie (staff)
Meeting: 4th Wednesday each month at 9:00 a.m.
Location: California Welcome Center
• Next meeting 02/28/24
Economic Development Committee
Members: Kyle Blades and Solomon Rajaratnam
Meeting: 1st Monday of the month @ 5:15 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Next meeting 03/04/24
Parks, Recreation, and Quality of Life Committee
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Skip Gorman
Meeting: 1 Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Kerr McGee Center Meeting Rooms
• Next meeting 03/05/24
City Organization and Services Committee ('City Org')
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Skip Gorman
Meeting: 1s Thursday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Next meeting 03/07/24
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT - 8:50 pm
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - February 21, 2024