MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY / HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF STANTON MEETING MARCH 25, 2025
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY I HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING (5:30 PM)
JOINT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY / HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING (6:30 PM)
1. CALL TO ORDER / CLOSED SESSION
The City Council / Successor Agency / Housing Authority meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. by Mayor / Chairman Shawver.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Council/Agency/Authority Member Barrios, Council/Agency/Authority Member Taylor, Council/Agency/Authority Member Warren, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Torres, and Mayor/Chairman Shawver.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS None.
4. CLOSED SESSION
of Stanton proceeded to closed session at 5:35 p.m. for discussion regarding:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of Potential Cases: 1
CALL TO ORDER / SUCCESSOR AGENCY / STANTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
MEETING
The City Council / Successor Agency / Housing Authority reconvened in open session at 6:35 p.m.
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 1 of 12
6. ROLL CALL
Present: Council/Agency/Authority Member Barrios, Council/Agency/Authority Member Taylor, Council/Agency/Authority Member Warren, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Torres, and Mayor/Chairman Shawver.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Captain Ryan C. Pierce, Orange County Sheriff's Department.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
A. Special presentation of awards to honor and recognize Stanton's Women of Distinction 2025.
The City Council introduced, recognized, and honored the City of Stanton's Women of Distinction 2025:
• Ms. Celia Lopez
• Maria Soleda Montes
• Ms. Guadalupe Vigil
The City Attorney / Agency Counsel reported that the Stanton City Council / Successor Agency / Housing Authority met in closed session from 5:35 to 6:35 p.m.
The City Attorney / Agency Counsel reported that there was no reportable action.
Council Member Barrios reported on his attendance at the National League of Cities (NLC) 2025 Congressional City Conference, which was held in Washington, DC on March 10 - 12, 2025.
Mayor Shawver requested to pull item 9F from the consent calendar for separate discussion.
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 2 of 12
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion/Second: Shawver/Torres
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 (Barrios, Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion unanimously carried:
CONSENT CALENDAR
9A. MOTION TO APPROVE THE READING BY TITLE OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. SAID ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS THAT APPEAR ON
THE PUBLIC AGENDA SHALL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND FURTHER
READING WAIVED
The City Council/Agency Board/Authority Board waived reading of Ordinances and Resolutions.
9B. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
The City Council approved demand warrants dated February 21, 2025 - March 6, 2025, in the amount of $835,949.37.
9C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency/Housing Authority approved Minutes of Joint Regular Meeting - March 11, 2025.
9D. RENEWAL OF DECLARATION THAT AN EMERGENCY CONDITION EXISTS
ARISING FROM DAMAGE TO THE WESTERLY END STANTON PARK
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
Consideration of the City Council to continue declaring the repair an emergency.
The westerly end pedestrian bridge at Stanton Park has been damaged and unusable since June 2023. The pedestrian bridge is a major pedestrian walkway serving many of the residents of the City.
1. The City Council declared that this item is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c) (3); and
2. Finds that the City Council continues declaring the repairs an emergency.
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 3 of 12 9E. AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO EXECUTIVE FACILITIES SERVICES, INC. FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES
As the current contract is set to expire on June 30, 2025, City staff released a Request for Proposals (RFP) soliciting proposals to provide janitorial services to City facilities, with services to start July 1, 2025. Staff recommend awarding a three-year Agreement to Executive Facilities Services, Inc. in the amount not-to-exceed $255,000 or $85,000 annually.
1. The City Council declared this action to be categorically exempt under the California Quality Act ('CEQA"), since the action herein does not constitute a "project" as defined by Section 15378 of the CEQA guidelines; and
2. Awarded a Professional Services Agreement to Executive Facilities Services, Inc. to provide janitorial services for a term of three years in an amount not-to- exceed $255,000 or $85,000 annually; and
3. Authorized the City Manager to bind the City of Stanton and Executive Facilities Services, Inc. in an Agreement to provide the services.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY SPONSORSHIP REQUEST - STANTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
ANNUAL CAR SHOW
Per the City's Sponsorship Program, the Stanton Community Foundation is requesting co-sponsorship of the 22r° Annual Car Show. The sponsorship request is for in-kind consideration valued at $160. At its meeting on August 23, 2022, the City Council directed staff to bring all sponsorship requests to the Council for consideration until further notice.
Staff report by Ms. Zenia Bobadilla, Community Services Director.
Motion/Second: Shawver/Torres
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 (Barrios, Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion unanimously carried:
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1. The City Council declared this project to be categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, Class 1, Section 15301c; and
2. Approved the Stanton Community Foundation's sponsorship request for a total in-kind value of $160.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS None.
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None.
12. NEW BUSINESS
12A. REQUEST FOR A SECOND EXTENSION OF EXPIRED COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS CULTIVATION PERMITS
At the April 23, 2024 City Council meeting, the City Council conducted the second reading of Ordinance No. 1142, extending expired commercial cannabis cultivation permits in exchange for certain fees. Ordinance No. 1142 became effective on May 23, 2024. The permit holders are now requesting a second extension.
Staff report by Ms. Hannah Shin-Heydorn, City Manager.
Ms. Shin-Heydorn reports for the record a typographical error within the recommended actions, as printed in the agenda, which states that permit holders have until May 2027 to exercise their rights under the current extension; however, based on their breach of contract to date, this is not a valid option.
Presentation by Mr. Devon Julian, Culture Stanton Store, Inc. representative.
Ms. Shin-Heydorn reported for the record that City staff did reach out to the legal counsel tor stanton Fresh Farms, LLC, providing them with notice of the item being presented to the City Council at tonight's meeting.
Motion/Second: Taylor/Barrios
ROLL CALL VOTE: Council Member Barrios AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
Motion unanimously carried:
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 5 of 12
1. The City Council finds that these actions are not subject to California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15378(b)(5) (Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment) and even if they were considered a project, they would still be exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15060(B)(3), and 15061(B)(3); and
2. Directed staff to follow the original extension agreement, with no changes, for both permit holders, with the opportunity for each permit holder to continue with payment to the City, which will be due in eight (8) weeks from April 1, 2025, and to proceed with an addendum to the original agreement citing the City Council's approved direction.
12B. APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-07 TO ADOPT A SEWER CAPACITY CHARGE
On September 10, 2024, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Willdan Financial Services (Willdan) to complete a sewer capacity fee study to analyze the City's costs of providing sewer collection services to new or expanded development within the City. The result of that project is the Sewer Capacity Fee Study report ("Study") included as Attachment A. Staff is recommending the City Council approve Resolution No. 2025-07, which establishes a new sewer capacity charge of $487 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) (Attachment B). The Resolution also includes a provision to update the sewer capacity charge annually, each July 1, beginning on July 1, 2026, based on the California Construction Cost Index.
Staff report by Ms. Michelle Bannigan, Finance Director.
Presentation by Mr. Chris Fisher, Vice President, Willdan Financial Services.
Motion/Second: Taylor/Barrios
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 (Barrios, Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion unanimously carried:
1. The City Council finds that this item is not subject to California Environmental administrative activites or governments that will not resultin direct or intreet physical changes in the environment); and
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 6 of 12
2. Received and filed the Sewer Capacity Fee Study; and
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-07, entitled:
"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
STANTON, CALIFORNIA,. ADOPTING A SEWER CAPACITY
CHARGE."
12C. SETTING OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A SEWER USER RATE FOR SEWER SERVICES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2029/30
On September 10, 2024, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Willdan Financial Services ("Willdan" to complete a sewer rate study to assist the City with developing cost-based sewer rates to fund the maintenance and capital improvement program for the City's sewer system from Fiscal Years 2025/26 through 2029/30. Staff is seeking City Council approval of the Comprehensive Sewer Utility Rate Study report ("study") (Attachment A). If the City Council approves the recommended fees, then City staff will return the final report for City Council approval and adoption at a public hearing on June 10, 2025.
Staff report by Ms. Michelle Bannigan, Finance Director.
Presentation by Mr. Chris Fisher, Vice President, Willdan Financial Services.
Motion/Second: Shawver/Torres
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4 (Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: 1 (Barrios)
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion carried:
1. The City Council finds that this item is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act "CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the somen in a culeines, Cal formit a de of regent to
Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly, or indirectly); and
2. Approved the Comprehensive Sewer Utility Rate Study report; and
3. Set the public hearing for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., to receive public comment regarding the proposed sewer rates.
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 7 of 12 Mayor Shawver requested to hear New Business Item 12E out of order. Mayor Shawver received City Council consensus and authorized the request to hear Item 12E out of order. 12E. OPTIONS FOR FIREWORKS MANAGEMENT FOR 2025 4TH OF JULY SEASON At the November 12, 2024 City Council meeting, Council Member Taylor requested a study session to discuss potential City strategies to deter the sale, purchase, and use of illegal fireworks within the City in preparation for the upcoming 2025 4 of July season. At its meeting of November 26, 2024, the City Council received consensus and directed staff to proceed with preparing a study session for March 2025.
Staff report by Ms. Hannah Shin-Heydorn, City Manager.
In-Person Public Comment:
• Mr. John Kelly, Vice President, TNT Fireworks, replied to City Council inquires.
Written Public Comment:
• Mr. Dennis C. Revell, President/CEO, Revell Communications, submitted written public comment to provide additional insights and clarifications on the options being provided to the City Council for consideration, citing the complex and technical nature of the issues as reported, and expressed his hope that Stanton will join other cities in adopting both local and state level tools to address the illegal fireworks challenges.
Motion/Second: Shawver/Torres
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 (Barrios, Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion unanimously carried:
1. The City Council declared that the proposed actions are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act "Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") because they do not qualify as a "project" under CEQA Receive and file; and
2. Directed City staff to move forward with a tip line program for persons to report the sale of illegal fireworks, business license revocations in which the City will communicate broadly the consequence of business license revocation for legal businesses engaging in illegal activity, which includes storing or selling illegal fireworks, pursue adoption of a social host liability ordinance, and procure a contract for professional drone services for the 4th of July holiday.
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 8 of 12 12D. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STANTON, CALIFORNIA ADDING CHAPTER 1.14 TO THE STANTON MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING THE USE OF OFFICIAL INDICIA OF THE CITY OF STANTON AND
AMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF ORDER
The City has recently adopted a new formal seal and logo. To ensure that these official indicia are used exclusively for authorized City purposes, staff developed the attached ordinance establishing clear guidelines for their use and incorporated necessary updates into the City Council Rules of Order for consistency. If approved, this Ordinance will add Chapter 1.14 to the Stanton Municipal Code (SMC) to provide a comprehensive framework for the lawful use of City indicia and specify penalties for any unauthorized or improper use.
Staff report by Ms. Zenia Bobadilla, Community Services Director.
Motion/Second: Warren/Barrios
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 (Barrios, Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion unanimously carried:
1. The City Council introduced Ordinance No. 1161 entitled:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
STANTON, CALIFORNIA ADDING CHAPTER 1.14 TO THE
STANTON MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE USE OF
OFFICIAL INDICIA OF THE CITY OF STANTON AND FINDING THE
ORDINANCE TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT"; and
2. Finds that this Ordinance is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15378(a) and 15061(b)(3); and
3. Repealed Resolution No. 90-64 approved by the City Council on October 9, 1990, entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Stanton Establishing a Policy for Use and Dissemination of the Official City Logo"; and
4. Alte ed rc5, 2025, erited. 6 approving the City Council Rules of Order Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 9 of 12 "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
STANTON, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL RULES
OF ORDER, DATED MARCH 25, 2025"; and
5. Set said ordinance for adoption at the April 8, 2025, regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
12F. APPROVE THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE MID-YEAR BUDGET UPDATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/25
During the course of the fiscal year, it is often necessary to adjust estimated revenues and expenditure appropriations in various program areas, projects, and funds. Revenue for all City funds is increasing by $1.1 million and expenditure for all City funds is decreasing by $815,662. Half of the revenue increase ($617,915) is to adjust investment income due to increased interest earned from the City's investment portfolio. In Fiscal Year 2023/24, the City earned over $2.4 million in interest income. This trend has continued through the first half of the current fiscal year. All of the proposed changes to the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Adopted Operating Budget, including detailed explanations, are presented in Attachment A.
General Fund estimated revenues are increasing by $1.4 million, and General Fund estimated expenditures are increasing by $1.5 million resulting in a net reduction in fund balance of $91,446. As a result, the General Fund's revised available fund balance is expected to be $34.6 million by June 30, 2025. The General Fund's estimated fund balance for June 30, 2025, was $32.4 million when the City's budget was originally adopted last year. The primary reason why the revised balance of $34.6 million is higher than $32.4 million from when the City's budget was originally adopted is due to the actual fund balance as of June 30, 2024, being better than staff's projections due to actual revenues exceeding the final budget and actual expenditures being lower than the final budget.
In addition, the proposed budget adjustments include a reduction in the uity's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) by $1.4 million to reflect project savings from completed projects as well as updated engineer's estimates for existing projects (Attachment E).
Staff report by Ms. Michelle Bannigan, Finance Director.
Special and Joint Regular Meeting - March 25, 2025 - Page 10 of 12 Motion/Second: Warren/Torres
Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 (Barrios, Shawver, Taylor, Torres, and Warren)
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion unanimously carried:
1. The City Council finds that this item is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act ('CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15378(b)(5) (Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment); and
2. Approved the City's personnel staffing plan to add one limited term full time Code Enforcement Officer position; and
3. Approved the proposed budget adjustments summarized in Attachment A.
13. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - PUBLIC None.
14. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS None.
15. MAYOR/CHAIRMAN/COUNCIL/AGENCYIAUTHORITY INITIATED BUSINESS 15A. COMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCIL/AGENCY/AUTHORITY ANNOUNCEMENTS None.
15B. COUNCIL/AGENCY/AUTHORITY INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE COUNCIL
MEETING
None.
15C. COUNCIL/AGENCY/AUTHORITY INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE STUDY
SESSION
None.
16. ITEMS FROM CITY ATTORNEYIAGENCY COUNSEL/AUTHORITY COUNSEL None.
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17. ITEMS FROM CITY MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
None.
17A. ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
At this time the Orange County Sheriff's Department will provide the City Council with an update on their current operations.
Captain Ryan C. Pierce provided the City Council with an update on their current operations.
18. ADJOURNMENT Motion/Second: Shawver/
Motion carried at 10:53 p.m.
Nana Shamel
MAYOR/CHAIRMAN
ATTEST:
CITY
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