MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE UPLAND CITY COUNCIL March 9, 2026
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber
City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Avenue
Members Present: Mayor Bill Velto, Councilmember James Breitling, Councilmember Shannan Maust, Councilmember Rudy Zuniga
Members Absent:
Councilmember Carlos A. Garcia
Staff Present: City Manager Michael Blay, City Attorney Stephen P. Deitsch, City Clerk Keri Johnson
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The regular meeting of the Upland City Council was called to order by Mayor Bill Velto at 5:02 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Upland City Hall.
Moved by: Councilmember Zuniga
Seconded by: Councilmember Maust
Excuse the absence of Councilmember Garcia
Motion: Carried Unanimously with Councilmember Garcia absent
2. ADDITIONS-DELETIONS TO AGENDA
None.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 p.m.
4. CLOSED SESSION
At 5:03 p.m. Mayor Velto announced that the City Council would recess to Closed Session pursuant to Government Code
a. CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: One potential case.
The City Council reconvened in open session at 6:04 p.m. 1 5. INVOCATION
Pastor Laurie Baiz, Life Bible Fellowship Church
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Assistant Fire Chief Birchfield
7. PRESENTATIONS
Introduction of new Battalion Chief by Assistant Fire Chief Birchfield
8. CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney Deitsch announced the City Council received a report Closed Session Item 4a and there was no reportable action during Closed Session.
9. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Andrew Hanif, Upland, stated that he works for a non-profit organization that focuses on substance use prevention and he provided information about the dangers of 7-OH abuse.
Michael Miller, Upland, announced upcoming community events sponsored by County Supervisor Hagman.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Velto removed Consent Calendar Item 10c for separate action.
Moved by: Councilmember Zuniga
Seconded by: Councilmember Breitling
Approve the Consent Calendar
Motion: Carried Unanimously with Councilmember Garcia absent a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 23, 2026. b. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2009 AMENDING CHAPTER 17.37 OF THE • UPLAND MUNICIPAL CODE
Adopt Ordinance No. 2009 approving Zoning Code Amendment No. 25-0004, which amends Upland Municipal Code Chapter 17.37 to update regulations pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) in accordance with recent updates in State legislation. d. ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF CITY COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER
Accept the resignation from City Council Advisory Committee Member Gregorio Pulido and direct the City Clerk to post the notice of unscheduled vacancy. e. ACCEPTANCE OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM SUPERVISOR
ARMENDAREZ TO PURCHASE MERIDIAN BARRIERS
2 Accept $100,000 in funding from the County of San Bernardino through Supervisors Armendarez's discretionary funds; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement and all documents necessary for the sole-source purchase of 13 Meridian barriers from Meridian Rapid Defense Group for $99,231.36.
f. EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK FOR 26 W. 15TH STREET TRANSFER
STATION UPDATE
Receive and file this second status update related to the KSM Electric, Inc. contract for emergency repair work at the 26 W. 15th Street Transfer Station. g. CONSIDER APPROVING THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR THE ALPINE
STREET, VERNON DRIVE, AND PALM AVENUE PAVEMENT REHABILITATION
AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Approve the work, authorize the City Manager or designee to record the Notice of Completion, and reduce,the Faithful Performance Bond to 10% for the Alpine Street, Vernon Drive, and Palm Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation and Utility Improvements Project.
h. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BACKHOE PURCHASE FROM SONSRAY FO.R
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
Approve the purchase of one (1) backhoe fo.r use in environmental operations related to compliance with Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), utilizing available SB 1383 program funds.
i. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH RAFTELIS FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE 2025 WASTEWATER RATE STUDY
Approve the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with ,, : Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. for the preparation of a comprehensive wastewater rate study,,. and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment.
j. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL, SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE 2025 WATER &
RECYCLED WATER RATE STUDY
Approve the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. for the preparation of a comprehensive water & recycled water rate study; and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment.
c. CONSIDER APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE AGREEMENT FOR
CITY ATTORNEY LEGAL SERVICES
The Council thanked City Attorney Deitsch for his service and wished him well in his semi-retirement.
City Attorney Deitsch provided remarks.
Moved by: Councilmember Breitling
Seconded by: Councilmember Maust
3 Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for City Attorney Legal Services Between the City of Upland and Best Best & Krieger LLP which appoints Thomas A. Rice to serve as City Attorney and Albert J. Maldonado as Assistant City Attorney; and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1.
Motion: Carried Unanimously with Councilmember Garcia absent
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
12. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. COUNCIL REPORTS ON REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING, TRAINING, OR
CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
None.
13. BUSINESS ITEMS
a. CONSIDERATION OF URBAN FOREST GRID PRUNING SYSTEM
ENHANCEMENT AND APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE WEST COAST ARBORISTS, INC. AGREEMENT
Assistant City Manager Arrula presented the staff report along with a PowerPoint Presentation and answered questions from the Council.
City Arborist Lance provided information regarding issues with silk oak trees on Euclid Avenue requiring trimming annually and utility companies topping trees in the City.
Operations Manager Smiderle answered questions from the Council regarding the tree trimming cycle.
Deputy Public Works Director Gordon provided information on the benefits of a shorter trim cycle.
Moved by: Councilmember Breitling
Seconded by: Councilmember Zuniga
Adopt the new grid-pruning cycle, changing the urban forest grid pruning, cycle from seven (7) years to four (4) years; and approve the First Amendment to the Agreement with West Coast Arborists, Inc., in the amount of $1,410,880 for a term ending June 30, 2027; and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment.
Motion: Carried Unanimously with Councilmember Garcia absent b. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP ON THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE
SANTA FE DEPOT REHABILITATION PROJECT
Development Services Director Dalquest presented the staff report along with a PowerPoint presentation and introduced Gregg Denson with Architerra Design Group who provided details of the conceptual design.
Development Services Director Dalquest answered questions from the Council regarding funding for the project and the scope of work. 4 The Council provided comments on the conceptual design and requested staff bring back a revised conceptual design.
14. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmembers announced various activities and events throughout the community.
15. CITY MANAGER
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Velto adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Monday, March 23, 2026.
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