MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE UPLAND CITY COUNCIL August 3, 2026
5:00 p.m.
Council Chamber
City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Avenue
Members Present: Mayor Bill Velto, Councilmember James Breitling, Councilmember Carlos A. Garcia, Councilmember Shannan Maust, Councilmember Rudy Zuniga
Staff Present: City Manager Michael Blay, City Attorney Thomas Rice, City Clerk Keri Johnson
1. CALL. TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The special 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.
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Dori Ferranto, Upland Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board, thanked staff for incorporating their suggestions into the ordinance, but stated they are opposed to the proposed business license reform measure.
Lois Sicking, spoke in opposition of the business license reform measure.
Jim Flock, Upland, spoke in favor of putting the business license tax on the ballot.
Andrew Behnke, Upland, spoke in opposition of the business license reform measure and stated that it is a difficult time for businesses.
Francisco Olivares, Ontario, provided information on the City of Ontario business license tax.
Rob Perhamus, Upland, spoke regarding past decisions of Council.
Dan Richards, Ontario, stated that Upland had not updated its business license tax since the 1990s and it needs updating; and compared sales tax revenues of surrounding cities with Upland's revenues.
Eric Hanson, Upland, spoke in opposition of the proposed business license reform measure and compared it to the business license taxes of surrounding cities.
3. AGENDA ITEMS
a. CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTIONS PLACING A BUSINESS LICENSE
REFORM MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
City Attorney -Rice stated-ttrat-he was approach-ed-by-Courfcilmemb-eTeGarcia, Maust, and Zuniga regarding a potential conflict of interest and he confirmed for each of them that there is no conflict per FPPC regulations.
City Manager Blay provided background information regarding the proposed business license reform measure.
Assistant City Manager Parker presented information on the proposed business license reform measure along with a PowerPoint presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Assistant City Manager Parker provided an overview of changes to the ordinance since the posting of the agenda, and indicated that the updated ordinance was posted on the website prior to the meeting.
Council provided comments on the proposed business license reform measure, revenue sources, and challenges the City faces. Assistant City Managers Parker and Arrula answered questions from the Council.
City Treasurer Bradley provided comments on his experiences as the Treasurer, the fiscal challenges the City faces and the efficiencies that the City has implemented in the last decade.
Moved by: Councilmember Maust
Seconded by: Councilmember Breitling
Adopt Resolution No. 6898 calling for the placement of a Business License Tax Measure known as the "Upland business license reform measure" on the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election Ballot for submission to the qualified voters, adopt Resolution No. 6899 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino to consolidate a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026 with the Statewide General Election to be held on that date pursuant to §10403 of the Elections Code, and adopt Resolution No. 6900 providing for the filing of primary and rebuttal arguments and setting rules for the filing of written arguments regarding a city measure to be submitted at the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election.
Motion: Carried Unanimously
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Velto adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Monday, August 10, 2026.
Keri Joh n, y Clerk
V