We're going to call our City Council meeting to order. For April 8th, 2025 at 6 o'clock PM. I'd like to welcome everyone and our first order of business. We'll do invocation and that will be led by Tracy Johnson with the manual Baptist and Council member Jimmy Saldana will lead us into our pledge. Good evening, if you'll join me in prayer. Father, we come before you now. We thank you for the goodness of being able to come and see our city and action and here of the grace and blessings you've given. We know many communities are having hardship, floods, tornadoes, fires, all of that going on and we pray for your grace to those communities. We ask you to give your wisdom and help to our counsel as they deliberate tonight in Jesus precious name. Amen. Please put your right hand over your heart. Face the flag. Ready? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Tracy, for coming down and leading us in that invocation. I will tell you I just flew in from Tennessee about an hour ago and on the way there, we had to fly around forever to avoid tornado. So yeah, that poor community. Anyway, thank you for coming down. Will you roll call Councilmember Lohlburn here councilmember McCallan here councilmember Hogan here councilmember Saldana here and councilmember Timmer Thank you We have no report from closed session. We will be meeting later for closed session But not to report right now. Our special presentations, we have a proclamation for child abuse prevention month. Do we have anyone here for child abuse prevention? Well, John, did you want it? In your fellow Council members. Anyway, we do want to recognize child abuse prevention month. It's a very important cause, and so we'd like to get this over there to them, so if we can make sure we get this proclamation to them. At this time, we have public comment, and this is for items that are not on the agenda. These items are limited to three minutes and we ask that you try to stay within that and please know anything not on the agenda. This City Council can address at this time. The first one I have Jane and Chris, which really is Jane because Chris never gets to talk. Just giving you a hard time. Okay, gotcha. That's why he doesn't talk here. Thank you, Council and Mayor. Okay, so I have tomorrow morning we have our first breakfast for 2025 and it's right next door here at Cooke's at 8 a.m So we'd like to have all of you come out if you don't have any reason not to be and with you being right here You can walk right there, you know So that's that fire station number one April 12th from 9 to 2 is having an house. On April the 22nd is our monthly chamber luncheon and we're going to have Mark Cloud from Southern California Edison as our speakers. So we'd like to have you there too. We have the Inland Empire History Day April the 19th and that's from 92 at the San Bernardino International Airport. And we have a ribbon cutting at Corkees Kitchen and Bakery, set up for May the 14th at 11 a.m. We also have a ribbon cutting on May the 4th, maybe. That's why I don't have it on my list. And that's for the tractor supply. They have a tentative May 4th for us, but we don't have a time or anything in stone there. And also our evening under the stars event is going to be held at the East Valley Water District Nash, Nash Natural Sterling Resource Center. Sorry, Natural Resource Center and the doors will open at 5.30 and this is also our taste of the town. The theme is red, white and blue, patriotic this year and we will have a first, second, third place for whomever dresses the best in the men's category and the women's category. We will have music and we will also have a magician. So thank you so much. You're welcome. Appreciate you guys coming in and updating us. Our next speaker is Mickey Alexandra. Looking at my timer this time. All right. Thank you for having me back again. It's a little saddening that I actually have to come back and even ask this question. Mr. McAllen again, this is directed to you, sir. Today, I actually brought my steps on with me today. He's back there. He doesn't want to come speak, but I'm here advocating for him. Again, I want to know where my Melorie's taxes are going. I want to know why I'm paying $250 per tax period for busing where he doesn't get home until 530 at night, 530 in their school. Citrus Valley gets out of school at 320. Why am I still here asking this question? For the rest of you guys, yes, we pay Samardino school district for their busing too. We're just talking about Redlands because in your district district 5, that's Redlands. In Samardino, we pay between $150 and $200. They get their kids home on time. They get their kids home when they're supposed to get home. Why are my kids? You're kids. These are your kids. Why are your kids getting home so late? Why don't we care? With more of the housing and the tracking that's about to go up here, with the town homes coming up, with the homes that are going to be coming up over there in your area That's going to expand the school district, right? That's going to be more people. So again, we are paying I'm paying you're paying because I'm pretty sure if you're Boat it out of the district you're in the district. We are paying this money to Red Winds for our kids our kids Kids are Healing kids to get home so late. That is unfair today. I only brought one But if I have to come back again, I'm gonna bring 10 and if I have to come back again I'm gonna bring 50 and if I have to come back again. I'm gonna bring a hundred I guarantee you when I advocate for these kids. I advocate for these kids. Thank you for your time. Thank you. If I might add a mirror. Please do. The school districts, what's on the property tax is something that we don't control because of school districts control. put that on the ballot and the voters vote a certain amount of money to do for the schools. The city has no involvement in the law and no jurisdiction for the schools. The state takes that all away from cities. The school districts are their own entity if you will. I pay property tax and I pay the school tax for my kids and I don't have any, but I still have to pay it because it's on, it's voted by the voters. Same things happening. We can do nothing about it as a city. You need to take those kids and those 10 or 100 kids you're going to bring to the school district board meeting. Not to here. Yes. We can't do anything for about it. Absolutely. That's why that's why you became here because I did bring it up there. And what they tell you, they said that's a highly issue, not a residence. We don't have jurisdiction over schools. You bought it, a lot of people buy their house because it's in the Revan school district. And that's what you are getting with the Revan's unified school district. That's what you are getting. And we don't have any jurisdiction over that. I thought that was that may sound. Go ahead, John. I'm sorry. Also, you referred to the Mellow Roost funds. Those monies do not go to the school district at all. Those are internal funds for infrastructure that was built by the developer when the project was approved. Those Mellow Roost funds have nothing to do with the school district in Redlands at all. They're totally separated. Thank you. Thank you for bringing this forward. Hopefully you can get somewhere and maybe we can attend one of those meetings with you or something. All righty. Okay, that's all I have for speaker slips. We'll move on to our consent calendar. Any items to be pulled? We have our own. I don't want a designation of an alternate representative. Oh, my apologies. So item one and there's City Council business, the designation of an alternate representative for the SCAG Southern California Associated Government and that we appoint an alternate for the general assembly. And I'm going to be there. I mean, I would nominate Larry if you're going to be there. I'm going to be there. The yardiness. If you could turn your mic on, Larry, we can't hear you. Do we still need an alternate then? I'm the primary representative. And apparently they want an alternate doesn't it? Yeah, just in the event of an emergency, they stated., what if I don't have anyone attending? There you go, it's twice. All I can say is I'm going to be there and I'll be voting. Okay. Yeah, maybe if I may, this is just something that, you know, it's a functionality. It's a functionality. So it's just the document that we have an alternate, but we all recognize that there won't be an alternate. Alternate that we'll go through. I'll be the alternate. And we don't have to go. Thank you. Do I have a support to be the alternate? I'm going to go to the meeting then. How can you be an alternate? Did you want to go, John? I don't know. Okay. All righty. So we need some motion. You have a motion to appoint Mayor Lillburn as the alternate. So moved. Do we have a second? I'll second that. All in favor? All right. Any opposed? What's the date of that, Larry? It's May 34th. May 3rd and 4th? It's always the first date of the week in May. Okay. Perhaps like, okay. Moving on to the consent calendar. Any items for her to be pulled? I did not receive any requests, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. The lines two through 11. We have a motion for items two through 11. And we have a second. Roll call. Council Member Lowell-Burn. Yes. Council Member McAllen. Yes. Council Member Hogan. Yes. Council Member Saldana. Yes. And Council Member Timmer. Yes. Thank you. City Council legislative, our item 12 is to a point. One member of the public to the community trellis subcommittee. And we have, I think, one application for that. Did somebody leave that position? Yes. So that's been vacant since June of last year. Okay. Okay. And Larry, you said you have... Lewis? Or you know who he is, no of him? Mayor, I do know of him. He's a pre-solid resident. He lives next to a trail. He's been active in engaging in that use of that trail. I believe you have the application in front of you. I think he's a building official for one of the city of Grandsham. And so he's well aware of the structure of government. And I know I'm not supposed to influence council, so I'm not. No, I appreciate your feedback. Thank you. Okay. I'll nominate the one applicant. We have a nomination for Lewis Gardia. Yes, Lewis Gardia. Do we have a second? No need one, because there's only one candidate. Oh, you got it. Okay. No other nominations. We'll congratulate you to Mr. Cartier. All right. We find item 13. Marcia manager report. Yes, thank you mayor. I'll keep my try to keep it the report brief, but I do have a long list. So let me get through it. The Highland Police Department for the month of March received 3,138 calls, May 330 reports, 143 arrests, 190 citations, 255 traffic enforcement stops, 60 traffic collisions which included hidden runs, 22 towed vehicles and 20 transient related calls. The fire department for the month of March responded to 575 calls for service, some of which included 461 medical aids, 36 traffic collisions, 9 structure fires, 10 other fires and 3 vehicle fires. Following stats are provided by other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The other five. The otherable checks were issued. So appreciate your help signing those. We're excited to announce new city staff that have started working for us in the last month. So they are Julian Vargas. He's a maintenance worker. One, Chastity Scott engineering technician. One, manual tapia varicose by manny. He's the IT technician. We have a Marissa Beltran. Kiros and she's a permit technician as you may recall. She was an intern under the Administrative Services Department so she's now working full time for the city and then we have two temporary accountants, accountant assistants that started. One is Veronica Navarro. She does the accounts receivable. And then we also have Anastasia Barrera and she does our accounts payable. And we definitely look forward to the valuable contributions that we know these folks will make to our city. City is currently recruiting, still recruiting for the Assistant Public Works Director position because it remains unfilled. To get the word out about this great career opportunity, a job flyer will actually, this position will be mailed out this week to license civil engineers in San Bernardino and Riverside County to hopefully generate interest. And certainly if anyone knows someone that may be interested in joining our Highland team, they can apply on our city website. Public Works has the following construction update. The Highland Regional Connector and CDBG 2325 payment rehabilitation projects are nearly complete. Staff was fortunately able to work with contractors to schedule most of the paving work during spring break for both school districts to reduce impacts. We have one more day of slurry seal on Love Street, West of Church Street, and on street or drive between Sikamore and baseline tomorrow. However, both streets will remain open to traffic and residents. Striping work will follow and is expected to be completed by the end of next week. These projects are on schedule and within budget. From the volunteer service, volunteer and public services area, we have the following three upcoming events. The Highland Improvement Team will be doing a residential cleanup on Saturday, April the 19th from 8 to 12. And then Marker calendars for the next tree planting ceremony. It will be held that on Arbor Day Thursday, April 29th at 9 a.m. Cunningham neighborhood park located at 7400 Cunningham Street. On Saturday, April 26th, from 8 to 2, to noon, is free compost giveaway. This will be here at City Hall in'd like to provide some updates from Community Development Department. They have a few updates. So let me start with the Citrus Harvest Festival. It was a tremendous success with an estimated 6,000 area residents and attendants. There were more than 200 vendors, 66 antique and classic cars on display, local school talent performances, and lots of family activities. I want to thank Kim, Stater, Angela, Tofia, and all city staff involved in their assistance with this great event. Thank you, Mayor and Councilmember Jimmy Saldana for also being at the event. Let's see, at the... Next, what I'd like to do is provide some information from the Planning Commission hearing and appeals board meeting that took place April 1st. An appeal hearing to consider appeal of a citation issue due to land use violations related to unpermitted parking and storage of trucks and trailer. A tractor trailer is at 27356 Fitz Street, North of Fitz Street, just east of Palm Avenue. The Planning Commission appeals board deadlocked with a two in favor and two against motion to uphold the citation. This means that the Planning Commission Appeals Board has not accepted, has not acted to overturn staff's issuance of the citation and therefore the citation remains in place and in effect. The property owners submitted an appeal today related to the Planning Commission's action. So the City Council will hear the appeal at the June 10th meeting. The next item is approval, approved day, the planning commission approved a request by Love It Industries to extend their approved entitlement for 12 months related to a 2,800 site, 285,000 square foot warehouse logistics building at the North West corner of Paul Mavinew in Main Street. the city council adopted a couple of ordinances to amend several sections of the municipal code related to the implementation of the city's 6th cycles, certified housing element. This includes amendments related to recent state housing legislation associated with accessory dwelling units or ADUs. The planning commission also facilitated a workshop designed to take input on an upcoming zoning to multifamily housing on the Easterly portions of the city as required by the city's Certified housing element based on the workshop and public feedback the planning commission selected a preferred location for a Reson and Directive staff to commence the rezoning process the formal rezone will be reviewed again by the city council this summer and forward it to the City Council in the fall. Next, the Housing Authority staff and Wakeland Housing Development Corporation continue to collaborate to obtain necessary funding to construct the 90s unit complex. $37 million affordable senior housing apartments on Central Avenue South of Jeffrey Court apartments. The good news is the City Council is as they're aware of the San Bernardi County Board of Supervisors awarded Waceland $5,850,000 on February 25th to help this endeavor. eight million came from the counties, a permanent local housing allocation fund, and about two million. That being the case on April the 15th, Wakeland will submit a funding application to the state HCD requesting funding under multifamily housing program to close this gap. This will be the third attempt to obtain MH funding and the city will know by August of Wakeland is successful. A corkies kitchen in bakery will be officially open for business on Wednesday. April the 9th they are still working on with the chamber on having a ribbon cutting ceremony on May the 14th. Paths place, a new soul food restaurant located at the southeast corner of Basin and McKinley Street is preparing to open after a lengthy revitalization of the property. I've seen it too and I'm excited about it. They are finishing the exterior of the building and various city departments are scheduling their final inspections. The owner was hesitant to state an opening date but they're optimistic it will be soon and And will advise the City Council and the Chamber as soon as we receive notice of their opening day. And that concludes my report. Good for them. It's been a minute since they started on that project. Good for them. Yeah. Thank you Carlos for that report. We'll move on to any City Council member comments. John? I said no, no, no, no, no, no. Thank you. Larry. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to attend the Citrus Harvest Festival. I was out of the country in Indonesia. We're at the Marguet. I truly miss being there. It's one of the big events of the Highland and it's one of the things that keeps the hometown feeling there, small town feeling that we have for the city. So I'm glad to see that some of us were able to attend and look forward to future being there. Councilmember Saldano, do you have any comments? I just want to echo what Carlos said and shout out a big thank you to the city staff that came out and to help with the city's harvest festival. I want to especially highlight Kim's data and Angela Tafoya. I think they were very helpful. I also want to say thank you to Larry for his historic walk tour that he put on. Yeah. I spoke to several residents and they really enjoyed it. So thank you, Larry. I agree. I had the work that day and I really tried to go. I literally got on the freeway at like, I think it was like 140. I think it ended at two or three I can't remember. And at three, yeah, I get to the, what is it, the summit? The home pass? The home pass and it's literally bumper to bumper. And I started, I said I'm gonna break a few laws here, you know, just a good question. And I really couldn't, and I was really looking forward to it. I've actually been disappointed about not being able to go because I know they had food vendors and, you know, I like food. So, yeah, I'll be there next year, you know, even if I gotta, you know, just take the day off as a vacation day. But yeah, I'm really disappointed I didn't get a chance to go. Well, it was a great event. I echo all your sentiments with Larry and Kim. I came by the office the day before and Kim's office looked like, I don't know how she could get in there. Anyway, you guys did a great job. I had the opportunity passing out all the awards that day. I kind of had my eyes open for you, but I think you had a booth going on there. So a lot of great entries, a lot of great winners for the baking contest and the kids had awards and so many of their parents were there. It was a great event. Anyway, I wanted to thank East Valley Water for the women of empowerment event. You guys are putting on tomorrow. We have a panel of women in the community for the ladies over at Indian Springs to guide them as a mature and look to what their next step in life is going to be, whether it's college or whether it's not college, because we all know college is not mandatory and so we all want to give them our stories on what they can do with their own life that they choose to do. And so Phil and Michael had this vision, and I appreciate and be invited to be one of your panelists. I do not like following Liz Brown. That is not going to be fun. What's that? No, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Oh, no. I don't mind going to have it. It's a, could I follow anyone else but Liz Brown? She's like magical and has the gift of gab. And so anyway, so that's an all day event tomorrow. Sorry, appreciate that. I also want to thank Carlos and our captain and lieutenant and our sheriff. And I believe it was the ender sheriff met with Carlos with Carlos and our captain and lieutenant and our sheriff and I believe it was the under sheriff met with Carlos and I for a good two or three hours last week and we had a very protective robust meeting and I just want to say thank you Carlos you did a great you, Captain. And I appreciate the relationship that we continue to have and that will have to continue better the safety of our community. So thank you for that. And other than that, we have, I don't think we have in memory of anyone today. We already saw. Correct. Yeah, correct. So, we don't have. So, we then all have our city attorney leaders into closed session. Thank you, Mayor. The city is going to be meeting in closed session on two separate items. First is conference with legal council regarding potential litigation. The city council meeting closed session with the city attorney pursuant to government code section 5495 6.92 with respect to one matter of potential litigation. A point has been reached where in the opinion of the city attorney based on existing facts and circumstances. There's a significant exposure to litigation involving the city with respect to properties located at 8046 Central Avenue. APN 1192-561-08 and 268554th place APN 1192-561-10 based on a letter dated 31st, 2025 from Claudia Oryan. That letter is available at the City Clerk's Office. The second item is conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to government code 54957.6 and it is with respect to the City Manager contract. So we will convene in closed session. We're convening in closed session.