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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-24 - MINUTES - REG•M CITY OF SANTA CLARITA City Council Regular Meeting Joint Meeting with Board of Library Trustees Hereinafter the titles Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Councilmember, City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk may be used also to indicate Mayor/Chair/President, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chair/Vice President, City Manager/Executive Director, City Attorney/Counsel, and City Clerk/Secretary —Minutes— Tuesday, June 24, 2025 6:00 PM City Council Chambers INVOCATION Mayor Pro Tern Weste delivered the invocation. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Miranda called to order the Joint Regular meeting of the City Council and Board of Library Trustees at 6:05 p.m. ROLL CALL All Councilmembers were present. FLAG SALUTE Mayor Pro Tern Weste led the flag salute. EXECUTIVE MEETING This time has been set aside for Councilmembers to review the agenda and obtain any further information that may be needed. Council will also discuss each individual item during the course of the meeting with the exception of the Consent Calendar, which may be approved in its entirety by one motion, unless there is a request to pull an item for discussion. No action will be taken on public agenda items during the Executive Meeting. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Mayor Miranda recognized Legacy Christian Academy as it celebrated its 30th anniversary serving youth and families in Santa Clarita and invited representatives of Legacy Christian Academy to the dais to receive a certificate and take a photo. ON% PUBLIC PARTICIPATION •, Addressing the City Council were Chan Reader, Keith Lobert, and Rose L'Heureux regarding e- bikes on paseos; Tony Maldonado regarding battery storage facilities; and Marc Richards regarding air traffic. STAFF COMMENTS City Manager Ken Striplin commented that the City of Santa Clarita (City) is working on the e- bike issue, discussing the difference between electric bikes and dirt bikes, stating that an analysis was being conducted on whether further restricting the use of a -bikes through an ordinance was appropriate and enforceable, spoke of the various demographics' use of e-bikes, and that enforcement is challenging with the youth population. Mr. Striplin also commented that there were ongoing educational efforts for parents and youth in collaboration with the local school districts regarding lawful use of e-bikes. Mr. Striplin further commented that staff had met with Terra -Gen and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the City would be hosting a community meeting on July 10 at the Canyon Country Community Center to address the issues regarding battery storage facilities; he instructed staff to follow up with Mr. Richards regarding resources to address his air traffic concerns. COMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS •-, Councilmember Ayala commented on the City's efforts to address the community's battery storage facility concerns and her anticipated attendance of the July 10 meeting; Councilmember Ayala mentioned the Water Safety Day event on June 21 at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center and the Summer Fire Safety Press Conference held June 20 at Towsley Canyon Trailhead, hosted by the City. Mayor Pro Tern Weste commented on the ribbon cutting ceremony for the City's 39th park at the historic Pioneer Oil Refinery. Mayor Pro Tern Weste requested and received concurrence from Councilmember Ayala and Mayor Miranda to agendize the removal of her Planning Commissioner, citing a lack of communication with the commissioner. Councilmember Gibbs agreed with Mayor Pro Tem Weste that the addition of the City's 39th park was a great asset to the community and invited residents to attend the River of Lights Illumination Ceremony on June 25 at Central Park. Councilwoman McLean shared a fun fact that trees in Melbourne, Australia, have their own email addresses and often receive messages; however, she did not think it would work in Santa Clarita because the City had thousands of trees. Councilwoman Mclean commented on the ribbon cutting ceremony at the historic Pioneer Oil Refinery; the Summer Fire Safety Press Conference; reminded residents of Santa Clarita Public Library's Annual Summer Reading Program, going on through July 26; and wished the community a safe and happy 4th of July, requesting residents to refrain from setting off fireworks this year, instead enjoy the City's fireworks show and the parade in the morning. Page 2 ..% Mayor Miranda commented that the decision to agendize an issue by an individual councilmember did not imply a position on that issue, but rather was an invitation for the City Council to explore and deliberate upon issues important to individual councilmembers. NEW BUSINESS ITEM 1 FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179 On March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) published its Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for the Local Responsibility Areas of Los Angeles County. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 51179, local agencies are required to adopt an ordinance within 120 days from when the FHSZ maps are published, designating the fire zones within its jurisdiction. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council introduce an ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE .. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179," waive reading of text and consent to read by title only, as listed on the agenda, and pass to a second reading. Intergovernmental Relations Officer Masis Hagobian provided the staff report. Addressing the City Council was Tony Maldonado regarding his appreciation for staff s efforts in producing a fire map and public noticing of the July 10 meeting. Councilwoman McLean requested to know how the fire hazard zones were determined, to which Los Angeles County Fire Assistant Chief Trevor Moore responded that the maps were created by the state, in the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and were determined based on topography, vegetation, and wind. Mr. Moore explained that the Fire Department would be inspecting homes identified to be within the very high and high fire danger areas, and that those homeowners would be charged the $150 inspection fee Councilwoman McLean had inquired about. Mayor Pro Tern Weste requested City Attorney Joseph Montes to explain the options available to cities that find themselves in fire zone areas, and Mr. Montes responded that state statutes that regulate the wildfire map process have made it mandatory for cities to adopt the state fire maps as of 2019, only allowing cities to make the adopted fire map more restrictive, but not less; he added that residents could be affected in their ability to obtain state fire insurance from the One state's Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) program if the City failed to adopt the state fire maps or comply with the state's fire guidelines. Page 3 RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Jason Gibbs, Councilmember SECONDER: Patsy Ayala, Councilmember AYES: Ayala, Gibbs, Weste, McLean, Miranda CONSENT CALENDAR RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Laurene Weste, Mayor Pro Tern SECONDER: Patsy Ayala, Councilmember AYES: McLean, Ayala, Weste, Gibbs, Miranda ITEM 2 APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES — The minutes are submitted for approval. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council approve the minutes of the June 10, 2025, Regular Meeting ITEM 3 CHECK REGISTER NO. 13 Check Register No. 13 for Period 05/16/25 through 05/29/25 and 06/05/25. Electronic Funds Transfers for the Period 05/19/25 through 05/30/25. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council approve and ratify for payment the demands presented in Check Register No. 13. ITEM 4 GENERAL LIABILITY, PROPERTY LIABILITY, WORKERS' COMPENSATION, AND EARTHQUAKE COVERAGE Council consideration to approve premium payments for general liability, property liability, workers' compensation, and earthquake insurance coverage for Fiscal Year 2025-26. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Authorize the renewal of the City of Santa Clarita's general liability, property liability, and workers' compensation insurance coverage through the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority at a total premium cost of $3,236,993. 2. Authorize Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., to bind earthquake coverage on behalf of the City of Santa Clarita for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for various City of Santa Clarita facilities, securing coverage through Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. and RLI Insurance Company, for a total premium fee of $654,769. 3. Authorize an ongoing budget appropriation from Self Insurance Fund (Fund 721) to expenditure account 7212306-516101 for $340,562 for ongoing general liability, property liability, and earthquake coverage renewals commencing in Fiscal Year 2025-26. 4. Authorize an ongoing budget appropriation from Public Library Fund (Fund 309) to Page 4 expenditure account 3098301-516101 for $52,823 for ongoing earthquake coverage renewals commencing in Fiscal Year 2025-26. 5. Authorize an ongoing budget appropriation from Landscape Maintenance District Fund (Fund 357) to expenditure account 3577312-516101 for $23,232 for ongoing earthquake coverage renewals commencing in Fiscal Year 2025-26. 6. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval. ITEM 5 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 721 City Council consider a memorandum of understanding between the City and the Service Employees International Union Local 721. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Approve the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Santa Clarita and the Service Employees International Union, Local 721. 2. Adopt a resolution providing for compensation of Service Employees International Union represented employees of the City of Santa Clarita. 3. Authorize the City Manager to finalize, sign, and accept the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the City of Santa Clarita Adopted Resolution No. 25-42 ITEM 6 METROWALK SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT (MASTER CASE 24-230) - SECOND READING City Council consideration of adopting the proposed amendments to the MetroWalk Specific Plan. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council adopt an ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING MASTER CASE 24-230, CONSISTING OF SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 24-002, INCLUDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE METROWALK SPECIFIC PLAN DOCUMENT, AS SHOWN IN EXHIBIT A, SUBJECT TO THE ATTACHED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL (EXHIBIT Addressing the City Council was Tony Maldonado regarding affordable homes for seniors. Councilmember Ayala requested to know if the affordable housing component of the project was still being considered, and City Manager Ken Striplin responded that the developer had Page 5 resubmitted their request to the state for income tax credits and would be informed of the status of their request by mid to late July. Adopted Ordinance No. 25-2 ITEM 7 SOUND, STAGE, AND POWER CONTRACT FOR CITY OF SANTA CLARITA EVENTS Consideration of awarding a contract for sound, stage, and power services needed to produce events for the City of Santa Clarita. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Award a one-year contract to Advantage Productions for sound, stage, and power services for City of Santa Clarita events in the amount of $49,950, and authorize a contingency of $4,995, for a total contract amount not to exceed $54,945. 2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute up to four additional one-year renewal options, not to exceed the annual contract amount, inclusive of contingency,. plus an adjustment consistent with the appropriate Consumer Price Index, upon request of the contractor and contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the City Council in the annual budget for such fiscal year. 3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval. ITEM 8 NEWHALL GATEWAY BEAUTIFICATION, PROJECT B2018 - PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT This item considers awarding a construction contract for the Newhall Gateway Beautification project. The improvements include enhancements to landscaping at existing on- and off -ramps at the Newhall Avenue and State Route 14 interchange. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Approve the plans and specifications for Newhall Gateway Beautification, Project B2018. 2. Award a construction contract to Superb Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $2,602,816 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $390,422, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,993,238. 3. Award a professional services contract for construction support services to Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc., in the amount of $133,705 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $13,371, for a total contract amount not to exceed $147,076. .n" 4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval. Page 6 Addressing the City Council was Tony Maldonado regarding maintenance costs. ITEM 9 NEWHALL AVENUE RAILROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT C2029 - DESIGN CONTRACT This item considers awarding a design contract to perform a traffic study and provide plans, specifications, and estimates for the Newhall Avenue Railroad Safety Improvements project. The improvements include modifications to the existing traffic signal operations, medians, curbs, and gutters to enhance the safety at the Newhall Avenue railroad crossing and the adjacent intersection of Newhall Avenue and Railroad Avenue. The improvements also include the installation of new sidewalk approaches, a pre -signal, and roadway rehabilitation at the railroad crossing approaches and departures. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Award a design contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Newhall Avenue Railroad Safety Improvements, Project C2029, in the amount of $951,036 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $95,104, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,046,140. 2. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $640,000 from the Miscellaneous Federal Grants (Fund 229) to expenditure account C2029229-516101 and increase Miscellaneous Federal Grants revenue account 229-442409 by $640,000. 3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval. ITEM 10 SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE DETERMINING THE ANNUAL STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION FEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 This item considers making a determination and approval of the rates for the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Fee for Fiscal Year 2025-26. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council adopt an ordinance entitled, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING THE ANNUAL STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION FEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26." Adopted Ordinance No. 25-3 ITEM 11 MODIFICATION OF MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT This item considers an amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement with the County of Los Angeles to add one additional year to align with contracts for water quality monitoring and reporting related to compliance with the Municipal Storm Water Permit. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: Page 7 1. Amend the existing Memorandum of Agreement with the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit compliance to extend the term by one year with a new expiration date of June 30, 2026. 2. Appropriate $349,650 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 from the Stormwater Fund Balance (Fund 356) to Stormwater Professional Services Expenditure Account 3567200-516102, and increase Miscellaneous Revenues Account 356-462101 by $220,803. 3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval. ITEM 12 RESOLUTION DECLARING PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA EXEMPT FROM THE SURPLUS LAND ACT AND APPROVAL OF A PROPERTY TRANSFER IN FEE TO SANTA CLARITA VALLEY WATER AGENCY This item considers adopting a resolution declaring a portion of City -owned property exempt from the Surplus Land Act and the approval of a property transfer in fee to Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency for the purpose of constructing a PFAS water treatment facility. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Adopt a resolution declaring a portion of the Assessor's Parcel Number 2811-065-912 as exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act. 2. Approve the transfer in fee of a portion, 23,362 +/- square feet, of Assessor's Parcel Number 2811-065-912 to Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency in the amount of $12,500. 3. Increase revenue account 100-462106 by $12,500 for Fiscal Year 2025-26. 4. Approve a grant of easement to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency for pipeline improvements and maintenance. 5. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documentation to complete the property transfer, subject to City Attorney approval. Adopted Resolution No. 25-43 ITEM 13 HASKELL CANYON BIKE PARK CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT This item considers awarding a construction contract to ARC Construction, Inc., for the Haskell Canyon Bike Park project, P0020. RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Find that the Initial Study and proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Haskell Canyon Bike Park Project were prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and made available for public review for no less than 30 days following Page 8 -- publication and circulation of a duly noticed Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and find that the City of Santa Clarita, the lead agency, considered the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration together with comments received during the public review process. 2. Find that no substantial revisions were made to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration after publication of the Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and that recirculation is not required. 3. Find, based on the whole record, including the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and comments received, that there is no substantial evidence that the Haskell Canyon Bike Park Project will have a significant effect on the environment and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis. The documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings are available from the City of Santa Clarita. 4. Adopt the Haskell Canyon Bike Park Project's Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, including, without limitation, the mitigation measures included with the Errata dated June 17, 2025. 5. Approve the plans and specifications for the Haskell Canyon Bike Park Project, Project _ P0020. and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to utilize such plans for constructing the Project. This approval and authorization is intended to avail the City of the immunities set forth in Government Code § 830.6. 6. Award the construction contract to ARC Construction Inc., in the amount of $6,266,770, and authorize a contingency in the amount of $626,677, for a total contract amount not to exceed $6,893,447. 7. Extend the professional service contract and authorize increased expenditure authority for construction management support with Avid Trails in the amount of $201,180 for a total contract amount not to exceed $630,797. 8. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $4,534,941 from the Facilities Fund (Fund 723), to the Haskell Canyon Bike Park Project P0020, expenditure account P0020723- 516101. 9. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval. Addressing the City Council was Nina Moskol, representing the Santa Clarita Valley Bicycle Coalition, in support of the Haskell Canyon Bike Park. Mayor Pro Tern Weste congratulated staff for their efforts on the bike park project. Page 9 Councilwoman McLean and Councilmember Ayala expressed their thanks to staff for their efforts on the project and commented on their anticipation to see it finalized. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION II Addressing the City Council was Denise Lite regarding Mayor Pro Tem Weste's request to agendize an item regarding her removal from the Planning Commission. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Miranda adjourned the Regular Meeting at 7:04 p.m. ATTEST: Ia u CITY CLERK I&niL�T7 Page 10