City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the regular City Council Meeting, 05/05/2026. Madam City Clerk, can please do roll call?

Here.

Here.

Thank you. At this time, if you can stand, please rise. And I've asked Councilwoman Warren to lead us to the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the invocation by Pastor John Hanson of Center Point Church.

Please remove your hat and stand if you are able. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, pledge one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Would you join me, and would you pray together? Heavenly father, I thank you for the blessing of living in Murrieta, California. It's a great place, and we bless it together. We thank you for our community, God. I pray for our city council leaders.

Lord, you'd keep on giving them wisdom and grace for the task at hand. And, Lord, where they need to mediate negotiations and figure out the best way forward that is good for everyone, help them, God, to find the grace to do that. Lord, we pray for the safety that our community members, all need, god, that your hand would be on us to protect us. God, we pray even as we enter into another political season, you'd help us to have grace for each other to be able to see the good in one another even if we see different perspectives. God, we pray for moms this coming weekend in our community to feel blessed and recognized for the goodness they bring.

God, we pray for our fire department, our police department. Thank you, God. They give they give their best. They show up with courage and strength. And in moments like last week at Thompson Middle School, they just show up ready to do what needs to be done. God, thank you that we live in a community that has such great first responders, and we pray your blessing over them. And, God, we pray for economic blessing in our city. We pray, God, for more and more jobs to open up here so less of our family members will have to drive all the way to LA or San Diego. God, we pray that you would give each one of us, the blessing of your peace and knowing ourselves to be loved by you. God, thank you for the city of Murrieta, California.

It's a blessing to live here, and I pray this personally in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Okay. Madam City Clerk, are there any changes to the agenda?

Seeing none.

I'd like to call for a motion and a second for the approval. Is it working? Nothing. There we go. I have a motion by Councilwoman DeForest and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holliday. Please vote.

Motion carries unanimously. Five zero.

Thank you. Moving on to our city manager update, the city manager update. Mister Clifford.

Thank you very much, mister mayor and members of the council. I have a handful of updates for you this afternoon. First, we're celebrating a couple of our professional teams, and they they have a week out of the calendar year where we get to give them some special praise and recognition. The first of those is it is building safety week. And so on this week, we recognize our building and safety team.

Oftentimes, they're not the best friends of people who are reminded that there are some pretty specific rules when it comes to building in our community. But they do a lot of work to make sure that we have confidence when we buy structures, whether they be brand new or used, when we hire people to do work, that work will be done appropriately. And I have personally seen in the course of my career where those kinds of rules and inspections really do lead to life safety, as in life and death kinds of situations. So they process more than 10,000 inspections, just to give some context for the volume of work that they do. They're working really hard to be more and more responsive to our development community to be as quick as they can in reviewing permits and conducting those inspections.

We have a hard working team. And so we're grateful for them every day. But on this week, we take a little bit of special time to recognize the contributions that they make to our community. Similarly, this week we're also celebrating annual professional municipal clerk's week. So the clerks are also some of our team members that maybe the public doesn't always see the impact of their work.

They not only help us with our council meetings, which is where most of the audience members probably see them, but they help facilitate many of the other decision making and advisory groups that we have here at the city. They also help conduct our elections, and they are the central repository for all of the records. So they really hold the keys to the history of this community and a lot of the things that have happened over our many decades. So again, grateful to them for the work that they do every single day. But on this week, have a little extra special appreciation for the impact that they have on our community and our organization.

Next up, speaking of the clerks and elections, I want to remind our community members that June 2, we do have a primary election. So you'll see some dates on the slide in front of you up on the screen where things like vote by mail begin. So we are a drop off for vote by mail here at City Hall. So and I think we're gonna be doing some new things this year to facilitate that, especially on election day, which is gonna be pretty neat. So if you'd like to vote in person, please visit Fire Station 4 beginning Saturday, May 23 and the Murrieta Innovation Center Center Saturday, May 30.

Any questions you have about drop off locations, ballots, or or anything at all that has to do with the election, please reach out and talk to one of our city clerks. Next up, earlier actually, last week, April 30, we celebrated the opening of the Alderwood Pickleball Courts. I see we have a a paddle or a racket here. Awesome. So another way for people to recreate here in the community.

I know pickleball has been a craze for a long time. So I'm glad to see that that we're getting some additional courts for people to play on. And then really hot off the presses, just this morning, we had an event to recognize. It was a a key exchange. So one of our retired police vehicles was donated to the school district so that they have some kind of real life props for their students that are invested invested in criminal justice and similar types of programs.

It it was really neat to hear our police chief talk about how when he was coming up through the ranks or or before joining the force, he didn't have that kind of experience at the high school level where you could really start to get a feel for what it might be like to have a career in law enforcement. So it's our pleasure in honoring the partnership that we have with the school district to be able to donate a vehicle that we no longer have in service so that they're not just kind of immersed in the theory but get some real hands on learning opportunities and insight into what it's like to be a cop. We got to take some photos with some of the students in the car turning the siren on, and and it it was a lot of fun. So with those updates, I'd like to turn it over to our public information officer, Hilder Sam, who's going to talk to us a little bit about things going on in Murrieta.

There it is. Do you have a clicker? So we're going to cover some of the upcoming events. We have the Memorial Day ceremony, observing Memorial Day on May 25 here at Town Square Park. Then on June 20, we're doing the annual Father's Day at Car Show.

It's the fifty fifth one this year, so that's very exciting. That one is at California Oaks Sports Park. Also at Cal Oaks will be our thirty fifth annual birthday bash on June 27, which we're all very excited for. It'll have a little nineties theme with a with a nineties headliner band, so that'll be a lot of fun. Also, during the summer, we'll have concerts in park all summer, July and August.

So make sure that you check out which bands you wanna see. And please stay connected with us. We have a an e newsletter that goes out every month. We have our magazine that is online and also as physical copies, and we would love to connect with you on socials as well. Thank you.

Thank you, mayor. That concludes my announcements.

Thank you, Mr. Clifton. At this time, we're gonna move on to governing body and commission reports. This is the time that you get to see what we've been doing for the past two weeks, and and the committees we sit on and the things we go to. We're gonna start with Councilwoman Warren.

And it's on its way. No problem. Thank you very much. No pressure. Why do I have two? Okay. All right. We'll start off with governing body reports. I attended the Southwest Elite Leaders Collaborative meeting, attended TNAO meeting, Riverside RCTC Budget Implementation Committee meeting, and the Riverside RTA meeting, a pre trip meeting this morning. I'll be headed out to Washington DC next week to represent RTA and as the first vice chair of that commission.

Then on my governing body announcements, I went to a ribbon cutting for Learn Now, Laugh Later. It was really great. Student of the Month appreciation luncheon that Sally Meyers puts on for our Student of the Month program, which was really wonderful. Councilmember Stone was there with me. She and I also attended the National Crimes Victims Rights Week vigil.

That is, a very sombering event, and it's something that, I'm very proud of our district attorney's office for all they do to help victims of violent crimes and to get justice for their families. And so it was an honor to be there and read names. The Knowles Community, the Ladies Society Luncheon is always fun. Our, police department was there with our k nine units, and that was very, very cool. The ladies just could not believe the commands that the dogs listen to and how they act.

So that was very cool. Another fabulous medical leaders luncheon was attended by Council Member Holliday, and myself. At board meeting, I was able to give out certificates to our Purple Star School recognition. And those are our schools in the district that help our military families adjust and get acclimated in classes. And when they get moved around a lot, they have a lot of resources for them.

And it's a wonderful program for military students. I did a filming for Buchanan Elementary School that will be coming out soon. I also attended the fifteenth anniversary for Loma University Medical Center Marietta campus. And congratulations to John and your staff. It was a wonderful celebration.

I also attended the LEAC, which is the Law Enforcement Appreciation and Recognition ceremony. And two our best were two of our best, we have lots of best, but Erin Hardwick was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for investigative excellent with Anthony Nunez, which was exciting to see Marietta get recognized. And I do believe Marietta did the were they not the honor guards that night? So Marietta PD was also the honor guards that night. So that was fun. Pickleball, you heard about. And I do believe somebody won a chance to play against the mayor. And if and and what? I'm sorry. Win?

They were gonna win. I I sure heard win. We several of us went to the Marietta Elementary School Career Day last Friday, and that was a hoot. Lots of fun kids, lots of questions, and they love Plinko. So that the game that we play there, they love Plinko. So that was really super fun. If you need to reach me, please reach me on my email or my phone number. And that concludes my reports. Thank you.

Thank you, council Member Warren. Councilwoman DeForest.

Thank you, Mayor. I was hoping we could queue up a video. I attended the Southwest Riverside Higher Education Coalition. I'd like to give it a little update about what's going on. MSJC has moved forward with architectural drawings and architectural plans so we could actually see what the building could look like.

I'll talk through the video if I could so I don't take up too much time. So here's the Temecula campus. One thing we wanted to show here is the specific entrance for the University Center. We won't be going through the MSJC entrance but its own entrance. Coming into the foyer area this is where we'll have reception for various different schools that are there for example it could be Cal State San Marcos, could be USC, it could be UCLA, Cal Baptist and then moving up the stairs.

This area here is going to be an opportunity for the community because this is going to be 35,000 square foot of open area for the community to use. It'll hold approximately 1,500 people. This is going to be a game changer because we have nothing in Murrieta or only with Changa being able to hold this many people. So a lot of community a lot of cities have already come forward interested in this area. So this is how MSJC is really trying to reach out to the community to make it a community gathering space.

Now moving up to the 4th Floor, this will be all classrooms, 3,500 square 35,000, sorry, square foot of all classrooms and educational offerings that can be moved around to whatever is needed for whatever university comes into the building. Going up to the 5th Floor. This will be where all the science labs are. That allows fuming through the through the roof as well as a few lecture halls. But the nice thing about the 5th Floor, it also has this really cool space that will allow you to go out onto a patio area which overlooks the entire valley.

This could be a gathering space for community or I always thought it would be a kind of a cool rooftop restaurant. Isn't it cool? So thank you so much for letting me show you that. Very exciting. Also, the Southwest Riverside Higher Education Coalition has moved on to the 2nd phase of funding.

Excited to see what that looks like moving forward with funding for the University Center. Also at the meeting, the lobbyists from SJC attended as well. So just to be quick, I don't want to take up too much time, but governing body announcements will be here. If you'd like to read through them, you can. But most importantly, if you'd like to get a hold of me, you can reach me either by email elsdeforest@muriatica.gov.

Or you can call me at my call or text me text for a faster response. And my cell phone is listed there as well. So thank you so much. Exciting stuff going on with the University Center and with our whole entire city. And I thank my colleagues for holding a paddle for me and bringing me a paddle and putting it on my desk. I couldn't attend, but I heard you guys were quite dynamic on the court. So I appreciate that.

I think we signed one for you. Oh, did you? Yes. I want to hold on to I that

got this one, so you'll have to sign it after.

Thank very much. Moving on to Councilwoman Stone.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yesterday, I attended the Western Regional Council of Governments, W. Cobb, which I represent the city of Marietta, and our general assembly will happen June 18 at Pichonga. Tony Hawk is our keynote speaker, so it should be a great evening. I nominated Rotary for a nonprofit community what? Remind me. Thank you. Community service. Rotary won, and they will be acknowledged with a beautiful award that evening.

Yesterday's meeting was very interesting. They had talked about the Inland Empire, but specifically Southwest Riverside County. We'll see the largest increase in energy consumption, 30 to 35%. This is due to growth and the intensity of extreme heat. So be aware, the utilities are raising their cost of usage, so that will affect your pocketbook.

In addition, I had a conversation with our assistant city manager, Kristin Crane, and this is really for Javier. Is Javier here by any chance? Hello, Javier. This is a little tidbit for you that our grant from Cal Cycle for SB 1383 has a sunset for this year and so we will have to do a line item of what that will cost the city moving forward. In addition, AB 2,307, you've heard me speak about the Southwest Elective Collaborative.

Ative. How we've been meeting for the last two years on how to address traffic congestion within the region. Thank god Kate Sanchez, our our assembly member, has carried a b two three zero seven, which will force Cal trans to be at the table with all of us so we can conduct a study on how to mitigate traffic congestion. And we anticipate a minimum of a fifteen minute savings when we synchronize our lights. But we had to go through legislation in order to force Caltrans, who has control over our intersections adjacent to our freeways.

It it It passed through the Transportation Committee, today it was on the consent calendar for the appropriations. And my understanding is that that consent calendar was approved and now it goes to the senate. So your your council is working diligently to address traffic congestion as best as we possibly can. We we are we are residents as well. Remember that.

We're frustrated like all of you are, and we're doing our due diligence here and trying to do everything we can to work with the state of California to mitigate some of these issues. Today, I had a conversation with several residents about it was kind of interesting. They were like, what can we do for you? Usually the residents want to know what we're doing for them, and especially with some of the concerns of high density affordable housing, traffic congestion, public safety, even though we have ownership of our public safety. And this is what I had shared with them, June 2.

June 2 is how you can help us help you by voting. Only 20 of the population in California voted on the special election of prop fifty. Only 20%. So if you wanna help us help you, we need you to vote on June 2. So that concludes my report. Oh, and madam city clerk, if you can show my meetings, If you have any questions about any of the events that I attended or questions about my governing body announcement, you can contact me at lstone@mariettaca.gov. Thank you, mister mayor.

Thank you. Moving on to mayor Pro Tem Holiday who just wanna say publicly thank you for filling in last week or two weeks ago. I was looking in the news to see if the city was burning down, and it it was not. So you did great.

No. I I instructed everybody to have their seat backs and tray tables in a full upright position so we could take off, and then everybody cooperated. So it went well. I was happy to fill in. I attended Regional Conservation Authority yesterday.

In the normal session, there wasn't much report out. But in closed session, and it was reported out after closed session, we purchased another 170 acres out East of Awonga to kinda fill in the reserve a little bit more. So that process is ongoing. It's been ongoing for twenty years and still trying to reach that target of 500,000 acres. And it was actually relatively affordable at 5,000 an acre, so unlike some of them.

And as I went went to all the other things that my colleagues reported, a couple that haven't been reported out, which will leave nothing for the mayor, is the medical leaders luncheon. I had a couple colleagues there. Were you there? You were there. Yeah. So I had two colleagues with me at that, and they actually had a record. Too bad our deputy city manager, Scott Agajanian, is not here because he had over 130 people attend that. And that used to be, like, in the 40s or 50s, was trying to get up to 100. Now it's just we need the venue that you just talked about so we can hold that. And it's just a great networking place if you're in the health care industry at all and anywhere.

It's the place to be, because there's a lot of networking done there. And the other one was the Murry Elementary School Career Fair that four of us were able to attend. Counselor DeForest has a stricter schedule than the rest of us, and we understand why. She don't wanna have to tell patients, sorry. I gotta run out. Just sit tight. I appreciate all these guys being amazing. But How was that? It was it was a great time. The kids were great. Councilmember Warren did a great question and answer with them that trying to figure out where City Hall was from your elementary. Half

of

them didn't know. Didn't know, you know, what do we do for a living? They don't know.

But they all knew where the library was.

But they did know where the library was. So it was a great time. The kids are always great. I really enjoy those career fairs and try to make it whenever I can. And that's all I have, mister mayor.

Thank you very much, mayor Protham. For my update, as usual, if I was in the pictures you saw, that's where I was at, because I've already forgotten about it if it was yesterday. So I had the privilege of going on a medical mission to Belize with my hospital and some surgeons doctors when Mr. Holiday filled in. I had a great time.

It really gives you perspective of how awesome Marietta is when you visit other countries, especially countries that don't have simple things like doctors to go see. Even if it takes weeks to get in, at least there's somebody there. So it really has set in perspective the type of we complain here. And then to see that there isn't any doctors at all, or clinics, or the hospital we were at, some of it had dirt floors. So it was and seeing our community physicians that don't just work at Loma Linda, they serve all hospitals in this area.

What they were able to do in the spaces they were in, they were doing we did hernia repairs, we did some cardiac echos, we did a lot of dental help, we brought an ophthalmologist with us. Without all the specialty tools, we brought a pulmonologist with us who almost did a I forget the procedure, it was a little too risky. But it was amazing to see the skill level they had minus the scenario and the environment they're typically in. Just gave great perspective on how awesome this place really is. And I think that's it for me.

I'm glad to be back, I'm still sunburned, but it's a little humid there compared to Marietta. So hair did not cooperate. Anyway, that's all I have. I had no governing body reports or committees I set on when I was gone or when I got back. So maybe some next time. And that's all. Thank you all. Moving on to public comments, non agenda public comments. Madam city clerk, is there anyone in the queue?

Yes, mister mayor. We have Dora Ridgeway.

Hello council members and mayor. My name is Dora Ridgeway. I'm a former student of and a now current choir teacher of the Marietta Valley Unified School District. My following speech does not represent the opinions or words of the school district. I'm speaking on my personal experiences as a community member and how it relates to my job and my work that I do.

I'm involved in many of the amazing programs across the city that directly affect students and their involvement in the arts. One of the most important things for me and the many projects that I work on for our students is the ability to travel across town in a safe, efficient manner. As a member of the French Valley community, I hear from many school families and neighbors who find it difficult and time consuming to travel from the French Valley areas of Murrieta to the other parts of Murrieta. Typically, work during the day at Dorothy McElhaney Middle School, support local high school musical rehearsals at Murrieta Valley High School and Murrieta Mesa High School, and evening rehearsals at Alta Marietta Elementary School running the district elementary choir. A crucial part wait, yep, there we go.

Crucial part of getting across town, especially with all the school traffic from Vista Marietta High School clogging the Clinton Keith extension and Whitewood Road is the short Menifee Road that attaches Clinton Keith to Los Alamos Road. This route allows me to arrive on time at all the previously mentioned destinations. Due to all the new businesses and school traffic from the largest high school in the district, the Menifee Road shortcut is critical to avoiding the highly congested sections of Clinton Keith. However, Menifee Road is a short 0.1 mile unpaved road and can often be wily. Many times there are large dips or uneven surfaces in the gravelly dirt that cause major slowdowns, sudden braking, tire hazards, potential damage or loss of control for cars not suited to off roading.

I took it to get here tonight. Two cars were swerving out of the way of these large dips. After it rains, there are large holes in the road that recently neighbors have seemed to try to fill with hardware store pothole kits, which further crumble and add to the hazards. Both attached streets, Los Alamos and Clinton Keith, have started to chip away at their edges due to the use of Menifee Road, and the whole road seems to have sunk due to use of due to the use and loss of dirt, making it very difficult to see when you're turning on to Los Alamos Road, especially at night. There's not very many lights out there.

City Council, I ask that a motion be made to pave this road or that it be put on a future agenda. I checked the most current capital improvement plan that I could find on the Marietta website and I did not see any plans for this. I also only saw the twenty four-twenty five plan so I don't know if I'm missing the most current one. I also tried to call municipal services office but was not able to connect with anybody there. Please help maintain the safety of your constituents and improve travel from one side of the city to the other and consider this request or shared with the community when a plan is in place. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Mr. Mr. Hitch is here. Someone's going to give you an ID Mr. Jeff Hitch there on when that is slated currently be

paved. Perfect. Thank you.

In the foyer, please. Yes. Thank you.

Phil Strzernowski.

Good afternoon, everyone. Phil Schnirkowski. I live in the Colony here in Murrieta. I moved here two years ago, and I was here two years ago talking about the same issue, and I'm back. And that's the noise pollution caused by modified exhaust that we this the police department is not writing citations on.

Well, they are. So back in 2024, when I was first here, I did a FOIA request, found out that in 2023, there were 10 to 12 citations issued for modified exhaust. Had a phone call with chief Conrad, a couple emails, basically nothing happened. So here I am two years later, and I did another four a request, and the numbers have dropped even lower. In 2025, eight citations for modified exhaust.

And modified exhaust is noise pollution, and who says so? The World Health Organization, the American Heart Association, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the American Public Health Association all state that traffic and vehicle noise is a serious health hazard that causes sleep disruption, chronic stress, elevated blood pressure, and increase of heart disease, especially the streets surrounding the colony, which have 55 plus people in them. So I'm respectfully asking the city council and the city manager to address our new chief, and instruct that chief or have a discussion with that chief about increasing the number of citations in our city. I pulled into the parking lot, I saw one of these gentlemen's patrol car out there. And I'd never been that close to a patrol car, but I noticed partners with our community.

And I thought, yeah, okay, this is probably a good way of helping helping our community, especially around the colony. Yeah, 10 to 12 issues in 2023, and in 2025, it goes down to eight. And I'm looking do a little side note. I'm looking at what appear to be citation numbers in the sequence. The citations tell me that they are being written from the same citation book, meaning that out of the eight citations, they're only being written by maybe three, four officers of the twenty four hours of patrol that we have three sixty five days a week.

And I'm hearing this stuff late at night, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, wakes me up in the morning, six, 06:30. Good time to get up anyways, but I hear them. And when we're playing pickleball in the community and at the colony, we comment about the race rag. Anyways, I'm gonna be sending an email to the councilwoman because you represent my district and the city manager and the chief of police later on tonight asking about what your plans are to deal with this because I wanna take your answers. I wanna take your answers. And at our next HOA board meeting, I want to read to them what your responses are in this problem.

Well, thank you for your comments. That sounds exhausting.

Oh, thank you.

Can I have the police chief? He actually might talk to you in the foyer as well just to get

Just, like, two years ago?

Well, it's a different chief.

It's a different one.

Yeah. Okay. Alright.

If you want. Thank you.

Herman Gray.

Good evening, everybody. My name is Harmon Gray. I'm a 100 years old. I came to Marietta 1949. I helped build this city. There wasn't no city here. Used to be back when I used to go to. I know a lot of you guys don't know who I am. I was shot three times in the head. I poured acid on me.

I lost my right eye. And the reason I'm here, for y'all to check your heart for me. I used to own three and a half acres of land on Washington, and across from the high school there. And I brought this to show proof because the police, when I report broke in, stole it, never made a report. And I brought this just in case you want proof.

See? You don't have to look at it if you don't want to, but I just brought it just in case. Magnolia and Washington used to call Washington Square. I was developing that. I got pictures.

They stole 2 and a half million dollars from me, my property, and I've been fighting for a long time. And I just come here today, but you always check your heart and look into it and check and see if I'm lying or or what. I got the proof for it. My father-in-law was a sheriff department, wasn't a police sheriff. I voted for the police.

I voted for city change. I voted for the fire department. I did a lot of work here on Jefferson going to to make it used to be a flood area. There are creek coming across them. It used to be a flood area.

I filled that in. Me and my father-in-law, I had a truck put in a drain system on both end. So I just came here to ask you guys to set your heart and to help me. I don't wanna cry. I ain't crying enough. I did a lot here in May River because I was 23 years old when I came here. Thank you so much.

Thank you for coming. I appreciate your time and your comments. Did you leave any materials you referenced, I think? Okay, if you could leave those with the city clerk, I'll be sure to have those looked at. Thank you both.

Amy Edgeworth.

You're Okay. Just for reference, we're going to make copies of the materials you left. And then you're free to go after they get what they need, okay?

Yeah. We

we have in the bag. They're they're taking it back now, sir. Thank you. Mrs. Edgeworth.

Good evening, mayor and city council. My name is Amy Edgeworth, founder and CEO of the Perl Center for Creative Arts and chief engineer of the Muretta Train project and I'm happy to be back here this evening, slightly more energized and caffeinated. Thank you to coffee from a very kind friend, which honestly feels like the perfect reflection of this community. We really do show up for each other in moments where we need it most and that spirit carries everything that we're building. And, that's why I wanted to share tonight that we recently launched our very first Pearl Artist Spotlight series centered around a local artist that many of you may recognize from the Murida Market Nights, Rebecca Flores.

I've known Rebecca for the past four years and what stands out the most isn't just her talent, it's her willingness to share it. And, she has this way of making art feel approachable, where people don't feel intimidated, they feel invited, and because of that, people are always asking if she would teach her pyrography and wood burning. So, we partnered together to create a hands on workshop, And, this is my favorite part, she thought she was just coming to teach. She had no idea that the evening was also a bit of a setup because we actually wanted to honor her. So, with only a quick friendly warning, we surprised Rebecca with our very first spotlight artist award, recognizing not just her talent, but the way she has been a standout artist and an important member of our local arts community.

And, yes, we did trick her just a little bit, but it was for very good reason. The workshop event was full, the energy was incredible, and it became something more than just a talk and teach kind of event. One And, one of the most meaningful moments for me was hearing from a participant who shared that the scent of the wood burning brought back memories of her grandfather. And, it doesn't just end there. We're continuing forward with Pearl Studio Sessions, giving more opportunities for the community to attend workshops with Rebecca.

And, we're also continuing our spotlight series events with our upcoming Pearl's author spotlight series featuring historical fiction author, Kate Anjey, whose work is rooted in her history and her family's story of late eighteen hundreds Texas, very much from the same era that Pearl lived. It's one of the stories where you realize just how resilient our ancestors can be. So, even with the Murrieta train project continuing to move forward behind the scenes, and yes, it is moving, we're not just waiting for its arrival to begin creating impact. We're already doing that by uplifting local artists, sharing stories, and creating spaces where people feel connected. One event, one artist, and one story at a time. Thank you.

That concludes public comments.

Okay. Before we move on, I just wanted to recognize, I think we have high schoolers in the audience. You guys raise your hand. Just want to know who you are. There you go. Wow. You guys all came here voluntarily. That's great. Anyway. I know. I know. I'm kidding. Let me think it's they think I'm cool. Anyway, thanks for being here. Hope you guys are taking good notes. Moving on to the consent calendar. Madam City Clerk, are there any requests for City Council to pull items from the consent calendar?

Seeing none.

Thank you. No. Wait. I'm gonna ask now

if Okay.

Sorry. Any of our council members would like to recuse themselves from many of these items, starting with councilwoman Warren.

Okay. Thank you, mayor. Item number seven, I'm recusing recusing myself from item number seven zone n only due to owning property within the zone. Also on item number eight, I am recusing myself from item number eight on LLD 11 only due to owning property within the district.

Thank you. Councilwoman DeForest.

Thank you, mayor. Item number seven, I'm recusing myself from item number seven zone g only due to owning property within the zone.

And councilman Stone.

Thank you, mister mayor. I am recusing myself from item seven zone a due to owning property within the zone.

And council or mayor Betham Holiday.

Thank you, mister mayor. I am recusing myself from item number seven zone f only due to owning property within the zone.

Thank you. And I am recusing myself from item number seven, f and g due to owning property, and number eight, recusing myself from number eight, for also owning property in that zone as well. Zone 15, lighting Landscape District 15 on item eight. I'd like to ask for a motion to approve the consent calendar. I have a motion from council member DeForest and a second from mayor Pro Tem Holiday. Please vote.

Motion carries unanimously five zero with the recusals as noted. And for the the record I would like to state that the council members did pull straws to vote on zone g for item number seven.

Thank you very much. Next up we have our only discussion item Mr. Chantharansu. What do we have?

Good afternoon, mayor and council members. The item that I have for you this evening is, an approval of an amended MOU with Murrieta Marketnights Inc. Involving a request for a 150 foot event expansion area. The request involves four recommendations from staff. The first is to approve the First Amendment, excuse me, which would allow Market and Ice to continue operating through November 2028.

Second recommendation is to authorize the city manager to sign the First Amendment. Also there's a request to amend the fiscal year twenty five -twenty six budget in the amount of $133,917 and that is for the next recommendation which is to approve the purchase of eight new barriers essentially for traffic and pedestrian control as well as a trailer. So Market Nights, we have seen that it is carrying significant community and economic benefits for the community. There's an increased foot traffic and exposure for the downtown area, and there's also it's creating opportunities for small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs such as some of the local artists that we just heard about. So there's a clear synergy between Market Nights and the downtown specific plan, was enacted in 2017, and that with the goal of creating a vibrant and bustling cultural center, and it serves as a place of great community pride for current and future generations.

So the impact of Market Nights, based on the last time that we gathered data, cell phone data, on trying to understand the number of people that were attending these events, we were able to determine that we had an average of 7,000 people attending each market night. Of course it varies depending on the weather. And that we were seeing over 150,000 visitors annually over twenty twenty two events to the Downtown Market Nights and you can see some of the imagery from events that we captured. And Downtown businesses have noticed an increase in activity during market night events. And as we tried to convert this the city expenditures into like a customer capture that a private business might spend, We determined that city costs, which were which are about $200,000 over the course of a year, that it equates to about $1.43 for customer capture versus private businesses, which might pay $10 to $50 per customer.

So a great return for the city's investment on the event. So in terms of the expansion request, Murrieta Market Nights is requesting 150 foot expansion. I have a slide that will show you the area. It will require the closure of C Street and expand a quarter block south of Street, which is the reason for the additional traffic barricades. So the expansion is going to allow additional vendor capacity, improved pedestrian flow, enhanced public safety spacing and greater activation for the downtown area.

And so you can see the diagram of the expansion area in orange with the green area representing the existing market in that area. I would note that prior to bringing this forward for your consideration, we did conduct a number of outreach activities. So in March we had an open house where about 50 people attended where we solicited feedback on the market expansion as well as some other things in the downtown that we're working on. We did provide over 300 mailed notices to people who are within operating businesses or maybe living on Washington Avenue. And then also the economic development staff walked Washington Avenue, handing out our event post cards, encouraging people to attend.

So we had a lot of outreach for market expansion consideration. And then just to drill down a little bit on the open house. We had 46 completed surveys. 40 of those surveys were in favor of supporting the market expansion. And then one significant amendment to the MOU over the course of the operation of the event for the past few years, we've been hearing a lot of feedback from merchants asking for the ability to have space in the Market Night area.

So this particular amendment provides a what we're calling a first right of refusal if merchants want to participate in Market Night for that particular week. They need to notify the Market Night staff and Market Night staff will make sure that their space in front of their business will be reserved those merchants. So the fiscal impact, there's no estimated additional cost from what you've seen in the staff report. Obviously there's the additional cost for the traffic barricades. I note that those barricades would be used for other community wide events as well.

So it's not specific to Murrieta Market Night. And so with that, I am happy to answer any questions that you might have. And Casey Girardeau and Connie McConnell are also in the audience and be able to answer any questions you might have on our day. So thank you.

Thank you David. First one up is Mr. Holiday.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Thank you for the report. Well done. Why 150 feet?

So that was based on the operator's request. I think there's room for additional expansion but part of that discussion also included I think the number of vendors that they were getting requests from. And then there was also a consideration for traffic circulation as well. So there the end of the expansion area would facilitate a turnaround area, if you will, if people coming from the south side of the street, if they needed to turn around for some reason, there's a couple of driveways there that would allow that access.

Yes, because it stops in the middle of the block. I know from personal experience when I attend the market nights that a lot of people walk from the end of where it currently ends today and they go all the way down to Chapel Coffee and then turn around and come back, wouldn't that be a better ending place?

So let me scroll back to the map here. So you can't see it on the map, but Chapel Coffee is just to the right of where that driveway is on the bottom half next to the potential expansion label. So Chapel Coffee is like right next door.

So it's right next door to the end?

Correct. Okay.

Yes, I see it says Lily Clay Ministries right there. What's the next street down? Does that go all the way to Washington before there's another side street?

Yes. I can look. Yes.

Sorry.

It it is.

Council member Stone confirms my suspicions.

Yeah, Ivy.

That's all the questions I have for the moment.

Thank you. I'll jump in here real quick. Just

the

barriers. If I've had a few conversations with I forget even who it was. They're hard to move. They're expensive. They seem like overkill. I'm just going to say this. Would it be possible to park a big vehicle in that blockage area, say a fire truck or RV or rather than having more of these. Is there a standard to have these? It seem so

Why is it jahi bar maybe? Yeah. So I tell you just from my experience when the event originally started back in 2020 there was discussion about the type of traffic barrier that would be required that would meet our risk standards. And so at the time there were a couple of events where you had a driver that got confused and kind of I think there was an event in Santa Monica. I know there was one but I can't remember the event.

But anyway, I think at the time given kind of the environment, the barriers that we're requesting were the barriers that met our risk needs. I

guess I'll pose this question to city manager as well. Have we explored anything less cumbersome maybe that could check that box?

So I think that's always a judgment call. But when we deal with risks that are fairly low frequency but could have significantly high impact, we tend to on the side of caution. So admittedly, they are cumbersome. But as David mentioned, there were a handful of incidents of vehicles entering pedestrian areas where people got hurt or worse. And so while that doesn't happen often, I think the concern became, how do we make sure something like that doesn't happen in our city?

And the way to do that is just to have some overkill weight in the scenario where if somebody was either confused or, God forbid, maliciously wanted to do something, that that would create a barrier that would prevent something like that from happening. So so we could always look into it. But admittedly, you know, they don't happen very often. But we want to make sure in that very rare instance that we're still protecting our residents. So we could look see if there's something that might be a little more mobile but that still kind of meets that threshold but this is one we have confidence in and one we've been using so

we thought

that was Where are the barriers currently located?

So they are currently located where Market Night ends, which is at On Houston Washington. On Washington, yeah.

Okay.

But just on Washington, they're not currently on Juniper or B Street?

I don't know the specific traffic control layout is One of my engineering brethren might be able to answer that question.

Good evening. Currently, you're closing down Washington Avenue at C Street and also at B Street and also on the West Side Of Juniper at at Washington. So currently, we have nine barriers. We put three at the Washington Avenue at C Street and B Street, also on Juniper, West Of Washington. And then we actually utilize a truck on the East Side Of Washington on Juniper.

Okay. So you're using a vehicle, and then you have three at each of the other points

at Correct. The

And where are these new ones gonna go?

I think the idea is to get the eight new ones that would then close down C Street At Washington on both sides of Washington. You have to close down C Street because you're extending it. Then also at the location where the truck is currently on Juniper, East Of Washington.

And how many in each of those locations? That's three locations with eight barriers. The math doesn't

work. It's three, three, and two, but I wasn't in that math exercise.

Three, and two. Okay. That's all the questions I have.

I don't have any more questions. Councilman Stone.

Thank you. Mayor, real fast. What is the new trailer for? What's the purpose of the new trailer? What is the cost of the new trailer?

So the trailer would be used to haul the additional barricades. And if I remember right, so the barricades are about $9,000 each. So that would put the trailer I think at 60,000.

And that's just to move the barriers?

It's to be able to move them, know, get them loaded, move them around to wherever they need to go, city yard, other community events.

Okay.

In speaking with many of the business owners down there, particularly Mays, Mays had shared with me that on market nights, that's two nights a month, she closes early, and she said that she loses approximately $6,000 of income a month due to market nights. The purpose of market nights was to promote our downtown. And I believe stopping just short of Lily Kelly is going to upset some of those retailers on the other side. And and I guarantee you, I'll be getting a phone call from May's wondering why you you stopped short of Lily Kelly. So if we're going to do this, I think it needs to be beneficial to all the business owners in that area, and we should expand that from 150 to maybe two fifty or 200 feet just so we make sure that all of our businesses benefit from market nights.

In addition, I'm not sure exactly how the city is the city compensated at all from market nights other than other than a tax benefit, is there a revenue source that comes back to us from market nights to recoup some of our expenses?

The the original agreement did have cost sharing revenue sharing agreement to

it. And

so there is the potential for that. I think we're currently reviewing the prior year's reporting period. And unfortunately, don't have any numbers for you in that regard, but there is a requirement for that in the agreement.

So I anticipate that we're listen the cost of living has increased significantly and we're feeling the effects here in City Hall our city manager our departments have done a great job by cutting back by 10 Our city manager has been very creative and for us to spend $133,917.25 while public safety is a major priority for our residents, I think that there should be a little bit more of a revenue sharing for us to compensate for our expenditures. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Councilwoman Warren.

Thank you very much, mayor. I have a question to ask you. The brick and mortar businesses that are along this the frontage of this marketplace and the space in front of their businesses, would they have to pay to open up a booth in front of their stores for that space during market night? Is that part of them being downtown at no charge?

Yeah. So the intent is and I can't remember the I don't recall the exact language, but the merchants have the ability to use their space in front of their stores and there's expectation of having to become a vendor and pay for that. So that was why we folded that into the agreement. We know that, that was a concern of merchants the original, if you want to call it, the start up period. And so we're in this amendment, we're able to negotiate that merchants who provided notice to the operators would be able to have a space in front of their their storefront with no charge.

So would that mean that they would have to put up a booth, a table or whatever or could they just open their doors and say come in and do business with me?

Think that's always been an option in the course of the market nights. If they wanted to have more exposure and be on the sidewalk, they have the ability to do that.

But would that prevent the Market Night personnel to not put anybody in front of the store if they decided not to put a booth up? Would that space be open or would they still put a booth up in front of them?

If if a business elected not to have a space in front of their their storefront, then the market night folks would be able to place a vendor there.

Okay. So they can do it if they wanna put a booth out there, but it would seem to me that if they're gonna open up their business for and if they don't wanna put a booth out, but there could be a booth put in front of their store, yet their store could still be open. Is that what I'm understanding? Yes. K. Thank you.

Councilwoman DeForest.

Thank you, Mary. Just a a question. The barricades, I I know I've seen those at other places and other events. Those would be used where? They would be used maybe the parade, birthday bash, or something. Could you elaborate on where they would be used?

I know the police department has a a real interest in them, and also now at the birthday bash, we shut down Kell Oaks Road at Kell Oaks Sports Park. We had actually rent some additional ones this past year because we did not have enough of them to do a full closure of Kell Oaks Road at Jackson And Lincoln. So it actually be utilized every year for that event. And they're also good for portable use or any type of security at any type of an event that the police department or fire department may have interest in.

Thank you for that. Mayor, are we doing discussion and questions or just questions?

You're last on the questions, so if you wanna go right to discussion, that's fine.

Oh, okay. Yeah. Wow.

Was Oh, I'm sorry.

No. Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

We didn't do public comments yet.

Sorry. I just one more question. As we all appear want our community to be reached by our fire or police, is that changing our response times for any areas? Is it changing our response time for downtown blocking off that extra 150 foot?

So you know it'll create a different detour you know scenario than the responders, first responders might be used to. But they're already having to address that situation if they get a call. And the last time we had spoken to the police department about that, seconds matter but they didn't believe that that was a substantial concern.

Okay. Thank you for that. Thank you, Mayor.

You're welcome. One last question. I just want to ask, can did we look at alternatives for those barriers, maybe like a more mobile or was it just because we had the other ones we kind of went form fit with the same ones this time around? Did we look at options at all?

So I don't want to speak for Mr. Mailing, but I have to assume that there's some operational advantages, having one system, not having to learn different deployment requirements for different types of barriers.

And you touched on it earlier, just to clarify, these would be because we had to rent them in the past for Cal Oaks on the birthday bash, these extra ones we would be purchasing if this is the direction we went would be used at many other events throughout the city?

It would be used at all events throughout the city as needed, yes.

Okay. That's all the question I have. I think Mr. Holiday has one more.

Yeah. I'm kind of piggybacking on Councilmember Warren's question about the brick and mortar stores that are there. So in section c of the amendment, section three part c, a new subsection c, downtown business priority placement, brick and mortar businesses not disturbed. Companies shall ensure that storefront access to each brick and mortar business located adjacent to the site frontage area remains clear and unimpeded by the event at all times while businesses are open during a scheduled event. That would seem to indicate that if they're going to be open, that that space in front of them won't be used by a vendor.

But then in section two and three of that same subsection, it says that the company coordinator shall notify the eligible business within five minutes prior to finalizing vendor placement, and the eligible business must confer their intent to occupy the space. So how can it be both kept open if they are open, but then they have to occupy it able

And And

to

do that. Space in front of their storefront. And so if a Market Night vendor if a merchant doesn't notify Market Nights that they want to be open or have the space reserved, then the market night staff would be free to have one of their vendors in front of the storefront. So the idea was to keep the access clear. That was really the Sidewalk? The sidewalk. That's not clear in there. Yeah. No. That that's a appreciate you pointing that out.

Thank you. I would and I agree with councilman Warren. If they give notice, they shouldn't have to occupy the space. If they wanna keep it open for their own traffic to come in their brick and mortar, that should be an option that they have with notification. My thought.

Mister mayor, real fast. Just like May's, It would be unfair if May's stays open till 09:00 at night, and they are right pretty much on the street. And if and again, you have to remember these small businesses, they have to set up, they have to hire additional employees. I don't think it'd be fair for some of these businesses that are right on the street to have a vendor right in front of their location. I think that we need to review that.

Before I move back to councilmember force, on that thought, and I think where this is going, maybe we could look at an opt in for not caring if someone's blocking your door. Otherwise, it'd be viewed as don't block the door. Councilwoman DeForest.

Thank you mayor. I think that Councilwoman Stone could maybe piggyback on this as well but in 2020, when we chose these barriers, we went through extensive I remember looking at the different types. And this was we chose this, as I remember I mean, was a while ago but we chose it for potential expansion so it'd be easier to expand. But my understanding was the trailer that we purchased could hold more. But I'm it's very it's a while ago. So

My understanding is when we bought the original nine barriers, they can only put nine barriers on one trailer. So when you buy the additional eight, they come with an additional trailer so you can actually move them independent of each other instead instead of having to make two trips or load them onto the trailer in the yard. They stay on the trailer when they're in the Public Works Yard, the Universal Surfaces Yard.

Yeah, I just remember them being incredibly expensive. And I remember us talking about trying to find something cheaper. But it really seemed, after looking at them, they even brought it to Market Night, or they brought

it somewhere so we could look at it, too. I remember that. Remember the units that they were putting water in there as So the staff did you did do your due diligence. Yes. That's right. I forgot about that.

Those water filled barriers that yeah. Yeah. Okay. So John, just to try to maybe elaborate. No, yeah. Yeah, to try to

Where are you? And down the road.

Rabbit

hole. Pun intended. Yes. No one else. Laurie that was you. Looks like I'm at Connie McConnell. Come on up.

Mr. Mayor if I could just circle back to

the sir.

Airport Tim Holiday's comment. So I neglected to let you know that there's a requirement for guidelines to implement the vendor merchant's right of first refusal process. So we can work through kind of like those logistics issues with the operator. If you want to provide any direction to staff then that's great.

I had some remarks all done but I'm going to answer some questions if I may. First I want to thank the staff for all the work they've done because I know they've worked on this very hard and most and all of you have helped us with the market. Case for Casey and I, this is a labor of love, and we really we really appreciate the response we've gotten from the community because they are very appreciative of having the market. Now let's address some of the problems. We already did a walk through with the fire marshal, and one of the reasons we're stopping where we are is because we do not want to block chapel.

We do not want to block the shooters or sidelines, and we certainly cannot block the post office. So there was a reason that we had to stop where we did. And the fire marshal agreed that we'd get to a certain point, and there then there is they need a 150 feet to back a truck up and turn it around and that that would be accommodated in the post office parking lot. And so that Doug really helped us decide where we were gonna ask to stop it. But we have gone over that with him.

And the only thing about C Street, he did say perhaps we could have some soft closings on C Street, which would involve a vehicle because then it would be easier to get a fire truck through if we or an emergency vehicle if we needed to because you cannot move those barriers. So if you had part of it closed and then use a soft close with a vehicle, you know, going this way fine and then this way fine so that they could come through if they needed to. So we really have tried to adjust address those things. As far as the the brick and mortars, take Lux and Love or Lux and Lounge down there. We always keep a corridor open so that she has a walkway to her store.

And when she on Thursday nights, she's busy. She's real busy. And if I have anybody cancel so I don't have anything full, I always leave that particular area open. So that she's one of the main ones that would be affected. There really is nobody else in that particular section that cares about whether or not we're we're closing off the street, but we always do leave area open so that people can get to their businesses.

The new ice cream shop that's coming in, we already talked to them. We would leave an area open so people could get to the ice cream shop if they chose to be open during market nights. As far as May's, I was interested in hearing you say what you did, Lori, because we talked to Toby. We talked to all of the businesses down there, and they were in favor of us doing this. And she said she lost business when we when the markets down there were closed, but that can I finish answering some questions, or is that okay?

You can finish answering that comment, I guess, with over in case you have What? You can finish. Yes.

Okay. So but she said that the mark the market being open further down does help her. And so we could at least draw people down to the to the area, but we can't block we can't block chapel, and we can't block sidelines, and we can't block the shooters, and so that's why we decided to close there. But she she thought that extending the market would be a good idea. So any any other questions I can answer for you? Or I'll let Casey do it.

So, yes. She she was a very loud voice of having, the extension of market nights, and you and I have had that conversation. You know, it's it's interesting that you talk about the shooters and you talk about, Chapel Coffee and you talk about sidelines, but there are other businesses such as May's that will be affected by this. And again, she shared with me that she has a loss of $6,000 a month in revenue by not expanding it. At at one time, you did expand it down there.

No. That wasn't us. That wasn't part of our in the very beginning, when we started the Murian Market Nights, the the other businesses Yeah.

Participated on their own.

They just participated on their own. Right. But they didn't have all of the permits or what anyway, we had nothing to do with closing that part down.

Right.

But it was closed down for those reasons. We were always under the understanding that we could not go in front of the post office.

And that

And that's she's on the other side of That

be the case. But again

Yeah.

I'm just a voice for the businesses as well. And it's important that my colleagues understand the impacts, the negative impacts versus the positive, even though it is a very positive event. Want, you know, listen, not everyone's gonna be happy always. But again, you know, she has a viable business. A very unique business. And for me to see one small business owner have to close early because of loss of revenue, that concerns me. And so that

We don't want to see any of them close.

Real quick. Yeah, ahead. We have some language cleanup in that part that was pointed out by Mr. Holiday. And then Connie, the market has certainly evolved, And so revisiting to the vendors and just checking in maybe in a more intentful manner with that discussion, we could probably put that on.

We could expand further, but we didn't think we'd be able to go that far. No. And she the the business on the corner, which is pure bliss, that's her daughter who opened that, and they do a whale of a business on market nights. So it's kind of part

of It ends right there, right in front of their store. Yes.

Alright. So we have we have some things we need to clean up with the with the language in there and just obviously we'll we'll we'll keep an eye on this one and Okay. Evolve and and as it got as it comes.

Great.

Thank you. Mister new grandpa, Casey Girardeau.

Good evening, honorable mayor, city council, city staff, and the general public attending this meeting. We've attended several markets, not just in the state, but also in other parts of the country. All of them are unique. All of them are evolutionary and progressive based on the city that they're in and the demographics. One of the examples which was recent was San Luis Obispo, forty year long running market.

It's huge. It's set up in front of other businesses. They had their challenges at first, and now it's an integrated market where it helps all the brick and mortars. And this is a progress. This is a this is a progressive thing that happens. Now May's closes at 05:00, specific and relative to the brick and mortars. They close at five. That's their posted timeline. The market starts at five. I walked up and down the street a good month before this expansion was considered and interviewed every single business.

And May signed in writing what she was concerned about. We have a survey that she actually signed. And so I think there's a confusion relative to when the market actually was being run by independents on top of our market. I think when that vanished, I think that was the issue. But we have an issue in going too far, and one of the big ones is the post office.

The post office stays up until five, so we can't mess with that. And so in doing this, our goal down there is the market. Mean, we we wanna establish an economic ecology down there. We we want this this is social capital that Connie and I have invested a lot of time and effort into, and it's been it's been extremely successful from a community standpoint. And it's been successful in making the city look good.

So we intend to keep it going on that level. We intend to have additional events, which we're going to have this Thursday. We're gonna have line dancing, and we're going to have the unified Marietta Unified School District presenting their artwork at the alleyway. So we're progressive in this, and we know there's going to be issues with brick and mortar. We know that.

But we're here to help them and enhance them any way we possibly can because that is the backbone of who Connie and I are in that downtown area. And so this market is that. This market is going to contribute to every brick and mortar down there. Right now, we can we can enjoy the quaintness, but it's not always gonna be like that. But the quaintness right now is one of the charms and one of the one of the attractions of this market is exactly that. And with that, I'm open to questions.

Thank you, Casey. You know, I don't know how long ago that first conversation am I done? It really just sounds like to me, you guys have grown extensively obviously, which is awesome. Maybe another time for another check-in with May and just see how she's doing, if we can accommodate her in any way, I think that's more than fair. So and I I know you would

do that. So And what we also have, you know, outside of the market, we we have three nonprofits. That's our social capital contribution to this city is is three nonprofits. And one of those nonprofits is Main Street Marietta. And our goal is to support every business down there and to draw as much business as we can down there. It's struggling in a lot of ways. I own property down there. And it's still not over that hump yet. And it's a real celebratory thing to have that ice cream parlor, a little old ice cream parlor. That's something to to cheer about.

He really put an effort into that and put a lot of money and time into it, and it's going to be a fantastic contribution as a brick and mortar down there. So any movement at all that we can help support, we're behind it 110.

Yeah. And you guys, you've been great partners, and you're really good at what you do. So thank you for all your efforts, and we appreciate it. Thank you.

Yeah. Any other questions? Gotta be there's gotta be one or two.

What's your favorite part about Market Night?

To me, when I walk down that street, for me, it's artistry. It's like a canvas. I see the community, and this community that we have here is outstanding. It's diverse. It's and that's an age and ethnicity. It's an it's an income earning. It's everything. And the joy that you see in people's faces and the get along. I mean, everyone gets along. It's it's it's an amazing thing. This city is amazing, and that market represents what this city is about. So I'm on a high when I'm doing market nights.

Well, thank you very much. Miss councilwoman DeForest.

Thank you, mayor. I just I just have some comments.

If if Cindy or Ron, if you have questions for Casey, you can have a seat. Okay. Good, sir.

Thank you. Sit down.

Thank you for being here.

Have a seat.

Back to

us for closing comments.

Thank you, mayor. Thanks for keeping us in line. I appreciate you. I just am so happy. Thank you, Casey, and thank you, Connie. And thank you to our amazing staff who have worked tirelessly on this. And I know that it was exciting to see market nights come fortunate to be here from the infancy. So I'm happy to see the partnership that you have established, even with our local school district. It's going to be the art walk. I've had many patients talk about their children's art.

There's a trout supposedly that I keep hearing that's going to be absolutely amazing at the art walk. So I just think that this is amazing to go and walk. And our community loves this. So this is something our community really likes. And I appreciate Council Member Stone's comments that it is important that we maintain integrity of our brick and mortar. Those are our foundation of our downtown. So making sure that those people are and I agree you can't make everyone happy, but to the most part, to support them and to help them thrive. So it's my goal that Market Night makes everyone thrive, everybody that's there. So I just think this is

a

great event. And I am so pleased that I have it in my community. I've been to Redlands. I've been to San Luis Obispo and been to many other Market Nights. And it just grounds our community. I mean, I see John and every dog that he has there every time I go. Or, you know, I see Cindy with her granddaughter. You know, it's it's it's truly makes us connected to our community, and it's nice that our city is a partner with, downtown Market Night. So thank you for the time.

Thank you, councilwoman DeForest. Councilwoman Warren.

Thank you very much. It is definitely an asset to our community. There is no two ways about that. And to those visiting our community, which brings in dollars that we would not have seen probably otherwise. I do wanna make sure that we clean up that language is that the brick and mortars understand that they do have first right of refusal and they understand the rules in that.

I think that is extremely important. We need to keep their doors open as they are part of that community twenty fourseven, three hundred sixty five days a year and I think it's important that they have some, you know, input but also that they know what the rules are and that they understand what they're supposed to do. Also, I think the reporting back to us needs to be done in a timely manner for accountability and for us to look at the books to make sure that everything is above board, which I'm sure it is, but I think we need to have that done at least yearly. And I don't know what schedule that is on and how we do that but you know there are costs associated with this and I think it's we need to have the physical responsibility to make sure that you know we're not we're not doing all the taking care of all the costs that there is some cost shared. So thank you.

That concludes my comments.

Thank you. Mayor President Holiday.

Thank you, mister mayor. I'm gonna use my back in the day. I was on the Downtown Merchants Association Committee somewhere around the late nineties, I'm gonna guess. I think Ann yeah. Not as long ago as the gentleman that was here earlier.

I think Ann Burrell was on that, and I don't remember who else. There's a few others. Lori Moss was the city manager at the time, or assistant city manager. And the city has always been looking at ways to advance the downtown area. I thank Connie and Casey for spearheading the market nights.

I hope that our previous investments, and if this one passes, this investment into those market nights, shows that the city supports what you're doing. Because it's no small dollar amount on an annual basis if you read the staff report. I do think the language needs to be cleaned up for the merchants, the brick and mortars. I liked mayor Lavelle's comment instead of I think it would take a lot of staff time or individual your individual time with people opting in, opting out, you know, the first right of refusal and stuff. I would suggest what he mentioned to me is maybe just do an opt in or opt out saying, you can always use it, or no, I want to keep it open.

And then if their business is open, have that be the only caveat versus doing it on a regular twice a month basis. That would be my personal guidance as far as how to deal with the merchants there and make it a little cleaner. Certainly need to clean up that first paragraph to make sure that mentions that it's a sidewalk to be kept open, because that is a little contradictory. The one thing I do when I walk down market nights is I ask all the vendors, what do you think of this? How does it compare?

I'm always asking that question. And every single one of them says Murrieta Market Nights is one of the best they ever see of all and they travel to a lot of places to go to different market nights or market days or weekends or whatever they're going to. They travel all over Southern California to sell their stuff. And so they are the best resource to find out how our Market Knight is doing. I don't know if everyone here is aware, Temecula tried to copy ours because it was so successful and for whatever reason, they were unsuccessful and had to close it.

I know why. Because it's in Temecula. They were at Marietta.

Exactly. But I think that gives some credit to Connie and Casey as well, that ours is that successful, and the vendors think it's one of the best that they've ever been to. So I'm in support of this. I do think we need the brick and mortar to clean that section up just a touch and just kind of make it a permanent thing if they are open at that space whether they want a walkway I assume that's what you guys are talking about when you have an opening is just a walkway or if they want a full vendor booth because they're going to put a tent out just work that out ahead of time and just make it permanent for them. That's my comments.

Thank you, mister Holiday. Councilwoman Stone.

Thank you, mayor. I have a question with regards to Mays. I know that, there were issues with the businesses where the expansion's gonna be, and they were shut down. Do we have would you be able to answer as far as, you know, code enforcement? Is there a way that Mays could still participate by putting a canopy and a booth in front of her store. I mean, it's just a few feet away. So at least if she chooses to participate, we're not gonna shut her down for that.

Well, so she's the business is outside the right of way area that MarketNet is using. And so she's going to be or that person is going to be subject to our normal encroachment, process and it's not so the difference between what Market Nights is doing in terms of how they operate and businesses outside of that area is there's a substantial time constraint on how often somebody can do that. So we basically need to amend the code in order to allow that type of an approach that might be something that could be tied into the downtown specific plan. There could be some, I'll just say like interim approaches we could use until we get the specific plan updated, which we're planning on doing anyway because of for example the code enforcement ad hoc changes that need to be made. So I think there's a path.

Need to be able to kind of refine that and bring it back to you if that's something you wanna do.

So adjacent to her property, when you're facing May's to the right, there is a semi vacant little pad there. So it's not in the street, but there were issues with other vendors doing pop ups that were not participating in market nights. Would the city shut her down if she were to use that little pad and put out a canopy and promote her business?

The way that she assuming she'd be operating same way as Mark and I she's going to be in violation of the sorry I keep saying she but our you know our temporary temporary use regulations are only good for a limited period of time and so that doesn't allow somebody to operate year round.

So you have to understand that this is only 55 approximately 50 feet from her front door and this little small business is not going to be able to benefit from market nights.

I would say you have the ability to change the code if you want to you know try to extend that to other

It has access to her so she has whole a backyard full of antiques and stuff. That is the access. There's like a little pad that access her back area.

Sorry?

Correct. But again, want you I want you as a small business owner, know, that's really hard to swallow.

I think part of our goal is to make sure whatever rules we have can apply generally. And so the anecdote of a single business kind of helps us see issues, but then we always have to ask ourselves, what if everybody else wanted similar treatment? And so I think what David is saying is we can establish a path forward. But one of the things that Market Nights has done is they've gone through a fairly elaborate process to say, how are we going to control traffic? How are we going to get access to safety? Where are the tents going to go? How big are they going to be? How are they anchored, etcetera, etcetera? What nobody has been able to do is just ad hoc do what they want and put things up. And so individual businesses would have to go through a similar process, given the constraints of the code, to do something like a temporary use permit and determine how often is this going to happen and answer all those similar questions.

What is nice about market nights is you can do that for a large area, and anyone within that area is now playing within those rules. What's harder is for individual businesses to do that just for themselves. I think it's possible that they could do that in some instances even if it were to require some code changes. But I just wanna be clear that what we're not saying is MarketKnights can do it, no one else can do it. What we're saying is MarketKnights has done has has checked all the boxes to ensure that this is a publicly safe way to do it and anybody else who wanted to do something similar would have to do the same.

It is just more difficult to do that as one off businesses and we wouldn't want to say we're going to make an exception for one because then when the next business nearby says I would also like to do my own thing we just want to make sure that whatever anybody does is safe and and kind of goes through the whole process to be compliant that's that's why we bring you an MOU an agreement those are the rules within which anybody does this that now that any business now is outside of that agreement it's outside of the rules so they're subject to the code instead and and again David saying I think there is a path forward but you'd probably have to one make sure the allowances are there and two again you know market nights is two times a month not five not 10 you know you'd have to address all those specifics in order to get to a yes to permit not just that business but any one business outside of this area that's already been vetted and and kind of approved. Does that make sense?

So she can apply for a temporary use permit and and that would be acceptable?

But there's a limit on it.

It's too many nights.

Yeah. It's it's not gonna have the same time span that Market Nights operates.

Okay.

And she does mean, it she closes at five. That's her business posted business hours for her.

But during Market Nights, when with yes. So what I'm saying when all the other businesses were doing pop ups, she financially benefited from that. And as a small business owner, wouldn't we want our small businesses to thrive? And because that was all shut down, that is why she did not expand her hours during those two market nights. So just just so you understand.

Yeah. Just just wanna just Lots of variables in that.

Right. Again, we we really want this to be beneficial to all concerned. In addition, I want to talk about the Councilwoman Warren and I are pretty much on the same page when it comes to the financials. We want to make sure that if they're expanding, that the city should be compensated through that expansion as well. However, that looks to you, city manager, for us to spend $133,917 there has to be some additional revenue coming back to offset our expenses.

I believe the agreement calls out how that reconciliation happens and how frequent it should be happening. So there is criteria for that listed already. I think that's all. I'll just close by saying Casey and Connie, what you guys do every time I'm there. Yes, the dogs are absolutely the best part of Market Night.

So if you could have more dogs there, that would be great. You know what make great barriers is really mean dogs, scary looking dogs. No, but thank you for everything you've done. It certainly is you talk to people that are not from Marietta, it's certainly a highlight and a draw no matter what. That night is full of so many people. And every time I go, I just I can't believe how much is going on down there. And it's largely because of you two. So thank you for all of your efforts. Please don't stop. And that's all. At this time, I'd like to call for a motion from Mayor Pro Tem Holiday. I have a motion and a second by Councilwoman DeVores. Please vote.

Motion carries unanimously five-zero.

Congrats.

At this time, we're gonna move on to thank you, David. Thank you, Bob. Reconsideration. Madam City Clerk.

Any council member who voted on the prevailing side of the original motion may remove a reconsideration to consider new information or correct inadvertent errors on a non public hearing item at the same meeting or the next. At this time, are there any requests from the city council for reconsideration? Seeing none. Moving on to council member request to add or withdraw items to future agendas if I may Mr. Mayor.

Yes.

Now it's the time for council member request to add or withdraw items to future agendas. There will be no discussion on the request. A brief explanation of the request may be given. The merit of the items being requested may not be discussed or debated. Are there any City Council requests?

Lori Stone.

Thank you mayor. While I'm very excited about AB two three zero seven I believe that we'll have a solution to a little bit of the traffic congestion. But I want to bring back again to talk about traffic congestion again.

Just to talk about how much we don't like it, what do want to talk about?

I'm going to talk about again the synchronization within our city and the debacle of our traffic congestion.

Can I get a second for a debacle? Sure, I will second that, yes. Yeah, I'll be absent. Moving on to public comments and non agenda items. Madam City Clerk, do we have any public comments for non agenda items?

Yes we do. We have Kassen Klein.

You.

Good evening. I wanna begin by acknowledging the city's difficult predicament regarding this property, and I wanna thank mayor Lavelle, mayor Pro Tem Holiday, and council member Stone for taking the time to meet with us. We also appreciate Justin and Scott for their diligence in exploring potential solutions. The context. Frank and Hardy Heidi Artiga purchased a rural residential property to construct their dream home.

This single family residence, a by right ministerial process. The city has proposed off-site mitigation beyond the property frontage as a condition for issuing his permits, such as a building permit or certificate of occupancy. Traditionally, such conditions are reserved for discretionary approvals, such as a partial map. Under established law, any required mitigation must meet two strict standards: essential nexus, a clear connection between the project's impact and the required mitigation and rough proportionality. The the mitigation must be proportional to the extent of the impact.

The current off-site requirements are cost prohibitive. For the Ortegas, no alternative effectively means no project. The no project scenario creates its own liabilities. It leaves the site in a hazardous state resulting from the unfulfilled conditions of Parcel Map 31018 and the three existing occupied residences. When compared, the proposed Artega project is environment environmentally superior to leaving these conditions unaddressed.

In an attempt to find a win win, staff has suggested a fair share agreement with the property owner across the street who is currently processing a tentative parcel map number 38747. However, tentative parcel map is a discretionary act, Tying a ministerial by right permit to a separate discretion discretionary approval is, in essence, a regulatory take. Given the conditions of parcel map 31018, when unfulfilled for three previous permits, we have heard the sentiment that, quote, two wrongs don't make a right, end quote. We agree. Demanding the last guy to make up for a deck for decades of administrative failure is not a correction.

It is an inequity. With the city now fully aware of these existing conditions, it would be a secondary failure to not fulfill the municipal obligation to rectify them. Our proposed resolution. The reasonable, equitable, and ethical solution is to allow the Ortigas or their successors to obtain their permits with a condition to construct mitigation limited to their specific property frontage. I hope you will take this into consideration when you go into closed session to discuss these things. And as a longtime resident and former planning commissioner that approved that parcel map, I hope you choose wisely. Thank you.

That concludes public comments. Thank

you. Madam city clerk, would you do an announcement of our closed session items?

Yes, sir. The city council will meet on two items. CS one conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation the city council will conduct a closed session pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point nine d two because there is significant exposure to litigation in two cases CS two conference with labor negotiators. The city council will conduct a closed session pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven point six with the city manager assistant city manager deputy city manager city attorney and the city's negotiators regarding labor negotiations with the Murrieta Police Officers Association, Murrieta Police Management Association, Murrieta Firefighters Association, and Murrieta Fire Management Association and Management Professional and Confidential.

Thank you. At this time we are recessing to closed session. We will be back. Thank you. Like to call the order, are back from closed session.

Madam City Attorney, could you please provide a report of closed session?

Yes, mayor. The City Council met in closed session on three items. All council members were in attendance for all three items. The The first two were to discuss two cases of significant exposure to litigation pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point nine d two. In both items, the council were updated, asked questions, the questions were answered and the council gave direction to staff there's no reportable action the third item was to confer with labor negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven point six again the council was updated and provided direction to staff. Their questions were answered. No reportable action. Thank you.

Thank you. Before we adjourn tonight, just wanna say we're gonna adjourn with miss Laurie Stone taking the mic.

Thank you, mister mayor. We had a longtime resident of Marietta that passed away this weekend, Linda Wunderlich. Wunderlich is a highly accomplished and dedicated individual with over twenty two years of experience at the Valley Business Journal, where she served as the owner, publisher, and CEO. During her tenure, she established the publication as a leading source of news and information for residents of the Temecula and Marietta area, reaching an impressive readership of over 60,000 individuals. Linda moved to Marietta in 1989, where she raised her two children, Tara and Dane.

Linda's commitment to community is evident in her extensive involvement in various boards and committees. A Rotarian for twenty two years, a former board member of the K-nine support teams, a founding member of the Women's Peer Connection, and a past member of the Economic Development Coalition Marketing Committee. Linda's contributions to the community have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 28th Senatorial District 2018 Small Business of the Year and 2017 President's Lifetime Achievement Award by the Corporation of National and Community Services, NCNCS. She was also named the State of California winner for the Journalist of the Year by the

Highlighting her exceptional storytelling skills

and journal integrity, Linda has received multiple accolades for her business acumen, including the City U. Of Temecula Special Achievement Award and Marietta Wildemart Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year 02/2003, 2007, and 2013. In addition, she was the recipient of the Economic Development Coalition Partner of Southwest California award. Linda is a role model in the business community with her unwavering commitment to excellence, philanthropic, community involvement to drive to support local businesses and nonprofits has had an immeasurable impact on our city and our region. So to the family of Linda Wunderlek, may the wonderful memories of your mother bring smiles to your hearts for a lifetime.

Rest in peace, Linda. Thank you, mister Mayor.

Thank you.

This meeting is

adjourned.