City Council Meeting - Regular Meeting

I would like to call to order Fontana City Council. We'll start with roll call. Mayor here. Council member Roberts.

Present.

Council member Cochran.

Present.

Council mayor pro tem Garcia is not here and council member Sandoval. We have a quorum. At this time, can we all please stand for our invocation and pledge? Our pledge will be led by council member Catherine, and our invocation will be led by council member Roberts.

Smile heads. Heavenly father, we thank you for the many blessings that you've bestowed on our city of Fontana. We we come to you with grateful hearts this afternoon, and we ask that you be with us today as we deliberate the matters before us. Give us wisdom and guidance and be with those in public safety and military service. Keep them safe. And we ask this in your name. Amen. Please join me in the pledge. Pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

You may all be seated. At this time, we'll have our city attorney, Ruben Duran, please provide our closed session report.

Yes. Thank you, madam mayor. Good afternoon, everyone. This afternoon, the council met to consider each of the three items that are listed on their closed session agenda. They provided, direction to staff, but there is no reportable action on any of those items. Thank you, madam mayor.

Thank you. That brings us to our ceremonial items and our presentations. We're gonna recognize community service supervisors, Dan Clark, community service coordinator, Zachary DeMeo, and Southern California Municipal Athletic Foundation Federation executive director, Bill Vaughn, for their dedication and outstanding efforts in developing and organizing the surf and turf competition. We'll have Gino Ferreira come up to present. Please join me, gentlemen, as we stand.

Hello?

Oh, there we go. Alright. It's working. Oh, come and join me, please. Good afternoon all. I am here at what's that?

I don't want you to be lonely.

Thank you. I appreciate that. Alright. Thank you, council and, mayor. Appreciate the time. This evening afternoon, we are here to, recognize collaboration between two organizations that, put on a education and professional development event for all of our staff and staff for the regional area. But first, before I get into that, I'm gonna bring up our supervisor, Stan Clark, sports and aquatics supervisor, Stan Clark. Over the past three years, Stan's been the supervisor over aquatics and sports. And before that, he was a sport, aquatics coordinator, and he is a absolute pioneer, I will say, in the aquatics area. I'm sure I'm talking it up a little bit, but he loves it.

But over the last three years, he served on the the CPRS, which is the California Parks and Recreation Society board for aquatics section, specifically. And he has crawled up through the ranks there. And over the last year

Swam.

Swam. Correct. Thank you. Swam through the ranks up through the ranks, and he was the board, the board president. And just at the 2026, conference held in Long Beach, he was awarded the Professional Achievement Award through CPRS and the aquatic section.

And

there are some, there are some real solid professionals on that list there, and Stan just is gonna put his name on there as a solid professional. And he continues to innovate and collaborate and expand our aquatics and our sports programs. And this is just our moment to say thank you, and well done, and congratulations, sir. Fantastic. Thank you.

Thank you. Alright. And then I'm gonna let Stan go ahead and talk about our surf and turf event since he was the professional who put it together. And I'm just gonna stand here and look attractive.

Okay. Yeah. I I think, we have a little bit of video we could probably queue up at this moment to, to show you a little bit of highlights, and then at the same time, bring up Phil and Zach.

Hello, everybody. My name is Zachary Tamayo. I am one the community services coordinators here for the city of Fontana in the sports division, and I'm the twenty five twenty six Kapoa president. And we're here at our fourth annual Surf and Turf event, located in the beautiful city of Fontana, and this is an opportunity for sports and aquatics to come together and network and help develop the future professionals in the industry and also develop our current professionals to be better leaders in the future. Thank you very much.

So, yeah, just a quick couple of words. Thank you. Yeah. Just a quick couple of words. I've been extremely lucky to have the support of our director and the city here to be involved on these boards such as as you know, the CPRS board as well as SCPOA. And years ago, I was kinda inspired by being at the Institute for SMAPH, And I approached Bill, and this was close to five years ago where I approached Bill. And I said, hey, man. We need to do this kind of collaborative effort where we do this surf and turf thing where we do aquatics and sports together, as well as, you know, do some stuff that's just kind of leadership oriented or, you know, professional development oriented. And, you know, he was all in, and that was great. So here we are four years later.

This thing has really taken off. And again, I've been lucky to just be a part of it. I'm glad it's kinda stuck through the time and that we've had the support of the city. I also have Zach with me who's a former, you know, president. He's just on his way out the door, but he's had a great run. And Bill, as I said so I wanna let them say a few words too, but thank you very much for the support that you've given me.

Hello, everybody. Yeah. So just to highlight a little bit of the key features of this event. Not only is it for, current full time professionals like myself in the sports or aquatics industry, but we really wanna help develop our future leaders. So really trying to gear towards our part time staff and not only our staff here in the city, but all across the Southern California region.

So we had about over 200 individuals participate in, agencies as far East as the city of Yucaipa, all the way West as far as the city of LA. And, one of the beautiful things that I think we gotta have this year is the Girls Play LA initiative come out, which is through the LA twenty eight Foundation and, really highlighting some of the key motions of what sports is trying to do for our youth. So it's been a big blessing. And then to kinda wrap it up, we gotta end the event this year with our annual lifeguard competition. So it's a way for other surrounding agencies to bring their aquatics teams together and showcase some of the skills and development that they get to do and also as well highlight their agency and and show really what their aquatics teams brings to the community. So, yeah, thank you guys very much.

Hello. I'm Bill Bant, the executive director of SMaF, and I've been in this position for all of two months. So but I'm just amazed this whole thing started with just a phone call. Just a phone call to put something together and just the key of partnerships and collaborations and what it can do. And we already have our save the date for the fifth year. And just seeing the people that show up, I mean, I've been working in Parks and Rec now for fifteen years, and there were so many new faces at this last workshop that I was just, great. This is this is the future, and these are the people that will be putting on this workshop for year 20, year 25. So it was, just a great moment, and I just really love working with this organization to put this event on every year.

Thank you. We wanted to provide you certificates of appreciation. Really thank you for all the hard work because as you all learn, you're making sure that our citizens really enjoy their quality of life. So I'm gonna start with council member Cochran.

Bill, for your amazing service this so far, a couple months, I get the honor of recognizing you. So Bill Bent. First certificate. There, I'm honored.

And, Zach, on behalf of the mayor and the council, we were gonna give you this certificate and, congratulate you on a job very well done. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Stan, thank you so much. You've done an incredible job, and we're so proud of you as our community supervisor there. So this is for you. And so at this time, let's all give them a big hand.

And so there she is. We're gonna take a picture. Okay, next. This is, a recognition that came to our attention. I think it was about two months ago we talked about this was coming.

It was a national craft championship, and Gabriel was part of that. And we want him to join us on the stage along with the school officials that came with him so they can describe to all of us what happened. He has a lot of medals on, so it's kinda clear what happened. Congratulations. Thank you so much.

You're so welcome. Okay. Who's gonna start talking first? Let's see. Who who wants to talk first?

Well, thank you, mayor Warren and members of the council. We really appreciate you taking some time to recognize the accomplishments of Gabriel Kansinos. We're with the Associated Builders and Contractors. We have four state and federally approved apprenticeship programs, three training facilities in Southern California. Every year, we host a small competition in our facility in Anaheim.

Gabriel got first, which meant he got to go to the national competition. At the national competition, he competed against all other 63 chapters in The United States of the associated builders and contractors, and Gabriel got first place in electrical. Gabriel also got first place with the safety award because safety is the cornerstone of everything we do at ABC. And the guy who really should be up here, the two of them, is John Panello, who's our resident Fontana resident and instructor, and then Aaron Viveros, who's sitting out there. Aaron's more excited.

It's like he's winning through Gabriel. So Aaron's very excited today. But Gabriel went to the national competition, he can share with you more about what it was like. Yeah.

So for sure, it's extremely grateful to be here. The national competition was we only had about three months to prepare for it. Thankfully, that I had a very supportive team at ABC SoCal and very appreciative of my mentor, Aaron Riveros. Three three months to prepare for this competition at at at ABC Nationals in Utah. Man, just a lot of hard work and dedication night and day. I practically made that my whole life for those three months, and, we came out on top and won first place.

Hi. I'm Mike Mitchell. I'm the chapter president, ABC SoCal. And I just wanna say that we are so proud of all the work that Gabriel has done and our trainers and just I I think it reflects so well on our program in general. So congratulations, and thank you for having us.

What people may not understand is that it I I guess it was 2018 I declared a state of emergency on education. And part of that was because our students were not exposed to anything other than just going to college. And we all know the statistics are fair and they're clear that a number of the young people don't want to do that. They want to have careers. They want to have skills.

They want to make money and take care of their families and inevitably. Once they work for certain companies, they end up sending them back to school and paying for them to go to school. And you're a great example of that. So I was in DC last week and I let it be known that you had gotten that championship. Others who feel that way were just ecstatic because just as we celebrate those scholarships for going to these Ivy League schools, we've got to celebrate these efforts because the majority of our young people are really looking to have options, and that's all.

All we're doing is trying to expose them to options. So congratulations on behalf of the 200 over 215,000 people that call Fontana their home. Now you have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication and professionalism in the electric trade, earning national recognition for this outstanding ability. Gabriel won a gold medal in electric and in safety. He achieved first place in electrical for both ABC South Cal and ABC National.

You serve as an inspiration to aspiring tradespeople, the value of vocational training, and a pride in one's crafts. His achievement brings great pride to his community and highlights the importance of skilled trades in strengthening our workforce and economy. Congratulations. Thank you. Let's give him a big hand, everyone.

And just an add, I see Amanda Morales in the audience from our Chamber of Commerce, and I know you're happy, Amanda, because we've been trying to push this for years, and the efforts of the chamber relates to trying to encourage more workforce activities. So I'm proud of that in this great city. So thank you so much. Next, we're gonna have Elaine Jones to accept. It is time to proclaim April for National Donate Life Month.

Hi there. Excuse

me. As always, thank you. You have been supporting donate life month for at least the fifteen years I've been volunteering. So those who don't know, donate life month is for organ donation. And currently, a 120,000 people in America waiting for a lifesaving transplant. And what we do is just try to let people know that that paint dot on your driver's license, you can make a difference. It's not just organ donation. It is also oh my goodness. I'm sorry. It's tissue donation.

As many of you know, my daughter Maya was on miss Fontana Court last year, and she didn't get tissue donation for a knee injury. She would never be able to follow her dreams. So it does make a difference, and I'm a two time living donor. I had the opportunity to save my uncle in 2001 by donating my right kidney. And then nine years later, I saved a nine month old baby girl by donating my part of my left lobe.

So, you know, we just ask for you to help spread the word and know. Augmenta said there was about 200 and something people in Fontana. Just imagine half of the people in Fontana gone because that's what the waiting list is, over a 120,000 people. And if you decide to do it, just let your family and friends know that those are your wishes to be able to continue to give on for other people to live a long healthy life. So thank you mayor Warren and city council member in the city of Fontana for continued support. Donate life month.

K.

You know, I see you all over the community, and I think people respect when people live what they believe in. And what you have been doing has been amazing, especially with the donations you have made. So we congratulate you. But in reading this, just give you a few stats. There are more than 103,000 individuals nationwide and more than 23,000 in California currently on the National Organ Transplant waiting list.

And on average, seventeen people die daily while waiting. The need is great. California residents can sign up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor when applying for or renewing their driver's license or ID cards at this DMV. California residents interested in saving life through living kidney donation. There's a website which will put on our website to show you.

But we are declaring April 2026 DMV backslash donate life month here in the city of Fontana, which means our region will be looking at this. So thank you for your great service, and this certificate is for you and the organization. Let's give a big hand here. That brings us to public comment. Good afternoon, and thank you again for attending this meeting of the City Council.

The Brown Act provides that members of the public may offer comment on any item of interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. And on any action item, including items on the consent calendar. What this means is that the council welcomes and encourages your input on issues of city business and on action items on today's agenda. Issues of city business do not include personal attacks on city officials or staff members. While we acknowledge your right to comment on our actions or activities with respect to city issues and business, we will not tolerate any disrespect or purely personal comments not having to do with the official performance of city duties.

Please do not use profanity, name calling, or any other behavior that would disrupt the proceedings this afternoon, speech or other activity, including yelling from the audience. That disrupts the orderly business of the council, and it will not be allowed. After a warning, continued behavior that disrupts the meeting may result in you being asked to leave the meeting. Thank you. City Clerk Key, how many public comment requests do you have?

Mayor, we have five, requests to speak during public communications.

Can you call them up in threes? Sure. And what we ask is as soon as your name is called, can you please go to the podium in the back and address? Thank you.

The first three speakers are Asher Jones, Grove Fontana, and Grace.

Hello, mayor. Hello, city council. Hello, members of public. My name is Asher Jones, and today, I'm gonna speak on the consent item d, amendment number one to the professional services agreement for architectural design services with Robert Borders and Associates for the Regional Navigation Center tenement improvements project. I am someone who lived in temporary housing up until a couple years ago, and I am blessed and privileged to have the mental and physical capacity to have the stamina to fill out all the applications and waivers and and go to all the doctor's appointments that I was I had to go through in order to keep my place in temporary housing.

And I'm blessed now to be able to live in Fontana through more permanent housing, through the HOPE program, and step up on second. The issue is that when you're coming off the streets, you have more trauma than anything else that is in direct conflict with your ability to be stable. And when we meet people where they're at, we need to make sure that they have mental health wraparound services. But also, if they are addicted to substances, they have a program that they can go to if they need that service because of the way that they coped on the streets. But, also, if they need spiritual guidance, we give that to them.

But, also, if they need to go and get an education, we guide them towards that as well. I understand that this navigation center will help to a certain extent, maybe a 100 people, and is supported by maybe seven cities throughout the inland region, but we need to do better. As someone who has been blessed with more permanent housing through the step up program, through the whole program, I can say that I'm still living in an unstable life because my housing and my future is uncertain. There are certain things that I need to do, like get SSI or get general relief to stay and keep my housing. That is a three year project I've already been involved in, and it is hard.

When my body says no, stay in bed, I have to listen to it, and I can't do the things that I need to do. So the city council needs to know they did good, but they need to do better. Thank you.

Grow Fontana.

Hey, community. This is actually from me, Bobby Joe Chavarria, this part of my comments. Grow Fontana will be speaking later at the public hearing. I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone. It is Earth Month, but, of course, every day is Earth Day.

We but except for in this council because we have one thousand four hundred and sixty nine days until the UN IPCC deadline to decrease our emissions. And this council, to create a walkable community, is the first step is building more parking so that essentially adding thousands more trips when we need to actually be halving our carbon emissions. But anyway. Maybe other places are celebrating Earth and trying to protect it. But also community, I did want to, extend deep condolences to the Sandoval family, during this time of loss, and I hope this council will recognize not only council members Sandoval's service, but the hard work that he has done sometimes not not able to be with his family all the time.

And then finally, I wanna thank our local, local elected officials who work with this council. And and during a session, the mayor bragged about their great relationships. But I think they forget that the the these assembly members and our congressional district representative, They also really side with the voters of this community that actually are really in direct contrast with many of the policies of this council. So I did wanna thank congresswoman Norma Torres, Congressional District 35, because she shared a letter with us of her commitment to hold this administration accountable, to sign in onto impeachment resolutions. And I wanna implore our community to ask her to take a step further.

Her seat is safe. There is an inconsequential Republican opponent. He can't win, but we need her to stand up for the community and actually abolish ICE, sponsor that legislation, repeat that legislation, and to really stand out against the draft and illegal wars. And for assembly member Garcia, wanna thank him and ask our community to reach out to assembly member Robert Garcia, eighty fifty, for his work on a b two one five nine and in his stance of protecting students and teachers from censorship and and and the harmful effects of legislation that was signed last year, a b seven one five. Thank you, assembly member Garcia.

Grace?

Hello. Good afternoon. I just wanted to bring up a couple of items on the consent calendar. Item c for that lot, I was wondering if there's any way if it could be shared what the plans are for that section. And then item d, I'm wondering why the city is asking or approving additional funds for the work that's gonna be done on it when I believe it was at the March 10 meeting.

The property was sold over to the county. So I'm just not understanding why the city's paying for the remodel if it's now county property. And I think that we should not allow the amendments to be made without coming to city council if it's just under a 100,000 because who's to say how many of those amendments will be made for funding and how much it'll add up to if we've already agreed on a certain amount. And, another question I have is, are there any plans to start the no secret police act that must be enacted by July 1, senate bill six two seven? We stir we still currently have masked individuals terrorizing our streets daily, and it's not okay.

Our community's scared. We shouldn't be afraid to go out go out to work, go for a walk. No one should have that fear. As a city council, yes, there are things that you can do to help with that. And I hope you all choose to do something well.

Our remaining two speakers are Isabel Rios and homeowner.

Hi, I'm following up on public comments given at the March 24 City Council meeting by the Justice of Diego Rios campaign regarding agendizing the removal of Commissioner Benjamin Alba from the Fontana Parks Community and Human Services Commission due to Mr. Alba's involvement in the homicide of Diego Rios on 11/28/2025. Mr. Alba concurrently serves the public as a Claremont police officer. November, he was evolved into traffic stop with Diego Rios and within six minutes Diego was dead due to positional asphyxia like George Floyd.

The footage of the incident can be viewed on Claremont Vimeo page. The footage shows the following. Diego used words like yes, Sir, and I'm cooperating to signal his compliance. Diego pulled over his car and handed over his keys without issue. He had no weapons. He never harmed the officers. He verbalized his compliance many times. Mr Alba threatened Diego and said things like you're going to and you don't have a choice. Diego answered. That's fine. Diego had one handcuff on without issue. Diego screamed in pain as the officers tried to put the other handcuff on. Then Mr Alba used to choke hold on Diego. Diego was said said I'm cooperating as Mr. Alba swept Diego's leg to drop him on the floor and Mr.

Alba continued the chokehold. Chokehold by police were banned in California after George Floyd's death. Mr. Alba and the other officer used their body weight to pin Diego on the ground and Mr Alba put his knee on Diego's upper back for almost two minutes. This behavior is unreasonable restraint under California police protocols. Mr Alba turned on his taser so that the taser sound would scare Diego and Mr Alba said, I quote, I'm going to expletive effing tase you. I'm not going to use Mr. Alba's vulgar language here. Neither officer responded to Diego's pleas when Diego said he couldn't breathe. Neither officer called for backup.

Finally, Mr. Alba and the other officer kept Diego on the floor face down under their body weight until Diego could no longer breathe and he became lifeless. Mister Alba's conduct is criminal and Fontana's code of the city chapter two article eight section two dash three four one outlines the process necessary to remove a member of a city council of city commission. Any council member may recommend to the mayor that any one or more of the commission members be removed at any time with good cause or without cause. Good cause shall mean, but is not limited to three absences within a twelve month period, immoral or criminal activity, and other behavior which the City Council from time to time may find constitutes cause for removal.

Mister Alba's conduct during the traffic stop was so egregious that he is being investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. I want to be clear. The DA doesn't investigate police for violating police policies. The DA investigates police for criminal behavior. The LA coroner also determined Diego's death was a homicide with law enforcement restraint as a factor. Homicide is the action of one person directly causing the death of another. Diego is dead, and the only two people present in his final moments were mister Alba and officer Joshua Arona. Diego's family has also filed a liability claim complaint with the city of Claremont. If the decision were up to me, I would find a better commissioner than 10.

Final speaker homeowner. Okay, mirror that concludes our speakers.

Thank you. That concludes our public comment, which brings us to our next agenda item, Our consent calendar. To my knowledge, no council member or myself has pulled one of the items. So at this time, if I could have a motion to approve staff's recommendation.

Move staff recommendation.

Second for approval.

Have a motion in the second. Please cast your votes. We have to do it orally. Okay. We'll do it orally. I'll start with council member Roberts. Aye. Council member Catherine. Aye. Mayor, aye.

Consent calendar approved. That brings us to our first public hearing. Public hearing item a is master case number 26Dash0007 and municipal code amendment number 26 dash zero zero one. Fontan Municipal Code amendments to chapter 30 to modify multiple sections of the zoning and development code, including modifications to definitions and uses related to medical land use and commercial zones. The definition and regulation of business parks, screening requirements for loading areas and industrial zones, and regulations in the form code zone.

Including the definition of frontage coverage, maximum setback, standards in Route 66, gateway, subdistrict, gazing requirements of the shopfront. Frontage type and landscaping and parking areas in a category exemption from California Environmental Quality Act, CEQUA, in accordance with CEQUA guidelines, section one five zero six zero c one five three seven eight and one five zero six one b three. This public hearing is now open. City Clerk Key, did you receive any written correspondence? We did not, mayor. Okay. We are going to have a staff report by our associate planner, Cecily Gons.

Good afternoon, mayor, members of the council, members of the public. I am going to provide the staff report for you regarding this proposed municipal code amendment. This code amendment, as was read in the title, does cover a range of topics. And so in the following slides, I will just give you a brief explanation of those items starting with the definition section. So staff is proposing to add definitions of both acute care and urgent care, which will help us delineate between the two land uses, and it also ties into the third section on the slide, which has to do with medical uses in commercial zones.

Staff is requesting to allow urgent cares in the c one and c two zones, which are the commercial zones. And the reason being is that urgent cares are very similar to typical doctor's offices just with slightly expanded hours. We do intend on or the the proposed amendment does have acute care uses continuing to be disallowed because they are a more intense use. I did wanna point out before I go back up to business parks that this will not impact the land uses in the entertainment center overlay, which I believe last year, you approved for the code amendment. So this would not impact anything within that overlay.

It would just be, properties that are zoned c one or c two with no overlay. Going back, to the definition of business parks, staff is proposing to eliminate unnecessary and redundant definitions that do not appear elsewhere in the code, or the zoning and development code. Excuse me. And it also clarifies the type of development that qualifies as a business park. The previous version of the definition kind of gave more gray area, so we provided a little more objective information in the definition to be clear on what kind of definition or what kind of land use and development qualifies as a business park.

Next, there are a few changes in the form based code zone. The first being the modification of frontage coverage just to ensure that there's a uniform application of that term. So if you're not familiar, frontage coverage is how much of the front area of the property has to have building frontage in it, and that is to make sure that in those zones, buildings are brought closer to the street and it become becomes more walkable and pedestrian friendly. So we just tweak that language a little bit to make it more clear and ensure that all of staff and the public are able to understand and utilize that that definition. We also included an exemption from frontage coverage requirements for lots that are 75 feet or or smaller in width.

And that is because with the requirements for things like driveways, landscaping, that sort of thing, it becomes physically impossible or at least very difficult to meet the requirements on the more narrow lots. So that's the first one in form based code. The other one is to increase the maximum front setback in the Route 66 subdistrict for the form based code zone for parcels that do not front on Foothill Boulevard. So the Route 66 District does cover, a great deal of Foothill and some surrounding properties. So streets like Banana, Calabash, in that area, This would allow buildings to be just slightly further back from the front property line to make it more in line with existing development in those areas and what's more typical.

We're also requesting that there's a modification code to allow things like spandrel glass, like the darkened glass, things that give the appearance of glass, to count towards making the requirement of for glazing, like the the glass that has to be on a shop front. So we want to allow for a little more flexibility when it comes to how spaces are used while still maintaining that same design requirement and getting that high quality design. As the code is currently written, it doesn't have a provision either way, so we wanted to make it explicitly clear that you could use spandrel glass in designs. And then the last one in form based code is the addition of the requirement that parking areas for commercial and mixed use developments meet the citywide landscaping requirements. As currently written, there are no landscape requirements for the parking areas in the form based code.

But based on our knowledge of, you know, wanting to have some tree coverage and things for shade in parking areas and also just overall beautification, we are requiring that those parking areas meet the standards that are applicable to other commercial and mixed use development in the city. And last, we staff is also, requesting to exclude business parks from the special use regulations for the M 1 zone that pertain to warehousing, distribution, and logistics. Currently, business parks are wrapped into that. But the standards that are applicable don't really lend themselves to business parks, so we're looking to take business parks out of that equation and have those special use regulations only pertain to warehousing distribution and logistics in the for them in one zone. Excuse me.

And then last but not least, we're looking to clarify that the screening requirement that pertains to loading doors in our industrial zones pertains to dock doors and truck courts. So more in line of what you see with industrial commerce buildings and less to do with things like, a tire shop or that sort of thing where we want to minimize the impact from the public right of way, but screening them completely is, we're asking to remove that from the code. So that is my brief summary, and, staff does recommend that you find this exempt and, waive the full reading and, approve or adopt ordinance number nineteen eighty five. That does conclude my presentation, and I'm available for any questions that you may have. Thank you.

Are there any questions? I have one, but I'm gonna start with Council Member Cather. No, after you go ahead.

Okay, you always know. I'm hi, Cecily. Hi. Good presentation as always. I appreciate the work that you do for us here at the City Fontana and for our residents. So talk to me a little bit about the glazing requirements. So obviously, my interpretation when I'm talking about glass frontages on buildings is I want the people that are inside to be able to see out what's going out in front of their building to make sure that it's public safety. Vice versa, for the police department that's driving down the street, we want to make sure that they're able to look inside the building and see what's going on, or anyone outside and inside to make sure there's no nefarious activities going So on, if we're going to start pushing to allow them to have fake windows, how is that going to impact as far as public safety?

So per the draft of the code language, we are just suggesting that the language be added to allow a portion of the glazing requirement to be for spandrel glass. So sometimes, there are cases where, business owners or property owners wanna orient the building the opposite way, let's say, into the back where the parking area is, we don't wanna lose the the glass and the appeal that you see in the design along the actual street frontage as, like, an exchange for being able to access the building from the parking lot. So we're not saying that the entire amount of requirement for the glazing can be substituted with spandrel glass or the darkened glass, but we are saying a portion of it, which just provides a little more flexibility into how these buildings and sites are used.

Gotcha. Okay. So then my next follow-up I have no problem with that. That that's fantastic because I think we need to address kind of when these buildings are starting to be inverted because now the entrances are on the backside facing the parking lot. We're getting a couple of them on Sierra Avenue where now I'm looking at a black of back of a stucco building that's not very attractive. And so it would be nice to I I guess we're trying to make it look like the office is facing that direction, even though it's not. Is that still going fall in line with our city requirement that in case they decide they wanna put advertising all over that glass now because it's a window, I mean, I'm a business owner. I'm gonna take advantage of that. I'm gonna pretend it's a window and be like, can I take up 60% of that now that it's glass, or is that always have to maintain as that glass look?

So the percentage, I believe, is 25% typically that you can do for window signage. It would appear to me that this would operate like a window. So and also could be, at some point, turned into a window if they want to reorient. So I think they would be held to those same standards of the 25% only.

Okay. Very good. As long as we're monitoring on that side of things. And then you already answered the screening question, so I'm fine with that. And I understand the 75 feet are less the exemption for the smaller businesses because if we didn't have that, there would be no way for them to effectively build because they would have a building across the entire Foothill Boulevard and no access to the back of their park property.

Exactly. For the the very narrow lots, we've seen some projects come in where they want to meet the requirement with having the building close to the street, but by the time they do the drive aisle to be able to get to parking areas and that sort of thing, it would make the building, you know, 15 feet wide or something like that where it wouldn't really be conducive to actual development. So for those, we're just suggesting that they be exempt so that they can bring the building close to the street. But that 50% requirement, is in all of the, subdistricts of the form based code meeting 50% of coverage, that doesn't have to be met because it just is physically kind of precludes the parcel from being developed without some sort of variance. So to be more business and development friendly, we didn't want to go through the variance process and with those lots that are experiencing a very similar situation.

Gotcha.

Okay. That's all I have. Thank you very much.

Thanks so much. This is a great report. Great On definition of business parks, you'll have a list of uses. Right?

Yes. So for business parks, we have a definition which enables staff and the community to kinda see, do I check the boxes for what a business park is? And then those that land use, excuse me, shows up in the land use tables for the industrial zones. So sometimes we have to ask a lot of questions about how a business will operate or how something will be developed to figure out if it fits in that box of a business park.

Do you think that the existing businesses, if they read this, they may not meet this entire code? Are we grandfathering them or are we assisting them to get up to code or or how are we actually handling this?

So for anything that's existing, they would be considered legal nonconforming. And where the business park definition comes in and the land use, a lot of times relates to the development standards, setbacks, all of that. So for anything that's already been developed, if it becomes non conforming based on changes that we make, we do try to minimize that. But if there are things that become non conforming, then they're they're given legal nonconforming status where they're able to continue operating, existing, that sort of thing. And there's are provisions in the zoning and development code that relate to that.

So as long as they don't change hands or change use?

Usually, it's if if it's a use that's no longer allowed, if it's not discontinued for greater than a hundred and eighty days, then they can assume the same use if there's a different operator. So we we do get into that quite a bit, but usually that's that's how we evaluate uses.

Okay. Thank you. Are there any more questions? Alright. At this time, I will ask our city clerk. Do you have any cards to speak?

We do not, mayor.

Okay. What I'm gonna do is close the public hearing and bring that for action. I need a motion to approve staff's recommendation as provided in the staff report. Mister city attorney, since we already read the by title or do you want me to read that entire?

Unless one of the council members wants to change something, your first reading would effectuate the the first reading along with the waiver of the title.

Thank you. Okay.

Most of recommendation. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Please cast your vote with the understanding that we read by title only and wait for the reading of and introduce ordinance number one nine eight five. An ordinance of the city council of the city of Fontana amending multiple sections of the Fontana Municipal Code, including amendments to section 30 dash 12 pertaining to the definition of acute care, urgent care, and business park. Sections 30 dash three five eight pertaining to the definition of frontage coverage. Section 30 dash three six eight pertaining to the maximum setback for buildings in the Route 66 Gateway Subdistrict of the form based code zone section 30 dash three eight six pertaining to the minimum gazing standard for the shopfront frontage type in the form based code zone.

Section 30 dash three eight nine pertaining to required landscaping and parking areas for mixed use and commercial developments in the form based code zone. Section 30 dash four eighty nine pertaining to the urgent care and acute care land uses in the commercial zones. Section 30 dash five three eight pertaining to required screening of loading areas and industrial zones and find the actions be categorically exempt from sequel under sequel sections one five zero six zero C one five three seven eight and one five zero six one B three. We have a motion and a second. Please cast your votes.

Three in favor. Motion passes.

Motion passed. That brings us to our next public hearing. Public hearing item B, which is to consider the formation of community facility district number one one seven Southbridge. This is the time and place for the public hearing on establishment of City of Fontana Community Facilities District number one one seven Southridge and the hearing on the necessity for the community facility district to incur bonded indebtedness. Before I formally open the hearing, is there any interested party who wishes to file a written protest that will not be presented by the author of what protest at the hearing?

If so, the protest must be filed with the city clerk now. The hearing is now officially open. To have an early hearing, we will first have a presentation by staff about the community facility district. After that, we will receive comments and questions and any written protest from any interested persons. When all comments have been received, the hearing will be closed. City clerk Key, do you have any written correspondence email on this item? We did not, mayor. Account accountant supervisor, please don't holler out. Samuel Perez, will you provide the staff report?

Good afternoon, mayor and members of the council. The item before you will complete the formation of community facilities district one seventeen Southridge and authorize the levy of special taxes. In alignment with the city's discipline and forward looking approach to managing growth in our community, the proposed formation of CFD one 17 is designed to ensure that new development within the city funds the infrastructure and services it requires without shifting that burden onto existing residents or the city's general fund. With Council's approval, the proposed CFD will be established on the East Side of Live Oak Ave and South Of Village Drive and will include 225 residential lots on 32 acres. The rate and method of apportionment includes rates to pay for the bondedentas to fund specific infrastructure and the ongoing maintenance of street lights, landscaping, and parks.

Initial annual rates per home range from $4,187 to $4,786 and are based on square footage, of which 1,080 is for ongoing maintenance and the balance for bond debt service. The amount of bonds proposed is $1,111,000,000 dollars to fund the infrastructure as detailed in exhibit a, which includes park improvements, street lights, and dry utility improvements. These rates will fund about $9,200,000 of facilities and fees and include at $1,840,000 for a city community benefit project. The bonds will not be issued until a significant amount of the development has occurred. The estimated annual revenue for maintenance is $243,000 with a 2% annual escalator per city policy.

The rates are proposed to provide total tax rate of less than 1.95% of the home value with the anticipated home sales prices to be between $606,000 to $640,000. These rates will only be assessed to the 225 residential lots within the CFD boundary. Council's approval of this item will form the district and authorize the annual levy of special taxes. In the event that council does not approve the formation of the one seventeen, it does not authorize the levy of proposed special taxes. The city will lose a key funding mechanism to deliver both the upfront infrastructure and the $243,000 for the ongoing maintenance associated with this development. This concludes my report and staff is available to respond to any questions you may have.

Thank you for that report. This council have any questions they would like to ask staff.

I just have, one that might be a clarification. This particular public hearing only addresses the KB homes. It doesn't affect other parts of South Ridge. Is that correct?

That's correct.

Thank you.

Alright. City Clerk Key, do you have any request to speak on this item?

Mayor, we have two requests to speak but I want to make a clarification to the response for written communication. We did receive miss Chavarria's written communication as of 02:36PM today.

Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. At this time, the request to speak, you can call him up.

Okay. Our first speaker is Grace followed by Gro Fontana.

Madam mayor, just, if I may, with respect to the written, the written comment received after the meeting started, it will be made a part of the record just just for the so the council and the public are clear. It it's received and it will be made a part of your record.

Good afternoon. I just wanted to speak on this $14,000,000 bond that's being added to people who don't live in the community just yet. I really think we should well, that the city council should reconsider this. It's adding an additional 30 tax for the next thirty years to whoever moves in there. And people who are moving in don't well, yeah, they don't live there yet.

I know the board tried to claim this city is so big on affordable housing, but the question remains, who is it affordable for? The developers got an amazing deal purchasing the land for $3,300,000, then being given an additional 10 acres for free. And, again, now being given breaks on what they should be paying for. And just one more thing that the new 255 townhomes will have to pay. Another thing is this is in councilman Sandoval's district. I don't think it's fair that it be voted on while he's not present. If I ask if we could please table if possible so he can be here to vote on something that's gonna take place within his district. Thank you.

Grow Fontana.

So Grow Fontana and our several community partners, including the Immigrant Coalition for Immigrant the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, folks like CR Club, CCAJ, who were part of the lawsuit that resulted in the saddest dog park in the world for the community benefits agreement to board this project. And, again, as noted, the original developer got a great land deal and KB Homes inherited I don't know what they paid for it. But that profit, that profiteering of land speculation shouldn't be placed on potential new homeowners in the community, especially when the community didn't want this project. But but since it's gonna be there, since you bulldozed over the community, since it's gonna be there, other folks have seen this as well. Maybe it's a townhome.

It's maybe it's a smart starter home. Maybe I can make it affordable. Maybe I could, you know, get a home. And then you're adding a a $55,000 debt burden to each each house that the that the homeowners typically, new homeowners wouldn't even be aware of understanding what Mello Roos adds to their tax burden. In our letter, we oppose this for many reasons, but one of the particular reasons is that this public hearing, as all public hearings, are conducted in English In our community where over 50% of our home of our households speak a language other than English, and every public hearing does not get translated.

And and as the city clerk has affirmed to me and do correspondence from March 31 and April 1, but I I didn't haven't gotten a response yet from my April 2, email reiterating this community deserves live translation so that every community member can understand the proceedings that are happening. Public hearings, especially when we are drastically imposing. Mayor Warren, are you do you you just never Good lord. So, I mean, they should be able to understand that they're being ignored because, you know, they'll be concentrating on getting translation, but, you know, we won't they won't understand what the proceedings actually involve. That is noted in our public comments as well as some of the other options.

And one last thing, this developer, community benefits agreement that they were obligated to do was that dog park. If my plant identifier is correct, the trees that they they alternated, every other tree, is actually toxic to cats and dogs. So if they can't have that care for what they were supposed to give this community, now we're adding even more. Unacceptable.

That concludes our speakers, mayor.

Thank you. You know, it it makes sense to ask this question before we go any further if that's okay, mister city attorney.

I'm sorry, madam mayor. To ask which questions?

No. What I'd like to do is make sure we're clear on what is going on

Certainly, of course.

With this item.

Absolutely.

So, I'd ask the the city manager to explain. This is not an affordable housing project. This is a project for excuse me. Excuse me. You had your opportunity to speak. You had your opportunity to speak, and you did such. Please do not interrupt. Thank you. Okay. Well, you know, I asked you kindly. This is your first warning, Bobby Joe. This is your first warning. Now, will you explain that?

Yes. Phil, why don't you provide an overview of the purpose of the community facilities district? And I also wanna be clear, we're not rehearing the high item. This this project was previously approved and this is just a financing mechanism for the current property owner. So with that, Phil.

Albert? Thank you. So a couple of maybe incorrect information or questions that the speakers were asking. So it's market based housing. The median household value in the Southridge area is $650,000 So what the market value is a different conversation that doesn't involve the city. It's a market based transaction. The developer will sell it for what they can sell it for. A homeowner buying that big of an investment should be sophisticated enough to understand what their payments are. The city is not involved in those discussions. We're not involved in the marketing of the homes.

But the one thing that I do want to clarify is the dog park question. The dog parks were funded by the city, the two that just opened. They were funded separately from the city. It has nothing to do with this development. This is responsible to build its own park facilities that will be accessible to the general public paid for by the homeowners in that subdivision. I'm not sure, mayor, if you had a specific question about those issues that I can help clarify.

You have explained very reasonably. Thank you. At this time, may I have a motion to approve staff's recommendation as provided in the staff report and adopt resolution number? But before I do that, let me make sure I close the public hearing. Public hearing is closed.

Number one, resolution number 2026Dash22 for formation of community facilities district one one seven Southridge. Number two, resolution number 2026Dash023, deeming it necessary to incur bonded indebtedness of community facility district one one seven South Ridge. Number three, resolution number twenty twenty six twenty four, calling a special election for Community Facility District one hundred seventeen South Ridge. If I can have a motion and a second.

I'll make the motion mayor.

I'll second.

I have a motion and a second. Please cast your vote.

Three in favor. Motion is passed.

Motion passed. City clerk, will you please confirm your vote?

Mayor, the motion is in favor.

Alright. Motion carried. At this time, I ask the city clerk to open the ballot and announce the results of the election.

I opened it too. It is in favor. It passed.

Alright. Thank you. The results of the election being unanimously in favor of incurring bond and indebtedness, the levy a special taxes and establishments of the appropriation limits. We may now proceed with the final actions for the community facility May I have a motion to one adopt resolution number 202625 declaring the results of the special election and directing the recording of special tax lien. Number two, read by title only and waive further reading of and introduce ordinance number nineteen eighty six, levying special taxes within the city of Fontana, community facility district number one one seven Southridge and that the reading of title constitutes the first reading thereof.

Number three, resolution number twenty twenty six zero two six authorizing the execution and delivery of a letter of credit agreement and an acquisition and funding agreement. Motion made and second.

So moved mayor. Second.

Motion in the second. Please cast your votes.

Three in favor, the motion is passed.

This motion is passed. Okay. This concludes the public hearing on establishment on Community Facility District Number 117 South Ridge. And at this time, this brings us to our city manager's report but before we do that, we want to have our new business item and keep in mind, we will today conclude in memory of Eleanor Morales who is the mother of Jesse Sandoval before we conclude our meeting. New business item A is introduction and first reading of ordinance number one nine eight seven, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Fontana, California amending article 12 of chapter 15 of the Fontana Municipal Code to regulate social hosts who allow illegal fireworks.

Deputy city manager Ray Ebert, will you provide the staff report?

Good afternoon good afternoon, mayor and council. My name is Ray Ebert, deputy city manager for the city of Fontana. The item before you is an update to section or creating a section in our our our code, municipal code fifteen dash six two four. The item addresses folks who host events that where illegal fireworks are shot off. As council's aware, as staff is well aware, each year at the during the fourth of July and and to a lesser extent at New Year's, we get a lot of complaints about illegal fireworks throughout the city.

Our our fire department is dispatched to deal with fires that are started by the illegal fireworks. There have been homes that have been burned down. We have people who are injured every year. And we're entering into an exciting year in the history of The United States, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of our constitution. And we expect to be this to be an even bigger celebratory event than we might have seen in the past.

So staff looked at options for casting some responsibility on folks who host events where illegal fireworks are shot off. And based on what we've discovered in a number of other cities in Southern California, we're establishing an ordinance defining what a social host is and providing some some response to those events when when illegal fireworks are shot off. The social host, I want to define that real quickly. It's an owner of private property as listed on the most recent assessment role and or any person who has the right to use, possess, or occupy public or private property under lease, permit, license, rental agreement, or contract, or any person who hosts, organizes, supervises, officiates, conducts, sponsors, or accepts responsibility for a gathering on public or private property. That means anyone who's hosting an event on their personal property, their home, or or property that they own or control, someone who rents a property in the city and are now in control or lease that property, or if they get a permit for public property.

They are then responsible for any event that happens during that event and on or adjacent to that property. If a nexus can be developed between a firework, an illegal firework being shot off, and that group or that event. We want to this ordinance authorizes the city of Fontana to fine the individual who's identified as the host, $1,000 per firework, illegal firework, up to a maximum of $10,000. And this money is primarily to deal with the response to illegal fireworks and if any money that isn't going directly to costs incurred by the city of Fontana would then be handed over to the state fire marshal's fireworks eradication team. So again, we want to establish it's important that when our our staff are this could be code, this could be a neighbor, this could be an attendee of the event, could be one of our police officers, Identifies illegal fireworks being fired off at a location.

Generally, we're going to require video or photographic evidence of that. We'll develop a nexus between the shooter or the firer of the fireworks and the host of the event, and that's how we'll establish responsibility for these fireworks when they go off. That's the gist of the event. And again, I want to stress that there's no money making element to this. The city will only pay for its own cost to to dispatch our staff to the site and or if a fire is started or an injury is incurred, our staff then will be responding to those events too.

We would be making an effort to cover those costs for the city. Beyond that, again, we would be handing off any additional revenue going to the state illegal fireworks interdiction efforts. That's the that's the end of my report and happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for that great report. Are there any questions of staff? I'll let you go first again. Oh, wow. Okay. I'm gonna let you go first, John. No. Go ahead, John.

So to be clear, we're we're not cutting any new ground here. This is something that has been done at several other cities throughout, California, and so we're just, attempting to get up to speed to make sure that we provide a safe environment for our people, especially in our on our two hundred and fiftieth anniversary coming up and let them know that this is unacceptable behavior to create a hazard on their property.

That's correct. We modeled our ordinance off of several other cities in in Southern California.

Thank you.

Okay.

Perfect. Just for clarification. So this is ordinance gonna be a three hundred and sixty five day on March on leap years. Every day of the city, Fontana can enforce this.

That's

correct. It's also going to impact those residents that live North Of Summit that we have a strict boundary of no fireworks regardless if they're legal or illegal in the city of Fontana. You can't have any fireworks up there, so every firework is illegal. That will be imposed upon them as well.

That's correct. By our municipal code, all fireworks North Of, and I don't remember if up North Of Summit, I believe, all fireworks are illegal, and this addresses illegal fireworks. It's illegal.

The same south down the south inwards is Arupa? It down

Near Rupa, yes.

Of those are going be impacted. That's correct. So let me ask you this. So I'm across the street, my neighbor decides to have a party, he invites some people over, they go down to our neighborhood park to light fireworks off, we watch them walk back up from the neighborhood park back to the house, that house is going be held responsible for what they did on whether it's a roadway, city park, or even that person's front drop front yard.

If through video or or photographic or personal, you know, eye witness evidence, we can establish that nexus that that person that light lit off that firework did come from that home, yes, we would fine that that that homeowner.

What was the what was the monetary amount of the or the punitive amount of the first

$1,000. Second? $1,000 per per firework, up to 10,000

Per firework. That's correct. So if I I'm trying to figure out the legal definition. So if they come out and they decide that they wanna launch off seven mortars. Correct. That is seven separate fireworks to the city of Fontana, and that is a $7,000 fine.

That's correct.

Okay. Just making sure everyone at home is listening at this moment.

This is not safe and sane. This is

Yeah, this is the ones that go flying in the air that the city in the state of California, not us. The state of California has deemed illegal in the state of California.

That's correct.

Thank you. Also, this includes the tenant, not just the property owner or both.

This would be the tenant. If we if there is no legal tenant on record, we will go back to the to the the county rolls and the and establish who owns the property. That will be the primary contact. If they have a lease with a tenant, then the tenant then would be responsible. But we may not know who the tenant is. We would only know potentially who the property owner is.

I'm sure once the landlord got that note, he would know who the tenant was or she. Yes. Okay. Very good. At this time, if there are no further questions, may I have a motion to approve staff's recommendation as provided in the staff report? Read by title only and waive further reading of and introduce ordinance number one nine eight seven, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Fontana, amending article 12 of chapter 15 of the Fontana Municipal Code to regulate social hosts who allow illegal fireworks.

Madam mayor, before Second. Before you take a motion, I'm sorry to interrupt you. I wasn't sure whether there were any public comment cards on this item.

We it's just new business. So Wait a minute. Please do not holler out. Thank you.

So it's not a public hearing. I agree with you there, mayor. I'm not sure whether anybody submitted a separate card for item A under this.

Did anyone submit a card? Okay. One. Is that the one that just said homeowner? Yes. Okay. Homeowner, please speak.

Thank you, madam mayor.

Thank you, city attorney, for keeping our council compliant with the ability for public comments at agenda items and not having to bundle it for one, especially after hearing staff's report and explanation of this. I'm surprisingly in favor of this to an extent. Again, this ordinance is being introduced without Spanish language interpretation to the community at large. But I will say personally, I am grateful to some but I but I'd be interested in seeing the actual reports and the responses, the the the injuries, the property damage. And I say this because last July 4, my husband and I were out of the county visiting family, and some form of fiery object landed in our bushes alongside the border of my home and our our neighbor's home.

And it it was flames up to fifteen, twenty feet almost immediately, and it was only through the diligence of my neighbors who ran to defend a couple of doors down, saw what was happening and, grabbed our hose and hosed it down be even before a fire response was able to be there. They were able to stop it before it got about it got almost to 10 feet away from our home and our neighbor's home, hitting the almost hitting the structure. It also damaged our blue Palo Verde native plant because it is a native plant. It actually survived the fire exposure. But absolutely, I think two years ago, there was a palm tree that was a couple of streets down.

We were home at that time and saw the explosion of a of a of a palm tree. And so, absolutely, it is our neighbors and and and other folks rightly so call it a war zone with the just the outrageousness of the response. But I would also like to understand what enforcement looks like, what and and also and and warn our neighbors that you're gonna be asked to to report on your neighbors and use your ring footage or your camera footage. And I think that is overstepping. And so I wouldn't want our neighbors to be aware of that as well, participating in persecution.

But absolutely, safety matters as well, perhaps some community workshops, perhaps some outreach for understanding again what the damage has been in our community and and and those misses, those near misses like our home last year that this is trying to solve. But you know, there's more toolbox. There's more tools in the toolbox than the hammer. Thank you.

We have no more cards to speak.

We have no other speakers, mayor. Alright.

Thank you. Alright. We have community meetings throughout this community all year long and I'm sure during those community meetings, the officers are gonna definitely bring this up, especially it being passed today. It'll be part of the agenda, so outreach will occur. But at the same time, you bring up a great point.

This is a safety issue and near fires and people blowing their fingers off in other communities and and getting harm. It is worth every bit of neighbors, at least letting officers know and others that this has occurred and who did it. This is the only way we're gonna stop all this madness that goes on. This year is gonna be something because it is the 200 birthday. People are already planning their parties and their events, and so we're looking forward to this season but at least we have an ordinance that protects as much as it can this great public.

At this time, may I have a motion to approve staff's recommendation as provided in the staff report? Read only by title and waive further reading of and introduce ordinance number one nine eight seven, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Fontana, amending article 12 of chapter 15 of Fontana Municipal Code to regulate social hosts who allow illegal fireworks. Have a motion and a second?

I'll make the motion here.

Cauthorn, I'll second the motion.

Okay. Have a motion and a second. Please cast your vote.

Three in favor. Motion is passed.

Motion passed. At this time, we'll have our city manager's communication.

Thank you, mayor and council. Kinda wanted to go over the consent calendar. There were couple items just for clarification. Item c, there was a question about why are we acquiring the sliver of property in the staff report. It shows the exact location, which is along the PE Trail between Juniper and Sierra.

And the reason why we're seeking to acquire it is because we've assembled all the properties in that area and we're looking to develop a marketaffordable housing development in that location. And so that's the purpose of that acquisition. Item d, we talked about the navigation center and we had a wonderful signing event with the other seven cities that are participating. But I'm gonna put our our deputy city manager on the spot. Can you Phil, can you put provide a kind of general overview just to provide clarification of our contractual relationship with the county as it relates to the development of this property and the financial considerations?

Yes sir. The two notes that I had from the comments earlier were why are we doing a change order for the architect and then there was a question about why are we doing it when the county has already purchased it. So during this, the city did an RFP for to find a qualified architect to design this building. The city acquired the building last year, retained an architect in partnership in anticipation of the county's acquisition of this property. The city did it because the city can move faster than other agencies.

So we acquired the property thanks to the council's blessing on that last year and we retained an architect to design the building but knowing that the county was going to be the operating and eventually owner of the property, We worked with the county to develop the floor plans and the layout for the renovation for the facility. Part of that conversation of the floor plan required expanding for future potential county offices in the facility and the scope of the architecture contract changed. So we expanded the scope of services that's why there was a change order provided today. As to why the city is spending the money is the city still owns the building. What was approved previously and as misreported in some of the newspapers, the county has not acquired the building.

What is approved previously is the county approved the purchase agreement to acquire the building after the city completes construction of the building. And the purchase price that the county will pay will be based on all third party cost incurred by the city. So the city is effectively, thanks to your leadership, cash flowing this to expedite the development and construction of this facility so we can get it completed and ready to open. And when the county closes escrow, they will reimburse the city for all the third party costs related to the development and construction of the facility. Yes sir, it's a 100 recuperative care beds which includes a little bit of medical care.

The idea being to help support some of the emergency room care that Kaiser is helping to support, but it's post medical care and then a 100 beds of what's typically called navigation or wellness beds, both typically to serve the homeless community. And it's also where one of the one of the cost increases was we added a sobering center as well. The county behavioral health department thought that would be an important part and component of the of the facility. So there's also an eight unit sobering facility.

And so the city will be fully reimbursed by the county after we complete all the improvements.

That's correct, sir.

Alright, thanks Phil. Last item I want to note on the consent calendar was item I. We completed two the public works did a great job of completing two soccer fields up at Lewis Park. We're now moving forward with another two at the at the cost of about $1,000,000. And so I appreciate that ongoing investment in our our parks. And that concludes my reports. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you. Thanks for clearing that all up. At this time, we will go to our elected official communications. We'll start with our city clerk, Jermaine Key.

Thank you, mayor. I just have two announcements. My sincere condolences to Councilman Sandoval and his family for the loss of their loved one. I wish them well. Second is that I want to congratulate my two grandsons that are graduating at the same time from Summit High School. In particular, my well, both grandsons, Jayden White and Jackson Griffin. Jackson's been accepted to Morehouse College in Atlanta, and I am so proud of him. Jayden is gonna go to a local trade school, and so John Hong and I are gonna have a conversation because Jayden wants to be a barber. So I'm just really happy with this city and with my grandkids at this point. Thank you.

Congratulations. Next, we have our city treasurer, Janet Coler Brooks.

Thank you, mayor. I would I too wanna send my condolences to the to councilman Sandoval and his family for their loss, and I just hope you have a good rest of the week. Thank you.

Thank you. We're gonna start with council member Roberts.

Thank you, mayor. And and, again, I I too, would like to, offer my deepest condolences to Jesse on the passing of his mom. And, that's all I have, mayor.

Okay. Council member Cochran.

Thank you, madam mayor. Condolences, my colleague. I look forward to honoring, the life, of the Sanibel family on that sort of things, as the time comes and they deem appropriate as they see fit. Monique, looks like you have a little bit of work cut out for you in the future as soon as this ordinance goes live as far as educating our residents, what the ordinance means, how they're going to, report it, because I'm sure, our 911 system is not the place to do that. Maybe the non emergency line or through, 311. You'll I'll let you guys figure that whole thing out as well as their participation goes on that side. So, education is gonna be the key to our residents that love to email. I'm sure the mayor gets plenty of phone calls in the next couple months coming up. But thank you to my colleagues. I appreciate the and everyone that came out today. You guys have a wonderful rest of your day.

Thank you to all of my colleagues and as I stated, we will conclude our meeting in memory of Eleanor Morales after this meeting is adjourned. Just wanted to do a couple of thank yous because. As usual, this great staff in this great city has shown when we all come together and I especially want to thank my colleagues, even the ones that are not here. Of a great job with the navigation center. We're very proud of that program and we're looking forward to it.

And thank goodness we are going to be driving that bus to get it done. And then we will hand that over to the county, and then we will still be involved with the operation as well as driving the policies that go forward. But what you'll see in that navigation center is an acknowledgment that homelessness is caused by something, be it finance, be it mental health, or substance abuse, or just abandonment by their families where they have just totally given up on them. What we're trying to do is to develop a pathway where people can sustain themselves through all their issues and to finally get to permanent housing. This city has done more than any other city in the Inland Empire to house and work with people, with nonprofits, with churches.

The facilities have allowed us to take women and children out of cars. The, the cooperation we get from CityLink, their programming from other churches, we we decided we were gonna hit homelessness where it was. And we recognize that if we waited for others to join in on this, we may be waiting. So this city is going to develop the model that is going to become a national model in handling this problem. And that's correct.

200 beds, not just 100 beds. But I wanna thank our great staff for all the assistance they provided. First of all, I have to give special thanks to our deputy city manager, Phil Burn, who has worked closely with the county, been part of all the meetings, meeting with all the mayors on the West End. We started this process over a year and a half ago. And now we're there.

And then I wanna especially thank the mayor's homeless advisory council that came up with our action plan for homelessness, which basically developed a lot of the policies you'll see going on in that navigation center. I wanna thank Monique Carter, our communications and marketing director, who worked closely with the county to put that event on. And by the way, people are still calling and texting and emailing and face to face saying that they felt the corroboration from the region. And particularly having our federal partners there, congresswoman Norma Torres and Pete Aguilar, but also our county supervisors. I wanna thank Kurt Hagman, Joe Baca, but I wanna give special thanks to supervisor Jesse Armadares who sat in many meetings with us to understand why this needed to happen and champion making sure that our efforts did not go unheard.

And I appreciate the work he did to assist our efforts. I also wanna thank our community service department. Whenever we have an event, they show up and they show out. This was important to show the professionalism attached to this project because not only will this project provide those needed services, it's gonna be an ongoing work that has to be done. Moneys will have to constantly be raised.

The county is going to see if they can get grants to handle any cost in the gap. Each city with Fontana being the largest provider is going to donate and allocate funds toward this project. But I made a promise to our great public four years ago when I was reelected. We would attack and eliminate homelessness, and this is one of the other items in our toolbox to get it done. And we're not giving up here.

We've got more ideas. We have all these teams that are out there daily. I wanna thank our great police department, our great fire department, all of the departments that have been a part of this. The other part is I wanna thank our housing department, Valerie and her team. You have to keep in mind, for years, the housing department has stand in the gap to help our families not only receive permanent housing, but to work with developers to make sure that we did allocate affordable housing units, which makes this city the largest provider of affordable housing in this region.

In these areas, we have made sure deed restrictions, great collaboration with nonprofits, that we maintain affordable housing for our public because we have so many families that do not have the means by which to live in market rate. And there's a big difference in market rate and affordable. Market rate is a choice. Market rate is when you decide I wanna live here. You look at your deed and you see what the deed includes and you decide this is what I wanna pay for.

Affordable housing is based on income. It also is based on conditions. But in this city, we have always provided affordable housing that provided dignity for our great public. And our goal is always, as they stay in those housings, that at some point, they will be able to go out on their own and purchase their own home, which is another step we're gonna start working on. First time homebuyer programming.

This last week, I had the honor of being invited for the Americans Mayor's Fly In in DC. We had the opportunity to talk to the various deputy cabinet secretaries to talk about the need for more funding. Remember, we all pay our federal taxes, and it goes to DC. And we just want to have some of that come back so that we can provide for our great public. Part of this entire concept has really fallen and and really been shepherded by that mayor's homeless advisory council.

So special thanks to them. They're practitioners. They're faith based, their nonprofits, their regular, just citizens that care, that all came together to develop a solution plan. And that plan is going to continue. We're not overdancing and joyous that this is happening.

This might just be the beginning of a recipe to further help people, and we've seen what happens when we all come together. I wanna congratulate all my fellow mayors and their councils that had the, I have to say, audacity to step out and care about others and create an environment that they now can participate in. So we're looking forward. We are looking forward to the success of those 200 sites. And we will do everything we can in our power to help them get back on their feet and get back out in society and have permanent housing, which is my last item that I wanna bring up.

If you are a veteran in this city and you need housing, you just need to contact us. There are so many opportunities available for our veterans to get housing, but we need you to come forward. I'm so happy with the renovation of the VFW so that they can provide more resources so that we can get our veterans off the street also. With that, if you would all join me in concluding our meeting in memory of Eleanor Morales. Please stand for a few seconds.

This meeting is adjourned.