Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

All right, good evening and welcome to the Planning Commission of the City of Moreno Valley. I now call this meeting to order July 23rd, 2026 at 6.01 p.m. I invite Commissioner Sykes to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

All right, remove your caps, please. Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

Thank you. Okay, can we have a roll call, please? She's over there.

Commissioner Zaitz?

Here.

Commissioner Taylor?

Here.

Commissioner Steffen?

Here.

Vice Chairperson Baker?

Here.

Chairperson Njene?

Present. All right, we're now moving to the approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion and a second?

I'll move we accept the agenda as submitted.

Second.

Okay.

Can we have a vote?

Commissioner Zients?

Yes.

Commissioner Taylor? Yes. Commissioner Steffen? Yes. Vice Chair Baker? Yes. Chairperson DeGeneres? Yes. Motion carries. Okay.

All right, before we hear public comments this evening, I ask and encourage everyone participating to keep their comments respectful toward others, especially toward the individuals speaking. I embrace and support the First Amendment right to free speech, including everyone's right to speak at this meeting and share his or her views about issues concerning our city. Any person wishing to speak either under the public comment section of the agenda, scheduled items, or public hearings must fill out a request to speak form available at the door. The completed form must be submitted to the secretary prior to the end of the public comment period. During the public comment period for each item, including items not on the agenda, each member of the public who assigned it to speak will have a maximum of three minutes to speak. The public must direct their comments to the chairperson of the committee. Now we're moving the public comments and items that are not on the agenda. Do we have any speakers?

Yes, Chair. We presently have one speaker card. Our first speaker is Ismael Gonzalez.

Hello and good evening. My name is Ismael Gonzalez. I reside in District 2. I want to begin by acknowledging the weather again today. It's about 100 degrees. And for the next five days, it will continue to be over 100 degrees. I've even heard it will top around 105, 110, something like that. I do want to thank the commission and city staff for allowing us to meet here in this AC room. It feels great to be out of the heat. I come to you after going to the San Bernardino Planning Commission earlier today. They had a meeting where they were considering a 2.1 million square foot warehouse in the city of Bloomington. I come to you wearing red with this sign to prove that and to also say, well, for you in the audience, it says Bloomington is not for sale. I also want to advocate that Moreno Valley is not for sale. It shouldn't be. We should be investing in our own communities rather than inviting corporations and developers from Orange County, Los Angeles, to come and extract resource, wealth, energy, labor here in our city. They also contribute to the urban heat island effect, which increases the heat that we feel every day. You've already heard me mention region in crisis. My favorite statistic is that 126 million square feet of warehousing is owned by people in Newport Beach, yet there is not one warehouse over there. Isn't that a shame? The people of Bloomington are suffering because of this. their homes have already been demolished. And there is an item here today which is very similar, where people are being left out of the equation and profits are the only thing on the table. I will get to my comments regarding that item later, but I want you to consider these words here now before we move on. Are we going to sell out our own communities? That's up to you. And as the Planning Commission, I hope that you take into consideration the urban heat island effect in your future decisions because it's only getting hotter. Scientists are estimating that we're approaching the point of no return in terms of global climate change. We are adding to that, not subtracting. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Tatiana Flores.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Tatiana Flores, and I'm a Moreno Valley resident in District 4. The last time I was here, I shared some information about an event my organization hosted called Youth for Change. It was an opportunity for community members aged 13 to 18 to participate in activities focused on environmental justice while also learning about college and career planning. It seems that in the Inland Empire there are a variety of resources for youth to prepare for future planning, some of which I myself utilized a few years ago as I prepared to apply for universities, and I can now say that I stand here with a bachelor's to my name and hopefully maybe a master's soon, you know? I'm of course grateful for the resources and help that I was able to get from the Val Verde Unified School District, Citrus Hill High School in Meade Valley, and the teachers that were always in my corner, but it is time for local government to meet us halfway. We see this investment and so much effort into encouraging higher education, workforce development, and preparing students for successful careers. Yet projects like the Bay and Day Commerce Center that will be discussed later continue to be proposed, which to me sends a pretty contradictory message. It is disheartening to see one of the few employment opportunities offered to our communities continue to be warehousing, especially when many warehouse jobs are increasingly vulnerable to automation. Many of us grew up here. We want to build our careers here, raise any future family here, and contribute to our communities. But what kind of future are we really being offered outside of that industry? And I wanted to mention that I've attended meetings in various cities across the region and hear the proposals that developers pitch to the commission, city council, staff, and even residents. And I have heard too many times that the Inland Empire has a good labor pool. or that Latino folks find this as a good employment opportunity. And I am here to express my disagreement with that narrative. Our communities should not be defined solely by the labor that we could provide. We deserve investments that create diverse and sustainable careers and that expand opportunities for future generations, not to mention these investments and decisions that do not box in existing housing around industry, especially in communities that are already designated as SB 535 disadvantaged communities, like we will discuss later in this meeting. So I really want to push for better job opportunities and investment in the Latino community. I myself am Latina and want to see more job opportunities here so that I myself don't have to be like a lot of my peers who have to work at warehouses because there's not much here for us. Thanks.

Thank you.

We have no more speaker cards, sir. or never mind. Our next speaker is Christopher Baca.

good afternoon commissioners and community I'm a little out of breath because I went to the other location and I ran over here I was unaware of the location but anyhow the reason I'm here speaking on items not on the agenda just general comments is regarding the Planning Commission and all the issues going on with approved projects in our community specifically what I'm referring to is the Aquabella project, the memorandum of understanding, MOU, that was created for the Gilman Hills project, and for the Royal Logistics Center. All these projects, I understand, I haven't read the agenda properly, but if the Aquabella one's on there, If you can let me know. The Aquabella project is the second time this project has been proposed. The first one, the city council bent over backwards for the developer, which is Highland Fairview, to develop and complete Aquabella by the cut-through on Mason. That was a gift of public funds to a developer. He never did nothing. I asked him several times, and his answer is always, oh, the market's no good, the market's no good. How many market cycles have come by in the last 20 years? It's a farce. Same thing with WLC. We worked very hard to convince the community to approve the WLC. And his motto was, I will pay for everything. Now, if you look at some of the things that the city has done in the last 15 years, including the freeway overpass, which he said he was gonna build, he was gonna build the gateway to Moreno Valley, this big, huge bridge, that was BS. Also all the streets and all the proposed Stuff that's going on at this point. He's supposed to do that the WLC Highland Fairview are responsible for that, but the city continues paying for his infrastructure and nothing is getting done the only reason why there's any construction at this point is because Skechers needed a third building. We were also lied to that we were bringing in jobs for the community, but all they did was close other warehouses and bring their people over here. Now they've laid off all the people and they got a different temporary agency hiring people out of our community. The people that were living here are out of a job And that all has to do with Skechers and WLC, Highland Fairview, and Mr. Benzivi. So I ask you to look into these projects and see if there's a...

Thank you.

We have no more speaker cards, sir.

this guy on here okay the next item on the agenda is the approval of the consent calendar all items listed on the consent calendar are considered to be routine and non-controversial and may be enacted by a motion unless a member of the commission requests that item be removed for a separate action. Items withdrawn from report or discussion will be heard before action of the consent calendar. Questions or comments from the public on the consent calendar matter must pertain to the subject under consideration. At this time, would a commissioner like to pull an item from the consent calendar for a separate vote or discussion? Okay. Do we have any public comments for items on the consent calendar?

No speaker cards, sir.

All right. Do we have a motion and a second for the approval of the consent calendar?

Motion except the consent calendar Second all right.

We have a motion in a second. Can we have a vote?

Commissioners lights Yes Commissioner Taylor yes Commissioner Stefan Yes Vice chair Baker yes chairperson dejeuner Yes motion carries, okay

The next item on the agenda is non-public hearing items. I don't believe we have any. So therefore, we're going to move right into the public hearing items. Looks like item number one is a continuance requesting for a master plan for PEN 250098 and a conditional use permit for PEN 250098. 0100. Do we have a staff report?

Chair Desjardins, the applicant has requested a continuance to the meeting of August 13th, 2026 for this item.

Okay. Do we have a motion and a second to continue?

I motion we continue PEN 25-0100. I second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Double vote, please.

Commissioner Zients? Yes. Commissioner Taylor? Yes. Commissioner Steffen?

Yes.

Vice Chairperson Baker?

Yes.

Chairperson Dejeuner? Yes. Motion carries.

Okay. I take it we don't need a wrap up then. Let's go into item number two. Another continuance requested for vesting a tentative trap map number 39549. Do we have a staff report?

Thank you, Chair Dugeney, members of the Planning Commission. This item, we're recommending that it be continued to a future date, a date to be determined. All public hearing notices will go out ahead of the future Planning Commission meeting, so there's no need to continue to a date certain.

Okay, do we have a motion and a second to continue item number two? I'll so move.

I'll second.

Okay, we have a vote.

Commissioner Zaitz? Yes. Commissioner Taylor? Yes. Commissioner Steffen? Yes. Vice Chairperson Baker?

Yes.

Chairperson DeGeneres? Yes. Motion carries.

Okay. Now, though it doesn't look like it is here on the script here, it looks like we did receive another to continue, let's see, item number three, Edgemont Commercial Center, change the zone for PEN 2023 00- I'm sorry, 0073. A plot plan also, PEN 23 0074. A tentative map, track map, parcel map, I'm sorry. PEN 230075, an environmental impact report, PEN 23007. But I have another letter here. So we're looking for a continuance on item number three as well. Is there a staff report?

Thank you again, Chair DeGeneres, members of the Planning Commission. The applicant has requested a continuance of this item to the meeting of August 13th, 2026. I will note that there are a number of public speaker cards on this item. If the members of the public who wish to speak on this item, their testimony should be limited to only the continuance because any other comments won't be part of the official record.

Okay.

Mr. Chair, I should note for the record that staff has nothing to do with these continuance requests.

All right. Do we have a motion and a second for the continuance of item number three?

I have to let them speak. I have to let them speak if they want to speak.

Yes, the public should be allowed to comment at this time.

Okay, yeah. The script is a little bit Okay, so we still have to open public testimony. We didn't open it for any of the others. We didn't? For items one and two, we did?

Oh, well, yeah, if there were speaker cards for those items, then they should be allowed to comment on the continuance.

Okay, so we need to back up to item one.

Yeah, I suggest we go back.

Okay, so that the public understands, it does look like we did have some speaker cards from items one and two. However, any comments made or speakers speaking on the item will limit their comments to just the continuance, not the merits of the project in itself. So I'm going to back up to item number one and open up the public testimony at 621 p.m. Because it doesn't look like we're going to hear any of the items this evening. So just a reminder that in order for your comments to be entered into record, then the item actually has to be open. So you can speak, but we're only making the vote on the continuance, not anything about the item that's going to move to, I think one of them is August 23rd? The 13th?

Item number one is August 13th, and item number two is to a date uncertain, so that will be re-noticed.

Okay. All right, so let me go back to item number one. And so we have a continuous request for a master plot plan, PEN 250098, and a conditional use permit for PEN 250100. Do we have any speakers for item number one?

Yes, Chair. I have two speaker cards presently. Our first speaker is Seth Cox, followed by Ismael Gonzalez. In that case, our next speaker is Ishmael Gonzalez.

Hello again. Let me just acknowledge how ridiculous it is to speak about this item, even though it's already been continued. I also want to point out the ridiculousness of how I could only speak upon the continuance, but not the merit of the item itself. I want to keep it meta here and just, I don't want to speak on the merits, but it is kind of ridiculous how you can't, I mean, to you, you have to separate it. In my mind, it's hard to. I hope you could understand that. In regards to item I1, or 1.1, excuse me. I just want to make some clarifications regarding the nature of it, but not about the merit, the nature of it. If I was not mistaken, back in June, Commissioner Steffen recommended city staff to look into a moratorium on, or at least a study session on car washes and oversaturated businesses within the city. Doesn't this count? And I mean, there is a description of a car wash in it and it makes me wonder why is this being left out of that study session or that moratorium discussion because The city is oversaturated with these kinds of businesses. We do have to ask ourselves, are they contributing to the city? Are they bringing quality jobs that pay a living wage? Because every time I go to a convenience store or a car wash, there's no employees. It's a self-service environment. business where I have to clean my car, or it's automated by the car wash tunnel. And even if it's a convenience store, maybe two employees on one shift at most, we really do have to reconsider the pros and cons with these businesses. Are we gonna just let them dominate the city? Are we only gonna have these opportunities for our citizens to get employment? Where are the high paying jobs? I think in the second city, second most populous city in Riverside County, we should have better. Thank you.

Thank you. Do we have any other speakers for item one?

No other cards for this item, sir.

Okay. Let's see if I can do this by... If there are no other speakers, then... See, I think this is how it's supposed to go. Then we'll close the public testimony for item number one. And we go into deliberations, but we already voted on the continuance. Just for clarification, I'm going to try an analogy here. Um... Just for clarification and understanding, though we don't sit as an individual body here, we are a quasi-judiciary body, and these are hearings. It's not much different than a hearing that you go down to Riverside Superior Court, the judge is sitting there, the judge says, knock, knock, knock, we're not hearing that item. If you have any other comments about us not hearing the item, then those comments will be about we're not hearing the item. They're not going to take any testimony on the item. They're not going to take any questions from the lawyers, from the defense, and they're not going to take that because the item has moved on. That's why we don't hear anything about the items. We don't choose that. The city doesn't choose that. That goes by the laws that we have to follow for not only the Brown Act and how we run the meetings and stuff like that. We don't make those choices. The developer says, I don't want to hear the item tonight. I have other things to do, so I need a continuance. We say, OK, continue it. So that's why the comments will not come in or be entered into record for the item. I don't know if that makes any sense. If I'm explaining that correctly.

Basically, the reason why we strongly encourage everyone to save their comments regarding the merits of the project during the public hearing when we're considering the merits of the project is because if someone sues the city, The judge is only going to look at the transcripts of the public hearing and the comments that were submitted at the public hearing in the context in which we're considering the merits. So basically, any comments made at this time outside the continuance would not be considered in court by a judge. The judge would not even consider it. So it's to everybody's benefit to make sure that your comments on the merits are actually done in the proper context.

So I would take it as though because we're all sitting here as a governing body, it's like trying to persuade the body prior to the hearing. That's correct. Okay. That's correct. All right. And that could be considered a... Bias. Yeah. To make us have prior bias. It's a due process. It's a due process.

Okay. Got it.

Okay, so we'll move into item number two, and we'll open up the public testimony for item number two at 6.28 p.m. That is the vesting tentative track map number 39.549. And are there any speakers for the continuance?

We have three speaker cards, sir. Our first speaker is Seth Cox, followed by Lindsey Robinson, then followed by Christopher Baca.

Good evening, Commissioner, staff, public. Seth Cox, long time resident of Reno Valley. I am out on District 3. You've already voted on the continuance, so that's a moot point, okay? But I would like to let the public know, and they've already heard it from one gentleman already, this is an Aquabella project, okay? If anybody remembers the history of Aquabella, all right? 20-something years ago, this organization promised us the moon. The moon hasn't landed. The moon has not landed. It's still in the sky, okay? He came up to the city council and all three years ago, tried and sold us the moon again. Aquabella II. I don't think anything has happened in three years. Okay? This continuance here is just the first step in delay, delay, delay, delay, because in his presentation, he said the Aqua Bella project two would not be finished until 2045. Well, some of us won't be around until 2045, okay? But the moon is still in the sky. We have nothing to show for it in this city. I would request, I think, verify something. The continuance date is to be determined on this one?

Don't you have it? You only have the time to speak, and we really can't comment on it. You know, we just, you have your three minutes to speak and we can't.

Okay. I believe it's to be determined, if I can remember my reading right at home, I would highly recommend that somebody go back to this gentleman and make him commit to another hearing date. All right, if he comes back and says, hell, I don't want to talk about this for the next three years. Do we have anything to hold him against? No, he can come back three years and tell the same story. So again, public that's listening, this is just another Aquabella delay.

Thank you.

I do want to, again, to make the caution to remember this one. The whole body is here. Right, so we can, you know, again, we have to be cautious about brown acts, about having meetings with, so we can't all go and meet with a developer and get swayed by the developer prior to a hearing. And it's the same way on the other side. Look at it this way. The developer walks in and says, well, prior to my hearing, the public swayed the body. That's going to make a judgment for me. where does that put the developer in a position to say hey they conducted that incorrectly just caution you on that our next speaker comment about something because uh mr cox brings up a

a good issue I think everybody should know about. And that is, so applicants sometimes will ask for a continuance, and we don't know exactly why. But if they ask for a continuance to a date certain, to a specific date and time, then we don't send out another public hearing notice. But if they ask for the matter to be continued to an uncertain date and time, then we're obligated to send out another public hearing notice, which includes posting the property, sending notices to those who have requested notices, and also publishing in the newspaper. I think it's important for the public to know that. So in some cases, there will be another notice. In some cases, there will not be because they're requesting a specific time and date.

I've got a question in that, you know, when the developer does that, does any dollars exchange? I mean, do they have to pay for the notices? It's on the city, right?

Yeah, they have to pay for all notices.

Who does?

The developer. No matter what. They reimburse for all public notices. Yes.

I mean, it costs a pile of money to bring all of us out here and not do anything. Well, I guess we are doing something. You know what I'm saying? Across the city. Okay, enough said on that.

Nice point, Mr. Baker. Piggybacking on Mr. Desjanet, Mr. Benzivi, all of his agreements, he has unlimited access to City Hall and the staff. We have three minutes to speak to you guys, and yet you're saying he can accuse us of undue influence. That's a lot of nonsense. Pardon my French. Anyway, and also, between the two Aquabella projects... there was a wellness campus that he was developing. And our staff, when Michelle Dawson was the city manager, put together a huge PowerPoint for him. And they bragged and bragged, here's going to be medical offices. They were going to build medical equipment and everything. So he just changes whatever to keep things going. and does a bare minimum, and it always ends up costing the residents. But what I want to direct to you guys, which, yes, we were cheated when the Aqua Bella project came to the Planning Commission. He did not give a presentation like all other developers bring forward. We were there to see the presentation of what Aqua Bella was going to be with the 15 000 apartments the parks and everything and i hope you remember you guys asked what kind of parks what sports field etc and mr kelleher lied to you and said that will be decided later even though they knew there would be no parks and sports fields and we also gave up we're going to maintain the lakes out there for him You know, that's costly when there's no boating, no fishing, no swimming, but we got to keep the mosquitoes out and all the algae and poisonous things that happen there. So he continues to get the city to pay for everything and produces next to nothing, especially jobs. So please request, demand a presentation when he comes forward, if he ever comes forward, with what's next at every step of Aquabella so we know exactly what you're voting on, not just voting on a random 230 houses on 40.2 acres. We need to see the plan. We need to know exactly what is going to go in there, and it needs to be enforced. Thank you.

I'm sorry, does somebody need medical attention back there? I keep medical attention, like I keep hearing coughing. Yeah, like a attention cough. That's what I'm asking, if somebody needs water back there or like medical attention.

No? Okay. Okay. Our next speaker is Christopher Baca.

Good evening, community. I'm here to make awareness of exactly what is going on in our city with these unscrupulous developers, particularly Highland Fairview, Aquabella, and the upcoming Gilman issue. And I'm wondering why there's a continuance on this. Is it possible that Benzivi wasn't able to bribe enough Planning commissioners, was he unable to bribe enough city council members? Was he unable to bribe enough city staff? Wake up, people. This is a farce. The man is a con artist. And you know it, and you turn the blind eye. He's not going to do anything. The purpose of this, of Aquabella, is for him to enrich himself. He bought... 200 acres, pennies on the value on it. Once the city puts in all the infrastructure for him, he's goodbye. He's gone. I think he's turning 70 this year. So he's not going to be around until 2040. I'm sorry about that. He should be gone pretty soon, as soon as he increases the value of these buildings. fake projects that he proposes. Acobella has been back and forth, back and forth, and nothing's ever been done. I ask you, if you should determine, I mean, decide to listen to this, you should put requirements. Requirements and timelines and fines. That's exactly what he proposed, they did in... Imperial County where he tried to push a similar project and they put Requirements on that and he left the project. He's like goodbye. Never mind. I'm not gonna be able to make money off of this That's the same thing with this but top timelines and requirements when the time comes Otherwise, it's just a farce all this is is for him to increase the value of the property and he's not gonna build anything So I ask you please Look further into his doings. He has gotten entities to pay for the infrastructure that he said he was going to pay for. He makes promises, and he never keeps any promises on any of the projects that he proposes. So it's a farce. It's nonsense. He's a liar. He's a con man, and you need to stop. The city needs to stop enriching unscrupulous developer. That's here. in communities such as this, and I tell the city council members, I tell commissioners, you should be ashamed of yourself. These people target ignorant communities so they can do this type of stuff. So he considers you ignorant people to abuse and... exploit the taxpayer. So rather than us having good things for our city, you're throwing the taxpayer's money down the drain. So I ask you, if this ever should come up, put restrictions, timelines, and fines. Thank you.

Okay, do we have any other comments for item number two?

We have no other speaker cards for this item.

Okay. And again, we've already voted on the continuance. All right. So that puts us into item number three. We've already talked about the continuance of item number three. Do we have any speakers? I'm sorry. Let me say it. close the public comment period for item number two at 6.40 p.m. and we'll open the public comment period for item number three at 6.40 p.m. Do we have any speakers?

Yes, Chair. We presently have eight speaker cards for this item.

For the continuance?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Our first speaker is Selena Rodriguez, followed by Ismael Gonzalez, then followed by Seth Cox.

Hi, good evening, commissioners. I'm Selena Rodriguez, and I am from the Edgemont community. I'm here with 122 signatures, and we welcome August 12th so we can bring the full community opposition. Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Ishmael Gonzalez, followed by Seth Cox, then followed by Lindsey Robinson.

Hello again, commissioners. I want to reemphasize maybe what I said earlier. There's one billion square feet of warehouses in the IE. I did some calculations during a toxic tour with UCR and the People's Collective for Environmental Justice. Out of that 1 billion, 25% is here in Moreno Valley. It's mostly caught up in the approved World Logistics Center, but it's still 25%. Think about that. In the entire Inland Empire, out of that 1 billion, it's here a quarter right here at our front door. This item here, it's tragic. It's ridiculous to say the least.

Would that be the continuance?

I mean, take it as you will. I remember maybe in April, the city council considered a warehouse moratorium. They flipped and flopped, but eventually they voted it down. And during those discussions, I think it was city staff that said that there was maybe around 90 acres worth of available land in the city. They said that we were built out, but here we have an example where corporations and developers are here asking Planning Commission, the city, to change a zone from something that's not industrial to industrial to make way for 147,000 square foot warehouse. It's unbelievable.

How can you? I still want to caution people that we're only speaking about our continuance. Can you pause the time, please? Please pause the time. Reclaim my time? We're only talking about the continuance. We continue the item. We're not hearing any merits on the item, because the item, if you want to have your comments entered into record, then you have to wait until that item comes up for an official hearing. Right, but we're hearing a lot about the merits of the item. sir we're only talking about the continuance can i talk about anything else other than the merit of the item just only the item at hand and the item at hand is the continuance we have to stress that we have to run the meetings the proper way we continue we're continuing the item we're not hearing the item tonight we're only talking about the continuance.

Understood. Um, let me go ahead and just say this then, uh, was there any explanation for this continuance by the developer? I would love to know that, uh, after my comment, of course. And, um, maybe I could provide context. to this train of thought. Not specifically speaking on the merit of the item, but this is important information for you guys to have, not even regarding this particular item, but as a Marina Valley resident. how do you feel having 25% of all industry being built here? Um, and 70% of the jobs that they propose are gonna be automated in, in the next 5, 10 years. I gotta ask my carpenter brothers and union brothers here, uh, I was a part of a union and I admire the unions very much, but what's the point of advocating for warehousing if they're just gonna throw you out 5, 10 years down the line? While also, uh, raising, The risk of cancers, and like I said earlier, the urban heat island effect. You're increasing the heat here in the urban sprawl, which is Marina Valley. 200,000 people live here. Everybody's suffering because of it. People are dying, possibly, of a slow exhaustion of dehydration. We've got to keep these people in mind. This is a real issue that has been built over the course of 40 years of industrialization here.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Seth Cox, followed by Lindsey Robinson, then followed by Jerry Joel Pulver.

Okay, since I can't talk anything about the, except the continuance. This is my call for the continuance. Deny the continuance. Deny the change of zoning. Let the requester file an appeal and get it changed there. Okay? Last minute request by the vendor, whatever he is. the owner, just do it that way. Deny the continuance, deny the change of zoning, and let the owner come back at a later date when he wants to bring it back to the table.

Thank you. Due process.

Oh, it started? I thought you were going to announce my name. My name is Lindsay Robinson again. I believe you're incorrect. We can speak on this project. We all just know it's not part of the public record. But I want you to remember, as well as all the residents, that the city I think it was you guys asked for a moratorium on warehouses. Mr. Quintanilla and staff swore we didn't need one because only 93 acres remain that were zoned for warehouses. Of course, the residents disputed this knowing how quickly staff recommends rezoning anything and everything for another industrial building. Okay, you might call it light industrial. Look it up on Hecox. Those are light industrial, Hecox and Ironwood. Those are warehouses to the average person. I don't care what name you wanna give them. We don't need to be rezoning for more warehouses. When we were promised, that wouldn't happen. Plus the general plan update was just completed. Why wasn't that in there? Why didn't you have rezone? Oh yes, wait, we did an extensive update, But no, we didn't do an update. The lying by some of the staff members is just frustrating and needs to stop, and there are people that need to be fired. I'm sorry. You guys need to, as Seth says, deny the continuance, deny the rezoning, deny the project, and get some integrity back at city staff. Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Jerry Joel Pulver, followed by Daniel Lopez Salas, then followed by David Cordero.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jerry Pulver. What the, against the continuance of the warehouse on the corner of Day and Bay, I feel it's a mistake. There's gonna be too much traffic, too much congestion in the area, and thank you for your time.

Next we have Daniel Lopez Salas, followed by David Cordero, then followed by Julio Flores.

Good evening, Commission. My name is Daniel Lopez-Salas, a longtime resident of Moreno Valley. And I actually came here because I received this notice. And so the reason I came up to speak today is to request you all to reject the continuance because it does not give our residents enough time to transition their calendars to come to another meeting, as mentioned before, right? This does present a challenge to our community members who are committed to the well-being of their families. And by transitioning this meeting to a different time, it undermines the agency of our communities and organizations to really voice their opinions about this point. So thank you all so much, and have a wonderful evening. Thank you.

David Cordero, I will wait for the continues, thank you. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Julio Flores, then followed by Tatiana Flores.

Good evening, commissioners. My name is Julio Flores, proud resident of Moreno Valley, myself as well. You know, just like an Amazon ride, whenever you order a package, you don't want it, you send it back, right? They give you a refund. I mean, same with the developer. If the developer's asking for a come back on a different date, I think he should be allowed to come back on a different date. So, thank you.

Next we have Tatiana Flores.

Good evening again, commissioners. I'll keep my comments short since I had those three minutes earlier and expressed a few of my opinions already. But also against the continuance, I think it should just be opposed already, to be honest. But I'm happy to come back in August and really share all my thoughts and opinions on the merits. But you know, seven houses are right there, right next to them. Thanks.

Thank you. Oh, David was before. I see. Okay. Do we have any other speakers?

We have no more speaker cards, sir.

All right. Then at this time, we'll close the public testimony for item number three at 6.52 p.m. But we've already had a vote and a motion carried for the continuance.

Yeah, we did. Oh, we did? Yeah, we did. We didn't? No.

I thought we did. We only did the first two? Yes. Okay. All right. Then we'll go on to public... Oh, I'm sorry. We'll go on to deliberation if someone has a motion and a second for the continuance.

I've got a motion. I'm going to make a motion. Okay, I'll move it.

Wait, I'm going to make... Let me say something real quick and then you can make a motion. Okay, got it. I sometimes feel, and I don't know if it's this... way tonight, but there's been a lot of letters to us, a lot of things that were questionable, and I understand why they want to continue to take care of those. My concern with continuing this because they put a date on it is that we do not re-notify the public. And I feel that's an injustice to the public. Any time that we change something, the public should be notified of when the new date is. Is there any way in the motion that we can state that we will re-notify this?

I was anticipating that question, yes.

Okay. That makes me feel a little better about continuing it. So if we could get that into motion.

It would be noticed in the same way we noticed it the first time. Would they be mail letters?

It's always been done that way.

No, but I understand that. But see, since it's continued and it has a date, they don't have to re-notify.

Yes, they do.

That's the reason why I brought this issue up when Mr. Cox raised the issue. It's because I want the public to know that if it's continued to a date certain, there's no public notice. Right. I'm glad we're having this conversation.

Where the other one where it says to a date determined, then we have to notify.

If it's undetermined, yes. We have to notify.

But if we could put it in the motion that the public is re-notified on this as it would be a new project or whatever coming to us, the full notification, I don't have a problem with a continuance at that point. That can be done. Do you want to make a motion?

We still have deliberation of the commissioners.

I didn't know you guys had one. Thank you.

Do you have anything to say? Yeah. Could we not continue it, even though the applicant is asking?

Yes, that's within your discretion to decide whether or not to not continue it. My only advice would be I'd rather deal with a denial based on a lot of sufficient findings versus a denial where I'm going to have to deal with a due process claim. for denying the continuance.

Okay, I was just asking for the public because they were saying that we could just continue it and then, you know, I think it would open up a can of worms if we did that.

I think of a can of worms.

Correct, from a litigation.

That's like showing up to court and you got denied before you had a chance to say anything.

Right. Okay, well, if we recirculate and give a notice, I think we can continue it.

So the motion is going to be the motions would be to continue with subject to re noticing it. Yes in the same manner we noticed it the first time. With with the exception of the number of days because we're not going to be the exception of what.

You get there's a certain. It's right out certain amount of days it has to be posted.

But that wouldn't be applicable in this under the circumstances to be done as soon as possible.

I'll make the motion if.

All right, I'll go for it. All right, I'd like to make a motion to continue item number three, with the exception of re-notifying or noticing the public of the, and I wanna say this one is until August 13th, the second week in August, so that the public gets a re-notification of when this is going to take place.

I will second.

Okay, can we have a vote?

Commissioner Zaitz?

Yes.

Commissioner Taylor?

Yes.

Commissioner Steffen?

Yes.

Vice Chair Baker? Yes. Chairperson Dijonet? Yes. Motion carries. Okay. Mr.

Chair, can I just make a comment? I'd just like to note that the staff doesn't take these requests for continuances lightly because we put a lot of work in getting these agenda packets put together and reviewing the staff report and reviewing all the entitlements. And we are, you know, we're taken back sometimes when they request these continuances because we know the public's going to show up. We know they're all busy, you know, and they have to make an effort to get here and be prepared. So we understand that. So that's why I thought it was important to note that, you know, we're not on board with all of these requests for continuances when they come in. So we're planning on being here past midnight when we put together this agenda.

Oh, yeah. I can see that. You know what, before we... Is there a minimum amount of time that they can put in a continuum? Or can they do it the day before we meet?

No, they could even come up to the podium and request a continuous.

Okay. All right. And it's up to us to say yes or no on the continuous. Got it. All right. Other than any... All right. The next item on the agenda is other commissioner business. And I don't believe we have any other commissioner business. I think my question would be for other commissioner business.

I do.

And I was responding to a couple of questions there saying that is it prudent to give the public The reason for, well, I guess not because it could be anything. It could be a lawsuit. It could be anything that they have to cover up before or that they have to take care of before they come in. And some things could be wrong with the plan. I see, okay. All right, but so there is no, I guess we couldn't go into why the request for a continuance.

Sometimes we don't even know.

No. Okay. Because I heard that comment out there. And, you know, in all transparency, I believe that the public, you know, I don't know if there's a mechanism in place. Like, let's say they find out there is a continuous in place. Would they have an avenue to say, I need to call this number, blah, blah, blah? Why is it continued? And I don't know if the developer has the responsibility to disclose that information.

Was that direction the commission wants to provide staff that in the future if there's a request for a continuance to inquire as to why?

I guess what I'm talking about here on the other commissioner business, because it's transparency. And so that, you know, I don't want people to think that, oh, they're just doing it to play games or blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Or we're just doing it to hold people off or, you know, be shysters or whatever.

Most of the time we don't even know. So it'd be prudent for us to know exactly why they're asking for a continuance.

And then if we deny it, then we would have information to say, OK, that's a good reason. Or maybe we decide we don't think that's a proven reason. You know, I'm going to the Bahamas, so let's continue it.

Well, it sounds like there's a consensus for staff to do that. To know why they want to continue it.

Not always. In court, we can't get away with that. They'll ask us why. Are you allowed to ask? Yes, yes.

If that's the direction, then staff knows.

I mean, it sounds like there would be a whole flow chart, because let's say it's something that could violate a HIPAA law.

This outfit here, are they aware of all these signatures they get against this day-and-day deal?

You understand what I'm saying? Say there's an illness or something like that. They don't have to disclose that. to say, I can't make it this evening because I'm in the hospital. And I don't have to tell you why I'm in the hospital. So there's got to be some things that protects them.

No, but they have to say they're in the hospital. They don't have to disclose why they're there. But I want to continue this because I'm young.

Or I'm going to have surgery.

Well, we'll just indicate to the planning commission that they did not want to provide information as to why. Right.

That would be prudent as well. Right. To protect them and their privacies for the things that they have to go as well. Right.

Now on a different note, I want to amend the minutes of last meeting because they stated on there that I was running for the mayor seat. I am not running for the mayor seat. I am running for city council and district two. So if we can.

change that because the minutes i think that's on the that's on the agenda right yeah but they already voted that's right oh no no i'm not running for mayor

as much as people would like me to i'm not so here the correction is going to be made okay a couple things i'd just like to bring up is one are we working on or is it a mute point to keep asking to have our meetings televised or zoomed like city council has to do that are we working on that

Yeah, I actually had a discussion with the city manager about that, and so the plan is to see how it goes with the city council, see if there's any kinks or how difficult it is, and then they will consider presenting it to the city council as part of the plan to televise. We had lots of practice during COVID. So they want to see how everything works.

Okay, number two, the re-notification, is it an ordinance rule or... you know, like if they give a date, is that like in a city amendment or not amendment, but some kind of a rule, or can that be brought up and changed by, not maybe changed by this body, but recommended by this body to council to change that any continuance, the public would be re-notified?

Yes.

That can be done?

Yes. Okay. I would suggest that that be put on a future agenda. If we could, I would like. For a recommendation to the city council.

To look into it?

But for now, in the meantime, we get one. Yeah, we have to stick with it. We will notify. We will ask the applicant why.

Because I would have liked to have done it for the other one tonight. And I'm not going to say which one, but I would have liked to have that.

I would also like to know when there isn't a timeline as to when the continuance is going to take place, how long can they keep continuing without doing that? Forever.

Indefinitely.

Indefinitely? Indefinitely. Indefinitely. Really?

Yes. Until their application expires, they don't expire. No.

Yeah, for indefinitely.

Wow. But this is great. Okay. And then two more things. One is there is a date set. I believe it's in September for the study session to look into the... Data centers. Eighth for the moratorium on the oversaturation of... No.

No. I've been informed that the city council has scheduled a September 8th study session to deal specifically with data centers. Okay, so though, but so that's separate from and we only brought that issue up because you included data centers. Yes, so we just informed the Planning Commission that oh, by the way. The City Council is having a study session on data center, so that does not preclude a study separate study session on the other issue.

So we don't have one for what? Commissioner Stefan asked for not yet.

I think a lot of people are under the misconception also When we did do the general plan, yes, there wasn't going to be, like, one of the comments was made about the warehousing. They don't realize that there are certain ones that were already in the pike, like they say, in the works. We have to hear them. We have to hear them and decide on the merits of whether or not they should be, you know, put forward to the city council, whether we approve or deny, whatever, and that's the thing. People see these things coming up and they're thinking that, oh wow, they said they weren't gonna do anymore. But there are some that are right now coming through and we have to hear them. And it's not something that we said, oh, just let them come through. They were there before we did the general plan amendment. so the public needs to know that it's not something if you see another car wash coming through it's not because it was way back it was already went through planning and now we have to we have to see it and i know it's frustrating for the public to say oh wow now we got another car wash oh we got another warehouse but we have to it has to be shown to us we have to see whether or not we're going to approve or deny

then sometimes it gets appealed and it goes to the council anyway and then my one last thing would be is there any way we can get because we get a lot of people asking how are these projects going what is this project doing you know why is it stalled is it whatever could we get a possible maybe in I don't know if we could actually want to do it during the meeting because it would be quite time consuming, but maybe a handout that could be given out at the meetings to show where projects are, what's happening, where they are in the system. That way the public will quit saying, how come this guy hasn't built? Well, we handed it to him. It's been approved. It's waiting on them to take the next step. You know, that kind of stuff. That way I might answer a little more transparency from the city and answer a lot of these questions that people get angry about some of these developers. If we could tell them what the city has done and now it's in their ballpark.

Yeah, where's my yum yum donuts?

Ha ha ha.

I was waiting for the... Maybe we can bring it to the meetings. Is the Yum Yum Donuts on there?

The city's economic development department does put out an economic development update with some updates on what's coming and status of projects. So that is online and we can bring copies to the next planning commission meeting.

Is there any other commission or business? All right, next item on the agenda, staff comments. Do we have any staff comments?

No staff comments at this time.

What?

Chair, Angelica Frostulico, Community Development Director. And just to clarify, city attorney had already previously informed this planning commission about the upcoming study session at the city council meeting. And so once the agenda is out, we'd be happy to forward to you so that you can come and attend the meeting. We believe that it will be mostly centered around data centers, but other types of developments as well, potentially. Thank you.

Any other staff comments? All right. That means we are going to, the planning commission is adjourned at 7.10 p.m. to our next regular meeting on August 13th, 2026. at 6 p.m.