City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome, everybody, to a meeting of the Ontario City Council, the first order of business. Is the roll call, Madam City Clerk?

Thank you, Mayor Leon. The record will reflect that all council members are attending this meeting tonight.

All right, so does anybody have any conflicts of interest tonight? It doesn't look like it.

Hang on. I think I do. No, it's not a legal conflict, but we have a potential perception problem for closed session, correct? Don't look at me like you don't know. You're the one that discussed it with me.

I know exactly what you're talking about, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Mayor, if I may, so your second item on your closed session agenda is a conference with city's real property negotiators for a series of parcels that the city is negotiating with the Ontario International Airport Authority for potential purchase. As you know, as the council is aware, Mayor Pro Tem Wapner sits on that board. There is no legal conflict. Excuse me, and Council Member Bowman, I apologize. Both of those members sit on the board. There is no legal conflict of interest, and so no political reform at conflict or government code section 1090. I do not identify this as a required recusal. Certainly, every member is free to choose according to their own preference. Mayor Pro Tem Wapner, Council Member Bowman, sit on both of those bodies and have done so for years. From time to time there are items that come in front of this council and in front of the airport authority. And each of you, to my understanding, has participated in closed sessions, open sessions, matters involving both entities. Again, there is no Political Reform Act conflict of interest. However, if either of you feels like you should recuse yourself, you're certainly entitled to do so here. And the record will reflect that it's not a legal conflict, but an appearance out of an abundance of caution.

So based on the suggestion of the city attorney, I'm going to recuse myself on those property negotiations.

Okay, we'll still note.

Jim.

Mr. Bowman, I'm sorry. Okay, all right. With that, if I could announce the other closed session item. I apologize, we went straight to the meat of that burger. The first closed session item is conference with legal counsel regarding the case Anthony Robert Phoenix versus the Toyota Arena. The city's designated negotiator on the real property transaction that we just discussed is Mr. Ochoa or his designee. Obviously the OIAA on the other side and under negotiation are price and terms of payment as permitted by the Brown Act. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Okay, thank you. And so we're gonna go ahead and move on to closed session. Is there anybody here to speak to the closed session? All right. So you already did the announcements, so we don't need to do that. So we'll recess to closed session and be back at approximately 6.30. Well, thank you everybody for coming to this meeting of the Ontario City Council. We'll begin with our Pledge of Allegiance tonight, led by Councilmember Macias. Our invocation tonight will be led by Pastor Narcissus Tucker Bishop from Westminster Presbyterian Church. Can you stand right over there?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I apologize.

I'm hoping they'll turn my back to the people I'm speaking to because, you know, I'm in the front. So I apologize. Yeah, I love you, but I've got to speak to these guys. So they told me I had 45 minutes. Is that... Whatever you like. So thank you for having me, Mayor Leon and City Council people. Thank you so much. Reflect with me for a moment, please. Let us pause and just center ourselves on this shared moment. A source of wisdom and compassion, we acknowledge a presence greater than ourselves. calling each of us toward truth, justice, and care for one another. As these, your leaders, oh God, gather to serve this community, quiet what distracts, so listening may be deep, attentive not only to one another, but to the lives behind every decision. May there be a clear remembering that every policy carries a human story, every number reflects a neighbor, and every outcome touches a life. Guard this, their work, beyond efficiency alone, toward dignity, equity, and care, so that each person in this community is seen, heard, and valued. Grant clarity in thought, humility in leadership, and courage to choose what is right, even when it is not easy. As this meeting begins, may the work be done here reflect what is just, compassionate, and life-giving for all. Amen.

Thank you. So I'll ask our city attorney to provide a closed session report.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. This afternoon pursuant to the posted agenda, the council met to consider both of the items that are listed on that closed session agenda. They received input and update from staff and provided direction, but there is no reportable action.

Okay, this takes us to public comments, and you'll be limited to three minutes. We have quite a few, so I'm gonna stick real close right on time. In accordance with state law, remarks during public comment are limited to subjects within council's jurisdiction. Anybody speaking, including in the audience, it's best not to be doing applause and shouting and everything. I'll have to stop that, but you'll need to be recognized by me, the chair, before you can speak, including council. So do we have any email?

Yes, Mr. Mayor, one emailed comment. It has been printed, placed at the dais, and will be entered into the record.

Got it, got it, thank you. Okay, so we'll begin with Tina Silva.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council. I want to acknowledge that the City of Ontario sits on the ancestral lands of the Tongva people. This land was taken and is now occupied. We honor their enduring presence, resilience, and stewardship of this land. If this Council can open meetings with an invocation and prayer, We can also take a moment to acknowledge the original stewards of this land. Given that many cities across California have adopted land acknowledgements, I ask, why has Ontario not done the same? What steps is the city willing to take to formally recognize and honor this history? It's been over 300 days since ICE has terrorized our community. I'll say it again. Over 300 days. The most recent that we know about was March 25th on Grove and 5th. I'm here to ask you to take concrete steps. I have to mention that I did go to Montclair City Council meeting last night. And boy, what a show. But I will tell you, with Ben Lopez anyway, I will tell you that after a while, after the second time our contingent, contingency of people that care for the community showed up to Montclair City Council, they're actually going to put what we asked on a future agenda. So they listen to us. So I'm asking you to please listen to me and the community. I'd like you to create a local support fund for families impacted by ICE raids, similar to Pomona. When primary earners are taken, Families are left in crisis overnight and we need a safety net. Second, adopt a policy that prohibits ICE from staging on city property. One minute remaining. Guess where ICE staged on city property? I believe it's city property. The soccer field, yes, the soccer field. ICE was there. These public spaces should not be used to facilitate fear in our neighborhoods. Third, I'd like to ensure the city does not contract with companies that support immigration enforcement activities, including data sharing, including flock cameras. Our tax dollars should not contribute to harming our residents. People say Flock does not share information with ICE. They do. And how do they access it? Through local police departments. So please, please consider what I've been asking for for probably ten months now. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Priscilla. That's all I have.

Good evening. It's been a while since I last spoke here, and it's not because I haven't wanted to. It's because I've had to conserve my energy. It sometimes feels futile to come here. You barely even look at us. I've been engaging with my traumatized neighbors and helping each other has taken precedence overcoming here. But I'm here again with the hope that perhaps something that's said today moves you to take action and catalyzes our city to look after our own people in ways that other cities do. You're a pastor. Micah 6.8 states, and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Every city council meeting that I attend where I hear prayers and affirmations made about serving God, putting God first. Today's was beautiful, by the way. I wonder, what does Micah 6.8 look like in public office? We have come before you many times, as Tina mentioned, requesting support for our immigrant families and neighbors. We have asked you to consider how enabling ICE to run rampant through our city infringes on all our civil liberties and endangers us all. You have questioned the validity of our concerns and have remained silent. Maybe you and others wrongly believe that ICE is done, that you are clear and have gone through this difficult season without having to take action, but that's not the case. ICE is still very much here. As was mentioned, on Wednesday, March 25th, seven unmarked vehicles boxed in a smaller vehicle and dragged away a man. I arrived there as a legal observer to find sandals on the floor. It was clear a scuffle had taken place. The so-called ICE agents began to intimidate me as I quietly filmed them. They spoke amongst themselves about identifying me. One of them walked to my car and took pictures of it with the clear goal of filling me with fear. I was simply doing what is right. Often ICE will leave vehicles in the middle of the road. This time they called OPD and eventually the vehicle was towed. When we communicated with the family the next day, we learned that an Ontario family had lost a primary earner, someone without a criminal record. leaving behind a four-month-old baby and a terrified spouse. Since June of last year, this has been the reality for many of our families, and what have you done? Nothing. Instead, mayor and members of council, you prepare for election season, you dismiss our concerns, and you commune with people like Sheriff Bianco, who spew hate and anti-immigrant rhetoric. So tell me, what do you do when you hear, read Micah 6-8? How do you act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly? Do you gloss over it? Do you pretend it doesn't apply? Do you ignore it? What would Jesus, the immigrant Palestinian Jewish man, ask you to do? Here are three suggestions. Create a fund for families affected by ICE kidnappings. Establish and enforce a policy that bans ICE from staging on public property. And prohibit contracts with companies like Flock that share immigrant data. Whatever you choose to do, don't remain silent. Do what's right, act justly, love mercy.

Our next speaker is Chris Robles.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, City Council. I want to point out what a wonderful meeting we had three weeks ago. enlightening for most of the people in the room and people outside who finally saw how a real council operates through debate, through discussion, through actual dialogue with the community. That's not what we get all the time here. That's not what we ever really get. What we get are 5040 votes. Clearly, something's been dealt with outside of this room in violation of the Brown Act. We never get presentations. And when we talk about our parks and the needs of the community, that's the kind of discussion that we want to have. And in relation to Jay Littleton Park, This city has a $1.65 billion budget with 183, 185,000 residents. Pomona's is 506 million. San Bernardino, that has more residents, is $349 million. And Rancho, our neighbor, 305 million with nearly the same number of residents. Have you been to Rancho? Their parks are gorgeous. Their parks are like palaces. There's no reason ours shouldn't be exactly the same. You have the money to open Jay Littleton Park now so that people, children can use it now. There's no reason to wait. Open it now. The community is asking you to open the park now. Spend the money to fix it up. The money that you pulled two years ago and should have reinstated, use it. Spend it. Fix it. Let the children use it.

Thank you. All right. Thank you. Our next speaker is Melissa Boss.

Good evening, Council, Mayor. It's Melinda Boss.

Okay, sorry. No worries. Melinda.

Just to clarify. I just want to thank you guys for your time again. A lot of us are here for the same thing, coming back with the Jay Littleton Park, the John Galvin Park. Not as enforced as we were last time, but you know, we're still here. I'd like to use my time today to ensure that you guys are all aware that there is a master plan document out there on the city website that shows the plan prior to the tragic burning of Jay Littleton ballpark. It was stated somewhere at some point by somebody and I can't quote who because there was a lot of conversations happening that there was no previous plan for the west side of John Galvin to be used and Redone. But indeed there was. And it's actually out there on your guys' website. It's page 126 and 127. This layout has the plan for shelters, a skate park, a native garden, multi-use fields, a splash pad. parking and over the Grove Street crossing. So we ask that you guys stick to that plan and rebuild Jay Littleton Park on Jay Littleton area and do the rest of the renovations on the other side as previously proposed by the planning committee. So in conclusion, we just want you guys to open Jay Littleton now. Let us start playing there using the field. Um, we also ask that you, um, consider doing a reasonable charge when you guys do reopen it so that people can actually use it and it doesn't go unused. And then also, lastly, we would like to see the post-it notes that were collected during the events when we went out and the community outreach had happened. We all filled out little post-it notes, and that was supposed to come back and be presented to the council. I don't know that it has been. But I think the public should be able to see that as well. So thank you guys for your time. Appreciate you.

Thank you. Okay, our next speaker is Kizzy.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, City Council. Roughly a month ago, I addressed City Council and spoke specifically towards Council Member Macias, to which I was admonished, or I won't say I was, but the room was admonished by Mr. Bowman and City Attorney Duran. When I returned the next meeting, I spoke of instances that resembled Brown Act violations. Ironically, no one has come from the City Attorney's Office to ask me anything about So what I will say in front of everyone here, I'll talk to the big three, Wapner, Bowman, and Macias. Moving forward, please do not come outside and talk to me. Please don't attempt to engage me. There's nothing you need to say to me. If you want to say something, please email it. But we do not need to speak in person or outside of this chamber right here.

The Grove Plaza, I want to thank Chief Lopez, if he's here.

Officer Nelius, Corporal Oladon, Officer Gerber, and Sergeant Sturgis, we're making good strides over there. We have lights over there. The officers, even though it's not their job to always do it, they have a big city to police, but they are allocating resources to make sure that the vagrancies, the drug sales, the solicitation of prostitution, the theft, the violence that was occurring over there has been brought to almost nothing. And so I'd like to say thank you to them for that. I've been told by plenty of people in this room that that is a parcel that is very hard to get to the owners of. Well, as I told you guys, thanks to Mr. Bowman, I sold 90% of one of my businesses and now I have a little more time. So I got to the owners of the property and I'll be having a meeting with them next week. the concerns of the residents in that area. They've told me that they will get security over there. I'm working with someone who has a PPO in the area as well as some residents that will take part in volunteer work over there so that the area can be secure and Ontario PD can allocate resources or better use them other places in the city than trying to worry about this plaza. We're also going to discuss other issues that vagrancy and some of the illegal occupants have caused over there. and do our best to get some retails over there so that the foot traffic can be better, and that area that has depreciated can become more valuable. You guys spent a lot of money for that baseball park. We have traffic that uses Grove now, in addition to Vineyard and Archball, and that's going to bring more traffic that can bring more money over there. So we're hoping to see a change where we don't have to destroy it or demolish it and build something new. Lastly, as Mr. Robles pointed out and the young lady before him, Jay Littleton Park, again, I implore you guys to please listen to the people and if it's fiscally responsible to find an alternative. We're in talks right now with a couple of celebrities. If the park is open, we'd like to get out there and maybe host some concerts, get some donations and funding, and we can help the city keep the park and not change it out for a splash pad. Thank you.

All right, thank you. Our next speaker is Gary Littleton. Dressed up for you today.

Thank you, City Council, Mayor. And going through what the events that we're all going through as US citizens the last few months, it almost Almost feels like I belittle myself to even come up about the discussion what we need to do with our city when there's so much in the world that really needs to be taken care of. But with that being said, last time that we did meet, I gave you a proposal about me designing a ballpark for you under the guidance of what you guys would like to. I contacted a company out of Texas called Southern Bleachers, Southern Bleachers is known for several parks around the nation. They have built a park that was up in Lodi, California that was actually older than Jay Littleton or Ontario Ballpark at the time. It was actually built like in 1932. Very much of a resemblance of what Jay Littleton Field was, also demolished by fire and rebuilt by Southern Bleachers using aluminum construction, a gorgeous site that actually would house 400 people, and with a proposal at that time with the bleachers and the fields the way they are at $1.75 million, which is a tremendous savings from some of the proposals that we have seen on any of the other parks. I've got this. I got it in writing. I got the plans. I have pictures of what the park would look like. I just need to know where to put them, who to bring them to, If I can send them all for you guys for you, I'd be happy to do that with your emails. But I want to propose this to everyone on this council to see what their thoughts are on this. Because when we're talking about building a community and getting the community involved in it, that community is going to do as well. I mean, I don't want to dictate how we're going to do the Paul Park, but I'd sure love to show you this plan, and I think all of you would be very impressed with the way the plan looks. It's a very good, clean-looking park. There's areas where we could put concession stands, just like we have drawn up with the splash pads where concessions could be sold. Restaurants could be interiorly fenced. And they even have a plaque, just like Jay Littleton Ballpark had a plaque with Tony Zuppo, who was an old player from, I think, the Chicago Sox, if I'm not mistaken. So if I can just get some direction or spark and recreation, that's what I'm looking for today. Thank you, council. Thank you, council. Hope you guys all had a good Easter and some time off, and God bless us all.

Thanks, Gary. I would say get it to the city clerk. Everything you have, just get it to the city clerk's office, okay? All right, Karen Howey.

Good evening, Mayor Leon, Council, and Ontario residents. On behalf of County Supervisor Kurt Hagman, I'd like to invite you to two events that we are having. You receive flyers on them, and I have some flyers outside the door so people can pick them up. Our first event that we are holding is a hiring event. And this is going to be in a partnership with Supervisor Hagman, the Public Defender's Office, the California State Employment Development Department, the Ontario International Airport. And it's going to be held at the airport in Terminal 1, the one that's in all the movies that we used to see all the time. And it's going to be on April 15, 2026, at 10 AM to 2 PM. This is a great place to either have the Workforce Development Department help you find a job or get something done so that you can start your way onto a new job. It's also a great place to get record cleaning services. They will be doing expungements of records there, but you need to set up an appointment so that they have enough people there to help you along. That will be the Public Defender's Office. On April, oh, and you can find all of these events listed on Supervisor Hagman's website, so you can register there. On Saturday, April 18th, we will be holding our Next shredding event here in Ontario. And so we're expecting a big crowd. We hope we get a good crowd out there. We'll have a couple trucks. And so you need to also register for this so that we know we have enough trucks. We don't want to be caught short and turn people away. It will be held at the PD office department at 9 to 12 o'clock. And you're up to three standard boxes of shredding that you can bring. You must be a San Bernardino County resident. One minute remaining. Anybody who comes from another county, we are going to ask to leave. So I just wanted to invite you to those events and your residents here in Ontario, because these are free events offered by Supervisor Hagman in the county. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Our next speaker is Marty McBride.

Good evening, everyone. I only have three minutes, so I'm going to speak really, really quickly. First of all, on March the 28th, a Saturday, a beautiful Saturday, organizers held a No Kings rally here on Euclid Avenue. And I want to thank the city and all the city departments that helped us with the rally. permit process. I want to thank the police department for their assistance. We did not have any illnesses. We had no incidents. We had no nothing except for lots of great music, dancing, and a lot of very, very loud and happy people. In addition, I do want to say that the people that were present at that event were incredible. When the event was over, I personally walked the site. There was not a bit of trash left behind. Not a single water bottle, not a single cup, nothing. It was pristine. So I'm very proud of the Ontario residents and the guests of the Ontario residents who attended that event. The next thing is Jay Littleton Park. Please do open the park. The residents have waited long enough to have their park reopened and be able to use it. Anything that the city can do to expedite the process of opening that park so that residents can once again use it and the ball diamond, which is sacred ground for anybody who loves baseball. The sooner that they can use it, the better. Finally, last but not least, I'm going to wait until I have exactly one minute left. I have exactly one minute left. Now, I know that I have exactly one minute left because I have eyes and I can see that I have a timer in front of me that actually changes color when I have one minute left. So I would like to respectfully ask the city council to end the practice of interrupting speakers at the one minute point because it's very difficult. Studies show that it takes a long time for people to once again gather their thoughts and continue speaking if they've been interrupted. So I would like to respectfully ask the city council to end this rude practice immediately. Thank you.

Okay, our next speaker is Randy Beck... Sorry about that. Our next speaker is Randy Beckendam.

Good evening, Mayor, Council. I like that one-minute suggestion. Three weeks ago, I made a request to talk with staff. I said a group of us would like to talk about healthy eating, active living. And I'm here to report, I'm happy to report that staff did reach out and we have a meeting scheduled about two weeks from now on April 20. So that's very gratifying to us. Maybe about ten years ago, Kaiser Permanente gave the city a $1 million grant to start the HEAL program. And a very robust program was implemented, Amy's Farm interacted with that quite a bit. But as all grants do, they ran out. And so we're quite concerned that there's a vacuum now in this arena. And as we've heard, the city is quite wealthy. I think the city could afford to fund a HEAL program. And so that's just our opinion. We're going to be talking with staff about some of our concerns. And as I said before, we're still actively involved in growing healthy food, making compost, and are ready to help the City of Ontario, the residents, grow their own food and eat healthy. And just maintaining the garden is healthy activity. So we're looking forward to that meeting. Thank you.

All right, thank you. So that concludes our public comments and it takes us to agenda review, Mr. City Manager.

Yes, sir, the only change we have for tonight is we're requesting that item number 12 regarding the housing trust fund for the county be pulled and we'll bring it back with an amended resolution at your next meeting.

I haven't gotten there yet.

That's next. So that moves us to consent calendar. And there's already been a motion to approve. Do I get a second from anybody? Second by Ms. Macias. We'll take a vote.

Mr. Mayor, I do believe we have a blue card for the consent calendar.

Say that again?

I believe we have a blue card.

Okay, yeah, I see it. Sorry, it was behind everything here. So we have a couple of blue cards actually. And we're gonna also pull item number 12, but Mr. Robles, item number 13.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, City Council. So item 13 is about what I guess used to be called the Great Park, now it's Center Park, and it's spelled all one word. But it's encroaching and there is a plan that seems to be afoot to take over what's called Prop 70 land. And for those that don't know what Prop 70 land is, back in 1988, voters passed Proposition 70 to protect open space, parks, farmland, and beaches, and other types of land like that. In its wisdom back then, in those days, the county purchased land in South Ontario to protect it, farmland. But there's a game afoot to trade this land and Give it to Ontario, albeit you're going to buy it, whatever that's going to look like. One minute remaining. To use for this center park. That's not the intent of the voters of the state of California. We are opposed to using Prop 70 land, which should be set aside separately. You had a plan, you had land for your park and or what will eventually become our part, but this is your plan. And there's been no discussion about this with the community at all, typically. And what we're asking is that you do not move forward on that. The Prop 70 land is protected land. It is to remain as farmland. And it should not be, we'll deal with the county on our own time, but the county should not be giving it away to anyone. Thank you.

All right, thank you. Our next speaker is Randy Beckendam.

Good evening again. So I'm Randy Beckendam. So I'm executive director of the Southern California Agricultural Land Foundation. That nonprofit was formed to manage the Prop 70 lands 37 years ago. Unfortunately, the county fired that board and took management of those properties in-house. We have resurrected that board and are very intent on protecting the Prop 70 land, even though we don't have formal oversight anymore of managing those lands. And as Mr. Robles said, the county may hold the title, but they hold it in trust. The land is owned by the people of the state of California, and it's specifically mandated to be preserved as farmland. And we intend to see that that is maintained. So to simply pass this on a consent, you can't do that. So I understand that taking that piece out provides a problem. But it's a problem you have to deal with. So that Prop 70 land is meant to be protected and preserved as farmland. So thank you.

All right, thank you. So that, once again, takes us to, we have a motion to approve, a second from Ms. Macias, and we, did you have something to say?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. City Manager, unless I'm mistaken, is there any Prop 71 involved in this particular item?

There is a tract of Prop 70 land on the north side of Edison at Bondview, that northeast corner that is covered by Prop 70. But I think Mr. Robles remains confused about what this item is. It is the Grand Park remains, and what this development is called Center Park, but the Grand Park is a big portion of the contemplated specific plan that's before you. You see in the attachments, Council's well aware, that the northern half of the Grand Park is actually being facilitated by this specific plan. the county of San Bernardino, because I think Mr. Beckenham is also confused, that it is not requiring us to keep it as farmland. It can be farmland or agricultural recreation, entirely passive. So you will recall that we moved all of the active recreation out of the Grand Park Master Plan, which has been on the shelves for quite some time, and that was all moved into the sports park, into the sports complex. All that remains and has been approved by the state of California in their approval of this land plan is passive recreation, demonstration farms, orchards, butterfly gardens, farmers markets, all the things that pass a very high test, very high muster for the state of California. This plan contemplates all of that. If the city were to not be able to, I forget how Mr. Robles framed it, but the idea that we would buy property from the county, relieve the county of its Prop 70 obligations, the county would then turn around and buy the land, put the Prop 70 protections over the land so that it would remain as passive recreation, agricultural recreation in perpetuity. Because right now, there are several pieces of property that are not contiguous, that don't really serve anybody too much good. So as we go and create one large park for a 330 or 340 acre park that ultimately stretches from Haven Avenue to Euclid Avenue for the benefit of all of our residents, and in fact, the residents of the county, we would be able to facilitate the letter and the spirit of Prop 70 in a way that certainly this council and community can be proud of.

Yeah, I think that the word is contiguous. That's really what we're achieving here. Instead of having, you know, feral land out here and there's no way to actually accomplish much with it. Yeah, sterile land. Then we put it all together in contiguous so it benefits everybody. Anyway, that's my statement. So we'll continue to go back to the vote. Yes, we didn't pull that for a separate vote, but we did pull number 12 completely out. Okay. Clear? Okay. Let's take that vote. Okay, so consent calendar passes 5-0. All right, that brings us to item number 15, Madam City Clerk.

Thank you, Mayor Villanoff. This is a public hearing to consider an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ontario, California, amending section 6-8. point five one of chapter eight B of title six of the Ontario Municipal Code pertaining to water service fees and finding that such action does not qualify as a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act under state CEQA guidelines. Notice of public hearing has been given. Affidavits of compliance are on file and we have no written communications.

All right. Thank you. So at this time, I'll open the public hearing and let the record reflect any written comments. Any? No? No written comments to this? But we do have Mr. Robles would like to speak to the item.

We're given two minutes, just by the way. You didn't announce that. And I'm also going to use part of the time to say I have to tell you that other departments, agencies in the west end of this county have remarked to me at how shocked they are at the way staff at these council meetings speak about me or to me. Yes. because they don't practice attacking their residents like is done here, like was just done tonight. Repeatedly, for the last four or five years when I come, this constantly happens. I would like you to speak to your city employee about that, please. To this, I'm opposed to it. For everyone, this is going to allow the city council to easily move forward on increasing water rates in the city. So I oppose this on behalf of all the people who signed the prop to, I think it was 218, 219, whichever it is that opposes rate increases. Those people who also oppose this do not do this, but I already know it's a 5-0 vote. Thank you.

All right, well, thank you, Mr. Robles. And I'll close the public hearing and entertain a motion of discussion on this item from the council. Move the item. Moved by Mr. Bowman. Second. Second by Ms. Parada. And we'll begin our electronic vote. Passes 5-0. Moves us to administrative reports discussion. Takes the item number 16. Madam City Clerk.

Thank you, sir. This is a refinancing plan for property owned by the City of Ontario located at 9155-931 East Riverside Drive and approval of related lease financing obligation. There are no written communications on this item.

All right, so entertain a motion. There's no blue slips either. So I'll entertain a motion or discussion on the item. Moved by Mr. Bowman. Second by Ms. Parada. So we'll move the electronic vote. Passes 5-0. Moves as to staff matters. Mr. City Manager.

Nothing to that, sir.

Council matters. I'll kind of start. We've had a big week. Obviously, everybody knows that We opened the tower buzzers, the team and the game and everything and I think it's just been spectacular. I know everybody else wants to say some stuff so I'll kind of leave it at that. It's one of the biggest things that's ever happened and the city is kind of, the same thing as when we opened the arena. There's a lot of energy going with that. There's a lot of energy going with this and I think that we've hit a home run. So I'll start with Ms. Macias. Mr. Bowman?

Yes, I too was quite impressed with, you know, the families that came out, the fun that was, you know, we witnessed. It was just a wonderful opportunity, a phenomenal stadium built in a phenomenal amount of speed. Time, yeah. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. But it takes a real team and our team is right here. They're phenomenal people. You know, our economic development section, our city management, all of the teams from day one, nobody individually made this happen. But it takes leadership, it takes folks understanding they are a part of a team and they were happy being that team member. producing professional quality results in a timely manner in budget or under budget actually. So thank you so much. It's a monument to what our folks can and have done and other cities are looking at that as a miracle frankly. We appreciate everything that you all have done. Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry, Jim. I thought you were finished.

No, I pretty much wanted to do that. Other than our good fire chief really had his hands full here the last few hours. And I will tell you that what he has done and his staff and the team of professionals that came together at the proper moments to contain a massive configuration, and that's what it was. A huge fire with, I believe, something like 19, nine truck companies, 25 to 30 engine companies, huge outside resources coordinating that and the command center. It's all led by the Ontario folks that pushed the right buttons at the right time to make it all happen, and communications were clear, and the victory was won. Thank you, sir.

Chief, would you like to come up and give us a two-minute rundown on what happened? It was all over the news, it was everywhere, it was in social media. And that was probably one of the largest fires I've ever seen in my life. It's huge.

Yeah, Mr. Mayor, City Council, thank you. So today we had about 12.30 in the AM, we had a fire report, a commercial structure fire, came in both fire alarm and by workers on scene. to a commercial building 1.2 million square feet. So that's, to my knowledge, the biggest commercial fire in the county, at least since I've been a part of this organization. Like I said, our responders came out to a very aggressive interior attack, initially offensive. Because of the erratic fire behavior, the rapid rate of spread, They were pushed out and we transitioned into a defensive posture attack on the fire. They ultimately, between our units and all our cooperators that came and helped through the Master Mutual Aid System, we had 20 engine companies, 15 truck companies, 17 chief officers, three investigators, A total of about 175 personnel that came together to attack that fire. And I'll tell you, as I was coming in at around 1 in the morning, coming down the 241 toll road, and to see that fire burning about 15 miles away, it was something impressive. But yet, certainly, I was concerned about our personnel. And luckily, everybody came out safe. We had, as far as I know, no injuries. uh, no fatalities. And, uh, we, uh, it appears it was arson, uh, start and through the good work of our investigators and OPD were able to, to, uh, arrest an individual that they haven't, uh, currently in custody that we believe started the fires. So, um, good job, um, both for public safety, for the PD side and also for the fireside, uh, to get a handle on that. And, uh, there'll be out there overnight. as well. We have units out there still putting water on it and into tomorrow. So thank you for everybody. All our other agencies that came in to help, certainly we couldn't have done it without them as well. But it just shows, I think it's a testament to public safety being a priority here in the city and the resources we're given, the great training and the competency of all of our individuals. So it was definitely a tall task and everybody rose to the occasion. So thank you.

You know, usually, Mike, people wonder how does a fire like that get so big? And I don't think every, not everybody understands that Kimberly-Clark is a paper company, right?

Yeah, so if you were to look at the fire load, that's what's inside the building. A paper company, paper burns pretty well, apparently, you know, we know that. There's a lot of other products in there, but primarily it's those combustibles that are allow when you have someone potentially and certainly it's still under investigation that if it was an arson start they're able to you know get that fire going pretty well but that's still like I said you know that's going to be left to the investigators and to the courts and all that to figure out that's exactly what happened but yeah it It moved quickly. There was fire behavior in there. I was talking, I transported some of our first captains that were made interior attack and there, the conversation we had back to the training center, they discussed the fire behavior in there and how they're expect, what they expected to see in there and how it actually progressed was something like they hadn't seen before. And to the their credit and the training that they've had, they made that quick decision to pull back out of there before any of our people were actually in serious harm's way. Because that fire had the potential to hurt a lot of individuals. So it was just glad nobody was injured. And certainly, it's a big business in our city. And hopefully, we can get it rebuilt and back operating like it needs to be.

Yeah, just amazing people who go into fight fires like that. Just amazing. Great, great job. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. All right, Ms. Parada. All right, so that ends it for us all. And we'd like to thank you for participating in our meeting. Our next regular scheduled meeting will be open on, will be on April 21st, 2026. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you for being here.

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