1. STUDY SESSION - EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM 3RD FLOOR - 6:30 P.M.
1.A. Call to Order/Roll Call-
Mayor Stewart called the Study Session to order at 6:30 p.m. All members were present.
1.B. Public Comment-
Bev Perry spoke regarding the Mercury Lane project, indicating the project is under parked by 25 spots. She inquired if there is a way to add additional parking, requested staff explore other options for adjacent off-site parking, and asked staff to contact OCTA to discuss the opportunity to add a bus stop close to the project site.
1.C. Clarify Regular Meeting Topics -
Council Member Vargas announced he will be recusing himself from voting on item 4B (waive full reading of and adopt Ordinance No. 1256, An Ordinance of the City of Brea approving Zone Change No. 2024-01 for the Brea Plaza Shopping Center Residential Project) and item 4C (waive full reading of and adopt Ordinance No. 1257 An Ordinance of the City of Brea approving Zone Change No. 2024-02 for the Greenbriar Residential Development Project and Ordinance No. 1258, An Ordinance of the City of Brea approving Development Agreement No. 2024-01 by and between the City of Brea and Lennar Homes of California, LLC regarding the Greenbriar Residential Development).
1.D. Project Preview: The Mercury Lane Affordable Housing Development-
Assistant Planner Rubiano provided a presentation that included the a background on the Mercury Lane project, applicant information, project proposal, proposed renderings, preliminary assessment, parking, affordable housing and funds request, recommendation and next steps.
Council discussed the allocation of units between seniors and veterans, the evaluation of qualified renters, and the need for additional parking on-site parking. They also discussed other options for parking and encouraged staff to speak with Mercury to evaluate options for use of their parking structure, and with OCTA to explore placing a bus stop on Berry Street in the adjacent area. They also discussed the Fund 280 balance, the senior subsidy program, and loan terms.
1.E. Council Member Reports/Requests-
None.
1.F. Study Session Adjournment-
Mayor Stewart adjourned the Study Session at 6:54 p.m.
2. GENERAL SESSION - COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLAZA LEVEL - 7:00 P.M.
2.A. Call to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Stewart called the General Session to order at 7:03 p.m. All members were present.
2.B. Pledge of Allegiance: Brea Girl Scouts
Brea Girl Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2.C. Invocation: Pastor Dan Crane, Formation Church
Pastor Dan Crane, Formation Church, led the invocation.
2.D. Presentation: OC Free Gun Lock Program
Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee displayed a video presentation on the OC Free Gun Locks Program. He also spoke about the program and presented Brea Police Lieutenant Haddad a Certificate of Recognition of his partnership in the OC Free Gun Locks Program.
2.E. Report - Prior Study Session
City Manager Griffith provided a report on the prior Study Session.
2.F. Community Announcements
Council Member Vargas announced that "Go. Serve. Brea.", a community-wide day of service, will take place on Saturday, April 26. He stated that this event is modeled after the previous, Love Brea and that volunteers are needed to work on a variety of city-wide service projects to show their love for Brea. He directed those interested in volunteering or contributing to the event to visit the City website.
Council Member Marick announced that a Wildfire Preparedness Workshop will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m., at the Brea Community Center. She indicated that members of the community are welcome to join the Brea Fire, Police and Public Works Departments and learn how to stay safe during wildfires, and guest speaker Rich Snyder, Retired Sierra Madre Fire Captain/Fire Marshal, will share his experience saving his home from the Altadena wildfire and offer tips to protect homes. She directed the community to the City website for additional information.
2.G. Matters from the Audience
Sean Thomas spoke about the fire hydrant and stop sign on the corner of Flower and Ash and indicated that cars often block the space. He requested the curb be painted to prevent drivers from parking in front of the hydrant. He also spoke about unattended children on the Tracks and wished the community a happy Easter, Passover and Ramadan.
2.H. Response to Public Inquiries
Mayor Stewart responded to public inquiries.
3. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
3.A. Brea 2050: Focused General Plan Update and Brea Core Specific Plan - Draft Changes to the Land Use Designations and Land Use Map
City Planner Hwang provided a presentation and spoke about the background of the item, vision plan, and introduced the City's consultants.
Amanda Tropiano, De Novo Planning Group, spoke about land use planning considerations, land use/zoning designations, existing land use designations, examples of existing land uses for residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed use. She also spoke about other examples of density, existing general plan land use maps, parcels with proposed general plan land use change, parcels with land use designation consideration changes, existing general plan land uses with existing brea core area zoning, areas with a proposed brea core area zoning change, summary of changes, buildout factors, statistical summary, and next steps. Additionally, she provided a draft outline of the general plan, draft outline of the core area and next steps.
Council thanked staff, consultants and the General Plan Steering Committee for their work on this item. They also discussed public noticing for proposed changes; and the La Vida Hot Springs zoning information and the consideration of preserving existing zoning in that area.
Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Hupp and seconded by Council Member Simonoff to authorize staff to move forward with the next steps, including initiation of the required environmental review. Motion passed 5-0-0-0 (Ayes: Stewart, Hupp, Marick, Simonoff, Vargas).
3.B. Affordable Housing Agreement with Brea 32, LLC and Homebuyer Down-Payment Assistance Funding Request for the South Brea Townhomes Project
Senior Management Dao provided a presentation on the item and spoke about recommendations, prior affordable housing efforts, the South Brea Townhome project, prior affordable housing efforts, housing funds available, and down-payment assistance options.
Council discussed the ongoing obligations for Fund 280, previous fund balance for both Funds 270 and 280 and provisions in the purchaser affordability agreements related to buyer income levels. They also discussed the scenarios and breakdowns should grant funding be awarded or not.
Motion was made by Council Member Vargas and seconded by Council Member Marick to approve an Affordable Housing Agreement with Brea 32, LLC for the South Brea Townhomes Project (“Project”); authorize the City Manager to: a. Execute the Affordable Housing Agreement; b. Execute the following two documents with four buyers of the affordable units at South Brea Townhomes: i. Purchaser Affordability Agreement; and ii. Notice of Affordability Restrictions. c. Administratively make non-monetary revisions to the Affordable Housing Agreement and related documents as necessary or appropriate; approve a California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Exemption Determination pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3); discuss options and provide direction to staff regarding the use of City Housing funds to provide down-payment assistance loans, in an amount not to exceed $400,000.00 to four Low-Income buyers of the affordable units at South Brea Townhomes; and amend the City’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operating Budget to appropriate an amount not to exceed $400,000.00 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (270) or Housing Successor Fund (280) for the use of down-payment assistance loans; and authorize the City Manager to authorize payment of four down-payment assistance loans in a total amount not to exceed $400,000.00. Motion passed 5-0-0-0 (Ayes: Stewart, Hupp, Marick, Simonoff, Vargas).
3.C. Introduce an Ordinance Designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Fire Marshall Pesqueira provided a presentation and spoke about the background of Fire Hazard Severity Zones, how zones are determined, map usage and application, impacts, adoption timeline and displayed the updated Brea Hazard Severity Zone Map.
Council discussed what is done with public comments received in response to the map; and AB 38 implications as it relates to home hardening standards on homes built prior to 2008 and brush clearance. They also discussed Zone Zero requirements and pending compliance deadlines and enforcement parameters on requirements. They also discussed the progress of the Helihydrant in the City.
Motion was made by Council Member Marick and seconded by Council Member Vargas to waive full reading of and introduce Ordinance No. 1260, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Brea designating fire hazard severity zones," formally accepting and implementing the updated California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Local Responsibility Area (LRA) maps for our jurisdiction. Motion passed 5-0-0-0 (Ayes: Stewart, Hupp, Marick, Simonoff, Vargas).
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Vargas indicated he will be recusing himself from voting on item 4B [Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1256 - Zone Change No. 2024-01: Brea Plaza Shopping Center Residential Project (Brea Plaza Living)] and 4C [Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1257 - Zone Change No. 2024-02 and Ordinance No. 1258 - Development Agreement No. 2024-01 (Greenbriar Residential Development Project)].
Council Member Marick thanked staff for their work to improve parking ratios for the Greenbriar project.
Motion was made by Council Member Simonoff and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hupp to approve City Council Consent Items 4A - 4F, with Council Member Vargas recused on item 4B and 4C. Motion passed 5-0-0-0 (Ayes: Stewart, Hupp, Marick, Simonoff, Vargas). For Items 4B and 4C, 5-0-0-1 (Ayes: Stewart, Hupp, Marick, Simonoff. Recused: Vargas).
4.A. April 1, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes
The City Council approved the April 1, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes.
4.B. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1256 - Zone Change No. 2024-01: Brea Plaza Shopping Center Residential Project (Brea Plaza Living)
The City Council waived full reading and adopted Ordinance No. 1256, An Ordinance of the City of Brea approving Zone Change No. 2024-01 for the Brea Plaza Shopping Center Residential Project.
4.C. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1257 - Zone Change No. 2024-02 and Ordinance No. 1258 - Development Agreement No. 2024-01 (Greenbriar Residential Development Project)
The City Council waived full reading of and adopted Ordinance No. 1257, An Ordinance of the City of Brea approving Zone Change No. 2024-02 for the Greenbriar Residential Development Project, and Ordinance No. 1258, An Ordinance of the City of Brea approving Development Agreement No. 2024-01 by and between the City of Brea and Lennar Homes of California, LLC regarding the Greenbriar Residential Development.
4.D. Annual Engineer's Report for Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
The City Council received and approved the Annual Engineer’s Report for Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and adopt Resolutions No. 2025-26 to 2025-32 to set a Public Hearing for each District on June 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
4.E. Monthly Report of Investments for the City of Brea for Period Ended March 31, 2025
The City Council received and filed the Monthly Report of Investments for the City of Brea for Period Ended March 31, 2025.
4.F. March Outgoing Payment Log and City Disbursement Register for April 4, 2025
The City Council received and filed the March Outgoing Payment Log and City Disbursement Register for April 4, 2025.
5. CITY/SUCCESSOR AGENCY - CONSENT
Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Hupp and seconded by Council Member Simnooff, to approve the City/Successor Agency Consent item 5A. Motion passed 5-0-0-0 (Ayes: Stewart, Hupp, Marick, Simonoff, Vargas).
5.A. Monthly Report of Investments for the Successor Agency to the Brea Redevelopment Agency for Period Ended March 31, 2025
The City Council, as the Successor Agency, received and filed the Monthly Report of Investments for the Successor Agency to the Brea Redevelopment Agency for Period Ended March 31, 2025.
6. ADMINISTRATIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS
6.A. City Manager
None.
6.B. City Attorney
None.
6.C. Council Requests
None.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
7.A. Council Announcements
None.
8. ADJOURNMENT
8.A. Meeting Adjournment
Mayor Stewart adjourned the General Session at 8:29 p.m.