All City Council members present.

Staff present: T.  Jarb Thaipejr, City Manager/HA Executive Director ; Diane Robbins, City Attorney/HA General Counsel; Lynette Arreola, City Clerk/HA Secretary; Sonia Fabela, Finance Director; Dan Harker, Fire Chief; Lorena Matarrita, Community Development Director;  Adrian DeSousa, Information Systems Specialist; and Lt. David Frayeh, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

City Attorney Robbins noted the City Council met in Closed Session; direction was provided to staff; and no other action reported.

The Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Council Member Rigsby.

No items were added or deleted.

Breanna Jueden-Pytel thanked the City Council for their time spent considering their request regarding the street tree.  Since then, they received records through a public records request and wanted to point out items that were in conflict with items discussed at the City Council meeting, which included the costs to conduct a tree inspection, to prepare an arborist report, and to remove the street tree.  She noted statements of infrastructure impact were inconsistent.  She believed justifications for denial to remove the tree were not based on adequate information.  She requested their request be reconsidered in a public forum and/or an arborist evaluation report be conducted. 

Laura, lives on Hillcrest St., x/street Lawton Ave, expressed concern to the unsafe vehicular traffic speed on Lawton Ave. She requested for a stop sign at Hillcrest St. and Lawton Ave. to reduce the traffic speed.  She also expressed concern to the trash along city streets.  She personally has picked up trash from city streets on her walks and asked that more attention be placed on keeping the streets clean. 

Kapree Wiekamp, 24666 University Ave., thanked the City for repainting the red zones curbs along University and thanked Emili Ray for her daily assistance on parking matters. 

Gabriel Rivera, Associate Planner, presented the project report for a 66-unit apartment complex, known as “Zanja Heritage Village” located on a 5.15-acre vacant site on Barton Road, and east of California Street. He highlighted key aspects of the development, the project's amenities and the drought-tolerant landscape plan, as well as revisions to the design as recommended by the Historic Commission to be more in line with the Mission Revival Architectural style. The project was approved by Historic and Planning Commissions. He noted staff's recommendation is to approve the project, subject to the approved findings and the conditions of approval. 

The public hearing was opened.

Breanna Jueden-Pytel stated that she is a parent of a child who attends Mission Elementary School. She expressed concerns regarding traffic on California Street, particularly near Mission Elementary School, noting that congestion is significant during student drop-off and pick-up times. She further stated that, with increased development in the area, more student would be attending the school. She asked the results of the Traffic Report.

Associate Planner Rivera explained that Measure V requires all projects to undergo a traffic study to analyze if streets are being impacted. He noted the project must achieve a Level of Service of C or better. He noted the traffic report determined that the project would not cause a detrimental effect to the Barton Rd. and California St. and would stay consistent at an acceptable Level of Service of C or better. 

Mayor Dupper briefly explained that schools are autonomous to cities. He noted that several years ago, the City attempted to arrange a land swap with the school district by offering City-owned property. The City did not believe a school was a good fit for that location; however, the district declined.  He also pointed out the City has to comply with state mandates that require cities to build more housing. He explained the City's plans to widen California St.

Kevin Bernadt submitted comments stating that he would like to petition the council to incorporate universal accessibility design requirements in all units, ensuring continuity of use regardless of tenancy disability/senior citizen/independent living criteria. He requested that the owner set aside 20% of its units to low-income/fixed income criteria at 350% of the federal poverty level. 

Ovi Popescu recalled the vacant property where the project is located had been purchased for the sole purpose of being a flood control zone. 

City Manager Thaipejr explained there is a flood plain from the south side of Barton Rd. toward the north side across Barton Rd. When Trumark built their subdivision to the south, he noted they constructed a detention basin and a storm drain system that drains the water into the river. As a result it intercepts the drainage that comes to the north prior to reach Barton Rd.  

Mayor pro tempore Dailey complimented the project proposal and appreciated the applicant working with Historic Commission. Questions were answered regarding parking, trash and project access.

The public hearing was closed.  

Approved by City Council the Demands Register dated December 23, 2025, with commercial demands totaling $1,047,837.32, and payroll dated December 18, 2025, totaling $440,262.08; and the Demands Register dated January 13, 2026, with commercial demands totaling $1,776,366.22, and payroll dated December 30, 2025, totaling $366,183.58.

Approved by the Housing Authority Board the Demands Register dated December 23, 2025, with commercial demands totaling $547.21; and Demands Register dated January 13, 2026, with commercial demands totaling $65.21.

Accepted the December 2025 report for filing.

Accepted the December 2025 report for filing.

Adopted, as recommended, Council Bill #R-2026-03,

RESOLUTION 3284

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA ESTABLISHING THE NEW SALARY TABLE FOR EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026. 

Adopt, as recommended, Council Bill #R-2026-04,

RESOLUTION NO. 3285

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A REVISED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE LEAD UTILITIES MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN IN THE WATER DISTRIBUTION DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 

Adopt, as recommended, Council Bill #R-2026-25, 

RESOLUTION NO 3286

 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LOMA LINDA TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL TOBACCO GRANT PROGRAM

Approved Amendment No. 2 to Lease Agreement No. 10-752 with the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, as recommended.

Approved supplemental appropriation $144,000 from Special Project Construction Fund and Awarded contract to Copp Contracting Inc., as recommended.

Awarded contract to Applied Technology Group of Bakersfield for $124,744.12, as recommended.

Appropriated $100,000 from Special Project Construction Fund and purchased the bollard sidewalk lights as recommended.

Approved vehicle and trailer purchase from Fairview Ford as recommended. 

Approved supplemental appropriation of $42,000 from General Fund-Fund Balance and Approved the vehicle purchase from Fairview Ford as recommended. 

Approved professional service contract to Strategic Engineering and Automation Systems for $22,165 as recommended.

Approved the Notice of Completion, accepted the project as substantially complete and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion as recommended.

Approved the Notice of Completion, accepted the project as substantially complete and authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion as recommended.

Councilmember Spencer proposed the City conduct a community needs assessment survey to gather resident input. She also suggested integrating these efforts into a five-year strategic plan, noting that this would be a meaningful way to connect with the community and better understand residents’ needs. She asked that Council provide direction on whether to hire a consultant or consider partnering with students from Loma Linda University to conduct the survey.

Mayor Dupper supported the recommendation by Councilmember Spencer but preferred to hire a consultant to conduct the survey so the results would not be questioned.

City Manager Thaipejr stated that he could issue a Request for Proposals; however, he would first need to determine budget availability before moving forward with any consultant services.

Mayor pro tempore Dailey supported conducting the survey and developing a five-year strategic plan. He emphasized the importance of hiring an experienced consultant and stated that the Council must determine whether this is a priority and if sufficient funds are available. He stated Omnitrans conducted an effective strategic plan that he can share with the City and was impressed with the consultant who conducted the survey.  

Councilmember Rigsby stated that, as elected officials, the Council should already know what their residents want and should not need to hire a consultant to determine that.  He cautioned not to move forward with this effort unless funding is clearly available.

Councilmember Popescu agreed with Councilmember Rigsby, stating that he spoke with many of his residents during his campaign.  He received a wide range of concerns and priorities.  He noted that it is the Council's responsibility to determine and prioritize the community's needs while considering the city's budget. He requested to be involved in reviewing the survey questions should the City move forward with the survey.    

Councilmember Spencer stated that community needs assessment surveys are a standard practice and should be conducted regularly. She agreed that Council should be involved in reviewing the questions and be open to community input. She supported selecting a reputable, cost-effective consultant to conduct the survey.  

City Clerk Arreola informed the City Council that on December 18, 2025, the City received a Notice of Intent to circulate a petition for the purpose of increasing the sales tax by one cent with the goal to place the Initiative Measure on the June 2, 2026, election ballot.  She reminded the Council of the Chamber of Commerce Community Awards and Installation Dinner on January 29, 2026, noting that the City would pay for the Council to attend.  The Council would be responsible for paying for any guests they bring.