MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL JT MTG OF THE CITY COUNCIL, HOUSING AUTHORITY, SUCCESSOR AGENCY AND PLANNING COMMISSION
25541 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA 92354
March 4, 2026, 6:02 PM - March 4, 2026, 7:35 PM
Roll Call: (The following members were in attendance)
- Phillip Dupper, Mayor
- Ronald Dailey, Mayor pro tempore
- Ovidiu Popescu, Councilmember
- Rhodes Rigsby, Councilmember
- Rhonda Spencer, Councilmember
- John Nichols, Planning Commission Chairman
- Ryan Gallant, Planning Commission Vice-Chairman via Zoom
- Larry Karpenko, Planning Commissioner
- Doree Morgan, Panning Commissioner
- Jay Nelson, Planning Commissioner
Absent: None
1. Call to Order
1.A. Call to Order
Meeting was called to order at 6:02pm.
1.B. Roll Call
All City Council and Planning Commissioners were present.
Staff present: T. Jarb Thaipejr, City Manager/HA Executive Director; Lynette Arreola, City Clerk/HA Secretary; Lorena Matarrita, Community Development Director; Gabriel Rivera, Associate Planner; Kyle Mac Gavin, Information Technology Manager; Adrian DeSousa,Information Systems Specialist
1.C. Closed Session/Workshop - See Workshop Scheduled Item
None.
1.D. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Councilmember Spencer.
1.E. Items to be Added or Deleted
No items were added or deleted.
1.F. Oral Reports/Public Participation - Non-Agenda Items (Each Speaker limited to 3 minutes. Pursuant to the Brown Act, no action or discussion can be taken by City Council)
No oral reports or public participation upon invitation by the Mayor.
2. Workshop Scheduled Item: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
2.A. Discussion of the Proposed University Village Mixed-Use Project by the Loma Linda University Health Project Overview: Proposed six-story mixed-use student and faculty housing project totaling approximately 455,914 square feet with 381 residential units, about 5,188 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a parking garage with 706 vehicle spaces. The 4.64-acre site is located south of Mound Street, north of Prospect Avenue, and east of Anderson Street, with landscaped open space and on-site amenities. The project includes the demolition of existing commercial and residential buildings. This meeting is informational only and does not replace any future hearings or review required under the City's entitlement process or the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Formal actions and decisions will occur at noticed public hearings at a later date.
Mayor Dupper explained that the item on the agenda is a discussion of the proposed University Village Mixed-Use Project by Loma Linda University Health. He reminded the City Council and Planning Commission that the meeting is for informational purposes only. No action will be taken by either body, and members should avoid signaling support or opposition to the project. Formal hearings and decisions will occur at future meetings as part of the project's entitlement process.
Myca Tran, Planning Project Manager with three6ixty; representing Loma Linda University Health, provided an overview of the Loma Linda University Village project, a six-story mixed-use student and faculty housing development located south of Mound Street, north of Prospect Avenue, and east of Anderson Street, where the Loma Linda Market and student store is located, and the entitlement process.
Toben Symmank, Principal with AO Architecture, presented the architectural design for the 381-unit project, which features a central parking structure referred to as a “wrap.” He highlighted key project components, including a leasing office, fitness center, club room, amenity lounge, and retail space. He also provided a detailed overview of the floor plans, noting how varying elevations on the north and south sides create visual diversity. In response to questions, he discussed the access to the parking structure. He provided slides of the project elevations, and the colors and materials palette.
Matt Jackson, MJS Landscape Architecture, discussed the landscape plan of the project.
Ms. Tran provided a summary of a comprehensive survey that was conducted from 750 students, employees and visitors to assess potential demand for retail uses and support services.
3. Reports
3.A. Reports of Council and Planning Commission Members
Mayor Dupper stated that he attended this morning a City Selection Committee meeting where all the Mayors of the County meet and, once a year, make appointments for various committees and positions. He noted that he was unanimously voted to be the LAFCO Board for the next four years. He stated that it puts Loma Linda in a good position in terms of the connection with LAFCO and future development.
3.B. Reports Of Officers
City Manager Thaipejr reminded the Council of the City Employee Recognition breakfast tomorrow morning.
4. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:35pm.
Minutes approved at the meeting of April 14, 2026.
Lynette Arreola, City Clerk