THE HEMET CITY COUNCIL SHOWS SOME FIRE AND A SPLIT
Rusty Strait | Senior Reporter
All was calm; all was bright until Jackie Peterson nominated Joe Males for Mayor, quickly seconded by current Mayor Lilienthal. The vote was called and Linda Krupa was first to vote “no,” then Karlee Meyer voted “no.” Joe, Jackie and Malcolm voted “yes” and then Joe was declared the new Mayor.
Out of nowhere, Karlee went ballistic. She demanded more discussion; the City Attorney said there would be no further discussion since the vote was over. Karlee went into a rage, saying that Joe had violated the Brown act by discussing the fact that he wanted to be Mayor. She said she asked Joe some time ago if he wanted to be Mayor and he said “Yes.” One would hardly consider that a discussion or violation of the Brown Act.
Karlee insisted that he wasn’t qualified. Joe said she was against him because he supported Linda’s opponent in the recent election. She demanded a vote to contest the election and lost it 3 to 2 and that was that. She still was dissatisfied and said the Council was violating the law, but it was too late.
The retiring Mayor, Malcolm Lilienthal, was elected Mayor pro-tem. Both Mayor and Mayor Pro tem will serve until December 12, 2023. A Service Award was presented to retiring councilman Russ Brown for his service on the Council.
The City Manager reported out of Closed Session that the Council had settled a litigation matter.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC:
Pat Gregory complained that on several occasions, she had requested information from the Council and it had not, on several occasions, been provided. The City Manager said he would look into the matter and provide her with the requested information.
A young man complained about the high price that Valley Wide wanted to allow soccer games in space for sports by Domenigoni Parkway. The City Manager said he would be in touch.
PRESENTATIONS:
A. Service Award to Mayor Malcolm Lilienthal
B. Certificate of Recognition – Folklorico Dancers
C. Certificate of Recognition – Raising Cane’s
D. International Day of Persons with Disabilities Proclamation
E. International Volunteer Day Presentation
F. Highlight Reel of the 2022 Candyland Christmas Parade
G. Presentation by the Mayor Mentees on Municipal Government (A group of students who spent a year studying how our City Government Works). This was quite a knowledgeable presentation.
RECEIVE AND FILE:
A. The city council accepted Warrant Registers Dated November 3, 2022, in the amount of $1,625,338.63 and November 17, 2022, in the amount of $1,423,643.22. The Payroll periods of October 17, 2022 – October 30, 2022 in the amount of $873,221.85 and October 31, 2022 – November 13, 2022, in the amount of $848,808.76.
B. Receive and file the Investment Report for August, September, and October 2022.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS:
No action is required.
A. 1. Conduct a Public hearing and take testimony, if any; and,
2. Receive and consider all comments for incorporation in the City of Hemet 2023- 2024 Annual Action Plan Draft.
B. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California Adopting General Plan Amendment (GPA 21-003), a City Initiated Proposal to amend the City of Hemet General Plan Circulation Element to adopt Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Thresholds for the purposes of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Impact Analysis; and Finding that the Project is Categorically Exempt from CEQA in Accordance with 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
A young man described how an elderly lady exiting Walmarts at Sanderson and Thornton was attacked and beaten for the food she was carrying and there was not any security on duty at the entrance/exit to protect the public. He felt the City should somehow demand that kind of protection at Walmart since it was their duty to protect the public, especially seniors.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
21.A: 4-0 (Peterson abstained) Approved the City Council Meeting Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of May 10, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of July 12, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of August 9, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 13, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of October 1, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of October 25, 20922, and the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of November 8, 2022. (Karlee said she would like to see the minutes approved the day of the meeting because it was difficult to go back when some referred to a previous council meeting. She had support for her idea).
21.B: Appointed Felicia Young to fill one (1) Vacant Seat on the City of Hemet Public Library Board of Trustees, to serve until the term expiration of June 30, 2025.
21.C: Adopted a resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving the Regular Meeting Schedule and Cancellation of Certain Regular Regular Scheduled Meetings. (Linda said in the past, this was OK but said they are there to do the public’s business and meetings shouldn’t be canceled due to vacations or other unnecessary reasons. Passed with cancellations eliminated).
The California Constitution, and Appointing a Time and Place for Hearing Protests.
21.G: Adopted a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California Initiating Proceedings for the Formation of Hemet Landscape Maintenance District No. 113, CUP 19-015, and the Levy and Collection of Assessments Within Such District for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code and as Provided by Article XIII D of the California Constitution, and Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer’s Report.
21.H: Adopted a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Declaring its Intention to Form the City of Hemet Landscape Maintenance District No. 112, PM 37196/CUP 16-006, to Levy and Collect Assessments With Such District and Preliminarily Approving the Report of the Engineer for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division`15 of the California Constitution, and Appointing a time and pace for Hearing Protests.
21.I: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California Initiating Proceedings for the Formation of Hemet Landscape Maintenance District No. 112, PM 37196/CUP 16-006, and the Levy and Collection of Assessments Within Such District for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code and as Provided by Article XIII D of the California Constitution, and Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer’s Report.
21.J: Adopted a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Declaring its intention to form the City of Hemet Streetlight Maintenance District No. 112, PM 37196/CUP 16-006, to Levy and Collect Assessments Within Such District and Preliminarily Approving the Report of the Engineer for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code and as Provided by Article XIII D of the California Constitution, and Appointing a Time and Place for Hearing Protests.
21.K: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Initiating Proceedings for the Formation of Hemet Streetlight Maintenance District No. 112, PM 37196PM 37196/CUP 16-006 and the Levy and Collection of Assessments Within Such District for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 or the California Streets and Highways Code and as Provided by Article XIII D of the California Constitution, and Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer’s Report.
21.L: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Declaring its Intention to Form the City of Hemet Streetlight Maintenance District No. 113, CUP 19-015, to Levy and Collect Assessments Within Such District and Preliminarily Approving the Report of the Engineer for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code and as Provided by Article XIII D of the California Constitution, and Appointing a Time and Place for Hearing Protests.
21.M: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, initiating Proceedings for the Formation of Hemet Streetlight Maintenance District No.113, CUP 19-015, and the Levy and Collection of Assessments Within Such District for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code and as Provided by Article XIII D of the California Constitution, and ordering the Preparation of an Engineer’s Report.
21.R: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving a First Amendment to Funding, Construction and Acquisition Agreement for Certain Improvements With the McSweeny Farms Development to be funded through a Community Facilities District Established and Administered by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA).
21.S: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, approving the Second Amendment to Appendix #2 to the Amended and Related Western Riverside Council of Governments Professional Service Agreement between the City of Hemet, the Western Riverside Council of Governments Professional Service Agreement between the City of Hemet, the Western Riverside Council of Governments and Yunex LLC to extend the term of the Original Appendix #2 for One Additional Year and Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute All Documents Regarding the Second Amendment.
21.T: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, awarding CT&T Concrete Paving, Inc., State Street Sidewalk Improvements Project, CIP 5728 in the amount of $185,350.00 and waive any Minor Bid Irregularities, and Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute all Contract Documents and Approve Additional Construction Expenditures Not to Exceed 10% of the Contract Amount of $18,535.00 and Authorize the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion upon Acceptance of the Work by the City Engineer.
21.U: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, approving the Agreement for Repair Services with Fleming Environmental Inc. And Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Agreement and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Approve Purchase Orders in Support of the Agreement and Authorizing Finance Director to Establish a Supplemental Appropriation in Fund 685 for Secondary Containment Repairs and Retest at the City Corporation Yard I the Amount of $83,879.00 Contingency.
21.V: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, awarding Waterath a Professional Service Agreement to Perform a Water Distribution System Analysis (CIP 5719) as Approved in Final Form by the City Attorney for an Amount not to Exceed $199,302.50 and Authorize the Finance Director to Establish a Supplemental Appropriation of $64,232,75, Including a 10% Contingency, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Documents Regarding this Agreement.
21.W: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, awarding an agreement for the Purchase and Installation of a Custom 2-5 Pay Structure and GT-Impax-Poured in Place Surfacing to GameTime for $199,725.22 Utilizing the OMNIA Contract #201700134 and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute All Documents Related to the agreement Including a 10% Contingency of $19,972.52 if Necessary.
21.X: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, awarding an agreement for the Purchase Installation of Two Shade Structures from USA Shade and Fabric Structures in the amount of $131,608.63 Utilizing the Sourcewell Contract #010521-LTS-6 and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute all Documents Related to the agreement and utilize a 10% Contingency Fee in the amount of $13,160.86 if Necessary.
21.Y: 1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, approving an Interim Appointment to the Vacant Position of Finance Director; and,
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott (RAMS) for Finance Director Services.
21.Z: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, Approving an Amendment to the City’s Classification and Compensation Plan to include the Revised Position, Civilian Investigator.
21.AA: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, approving an amendment to the City’s Classification and Compensation Plan to include the revised position, Program Position, Assistant Engineer. Voted 3-2 with Meyer and Males voting ‘No.”
21.AB: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, approving an amendment to the City’s Classification and Compensation Plan to include the revised position, Assistant Engineer.
21.AC: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California, approving the City’s Classification and Compensation Plan for employee salary ranges.
22.A: Consider, Discuss and Possibly Waive Further Reading, Introduce and Conduct the First Reading by Title Only an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hemet, California Amending Section 1-233(k) Related To Public Projects.
22.B: Consider, Discuss and Possibly Waive Further Reading; introduce and Conduct the First Reading by Title Only an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hemet. California, Amending Section 74-79 of the Hemet Municipal Code Related to Transient Occupancy Tax Appeals (passed with certain exceptions).
22.C: Call for nominations and appoint a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Hemet Housing Authority to serve until December 12, 2023.
All other items on the Agenda were continued to future Council Meetings in order to have further discussions before they were brought before the Council.
One thing is sure, both Linda and Karlee do not intend to rubber-stamp staff recommendations in the future. Karlee, especially, was more thorough in her criticisms and questions than I’ve ever seen her be before. Once the personal disagreements were put to rest, she really got down to business.
Despite differences, I believe this newly formed Council means to do business for the City in a manner long missing. Keep your eyes and ears open. Just sayin’
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