A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rialto was held in the City Council Chambers located at 150 South Palm Avenue, Rialto, California 92376 on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
This meeting was called by the presiding officer of the Rialto City Council in accordance with the provisions of Government Code §54956 of the State of California.
Agenda Item
Next Ordinance No. 1712
Next Resolution No. 8486
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5:00 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
Called to Order By: Mayor Joe Baca
ROLL CALL
The roll was called, and the following were present: Mayor Joe Baca, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott, Council Member Andy Carrizales, Council Member Karla Perez, and Council Member Edward Montoya Jr. Also, present were City Manager Tanya Williams, City Attorney Eric Vail, City Clerk Barbara McGee and City Treasurer Edward Carrillo was absent.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant Exposure to Litigation
Number of Matters: Four (4)
· Claim of Breach of Settlement Agreement by CCAEJ
· Notice of Violation by RWQCB - WWTP
· Workers Comp Claim - Waidley
· IDR -- Heffelfinger
Motion by Council Member Perez, second by Council Member Carrizales and carried by a 5-0 vote to go into Closed Session at 5:04 pm.
City Council returned from Closed Session at 6:05 pm.
6:30 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
Called to Order By: Mayor Joe Baca
ROLL CALL
The roll was called, and the following were present: Mayor Joe Baca, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott, Council Member Andy Carrizales, Council Member Karla Perez, and Council Member Edward Montoya Jr. Also, present were City Manager Tanya Williams, City Attorney Eric Vail, City Clerk Barbara McGee and City Treasurer Edward Carrillo.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Council Member Karla Perez
INVOCATION - Pastor Harry Bratton - Greater Faith Grace Bible Church
City Attorney’s Report on Closed Session
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (4 items)
City Council heard legal briefings on items 1 and 2 from City Attorney's office and special counsel. City Council gave direction on both items. Items 3 and 4 were IDR related and heard a report from special counsel and Human Resources Director. Direction was given. No other reportable action.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Presentation - Rialto Fire Department - American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Gold Award
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Carina Cabrera, representative from So. Cal. Edison introduced herself to the City Council as the new government manager.
2. Gwendolyn Smith, expressed her comments on keeping citizens safe from a potential terrorist attack.
CONSENT CALENDAR
WAIVE FULL READING OF ORDINANCES
APPROVAL OF WARRANT RESOLUTIONS
Warrant Resolution No. 2026-31
Warrant Resolution No. 2026-32
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY - FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Charles Edward Dutton
Shontiana LaShay Zuniga
Karl Frederick Kolodzik
SET PUBLIC HEARING
Request City Council Adopt Resolution No. 8479 Declaring the Intention to Annex Territory (Haven Paseo Project) to Community Facilities District No. 2016-1 (Public Services) and Set a Public Hearing for April 14, 2026.
MISCELLANEOUS
Request City Council to Authorize the Release of Bids for the Fire Station 201 Interior Improvement Project, City Project No. 25022.
Request City Council to Authorize the Release of Bids for the Fire Station 204 Dormitory Improvements Project, City Project No. 26023.
Request the City Council to: (1) Adopt Resolution No. 8480 Establishing the New Classification Specification of Emergency Manager at Range 5100A ($8,231- $11,030 monthly); and (2) Approving the Updated Classification Specification of Human Resources/ Risk Manager.
Request City Council to Authorize the Destruction of certain Municipal Records, adopting Resolution No. 8481 for the Treasury Department and Resolution No. 8482 for the Utilities Department.
Motion by Council Member Perez, second by Council Member Montoya and carried by a 5-0 vote to approve the Consent Calendar.
PUBLIC HEARING
Request City Council Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider the Adoption of: (1) Resolution No. 8473 Approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration (Environmental Assessment Review No. 25-0020) Prepared for the Housing Element Project, in Accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); (2) Resolution No. 8474 Approving General Plan Amendment No. 25-0001, A Request to Amend the General Plan for the Purposes of Updating the General Plan Housing Element for the Sixth Cycle and to Amend the Environmental Justice Element; (3) Ordinance No. 1709 Approving Zoning Code Amendment No. 25-0002, A Request to Amend Chapter 18.116 (Residential Overlay) of the Rialto Municipal Code to Establish a New Residential Overlay (Housing Opportunity District) and to Modify Permitted Land Uses and Residential Densities to Facilitate the Development of Housing; (4) Ordinance No. 1710 Approving Specific Plan Amendment No. 25-0001, A Request to Amend the Foothill Central Specific Plan and Establish a Residential Overlay (Housing Opportunity District) on Approximately 159 Acres of Land within the Foothill Central Specific Plan to Facilitate the Development of Housing by Reference to Chapter 18.116 (Residential Overlay) of the Rialto Municipal Code; and (5) Ordinance No. 1711 Approving Specific Plan Amendment No. 25-0002, A Request to Amend the Gateway Specific Plan and Establish a Residential Overlay (Housing Opportunity District) on Approximately 20 Acres of Land within the Gateway Specific Plan to Facilitate the Development of Housing by Reference to Chapter 18.116 (Residential Overlay) of the Rialto Municipal Code.
(ACTION)
Request City Council to: (1) Conduct a Public Hearing Regarding the Proposed Annexation of Territory to the Rialto Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District No. 2; (2) Request City Council to Adopt Resolution No. 8483 Declaring the Results of the Property Owner Protest Ballot Proceedings Conducted for the Proposed Levy of Assessments Related to the Annexation of Territory to the Rialto Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District No. 2, Commencing in Fiscal Year 2025/2026; and (3) Request City Council to Adopt Resolution No. 8484 Confirming the Engineer’s Report Regarding the Annexation of Territory to the Rialto Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District No. 2, the Levy of Annual Assessments Described Therein, and the Assessment Diagram Connected Therewith, and Ordering the Levy and Collection of Assessments Commencing in Fiscal Year 2025/2026 for said Annexation.
POWERPOINT
(ACTION)
NEW BUSINESS
Request City Council to: (1) Adopt Resolution No. 8485 Amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget to Appropriate $63,776 for a Cultural Resources Assessment for the Pacific Electric Trail Project, City Project No. 240801; (2) Authorize a Fifth Amendment with Alta Planning + Design for the Cultural Resources Assessment in the Amount of $57,978; (3) Authorize a Contingency of 10% for Any Unforeseen Expenses in the Amount of $5,798 for a Total Agreement Amount Not to Exceed $1,070,552; and (4) Authorize the City Manager or Their Designee to Execute All Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Request City Council to: (1) Approve a Mutual Aid Cooperative Agreement with San Bernardino County Public Works for Repair, Maintenance, and Emergency Work, on a Project-by-Project Basis, in an Amount Not To Exceed $100,000 Annually for a Five-Year Period Ending on June 30, 2031; (2) Approve a Mutual Aid Cooperative Agreement with San Bernardino County Flood Control District Repair, Maintenance, and Emergency Work, on a Project-by-Project Basis, in an Amount Not To Exceed $100,000 Annually for a Five-Year Period Ending on June 30, 2031; and (3) Authorize the City Manager or their designee to Execute All Documents.
(ACTION)
REPORTS
MAYOR:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
CITY ATTORNEY:
CITY MANAGER:
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Council Member Perez, second by Council Member Montoya and carried by a 5-0 vote to close the meeting in Memory of Janet Story, wife of former Rialto City Administrator and current Planning Commissioner Mike Story at 8:19pm.
Mayor Baca stated he would like to adjourn the meeting in memory of Janet Story.
No objections.
Mayor Baca stated he would like to recognize March as Women's History Month and he would like each council member, if they desire, to recognize a woman from Rialto at the next City Council Meeting.
No objections.
Council Member Carrizales stated that he recused himself from Item 1- Claim of Breach of Settlement Agreement by CCAEJ.
He stated that he will also recuse himself from TAB 1 - due to a conflict of interest with his property located at 119 E. Foothill Blvd.
Mayor Baca stated that he would like to recognize Rialto High School Knights that captured the CIF Southern Section Division Championship.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Jared Sopko, Allied Farms, Inc., expressed his support for the Housing Element presented with the changes.
2. Anup De Sai, owner of America's Best Value Inn, expressed his comments regarding the Housing Element.
3. Claudia Cuevas - expressed her comments regarding the Housing Element.
4. Ana Gonzalez - encouraged City Council to approve the Housing Element.
5. Elizabeth Banuelos - voiced her support for the approval of the Housing Element.
6. Jessica Handy - expressed her support for the Housing Element.
7. Hortensia Rosales - expressed her support for the Housing Element.
8. Joaquin Castillejos - expressed her support for the Housing Element.
9. Araceli Reyes - expressed her support for the Housing Element.
Motion by Council Member Perez, second by Mayor Pro Tem Scott and carried by a 4-0 vote, Council Member Carrizales recused himself, to close the public hearing.
Mayor Pro Tem Scott stated in support of very low income and low income housing and not the taking of any commercial properties he votes Aye.
Motion by Mayor Baca, second by Council Member Perez and carried by a 4-0 vote, Council Member Carrizales recused himself, to approve TAB 1.
Motion by Council Member Perez, second by Council Member Carrizales and carried by a 5-0 vote to close the public hearing.
City Clerk tallied the ballot. Vote Yes.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scott, second by Council Member Perez and carried by a 5-0 vote to approve TAB 2.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. John Lenau, expressed his support to continue the Pacific Electric Trail.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scott, second by Council Member Perez and carried by a 5-0 vote to approve TAB 3, excluding the 10% and give the authority to the City Manager in the event it is needed and reviewed by her.
Motion by Council Member Carrizales, second by Mayor Pro Tem Scott and carried by a 5-0 vote to approve TAB 4.
Council Member Carrizales left the dais at 6:53 pm.
Council Member Carrizales returned to the dais at 7:49pm.
_________________________________
MAYOR JOE BACA
ATTEST:
_________________________________
CITY CLERK BARBARA A. McGEE
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