Upland City Council Meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE UPLAND CITY COUNCIL May 11, 2026 6:00 p.m. City Council Chamber City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Avenue Members Present: Mayor Bill Velto, Councilmember James Breitling, Councilmember Carlos A. Garcia, Councilmember Shannan Maust, Councilmember Rudy Zuniga Staff Present: City Manager Michael Blay, City Attorney Thomas Rice, City Clerk Keri Johnson _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The regular meeting of the Upland City Council was called to order by Mayor Bill Velto at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Upland City Hall. 2. ADDITIONS-DELETIONS TO AGENDA None. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 p.m. 4. CLOSED SESSION At 5:01 p.m. Mayor Velto announced that the City Council would recess to Closed Session pursuant to Government Code a. CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS California Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: Approximately 614 square feet of area within Memorial Park located in the City of Upland (APN: 1046-183-01) City Negotiators: City Manager, Development Services Director, and Economic Development Coordinator Negotiating Party: Crown Castle Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment b. CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Designated Representatives: City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Deputy Director of HR/Risk Management 1  Unrepresented Group: Non-Represented/Confidential Unit (Accounting Supervisor, Budget Coordinator, City Clerk, Executive Assistant I, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, Finance Manager, Human Resources Analyst I, Human Resources Analyst II, Risk Management Coordinator) c. CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Government Code Section 54957.6 City Designated Representatives: City Manager Unrepresented Employees: Assistant City Manager(s), Police Chief, Development Services Director, Deputy Director(s) of Public Works, Deputy Director of Human Resources and Risk Management d. CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Government Code Section 54957.6 City Designated Representatives: Mayor and City Attorney Unrepresented Employee: City Manager The City Council reconvened in open session at 6:00 p.m. 5. INVOCATION Soheila Azizi, Baha'i Faith of Upland 6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Police Chief Blanco 7. PRESENTATIONS Summary of Discover Upland Program Demonstration of the City's New Citizen Engagement App Upland Connect 8. CITY ATTORNEY City Attorney Rice announced the City Council received reports on closed session items and there was no reportable action during Closed Session. 9. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS City Clerk Johnson announced that speakers for the Business Items would be called prior to that item being considered by the Council. Kevin Payton, Upland, spoke regarding eviction from his apartment. Terry Dipple, requested that item 13b be considered prior to the other agenda items. 10. CONSENT CALENDAR Moved by: Councilmember Zuniga Seconded by: Councilmember Maust Approve the Consent Calendar 2  Motion: Carried Unanimously a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2026. b. CONSIDER APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR UPLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT Approve the agreement with Meliora Public Safety Consulting for an organizational assessment of the Upland Police Department in the amount of $94,000; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. c. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH KEENAN AND ASSOCIATES Approve the Second Amendment of the Agreement with Keenan and Associates for Benefit Broker Services; and authorize the City Manager to execute the Amendment. d. EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK FOR 26 W. 15TH STREET TRANSFER STATION UPDATE Receive and file the status update related to the KSM Electric, Inc. contract for emergency repair work at the 26 W. 15th Street Transfer Station. e. CONSIDER ACCEPTING CALRECYCLE USED OIL PAYMENT PROGRAM (OPP CYCLE 16) GRANT Accept the CalRecycle Used Oil Payment Cycle 16 Grant Award of $11,103. f. CONSIDER ACCEPTING THE CALRECYCLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING PAYMENT PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 GRANT AWARD Accept the CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling City/County Payment Program Fiscal Year 2025-26 grant award of $19,823 and appropriate the funds. g. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE PURCHASE ORDER WITH FORD OF UPLAND Approve a change order in the amount of $15,000 to an existing purchase order with Ford of Upland for a total revised purchase order amount of $65,000; and authorize the City Manager to execute the change order. h. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF UPGRADED SOCCER FIELD LIGHTS Approve a budget adjustment and the appropriation of $122,642 from the Quimby Capital Improvement Project Fund for the installation of upgraded soccer field lights at Cabrillo Park. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 12. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS a. COUNCIL REPORTS ON REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING, TRAINING, OR CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE 3  Councilmember Breitling reported on his attendance to the SCAG Annual General Assembly meeting. b. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, APRIL 29, 2026 Committee Chair Maust provided a recap of the meeting. 13. BUSINESS ITEMS b. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 5.68 TO TITLE 5 OF THE UPLAND MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING MOBILEHOME RENT REVIEW Councilmember Maust requested that Item 13b be considered prior to item 13a on the agenda, the request was seconded by Councilmember Breitling. Prior to public comment, City Manager Blay provided background regarding the previously rescinded ordinance, explaining that it had been included as part of an omnibus ordinance process due to significant implementation issues, but the full scope of the ordinance, including the rent control portion, had not been clearly presented to the City Council at that time. The item under consideration is being presented to address and rectify the matter. City Clerk Johnson stated that one written comment was received and distributed to the City Council. Several speakers expressed support for restoring the rent control ordinance, stating that many residents purchased their homes in reliance on rent control protections and depend on those protections to remain in their homes. Speakers stated that residents on fixed incomes could not afford increased housing costs and described the repeal of rent control as a mistake with significant consequences for the senior community. Comments included concerns regarding affordability, potential homelessness, and the impact of market-rate increases on residents. Speakers urged the Council to restore the ordinance through adoption of Exhibit A “Restore Ordinance” to ensure that rent increases would remain livable. The following spoke: Nicholas, Upland Janis Arcere Diana Sholley Janice Elliott, Upland Cindi Darlene Djokovich, Upland Jacob Buckholz Resident (name not provided) David Podley, Upland, stated that he has an interest in seeing El Dorado Mobile Home Park thrive and that has been thwarted by rent control ordinance over the last 40 years. He further stated the costs of operating the park continue to go up. Brian Bender, General Manager of Upland El Dorado Mobile Home Park, stated that the family-run mobile home park had absorbed approximately 80% of Consumer Price Index increases while facing rising insurance, maintenance, and infrastructure costs, and could not afford certain upgrades, including electric 4  vehicle charging stations. He also stated that the park has never evicted a tenant for inability to pay rent. Greg O'Hagan stated he represents the management company that owns Upland Meadows Mobile Estates and that operating a mobile home park is similar to managing a small city due to the responsibility of maintaining aging roads, infrastructure, and common areas. He further stated that the ordinance should evolve over time and that the revised ordinance provides an appropriate balance. Julie Paule with Western Manufactured Community Housing Association stated that both ordinances would require the City to incur administrative and hearing costs and provided comments supporting a memorandum of understanding as the preferred approach for rent control. Benjamin Kelly, Laguna Hills, representing the Manufactured Housing Educational Trust, expressed support for a memorandum of understanding based process rather than a rent control ordinance and indicated a willingness to meet with residents to develop an MOU. Suzanne Taylor, Upland, Executive Director of Augusta Communities, a nonprofit mobile home park provider, provided information regarding her background and the services offered by the organization, and spoke in support of a memorandum of understanding approach. Development Services Director Dalquest presented the staff report along with a PowerPoint presentation and answered questions from the Council. There was discussion regarding the provisions of the restoring and revising ordinances, including the potential incorporation of Section 5.68.100 from the revised ordinance into the restoring ordinance to permit property owners to increase rent upon the sale or transfer of a home. Motion by Councilmember Maust to hold first reading by title only, waive further reading, and introduce the restoring ordinance. There was continued discussion regarding adding Section 5.68.100 to the restoring ordinance. Substitute motion by Mayor Velto to hold first reading by title only, waive further reading, and introduce the restoring ordinance with the addition of Section 5.68.100 of the revised ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Zuniga. Moved by: Mayor Velto Seconded by: Councilmember Zuniga Hold first reading by title only, waive further reading, and introduce Ordinance No. 2010 adding Chapter 5.68 to Title 5 of the Upland Municipal Code regarding Mobilehome Rent Review, as revised by the Council, and determine the Ordinance is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. Motion: Carried with Councilmembers Breitling and Maust opposed At 8:00 p.m. Mayor Velto called a recess and the City Council reconvened in open session at 8:10 p.m. 5  a. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH SOUNDSKILZ TO PRODUCE AND MANAGE THE LEMON FESTIVAL City Manager Blay provided a PowerPoint outlining the challenges of producing the Lemon Festival after Covid. Joey Mancuso stated that he has received feedback from Lemon Festival attendees about businesses they discover in the downtown area when attending the Festival. Mark Davidson expressed support for the Lemon Festival and stated that other businesses have also conveyed their support. Council requested a presentation from Soundskilz in April of each year, prior to each Lemon Festival, providing an update on improvements and plans for the festival. They also requested that staff coordinate with Burrtec for a supplemental cleaning of the downtown after the festival. Moved by: Councilmember Garcia Seconded by: Councilmember Zuniga Approve the agreement with Soundskilz Inc. to produce and manage the Lemon Festival; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. Motion: Carried Unanimously 14. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS Councilmembers announced various activities and events throughout the community. 15. CITY MANAGER 16. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Velto adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Keri Johnson, City Clerk 6