by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The Claremont City Council returned from its August recess Tuesday with warm welcomes for new commission members and a visit from Claremont Police Department’s newest K-9 officer.

After ceremonial matters and unanimous approval of the consent calendar, the council unanimously approved of a $36 million tax exempt loan from California Municipal Finance Authority to Scripps College. Claremont Finance Director Jeremy Starkey explained that the city was mandated to hold the hearing due to Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 regulations.

The city has no financial or legal obligations or responsibilities with regard to repayment of the debt, and bears no cost for issuance of the debt. “And with respect to the proposed financing, the City of Claremont will be the recipient of a 25 percent share of the issuance fee for the benefit of the city’s general fund and staff estimates that the grant could amount to approximately $10,500,” Starkey said.

“TEFRA requires that a public hearing be held by the governing body of the jurisdiction in which a project to be financed is located, and that the governing body approve the proposed financing,” Starkey said. “The City Council has conducted several such hearings over the course of the last couple of years with the most recent last January.”

On January 9 the City Council unanimously approved the issuance of $10.5 million in tax exempt financing from CMFA to Scripps-Pitzer Property Holdings, LLC.

Tuesday’s agenda noted the new loan would go toward “the financing and refinancing all or a portion of the costs of the acquisition, construction, renovation, retrofitting, equipping and improvement of certain educational facilities, including but not limited to “administrative facilities, site improvements, student housing facilities, faculty housing facilities, and parking, owned and operated by Scripps College, located within the city, and certain other matters relating thereto.”

Realtor signage update
The council voted 5-0 to update to city code regarding open house real estate signage, effective October 10.

Deputy City Manager Katie Wand delivered a brief presentation on the matter.

“Current code language effectively prohibits open house signs from being posted unless they are posted on the Saturday or a Sunday between 12 and 6 p.m.,” Wand said. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people are working flexible schedules that allow for open houses to take place on days and times other than Saturdays and Sundays between 12 and 6 p.m.”

She added that “to allow for more flexibility on when open house signs can be posted,” staff proposed language in Claremont Municipal Code Subsection C of section 18.015.030 be amended to drop the current weekend noon to 6 p.m. timeframe and instead allow signs be permitted “up to one hour before and one hour after the open house.”

Signs, either one freestanding on-site sign, or two freestanding off-premises directional signs that cover a maximum area of three-square feet, must still adhere to city regulations. Wand said notice was sent to local homeowners associations and realtors informing them of the proposal.

Appointment of city commission members
With a 5-0 vote the City Council approved the City Council Ad Hoc Selection Committee’s recommendations of Richard Rosenbluth and Paul Wheeler to the planning commission and traffic and transportation commission, respectively. Both will serve through August 31, 2026. The ad hoc selection committee is comprised of Mayor Sal Medina and Mayor Pro Tem Corey Calaycay.

Aundré Johnson speaks at Tuesday’s council meeting after being appointed to the city’s police commission. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Consent calendar
Eight consent calendar items were passed unanimously, including:

• A new salary schedule for the city manager position, currently occupied by Adam Pirrie. Pirrie’s current monthly salary is $21,801. In July 2025 it will increase to $22,455, and in July 2026 to $23,129.

“These increases are consistent with the City Manager’s employment agreement, which provides for the same cost of living increases received by the City’s management employees,” Pirrie wrote in an email on Wednesday. “The City’s contract with CalPERS for retirement benefits requires employee salaries to be disclosed on a publicly available salary schedule approved by the City Council. The item on the City Council’s agenda meets this requirement. Salary schedules for represented employees were adopted in June 2024 when Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the City and its employee associations were approved.”

• A contract between the city and Trio Community Meals, LLC, for the city’s senior nutrition program from October 1 through June 30, 2025, with options to renew for three additional one-year extensions. The first year of the contract is worth $102,750, which will be paid from the city’s nutrition fund.
• A resolution establishing underground utility district number 24, allowing for funding to be allocated for relocating existing overhead Edison power lines along Arrow Highway from Indian Hill Boulevard to Villanova Drive underground. Community Development Director Brad Johnson told the Courier the project is estimated to cost about $3 million. Initial funding coverage starts at about $1.85 million, $846,000 of which is covered by Rule 20A funding and an additional $1 million by Fifth District County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office. The city must find additional funding for the remaining $1.15 million.
• City warrant registers totaling $5,400,938 from August 1 to August 29; special and regular July 23 meeting minutes; a contract approval with RDO Equipment, Co. worth $60,695 to purchase a mini skid steer; the approval of a contract with Precision Concrete Cutting, Inc. for a “citywide sidewalk condition assessment” worth $115,115; and the approval of the Blaisdell Community Center Kitchen Remodel Project worth $83,230.

The next Claremont City Council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 24 at council chambers, 225 W. Second St.

Brandon Brown, brother to recent Paris Summer Olympics bronze medalist Brittany Brown, was recently hired by the City of Claremont as its recreation and human services coordinator. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo