Signal Hill — 2025-03-25

a. A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FROM ALVARADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL\nWILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING BY LEADING THE\nPLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND CEREMONIOUSLY PRESIDING OVER THE\nMEETING WITH THE GAVEL. MAYOR JONES WILL THEN RECOGNIZE THE\nSTUDENT.

b. THE SUSTAINABLE CITY COMMITTEE HAS AWARDED A SUSTAINABILITY\nAWARD TO GROUND EDUCATION, A LOCALLY BASED GROUP OFFERING\nA SCHOOL GARDEN LEARNING PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON\nENCOURAGING KIDS TO EXPLORE THE IMPORTANT CONNECTION\nBETWEEN HEALTHY FOOD, A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, AND\nENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY BY BRINGING NATURE TO SCHOOLS.\nGROUND EDUCATION FACILITATES YEAR-ROUND LEARNING\nOUTDOORS. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL PRESENT THE SUSTAINABILITY\nAWARD TO HOLLAND BROWN AND KAREN TAYLOR OF GROUND\nEDUCATION.

c. THE MAYOR WILL RECOGNIZE THE SIGNAL HILL COMMUNITY\nFOUNDATION FOR ITS 2024 CALIFORNIA PARK & RECREATION SOCIETY\n(CPRS) SERVICE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - CHAMPION OF THE\nCOMMUNITY.

d. THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER/PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARY\nSERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WILL INTRODUCE SENIOR\nRECREATION SPECIALIST ISABELA GIL.

e. THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER WILL INTRODUCE MANAGEMENT\nASSISTANT XOCHITL BRISENO.

a. OPPORTUNITY STUDY AREAS ECONOMIC STUDY FINDINGS\nSummary:\nEarlier this year, the City Council authorized staff to issue a Request for\nProposals to select a qualified professional planning firm to undertake a\ncomprehensive economic and land use study for three areas of the community,\nknown as Opportunity Study Areas. Broadly defined, the purpose of the study is\nto assess future land use opportunities that will allow the City to grow\neconomically, create jobs, and diversify the City’s tax basis for several years.\nAfter a comprehensive and competitive process, the City Council awarded a\ncontract to PlaceWorks, to prepare an economic and land use analysis\nassociated with the Opportunity Study Area Project.\nPlaceWorks will present an update on its progress to the City Council, providing\nkey insights into the economic analysis and preliminary findings. This\npresentation will offer an opportunity for the City Council and the community to\nlearn more about potential land use strategies that support economic growth and\nlong-term sustainability in Signal Hill. Using the economic study as a basis, staff\nis requesting additional policy direction from the City Council regarding the next\nphases in the project which would include developing overlay zones, creating\nnew development standards, exploring opportunities for infrastructure\nimprovements, and initiating a selection process to undertake the required\nenvironmental studies to facilitate future development.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nGoal No. 3 Economic & Downtown Development: Improve the local economy,\nsupport local businesses, and create a vibrant downtown core.\nGoal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and Improve the City’s physical\ninfrastructure, waste system, and recreational spaces.\nRecommendations:\n1. Receive a presentation from Placeworks summarizing the key findings of the\nEconomic Study for the Opportunity Study Areas project.\n2. Provide general direction to staff to advance the development of Overlay\nZones, including updates to development standards within the Opportunity\nStudy Areas.\n3. Provide direction to staff regarding the solicitation of development proposals\nfor a City-owned property located at the intersection of Spring Street and\nAtlantic Avenue.\n4. Provide direction to staff regarding initiating a feasibility study to explore the\npotential implementation of financing tools to fund infrastructure\nimprovements with the Opportunity Study Areas.\n5. Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposals for environmental studies\nrelated to the Opportunity Study Areas.

b. 2024 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT\nSummary:\nCalifornia Government Code Section 65400 mandates that cities prepare, and\nsubmit to their legislative bodies, a General Plan Annual Progress Report\n(GPAPR) for the previous calendar year. The GPAPR tracks the progress of the\nCity’s implementation of the General Plan programs with an emphasis on the\nimplementation of the Housing Element. Cities must submit the GPAPR to the\nGovernor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the State Department of\nHousing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1st of each year, along\nwith the Housing Successor Annual Report (SB 341 report) regarding the low\nand moderate-income housing asset fund, which must be submitted to HCD\nannually.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nGoal No. 2 Community Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting\npublic safety services and increasing emergency preparedness.\nGoal No. 3 Economic & Downtown Development: Improve the local economy,\nsupport local businesses, and create a vibrant downtown core.\nGoal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical\ninfrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.\nGoal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendation:\nAuthorize staff to submit the Signal Hill GPAPR for calendar year 2024, the\nHousing Successor Annual Report (SB 341 report) to OPR and HCD.

c. CONFIRMATION OF PROPOSED RATES FOR WATER DELIVERED\nTHROUGH THE CITY’S DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND OUTLINE OF\nPROPOSITION 218 PROCESS\nSummary:\nThe 2023-2028 City of Signal Hill Strategic Plan identifies updating the Water\nMaster Plan (WMP) and Water Rate Study (RS) as key initiatives for Fiscal Year\n2024-2025. The WMP evaluates the City's water infrastructure, identifies\ndeficiencies, and outlines a plan for necessary improvements. The RS conducts\na comprehensive rate analysis, establishing a sustainable and equitable\nfive-year tiered rate structure that integrates public engagement and City Council\nrecommendations. In December 2023, the City entered into a professional\nservices agreement with Dudek to assist in preparing the WMP & RS. City staff\ncollaborated with Dudek and its subconsultant, Raftelis, to evaluate water\nsystem operations, assess financial needs, and develop recommendations.\nOn December 10, 2024, the City Council appointed a Water Rate Subcommittee\nto review the WMP, assess Capital Improvement Projects, evaluate rate\nstructures, and analyze the reserve policy. During the Subcommittee Meeting on\nJanuary 27, 2025, members reviewed the Water Division’s current and projected\ncosts, considering the financial impact of infrastructure improvements and\nongoing operational expenses. After evaluating three rate structure options, the\nSubcommittee selected the Self-Funded option as the most viable. This option\nincludes a 15 percent rate increase in the first two years, 14 percent in the third\nand fourth years, and 10 percent in the fifth year, ensuring sufficient funding for\ncapital projects, debt repayment, and financial reserves to address consumption\nfluctuations and economic uncertainties. The proposed rate adjustment is driven\nby high-priority Capital Improvement Projects, many of which are required to\nmeet state-mandated regulations. Additionally, revenue losses resulting from\nwater conservation efforts have impacted the Water Division’s financial stability,\nmaking a structured rate increase necessary.\nOn February 27, 2025, the Public Works Department presented the findings of\nthe WMP & RS in a public workshop, outlining the three rate adjustment options\nreviewed by the Subcommittee. After considering the financial implications and\npublic input, the City Council directed staff to proceed with the Self-Funded\noption as the preferred rate adjustment plan. The recommended rate adjustment\nensures that the Water Division can fully fund its operating expenses, capital\nprojects, reserves, and debt service obligations over the next five years without\nissuing additional debt.\nFollowing a community workshop on March 10, 2025, staff proposes\nimplementing the recommended rate adjustments beginning in Fiscal Year\n2025-2026. The proposed changes require amendments to Signal Hill Municipal\nCode Section 13.04.130 and confirmation to initiate a Proposition 218 Protest\nHearing. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed rate\nadjustments and authorize the necessary actions for implementation.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nGoal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical\ninfrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.\nGoal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendation:\n1. Confirm the recommended water rate adjustments of 15% in FY 2025-26,\n15% in FY 2026-27, 14% in FY 2027-28, 14% in FY 2028-29, and 10% in\nFY 2029-30.\n2. Set a Proposition 218 Protest Hearing for May 27, 2025.

a. WARRANT REGISTER DATED MARCH 25, 2025\nSummary:\nThe Warrant Register is a listing of all general disbursements issued, since the\nprior warrant register, and warrants to be released upon City Council approval.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nRecommendation:\nAuthorize payment of the Warrant Registers dated March 25, 2025.

b. AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - HUMAN HEALTH\nENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEW SERVICES\nSummary:\nThe State of California Office of Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is a State\nagency whose mission is to protect and enhance public health and the\nenvironment by scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances.\nOne of the services offered by OEHHA is the review of Human Health Risk\nAssessments (HHRA) which are reports prepared under the environmental\nreview process for all development projects. The HHRA uses environmental\ndata collected from the site to estimate the nature, magnitude, and probability of\nadverse health effects on people who may be exposed to contaminates. The\nHHRA is used to make decisions regarding the development of a property and if\nthe proposed development is safe for construction workers and the people who\nwill occupy the site. OEHHA offers HHRA services to local governments via\nprofessional services agreements. The City’s current Service Agreement with\nOEHHA expires on April 11, 2025, and the City would like to continue the\nservices and therefore must approve a new Agreement. The proposed\nAgreement term would be for twenty-four months with the allowance to extend\nthe term for an additional twenty-four months. The total compensation for the\nservices shall not exceed $20,000.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendation:\nAuthorize the City Manager to enter into an Agreement for on-call Professional\nServices for Human Health/Environmental Risk Assessment Review with\nOEHHA for a term of twenty-four months with a not-to-exceed total\ncompensation amount of $20,000.

c. CONTRACT AMENDMENT REGISTER DATED MARCH 25, 2025\nSummary:\nThe attached Contract Amendment Register is a listing of proposed contract\namendments and project change orders eligible for streamlined processing\nbased upon the following criteria as documented in the City’s Purchasing Policy:\n· The City Council authorized funds with the adopted fiscal year Operating\nBudget.\n· Staff are satisfied with the goods/services received to date.\n· The City Manager reviewed and approved each amendment for\nstreamlined processing.\nThere are two contract amendments for City Council consideration as follows:\n1. Phoenix Group Information Systems, Parking Citation\nProcessing/Administration, the proposed second amendment would\nextend the term through 6/30/25 and increase the contract by $65,000 for\na new not-to-exceed amount of $189,000.\n2. Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc. (MIG) requested to extend its contract\nterm, for preparation of updates to the City’s General Plan Elements, for\none year, to expire on April 26, 2026, with the allowed maximum CPI\nincrease of 3.3%, keeping the total compensation amount of $250,000.\nMIG will retain the option to extend its contract term for one additional\nyear.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nRecommendation:\nAuthorize the Contract Amendment Register dated March 25, 2025.

d. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AND MONTHLY TRANSACTION REPORT\nSummary:\nThe Schedule of Investments is a listing of all surplus funds invested for both the\nCity and the Successor Agency to the former Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency\nas of the date shown in the report. The monthly transaction report provides a list\nof the changes in investments for the prior month.\nStrategic Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nRecommendation:\nReceive and file.

e. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES\nSummary:\nRegular Meeting of March 11, 2025.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 5. High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendation:\nApprove the meeting minutes.

a. A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE\nSECTION 54956.8.\nCONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS\n(PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8)\nPROPERTY: APPROX. 7,800 SQ. FT. MULTI-TENANT MIXED USED LOT\nWITH 2 BUILDINGS, LOCATED AT 1965/75 E. 21ST STREET & 2107\nCHERRY AVENUE, SIGNAL HILL; ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NOS.:\n7215-012-002, 7215-013-012\nAGENCY-DESIGNATED NEGOTIATORS: MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER\nNEGOTIATING PARTIES: CITY OF SIGNAL HILL; PROPERTY OWNER, LORI\nJ. HELFER, AND THEIR AUTHORIZED AGENT, THE DICKERSON\nCOMPANY, RACHEL DICKERSON\nUNDER NEGOTIATION: PRICE AND TERMS FOR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION