Signal Hill — 2025-07-08

DISCUSSION OF PURPOSE AND SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE\nSUSTAINABLE CITY COMMITTEE AND DIVERSITY COALITION COMMITTEE\nSummary:\nAt the City Council meeting of May 13, 2025, Mayor Jones received support\nfrom Council Member Woods to enable further discussion to review the\nformation guidelines, staff resources and budget requirements, and other details\nof the Sustainable City Committee (SCC) and Diversity Coalition Committee\n(DCC). In response to the City Council’s direction, staff developed this report to\noutline the differences between commissions and committees, explain the\nformation and purpose of the SCC and DCC, and present estimates of staff\nresources dedicated to supporting each committee.\nThe SCC and DCC advance City initiatives related to environmental\nsustainability and community diversity. Each committee meets regularly and\ncarries out programs aligned with its mission. Staff calculated that supporting\nboth committees requires approximately 764 staff hours per year, with an\nestimated cost of $80,536 as well an additional $10,000 in annual program\nexpenses for the DCC. To further facilitate City Council discussion, staff\nreviewed examples from other cities and included a sample set of bylaws from\nthe City of Santa Cruz to assist the Council in considering whether to formalize,\nmodify, or reaffirm the structure and responsibilities of these committees.\nStaff recommends that the City Council review the information presented in this\nreport and provide further direction. The City Council may also wish to discuss\nwhether the current structure and scope of each committee remain appropriate\nor if the City Council desires to refine its direction to better align with City\npriorities and available resources. Potential options for further consideration\ninclude reaffirming the current committee structure, revising membership or\nmeeting frequency, adopting formal bylaws, or transitioning certain efforts into\nCity-led programs.\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:\nDiscuss the proposed City Council request and provide direction to staff as\ndesired.

a.\nLIBRARIAN GELLI NOCON WILL PRESENT ON THE SCHEDULED\nPROGRAMMING TO COMMEMORATE WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY.

b.\nMAYOR JONES WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO THE PARKS,\nRECREATION, AND LIBRARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF IN\nRECOGNITION OF JULY AS PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER MONTH.

c.\nA REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHILDREN’S CLINIC WILL PROVIDE AN\nOVERVIEW OF THE SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TO\nSIGNAL HILL RESIDENTS.

a.\nEXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT WITH RED MOUNTAIN GROUP\nSummary:\nRed Mountain Group, based in Santa Ana, California, is a private real estate\ninvestment, development, and redevelopment firm with a national portfolio of\nover 5 million square feet. The developer specializes in revitalizing underutilized\ncommercial and retail properties and has a strong track record of working with\ncities to support long-term economic development and commercial corridor\nreinvestment. The developer proposed two concepts to redevelop properties on\nCherry Street. Staff collaborated with Red Mountain Group to prepare the\nproposed Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) which outlines the terms,\nconditions, and project milestones for the exclusive negotiation period. The ENA\nsets a defined timeframe for Red Mountain Group to complete specific\nperformance tasks, such as due diligence and preliminary design efforts. If these\nrequirements are met, the City and Red Mountain Group would then negotiate a\nDisposition and Development Agreement. Staff recommends the City Council\napprove the proposed ENA, substantially in the form presented, to initiate\nnegotiations with Red Mountain Group for the potential development of the\nCherry Property sites.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1\nFinancial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nGoal No. 3\nEconomic Development: Improve the local economy, support local\nbusinesses, and create a vibrant downtown core.\nGoal No. 4\nInfrastructure: Maintain and Improve the City’s physical\ninfrastructure, waste system, and recreational spaces.\nRecommendation:\nStaff recommends the City Council approve the Exclusive Negotiation\nAgreement (ENA) between the City of Signal Hill and Red Mountain Group\nsubstantially in the form presented for the development of the Cherry Site,\nlocated on Cherry Avenue between Willow Street and 27th Street, comprised of\nmultiple parcels, totaling approximately 1.98 acres, and authorize the City\nManager to execute the ENA.

b.\nJuly 8, 2025\nPUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT WITH KORMEX CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR\nTHE WILLOW MEDIAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT\nSummary:\nThe 2023-2028 Strategic Plan for the City of Signal Hill prioritizes the completion\nof the Citywide Median Project to enhance the aesthetics of the City’s major\narterial roadways. On January 10, 2023, the City Council approved a design\nservices agreement with SWA Group (SWA) to prepare landscape and irrigation\nplans for all traffic medians citywide. SWA completed the design plans in\nDecember 2024, providing updated landscaping and irrigation concepts for\nimplementation throughout the City. The plans are organized by individual\nmedians to support phased funding and construction, with a focus on prioritizing\nmedians along major arterial corridors and those in greatest need of\nimprovement. Among the plans identified the medians on Willow Street as a\nhigh-priority area for enhancement.\nFollowing a comprehensive and competitive bidding process, staff recommends\nthat the City Council award a contract to Kormex Construction, Inc., the lowest\nresponsive bidder, for a term of 90 calendar days and a not-to-exceed budget of\n$478,156.50. Staff further recommends that the City Council authorize the City\nManager to execute a Public Works Contract with Kormex Construction, Inc. and\nauthorize the City Manager to execute the Member Agency Administered\nProgram Reimbursement Agreement to accept a $70,000 grant to be utilized\ntoward the project. If approved by the City Council, the construction of the\nWillow Median Improvements Project would start in July 2025, with completion\nanticipated by October 2025.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 4\nInfrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical\ninfrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.\nGoal No. 5\nHigh-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal\ncommunications, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to\nincrease the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendations:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Public Works Contract with\nKormex Construction, Inc. for the construction of the Willow Median\nImprovements Project for a term of 90 calendar days and a not-to-exceed\ncontract amount of $478,156.50, in a form approved by the City Attorney.\n2. Authorize a contingency of $47,815.65 and up to a 30-calendar day\nextension to accommodate additional scope of work and changes or\nunforeseen conditions, to be utilized if approved by the Public Works\nDirector, for a total construction budget of $525,972.15.\nJuly 8, 2025\n3. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Member Agency Administered\nProgram (MAAP) Reimbursement Agreement in a form approved by the City\nAttorney.\n4. Adopt a Resolution appropriating $290,972.15, with $70,000 from MAAP\nfunds and $220,972.15 from the Capital Improvement Project reserve, to fully\nfund the Willow Median Improvements Project, entitled:\nA RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,\nCALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING\nBUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26.

c.\nTHIRD AMENDMENT TO THE CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT\nSummary:\nOn December 13, 2022, the City Council approved a City Manager Employment\nAgreement with Carlo Tomaino. The City Council evaluates the City Manager’s\nperformance on an annual basis. Mr. Tomaino has successfully and\nsatisfactorily performed his service to the City, and the City Council approved\nAmendment One and Amendment Two on July 25, 2023, and September 24,\n2024, respectively. The City Council conducted its annual review of the City\nManager on June 10, 2025, and will consider a Third Amendment to the City\nManager’s Employment Agreement.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 5\nHigh-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendations:\n1. Approve the Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement for the City\nManager, in a form approved by the City Attorney;\n2. Adopt a Resolution, entitled:\nA RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,\nCALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING A CITY-WIDE PAY\nSCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’\nRETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS), AND REPEALING ALL PRIOR\nRESOLUTIONS\n3. Adopt a Resolution, entitled:\nA RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,\nCALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING SALARIES AND BENEFITS\nJuly 8, 2025\nFOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, AND REPEALING ALL PRIOR\nRESOLUTIONS.

a.\nMAINTENANCE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CCS FACILITY SERVICES\nFOR CUSTODIAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES\nSummary:\nCustodial maintenance services are a vital resource in supporting the health,\nsafety, and functionality of City-owned facilities including the Signal Hill Public\nLibrary, City Hall, Youth Center, Police Department, and City parks. The\n2023-2028 City of Signal Hill Strategic Plan identifies maintenance of City assets\nas a key objective to ensure that these facilities remain well-equipped to support\nmunicipal operations and continue to serve both the public and City staff\neffectively.\nIn alignment with the City’s Purchasing Guidelines, staff conducted a formal\ncompetitive bidding process and recommends the City Council award a one-year\nMaintenance Services Agreement to CCS Facility Services, the lowest\nresponsible bidder, in the amount of $255,126. The scope of work includes\njanitorial services at City facilities, pressure washing playground surfaces at City\nparks, and on-call custodial support for special City events. If approved by the\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 4\nInfrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s\ninfrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.\nphysical\nRecommendations:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Maintenance Services Agreement\nwith CCS Facility Services to provide citywide custodial maintenance\nservices, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with an annual contract\namount of $255,126 and allowing up to a maximum of two optional one-year\nterm extensions.\n2. Adopt a Resolution appropriating $37,063 to Account No. 100-92-5521,\nentitled:\nA RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA,\nAMENDING THE ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET AND\nAUTHORIZING BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR\n2025-26.

b.\nJuly 8, 2025\nFINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE HILLBROOK PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT\n(PROJECT NO. 80.23007) PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT\nWITH GREEN GIANT LANDSCAPING, INCORPORATED\nSummary:\nIn February 2021, the City Council approved the 2021 Parks and Recreation\nMaster Plan and authorized staff to create a Prioritization and Implementation\nPlan (PIP), which included the renovation and redesign of Hillbrook Park. On\nFebruary 27, 2024, the City Council awarded a contract to Green Giant\nLandscaping, Incorporated, for the Hillbrook Park Improvement Project after an\nextensive community outreach effort. Staff also successfully received\nsupplemental funding for the park project to add water conservation and\nsustainability elements, which are eligible for funding through the Metropolitan\nWater District. The contractor has performed the scope of work in compliance\nwith the project plans and specifications and to the satisfaction of the Public\nWorks Department. Staff is requesting the City Council declare final acceptance\nof the project as completed through a Public Works Contract with Green Giant\nLandscaping, Incorporated, for a final contract amount of $1,785,401.21 and to\ndirect staff to record a notice of completion with the Los Angeles County\nRecorder’s office and thereafter process the retention release on the contract.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 4\nInfrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical\ninfrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.\nGoal No. 5\nHigh-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendations:\n1. Accept the work in conformance with the plans and specifications for the\nHillbrook Park Improvement Project in accordance with the contract entered\ninto between the Green Giant Landscaping, Incorporated and the City of\nSignal Hill and authorize the City Manager to execute the Notice of\nCompletion; and\n2. Direct staff to record the Notice of Completion with the Los Angeles County\nRegistrar-Recorder’s office.

c.\nJuly 8, 2025\nFIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH\nRCS INVESTIGATIONS & CONSULTING, LLC FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT\nBACKGROUND AND PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS\nSummary:\nIn December 2024, the City approved a new service agreement with RCS\nInvestigations & Consulting, LLC (RCS), for a two-year term beginning July 1,\n2024, and ending June 30, 2026, with an annual not-to-exceed amount of\n$50,000. The service agreement also allows for three one-year extensions. The\nPolice Department relies on and maintains a working relationship with RCS for\napplicant backgrounds. The RCS team collaborates closely with the Police\nDepartment’s hiring manager, providing regular updates regarding on-going\ninvestigations and backgrounds. RCS also proactively informs the hiring\nmanager when they determine a candidate does not align with the Department ’s\nstandards and requirements. RCS also conducts internal affairs investigations,\nwhich is an important component of any law enforcement agency. These\ninvestigations are necessary to review incidents for conformance with the Police\nDepartment’s policies and practices, ensuring the Police Department continues\noperating at the highest professional and ethical standards. Due to increased\nrecruitment needs and hiring activity, along with pending personnel\ninvestigations, staff is requesting the annual not-to-exceed amount be increased\nto $100,000 to reflect the current level of effort and demand for these services.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 2\nCommunity Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting\npublic safety services and increasing emergency preparedness.\nGoal No. 5\nHigh Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication,\nrecruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the\neffectiveness and efficiency of City services.\nRecommendations:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the RCS\nInvestigations & Consulting, LLC Contract Services Agreement.\n2. Adopt a Resolution appropriating $50,000 to Account No. 100-74-5400,\nentitled:\nA RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL,\nCALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND AUTHORIZING\nBUDGET APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26.

d.\nJuly 8, 2025\nCONTRACT AMENDMENT REGISTER DATED JULY 8, 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 processing.\nThere are eight contract amendments for City Council consideration as follows:\n1. Gentry General Engineering, Incorporated, First Amendment for Street and\nAlley Construction, Maintenance and Immediate Repair Services, increasing\nthe contract amount by $100,000 for a new not-to-exceed amount of\n$550,000.\n2. John L. Hunter & Associates, Incorporated, Second Amendment for\nProfessional Environmental Engineering Consulting Services, increasing the\ncontract amount by $105,000, for a new not-to-exceed amount of $473,500.\n3. Engineering Solutions Services, First Amendment for Professional Grant\nWriting and Management Services, extending the term through June 30,\n2026.\n4. Evan Brooks and Associates, First Amendment for Professional Grant\nWriting and Management Services, extending the term through June 30,\n2026.\n5. Global Urban Strategies, First Amendment for Professional Grant Writing\nand Management Services, extending the term through June 30, 2026.\n6. Land CM, First Amendment for Professional Grant Writing and Management\nServices, extending the term through June 30, 2026.\n7. Townsend Public Affairs, First Amendment for Professional Grant Writing\nand Management Services, extending the term through June 30, 2026.\n8. Villa Civil, First Amendment for Professional Grant Writing and Management\nServices, extending the term through June 30, 2026.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1\nFinancial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nJuly 8, 2025\nRecommendation:\nAuthorize the Contract Amendment Register dated July 8, 2025.

e.\nAPPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES\nSummary:\nRegular Meeting of June 24, 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.

f.\nWARRANT REGISTER PRESENTED JULY 8, 2025\nSummary:\nThe Warrant Register is a listing of all general disbursements issued since the\nprior warrant register to be approved by the City Council.\nStrategic Plan Goal(s):\nGoal No. 1\nFinancial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability\nand resilience.\nRecommendation:\nAuthorize payment of the Warrant Registers presented July 8, 2025.

a.\nA CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE\nSECTION 54957(B)(1) TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE\nEVALUATION.\nTITLE: CITY ATTORNEY