HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/09/01 - Minutes - Special September 1, 2021
CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
CITY COUNCIL/FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
The City of Rancho Cucamonga City Council held a Special Meeting on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, in the
Tri-Communities Conference Room at City Hall, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga,
California. Mayor Michael called the meeting to order at 2:39 p.m.
Present were Councilmembers: Ryan Hutchison, Kristine Scott, Mayor Pro Tern Lynne Kennedy, and Mayor L.
Dennis Michael. Absent: Councilmember Sam Spagnolo.
Also present were: John Gillison, City Manager; Elisa Cox, Deputy City Manager/Civic and Cultural Services;
Lori Sassoon, Deputy City Manager/Administrative Services; Matt Burris, Deputy City Manager/Community and
Economic Development; and Linda A. Troyan, City Clerk Services Director.
Council Member Spagnolo led the pledge of allegiance.
B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
There were no public communications.
C. ITEMS OF DISCUSSION
C1. Update on the Second Story and Beyond°Capital Project. (Verbal Report) (CITY)
Via PowerPoint, Julie Sowles, Library Director, gave an overview of the project, including goals and types of
play. Wess Garcia, Deputy Library Director, described the scope and design of the project.
John Gillison, City Manager, addressed the project's timeline and funding sources, including a potential Federal
budget earmark from a NASA fund.
He distributed a letter dated August 19, 2021, from the Rancho Cucamonga Library Foundation Board outlining
the Foundation's revised financial commitment to support the annual programming expenses, which will begin
after the capital project has concluded.The Library Foundation's original annual commitment was$250,000, and
their revised financial commitment outlined in the August 19, 2021 letter totals $625,000 for Fiscal Years 2022-
23 through 2026-27. Extrapolated through Fiscal Year 2029-2030, the difference is expected to total
approximately$950,000.The Library Foundation has agreed to the following financial commitment over the next
five(5)years:
Fiscal Year Amount
2022-23 $ 75,000
2023-24 $100,000
2024-25 $125,000
2025-26 $150,000
2026-27 $175,000
Total $625,000
John Gillison, City Manager, advised to keep on schedule, additional fundraising efforts are needed by the City
Council to raise the projected difference in total funding.
Since the project will be a regional amenity, contributors can be pursued from larger areas than Rancho
Cucamonga, including San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. He has consulted the City Attorney regarding
Council fundraising efforts and was advised Council can fundraise for this type of project, but donations would
need to be reported as a behested payment.
Pam Easter, Member of the Library Foundation Board, acknowledged the Foundation's Fundraising Committee
would be interested in working with the City and sharing information.Tim Johnson is the Chair of the Committee.
Council consensus to work as a team and assist the Library Foundation in fundraising efforts for the Second
Story and Beyond°Capital Project. Council's fundraising efforts to make up the difference ($950,000) between
September 1, 2021 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
City of Rancho Cucamonga I Page 1 of 2
the Library Foundation' original commitment ($2,250,000) and the projected revised financial commitment
($1,300,000) beginning with Fiscal Year 2022-23 and ending Fiscal Year 2029-30.
The next steps 'include,staff working with the Library Subcommittee and a joint City Council and Library
Foundation meeting in the future. In response to Council, staff to provide a list of current library donors.
C2. Consideration from the City Council/ Fire Board to Direct Staff Whether to Proceed with the Feasibility to
Construct a 9/11 Memorial. (Verbal Report) (FIRE)
Mike McCliman, Deputy Fire Chief, presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining the history and previous
design concepts and costs for a permanent 9/11 memorial consisting of steel remnants from the World Trade
Center Tower 2.
Chief McCliman noted at August 26, 2020, Council meeting when this item was last discussed, Council
established a fundraising goal of$150,000 by 9/11/2021, with the City doing outreach to residents on the City's
webpage for community feedback and promoting the project and to revisit the item in 2021. Unfortunately, to
date, no funds have been raised.
Elisa Cox, Deputy City Manager, outlined the three memorial options for the Fire Board's consideration: (1)
placement at RCFPD All Risk Training Center, (2) placement at RCFPD Fire Station 178, or (3) donating the
steel remnants to another entity.
Councilmember Hutchison requested to include a plaque honoring those who passed away in Afghanistan since
the war as a result of the 9/11 attack. Mayor Michael and Mayor Pro Tern Kennedy recommended that the plaque
not be limited and pay tribute to all past, present, and future. Council consensus for plaque to be timeless.
Mayor Michael acknowledged that he spoke to Councilmember Spagnolo could not make this meeting, and he
agrees with placement at Fire Station 178.
Council consensus to implement staffs recommendation to construct the 9/11 Memorial at Fire Station 178 as
follows:
Design and fund ng recommendations:
• Design f a Iessl complex concept, including removal of the costly water feature
• Budget not to exceed $1 million with joint funding by the City($300,000) and Fire District($700,000)
• Funding supplemented by community partnerships (ex. Firefighters Association) and sponsorship
opportunities (ex. personalized bricks, benches, monument sign)
Advantages of this location include:
• Centralized location within the City
• Increased public accessibility and availability of parking
• Construction of Fire Station 178 is scheduled to begin in 2022
• Project can be included as an amendment to the Fire District's design-build contract for Fire Station 178
D. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Michael adjourned the meeting at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Li A. royan, MMC
ity Services Director
Approved:September 15,2021 —Regular Meeting
September 1, 2021 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
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