HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023_07_18 - RegularMINUTES
Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redlands held in the Council Chambers, Civic
Center, 35 Cajon Street, on July 18, 2023 at 5:00 P.M.
Present: Eddie Tejeda, Mayor
Paul Barich, Mayor Pro Tempore
Denise Davis, Council Member
Jenna Guzman -Lowery, Council Member
Mario Saucedo, Council Member
Staff: Charles M. Duggan, Jr., City Manager; Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney; Jeanne
Donaldson, City Clerk; Carl Baker, Public Information Officer; Danielle Garcia,
Management Services/Finance Director; Brian Desatnik, Development Services
Director; John Harris, Municipal Utilities and Engineering Director; Rich Sessler, Fire
Chief; Rachel Tolber, Police Chief; Tabitha Crocker, Facilities and Community
Services Assistant Director
Mayor Tejeda called the meeting to order and announced there were no closed session matters
scheduled for the City Council to consider. The meeting was recessed at 5:00 P.M.
RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Due to technical difficulties with Zoom, the meeting reconvened at 7:00 P.M. with an
invocation by Council Member Guzman -Lowery followed by the pledge of allegiance to the
American flag. Shortly thereafter, technical difficulties forced the Mayor to call for another
recess. The meeting reconvened at 7:15 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Freedom of Speech - Michael Paisner thanked Mayor Tejeda for defending his right to free
speech during a Council meeting in May as he displayed the pride flag at the podium, but he
was disappointed with the Mayor's overall voting record and thought it lacked consistency.
Redlands Theatre Festival - Paul Blatchley restated his request that the City consider renaming
the Avice Meeker Sewall Theatre in honor of Cliff Cabanilla, who had recently passed away.
Post Employment Retiree Health Plan - Julie Neitzel raised several questions regarding the
City's new methodology to administrate the post employment health plans for retirees. City
Manager Duggan explained the City was working through Nationwide to create health
medical accounts for employees and retirees. The mechanism was a way to be consistent with
both groups and satisfy obligations with CalPers. He announced there would be an
informational meeting on July 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
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TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Technical difficulties continued to plague Zoom access for the public and City Attorney Garcia
recommended the Council consider adjourning the meeting to a specific day and time to be in
compliance with the Brown Act.
On motion of Council Member Guzman -Lowery, seconded by Council Member Davis, the City
Council, by roll call vote, failed to agree to adjourn the meeting. It wasn't clear to everyone that
zoom accessibility was limited.
Vote: 2 - 3 Failed
NAY: Council Member Saucedo, Mayor Pro Tem Barich, Mayor Tejeda
Council Members asked staff to verify whether remote attendees were able to participate in the
meeting with full audio and video capabilities and once verified, it was clear there were
technical difficulties preventing full participation.
On motion of Council Member Guzman -Lowery, seconded by Council Member Davis, the City
Council, by roll call vote, agreed to adjourn the meeting to Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
Vote: 5 - 0 Passed
ADJOURNMENT
With no further action required, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M. to July 25, 2023 at 6:00
P.M.
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