Villa Park City Council: votes at a glance — ordinance introductions, CUP approval, audit contract, speed-hump trial and AQMD letter

The Villa Park City Council took a series of formal actions at its meeting, adopting or advancing multiple items of city business.

The council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance regulating bicycles and e-bicycles (ordinance number 2025-633) and set the second reading for March 25, 2025. Council members said the redlined draft incorporates input from the Orange Unified School District and adds references to scooters and e-scooters for sidewalk and vehicle-hitching provisions.

Council members approved a Conditional Use Permit for Wayne’s Liquor (Wayne’s Liquor, 17851 Santiago Boulevard) allowing on-site beer-and-wine tasting events, with stated limits of no more than 50 attendees and service hours consistent with Villa Park Municipal Code section 23-7.3. The council discussed a request related to fees raised by the applicant; members debated whether to reduce the recently increased application fee but did not adopt a fee waiver on the record.

The council continued consideration of a tentative parcel map for 19401 Mesa Drive to March 25, 2025, citing a staff publishing error and the need for accurate materials; the continuance passed with a recorded abstention.

On fiscal and administrative items the council approved: amended minutes and a corrected notice of completion; authorization to remove the city’s holdings from a county voluntary investment pool (the city reported $1.9 million currently affected) with plans to reallocate to other short-term investment vehicles; and a multiyear contract with Gruber & Lopez (Gruber Lopez) for independent annual financial audit services.

After public comment and staff presentations, the council approved a temporary traffic-calming pilot limited to two speed humps on James Road only, to be monitored after installation. Council members emphasized the pilot nature of the project and agreed to a follow-up evaluation.

Finally, the council voted unanimously to send a letter and adopt a resolution opposing the original draft language of South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) proposed Rules 1111 and 1121 as released publicly, citing concerns about timing, grid capacity and possible retroactive costs to residents and businesses. Staff said revised AQMD language had not yet been released and the city reserves the right to revisit its position if the rules are substantively changed.

Votes and procedural details - Motion to waive reading of ordinances/resolutions on the agenda: passed 5-0. (Motion and second not specified in the audio record.) - Introduction and first reading of Ordinance 2025-633 (bicycles/e-bicycles) and setting second reading for March 25, 2025: passed 5-0. - Approval of Conditional Use Permit for Wayne’s Liquor (17851 Santiago Boulevard): passed 5-0. Staff reported no department objections; no letters from neighbors were on file at the time of hearing. - Continuance of Tentative Parcel Map (19401 Mesa Drive) to March 25, 2025: passed 4-0 with 1 abstention (reason: proximity/recusal stated on the record). - Authorization to remove city funds from county voluntary investment pool ($1.9 million referenced by staff): passed 5-0. - Approval of amended minutes (corrections and clarification of a councilmember recusal): passed 5-0. - Approval of amended notice of completion (clarified description of DG repair on Valley Drive): passed 5-0. - Approval of Gruber Lopez for independent financial audit services (three-year contract recommendation): passed 5-0. - Traffic-calming pilot — two temporary speed humps on James Road only, with post-installation evaluation: passed 5-0 (motion amended during debate to limit to James Road). - Resolution and letter opposing AQMD proposed Rules 1111 and 1121 as originally published: passed 5-0.

What the council did not decide tonight The council discussed but did not approve a fee reduction requested by the Wayne’s Liquor applicant; no formal fee waiver motion was adopted. Council members also discussed enforcement and outreach options related to drop-off and loitering near the school catwalk but made no new programmatic commitments beyond the approved speed-hump pilot.

Context and next steps The items set for further action include the second reading of Ordinance 2025-633 and the continued tentative parcel map hearing on March 25, 2025. Staff will return with results of the James Road pilot after the agreed trial period and will follow up on the city’s reallocation plan for the investment funds before the June 30 county deadline noted by staff.