Redlands council approves several public-works contracts, tract map and $45M wastewater loan; approves settlement disclosure

The Redlands City Council on Tuesday approved several construction and maintenance contracts, accepted a final subdivision map, authorized steps to pursue a $45 million State Water Resources Control Board loan for wastewater improvements and approved the disclosure of a settlement agreement related to a former employee.

The actions were taken after presentations and public comment that included objections to meeting notice and transparency around personnel settlements and questions about environmental review for the wastewater project. Councilmember Denise Davis participated remotely under AB 2449 and the city attorney reported there was "no reportable action" from the closed session earlier in the meeting.

Why it matters: The package of approvals commits the city to near-term public-works construction and maintenance projects and advances financing steps for a major wastewater treatment project that city staff estimated could be funded by a $45 million low-interest loan. Several members of the public urged clearer notice and more transparency about settlements and environmental review as the council considered those items.

The council approved five contracts and related actions in the consent and action calendar:

Votes at a glance - Disclosure and settlement: Approved the "Disclosure, Settlement Agreement and Release of All Claims" between Travis Martinez and the City of Redlands. Vote: 4–1 (Council member Barich recorded a no vote; Council members Tejeda, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Shah and Mayor Saucedo recorded yes votes). The motion approved placing the settlement disclosure on the public record as an open-session agenda item.

- Final Tract Map No. 20473: Adopted and approved on the consent calendar. Vote: unanimous (5–0). The council approved recording the final map for a 98-unit residential project after staff and outside consultants reviewed the map and planning commission actions.

- K-1 Citrus Avenue parking structure maintenance and repair: Awarded a public-works construction contract to Angeles Waterproofing and Restoration Inc. for an amount "not to exceed" as listed in the agenda materials (contract recommendation language contained two slightly different not-to-exceed figures in the staff presentation and the motion). Vote: 4–1 (Council member Tejeda recorded a no vote; others yes). The project is intended to extend the service life of the Sixth Street/Citrus Avenue parking structure following a 2023 assessment.

- K-2 Ford Park restroom replacement: Awarded to Metro (name in staff materials varies) for $850,600, with an additional appropriation of $135,660 from the Park Development Fund. The rebuild will provide two restroom areas (six stalls total) with two ADA-compliant stalls; staff estimated roughly 120 days for construction if there are no delays. Vote: unanimous (5–0).

- K-3 On-call sewer collection system maintenance services: Approved a one-year, on-call contract with Houston and Harris PCS Inc. for up to $250,000 for the initial year, with options to extend for two additional years (total potential $750,000). The contract covers supplemental cleaning, CCTV inspection and related services for sanitary sewer events. Vote: unanimous (5–0).

- K-4 Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) Phase 4: Awarded to Trico General Engineering for the final segment of the regional trail, a roughly three-quarter-mile section from California Street west toward I-10. Staff said 85% of project costs are funded through a Transportation Development Act grant; the city's 15% share will come from available funds. Vote: unanimous (5–0).

- K-5 Wastewater financing resolution (Resolution No. 8675): The council adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager or designee to execute a construction installment sale agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board to pursue a State Revolving Fund loan of up to $45,000,000. Staff said the loan term would be 30 years at an interest rate of about 1.8% and estimated annual debt service at roughly $1,950,000; staff also said the city does not yet obligate itself to borrow if later decisions or bids change project scope or cost. Vote: unanimous (5–0).

Public comment and concerns Several speakers raised objections or concerns while the council considered these items. Longtime resident Steven Rogers repeatedly objected to the noticing of closed-session items and the settlement process; Rogers said members of the public were "in the dark" and criticized the city’s use of outside counsel. Rogers also objected to placement of a final map and to the way some items are handled on consent.

Bruce Laycock and another member of the public urged caution about relying on media reports alone and suggested clearer, higher-level disclosure of dollar amounts on agendas. Staff and the city attorney responded that the full settlement agreement and minutes were made public following the closed session and that the settlement disclosure was attached to the open-session agenda under the Redlands Municipal Code.

On the wastewater financing item, a public commenter urged a broader environmental review. Municipal utilities staff said Parsons had prepared design documents and that the CEQA review tied to the project has been thoroughly reviewed; staff characterized the financing work as a necessary step to access low-interest SRF funds and said construction is expected to take approximately two years once bids are issued.

Details and clarifications from staff presentations - The Citrus Avenue parking structure repairs were the result of a 2023 assessment that identified repairs to extend service life; the staff report said four bids were received and Angeles Waterproofing was the lowest responsive bidder. - Ford Park restroom replacement will provide two restroom areas with a total of six stalls, two of which are ADA-accessible; the project will replace the out-of-service facility near the dog park. - The on-call sewer contract secures supplemental capacity for large sanitary sewer overflows or backups and sets unit pricing for emergency or supplemental work. - The OBT Phase 4 project had unusually strong bidder interest (staff said 17 bidders responded) and staff expects cost savings to be shared proportionally with the TDA grant program. - For the SRF loan, staff said the city is authorized to prepare and submit necessary documents and dedicate wastewater debt service fund revenues for loan repayment; staff emphasized the resolution does not immediately obligate the city to borrow if bids exceed available funds.

What the council directed next Council members approved the contracts and the financing resolution and did not direct additional studies or actions specific to these contracts at the meeting. Several public commenters asked for improved agenda-level disclosures of significant dollar amounts and for clearer notice when closed-session matters relate to identifiable claims; those requests were noted in public comment and partly addressed by staff after the meeting, which the city attorney said included publishing the settlement agreement and closed-session minutes the day after the meeting.

Ending The council concluded the meeting by hearing brief reports from council members and adjourning to its next regular meeting on May 20, 2025.