Redlands approves settlement with former officer; council backs several contracts and a business-license amnesty

The Redlands City Council voted 3–2 to approve a settlement agreement and mutual release of claims between the city and former officer Travis Martinez during a closed-session report at the April meeting.

City Attorney (name not given) reported to the council that “the city council approved a settlement agreement and release of all claims between the city of Redlands and Travis Martinez.” The city attorney described the settlement’s material terms as requiring Martinez to file a retirement application within 10 days of the agreement’s effective date; allowing Martinez to retrieve personal property, photos and contacts from a city-issued phone; providing access to Martinez’s personnel file for review; issuing a retiree badge within 30 days of the effective date; and a mutual release of current and future claims. The reported announcement did not specify the monetary payment amount in open session.

The motion to approve the settlement was made by Councilmember Davis and seconded by Councilmember Tejeda. Councilmembers Tejeda, Salcedo and Davis voted yes; Mayor Salcedo and Councilmembers Shaw and Berridge were recorded as voting no. Once fully executed, the settlement agreement will be filed with the city clerk’s office, the city attorney said.

Public comment during the meeting included questions about the timing and counsel for the matter. Resident Steve Rogers told the council he was “perplexed” by the age of the claim documentation and raised concerns about the city’s use of outside counsel in multiple matters, saying, “I would encourage the city to not use Best Best & Krieger as defense counsel on this Martinez council lawsuit.” Rogers also said he was confused that the settlement had been prepared and reported without broader public notice about the terms.

Why it matters

The settlement and release end the city’s open litigation with Martinez as described in closed session, and the council’s vote — held behind closed doors under Government Code provisions for anticipated litigation — produced a 3–2 split. The public comments and the narrow vote indicate lingering questions from residents about how the city uses outside counsel and how long claims are pending before resolution.

Other council actions

Council members also acted on several administrative, capital and program items during the same meeting. Highlights below are taken from the council’s recorded votes and staff reports.

Votes at a glance

- Settlement: Approved settlement agreement and release of all claims between the city and Travis Martinez. Motion: Councilmember Davis; second: Councilmember Tejeda. Vote: Tejeda — yes; Salcedo — yes; Davis — yes; Shaw — no; Berridge — no. Outcome: Approved. Key terms (as reported): Martinez to file retirement application within 10 days; city to return personal property and allow retrieval of phone contents; retiree badge to be issued within 30 days; mutual release of claims. Monetary payment amount not specified in the closed-session report provided in open session.

- Council Member Reference Handbook (Consent, Resolution No. 8680): Adopted as part of the consent calendar. Outcome: Approved (voice/roll call recorded as yes by council). Motion to accept balance of consent calendar carried.

- Ad hoc committee to review commission charters (J‑1): Formation approved; Mayor Pro Tem Shaw and Councilmember Barich appointed to committee. Outcome: Approved (unanimous recorded yes).

- Amendment with Holt Architects for police/safety facility (K‑1): Council approved a contract amendment and appropriation to continue design/construction management services for the new safety hall. Staff described the fee as included in the overall project budget and said Holt lowered its standard fee during negotiations; the staff report did not present a clear single-line payment figure in open session remarks. Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

- Planning Commission appointment process (K‑2): Council introduced Ordinance No. 2981 amending municipal code language on appointment procedures and adopted Resolution No. 8674 establishing appointment procedures and training guidance; staff said the change clarifies selection and staggered terms and creates ad hoc interview committees of two council members. Outcome: Ordinance introduced and resolution adopted (recorded yes votes).

- Solid-waste vehicle purchase (K‑3): Approved purchase of two replacement solid-waste collection vehicles from Rush Truck Centers in an amount not to exceed $968,279.76 (staff noted multi-year replacement plan). Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

- Surplus-lot declaration for transfer to Redlands Unified School District (K‑4): Council declared an approximately 0.48-acre strip surplus to transfer to Redlands Unified School District for continued use as parking adjacent to the former Foothill Packing House; staff said intergovernmental transfers are exempt from typical surplus-land advertising requirements. Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

- Personnel rules and regulations (K‑5): Council voted to table consideration of revised personnel rules and regulations to a future meeting; members asked staff to return with possible amendments to nepotism provisions and other policies. Outcome: Tabled (motion carried by recorded yes votes).

- Smiley Library elevator (K‑6): Awarded a public-works contract to Leftech Elevator Services for the Smiley Library lower-level access project in an amount not to exceed $251,000; the project is funded partly by a 2022 California State Library grant and city matching funds. Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

- Business-license amnesty and compliance program (K‑7): Council adopted Resolution No. 8676 establishing a six-month amnesty and outreach program (May 1–Oct. 31, 2025) intended to educate businesses and allow unlicensed operators to become current without late penalties. The Redlands Chamber of Commerce offered public support; staff and the chamber cited expected revenue and outreach plans. Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

- Wastewater treatment plant plan consolidation (K‑8): Council approved a non‑competitive professional services agreement with Parsons Water & Infrastructure for plan consolidation and bid support services (fee reported as $694,473) and an additional appropriation of $444,473 from the wastewater fund to cover current-year costs. Staff said Parsons is the engineer of record and the fee was negotiated; the item was presented as exempt from CEQA for the agreement step. Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

- Sunset Reservoir replacement engineering (K‑9): Council approved a professional services agreement with Richard Brady & Associates for the engineering phase of the Sunset Reservoir replacement project in the amount of $1,305,910; staff said the work is an engineering phase to assess storage alternatives and seismic replacement needs on land the city purchased for the project. Outcome: Approved (recorded yes votes).

What residents raised in public comment

Residents and community representatives used the public-comment period to press several topics. Steve Rogers questioned the timing and counsel related to the Martinez claim and settlement. Jeff Riesch, president of the Redlands Police Officers Association, urged the council to review workers’ compensation and employee-support processes after the death of Officer Seth Franklin and said two presumptive work-related cancer claims had been denied. The Redlands Chamber of Commerce’s executive director spoke in support of the business-license amnesty as a fairness and education measure.

Next steps and records

The city attorney said the executed settlement agreement will be placed on file with the city clerk. For other items, staff indicated required contract documents, plan sets and appropriations will be advanced per the usual administrative processes; several items noted CEQA exemptions applicable to the step being approved (for example, bidding or professional‑services agreement steps).