Calimesa City Council approves two ordinances and grants process; consent calendar passed with one abstention

The Calimesa City Council conducted three recorded formal actions at its Oct. 6 meeting.

Ordinance adoption: The council approved the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 416, which adopts by reference the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code (Part 7, Title 24, California Code of Regulations) and adopts related portions of the 2025 California Fire Code (Part 9, Title 24) and amends Title 15 of the Calimesa Municipal Code accordingly. The staff report said the changes reorganize construction-type provisions into the new wildland urban interface code and reduce the number of local amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote recorded as 4-0.

Community grants: The council approved the Calimesa Community Grant guidelines and application process, which staff said will be funded from an appropriation of $15,000 in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget. Staff described the program as replacing ad-hoc partnership payments with a competitive application that requires nonprofit verification, budgets, board lists and an impact statement. Staff proposed an application window from Oct. 15 through November with council selection in December and a required grantee report back to council in June 2026. The motion passed.

Consent calendar: The council approved the consent calendar and waived full reading of ordinances; one council member abstained from voting on item 8 because of proximity to a property referenced in that item. The remainder of the consent calendar passed on the motion.

No other formal ordinances or budget appropriations were adopted during the meeting.