Council approves permits, appointments and funding guidelines; directs staff on flag policy

The Yucaipa City Council on March 24 approved several permits, committee appointments and funding items and directed staff to return with a revised flag policy after the council voted to lower the city flag in honor of a fallen deputy.

The council unanimously approved a special event permit for the Redlands Bicycle Classic, finalized multiple citizen committee appointments including the Measure S citizen oversight committee and a mobile home park committee appointment, and accepted staff recommendations for fiscal year 2025–26 Community Activity Grant (CAG) guidelines and funding. The council also voted to proceed with a request for proposals (RFP) for an outside strategic planning consultant.

Why it matters: The actions package moves near-term community events, volunteer oversight and grant funding forward while launching a process that city officials say will guide longer-term priorities and finances. The vote to lower flags immediately and to revisit the city’s flag policy was taken in response to the March death of a deputy sheriff and reflects an immediate symbolic action plus an instruction for staff to return with a formal policy for future situations.

Key outcomes (motions and results)

- Approved: Redlands Bicycle Classic special event permit. Applicant Mark Shaw presented the route and mitigation plans; staff said the applicant will pay associated public safety costs. (Transcript evidence: Mark Shaw presentation, 10706.42–10729.39)

- Approved: Consent agenda items 1–5 (no public objections recorded). (Transcript evidence: roll call and consent vote, 10625.13–10643.52)

- Approved: Appointment of Bruce Nelson to the Mobile Home Park Committee (one of two rent-control resident spots). (Transcript evidence: motion and vote, 11492.44–11522.74)

- Approved: Measure S citizen oversight committee appointments by district — Greg Franklin (District 1), Denise Allen (District 2), Kenny Wilson (District 3), Dr. Hansen Wong (District 4) and Kevin Gregory (District 5). Each nomination was seconded and carried. (Transcript evidence: nominations and votes, 11770.43–11874.24)

- Approved: Appointment of non‑voting city council members to the Youth Advisory Committee — Councilmembers Beaver and Venable. (Transcript evidence: nominations and vote, 11895.97–11946.13)

- Approved: Community Activity Grant (CAG) guidelines and funding levels for fiscal year 2025–26, including designation of the SHARE Community & Nutrition Center as the sole city facility for in‑kind fee waivers and maintaining appropriations of $40,000 for in‑kind fee waivers and $20,000 for financial requests. (Transcript evidence: staff presentation and vote, 12962.97–13158.63)

- Approved: Direction to issue an RFP for a strategic planning consultant and return with proposals; council discussion emphasized keeping the scope and price reasonable. (Transcript evidence: item presentation and motion to proceed to RFP, 13168.95–14350.60)

- Received and filed: STARS after‑school program impact report (presentation by Vanessa Ermiglio). Council discussion clarified program funding sources and that the program is fee‑based with state-funded scholarships for qualifying students; staff stated the program has no direct general‑fund cost. (Transcript evidence: presentation and Q&A, 12039.25–12586.48)

- Received and filed: Annual progress report on the General Plan and the Housing Element (presentation by Bill Matlock). The report noted 217 building permits issued, 34 ADUs permitted and 749 housing units built toward the jurisdiction’s RHNA obligation to date. (Transcript evidence: presentation and Q&A, 14364.64–14875.90)

- Approved: Lowering flags to half‑staff immediately in honor of Deputy Hector Cuevas and directing staff to bring back a formalized flag policy for future council consideration. (Transcript evidence: motion and discussion, 15024.37–15370.34)

Votes and procedure notes: Many votes were recorded by voice with “aye”/“nay” and no roll‑call tally printed in the transcript. When a vote tally or individual vote was not read into the record, the city’s standard practice of voice vote was used and minutes reflect approval unless otherwise noted.

Provenance (selected transcript evidence): topic introductions and finishes for actions are recorded in the official transcript and were used to compile the actions above.

Ending: Council members said they intend to bring back items for further public discussion as needed, including a formal flag policy and the scope/cost of the strategic plan RFP. The council will reconvene in closed session at the end of the April 14 meeting and will next meet in regular session on April 14, 2025.