Victorville council approves fee updates, infrastructure contracts and program funding; extends animal-fee waivers

At its Dec. 17 meeting the Victorville City Council and its associated boards approved a series of routine and programmatic actions affecting city fees, development charges, infrastructure work at the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), and several administrative policies.

Key votes and actions - Master user fee schedule: Council adopted resolutions 24-105 and VWD24-010 to amend the city’s master user fee schedule, including a 2.7% CPI-based increase and targeted fee additions and deletions. The motion passed unanimously.

- Development impact fees and capacity charges: The council adopted updated master fee schedules and policies (Res. 24-5 and VWD24-011), authorizing a modest CPI adjustment for development impact fees tied to construction costs. Motion passed unanimously.

- Final tract map: With CFD formation condition satisfied, the council approved Final Tract Map No. 14525 (approx. 117 acres, 312 units), associated subdivision improvement and lien agreements, and release of an earlier land-division improvement agreement. Motion passed unanimously.

- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: Council authorized the city manager to apply for FEMA/Cal OES hazard mitigation grant funds (Res. 24-086). Motion passed unanimously.

- SCLAA building 724 HVAC replacement: The Southern California Logistics Airport Authority board approved Amendment 4 to the services agreement with FM Thomas Air Conditioning Inc., increasing the contract NTE to $150,000; the board also adopted resolution SCLAA24-005 to amend the FY2024–25 building 724 maintenance budget by $126,296. Action passed unanimously.

- Airport fire-suppression services: The SCLAA awarded a construction agreement to Scorpion Fire Protection Inc. for inspection, testing and servicing support for fire suppression systems (project JM24-109), NTE $50,000. Passed unanimously.

- NPDES permit consulting: Victorville Water District approved a consultant agreement with Larry Walker Associates, NTE $499,272, to prepare National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit work related to an excess recycled-water discharge option for the industrial wastewater treatment plant. Board voted unanimously.

- Custom truck beds for water field vehicles: The council found Doug Page Manufacturing to be the sole manufacturer and authorized procurement/installation of two custom truck beds for $239,923. Motion passed unanimously.

- City hall reception/security expansion: Council approved a construction agreement with Blue Sky Restoration Contractors in the amount NTE $380,928.45 to install a new public service counter and bullet‑resistant glass, with staged construction to minimize customer-service disruption. Motion passed unanimously.

- Development impact fee credit: Council approved a fee-credit agreement with Prologis LLC to credit roadway fees against developer-built Gateway Road improvements per Council Policy CP-23-2. Motion passed unanimously.

- Animal services fee waivers extended: Council adopted resolution 24-089 extending temporary fee and penalty waivers for licensing and impoundment of dogs and cats through June 30, 2025. Staff reported program metrics: about 2,500 free licenses issued, 3,375 microchips implanted, 385 animals returned to owners, and over 300 animals fostered/rescued since the emergency began. Motion passed unanimously.

- Underfunded LMADs (landscape maintenance assessment districts): To address deficits in LMADs 1–4, the council approved resolution 24-090 to suspend Council Policy CP-97-3, appropriate $45,800 of general-fund money for consultant work, and award a contract to Willdan Financial Services for assessment engineering services (NTE $45,800). The council discussed constraints on using dedicated LMAD funds and confirmed the funding path requires suspending the older policy; motions passed unanimously.

- Training, appointments, cancellations and policies: The council adopted Council Policy CP-24-07 (spending and expense reimbursement), authorized training travel for the newly elected council member Tiffany Godin to specified conferences, approved a schedule of appointments to boards and commissions (planning commission, CSAC, audit, CREA and others), authorized League of California Cities policy-committee travel, and cancelled the Jan. 7, 2025 regular meeting. Most items were unanimously approved.

What council said City staff repeatedly emphasized that many items were routine annual updates (fees, impact fees, fee credits) or procurement actions necessary for ongoing operations at the airport and water district. On the LMADs question staff said the task is to study funding options, perform Proposition 218 community outreach, and produce ballot materials if property owners are to be asked to approve charges. On animal services, staff described the operational shift to an in‑house shelter model and said the fee-waiver period helped increase licensing, microchipping and returns-to-owner while the new shelter operation stabilized.

Next steps Several items will require routine follow-up: second reading/adoption of ordinance 2453 for the CFD, procurement contract execution and construction scheduling for city hall and airport projects, consultant work and NPDES application work by Larry Walker Associates, and continued LMAD outreach and reporting to council.