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Chino council approves Lewis Companies circulation DIF reconciliation and contract amendment
Summary
City staff reported an audit reconciling development impact fee (DIF) credits for Lewis Companies and recommended amending a master streets agreement to reflect additional validated improvement costs; the council approved the amendment and accepted updated credits and reimbursements.
The Chino City Council on April 21 approved a staff-recommended amendment and reconciliation tied to circulation development impact fees (DIF) for work completed by Lewis Companies.
Contracts and DIF administrator Sylvia Ramos told the council that a comprehensive audit of building permits from 2004 through May 31, 2025, identified additional eligible costs and minor adjustments to previously issued credits. Staff said the validated cost of eligible improvements under the master streets agreement rose from roughly $35.1 million to about $38 million after staff accounted for costs that were validated later in the reconciliation process.
Ramos said the amendment (first amendment to contract 2025-167) would capture an additional $2.9 million in eligible costs tied to specific tracked maps and project phases and that Lewis already received a $4,000,000 cash reimbursement and approximately $28,500,000 in circulation DIF credits through December 2024. Staff recommended amending contract 2025-167 for preserved circulation improvements constructed between 2004 and 2019 in an amount not to exceed $38,076,155.62 and accepting the updated reconciliation of credits and reimbursements totaling $10,720,544.70 through May 31, 2025.
Ramos also noted administrative corrections in the audit: Lewis owes approximately $160,000 in administration fees (plus smaller police and fire fees) and is entitled to refunds totaling roughly $309,567 for congestion management program fees and other facility fees; staff said invoices and refunds are being processed.
Council member Lucio made the motion to approve the amendment; Mayor Pro Tem Burton seconded. The council voted unanimously.
Staff described the move as an administrative and accounting reconciliation intended to align credits, reimbursements and any outstanding balances with the validated construction and financial records. The council’s approval authorizes staff to execute the contract amendment and continue the accounting and refund process described in staff’s presentation.
The staff report said the city plans to present the development impact fee nexus study update at a study session in June 2026; the reconciliation was limited to the preserved circulation reconciliation under consideration at the April 21 meeting.
