Tustin council adopts 2025 water plans, approves development negotiations and manager pay increase

The Tustin City Council on Tuesday adopted the city’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and the companion Water Shortage Contingency Plan and approved a set of land‑use and administrative actions, including a tentative parcel map and a two‑year exclusive negotiating agreement for redevelopment in the Tustin Legacy area. Council also approved Amendment No. 2 to the city manager’s employment agreement, raising the manager’s base salary to $354,286.40 annually, effective June 8.

Mike Chandler, the city’s water services manager, presented both water documents, saying the city’s supply portfolio — including newly completed PFAS treatment and expanded groundwater sources — provides 25‑year reliability under average, single‑dry and five‑consecutive‑dry‑year scenarios. “The city’s supply capabilities are sufficient for a drought lasting five consecutive years,” Chandler said, adding that the drafts satisfy Urban Water Management Act requirements and are on track for submission to the Department of Water Resources by July 1, 2026.

Councilmembers asked detailed operational and fiscal questions during the public hearing and staff response phase, including whether projections account for future contaminant treatment, emergency fire‑flow needs and reserve funding. Chandler and other staff said the PFAS facility is online and that the regional plan focuses on normal operating conditions and coordinated drought response; fire‑specific preparedness and detailed water‑fund reserve analysis were identified as follow‑up items that would be addressed separately.

On land use, the council set a public hearing in September and moved forward with a declarative intent to vacate Enderle Center Drive after staff and consultant analysis. Traffic consultant Mr. Grissow summarized the traffic work, reporting that focused analyses through 2045 show no change in the intersection level‑of‑service with or without the proposed development. “That study…showed that there [is] no change in that service level with or without the development,” Mr. Grissow said.

Council approved a 24‑month exclusive negotiating agreement with Tustin Legacy Mixed Use LLC for a roughly 52‑acre site in the Tustin Legacy specific plan area; Mayor Pro Tem announced a recusal based on an economic relationship and the agreement passed with the recusal noted. Separately, the council approved a specific plan amendment and tentative parcel map to subdivide a 4.43‑acre property at Edinger Avenue (staff described minor boundary and graphic edits and noted Planning Commission recommendation). All listed motions were approved by recorded roll calls indicated in the minutes.

In personnel business, City Attorney provided the required Government Code summary for the manager’s salary amendment; the council voted 4–0 to approve the change. City Manager Aldo Schindler then reported that construction has started on the Heinemann School project, with phased work through the summer and expected final phase completion in summer 2027.

Votes at a glance: consent calendar (items 1–11) approved 4–0; declarative intent to vacate Enderle Center Drive approved 4–0 (public hearing to follow); exclusive negotiating agreement for Tustin Legacy approved (motion carried, one recusal); City Council liaisons to Tustin Unified School District approved 4–0; adoption of the 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan and 2025 Urban Water Management Plan approved 4–0; tentative parcel map and specific plan amendment approved 4–0; amendment to the city manager employment agreement approved 4–0.

The council closed out with reports on community events, recognized staff and volunteers, noted the termination of a 2.5‑year local emergency related to the North Hanger fire and outlined upcoming community events. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for July 7, 2026.