Highland meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Highland Council votes to challenge stormwater permit; fee, warehouse and fireworks items on nearby agendas

The Highland City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 6 to file a petition for review with the State Water Board regarding a new regional stormwater permit, according to official minutes. It is the only item in the past two weeks that the supplied records show as decided. Other recent and upcoming meetings remain at the agenda stage, with minutes not yet published, so no outcomes are reported for them here.

Council challenges stormwater permit

The Council met in a special session on Oct. 6 to discuss anticipated litigation. Following a closed session, the Council voted unanimously to file a petition for review with the State Water Board regarding the new regional stormwater permit. The summary of the minutes does not state the grounds for the challenge, the cost, or a timeline for the filing.

Planning Commission: alcohol licenses, warehouse extension (Oct. 6)

The Planning Commission's Oct. 6 agenda listed public hearings on land-use and alcohol-license matters. No minutes have been published, so these are proposals and hearing items only, not decisions.

• CUP 26-011: Samer Fadous Diab seeks to upgrade T&J Market at 7100 Victoria Avenue from Type 20 (beer and wine) to Type 21 (beer, wine and distilled spirits).
• CUP 26-001: Harjit Saini seeks a Type 20 (beer and wine) license for the "Snack Attack" convenience store at the Mobil station, 8020 Palm Ave.
• DRA-24-011: Robertson's Ready Mix, Ltd. seeks approval for a roughly 6,000 sq-ft prefabricated steel building and modular restroom for vehicle maintenance on Third Street, 330 feet east of Palm Avenue.
• EXT 26-005: CHIPT Highland 210, LLC requests a three-year extension for a 154,876 sq-ft warehouse on Central Ave. between 5th and 3rd Streets. Staff recommended continuing the item to November 3, 2026.
• Appeal APP-26-001 by WaterMill Express over a denied 106 sq-ft water vending machine at 25716 Base Line was withdrawn August 5, 2026; no action was required.
• A public hearing was scheduled on Administrative Citation FW13477 for illegal fireworks at 7743 Elm St, cited to Hilario E. Ramirez.

Council agenda: impact fees, ADU ordinance, payments (Oct. 13)

The City Council and Housing Authority were scheduled to meet Oct. 13 on development impact fees, warehouse project appeals and housing regulations. Agenda items included:

• The annual adjustment of Development Impact Fees (DIF) for 2026.
• Second reading of Ordinance No. 485 regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
• Appeals for time extensions on two warehouse projects on 5th Street and 6th Street.
• Warrant Register No. 794 for $1,358,069.83 and payroll of $287,023.50.
• Acceptance of a $26,366 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for police overtime.

Because minutes are not yet published, the record does not show whether any of these items were approved, continued or otherwise acted on.

Coming up

Oct. 19 — Finance/Personnel Subcommittee. The subcommittee is scheduled to interview and evaluate five firms for professional auditing services and select a recommendation for the City Council. It will also discuss a proposal to move the Fire Department from the Fire Fund (Fund 029) to the General Fund (Fund 001), with the change proposed to begin with the 2027–2029 Budget Cycle.

Oct. 20 — Planning Commission. Public hearings are scheduled on appeals of four administrative citations issued for illegal fireworks use. The commission will decide whether to adopt resolutions upholding the citations:

• Citation FW13507: 25773 Jane St (Ruperto Delgado)
• Citation FW13506: 6934 Rogers Ln (Jason Sanchez)
• Citation FW13429: 25962 9th St (Priority One Plus Management Inc.)
• Citation FW13515: 7526 Springmeadow Ct (Janet Wilson)

Highland roundup: litigation call, alcohol licenses and a warehouse extension on agendas; no minutes published yet

Highland's city bodies met three times in the past two weeks, but the records available for all three are agendas only. Minutes have not been published, so no decisions are confirmed. What follows is what each body was scheduled to take up.

City Council: closed session on litigation

The Highland City Council held a special meeting Oct. 6 with a closed session for legal counsel on whether to initiate litigation, under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4). The only public items listed were a call to order, roll call, and public comment limited to agenda items; the Brown Act bars action on matters not on the agenda. No other substantive business was listed. The next regular City Council meeting is Oct. 13.

Planning Commission: alcohol licenses, warehouse extension

The Planning Commission met Oct. 6 for public hearings on land-use and alcohol-license matters:

• CUP 26-011: Samer Fadous Diab seeks to upgrade T&J Market at 7100 Victoria Avenue from a Type 20 license (beer and wine) to Type 21 (beer, wine and distilled spirits).
• CUP 26-001: Harjit Saini seeks a Type 20 license for the "Snack Attack" convenience store at the Mobil station, 8020 Palm Ave.
• DRA-24-011: Robertson's Ready Mix, Ltd. seeks approval for a roughly 6,000-square-foot prefabricated steel building and modular restroom for vehicle maintenance on Third Street, 330 feet east of Palm Avenue.
• EXT 26-005: CHIPT Highland 210, LLC requests a three-year extension for a 154,876-square-foot warehouse on Central Ave. between 5th and 3rd Streets. Staff recommended continuing the item to Nov. 3, 2026.
• An appeal, APP-26-001 by WaterMill Express over a denied 106-square-foot water vending machine at 25716 Base Line, was withdrawn Aug. 5, 2026, and required no action.
• A public hearing was scheduled on Administrative Citation FW13477 for illegal fireworks at 7743 Elm St; the cited party is Hilario E. Ramirez.

Historic board: 2027 Citrus Harvest Festival

The Historic and Cultural Preservation Board met in special session Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 27215 Base Line. The board was set to approve minutes from its June 4, 2026 special meeting and take up one business item: selecting an event date, reviewing the budget, and settling organizational details for the 29th annual Citrus Harvest Festival in 2027. Staff asked the board to give direction on festival logistics and to recommend a festival date and budget to the City Council for approval.

Coming up

City Council and Housing Authority, Oct. 13: annual adjustment of Development Impact Fees for 2026; second reading of Ordinance No. 485 regarding Accessory Dwelling Units; appeals for time extensions on two warehouse projects on 5th Street and 6th Street; Warrant Register No. 794 for $1,358,069.83 and payroll of $287,023.50; and acceptance of a $26,366 Justice Assistance Grant for police overtime.

A note on limits: because the three meetings above are documented only by agendas, this roundup cannot report what was approved, rejected, or continued. The official agendas and any later minutes are the authoritative record.

Highland council to weigh public safety district, $1.86M warrant register

No decisions have been published from Highland's recent city meetings, as minutes are pending for all four gatherings held in the past two weeks. The most consequential item on any recent agenda was a proposed Community Facilities District for citywide public safety services, which would include a special tax. That item was on the City Council's Aug. 3 agenda, along with other financial and facility matters. Upcoming meetings include a council vote on a $1.86 million warrant register and a subcommittee review of a fee waiver request for a local race.

Recent meetings

Public Safety Subcommittee (July 29)

The subcommittee's agenda included a code enforcement activity update, discussion of a potential "Coffee With a Cop" event, and approval of minutes from a May 4, 2026 meeting. No actions were reported.

Parks and Recreation Committee (Aug. 3)

The committee reviewed a proposed framework to restructure the city's agreement with the YMCA. The plan would separate the existing agreement into a long-term lease and a separate operating subsidy agreement, and would incorporate a city employee health and wellness membership benefit. No decision was reported.

City Council (Aug. 3)

The council's agenda included a resolution of intention to establish Community Facilities District No. PS 26-001 for citywide public safety services and a related special tax. Also on the agenda were authorization for HVAC system repairs at the Highland Senior Center not to exceed $140,000, and adoption of a resolution superseding Resolution No. 2026-039 regarding Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Solid Waste Program Fees. No votes were reported.

Planning Commission (Aug. 4)

The commission held public hearings on two properties for declaration and abatement of public nuisances: 25414 Base Line and 7222 Church Ave. It also addressed an appeal (APP-26-001) by WaterMill Express regarding a denied design review for a 106 square-foot water vending machine at 25716 Base Line. No decisions were reported.

Upcoming meetings

City Council (Aug. 11)

The council is scheduled to vote on a consent calendar that includes approving Warrant Register No. 792 totaling $1,856,273.24 in warrants and $372,378.13 in payroll. It will also consider adopting a regional stormwater permit implementation agreement with San Bernardino County and 15 other cities, accepting an easement for right-of-way dedication at 25553 Jane Street, and amending Resolution No. 2026-020 to revise rules for the annual selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. A closed session is scheduled for existing litigation in City of Highland v. Shahatit (San Bernardino County case CIVSB2418718). The meeting also includes a presentation from the San Bernardino Council of Governments.

Finance/Personnel Subcommittee (Aug. 11)

The subcommittee will review a request from the Highland Area Chamber of Commerce for a special event permit and co-sponsorship of the annual "Discover Highland 5K/10K Run." The request includes a recommendation to waive approximately $10,158.50 in City Police and Public Works traffic control fees, and authorization to use the City logo for promotional items. This is a discussion and recommendation item; final action would be taken by the City Council. The subcommittee will also approve minutes from its July 20, 2026 special meeting.

Coming up

• **City Council** – Aug. 11, 2026 (consent calendar, stormwater agreement, closed session)
• **Finance/Personnel Subcommittee** – Aug. 11, 2026 (fee waiver request, minutes approval)

Highland City Council to weigh new public safety funding district; subcommittees reviewed fees, warehouses, and YMCA agreement

Highland's City Council is scheduled to consider establishing a new citywide public safety funding district and a related special tax at its Aug. 3 meeting — the most consequential item on the horizon this week. Several city subcommittees and the Planning Commission also met over the past two weeks, though minutes for those sessions have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet available.

Finance/Personnel Subcommittee — July 20

The subcommittee was scheduled to review a proposed adjustment to 2026 Development Impact Fees (DIF), including continuation of the DIF rate lock, and a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. The body was set to decide whether to recommend these items for City Council consideration. Minutes have not yet been published.

Planning Commission — July 21

The Planning Commission was scheduled to act on two time-extension requests for warehouse developments:

• A three-year extension for a 53,665 square foot warehouse on the south side of 5th Street (EXT 26-002).
• A three-year extension for a 47,889 square foot warehouse/office on the south side of 6th Street (EXT 26-003).

The commission was also set to consider a municipal code amendment (MCA 26-001) updating accessory dwelling unit (ADU) requirements, and street name assignments for Tentative Tract No. 20721 — a 113-unit residential development on Greenspot Road and Alta Vista. Minutes have not yet been published.

Parks and Recreation Committee — July 22

The committee was scheduled to review a proposal to restructure the city's agreement with the YMCA. The proposal would separate the current contract into a long-term lease and a separate operating subsidy, and add a city employee health and wellness membership benefit. The committee was also set to approve minutes from its March 23, 2026 meeting and could direct staff to draft new agreements for City Council review. Minutes have not yet been published.

Public Safety Subcommittee — July 29

The subcommittee was scheduled to receive a code enforcement activity update, discuss a potential "Coffee With a Cop" event, and approve minutes from its May 4, 2026 meeting. The agenda was described as largely procedural, with no major decisions or actions expected. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **City Council — Aug. 3:** The council will consider a Resolution of Intention to establish Community Facilities District No. PS 26-001 for citywide public safety services and a related special tax. Also on the agenda: authorization for HVAC system repairs at the Highland Senior Center not to exceed $140,000, and adoption of a resolution superseding Resolution No. 2026-039 regarding Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Solid Waste Program Fees.
• **Parks and Recreation Committee — Aug. 3:** The committee will again review the proposed YMCA agreement restructuring, including separating the existing agreement into a long-term lease and an operating subsidy agreement, and incorporating a city employee health and wellness membership benefit.
• **Planning Commission — Aug. 4:** The commission will hold public hearings to declare and abate public nuisances at 25414 Base Line and 7222 Church Ave. The commission will also address an appeal (APP-26-001) by WaterMill Express regarding a 106 square-foot water vending machine at 25716 Base Line.

Highland roundup: 240-unit condo project, $4.5M warrant register on recent agendas; impact fees, YMCA restructuring ahead

Highland's recent government meetings placed a 240-unit condominium development, roughly $4.5 million in city spending, and revised special tax resolutions on the agenda. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the meetings, so the items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

Planning Commission — July 7

The Planning Commission was set to hold a public hearing on Design Review Application No. 25-006 and Tentative Tract Map No. 25-004 for Phase II of the Greenspot Village & Marketplace Specific Plan. The project proposes 240 attached condominium units in 37 three-story buildings on 11.49 acres. The site sits between Calhoun Street on the west and Boulder Avenue on the east, south of Eucalyptus Avenue. The commission was scheduled to consider adopting two resolutions — one for design review and one for the one-lot condominium subdivision — along with a Notice of Exemption.

City Council — July 14

The City Council had two separate agenda items on July 14.

Special tax resolutions. The Council was scheduled to adopt revised resolutions for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 special taxes and assessments. The revisions are intended to meet updated submission requirements from the San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller. The Council was also set to authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, to make clerical or non-substantive changes if the county rejects the resolutions.

Contracts and tax adjustments. The Council was set to act on several spending items:

• Warrant Register No. 791, totaling $4,518,514.42.
• Extension of the Streetlight Maintenance Contract with Yunex, LLC, with a 2.7% increase.
• Extension of the Traffic Signal Maintenance Contract with Yunex, LLC, with a 2.7% increase.
• Authorization for HVAC repairs at the Highland Senior Center, at a cost of up to $150,000.
• A resolution adjusting the Business License Tax on rock, sand, and gravel extraction.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which of these items were approved.

Coming up

Three meetings are scheduled in the week ahead.

Finance/Personnel Subcommittee — July 20. The subcommittee will review a proposed adjustment to 2026 Development Impact Fees, including a DIF rate lock continuation, and a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. The body will decide whether to recommend these items for City Council consideration.

Planning Commission — July 21. The commission will review two time-extension requests for warehouse developments: a three-year extension for a 53,665-square-foot warehouse on the south side of 5th Street (EXT 26-002), and a three-year extension for a 47,889-square-foot warehouse/office on the south side of 6th Street (EXT 26-003). The commission will also consider Municipal Code Amendment MCA 26-001, which would update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) requirements, and street name assignments for Tentative Tract No. 20721, a 113-unit residential development on Greenspot Road and Alta Vista.

Parks and Recreation Committee — July 22. The committee will review a proposal to restructure the City's agreement with the YMCA. The proposal calls for separating the current contract into a long-term lease and a separate operating subsidy, and adding a City employee health and wellness membership benefit. The subcommittee will also approve minutes from its March 23, 2026 meeting and may direct staff to draft new agreements for City Council consideration.