Ashlee DePhillippo

The meeting commenced with the conclusion of a closed session concerning two matters of potential exposure to litigation, with no reportable action taken. Following the roll call and flag salute, the council recognized the Elsenor High School girls varsity volleyball team for making school history by reaching the state championship, and presented commendations to the Tri City Gators cheerleaders for placing second at a local competition and earning a bid to nationals in 2026. The Mayor of Murrieta presented a certificate honoring the presiding Mayor's exemplary leadership and dedicated public service. A public comment was heard regarding consistent mail theft in a neighborhood, with the speaker challenging the local government to take ownership of addressing the issue. The agenda was approved, and action was taken on consent calendar items, specifically pulling items related to the municipal job descriptions and the city council meeting calendar for discussion and approval of modifications to meeting dates in January, February, and November.

The City Council meeting included a flag salute and presentations, including a proclamation for Veterans Day and a proclamation to honor and remember Kenneth Maize, a community member. The council also received department reports from the police department, which provided a quarterly update on calls for service, arrests, and crime statistics, and from the fire department, which presented incident statistics and automatic aid information. Additionally, the library provided a quarterly report, and the public works engineering department gave an update on maintenance and operations, capital improvement programs, and development engineering.

The City Council meeting included a closed session to discuss an Angie Garcia claim, with authorization provided to reject the claim. A moment of silence was observed for 9/11, followed by a flag salute. The council recognized Constitution Week and heard a presentation on Flock cameras, including statistics on vehicle volume and hot list detections. The discussion covered the number of cameras, their strategic placement, and their effectiveness in reducing stolen vehicles.

The meeting included discussions on policy and presence in leadership, addressing homelessness, and community safety. Concerns were raised about the tone around trace logos and its potential consequences. The council also met in a closed session to discuss items on the agenda and reached an agreement with the interim city manager for a permanent employment agreement.

The city council convened to discuss and act on several items, including the appointment of Chris Man as the City Manager, subject to the approval of an employment agreement. The council voted 4-1 to approve the employment contract with Chris Man, which includes a base salary of $281,000 increased by CPI each year, effective from the meeting date until September 30, 2029, along with benefits such as deferred compensation, health insurance, and leave. The council members expressed their gratitude and excitement for Chris Man to take on the role of City Manager.