CITY OF ATWATER
CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
June 24, 2024
REGULAR SESSION: (Council Chambers)
The City Council of the City of Atwater met in Regular Session this date at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers located at the Atwater Civic Center, 750 Bellevue Road, Atwater, California; Mayor Nelson presiding.
INVOCATION:
The Invocation was led by Michael Giordano.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Raymond.
ROLL CALL: (City Council)
Present:
Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Members Cale, Ambriz, Mayor Pro Tem Raymond, Mayor Nelson
City Council Member Button
Interim City Manager Thompson, City Attorney Splendorio, Police Chief Salvador, Human Resources Director Sousa,
Finance Director Nicholas, Public Works Director Vinson, City Clerk Billings, Assistant City Clerk Martin
SUBSEQUENT NEED ITEMS: None
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for June 24. 2024 Page 2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS POSTED OR AS AMENDED:
Mayor Nelson recommended removing item #8 from the agenda and placing on a future agenda.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Raymond moved to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by City Council Member Cale and the vote was: Ayes: Cale, Ambriz, Raymond, Nelson; Noes: None; Absent: Button. The motion passed.
PRESENTATIONS:
Monthly report by Nathan Bray, County of Merced Director of Public Works/Road Commissioner
• Gave a brief update regarding the Atwater Merced Expressway and Bellevue Road Realignment Project.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mayor Nelson opened public comment regarding items on the Consent Calendar.
No one came forward.
Mayor Nelson closed the public comment.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Raymond moved to approve the Consent Calendar as posted. The motion was seconded by City Council Member Ambriz and the vote was: Ayes: Cale, Ambriz, Raymond, Nelson; Noes: None; Absent: Button. The motion passed.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
1. May 31, 2024
ACTION: Acceptance of report as listed.
WARRANTS:
2. June 24, 2024
ACTION: Approval of warrants as listed.
MINUTES: (Citizens' Oversight Committee)
3. March 12, 2024 - Regular meeting
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for June 24. 2024 Page 3 ACTION: Acceptance of minutes as listed.
MINUTES: (Planning Commission)
4. a.) April 17, 2024- Regular meeting
b.) May 22, 2024 - Special meeting
ACTION: Acceptance of minutes as listed.
MINUTES: (City Council) :
5. June 10, 2024 - Regular meeting
ACTION: Approval of minutes as listed.
AGREEMENTS:
6. Approving Amendment No. 1 to the Special Services Contract with Merced County for Animal Services (Police Chief Salvador)
ACTION: Approves Amendment No. 1 to the Special Services Contract, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for Animal Services with Merced County; and authorizes and directs the City Manager to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City.
RESOLUTIONS:
7. Calling, Giving Notice of, and Consolidating the 2024 General Municipal Election (City Clerk Billings)
ACTION: Adoption of Resolution No. 3368-24 calling and giving notice of the holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the election of the City Clerk, the City Treasurer and two (2) Members of the City Council within the boundaries of District One (1) and District Two (2), as required by the provisions of the laws of the State of California relating to General Law Cities; and requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Merced consolidate the General Municipal Election to be held on November 5, 2024, with the Presidential General Election to be held on the date pursuant to Section 10403 of the Election Code.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Resolution Approving Rate Study and Adopting New Rates for Water and Sewer Services (Public Works Director Vinson)
This item was removed from the agenda to be brought back at a future date.
City Council Meeting Action Minutes tor June 24. 2024 Page4 Confirming the Engineer's Reports and Ordering the Annual Levy for the Lighting and Drainage and Landscape Maintenance Assessment Districts for Fiscal Year 2024/25 (Interim City Manager Thompson)
Interim City Manager Thompson provided background information on this item.
Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing regarding this item.
No one came forward to speak.
Mayor Nelson closed the public hearing.
MOTION: City Council Member Cale moved to Adopt Resolution No. 3470-24 Confirming the Engineer's Reports and Ordering the Continued Maintenance of the City of Atwater Lighting and Drainage and Maintenance Assessment Districts and Levy of Assessments for Fiscal Year 2024/25. The motion was seconded by City Council Member Ambriz and the vote was: Ayes: Cale, Ambriz, Raymond, Nelson; Noes: None; Absent: Button. The motion passed.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF:
Update regarding Fireworks and Nail Em App' (Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal Lopes and Chief Salvador)
Chief Salvador provided background information on this item.
Mayor Nelson opened public comment on this item.
No one came forward to speak.
Mayor Nelson closed the public comment regarding this item.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Approving City Manager Employment Agreement with Chris Haem (City Attorney Splendorio)
City Attorney Splendorio provided background information on this item.
Mayor Nelson opened public comment on this item.
Don Martin, Carol Gray, Linda Dash, Kalisa Rochester, Keith Pelowski, and Jim Price spoke regarding the City Manager contract.
Mayor Nelson closed the public comment regarding this item.
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for June 24. 2024 Pages MOTION: City Council Member Ambriz moved to to approve City Manager Employment Agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Chris Hoem; and authorize and direct the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
The motion was seconded by City Council Member Cale and the vote was: Ayes:
Cale, Ambriz, Raymond, Nelson; Noes: None; Absent: Button. The motion passed.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
Notice to the public was read.
Mayor Nelson clarified that under the Brown Act, members of the public are entitled to directly address the City Council and are not entitled to address their comments to other members of the public or to staff.
Mayor Nelson opened public comment.
Linda Dash spoke regarding the Castle Sewer Agreement.
Christan Santos, Field Representative for Congressman John Duarte, provided an update regarding Congressman Duarte's office.
Richards Williams spoke regarding the Water and Sewer Rate study.
Jim Price spoke regarding the upcoming 4
th of July celebration.
Dora Anderson spoke regarding her community service and pageant participation worldwide.
Mayor Nelson closed the public comment.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS/UPDATES:
City Council comments
City Council Member Cale spoke regarding the upcoming 4 th of July celebrations
and the committee's need for volunteers. He thanked Interim City Manager Thompson.
City Council Member Ambriz asked that everyone be safe and enjoy the 4 th of July.
He thanked Interim City Manager Thompson.
Mayor Pro Tem Raymond wished all a Happy 4
th of July and thanked Interim City
Manager Thompson.
Mayor Nelson spoke regarding alternative shows for 4
th of July and thanked Interim
City Manager.
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for June 24. 2024 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Nelson adjourned the meeting at 6:51 PM.
APPROVED:
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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ASSISTANT CITY CLERK