CITY OF ATWATER
CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
March 10, 2025
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 Timothy Miller.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Council Member Rochester.
ROLL CALL: (City Council)
Present: City Council Members Ambriz, Cale, Raymond, Rochester and Mayor Nelson
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Manager Hoem, City Attorney Splendorio, Sergeant Sarginson, Finance Director Nicholas, Human Resources
Director Sousa, Public Works Director Vinson, CAL Fire
Battalion Chief Ayuso, City Clerk Billings and Assistant City Clerk Martin
SUBSEQUENT NEED ITEMS: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS POSTED OR AS AMENDED:
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for March 10, 2025 _ Page 2 MOTION: City Council Member Raymond moved to approve the agenda as posted.
The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cale and the vote was: Ayes: Cale, Ambriz, Raymond, Rochester, Nelson; Noes: None; Absent: None. The motion passed.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mayor Nelson opened public comment regarding items on the Consent Calendar.
No one came forward to speak.
Mayor Nelson closed the public comment.
MOTION: City Council Member 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, Rochester, Nelson; Noes: None; Absent: None.
The motion passed.
WARRANTS:
1. March 10, 2025
•
ACTION: Acceptance of warrants as listed.
MINUTES: (City Council)
2. February 24, 2025 - Regular meeting
ACTION: Approval of minutes as listed.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF:
City Manager Hoem provided background information on this item. City Manager Hoem made a statement for the record regarding staff estimated there would be increased costs to pausing construction and reengineering the project at a cost of $300,000 to 5450,000.
Michael Hayes, Contract City Engineer and Jose Benavidez, Contract Traffic Engineer provided background information on this item.
Mayor Nelson opened public comment regarding this item.
Chi Chi Wood spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for March 10, 2025 Page 3 Roger Wood spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Dorella Heller spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
John Rogers spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Eddie Perez spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Judy Layton spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Linda Dash spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Joe Weiss spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Cynthia Zorichak spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Diane Con spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Ofelia Sandavol spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Dean Way spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
One resident spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Amy Vann spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Anita Mason Linginfelter spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Garret Pedretti spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Keith Pelowski spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Jim Price spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Rich Miller spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Harold Hollman spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Kory Billings spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Ashley spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Adam Reed spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
Mir. Gamboni spoke regarding the Fruitland project.
No one else came forward to speak.
City Council Meeting Action. Minutes for March 10, 2025 Page 4 Mayor Nelson closed public comment.
City Council Member Rochester, Ambriz, Raymond, Raymond and Cale provided comments.
MOTION: City Council Member Rochester moved to continue to the extent possible during construction on the segment of Fruitland Avenue between Winton Way and Shaffer Road to re-engineer the project to exclude traffic circles and "choker islands," identify and approve supplemental funding at a future City Council meeting, and meanwhile, continue construction on the segment of Fruitland Avenue west of Winton Way; and review VVH performance under the contract for services provided. The motion was seconded by City Council Member Ambriz and the vote was: Ayes: Cale, Ambriz, Raymond, Rochester, Nelson; Noes: None;
Absent: None. 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.
Rudy Ybarra spoke regarding a food permit and issues with a city department.
Keith Pelowski spoke regarding the public safety transactions and use tax.
Jim Price and spoke regarding spoke regarding the Citizens' Oversight meeting for public safety transactions and use tax and the planes at Castle.
Linda Dash thanked the City Council and spoke regarding the public safety transactions and use tax.
Mayor Nelson closed the public comment.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS/UPDATES:
City Council Member Rochester spoke regarding the airplanes at Castle, Read Across America, congratulated the Lady Falcons and thanked the Fruitland residents for their participation in the meeting.
City Council Raymond had nothing to report.
City Council Member Ambriz had nothing to report.
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for March 10, 2025 Page 5 Mayor Pro Tem Cale thanked the Fruitland residents for their participation in the meeting and congratulated the Lady Falcons
Mayor Nelson had nothing to report.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS/UPDATES:
Updates from the Office of the City Manager
City Manager Hoem reported the following:
• City of Atwater - Sprig Clean-up is Saturday, March 15, 2025 • City of Atwater - Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday, April 12, 2025 CLOSED SESSION: (Conference Room A)
Conference with Labor Negotiators - Government Code Section 54957.6, Agency Negotiators: City Manager Hoem and Human Resources Director Sousa Bargaining Units: AFSCME Local 2703 - Miscellaneous Employees Unit Mayor Nelson invited public comment on Closed Session items.
No one came forward to speak.
Mayor Nelson adjourned the meeting to Conference Room A for the Closed Session at 8:48 PM. Closed Session was called to order at 8:57 PM.
MAYOR OR CITY ATTORNEY REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Nelson reported there was no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Nelson adjourned the meeting at 9:04 PM.
APPROVED:
MIKE NELSON
MAYOR
ATTEST:
tunella. Martin
JANELL MARTIN
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK