CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
June 22, 2026
Council Chambers — 750 Bellevue Road, Atwater, California f
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.
INVOCATION:
Provided by Jim McClellan, Atwater Police Department chaplain.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Led by Council Member Rochester.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Nelson, Mayor Pro Tem Cale, Council Members Ambriz, Raymond, Rochester
SUBSEQUENT NEED ITEMS: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion to approve the agenda as amended to move Item 13 after the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Raymond
SECOND: Ambriz 4
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Public comment was received regarding Atwater Fourth of July parade and festivities, Police Chief recruitment, development, and the groundbreaking for Atwater Feed.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Motion to approve Consent Calendar as amended. Item 4 was moved for separate discussion.
MOTION: Cale
SECOND: Raymond
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Approved Items:
• Item 1: Warrants — June 11, 2026, June 18, 2026
• Item 2: Adoption of Resolution No. 3627-26 calling and giving notice of the holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of the Mayor (at large) and two (2) Members of the City Council within the boundaries of District Three (3) and District Four (4), 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 3, 2026, with the General Election to be held on the date pursuant to Section 10403 of the Election Code.
• Item 3: Adoption of Resolution No. 3628-26 approving a Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Financial Services, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for Citywide Community Facilities District (CFD) formation, annexation, and administrative services, and authorizing and directing the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
• Item 5: Adoption of Resolution No. 3630-26 approving Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 1 with Quad Knopf, Inc., dba QK, for On-Call Professional Engineering Services, increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $30,000, from $200,000 to $230,000, and authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to execute the amendment and related documents.
• Item 6: Adopt Resolution No. 3631-26, initiating proceedings for the Annual Assessments Levy with respect to the various Assessment Maintenance Districts for Fiscal Year 2026/27 pursuant to the provisions of Part 2 of Division 15 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California.
• Item 7: Adoption of Resolution No. 3632-26 ordering the City's Assessment Engineer to prepare and file the Engineer's Reports for the collection of the proposed annual assessments for the Lighting and Drainage and Landscape Assessment Maintenance Districts for Fiscal Year 2026/27; and Adoption of Resolution No. 3633-26 declaring the City's intention to levy and collect the annual assessments for various assessment maintenance districts for Fiscal Year 2026/27, granting preliminary approval of the Engineer's Reports, and setting a public hearing date for said assessments for July 13, 2026. • Item 8: Approves a multi-year fee waiver requested by Bloss Memorial Healthcare City Council Meeting Action Minutes for June 22.2O26 Page 3 District for the use of the Atwater Community Center to host its Annual Senior Information Day on the following dates:
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Tuesday, September 21, 2027
Tuesday, September 19, 2028
Tuesday, September 18, 2029
and authorizes and directs the City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all documents necessary to waive the applicable facility rental fees associated with the Annual Senior Information Day.
Item 4: Adoption of Resolution No. 3629-26 approving the Fiscal Year 2026-27 annual list of projects funded by SB 1, The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017; and authorizes and directs the City Manager to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the California Transportation Commission.
Public Works Director Vinson provided clarification for Council Member Rochester.
MOTION: Rochester
SECOND: Raymond
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Motion to waive the first reading by title only, and introduce Ordinance No. CS 1082 Approving Zone Change No. 25-21-0200, an Amendment to The Official Zoning Map to Rezone Two Parcels Identified as APN's 002-132-024 and 002-132-025 and adopt Resolution No. 3463-26 approving an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Castle Family Health Center project; and approving General Plan Amendment No. 25-21-0300, for the Project Located at 1775 Third Street, Atwater (APNs 002-132-021, 002-132-022, 002- 132-024, and 002-132-025).
Public Hearing was opened and public comment was received.
MOTION: Raymond
SECOND: Rochester
VOTE: Motion passed.
City Council Meeting Action Minut s for June 22, 2026 Page 4 Motion to adopt Resolution No. 3635-26 adopting the City of Atwater 2025 Urban Water Management Plan in accordance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act including amendments made by the Water Conservation Act of 2009 and Water Conservation Legislation of 2018; and
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 3636-26 adopting the City of Atwater Water Shortage Contingency Plan; and authorizes and directs the City Manager, or designee, to make any necessary changes prior to submission to the California Department of Water Resources; or
Motion to approve staffs recommendation as presented.
Public Hearing was opened and public comment was received.
MOTION: Raymond
SECOND: Cale
VOTE: Motion passed.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF:
Approving Employment Agreement with Janell Martin for Interim City Manager Attorney Booher provided background information on the item.
Public Comment was received.
MOTION: Cale
SECOND: Raymond
VOTE: Motion passed.
Update regarding Fireworks Enforcement
Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal Carvalho, Police Chief McEachin, and Police Lieutenant Novetzke provided background information for the Fourth of July.
Public comment was received
r
No further action necessary.
J
City Council Meeting Action Minutes for June 22, 2026 Page 5 Discussion and Direction Regarding the Development of a Citywide Traffic Calming Policy
Acting City Manager Martin, Mayor Nelson, and Traffic Engineer Benavides provided background information on the item.
Public comment was received.
Draft policy to be provided at the July 13th City Council meeting and final draft to be provided at August 10th City Council meeting.
CITY COUNCIL MATTERS
Council Members and Mayor provided individual updates.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
APPROVED:
MICHAEL G. NE SON
MAYOR
ATTEST:
GISEL' A PERALTA
DEPUTY CITY CLERK