CITY OF AVENAL
“Pistachio Capital of the World®”
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PFA MEETING
June 13, 2024, 5:15 P.M.
AVENAL THEATER & EVENT CENTER, 233 E. KINGS ST., AVENAL, CA VIA ZOOM VIDEO/WEB CONFERENCING:
Web Link: bit.ly/AvenalCouncil or use https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87243440488 Or by calling +1 669 900 6833 and use meeting ID 872 4344 0488 to join.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by Mayor Preciado at 5:16 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Councilman Lou Gravelle, Pablo Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem Alejandro Ramirez, Mayor Alvaro Preciado.
ABSENT: Councilman Ricardo Verdugo was online
STAFF: Lopez, Ortiz, Price, Bermudez, Davis, Velasco, Nevarez, Davis, William.
LEGAL COUNCEL: Moses Diaz.
CITY CLERK:
Government Code Section 54952.3: The members of the City Council/Successor Agency are entitled to receive a total of $300.00 per month because of being elected to the City Council. They receive no other compensation for sitting as a member of Successor Agency.
The City Council went into Closed Session at 5:19 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION: (City/Successor Agency):
It is the intent of this governing body to meet in closed session to review its position and to instruct its designated representatives: Any person may directly address the Council/Agency at this time on items of interest regarding Closed Session.
A. Conference with Real Property Negotiator(s) (Government Code § 54956.8).
It is the intent of this governing body to meet in Closed Session to confer with its real property negotiator(s) concerning the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property by or for this agency as follows:
1. Property Description: APN: 040-320-009-000; & 040-320-014-000 Negotiator(s): City Manager/City Attorney.
Party with whom negotiating: CrisCom Company. Instructions to negotiator concerning: Terms of Payment.
2. Property Description: APN: 040-165-007 Negotiator(s): City Manager/City Attorney/CrisCom. Party with whom negotiating: County of Kings/State of California. Instructions to negotiator concerning: Terms.
B. Pending Litigation (Government Code § 54956.9).
Conference with legal counsel – EXISTING LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1)).
1. Parties, case/claim no: Ross Family Properties, LLC, v. City of Avenal (Kings County Superior Court, Case No. 24CU0071).
2. Parties, case/claim no: Jesus A. Mendez, v. City of Avenal (Kings County Superior Court, Case No. 24CU0108)
Mayor Preciado reopened meeting at 6:02 p.m. with the following to report:
The City Council authorize the City Attorney to file a response in pleading and defend the city in this case No. 24CU0180.
Councilman Gravelle motioned to authorize the City Attorney to file a response in pleading and defend the city in case No. 24CU0180, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and motion carried.
AYES: Gravelle, Hernandez, Ramirez, Preciado.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Verdugo.
ABSTAIN: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5. – A.
Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – June 13, 2024
PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS & UNSCHEDULED APPEARANCES: No public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
All items listed under the consent calendar are routine and enacted by one motion: (Action).
A. Consider City of Avenal/Successor Agency’s Approval of Minutes for May 23, 2024.
B. Consider Approval to Purchase One (1) Digital Poster Board for Kings/Skyline.
Council Member/Successor Agency Member Gravelle motioned to approve Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried.
AYES: Gravelle, Hernandez, Ramirez, Preciado.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Verdugo.
ABSTAIN: None.
ACTIVITY REPORTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS& COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Activity Reports:
1. Public Works/Code Enforcement/Animal Control Departments Activity Report: Scott Davis, Public Works Supervisor.
Scott Davis, Public Works Supervisor reported the following: 1) Code Enforcement; 2) Park & Landscape; 3) Animal Control Department; 4) Street; 5) Water Distribution; 6) Wastewater Collection; 7) Vehicles, Equipment & Building Maintance.
2. IT Department Activity Report: Humberto Bermudez, IT Manager.
Humberto Bermudez, IT Manager reported the following: 1) Internet; 2) Phone System; 3) Emails; 4) Services: Regular Security Maintenance, Continuing reorganizing documentation of all services for future reference and Purchased the last of the Police Department networking equipment; and 5) Other: Continuing to assist in local events (Food distributions, Mental Health Awareness Family Night), Continues to maintain the city website and provide tech support across all facilities. It Manager Bermudez waiting on final quote from Sign Works for sign project. If not provided by June 24th, Staff will proceed with presenting the two received quotes for the two digital signs. Planning out Police Recruitment landing webpage with Pelletier and CSO Morales.
3. Recreation Department Activity Report: Anna Lara, Community Activities Senior Leader.
Antony Lopez, City Manager reported the following: 1) Anna is on vacation; 2) Community Garden; 3) Mental Health Awareness – Family Night – was held on May 29th, 2024; 4) June 4th -Rotary Cruise Night well attended; 5) Working on – Summer Kidz Spot program set to start June 17, 2024. June 29, 2024 – Independence Day Celebration; 6) Collaborations:
Health Collaborative Outdoor Movies/ Rotary – OTD/Food Distributions/ KCAO – Scholarships for Kidz Spot Summer Program/ Valley Voices & Family Engagement Back to School Event.
B. Special Presentations/Reports:
1. Avenal Reginal Landfill Report: George Anderson, Landfill Site Manger.
George Anderson, Landfill Site Manger reported the following: 1) he has surgery and recovering; 2) Mr. Anderson Thanked the Police Dept. & Fire Dept. took care of that fire quickly; 3) 103-tons waste; 4) 103-tons recyclable that were removed from the waste – metal, 279 mattresses; 5) their team is doing a great job of catching a lot of the stuff that's coming in that shouldn't be coming in and the Landfill. Also, working with a recycling company to come weekly; and 6) a project that the San Joaquin Valley Airport threw at the Landfill last year for a new low doxing mission flare. The flare is up and running now and invited the City Council to come out and visit the Land Is there another check in the interview made? No, you just left that out here and put it in there. I'm an idiot. Anyways. So, we're like oh soil and look at the $2.2 million project.
2. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Affordability Update: Nathan Alonzo, Local Government Affairs.
Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – June 13, 2024
Nathan Alonzo, Local Government Affairs reported the following: 1) Affordability Update; 2) Income Graduated Fixed Charge adopted May 2024; 3) Affordability Update; and 4) Open Discussion with Avenal residents.
3. Kings County Fire Department, Activity Report: Chief Salvador Flores.
Chief Salvador Flores reported the following: 1) Month of May – Station 12 located in Avenal received 56-calls for service; 2) Incidents: Fires 5, Rescue & Emergency Medical Service calls-40, Hazardous Condition-1, Good Intent call 9, False Alarm/ Fire-1, and 3) weed abatement fall on jurisdiction but the Fire Department can help.tod MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY/ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION:
A. None
PUBLIC HEARING(s):
A. None
OLD BUSINESS:
A. None
NEW BUSINESS:
A. None
CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS/CLOSING COMMENTS:
Maria Ortiz, City Clerk reported the following: 1) Annual Conference and Expo - October 16-18, 2024, at Long Beach Convention Center any Council Member that would like to attend need to let me know to RSVP and book rooms; and 2) Elections – there are 3-vacancies open and all packets for Election will be submitted to the Election Office in Hanford.
Also, 700-form for elections will need to be submitted to the City Clerk.
City Manager Lopez reported the following: 1) Thanked the City Council allowing City Manager Lopez two weeks off and good trip; 2) the Wastewater Solar Project the State agreed to reimburse the City $900,000 with help of CrisCom, Assemblyman Mathis, Senator Hurtado and signing amendment waiting on state; 3) Congressman David Valadao - funding additional water tank to tank-3 for 4-million; 4) coordinate the week of the June 24th and keep June 25 th & June 26th available
for budget hearing meeting in the evening. Staff has worked on getting the number all together closing out Fiscal Year 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 audits are moving forward; and 5) Senior Trip to Armona the Commission on aging is hold their Elderly Abuse Awareness 9-2PM utilizing Commission on Aging bus and Van to take 18-individuals.
Councilman Hernandez thanked all those who participated with the Food Distribution.
Mayor Preciado reported the following: 1) attended many meetings and thanks the community for attending.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Preciado report that with no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Ortiz, City Clerk