SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET
BARSTOW, CA 92311
JANUARY 27, 2025
5:30 PM
(HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING / CLOSED SESSION
Minutes-January 27, 2025
CALL TO ORDER:
MAYOR SILVA called the Closed Session meeting to order at 5:31 P.M.
INVOCATION:
COUNCIL MEMBER NOBLE gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
James M. Noble Council Member Present
Barbara Mae Rose Mayor Pro Tem Present
John Williams Council Member Present
Carmen Hernandez Council Member Present
Timothy Silva Mayor Present
PARTICIPATION IS INVITED : IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE
SO INDICATE BY FILLING OUT A SPEAKER REQUEST CARD AND HANDING IT TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE AGENDA ITEM EING ADDRESSED. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED, 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK.
CODE OF ETHICS: AS YOUR ELECTED GOVERNING BOARD WE WILL REMEMBER THE "CODE OF ETHICS" THAT WE VOLUNTARILY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. DURING THIS MEETING WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER AND THE PUBLIC WITH PATIENCE, CIVILITY, AND COURTESY. THE DECISIONS
MADE TONIGHT WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BARSTOW COMMUNITY AND NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
Minutes-January 27, 2025
PUBLIC COMMENT - CLOSED SESSION: THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE GOVERNING BOARD ON MATTERS ON THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDA AND WITHIN THE CITY’S JURISDICTION. SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES OR LESS. ALL REQUESTS TO SPEAK MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE AGENDA ITEM BEING ADDRESSED. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED, 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK.SPEAKERS:
SPEAKERS:
GILBERT ASA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Expressed his concerns with Interim City Manager Mr. Espinoza's Jr., performance during his years of service as a Police Chief and Interim City Manager.
TED WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Noted the agenda does not have recommended action.
- Asked why we need a Public Safety Director.
- Hope this position will not be filled by just one person.
ET SNELL, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Mentioned this council needs to do what is right.
- Expressed his concerns with Interim City Manager Mr. Espinoza's Jr.
MARSHA WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Noted there should be one person per job.
- Asked why are they considering an acting police chief, nothing there are a couple of people at the police department that can do that job.
JIM BROWN, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Expressed his concerns with Interim City Manager Espinoza Jr.
VIRGINIA BROWN, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Expressed her concerns with Interim City Manager Espinoza Jr. and the lack of transparency from the council.
MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION:
Motion by MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ to approve agenda to discuss Item 2 first and item 1 second.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Barbara Mae Rose, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Carmen Hernandez, Council Member
AYES: Noble, Rose, Williams, Hernandez, Silva
CITY COUNCIL:
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT POSITION TITLES: ACTING CITY MANAGER AND ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE RECOMMENDED ACTION: THE CITY COUNCIL IS
RECOMMENDED TO APPOINT AN ACTING CITY MANAGER AND AN ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE.
Recommended Action:
The City Council is recommended to appoint an Acting City Manager and Acting Chief of Police, and direct staff to prepare contracts for approval by the City Council at the February 3, 2025 meeting.
Minutes-January 27, 2025
MATTHEW SUMMERS, CITY ATTORNEY
- Explained this is the item to appoint the names just announced as Acting City Manager and Acting Chief of Police.
SPEAKERS:
TED WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Noted he wanted to recommend MR. HELDRETH for this position. - Mentioned to MR. ARTHUR he is a part of an organization with many problems.
MARSHA WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked why the Chief of Police position was not open to the public and why they just appointed a Police Chief.
- Asked why they were not appointed an Assistant City Manager and why they wanted to leave this decision to the future Assistant City Manager.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Carmen Hernandez, Council Member
SECONDER: Barbara Mae Rose, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Noble, Rose, Williams, Hernandez, Silva
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS:
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Recommended Action:
(Government Code Section 54957)
Title: City Manager, Interim City Manager, Police Chief, Public Safety Director REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION :
MATTHEW SUMMERS, CITY ATTORNEY reported the following:
- The City Council met in Closed Session to consider the first part of the closed session items regarding the City Manager and Acting Police Chief Positions. There is a reportable action on both.
The council has directed staff to bring forward an agenda item which is the next open session agenda item to appoint an Acting City Manager and an Acting Chief of Police subject to the final vote. The acting City Manager will be Mr. Chris Heldreth and the Acting Chief of Police will be Mr. Dan Arthur.
ADJOURNMENT:
By the consensus of the City Council and without objection the open session meeting was adjourned at 6:10 P.M. They continue with the closed session meeting and they will be reported out at the next council meeting.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Andrea Flores, City Clerk Timothy R. Silva, Mayor
Notice: Signed Minutes are filed with the City Clerk’s office