MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, October 9, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Mailing Address: Ceres City Hall, 2220 Magnolia Street, Ceres, CA 95307-3292 Phone: (209) 538-5700 Fax: (209) 538-5780
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the October 9, 2023 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present:
Mayor: Javier Lopez
Vice Mayor: Bret Silveira (District 3)
Councilmembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Daniel A.
Martinez (District 4)
District 1 District 2 District 4 District 3
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira
Present Present Present Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Dick Conners, Ceres First Baptist Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation for Ivy Laffoon
Ceres City Council and Danielle Morgart, a representative with Assemblyman Juan Alanis' presented a proclamation honoring the life of Ivy Laffoon.
Paul Laffoon and family accepted the proclamation.
B. Proclamation for National Fire Prevention Week
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
Ceres City Council and Danielle Morgart, a representative with Assemblyman Juan Alanis' presented a proclamation recognizing National Fire Prevention Week.
Interim Fire Chief Kevin Wise accepted the proclamation.
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Dave Pratt spoke regarding bicycle riders on sidewalks and cars with loud mufflers.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding council meeting decorum and the Police Department's Code Enforcement Division and traffic officers.
Ashley Shaw spoke regarding the City of Ceres dispatch salaries.
Michaela Richter spoke regarding the City of Ceres dispatch salaries.
Loreal Ahart spoke regarding the City of Ceres dispatch salaries.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
None
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving items 1 - 6. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the allowing roll call vote
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the August 28, 2023 City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (City Clerk)
2. Waive Readings. All Readings of Ordinances and Resolutions are Waived. (Waive readings in full of all ordinances and resolutions on the agenda and declare that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title). (City Clerk)
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Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
3. Approval of Minutes for the following Regular City Council Meetings:
a. September 11, 2023 (City Clerk)
4. Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated September 13, 2023 through September 21, 2023. (City Manager)
5. Resolution No. 2023-131, Accepting River Bluff Pump Station Project as Partially Complete and Releasing a Partial Retention Amount to the Contractor. (Waugh)
6. Resolution No. 2023-132, Approving Amendment No. 1 to the Fiscal Year 2022- 2023 Carryover Appropriations and Amending the 2023-2024 Budget. (City Manager)
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
7. Resolution No. 2023-133, Declaring Certain City-Owned Parcels as Surplus Land Pursuant to the Surplus Land Act and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Conduct Negotiations for the Disposition of the Surplus Parcels. (Hoem) Community Development Director, Christopher Hoem, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included why the Walmart/Gateway intersection was included with Parcel 1, how much of the acreage of Parcel 1 will be accessible for development, having conversations with Walmart regarding the entrance on Service Road being moved to line up with the Gateway entrance, Surplus Land Act requirements and process, and making a motion to not include Parcel 1 as surplus land.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving Parcel 2 as surplus land (and not Parcel 1).
Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Silveira Mayor Lopez
Casey Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Participation and Public Comment Restrictions. (City Attorney)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
City Attorney, Nubia Goldstein, introduced the item.
Council consensus on scheduling a special meeting to hold the remainder of the City Council Rules and Procedures workshop.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Dave Pratt spoke in favor of keeping Zoom for public participation.
John Warren spoke regarding meetings prior to Covid-19 and going back to that format.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding the ability to mute inappropriate language.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the options to choose from regarding Zoom and the frequency of inappropriate comments being made at a Council Meeting via Zoom.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving to continue using Zoom for viewing purposes only, not for public participation/comment.
Motion carried 3/2/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira Mayor Lopez
No Yes Yes No Yes
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving the Ceres Economic Development Strategic Plan 2023-2027. (Hoem)
Council consensus to table item 9 for a future council meeting.
Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Awarding the Contract for the Site Improvements for the Public Safety Training Facility Project Located at Fire Station No. 3 to Machado & Sons Construction, Inc., Authorizing a 10% Contingency, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager Execute the Contract. (Waugh)
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Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
Engineering Services Director, Kevin Waugh, and Interim Fire Chief Kevin Wise introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding project cost share and total project cost.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the construction of the fire tower going out to bid, the cost of the project and cost share, the current training center that is being used, the benefits of having a new fire training center and having it located in Ceres, and fluctuation of project cost.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving item 10. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira Mayor Lopez
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
11. Proposing a Four-Way Stop at Roeding Road and gth Street (Requested Referral by Vice Mayor Silveira at September 11, 2023 City Council Meeting)
Vice Mayor Silveira introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding vision obstruction at an intersection going southbound on gth Street.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included a future agenda item to do a warrant study at Roeding Road and gth Street as well as Third Street and North Street and clarifying the process for the referral.
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Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
Council consensus to have this item placed on a future agenda.
12. Proposing Cameras be Installed at Independence Park (Requested Referral by Councilmember Vierra at September 11, 2023 City Council Meeting)
Councilmember Vierra introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included using temporary cameras at Independence Park.
Council consensus to have this item placed on a future agenda.
13. Proposing a City-Wide Yard Sale Event
(Requested Referral by Councilmember Vierra at August 28, 2023 City Council Meeting)
Councilmember Vierra introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding enforcement of those who do not follow the rules of the event.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included having Code Enforcement use the event as an education and outreach opportunity, cost and staffing required for the event.
Council consensus to have this item placed on a future agenda.
14. Creating a Downtown Streets Team
(Requested Referral by Councilmember Vierra at August 28, 2023 City Council Meeting)
Councilmember Vierra introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included homelessness update at a future council meeting, cost of implementing the program, and funding of the program.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
Council consensus to have this item placed on a future agenda.
15. Joint City Council and Planning Commission Workshop on the Economic Development Strategic Plan
(Requested Referral by Mayor Lopez at October 9, 2023 City Council Meeting)
REPORTS
• Mayor
Mayor Lopez announced he will be a judge at the Bands, Brews, & BBQ Throwdown. • City Council
Councilmember Martinez spoke regarding the Trunk-or-Treat event the City of Ceres is holding on October 28, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Whitmore Park.
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the annual Out of the Darkness walk that was hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at Graceada Park in Modesto on September 30, 2023.
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding the Opportunity Stanislaus and the annual Kabaddi event.
• City Manager
Nothing to report
• City Attorney
Nothing to report.
• Departments
Sam Royal, Director of Public Works, spoke regarding the Leaf & Limb Program that began October 1st and will go through January 9, 2024.
Joey Chavez, Recreation Manager, gave an update on the Military Banner Program and additional banners will be put up the week of November 10, 2023.
Kevin Waugh, Director of Engineering Services, spoke regarding a commendation received for the Morrow Village Phase I| Project and signage on the Smyrna Park Project.
• County Supervisor
Supervisor Channce Condit spoke regarding the community cleanup day that will be
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Regular City Council Meeting
October 9, 2023
taking place on November 4'h from 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the County Behavioral Health Center located at 1904 Richland Ave. in Ceres.
Assemblymember Alanis' office gave an update on various assembly bills. • Public
Dave Pratt spoke regarding a veterans hotline for relating to suicide prevention.
Irene Ortiz spoke regarding Cost Less' 20th anniversary.
CLOSED SESSION
16. Public Employment, Cal. Gov't Code §54957(b)(1)
Title: City Manager
17. Conference with Labor Negotiators, Cal Gov't Code §54957.6(a) Agency Designated Representative: Interim City Manager, Douglas D. Dunford and Human Resources Director, Delilah Vasquez
Employee Organization: Ceres Police Officers' Association Employee Organization: First Line Supervisors/Confidential Bargaining Group Employee Organization: Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) Employee Organization: Mid-Managers Bargaining Group
Employee Organization: Public Safety Managers
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Lopez reported out that direction was given to staff.
ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on October 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in the Community Center at 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres, CA.
There being no further business, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:06 p.m.
Javier Lopez, Mayor
talonwashi
Fallon Martin, City Clerk
Consistent with Council Policy, the minutes referenced above are in Action Format. The complete recording of the meeting can be viewed at http://www.ci.ceres.ca.us/ agenda center.