OF
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, October 23, 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 23, 2023 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present:
Mayor: Javier Lopez
Vice Mayor: Bret Silvera (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 Mayor Lopez.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation for Ivy Laffoon
Yolanda White with the American Legion and Freddy Morales with the Veterans of Foreign Wars accepted the proclamation.
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Gavin Cline spoke regarding updates on Congressman John Duarte's office.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
Destiny Suarez with Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil's office presented a proclamation for Veterans Day.
Danielle Morgart with Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office presented a proclamation for Veterans Day.
Justin Vosbein spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers.
Amber Scott spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers.
Amy Claus spoke regarding signatures she received for a petition to amend the City ordinance related to yard sales.
Loreal Ahart spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers.
Ashley Shaw spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers, signage throughout the City, and the creation of a proclamation stating the City of Ceres recognizes veterans all year long.
Michaela Richter spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers.
Lorri Julien spoke regarding the salary for City of Ceres dispatchers.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
B. Planning Commission Appointment
Community Development Director, Christopher Hoem, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke in favor of opening the recruitment to the public.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included Ruldip "RJ" Jammu's attendance as a commissioner, length of term and the recruitment process.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Mayor Lopez, re- appointing Ruldip "RJ" Jammu to the Ceres Planning Commission.
Motion failed 2/3/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey VierraR Martinez Silveira
No No No Yes Yes
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, begin recruitment process to fill the Planning Commission vacancy. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Silveira Mayor Lopez
Vierra Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving items 1 - 4 and 6 - 10. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Martinez Silvera
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the August 28, 2023 City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (City Clerk) 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)
3. Approval of Minutes for the September 25, 2023 Regular City Council Meetings. (City Clerk)
4. Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated September 27, 2023 through October 5, 2023. (City Manager)
5. Removed for separate consideration.
6. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving the Electric Vehicle Charging Station License Agreement with the Turlock Irrigation District and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Royal)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
7. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving a Construction Management Service Contract Amendment to CM Group Inc., Authorizing a Budget Amendment, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Amendment. (Waugh)
8. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving a Construction Contract for the Police Station Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) Upgrade Project Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Cen Cal Electric, Inc., Authorizing a 10 % Contingency, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Royal)
9. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving the Construction Contract for Ochoa Park Phase I Improvement Project to Stockbridge General Contracting Inc., Authorizing a 10% Contingency, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Waugh)
10. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving the Lateral Transfer Incentive Policy. (Vasquez)
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 5: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey General Correspondence - Information Only (Royal)
a. Public Works Monthly Report for September 2023
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the total tons of garbage picked up by Code Enforcement and Bertolotti.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Casey, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving item 5. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Approving the Final Design Plan for the Whitmore Park Gazebo Improvement Project. (Royal)
Public Works Director, Samir Royal, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
John Warren spoke regarding the cost to repair the gazebo.
Gene Yeakley spoke in favor of repairing the gazebo.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included previous repairs to the gazebo, the gazebo's age, planned power sources and signage.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving item 11. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Silveira Mayor Lopez
Casey Martinez
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
PUBLIC HEARING
12. Ordinance No. 2023-XXXX, Amending Chapter 10, Mobile Food Vending from Motor Vehicles of Title 5, Business Licenses and Regulations, of the Ceres Municipal Code to Amend the Food Truck Regulations, Including Increasing the Limit of 10 Stand-Alone Food Trucks Citywide to a Limit of 20, Maintaining Distance Buffers, Incorporating Existing Food Truck Policies into the Ceres Municipal Code, and Other Miscellaneous Changes. (City Manager)
Mayor Lopez stated the public hearing will be continued to the November 13, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding the number of food trucks and asking for input from the Police Department and Code Enforcement.
Victor Cruz spoke regarding the distance between food trucks.
John Warren inquired on whether there would be a public hearing on November Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included this item's affect on Planning Commission items.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, to continue item to the November 13t Regular City
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
Council Meeting. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Martinez Silvera
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
NEW BUSINESS
13. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Establishing Intention to Consider Pension Cost Mitigation Strategies, Including the Prepayment and/or Refinancing of a Portion of the City's Outstanding Unfunded Accrued Pension Liability and Appointing Financial Consultants. (City Manager)
Interim City Manager, Doug Dunford, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included future financial goals and help available through the financial consultants.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving item 13. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
14. Resolution No. 2023-XXX, Ratifying the Appointment of Shannon Esenwein to the Position of Director of Finance, Approving an Employment Agreement, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Vasquez) Interim City Manager, Doug Dunford, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving item 14. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Silveira Mayor Lopez
Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
DISCUSSION ITEMS
15. Four-Way Stop Sign Referral Update. (Waugh)
Engineering Director, Kevin Waugh, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included breakdown of proposed expenses, estimate of a stop sign install, and CMAQ eligibility.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving item 15. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Martinez Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Silveira
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
16. Requesting an Update to the Housing & Redevelopment Policy (Requested by Councilmember Vierra)
Councilmember Vierra introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council consensus to have this item placed on a future agenda.
17. Utilize $10,000.00 of Council's Travel Budget for the Employee Recognition Program
(Requested by Councilmember Casey)
Councilmember Casey introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment.
John Warren spoke regarding funding for the water tower rehab and sound quality in the Council Chambers.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding funding for the water tower rehab.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included alternate options for funding and other ways to recognize employees.
Council consensus was not reached to have this item placed on a future agenda.
18. Water Tower Rehab
(Requested by Councilmember Vierra)
19. Update Building Codes
(Requested by Councilmember Vierra)
20. CMAC Funding for Future Traffic Mitigation
(Requested by Councilmember Vierra)
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report.
• 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 Vierra spoke regarding attending the Housing Summit on November 4th at the MJC West campus, a future meeting with the Stanislaus County Housing Director regarding HOME funds, working with STEP on small business developments, the Stanislaus County C.H.A.T. Team, a code enforcement ride along, and attending the Concha with a Cop event.
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the Red Poppy sale through the Veterans of Foreign Wars the first week in November.
• City Manager
Nothing to report.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report
• Departments
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 23, 2023
Public Works Director, Samir Royal, introduced Public Works Deputy Director, Jesus Chavez and Public Works Superintendent, Joshua Casas.
• County Supervisor
Nothing to report.
CLOSED SESSION
21. 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 9:29 p.m.
Javier Lopez, Mayor
Custri
Cristina Aguilar, Deputy City Clerk
for 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.