OF
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, February 26, 2024 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 February 26, 2024 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 Silvera
Present Present Present Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Jim Stochl, Harvest Presbyterian Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez.
PRESENTATIONS
None
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Destiny Suarez spoke regarding updates on Senator Marie Alvarado Gil's office.
Gavin Cline spoke regarding updates on Congressman John Duarte's office.
Abby Pendleton spoke regarding updates on Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
February 26, 2024
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding Love Ceres.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding tire marks on his street.
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 - 4, 6 - 10. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the February 26, 2024 City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. (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. Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated January 31, 2024 through February 8, 2024. (Esenwein)
General Correspondence - Information Only
a. Public Works Monthly Report for January 2024 (Royal)
5. Removed for separate consideration.
Resolution No. 2024-23, Accepting River Bluff Pump Station Project as Complete, Approving the Balance Contract Change Order, Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion, and Releasing the Remaining Retention to the Contractor. (Royal) Resolution No. 2024-24, Approving Amendment No. 1 with Black Water Consulting Engineers for the River Bluff Reservoir and Pump Station Project, Authorizing a Budget Amendment to Allocate Funds, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment. (Royal)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
February 26, 2024
Resolution No. 2024-25, Approving an Agreement with Don Pedro Pump Co. for Well Rehabilitation at Wells 23 and 25 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Royal)
Resolution No. 2024-26, Approving the Subdivision Improvement Agreement and Recordation of the Parcel Map for Ceres 18, LLC. (City Manager)
10. Resolution No. 2024-27, Accepting the 2022 Pavement Resurfacing Project as Complete, Approving the Balancing Contract Change Order, Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion and Releasing the Remaining Retention to the Contractor. (Royal)
11. Removed for separate consideration.
12. Removed for separate consideration.
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 5: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Resolution No. 2024-22, Approving Project Agreement #7 with GDR Engineering, Inc. to Provide Professional Engineering Services and Construction Support Services for the Smyrna Park Improvement Project and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Royal)
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the necessity of services since a Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer has been hired and if the item went out to Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding a resident engineer for the Smyrna Park improvement project.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included clarifying that no additional funding is needed for the services being rendered and if grant funds could be used for the services.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving item 5. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
February 26, 2024
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey VierraR Martinez Silveira
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Item 11: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Resolution No. 2024-28, Council Concurrence of Mayor Lopez's Recommendation to Appoint the Chief of Police as a City of Ceres Representative on the Modesto- Ceres Fire Protection Agency JPA Oversight Committee. (Perry) ouncilmember Casey spoke regarding using someone other than the Chief c olice since he is new in his role
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving item 11. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Item 12: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Resolution No. 2024-29, Approving a Letter of Support from the Ceres City Council to Present to Capital Advocacy Partners for a Community Project at the Veteran of Foreign Wars/American Legion Hall. (City Manager)
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding input from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Steven Whitney, Secretary/Treasurer of the American Legion Post, spoke in favor of updating the American Legion Memorial Building and its designated name.
John Warren spoke regarding his support of Steven Whitney's comments and matching funds for the grant.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the planned updates and funding.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
February 26, 2024
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving item 12. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Silveira Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Martinez
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
13. Discussion Regarding Ceres Municipal Code Title 5, Business Licenses and Regulations, Chapter 18 Garage Sales. (City Manager)
Councilmember Casey introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding how this kind of event will look long-term.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included an email submission with signatures, support of the event, and coordinating a trash collection/drop off the day after the City-wide yard sale event.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra approving a city-wide yard sale event in conjunction with a city-wide cleanup day. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Conmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Silveira Mayor Lopez
Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
February 26, 2024
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
14. Requesting the City Donate Money to Love Ceres
(Requested by Councilmember Martinez)
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report.
• City Council
Vice Mayor Silvera spoke regarding the Lions Club Crab Feed.
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding spoke regarding housing, Stanislaus Homeless Alliance meeting, universal vocabulary related to housing, community meeting for Community Development Block Grant funds, and met with builders and non-profits.
• City Manager
City Manager, Doug Dunford, introduced the new Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer, Michael Beltran.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report.
• Departments
None
• County Supervisor
Supervisor, Chance Condit, spoke regarding his meeting with the Fire Chief, offering a letter of support for the VFW/American Legion grant the City is trying to obtain, and assisting in the coordination of a cleanup day in conjunction with the citywide yard sale.
CLOSED SESSION
None
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
February 26, 2024
ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on March 11, 2024 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 6:48 p.m.
Javier Lopez, Mayor
tananMasti
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.