OF
TERES
U
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, August 12, 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 August 12, 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 Silveira
Present Present Present Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Patrick Davis, Ceres Christian 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)
Tony Cavaggion spoke regarding fishing in Lower River Bluff.
Lou Toste spoke regarding Ceres Youth Soccer Organization and a fee increase.
Brenda Herbert spoke regarding updates from Congressman John Duarte's office.
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Shirley Rogers spoke regarding personal development.
John Warren spoke regarding a ceremony at Whitmore Park at 8:30 a.m. on September 11th in observance of Patriots Day.
Ruben Alvarez spoke regarding Ceres Youth Soccer Organization fee increases.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding a door to the Senior Lounge in the Ceres Community Center
Randy Cerny spoke regarding the current council.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
A. Council Designation of a Voting Delegate and Alternate Delegate to Represent the City of Ceres at the League of California Cities' 2024 Annual Conference City Clerk, Fallon Martin, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council consensus to designate Councilmember Vierra as the voting delegate with Councilmember Martinez and Mayor Lopez as the alternate voting delegates at the League of California Cities Annual Conference.
B. Interview Process for Appointment to the Planning Commission Community Development Director, Lea Simvoulakis, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council consensus to appoint Mayor Lopez and Vice Mayor Silveira to the sub- committee for the Planning Commission interview process.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
Councilmember Vierra declared a conflict of interest on item 16 and recused herself from voting.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the August 12, 2024 City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. (City Clerk)
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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)
3. Removed for separate consideration.
4. General Correspondence - Information Only
a. Per-an Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Presence Exceedance Notification and Response Levels (Royal)
Resolution No. 2024-102, Authorizing the Sale of Canine Banner to Officer Christian Izquierdo. (Perry)
Resolution No. 2024-103, Ratifying the Application to the State of California, California Transportation Committee, for the Active Transportation Program Cycle 7 Grant to Reimburse up to One Hundred Percent (100%) of the Design and Construction of Sidewalks, Curb, Gutter, and Access Ramps in the Remaining Portions of the Morrow Village Subdivision. (Beltran)
7. Resolution No. 2024-104, Approving the Professional Services Agreement with O'Dell Engineering a Westwood Company for the Design Services of the ATPL- 5241(081) Pedestrian Safety on Central Avenue and Hackett Road Corridor Project (New Project String), Approving a 10% Contingency, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Beltran)
Resolution No. 2024-105, Approving a Three-Year Operational Agreement with the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office for the County-Wide Victim Assistance Program and Authorizing the Chief of Police to Execute the Agreement. (Perry)
9. Removed for separate consideration.
10. Resolution No. 2024-107, Amending the Part-Time (Non-Regular) Employee Hourly Pay Rate Schedule, Effective in the Pay Period Beginning August 18, 2024. (Vasquez)
11. Resolution No. 2024-108, Approving a Contract with the Stanislaus County Area Agency on Aging for Upgrades to the Senior Lounge and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Chavez)
12. Resolution No. 2024-109, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with River Road Mutual Water Company to Consolidate Water Service Area into the City of Ceres Water System. (Royal)
13. Removed for separate consideration.
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14. Resolution No. 2024-111, Approving an Agreement with Grover Landscape Services, Inc. for the Downtown Business District Landscape Maintenance and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Royal)
15. Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-1084, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Adding Chapter 25, Murals, of Title 5, Business Licenses and Regulations, to the Ceres Municipal Code Regarding Murals, their Location, and Design. (City Manager)
16. Removed for separate consideration.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1-2, 4-8, 10-12, and 14-15. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Mayor Lopez
Casey Martinez Silveira
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 3: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated July 17, 2024 through July 31, 2024. (Esenwein)
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding funding for the Modesto Fire payment.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Casey, seconded by
Councilmember Martinez, approving item 3. 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
Item 9: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Resolution No. 2024-106, Ratifying the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Ceres and Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Memorandum of Understanding. (Vasquez)
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Regular City Council Meeting
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Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding where the additional funds are coming Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding the cost of the 8% wage increase.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the title of the motion and the budget amendment.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving item 9. 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
Item 13: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Resolution No. 2024-110, Approving the Purchase of One Street Sweeper Fleet Replacement from Schwarze Industries. (Royal)
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding state requirements with electric vehicles.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included grants, vehicles that are required to be electric, and if the money to purchase the street sweeper was budgeted.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving item 13. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Silveira Mayor Lopez
Casey Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Items 16: Removed for separate consideration
Resolution No. 2024-112, Approving the Memorandum of Understanding for Yosemite Community College District Funding for the Fire Training Facility Project
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Regular City Council Meeting
August 12, 2024
and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Memorandum of Understanding. (Wise)
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 16. Motion carried 4/0/0/1 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira
Yes Abstain Yes Yes Yes
NEW BUSINESS
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
17. Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-1085, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Amending Title 5, Chapter 18 Garage Sales of the City of Ceres Municipal Code to Increase the Number of Garage Sale Events to Three Per Year and to Limit the Number of Sale Days to Three Per Garage Sale Event and Add a Community Garage Sale Day. (Simvoulakis)
Community Development Director, Lea Simvoulakis, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding enforcement efforts.
Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving item 17. 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
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Regular City Council Meeting
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PUBLIC HEARING
18. Resolution No. 2024-113, Approving the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Amended Engineer's Report and Ordering the Levy of Assessments for the 1987 Landscape and Lighting District for Fiscal Year 2024-25. (Beltran) Engineering Services Director/City Engineer, Michael Beltran, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Gene Yeakley inquired about the structure of the fees.
John Warren spoke regarding the average cost to each Landscape and Lighting District in the city.
Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
Council and staff discussion included comingling of funds and landscape upkeep.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving item 18. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Silveira Mayor Lopez
Casey Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
DISCUSSION ITEMS
19. Council Referral Item - Modification of City Council Rules and Procedures to Establish a Community Event Notification Policy. (City Attorney) City Attorney, Nubia Goldstein, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez opened the item for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included consistency, equality, and inclusion on the presentation of certificates, consistent procedure for dissemination of information, continuing with the existing process of dissemination of information, and respecting fellow councilmembers.
Council consensus was not reached for this item (2/3 → No = Casey, Lopez, & Martinez).
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Regular City Council Meeting
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COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
20. City Council Budget Restructure
(Referred by Councilmember Casey)
Councilmember Casey presented the referral.
Mayor Lopez opened the item for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding spending within the budget.
John Warren spoke regarding mid-year budget reviews and budget workshops that allow for public input.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included budget structure, community workshop on the budget, public input, and placing informational on social media explaining the budget process.
Council provided consensus for staff to bring back an item on instituting a policy of a budget review process to include a review period of so many days with a mid- year review process and budget workshops (3/2 → No = Lopez & Martinez).
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report.
• City Council
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding Stanislaus Homeless Alliance meeting, housing, Tuscany Village, start of the school year, and dogs at large.
Councilmember Casey thanked Public Works for cleaning up Lions Park, using the Ceres app, and retail store closures.
Vice Mayor Silveira spoke regarding the multi-chamber mixer and the Movie Night and Car Show.
Councilmember Martinez spoke regarding Concerts in the Park, Christmas Tree Lane meeting, National Night Out, and residents of Saturn Ct.
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Regular City Council Meeting
August 12, 2024
• City Manager
Nothing to report.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report.
• Departments
Police Chief, Chris Perry, spoke regarding the academy recruit graduates, Special Olympics fundraiser, and back to school.
Redevelopment & Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding Ceres Downtown Revitalization roundtable on August 22nd at 5:30 p.m. in the Ceres Community Center.
Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer, Michael Beltran, spoke regarding traffic control and improvements on Whitmore.
• County Supervisor
Nothing to report.
CLOSED SESSION
21. Liability Claims, Cal. Gov. Code §54956.95
Claimant: Maria R. Torres
Agency Claimed Against: City of Ceres
22. Conference with Labor Negotiators, Cal Gov't Code §54957.6 (a) Agency Designated Representative: City Manager, Douglas D. Dunford and Human Resources Director, Delilah Vasquez
Employee Organization: Unrepresented (Chief of Police, Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer, Director of Community Development, Director of Finance, Director of Human Resources, Director of Public Works, City Manager)
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Lopez reported that direction was given to staff for items 21 and 22.
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on August 26, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in the Community Center at 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres, CA.
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There being no further business, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m.
Jaker Lopez, Mayor -
takon unasti
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.