OF
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, October 14, 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 October 14, 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 Tim Giannosa, Big Valley Grace Community Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Respiratory Care Week Proclamation
The following individuals accepted the proclamation:
• Raj Sandhu, Respiratory Care Services Manager at Emanuel Medical Center
• Lori Auw, Cardiopulmonary Services Manager, Memorial Medical Center • Justin Camara, Respiratory Services Manager, Doctors Medical Center
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Dave Pratt spoke regarding gravel, soil, and standing water at Neel Park.
Amin Vohra spoke regarding the ribbon cutting of Tuscany Village on October 21st at 10:00 a.m.
Hardeep Gil spoke regarding the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ceres Grub Hub on October 22nd at 10:00 a.m.
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Gin Turnbow regarding a political flyer sent out by Mayor Javier Lopez.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
B. Planning Commission Appointment
Community Development Director, Lea Simvoulakis, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez made a recommendation to the City Council to appoint Dorie Perez and Ruldip (RJ) Jammu to the Planning Commission.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke.
Dorie Perez spoke regarding her desire to be involved and thanked the Council for their consideration.
Ruldip (RJ) Jammu spoke regarding being on the Planning Commission once again.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the number of applicants.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving the appointment of Dorie Perez and Ruldip (RJ Jammu to the Ceres Planning
Commission. 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
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the October 14, 2024 City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, October 9, 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)
Approval of Minutes for the September 23, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk)
Register if Audited Demand(s) Dated September 18, 2024 through October 2, 2024. (Esenwein)
General Correspondence - Information Only
a. Redevelopment & Economic Development Report for July - August 2024 (Aguirre)
Resolution No. 2024-137, Accepting the Annual Fire Inspection Report for 2023. (Bickle)
Removed for separate consideration.
Removed for separate consideration.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving items 1 - 6. 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
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 7: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Resolution No. 2024-138, Approving the Downtown Revitalization Project (New Project String) and Approving a Budget Amendment. (Beltran)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding the involvement of downtown with this project.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding involvement of downtown business owners with improvements, how the improvements impact businesses, and intended use of Measure L funds.
John Warren spoke regarding the use of Measure L funds, projected cost for the project, including construction.
Dave Pratt spoke regarding the cost of the project, fee increases, Mitchell Road and Service Road interchange, ACE train, and a budget deficit.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included cost of the construction, funding for construction, Measure L funding, phasing the project, the streets included in the project, public input for projects, how projects are prioritized, and how the project was chosen.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving item 7. 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 8: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Resolution No. 2024-139, Approving the Purchase of One Wastewater Division Ford F350 with Dump Bed Attachment and One Public Works F650 Auto Crane Chassis Fleet Replacement from Rush Truck Centers. (Royal) Councilmember Casey spoke regarding price comparison with other Ford dealerships.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the price guarantee the vehicle comes with.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
Action: Motion by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Vice Mayor Silveira, approving item 8. 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
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution No. 2024-140, Authorizing the City Manager's Request to Unfreeze Police Officer Positions and Approving a Budget Amendment. (City Manager)
City Manager, Doug Dunford, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke.
John Warren spoke regarding filling the existing vacant positions before unfreezing the positions.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included requirements for reserves, the number of officers leaving the organization, overtime budget, funding for the Street Crimes Unit, AB 109 funding, and transferring money prior to the completion of an audit.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Silveira, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving item 9. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Martinez Silveira Mayor Lopez
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
DISCUSSION ITEMS
10. Proposed Leaf and Limb Collection Service Addition and Program Information Update. (Royal)
Public Works Director, Sam Royal, will present the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke.
John Warren spoke in favor of the proposal without having to raise rates and educating the public.
Dave Pratt spoke regarding people not following the solid waste disposal rules and fee per pick-up.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding educating people and process for citing offenders.
Toni Cordell spoke regarding enforcement
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included future solid waste rate increases, size of the bin, illegal dump fines and account, pickup schedule, administration of education and outreach, access to the bin once delivered, and bulky item pickup.
Council provided consensus for staff to negotiate a system with Bertolotti from end of leaf and limb (January 9th) to beginning of leaf and limb (October 1st) of each year where the customer can make an appointment with Bertolotti for drop off and pick up of a two-yard bin and the City will subsidize the cost by $55. In addition, staff to bring back how illegal dumping fines can help support the program (4/1 → No = Martinez).
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
11. Removing City Council Stipends, Health Benefits, Training, & Travel (Referred by Councilmember Casey)
Councilmember Casey presented the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke.
John Warren spoke regarding the cost of providing health insurance for councilmembers and that elected officials should not receive the same benefits as staff members.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
Shirley Rogers spoke in favor of John Warren's comments.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included required trainings, hindering the ability of council based on the elected officials social-economic level, and council benefits of other cities.
Council did not reach a consensus on this referral (1/4 → No = Vierra, Martinez, Silveria, Lopez).
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report.
• City Council
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding Stanislaus Housing Authority meeting, Tuscany Village ribbon cutting, Christmas Tree Lane parade, and League of California Cities Annual Conference.
Councilmember Martinez spoke regarding Trunk or Treat and the Crosstown Showdown Parade.
Vice Mayor Silveira spoke regarding Crosstown Showdown. • City Manager
Nothing to report.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report.
• Departments
Nothing to report.
• County Supervisor
Nothing to report.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
October 14, 2024
CLOSED SESSION
12. Public Employee Performance Evaluation, Cal. Gov't Code §54957(b)(1) Title: City Manager
Title: City Attorney
13. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code §54956.9(d)(2)
"For the purposes of this section, litigation shall be considered pending when any of the following circumstances exist... A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the legislative body of the local agency on the advice of its legal counsel, based on existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the local agency." Potential Case: 1 case
14. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code §54956.9(d)(1)
"For purposes of this section, litigation shall be considered pending when any of the following circumstances exist... Litigation, to which the local agency is a party, has been initiated formally." Name of Case: Berlier vs. City of Ceres; City of Ceres Police Chief, Christopher Perry; Stanislaus County Superior Court Case No. CS-24-007723
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Lopez reported there was no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on October 28, 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 9:17 p.m.
Javier Lopez, Mayor
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.