OF
*
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, January 13, 2025 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 January 13, 2025 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present:
Mayor: Javier Lopez
Councilmembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Cerina Otero (District 3) Daniel A. Martinez (District 4)
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
Councilmember Mayor
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember
Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
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. Recognize Outgoing Planning Commissioners Robert Kachel and Gary Del Nero Gary Del Nero and Robert Kachel accepted a plaque recognizing their time served on the Planning Commission.
B. Design-Build Institute of America - National Award of Merit Recipient (Regional Surface Water Supply Project)
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Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
City of Turlock's Municipal Services Director, Chris Fisher, presented the council with an award from the Design-Build Institute of America for the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority surface water supply project.
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Supervisor Chance Condit spoke regarding a community clean-up event that will be hosted during spring (late March or early April) at Central Valley High School.
Ceres Garden Club presented a Penny Pines certificate to Recreation Manager, Joey Chavez and Mayor Lopez.
John Silveira spoke regarding traffic mitigation, illegal fireworks, and fines associated with illegal fireworks.
Frank Johnson presented Police Chief, Chris Perry, with a plaque for his service to the Ceres community.
Shirley Rogers spoke regarding her appointment to District 5 of the Stanislaus County's Commission on Aging.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding the Chamber of Commerce's Community Service Awards being held Friday, January 17th
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding community participation and attendance at City Council meetings, push bars on the senior lounge door in the Community Center, wished Councilmember Otero luck in her newly elected position, and encouraged attendance at the Stanislaus County's Commission on Aging.
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Princee Vice regarding committee appointments.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
C. Appointment of a Vice Mayor for a Two-Year Term
Mayor Lopez introduced the item and recommended Councilmember Martinez to serve a two-year term as Vice Mayor.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
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Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding inquiries from other Councilmembers expressing their desire to serve as Vice Mayor.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Mayor Lopez, seconded by Councilmember Vartinez, approving the appointment of Councilmember
Martinez to Vice Mayor. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Mayor Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Lopez
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Confirmation of the 2025 Mayoral Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Mayor Lopez introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included whether councilmembers were consulted on their availability and preferences, Councilmember Vierra being removed from all but one committee and past practice in previous years.
Council made the recommendation to make the following changes to the "2025 City Council Committee Appointments":
• Surface Water Joint Powers Authority Board (SRWA)
Remove Councilmember Otero and add Councilmember Casey
• West Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (JPA) Remove Vice Mayor Martinez and Councilmember Otero and add Councilmember Casey and Councilmember Vierra as an alternate • Stanislaus Homeless Alliance
Remove Councilmember Casey and add Councilmember Vierra Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember the 2025 City Council Committee
Appointments with the above-mentioned changes. Motion
carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Martinez Mayor Lopez
Casey Otero
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
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Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the January 13, 2025 City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (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)
Approval of Minutes for the December 9, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk)
4. Arily Clar of Minutes for the December 9, 2024 Special City Council Meeting
5. Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated November 20, 2024 through December 11, 2024. (Esenwein)
6. Resolution No. 2025-01, Approving the General Services Agreement for the Planning and Engineering Security Improvements Project to Artisan Design Group, Inc., Authorizing a 5% Contingency, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Beltran)
7. Item not considered per Amendment #1 of the Agenda.
8. Resolution No. 2025-02, Approving the Acceptance of the State of California Office of Traffic Safety Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant and Approves a Budget Amendment to Appropriate the Funds. (Perry)
Resolution No. 2025-03, Approving Payment to Don Pedro Pump Company for Emergency Booster Pump Repairs Performed at Blaker Reservoir Water Tanks. (Royal)
10. General Correspondence - Information Only
a. Public Works Monthly Report for November 2024 (Royal)
11. Resolution No. 2025-04, Approving Amendment 2 for the Memorandum of Understanding with the Stanislaus Council of Governments for the Final Suballocation of the Regional Early Action Planning Grant, Authorizing a Budget Amendment, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment. (Simvoulakis)
12. Resolution No. 2025-05, Approving a Two (2) Year Agreement with Turlock Youth Sports Foundation for Organization and Conduct of Adult Basketball and
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Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Chavez)
13. Removed for separate consideration.
14. Removed for separate consideration.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1-6 and 8-12. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Items 13: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-06, Approving a Two (2) Year Agreement with Turlock Youth Sports Foundation for Organization and Conduct of Youth Basketball Programs and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Chavez) Councilmember Otero spoke regarding the location of the program, the program replacing the current Hoopsters program, and length of the agreement.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 13. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Items 14: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Resolution No. 2025-07, Approving the Construction Contract with Paradigm Construction, Inc. for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Administration Building Upgrade, Authorizing a 20% Contingency and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Royal)
Councilmember Vierra wanted to confirm the building administration upgrades will not conflict with the Energy Services Project for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements and Upgrades.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren congratulated Councilmember Otero on her newly elected position and confirmed the upgrades are permanent and will not be changed with the Energy Services Project.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor 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 Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
15. Consideration of Removal of the Fishing Restriction at the River Bluff Regional Park Lower Terrace Retention Pond. (Royal)
Public Works Director, Sam Royal, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Silvera spoke regarding the cost of repairs to be used on other things such as traffic.
John Warren spoke regarding the life of the liner.
Frank Johnson inquired as to whether the liner is repairable.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding lining the pond with concrete.
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Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Shirley Rogers inquired about the purpose of the pond.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the age of the liner, manufacturer's recommendation on when to replace the liner, using repair funds for other areas, and looking at the Ceres City Council Strategic Plan.
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
Update the Ceres City Council Strategic Plan
(Requested by Councilmember Otero)
Creating a Volunteer Group to Assist Code Enforcement
(Requested by Vice Mayor Martinez)
Improve Communication and Outreach on Public Hearings
(Requested by Councilmember Casey)
Establish a Committee to Review the Modesto City Fire Contract (Requested by Councilmember Casey)
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report.
• City Council
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding a vehicle accident at Morgan Rd. and San Pedro Ave., Tuscany Village back on the market, Stanislaus County Recovery Center, and transitional housing.
Councilmember Otero thanked City staff for welcoming her onto the Council. • City Manager
Nothing to report.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report.
• Departments
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Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Police Chief, Chris Perry, spoke regarding three recruits who were sent to the academy have graduated and are now officers with the Ceres Police Department and four new police officers and two new dispatchers were sworn in.
Public Works Director, Sam Royal, spoke regarding the leaf & limb program ending January 9th
CLOSED SESSION
16. 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
17. 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 followin ircumstances exist... Litigation, to which the local agency is a party, has been initiated formally.
Name of Case: Tom Mitsopoulas vs. City of Ceres; Stanislaus Superior Court Case No. CV-24-009325
18. Liability Claims, Cal. Gov. Code §54956.95
Claimant: Whitmore Stations, Inc./Gurdip Ghag
Agency Claimed Against: City of Ceres
Mayor Lopez introduced the Closed Session items.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Items 16 and 17:
• Mayor Lopez reported that direction has been given to staff.
Item 18:
• Mayor Lopez reported the item was accepted with a 5/0/0/0 vote.
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on January 27, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in the Community Center at 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres, CÁ.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
There being no further business, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m. an e
Javier Loßez, Mayor
Talon mast
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.