MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, August 25, 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 August 25, 2025, meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present:
Mayor: Javier Lopez
Vice Mayor: Daniel A. Martinez (District 4)
Councilmembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Cerina Otero (District 3)
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Present Present Absent Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Stan Risen, Big Valley Grace Community Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Code Enforcement Presentation
Code Enforcement staff gave the presentation.
Council and staff discussion included Independence Park, CARE, and street vendors.
B. Stanislaus Animal Services Agency (SASA) Presentation
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 25, 2025
Lily Yap gave the presentation.
Council and staff discussion included after hour calls, SASA phone tree, low-cost vaccination clinics, and call out stats for FY 2023/24.
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Justin Farkas spoke regarding updates on Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office.
John Warren spoke regarding the VFW and American Legion's Patriots Day (September 11th) event, Code Enforcement presentation, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding a non-profit mixer, ribbon cutting for WoodSpring Suites, golf tournament, and the one table one community events.
Gene Yeakley spoke regarding trespassing, child abuse, and thanked Code Enforcement.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the August 25, 2025, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (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 August 11, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk)
Register of Audited Demands) Dated July 30, 2025, through August 6, 2025. (Esenwein)
Resolution No. 2025-101, Authorizing an Application Submittal to the U.S.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance for a 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. (Johnson)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 25, 2025
6. Resolution No. 2025-102, Approving the Project Agreement to the Master Agreement for Professional Consultant Services with Kleinfelder, Inc., for Construction Observation and Materials Testing Services for the Hatch Road 18" Transmission Line Ph2 (2525) Project in the Amount of $31,701.06, Approving a $10,000 Contingency, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Beltran)
7. Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-1090, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Adding Section 5.19.000, Definitions, Amending Section 5.19.040 - Eligible Organizations, Section 5.19.080 - Chief of Police Investigation, Amending Section 5.19.090 from Summary Suspension or Revocation to Renewal of Permit to Operate, Section 5.19.100 from Enforcement to Bingo Location Security, Adding Section 5.19.110 - Conduct of Games, Section 5.19.120 - Financial Records, and Section 5.19.130 - Enforcement, of the Ceres Municipal Code. (Johnson)
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1 - 7. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Absent Yes Yes
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Adding Chapter 10, Tobacco and Smoke Shop Restrictions, to Title 6, Health and Sanitation, of the Ceres Municipal Code. (Johnson)
Police Chief, Trenton Johnson, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Mike Warda spoke regarding illegal operations of smoke shops, live security, affect smoke shops have on cannabis shops, product lists, and application process.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 25, 2025
David Cisneros spoke in support of the ordinance, effectiveness of this ordinance in other cities, undercover purchases at smoke shops, and survey data.
Ava Alvarado spoke regarding smoking and vaping in schools and the effect the ordinance will have on students.
Katie Moosespoke regarding enforcement with the proposed ordinance.
Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
Council and staff discussion included concerns with tobacco use in schools, investigating, cap on smoke shops in Ceres, current number of smoke shops in Ceres, private security, product list, and thanks to Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 8. Motion carried 3/1/1/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Martinez Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero
No Yes Absent Yes Yes
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution No. 2025-103, Approving the Allocation of $750, 108.30 for Fiscal Year 2025/26 and $600,086.68 for Fiscal Year 2026/27 and Approving a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $750,108.30 for Fiscal Year 2025/26 for Fire Risk Management Services Medical Benefits Coverage Special Assessment. (Vasquez) Human Resources Director, Delilah Vasquez, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included employee coverage through the calendar year, estimated total cost, City representative on the Fire Risk Management Services board or attending the board meetings, what the total cost is based on, timeline of notification, and how the City will be moving forward with health insurance coverage.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 9. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Absent Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 25, 2025
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
Presentation on Attorney Fees
(Requested by Councilmember Vierra)
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report
• City Council
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding MCERT, Coffee with a Cop, Measure H meeting, book signing at BK Bookstore & More, and Tuscany Village.
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding September 11th and the meaning behind the POW flag and MIA flag.
• City Manager
Nothing to report.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report
• Departments
Redevelopment & Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding business licenses and going live with HdL.
CLOSED SESSION
10. 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: Tom Mitsopoulas vs. City of Ceres; Stanislaus Superior Court Case No. CV-24-009325
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 25, 2025
11. Conference with Labor Negotiators, Cal Gov't Code §54957.6(a) of representation."
Agency Designated Representative: 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
Mayor Lopez introduced Closed Session item #10 and announced that Closed Session item #11 had been cancelled.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Lopez reported that staff has been given direction.
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on September 8, 2025, 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 7:57 p.m.
Javier Lopez, Mayol
Savan casti
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.