OF
CIT CERES,
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, September 22, 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 September 22, 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 Present Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Jim Stochl, Harvest Presbyterian Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Camila Torrez, Carroll Fowler Elementary School.
PRESENTATIONS
A. National Fire Prevention Week Proclamation
Modesto Fire Department accepted the proclamation.
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
Justin Farkas spoke regarding updates on Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
Joe Spani spoke regarding Modesto Fire Department's Fire Ops 101 training, ride-a- longs, and burn container drill.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding ribbon cutting for Corazón Azteca and WoodSpring Suites, golf tournament, and the one table one community events.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
Councilmember Casey abstained from item #12.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the September 22, 2025, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 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)
3. Approval of Minutes for the August 25, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk)
4. Register of Audited Demands) Dated August 27, 2025, through September 3, 2025. (Esenwein)
Resolution No. 2025-115, Accepting the Lucchesi Lane Sewer Rehabilitation Project as Complete, Authorizing the Release of the Remaining Retention to the Contractor, and Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion. (Beltran) Resolution No. 2025-116, Accepting the Ochoa Park Phase II Improvements as Complete, Approving the Balancing Contract Change Order, Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion, and Authorizing the Release of the Remaining Retention to the Contractor. (Beltran)
7. Resolution No. 2025-117, Ratifying the Applications to Stanislaus Council of Governments for the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Grant and the Surface Transportation Block Grant to Reimburse up to 80% of the Design and Construction of Eight (8) Projects. (Beltran)
8. Removed for separate consideration.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
9. Removed for separate consideration.
10. Removed for separate consideration.
11. Resolution No. 2025-XXX, Approving an Agreement with the Lew Edwards Group to Provide Planning, Communication and Engagement Services for Quality-of-Life Vision, Approving a Budget Amendment, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (City Manager)
*This item was pulled by staff and not considered by the Ceres City Council.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, 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 Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 7. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 8: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-118, Approving a Three-Year Professional Services Agreement with MuniService LLC in the Amount of $9,825.00 for Sales, Use and Transaction Tax Audit and Recovery Audit Services, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Esenwein)
Councilmember Otero inquired as to why staff recommends MuniService.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included other vendors, cost of other vendors, past experience, and MuniService capabilities.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving item 8. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Otero Martinez Mayor Lopez
Casey
Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Item 9: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-119, Approving the Elimination of One (1) Vacant Administrative Secretary Position and Adding One (1) Planning Technician Position. (Aguirre)
Councilmember Otero spoke regarding level of customer service and the vacancy versus elimination of the position.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding past staffing levels of the Planning Division and increasing the duties of the Administrative Secretary position.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included required experience, Planning Commission attendance, forward facing with customers, existing position, amending staff report to remove elimination of the position, and advanced communication for this type of item.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Otero, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving the vacancy of one (1)
unfunded Administrative Secretary position and adding one (1) Planning Technician position. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Item 10: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-120, Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Gouveia Engineering in the amount of $35,000.00 for Principal Planner Services and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (City Manager) Councilmember Otero spoke regarding the existing Gouveia Engineering contract.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
Council and staff discussion included the purpose of the Northstar Engineering Group contract, how Gouveia Engineering was selected, conflict between the Gouveia Engineering contract and Planning Technician position.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 10. 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
12. Resolution No. 2025-121, Approving the Appeal of Planning Commission's Approval of Conditional Use Permit Application Number 24-25 for the Truck Stop Grub Hub and Outdoor Music Venue Located at 1379 E. Whitmore Avenue, Ceres, CA (APNs: 040-089-033, -034, -035). (City Attorney)
City Attorney, Nubia Goldstein, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Ashley Ranuio confirmed the Ceres City Council received a letter from their attorney.
John Warren spoke regarding a contradiction between the Planning Commission and City Council.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included timeframe to review documents, purpose of the item, and the process if the item is not approved.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 12. Motion carried 4/0/0/1 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Mayor Lopez
Abstain Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
PUBLIC HEARING
13. Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Amending Title 13 - Water and Sewer, Chapter 3 - Rates and Charges, Section 030 - Water Connection Fee, of the Ceres Municipal Code. (Beltran) Engineering Director, Mike Beltran, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
Council and staff discussion included ensuring the City would not be losing money with the proposed charges, the equation, and a service to use for tracking and calculating usage.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 13. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
14. Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Amending Title 15, Building and Construction, Chapter 8, California Fire Code, of the Ceres Municipal Code to Adopt the 2025 California Fire Code. (Bickle) Deputy Fire Chief, Dave Bickle, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving item 14. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
NEW BUSINESS
15. Resolution No. 2025-XXX, Authorizing the Increase of the City Manager's Signing Authority from $25,000 to $250,000 for On-Call Engineering Contract Task Orders. (Beltran)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
Engineering Director, Mike Beltran, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included how often task orders exceed $25,000, council and public oversight, future leadership, and communication. *Item failed due to lack of a motion.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
16. Review City Attorney Cost
(Requested by Councilmember Vierra at the August 25, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting)
Councilmember Vierra introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included what kind of format they would like the information, deliverables, and register of audited demands.
Council provided consensus for staff to bring back a review of City Attorney costs. (5/1 → No = Casey)
REFERRAL REQUESTS
Staffing Levels and Recruitments
(Requested by Vice Mayor Martinez)
REPORTS
• Mayor
Nothing to report
• City Council
Vice Mayor Martinez thanked the VFW and American Legion for the 9/11 event and mentioned Trunk-or-Treat.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding Code Enforcement, Senior Prom, Night Market, the Kabbadi Event, and thanked the Police Department.
Councilmember Casey thanked the Police Department for their response to an incident.
• City Manager
Nothing to report.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report
• Departments
Engineering Director, Mike Beltran, spoke regarding the ADA Ramp & Preservation Project and the Hatch Road Water Main Transmission Main Project.
Recreation Manager, Joey Chavez, spoke regarding the Senior Prom and Night Market.
Assistant Fire Chief, Andrew Hunter, spoke regarding the Fire Ops 101 training.
CLOSED SESSION
17. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, Cal Gov't Code §54956.9 "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: Charanjit "Sunny" Ghai; Ghai Management Services, Inc. vs. City of Ceres City Council, et al. Stanislaus County Superior Court Case Number: CV- 25-008787
Mayor Lopez introduced Closed Session.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Lopez reported there was no reportable action.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
September 22, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on October 13, 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, Mayor
tauon wasti
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.