OF
CITY
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
(via ZOOM and in-person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, January 12, 2026, 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 12, 2026, 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 Tim Giannosa, Big Valley Grace Community Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Rebecca Buenrostro, Central Valley High School.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Recognize Outgoing Planning Commissioner, David Johnson CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes)
The American Legion presented Recreation Manager, Joey Chavez, with a certificate of appreciation.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 12, 2026
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
B. Selecting Interview Format for Upcoming Planning Commission Interviews City Clerk, Fallon Martin, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included sub-committee interviews and open-meeting interviews.
Action: Motion by • Councilmember Otero, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving the upcoming Planning
Commission interviews to be conducted in an open-meeting format. Motion carried 3/2/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes No No
C. Confirmation of the 2026 Mayoral Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included fairness, equal representation, input from fellow councilmembers, and the Brown Act.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving the 2026 City Council Committee
Appointments. Motion carried 5/0/070 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 12, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the January 12, 2026, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (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 8, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk)
4. Register of Audited Demands) Dated November 19, 2025, through December 10, 2025. (Portillo)
5. Resolution No. 2026-01, Authorizing the City Manager to Approve a Firearm Buyback through LC Action. (Johnson)
6. Resolution No. 2026-02, Authorizing Staff to Purchase Military Equipment as Required by AB 481. (Johnson)
Resolution No. 2026-03, Approving a Professional Services Agreement with SZS Engineering Access, Inc., for Preparation of the Citywide ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update in the Amount of $351,770, Approving a Budget Amendment, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement, and Adding this Project to the Capitol Improvement List Including Creating a New Project String. (Beltran)
8. Resolution No. 2026-04, Approving a Five-Year Service Agreement with Motorola Solutions for ScoutCare Dispatch Console Radio Software Maintenance for a Total Cost of $39,953.25 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Johnson)
General Correspondence - Information Only
a. Public Works Monthly Report for November 2025 (Royal)
10. and Authorizing an Overall Project Allocation for Additional Railroad Coordination and Costs. (Beltran)
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1 - 10. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 12, 2026
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Vierra Martinez Mayor Lopez
Casey Otero
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
Review Planning Commission Guidelines in the Ceres Municipal Code (Requested at the dais by Councilmember Casey on January 12, 2026) *Food Vendor Audits by Code Enforcement and Quarterly Reports on Sales Tax Collected (Requested at the dais by Councilmember Casey on January 12, 2026) *Same referral was made on October 13, 2025, and was brought before City Council on November 10, 2025, with no consensus.
REPORTS
• Mayor
Mayor Lopez requested an update from the upcoming Stanislaus Animal Services Agency meeting.
• City Council
Vice Mayor Martinez thanked City staff and various individuals and organizations for their efforts related to the Christmas parade.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 12, 2026
Councilmember Otero thanked Modesto Fire Department for visiting Ceres with their lit-up fire truck playing Christmas music, sales tax survey, financial documents on the City's website, and Council to reconsider conducting a forensic financial audit.
Councilmember Vierra thanked everyone involved with the Christmas parade and festivities, spoke regarding new businesses that have opened and closed, Economic Development Action Committee, Ceres Garden Club, Stanislaus Homeless Alliance meeting, Point-in-Time Count, and requested an update on Lazy Wheels and Tuscany Village.
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding illegal food vendors and a forensic financial audit, and thanked staff for the Christmas festivities. • City Manager
City Manager, Doug Dunford, spoke regarding Lazy Wheels, stated there will be a Stanislaus Animal Services Agency meeting on January 15, 2026, and provided an update on the past Kmart building.
• City Attorney
Nothing to report.
• Departments
Nothing to report.
CLOSED SESSION
11. Conference with Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code § 54956.9(d): (1 case)
12. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code § 54956.9 Name of Case: Ashley Ranuio et al. v. City of Ceres et al., Stanislaus Superior Court Case Number: CV-25-009856
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 stated directions were provided to staff.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 12, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on January 26, 2026, 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 7:15 p.m.
Javier Lopez, Mayor
Faulon 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.