MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
via ZOOM and in- person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, January 26, 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 26, 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 Justin Farkas.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Lainey Rossiter, Lucas Elementary Dual Language Academy.
PRESENTATIONS
None
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda five minutes)
Justin Farkas provided an update on Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 26, 2026
Jorge Guerrero spoke regarding the installation of lights at Costa Fields.
Ismael Ontiveros spoke regarding the installation of lights at Costa Fields.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
APPOI; NTM. E NT$ TaOARDSIGOM: MIS$ IONS;
A. Planning Commission Interviews and Appointment
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 continuing the interviews to a future date and Planning Commissioner duties.
Council conducted Planning Commission interviews.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving the appointment of Robert Gobble to the Planning Commission. Motion carried 5/0/010 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
MayorLopezCaseyVierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONSENT CALENDAR
1 Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the January 26, 2026, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 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)
3. Approval of Minutes for the January 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting.
City Clerk)
4. Register of Audited Demand( s) Dated December 16, 2025, through January 7, 2026. ( Portillo)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 26, 2026
5. Resolution 2026 -XX, Approving Contract Amendment No. 1 with Alpine Protective Solutions to Provide Private Security Services to Patrol City Parks for an Annual Amount of $ 80,300, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment.
Royal)
This item was pulled by staff and not considered by the Ceres City Council.
6. Removed for separate consideration.
7. Removed for separate consideration.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1 — 4. Motion carried 5/ 0/0/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM( S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 6: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution 2026- 06, Authorizing the City Manager to Accept the Donation of a Fully Outfitted Ford F- 150 Truck for Police Department SWAT Operations and to Complete the Transfer of Ownership from the Ceres Police Department SWAT Association to the City of Ceres. ( Johnson)
Councilmember Otero spoke regarding the City affording essential vehicles for staff and the long-term plan for vehicles needed in the future.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included a strategic plan for the Police Department and City reliance on donations.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving item 6. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember
Casey
Councilmember
Vierra
Councilmember
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez
Mayor Lopez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 26, 2026
Item 7: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Case Consideration to Cancel the Regularly Scheduled City Council Meeting of February 23, 2026. ( City Manager)
Councilmember Casey requested to put off deciding on whether to cancel the meeting until February
9th.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding cancelling meetings before the adoption of the City budget.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included cancelled meetings due to holidays and planning for future meetings.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 7. Motion carried 312/0/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
No Yes No Yes Yes
UKFINISHED BUSINESS
8. Resolution No. 2026- 07, Approving the Formation of the Military Appreciation Committee.
Recreation Manager, Joey Chavez, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding his support of the program and past members of the committee.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding members on the committee and collaborating with the committee for Love Ceres.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 26,, 2026
Council and staff discussion included purpose and responsibility of the committee, committee members, number of committee members, recruiting for committee members, council approval for committee ideas, financial decisions by the committee, use of City funds, Christmas Tree Lane committee, inviting past committee members first, fund balance of donations for the committee, and criteria to be a committee member.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving the formation of the Military Appreciation Committee, going out to past members first, the committee consisting of five citizens, two
councilmembers, the Recreation Manager and expenses
from the General Fund come before the City Council for
approval. Motion carried 51010/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PUBLIC HEARING
We=
NEW BUSINESS.
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS.
9. Ceres Community Foundation Discussion
Requested by Councilmember Otero on Januaty 2, 2026)
Councilmember Otero introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Ray Smith spoke regarding community input, how the foundation attained the money, how people can find out about foundation activities, and how/who will make decisions on how money is spent.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding the history of the foundation and funds raised for
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 26, 2026
the Ceres water tower
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included board member formation, separate foundation that does not come before Council for approval, membership appointment, City Council' s involvement with the foundation, how are recommendations made to select members, public notification of member recruitment, public notice requirements for non - profits, criteria for members, amending the bylaws, and transparency.
REPORTS
Mayor
Nothing to report.
City Council
Vice Mayor Martinez congratulated award winners of the Community Services Awards.
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding Dutch Bros grand opening, Stanislaus Homeless Alliance, Point - in -Time Count, Public Works Director, Sam Royal' s, upcoming retirement, Community Services Awards, Ceres Garden Club, Howard Prep tour, and shopping local.
Councilmember Casey spoke regarding a forensic audit of the City, reporting mobile food vendors, and Ceres cemetery.
City Manager
Nothing to report.
City Attorney
Nothing to report.
Departments
Assistant Fire Chief, Andrew Hunter, spoke regarding computer aided dispatch and its benefits.
Redevelopment & Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding Dutch Bros grand opening, an upcoming finance fundamental workshop, and partnering with Ceres Equity Partners.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
January 26, 2026
Public Works Director, Sam Royal, spoke regarding free community disposable event.
CLOSED SESSION
None
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on February 9, 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: 34 p.m. 10ier L71, 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. usl agenda center.