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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
via ZOOM and in- person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, March 9, 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 March 9, 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 Cayden Perez Grandberry, Mae Hensley Junior High School.
PRESENTATIONS
A. Women' s History Month Proclamation
The Persephone Guild of Ceres and Soroptimist International of Ceres accepted the proclamation.
B. StanCOG Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy Chris Gregerson with Kimley- Horn gave the presentation.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
March 9, 2026
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda five minutes)
Narinder Bahia provided an update on Senator Alvarado- Gil' s office.
Ismael Ontiveros spoke regarding lighting at Costa Fields, City Manager comments, and American Rescue Plan Act ( ARPA) funds.
Jorge Guerrero spoke regarding documentation on lighting at Costa Fields and March 27thbeing opening day for Ceres Youth Baseball.
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding a Soroptimist International of Ceres event, multi- chamber mixer event, coffee and conversation event, underserved business workshop, Ceres Street Faire, and Love Ceres.
John Warren thanked the Persephone Guild of Ceres and Soroptimist International of Ceres for accepting the Women' s History Month proclamation, thanked Council for the VFW donation, spoke regarding Memorial Day services, and Copper Trails.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/ COMMISSIONS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the March 9, 2026, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, March 4, 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 26, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting.
City Clerk)
4. Approval of Minutes for the February 9, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting.
City Clerk)
5. Register of Audited Demand( s) Dated January 23, 2026, through February 18, 2026. ( Portillo)
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
March 9, 2026
6. Resolution No. 2026- 19, Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Stanislaus County Regional Apprehension Team ( RAT) for a Term of Three ( 3) Years and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the MOU. ( Johnson)
7. Resolution No. 2026- 20, Approving an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with GDR Engineering for Additional Surveying Services for the Morrow Village Phase 3 Sidewalk Improvements Project in the Amount of $ 2, 360 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment. ( Beltran)
8. Removed for separate consideration.
9. General Correspondence — Information Only
a. Annual Economic Development Report ( Aguirre)
b. Public Works Monthly Report for January 2026 ( Casas)
10. Resolution No. 2026- 22, Approving the Project Agreement to the Master Agreement for Professional Consultant Services with Westwood Professional Services in the amount of$ 26, 084. 44 for National Environmental Policy Act ( NEPA) Studies for the Moffett Road Rehabilitation Project ( 2407) and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. ( Beltran)
11. Resolution No. 2026- 23, Accepting the Annual Fire Inspection Report for 2025.
Hunter)
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1 — 7 and 9 — 11. 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 Item 8: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Resolution No. 2026- 21, Approving the Project Agreement to the Master Agreement for Professional Consultant Services with Consor North America for North Ceres Pump Station, Force Main and Downstream Up-Sizing ( New Project String) Project in the Amount of $ 971, 881. 00, Approving the Creation of a New Project String, Approving a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $ 1, 000, 000. 00, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. ( Beltran) Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the funding source.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
March 9, 2026
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included water and sewer funds.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 8. 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
12. Approving Letters of Support from the Ceres City Council to Present to Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Application ( TIRCP). ( City Manager)
City Manager, Doug Dunford, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included funding percentage and additional required support from the City.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 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
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
March 9, 2026
COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
None
REPORTS
Mayor
Mayor Lopez spoke regarding his federal advocacy trip to Washington DC and letters of support for the VFW project.
City Council
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding Stanislaus Homeless Alliance, school district meeting, Code Enforcement, chamber of commerce event, annual Easter event, and boxing event.
Vice Mayor Martinez spoke regarding the upcoming Easter event and Ceres Youth Baseball' s opening day.
City Manager
Nothing to report.
City Attorney
Nothing to report.
Departments
Engineering Director, Mike Beltran, provided an update on Hatch Road.
Redevelopment & Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding EMC and the implementation of the housing project.
Acting Deputy Public Works Director, Josh Casas, thanked Public Works staff and Joey Chavez for their efforts while on family leave.
CLOSED SESSION
None
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
None
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
March 9, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on March 23, 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 6:52 p.m. v
vier Lopez, 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. us/ agenda center.