MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
via ZOOM and in -person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, June 8, 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 June 8, 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 Absent Present Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Joseph Spani.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Olivia and Claire Spani.
PRESENTATIONS
1 rem
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda five minutes)
Brandy Meyer spoke regarding an upcoming job fair, ribbon cutting ceremony, chamber mixer, September golf tournament, and the One Table, One Community event.
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8, 2026
Galen Guzman spoke regarding the Measure H meeting, forensic audit on Measure H funds, Measure H committee transparency, raised hands on Zoom, State of the City, civic engagement, and the previous Measure H interview process.
City Clerk, Fallon : Martin, dread an email into the record, from Elijah ( no last name) regarding Councilmember Vierra during an incident near Strawberry Fields Park and establishing clearer guidelines regarding elected officials' use of photography and social media during active police or emergency incidents in residential areas. ill
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1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the June 8, 2026, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. ( City Clerk)
2. Waive Readings. All Readings of Ordinances and Resolutions are Waived. ( Waive readings in fuI1 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 April 27, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting.
City Clerk)
4. Register of Audited Dem' and( s) Dated April 29, 2026, through May 28, 2026.
Portillo)
5. Removed for separate consideration.
6. Removed for separate consideration.
7. Removed for separate consideration.
8. Resolution No. 2026- 59, Approving a Contract with the California Department of Correbtions &: Rehabilitation for their Use of the Police Department Range for a Term of Five, ( 5-},:fears at -.a Use Rate of $ 2, 100. 00 Per Year and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Contract. ( Johnson) ResolutionNo. 2025= 60, Accepting the Hatch Road 18" Water Transmission Main Phase 2 Project as Complete; Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion;
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8, 2026
and Authorizing the Release of the Remaining Retention to the Contractor.
Beltran)
10. Resolution No. 2026- 61, Ordering the Filing of the Engineer' s Report for the Landscape and Lighting *Maintenance Assessment District for Fiscal Year 2026-
27. ( Beltran)
11. Removed for separate consideration.
12. Resolution No. 2026- 62, 1
Ratifying the Memorandum of Understanding betwee
the City of Ceres and Laborers' International Union of North America ( LiUNA!) an authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Memorandum o Understanding. ( Vasquez) ) I
Action: ftotnn+_ v - _1
Vierra, approving items 1 — 4, 8- 10,& 12. Motion carried 4/ 0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember
Casey
Councilmember
Vierr a
Councilmember
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez
Mayor Lopez
Resolution - No.. 2026- 56., Approving a Donation of $ 1, 000 to Ceres Pups Wrestling Club as Requested by Vice Mayor Daniel A. Martinez. ( Portillo) Resolution No. 2026- 57 , Approving a Donation of $ 1, 000 to Ceres Jr. Bulldogs Youth Football & Cheer as Requested by Vice Mayor Daniel A. Martinez. ( Portillo) Jill J I I I illJ JillJ
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Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public epoke:
Shirley Rogers spoke regarding unused funds being rolled over to the next fiscal year.
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8, 2026
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Mayor Lopez, approving item 5. Motion carried 3/ 1/ 110by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember
Casey
Councilmember
Vierra
Councilmember
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez
Mayor Lopez
No Absent Yes Yes Yes
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Mayor Lope approving item 6. Motion carried 3/ 1/ 110by the following roll caI vote: I
Councilmember
Casey
Councilmember
Vierra
Councilmember
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez Mayor Lopez
No Absent Yes Yes Yes
11111 ON I lI
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Resolution No. 2026- 58, Accepting the 2024 Pavement Preservation as Complete, and Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion, and Authorizing the Release of the Remaining Retention to the Contractor. ( Beltran) r I
1TI-layor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving item 7 contingent on the payment of second sub- tier., contractors. Motion carried 4/ 0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember
Casey - - ---------------------- - -- -----
Councilmember
Vierra
ncil member
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez
Mayor Lopez
Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2026- 1099, Amendin, Chapter 10. 17, Section 10.. 17. 010, Speed Limits, of the Ceres Municipal Code t Reestablish the Prima Facie Speed Limits on Various Street Segments in the Cit of Ceres Based on the 2026 Engineering and Traffic Survey. ( Beltran) Councilmember Otero spoke regarding the reduction of speed in certain areas.
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Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included lowering the speed limit on Eastgate, analyzing Boothe Road and Moffett Road, ordinance amendment, and additional fees for signage.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Otero, seconded by
Councilmem' ber Casey, approving item 11. Motion carried 3/ 1/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember
Casey
Councilmember
Vierra
Councilmember
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez
Mayor Lopez
Yes Absent Yes No Yes
13. Resolution No. 2026- 63, Adopting the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 Beginning July 1, 2026, and Ending June 30, 2027, and Approving Positions for Fiscal Year 2027. ( Portillo)
Resolution No. 2026- 64, Adopting Appropriations Limitations for Fiscal Year 2027.
Portillo)
Finance Director, Vanessa Portillo, presented the item.
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Tnayor Lopez opened the public hearing for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Shirley Rogers spoke regarding eliminating a recreation position, representation for each district during budget meetings, and the Whitmore Mansion.
John Warren spoke regarding reductions in places other than Recreation, Peco fire station, staff overtime, and labor group' s memorandums of understanding. i Galen Guzman spoke regarding City department goals, availability of the budget, fire service call information, and police department statistics.
Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
Council and staff discussion included Recreation staffing and annual cost, surplus funds, Trunk - or - Treat, Christmas Tree Lane event, cost of Planning Commission
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8,, 2026
travel and training, reducing health benefits for electeds, and reducing the stipend for electeds by 50%.
Vice Mayor Martinez made a motion adopting the annual budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and funding the full- time Recreation Coordinator through December 31, 2026.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by MayorL. opez, to rescind Vice Mayor Martinez' s motion. Motion carried 4/ 0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopezz
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
A
6R.
Aft
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Absent Yes Yes Yes
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Mayor Lopez, to approve the adoption of appropriations limitations for Fiscal Year 2027. Motion carried 4/ 011/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Yes Absent Yes Yes Yes
14. Resolution No. 2026- 65, Approving an Amended and Restated Agreement to Provide Fire Protection Services between the City of Modesto and the City of Ceres and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Agreement. ( Hunter) Assistant Fire Chief, Andrew Hunter, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8, 2026
V. 0
Joseph Spani spoke regarding what Modesto Fire offers the community and involvement of Modesto Fire in the Ceres community.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included involvement of Modesto Fire in the Ceres community, necessary resources provided, citizen communication, and seeking other contract services for fire.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Mayor Javier Lopez, approving item 14. Motion carried 311/ 11/0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember
Casey
Councilmember
Vierra
Councilmember
Otero
Vice Mayor
Martinez
Mayor Lopez
No Absent Yes Yes Yes
15. Review Planning Commission Guidelines in the Ceres Municipal Code Requested by Councilmember Casey at the January 12, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting)
Councilmember Casey introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included clarification of the referral and enforcement of rules and policies.
Council did not provide consensus on this item.
30=
Mayor Lopez spoke regarding the Ceres Flower Show and the Key to the City presentation.
City Council
Vice Mayor Martinez spoke regarding Concerts in the Park.
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8, 2026
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Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the American Legion. 0 City Manager
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0 City Attorney
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Redevelopment and Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding the housing element.
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16. Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticinated Ljtiga, tion, Cal. Gov' t Code 54956. 9( d)( 2)
Potential Case: 4 cases
17. 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
18. Conference with Real Propettv Negotiators, Gov. Code, § 54956. 8 Property: APN: 127- 016- 014
Agency Negotiation: Interim City Manager, Steve Williams, and City Attorney, Nubia Goldstein
Negotiating Parties: Judicial Council of California
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
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Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed publi comment. I
Aayor Lopez reported out that direction was provided to staff for Closed Session items 16- 18.
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Regular City Council Meeting
June 8, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on June 22, 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 8:59 p.m. er Lopez, Mayor
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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/ a_genda center.