ETHER WF PL0
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
via ZOOM and in- person)
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, August 10, 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 August 10, 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
Absent Present Present Present Present
INVOCATION
Invocation by Patrick Davis, Ceres Christian Center.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Whittne Albracht.
A. PRESENTATIONS
1. Code Enforcement 2nd Quarter Presentation and Analysis Kassandra De La Cruz, Code Enforcement Secretary, gave the presentation.
Council staff discussion included thanking Code Enforcement for their efforts, education, connection with the community, materials provided in English and Spanish, and open cases on the My Ceres mobile app.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda ( five minutes)
Galen Guzman spoke regarding motor vehicle accident prevention, public records request, conflict of interest with an agreement between the City of Ceres and NorthStar Engineering Group, and the City Attorney' s Statement of Economic Interests ( Form 700).
Dave Pratt spoke regarding the traffic synchronization project.
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Jerry Greer regarding a list of items/ areas that need attention within the city.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
None
B. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/ COMMISSIONS
1. Selecting the Interview Format for the Upcoming Military Appreciation Committee Interviews ( Fallon Martin)
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
John Warren spoke regarding expanding the eligibility to the CUSD boundaries.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included open meeting interviews, expanding the boundary to meet CUSD' s boundaries, and the committee meeting prior to filling the vacancy.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Otero, seconded by
Councilmember Vierra, approving the Military Appreciation Committee interviews to be conducted in an open City
Council meeting. Motion carried 4/ 0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Absent Yes Yes Yes Yes
Council provided consensus for the committee to meet prior to filling the vacancy and to extend the recruitment.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
C. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the August 10, 2026, City Council Meeting was Posted on August 5, 2026.
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).
3. Removed for separate consideration.
4. Resolution No. 2026- 99
Approving Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Dokken Engineering for the Crows Landing Road Rehabilitation Project in the Amount of 100, 000. 00 and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Amendment Michael Beltran)
5. Item pulled by City staff and will be considered at a future City Council meeting.
6. Resolution No. 2026- 100
Approving a Four- year Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Justice for Access to the National Crime Information Center ( NCIC) License Plate Data File Program and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Memorandum of Understanding ( Trenton Johnson, David McCann)
7. Removed for separate consideration.
8. Resolution No. 2026- 102
Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute Documents on Behalf of the City of Ceres for the Building Equity and Growth in Neighborhoods ( BEGIN) Program Julian Aguirre)
9. Register of Audited Demand( s) Dated July 16, 2026, through July 30, 2026 Vanessa Portillo)
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving items C. 1. — C. 2., C. 4., C. 6., C. B. — C. 9. Motion carried 4/0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Absent Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 3 : Removed for separate consideration by Galen Guzman Approval of Minutes for the July 27, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting. ( Fallon Martin)
Galen Guzmen spoke regarding a conflict of interest with an agreement the City has with NorthStar Engineering Group.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item C. 3. Motion carried 4/0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Absent Yes Yes Yes Yes
Item 7 : Removed for separate consideration by Shirley Rogers Resolution No. 2026- 101
Authorizing the Sale of Canine Odin to Officer Charles Rushing ( Trenton Johnson) Shirley Rogers spoke regarding selling a retired canine and charging the handler
1. 00.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item C. 7. Motion carried 4/0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Absent Yes Yes Yes Yes
D. NFINISHED BUSINESS
None
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
E. PUBLIC HEARING
1. Resolution No. 2026- 103
Ordering the Levy of Assessments for the 1987 Landscaping and Lighting District for Fiscal Year 2026- 27 ( Michael Beltran)
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 consequences if the item does not pass and how it will affect the general fund, lighting & landscape districts not being maintained, previous landscape contracts, maintenance agreement coming before Council, and temporary maintenance agreement.
Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item E. 1. Motion carried 3/ 1/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Absent Yes No Yes Yes
F. NEW BUSINESS
1. Ordinance — An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Adding Chapter
15. 18, Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit Expediting, to Title 15, Buildings and Construction, of the Ceres Municipal Code ( Thomas Remlinger) City Attorney, Thomas Remlinger, presented the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included the current application process, cost of the permit, electronic submission, CalGreen requirements, number of requests, and locations o existing charging stations.
Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by
Councilmember Otero, approving item F. 1. Motion carried 4/0/ 1/ 0 by the following roll call vote:
Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor
Mayor Lopez
Casey Vierra Otero Martinez
Absent Yes Yes Yes Yes
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
G. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Report on Planning Commission Recommendation for Interim Urgency Ordinances Imposing Temporary Moratoria on New Fueling Stations and Car Washes ( Thomas Remlinger)
City Attorney, Thomas Remlinger, introduced the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Shirley Rogers spoke regarding how much it would cost in attorney fees to develop a moratorium.
Dave Pratt spoke regarding Triple R gas station.
Jorge Guerrero spoke in support of a moratorium and revenue split amongst existing and future gas stations.
Galen Guzman spoke in support of the moratorium, landscaping at commercial properties, and a splash pad.
Nasson Sanchez spoke in support of a moratorium.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Angie Riley regarding their support of a moratorium.
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Christina Richards regarding their support of a moratorium.
City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Gary M. Condit regarding their support of a moratorium.
Council and staff discussion included temporary moratorium, affect on gas stations and car washes in the permitting process, approved car wash and gas station projects but not built, sales tax revenue for gas stations and car washes, car wash water usage compliance, contamination of groundwater by underground gas tanks, Senate Bill 445, Housing Element, looking at what other cities are doing, number of car washes and gas stations that need to go before the Planning Commission, permitting process, and number of existing gas stations and car washes.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
H. COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS
1. General Fund Reserve Balance from 2019 — 2021
Requested by Councilmember Otero on July 22, 2026)
Councilmember Otero introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke:
Sue Reynolds spoke in support of the referral.
Galen Guzman requested to add Measure H and Measure L to this referral.
Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included staff timing to gather the information and adding this referral to an existing referral.
Council provided consensus on this item.
2. Speed Limit Study
Requested by Councilmember Rosalinda Vierra on July 27, 2026) Councilmember Vierra introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included cost, incorporating Boothe Road and Eastgate Boulevard, safety corridors, Assembly Bill 43, and Assembly Bill 382.
Council provided consensus on this item.
3. Facility and Event Fee Waivers
Requested by Councilmember Otero on July 27, 2026)
Councilmember Otero introduced the referral.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
Council and staff discussion included prolonging the process and fee waiver options.
Council did not provide consensus on this item.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
NEW REFERRALS
Placing a Hold on Administrative Personnel Changes for 90 Days Requested by Councilmember Otero)
REPORTS
Mayor
Mayor Lopez spoke regarding National Night Out, certificates presented, Ceres Unified School District' s Back to School Bash, Central Valley High School grand opening of the Hawk Stadium, police academy graduation, and Assyrian Martyrs Day.
City Council
Vice Mayor Martinez spoke regarding Smyrna Park meeting.
Councilmember Otero spoke regarding lights at Ochoa Park, La Perla Tapatia signage, thanking park and facilities staff, and National Night Out.
Councilmember Vierra spoke regarding lights at Ochoa Park, free swimming day by TID and Salvation Army Modesto Red Shield Center, backpack and community resource fair, National Night Out, ride- a- long with Modesto Fire, Central Valley High School grand opening of the Hawk Stadium, Assyrian Martyrs Day, homeless alliance meeting, and National Honeybee Celebration.
City Manager
Interim City Manager, Steve Williams, spoke regarding Police Department staffing, National Night Out, City parks, streets, and maintenance staff, and addressing the playground structure at Independence Park.
City Attorney
Nothing to report.
Departments
Police Chief, Trenton Johnson, spoke regarding Prop 64, National Night Out, and police academy graduate recruits.
Engineering Director, Mike Beltran, spoke regarding the Hatch Road project, Richland Avenue project, City Hall sewer replacement project, and coffee with the engineer.
Redevelopment & Economic Development Director, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding the CAPER block grant, CAPER public meeting at the Community Center, and workshop on the downtown specific plan.
MINUTES
Regular City Council Meeting
August 10, 2026
J. CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel — Existing Litigation, Cal Gov' t Code § 54956. 9 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 the item.
Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment.
K. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Lopez announced there was no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on August 24, 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: 42 p. m. ier Lop , Mayor
4-0‘ACIV\
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.