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AGENDA
Amendment
Dated: September 11, 2026
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA
City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street
Monday, September 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
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
Roll Call
Mayor: Javier Lopez
Vice Mayor: Daniel A. Martinez
Councilmembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Cerina Otero (District 3) Invocation
Invocation by Dick Conners, Ceres First Baptist Church
Pledge of Allegiance
AGENDA
Regular City Council Meeting
September 14, 2026
Pledge of Allegiance led by Hope Fraser, Westport Elementary A. Presentations
1. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Proclamation
2. Lowrider History Day Proclamation
3. Richland Faith Assembly of God 75th Anniversary Proclamation Citizen Communications
While the City Council welcomes and encourages participation in City Council meetings, adopted rules allow no more than 5 minutes (Resolution No. 2007-106) for expression of non-agenda items.
Matters under the jurisdiction of the City Council, and not on the posted agenda, may be addressed by the general public; however, California law prohibits the City Council from taking action on any matter which is not on the posted agenda unless it is determined to be an emergency by the City Council. Citizens are entitled to address the City Council on any agenda item subject to the 5-minute provision.
Conflict of Interest Declaration
B. Appointments to Boards/Commissions
C. Consent Calendar
All matters listed on the consent calendar are considered routine in nature and will be enacted by a single motion unless otherwise requested by an individual Councilmember or public for special consideration. Otherwise, the recommendation of staff will be accepted and acted upon by roll call vote.
1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the September 14, 2026, City Council Meeting was Posted on September 9, 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. Approval of Minutes for the August 24, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting. (Fallon Martin)
4. Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated August 13, 2026, through September 2, 2026 (Vanessa Portillo)
5. Resolution
Approving an Agreement with the County of Stanislaus, through its Auditor-Controller’s Office, for Property Tax and Direct Assessment Services through June 30, 2031, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Agreement (Michael Beltran)
6. Resolution
Authorizing an Application to Standard Insurance Company for Vision Benefits and AGENDA
Regular City Council Meeting
September 14, 2026
Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Application (Delilah Vasquez)
7. Ordinance
Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Adding Section 9.01.070, Unauthorized Camping in Public Areas, to Chapter 01, Disorderly Conduct of Title 9, Public Peace, Safety and Moral of the Ceres Municipal Code (Trenton Johnson)
8. Ordinance
Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres Adding Section 9.16.120, Use of Parks for Recreational Purposes Only, to Chapter 16, Parks, Public Property, and Public Facilities of Title 9, Public Peace, Safety and Morals, of the Ceres Municipal Code (Trenton Johnson)
9. Resolution
Approving an Agreement with Capitol Advocacy Partners for Grant Watch, Federal Advocacy, and As-Needed Grant Writing Services at a Reduced Rate of $2,500 per Month, Plus As-Needed Grant Writing Fees Based on Application Narrative Length, Including an Amount Not to Exceed $19,500 for the California Community Resiliency Center Grant Application, Appropriating $42,690 from General Fund Balance to 10065-029900 (Contracted Services), Approving a Budget Amendment, and Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute the Agreement (Steve Williams)
10. Resolution
Authorizing the City of Ceres to Apply for, Accept, and Implement Funding through the California Strategic Growth Council Community Resilience Centers Program Round 2 Implementation Grant (Steve Williams)
Consideration of Item(s) Removed from the Consent Calendar D. Unfinished Business
E. Public Hearing
1. Resolution
Recommending the City of Ceres City Council to Approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (Julian Aguirre) F. New Business
G. Discussion Items
1. Discussion Regarding Planning Commission Member Compensation (Julian Aguirre)
2. Independence Park Playground Replacement (Joshua Casas) H. Councilmember Referrals
Councilmembers request to have an agenda item placed on a future agenda (pursuant to Chapter 2 - City Council Meetings, J-8. City Council Referrals/Determination of Items for AGENDA
Regular City Council Meeting
September 14, 2026
Agenda).
1. Establish a Council Policy on Protocols for Reporting Out Requirements from Closed Session
(Requested by Councilmember Otero on August 13, 2026)
2. Create a Citizen Advisory Committee for Downtown Revitalization (Requested by Councilmember Otero on August 24, 2026)
I. Reports
At this time, any Councilmembers or City staff will make an announcement, or report briefly on his/her activities.
● Mayor
● City Council
● City Manager
● City Attorney
● Departments
J. Closed Session
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code § 54956.9 Name of Case: Coalition for Clean Air v. City of Ceres
Stanislaus County Superior Court Case Number: CV-26-007516
2. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, Cal. Gov’t Code § 54956.9(d)(2) Potential Case: 1 case
3. Public Employee Appointment, Cal. Gov’t Code § 54957(b)(1) Title: City Manager
K. Report from Closed Session
Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on September 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in the Community Center at 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres, CA.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I, Fallon Martin, City Clerk for the City of Ceres, declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing agenda for the Regular City Council Meeting was posted on September 9, 2026, at the following locations in Ceres:
AGENDA
Regular City Council Meeting
September 14, 2026
• Community Center Display Case - 2701 Fourth Street
________________________________________
Fallon Martin, City Clerk
Council Agenda:
The City Council agenda is available for public review on the City’s website (www.ceres.gov) and posted at the time and places noted above.
Related Materials:
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall located at 2220 Magnolia Street, Ceres, CA during normal business hours. Persons with questions concerning any agenda item may call the City Clerk’s Office at (209) 538-5731.
Notice regarding Americans with Disabilities Act:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting or if you need the agenda and/or the documents in the agenda packet provided in an alternative format, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (209) 538-5731 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made (28CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA TITLE II).