MINUTES
GATEWAY City Council Meeting
CITY OF RNIA Council Chamber, Chowchilla City Hall
TO 130 S. Second Street, Chowchilla, CA 93610
PROSPER 1923 Tuesday, January 9, 2024
FEBRUARY
7 Open Session: 4:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: 4:02 p.m.
Mayor: Kelly Smith
Mayor Pro Tem: Waseem Ahmed (absent)
Council Members: Ray Barragan, John Chavez, Jeff Troost City staff and contract employees present: City Administrator Rod Pruett, City Attorney Mary Lerner, Police Chief Jeff Palmer, Fire Chief Fred Gaumnitz, Public Works Director Jason Rogers, Community & Economic Development Director Mark Hamilton, Finance Director Kerri Williams, Deputy Director of Recreation & Community Engagement Stacy Wisener, IT System Administrator Carlos Berrocal, City Clerk Joann McClendon
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Additions and/or Deletions:
Item 1.1, Presentation of proceeds from the Volunteer Firefighter Dinner Fundraiser, by the Chowchilla Lioness Lions Service Club, was removed from the agenda due to an unforeseen circumstance.
OPEN SESSION - 4:03 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION: Pastor Pruitt
PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOP - Section 1
1.1 Presentation of proceeds from the Volunteer Firefighter Dinner Fundraiser, by the Chowchilla Lioness Lions Service Club
PUBLIC ADDRESS
Irene Fisher addressed the Council regarding several personal issues with the City.
A local resident addressed the City Council regarding providing basic hygiene to the homeless.
Ms. March addressed the City Council regarding the need for shelter for the homeless.
COUNCIL AND STAFF VERBAL REPORTS - Section 2
2.1 COUNCIL VERBAL REPORTS
Legislative, Collaborative Agency, Ad Hoc
Mayor Smith attended the Stampede Dinner, which was well attended.
City Council Meeting MINUTES January 9, 2024
2.2 STAFF VERBAL REPORTS
Police Chief Palmer listed departmental stats since the last meeting, the hiring of new personnel, and discussed services available to the homeless.
Fire Chief Gaumnitz reported that the Volunteer Firefighter Association will hold their Installment Dinner next week. The donation presentation from the Lioness Lions Service Club that was scheduled to be presented at this meeting is going to be used for much needed safety equipment.
Phase 2 construction on the Fire Station to begin later this month. He thanked all of the Volunteer Firefighters who gave their time in collecting coats for kids.
Public Works Director Rogers reported that staff removed the Christmas Decorations from Robertson Boulevard last week and will be taking down the tree this week. They had a company recently reach out to the City regarding possible volunteer opportunities for Wednesday, January 10th. Staff provided a recommendation for the cleanup and placement of bark/mulch of the recently installed Chowchilla Service Clubs sign area. Unfortunately, they passed. As a result, Public Works staff will complete in the near future. Zim Industries recently installed a temporary test pump as part of the development of the new well in order to determine final specifications for the new well. The department received confirmation from Enterprise Fleet Management that 8 vehicles ordered through their program are ready to be delivered to the City and we are working with them to schedule delivery and trade in of our older vehicles. And finally, he thanked staff, Charles, Thomas, Mike Breashears and Joe for working on New Year's Eve and into the new year to clear a sewer line backup.
Community & Economic Development Director Hamilton reported that the last two lots on Olive Way are under construction; a suite in the Countrywood Shopping Center is going to be occupied by another discount store; received applications for two separate recycling centers, one application for a gas station/restaurant combo near Steves Chevrolet. Wah Sings restaurant has closed but will be replaced with a Salvadorian restaurant. Century Communities closed escrow on the former Sessions development, now known as Lone Oak.
Finance Director Williams has been working with the auditors. Her department is getting ready for mid-year budget adjustments, and she is working on ROPS and various reports.
Deputy Director of Recreation & Community Engagement Wisener reported February 7, 2024 as the potential date for time capsule event. She also thanked council and administrative staff for giving employees a week off during the Christmas week.
IT System Administrator Berrocal reported that IT has begun the groundwork for a custom-built solution for the City's systems that will analyze all of the alert data so that the information can be easily visualized and prioritized to be more effective with their time.
City Clerk McClendon reported out on Transit's Triennial Performance Audit and SB125 grant funds to help transit with electrifying our fleet, including the engineering and installation of four chargers for our future electric busses/vans.
City Administrator Pruett and Director Rogers attended an MCT meeting regarding the roundabout project, looking at funding opportunities to help complete the project. The CFD team sent out a flier on a virtual meeting that was held before Christmas; unfortunately, no one attended. NBS will be working on reaching out to the people affected by the CFD proposal, including placing door hangers on affected properties, to educate what the new CFD is all about.
In addition, the Measure survey results are being reviewed and more people have responded to this survey than the original one. He attended a mobile food vendor ordinance update ad hoc and had another set of maturities that matured and were rolled over into other investments.
City Council Meeting MINUTES January 9, 2024
CONSENT CALENDAR - Section 3
3.1 Approval of the December 12, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes (McClendon)
3.2 Consideration and Acceptance of the December 2023 Check Register (Williams)
3.3 Consideration and Approval of an Agreement Between the City of Chowchilla and Liebert Cassidy Whitmore for Special Legal Services Related to the Chowchilla Personnel Board (McClendon)
Motion by Council Member Barragan, Seconded by Council Member Troost to Approve the Consent Calendar as Presented. Motion passed by roll call cote with Mayor Pro Tem Ahmed absent.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Section 4
4.1 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Accepting the Annual Report on Development Impact Fees for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and Making Certain Findings Related Thereto (AB1600) (Williams)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:32 p.m. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:32 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Troost, Seconded by Council Member Barragan to Approve City Council Resolution # 01-24, Accepting the Annual Report on Development Impact Fees for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and Making Certain Findings Related Thereto. Motion passed with Mayor Pro Tem Ahmed absent.
DEFERRED BUSINESS - Section 5
NEW BUSINESS - Section 6
ANNOUNCEMENTS - Section 7
JAN 15 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY, CITY OFFICES CLOSED JAN 17 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, CITY HALL, 5PM
JAN 23 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, CITY HALL, 4PM
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Smith adjourned the January 9, 2024 City Council Meeting at 4:35 p.m. in memory of Velma Hansen.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Joann McClendon, CMC, City Clerk Mayor Kelly Smith