MINUTES
GATEWAY City Council Meeting
CITY Or RNIA Council Chamber, Chowchilla City Hall
TO 130 S. 2nd Street, Chowchilla, CA 93610
PROSPERIT 1920 Tuesday, September 24, 2024
FEBRUARY
Open Session: 4:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mayor: Kelly Smith
Mayor Pro Tem: Waseem Ahmed
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, Deputy Director of Recreation & Community Engagement Stacy Wisener, Finance Director Kerri Williams, IT System Administrator Kurt Wlodarczyk, City Clerk Joann McClendon
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Additions and/or Deletions: None.
OPEN SESSION - 4:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION: Council Member Troost
PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOP - Section 1
1.1 Proclamation: Fire Prevention Week, October 6 - 12, 2024
PUBLIC ADDRESS
Tammie LaMattina addressed the City Council over the City's "broken down car" ordinance as she has seen many more of these types of violations around the city. She also asked if the City had a color scheme for the Robertson Boulevard corridor (not just downtown). She addressed the very bad road conditions on Road 15½ and Avenue 24, wondering who is responsible for its upkeep (City or county). Public Works Director Rogers responded to her questions regarding the roads.
Pastor Luke Waters at hope fellowship who received a violation for having goats. He was not aware that the City's ordinance prohibited such animals within the city limits. The church has a large lot and use the goat to help maintain the weeds. He asked if the council can explore allowing this type of land management.
Kendall Flint, DKS Associates, works closely with the Madera County Transportation Authority on an education program for Measure T, reported to the Council on misinformation that has been out on the community. There is a citizen initiative launched earlier this summer which basically took the existing expenditure plan that was developed by the Measure T Steering Committee and put that out to voters so that they can do a petition driven initiative which lowers the threshold for passage. It is exactly the same expenditure plan that was developed by a citizen advisory committee. If anyone needs more information about Measure T, look up MeasureT-2024.com.
City Council Meeting MINUTES September 24, 2024
Kyle Savage, Congressman John Duarte's Field Representative, gave a legislative update on what the Congressman is working on, including HR9479, financial relief for families who seek IVF treatment.
COUNCIL AND STAFF VERBAL REPORTS - Section 2
2.1 COUNCIL VERBAL REPORTS
Legislative, Collaborative Agency, Ad Hoc
Council Member Troost attended a Madera County Action Partnership monthly meeting.
Council member Barragan attended the Chamber of Commerce's annual car show along with Mayor Smith and Mayor Pro Tem Ahmed.
Mayor Pro Tem Ahmed attended car show and Cornerstone's Annual Men's Dinner. He also attended an MCT meeting reporting out that Senator Padilla was able to secure $54-million for the Madera High Speed Rail relocation of the Amtrak stop. He also attended the Chukchansi check presentation event at the casino where one was presented in the amount of $100k in support of the renewal of Measure T.
Mayor Smith attended Cornerstone's Men's Steak Dinner, thanking Fire Chief Gaumnitz for having the fire truck at that event.
2.2 STAFF VERBAL REPORTS
Police Chief Palmer went over departmental stats from past 2 weeks; the department's newest vehicle is a Dodge and is currently getting upfitted. Regarding the radio project that was approved by Council earlier this year, the components have been ordered Fire Chief Gaumnitz thanked council and staff regarding the fire prevention week proclamation; smoke alarms reduce people being caught in the fire tremendously. The Fire Department does have a smoke detector program for disadvantaged families. The Volunteer Firefighters attended the car show with the first firetruck Chowchilla ever had. He also attended the Men's Steak Dinner event at Cornerstone.
Public Works Director Rogers reported that his department is currently working with our consultant and MCTC staff on development of a Local Participation Program (LPP) Grant application for the Interchange Project. Requests for letters of support have been created and are being sent out to various stakeholders. He and the Finance Director had a Project kickoff meeting with our Prop 218 study consultant last week. Our consultant is looking at having draft recommendations to us in January. City staff are currently installing fencing around the Pickleball Courts to help keep balls within the court area.
Mayor Smith asked Director Rogers to expound on what a Prop 218 study is. I stated it is a study looking at rates related utilities and recommendations will be brought to Council for review and approval.
Finance Director Williams met with financial advisors to go over maturing investments.
Deputy Director of Recreation & Community Engagement Wisener is going through employment applications for the front desk and recreation assistant. The Madera County Department of Social Services attended a listening session with seniors and staff at the Senior Center to know needs. She is continually working on items for the Halloween event, launched the Christmas event and parade along with the regular community outreach that happens weekly and working on the special project that is on the agenda to discuss tonight.
City Council Meeting MINUTES September 24, 2024
City Clerk McClendon reported on the current status of the Commission/Committee applications. She has received one for the Planning Commission. There are several vacancies in the Airport Advisory Committee and one vacancy in the Measure N Citizen's Oversight Committee. Deadline to submit applications is October 31.
City Administrator Pruett attended the firefighter memorial 9/11 event in Madera as others attended the local Patriot Day at Stephens Elementary School; he attended Cornerstone's Men's Steak dinner; gave an update on the Fairmead Consolidation Project of which the Air Pollution Control Board approved the City's final legal opinion, they are in the design phase right now which is funded by High Speed Rail Authority; he and the Finance Director met with investors on the reinvestment of some of the City's treasuries; will have interviews on Monday for the Community & Economic Development Director position. Several Community Development items he shared included meetings with Rancho Calera roundabout project; having the Contract Planner work on some ordinance updates for pole signs, mobile food (ice cream truck) vendors, updating the downtown design guidelines, continuing to work on the high school's transportation yard project development agreement.
CONSENT CALENDAR - Section 3
3.1 Approval of the September 10, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes (McClendon)
3.2 Consideration and Acceptance of the August 2024 Financials Report (Williams) Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Troost to Approve the Consent Calendar as Presented. Motion passed by roll call vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Section 4
DEFERRED BUSINESS - Section 5
5.1 Discussion and/or Direction of the City of Chowchilla's Former Library and Future Use of the Facility (Rogers)
Spoke:
Chris Thomas
Council directed staff to bring back a chronological order of events at the next council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS - Section 6
6.1 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving the Installation of Commemorative Veterans Boulevard Signs atop the Existing Wayfaring Signs Along the North and South Side of 5th Street (Wisener)
Spoke:
Chris Thomas
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Barragan, to Approve City Council Resolution # 54-24 to Approve the Installation of Commemorative Veterans Boulevard Signs atop the Existing Wayfaring Signs Along the North and South Side of 5th Street. Motion passed by roll call vote.
City Council Meeting MINUTES September 24, 2024
ANNOUNCEMENTS - Section 7
OCT 8 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, CITY HALL, 4PM
Ост 16 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, CITY HALL, 5PM
Ост 19 TRINITY PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER ANNUAL BANQUET, CORNERSTONE CHURCH, 5:30PM
Ост 26 HALLOWEEN TREAT TRAIL, VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, 6PM
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Smith Adjourned the September 24, 2024 City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m.
ATTEST APPROVED:
Joann McClendon, CMC, City Clerk