MINUTES
City Council Meeting
CITY or Council Chamber, Chowchilla City Hall
130 S. 2nd Street, Chowchilla, CA 93610
WHERE TRADITION
MEETS Tuesday, April 28, 2026
TOMORROW
Open Session: 4:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mayor: Kelly Smith
Mayor Pro Tem: Ray Barragan
Council Members: Waseem Ahmed (absent), John Chavez, Jeff Troost (absent) City staff and contract employees present: City Administrator Rod Pruett, City Attorney Michael Prentice, Sargeant Joshua Cobb, Fire Chief Fred Gaumnitz, Public Works Deputy Director Joe Roman, Community & Economic Development Director Denise Munoz, Finance Director Daniel Seeto, 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:
City Clerk McClendon requested to omit Item 3.5.
OPEN SESSION - 4:03 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION: Pastor Pruitt
PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOP - Section 1
• Proclamation: National Public Works Week
PUBLIC ADDRESS
No one spoke.
COUNCIL AND STAFF VERBAL REPORTS - Section 2
2.1 COUNCIL VERBAL REPORTS
Legislative, Collaborative Agency, Ad Hoc
Council Member Chavez reported that he attended the League of California Cities Legislative Action Days in Sacramento alongside City Administrator Rod Pruett. He also attended Craig Judd's art recognition show.
Council Member Barragan reported attending a lunch with the fair director, who provided an overview of new attractions and programming planned for the upcoming Chowchilla Fair.
Mayor Smith noted that he and Mayor Pro Tem Ray attended to city business during the absence of Council Member Chavez and the City Administrator. Mayor Smith also attended the Chowchilla Athletic Foundation (CAF) golf tournament the prior Friday and reported that it was well attended and raised a considerable amount of money for the Chowchilla Athletic Foundation (CAF). Mayor Smith added that he and Mayor Pro Tem Ray recently visited the Police Department to meet the City Council Meeting MINUTES April 28, 2026
new Belgian Malinois canine and expressed appreciation for the funding that made the acquisition possible.
2.2 STAFF VERBAL REPORTS
Sergeant Cobb of the Chowchilla Police Department reported that since the last council meeting, the department responded to 1,195 calls for service and conducted 484 proactive stops, resulting in 20 misdemeanor arrests, 6 felony arrests, and 7 citations issued. Code Enforcement responded to 32 calls for service and conducted numerous homeless contacts throughout the city and sloughs. The department is also actively planning for fair week and the upcoming parade.
Fire Chief Fred reported that weed abatement is ongoing and that the city is in markedly better condition this year compared to the prior year. Staff are preparing for the fair. He highlighted a structure fire from the prior Friday as a notable operational success: a call was dispatched at 9:48 AM, with the first engine responding to within 15 seconds and a second engine within 30 seconds. Units were on scene within 90 seconds. The fire, determined to likely be an electrical attic fire that may have smoldered throughout the day, was controlled within 25 minutes and fully extinguished within 45 minutes. The Chief noted the incident provided valuable learning opportunities for staff
Public Works Director Joe Roman reported that staff attended the Madera County Transportation Commission (MCT) Policy Board meeting and has been meeting with Enterprise to evaluate fleet contracts and plan future vehicle orders in coordination with the Police Department and the City Administrator. Staff also met with the Parks and Recreation Director to discuss Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects and conducted a final walk-through for the Orchard View subdivision lighting and landscape district. Staff are actively preparing for the parade and fair, including planning for a new traffic control configuration at the fairgrounds. Discussion ensued regarding recommending a pedestrian route to the fair via Third Street due to anticipated traffic congestion on Fifth Street following the parade. Staff agreed to coordinate with PD and Fire and follow up with the fairgrounds on an official pedestrian recommendation. Mayor Smith noted that VIP parking is available for $22 and general parking for $10, with admission at $10 - free with a barbecue ticket — and acknowledged some public confusion about online ticketing fees displayed on the fair's website.
Community Development Director Denise Munoz reported attending the April 15 Planning Commission meeting, at which the Commission recommended City Council adopt proposed General Plan amendments, zoning ordinance amendments, and an annexation pre-zoning project. She also met with a local business owner to walk downtown area and discuss potential incentives to promote new business and address vacancies. She announced that a new business, Midnight Dough, is projected to open on May 26 at the corner of Kings Avenue and Third Street.
Finance Director Daniel Sito reported that staff are continuing to work on the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Director of Recreation & Community Engagement Wisener reported that staff are actively preparing for summer programs, including Music and Movies in the Park. Lifeguard interviews are scheduled for the following week in advance of the open swim season. The city held its first Community Paint Night the prior Friday to positive reception. Staff continued efforts to build out the project tracking software system, maintained system licensing to prevent service interruptions, supported Police Department operations during system updates, replaced a failed exterior camera, continued processing Public Records Act requests, completed an email phishing prevention effort, and are preparing for deployment of a new firewall system.
City Administrator Rod Pruett reported attending the League of California Cities Legislative Action Days with Council Member Chavez. He provided an update on the Rancho Calera Contract for City Council Meeting MINUTES April 28, 2026
Difference (CFD) bond issuance process, noting that the city is working with the Rancho Calera development team on two CFDs. The plan is to first complete the bond issuance for CFD 2006-1 refunding (transitioning to CFD 2025-2), with the CFD 2025-1 bond issuance for Rancho Calera to follow, potentially by December. He noted that Rancho Calera has three interested builders/buyers currently under discussion for several blocks. Administrator Pruett also reported on the Fair Meat Consolidation Project, noting that an out-of-area service agreement has been substantially resolved, right-of-entry documents have been completed, and the next step is execution of the service agreement to support construction funding. The project is awaiting railroad approval of encroachment permits, after which the first phase - including pipe and lift stations - will be bid out, followed by a separate Request for Proposal (RFP) for improvements to the city's treatment facility.
CONSENT CALENDAR - Section 3
3.1 Approval of the April 14, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes (McClendon)
3.2 Consideration and Acceptance of the March 2026 Financial Report (McClendon)
3.3 Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 4.04.360 of the Chowchilla Municipal Code Related to Bid Protest Procedures (Pruett)
3.4 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving Amendments to the City of Chowchilla Procurement Policy Related to Bid Protest Procedures (Pruett)
3.5 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Designating Eligible Projects for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Funded by SB 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Roman)
3.6 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Renewing Ordinance #509- 22, Chowchilla Police Department Policy No. 705, and the 2025 Annual Military Equipment Report (Palmer)
3.7 Informational Item - Quarterly Project Management Update (McClendon)
3.8 Consideration and Acceptance of the Quarterly Fee Waiver Report (Seeto)
3.9 Consideration and Acceptance of the Quarterly Contracts Executed Report (Pruett)
3.10 Consideration and Acceptance of the Quarterly Financial Investment Report (Seeto) Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Approve the Consent Calendar as Amended. Motion passed by roll call vote with Council Members Ahmed and Troost absent.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Section 4
4.1 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving the Measure T Annual Expenditure Plan (AEP) for Fiscal Year 2026/27 and Authorizing the Public Works Director or Designee to Submit the Plan to the Madera County Transportation Authority (MCTA) for Adoption (Roman)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:28 p.m. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:28 p.m.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Approve City Council Resolution #17-26, Resolution Approving the Measure T Annual Expenditure Plan (AEP) City Council Meeting MINUTES April 28, 2026
for Fiscal Year 2026/27 and Authorizing the Public Works Director or Designee to Submit the Plan to the Madera County Transportation Authority (MCTA) for Adoption. Motion passed by roll call vote with Council Members Ahmed and Troost absent.
DEFERRED BUSINESS - Section 5
NEW BUSINESS - Section 6
6.1 Presentation of the City's Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Financial Statement Audit (Seeto) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Awarding Contract for the Road 15 ½ Rehabilitation Project to Hensley's Paving and General Engineering and Authorizing the City Administrator or Designee to Execute Related Documents (Roman)
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Approve City Council Resolution #18-26, Awarding Contract for the Road 15½ Rehabilitation Project to Hensley's Paving and General Engineering and Authorizing the City Administrator or Designee to Execute Related Documents. Motion passed by roll call vote with Council Members Ahmed and Troost absent.
ANNOUNCEMENTS - Section 7
MAY 12 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 4PM
MAY 7-10 CHOWCHILLA FAIR, MADERA-CHOWCHILLA FAIRGROUNDS MAY 9 SPRING FESTIVAL PARADE
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Smith adjourned the April 28, 2026 City Council meeting at 4:47 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Алии B. Srath
Mayor Kelly Smith