MINUTES
LLA CALI City Council/* Redevelopment Successor
CITY Agency Joint Meeting
Council Chamber, Chowchilla City Hall
WHERE TRADITION
- MEETS 130 S. 2nd Street, Chowchilla, CA 93610
TOMORROW
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Closed Session: 3:00 p.m. | Open Session: 4:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mayor: Kelly Smith
Mayor Pro Tem: Ray Barragan
Council Members: Waseem Ahmed, John Chavez, Jeff Troost City staff and contract employees present: City Administrator Rod Pruett, City Attorney Michael Prentice, Police Chief Jeff Palmer, Fire Chief Fred Gaumnitz, Public Works Director Dustin Ensminger, 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: Item 3.4 was pulled from the Consent Calendar.
PUBLIC ADDRESS - CLOSED SESSION
None.
CLOSED SESSION - 3:03 PM
* 1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d) (1)
Name of Case: Chowchilla Real Estate Holdings, LLC v. City of Chowchilla, Madera Superior Court Case No. MCV090718
OPEN SESSION - 4:00 PM
CLOOSED SESSION REPORT: No reportable action.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
INVOCATION: Pastor Walker
PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOP - Section 1
PUBLIC ADDRESS
Titus Shields, a Chowchilla resident, addressed the Council regarding public safety concerns in the community. He expressed support for increased police presence at night to deter vandalism, noting that recent incidents had affected Asian, Hispanic, Black, and senior citizen homes and businesses. He cited specific examples including vandalism of City League soccer goalposts, reckless gunfire, repeated targeting of local businesses, and an incident in which a resident was threatened while walking a dog. Mr. Shields encouraged greater community involvement in neighborhood watch programs and urged citizens to report suspicious activity.
City Council Meeting MINUTES June 9, 2026
COUNCIL AND STAFF VERBAL REPORTS - Section 2
2.1 COUNCIL VERBAL REPORTS
Legislative, Collaborative Agency, Ad Hoc
Mayor Pro Tem Barragan reported attending a recent lunch meeting with the Chowchilla Fair Director.
Council Member Ahmed reported attending the Madera Economic Development Commission meeting, where a new social media policy was developed and a new office manager was hired due to the upcoming retirement of Mr. Lewis.
Mayor Smith reported that he attended a car show as a judge, where nearly 90 cars were evaluated on interior, exterior, and engine. He also publicly recognized Thomas Chavez and Leonardo Lopez for their completion of the Valley Builds MC3 pre-apprenticeship program, noting an invitation to their graduation ceremony on July 12th at the Chukchansi Resort and Casino. Mayor Smith expressed strong support for such workforce development programs.
2.2 STAFF VERBAL REPORTS
Police Chief Palmer reported that since the last meeting, the department responded to 1,201 calls for service, conducting 490 proactive activities, resulting in 20 misdemeanor arrests, 8 felony arrests, and 41 citations issued. Officers apprehended a suspect involved in a business break-in along the city-county border. A Friday night traffic stop following a shot fired report resulted in the recovery of a firearm and an arrest. Additionally, that morning, officers responded to a shot fired call on the 200 block of Alameda, resulting in another arrest and seizure of an unregistered firearm.
Fire Chief Gaumnitz reported that for the month of May, the department responded to 133 calls totaling 518 individual responses. These included 12 fires, 5 hazardous situations, 97 medicals (including 22 trauma or accident calls), 11 public service requests, 1 rescue, and 7 non- emergencies. He announced that the Chowchilla Volunteer Fire Department Association awarded two $400 scholarships to graduating high school students pursuing careers in nursing and medicine — the first time such scholarships were awarded. He also noted that weed abatement season is underway, with notices going out and a public hearing scheduled for June 23rd.
Public Works Director Ensminger reported that two previously approved road projects had commenced: the Road 15 1/2 Rehabilitation (started the previous day) and the Ventura Avenue Resurfacing Project (beginning the following week). Annual safety tree trimming at Veterans Park was also completed.
Community & Economic Development Director Munoz reported attending the May 27th Planning Commission meeting and noted that new business construction had commenced at 600 Alameda, consisting of four duplex buildings totaling 16 dwelling units, with a projected completion date of 2026.
Finance Director Seeto reported that staff had been primarily focused on the FY 2026/27 budget, which would be presented later in the meeting.
Director of Recreation & Community Engagement Wisener reported that summer programming was underway, including open swim (which opened at the high school pool, though a brief closure occurred due to a maintenance issue). Preparations for Music and Movies in the Park were well advanced. She noted that the block party had been moved from August to early June but acknowledged forecasted heat. On the IT side, staff completed firewall and network maintenance and resolved several public safety and departmental technical issues.
City Council Meeting MINUTES June 9, 2026
City Clerk McClendon reported working on the budget for city clerk, city council, and transit, as well as transitioning duties from Robin Roman, who is departing, and planning for her replacement.
City Administrator Pruett reported continued progress on the Community Facilities District (CFD) bond issuance, with weekly meetings occurring with the refunding team. Staff met with Enterprise regarding vehicle leases. He attended a community task force meeting and a monthly meeting with Townsend, the City's grant writers. He noted that following Council approval of the linear park conceptual design, that project is being prioritized for grant applications, though income qualification requirements must be met. He is also in early stages of pursuing a potential tax-sharing agreement with Madera County in connection with an annexation project.
CONSENT CALENDAR - Section 3
3.1 Approval of the May 26, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes (McClendon)
3.2 Consideration and Acceptance of the May 2026 Check Register Report (Seeto)
3.3 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving the Modified Lease Agreement with Madera County for the Property Located at 145 Robertson Boulevard in Chowchilla, and Authorizing the City Administrator to Sign the Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement (Pruett)
3.4 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving Applications for Transportation Development Act Funds for Fiscal Year 2026/2027, and Authorizing the City Administrator or Designee to Execute and Submit Applications to the Madera County Transportation Commission (Annual TDA Application) (McClendon) Motion by Council Member Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Troost to Approve the Consent Calendar as Amended. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Section 4
4.1 a) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving General Plan Amendment 25-0806; and
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:17pm. City Clerk McClendon noted a letter from CalHDF was received regarding the item and copies were distributed to council and available to the public if requested. Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:18pm Motion by Council Member Chavez, Seconded by Council Member Troost to Adopt City Council Resolution #26-26, Approving General Plan Amendment 25-0806. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
b) Introduction and First Reading, with Option to Waive the First Reading, of an Ordinance Approving Zoning Map Amendment No. ZOA 25-0805 Amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Chowchilla for Certain Properties Citywide; and Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:20pm. Attorney Prentice stated the aforementioned letter from CalHDF also applies to this item. Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:21pm.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan, Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Waive the First Reading of Zoning Map Amendment No. ZOA 25-005 Amending the Official Zoning Map of the City of Chowchilla for Certain Properties Citywide. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
City Council Meeting MINUTES June 9, 2026
c) Introduction and First Reading, with Option to Waive the First Reading, of an Ordinance Approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. ZOA 25-0806 for Site 10, Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone APN 014-020-031 from High Density Residential (HDR) to Service Commercial (SC), Subject to Condition Ensuring Compliance with Government Code Section 65863 (Munoz)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:24pm. 4:20pm. Attorney Prentice stated the aforementioned letter from CalDF also applies to this item. Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:24pm.
Motion by Council Member Troost, Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Waive the First Reading of Ordinance Approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. ZOA 25-0806 for Site 10, Amending the Official Zoning Map to Rezone APN 014-020-031 from High Density Residential (HDR) to Service Commercial (SC), Subject to Conditions Ensuring Compliance with Government Code Section 65863. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4.2 a) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Under the California Environmental Quality Act and the Submittal of Annexation Application for Approximately 45.06 Acres Located on Robertson Boulevard and Road 15 (APNs 026- 233-007, -008, -009, and -010); and;
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:26pm. Norman Allinder spoke in favor of the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:28pm.
Motion by Council Member Chavez, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan to Adopt City Council Resolution #28-26, Adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Under the California Environmental Quality Act and the Submittal of Annexation Application for Approximately 45.06 Acres Located on Robertson Boulevard and Road 15 (APNs 026-233-007, -008, -009, and -010). Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. b) Introduction and First Reading, with Option to Waive the First Reading, of an Ordinance Approving the Pre-Zoning of Approximately 45.06 Acres to High Density Residential (Munoz)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:29pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:29pm.
Motion by Council Member Chavez, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan to Waive the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving the Pre-Zoning of Approximately 45.06 Acres to High Density Residential. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4.3 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution to Approve Tentative Parcel Map #25-0030 for 705 S 3rd Street and Notice of Exemption in Accordance with the California Environment Quality Act (Munoz)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:32pm. Markus Czirban spoke for the item. Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:33pm.
Motion by Council Member Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Troost to Adopt City council Resolution #29-26, to Approve Tentative Parcel Map #25-0030 for 705 S 3r Street and Notice of Exemption in Accordance with the California Environment Quality Act. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4.4 a) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Adopting an Addendum to the Previously Adopted Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and City Council Meeting MINUTES June 9, 2026
Mitigation monitoring and Reporting Program (MMP) for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project; and
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:36pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:26pm.
Motion by Council Member Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Adopt City Council Resolution #30-26, Adopting an Addendum to the Previously Adopted Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and Mitigation monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. b) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving General Plan Amendment No. 26-0001 for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project; and Mayor Smith Opened the public hearing at 4:37pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:37pm.
Motion by Council Member Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Adopt City Council Resolution #31-26, Approving General Plan Amendment No. 26-0001 for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. c) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving Specific Plan Amendment No. 26-0001 for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project; and Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:38pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:38pm.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan, Seconded by Council Member Ahmed to Adopt City Council Resolution #32-26, Approving Specific Plan Amendment No. 26-0001 for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. d) Introduction and First Reading, with Option to Waive the First Reading, of an Ordinance Approving Zoning Map Amendment No. ZOA 26-0001 for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project; and
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:39pm. No one came forward for or against the item, Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:39pm.
Motion by Council Member Chavez, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan to Waive the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving Zoning Map Amendment No. ZOAS 26-0001 for the Rancho Calera Block 12 Project. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. e) Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Approving Tentative Subdivision Map No. 25-0878 Along with the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program with the Conditions as Set Forth in this Resolution (Munoz)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:40pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:41pm.
Motion by Council Member Chavez, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan to Adopt City Council Resolution #33-26, Approving Tentative Subdivision Map No. 25-0878 along with the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program with the Conditions as Set Forth in this Resolution. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
City Council Meeting MINUTES June 9, 2026
4.5 Introduction and First Reading, with Option to Waive the First Reading, of an Ordinance Amending Chowchilla Municipal Code Section 15.12 - Fire Prevention (Gaumnitz)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:42pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:42pm.
Motion by Council Member Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Troost to Waive the First Reading of an Ordnance Amending Chowchilla Municipal Code Section 15.12 - Fire Prevention.
Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4.6 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution to Accept the Public Hearing and Resolution Regarding the Closeout of State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Contract for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Sidewalk Improvement Predevelopment (Ensminger)
Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:43pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:43pm.
Motion by Council Member Ahmed, Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Adopt City Council Resolution #34-26, to Accept the Public Hearing and Resolution Regarding the Closeout of State Community Development Block Grant Contract for Americans with Disabilities Act Sidewalk Improvement Predevelopment. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4.7 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution to Accept the Public Hearing and Resolution Regarding the Closeout of State Community Block Grant (CDBG) Contract for Kings Avenue Storm Drain Predevelopment (Ensminger) Mayor Smith opened the public hearing at 4:45pm. No one came forward for or against the item.
Mayor Smith closed the public hearing at 4:45 pm.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan, Seconded by Council Member Chavez to Adopt City Council Resolution #35-26, to Accept the Public hearing and Resolution Regarding the Closeout of State Community Development Block Grant Contract for Kings Avenue Storm Drain Predevelopment.
Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
DEFERRED BUSINESS - Section 5
NEW BUSINESS - Section 6
6.1 Consideration and Adoption of a City Council Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds of Community Facilities District No. 2025-2; Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Fiscal Agent Agreement, a Bond Purchase Agreement, an Escrow Agreement, and a Continuing Disclosure Certificate; Approving the Form of the Official Statement and the Distribution Thereof; and Authorizing Other Actions Related Thereto (Pruett)
Motion by Council Member Troost, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barragan to Adopt City Council Resolution #36-26, Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds of Community Facilities District No. 2025- 2; Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Fiscal Agent Agreement, a Bond Purchase Agreement, an Escrow Agreement, and a Continuing Disclosure Certificate; Approving the Form of the Official Statement and the Distribution Thereof; and Authorizing Other Action related Thereto. Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
6.2 2026/2027 Fiscal Year Budget Workshop Presentation (Seeto) City Council Meeting MINUTES June 9, 2026
ANNOUNCEMENTS - Section 7
JUNE 12 COMMUNITY PARTY IN THE PARK, VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, 7PM JUNE 13 MOVIES IN THE PARK #1, 'ZOOTOPIA', VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, SUNSET JUNE 14 BATTLE OF THE BADGES BLOOD DRIVE, 1225 E ROBERTSON, 11AM - 3PM JUNE 17 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 5:00PM JUNE 19 MUSIC IN THE PARK #1, JADED, VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, 7PM JUNE 20 MOVIES IN THE PARK #2, THE LAST RODEO, VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, SUNSET JUNE 23 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 4PM
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Smith Adjourned the June 9, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting at 5:23 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
deClendon, CMC, City Clerk