MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR
AGENCY/PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY
MEETING AGENDA
November 3, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER 6:00PM
Council Members Present: Ramsey, Singleton, Adkisson, Ramirez, Horn Others Present: City Manager Marissa Trejo, City Attorney Mario Zamora, Assistant City Manager Sean Brewer, Chief of Police Jose Garza, Financial Services Director Mai Vang, City Treasurer Dawn Kahikina, Fire Chief Greg DuPuis, Public Works and Utilities Coordinator Larry Miller, and City Clerk Shannon Jensen
Council Members Absent: None
Others Absent: Administrative Analyst Mercedes Garcia
Changes to the Agenda: City Manager Marissa Trejo announced the following changes to the Agenda:
1. Item No. 6.1 will be moved to the December 1, 2022 meeting when Commissioner Sarah Pruitt can be present;
2. Police Technician Daniel Sauceda is present should the Council have any questions during Item No. 5.5; and
3. Announced that our new Finance Director Mai Vang is present this evening.
Finance Director Mai Vang introduced herself to the Council and to those present.
Motion by Horn, Second by Ramirez to Approve the Changes to the Agenda and to Approve the Agenda for the meeting of November 3, 2022. Motion Approved by 5/0 Roll-Call Majority Vote.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1. Proclamation - November 2022, Family Court Awareness Month Mayor Ramsey announced that the Proclamation would be read later in the meeting to allow time for a representative from the Family Court Awareness Month Committee to be present to accept the proclamation.
Minutes - November 3, 2022
3. CITIZEN COMMENTS
The following individual(s) spoke under Citizen Comments:
Scott Netherton stated CoalingaFest was a huge success this year with 76 vendors and minimal issues.
Upcoming events include: Friday, November 4, 2022 at 9:30am there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new business Sea, Sky and Shelter at 192 E. Elm Avenue; the annual fundraising dinner for the Coalinga K-9 will be on November 12, 2022 at 4:00pm at the Keck Center; the Chamber Annual Holiday Boutique will be November 26, 2022 at the CH Hub from 10am to 3pm and the Let Your Light Shine event on the Plaza at 6pm on December 3, 2022.
Mary Jones concurred with Mr. Netherton's statements regarding CoalingaFest. Mrs. Jones believes that residents in more prominent neighborhoods are not being ticketed like other residents.
Fern Cory requested an update on the water issue.
Jennifer Johnson read a letter on behalf of Tawnya Stevens. Mrs. Stevens is opposed to issuing an RFP for a firm to be the City's Real Estate Agent. (Item No. 5.9) The following individual(s) submitted written comments):
Thomas E. Gelardi, CalNeva Broadband, LLC. (Item No. 6.2)
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approve MINUTES - October 6, 2022
2. Check Register: 09/01/2022 - 9/30/2022
3. Adopt Resolution No. 4123 Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application for the 2022 Active Transportation Program (Cycle 6)
4. Adopt Resolution No. 4124 Authorizing the Submission of an Application to the 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program
5. Authorize Sponsorship for One (1) Police Technician for the Police Recruit Sponsorship Program Mayor Ramsey pulled Item No. 5.5 for discussion.
Daniel Sauceda spoke in favor of the program and the honor of the opportunity.
Approve Lease Agreement between the City of Coalinga and the Coalinga-Huron Recreation and Parks District for the Property located at the Coalinga Sports Complex for the Purpose of Rehabilitating, Maintaining, and Operating the Dog Park Minutes - November 3, 2022
7. Extend Existing Contract with Blais and Associates to provide Grant Consulting Services for an additional Three (3) Years and Further Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a New Three (3) Year Professional Services Agreement with Blais and Associates for on-call Grant Consulting Research and Development Services
8. Approve Agreement with DataTicket Processing Services
9. Direct Staff to Issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Real Estate Firm to Serve Under Contract with the City as the City's Real Estate Agent for all Real Estate Transactions Councilman Adkisson pulled Item No. 5.9 for discussion.
Councilman Adkisson stated he requested this as a Future Agenda Item for transparency purposes. He believes Mrs. Stevens is doing a great job for the City but spoke in opposition of automatically renewing contracts.
Mayor Ramsey spoke in favor of renewing the contract with Mid State Realty for an additional year and requested this item be voted on separately
10. Public Works, Utilities & Community Development Quarterly Report for July-Sept 2022 Motion by Horn, Second by Singleton to Approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5.1 through 5.8 and Item No.
5.10. Motion Approved by 5/0 Roll-Call Majority Vote.
Motion by Adkisson, Second by Singleton to Approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5.9. Motion Failed by 2/3 Roll-Call Majority Vote. (Horn, Ramirez, Ramsey voted No)
6. ORDINANCE PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
1. Discussion, Direction and Potential Action regarding One (1) Expiring Term on the Planning Commission
Sean Brewer, Assistant City Manager
Item No. 6.1 was pulled from the Agenda during Changes to the Agenda and will appear on the next meeting.
2. Presentation by GX Broadband/Ranch WiFi related to Potentially Collaborating with the City of Coalinga to Pursue CPUC LATA Grant Funds to Create a Broadband Strategic Plan for the City of Coalinga and Discussion, Direction and Potential Action Sean Brewer, Assistant City Manager
Assistant City Manager Sean Brewer gave a brief overview of the item and introduced Mr. Ken Dickerson who is representing GX Broadband/Ranch WiFi.
Consensus of the Council is to table the item for a future meeting.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager's Announcements:
City Manager Mrs. Trejo reminded the public that there will only be one City Council meeting in the month of November with the next meeting being on December 1, 2022.
Minutes - November 3, 2022
The City is preparing for the annual Christmas Program and need help with gift wrapping. If you have any students who have community service hours please contact City Hall. Please email Shannon Jensen at [email protected] or telephone her at (559) 935-1533 x113 to make arrangements.
Council Member's Announcements:
Councilman Ramirez reminded the public of Friday's game and encouraged the community's support and attendance.
Mayor Pro-Tem Singleton encouraged folks to support the K-9 Foundation by attending the annual dinner on November 12, 2022.
Mayor Pro-Tem Singleton thanked Assistant City Manager Sean Brewer, Public Works and Utilities Coordinator Larry Miller and consultant Dan Bergmann for all their hard work with the water issues.
Mayor's Announcements:
Mayor Ramsey congratulated the Chamber on the success of this years' CoalingaFest event.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro-Tem Singleton requested a Future Agenda Item on status of filing vacant Firefighter positions.
9. CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS - Government Code Section 54957.6. CITY NEGOTIATORS: City Manager, Marissa Trejo, City Attorney, Mario Zamora. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION: Non-Represented Employees
10. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT 6:56 PM
APPROVED:
Ron Ramy
Ron Ramsey, Mayor
ATTEST:
Slumn Shun
Shannon Jensen, City Clerk
January 5, 2023
Date
Minutes - November 3, 2022
CalNeva Broadband, LLC
"Great Things Coming Your Way"
PO Box 1389 Phone: 559) 259-1340
Discovery Bay, Ca. 94505 Facsimile: (925) 390-5119
November 1, 2022
City of Coalinga
City Manager - Marissa Trejo
Asst. City Manager - Sean Brewer
Mayor & City Counsel Members
RE: GX Broadband/ Ranch WIFI Agenda Item
I felt compelled to write to assure the city staff has current information concerning the past and present efforts of CalNeva Broadband to continue to provide services to all residents and businesses within and adjacent to the city limits and to question the availability of grant funds for the City given grants have already been provided and the current broadband map since 2020 data was utilized depicts Coalinga as "served".
In 2016 CalNeva Broadband acquired Comcast's abandoned cable TV system in the cities of Coalinga and Huron. In 2017 CalNeva was granted a $511,000 CA. CASF (CA.
Advanced Service Fund) grant to upgrade the system in order to provide broadband. The grant provided 2 years to complete the upgrade that was started in 2017 and completed in 2019. Services were launched in 2020 in both cities. At present CalNeva has invested over $1,575,000 dollars in the community including the grant funds. CalNeva currently offers residential services ranging from $29.95 to $59.95 per month and Business Service at $99.95. The speeds offered range from 25 to 200 Megs. The system as designed can support speeds up to 1 gig. CalNeva currently operates from a local building and employs 5 local residents. CalNeva also offers digital phone service at a flat rate of $29.99/mth. CalNeva is currently working with the developers/contractors on the three large projects (Pacific West, Warthan Place, and the subdivision off Jayne Ave) to ensure broadband and telephone access.
Since 2020 CalNeva has filed the necessary Federal (FCC 477's) and California (DIVCA) to ensure an accurate broadband map. Since the 2020 data was used the maps for Coalinga show the city as "served".
In 2021 CalNeva prepared an application for the CA PUC under the CASF program.
CalNeva solicited letters of support from both Coalinga and Huron, the local chamber, and several local businesses. The grant, if successful, would have provided funding to serve residents and businesses outside the city limits and those identified within the city limits that the upgraded Comcast plant did not serve. Unfortunately in 2021 the CASF ceased accepting applications as Federal Funds under the Federal Build Back Better initiatives were to be made available to all 50 states. The federal funding was recently distributed and California is now accepting applications under the new guidelines and under completely new programs. (MMBI, BEAD, LATA). CalNeva is working on amending its application for resubmission.
At present Coalinga is served by two wired providers: CalNeva and AT&T, all three major cell carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, one wireless provider: Unwired Broadband, and three satellite providers: Star Link, Hughes Net, and DirecWay. Although I believe in competition, I cannot see how supporting additional providers that are dependent on receiving grants for areas already having received grant funding will not simply result in creating an adverse effect on the existing providers and contribute to additional wastes of taxpayer's money.
I'd be interested in knowing if GX Broadband/ Ranch WIFI plans to open a local office employing local residents. I'd also be interested if the entity is 100% reliant on government grants and if not, how much working capital is on hand.
Very Truly Yours,
Thomas E. Gelardi, LLC Manager & Owner
CalNeva Broadband, LLC