City of
CORCORAN
FOUNDED 1914
CITY ADMINISTRATION
STAFF REPORT
September 22, 2026
ITEM # 6-A
FROM: Greg Gatzka, City Manager
SUBJECT: Park Renaming Ad-Hoc Committee Recommendation
Summary:
On April 14, 2026, Council established a five-member Park Renaming Ad-Hoc Committee to make recommendations on the renaming of the former Cesar Chavez. Park located adjacent to Mark Twain Elementary School at 1500 Oregon Ave.
Recommendation:
Consider recommendation(s) from the City's Park Renaming Ad-Hoc Committee and direct staff to take action to implement any changes.
Budget impact:
The anticipated cost for new park signage is estimated to range from $2,000 to $4,000 and can be accommodated through the Public Works Department - Parks Budget. Any other improvements will need to be covered under existing budget constraints and/or be phased in through future budgets.
Background:
On March 24, 2026, Council directed staff to remove the park signs at Cesar Chavez Park after nationwide controversy occurred and involving United Farm Workers (UFW) labor organizer Cesar Chavez. On April 14, 2026, Council then established a Park Renaming Ad-Hoc Committee to make recommendations on the name and other possible enhancements to the park located adjacent to Mark Twain Elementary School located at 1500 Oregon Ave. This park is located on Corcoran Joint Unified School District property, and the City has a long-term lease through 2050 for the City's use as a community park. The Ad-Hoc Committee has been holding meetings and with the assistance of the City Manager and Public Works Director explored options for the renaming of the park and other possible enhancements. The Ad-Hoc Committee is now ready to present their recommendations to the Council for consideration.
City Offices
832 Whitley * Corcoran, CA 93212 * Phone 559-992-2151 * www.cityofcorcoran.ca.gov City of
CORCORAN
FOUNDED 1914
CITY ADMINISTRATION
STAFF REPORT
September 22, 2026
ITEM # 6-B
FROM: Greg Gatzka, City Manager
SUBJECT: Council Stipend and Health Benefit
Summary:
At the direction of Council, alternative actions are being presented for consideration on Council Member stipend and health benefits.
Recommendation:
Consider any of the following actions:
1. Take no action.
2. Request additional information or modifications to potential action(s).
3. Approve Council Member Stipend benefit in a monthly amount up to $950/month by adopting Resolution No. 4171 and holding the first reading of Ordinance No. 652 and directing staff to bring ordinance back for second reading along with a resolution setting the benefit amount and adopting a budget amendment.
4. Approve City paid contribution towards Council Member Health Coverage benefit up to the maximum of 80% and establish an Opt-Out provision for Deferred Compensation Benefit by adopting Resolution No. 4172 and approve a Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Budget impact:
The fiscal impact on the City General Fund will depend upon the Council's decision regarding Council Member stipend and health benefit amount. Council member stipend can be considered up to $950/month at an estimated total annual cost of $57,000 annually. City paid health coverage for Council members can be considered up to a maximum of 80% covered at an estimated total annual cost of $130,000 for family coverage. Total annual cost maximum for both stipend and health coverage is estimated to be $187,000 and is not currently covered as part of the adopted FY 2026- 2027 Budget. With approximately six months of the fiscal year remaining to cover these potential costs, the City would need to allocate an estimated $93,500 through a budget amendment and consider long-term sustainability of these costs against other City budget priorities that include department staffing and operational expenses.
As these potential costs were not previously considered in the adoption of the City's Fiscal Year 2026- 2027 Budget, a Budget Amendment will be necessary to cover any cost increases over the remainder of the current Fiscal Year. In addition, future sustainability of these added costs will need to be City Offices
832 Whitley * Corcoran, CA 93212 * Phone 559-992-2151 * www.cityofcorcoran.ca.gov considered as it may necessitate possible future reductions in City staffing or other operational reductions given that the City is operating under a tight balanced budget with extremely limited discretionary funding.
For any budget amendment request that typically involves a City department, the budget accommodation is first evaluated to be accommodated within a department's existing adopted budget.
This may involve a department shifting priorities to accommodate an unexpected expenditure within the current resources available in a department budget. Secondarily, should the department budget funds prove insufficient, the City Manager may consider budget accommodation through transfer from other department budget savings where filling of vacancies, projects or equipment purchases could potentially be postponed. These types of budget transfers tend to be one time shifts of General Fund expenditure but are not typically suitable for long-term sustained future operational costs. Lastly, should these approaches not be sufficient to cover the added expenditure the Council may consider cutbacks to staffing levels and equipment purchases that may be necessary to fund long-term ongoing priority expenditures or authorize the use of City reserve funds. This last approach is not typically recommended as this action may pose long-term implications for future budgets and maintenance of essential City services. This approach if considered will need more critical evaluation of potential long-term fiscal implications, department staffing levels, and associated impacts to City service capabilities.
In review of the City Council's adopted FY 26-27 Budget, the City Manager has identified historically underutilized City Council Travel & Training Budget (Account # 104.401.300.260) in the amount of $5,900 that is intended for Council member ethics training, and participation at League of California Cities, San Joaquin Valley Division Chapter, and County meetings. Past annual use of these funds has been at most $1,200/annually during the past four years but is always budgeted to allow all five Council Members to use. Shifting $4,500 of this budget to City Council salary stipends could support an estimated $75/Council Member stipend but would greatly reduce the funding allowance for Council member participation in future training, workshops and other meetings. In addition, the City's budget currently has no salary & benefit accounts associated with Council members as they are defined in the budget as "Volunteers" and unpaid. Consideration of any direct payment such as a stipend will require the Finance Department to integrate new "Salary & Benefit" accounts to the budget for Council Members as they do not currently exist and the City will be required to track and report the stipend as income and deduct Medicare and State Disability Insurance withholdings.
Should the Council consider any cost beyond that listed above, the City Manager has identified the following budgeted projects in the current budget that could potentially be postponed but will be required in the near future.
Administration Services - Professional Services Budget (Account # 104.402.300.200) has the following projects budgeted that could be postponed this fiscal year:
• Implementation of SB 1383 Organic Waste/Food Recovery Implementation $25,000 • Implementation of ADA compliant City Website $ 8,000
Implementation and Conversion of City Ordinances to Municipal Code $30,000 Although these budgeted projects (totaling $63,000) could be postponed this fiscal year, they have State and Federal mandated deadlines that will require City implementation over the next couple of fiscal years. In addition, the reliance on City Administration professional service funds could potentially hinder the City's long-term effectiveness in addressing State and Federal mandates that are typically handled by City Administration and will increase City liability if not timely addressed. Any costs beyond these amounts would necessitate a reduction in either City staffing, equipment or authorization and use of General Fund Reserve Funds.
Background:
On August 25, 2026, Council directed staff to place on the agenda a discussion regarding Council Member benefits. Currently, Council Members do not receive any stipend or City paid health coverage benefit.
At the request of Council, staff surveyed other surrounding cities to determine what stipend and health benefits are provided at other agencies. The following list of city stipends is provided from least to highest, and none of the agencies provide city paid health coverage:
• City of Exeter $10/meeting - not to exceed 4 meetings per month (S40/month max) • City of Porterville $20/$25/meeting - not to exceed 7 meetings ($175/month Mayor) • City of Farmersville $250/month
• City of Lindsey $250/month
• City of Lemoore $300/month
• City of Selma $300/month
• City of Avenal $450/month
• City of Hanford $500/month
• City of Tulare $500/month $600/month for Mayor
• City of Delano $500/month
• City of Reedley $500/month
• City of Kingsburg $700/month
Council Member's are currently allowed to use City health coverage, but at their own expense. This allowance was established by City Council action on November 13, 2018, adopted Resolution No. 2591. Council members who elect to participate in the City's health coverage plan may enroll during the open enrollment period beginning in December with benefits beginning the following January.
Council Member maximum benefit cannot exceed the greatest employee benefit which is currently 80% covered by City and 20% covered by employee. City paid Council Member health coverage is limited to the same 80/20 split coverage.
The estimated total full cost for Health Coverage benefit at current rates and with City covered 80% paid contribution breakdown is provided below:
Single coverage $12,200/Annually 80/20 Split is $9,760 City/ $2,440 Employee Family coverage $32,500/Annually 80/20 Split is $26,000 City/ $6,500 Employee Should the Council decide to approve City paid coverage for Council Members, the Council may also consider applying the same employee benefit for any employee who opt-out of the City health coverage. The current employee benefit for the Opt-Out benefit is $1,800/annually that is deposited into a deferred compensation account. Any tax implications related to this benefit are the responsibility of benefit holder and typically applied upon withdrawal of the actual benefit.
Attachment:
For Council Stipend - Resolution No 4171 and Ordinance No. 652 For Council Paid Health Coverage - Resolution No. 4172
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CORCORAN
IN THE MATTER OF:
Budgeting and Confirming Amount RESOLUTION NO. 4171
Council Compensation for the remainder
of FY 2026-2027.
WHEREAS, the City of Corcoran ("City") is a general law city with a population under 35,000, and desires to budget and confirm the amount of council compensation for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026-07;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Corcoran Municipal Code ("CMC"') § 1-5-6, the City Council ("Council") is authorized to budget and confirm the level of compensation to be paid to members of the Council, up to an amount to not exceed the maximum authorized in CMC § 1-5-6, subsection A;
WHEREAS, pursuant to CMC § 1-5-6, subsection B, the Council is authorized to adopt reasonable qualifications and conditions which must be satisfied in order to receive council compensation including, but not limited to, minimum meeting attendance, completion of trainings, and other reasonable pre-conditions; and WHEREAS, the City now desires to budget and confirm the level of compensation to be paid to members of the Council, in accordance CMC § 1-5-6.
UPON MOTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER _ SECONDED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER - THE FOLLOWING WAS PASSED, APPROVED,
AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT AN OFFICIAL MEETING HELD ON September _, 2026, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
MARLENE LOPEZ, City Clerk
CITY OF CORCORAN
******************
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. Found that the foregoing recitals are true;
2. Approved a FY2026-27 budget amendment for City Council compensation in the total amount of $
3. Authorized and confirmed $ per month as the amount
compensation to be paid to each Council member who qualifies to receive payment in accordance with each and all of the terms of this resolution;
4. Ordered that council compensation not be paid to any member of the Council who has not satisfied each and all of the following pre-conditions:
a) Up-to-date on AB-1234 (2005) Ethics Training requirements; b) Up-to-date on AB-1825 (2004) Sexual Harassment Training requirements; and
c) Up-to-date on filing of FPPC Statement of Economic Interest (Form- 700);
and
5. Authorized the City Manager, City Clerk and relevant City staff and officers to carry out the terms and conditions of this resolution and to take all steps reasonably necessary, proper and/or convenient and/or incidental thereto. ******************
MD/20260916 - Corcoran - DRAFT Resolution, Ist Reading Ord for Council Comp-l.doc
ORDINANCE NO. 652
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CORCORAN
AUTHORZING CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION UNDER
SB-329 (2023).
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORCORAN DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. PURPOSE. In Section 1 of Senate Bill 329 (2023), the Legislature declared that in allowing local governing bodies "...to adjust their compensation for inflation since 1984 may help [them] become more diverse because increased compensation can help individuals from across different income levels receive sufficient income from their service to help ensure that they can continue to serve the public..." Accordingly, this ordinance is intended to help individuals from across different income levels receive sufficient income from their service to help ensure that they can continue to serve the public through the Corcoran City Council, while at the same time allowing any member of the City Council to waive compensation if they so desire.
Section 2. REPEAL: All prior provisions within the ordinances of the City of Corcoran ("City") setting and/or regulating the compensation for serving as a member of the City Council ("Council"), including but not limited to Section 1-5-6 of the Corcoran Municipal Code ("C.M.C."), are hereby repealed and superseded by this ordinance.
Section 3. CODE ADOPTION. Section 1-5-6 is hereby added into Chapter 5 of Title 1 of the Corcoran Municipal Code, to read in its entirety as follows:
1-5-6: MAXIMUM COMPENSATION:
A. The maximum compensation authorized to be paid to each member of the city council shall be $950 per month, plus an upward inflationary adjustment which shall be an amount equal to inflation since January 1, 2026, based upon the California Consumer Price Index, which shall not exceed ten percent (10%) for each calendar year. To qualify for compensation hereunder, including any inflationary adjustment, the city council by written resolution(s), must both include city council compensation in the city's annual budget, and confirm the actual amount of compensation to paid to
each member of the city council, and the city council is hereby authorized to budget and confirm city council compensation in an amount lower than the maximum amount authorized by this Section of the municipal code.
B. In addition to other requirements, by resolution, the city council is authorized to adopt reasonable qualifications and conditions which must be satisfied in order to receive council compensation including, but not limited to, minimum meeting attendance, completion of trainings, and other reasonable pre-conditions.
C. Members of the city council may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in their performance of their official duties, in accordance with all applicable laws and subject to the approval of the city council.
D. A city council member may in writing waive all or any portion of the compensation and/or reimbursements) authorized by this Section of the municipal code. Council members desiring to exercise this option must notify the Finance Director (or their designee) in writing prior to the compensation disbursement period.
Section 4. CEQA REVIEW. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15060(c)(2) [the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment] and 15061(b)(3) [there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment]. In addition to the foregoing general exemptions, the City Council further finds that the ordinance is categorically exempt from review under CEQA under the Class 8 categorical exemption [regulatory activity to assure the protection of the environment]. The City Manager is hereby directed to ensure that a Notice of Exemption is filed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15062 [14 C.C.R. § 15062].
Section 5. NO LIABILITY. The provisions of this ordinance shall not in any way be construed as imposing any duty of care, liability or responsibility for damage to person or property upon the City of Corcoran, or any official, employee or agent thereof.
Section 6. PENDING ACTIONS. Nothing in this ordinance or in the codes hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding pending or impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance or code repealed by this ordinance, nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this ordinance.
Section 7. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases of this ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council of the City of Corcoran hereby declares that it would have adopted each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 8. CONSTRUCTION. The City Council intends this ordinance to supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable state and federal law and this ordinance shall be construed in light of that intent. To the extent the provisions of the Corcoran Municipal Code as amended by this ordinance are substantially the same as provisions in the Corcoran Municipal Code existing prior to the effectiveness of this ordinance, then those amended provisions shall be construed as continuations of the earlier provisions and not as new enactments.
Section 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. The foregoing ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of the passage hereof. Prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the passage hereof a certified copy of this ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk pursuant to Government Code § 36933(c)(1) and a summary shall be
published once in the Corcoran Journal a newspaper printed and published in the City of Corcoran, State of California, together with the names of the Council members voting for and against the same.
THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Corcoran, State of California, on , 2026 at a regular meeting of said Council duly and regularly convened on said day by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
SIDONIO "SID" PALMERIN
Mayor, City of Corcoran
ATTEST:
MARLENE SPAIN
City Clerk, City of Corcoran
MD/20260915 - Corcoran - DRAFT Council Compensation Ordinance-l.docx
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CORCORAN
IN THE MATTER OF:
Budgeting and Confirming Amount City RESOLUTION NO. 4172 Paid Council Health Benefit for the
remainder of FY 2026-2027.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code section 53201, the City Council of the City of Corcoran is authorized to establish health and welfare benefits for its officers and the legislative body; and
WHEREAS, with respect to members of the City Council, Government Code section 53201 further authorizes such members to participate in the City's health benefits program if such members "elect to accept the benefits"; and WHEREAS, on November 13, 2018, the City Council of the City of Corcoran adopted Resolution No. 2951 that established allowing City Council Members holding office after December 1, 2018, the ability to access City provided health coverage with 100% paid by the Council Member, and access to COBRA after completion of service; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Corcoran now desires to reconsider establishing a City contribution towards this health benefit premium for Council Members to the maximum extent possible and in accordance with Government Code section 53208.5 that limits the maximum benefits received by the Council as no greater than the most generous "schedule of benefits" provided to any category of non-safety employees which is currently 80/20 split with 80% covered by the City; and WHEREAS, the City now desires to budget and confirm the level of City contribution towards Council Member health coverage benefit and allow the Opt-Out provisions as currently provided to City employees of $1,800 annually and deposited into a deferred compensation account.
UPON MOTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER _ SECONDED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER _ THE FOLLOWING WAS PASSED, APPROVED,
AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT AN OFFICIAL MEETING HELD ON September_22, 2026, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
MARLENE LOPEZ, City Clerk
CITY OF CORCORAN
******************
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1. Found that the foregoing recitals are true;
2. Approved a FY2026-27 budget amendment for City Council health coverage benefit covered by the City in the total amount of $
3. Authorized City Council members Opt-Out of City offered health coverage the option to accept $1,800 annually as a City contribution to a City established deferred compensation account for the benefit of a member.
4. Authorized the City Manager, City Clerk and relevant City staff and officers to carry out the terms and conditions of this resolution and to take all steps reasonably necessary, proper and/or convenient and/or incidental thereto. ******************