MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL– SPECIAL MEETING
February 22, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Osorio called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 – 11th Avenue.
FLAG SALUTE
Council Member Morris led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Bryan Osorio (via teleconference), Veronica Vasquez (via teleconference), Joe Alindajao (via teleconference), Liz Morris (via teleconference), Salvador Solorio-Ruiz (via teleconference) Council members absent: None
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Chavez, City Attorney Richman (via teleconference), City Attorney Thuyen (via teleconference), City Engineer Dowling, Finance Director Lara Rios, Chief of Police Davis, Human Resources Director Zamudio and Interim Community Development Director Mynk
SPECIAL AGENDA ITEM
1) Consideration of Adopting a Resolution to Continue to Permit Teleconferencing Attendance Option for City Council and other City Legislative Body Meetings Pursuant to AB-361 for next 30 days (Resolution No. 2022-05)
Staff report provide by City Attorney Richman.
Mayor Osorio opened public comment.
Yolanda Vega stated she finds it necessary to continue the Zoom meetings.
Suzanne Villaruz commented that they need to continue Zoom meetings since Delano is a rural community.
Mayor Osorio closed public comment.
Council Member Solorio-Ruiz inquired when the city is technically opened back up.
City Manager Reyna responded the city will be back open to the public as of March 1st.
Councilmember Solorio-Ruiz stated he is totally okay with going back in person with precautions and still provide Zoom access. He stated he would be okay with just going back to in person meetings.
Councilmember Morris agreed that if precautions are taken they should be able to meet in Chambers.
Councilmember Alindajao stated he believe the governor’s bill requires them to make findings. He further added that it is his understanding that the COVID cases have dropped significantly in the last two weeks. He inquired if there are actual COVID statistics available.
City Attorney Richman responded in the negative.
Councilmember Alindajao inquired if there were not extending the resolution.
City Attorney Richman explained that the resolution expired but the council can set a time limit if they want to extend the resolution. She pointed out that if they don’t adopt the Resolution and make the findings, they won’t be able to have the substantive meeting agenda.
Councilmember Alindajao clarified the comments about people not being able to attend the meetings if they went back to in person meetings by Zoom, however the public will continue indefinitely to attend the City Council meetings even if they are in person by Zoom.
Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez stated that her concerns have been brought up, and she just wants to be mindful if they have the staff to do in person meetings.
Mayor Osorio stated he saw the drop in surge of cases which was reassuring. He agrees to going back to in person and allowing public comments through Zoom.
Motion to adopt the Resolution with the modification that the order be in effect only until March 1, 2022 made by: Alindajao
2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz.
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Osorio/Vasquez/Alindajao/Morris/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None.
Abstentions: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Council Member Morris, seconded by Solorio-Ruiz, and unanimously carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 5:53p.m.
Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk