MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
January 16, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Alindajao called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 – 11th Avenue.
INVOCATION
Pastor Vivas offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Alindajao led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Mayor Joe Alindajao, Mayor Pro Tem Morris, Councilmember Nunez Council members absent: Salvador Solorio-Ruiz, Veronica Vasquez
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, Deputy City Clerk Fernandez, City Attorney Hensley, Finance Director Lara Rios, City Engineer Dowling, Interim Chief of Police Nicholson, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Interim Community Development Director Monsibais, Transit Manager Alapisco, and Economic Development Specialist Fernandez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
1. Certificate of Recognition to Delano Bengals and Delano Spartans Presented by Mayor Alindajao, Accepted by Kayla Nunez and Kate Viramontes on behalf of the Delano Bengals Cheer
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Anthony Cortez, 282 Shell Beach Court – “Of the nearly two hundred nations in the world, America is the most stable operating well over two centuries under the same government documents, but it is also the only nation uniquely and correctly identified by the world factbook as a constitutionally based federal republic and this has been our form of government since given to us by our founding fathers in 1789. The founders openly affirmed that the Bible had produced a unique constitutional public. The Bible is the most republican book in the world. I’ve always considered Christianity as a strong ground of Republicanism. Our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct Republican principles is the Bible. Founding father, Noah Webster, therefore instructed the rising generation and it echoes to use today, and I quote “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed in your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of the Republic government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty. If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted. Laws will be made not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes. Corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws. The public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men, and he rights of citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a Republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine command and elect bad men to make and administer the laws. He goes on to say, in selecting men for office let principal be your guide. It is alleged by men of loose principles or defective views of the subject that religion or morality are not necessary or important qualifications for public stations. The scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers be men who rule in fear of God, men of truth, hating covetousness, it is to the neglect of this rule of conduct. Our citizens we must describe the multiple frauds, breaches of trust, white-collar larceny, and embezzlement of public property which astonish even ourselves and tarnish the character of our country. They disgrace a Republican government. America’s Republican form of government is derived from the Bible. This is history, but it can only be preserved so long as citizens know, and he’d be able to. We’re choosing the right types of leaders to be placed at the helm of our constitutional public at all levels, local, county, state and federal. I know there’s probably somebody out there thinking this isn’t a place, this isn’t church, this is the public square. I have three minutes to voice my thoughts and concerns and I’m exercising that right and I encourage everybody to vote and vote your conscience, vote for men and women that understand that this country was founded on Biblical principle.
Public comment closed.
CONSENT AGENDA
1) Authorization to waive the reading of any ordinance in its entirety and consenting to the reading of such ordinances by title only.
2) Warrant Register in the amount of $2,735,054.97
3) Warrant Register in the amount of $5,171,805.99
4) Minutes of Regular Planning Commission meeting of July 12, 2023 5) Minutes of Regular Planning Commission meeting of August 9, 2023 6) Minutes of Regular Planning Commission meeting of September 13, 2023 7) Minutes of Regular Planning Commission meeting of October 11, 2023 8) Minutes of Regular Planning Commission meeting of November 8, 2023 9) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of October 2, 2023 10) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of October 16, 2023 11) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of November 6, 2023 12) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of November 8, 2023 13) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of November 20, 2023 14) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of December 18, 2023 15) Request from Kern County Elections for $2,300.00 to utilize the Ellington Community Center Gymnasium on March 5 and November 5 as a polling site
16) Approve the memorandum of understanding between the City of Delano Transportation and Omni Family Health Clinic to provide Dial-a Ride Services to transport their clients 17) Approval of First Amendment to Kern County Ground Lease Agreement #284-2023 at the McFarland-Delano Recycling and Transfer Station and authorization for the City Manager to sign the agreement and any other documents to carry this out. 18) Recommending the City’s attendance at the International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC) 2024
Motion was made by: Nunez to approved items 1-18 on consent items; 2nd by: Morris
Vote: 3-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez
Nays: None
Absent: Solorio-Ruiz/Vasquez
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
19) Public Hearing to Obtain Public Comments for the Proposed Transit Projects for Fiscal Year 24/25
REGULAR AGENDA
No items.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No Items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Veronica Vasquez – Absent
Salvador Solorio-Ruiz - Absent
Councilmember Nunez – “I want to thank staff for a great 2023 year. It was my first year on the council and I learned a lot. I made a lot of phone calls, and all my questions were answered and I’m very proud to be part of this city.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Morris – “I just wanted to welcome Mark Hensley, who is officially with us now. The only other part of this is sad news only because I know we’ve lost some key people that were involved in the city for some many years and one of them is Phyllis Kraft. I don’t know if any of you really had the chance or opportunity to get to know Phyllis. She served as the City Clerk for 35 years. She was a tall, skinny lady with glasses. Phyllis had a great sense of humor and knew her job very well and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to know her and work with her then she recently passed away and I think her services will be next month. Mentioning Phyllis is the least that we can do because she was a great lady and dedicated a lot of her life to the city. The other thing is I send my condolences to Ricardo and his family for the loss of his father. I think they’re having his services tonight and tomorrow. Our condolences to Ricardo for his loss and the other loss is very iconic to the person who served our community a lot and that was Mr. Gonzalez. As we go along, we see all these iconic people who have done so much for our community, and I just wanted to give a shout out and just say thank you for the services that they’ve given us.
They tirelessly worked at that.
Mayor Alindajao: “Thank you for bringing those names up. Those are significant people in our community who have done a lot of work, they are part of the success that we have and their efforts in making the city better. I’d like to put on the first meeting in March on the agenda discussion and vote on SB329 which involves raising salaries for council members. I know that the law just passed, the law won’t go into effect until 2025. I know it’s been probably at least two or three decades since the law was passed adjusting city council salaries based on the population of the city. I also want to thank the Chief for providing this information, I know that the police department posted on their website, this in relation to the street take over that was in November of last year. I know that made the news for sometimes not all the best reasons, but it doesn’t seem like sometimes the media gets it right. I saw the posting by the police department giving an update on the street takeover. According to the update it looks like ten vehicles have been impounded as a result of the investigation. That investigation isn’t always easy since you’re relying on video and statements by other people. I know that this is an active investigation so they’re likely to provide more information forthcoming on this issue but I’m so glad to hear that. I know that for a long time the City of Bakersfield has been having problems with street takeovers. I also want to welcome Mark Hensley and his team, you have lots of experience in this area and I felt you’re impacting your efforts this far in a short time. I think 2023 was also a great year, we made a lot of progress and I’m looking forward to 2024. There is a lot of really near things on the horizon, perhaps an expansion of our retail base, more housing, perhaps more money coming from the federal government. I think we’re on the final stretch of that. I also want to extend my prayers and thoughts to Ricardo Chavez’s father who passed away recently. If those that are listening on Zoom don’t know who Ricardo is, he is part of our city staff.
He works in the planning department, he was formerly the city clerk for many years. He was also formerly a city council member for many years so our hearts and thoughts go out to Ricardo and his family. We will be discussing at the next meeting in February the election of the mayor, that should be on the agenda for the next meeting.” Motion to go into closed session at 6:06PM by: Nunez
2nd by: Morris
Vote: 3-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez
Nays: None
Absent: Solorio-Ruiz/Vasquez
Abstentions: None
CLOSED SESSION
No items.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Nunez seconded by Morris and unanimously carried 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 6:06pm. _____________________________________________
Miguel Fernandez, Deputy City Clerk