MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
February 20, 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 Cortez 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, Councilmember Vasquez
Council members absent: Solorio-Ruiz
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, Deputy City Clerk Fernandez, Assistant City Attorney Vasquez, Finance Director Lara Rios, City, Interim Chief of Police Nicholson, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Fire Chief Crist, Interim Community Development Director Monsibais, Senior Planner Chavez, and Transit Manager Alapisco
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
None.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Suzanne Villaruz, 1808 Terrace Dr – “I went to go look at the Larry Itliong Unity park, we had a meeting with our group and I want to say thank you to the City Council, the City Manager, and all the other departments involved in creating such a beautiful park. It is truly an asset for our community and I would particularly like to recognize Roman Dowling for his guidance and knowledge in shaping this park which means so much to the great community of Delano. It is beautiful and it is so well planned. We had people come from San Francisco, San Diego and Bakersfield to come look at this park and they were so impressed and so moved by the beauty of the park. It is so well planned and I thank the community and the city for all its guidance and high standard of making sure that the park would be ready for the dedication. Thank you City Council for making such a beautiful park, if we continue to improve our parks and make them all beautiful, we will have a beautiful city.”
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 $2,194,518.58
3) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of May 16, 2022
4) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of August 1, 2022 5) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of October 17, 2022 6) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of November 7, 2022 7) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of December 19, 2022 8) Minutes of Regular Council meeting of February 5, 2024 9) Authorization for the purchase of fifteen fully equipped new patrol units Motion was made by: Nunez to approved items 1-9 on consent items; 2nd by: Morris
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez / Vasquez
Nays: None
Absent: Solorio-Ruiz
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
10) Public Hearing to receive comments related to unmet transit needs that may exist and can be reasonably met
Mayor Alindajao opened public hearing.
Staff Report by Interim Community Development Director Monsibais.
Mayor Alindajao opened public comment.
Mayor Alindajao closed public comment.
11) Introduction and first reading of an ordinance of the City of Delano amending Section 20.2.180 (Appeals) of the Delano Municipal Code which would apply citywide. The proposed Zoning Text Amendment would, among other things: (i) establish a filing fee up to $1000.00 for any person electing to appeal a decision of the Community Development Director or the Planning Commission; (ii) clarify that the City Council, on appeal, may reverse, affirm in whole or in part, and/or modify or attach new or additional conditions to the decision appeal from; and (iii) prohibit a person from reapplying for a denied project for a period of one year unless the Community Development Director determines that the application is materially different from the project that was previously denied. (Moved to March 4, 2024, regular council meeting) CEQA Determination
The proposed Zoning Text Amendment is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed amendments may have a significant effect on the environment. In addition, the proposed Zone Text Amendment is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Title 14, Section 15273(a) of the California Code of Regulations.
Motion was made by: Nunez to table item 11 until next council meeting; 2nd by: Vasquez
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez / Vasquez
Nays: None
Absent: Solorio-Ruiz
Abstentions: None
REGULAR AGENDA
No Items.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No Items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Salvador Solorio-Ruiz – Absent.
Veronica Vasquez – “I just want to remind the community that on April 13th there will be a Relay for Life. So, if you know people on the team they will be selling the luminaries and if you can sponsor a team if they’re selling an item please do that so you ca help them fundraise. Please show up that day, it is usually held at Delano High School in the back area.”
Councilmember Nunez – “I want to thank everyone who came out to the Senior Dance at the Guadalupe Church we had a really good time. Thank you also to the Chief for coming out, I hope you had a really good time.” Mayor Pro-Tem Morris – “I just want to also thank everyone who came to the senior dance, it is really important for seniors because it gives them the opportunity to socialize. They look forward to those opportunities when they get out. Another thing I want to mention is that the Crabfeed event will be this Saturday and also Phyllis’ services will be on Saturday at 1pm. Ms. Kraft was our City Clerk for 35 years, that’s a long time. We appreciate her knowledge and all that she did for the City.”
Mayor Alindajao - “I had a fantastic time at the City Banquet Awards today at lunchtime. We got to recognize many City Employees that have served the city for 5, 10, 15, 20, and so on years. We had our longest tenured which was Art Medina and also Mike Enriquez who has been with us 15 years. Miguel also got a 5 year award and we had a good lunch, it was steak from Tony’s Firehouse. It is nice to see all the employees from different parts of the City all come together. I want to thank some of the City staff who attended the Vendor Training that was held by our Assistant City Attorney Joaquin Vasquez. Street vending and food trucks is a growing thing in our community so it was nice to know more about it. We want to make sure people in our City are following the law and doing things the right way. We learned a lot, I want to give direction to Mr. Vasquez and our staff. We did discuss some vending ordinances that included limiting street vending to certain parts of the City, and how vendors are permitted. I am asking legal to gather research on potential safety, health, and potential hazards in different areas.” Motion to go into closed session at 5:48PM by: Nunez
2nd by: Morris
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Morris / Nunez / Alindajao / Vasquez
Nays: None
Absent: Solorio-Ruiz
Abstentions: None
CLOSED SESSION
12) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Gov. Code, § 54956.9) In re Endo International plc, et al., United States Bankruptcy Court (Southern District of New York) Case No. 22-22549 (JLG)
Action: No reportable action.
13) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION – Government Code Section 54957:
City Manager
Action: No reportable action.
RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION
Motion to go into general session at 7:04 PM by: Nunez
2nd by: Morris
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Morris / Nunez/ Alindajao /Vasquez
Nays: None
Absent: Solorio-Ruiz
Abstentions: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Morris seconded by Nunez and unanimously carried 4-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 PM. _____________________________________________
Miguel Fernandez, Deputy City Clerk