MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
September 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 David Vivas offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Solorio-Ruiz led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Mayor Joe Alindajao, Mayor Pro Tem Morris, Councilmember Nunez, Councilmember Solorio-Ruiz, Councilmember Vasquez
Council members absent: None.
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Garcia, City Attorney Hensley, Police Chief Nicholson, Finance Director Rios, Acting Community Development Director Chavez, Fire Chief Duncan, Recreation Manager Batth-Chavez, Transit Manager Alapisco, and IT Manager Enriquez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
Proclamation for Harvest Holidays received by the Harvest Holidays Committee Proclamation for CAPK Hunger Action Month received by CAPK Certificate of Recognition for 46 Years of Dedicated Service accepted by Magda “Maggie” Gonzalez
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Maria Martinez – “Maggie worked for Sierra Vista and she has known me for plenty of years and I was very glad to see that she retired and I wish I could have retired as well. What I wanted to say is that I did have an issue and I asked Councilman Nunez for help and thank you for your advice. I just want to say the chief of the police department is here. I had to call the police and I just want to tell them that the officers need training because I believe that when one calls the police when somebody calls the police, they come and help the one that is assaulting and not the reporting party. The officer was defending that other person and they wanted us to become friends, but that's not possible. So from the get-go, I told the officer to go and tell that man to not insult me. I told the officer to go tell them and to not insult me because I think since they see that I'm old, they started insulting me. So the officer went over there and told him and I just asked him to not come to bother me at my office. So the officer went and talked to the neighbor and this is a business I was not intending to file a new report. But once he came back, he just said he was going to file a report. And I think that, and I'm thinking the man, I'm not going to say names, you probably know who that is, but he's very arrogant and offensive as well. That's all I have to say. Thank you.”
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.
Agenda Item No. 4
2) Warrant Register in the amount of $3,029,153.63
3) Minutes of Regular Council Meeting of September 3, 2024 4) Biennial Notice for Conflict of Interest Code Review 5) Approve and authorize the expansion of OpenGov Platform to include procurement and financial modules 6) Second Reading Revising Ordinance 2.52.080 Section G. Increasing pension committee meeting stipend Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve items 1-6 on consent items; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez / Solorio – Ruiz / Vasquez Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
7) Approval of the City’s 2023-24 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report Staff Report provided by Economic Development Specialist Fernandez Mayor Alindajao opened public comment.
No public comment.
Mayor Alindajao closed public comment.
Councilmember Vasquez asks what this money is going towards.
Economic Development Specialist responds that the grant is intended to assist communities in low to moderate income areas and help eliminate blighted areas.
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve item 7 on public hearings; 2nd by: Morris
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez / Solorio – Ruiz / Vasquez Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
8) Consideration of a Resolution Approving and Establishing the Delano Commercial Business Façade Improvement Program (“Program”) and Authorizing Forgivable Loans to Eligible Commercial Property Owners and Tenants Participating in the Program
Staff Report provided by Economic Development Specialist Fernandez Mayor Alindajao opened public comment.
Suzanne Villaruz shares that this is something she is in favor of so Main Street can be improved and she hopes that this can be advertised well. She would like for the aesthetics of our town to look nice.
Councilmember Vasquez asks for clarification on what locations this will be on.
Economic Development Specialist specifies tha this will be on 13th and Main St.
Councilmember Vasquez asks if there will be workshops available on how to fill out the application.
Economic Development Specialist replies with yes that he has contact information on the application so anyone can reach out to him to set up an appointment.
Councilmember Vasquez asks what the timeline is to apply.
Economic Development Specialist Fernandez responds that the application will open at the beginning of the year and will close on June 30th but he will be sure to advertise beforehand.
Councilmember Solorio-Ruiz gives his kudos to Specialist Fernandez and says that he will help with the advertising so he can encourage the community to apply.
Mayor Alindajao shares that he hopes people will take advantage of this opportunity as well so we can revitalize Main St.
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve item 8 on public hearings; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez / Solorio – Ruiz / Vasquez Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
REGULAR AGENDA
9) Staff is requesting direction from the City Council on the location of the City of Delano’s senior center Staff Report provide by Recreation Manager Batth-Chavez.
Mayor Alindajao opens public comment.
Javier Cruz, Fernando Bravo, Maria Martinez, Sally Dominguez, Omero Perez, Gloria Rodriguez, Beverly Pickering, Suzanne Villaruz, Pastor David Vivas, and Guadalupe Martinez all share that they are in favor of the seniors staying at the Jefferson Center. It is a better adequately fit for the seniors, and why should there be change when the Jefferson Center is working out just fine? Mayor Alindajao closes public comment.
Councilmember Nunez and Mayor Alindajao share that they are in favor of not renting out the facility and letting the seniors stay at the Jefferson Center. They are not in favor of renting it out so the seniors can stay for longer hours and make it more of their own special place.
Vice Mayor Morris, Councilmember Vasquez, and Councilmember Solorio-Ruiz share that they are in favor of the seniors staying at the Jefferson Center but they would like for the building to be available for rental when the seniors are not there. They would like for it to be available for rental since it is a beautiful building and we don’t really have another nice building to be rented out for certain events.
Motion was made by: Morris to approve item 9 and have the seniors stay at the Jefferson Center and have the building available for rental;
2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz
Vote: 3-2
Ayes: Morris / Solorio – Ruiz / Vasquez
Nays: Alindajao / Nunez
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
10) Sponsorship of Phillippine Weekend 2024 not to exceed the amount of $10,000 Staff Report provided by Interim Community Development Director Chavez.
Mayor Alindajao opens public comment.
Jay and Jimmy Tamsi, Nicole Villaruz, Mika Cabello, Max Bacerra, amd Suzanne Villaruz and Pasto David Vivas share that they are all in favor of Phillippine Weekend receiving the funds from the City of Delano.
Motion was made by: Nunez to approve item 8 to approve the committee with up to $10,000 in any kind services;
2nd by: Vasquez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Morris / Nunez / Solorio – Ruiz / Vasquez Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Acting Community Development Director Chavez provides a report on a meeting he had with the Finance Department, Human Resources Department and Chamber of Commerce regarding permits and vendors at community events.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council member Vasquez – “I was just going to ask in regards to the senior center, I know they have a committee, is there something that we can do to have an open dialogue with us in the senior center committee?I can just contact Fernando that way because I know they have some wants and needs and I don't know if you would want to do a presentation of activities that are going on, but then also possibly survey the seniors to see what they would like to see moving forward. I think that would be helpful. Thank you.” Council member Solorio-Ruiz – “This past weekend I attended the Si Se Puede Car Club Show. I believe it was also co-hosted with the Chamber of Commerce at the 40 acres. That was great to attend. Very beautiful setup as well. Talking about the Si se puede culture, of course, today is also Mexican Independence Day, so of course happy Mexican Independence Day to everyone. I also want to give a shout out to our Delano PD. I believe it was last week.
They surprised my little sister's soccer team with a tournament. It was our Delano PD versus the kiddos. Let me tell you, those kiddos ran miles with them. They were running back and forth with them at the soccer park that of course our staff helps upkeep. Shout out to them for doing that and getting out there. I also wanted to ask on the next agenda, if we can place an item for discussion and direction on the recruitment and retention for our Delano police officers if we can have it, where we can have maybe a workload assessment and also different recruitment efforts that we are currently doing right now. Of course any suggestions that council may have, if that's appropriate. Also the youth Ad Hoc committee at the next council meeting. I also wanted to bring up myself and some local businesses.
We're doing a coat drive and so from September 16th, today, all the way until October 18th, we're going to be accepting gently used or new coats or hoodies or hats or gloves and some drop off locations are Athletix sports gym, Tacos Humildes and MGS Glam Beauty Salon down Main Street. If anyone has any questions, you can feel free to contact me, but just wanted to invite you for that.”
Councilmember Nunez – “I would like to request the city to bring out a future council meeting prior to December, a fee study for the facilities rentals, what our city is currently charging and what is causing other cities to run these facilities. Also at one of these meetings, what is the status of that pending on our donations. We were looking at an ordinance at one time for our donations before they started getting out of hand. Other than that, I have nothing else.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Morris – “Well, I just wanted to invite staff and council members to the Queen Show this weekend at seven o'clock at the Delano High School Auditorium. If you're coming, plea let me know. I would like to announce you as a dignitary and representative of our community and our city there. You'll have a ticket waiting for you at the front desk. I want you all to come. We have a fun filled evening. It's actually, it's Ken and Barbie theme. So yes, it's going to be fun because on the Ken and Barbie movie, if you've seen it, she comes out in a Western outfit. He's in a western outfit also. The routine number they're doing is to the Ken and Barbie song, when you can wear your pink or black attire. It really is a big thing and it really is a big production. It's not just a queen show where they come out and stuff like that. It's a full production that is well choreographer, but believe me, from start to finish, you will enjoy the show if you come. We're grateful for our community who helps sponsor all of these kids from beginning to end to the official attire that they wear to the scholarships that they earn that evening. It is a perfect opportunity for the guys and the girls to earn scholarship money for college. They actually don't get their award until the end of the school year when they turn in a transcript saying, this is my schedule for the new school year at college. So we're grateful for the hard work that they've put in. So if you guys would like to come out and support them, we really would appreciate you coming up. It will bne on Saturday, at 7:00pm at the Delano High School Auditorium.” Mayor Alindajao – “I did attend the Boys and Girls State award ceremony at the American Legion Hall on Sunday. If you don't know anything about Boys and girls states, essentially they send a bunch of high school juniors, boys and girls, and they send them out to this year they went to Cal State University of Sacramento. There they teach these young men and women about government, how government works, they run for office, they run for elected positions, county supervisor, mayor, et cetera. It's a cool thing that they do through the American Legion, so I was there. We got to honor about six young ladies and six young men also. Thank you to Sumeet and all people at Parks and Rec for the free pickleball lessons. That was a lot of fun. We got about 10 people out there. We did have a little issue with, there was, I guess he was transient, but anyway, he got a little out of hand. But that's not a big deal. We had a lot of fun and there's going to be more free pickleball lessons, so if y'all are available, please come out. I've been playing for a while and I learned a lot from Maddie Jayne. She's a great pickleball coach and her husband. So come out on the next time. I think Sumeet posts the flyer right when we have that. I also wanted to recognize they're not here now, but I'll just put on the public record. I wanted to recognize American Legion for their work in raising funds for Pam Swanson. Pam Swanson is one of our own. She's a citizen of Delano. She was a teacher here for many, many years. Pam Swanson is diagnosed with brain cancer and because of one circumstance or another, I believe it had to do with the insurance thing, but she couldn't be treated here locally, so she had to be sent to CedarSinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Her husband can't go visit her. Her kids can’t get to her. So she's been there by herself at the hospital. So it's really, so keep her and your prayers. Maybe send well wishes through the American Legion to Ms. Pam Swanson, but they did a great fundraiser. I think they raised $12,000 on Saturday. I want to thank Michelle Wiggins, Dee Tinkle Hardesty, Casey Rhodes, Annette Salem, and the whole American Legion team for their work in raising those funds. A lot of those funds, because Medicare is limited in what they pay, they use those funds for transportation. At some point, I think they're going to bring her back to the skilled nursing facility here in town. So I want to thank everybody who was involved in that. The Vice Mayor and I attended the human trafficking class. Sergeant Madrigal did a fantastic job. It was very eye-opening, it was raw and real. If you've never been to one, go to one. It's great also just to see the signs and symptoms of human trafficking. I think our office at the DA's office is hosting education seminars for hotel workers in different industries to look for the signs of folks who are caught up in human trafficking. So Chief, I assume they're going to have it again at some point. Yeah, we're trying to see if that can happen in the high schools, but we'll see.” Motion was made by: Nunez to go into closed session at 8:05 PM; 2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Nunez / Morris / Solorio-Ruiz / Vasquez Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
CLOSED SESSION
11) LIABILITY CLAIMS Pursuant to Government Code 54956.95 Claimant: Angelica Tinagero
Claim No. FR102379
12) LIABILITY CLAIMS Pursuant to Government Code 54956.95 Claimant: Delano Propane
Claim No. FR102401
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to return to general session at 8:11 PM; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Alindajao / Nunez / Morris / Solorio-Ruiz / Vasquez Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Solorio-Ruiz seconded by Nunez and unanimously carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 PM _____________________________________________
Nancy Garcia, City Clerk