MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
October 7, 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
Council members absent: Councilmember Vasquez.
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, Public Works Director/City Engineer Dowling, and IT Manager Enriquez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
Certificate of Recognition for Promotion to Speech Language Pathologist accepted by Denise Miller
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Javier Cruz, 2210 Via Espinosa – “As always, I don't bring good news to all of you because honestly, when I came to this country, I was told that there was no liars. And I've noticed so far that the current president and the majority of 90% of the politicians are liars. That way they mislead the public. I don't see any public here because you should take the time to let us know.
That way they mislead the public. I don't see any public here because you should take the time to let us know. A little bit as well to the man from the church so that he can let his followers know that of the meeting here, more communication is needed. I wish I could give you good news. 90% of the people that are in this office should be changed because I see that starting off with the supervisor as well of the workers. For me, they're a failure because I've seen them at the park and I've seen them go up the round and he should take into account the type of lazy people he has and the people that are in responsible because as of now, part of my work has been devoted to the tires that have been used by those lazy people. And lastly, I would like to say that they say that the people here, they have no experience. Make a school so that it educates all of us because I also make mistakes. I am proud of being what I am today because there are people that have gone to school and to the university and they are the worst liars here in the United States. I know a person that is in the front that is very hardworking. Lastly, I would like the City Manager to give me an appointment to speak with her at some time; any day of the week. Also, if it is possible I would like to speak with the Chief of Police as well, I have nothing against him but I would like for him to know of a few things that honestly he doesn’t realize are happening here in the City of Delano.”
2. Fernando Bravo, 1417 Belmont St. – “I would like to have the city recreation, not for myself, for my friends and other people to install a couple of horseshoe pits because I used to play horseshoes back in the seventies. I remember playing on the Jefferson Park right here by the seniors, that's the Cecil Avenue Park, Chavez Park, Memorial Park, Albany Park. Now as we seniors, people ask me, well, what can we play? So some of us, we would've to travel bakersfield for and we would hope tournaments. So I would like you guys if the recreation can take consideration on putting least a couple of pits. And secondly, Ed brought this up several times about that road on Garces and Glenwood for that bumpy road right by people's market right in front of the tire shop. I don't know if the item number 12 on this agenda where you guys going to fix these roads are involved for that site. I talked to Miguel,regarding all the roads on agenda 12.
They're off roads in the east side, west side. We always get left out. We need to have the engineers or the city people report the bad roads you guys. So if you can please do something about it.
Please. Thank you, mayor.”
3. Gloria Herrera, 51 9th Ave – “I have a question At Cesar Chavez Park, a long time ago they had a little space where they had a roof and they took it off and they had benches for people. Now theres no benches for people. I know that it got too old and you have to take it down. I don't know if it wasn't sure, but they took it off completely. The reason I'm asking, is because that park, there's a lot of older, used-to-be men that goes and play cards and they spend all day there. But the shade that they have there is only one. It gets crowded so they go under a tree or so. My question is why they took it off but they didn't put another one. Those have insurance. Or if they don't have insurance, I think we don't have nice parks where people can go, since those guys don't go to the senior center to spend some time. But they go there. I wish if there's monies where you can build that also is not only them. I see people going to have a birthday party celebration a little, and they have to put canopies and it's very uncomfortable. Actually here in Delano, there's not parks that are very attractive and I really that there's a place or spot where they can build a really, really nice place.”
4. Maria Martinez, 1215 Lexington St. – “I'm here because I want to know, I know that you won't be able to tell me now, but I'd like to know I have a business I'm renting and I can't go in through the entrance because the man that purchased the other side covers it with the trash cans. I have a I'm here because I want to know, I know that you won't be able to tell me now, but I'd like to know I have a business I'm renting and I can't go in through the entrance because the man that purchased the other side covers it with the trash cans. He is very rude. So I don't know what you could do, but I would like to know whether I could or if you could put another entrance for me. I don't want to move. I've been there 23 years and I think that there will be a problem with him because he has already insulted me, assaulted me. I called the police and the police took his side.
So as an elder, I can sue him as well as the police department because they did not do their job.
So it's all I wanted to say so that you could know.”
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 $2,021,417.25
3) Warrant Register in the amount of $3,456,091.34
4) Minutes of Regular Council Meeting of September 16, 2024 5) Approval of Agreement with Regional Government Services Authority (RGS) for Planning Department Consulting Services (Agreement No. 2024-47)
6) Award of the “2024 TCP GAC Media Exchange Project” to the Calgon Carbon Corporation for $128,003.00 and authorize the City Manager or her designee to sign all documents needed to carry out this transaction (Agreement No. 2024-48)
7) Resolution declaring the City’s Intention to Establish a Community Facilities District and to Authorize the Levy of Special Taxes (Resolution No. 2024-44) 8) Resolution authorizing Two-Way stop control at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Kensington Street (Resolution No. 2024-45)
9) Award of contract for the “ATP-5 SRTS Intersection Enhancement Project ATPL5227(069)” to J.
L. Plank Inc., dba Cen-Cal Construction in the amount of $1,870,032.45 and authorize the City Manager or her designee to sign any documents needed to complete the project (Agreement No. 2024-49)
10) Award of contract for the “ATP-5 Bike Lane & Sidewalk Gap Improvement Project ATPL5227(067)” to J. L. Plank Inc., dba Cen-Cal Construction in the amount of $1,531,531.00 and authorize the City Manager or her designee to sign any documents needed to complete the project (Agreement No. 2024-50)
11) Award of the “2024 Transit Maintenance Facility Roofing Project” (former MCCF) to Marko Construction Group, Inc. in the amount of $530,443.00, and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign any documents needed to carry this project to completion (Agreement No. 2024-51)
12) Award of contract for the “2024 Various Streets Pavement Application of Rejuvenating Seal (Reclamite) Project” to Talley Oil Inc. in the amount of $205,262.60 and authorize the City Manager to sign the construction contract (Agreement No. 2024-52) Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve items 1-12 on consent items; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Alindajao/Morris/Nunez/Solorio–Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Vasquez
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
13) Combined Development Permit No. CDP 2024-001, an application for a proposed prezoning of approximately 355 acres to prezoning district consistent with a land use designation as shown on the City of Delano General Plan map adopted in 2005 as a prerequisite of City Annexation. The sites are located west and south of the current City limits and include nine (9) parcels of land including the rights-of-way along the frontage of said parcels, which are subject to prezoning and eventual annexation. The applicant is the City of Delano, 1015 11th Avenue Delano CA 93215. (Assessor Parcel Numbers: 520-170-02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 14 and 047-170-03 and 04) (Continued to the October 21, 2024, Regular Council Meeting) California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) §15183, Projects Consistent with Community Plan, General Plan or Zoning as the project is consistent with the general plan designation, policies and zoning designation.
Item tabled by Council until October 21st meeting.
14) Introduction and first reading of an ordinance of the City of Delano amending Section 20.14.35 (Signs with changeable copy) of the Delano Municipal Code which would apply citywide. The proposed Zoning Text Amendment would allow (i) electronic and mechanical signs that have changeable copy and is located within the Downtown Commercial (DC) District along High Street between 9th and 13th; (ii) would be subject to administrative approval from the Community Development Director through the Sign Program process (Continued to the October 21, 2024, Regular Council Meeting)
California Environmental Quality Act (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.
Item tabled by Council until October 21st meeting.
REGULAR AGENDA
15) Potential Ballot Measures on a Special Election in 2025, Primary Election 2026 or General Election in 2026 to Establish the Office of Elected Mayor Staff Report provided by City Manager Reyna.
Mayor Alindajao opens public comment.
No public comment.
Mayor Alindajao closes public comment.
Councilmember Solorio asks if the amount given in the staff report is the price that the city will incur.
City Manager Reyna confirms this is the amount, excluding any other potential factors.
He also confirms that there are three options: special election in 2025, primary in 2026, and general election in 2026.
City Manager Reyna responds that this is correct and if they agree to have it in 2026 then voting will occur in 2028. He also states that there should still be the option to vote for the Mayor. The amounts between general election and special election aren’t very far so ultimately it’s how long as a community do we want to wait to be able to elect our Mayor. He shares that he is in favor of waiting until 2026 or since this is something urgent that we want to get out to our community then he thinks we should push for getting this out as soon as possible.
Councilmember Nunez stated that the only thing he has to share is he will motion that we do this in the special election in 2025.
Vice Mayor Morris states that to her there is no reason to rush this, since it is going to cost the city about the same price so she believes that we should just wait for either the primary or general election in 2026.
Councilmember Solorio shares that it is about a difference of $7,000 and that is based off what is normally approved on certain contracts. He also doesn’t agree that it is a huge difference to allow the public to make a decision but he understands where the Vice Mayor is coming from.
Mayor Alindajao shares that the original intention was for the Mayor election to be in 2026 and he thinks that the sooner we give notice to the community he believes that will be better rather than waiting on the year. He thinks that the price difference is nominal.
Motion was made by: Nunez to approve item 15 and have the mayorship go on the ballot in the special election in 2025;
2nd by: Alindajo
Vote: 3-1
Ayes: Alindajao/Solorio–Ruiz/Nunez
Nays: Morris
Absent: Vasquez
Abstentions: None
16) Creation of the NextGen Delano Leaders Council
Staff Report provided by City Attorney Hensley.
City Attorey Hensley shares that if this does get approved tonight and there is a committee then they will be subject to the Brown Act.
Councilmember Solorio shares that he decided to bring this to Council because he wants to invest in our young people and educate them about local government. He wanted to make sure that there was a place for young adults to be able to have a platform and have a voice in the role of government.
He also discusses how there are some parameters such as this being an informal committee. City staff will review and interview applicants and Council will be able to sit in on these interviews, if they wish. He would also like for two council members to be appointed to serve as a guide for the NextGen committee. In the future he would also like to see if the possibility of a stipend.
Mayor Alindajao opens public comment.
Suzanne Villaruz shares that she is interested in having the youth be involved, but something more along the lines of meetings rather than there being a committee. She thinks having the youth shadow city employees would be more useful rather than having 5 students represent 3 of the high schools here in Delano. She states that it would teach them about local government while also allowing them to think about career choices.
Mayor Alindajao closes public comment.
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve item 16
2nd by: Morris
Vote: 3-1
Ayes: Alindajao/Solorio–Ruiz/Morris
Nays: Nunez
Absent: Vasquez
Abstentions: None
17) Efforts on Police Department Recruitment
Item tabled by Council.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
None.
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 Cedar-Sinai 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 eyeopening, 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: 4-0
Ayes: Alindajao/Nunez/Morris/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Vasquez
Abstentions: None
CLOSED SESSION
11) LIABILITY CLAIMS Pursuant to Government Code 54956.95 Claimant: Cayetana Elena Hernandez Juarez
Claim No. 2024-22
12) LIABILITY CLAIMS Pursuant to Government Code 54956.95 Claimant: Delano Villa Santa Fe Apartments
Claim No. FR102502
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to return to general session at 8:11 PM; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Alindajao/Nunez/Morris/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Vasquez
Abstentions: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Solorio-Ruiz seconded by Nunez and unanimously carried 4-0 to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 PM
_____________________________________________
Nancy Garcia, City Clerk