MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
December 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
Police Chief Nicholson led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Mayor Joe Alindajao, Councilmember Nunez, Councilmember Solorio-Ruiz, Council members absent: Mayor Pro Tem Morris, Councilmember Vasquez.
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Engineer Dowling, City Clerk Chavez, City Attorney Hensley, Police Chief Nicholson, Finance Director Rios, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Interim Community Development Director Evanson, Transit Manager Alapisco, Associate Engineer Nunez, Fire Chief Crist and IT Manager Enriquez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
No items.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Fernando Bravo – “Good evening, mayor. City Council and staff. My name is Fernando Bravo, 1417 Belmont Street. And I just got a few items that I would like to bring up. First of all, I would like to thank the City Council, staff and the police department for a nice Christmas party that we have last Friday. It was very awesome. And second, I had one of my senior citizen and I guess we had a chat with Councilman Nunez in regards to the seniors and he kind of briefed us in the right direction and hopefully we can meet sometime there at the senior citizens to, I guess since we're having the changes where the school district is going to furnish us meals there. And so stuff that we have in the cafeteria, we have to move them. So if we can get together sometime before this transaction takes place. And also on items that are on your agenda. I know you guys can't answer or I cannot ask, but my questions will be like an item seven and eight.
2. Anthony Cortez – “Good evening Mayor City Council. Anthony Cortez 282 Shell Beach Court. I just wanted to address the incident that happened. I believe it was December 2nd when the prisoner escaped. I know that the individual in custody was under CDC'S custody and that was their responsibility. Well, once he jumped that fence, I just have some questions and I know you can't answer 'em, but some of the questions I have is how long did it take CDC to contact DPD Delano Police Department? That's just something that I question and ask. I know that it's under their jurisdiction, but once he jumps fence it becomes our responsibility as well. And I think that if we were contacted, when I say we Delano PD was contacted right away, we probably could have apprehended that gentleman right away, or should I say felon right away. Another thing that I was kind of disappointed in is some of the news or saying that they tried contacting city officials, and they would get no response. I think it would've been a great opportunity for the mayor or either of the council members along with the Chief of Police to at least be on television.
I know some of you posted it on your social media, but not everybody has social media. So I think it was a great opportunity to show and give information to our citizens here in Delano to watch out for yourselves, watch out for your neighbors, stuff like that. So, I hope that we learn from this because we're going to have other incidents like this. Maybe not an escapee, but some major earthquakes or anything like that. I just want to just point those things out that I was just kind of, the word displeased is not right, but I was just, ‘man, how come they didn't say anything? How come they didn't come out on tv?’ It would've been so great if one of our City Council Members would've come out along with the police department and said, you know what? We're doing our best. We're working on this along with corrections and just watch out for yourselves and watch out for your neighbors and be alert. So I just wanted to just say that and like I said, hopefully we've learned from it and we can work on that. Thank you.”
3. Cristian Serda – “Thank you. My name is Christian Serda resident here in Delano. I just want to address the city council tonight on about the election of the mayor. They're on today.”
4. Jordan Davis – “Good Evening. Jordan Davis. Just wanted to mention something in regards to that escaped inmate and remind people that you can sign up for alerts from the city. I don't know.
I don't remember how I did it. I don’t know if you guys can mention that, but I think it's important for the public to know because I got that notification, I really didn't know what was going on, but when I get that text, it's a lot faster than finding it on Facebook a little while later or hearing the news or getting the email because I get both. I get the email and the text, but I just wanted to mention that for the community, if you're interested, ask the city or if you guys can mention how you do it, but it really did help getting that alert so we can be aware when something happens at that instance. So just wanted to mention that. 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
2) Warrant Register in the amount of $4,515,072.45
3) Minutes of Regular Council Meeting of December 2, 2024 4) Minutes of Special Council Meeting of December 9, 2024 5) Minutes of Special Successor Agency Meeting of December 18, 2023 6) Second and final reading of an ordinance authorizing the levy of Special Taxes in a Community Facilities District (Ordinance No. 2024-1354) 7) Acceptance of the SB-1 Project No. 4 Local Streets and Roads Pavement Resurfacing & Rehabilitation Project and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion 8) Acceptance of the SB-1 Project No. 5 Local Streets and Roads Pavement Resurfacing & Rehabilitation Project and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion 9) Acceptance of the SB-1 Project No. 6 Browning Road Pavement Resurfacing & Rehabilitation Project and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion 10) Approval of license agreement with SkySafe, Inc. to locate and operate a drone detection system on city property to assist in security for the Kern Valley State Prison and authorize the City Manager, or her designee to execute the same. (Agreement No. 2024- 69)
11) Approval of contract change order no. 2 for SB-1 Project No. 4 Local Streets and Roads Pavement Resurfacing, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project for additional work completed by Burtch Construction Inc., on Garces Highway and various streets in the amount of $185,816.42 and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign the change order (Agreement No. 2024-70)
12) Adoption of resolution approving an Airport Operations and Airfield Maintenance Agreement with Loyd’s Aviation for the operation and daily maintenance of the Delano Municipal Airport for an initial term of ten years and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City (Resolution No. 2024-57)(Agreement No. 2024-71) 13) Second and final reading of an ordinance amending Delano Municipal Code Title 9 to Establish Camping Regulations on public property (Ordinance No. 2024-1355) 14) Approve side letter to Agreement No. 2022-49 of the Miscellaneous Employee Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding effective December 16, 2024 (Agreement No. 2024-72)
15) Acceptance of $500.00 donation from The Wonderful Company, for Community and Crime Prevention Events
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve item no. 1-6, 9-15 on consent items; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 3-0
Ayes: Alindajao/Nunez/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris/Vasquez
Abstentions: None
Item No. 7 & 8 pulled by: Fernando Bravo
Reason for pulling items: Fernando Bravo – “Well actually both. I just would like to know what streets are going to be repaved, resurfaced. And also on item 11 on the Garces Highway, what sections are going to also be repaved? It's going to be on the west side where we had that problem right there by the, what's that? Ellington, not Ellington, was it? Glenwood. Glenwood.” Staff report provided by City Engineer Dowling.
Motion was made to approve Items No. 7 & 8 by: Solorio-Ruiz to approve item no. 1-15 on consent items;
2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 3-0
Ayes: Alindajao/Nunez/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris/Vasquez
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items.
REGULAR AGENDA
No items.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council member Vasquez – Absent.
Council member Solorio-Ruiz – “I believe there's no council statements in the special meeting so I can provide something. Okay. So of course I want to thank everyone who participated in the Christmas parade. It was a huge success. We're all in the holiday spirit, which is great and it was a great turnout. I also want to give, of course, big shoutout to the corrections as well as Delano Police Department and McFarland Police Department for hosting Shop with a Cop. It was successful. We had many youngsters who were very excited and took the opportunity that the officers provided, which is great. And just wishing everyone a happy holidays.”
Councilmember Nunez – None.
Mayor Pro-Tem Morris – Absent.
Mayor Alindajao None.
CLOSED SESSION
No items.
RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Solorio-Ruiz seconded by Nunez and unanimously carried 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 PM.
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Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk