MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
January 21, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Morris called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 – 11th Avenue.
INVOCATION
City Engineer Dowling offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Nathaly Mendoza led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Mayor Liz Morris, Mayor Pro Tem Mario Nunez, Councilmember Joe Alindajao, Councilmember Osorio, Councilmember Salvador Solorio-Ruiz Council members absent: None
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Chavez, City Attorney Hensley, Finance Director Lara Rios, City Engineer Dowling, Commander Nino, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Interim Community Development Director Evanson, Associate Engineer Nunez, Fire Chief Crist and IT Manager Enriquez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
• Cesar E. Chavez High School Girls Tennis Team – Division IV Valley Champions Presented by Mayor Morris, Accepted by Mr. Frank Garay on behalf of the tennis team. • Cesar E. Chavez High School Band – California State Band Championships (Div. 1-3) Presented by Mayor Morris, Accepted by Mr. Alex Gonzales & Ms. Terri Gonzales on behalf of the band.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Maria Martinez (via interpreter) – “Maria Martinez 1215 Lexington Street. I know you guys are not going to answer me, but I want to know who's responsible on making the sidewalks, gutters and the things that go around the corners on the street because it is broken. No one has taken action. She went to the hospital because she broke her foot and she was four months with a cast.
The pro mayor told me that I was responsible to fix it, but how? If it's outside on the street, I want to let you know that another person fell on another sidewalk, the one that's really ugly. I am going to take action for that not to happen again. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you.”
2. Sally Medrano – “Good evening Mayor Council members. My name is Sally Medrano and I am the current president of the Delano Hometown Heroes Committee. For the last two years I've been in charge of the banner program that honors our veterans and active duty military personnel. These banners are typically displayed from October until the third week of November with the city's permission. Today I'm here to ask the city council to consider allowing these beautiful banners to be shown year-round or at the very least from June 15th to November 30th.
Many cities across California probably display banners to contribute to their military heroes all year long. Unfortunately, the existing city of Delano development code 20.14.50 prevents this from occurring. I believe it is vital to recognize and show our gratitude and support for all military service members both past and present. I respectfully request that you consider revising the regulations to allow the display of military banners either throughout the year or from midJune to the end of November. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
3. Travis Underwood – “Travis Underwood, 6 21 Union Street. Dear City Counsel, my name is Travis Underwood and I'm coming before you as the president of the Delano City Employee Association. Behind me are some of its current members. As you know, we will be entering into negotiations with the city on behalf of all employees currently working within the city. I'm here to open the lines of communication and to also inform the citizens of Delano that its workers are seeking a new contract that will not only better the citizen's present and future but will also better its workers current and future. I've read and heard a lot of statements put out by the members of the council and by the city manager that the city has a problem with retention of employees and that the city understands it must have competitive wages to keep and attract employees and that these are top priorities that the city would like to fix. We hope that these statements are remembered as we enter into good faith negotiations. We want the citizens to know that the employees are not looking to put a strain on the city or its citizens, but looking to be better taken care of by its employees. The city of Delano and its citizens, the employees believe that they are what keeps the city running. When a water pipe breaks, a city worker is called out of bed to arrive and fix a broken waterline. When a street sign or an issue at the park arises, a member of the city employees is called out and has to leave their families to fix it. We believe that we should be fairly compensated, especially with today's current financial situation happening to everybody just as those around us have been compensated with stipends and wages. Thank you, city council.”
4. Suzanne Villaruz – “Suzanne Villaruz. 1808 Terrace Drive. Hello City Council, everyone. Welcome to everyone who's here. Now I just want to support the Hometown Heroes request for the extension of time for the banners. Our banners are beautiful. Our community loves its veterans having that happen and it will advertise and help families who don't know they can get banners made to get them made. We had so many people after the parade go, how do you do that? How does it happen? And I'd really like to see as many families participate with the banner program and have those banners really represent our veterans and the spirit of their service be honored. And the second thing is I support Mrs. Martinez's request for fixing her cement. Although our curb in front of our house was broken for 30 years from the day we moved in until they put in the sidewalks, so I know it can take some time.
I'm hoping hers gets fixed sooner than that.”
5. Vicente Mota (via interpreter) – “Good afternoon. 1821 17th Avenue. You already know me.
Always on the map, always on top of making sure that everything is good here. Here to make a comment of what's happening at the grave. I commented once here, Mario. Put a guard in there and I understand that the grave might not be under your jurisdiction. The guard is there to just… this Guard is right there and he's not letting us clean or personal belongings or bench. Clean the leaves that fall from the trees. Dogs who go inside and leave, they're behind. The guard is just right there and I think it's just a salary that is extra. I think it wouldn't be better if a person saw as they're cleaning someone that could come and help us to make sure the graveyard looked better. That's my comment. Another thing about what Maria said right in front of my house, 1821, the sidewalk. What was full of bushes? You couldn't walk through it. I had to talk over there to the people in charge of the city. Bryan gave me a suggestion of who to talk to. I have pictures of how it showed before. What was the purpose of having a handicap sign if you couldn't walk through it? Thanks. To make this action now clean and people can walk through it.” Mayor Morris – “Has he gone to the cemetery board?”
Vicente Mota (via interpreter) – “I went once, but in all honesty, they don't let me talk. There was a lot of people, they only let two people inside. I've talked to the people who are there and I have told them I'm not doing anything bad and we know that everything is through the union. The church we're all volunteers. Same thing in there. I told him if you guys want to come on a Saturday, we can all put our time. The people will come.
Mayor Morris – “I don't think that's under our jurisdiction. Is that correct? I think it's the county.”
Vicente Mota (via interpreter) – “I would like to get some guidance to who to contact.” Mayor Morris – “Has he gone to the cemetery board?”
City Manager Reyna – “Honorable Mayor. You are correct. The cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the county. The board manages it themselves. You can certainly refer him over to me. I'll be happy to provide him with some contact information.” Mayor Morris – “Yeah, I think he say he's been there to cemetery board once already. Yeah, because the city doesn't have jurisdiction at the cemetery, Vicente Mota (via interpreter) – “But just like I said, the cemetery is inside the city, so we want to put the lien on the map to make our city beautiful. We have to have everything clean.” Mayor Morris – “Yeah, we can probably give him a contact of who he can get a hold of and then maybe he can make an appointment with them and that way they can get him on the agenda.” Vicente Mota (via interpreter) – “I would like also to know to have an attorney to tell us if we have any rights or not rights.
Council Member Osorio – “Mayor, if I may. I think if we can start with the contact that Ms.
Reyna can provide and then we can go from there first.” City Manger Reyna – “We can certainly provide a contact information for the county as well as maybe for the different members of the board that he could reach out to individually of the cemetery board.”
Vicente Mota – “One last thing I would like to note because they say the police don't say anything to the people who are drinking. The people at the cemetery don't tell them anything to the people who are, they're drinking. They have said they call the police. The police doesn't go over because they cannot go inside. I already told this to Mario.” Mayor Morris – “Do we have jurisdiction over that?”
City Manger Reyna – “I believe Madam Mayor, that if we are called, we do go. Obviously we do try to get voluntary compliance before we just handcuff somebody unless they're of course being unruly and unlawful.”
City Attorney Hensley – “Mayor, this is not on the agenda this evening. Why don't you let the staff and I talk about this and take the information and get back to the gentleman and then see where we can go from there.”
6. Annete Salim-Wesir – “Hi, my name's Annette Salim-Wesir and I am trying to support, I am going to hear, wait, let me start all over. Hi, my name's Annette Salim-Wesir. I live at 410 Main Street here in Delano, California, 93215. And I am here also to support Sally Medrano Garcia.
And the thing of being able to have the banners up on Main Street from June 15 through the end of November. It gives us pride to our city and it also serves a thank you to the veterans that have served there in our country to be able to have the freedom that we have, especially during the times that we are going through. 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 $2,735,054.97
3) Warrant Register in the amount of $5,171,805.99
4) Warrant Register in the amount of $ 2,583,909.11
5) Minutes of regular Council meeting of December 16, 2024 6) Minutes of special Council meeting of December 16, 2024 7) Minutes of regular Community Law Enforcement Liaison Board meeting of July 18, 2024
8) Minutes of regular Community Law Enforcement Liaison Board meeting of September 19, 2024
9) Minutes of regular Planning Commission meeting of November 13, 2024 10) Minutes of regular Planning Commission meeting of December 11, 2024 11) Rejecting all bids for the 2024 Fremont Street Navigation Center Project 12) Approval of large open purchase orders for the Water Division for January through June of 2025
13) Status report on Project Development Impact Fees (AB1600 Requirements) for the five year period ending June 30, 2025
14) Acceptance of the Landscaping Work Included in the Public Improvements for Parcel Map No. 12093 (DMP II), Located on Woollomes Avenue, Albany Street, Morse Boulevard, Dover Parkway and Belmont Street also described by Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District 23 (Resolution No. 2025-01)
15) Approval of Purchase and Installation of New Security Camera System with appurtenant equipment and licenses for $85,572.21 from Global CTI under PEPPM Contract # 535122-190 and authorization for the City Manager, or her designee, to execute all required documents (Agreement No. 2025-01)
16) Award of Contract for the “Browning & County Line Traffic Signal Project” to MAC General Engineering, Inc. from Exeter, CA, in the amount of $1,172,736.50 and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign the construction contract and any other documents needed to complete the project (Agreement No. 2025-02) 17) Approval of Payment for California Water Boards Water System Annual Fees Invoice for $37,984.12 for Billing Period 07/01/2024-06/30/2025
18) Resolution Approving an Application for State Funding and Execution of Grand Agreement from the Department of Housing and Community Development for Permanent Local Housing Allocation Funds (Resolution No. 2025-02) 19) A resolution finding that a local emergency has existed within the city, authorizing contracting without the need for bidding pursuant to Public Contracts Code § 22050, and awarding the project to JM Pipeline Construction, Inc. for $300,000.00, and associated actions (Resolution No. 2025-03) (Agreement No. 2025-03) Motion was made by: Alindajao to approved items 1-19 on consent items; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
20) Development Agreement; Site Plan No. SPR-2024-007; Conditional Use Permit Application No. 2024-007, and Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); Applicant is requesting approval of a resolution of the City Council of the City of Delano recommending approval of these land use entitlements for redevelopment of the service station, and various retail uses (including a drive through/in restaurant on the two parcels located at and near the intersection of County Line Road and High Street (Assessor Parcel Numbers: 410-020-03, 04, and 05).
Matter was continued to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
REGULAR AGENDA
21) Appointment of primary representative and/or an alternate representative to represent the City of Delano at the Kern Council of Governments (KernCOG) Motion was made by: Morris to appoint Solorio-Ruiz as primary and Alindajao as alternate; 2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No Items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council Member Bryan Osorio – “Thank you Mayor Morris. Just very quickly, Juan, to say thank you to Ms. Reyna for orienting me on my return here to the city council and answering a few questions I've had from constituents but also myself. Just a quick update that along with Mayor Morris and Council member Solorio, I was able to attend the grand opening of the Pretty Patty hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, so that's great. I also just wanted to say my heart is out with immigrant families across Delano who may be experiencing some fear and anxiety around the recent actions that happened here a couple of weeks ago. I commend the Delano Union High School District for issuing a resolution in support of families of immigrant families and their children. I think that hopefully if there is something that falls within our jurisdiction that as council that we can do, I hope we can consider it in the future.
But outside of that, I would be in favor in support of a discussion that Ms. Medrano brought up around the banners and I also hope that there can be some progress made in regards to Ms. Martinez's and Mr.
Mota's concerns raised here this evening. That is all for me. Thank you.” Council Member Alindajao – “Thank you Mayor. I had a great Christmas and a great new year with family and friends. It seems like we haven't met in a long time. Been like two months. I had the privilege and the honor to attend the inauguration this year and welcome our new president. Congressman Valadao was gracious enough to host a reception party since they changed from the outdoor ceremony to the indoor ceremony as we were on our way to the airport. So we had to make some quick minute decisions about whether to go or not, but ended up being a really nice event for some of his constituents from the 22nd district and it was freezing cold and you couldn't get anywhere because every street was blocked, but we had a great time. It was a lot of fun. My wife and my son tagged along and we had a great time. Other than that, I'd like to place on the future agenda, perhaps give staff some time to do some research on the issue of hiring private security or partnering with private security to help with some of our retail business partners with issues of theft and homelessness issues that they've been having. I've met with some retail partners about a month or two ago and got to hear all the stories of what's going on out there and the issues they're having. Certainly, we want to protect our retail business partners. They're important to the fabric of the community and we want to make sure that they feel safe and protected and that we can help in some way to curb some of the issues that they're having. I plan to meet with another group of individuals, retail business partners, to get their stories on what's happening with that issue out there. Thankfully, Prop 36 is now in effect as of December 18th. That's helped tremendously with some of these issues, so I'd like to see that in the future agenda to discuss that. I know I have mentioned that to Joaquin who's on our city attorney, our legal staff, and I think they're doing some research into that issue.
Also, I'd like to place on the next agenda an amendment to 20.14.50, therefore paving the way for improvements or modification to the policy for the banners for the veteran banners to be displayed at least during that time period. I know there's some cities that have the banners, veteran banners displayed year round. I believe that the president for building a Hometown Heroes requested at minimum between from June to November. And I think that's shy of Thanksgiving because I think at Thanksgiving is when the city begins to put up its own decorations and whatnot. So at minimum June through say the second week of November. So I'd like to see that on the next agenda. Please. Other than that, that's it. Thank you Mayor and congratulations.”
Council Member Solorio-Ruiz – “Yes, it has been a while. Happy New Year's to everyone. I'm excited for this new year. There's new opportunities and new growth for our community and for our city and I'm excited for all of us. So as far as updates go, I attended the swearing in of Kern County Board of Supervisors and the appointment of supervisor Leticia Perez as the chair for this year. And it was a very heartwarming experience to see the board come together regardless of ideology and to come together to acknowledge that everyone has an opportunity to serve in that role. And I think that that's important and may we continue to have a working relationship with the county. I also attended the grand opening of Pretty Patty. I wanted to congratulate Mo and all who are involved in his business. More business is a good thing for us in this community. But as I said at the grand opening, I do believe it's our responsibility as local folks to shop local before going out to Bakersfield or surrounding areas. May we think and say, you know what? Let's stop by a local business and support Delano. I believe the police department also hosted a gun buyback program. I wasn't present, I didn't attend, but I hope it was a success and I hope that the department continues to strive to solve our gun violence issue that we have in our community. I attended the community town halls for Know Your Rights hosted by various organizations and attorneys.
I wanted to express my deepest gratitude to all involved in making educational town halls a reality for our undocumented community during these times. On that same topic, I would also like to thank Chief Nicholson, the Delano Police Department, for their statement in regards to the presence of federal agents in our community. As the statement states, the Delano Police Department's primary focus continues to be fostering trust and collaboration with the community. And I have no doubt that the department strives for that. Others including the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield PD, Kern County Farm Bureau, and our local school district and other community leaders have been vocal on this issue. I think it's important as council member for the City of Delano, I too would like to express and place on record my deep concern regarding the presence of CBP agents and surrounding neighborhoods and potentially within our city. I stand firmly with our undocumented community recognizing their invaluable contributions and advocating for their rights and dignity. I would also like to remind folks and everyone that according to the US Constitution, regardless of immigration status, you have rights in the United States of America.
May we all be aware, may we be informed and stand united. My prayers go out to everyone in the community and their families. I would of course also like to address, I know CEA is in the audience. Just thank you for your comment and I know that our employees do matter to us and we'll be in touch. Thank you. But that is all Mayor. Thank you.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Nunez – “I had like to give a report on my assignments I was given by the city last year and the staff here last year I was appointed to the mosquito abatement board. It was my second year on the mosquito abatement board and Mosquito Bateman's moving along very well. It is growing out there with all these floods and everything that happened in the prior year. Delano mosquito abatement is actually very hard, very aggressive attacking mosquitoes here in the city and not only in the City of Delano but our surrounding areas, including the south end of Tulare County, McFarland, and some areas of Pond. And with, if you had noticed it during this summer months, we had several night sprays that were done to help control mosquitoes in the City of Delano and in the surrounding areas. And it was very, very effective within the city. The mosquito abatement is expanding and adding newer equipment and bringing some new stuff. So all these services, again, are free to all the residents if you have problems with mosquitoes or mosquito issues, more than welcome to get ahold of the Delano Mosquito abatement, which is also their webpages, Delano Mosquito Abatement, and you can get all the information, everything you need to deal with mosquitoes. Second thing, I was assigned with the city and I like to give an update where we're at back in January of 2024, I was assigned to start working on trying to develop the 840 acres that are part of the Voice of America. I was partnered up with Miguel Fernandez here from the city myself along with Mr. Alindajao, and Mrs. Reyna attended conferences in Monterey, Las Vegas and in Palm Springs. And we were able to come back with several businesses and several companies and several developers and also several investors who are very, very interested in the city of Delano. Some of the projects the City of Delano is currently working on, and we're still actively working on with Miguel and economic development are at Lexington and Woollomes. If you're aware, there is a truck stop that's coming up. It's in the beginning phases of it at Garces and Browning. There is a residential commercial area that is being worked on. It's already been approved by our council. There's a new developer who's taken it over, Cecil and Albany. There's another developer that's taken over. That corner is 10 acres there, which is going to be commercial retail. Again, the Voice of America at Melchor at Garces. And then just across the street on the north side is the Montemayor family who are currently working on 120 acres of residential, retail and commercial in that area. That is also in the beginning planning stages. Some paperwork has been submitted with the city as some help on work and stuff. I don't know how far it's gone along. We're all aware of the San Joaquin homes that are being built at Canline and Albany, and that extends all the way down to Albany and Cecil Avenue. We all, like the mayor mentioned earlier, we have Target, Petco, Burlington, Marshalls and Ulta along with some other highend other coffee companies coming into Delano, along with some more family style restaurants that are coming in in the marketplace. They have also shown some interest into the Voice of America. At 11th and Fremont, there's another company that's another developer and investor. They're looking into a fast food, somebody you'll like and another different type of coffee shop coming into that area. They're in the planning stages. And then at Cecil and Jefferson, if you're not aware, Emmanuel's Furniture will be closing down, not because they're going out of business's because the property owners have sold their business to a outside big box company and they're going to be bringing something here pretty quick. We also have the, it is not going to be a furniture store. It's going to be something that everybody's been asking for. Also at Pond and 99, there's a commercial retail along with another larger truck stop travel center coming in that's already, the escrow has passed, cleared on that. And then we have new owners on it and they've submitted some concepts and they're moving along further out. I'd like to thank Max isn't here, but he left. Max Bacerra was part of the, worked for the city several, several years ago. And during that time, he had the presence of mind to start stealing land or making it part of the City of Delano. If you're not aware, we extend all the way as far as east as Zachary, as far west as Highway 43 and as far so as Perkins, that is all part of the City of Delano area of influence. So when it's time to develop these areas, we already have our hand in the thing and nobody's going to fight us. We're not going to have issues like other cities around us have during these meetings that I have gone either myself or with the city manager or with Mr. Alindajao, how we've met with developers who want to bring light industrial business jobs. They want to bring a retail, commercial, residential, multifamily, low-income families and they're all ready to go. There's a current project that is going down with a multimillionaire, a developer at the corner of the 20th and Dover. And that's moving along very, very fast. They're very impressed with our staff and how fast we're able to move along that they're ready for their next projects. So that's all I have.”
Mayor Morris - “Well, that's awesome news. Wow. So see we're in for a great year. I just want to echo all what good news you guys all have had and your comments and I appreciate them. I wanted to just say I want to thank Mo for Pretty Patty for feeding the whole city. All the city employees were invited to his place to try out his restaurant. And I don’t know if some of you were able to go there during the day, and I know I saw Sal there and I know I saw Bryan there, and that was from about, what, 11 to four or something like that? Well, some of you probably made it, but anyway, we wish him but success and we're grateful that he fed all of us. I think that's the best way for advertising a business is to actually invite everyone to go there. And word of mouth goes a long way. I also wanted to say that I am attending a Cal Cities conference in Sacramento on Friday. So I'll be driving up Friday morning and coming back that afternoon. But I sit on the policy committee for communities and what we do in January is that the first meeting, all the division sends a representative, the whole state of California, and we get together and decide what we want to lobby for cities, whether there's good things or bad things for cities. So with the bad thing, then we do some investigating. Our lobbyist tells us this is not a good thing for cities. We have to fight against this particular issue or if it's a good thing, is that we all need to back this thing. And so what we do is we select five things that are most important cities at this time that we want to work on, we want our lobbyists to lobby for. So if any of you have anything that you feel is a real concern for cities, let me know. I will bring them up and all of us break up into groups and everybody jots down what they feel is important in their cities or what's happening in their cities, that's good or bad. And then we select the items that we feel most affect cities. So if you have anything, then let me know and I'll certainly take that to the meeting so that we can put that out there and see, want to work for what we want to lobby for our city. So other than that, I don't have anything else to suggest.” Motion to go into closed session at 6:45PM by: Nunez
2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
CLOSED SESSION
22) LIABILITY CLAIMS Pursuant to Government Code 54956.95 Claimant: Leticia Jimenez
Claim No. FR102706
Direction given. No reportable action.
23) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – Existing Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a):
Claimant: Daniel Ulloa
Workers’ Compensation Claim No. FR230577
Direction given. No reportable action.
24) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8.
Property: 1021 12th Ave., Delano, CA 93215
APN: 038-380-06
Agency negotiators: City Manager, City Engineer and City Attorney Negotiating parties: Mark Flessati from Emerge Real Estate Under negotiation: price and/or terms of payment
Direction given. No reportable action.
Motion to go into open session at 7:03PM by: Solorio-Ruiz 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Nunez seconded by Solorio-Ruiz and unanimously carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:04pm.
_____________________________________________
Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk