MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
April 21, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez 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
Council Member Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Mario Nunez, Joe Alindajao, Bryan Osorio, Salvador Solorio-Ruiz Council members absent: Liz Morris
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Chavez, City Attorney Hensley, Finance Director Lara Rios, Chief of Police Nicholson, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Interim Community Development Director Dowling (via teleconference), Public Works Director Nunez, City Engineer Rodriguez, Fire Chief Crist and IT Manager Enriquez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
• Mayor Pro Tem Nunez presented a for the 110th Anniversary for Delano’s incorporation to Janie Cole, Lupe Rodriguez and Cynthia Zavala from Delano Heritage Museum.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
No public comments.
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 $ 2,673,081.54
3) Minutes of special Council meeting of April 1, 2025
4) Minutes of special Council meeting of April 3, 2025
5) Minutes of regular Council meeting of April 7, 2025
6) Adoption of resolution declaring a 2,767 square foot portion of APN No. 410-020-05 as “exempt surplus land” and finding such action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (Resolution No. 2025-27) 7) Resolution approving an application for Clean Alternatives to Fireworks Pilot Incentive Program match funding from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District in the amount of $20,000 for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and appropriating the necessary funds if approved (Resolution No. 2025-28)
8) Acceptance of a $500.00 donation from The Wonderful Company, for Community and Crime Prevention Events
9) Approval of Spay and Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP Bus) sponsorship by Love Dog Rescue and Foundation, Inc. to support these services through December 31, 2025 (Agreement No. 2025-29)
10) Approval of Professional Services Agreement with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc. for the preparation of the 2025 Safe Routes to School Master Plan Update for $150,000.00 and authorization for the City Manager to sign the agreement (Agreement No. 2025-30)
11) Approval of Task Order for QK Inc., under Agreement 2025-06, for construction engineering services for the Browning & County Line Road Traffic Signal Project and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign the same (Agreement No. 2025-31) 12) Report on the Status of the Local Emergency regarding the failed Waterline located on Garces Bridge Pursuant to Public Contracts § 22050
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approved items 1-12 on consent items; 2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
13) Community Development Block Grant Action Plan 2025-2026 Public Hearing and adoption of resolution (Resolution No. 2025-29)
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez opened the public hearing.
Economic Development Specialist Flores provided staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez opened public comment.
No public comment.
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez closed public comment.
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz;
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris
Abstentions: None
14) Extension of Interim Urgency Ordinance Prohibiting the Issuance of Any Land Use Permit Authorizing the Operation of Mobile Food Truck on Private Property Within the City in Accordance with Government Code § 65858
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez opened the public hearing.
City Attorney Hensley provided staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez opened public comment.
No public comment.
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez closed public comment.
Council Member Osorio – “Thanks Vice Mayor. I think for me this is an ongoing conversation so I am in support of continuing in the direction we're on.”
Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris
Abstentions: None
REGULAR AGENDA
No items.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Chief of Police Nicholson provided an update regarding the code enforcement and sidewalk vending vendors.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council Member Bryan Osorio – “Yeah, thanks Vice Mayor. So we've had over a few events over the last couple of weeks. On April 9th, I joined Mayor Morris at a small stakeholder gathering hosted by OM development and construction. They shared updates on a new Palazzo Villa Apartments, but their ultimate goal was to begin to see the idea of a grand opening for late June. And they've asked us once they confirm a date to help spread the word. The next day I joined I think all my colleagues at the Delano Union Elementary school district luncheon that was meant to celebrate the hard work of this year's recognized certificated and classified staff, but also some amazing students of the year that same day alongside I believe Council Member Nun, Vice Mayor Nunez, Council Member Alindajao, and Mayor Morris. We attended the plaque presentation at Tree Planting at Kalibo Park in memory of Cody Jamal Harris. To me just hearing the testimony of the father as well as those who've been involved with this case, it was just a powerful moment of reflection but also love. And I want to thank our city staff, Mr. Nunez and my colleagues. I think Mr. Alindajao and Ms. Morris who began these conversations sometime ago. I also wanted to give a shout out to Ms. Batth-Chavez for inviting us to the opening games of the basketball season at the rec center. I was a lively environment, especially after catching one of the late morning games. And that same morning that Saturday morning, I stopped by this year's Relay for Life event at the Delano High School. And as always, it's just moving to see families, teams, schools, organizations, continue to show up and raise funds for such an important cause. And lastly, as Council Member Solorio mentioned, I do want to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of Pope Francis this morning. As many have reiterated, his leadership compassion and unwavering call for justice have left and will continue to leave a lasting impact globally.
Thank you.”
Council Member Alindajao – “Thank you Vice Mayor. Appreciate it. I also was in attendance at the Cody Harris Memorial. It was a long time coming. I also want to make a special note on the Cody Harris recognition. I saw some comments on social media in which maybe some victims' families felt left out, maybe their loved one isn't recognized. The city is ready, willing, and able and desire to recognize all victims of crime that happened within our city. So, if there's a loved one that you care about and want to memorialize or recognize, please reach out to myself, the mayor, the vice mayor, the city council, and we can certainly honor the memory of past loved ones. So please keep that in mind. Congratulations to Mexican and US police forces for the capture of Cesar Hernandez was captured a few days ago. It was a long time coming. Took about what, six months or so to capture him. Unfortunately, some folks were hurt in the process of that, but I'm glad he's now in law enforcement custody. Whether he gets extradited back to the US is going to be a different story. As the summer months or the weather warms up, I want to just encourage the public to practice good public safety. When you're out there, people are walking more, running more. I want you to be mindful of the traffic, wear reflective gear if possible, during the night and evening times.
And again, as we often say for public safety, if you see something, say something, call 911 the police department if you see any suspicious activity. Also want to thank on back on the Cody Harris Memorial in recognition. I want to thank Mr. Carl Harris and his wife for their participation in recognizing their son. I see Pedro there in the audience and city staff for putting that beautiful memorial together. And the tree was a beautiful tree and it was just a really nice event. So thank you to my colleagues for being there. I appreciate it. And that's all Vice Mayor. Thank you.”
Council Member Solorio-Ruiz – “Okay. So I hope everyone had a great Easter with their loved ones, especially now that the weather has gotten a little better and more warmer. It's always going to be outdoors with loved ones. So hope everyone had a good Easter Sunday yesterday. I also want to give some gratitude to our Kern County Fire and of course our Delano PD and our first responders for their response today.
We had a little fire, I don't want to say little, but we had a fire today on 11th near St. Mary's School. And so just wanted to provide my appreciation and my gratitude for that. I also, I didn't get a chance to, of course state a comment in regards to the 110th anniversary of the city of Delano, but thank you all three for the efforts that you provide to our city. And of course I hope we can all attend that event as well. And it uplifts our city ultimately. And it also uplifts our history, which is also important. I know we hear that all the time. It's like, as much as we're growing, we should still preserve the history that is Delano. And I was recently at the KernCOG meeting and where we do a survey in all communities about what they appreciate and value. And I believe one of the number one things that they saw was that folks love the small-town feel.
So I think that that's important to take into consideration knowing that we're growing but to also take into consideration to preserve our history as a small town as well. I would also like to speak on of course, the world headline that we woke up to this morning with the loss of Pope Francis. He will be remembered as one of the most greatest leaders of our time, in my opinion. Someone who served the people with love with humility and grace. And may we all take a lesson from Pope Francis Acts. And one quote that I saw that I really liked was that he stated, ‘Be the first to seek to bring good, do not grow accustomed to evil, but to defeat it.’ And so I just wanted to state that in regards to the headlines that we saw this morning. But other than that, that is all. Thank you.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Nunez – “Thank you. I also, along with everyone attended the not grand opening, but the official basketball league starting with Mrs. Chavez and the competitive sports. A lot of happy people, a lot of great comments from mind you, just like anything else, we were in a growing process and staff was really good out there and dealing with any issues that came up. And it worked out very, very good. A lot of positive comments, not only there, but everywhere I went that day, which included Relay. I also ended up at Little League. We did the school awards presentation as well. I also went out to the Cody Harris. And again, all these areas I was going to a lot of positive stuff about our city, which was from our recreation center to the code enforcement to, they're really happy how it's going. I spoke to several business owners and a couple of 'em are here in the audience. They also brought up their concerns and items that we're working on. And they're happy that as a city that we're dealing with. A lot of the concerns and issues that may potentially hurt us as a city also attended the Badges and Bunnies that the police department held on Saturday the same day of Relay for Life, same day with the Recreation center. And that was a huge crowd out there. Police department have about every staff member they can put available out there and a lot of happy people out there that they were engaging from a lot of civic groups to you name it. So overall, it was a very, very, very busy couple, few weeks and hopefully we continue to stay busy and we continue to work on Delano and get better what we're doing.” Mayor Morris - Absent.
Moved for Closed Session by: Solorio-Ruiz at 5:56pm
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris
Abstentions: None
The City Clerk was excused. City Attorney Hensley was appointed as Acting City Clerk. City Attorney Hensley was present.
CLOSED SESSION
13) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE pursuant to govt. code section 54957 Action: Direction given. No reportable action.
Moved for Open Session by: Solorio-Ruiz
2nd by: Alindajao
Time: 6:04 PM
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Morris
Abstentions: None
RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Alindajao seconded by Solorio-Ruiz and unanimously carried 4-0 to adjourn the closed session meeting at 6:05 pm.
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Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk