MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
May 5, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Morris called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 – 11th Avenue.
INVOCATION
Pastor David Vivas offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Chief Nicholson led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Liz Morris, Mario Nunez, Bryan Osorio, Salvador Solorio-Ruiz Council members absent: Joe Alindajao
OFFICIALS PRESENT
Chief of Police Nicholson, City Clerk Chavez, City Attorney Hensley (via teleconference), Finance Director Lara Rios, 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 Proclamation of Community Action Month (CAPK) to Jeremy Tobias, CEO, Tiyonna Mitchell, Outreach and Communications Supervisor and Gina Martinez, CAPK Board member
• Mayor Morris presented a Proclamation for recognition of Darlene Ziegler’s 45-year dedication to Delano’s Performing Arts Community
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Fernando Bravo – “My name is Fernando Bravo, 1417 Belmont Street. Thank you Mayor Morris, Council people, Councilman. I just got two items listed here, which I already had four, but two of them I resolved already. First of all, I want to give you guys, thanks for getting those horseshoe pits. They're nice. So now we don't have to go to Bakersfield, Lindsay, or Tulare, so I don't know when groundbreaking is going to be, but they're pretty nice. Secondly, this is to the building on the senior citizens, the one on Jefferson, 436 Jefferson. Okay. It's been brought to my attention.
Okay. You know where the restrooms are. Okay. They're divided from males and females and the signs are inside. When you walk in, if you guys can put a in front male ‘hombres’ and ‘damas,’ because the seniors are getting confused, they tend to walk away inside the women trying to walk inside the men's room and vice versa. Well, you can't see 'em. See, okay, this is the wall here and just walk in. There will be the male and then the female women. So if you can put on the wall like the men and women who they can see, that would be helpful. So that's all I request, so appreciate it. 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 $4,003,887.70
3) Minutes of regular Council meeting of April 21, 2025 4) Minutes of regular Community Law Enforcement Liaison Board meeting of January 16, 2025 5) Minutes of regular Community Law Enforcement Liaison Board meeting of March 20, 2025 6) Cancellation of regular City Council meeting scheduled for July 7, 2025 7) Approve Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Delano and the Management Employee Group for a term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028; Adopt a Resolution approving new MEG salary tables and authorize the Finance Director to appropriate funds (Agreement No. 2025-32) (Resolution No. 2025-31a)
8) Approve Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Delano and the Delano City Employee’s Association for a term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028; Adopt a Resolution approving the new Miscellaneous salary tables and authorize the Finance Director to appropriate funds (Agreement No. 2025-33) (Resolution No. 2025-31b) 9) Adopt Resolution of the City Council of the City of Delano that replaces Resolution 2021-31 revising the terms for the continuation of the payment of certain health benefit premiums by the City of Delano for certain employees who retired on or after June 21, 2021 (Resolution No. 2025-32a)
10) Adopt Resolution of the City Council of the City of Delano that outlines the terms for the continuation of the payment of certain retiree health benefit premiums by the City of Delano for any City Manager or Department Head who retire effective May 5, 2025, or later (Resolution No. 2025-32b)
11) Acceptance of the ATP-5 Bike Lane & Sidewalk Gap Improvement Project ATPL-5227(067) and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion
12) Acceptance of the ATP-5 SRTS Intersection Enhancement Project ATPL-5227(069) and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion
13) Acceptance of the 2023 Randolph & High Pavement Resurfacing & Rehabilitation Project STPL-5227(071) Re-bid and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion 14) Authorization for the City Engineer to execute an easement granting Southern California Edison the ability to underground electrical supply systems on City property for the benefit of the DMV project at 448 Dover Parkway
15) Acceptance of the 2024 CDBG 12th Avenue Watermain Replacement Project and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion
16) Acceptance of the 2024 CDBG Oxford Street Watermain Replacement Project and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion
17) Approval of Task Order for QK Inc., under Agreement No. 2025-06, for preparation of a Municipal Services Review (MSR) as required by LAFCo and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign the same (Agreement No. 2025-34) 18) Resolution of the City Council of the City of Delano amending the City of Delano’s Employee Pension Plan Effective October 8, 2022 (Resolution No. 2025-33) Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approved items 1-18 on consent items; 2nd by: Osorio
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Alindajao
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items.
REGULAR AGENDA
No items.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council Member Bryan Osorio – “Yes, thanks Mayor. Since the last week I met, actually over the last week, I've had the ability to attend several community events here in town. I also attended the National Day of Prayer event at the De Vino Event Center. Thank you to the Delano Chamber of Commerce and our local faith leaders for organizing such a meaningful gathering. As I was mentioning to Pastor Vivas, I really appreciated the commencement speaker who spoke about the need for empathy in our community, especially as we address homelessness as well with my colleagues. We celebrated our city's 110th anniversary last week, A special thank you to our city staff for organizing the cake distribution for our employees and for us. So it was really good cake. It was also a joy to join the Cinco de Mayo parade, the first, I believe in six years, kudos to the Delano Chamber of Commerce and the Cinco de Mayo committee for hosting this celebration of culture. And I also briefly stopped by the Kiwanis Fiesta Night this Saturday following the parade. It's always great to see neighbors gathering to support local causes, especially those at the Kiwanis fundraisers for. I think the key takeaway from this event though is that we have Delano Heritage Park and it was reminded that we tell our neighbors, our friends, that it's there to tour, but also to book for your next event. I also want to thank Ms. Rios and the City Manager for hosting the Enterprise Funds Committee for Vice Mayor Nunez and I to review part of the budget. I'm looking forward to reviewing the full budget in the coming weeks and to close out my sincere condolences to Mina Nabor's family, a lovely lady that I met over six years ago and that I was accustomed to seeing on the second floor, whether going to talk to Mr. Chavez or Ms. Reyna or just pick up any items. She was a kind woman to me and she'll definitely be missed.”
Council Member Alindajao – Absent.
Council Member Solorio-Ruiz – “Yes. Let's see. So, I want to give a thanks to Rosa and the City Manager and of course all department heads as well for helping us with the general fund budget. Myself and Mayor Morris are on it, and in a way we gave our staff of approval the other day and it will be brought to council soon for of course, full consideration from the council as a whole, as well as community input. But I think it is a well package for our community to excel, to invest in our public safety and in other areas. We also celebrated the 110th birthday of the City of Delano. I know many of us were out there, a few, what was it, last week or so and so, and of course, just to clarify, it's 110 of years of incorporation and so that's a big deal. I think that we've done a lot of growth in the city, and which is a good thing. I also participated in the Cinco de Mayo parade. It's been quite some time since it has happened and so thank you to those who have brought it forward. It's just the chamber and others. This week is also Public Service week. And so I want to again, uplift our city staff, anyone who is involved with public service. It's a beautiful thing that no one can take away from you. And I think that we need to acknowledge all of our staff who dedicated their lives to public service and to our community. I also want to see, oh wait, no, sorry. I also attended the National Day of Prayer. Thank you to Pastor Vivas and everyone who made that happen. It was absolutely beautiful and I think we need to keep praying for our community and for more good to happen. I also want to see if on the next agenda we can put an item or discussion and vote to change and to amend the code section
2.04010 to have our meeting start at 5:00PM to of course now we have 'em at 5:30, but to change the time to 5:00PM and so to see if we can have that discussion. Then at the next meeting, I also of course want to end my statement with providing my deepest condolences in regards to Mina. She was someone who, every time I went upstairs, I always spoke to her and she was always welcoming and warm and authentic. And I think that she leaves all of us really an important message, which is to treat others with respect, to treat others with kindness. And we have absolutely no idea, no clue when our time will come. Just a few weeks ago I saw her at the office and who would've known it would've been the last time. And so my deepest condolences to of course, our city staff who worked with her for so long, almost 20 years to the city, and of course also to her family. And we keep them in our prayers and I hope that tonight we can adjourn in her honor as well.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Nunez – “I have one item, I just want to say happy birthday Liz. She's 27.” “And then everybody's aware of the Guillermo’s Steakhouse, which is part of Idle Spur. They're actually moving into the Tony's Pizza on Countyline Road and then there's a Wendy's, it's lined up, but there's another different coffee shop. I can't give their name up yet until they confirm, but it's pretty good shot next to Wendy's coming down off of, there's three locations on Wendy's and then Dutch Bros is lined up as well.”
Mayor Morris - “Thank you. Yeah, next year's milestone went okay. But anyway, a lot has been happening in our community and I hope that all of you have somehow participated in a lot of the action that's been going on in our community. Some of us are running from one place to the next place to participate in all these different events. But I do want to commend and thank Pastor Vivas for the National Day of Prayer. Willie G was the main speaker there, and I believe he sang with the Midnighters.
So it was really awesome to see the prayer, the combination, and it's all worshipful because it was all praising God and Christ. But he sang in between songs that were just so beautiful and really heartfelt.
And I told him that should be, but he can come back anytime he wants to because he's that good. He was good. So I hope that some of you were able to catch him his message and the message for all of us because we certainly do need prayer. We, and whatever aspect that we're fighting for our community, we need prayer for our country. We need prayer for our military, we need prayer for those who serve in our community. I'm so grateful and talking about Public Service Week and stuff like that, I thank my colleagues too for your service to our community and for the time that you guys take to invest your time to make this community and to move this city forward. And I'm so grateful for all of you, the PD, the whole staff and what you do. And as you can see how big and great our community is really getting. And we're so excited to hear new things as they come in all the time. And they seem to be coming in, right, Mario? Yeah, I was talking to Ian the other night from YK and he was telling me, of course, that Target, I believe is scheduled to open up in the spring, I think of next year. And he says, Paneras is looking at us and Chick-Fil-A is looking at us and is looking at us. Can you think of others that were looking at us? Oh, I talked about Ile Spur out there.”
“Alright, that's exciting news, isn't it? Everybody's been complaining. When's Wendy coming back? Okay, so that's great news. I always remember, if you guys remember Markham, one of Markham brothers used to come and every time, and he would always say, when is not Oh, which is the one that was in and out? No, not in and out. The one that was at where Wendy's is now. Huh? Carl Jr. Oh, Carls Jr. When's Carls Jr. going to come and every council meeting, he would come and say, when's Carls Jr going to come? You need to get one. And all of a sudden, we got one and then he left and he's quit coming. Okay. So yeah.
So we're seeing great things happen in our community and we want to thank our developers, and we want to thank those people that go out and try to lure those people into our community. So I know that all of us are actively involved in trying to get those people to come here. So thank you for the work that you guys do in the service that you guys provide. And I'm thankful for all of you guys too, for all of your input that you get and working with the seniors and working with different organizations and the veterans and whatever. If it wasn't for the service that all of you give to this community, we wouldn't be nothing. So let's keep doing what we're doing and let's continue to move the city forward and let's continue to take pride in our community. And other than that, I think, like I said, we've had so many activities that have come up. This month probably doesn't sound any easier because there's a lot of stuff coming up this month too. So we have a lot of senior wards that are coming up and kids are getting ready for graduation and then there we go again. So be sure and come out and support all those things that are happening here in our community.”
CLOSED SESSION
No items.
RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Solorio-Ruiz seconded by Osorio and unanimously carried 4-0 to adjourn the closed session meeting at 6:37 pm.
_____________________________________________
Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk