MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
June 16, 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
Pastor David Vivas offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Council Member Osorio 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
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Chavez, Assistant City Attorney Vasquez, Finance Director Lara Rios, Chief of Police Nicholson, Interim Community Development Director Dowling (via teleconference), Public Works Director Nunez, City Engineer Rodriguez and IT Manager Enriquez
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
• Steven Kemp, Field Representative for Congressman Valadao presented to the City of Delano Congressional Record Statement honoring the City of Delano’s 110th anniversary of incorporation in the State of California
• Mayor Morris presented a Proclamation declaring June 2025 as Pride Month to The Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Jim Wheeler – “Thank you, your honorable mayor and council members. I'm Jim Wheeler, I'm the executive director at Flood Ministries and I don't live in Delano, but I love Delano. Do you need my address from Bakersfield? No. Okay, good. So I would like to, if it's possible, can I hand out a document for all of you to read while view while I'm talking. So in July of 2021, we opened the Delano Navigation Center at the Delano Association for the Developmentally Disabled.
There was a lot of issues in the public at that time and we felt like there was a need and we had funding at that time to provide the services. And so I told our team, just put your head down and just go do the work. And since then, four years later, coming up on four years and next month, we have done great work. We have placed over a hundred people in shelters. We have housed over 47 people that were experiencing homelessness in Delano. We have dealt with hundreds of unique individuals in this community. When we started, we had ESG CARES funding, which is federal funding that came to us through the county and also through the state of California. And then we were able to supplant that with HA funding, which comes from the state through the county. Also, that funding has gone by the wayside. And as you know and understand, there's a budget issue in the State of California. And so we had had talks previously with the city, and I love the City Manager, Maribel, she's doing a great job and I respect her so much about possibly having some APA funding and I know that things change and things happen. And so we moved some of our funding around and took some funding from another program to allow us to stay open until June 30th, after June 30th. We're not sure how much longer we're going to be able to stay open. And so I'm coming to all of you today to say that there is still a need in this community for the services that we provide and it would be a shame for the Delano Navigation Center to go away completely. We have some great partners, Hope in the Valley just today we had Hope in the Valley was out with Clinica Sierra Vista. We've had partnerships with many other providers that, homeless service providers that come to the community and work through the Delano Navigation Center. And I know there's some confusion about whether we've asked for funding or not, but I'm here today to make sure that you understand that we were asking that the City of Delano, if possible, to provide us on a sole source contract funding for one year while we go out and try to, there's some potential funding coming down the pike. And I'm not asking for three years of funding, I'm just asking for the city to provide us funding so we can continue to provide services through the next fiscal year. And I promise you during that time, we'll see if we can find some other funding to help stay open. So that's my asking today and I appreciate your time. Thank you very much.”
2. Carlos Herrera – “Hello again. Carlos Herrera with Hope in the Valley. Jim brought us out to Delano with all the challenges here and I wanted to share what we do. Very rare do we have success stories. It's almost like Haley's comment because it's just difficult to be out under the bridge and helping individuals with this heat. But I do want to share a success story. A young man, 21 years old, we've been working with him for about three months and what we do is we go out there and we just give them supplies. For example, a tampon, women bleed out there in the dirt. It's pretty sad. But because we bring this, we build a relationship with them, then the trust starts and then the counseling starts. When you do this, you have a success story that I want to share. This young man was just struggling, didn't know what to do, was addicted, but with counseling and with a lot of empathy, we told him what we thought was how we can help him.
And today was our normal round and we went under the bridge and he lives in this tent. And in this tent I call for him and just like my name is Carlos, his name is Carlos. So in Spanish you call each other ‘tocayo’. So they told me he wasn't there. I was like, oh, well he must be out doing something. And they said no, he actually got a job in LA and he took it, which that means that's one less headache for you, sir. And all I'm saying is that we're doing this and I'm asking that you please continue to invest in Jim because I can't promise you I'll have more success stories like this, but I can promise you we'll continue to try. So once again, Flood and Hope in the Valley are great partners, and I hope I can bring you success stories like this every day. It was a 21-year-old young man and I would love to tell you more about it, but guess what? We'll be out there again next Monday. So thank you very much. Appreciate it.”
3. Audel Aceves Martinez (via interpreter) – “I have a lunch truck. Wanted to set it up here on high.
It has all the permits. It also has a restroom. I just want to set up a lunch truck. We do have a lunch truck. We have bathroom facilities. We have parking here on high. This person is the one who told me it is right next to them. That's it. Mario? No, that's Mario, right?”
4. Pastor David Vivas – “Good evening council members. Pastor David Vivas here in Delano. I know just a moment ago you just said that the next city council meeting will be on July the 21st just to remind each and every one of us that it was a Thursday night, July the second, 2020 when 11-year-old McKayla Sono and 12-year-old Elena Dorie were shot and killed in front of a home during a birthday party. Matter of fact, Vice Mayor Nunez was a sergeant at the time with the Delano Police Department. Now five years is coming up and I don't blame our detectives. I blame that because there's no justice for these girls. I don't blame the detectives. I blame the person that knows information about who pulled the trigger or who was responsible for their death. That's the person that I'm blaming along with the individual who pulled the trigger. I don't blame the gun. I blame the person that these wicked people have been loose on our streets most likely. I have a list of about at least 50 names of victims of crime that have not received justice. And I communicate with a lot of these family members somewhat on a regular basis and their lives have been shattered. I know that every single one of us here in this building either has a niece, a daughter, granddaughter, goddaughter, little sister. Think about it. What if it was one of your loved ones, Age 11, age 12 at the time right now, these girls would be entering junior and seniors respectively at this time in their lives. However, they were robbed of it. They were robbed because of an individual that was irresponsible, a person that was taking orders or whatever.
And there should have been a manhunt that day in our city to locate the monsters that took these girls' lives. Now, this young girl attended our church, her father and grandmother, she would come with them quite regularly. And McKayla, we have close family ties. This community is a close community, so we all know each other. We all grew up with each other. And it is very upsetting that these people, these monsters are loose in our streets. And I would ask that we would just continue to keep their families in your thoughts, if you're a person of faith, and also in your prayers because this is a nightmare and a horrific thing that people go through. Believe me, you're never the same again. Your thinking is never the same again. Thank you.”
5. Destinie Aguirre – “Hello city council. Thank you for allowing us to make a public comment. My name is Destinie Aguirre and I'm from Shafter, California. I also work with Flood Ministries and I just wanted to make a public comment on behalf of the clients. We heard about Flood, we heard about our collaborations, but I just want to talk about the clients, the general. Pretty much everybody's afraid right now because we're not going to be here, they're not going to have the services that they receive from us. I have been trying to be proactive and reach out to other organizations to fill in the gap, but there's nobody really here to fill in the gap for us when it comes to showers or laundry services. And those are some things that our clients desperately need, especially that could definitely become a public health issue that they don't have access to showers. So that's something that is definitely to be thought of is that when Flood isn't here, and this is not to make anybody feel bad, this is just fact is when Flood isn't here, they're not going to have that resource to be able to come and take a shower, come and get a hygiene kit, come and get a meal, come and be able to get just a friendly face and just have somebody talk with them from the hours from four to nine o'clock. So I just wanted to leave that our clients are afraid.
They don't know where they're going to go after this. They don't know who they can go, what organization they can actually go to after we're not here. So that's something definitely to think of once we do leave, if there's no way for us to stay here, our last day tentatively would probably be the 27th and then they won't have access. Thank you.”
6. Suzanne Villaruz – “Suzanne Villaruz is 1808 Terrace Drive and my phone number is (661) 344- 2017. Couple of things, as I didn't bring anything to the meeting, what I heard is what I'm going to comment on. Thank you to Congressman Valadao's office for recognizing how great Delano is.
And I also want to mention how sad that our Voice of America is gone. But I mean the towers, I know they had to come down, but it's sad because I love those lights. They were so pretty at night and it was our contribution to history at that time. I hope that somehow Flood Ministries and hope in the Valley is able to continue their services. And there was one more thing. Oh, the children who lost their lives, we talk about the gunman, but there was someone driving the car and there was other people in their car more than just one person knows who murdered those children. And when I look at the list of the lost lives in this town, I can remember when a murder happened maybe once every five years maybe in this town and suddenly we're seeing it over and over. I think we've had some peace, some respite from that. But we still need justice and I think we need to really support the police department in their efforts and encourage our community to rat these guys out. Although I like to think they're already dead somewhere. But that's just me.
Thank you so much.”
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 $3,283,059.91
3) Minutes of special Council meeting of June 2, 2025
4) Minutes of regular Council meeting of June 2, 2025
5) Minutes of Special City Council Meeting for June 9, 2025 6) Resolution of the City Council of the City of Delano adopting a list of projects for FY 2025- 2026 Funded by SB1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Resolution No. 2025- 50)
7) Award of contract for the “2024 6th & 9th Avenues Pavement Resurfacing & Rehabilitation Project STPL-5227(073)” to J. L. Plank Inc. dba Cen-Cal Construction, in the amount of $797,797.00 and authorize the City Manager or her designee to sign any documents needed to complete the project (Agreement No. 2025-46)
8) Approval of Agreement with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc. for contract traffic engineering services (Agreement No. 2025-47)
9) Award of the “2025 Pond Road Street Improvement Project” to MAC General Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $197,218.65, and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign any documents needed to carry this project to completion (Agreement No. 2025-48) 10) Resolution Authorizing the filing of an application for the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funding and committing the necessary local match and stating the assurance to complete the proposed projects (Resolution No. 2025-51) 11) Resolution authorizing the filing of an application for the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funding and committing the necessary local match and stating the assurance to complete the proposed projects (Resolution No. 2025-52) 12) Report on the Status of the Local Emergency regarding the failed Sewer Line located on the 700 block of Main Street and Jefferson Street Alley Pursuant to Public Contracts Code § 22050 13) Award of contract for the “2025 Delano Municipal Airport Parking Lot and Access Control Project” (Pending FAA Approval effective July 1, 2025) in the amount of $374,995.00 to Ag & Industrial Enterprises, Inc. and authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to sign any documents needed to complete the project (Agreement No. 2025-49) 14) Approve a budget adjustment for Special Inspection Services for the Water Tank Coating Project at Plant 3 & 5 to CSI Services from Santa Clarita, CA, for an additional $73,650.00 and authorization for the City Manager or her designee to sign the contract change order and any other documents needed to complete the project (Agreement No. 2025-50) 15) Resolution of the City Council of the City of Delano declaring vehicle as surplus and authorizing staff to dispose of same (Resolution No. 2025-53) 16) Donation of surplus Transit Bus #3519 (2013 Ford F-550 Super Duty XL,) to Sister City Tangancicuaro, Michoacán, Mexico (Resolution No. 2025-54) 17) Purchase of five (5) Police Vehicles for the Delano Police Department from Phil Long Ford of Denver in the amount of $488,092.06 to replace damaged or inoperable vehicles (Agreement No. 2025-51)
18) Approval of an agreement and resolution to accept the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Grant award, in the amount of $37,822.00 for alcohol enforcement operations, training, and business inspections and authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute any necessary documents (Agreement No. 2025-52) (Resolution No. 2025-55) 19) Second reading of an ordinance amending Delano Municipal Code (“DMC”) § 2.04.010 to Change the City Council Regular Meeting Time from 5:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. (Ordinance No. 2025-1363)
Motion was made by: Nunez to approved items 1-18 on consent items; 2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/ Osorio /Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Alindajao
Abstentions: None
Item No. 19 pulled by: Suzanne Villaruz
Reason for pulling item: Ms. Villaruz wanted to know why.
Staff Report provided by Council Member Solorio-Ruiz.
Council Member Solorio – “Yes. Okay. So we had a very vibrant discussion on that item. And even looking back, I'm like there was so many arguments to changing the time. Of course some of it had to do with at times having presentations and awards. At one time it was over, well I think you were here when we had presentations and it was over an hour. And so we just wanted to see if we can have the meetings run more smoothly. Of course, I also referenced the school school boards. Both of the school boards start their meetings at five and have not had any issues. And so like I said, there was many arguments, but it was really for the betterment of the meeting to run smoothly to make sure folks, even folks in the audience who were in attendance that were like, Hey, sometimes I can't get to the item until later because presentations and awards takes longer. Of course, initially I did want to start it at five, but having conversations with the mayor, I believe she was in an agreement, so I tried to meet her in the middle and make sure we do that.
But those were some of the arguments.”
Suzanne Villaruz – “It's just that starting a meeting on the quarter hour is odd. People are either going to come at five 30 or at five and wonder where's the meeting? Council Member Solorio-Ruiz – “Yeah, the city of Bakersfield starts, serves at three 30 and then five 15.
And I know they're Bakersfield, but I know. I know. But they're a government meeting.” Suzanne Villaruz – “I was just curious because like I said, the quarter hour class, but if we can make it work, we can make it work with it does take time. And I remember the hours of comments, which has changed a lot if you never know when something could come down. Certainly. Thank you. That's all I just curious. Thank you. I missed all the conversation.”
Arnold Morrison – “Real quick. I think it's best if one of you has a question or comment. You cut to the mic? Yes. Okay. No worries.”
Anthony Cortez – “Evening city council. Anthony Cortez 282 Shell Beach Court. So, thank you for sharing that again, Councilman. Solorio-Ruiz it sounds like we want to 5:15. Okay. Because the presentations have been going long. Even if we go back 5:15, if presentations still go long, we're still going to have individuals still waiting to get to their items. So it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Okay. I think what we need to do, or what the city council needs to do is, like you do with public comments, is give it a timeframe.
Five minutes, ten minutes. Because yes, there are individuals that are wanting to say something and they have to wait and wait and wait. It's great that we do presentations of kids coming up here, individuals, this may be the first time ever stepping into this chamber and it might even be their last time. So it's great that the city does that. I really see the importance of doing that. But I think if we just, like I said, maybe condense the presentations that sometimes we have two or three. I don't know why we do so many at one time. Maybe we can spread it out. I mean, just something to think about. Thank you.” Motion was made by: Solorio-Ruiz to approved item 19 on consent items; 2nd by: Nunez
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/ Osorio /Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Alindajao
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items
REGULAR AGENDA
20) New Maps and Updated Council Direction on Buffer Areas for Permitted Food Trucks on Private Property from Existing Restaurants (Tabled to July 21, 2025, Council Meeting) Item tabled by Mayor Morris.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No Items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council Member Bryan Osorio – “Yeah, thanks Mayor. I think just to address what Councilman Solorio referenced regarding the fear going on in our communities, I do just want to make a quick point about how there's a lot of rumors oftentimes on social media that are posted about federal officials being here or there.
And it creates this panic and it leads to consequences where sometimes, well, right now not as relevant, where kids aren't going to school or people aren't going to work. But please try to verify those claims or think twice before sharing something that hasn't been validated. There's a rapid response network of Kern, or if you see something you want to share it, feel free to call that number. But on a different note, over the last two weeks, I was able to attend the Kids 2 Dentists grand opening, hosted by Chamber of Commerce with Mayor Morris. It was a really fascinating, I think we had a quick discussion, Mayor Morris and I, about how that specific development has changed fluctuated over the years. But when we went inside, even from the outside, it looked really nice. It looked very welcoming for kids. And so really excited for those folks who will decide to take their children to that dentist. And there is also a grand opening happening in a couple of days at the Plaza Villas apartments for those who haven't RSVP and are interested in checking it out. And given that we may not connect before July 21st, wishing folks a very safe and Happy Fourth of July.”
Council Member Alindajao – Absent.
Council Member Solorio-Ruiz – “Sure. Let me get here. So first and foremost, I want to give a special congratulations to the Class of 2025. I attended the Delano High School one and it it's a great opportunity to show our young people that it's an accomplishment to graduate high school and we're very proud of them for their accomplishment, whether they in the future serve this country in the military or go into a trades or university or entrepreneurship. But overall, just wanted to share a special congratulations to them. I also am aware that there was a Delano Career & Resource Fair. Noemi is not here today, but shout out to her and her team. Of course recently as well, we approved the budget, so thank you to Rosa and her team as well for that. And hope everyone had a great Father's Day. But lastly, I would like to speak on the recent events that have unfolded as an elected representative of our city. I speak today with a heavy heart and really deep concern for our country. In recent days, we've seen troubling actions that strike at the core of our democratic values and civil liberties. Reports of potential ICE raids in our neighborhoods, including those in the Los Angeles area, are alarming. In particular, the act of the president, President Trump. Using the United States military against American citizens are signs of creeping authoritarianism. Let me be clear that in my opinion, deploying the military on our own people, intimidating our immigrant communities and sowing fear among vulnerable residents is not leadership and we should not stand for it. Latinos being hunted down in the streets of America without due process should shake us all to our core. History has taught us that what happens when power is used not to serve but to control. We are witnessing an erosion of the norms that protect our freedoms, our communities, and our constitution of the United States in our city. And as an elected official, I will not be silent. We should not stand. We should stand with our immigrant neighbors. We should stand for lawful governance. And we stand for the rights of every person regardless of status, background, or belief, to live free from fear. As I have stated and shared, and I will say it again, according to the US Constitution, regardless of immigration status, you have rights in the United States of America. Let me also say that we keep hearing that being undocumented is a crime. It is not a crime to be undocumented. It is not a criminal offense, but a civil offense similar to a parking ticket, jaywalking or landlord dispute. Our immigrant communities are hardworking folks who make our beautiful, vibrant city what it is today. I call on our fellow elected officials, my colleagues, those in the state legislature and Congress, wherever they may be, to be vocal about this issue, to join me in defending democracy as our oath was to the United States Constitution. We must be vocal as our immigrant community represents our neighbors, our families, our friends, and must I also say our taxpayers. And so overall, may God bless this country, protect our community and our families and the rule of law. So thank you.” Mayor Pro-Tem Nunez – “Happy 4th of July to everybody coming up and we'll be heading out to Mexico. Liz and I. You're coming July 6th through the ninth with our sister city. I won't even try to pronounce the name. I mess it up every time I say it, so I'm not going to try to pronounce it, but…” Mayor Morris – “Tangancicuaro.”
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez – “There you go. So I'm happy that I can announce that the city has not only donated equipment to them, but we're also going to go down there and present it to them and show that regardless of what we're hearing on the media, that we can still get along as individuals. And that's all I have.”
Mayor Morris - “Thank you. Yeah, I am excited about going to Sister City. I will say that they sent a delegation here to our city to come to visit their sister city. And Mario and I met with them and we were glad to have them here in our city to come to see. And we have donated a bus that has been surplus, I believe, to them. So they were real appreciative of that because they asked for anything that we could might be able to give them that we didn't need, that they can use. So we're glad to have that to, and that was actually approved today in today's agenda. So we're excited about that. I'm not a real wealth traveler, but Mario here is going to take care of me. Okay. That's what he said. Anyway, but in any case, I want to just kind of mention that Mario's Steakhouse is… Mario's? Guillermo’s Steakhouse has opened up and they had a stop opening yesterday. And we've all been harping about not having a steakhouse in town. So I hope that we can all support them to keep the steakhouse here in our community, in our city.
And I can tell you the week before that, Mario took us out to lunch out at Idle Spur, which Mr. Guillermo owns. And I ordered this ribeye sandwich thinking I was going to get a little bit of ribeye on my sandwich, but I got this bun with a whole big old ribeye right on top of it. It was amazing. But I'm sure he's going to be just as amazing here in town. So I hope that we can all support him and his endeavors to bring us a steakhouse here in town. And again, the ribbon cutting for the Palazzo Village is going to be at six o'clock and that's going to be on Wednesday. So if any of you have time to go out there and take a view of the new Palazzo Villas out there, they're very beautiful. I think you'll agree that the landscaping is really phenomenal out there. And I'm sure the housing on the inside I've been when I've been in there, but they hadn't been completed quite yet. So, I'm anxious, anxious to get out there and see actually what they have.
Again, Happy 4th of July and stay safe. The community is having a firework show on July the second. So, we don't want anyone to miss that. So, invite of friends and family to come out and support that. They also have a play day or a fun day out at the park. So, there'll be a lot of activities happening at the park and a lot of, there's a lot of contests. They'll be going like a watermelon contest, a hula hoop contest, a water balloon. There'll be water sports out there too. I mean slides. And so all for the kids are waiting for the fireworks to start and a lot of vendors will be out there. So, it should be a fun day for all. So, if you're going out to watch the fires, come out and join us for that festivity out there. After all, it is the birthday of our country and God bless America, and we should all support that great event in our nation. And I think of the things that are happening in our country, I think we should all be supportive and pray for our country.”
Moved for Closed Session by: Nunez at 6:16pm
2nd by: Solorio-Ruiz
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/Alindajao/Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
The City Clerk was excused. City Manager Reyna was appointed as Acting City Clerk. City Manager, Finance Director and Attorney Johnson were present.
CLOSED SESSION
21) CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency negotiator: City Manager, Finance Director, Attorney Che Johnson (Liebert Cassidy Whitmore) and Human Resources Director
Negotiating parties: Delano Police Officers Association No reportable action.
Moved for Open Session by: Solorio-Ruiz at 6:27pm
2nd by: Osorio
Vote: 4-0
Ayes: Morris/Nunez/ Osorio/Solorio-Ruiz
Nays: None
Absent: Alindajao
Abstentions: None
RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Nunez seconded by Solorio-Ruiz and unanimously carried 4-0 to adjourn the closed session meeting at 6:27 pm.
_____________________________________________
Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk