MINUTES
CITY OF DELANO
CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING
March 2, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 – 11th Avenue.
INVOCATION
Pastor David Vivas offered the invocation.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Salvador Solorio-Ruiz, Mario Nunez, Joe Alindajao (arrived at 5:33pm), Liz Morris, Bryan Osorio
Council members absent: None
OFFICIALS PRESENT
City Manager Reyna, City Clerk Chavez, City Attorney Hensley, Finance Director Lara Rios, Police Chief Nicholson, Human Resources Director Zamudio, Interim Community Development Director Dowling (via teleconference), Public Works Director Nunez, City Engineer Rodriguez, and IS Coordinator Reyes
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
• Joseph Lopez (California Resources Corporation), Eric Arias (United Way), Jacqueline Morales (United Way) and Sofia Calero Mejia (United Way) provided a presentation and report in behalf of United Way of Central Eastern California on the November 2025 Delano Financial Literacy Program.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC
1. Roberto Ibarra – “Hello, good evening. Robert Ibarra, Delando Citizen. I just want to make, let's say what the chief said about the report last month that he gave about notions among the city and other stuff. And when you're going to stop your drug stores around here, the one, the chemical stuff that drink cannabis and stuff like that, when are you going to stop them? There's not a car that passes by that smells marijuana, a house passes without marijuana, smell of marijuana. So, all of that creates the person addictive, and then he will succumb to that, neglect his house, upgrades. Then he goes out on the street, collecting whatever he can find, maybe rob or break into people's houses due to the fact that we are allowing all this stuff. And we supposed to defend our people. We supposed to protect our kids. So, the chief said what is happening, but we not addressing what the cost is. Why you allowed that stores inside our city, inside our town? Protect our kids. You are the administrators. Let's see what we can do on our side because I see. I see that. Then they're going to get busy. Then we are going to create more prisons and where are we going to end up? People lose their houses, property, stuff like that due to being addictive to crap.
No good. That's not good. We got to protect them. Thank you”
2. Steven Kemp – “Forgive me in advance. I'm battling a cold, so my voice might be scratchy. But my name is Steven Kemp. I serve as a current county district representative, one of the current county district representatives for Congressman David Valadeo. Hi, Mayor and members of the council. Just wanted to highlight for the community that as a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Congressman was happy to secure around $8.1 million for the Delano Water Plant Number Six Blending Tank Project. After it's constructed, plant number six will take water from water well number 22 and number 32 to produce an additional 1.5 million gallons per day of potable water for the City of Delano. It's also important to note that in FY 2024 appropriations bill, the Congressman secured six million for the Well 42 project. And so, the Congressman looks forward to continuing to help with the city's water resiliency and to look for other projects to partner on. Thank you so much.”
Council Member Alindajao arrived at 5:33pm.
3. Fernando Bravo – “And good evening, Honorable Mayor. Name is Fernando Bravo, 1417 Belmont Street. I'm just here today in regards to the seniors. I would like to request, or we would like to request with your approval there at the senior citizen park that if you guys can install maybe two barbecue grills, I know you guys have them at the Cecil Park since we hang out there.
We have our potlucks there or hang out there on Saturdays with the seniors. So, I would appreciate it with the approval of the council and City Manager to get the ball going. So that's 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 $3,558,373.37
3) Minutes of regular Council meeting of February 17, 2026 4) Request for approval of the use of the funds identified in line-item for the training range within the Police Department Budget in the amount of $59,138.26 5) Acceptance of the 2024 County Line Road & Garces Hwy Pavement Resurfacing & Rehabilitation Project STPL-5227(074) and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion
6) Report on the Status of the Local Emergency regarding the failed Sewer Main located on 1000 High Street Pursuant to Public Contracts Code § 22050 7) Report on the Status of the Local Emergency regarding the failed Storm-Sewer Main located on 18th Avenue and Terrace Drive Pursuant to Public Contracts Code § 22050 8) Second and Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending Delano Municipal Code (“DMC”) Chapter 6.25 (Business Regulations) to Establish a Permitting Process for Food Trucks on Private Property, Update Food Vending Permit Requirements, and Amending DMC Sections 20.5.30 (Commercial Use Regulations) and 20.6.30 (Use Regulations for Employment Districts) to Include Food Truck Operations on Private Property as an Allowable Use in Industrial, Neighborhood Commercial, and General Commercial Zones (Ordinance No. No. 2026-1370)
9) Second and final reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 7.32 (Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement) of the Delano Municipal Code and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (Ordinance No.
No. 2026-1371)
10) Extension of time for Tentative Tract Map No. 7438 (Resolution No. 2023-09, approved March 20, 2023 and extension of time approved October 7, 2024) that approved the subdivision of a 28.38-acre parcel into 94 single-family residential lots (Resolution No. 2026-08)
Motion was made by: Nunez to approved items 1-4, 6-9 on consent items; 2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Item No. 5 pulled by: Roberto Ibarra
Reason for pulling item: “Roberto Ibarra, I just come to ... I just want to clarify and state that on the Garces Highway pavement and resurfacing, is there a rehabilitation? Is there any way in which it could be a four lane tentatively in the future, near future? Widening, the highway, Garces Highway? I want to know. I know it's a repavement, but there's always a long line in the Garzas highway. It's up to a mile long sometimes, especially when it's working season. And not to mention when the railroad tracks, what's the name of the Pacific Railroad passes by. So, I was just wondering if there's any in the perspective from the city when you're breaking this highway, Garces Highway issue. If I stand clear.” City Engineer Rodriguez – “Honorable Mayor, Council, thanks for the question, Mr. Ibarra. So, this item's an NOC for the KernCOG RSTP project that involved County Line Road and Garces to rehab, I believe from Hiett to 99 on County Line and Hiett to Ellington on Garces. But to answer the question ...
So the item is just an NOC. That's all we're looking for tonight to answer the question. I think in longterm range planning from KernCOG, there has been some discussion, but is it feasible now or in the very near future? Probably not. So, it's something that staff's looking into, but it's not a part of tonight or maybe a near future project.”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “Thank you, sir. Thank you. And Mr. Ibarra, I would also recommend you reaching out to Kern COG, which is another board that deals with that type of stuff, or the Kern COG representative here, which is Mr. Councilman Osorio.”
City Manager Reyna – “And Honorable Baker, just for clarification purposes, the NOC is a notice of completion. So basically what staff is requesting counsel to do is just saying this item has been completed.
So it's not necessarily bringing up new things for that area. It's just saying that the city is accepting it.” Motion was made to approved item no. 5 by: Nunez;
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
Item No. 5 pulled by: Roberto Ibarra
Reason for pulling item: “Excuse me. My inquiry is that if you have ... I don't know where this is going to go. The location is just seven on the map. I don't know. I'm just blank. Where is location? But since I live on the west side, there's empty lots by Cecil. Cecil and Clinton, I believe it's Clinton. And then the other one that is big, it's on Albany, the corner of Albany on the right-hand side. I don't know if that's what it is. I don't know. I'm talking out of the blue. If there is any perspective to build something, the recreation or a shopping store, like the ones we have here in downtown, I think it would look nice on that corner of Albany. Albany. Yeah, Albany and Cecil. It's a big, big, beautiful lot. I don't know if there's any perspective about building a store over there, a big store, big marketplace. So it will be a good idea.
Thank you.”
City Manager Reyna – “And Honorable Baker, just for clarification purposes, the NOC is a notice of completion. So basically what staff is requesting counsel to do is just saying this item has been completed.
So it's not necessarily bringing up new things for that area. It's just saying that the city is accepting it.” City Manager Reyna – “What is the inquiry? What is being built at that location?” Roberto Ibarra – “Well, because it will be good. It will be good since you have 94 single family residential lots.”
Roberto Ibarra – “I don't know where the location is at. So I'm just looking at what it says, but if you're looking at that on the west side, maybe you can have that in perspective.” City Attorney Hensley – “When you look in the staff report, just north of Garces Highway, just East of Browning Road and just south of the high school is where the project site is. I don't know if we have any ability to put it up on the…”
Mayor Pro Tem Nunez – “Should be on the south side of Cesar Chavez High School between Browning and Garces.”
Roberto Ibarra – “So you have nothing on the west side?” City Manager Reyna – “Not on this item, sir.”
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz – “Not on this specific item, but thank you for the recommendation.” Motion was made to approved item no. 5 by: Nunez;
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz/Nunez/Alindajao/Morris/Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
No items
REGULAR AGENDA
No items
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
No Items.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
Council Member Bryan Osorio – “Yeah, thanks, Mayor. Well, hi folks. Just a couple of updates. I think in reference to the project that's planned for Garces. So, a couple of meetings ago, I had shared that after attending a Kern COG meeting that they were hoping to start construction in early to mid-spring, but because there is a delay in the order of materials, now they're looking at construction beginning at the end of spring. And I think there's been some communication by Kern COG that Garces will face a closure of local streets and there will be one-way traffic control. But as a more concrete timeline comes out, I'll share with the council. Also at the council, I was reminded that thanks to our city staff, the city applied to the better utilizing investments to leverage development or BUILD grant program. So, I appreciate staff for leading that effort. And then with the rest of the council, we attended the unveiling of a multigenerational residence led by Pacificus IV, and the Mora Brothers last week. And so this was an interesting project and looking forward to seeing how they incorporate future development similar to this.
That's it for me.”
Council Member Alindajao – None
Council Member Morris – “I have no comment. Just to remind you, we're excited for Target this month.
We have a grand opening, I guess, on the 15th and a soft opening on the 10th, right? Yeah. So we're excited and forward to seeing that happen. I don't have anything else.” Mayor Pro-Tem Nunez – None
Mayor Solorio-Ruiz - “Okay. I have a couple of stuff that I have on mine. I, of course, want to thank the City Manager recently for meeting with Eva Madrigal, who is an individual who has been selling food out of her vehicle and just certain concerns that we have had. And I just want to put it on the record. Just thank you for reaching out to her, communicating with her, as well as our chief and everyone involved to educate her on the process and the way that you do it. I know some of our colleagues here have also had conversations with her, so thank you for that. I also had a meeting with an organization. They are called OneTerra and in which they assist us with the permitting process and specifically when it comes to AI.
And so, I just wanted to put that on the record as well. They are potentially going to be meeting with city staff to see if it's something that fits our city, and I believe it is free, which is also great. And then I also was invited to speak to some students at Wonderful College Prep Academy. I just want to thank Mr.
Allard who teaches social studies there at Wonderful College Prep Academy for all the work he's doing, those young people. I felt like I was in a town hall with all the questions that I was getting from those young people. It was really heartwarming to see all those students incredibly engaged in terms of the community, asking questions in regards to what we can do better to make this the affordable and thriving, so I really appreciated their invitation. And I also want to give them a congratulations. I believe they won around number one charter school in California. So I think that that is a big deal and hopefully in the next couple of months we can bring them in to give them some recognition on that. I also, of course, with other council members and the vice mayor attended the ribbon cutting hosted by the Mora Brothers and Mr. Becerra, I think it was an excellent project and I'm excited to see how well it does, and I know that a lot of folks are already inquiring about it. And then of course, there are some concerns that we heard about cannabis sales in the City of Delano, and I just want to reemphasize that it is, and I've said it previously, it is illegal to sell cannabis in the city of Delano. And so that was before my time when that was established, but I just want to educate our community on that. If there's any other concerns about that topic, you're more than welcome to contact the Chief of Police and he can communicate with you in terms of that topic alone, but I just wanted to put that for the record. Lastly, before we adjourn, I'd like to request that we place an item on the agenda for next city council meeting on March 16th regarding, and it's named the Community First Ordinance, which prohibits our federal agents from entering city owned property. Over the past several weeks, I've been working closely and consistently with our City Attorney, Mark, who I just want to share appreciation for him and our City Manager for having ongoing discussions, reviewing options, and looking at sample model policies that fit Delano. The reason I'm bringing this forward is simple, to protect our community and put our residents first. In Delano, we believe that every family, or I believe that every family should feel safe reporting a crime, seeking help in an emergency and accessing basic city services without fear. I've said it countless times, and I think we're living in a time in which Latinos are being hunted in the streets of America, and we must make a stand in the community. And so I'm excited to have that conversation with city staff and with our council colleagues in regards to this. To me, this is about ensuring that Delano remains a community where residents come first, regardless of a status or documentation, because in my opinion, a city works best when everyone feels protected and included. And so, I'm asking that we agendize this item so the council and the public can have a transparent informed discussion and a robust discussion on this topic, and we can move forward in a way that works for all of us.”
Motion to go into closed session at 5:48PM by: Nunez
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz /Nunez/Alindajao/ Morris/Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
CLOSED SESSION
11) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8.
Property: 110 S Lexington St, Delano, CA 93215
APN: 424-020-08 & 521-010-07
Agency negotiators: City Manager, Finance Director and City Attorney Negotiating parties: County of Kern
Under negotiation: price and/or terms of payment
Direction given. No reportable action.
12) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8.
Property: 11250 Stradley Ave, Delano, CA 93215
APN: 521-040-48
Agency negotiators: City Manager, Finance Director and City Attorney Negotiating parties: County of Kern
Under negotiation: price and/or terms of payment
Direction given. No reportable action.
13) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8.
Property: 1221, 1223, 1225 Airport Drive, Delano, CA 93215 APN: 521-040-12 & 521-040-13
Agency negotiators: City Manager, Finance Director and City Attorney Negotiating parties: N/a
Under negotiation: price and/or terms of payment
Direction given. No reportable action.
14) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8.
Property: Section 14, Township 25, Range 25, Quarter SE (Acres: 4.11) APN: 521-020-21
Agency negotiators: City Manager, Finance Director and City Attorney Negotiating parties: State of California, Department of Transportation Under negotiation: price and/or terms of payment
Direction given. No reportable action.
15) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION - Govt. Code Section 54957:
City Manager
Direction given. No reportable action.
Motion to go into open session at 7:48PM by: Nunez
2nd by: Alindajao
Vote: 5-0
Ayes: Solorio-Ruiz /Nunez/Alindajao/ Morris/Osorio
Nays: None
Absent: None
Abstentions: None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Nunez seconded by Alindajao and unanimously carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:48pm. _____________________________________________
Ricardo G. Chavez, City Clerk