ASCALON
MINUTES
CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCALON
STEPPING STOI MEETING OF FEBRUARY 06, 2023
O CENTEN CENTRAL
City Council Chambers, 2060 McHenry Avenue -7:00 P.M.
Beginning Resolution No. 02-23
Beginning Ordinance No. 590
Beginning Minute Order No. 05-23
PRESENT: Mayor David Bellinger
Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Thomas Hagan
Councilmember Jeremy Engle
Councilmember Malinda Walker
Councilmember Shawn Strohman
STAFF PRESENT: Dominique Romo, City Manager/City Clerk
Sopheap Dong-Carreon, Finance Director/HR Administrator Juston Collins, Public Works Superintendent/Manager
Jose Zambrana, Police Sergeant
Courtney Richmond, Deputy City Clerk
Frank Splendorio, City Attorney
CONSENT CALENDAR
hese items are considered routine in nature and are acted upon by a single action unless requested by ar ndividual Council Member or member of the public for special consideration
1. Approve the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of January 17, 2023.
2. Approve the Register of Demands for February 1, 2023 in the amount of $386,864.74.
Mayor Bellinger advised that at the previous Council meeting an Agenda item was desired by two members of Council and in accordance with the City's policy, that item was placed on this Agenda for discussion.
MOTION - It is moved/seconded by STROHMAN/HAGAN that Consent Calendar be approved as presented. Motion carried unanimously (5-0). MINUTE ORDER 05-23
MINUTES
Escalon City Council
February 06, 2023
MATTERS PRESENTED FROM THE AUDIENCE
At this time, the public may address the City Council on any item, not on the Agenda that is within the authority of the Council. The speaker is limited to a maximum of five minutes. Unused time may not be yielded to another speaker. The determination of whether an item is within the authority of the Council is a discretionary decision made by Mayor.
Gabriella Vargas thanked Public Works Superintendent Juston Collins for addressing the alley by First Street. She asked for more police presence in her area, to enforce speeding laws, especially between the hour of 11:00 pm to 12:00 am.
Ann Shaddix gave background on the Senior Fun Bunch to the new Councilmembers, explaining that there were no activities in Escalon for seniors so they started a group called the Senior Fun Bunch. Now 85 seniors come regularly to the senior program. They send out newsletters free of charge and are sponsored by the Saron Lutheran Church, who supplies the ink and paper for newsletters. The program keeps seniors active, socialized and informed. She thanked Council and staff for letting the Senior Fun Bunch utilize the Community Center free of charge.
Edward Alves congratulated the new Councilmembers to their seats. He mentioned San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman was in the audience, and that he has always done a great job for Escalon. He received a couple of phone calls about two Councilmembers requesting an item to be put on the agenda for discussion and is glad the issue was addressed and on the Agenda tonight. In regards to speeding on streets, speedbumps cannot be put in everywhere due to the cost. He then advised that kids today are not wearing helmets and asked the Police Chief to look into this.
Supervisor Robert Rickman congratulated the new Councilmembers and introduced himself as the Chair of the Board of Supervisors for District 5. SJC has been added to the FEMA Major Disaster Declaration, federal assistance is available for individual or family assistance. A disaster recovery center is open seven days a week at the San Joaquin Ag Center, located at 2101 E Earhart Street in Stockton.
Roxanna Shatz stated she lives on the corner of Riesling and First Street and agrees that speed enforcement is needed on First Street, suggesting speed humps.
Councilmember Strohman asked if there was a status update on that radar trailer.
Sergeant Zambrana replied that the Police Department is still working on it.
Councilmember Strohman believes First Street should be on the top priority of the Police Department's list since two people from the audience have spoken on it tonight.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Dominique Romo updated Council on the Municipal Service Review (MSR) going to LAFCO in March. She then advised that Attorney Splendorio provided a guide and process in submitting claims for certain unfunded mandates from the State, and that staff will begin working on trying to submit claims. She also provided an update on Council's interest in a city solar farm, and that she reached out to ENGIE and MID to discuss. She will continue to update Council on this item.
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Escalon City Council
February 06, 2023
Mayor Pro Tem Hagan asked if she spoke with SSJID as well.
City Manager Romo replied that she spoke with SSJID, and that they are in an ongoing lawsuit with PG&E. They hope to be an option in the next few years to come.
Mayor Pro Tem Hagan thanked City Manager Romo for looking into this item and looks forward to more information.
City Manager Romo advised Council the next meeting is on President's Day and that the schools in the district will be closed and on vacation that week. Typically, the meeting is moved to the next day which would be February 21", however she know some members of Council have kids in the Escalon School District.
Council deliberated on this item and then gave consensus to reschedule the City Council meeting to a special meeting on February 27'h
City Manager Romo then updated Council on the Wastewater Treatment Plant design and the SSJID Surface Water Project, advising that she will be scheduling presentations on both of these projects.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
3. Set the date and time to conduct interviews of all applicants who have submitted an application for the Planning Commission and Recreation Commission vacancies.
City Manager Romo presented the Staff Report on this item. The Council then deliberated on this Mayor Bellinger asked Council about starting the meeting an hour earlier, at 6:00 p.m.
Council gave consensus on starting the meeting at 6:00 pm February 27, 2023.
MOTION - It is moved/seconded by STROHMAN/HAGAN to conduct the interviews for the acancies and to make the needed appointments to Planning and Recreation Commissions o ebruarv 27. 2023 at 6:00 p.m. If Council does not agree upon this, appointments will be conducte at the March 6, 2023 meeting. Motion carries unanimously (5-0) MINUTE ORDER 06-23
4. Adopt urgency Ordinance No. XXX, amending Chapter 17.41.140 of the Escalon Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, and determining the Ordinance to be exempt from CEQA.
City Manager Romo presented the Staff Report on this item.
Council deliberated on this item and asked various questions to staff.
MINUTES
scalon City Counc
ebruary 06, 202
City Attorney Splendorio stated it is good practice to follow-up the urgency ordinance with the exact same ordinance, with a second reading to confirm all procedural basis are covered.
MOTION - It is moved/seconded by ENGLE/HAGAN to adopt urgency Ordinance No. XXX. amending Chapter 17.41.140 of the Escalon Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, and determining the Ordinance to be exempt from CEQA.
Motion carries unanimously (5-0) MINUTE ORDER 07-23
5. Discuss Liberty Business Park Infrastructure and Utility Needs.
Mayor Pro Tem Hagan expressed why he wanted this item added to the agenda. He believes this will increase the sales tax base by bringing new businesses in town. It will also allow for local job opportunities. He asked if it is feasible that staff look into a way to do this where it does not hurt the locals. He is hoping to get Council consensus to jack bore into Liberty Business Park. He believes this would grow the town in a major way.
Edward Alves said Council has an obligation to fund this community. He agrees with Mayor Pro Tem Hagan to jack bore into Liberty Business Park so that it will create inspiration for businesses to build there. Once businesses realize they can be there with the utilities in place, it will make it more appealing to them. He is hoping Council can maintain an open mind while they discuss this item and come up with a reasonable study showing the possibility and shortcomings.
Kurt Danzinger said that this item was shot down in the past by Council. He urged Council to read the Liberty Business Park Specific Plan, and reminded Council that there are specific requirements for people to build there and multiple property owners. If they are serious, then they should get together and work this out.
Sherry Hill thinks it would be advantageous to look into seeing if this can be done. She suggested the City pay for it upfront and have the property owners pay it back eventually.
Edward Alves emphasized that the City has to be creative in this small community and that there are limited options. There is a risk, but the money will be paid back.
Roxanna Shatz asked for Council to do a feasibility study on what it is going to cost to Jack and Bore. She received a quote from an underground construction company that said it would be about six hundred thousand dollars. She suggested that Staff reach out to some underground construction companies and get estimates.
Gabriella Vargas suggested the City seek out businesses who would be interested so the City has them lined up already.
Gary Haskin questioned if Liberty Business Park is zoned commercial or industrial.
City Manager Romo replied the front edge is zoned commercial and the back portion is industrial.
MINUTES
Gary Haskin asked if industrial pays sales tax. To his knowledge industrial does not pay sales tax because they are not retail, they are wholesale. When City staff looks into this they need to look into what kind of sales tax the City gets after the County and State get their share.
City Manager Romo gave a presentation on Liberty Park Specific Plan.
Further discussion ensued.
City Manager Romo clarified that Council's direction was to reach out to the property owners to see what their intentions are, obtain estimates on a feasibility study, and confirm Union Pacific and CalTrans will allow for the jack boring.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Engle asked for and update on the recording and live streaming.
City Manager Romo replied that a main part was replaced in the equipment and it was tested out before the meeting that everything seemed to be working.
Councilmember Engle said there was a procedural issue at the last meeting, he asked staff to clarify what the procedure is for Council adding items to the agenda.
City Manager Romo stated that prior Council adopted an Agenda Item Policy to address items OF Council and members of the public. The policy states that if a Councilmember wants an item added to the agenda they would need one other Councilmember to agree to add it to the agenda. The public request can be completed in writing, as the form is available at City Hall and on the City website.
Staff would then present the request to Council and Council would direct staff on whether to add the request onto the Agenda for discussion.
Councilmember Engle asked about active code enforcement cases and if there is a list of the properties. He wants to make sure all property owners are treated the same way and if that is something staff can provide.
City Manager Romo responded yes she can provide that.
Councilmember Engle asked about the potholes on Brennan and HWY 120 if that is the City or CalTrans. South Brennan needed some fixed and he asked if that is something public works can address.
Public Works Superintendent Juston Collins stated that Brennan Avenue is the City and HWY 120 would be CalTrans. He will take a look at it.
Councilmember Engle asked if Council and the public could receive the Agendas by at least Thursday for review.
City Manager Romo advised that state law requires posting 72 hours in advance and that staff will try to have them posted by Thursday for future meetings.
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earlier.
Councilmember Strohman thanked Council and the community for their input tonight.
Councilmember Engle and himself recused themselves from the Almond Grove discussion last City Council meeting, but he did go back and review the discussion. He asked for Council consensus on looking into a Rental Stabilization Ordinance to avoid major increases in rent similar to what happened to the residents of Almond Grove.
Mayor Bellinger agreed to have the City Attorney look into that. Council provided a consensus on this item.
Mayor Pro Tem Hagan mentioned on the baseball field it looks like someone drove through it if public works could look into that and fix it.
Mayor Bellinger expressed that he is glad to hear the Municipal Service has gone to LAFCO. He is hoping to hear an update soon on the decision the Police department goes with in regards to the radar trailer. He thanked everyone for showing up and said it was a great discussion tonight.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Bellinger adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m. and the Council went into Closed Session. All five members of Council were present for the duration of the session
6. Conference with Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(2): Two Cases
7. Conference with Labor Negotiators, Cal Gov't. Code §54957.6 Agency designated representative: Dominique Romo, City Manager Employee Organizations: Escalon Police Officers Association (EPOA) Council returned from Closed Session at 11:01 p.m. No Reportable Action was taken,
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Bellinger adjourned the meeting at 11:01 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
CRichmnd
Courtney Richmond, Deputy City Clerk