PRESENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCALON
MEETING OF APRIL 17, 2023
City Council Chambers, 2060 McHenry Avenue -7:00 P.M.
Mayor David Bellinger
Beginning Resolution No. 03-23
Beginning Ordinance No. 591
Beginning Minute Order No. 18-23
Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Thomas Hagan
Councilmember Jeremy Engle
Councilmember Malinda Walker
Councilmember Shawn Strohman
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
Kyler Rayden, City Attorney for Frank Splendorio
CONSENT CALENDAR
These items are considered routine in nature and are acted upon by a single action unless requested by an individual Council Member or member of the public for special consideration.
1. Approve the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of April 3, 2023.
2. Approve the Register of Demands for April 12, 2023 in the amount of$ 328,009.95.
3. Waive the Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. XXX, amending Escalon Municipal Code Chapter 17.41.140 Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, and Exempting the Ordinance for CEQA.
Councilmember Strohman pulled Item 2 for discussion.
MOTION - It is moved/seconded by STROHMAN/HAGAN that Consent Calendar Items 1 and 3 be approved as presented. Motion carried unanimously (5-0). MINUTE ORDER 18-23 Councilmember Strohman asked if there was a milestone schedule provided by the Ardurra Group to help public track payments. He stated he would like to know what the payment to Ardurra for $40,391.58 included.
MINUTES
Escalon City Council
April 17, 2023
City Manager Dominique Romo stated that she believed the payment was for realignment of public right of way and environmental work for the SSJID Surface Water Project. She stated she would obtain additional information and report on it.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
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Treasurer's Report for March
Police Department Report for March
Animal Control Report for March
Recreation Report for March
Development Services Report for March
Public Works Report for March
Building Department Report for March
Water Department Report for March
Wastewater Treatment Plant Report for March
City Manager's Report
i. Informational Updates
ii. Cell Phones for City Council (Possible Direction)
iii. Liberty Business Park Update (Possible Direction)
Public Works Superintendent Juston Collins updated Council on upcoming and recent Public Works and Recreation Department matters.
Finance Director Sopheap Dong-Carreon updated Council on the Treasurer's Report for March.
City Manager Romo advised Council that the City has received an appeal from project applicant McDonalds, which is scheduled for the May 1, 2023 Council meeting. It is a Special Meeting that will begin at 6:00 pm.
City Manager Romo also updated Council on looking to schedule a senior housing project workshop with CCH in May. Further discussion ensued on the date/time of the workshop, with input from Councilmember Strohman and Commission on Aging Representative Ann Shaddix who also stated she would meet with the Senior Fun Bunch and will follow up with their suggestions on meeting times that work best for seniors. Council agreed to a workshops on Monday, May 15, 2023 at both 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
City Manager Romo updated the Council on Cell Phones for City Council, advising that use of an app for phone calls will allow the City to obtain necessary records if needed. She also advised that call forwarding to voice over IP is available as well.
Councilmember Strohman requested detailed costs be presented before the Council moves forward.
City Manager Romo updated Council on Liberty Business Park, indicating that the last response was received from the remaining property owner stated they were not interested in selling or developing their property. No further direction was provided to staff on this item.
MATTERS PRESENTED FROM THE AUDIENCE
MINUTES
Escalon City Council
April 17, 2023
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.
Ed Alves clarified his cell phone arrangement with the City during his tenure as a councilmember and suggested the same type of service be held by a current member of Council.
Mr. Alves requested a copy of the city budget be placed at the library for the public to review and that a larger print be used to assist seniors and those who need visual accommodations. He also suggested that if council members do not agree with Liberty City Park development, they present alternative ideas to raise city revenue.
Kurt Danziger expressed concerns regarding the WWTP. He requested a proposal for service updates from work done by Blackwater. He states that discharge into treatment plant is not enforced.
Roxanna Shatz states that she believes the development of Liberty Business Park could benefit the City and is worth pursuing.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
5. Ratify the San Joaquin Council of Government's (SJ COG) Annual Financial Plan (AFP) for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
City Manager Romo presented the staff report on this item and introduced Gracie Orosco, Finance Manager with SJCOG, who was present for questions.
Councilmembers asked Ms. Orosco for some clarification on the financial plan.
MOTION -It is moved/seconded by ENGLE/HAGAN to ratify the San Joaquin Council of Government's (SJCOG) Annual Financial Plan (AFP) for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Motion carried unanimously (5-0). MINUTE ORDER 19-23
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Strohman asked if there was a plan regarding the swimming pool repairs and the upcommg summer season.
City Manager Romo stated that there is no plan to open the swimming pool for the summer of 2023.
Mayor Pro Tern Hagan asked if vouchers to swim at neighboring cities would be offered to residents this year as they were last year.
City Manager Romo stated that the City would offer vouchers to neighboring city pools as they did last year.
MINUTES
Escalon City Council
April I 7, 2023
Councilmember Strohman stated that at the last list of demands there was a payment to Escalon Unified School District for ongoing pool maintenanceHe states that at the next meeting with the school district he will ask for a refund for monthly maintenance fees since the pool was drained Oct/Nov 2022 and no maintenance is needed.
Councilmember Walker advised everyone to mark their calendars for the senior housing project workshop.
Councilmember Engle thanked everyone for the ongoing support to his family.
Mayor Pro Tern Hagan gave a reminder of LOVE Escalon on April 29.
Mayor Bellinger gave an update on the American Legion dinner.
With no other business to discuss, Mayor Bellinger adjourned into Closed Session at 7:47 pm.
CLOSED SESSION
6. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation; Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code§ 54956.9(b)
7. Conference with Real Property Negotiators, Cal Gov't. Code §54956.8 Property & APN: 2310 Main Street 227-340-09
Agency negotiator: Dominique Romo
Negotiating parties: City of Escalon
Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
The Council entered into Closed Session at 7:47 pm. All five members were present for the duration of the session. No reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bellinger adjourned the Council meeting at approximately 8:35 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Courtney Richmond, Deputy City Clerk