ESCALON MINUTES
CLIFORNEA CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCALON
SPECIAL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18, 2024
City Council Chambers, 2060 McHenry Avenue -6:30 P.M.
INCORPORATED MARCH 12, 097
Beginning Resolution No. 48-24
Beginning Ordinance No. 59
eginning Minute Order No. 63-
PRESENT: Mayor David Bellinger
Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Thomas Hagan
Councilmember Jeremey Engle
Councilmember Malinda Walker
Councilmember Shawn Strohman
STAFF PRESENT: Jaylen French, City Manager
Diana Trejo, Assistant Planner
Robert Hardgraves, Chief of Police
Ivette Arevalo, Recreation Commission Secretary
Michele Bates, Deputy City Clerk
City Manager, Mr. French at this time took a moment to address a couple of matters before beginning with the Recreation Commission applicants. At that time he introduced new staff member, Michele Bates as the new Deputy City Clerk and welcomed her to her first meeting and to Mr. French also addressed that there would be an opportunity for public comments even though it was not on the written agenda.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
1. Conduct Interviews of Recreation Commission applicants and if Council agrees, to make appointments for the three (3) expiring seats on the Recreation Commission.
At this time, Recreation Commission Secretary, Mrs. Arevalo presented the applications for the ecreation Commission. Terms are set to expire in November 2024. Mrs. Arevalo proceeded t xplain the application process. During the application period, the City received four (4 applications for the Recreation Commission.
The four (4) applicants were called to the podium one (1) at a time and all were asked the same questions. The applicants' names are Dan Bauer, Stephanie Hogan, Matthew Showalter and Michael Mayor Pro Tem Hagan wanted to clarify that Council would only be picking two (2) because there are only four (4) applicants and two live outside the Escalon District. City Manager, French confirmed that is was not automatic and would leave it up to Council's discretion.
SPECIAL MINUTES
Escalon City Counci
November 18, 2024
Councilmember Strohman wanted to know how long the appointments were for and Mrs. Arevalo said they were for 2 years. But after a short discussion is was confirmed appointments were for three (3) years.
During the interview process, 4-5 questions were asked of each applicant. The questions were as follows:
Mayor Bellinger: Asked each candidate to introduce themselves and briefly described themselves and they want to be on the Recreation Commission.
Mayor Pro Tem Hagan: How the applicants see, moving forward with winning and losing and the whole concept of giving out trophies;
Councilmember Strohman: How each applicant thought all the Escalonians could benefit from the program who are not interested in sports; and asked that knowing that the Commission is an advisory body to the Council, what is their perception of being a Recreation Commissioner in relation the Council, staff and community at large;
Councilmember Walker: What they believe are the most significant challenges currently facing the City of Escalon in terms of its parks and recreation and if appointed, what specific goals would they like the Commission to focus on;
Councilmember Engle stated that the Commission meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30. Attendance is super important. Would there be anything that would impede their attendance for these meetings?
Each candidate was called up to the podium one at a time and allowed time to answer each question.
Mayor Bellinger asked the Council what they would like to do for nominations at this point.
Councilmember Walker does feel that it's unfortunate that it falls in this way that it's between two (2) out of the four (4) instead of picking three (3). Confirmed this was code. So it was asked if it would take several meetings to change the code or would they able to make concessions from here, are they able to make a different choice and include three (3) outside city limits instead of two? City Manager French responded that code is changed through ordinance and it takes two (2) meetings to change the ordinance and code. So we would have to pause the effort here and go do an ordinance amendment and approve that to modify the rules and reset this interview process.
Councilmember Strohman asked if there were any upcoming extreme deadlines that the current Recreation Commission estimates anything super timely besides baseball and softball registrations.
City Manager French informed that the commission has satisfied their efforts there. It is now in the staffs hands for baseball and softball. There is nothing pressing or coming up in the Recreation Commission that he recalls.
SPECIAL MINUTES
Escalon City Council
November 18, 2024
Councilmember Walker stated that she doesn't know how it's going now, because we have a shift in the baseball and softball programs but does know that in past seasons that there was a mandatory, or you had to come to the January meeting if you wanted a child to move up in rank. She wanted to know if we are maintaining that. City Manager French responded no, especially with the kind of changes going on. It has been encouraged but not mandatory. We have many requests to move up from people who have not been able to attend and it's kind of been administratively done. So he wouldn't say that would be an issue that would preclude any sort of action here.
Councilmember Engle stated that he would really like to hold off and feels that the two (2) out of city applicants would be a great addition. That it would be a shame to leave one of them out. It should be tabled until we can get it switch from two (2) to three (3) out of city candidates in the next two meetings.
Councilmember asked if this would affect the applicants in anyway and both responded no.
Councilmember Strohman asked to share some thoughts... first of all he wanted to thank Matthew and Stephanie. It is very obvious to him that they have done their homework. And if the decision of the Council is made to table this decision he would strongly encourage them not to give up. It is very obvious to him what both of them could bring to the Recreation Commission.
Councilmember Walker felt it would be very unfortunate from the four (4) to pick between Mr.
Showalter and Ms. Hagan if its decided to go forward in that and have to pick between the two (2) and hopes that the other candidate does come back the next time around and does continue to contribute to the City. Walker then thanked the candidates for coming out and being interested in supporting the City and how much it's appreciated. At this point, Councilmember Walker then suggested that the matter be tabled and move forward with the editing the code to allow for three (3) members to be outside the City limits.
MOTION - It was m/s by Hagan/Strohman to table making appointments for the three (3) expiring seats on the Recreation Commission and move forward with the editing of the code to allow for three (3) members to live outside the City limits. Motion passed 5-0. MINUTE ORDER 63-24 At this time Mayor Bellinger opened the floor to any public comments or anything not on the agenda to discuss. There were no comments in person or online.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bellinger adjourned the meeting at 7:12 pm
Respectfully Submitted,
michel hates
Michele Bates, Deputy City Clerk