MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ESCALON
MEETING OF MARCH 3, 2025
City Council Chambers, 2060 McHenry Avenue -7:00 P.M.
Beginning Resolution No. 03-25
Beginning Ordinance No. 600
Beginning Minute Order No. 15-25
PRESENT: Mayor Andrew Hagan
Mayor Pro Tem Malinda Walker
Councilmember Jeremy Engle
Councilmember Shawn Strohman
Councilmember Jeff Kay
STAFF PRESENT: Jaylen French, City Manager (CM)
Celinda Bickner, Finance Director/HR Administrator (FDHRA) Juston Collins, Public Works Superintendent (PWS)
Robert Hardgraves, Chief of Police
Frank Splendorio, City Attorney
Michele Bates, Deputy City Clerk
PRESENTATION
Chief Hardgraves made two presentations: first, the official swearing-in of Escalon Police Department's newest officer, Brandon Gunter, and second, the Officer of the Year award to Officer Palomino for his exceptional work ethic and performance.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approve Minutes from the Meeting of February 18, 2025
2. Approve Register of Demands for the Month of February 2025 in the Amount of $717,188.33
MOTION - it is m/s by ENGLE/KAY that the consent calendar be approved as presented.
Motion carried 4-0-1 (Strohman Abstain from Item 1) MINUTE ORDER 12-25
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS & UPDATES
FDHRA Bickner mentioned that the 2024 audit is still ongoing. She also highlighted that they have been using new software for onboarding new personnel. Mayor Hagan expressed gratitude for her hard work.
Chief Hardgraves reported there was nothing new to report.
PWS Collins reported that the Dent Sidewalk project is on schedule, despite some rainy weather.
He expects all concrete work to be completed within the next two weeks. Interviews for Public Works positions are set for Wednesday, with 11 candidates being interviewed. Additionally, opening day for baseball/softball is this weekend, with several events planned through the recreational programs.
Mayor Hagan inquired if any residents had raised issues about the Dent Sidewalk project. Collins responded that there have been a few concerns, but nothing that couldn't be addressed and resolved.
Councilmember Kay asked if the issues with the property they had previously discussed regarding the project had been resolved. PWS Collins confirmed that the matter had been taken care of.
Councilmember Strohman took a moment to acknowledge the many positive comments about PWS Collins. He thanked him for doing such a great job and expressed that the community appreciates his open communication and all of his efforts.
CM French congratulated Officer Gunter on his new position and welcomed him to the community. He also recognized Officer Palomino for receiving the Officer of the Year award, commending his hard work. CM French expressed appreciation for Chief Hardgraves for acknowledging the officers in such a meaningful way.
Additionally, CM French announced that City staff is preparing for the next sidewalk infill project on Yosemite Avenue, with plans to begin the project this summer. Staff will start meeting with residents to discuss the project's impact and address any concerns. CM French also mentioned that feedback regarding recreation, particularly softball and baseball, is being recognized. He encouraged the public to attend the Recreation Commission meeting on Wednesday to share their feedback and input.
MATTERS PRESENTED FROM THE AUDIENCE
Supervisor Robert Rickman informed the Council that the non-county organization funding portal will open on July 1st and close on July 31st. He mentioned that projects will be recommended to the CEO for the board's review on September 23rd. This funding is an opportunity for non-profits to receive financial support from the County, and various non-profits in Escalon have benefited from it in the past. He encouraged applicants to apply early and reach out to him if needed.
Additionally, he highlighted District 5 funding as another avenue for non-profits to access funds.
Supervisor Rickman also introduced their new hire, Maria Valenzuela, who will be attending future Council meetings and can be contacted with any questions or concerns. He concluded by congratulating Councilmember Kay on his appointment and Councilmember Strohman on his election win.
Resident Gabriella Vargas inquired about an update on the street light at First and James Streets.
PWS Collins mentioned he is having difficulty getting a response from PG&E regarding the process. She then asked if public comment would be allowed for administrative matter item number 5, to which CM French confirmed it would be.
Gabriella also asked if there had been a change to how the minutes are presented online. CM French explained that minutes from the prior meeting are included in the packet and are approved at the following meeting. Once approved, the minutes are then posted online. Lastly, she requested officer presence on First Street between Oklahoma and Pioneer from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to address speeding concerns.
Resident Danny Fox asked for clarification on the amount of time an individual can speak when they request an approved agenda item. He wanted to know if the speaker would be limited to five minutes, as he did not see it specified in the policy. City Attorney Splendorio explained that while the public can request an agenda item, it does not make it a public item. It becomes a staff item, with staff responsible for preparing the report, presentation, and other materials based on the public's request. As such, public comment on the item is still limited in the same way as other agenda items. City Attorney Splendorio offered to meet with Mr. Fox after the meeting to discuss the matter further.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
3. Consideration of the City of Escalon 2025-2026 Strategic Plan CM French presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining the Strategic Plan for 2025-2026, highlighting the key accomplishments and areas of focus that the Council aims to prioritize during this period.
Councilmember Strohman expressed his appreciation for the clear and concise presentation by CM French. He feels that the report will effectively communicate to the community the Council’s main priorities and the goals they will be working towards.
MOTION – m/s ENGLE/STROHMAN was made to Approve the City of Escalon’s 2025-2026 Strategic Plan. Motion carried 5-0. MINUTE ORDER 13-25
4. Agenda Item Request – Councilmember Jeremy Engle and Mayor Andy Hagan CM French spoke on the agenda item received by councilmember Engle and supported by Mayor Hagan to form a citizen’s advisory committee regarding Measure P funds.
Councilmember Engle presented his agenda request, expressing his hopes for establishing a community advisory committee to better represent the community's wants and needs. He then opened the floor for questions and suggestions from others.
Mayor Hagan emphasized the importance of gathering the community’s input and expressed support for the idea of creating an advisory committee.
Councilmember Strohman asked if Councilmember Engle would consider expanding the advisory board to five members instead of three. Engle responded that he was open to that idea.
Strohman then expressed a concern about ensuring that staff provides Council with a clear expenditure plan for Measure P funds and how those funds will be allocated. His concern was whether the community members of the advisory board might disagree with the existing plan.
Councilmember Engle acknowledged that there could be some disagreement between the City and the advisory committee. However, he emphasized that the goal was to ensure the community has a voice in the allocation of funds and gains a better understanding of the City’s budget. He clarified that while the advisory board would provide input, the final decision would rest with the Council.
Councilmember Strohman acknowledged that in the year FDHRA Bickner has been in her position, she has worked diligently to strengthen the City’s financials. He expressed concern that if FDHRA Bickner recommends certain allocations for the funds and the community disagrees, it could undermine the authority of the finance director in making those decisions.
Mayor Hagan expressed that the advisory committee could help FDHRA Bickner fine-tune the budget, providing the Council with a better understanding of what the community wants.
Councilmember Engle reminded the Council that this is a request for an advisory committee, and ultimately, the Council will have the final say on the decisions.
Councilmember Strohman clarified that FDHRA Bickner would be providing quarterly updates to the Council and the general public, with the information also being posted on the website. After the updates are posted, community feedback would be gathered. Councilmember Engle appreciated the comments but reiterated that the purpose of the advisory board is to gather input from a diverse group of people who share a similar understanding of the real needs of the town.
Mayor Hagan asked for FDHRA Bickner’s opinion on the matter. She responded that she believes transparency is important and that having a conversation about what the constituents want is valuable. However, she also pointed out that it's essential to consider what can actually be done within the constraints of the budget and resources.
Councilmember Kay shared his thoughts, expressing that he believes the idea is fantastic, particularly for the transparency it brings. He emphasized that while the advisory committee will provide valuable recommendations, it is ultimately the Council that will be making the final decisions.
CM French clarified that staff will not weigh in on policy decisions, as that is the Council’s role.
He explained that staff’s position is to advise the decision-makers based on their expertise, but the final policy decisions rest with the Council.
Mayor Pro Tem expressed that she is on the fence regarding the advisory committee, unsure about how it should be structured or how many people should be on the committee. However, she does support making it an agenda item for further discussion. City Attorney Splendorio clarified that it is already an agenda item, and the only decision to be made is whether the Council wants to move forward with it. The details, such as the structure of the committee, would be worked out through a resolution. Mayor Pro Tem reiterated that she strongly supports gathering feedback from the community.
Public Hearing Opened at 7:58 p.m.
Resident Kurt Russell expressed that he thinks the idea of the advisory committee sounds great and appreciates the transparency it brings. However, he cautioned that it’s important not to involve people in the process just to make them feel good about their participation, only to later disregard their input. He emphasized the need for meaningful engagement and consideration of their feedback.
Resident Gabriella Vargas expressed that she thinks the advisory committee idea is great but suggested keeping it limited to 3 members, as 5 could lead to too many opposing opinions. She feels this would open up community involvement in a meaningful way. She reminded the Council that they work for the residents of the town and that this principle should be instilled in the Council as a whole.
Vargas also asked if the advisory committee’s focus would be limited to Measure P funds or if it would include the general fund. Councilmember Engle confirmed that the committee’s intent is specifically for the approved Measure P funds.
She further inquired if the committee would have access to confidential information and what the criteria for applying would be. She also asked whether the committee’s focus could include identifying areas where money could be saved or potential budget cuts. Vargas suggested that budget workshops could be improved by fostering collaboration among everyone involved. She expressed interest in being involved in such a process and recommended conducting a forensic audit of the city’s finances to gain more detailed insight into where the money is going.
Resident Danny Fox expressed that he likes the idea of the advisory committee and believes it’s worth discussing. However, he pointed out the uncertainty around how much money will be generated from the increased tax. FDHRA Bickner informed him that they have preliminary figures to estimate what the tax revenues may be.
Mr. Fox then questioned how excess funds would be spent and emphasized that the committee would need to be educated on the budget process. He also asked when the advisory panel might come to fruition. Councilmember Engle responded that he hopes it could be established prior to the mid-year budget presentation. He explained that while the committee may not be fully formed until next year’s budget, they need to start working on it now.
Public Hearing Closed at 8:10 p.m.
Further discussion took place among the Council, with members expressing concerns about ensuring that the members of the advisory committee are properly educated on the City’s budget.
They emphasized the importance of committee members understanding the complexities and intricacies involved in the budget process to provide meaningful input and recommendations.
It was the consensus of the Council to move forward with developing guidelines and by-laws for the advisory committee and to bring them back to the Council for approval.
5. Approve Response to the San Joaquin County Grand Jury Report Case #0319: Cold Cases in San Joaquin County: On the Back Burner
Chief Hardgraves presented his staff report regarding the cold case policy and updates. He informed the Council that he had drafted a response for the Civil Grand Jury, and it was confirmed that Escalon has no cold cases.
Public Hearing Opened at 8:20 p.m.
Resident Gabriella Vargas, a cold case investigator, shared that after reading the response Chief Hardgraves drafted, she feels it was beneficial and clear for the layperson. She suggested that if Escalon has a cold case policy, it should include updated technology available to help address such cases. By doing so, she believes it would demonstrate that Escalon is being proactive and prepared in the event that a cold case arises in the future.
Public Hearing Closed at 8:25 p.m.
Councilmember Engle asked Chief Hardgraves for his thoughts on the technology available for cold cases. Chief Hardgraves responded that there have been significant advancements in genetic referencing, allowing investigators to trace relatives and potentially link cases to others in the family or make direct hits in the system. He emphasized that having this technology could prevent a case from sitting unresolved for years, significantly improving the chances of solving it more quickly.
MOTION – it was m/s STROHMAN/KAY to Approve the Response to the San Joaquin County Grand Jury Report Case #0319: Cold Cases in San Joaquin County: On the Back Burner. Motion carried 5-0. MINUTE ORDER 14-25
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Kay responded to public comments about the five-minute time limit for agenda items and workshops. He explained that the reason for the time limit is to prevent a situation where a community member could file an agenda item at every meeting, potentially hijacking the meeting for hours. The intent is not to discriminate against time or disregard constituents, but to maintain the meeting's efficiency. He noted that allowing this could lead to significant expenses for the City if individuals regularly took up extensive time at each meeting. He expressed his appreciation for community members who are involved and attend Council meetings.
Councilmember Strohman congratulated Officer Gunter on joining Escalon and also recognized Officer Palomino for his hard work and for receiving the Officer of the Year award. Regarding future agenda items, he sought the Council’s consensus on the LLD’s (Landscape and Lighting Districts). He pointed out that past notifications have only met the bare minimum required by State law, typically through advertisements in the newspaper. He proposed increasing the level of notification for all public meetings, suggesting options like the City’s website or a billboard to improve public awareness. Both Mayor Hagan and Mayor Pro Tem Walker supported the idea.
Councilmember Kay asked if the cost of a mailing could be billed back to the LLD. City Attorney Splendorio responded that he would need to check into that and provide confirmation at a later date. Councilmember Strohman emphasized the importance of finding this information out as soon as possible to move forward with the proposed changes.
Councilmember Strohman brought up a concern from the Escalon Fire Department, noting that they recently added solar and were charged a significant fee for a plan review. He pointed out that the fire department does a lot for the city and suggested that the Council consider creating an agreement between the school district, fire department, and City to avoid trading fees back and forth. He expressed interest in reviewing the policy regarding fees between public agencies. Mayor Hagan supported the idea, stating that partnerships with local groups should be fostered, and Mayor Pro Tem Walker agreed.
Councilmember Strohman mentioned that he attended the Science Olympiad for Dent Elementary students, where they achieved impressive results. He shared that Dent students earned their firstever first-place medal in the Mystery Architecture category and also brought home sixth-place medals in the Write It-Do It category. With over 850 students participating from different schools, he took the opportunity to recognize the students for their achievements, congratulated their teachers for doing an excellent job, and expressed appreciation for all the parent volunteers who supported the event.
Councilmember Engle inquired with PWS Collins about the possibility of a low-cost beautification project along the railroad tracks. He suggested that wildflower seeds could be scattered in the area to help choke out weeds and clean up the space, especially as people come into town. He asked that this idea be looked into. Additionally, he mentioned that the Lyons Club's annual corned beef and cabbage dinner is this weekend and encouraged everyone to get a ticket while they are still available.
Mayor Pro Tem Walker highlighted the Arts Alive event at the high school happening this week, where all schools in the district participate. She mentioned that there are some very advanced pieces of artwork on display that are worth checking out. She also took a moment to thank the staff for making the strategic plan come to life, noting that it was very well thought out.
Mayor Hagan expressed pride in the community for their behavior during the earlier workshop meeting. He noted that everyone showed class and patience and appreciated all the feedback provided.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hagan adjourned the meeting at 8:44 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________
Michele Bates, Deputy City Clerk