CITY OF FAIRFIELD
FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2024; 6:00 PM
HARRY T. PRICE MEMORIAL COUNCIL CHAMBER, 1000
WEBSTER STREET, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533 OR VIA ZOOM
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Pam Bertani called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
On roll call were Councilmembers Doug Carr, Doriss Panduro, Scott Tonnesen, Rick Vaccaro, K. Patrice Williams, and Vice Mayor Pam Bertani. Mayor Catherine "Cat" Moy was absent.
INVOCATION
Minister Etta Goshen of True Love Baptist Church gave an invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Vaccaro led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Carr spoke about the many events he participated in, including Bethel Church Back -to - School Backpack & Food Giveaway, Lions Club Centennial Celebration, National Night Out, and Homeless Roundtable —where he shared that the panel members were formerly homeless individuals who shared their experiences. He also attended the Sudie M. Smith Scholarship Luncheon for the first time, the Tomato & Vine Festival, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars event at Allan Witt Park. Busy month for Council! He invited the community to attend the ongoing Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons located downtown through September 26.
Councilmember Panduro reported she participated in the St. Mark's 13th Annual Back to School Resource Fair on August 10. She thanked the Police Officers Association for grilling hot dogs for the kids.
She shared that local high schools now offer free after -school programming; no registration is required, and it is open until 6 p.m. She attended the Punjabi Women's Cultural Society's Fairfield Teeyan Bash and said it was a wonderful cultural and colorful event! Councilmember Panduro thanked the Youth Commissioners for having a booth at the Tomato & Vine Festival and engaging with the community.
Lastly, she reported the North Texas Street Business Association would hold a business meeting at noon at the Chamber of Commerce on August 21.
Councilmember Vaccaro stated he had attended many of the same events as his colleagues. He said it was an honor to attend the Lions Club Centennial Celebration. He attended the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) Annual Conference July 31—August 2 at the Monterey Marriott. The conference's theme was "Empowering Through Collaboration" and included speakers, panels, policy discussions, and networking opportunities. Lastly, he said everyone should drive safely now that schools are back in session.
Councilmember Tonnesen reported that the American Legion Western Regional Baseball Tournament at Laurel Creek Baseball Field was a huge success! He shared that he had the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Of special note, he reported that the Fairfield Expos had a fantastic season with 60 wins and only 16 losses --ranking 17th in the U.S.A. The Fairfield Expos Baseball Association, Inc. (FEBA) has hosted the Western Regionals eleven times annually since 2018. He stated that the tournament greatly boosts our local economy every year.
Councilmember Williams reported that she and Councilmember Tonnesen attended two events that the other councilmembers did not attend: 1) Taste of Downtown on July 25 featured great food and great people. Attendees embarked on a fun journey sampling culinary dishes from many downtown restaurants, cafes, and bars; and 2) a tour of the Producers Dairy Foods on Red Top Road-- they produce milk and dairy products. Costco is one of their biggest clients. Councilmember Williams also toured II Fiorello, a family -owned company that grew and milled the finest quality artisan olive oil. She encouraged the community to visit.
Vice Mayor Bertani thanked Fire Chief John Sturdee and Fire Marshall Steven Conti for helping coordinate the "First Annual Fire & Life Safety Event" on July 20 at Rolling Hills Elementary School. They provided several handouts with critical safety information at the event. If you would like to receive a copy, email [email protected]. Next, she thanked everyone who participated in National Night Out in her district and beyond! She reported she attended the Travis Air Force Block Party on base as a member of the Fairfield Clergy Action Network (CAN), where local churches had booths and provided information about their churches to new military personnel and families arriving at Travis. She shared that CAN would hold an ice cream social at the Fairfield Community Center on August 27, 3-4:30 p.m.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager -David Gassaway reported that the new Fairfield Municipal Water Utility (FMU) services are transitioning to a new online customer portal, MyFMU SilverBlaze on August 21. Customers currently using the online billing and payment system will no longer be able to access their old account and will need to re -register to view their new MyFMU account. Visit www.fairfield.ca.gov/mvfmu for more information. He stated that he was pulling Item 18 and that it would be brought back to the Council at a future meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
City Attorney David Lim had no report.
CITY CLERK REPORT
City Clerk Karen Rees thanked the following groups for joining the Adopt a Street program: Realtors Sophie Risner and Yvonne Aiavao (each adopted a street in Green Valley) and Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1320 from TAFB for a section of Air Base Parkway.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Assistant to the City Manager Anna Guiles and lobbyist Jason Gonsalves of Gonsalves & Son gave a legislative update.
2. Assistant to the City Manager Anna Guiles recognized the six Fairfield-Nirasaki Sister City
exchange students from Fairfield, who visited Japan in July. The students spoke highly of their experience living in Nirasaki with host families for three weeks, and that they enjoyed visiting Kyoto and Hiroshima.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jeff Trager spoke about upcoming events at the Downtown Theatre and the Summer Musical Series and shared that local San Francisco Giants baseball legend Orlando Sepeda died June 28.
John Takeuchi spoke about the dry ivy plants along Waterman Boulevard near Waterman Highlands as they are a fire hazard.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval of Meeting Minutes from July 2024
4. Resolutions 2024-194 and 2024-195 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield in Support of Measure L, the Business License Modernization and Simplification Measure and in Support of Measure M, the Essential Services Protection Measure
5. Resolution 2024-196 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving the Agreement Between the City of Fairfield and Athens Insurance Service, Inc, DBA Athens Administrators
6. Resolution 2024-197 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing the City Manager to Submit Invoices to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program and Receive Rebate Vouchers and Authorizing an Update to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget
7. Resolution 2024-198 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing an Update to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget and Updating the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan to Include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Lee Bell Neighborhood Park Restroom and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Curb Ramp Replacement Projects
8. Resolution 2024-199 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Accepting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Lee Bell Park and Sidewalk Gap Closure Project as Complete
9. Resolution 2024-200 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Rejecting the Sole Bid for the Cement Hill Water Treatment Plant - New Entryway
10. Resolution 2024-201 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services Agreement with Cagwin & Dorward, LLC for Landscape Maintenance Services at Gary Falati Park and Dunnell Nature Park
11. Resolution 2024-202 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services Agreement with Cagwin & Dorward, LLC for Landscape Maintenance Services in Various Neighborhood Parks
12. Resolution 2024-203 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services Agreement with Cagwin & Dorward, LLC for Landscape Maintenance Services at Various Water Facilities
13. Resolution 2024-204 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services Agreement with K&K JL Services, Inc. for Landscape Maintenance Services at Fairfield Transportation Center, Red Top Road, and Oliver Road Park and Ride Lots
14. Resolution 2024-205 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services
Agreement with K&K JL Services, Inc. for Landscape Maintenance Services at the Fairfield- Vacaville Train Station
15. Resolution 2024-206 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services Agreement with True North Landscapes, LLC for Landscape Maintenance Services in the Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District No. 5 — Smith Ranch (Rancho Solano)
16. Resolution 2024-207 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving a Contractor Services Agreement with True North Landscapes, LLC for Landscape Maintenance Services in the Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District Nos. 10 (Southbrook) and No. 16 (Creekside)
17. Resolutions 2024-208 Through 2024-210 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Professional Services Agreements for On -Call Engineering Services Between the City of Fairfield and Ghirardelli Associates, Ponticello Inc., and Rick Engineering David Gassaway pulled Item 18 and stated it would be presented at a future council meeting.
18. Resolution 2024-211 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving the Amended Vehicle and Equipment Purchases for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and Authorizing an Update to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget
Councilmember Vaccaro made a motion to approve the consent calendar, excluding Item 18.
Councilmember Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
19. Deputy Fire Chief Robb Herrick recommended to Council that it approve Resolution 2024-212 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing the Fire Department to Enter a Memorandum of Understanding to Provide Duty Chief Coverage for the City of Suisun City.
Councilmember Panduro made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-212. Councilmember Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously (6-0).
Vice Mayor Bertani and Councilmember Tonnesen recused themselves from Item 20 and left the dais, as they both received campaign contributions from a commercial cannabis business. Vice Mayor Bertani asked Councilmember Vaccaro to conduct this portion of the meeting.
20. Director of Community & Economic Development Dave Zellers opened the discussion and asked for direction on Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 10E, also known as Commercial Cannabis Business on Program Amendments and Program Operations.
Tim Dowling spoke on Item 20.
City Manager Gassaway stated that currently, the City has two commercial cannabis conditional licenses, one retailer and one manufacturer, that the City Council awarded after the application process, and who have not met all the conditions to receive their final permits. This is a question of how the council would like to handle this, as there isn't currently anything in the code to address it.
Council Direction: City Council requested that staff amend the code to address the current issues and bring it back for approval at a meeting in October.
Vice Mayor Bertani and Councilmember Tonnesen returned to the dais.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
21. Assistant Director of Public Works (Utilities) Michael Hether recommended that Council open the Public Hearing; and approve Resolution 2024-213 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Power Purchase Agreement with Onyx Development Group LLC. for the Provision and Operation of a Solar Field at the Waterman Water Treatment Plant.
Vice Mayor Bertani opened the public hearing. Rudy Guzman and Tim Dowling spoke on Item 21. Vice Mayor Bertani closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Carr made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-213. Councilmember Tonnesen seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-1, with Vice Mayor Bertani voting no.
22. Principal Planner Meily Sheehan recommended to Council that it open the Public Hearing; and approve the First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance 2024-06 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving the Fifth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Development Agreement Between the City of Fairfield and Canon Station LLC Regarding Land in the Train Station Specific Plan Area.
Vice Mayor Bertani opened the public hearing. There were no requests to speak. Vice Mayor Bertani closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Vaccaro made a motion to waive the full reading, read by title only, and introduce Ordinance 2024-06 for the first reading. Councilmember Carr seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously (6-0).
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:08 P.M. TO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2024, 6:00 P.M., HARRY T. PRICE MEMORIAL COUNCIL CHAMBER.
• City Clerk
Vice Mayor