Tina Hernandez, Mayor
Danny Valdovinos, Mayor Pro Tem
Gregorio Gomez, Council Member
Paul Boyer, Council Member
Armando Hinojosa, Council Member
Farmersville City Council
Regular Meeting
Monday, December 11, 2023 6:00 PM
Meeting held in Civic Center Council Chambers
– 909 W. Visalia Road Farmersville, California
Pending no technical difficulties, the City Council meeting will also be streamed (for observation only) via Zoom and accessed as follows:
Please dial 1-669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 84892972818
Password: 582609
1. Call to Order: 6:00 pm
2. Roll Call:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Tina Hernandez Mayor present 6:00 pm
Danny Valdovinos Mayor Pro Tem present 6:00 pm
Greg Gomez Council Member present 6:00 pm
Paul Boyer Council Member present 6:00 pm
Armando Hinojosa Council Member present 6:00 pm
3. Invocation: Mayor Hernandez
4. Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Pro Tem Valdovinos
5. Public Comment:
Provides an opportunity for members of the public to address the City Council on items of interest to the public within the Council’s jurisdiction and which are not already on the agenda this evening. It is the policy of the Council not to answer questions impromptu. Concerns or complaints will be referred to the City Manager’s office. Speakers should limit their comments to not more than two (2) minutes. No more than twenty (20) total minutes will be allowed for Public Comment. For items which are on the agenda this evening, members of the public will be provided an opportunity to address the council as each item is brought up for discussion. Comments are to be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council Member.
Karl Desrosiers at 745 W. Harold inquired about a new residential development Eagle Meadows that is being proposed.
6. Presentations:
A. Downtown Economic and Residential Infill Analysis – Michael Sigala Michael Sigala provided the Council with a presentation containing an analysis of Residential Mixed Use. Mr. Sigala reviewed housing demand, conducted a site analysis, presented conceptual projects, and discussed financing options.
7. Consent Agenda:
Under a CONSENT AGENDA category, a recommended course of action for each item is made. Any Council Member or Member of the Public may remove any item from the CONSENT AGENDA in order to discuss and/or change the recommended course of action, and the Council can approve the remainder of the CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Authorization to waive full reading of ordinances and resolutions and to identify by title only.
Recommend that the City Council approve the full reading of all ordinances and resolutions be waived and to identify by title only.
B. Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting of November 13, 2023 Recommend approval of minutes.
Documents: Draft Action Minutes of November 13, 2023
C. Finance Update for October 2023: Warrant Register and Investment Summary
Recommend that the City Council:
1. Approve the Warrant Register as presented for the period. This reporting period represents warrants issued for the current Fiscal Year (2023/2024); and
2. Accept the Investment Summary as presented for the period. This reporting period represents investment summary for the previous month.
Documents: October 2023 Warrant Register
Investment Summary October 2023
D. Appointment to the Governing Board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District – Large City Representative
Recommend that the City Council adopt Resolution 2023-050 nominating Elizabeth Wynn for the Appointment to the Governing Board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District – Large City Representative.
Documents: Application of Elizabeth Wynn
Resolution 2023-050
Motion to approve as presented.
RESULT APPROVED (UNANIMOUS)
MOVER Councilmember Gomez
SECONDER Councilmember Boyer
AYES Hernandez, Valdovinos, Gomez, Boyer, Hinojosa
ABSENT 0
ABSTAIN Councilmember Boyer Abstain from Self Help Warrants item 7-C
8. General Business
A. Interest in Small-lot Residential Development
Recommend that the City Council receive the information contained in this report regarding interest in small lot development and provide comments and direction to staff.
City Planner Karl Schoettler provided the Council with a PowerPoint presentation regarding interest in small lot development. Mr. Schoettler reviewed the current minimum lot size, which is 6,000 square feet, and highlighted recent requests for lots ranging from 5,000 square feet down to 4,050 square feet. He also examined R-1 lot size standards from other cities. Additionally, he addressed small lot concerns, potential benefits, and discussed possible amenities, as well as the open spaces that would be required with smaller lots.
Discussion took place with a consensus of allowing residential lots to be reduced to 5,000 sq. ft. if submitted as a Planned Unit Development. The Council requested to see examples of lots down to 4,000 sq. ft. to determine how to proceed on allowing lots less than 5,000 sq. ft. Staff will look at neighboring cities for instances of smaller lots.
B. Adoption of Parks Use Policy and addition of use fees/deposits amounts to the comprehensive fee schedule and policy by resolution 2023-049
Recommend that the City Council adopt the new Parks Use Policy and addition of use fees/deposits amounts to the comprehensive fee schedule by Resolution 2023-049.
Documents: Policy with Fee Schedule
Resolution 2023-049
City Manager Jennifer Gomez provided the Council with background information regarding the new Parks Use Policy. She covered aspects such as reservations, deposits, and the City webpage that facilitates the reservation process. Additionally, she addressed questions and concerns raised by the Council.
Councilmember Hinojosa raised several concerns related to park reservations. Firstly, there is the question about the $50 deposit. Additionally, he asked about conflicts over park reservations, and who would handle these issues. Mr. Hinojosa requested that signs be installed at the parks informing residents that reservations need to be made.
Furthermore, Councilmember Hinojosa expressed an interest in exploring the possibility of in-person reservations, recognizing that not everyone may have convenient access to online platforms.
Councilmember Boyer requested that information regarding park reservations be included with the utility bills.
Councilmember Gomez inquired about the option for in-person reservations for residents. Mr. Gomez also asked if there was a backup employee available to assist with deposit returns. The Director of Finance and Administration, Steve Huntley, informed the Council that, due to staffing constraints, only one employee will be trained in park reservations.
Mayor Hernandez inquired about the possibility of including the timing for the deposit return on the website. She also inquired whether Public Works could inspect the parks before reserved residents arrive. Mr. Huntley informed the Council that Administration is committed to returning the deposit to residents as promptly as possible, considering staffing constraints.
Motion to approve as presented.
RESULT APPROVED (UNANIMOUS)
MOVER Councilmember Boyer
SECONDER Councilmember Gomez
AYES Hernandez, Valdovinos, Gomez, Boyer
ABSENT 0
ABSTAIN Hinojosa
C. City Council Committee Appointments
Recommend that the City Council consider nominations or expressions of interest for positions as Farmersville’s representatives to various organizations locally, regionally and Statewide, and appoint representatives to said committees.
City Manager Jennifer Gomez reviewed the current members of the City Council and asked if any changes needed to be made.
The only change is the Homelessness Task Force Mayor Tina Hernandez will be the Rep. and the alternate will be Mayor Pro Tem Valdovinos.
Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG):
Rep: Council Member Boyer
Alternate: Mayor Hernandez
Council of Cities:
Rep: Mayor Hernandez
Alternate: Council Member Gomez
Delta Vector Control Board (Mosquito Abatement):
Rep: Council Member Gomez
City Home Loan Approval Committee:
Rep: Council Member Hernandez and Council Member Valdovinos San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District – Special City Selection Committee
Rep: Council Member Gomez
Alternate: Mayor Hernandez
Kaweah Integrated Regional Water Management Group:
Rep: Council Member Boyer
Alternate: Mayor Hernandez
Rural Communities Committee of the Greater Kaweah Ground Water Sustainability Agency:
Rep: Council Member Boyer
Alternate: Mayor Hernandez
Homelessness Task Force
Rep: Council Member Hinojosa (term ends 01/01/25)
Alternate: Council Member Valdovinos (term ends 01/01/25) Event Funding Committee
Rep: Council Member Gomez and Council Member Valdovinos Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
Rep: Council Member Boyer
Alternate: Mayor Hernandez
Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA)
Rep: Council Member Gomez
Alternate: Council Member Hinojosa
Motion to approve.
RESULT APPROVED (UNANIMOUS)
MOVER Councilmember Boyer
SECONDER Councilmember Gomez
AYES Hernandez, Valdovinos, Gomez, Boyer, Hinojosa
ABSENT 0
ABSTAIN 0
D. Award of Contract for the Farmersville 198 Gateway Project to Romanazzi General Engineering in the amount of $2,600,101.50, and approve a construction contingency of $260,000 (10%) for changes during construction to be administered by the City Manager Recommend that the City Council award a contract for the Farmersville 198 Gateway Project to the lowest bidder, Romanazzi General Engineering in the amount of $2,600,101.50, and approve a construction contingency of $260,000 (10%) for changes during construction to be administered by the City Manager.
Documents: Bid Opening Results & Recommendation
Draft Contract
Rendering of Project
City Manager Jennifer Gomez provided an overview of the Farmersville 198 Gateway Project, emphasizing that its funding is sourced from the Clean California Grant. Ms.
Gomez updated the Council, mentioning that the project had initially gone out to bid but required a rebid due to errors. In the subsequent rebid process, five bids were received, and Romanazzi General Engineering emerged as the lowest bidder. The evaluation by QK confirmed that Romanazzi General Engineering's bid was both complete and responsive.
Councilmember Boyer inquired about the engineering costs. City Manager Gomez informed the Council that the Engineering costs will be $3.1 million.
Councilmember Hinojosa asked what the total value of the grant was. Ms. Gomez informed him that it was a 4-million-dollar grant.
Motion to approve as presented.
RESULT APPROVED (UNANIMOUS)
MOVER Councilmember Boyer
SECONDER Mayor Pro Tem Valdovinos
AYES Hernandez, Valdovinos, Gomez, Boyer, Hinojosa
ABSENT 0
ABSTAIN 0
E. Establish, Fund, and Maintain a Sewer Rate Stabilization fund by Resolution 2023-051
Recommend that the City Council establish, fund, and maintain a Sewer Rate Stabilization Fund (RSF) by Resolution 2023-051.
Documents: Resolution 2023-051
Director of Finance and Administration Steve Huntley updated the Council on the ongoing utility rate study for both water and wastewater funds, conducted in collaboration with consultants from Willdan. Mr. Huntley detailed the requirements and fiscal impact associated with maintaining the essential funding levels in the Sewer Rate Stabilization Fund. The overarching goal is to ensure the City's compliance on a yearly basis.
Motion to approve as presented.
RESULT APPROVED (UNANIMOUS)
MOVER Councilmember Gomez
SECONDER Councilmember Boyer
AYES Hernandez, Valdovinos, Gomez, Boyer, Hinojosa
ABSENT 0
ABSTAIN 0
9. Council Reports
A. City Council Updates and Committee Reports
Councilmember Hinojosa thanked Public Works for cleaning the Museum for the Christmas Tree lighting. He also expressed concerns regarding the Museum benches and inquired about the possibility of cleaning them or potentially replacing them.
Additionally, he suggested trimming the bushes behind the Museum to deter homeless individuals from sleeping there. Furthermore, he informed the Council about a small fire behind the Community Center and inquired about the type of insurance the City has in case a fire damages a City building. Mr. Hinojosa asked how much money the City has saved with Public Works handling all the concrete work at Roy’s Park. He also inquired about the horseshoe pits at Roy’s Park.
Councilmember Boyer would like a schedule for Roy’s Park construction timeline. He also thanked City Staff for helping with the Christmas Tree Lighting.
Councilmember Gomez informed the Council that he attended the Tulare Regional Transit Authority meeting. The new director has been working on finding a building so that the TCRTA has its own office. Additionally, he thanked Public Safety for the way they handled the incident at Freedom School.
Mayor Pro Tem Valdovinos thanked City staff for their donations to the upcoming Toy Drive. He also inquired about the timeline for installing the new bleachers at Veterans Park. Public Works Supervisor Justin Baker informed the Council that the new bleachers will be installed the first part of the new year..
10. Staff Communications:
City Manager Jennifer Gomez reviewed a handout that she distributed to each Councilmember regarding the Economic Summit, and she would appreciate Councilmembers RSVPing as soon as possible. Additionally, she conveyed that the last Council meeting for December has been canceled due to the holiday.
Battalion Chief Thomas updated the Council on Code Enforcement activities, noting a reduction in citation frequency as residents have largely achieved compliance and promptly addressed issues upon receiving violation notifications. Chief Thomas also reported that the incident at Freedom School is still under investigation, sharing that 44 children were affected, with 36 requiring transportations for medical attention.
Police Chief Brock provided the Council with an update on the Freedom School incident, stating that gas lines were inspected, and Environmental Health conducted an investigation at the school.
11. Future Agenda Items
1. Amend Ordinance – Temporary Outdoor Use Permits
2. Review of Cannabis Cultivation
3. Site Visits to Woodlake, Exeter, and Lindsay
4. Water Restrictions
5. Update City Ordinances related to Code Enforcement
6. Reopening Two-way Traffic on E. Citrus at Freedom Drive
7. Transit Services with Visalia Transit and TCRTA
12. Adjourn to Closed Session:
Mayor Hernandez adjourned to closed session at 7:56pm.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of Case: Quad Knopf, Inc. et al. v. Atkins North America, Inc., et al., Kern County Superior Court Case No. BCV-22-102417
13. Reconvene to Open Session:
Mayor Hernadez reconvened to open session at 8:42pm. with nothing to report.
14. Closed Session Report (if any):
15. Adjournment:
Mayor Hernandez adjourned the meeting at 8:42pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Rochelle Giovani, City Clerk
Strong Roots…..Growing Possibilities