MayorTina HernandezMayor Pro TemAraceli OchoaCouncilmembersGregorio GomezPaul BoyerArmando HinojosaMayorTina HernandezMayor Pro TemAraceli OchoaCouncilmembersGregorio GomezPaul BoyerArmando HinojosaFARMERSVILLE CITY COUNCIL Mayor
Tina Hernandez
Mayor Pro Tem
Araceli Ochoa
Councilmembers
Gregorio Gomez
Paul Boyer
Armando Hinojosa
Mayor
Tina Hernandez
Mayor Pro Tem
Araceli Ochoa
Councilmembers
Gregorio Gomez
Paul Boyer
Armando Hinojosa
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
May 27, 2025, 6:00 P.M. Minutes
Council Chambers – 909 W. Visalia Rd., Farmersville, CA Notice is hereby given that the Farmersville City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
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: 885 8658 5299
Password: 855335
Rules for Addressing the City Council:
Members of the public may address the City Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City of Farmersville.
Persons wishing to address Council concerning an item on the agenda will be invited to address the Council during the time that Council is considering that agenda item. Persons wishing to address Council concerning issues not on the agenda will be invited to address Council during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
When invited by the Mayor to speak, please step up to the lectern, state your name and city of residence, and make your comments. Comments are limited to two minutes per speaker.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities who may need assistance should contact the City Clerk prior to the meeting at (559) 747-0458 ext. 1003 or via email at [email protected] CALL TO ORDER 6:01 pm
ROLL CALL Mayor Hernandez
Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa
Councilmember Gomez
Councilmember Boyer
Councilmember Hinojosa
INVOCATION Mayor Tina Hernandez
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Mayor Hernandez
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Action: It was motioned by Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa, seconded by Councilmember Boyer and unanimously approved with a 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT – The public is invited to comment on any subject under the jurisdiction of the Farmersville City Council. Please note that speakers that wish to comment on a Regular Item or Public Hearing on tonight’s agenda will have an opportunity to speak when public comment for that item is requested by the Mayor. Comments shall be limited to two (2) minutes per person, with twenty (20) minutes for the total comment period, unless otherwise indicated by the Mayor. The public may also choose to submit a comment before the meeting via email. Public comments received via email will be distributed to the Council prior to the start of the meeting and incorporated into the official minutes; however, they will not be read aloud. Under state law, matters presented under public comment cannot be acted upon by the Council at this time.
Hector Uriarte is requesting Council approval for GRID Alternatives to assist residents with the installation of solar panels, which could potentially reduce their electric bills by up to 50%.
PRESENTATIONS
Tulare County EDC - Airica de Oliveira- tabled to a later Council meeting.
Price Paige & Company - Anthony Gonzales – Independent Auditor’s Report – Year Ended June 30, 2024 Anthony Gonzales reviewed the audit with the Council and informed them that an unmodified opinion was issued, indicating that the financial statements are free from material misstatement and fairly presented.
CONSENT CALENDAR – Routine items approved in one motion unless an item is pulled for discussion. There will be no separate discussion of these matters unless a request is made, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion.
Waive the Reading of Ordinance and Approve by Title Only.
Action & Recommendation: Approve the reading by title only of all ordinances and that further reading of such ordinances be waived.
Submitted by: Rochelle Giovani, City Clerk
Minutes of the Regular Meeting May 12, 2025
Action & Recommendation: Approve as submitted.
Submitted by: Rochelle Giovani, City Clerk
Warrant List for April 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025
Action & Recommendation: Approve as submitted.
Submitted by: Daymon Qualls
8.4 Request from Farmersville Youth Baseball to waive admin fee for Event Permit.
Action & Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve waiving the fee for the event permit for Farmersville Youth Baseball.
Councilmember Boyer pulled Consent Item 8.4.
Council Action: It was motioned by Councilmember Boyer, seconded by Councilmember Gomez to approve Consent Items 8.1 - 8.3 and unanimously approved with a 5-0 vote.
Consent Item 8.4
Councilmembers discussed the value of waiving fees for non-profit events and emphasized the need for consistency in the process. Concerns were raised regarding last-minute requests and their potential impact on City revenue. Suggestions included establishing a deadline for event applications and implementing a deposit system to ensure proper clean-up. A study session was proposed to review special event policies and vendor fees.
Council Action: It was motioned by Councilmember Gomez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa to approve Consent Item 8.4 and unanimously approved with a 5-0 vote.
ACTION ITEMS
9.1 Fagundes Annexation and Residential Development Project Update.
Action & Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council review staff’s responses to questions from May 12, 2025, Council meeting related to the approval of the Fagundes Subdivision.
Submitted by: Josh McDonnell, City Planner
Council Action: It was motioned by Councilmember Gomez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa and unanimously approved with a 5-0 vote.
The Council expressed appreciation for the adjustments and thanked the builder for considering and implementing the changes.
9.2 Police Trainee/Community Service Officer Position.
Action & Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council authorize staff to create a Police Trainee / Community Service Officer position within the police department.
Submitted by: Jay Brock, Chief of Police
Council Action: It was motioned by Councilmember Gomez, seconded by Councilmember Boyer. Mayor Hernandez denied motion and Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa approved motion contingent upon staff reaching out to WEB or Proteus for assistance with costs. Motion passed 3-1-1 vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Discussion and Consideration of a Community-Wide Yard Sale Event Action & Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the potential for supporting a community-wide yard sale and provide direction on whether the City should facilitate, promote, or remain uninvolved in such an event.
Submitted by: Daymon Qualls, City Manager
The Council discussed the feasibility of a Citywide yard sale. City Manager Daymon Qualls reviewed relevant ordinances, including a $5 permit fee. Mr. Qualls discussed options which included the City’s involvement, promoting the event, or facilitating it through a nonprofit. Concerns about liability and signage were raised. Council proposed waiving fees for two yearly events, possibly aligning with the community cleanup event. Mr. Qualls also suggested adopting a resolution to establish specific dates for the yard sales each year. The Council directed staff to discuss and finalize proposed dates and return with a resolution for approval at a future meeting.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Boyer thanked staff for a successful Memorial Day Parade.
Councilmember Boyer left the Council meeting at 7:11pm.
Councilmember Hinojosa expressed concerns about the corner of Dode Avenue and W. Visalia Road, noting the presence of numerous goat heads at the bus stop. He also mentioned that the parks are currently dusty and hopes that, as the grass fills in, the dust will be minimized. Additionally, he observed dry spots on the baseball fields and inquired whether there might be issues with the sprinklers or water pressure. He also thanked staff for all the work regarding the Memorial Day Parade. Public Works Director Steven Thompson informed the Council that there are a couple of water lines off Citrus Avenue that Public Works plans to tie into, with the hope that this will help address the dry spots. Some sprinkler heads have already been replaced, which has improved the situation, although it is not yet fully resolved. Additionally, Public Works will be inspecting the soccer fields to assess any similar issues.
Councilmember Gomez thanked staff for helping Kiwanis with the Memorial Day Parade stating that it was a great turnout. He also thanked the City Manager and Public Works for addressing the trip hazard in front of Little Ceasars Pizza.
Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa thanked the Fire Department for allowing her to ride in the fire truck during the Memorial Day Parade. She also expressed appreciation for the efforts that went into helping with the event. She mentioned that she attended a four-hour ERMA training for elected officials and noted that it was great training. Additionally, she attended a TCAG meeting last week and met with Mayor Mendoza to get ideas. Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa also met with Hector Uriarte from GRID Alternatives, who suggested the possibility of including information about his program in the City’s water bill mailings. She noted that GRID Alternatives is a non-profit organization and that the cost of stuffing the envelopes could potentially be covered by the program. She further shared that she attended another meeting where the use of marketing materials was handed out to attendees. She suggested the City consider preparing similar materials, such as a packet or PowerPoint presentation, for use in future projects. As an example, she cited the City of Woodlake, which distributed informational materials at a luncheon event which informed attendees about upcoming developments. Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa expressed interest in adopting a similar strategy for the City of Farmersville. She also thanked City Manager Daymon Qualls for meeting with Ricardo Maldonado regarding the reseeding of parks and soccer fields. Finally, she expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the Memorial Day Parade.
Mayor Hernandez thanked City staff for their efforts in supporting the Memorial Day Parade. She also commented on how clean everything looked and expressed her pride in the community. She shared that a maintenance worker from the high school had requested the street sweeper clean areas of the high school before graduation. City Manager Daymon informed the Mayor that he would have the City’s Street sweeping contractor contact the high school directly. Mayor Hernandez also suggested reaching out to Aircia at the EDC for possible assistance in preparing materials for distribution at a luncheon, referencing the idea mentioned earlier by Mayor Pro Tem Ochoa. Additionally, she informed the Council that Walmart would be visiting The Ugly Company on Thursday. Mayor Hernandez then expressed concerns about GRID Alternatives providing solar panels to residents within the City. She noted that when homeowners sell their property, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for the solar contract.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Daymon Qualls informed the Council that he went on a tour at the Ugly Company and also informed them that the owner is willing to let the City use his parking lot for a Farmers Market. Additionally, he went to Coffee with a Cop at Starbucks. Lastly, he was picked up by Commander Evrett Monday morning at 4:30am to start getting ready for the Memorial Day Parade. He shared his experiences throughout the day and stated that he really enjoyed the Memorial Day Parade.
City Engineer Elsa Mejia stated the bid opening results for the street improvement project will be shared at the next Council meeting.
Public Works Director Steven Thompson reported that the Public Works Department had spent the past couple of weeks preparing Farmersville Boulevard for the Memorial Day Parade. He also shared with the Council that the main water line at Roy’s Park has been successfully installed. Additionally, the water park reopened this Sunday after being treated and left to sit for the required 48 hours. He mentioned that the County will be conducting an inspection tomorrow to ensure all standards are being met. Lastly, he noted that the lights at the Farmersville sign on Highway 198 are currently operating from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. He informed the Council that last week was Public Works Week, and in recognition of the occasion, he provided donuts, breakfast burritos, and bakery items throughout the week, concluding the week with a BBQ.
Fire Chief Jim Thomas said to the Council that the Memorial Day Parade was a success and was well organized. He mentioned that the Fire Station is about 2 weeks behind schedule. He also reported that staff is currently repainting the fire throughout the City.
Police Chief Jay Brock thanked the Public Works staff for attending the parade, noting that in past years, no staff from Public Works had participated.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEM
Description
Responsible Party
Agenda Date
Chamber of Commerce
City Manager
6/9/25
Urban Art-Murals and Sculptures
City Manager
TBD
Senior Housing-Gardenia Apts.
City Manager
TBD
Community Garden
City Manager
TBD
Sewer DIF
City Manager
TBD
ADU update
City Manager
TBD
Farmers Market
City Manager
TBD
Senior Discount for Utility Bills
City Manager
TBD
EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION
15.1 Litigation
Pursuant to Cal Gov Code §54956.9
WWTP/Quad Knopf
Perez
15.2 Personnel Matters 54957(b)
1 Case
15.3 Public Employment (§54957)
Consider Hiring Finance Director (interim/independent contractor)
REQUEST FOR FUTURE ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT – Farmersville City Council meetings are held in the Civic Center City Council Chambers at 909 W. Visalia Road in Farmersville, California beginning at 6:00 P.M. on the second and fourth Monday of every month unless otherwise noticed. Materials related to an Agenda item submitted to the legislative body after distribution of the Agenda Packet are available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk during normal business hours. A complete agenda is available at www.cityoffarmersville-ca.us. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act & Ralph M. Brown Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, or to be able to access this agenda and documents in the agenda packet, please contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 747-0458 ext. 1003. Notification prior to the meeting will enable the City to ensure accessibility to this meeting and/or provision of an alternative format of the agenda and documents in the agenda packet.
Mayor Hernandez adjourned to closed session at 7:38 pm.
Mayor Hernandez reconvened to open session at 8:32 pm and reported that the Council approved with a 4-0 vote to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Lemon Tree Properties, LLC for financial consulting services, including finalizing the FY 2026 budget and assisting with the onboarding of a new Finance Director.
Mayor Hernandez adjourned the meeting at 8:33 pm.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AGENDA
I hereby certify, in conformance with Government Code Sections 54954.2 and 54956, that this agenda was posted in the bulletin board at the Farmersville Civic Center, 909 W. Visalia Road, as well as on the City of Farmersville’s website (www.cityoffarmersville-ca.gov).
DATE & TIME POSTED: Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 8:28 a.m.
Rochelle Giovani, City Clerk
City of Farmersville Page 2
City of Lindsay Page 2