MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 22/02-07
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 11 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER N-25-20,
EXECUTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA ON MARCH 12, 2020 City Council Meeting held via teleconferencing
*Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953 (b) (2), all action taken during this teleconferenced meeting shall be by roll call vote.
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: February 7, 2022/6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Jenkins at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Brady Jenkins
Mayor Pro Tem Felipe Pérez
Council Member Elsa Lopez
Council Member Freddy Valdez
ABSENT: Council Member Marcia Sablan
OTHERS: City Attorney James Sanchez; City Manager/Acting Public Works Director, Ben Gallegos; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Fire Chief, John Borboa; City Planner, Karl Schoettler, Deron Colby, Josh Black, Lovie Sidhu, Manny, Beeta Pisheh, Joey Daggett, Bethany Matos (WHC), Marc Benjamin (Brian Pacheco’s Office), Frank Kavanaugh, Barigye McCoy Amy Fleming, & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE City Manager Ben Gallegos led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT None
PRESENTATION None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on January 3, 2022.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. MOTION TO RENEW CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 22-01 AND CONSIDERATION OF
ORDINANCE APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AND ELEMENT 7 LLC – SECOND READING.
Motion to renew consideration of Ord. No. 22-01 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
Opening hearing at 6:08 pm – No comment given .– Close hearing at 6:09 pm Motion to approve Ord. No. 22-01 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 3-2 vote. Jenkins and Lopez – no vote.
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2022
3. ORDINANCE NO. 22-02 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 25-41.13.6 RELATING TO LIMITED COMMERCIAL CANNABIS OPERATIONS PURSUANT TO REGULATORY PERMIT-FIRST READING.
Attorney Sanchez reported amendments via Ordinance No 22-02, adding hot houses & all Development Agreements will no longer go before the Planning Commission for approval, all Development Agreements will only be approved by the City Council. Opening hearing at 6:14 pm – No public comment given .– Close hearing at 6:15 pm Motion to waive the first reading of Ord. No. 22-02 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
NEW BUSINESS
4. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CEN CAL
BUILDERS REQUEST CONSIDERATION OF NEW PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF DIAZ STREET REGARDING THE DEL RIO ESTATES.
Motion to approve a deferment on construction cost for Diaz Street to a later date & authorize the City Manager to negotiate impact fees to help Cen Cal with other expenses by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 4-1 vote. Jenkins – no vote.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 22-01 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING APPLICATION(S) FOR PER CAPITA GRANT FUNDS.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-01 by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 22-02 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR BENJAMIN GALLEGOS.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-02 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 22-03 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATION(S) FOR ALL CALRECYCLE GRANTS FOR WHICH FIREBAUGH IS ELIGIBLE.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-03 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 22-04 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AUTHORIZING USE OF EMERGENCY REMOTE TELECONFERENCING PROVISIONS.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-04 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 22-05 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
AMENDING MASTER FEE RESOLUTION RELATING TO ANNUAL LICENSE FEES FOR BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS.
No action taken; Council Member Sablan request a sample of the education flyer at the next meeting.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 22-06 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH EXTENDING THE CONTRACT WITH GOUVEIA ENGINEERING, INC. FOR THE ON-CALL
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-06 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2022
11. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AMENDING FEES TO ORDINANCE NO. 92-2 – ITINERANT BUSINESS LICENSES FEES.
Informational item only
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – January was a challenge as far as staffing, dept. was short staffed due to illnesses, a few officers are currently doing background checks with other police departments, so we will have interviews for new officers and dispatchers. Working on a grant application. Finance Director, Pio Martin – “TextMyGov” app is working, we’ve had quit a few people sign up, about 39 individuals to receive reports, 80 signed up for notifications, such as City Hall will be closed on Friday. Auditors are almost done with the report and are working on a draft report. Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – Form 700 is due April 1, 2022, complete to avoid fines. City Attorney, James Sanchez – nothing to report.
Bethany Matos, Associate Dean of North District Center – Building construction is on tract, everything is looking good.
City Manager, Ben Gallegos – thanked council for contract extension, attended League of Cities Conference- they spoke of change & how we must adopt to new technology to move forward. Thanked Attorney Sanchez, learned most City Managers don’t really get along with their Attorneys, that hasn’t been an issue with Jim. He’s been easy to work with. Fresno County set some funds aside to assist with the HUD Tank, so I want to thank Marc Benjamin. Council Member Lopez – City passed Resolution to continue web meeting, but I would like to go back to open meeting, since I have trouble with computers & I don’t feel it’s fair to the people that want to attend. Council Member Sablan – ask for the electric board to be extended in length of time so people can read the messages.
Council Member Valdez – Congratulated Ben & Mario on their renewed contracts, the community has grown, and it takes everyone working together to make things happen. We all need to move forward & make changes. Council Member Perez – Thank all of you, like Valdez said, I’ve been home for two weeks due to illness, the five of us are on Council, because we love our community & I’m grateful for that. Council Member Jenkins – thanked everyone for attending, please show your faces on the screen. Asked Ben to follow-up on the Street Sweeper, would like to look at the contract and expenses to repair. City Manager replied it’s been down 7 it’s been difficult to find anyone that can repair the GNC, found a mechanic out of state & offered to fly him here, but he declined. Recommendation is to budget for a new one at the next budget.
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 8:50 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.