MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 22/03-21
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: March 21, 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 6:19 pm
Council Member Freddy Valdez
Council Member Marcia Sablan
ABSENT: Council Member Elsa Lopez
OTHERS: City Attorney James Sanchez; City Manager/Acting Public Works Director, Ben Gallegos; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Fire Chief, John Borboa; Acct. Tech. Olga Flores; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Gouveia Engineering; Bethany Matos (WHC), Marc Benjamin (Brian Pacheco’s Office); FLDUSD Superintendent Roy Mendiola, Josh Black of Element 7, Amanda Fleming, & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Amanda Fleming led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Josh Black of Element 7 stated the dispensary opened last week, the Police Chief and Officers have visited the site about three time, we’ve been cleaning the site & will have a Grand opening April 1 & 2 with taco trucks, mariachis, and other activities, for anyone that would like to attend.
Amanda Fleming reported she will be running for California State Assembly District 2, her intent is to bring a different element to the current situation with today’s politics. A funding event will be held March 29, 2022, at the VFW Hall, it will start at 6:00 pm. She also stated she would like to meet with City Council Member to work together.
PRESENTATION
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on March 7, 2022.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting February 1 and ending on February 28, 2022.
February 2022 General Warrants #42415 - #42511 $ 696,975.65 Payroll Warrants #71698 - #71721 $ 142,036.35
TOTAL $ 839,012.00
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
March 21, 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
3. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER LOCATION OF THE DONATED BATHROOM FROM WEST HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
Council in the past has requested restrooms be placed at the Dunkle Park enclosed area & the Rodeo Grounds. The City Manager’s recommendation is to place the donated restroom at Rodeo Grounds since all other parks have restrooms. The infrastructure is already at that site, so the City Manager will work on the expenditures for the installation.
Council agrees and gives the direction to place the restrooms at the rodeo grounds.
4. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER WAIVING FEES FOR CERTAIN BUILDING PERMITS.
Mayor Jenkins requested this item to be placed on the agenda and recommended waiving fees for June, July, and August.
Informational item only, no action taken.
Council Member Perez joined the meeting in progress.
5. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE USE OF $500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
City Manager Gallegos explained the construction for this project was estimated at $2.8 Million, which is over the budget and funding the City received, so is requesting to use about $500,000 from the General Fund reserve account to complete the project. Budget may be amended at a mid-year budget review.
Motion to approve the up to $800,000 of the reserves from the General Fund by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE SMOKING ORDINANCE AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
Mayor Jenkins inquired if smoke shops are allowed in the city limits, if not, would like to amend ordinance to allow them.
Informational item only, City Attorney will do further research and provide an update on this matter.
STAFF REPORTS
Account Tech I, Olga Flores – nothing to report.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – Form 700 is due April 1, 2022, complete to avoid fines. Police Chief Sal Raygoza – finalizing numbers on the annual report, one Officer resigned to go to work for the City of Kerman, which is closer to home for him. Job interviews were held & will introduce new employees April 16, 2022. Fire Chief John Borboa – Working on new contracts with Fresno County and Madera County regarding the Mutual Aid services the Fire Department provides them, both contract renewals will include a rate increase to the City of Firebaugh.
City Council Minutes
March 21, 2022
City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – going back & forth on the Highway 33 Beautification project, January 21st was the last update, 14th Street Rehab project will go out to bid in April. City Attorney, James Sanchez – nothing to report.
City Manager, Ben Gallegos – have had several meetings with Caltrans about the monument neat the Firebaugh Apartments on N Street, it’s been an issue due to the bike plan and elimination of parking spots, so an amendment was made to the bike plan & will start on Saipan through Clyde Fannon. Some street parking will be eliminated at the Firebaugh Supermarket, but they have a parking lot. John Sanchez resigned and retired, & I believe Alex Maldonado may only be with us for about one more year, so the Public Works Department is short staffed. An ad has been placed in the newspaper for the vacant position. Sweeper update, parts are in Las Vegas, but transportation has been an issue, so not sure when we’ll receive it. Will be attending the Public Works Conference April 23 through April 25. EDC has a program, which showcases our local businesses, such as West Hills Community College (WHCC), D.F. Dryer (Bill Davis) – only business making corn nuts, Hiller Aircraft – making parts for helicopters. Toma Tek decline to give use access. EDC offers grants to businesses & is hoping to work with WHC, Bizwise and & other to offer training. A tour of the river was also done. Grants for businesses was advertised on the city’s FACEBOOK page, the 1st business to receive funding was Firebaugh Pizza, Sergio from Workforce Connection, is willing to assist the business owners with the application.
Council Member Valdez – asked Bethany Matos, Dean of WHCC – North District, if it was possible for some students to tour the new WHCC campus in Firebaugh, sometime in May, about 15 students. Mrs. Matos replied it depends when because of construction, some days aren’t available, please provide dates to set the days for the tour. No Limits is hosting “No Fools, Just Bulls!” autism event, dogs will be available, including food & prizes on April 2, 2022. On April 23, 2022, the 2nd walk for autism will be held. Thank you to the staff for their hard work, please extend to employees that aren’t here. Would like to have another staff appreciation day in June 2022, (at the end of the fiscal year) for the entire staff with Council Members possibly serving the food at the event. Please send our condolences for Council Member Lopez, who lost her brother today.
Council Member Sablan – will tour the river
Council Member Perez – nothing to report.
Council Member Jenkins – a couple of High School students would also like to tour West Hills Colleges new campus.
The City Manager stated he is short staffed, so I would like to give him only one title and post a hiring ad for the Public Works Director position. Would express to staff members, here and not here, that they are appreciated for their work.
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 6:58 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passes by a 4-0 vote.